Hello everyone!
Cassandra has been gravely injured. It is up to Alcina, Bela, Daniela and Mother Miranda to find a way to save her from the poison from the hunter's arrow. Thanks as always for reading! Enjoy.
Cassandra dropped to her knees.
"Damn! Where the hell are you?!"
"Cassandra!"
"Oh… great." Her body was growing numb. What a pitiful thing. How could she be bested by such crude weapons? Pointy sticks?! The thought enraged her further. The blood in her veins hot like lava, but not even that could help her to rise back up.
Crash!
She collapsed face first to the ground.
"Cassandra!" it was Daniela helping her up. In and out her senses came and went. She remembered walking past the vineyard, but the rest was a bit of a haze. That was until she heard Bela giving orders to her prey. Her captives!
"T-they are m-mine," she snarled, feeling a surge of pain grip her chest. "I will p-pre-present them to M-Moth-er not you!"
Bela ignored her sister as she kept talking.
"Bela!" she said, but stopped as more pain swept through her.
"Cassandra."
Daniela still had hold of her, helping her to get as far as the Entrance Hall before Cassandra shoved her away. Using the wall as guidance as she followed Bela's voice, but the further she walked, the quicker her energy was snatched away. She was breathing heavily, beads of sweat on her forehead when she finally reached the Main Hall. There her prey were lined up and Mother. Mother who was seated on the couch with Bela stationed beside her. Both smiling; laughing. Were they taunting her?!
She went to speak, but no words escaped her. Instead she was falling. Falling further and further into darkness.
"Cassandra? Hey! Can you hear me?"
Cassandra blinked her eyes open. They were standing in the Main Hall with the blood bags lined up in front of their mother, who was seated on the couch with a glass of wine in hand, eyeing over the prizes.
She gazed around in confusion, had she just imagined that?
"I must say you outdid yourselves, my darlings. Well done."
"Thank you, Mother, but the credit is all afforded to Cassandra. It was she who collected them," Bela said, not looking pleased to admit that, which made Cassandra snigger.
"I see," Alcina turned her gaze over to her middle child. "Cassandra."
Cassandra slowly approached her mother with her head raised high. Shooting a nasty grin over at Bela, who crossed her arms and looked about ready to burst.
"My huntress. We shall have a grand feast tonight in celebration along with a lovely blood bath, too." Alcina placed her middle and pointer finger under her child's chin and raised her head slightly to look her deep in her eyes. "Well done to you, Cassandra."
"Thank you, Mother," Cassandra smiled, almost forgetting about the pain when yet again it crashed down on her. She nearly buckled from it, but stood strong and kept her face void of how she was feeling inside. "Personally I wanted to kill them all."
Alcina shook her head, smiling.
"Moderation, my sweet, that is what you must learn and master next."
Cassandra rolled her eyes.
"Now," Alcina said, shifting her focus back on the blood bags. "I think it is time we get these six down to the cellar. Daniela and Bela, do you think you both can manage that?"
"Actually, Mother," Bela spoke up. "There is something I must speak with you about in private."
Alcina quirked a brow at her eldest, pursing her lips.
"Very well. Cassandra, you go and help Daniela get these six into a cell. As for the infants. Slit their throats and drain their blood into the bath."
"Yes, Mother," Cassandra said, uncertain if her body would hold out for much longer. 'I must do this quickly. I cannot let Mother see me in so weak a state. Damn Bela. What the hell does she have to speak to Mother about that is so important? I bet she did that on purpose to get out of all this manual labor. Lazy wench!'
Once they had gone, Bela spoke quietly and urgently to her mother.
"A man-thing attacked Cassandra down in the village. Daniela and I just managed to find her and intervene before the man-thing wielding a bow and arrow actually found a way to kill her."
"What?" Alcina said, her grip on her glass tightening. "Who?"
"He wore a long cloak with a two headed dolphin insignia."
Alcina growled, causing Bela to shrink away in fear of her rage.
'Him again?! But is he the same man-thing Mother Miranda saw, or another one skulking around? If they are hunters, I doubt they would be traveling in packs. They are greedy creatures. Taking up the bounty and wanting the spoils all to themselves, but still. I should never have allowed them to go down there!' she cursed to herself. 'I knew something would happen.'
"Mother?" Bela ventured.
"Was she hurt?" Alcina snapped.
"I do not think so, though she had collapsed just as Daniela and I got to the scene. She needed help getting back here, though she appeared fine just now."
"Well, we will have to keep an eye on her, then. Cassandra will not come out and say she is feeling unwell." Alcina finished off her glass of wine, her thoughts still turning. "Did you see where he went?"
"No, Mother," Bela said. "In fact I had only gotten a short glimpse of him before he disappeared away from the church and in the direction of a field, but he moved with unusual speed and agility. It was not human."
"It would seem I will need to make another phone call to Mother Miranda."
Bela did not say anything, feeling guilty for causing this headache for her mother. If only she had kept a firmer hold on Cassandra. Watched her closer and gone straight to the church when she had heard the screams.
Alcina released a heavy sigh, rising up to her full height and walking to the dining room in order to reach her private chamber.
"Bela, do me a favor and go down to the cellar and check on your sisters."
Bela nodded her head, watching her mother go before she departed to the cellar to see what kind of mischief her siblings were finding themselves in.
{-}
Alcina was walking up the stairs to her private chamber when she came to an abrupt stop. She could sense Cassandra was in the Hall of Abolution, but there was something wrong with her. She was in pain. Deciding to go and see her child, she walked into the room and found Cassandra on the floor, convulsing.
"Cassandra?!" she dropped down on one knee and carefully took her into her arms. "Cassandra, can you hear me?"
She did not stir.
"Cassandra!" she said a bit more firmly. It was no use. "I must get her to the nursery." Alcina rose up and dashed as fast as she could back out to the nursery. Cassandra's condition worsening by the minute. Her countenance twisted in pain. "Hold on, my sweet. Just hold on a little longer." Alcina kicked open the door and entered into the Main Hall where Daniela and Bela were on the staircase. Both coming to a halt at the sight of their mother holding Cassandra.
"Mother?"
"Make way you two!" Alcina said, taking the steps five at a time.
Daniela and Bela materializing out of her way, quickly followed after their mother as she got to the nursery. By the time they reached the room, Cassandra was screaming in agony. Daniela stopped, the sounds coming from Cassandra freezing her on the spot. She did not dare enter inside.
Bela; however, went straight to her mother's side. Observing Cassandra closely when her nose picked up something most foul.
"Mother? Can you smell that?"
"What?" she hissed out of breath, trying to keep Cassandra calm and restrain her.
"Rotting flesh."
That made Alcina pause.
"Help me get her out of this dress."
It took only a few minutes as they unbuttoned the front and were able to slide the dress up over her head, Alcina then slowly rolled Cassandra onto her stomach.
"What in the name of Mother Miranda…"
Daniela having finally entered into the room, released a loud gasp and covered her mouth. Bela shuddering at the sight of Cassandra's back. Her back was covered with purple welts. A few having burst and was draining out black puss. No doubt that was the reason why Cassandra was screaming in agony. Not to mention the amount of dead flies on the mattress was even more disturbing. Alcina watching a few fly away from Cassandra and plummet to the floor dead.
"W-what is happening to her?" Daniela whispered.
Alcina did not answer, gently dabbing her pointer finger into the black puss to taste it. As soon as it hit her tongue, Alcina spit it out and said:
"Bela get me a syringe. I need to examine this more closely."
"Is it poison? Will she die?" Daniela bombarded her mother with questions.
"Daniela come with me to collect the syringe," Bela said. "Mother and Cassandra need peace and quiet now."
"O-okay," she said.
"Thank you, my darlings," Alcina said, turning her gaze back to Cassandra who was breathing harshly. "You will be just fine, Cassandra." She placed a kiss to her forehead, continuing to watch more bugs plummet to the mattress dead. Fear now starting to seize her heart. What the hell was happening to her?! What had that bastard done to her child?
Cassandra's face pinched in pain, she beginning to whimper and moan.
Finally Bela and Daniela returned with the syringe.
"Good," Alcina said, extracting the substance from her back.
"Now what do we do?" Bela asked. "We have to do something to stop that from spreading even further."
"I am aware of that," Alcina said, rising to her feet. "You two stay with her for the moment. I must call Mother Miranda and see if she can do anything to help. Just leave her be and try to keep quiet."
"Yes, Mother," they both said, receiving a kiss from Alcina before she made her way to her personal chamber to call her mother. Thankfully Mother Miranda picked up the phone on the fourth ring and listened quietly to Alcina's frantic dialogue.
"I will be there shortly."
Mother Miranda good on her word arrived fifteen minutes later and was examining the syringe. And then observing the purple welts continuing to either burst or form across her back.
Extraordinary. Simply fascinating. Mother Miranda always intrigued by any kind of anomaly from the parasite, though she had already deduced this was not from the parasite, but whatever had found its way into Cassandra's bloodstream.
"Curious. I cannot understand how a foreign stream managed to find its way into Cassandra's veins. With all you had told me about them and their immunity to weapons… this has me quite flummoxed."
"Mother Miranda," Alcina said, her voice shaking. "Is there any way to stop it from spreading? To save Cassandra?"
"I am sure I can procure an antidote, but it may take a few days'. In the meantime, I suggest you begin to remove as much of the venom as you can."
"Meaning I will need to start opening up Cassandra's veins and pumping my blood back into her."
"That is correct," Mother Miranda said. "And have her drink this, too. It will help her through the pain."
"Thank you, Mother," Alcina said, swallowing a lump forming in her throat. "Thank you."
"Do not lose heart," she said, squeezing Alcina's arm to comfort her. "And I will also set lose more of the Lycans to deal with this troublesome hunter."
Once Mother Miranda had left the castle, Alcina returned to the nursery where she found Daniela and Bela reading through a book on poisons; they searching for an antidote to help Cassandra.
"Come to me, my girls," Alcina said, growing out a claw in preparation to cut Cassandra.
"Did Mother Miranda help?" Daniela asked.
"Yes, and now we must keep the venom from spreading any further as she works on an antidote for our Cassandra."
"What do you need us to do?" Bela said.
"Just remain by the bed. If she starts to kick her legs or arms, I need you to hold her down."
Alcina stroked Cassandra's hair, speaking softly to her as she started to make the first laceration across her wrists. She fidgeted, but nothing that required Daniela or Bela to have to hold her down.
"Good girl, Cassandra. There's a good girl," she whispered, watching as the venom and Cassandra's own blood flowed out the open wounds.
{…}
That night Alcina, Bela and Daniela had dined, though the sisters did not really touch their meal. Both continuing to worry about Cassandra.
"I am going to go up and be with her," Daniela said once dinner had finished.
"Very well, dearest, but be as quiet as you can," Alcina said, kissing her cheek.
"I will, Mother. If she wakes I will let you know."
Alcina smiled as she watched her youngest walk up the stairs, while she and Bela went to the bedchamber to relax and speak privately.
"It is all my fault," Bela said once they were inside the room. "I should never have let Cassandra go off on her own."
"No, my beloved, it is I who is fully responsible. I allowed you three to go down to the village. I thought allowing you to venture out and stretch your legs would satiate your curiosity about the world outside these walls for a time," Alcina said, taking a long drag from her cigarette.
Bela knew she was referring to Daniela and Cassandra.
"Mother…"
"I know. It backfired horribly in my face…, but we must look at this from a positive perspective, too, darling."
"What do you mean?" Bela said, standing over by the fireplace.
"You have discovered the hunter in the village. Mother Miranda had uncovered this man earlier; however, he seemed to have just vanished without a trace. She presumed he had perhaps left, but then he comes out of his little rat hole and attacked. This has allowed Mother Miranda to use the Lycans to pick up his scent and hunt him down."
"I see what you mean…," Bela said, continuing to stare into the fire. Over and over she had been going through what had happened to Cassandra, but always she was stumped. Yes the weather had been cool when the sun had vanished behind the clouds, but not enough to cause her to weaken that much. And the arrow had gone straight through her! Yes, she remembered seeing it sticking into the tree along with- "The bugs..."
"What did you say, darling?"
"The bugs, or rather /a/ bug. The arrow had managed to pierce through some of Cassandra's bugs. I bet you anything one had been wounded and infected with whatever had been on the arrowhead."
"And in order to save itself it went back to Cassandra…"
Mother and Daughter stared at one another in understanding.
"The single fly, Mother. The single fly infected the rest and that is where the purple welts forming across Cassandra's back originated from…" Bela rested her hand across her face, shaking her head in disbelief. "Unbelievable. Now I feel even more guiltier for not piecing this together sooner."
"You are always so quick to self-criticize, my darling."
Bela did not answer her.
Alcina kept staring at Bela, the fire burning in the hearth created lovely shadows across her face. She could see how stressed her eldest was from the events of the day. Protecting her siblings and now the guilt of what happened to Cassandra.
"Come here," Alcina said, motioning for Bela to sit on her lap.
Bela did as she was told. Taking a seat and resting her head against her mother's breasts.
"What a horrible sister I am. You must be disappointed in me…"
"That is utter nonsense," Alcina said, stroking her hair. "Do you think I expect you to foresee every fire that is started and put them out? Of course not!"
"I suppose you are right."
"You suppose?" Alcina tittered, placing her pointer finger underneath Bela's chin and making her look at her. "You got your first taste of what motherhood feels like."
Bela rolled her eyes, though there was a faint smile on her lips.
"I shall never be a mother like you. You have a gift that I clearly lack."
"Oh no, my beauty. You are a natural mother. The way you take care of Daniela and Cassandra, and not just what you did today. You have always cared for them. Been there when I could not. You are like their second mother, Bela, and I am lucky to have you as my second in command."
Bela met her mother's gaze, purring as Alcina started to stroke her cheek, gently cupping her chin and placing a kiss to her lips. Bela wrapping an arm around her mother's neck to keep from sliding off her lap, the two remained in one another's arm. Bela closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Upstairs Daniela had just gotten herself tucked into bed when Cassandra had begun to moan. She had been dead silent up until this point, causing Daniela to sit right up in bed and look over at her sister.
"Cassandra?" she called out gently to her.
"M-Mother."
Daniela could not believe her ears! Cassandra was calling out for their mother?
"Mother," she said again much louder. Her voice sending a chill down Daniela's spine.
"I will get her. Just hold on," Daniela said, hearing Cassandra call out 'Mama' before she materialized away.
Alcina laying Bela carefully down in the bed and tucking her in, instantly turned and looked at the door just as Daniela appeared.
"Mother!"
Alcina placing a finger to her lips to indicate for Daniela to lower her voice, she followed her outside the room where Daniela told her about Cassandra.
By the time Alcina and Daniela were up the stairs, the two could hear her screaming in agony. The sound reverberating off the walls and making both Alcina and Daniela's blood run cold.
Daniela nearly beating her mother to the room, Alcina ducked inside and watched Cassandra twisting about in the bed. The blankets and pillows now on the floor, while she was clawing at the sheets, panting heavily. Tears staining her cheeks.
Daniela did not move. Staring at her sister stunned.
"Cassandra," Alcina said, reaching down to touch her.
Cassandra's eyes flashed and she snapped her jaws at her mother, just barely missing her arm and taking a chunk of her flesh.
Alcina was not alarmed nor frightened of her reaction. She simply pulled away and tried again.
"Cassandra let me help you. You must calm yourself. Shh, there now. I am here."
Cassandra's low growling shifted to whimpering, continuing to wiggle in the bed in discomfort. Her eyes pleading for her mother to help her. Take away the pain. The sight pulling at Alcina's heart and nearly bringing her to tears.
"Mama," she croaked. "It hurts."
"I know it does, my precious one," Alcina said, easing Cassandra to lay on her stomach in order to look at the wound. It looked just as it had before. The sheet covered with more flies, while the majority of the welts had burst and were now inflamed.
'I will need to drain it, but how much more draining can Cassandra take?' She had little choice. Extending out her claw only a few inches, she started to cut into the spot and watched liquid substance ooze out.
The smell wafting out burning her nostrils and throat, Alcina swallowed down the bile in her throat and cut a little deeper.
As soon as the air hit the area did Cassandra scream. Alcina forced to hold her, watched as the swelling thankfully went down. Her back no longer puffy, Cassandra released one last moan before she passed out.
"Mother?" Daniela said, still standing by the doorway.
"She will be all right, dearest," Alcina tried at a smile. "You go downstairs and sleep with Bela in my chambers. I will remain here with Cassandra."
"Yes, Mother," Daniela said, taking one last look at her sister before vanishing.
Alcina turned her focus back to Cassandra, reaching out and stroking her hair. Praying that Mother Miranda would be able to procure something soon…
{…}
The village:
News of the massacre within the church and in the village spread quickly. Many of the villagers prayed to Mother Miranda for forgiveness. Communing together to discuss exactly what had caused their beloved goddesses wrath to be unleashed upon them.
Rowan would hear most of the conversation through his clients. He would visit his patients' at their homes and listen to the families. All truly afraid that Mother Miranda would send more fiends down to punish them.
"She needs to go, Rowan!" Myra would say over and over again. "These people are going to find out about her and blame us, too."
"I thought you wanted her to stay, Myra? You were so determined to help her and now you are determined to be rid of her."
"Because she is an outsider!"
"Then tell her to leave," Rowan said.
Myra recoiled, not expecting her husband to say such a thing.
"M-me?"
"Yes. You."
Myra looked at the hallway. Charlotte was still in Abigail's room, resting. Slowly she set her cutting knife down and walked in the direction of the bedroom. She hesitantly reached for the doorknob, fighting with herself.
'No! She has to go. In order to protect my family, the child must leave here.' Myra opened the door, about to speak when her jaw dropped. The window was wide open and Charlotte was gone.
Not too far away Mother Miranda had gotten to work removing the bodies out of the church. She had ordered the Lycans to bring the corpses to Moreau and Heisenberg, who gladly took them off her hands. Now all that was left was to ensure the villagers remained calm and informed she would continue protecting them.
The ignorant fools. So gullible. So easily swayed by gentle; soothing words. Empty promises they did not question. They simply obeyed and continued on with their lives, though there were some who did not hesitate to question.
Mother Miranda narrowed her eyes and stared over to the field. She was recalling Alcina's earlier conversation over the phone, and how her eldest child described the assailant. His movements. Speed and agility.
"Perhaps he was attacked by one of the Lycans, but managed to somehow keep his humanity? Or is he something else entirely?" Mother Miranda said aloud, walking to the field and eyeing around the area. The house situated near the top of the hill was silent and still. She could see a few candles flickering in the windows. Smoke billowing up from the chimney. The night bringing with it a cold sweep down from the mountains and forcing many to remain inside. "Interesting…"
Mother Miranda continued on with her walk around the village. Thinking now on Alcina and Cassandra.
"I should ask Donna for help. I am sure somewhere in her vast bookshelves, she has a book containing information on herbal remedies for poisons." Mother Miranda turned the corner and back in the direction of her lab, passing by a few alleyways, when something caught her eye. At first she suspected it had been an animal, however, more movement prompted her to investigate.
To the naked eye the area behind the houses looked like an ordinary path used by animals, but Mother Miranda knew differently. Up she followed the beaten path, bringing her deeper into the woods. Branches snapped here and there. A light rustle from the dead leaves. Mother Miranda kept walking until she reached a glade. The spot illuminated brightly by the moon's ethereal glow.
Whoosh!
Mother Miranda reached a clawed finger up to her cheek and examined her fingertip to see blood.
She grinned, snapping her fingers.
Thick roots sprung up from the ground and soared straight up at the trees.
"Ahh, there you are!" The roots wrapped around her mystery attacker and slammed him back down to the earth. Slowly she walked up to the struggling man when she sensed someone else nearby watching. "Foolish." The ground beneath their feet began to tremble. The entire areas surface changing and causing trees to fall. The ground to shift and break apart. "Shall I demonstrate more of my power?" The second person remained where they were hidden. "No? Very well." As a few more trees came crashing down, the ground had completely stopped trembling. "You must be the hunter that has been giving me such a headache."
Mother Miranda stopped in front of the man, who was still tied up by the thick, pulsating roots. How easy it would be to snap his neck. Another snap of her fingers and she would be rid of this pest, but there was more she wanted to learn from him. Clearly there was something strange about him. She would have to examine his body closer to see if her hunch about him being bitten was true. Or perhaps he was something else entirely. A bioweapon sent here as an assassin? But by who? And for what reason?
The man struggled against his binds, which only tightened in his pointless effort.
"Shall we take your friend along with us? Or leave her to the Lycans?"
The man did not answer.
"Very well. We will leave her to be dinner for my pets." Mother Miranda laughed, snapping her fingers. All around them the sound of the Lycans roaring together filled the night. "As for you my friend, you will be joining me in my lab." Down Mother Miranda sank into the ground with her prisoner, while the girl sprinted away from the spot with the Lycans close behind her.