Hi everyone! This chapter begins with what happened to Charlotte after Mother Miranda sent the Lycans after her. Meanwhile, in the castle, our little family is having a bit of a lazy day. And Daniela finds something she absolutely cannot live without. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

The figure lay in the dirt and muck. Blood seeping from a laceration to her side. She couldn't move. Her entire body felt as though someone had set it on fire. Everything ached. The last time she had ever felt like this was when she had been sick at the orphanage. The aches in her joints. The wave after wave of dizziness. If only she had kept moving. If only she hadn't stopped and watched Mother Miranda and the man. The hunter or whoever he was, but she had hoped the hunter could assist her. To go into Castle Dimitrescu and kill those monsters inside.

"I guess it doesn't matter anymore," she whispered, rolling over on her back. "I am going to die here, or perhaps turn into one of those things. I do not know. I do not—" Charlotte drifted off to sleep. Her dreams taking her back to the orphanage. To the day when she had been placed in the carriage with ten others and hauled to the castle. All the girls, even she, were truly excited. To be adopted into a castle by a noblewoman. The work would be hard, but at least they would have food, shelter and warmth. A place they hoped would be like the orphanage.

The girls still looking to Charlotte as their leader. Protector. But little did she know she would be unable to help them. The reality coming to light as more and more of her friends' vanished without a trace. Then came the wailing at night. Watching on as more children from the orphanage were brought in to replace the others, but why? Where did they go?

Into the cellar she had ventured one night and discovered the true horrors below. Her friends. The children she was meant to watch over either dead, or unrecognizable. One girl named Phyllis she had found gnawing on a rat carcass. She was skin and bone. Hissing and growling at her as she rose up and staggered over to her. Her teeth jagged and sharp, reaching out to grab her and tear into her flesh. She had run and hid in her room. Crying softly for Phyllis; for all the girls taken and killed. No more. No more would she allow Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters to harm her family.

"Charlotte."

She could hear someone calling out to her, but the voice was faint and so far away. Who was it?

"Charlotte wake up. Please."

'Katja?'

Her eyes fluttered open and there looking down at her was Katja. Wait was she in the woods?

"Katja, leave her be."

"Yes, Mother."

"Where am I?"

"You are safe. My husband found you hurt and brought you back here."

"Myra?"

She gave her a weak smile, the look of distrust still clear in her eyes.

"My husband will check in on you shortly. Katja come and help me with lunch."

"I am glad you are safe," Katja whispered to Charlotte before following her mother out.

Charlotte watching them leave soon fell back to sleep. Entering once again into a dream of blood and horror. Lady Dimitrescu having caught her snooping around in the cellar, bringing into a dark room where all she could smell was rotting corpses.

"You will make the best vintage yet!" she laughed, raising her claws into the air and plunging it straight into her chest.

Charlotte awoke gasping for air.

"Easy, my dear!"

It was Rowan. Who was using his stethoscope to check her heart beat.

"Y-you."

"Yes, my name is Rowan, I do not think we ever properly met. I am the physician in the village, and from what I see here, Charlotte—you have gotten yourself into quite a scrape. Can you tell me exactly how you get this wound?"

Charlotte did not answer, her attention fixed over on the closed door.

"Do not worry. No one can hear us."

Charlotte looked back over at him.

"A wolf."

"I see," Rowan said, clearly not believing her. "Did this wolf happen to be standing on two legs and looked like a man as well?"

Charlotte's face paled, unable to look at the doctor.

"I-I do not know what it was. It looked like a wolf to me. What does it mean?"

"It means," Rowan said, rising out of the chair. "We will keep a close eye on it. If you start to feel any changes."

"'Changes?'"

Rowan sighed, barely able to meet her gaze himself.

"You are not the only patient who I have seen with a mark like that. A bite from the wolf-men."

"What happened to them?" Charlotte said.

Rowan turned his back on her.

It was a silly question. Of course she knew what had happened to them. She gripped the blankets tightly, barely able to bring herself to say it.

"Di-did they die?"

"Some," the doctor said softly. "While others changed into something else…"

"Is there nothing to stop it?"

"No."

They both fell silent, listening to the distant sound of Myra cleaning plates in the kitchen area.

"I must leave," Charlotte said. "If I turn there is no telling what I will to do you three."

"Charlotte…"

"Thank you, Doctor, for everything. Tell Katja and Myra I said thank you to them as well."

"Child, you cannot leave. Not yet anyway. You are still too weak."

"Then I will stay until I am a little stronger, but any sign I will leave immediately."

Rowan gave a slight nod of his head.

"Thank you." Charlotte said, fear at first overwhelming her when a realization struck her. 'If I turn into this creature perhaps that will give me enough power to kill Lady Dimitrescu…'

{-}

Alcina was awoken by a sudden knocking at her door. She cursed. Unable to imagine the wretched maid who dared disturb her, especially when she had informed Anya she was going to take a nap. She did not even bother to look at the grandfather clock. Knowing that would only further fuel her annoyance, she carefully had to maneuver Daniela next to Bela in order not to crush her youngest as she got off the bed.

They always joining her whenever she felt the need to get some extra beauty sleep. The two never far from her side, but then there was Cassandra. Once again disappeared without a trace.

Bela waking upon the bed shifting, she blinked her eyes and was about to sit up when Daniela's arm landed directly across her chest. The redhead still fast asleep, smacking her lips with an impish smile, Bela carefully removed Daniela's arm off herself and sat up.

She could not hear what the maid was saying and was even more perplexed when Alcina followed her out.

"Tasty, tasty man-flesh," Daniela hummed in her sleep.

Bela rolled her eyes at her, lovingly tucking Daniela back into bed and laying back as well. She knew her mother would return and inform her of the drama later…, though she would not be able to sleep. Her mind racing on what this commotion was all about.

Alcina walked straight to the Main Hall to find Rednic standing by the fire and with another five girls tied together. Shivering and trembling up at her in terror. With a quick clear of her throat, Rednic turned fully around and bowed his head respectfully.

"These wretches better be worth waking me from my nap, Rednic," she snarled.

"Many apologizes, Lady Dimitrescu, but I figured the more maidens I gathered from the village, the happier you'd be. These five I have brought, especially you will find to be a grand treat. They had just gone through a ritual at the church."

"So?" Alcina said, already growing bored.

"They had taken a chastity immersion."

Alcina's eyes quickly lit up. A smile gracing her crimson lips.

"Well, that is certainly a treat, Rednic. A much appreciated gesture."

"It is but a reminder of my devotion to you."

"You never fail to meet my every expectation. A rare occurrence considering your gender, nonetheless, you shall be rewarded. Bring these maidens to my private chambers and drain them in the bath. I think I will enjoy this little gift after my nap."

"Yes, my lady."

Alcina turned back in the direction of her bedchambers, ducking partially through the door and almost hitting her head off the top of the door frame from her growing weariness. Once she got inside, Alcina stared at the bed and released a heavy sigh.

"Oh, Daniela."

Daniela was completely sprawled out and taking up the whole bed, while Bela was sleeping quite literally on the edge and about to fall off.

Alcina easily scooping Daniela up in her arms, slid herself into the bed first and set Daniela back down in her original spot. Her child snuggling right up against her, Alcina gently patted her back and then reached over to pull Bela back into the bed before she went crashing to the floor.

The touch of her mother made Bela open her eyes and then turn around to face her.

"Mother."

"Shh, go back to sleep," Alcina said, patting her bottom.

The question was on the tip of her tongue, but she resisted the urge to ask. Observing her mother could barely keep her eyes open, Bela placed a kiss to her cheek and rested her head on her mother's shoulder. The warmth of their bodies and the fire making the room very cozy. Lulling the three into a pleasant sleep even with Daniela's occasional twitching, it did not wake Alcina.

The hours slipped by and Alcina was the first to awaken. Realizing she had overslept about an hour longer then she wanted, she carefully got off the bed and nearly tripped over Cassandra who had snuck in at some point and decided to make herself comfortable on the floor. Alcina plucked her little huntress off the floor and set her down in the bed.

Alcina knew Cassandra would have a conniption fit once she found herself snuggled in-between her sisters, which brought a smile to her lips.

She walked with that smile glued on her face. Nodding occasionally to the maids who were already getting started on their chores. The smell of a scrumptious dinner being prepared in the kitchen wafting throughout the castle.

"Daniela! Get off me!"

The tranquility broken by the abrupt shouts of her daughters. Daniela's voice suddenly ringing out shrilly, making Alcina cringe and glance back in the direction of the Hall of Four.

"Mother!" Daniela came gliding right up to her, fingers clenching at her nightgown and chin quivering.

"What is it, dearest?" Alcina said, keeping her voice steady in order not to upset her youngest further.

"Cassandra shoved me off the bed! Then she started to call me names."

"Did she now?" Alcina said, resting her hand on top of her red mane.

"Yes, and now Bela is arguing with her and… and…"

SMASH!

Alcina released a heavy sigh, watching Bela and Cassandra from the top of the staircase having a shoving match. This was normal for Cassandra to become physical when angered and hit her siblings, but not Bela.

"ENOUGH!" Alcina boomed, the two sisters stopping and looking up at where their mother stood at the top of the steps. "Cassandra go to your room!"

"Me?! Why? I did nothing wrong!"

There were no words from Alcina. One menacing look and the huntress bitterly conceded, though she threw Bela one last nasty look. A warning their match was not over. Bela merely crossed her arms, the fight already dismissed as she walked up the steps to her mother.

"Be sure you join us for dinner, Cassandra! Forty-five minutes from now!"

Cassandra did not answer.

Alcina rubbed at her temples, turning away and heading in the direction of her private chamber when she said over her shoulder:

"Bela, Daniela. Get yourselves ready for dinner. I will meet you in the dining hall in forty-five minutes…"

"Yes, Mother," they both said, simultaneously.

{-}

Cassandra had not arrived for dinner.

Alcina felt much disappointment in her middle child. She had hoped Cassandra had finally settled in and would start to act a bit more like Bela, but from the exchange she observed earlier, Cassandra appeared to be just her same old self.

'Patience,' Alcina told herself. 'Change does not happen overnight. She will come around. I am sure of it, but I am afraid I must punish her for her absence. I would permit tardiness, but I cannot excuse this.'

She smiled at Bela who was quietly eating her food. Dabbing at her lips every once in a while and then taking a sip from her goblet. Then there was Daniela who was…

Alcina shoulders dropped slightly. The child making a huge mess of her food. Getting it all over her face and on the table. At times she would even start playing with it, which Alcina would not tolerate. Scolding her harshly.

'One step forward… twenty steps back.'

All remained quiet and peaceful until Daniela unexpectedly zipped out from her chair and under the table. Both Alcina and Bela quirking a brow at one another, raised the table cloth to find Daniela now seated underneath the table with a big fluffy ball in her arms.

"Daniela, what in the name of Mother Miranda are you doing? Get up from there this instant!"

"It is beautiful, Mother. Oh, may I keep it? Please!" she begged.

"Keep what?" Alcina said, suddenly sneezing.

Daniela crawling back up into her seat, held up in the air a fluffy brown cat. Its green eyes staring down at the table and then at Alcina who sneezed again.

"Where did that come from?" Bela asked, picking up what was meant to be Cassandra's napkin and handing it to her mother, whose eyes were now watering.

"Get that filthy beast out of here immediately!"

"No, please, Mother!" Daniela begged, holding the cat tightly against her chest. "I will take care of it. I-I will teach it to hunt rats and and feed it. Clean it."

"Danie—" Alcina started and went into a fit of sneezes.

In that moment Cassandra entered into the room. No one noticed her presence as Alcina continued to be attacked by her cat allergy, Daniela crying and begging her mother to keep it, and Bela trying to come up with a solution to make both her mother and sister happy.

"And they accuse me of being the insane one…" she tutted, spinning right back around and leaving the room.