Hello everyone! So, Daniela has her cat, Pus-Pus. I just love the idea of Daniela having a cat like Nicole with her kitty, Aslan. And I cannot stop giggling at the idea of Alcina having cat allergies, but will the cat survive long with Cassandra on the prowl? Any who, Alcina tortures a fellow (Warning: it does get a bit graphic) and uncovers Cassandra has been performing a very old and gruesome neurosurgical treatment on a maiden. Can you guess what this is? Hope you guys enjoy

Daniela had shut herself in the nursery with her cat. Ensuring to keep it as far away from her mother as possible, Alcina's sneezing had finally subsided, but her eyes continued to water.

"You must get rid of it, Bela," she had snapped at her eldest.

"Mother…" Bela sighed. "Daniela will be devastated if I do. Besides, there is no possible way the beast will survive very long here anyway."

Alcina knew precisely what Bela was getting at. If Cassandra caught hold of it, the creature would not last a second…

"Well, just be sure to keep that thing away from me. For I will kill it if it comes anywhere near I," Alcina said.

"Yes, Mother," Bela said, fighting back a grin. She knew her mother would yield to the situation. Even if it meant her own discomfort, Alcina would do anything to make her children happy. Even letting Daniela keep the damn cat. "I will be up in the study going over paperwork, will you join me?"

"No, I think I will go downstairs and join Cassandra. She is still tormenting a stupid man-thing Rednic has brought in for me."

Bela wrinkled her nose.

"That slime ball truly adores you Mother. He answers to your every beck and call. Even goes so far as to this."

Alcina now looked disgusted by her words.

"What an awful thing to say. My god, it makes me want to rush and take a blood bath."

"Forgive me, Mother," Bela said, lowering her head.

"It matters not, I have plans for tea around two. Collect me if I am not up by then, my darling."

"Of course," Bela said, glancing up at the feel of her mother's fingers caressing her cheek before she turned away.

'Now,' Alcina thought. 'It is time to gather information on Charlotte. Rednic believes this man has seen her, but I am rather pessimistic. That being said, even if he gives me no information, he will still be of other uses.' She tittered. 'Shall I torture him slow and painfully? Or straight to the point?'

Meanwhile, Cassandra was gliding around inspecting her prior victims, especially that sorry faced maiden. She looked rather familiar, but she could not place her. So many blood bags entered the castle it was hard to remember all. Quite frankly they were all a blur to Cassandra. Just little piggy's to be prepared for slaughter. She was not in charge of inspecting them. That was Mother and Bela's job. Her job was to help their mother prepare them. Drain their blood, extract the organs and carve them up. Dinner is served!

She licked her lips.

"This is making me oh so very thirsty…" she giggled, coming to a halt in front of the cell. She could smell their fear. Hear the beat of their hearts picking up speed. "Hello, hello, hello." She materialized into the cell, her bugs swarming around the girls and making them cry out. "Mmm." Cassandra sighed, some of the bugs taking a small sample of their blood. "Not bad!"

"Priscilla! Get behind me."

"Ooh, so brave. Such heroism, but that will not save your blood!"

Cassandra grabbed the girl around the throat and bit her shoulder. The girl screaming out in pain, she raised her fist and punched Cassandra in the head.

"Now that was naughty! Such disobedient animals you are!" Cassandra punching the girl back, sent her slamming into the wall where she crumbled to the floor. Priscilla running to her side, checking to see if she was all right, looked back over to where Cassandra stood laughing. "Now then, Priscilla. I think it is time you and I had a little 'girl talk'. Come along with me. You and I can speak in private!"

"Cassandra!"

She raised her head upon the sound of her mother calling to her, eyes glinting.

"This will have to wait. How unfortunate…"

"Cassandra!" Alcina called for her again.

Cassandra found her mother within the confines of the workshop. Observing her mother within to see her snooping through a book.

"Mother?"

"Well, well. I see you have been reading through that book again," Alcina said, picking up an icepick and hammer. "Lobotomies?"

"Yes," Cassandra said, keeping her words to a minimum. She did not want her mother to find out she had been practicing on some of the maidens. One in particular had survived. The one she was keeping in the cage only a few feet from where her mother stood.

The last time she had checked on the blood bag her face had been puffy and swollen. Fresh blood trickling out her nostrils, but the one thing that caught Cassandra's eye had been her forehead. It had been expanding.

"Why are you down here, Mother?" Cassandra inquired, trying to change the subject before her mother could inquire her further.

"I do not care for your tone, Cassandra," Alcina said, closing the book with a 'snap'.

"Forgive me, Mother," Cassandra said, her chin lowered submissively, though she kept her gaze fixed on her mother as she eyed around the room.

She was standing so close to the cage! If her mother turned around and noticed the sheet covering it… Her eyes never missed anything.

"You are quiet, precious, is something the matter?" Alcina said, setting the book down on top of the cage.

"Nothing is wrong, Mother," Cassandra said, her mother starting to walk out.

Cassandra quickly standing where her mother had just stood, spun around and jumped at the feel of her pet's fingers reach through the bar and touch her.

"I am off to work with our guest. Behave yourself."

"I will try," Cassandra replied.

"Good girl," Alcina said, patting her cheek.

Off she went to her next destination, the man-thing was already inside. Chained up and hanging limply from the restraints around his wrists. He was unconscious…, well not for long.

Alcina poked through a shelf of nasty looking tools and picked out a clipper. Normally these would be used to clip the hooves of pigs, or a human who needed a sudden wake up call.

"Time to wake up," Alcina cooed, using the clippers and cutting off both his big toes. Blood squirting profusely out of the wounds, his eyes flashed open and out came a scream. "Shh, there, there. Breathe or you will pass out again and then I will be forced to continue to cut more of your little piggy's off." She laughed.

Breathing in ragged gasps, he began to squirm about frantically and then caught sight of the massive woman towering over him. Her yellow eyes glowing in the gloom against her pale complexion made her appearance look even more demonic.

"Now, then," Alcina said. "We are going to play a little game. A question and answer kind of game. There are no right or wrong answers, but that does not mean you cannot lose, or rather lose something. For example, what is your favorite color?"

"Fuck you!" he roared.

"That is not a color. Colorful language, but I am afraid that does not count," Alcina admonished, taking the clippers and removing both his pinky toes next. "Mmm, shall we try this again? Only I am afraid the questions will get tougher for you. Are you ready to be a little more compliant?"

He grunted, groaning in agony.

"I require words. I do not speak beast."

He closed his eyes, swallowing before he spoke:

"W-what questions?"

"All I require is information about a maiden named Charlotte. Have you seen her in the village?"

"I do not know."

"My dear, oh my dear. We have not exactly gotten off on the right…" Alcina eyed his toes. "Foot, let us not continue to act the fool. Your plead of ignorance will not save you. I suppose you can say, 'the truth will set you free'. You need only answer my questions and the pain will stop. I will even release you back into the world outside, but only with the information first."

The man was staring down at his mutilated feet. Unable to tear his gaze away from the crimson dripping from his missing digits and 'splatting' to the floor.

"Will you let me go if I answer you?" he whispered.

"Perhaps you will leave here alive, but that all depends on the answers you give me."

"The o-only thing I know is she has been seen roaming around."

"How long ago?"

"Recently. A week ago."

Alcina puckered her lips, wondering if the man-thing's words were the truth.

"Has she been seen hiding away with any one of the villagers?"

"I-I do not know."

Alcina leaned over the man. Baring her blood stained teeth at him.

"Do you wish to be free or not?"

The man swallowed thickly, sweat pouring off his face.

"I-I swear I do not know anything else!"

"You are lying," she said, extending one claw and hovering it over his eye. "Speak the truth."

"I am speaking the truth. I could give you names of others who have seen more than I! I could fetch them for you."

"Names are a very good place to start."

"Well…, there is Sylvia. The old hag who roams about. She sees and hears everything in this village. I-I could get her and—"

Alcina at first had been truly hopeful; however. A fit of laughter burst from her. A crazed look sweeping over her countenance, which shifted to immediate rage. She stabbed her claw into his eye. Twisting and turning her finger while the man wiggled frantically against his restraints. His screams so loud and inhuman it caught the attention of Cassandra, who materialized outside the door and watched on, smiling.

"Stupid, useless wretch! Every. Single. One. Of. YOU!"

The man suddenly stopped screaming, his mouth hanging agape as he stared up at Alcina. She had extended all the claws on her right hand that were now caked with blood. His blood. He gasped, just barely managing to look at himself and seeing his stomach had been sliced open. His entrails hanging out.

Splat. Splat.

His blood dripped off the edges of the table.

"Cassandra!" Alcina barked, retracting her claws.

"Yes, Mother?" Cassandra said, watching her mother carefully.

"Deal with him."

"Of course," Cassandra said, giddy with growing excitement. Time to make another scarecrow!

{-}

Back upstairs Alcina went straight to her private chamber and attempted to call Mother Miranda, who did not answer. She cursed slamming the phone down and making her way to the study. She needed a drink. Damn that Charlotte! To have been deceived by a human! The humiliation! And no doubt Mother Miranda thought even littler of her for this. While the other lords. Those weak, pathetic ingrates got together, laughing and sneering at her, especially Heisenberg. Worthless, ugly, destitute, revolting-!

She suddenly sneezed.

"Curses!" Alcina stopped in front of the study door, able to hear Daniela talking to Bela about the beast.

"She already killed two rats! Isn't that wonderful?"

"Yes, Daniela," Bela said, focused entirely on the papers in front of her.

"Oh, Mother!" Daniela skipped up to her and Alcina instantly sneezed. The scent of the damn cat lingering heavily on her youngest.

"Daniela," Alcina said, about to sneeze and managing to stifle it by pinching her nose. "I-I need you to go and inform Anya to serve the tea in here today."

"Yes, Mother!" Daniela said, merrily.

"Thank you, dearest," Alcina said, not wanting to sound relieved Daniela had left; however, her eyes were already starting to water like before.

Daniela oblivious to her mother's ailment, skipped right out.

"Ugh," Alcina groaned, taking a seat in her chair and removing her hat.

"You will need some medicine to combat this allergy of yours," Bela said.

"No, I will be—" Alcina sneezed again, causing a few papers to go flying off the desk. "Fine…, Bela fetch me a tall drink will you."

Bela smiled, getting up and doing as her mother wished.

"You are very kind, Mother. To allow Daniela to keep that cat despite your suffering," Bela said, pouring her mother a glass of wine.

"I do not recall giving her permission to do either of those things," Alcina said, taking the wine once Bela had returned.

"Very funny," Bela said, taking her seat beside her mother. "I take it the interrogation below was successful?"

Alcina did not answer.

Bela knew the silence meant failure. She would not press her mother, which was never a good idea, so she refocused her attention on the papers.

"Where is Cassandra?" Alcina asked a few minutes later. "And Daniela for that matter! Tea is to begin in ten minutes."

"I will fetch them for you."

Alcina said nothing, continuing to sip at her wine with that distant look appearing in her eyes.

Bela kissed her cheek, resting a hand on her shoulder before she exited the room. She could sense Daniela was now in the nursery, making Bela wonder if she had even gone downstairs to speak with Anya. And then there was Cassandra.

Cassandra…

Where had she disappeared to. She hated to get into altercations with her, but her stubbornness pushed Bela's buttons. The way she still did not listen at times. Like her mother, she could see a little difference in Cassandra after her near death experience. True she spent more time with them and obeyed better, but her pension for causing pain and being cruel to Daniela had not changed.

Which is what made Bela worry about the damn cat. The constant fear of finding the thing dead and Daniela in tears.

'I need to find her and have a word with her.'

"No Lady Pus-Pus this is not the right crest either…" Daniela was saying to the cat, that was laying right in Daniela's lap as she flipped through the book, as Bela entered into the room. The redhead looked up and smiled. "Hi Bela."

She waved.

"What are you doing?" Bela said.

"Just looking through this old history book. It shows the different regions in Romania and the crests, too, truly fascinating. I did not realize how many regions there are in Romania."

"Did you go and speak with Anya?"

Daniela just nodded, flipping to the next page.

Bela took a seat on Daniela's bed and watched her. Listening closely as Daniela started to explain the coat of arms and what region it belonged to.

"You know so much and remember it all just reading it once. Impressive," Bela said.

Daniela grinned, running her fingers through the cat's fur.

"She is purring."

Bela stared at the cat for a moment and could have sworn it was smiling in its sleep.

"Pus-Pus is taking a break from hunting. She reminds me of Cassandra," Daniela said, her grin starting to vanish then.

Bela knew where her thoughts were.

"She will not do anything to, ugh, Pus-Pus. I will speak with her."

"Speak with me about what?"

Both sisters looked up at the same time to see Cassandra standing in the doorway. Her lips coated with fresh blood. Yellow eyes going to each of their faces before landing on the cat in Daniela's lap.

Daniela pulled the cat protectively against herself while Bela got up and stood close to the redhead.

Cassandra cocked her head to the side.

"What the hell is that thing?"

"A friend of ours," Bela said. "And you will not touch a hair on her, do you understand? Mother has allowed the cat to remain here."

"I see," Cassandra said, crossing her arms. "Which is code for touch the thing and you will be sent to your room to think about what you have done." She laughed nastily, taking a step inside making Bela stand in front of Daniela.

"I mean it, Cass," Bela said. "This cat is precious to Daniela. Are you really so disturbed?"

"Enough of your lecture, Bela," Cassandra said. "I have not hurt the thing, have I? Nor has the thought even crossed my mind. All I wanted was to come in and take a nap, but I see that is not going to happen now."

"You are right," Bela said. "Because it is time for tea. You will join us as in the study as what Mother wishes."

Cassandra bowed her head in a low mocking way.

"Well, I will not keep Mother waiting."

Off she went leaving Daniela glued where she sat with the cat. Refusing to budge for fear Cassandra would turn right around and do something to Pus-Pus.

Bela knowing her mother was going to be furious with her, she beckoned for Daniela to follow her with the cat, the two entered into the Wine Room.

"Leave her in here and close the door. She will be safe," Bela said.

"Are you sure?" Daniela said, placing the cat down.

"Yes," Bela said. "She will be very comfortable in here."

Daniela saying goodbye to Pus-Pus, watched Bela tightly close the door before the two went to meet their mother and sister in the study for tea…

The sisters had just reached the door when the sound of Cassandra's voice broke the silence.

"Yes, Mother. I wish to have her as my personal servant."

"Who is she talking about?" Daniela whispered.

Bela motioned her to be quiet for a moment in order to hear more.

"This is indeed an usual request from you." The sisters could hear their mother now. "What makes this one different from all the others?"

"This one fought back. There is a fire in her blood. A war she wishes to wage against me, and I have answered her call. I want to break her. To crush and conquer!"

"I see," Alcina said. "You have found a rival." Truthfully this was a blessing. Perhaps now she would stop challenging Bela and bullying Daniela. Yes, this could even mellow her out. Mature her. "Very well, Cassandra, but there are a few things that must be set before this can happen."

"Of course, Mother. Thank you," Cassandra said, bowing her head. "She will be kept under a tight leash, I assure you. I have already made a collar just for her to wear. She will not be able to do /anything/ without me knowing."

Alcina chuckled at that.

'Now she is starting to really sound like me. Yes, I truly believe this will do her good.'

Outside the door, Bela waited another minute before she knocked and entered. The two staring at Cassandra, who was seated to Alcina's left and looking very pleased with herself.

"Bela, Daniela, I was worried you had lost your way."

"Forgive us, Mother," Bela said blushing at the criticism, she took a seat to Alcina's right with Daniela grabbing a chair and sitting beside her older sister.

"Reading books again?" Alcina said, nodding to Bela to begin pouring the blood tea.

"Yes, Mother. I was reading about the Romanian crests and history of the regions."

"Well, that does indeed sound quite fascinating. Thank you, Bela." Alcina took a sip, sighing contently as the warm liquid went down her throat and spread throughout her body.

Daniela kept on talking about the different crests, (Cassandra yawning very loudly and receiving a harsh look from Bela), Alcina listened on with a smile.

"Then there was one place in a region called, Dobrogea."

"Where is that?" Bela asked.

"It is a region near the Black Sea. The crest is of twin dolphins."

Alcina nearly spit out her tea when Daniela said this.

"Mother?" they all looked at her as she sputtered and quickly dabbed at her face with a napkin.

"Daniela, bring me the book where you found this crest."

"Now?"

"Yes."

Daniela materialized away.

"What exactly is the significance of this book?" Cassandra asked, taking a sip of her tea.

"It is not the book, but the crest Daniela has uncovered. You see, my dears, we may have found a very important clue as to who this mystery hunter is."

Cassandra quirked a brow still not quite following, while Bela was thinking long and hard about it.

Daniela reappeared back in the room five minutes later with the book already open to the page.

"Did I find something good, Mother?" Daniela asked, her eyes big and hopeful.

"Oh, you did more than that, dearest," Alcina said, reading through the paragraph on the page. "You have uncovered a valuable weapon we can use against our enemy." She tittered, all three girls leaning closer to their mother in anticipation.

What could it be? What kind of weapon?

"Well, Mother?" Daniela was bouncing up and down unable to contain herself. "Tell us! Tell us, pleeasseee!"

"His name…"

Bela frowned in thought.

"But did we not already collect this information months back?"

"Indeed, but now we have secured a location, which means we can pinpoint the clan this man comes from. Not to mention learn if there are more hunters scouring the region."

Cassandra listened on with indifference, piping up:

"Who cares about them. More little piggy's to be turned into scarecrows. I say let them come."

Alcina turned a cold eye on her. Having heard very similar words from Heisenberg, which did not leave a good taste in her mouth.

"May I remind you of what /one/ of those hunters did to you?"

Cassandra lowered her head, whispering.

"Sorry."

"I will call Mother Miranda and tell her of this information. Wonderful work, Daniela."

Daniela blushed, sipping at her tea uncertain what else to say.

'Let us hope she will pick up later on…' Alcina thought as she took a sip of her tea. 'I will not be left in the dark any longer on this. Considering I am the one who is doing all this hard work.'

{…}

That night Alcina had finally gotten through to Mother Miranda, starting off the conversation about the information on the hunter, when Mother Miranda stopped her. Finally telling her, and confirming the man-things words, that she had detained him. Continuing to relay the man had been bitten by a Lycan, but had not turned. She would keep him around to further experiment on.

"I thank you for all the extensive work you have put into researching on him. I am sure that information will come in handy when the time comes."

"You are most welcome Mother Miranda. I-"

"Mother! Mother!" Daniela came barging into the room with another book in hand and looking very excited.

"Alcina?"

"Forgive me, Mother M-" A sudden sneezed exploded out of her.

"Alcina!"

"Forgive—" She sneezed again.

"Mother!" Daniela whined. "Enough! No, no, Mother Miranda I was speaking to my youngest. Apologies. Yes. Thank you." She hung up the phone and stared coldly at Daniela, who instantly fell silence and took a big step back. "Daniela, you know better than to come in when I am on the phone, especially when it is Mother Miranda!"

"I am sorry, Mother," she said, eyes lowered to the floor.

Alcina sighed heavily, collecting herself for a second and then looking now at the book in her hand.

"What did you find, dearest?"

Daniela looked back up at her mother, walking up to the desk and placing it in front of her before she took another step back.

Alcina pulled the book closer as she read through the passage, her eyes filling with alarm at what it said. She then turned her attention to Daniela, who had been staring intently at her and then dropped her eyes.

'A poison? They procured some form of poison to destroy monsters!' she turned back to the passage and continued reading. 'The Dagger of Flowers it is called. It is seeped with countless toxins throughout the Eurasion continent. Could it be he was sent here with that dagger? No, impossible. Would he have not tried to use it already? Unless there is indeed another in this village. Someone who is part of this family and waiting for the right moment to strike.

A wave of fear swept over her.

Is he really the threat? Or is there someone else in the shadows waiting to spring themselves upon us? My daughters…' she stared at Daniela, the protectiveness; the deep motherly love for her and to keep her safe ever present. Always present. 'I will destroy this bastard if it is the last thing I do…'

Down in the village someone else was having this exact same thought. Standing in his study and staring down at a box with the insignia of the twin dolphins. His palms were sweaty, fingers twitching as he unlocked it and opened the lid where a dagger rested. The hunter had failed and now it was up to him. He would enact his vengeance against the monsters, and the first would be Lady Dimitrescu. It was she who had made her sick. The reason why she died.

'Just like your daughter, Matthias… only I could not speak the truth, but you my friend. You did that for me and look what happened to you. I am sorry you paid the price.'

"Rowan? Are you in there?"

"I will be right out," he called over his shoulder, looking at the dagger once more before shutting and locking it. "Soon."