Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. This chapter will focus a bit more on the youngest Dimitrescu, Daniela. While Alcina is to figure out how to bring Cassandra and Bela out of their misery and unite them. How will she go about doing this? Torture? A party of sorts? All of the above? Thanks as always for reading!

The fight was never brought up again. The sisters steered clear of one another for the time being unless it was breakfast, lunch, dinner or tea time. It was then did things get very awkward. Neither one spoke. Simply eating and drinking while they listened to Daniela tell their mother about the new art project she had started.

Of course the tenseness did not go unnoticed by the youngest Dimitrescu either. Once she had stopped speaking, the room fell uncomfortably quiet. Not even Alcina began a conversation with Bela or Cassandra. Clearly something else had happened between the three, but what that was Daniela did not know, nor did she dare ask. She did not like this feeling. Her family seeming to come apart at the seams.

"What should we do, Pus-Pus?" She inquired the cat. The two back in the nursery where the animal was curled on her mistress's bed, purring. "Oh, well, I guess the only thing I can do is finish your portrait. Now hold very still." Daniela completely consumed by her project had not heard her mother's footsteps approaching.

Daniel—" Alcina suddenly sneezed, a lapse of thought upon forgetting the damn beast. Where the hell was it anyway? Ah! She spotted it on Daniela's bed. The cat's big yellow eyes fixed on her. 'It looks like Cassandra.'

"Hello, Mother," Daniela said, tongue partially out of her mouth as she continued to concentrate on her picture.

Alcina did not say anything for a moment, watching Daniela continue to draw… it was none other than a sketch of the cat, but Alcina could not help but admire the detail. How Daniela masterfully captured the animals features. From the photographic look of its fur to the extreme, life-like detail to the cat's eyes; she seized it all.

"What do you think? I was just doodling and planning before I started to use paints."

"This is your practice sheet?" Alcina said, jaw dropping.

"Yes," Daniela looked up at her, cocking her head to the side. "Why? Do you think I should keep working on it?"

"No," Alcina said. "Give me a moment."

Out the door she went and returned ten minutes later with a box in hand.

"What is it?" Daniela said, jumping off the bed to get a look.

"Oh just a little gift I found," Alcina said, finally giving the box to Daniela who tore the top right off to find an entire paint kit inside.

"Mother! Oh Mother this is perfect! Thank you," Daniela set the box down on the bed and embraced her.

"I am glad you like it," Alcina said, the paint kit having been taken off one of the maidens she had recently drained in the cellar.

"Look, Pus-Pus!" Daniela said. "You will be able to have your own portrait, too!"

The cat released a heavy yawn.

"She says thank you, too, Mother." Daniela then paused, staring up at her mother with a sudden frown.

"What is it?"

Daniela bit her bottom lip afraid to speak her mind so openly to her mother, though Alcina could always tell what was going on in her youngest's mind. She reached down and rested her hand on the top of her beautiful red hair.

'My Daniela. You are so very kind, and carry a sensitivity the others lack within your heart and soul.' She stroked her fingers through her daughter's hair, smiling at the sight of Daniela leaning into her touch. A light purr audible. "Things will return to normal, dearest, and know that we are a family. We will always love one another. Even if we fight. Understood?"

"Yes, Mother," Daniela said, giggling when Alcina leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"You go on and have fun with your paint." Alcina started to scrunch up her nose, feeling another sneeze attack creeping up on her. She took one final look at her youngest before exiting the room, when the sneeze finally exploded out of her.

{…}

Journal Entry:

The castle has never felt so dismal. My children are depressed. Nothing I do seems to liven their spirits. No matter how much entertainment I bestow to them they remain aloof. Even my Cassandra who never fails to show her enthusiasm when going down to the cellar appears distracted; distant. I know snapping at them will only cause the situation to worsen, but I grow tired and frustrated. Daniela tries to keep things lively and cheerful, but she too is losing her spark. Bela and Cassandra's dour attitudes are draining her of life. I must think of something to do to bring them back to life…

Wait a moment. Yes! Yes that is it! I look back in my journal notes and see my children's 'birth day' is growing closer. How wonderful! This could not have happened at a more dire time. They will be overjoyed, or at least I hope they will be. I will throw a party for them. There will be dancing and a full orchestra…, but I must first inquire Mother Miranda for permission. If she allows for me to move forward with this celebration, I will have much work to do, which will mean more staffing to help. Rednic will need to go down to the village and collect more hands for me.

Alcina could already feel her spirits lifting, though she tried not to get her hopes too high. Even if Mother Miranda denied her, she would still plan something for them.

"Nothing left to do, but get it over with," she mused, already seated in her private chamber and picking up the phone. She took a deep breath in, collecting her thoughts and dialed her mother's number.

"I see nothing wrong with that, Alcina," Mother Miranda said. "Though I worry about whom you will invite from the outside. As you no doubt understand outsiders are not welcome."

"Of course, Mother Miranda. It will be very exclusive, you are on the top of the invitation list."

Once Alcina had hung up with Mother Miranda, she got right to work on the invitations. Sending them out to former clients and others she had met over the years at the castle. All of notable status, of course, and who praised her unique wine making enterprise. Greedy fools. Just as corrupt as herself. Not caring how the product is produced, only in how much money they will gain from it. The reason why she would invite them to this prestigious gathering.

She could barely contain her excitement. Wanting nothing more than to tell her daughters, but no. She could not spoil this for them.

"I must tell Anya to have the maids clean every square inch of the castle, and rearrange the furniture. I plan to at least have fifty people here, which as I said before, will require more staffing. The Abbesses next shipment will not arrive in time, therefore, I will need to get Rednic to draw in at least ten girls. There may not be time enough to teach them all the basics of serving, but all they will need to do is serve and smile." Alcina said softly with a growing smile. "And then they will serve an even greater purpose."

She remained in the study for the remainder of the day. Nearly missing dinner if Bela hadn't appeared to inform her of the time.

"What has your attention, Mother?" Bela asked, standing behind her mother now, who was stuffing the invitations into a drawer.

"Nothing that concerns you, my beloved," Alcina said, dabbing her on the nose. "Come it is time to dine."

Bela telling Alcina of the progress she was making below with the maidens, the two entered into the dining hall to find Cassandra and Daniela already waiting for them. Cassandra listening with her eyes closed as Daniela talked lively about her finished portrait of Pus-Pus.

"… and now I am going to start on a portrait of Mother."

"Is that so?" Alcina hummed.

"Hello, Mother!" Daniela said, starting to blush. "I mean, I haven't really started it yet. I still need to draw it out first and work on the colors. It is quite the project."

"Indeed it is. How long did it take you to finally finish the portrait of that beast?"

"Her name is Pus-Pus, Mother, and it took me a good two months, I think."

"A portrait of a person will take much longer than that."

"I know, but I have all the time in the world."

"That you do," Alcina winked at her, taking her seat and snapping her fingers for the maidens to begin serving them.

The food was served piping hot, all four digging right in. Draining their goblets of wine and having them refilled to the brim. Alcina monitoring Daniela's intake along with Cassandra's, not quite trusting them to know when enough was enough, she couldn't help but sit back and watch them. Cassandra quietly dabbing at her mouth with a napkin before picking up her fork and digging in for more. Daniela wolfing down everything on her plate.

"Dan—"

"Hey, baby br- Daniela, slow down."

Alcina automatically about to reprimand Cassandra, held her tongue at the last second when Daniela said:

"Sorry, Cass."

"No one is going to steal your food," Cassandra went on. "Just slow down and take a moment to enjoy your meal. Savor every juicy flavor…, and use your napkin once in a while."

Alcina shot a glance over to Bela, who raised both her eyebrows at her. Neither expected to be witnessing this remarkable interaction.

"You rarely ever use yours," Daniela chided her.

Cassandra leaned in closer to Daniela, whispering into her ear.

"Only when Mother is watching."

That got Daniela into a fit of giggles, making Cassandra grin as she sat up and looked straight at her mother, who raised her goblet up to Cassandra in acknowledgement before taking a sip.

'At last we are making progress…'