Hello everyone! The battle continues with Cassandra against her failed experiment, Priscilla, who has now become a huge moroaica. While Bela remains unconscious from her battle with Charlotte. Alcina must do everything in her power to once again get her home and family back. Thanks as always for reading!
In the cellar, Cassandra was having much fun tormenting her opponent. The thing was clumsy and had no strategy. It was just swinging its arms about, though it did have remarkable strength. Cassandra materializing away just as the creature swung at her and created a giant hole in the rock wall. Not to mention it had long nails that looked more like knifes on each finger.
"Pathetic," Cassandra sneered, once again materializing out of the way as it tried to snatch her. "Were you the one who consumed the maidens in the A cells? I bet you did. That round gut of yours is where the evidence no doubt rests." She giggled, gripping the handle of the knife tighter. "Well? Let's not keep the audience waiting. Time to pull back the curtains and see who is hiding behind it. I wonder if we will find a charlatan in there with them."
Cassandra soared straight at the creature. It raised both arms high into the air, fists clenched as if prepared to strike her.
"Not going to w-" Cassandra was cut off when the monstrosity swiftly kicked her in the gut. Sending her soaring straight up to the ceiling and slamming into it. She fell back down to the ground, coughing and laughing. "You… you wretched shit. You tricked me. You had me focused on those ghastly arms and attacked me from below. So, there is some brain cells in there, my precious Prissy."
The creature started to walk towards her, grinning.
"What is so amusing, ugly? Hmm? Do you truly think cornering me has given you the upper hand?" Cassandra giggled madly, launching herself at the creature. Ducking just before the creature swiped at her head. "I gather you do not realize that I am the deadliest of my sisters. The huntress! And you have trespassed into my domain. Destroyed all my precious toys and now I will see to it you pay for it!" she slashed her knife at the creatures arms, smiling as she made contact and watched the blood ooze from the wounds.
The creature roared out with annoyance, forced to back away and into a corner. Giving Cassandra the opportunity to slice the monstrosity directly in the stomach.
"Time to die!"
The creature; however, did not react the way Cassandra wanted her to. Instead she started to make a clicking sound. It was rapid and deafening, like the sound of thousands of bats chattering all at once.
Cassandra growled out in pain, covering her ears to stop the sound, but that seemed to only make it worse.
"Shut up! SHUT UP!" Cassandra roared crazed, raising her knife high into the air and charging at the creature.
It stood its ground and grinned, infuriating Cassandra further.
"DIE!"
CLINK!
The blade and the creature's claws crashed together, sparks flying when Cassandra pulled away and continued to attack, while the creature easily parried her swings.
'Damn it!' Cassandra thought. 'I am the superior being here! So why the hell is this thing managing to keep up with me?!'
Clink! Clink! Clink! Snap!
The blade snapped right off. Cassandra stared at the handle, stunned. Not believing any of this was happening. How could this be happening?!
Cassandra was then grabbed and hoisted up into the air. She gasped, now staring straight into those yellow eyes. The creatures face just inches from hers as it examined her closely. Trying to decide whether this morsel was worth eating.
"You piece of filth!" Cassandra barked. "You dare touch me!? You will suffer for th—" Cassandra gasped, her mouth open as the creature stabbed straight into her stomach. "T-that won't hurt m-me for long…"
The creature pulled its claws out and stared at the wound, perplexed. It could not understand why this thing was not bleeding like the others. Why and how it was still alive and talking.
Over and over it stabbed into her stomach, but nothing was happening, well, as far as the creature could see. For Cassandra, though she could feel herself weakening fast. The cold of the cellar starting to weaken her. The reason why none of them lingered long below unless it was a warm spring or summer day.
'I cannot take any more hits. If this thing keeps stabbing me…' she closed her eyes and for the first time prayed. Prayed to her mother to help. To come and rescue her. She took in a deep lungful of air and screeched as loud as she could. "MOTHER!"
{-}
Alcina tossed Charlotte away and went straight to Bela's side. She had not seen what happened, but the sight of her child's head…
"Bela, oh my beloved."
There was no response.
"You will be all right."
Carefully she picked up her eldest in her arms and rushed her into her bedchamber. Once inside Alcina set her down on the bed and checked her head. Mainly touching the parasite to ensure it was alive. Yes. She could feel it pulsating. Low, but it was there.
As gently as she could, she started to wipe away the blood covering the side of her head. Talking to her daughter in an effort to get her to wake up, but Bela still did not stir.
"I must call Mother Miranda…," Alcina said, her voice shaky. She was afraid. Afraid, because she did not know what to do to help Bela.
The door behind her creaked open, making her swivel around and see it was Daniela. She remained by the door partially hidden.
"M-Mother?"
Poor timing on Daniela's part.
"What are you doing?"
"I-I-" tears flooded her eyes, which made Alcina's patience wan even faster.
"Go to your room and stay there. I have other matters of urgency to attend to!" She pointed at the door. "Do as I say. Now!"
Daniela sniffled, materializing away and leaving Alcina to once again figure out how to help Bela, when she could hear Cassandra. She was calling for her down in the cellar.
"What now?!" she looked at Bela, cursing at herself for sending Daniela away as she did. She could have stayed and kept an eye on Bela… "Damn it. I will return soon, Bela."
She left the room and headed for the cellar. Having known already Cassandra was in danger, but in her arrogance she believed her middle child could take care of the problem.
'If she is having trouble, what is it that is down there?'
Her steps quickened. Cassandra's essence was weakening. What was happening to her?
'M-Mother.'
"Cassandra!" Alcina managing to squeeze through the door, causing the frame and wall to crack in the process. "I told you. I told you never to push yourself too far." Alcina walked down the steps and could hear clicking. She rounded the corner and stopped short. Observing a giant monstrosity with Cassandra in its grasp. Over and over it was stabbing into her stomach. Dead flies and Cassandra's dark blood having created a pool underneath her.
Alcina released a great roar of rage, which made the thing look up from Cassandra and then toss her into a cell. The action was the final act. Alcina extended all ten claws and stormed up to the creature.
It began to click, but the sound had very little effect on Alcina. Confused to why this woman was unaffected.
"Die!"
Alcina sliced at the creature with such speed, the creature had no time to react. Straight down the middle and swiftly chopping its head clean off. Blood spurting out of the open wound, while guts and what remained of the maidens it had consumed spilled to the floor.
Alcina stepped over the mess and turned her focus over to Cassandra, who was still in the cell, though she was sitting up and conscious.
"Cassandra," she said, relieved.
"Mother…, y-you came after all."
"Come to me."
Cassandra was a bit shaky standing up, but soon she was cradled in her mother's arms, staring down at the product she had created.
"So she did eat them. Just as I thought."
"What do you mean 'she'?"
Cassandra looked back at her mother, trying to give her an innocent smile. One Alcina was not buying.
"You have much explaining to do."
Cassandra went to speak; however, a pain in her stomach made her smile vanish. Face pinched in pain.
"Once you have healed," Alcina added.
Cassandra said nothing, resting her head against her mother's breast as Alcina walked out of the cellar and to the bedroom.
"Mother?"
"What?"
"Promise me you will not tell the others I called out to you for aide, especially Bela."
"Ashamed? You should not be, though I fear Bela will not be speaking any time soon."
"What do you mean?"
"You will see momentarily."
Into the bedchamber they entered, Cassandra placed down into the chair, stared in open mouth shock at the state of her elder sister. In fact, for the briefest moment Cassandra thought she was dead. She did not move. Her breathing shallow. Alcina standing by the bed and checking over Bela's head once again. It already looked a little better thanks to returning her to the warmth, but still.
"How did she get this way? What did this to her?"
"Our old friend, Charlotte."
"Who?"
"Do you recall the night you had come to my rescue? You had killed that Bridget."
"I think so… there are so many I have had."
"Just like the one below?" Alcina said.
Cassandra could not meet her mother's gaze when she turned back around. Instead she focused down on her belly. Seeing the wound had healed completely. No more pain. The bugs having done the hard work and sealed up the punctures.
"I will wager she was an experimentation, yes? You were meddling with my special syringes."
Cassandra gave a small nod.
"I appreciate your honesty, Cassandra. I do. There are to be no secrets between the four of us…"
"Yes, Mother," Cassandra said.
"I am going to check on Daniela. Remain here until I return."
Cassandra watched her go in silence, eyelids growing heavy. The fight had taken much out of her, how pathetic she felt.
'I was no stronger than the maidens. To be nearly brought to my knees by that thing. I must do better. I will never be bested by anyone or thing ever again.'
Daniela was seated on her bed when she heard the familiar, or rather unmistakable, gait of her mother. Each step producing a torrent of sweat to formulate on her face. After their last interaction, Daniela feared her mother had returned to continue reprimanding her. Or perhaps tell her what had happened to Bela. Why had she been laying in the bed? Was she hurt?
The door creaked open.
Daniela felt the urge to leap under her covers and hide herself, or at least try to make it look like she were asleep.
Too late.
"Daniela."
"M-Mother."
She crossed the room to where Daniela sat in two strides, taking a seat on Bela's bed and sighing heavily.
"It has been a truly awful day, has it not?"
Daniela did not know what to say at first. Staring up at her mother and seeing the exhaustion etched into her face. Her eyes void of vivacity. Daniela wondered if her own eyes looked the same as her mother's.
"I suppose they cannot all be good, can they Mother?"
A hint of a smile appeared at the corners of her lips at her child's candid words.
"No," she shook her head, removing her hat and setting it down on Bela's pillow, her hand lingering on the spot. "That is absolutely correct, dearest."
"Is Bela all right?"
"She will be," Alcina nodded. "You do not need to worry about her."
"Is it my fault?"
Alcina narrowed her eyes at Daniela to even think such a thing.
"Of course not, what would make you say such a thing?"
"Because she went to search for Pus-Pus…, or rather what was left of h-" Daniela bit down on her bottom lip to stifle her emotions. Not wanting to cry once again in the presence of her mother.
"Daniela, do you think Bela would blame you for this?"
"No," she sniffled, rubbing at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Cassandra would."
"Never mind about our Cassandra. She already knows her part in this. We all must now work together to get Bela back on her feet, and I will need your help now more than ever."
"I will try."
"That is all I ever ask." Alcina motioned for her child to come to her, pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace. Needing this little moment more than Daniela did. "Where do I hold you, Daniela?"
"In your heart, forever," she whispered back, resting her cheek against her mother's shoulder.
The two remained locked in one another's arms until Daniela had fallen asleep. Alcina tucking her in and placing a kiss to her cheek, headed in the direction of her private chamber to call Mother Miranda. She had been debating whether or not to get her involved. Not wanting to appear incapable of putting out her own fires, she wanted Mother Miranda to check the parasite. Just to ensure there was nothing else wrong that she may have overlooked.
"… I will be there in the morrow, Daughter," Mother Miranda had answered as soon as Alcina had called her.
"Thank you, Mother Miranda, I apologize again for the lateness of my call."
Alcina hung up with renewed hope. Praying Bela would be well and no more would be wrong with her internally. She looked out to the terrace. The sky still heavy with night. She could see the stars clearly. All the constellations.
"I best return to Cassandra and Bela… what a long night this will be."
{…}
The next morning:
The fire crackled in the hearth. Cassandra remained in the chair and watched alongside her mother as Mother Miranda examined Bela's head. She was silent for the majority of the examination, making Alcina all the more anxious.
"Daughter," Mother Miranda motioned for Alcina to follow her into the other room to speak in private. Once Alcina closed the door behind herself did Mother Miranda begin: "Her skull is badly fractured. That being said, the parasite is unharmed due to a shell that acts as a defense to protect itself. She will live, Daughter."
Alcina released a heavy sigh of relief, lowering her head to Mother Miranda in respect.
"Thank you."
"I will add that some of her memories may be disrupted. Some things she may recall and other things will be erased."
"What do you mean? She will not remember us?"
"I cannot say, Daughter. When Bela awakens there is no telling what she will remember and what she won't, but do not forget my offer. If she were to awaken with memories of her past, I will erase them for her. It will be the best thing. After all, it is what happened to you, Daughter, though you were able to cope. I fear it will only cause further substantial issues with she."
Her passed life. Alcina had not even considered that was a possibility. Then again, there had been that day Daniela inquired the question. Seeing the portrait of them before the parasite had been implanted. Her story having seemed sufficient enough, but now she was beginning to fear.
"Yes, altering her memory will be the best thing."
Mother Miranda nodded in affirmation.
"Very well. I have done all I can to heal Bela's skull and the rest is up to her. I do not need to tell you to keep a close eye on her. Allow her time to rest… Oh, and one final thing, Alcina, where is the creature that attacked Cassandra and Bela?"
"The Lycan is out in the courtyard and the other is still in the cellar," Alcina said. "Allow me to show you…"
The two walked in silence. Entering into the dining hall and to the direction of the cellar. The stink of the things rotting carcass was already filling the space.
"Here."
Alcina pointed to where the creature's split body remained. Mother Miranda walked around the creature, curiously. Always intrigued when an anomaly appeared in the experiments.
"Cassandra had been giving the girl one of the special syringes. The one you had given me with the clear liquid inside."
"Do you know how much she was giving to her? How many times a day?"
"No," Alcina said. "But what I cannot understand is why she transformed so much more violently than the others."
Mother Miranda leaned down to get a good look at its insides. Thanks to Alcina slicing it in two, she could see how the organs had almost fused together. Creating one giant organ in the center of its chest.
Mother Miranda stood back up.
"I will speak with Cassandra, and also I will have Rednic bring the remains back to my laboratory."
"As you wish, Mother Miranda."