Hello everyone! So we have hit the climax. Miriam is planning to make her move against Alcina, but she will not do it alone. No. The man is none other than Rowan. He, too, plans to avenge his wife and daughter with a dagger. Yes, the same dagger from the game. Only a few more chapters. The fall, imminent. Thanks as always for reading!

Bela had left the bath ten minutes after their mother had departed. Deciding to get back to her work, she cleaned the blood off with a towel and placed her dress back on.

"Remember what Mother said," Bela scolded the other two. "Try to keep the blood in the bath." She ignored Cassandra mocking her and Daniela's snickering. Leaving them and heading in the direction of Alcina's study.

When she approached the door, Bela could hear someone talking inside.

"Miriam?" she did not go in right away, listening closer to what she was saying.

"Yes, comrade, everything is in preparation… That soon? Are you sure? Very well. I will meet you there," Miriam hung up the phone and as she did so, Bela kicked open the door and stared straight at Miriam, who was startled by her sudden appearance. She had a duster in her hand, nearly dropping it in surprise.

"Miss Bela."

"You! Who were you speaking to on that phone!? Tell me!" Bela snarled, advancing on the maid with the intent to kill. "I knew you could not be trusted. The way you are always latched to Mother's side. Always cuddled up beside her! You are saddled up to her waiting for the moment to strike her down, aren't you!?" Bela whipped her arm out and wrapped her fingers around Miriam's neck. "I am going to kill you!"

She could feel the bones in the girl's neck popping, the blood racing through her veins. Warm; fresh blood. Bela licked her lips and leaned closer to her throat. She would use her teeth to tear through her flesh. She wanted to make it as painful as possible for this bitch!

Miriam gasped, shifting her attention over to the door.

"Bela! Release her now."

Bela looked to her mother, but did not release her hold on Miriam.

"This wretch has plans to hurt you! I overheard her talking on the phone to someone!"

"Is that so?" Alcina said, gracefully walking right up to Bela and touching her shoulder. "Loosen your grip to allow her to speak, but do not release her."

"Yes, Mother," Bela said, pleased her mother was listening to her.

"Who were you speaking to on the phone?"

"No one! I promise."

"Of course she would say that," Bela said, her grip tightening and causing Miriam to whimper. "Tell the damn truth!"

"I am!" Miriam pleaded desperately, dropping down to her knees. "Please, my lady. I have already told you the first night we met who I am and where I came from. Please, please believe me. This is all I have. Without your kindness and allowing me a job here, I would have died out there. I am in your debt. I would do anything you ask of me."

"Rise."

Alcina walked up to Miriam, taking her chin between her thumb and pointer finger and examined her face closely. Licking her lips at the sight of fear prickling in Miriam's eyes.

"Are you trying to say my Bela lied to me? That what she heard was false? That she imagined it?"

"I do not know what Miss Bela thought she heard, my lady," Miriam said.

Bela was not swayed by her words. Wanting to tear out her throat for the fabrication she so easily cooked up and was now selling to her mother.

'Mother will not fall for her lies. Never. She will believe me…'

"Miriam…," she paused, leaning a little closer to her. "I am going to believe your words are the truth; however, if I uncover you lied to me." Alcina tittered, allowing her claw on her thumb to grow out a few inches. "You will learn there is more than one way for a person to suffer unimaginable agony…"

Bela's jaw dropped, barely hearing her mother order her to release her hold.

"Bela!"

She bared her teeth at Miriam and slowly let go.

"You may go," Alcina said, now focused on Bela who had turned away and was just on the verge of erupting. She was pacing back and forth by the desk, clearly wanting to speak out, but restraining herself.

Once Miriam had left the room, closing the door behind herself, Alcina remained stationed in the center of the room, waiting.

"How could you fall for her lies?" Bela said in a strained voice. "I heard her speaking to someone and clearly plotting. So why? Why would you allow her to go?"

"Bela, I do believe you," Alcina said.

"Y-you do?" Bela shook her head, ceasing her pacing. "Then why did you not kill her? Or at least drag her down in the cellar to be drained?"

"Patience, my beloved, do you recall the phone call that dragged me away from our little bath together? It was Mother Miranda who had called me. She was informing me about more mercenaries entering into the village, and one of them had been taken by the Lycans. Mother Miranda had interrogated him and found a letter on his person. The letter had names and one of the names was Miriam."

"How many more of these mercenaries are there?" Bela said, running her fingers through her hair.

Alcina approached Bela leaning down and placing a tender kiss to her lips to comfort her.

"I am afraid there will always be hunters; mercenaries; self-proclaimed heroes that will try to do us harm, but I have learned throughout time not to fear. Human beings are simple; stupid things. Yes they may have found a way to harm us, but it does not strike fear in my heart. House Dimitrescu fears nothing. We are above it all. We are gods, Bela. Worshipped. Loved. Feared. These heretics will learn that and we will teach them. Let them come and see for themselves."

"And what if this little wretch has infected the other maidens here? What if they all decide to turn on us?"

Alcina frowned deeply.

"I cannot understand why you are so full of fear of them. This anxiety of yours is uncharacteristic. Normally Daniela is the one to question and worry. Why, Bela? Tell me."

"We have a weakness, Mother. The cold. Despite you claiming us gods, Daniela; Cassandra and I are not immortal. That is why I worry. You seemed to forget that."

Alcina truly wished she had a cigarette. Bela's words unsettling her. She knew that was of course the truth, especially, the last rebellion led by the deceased Charlotte.

She pursed her lips.

"Well, we could just kill all the maids and start fresh, would that be your solution to this, Bela?"

"My solution to this is to tread with some caution. That's all. I do not want a repeat of what happened to Cassandra or myself."

"You think I want that, Bela?" a slight edge to the matriarch's voice. "You act as though I am complacent about this entire situation. That I do not care."

"No, Mother," Bela took a brave step forward, touching her mother's arm lightly. "I am not suggesting that at all. I would never. I trust you with my whole being, but I do not trust Miriam."

"I know. I will see to it that Anya keeps a tighter leash on her and reports to me every night on how she is doing. Anya would never deceive me, nor be deceived by these young maidens. She will tell me all she has seen and heard."

Bela started to smile, seeming to feel much better about the entire thing, she purred softly when Alcina pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Did I also mention we will start having clients coming to the castle? One will be joining us tomorrow afternoon. A man from Germany named Gustav Degenhardt."

"Will he be staying long, Mother?"

"No, and it is important this man remains untouched. He is one of the lucky few who will enter here and leave. Mainly these clients will be coming to make arrangements to purchase our wine and sell it around the world. There are also those who plan to purchase some estates of mine as well."

"Well, I am sure Daniela and Cassandra will be pleased to hear we will be entertaining foreigners. Especially if business goes sour, right Mother?"

Alcina tittered, placing one hand now on Bela's waist and taking the other in her hand, leading them through a slow waltz about the room. This got Bela laughing joyfully.

"How right you are, though man blood is not the superlative blood in my opinion; it does not last nor does it hold its value. Their flesh rots in a day or so no matter how well you store it," Alcina said, continuing to lead Bela around the room in her slow paced waltz. "Worthless while alive and when they are dead."

"Oh, Mother," Bela said, falling silent and just enjoying the moment. Forgetting all her worries. Removing Miriam from her thoughts; all the paperwork that still needed to be finalized along with this new business her mother had just informed her about. Her thoughts only on how much she adored and loved her mother.

{-}

Normally Bela would keep private business between she and her mother from her sisters; however, this matter was best known for their sake. To her great surprise Daniela did not react the way she presumed she would. In fact, she had the same wicked; diabolical smile on her face as Cassandra.

"So what I am gathering is we can torment this wench anyway we see fit. I know, I know," Cassandra said quickly before Bela could interject. "We will not kill her obviously, but we will make her wish she were dead, right Dani?"

Daniela nodded her head enthusiastically.

"You see," Cassandra giggled. "By the time we are done with her, she'll put herself in one of the barrels below."

That got Daniela laughing and put a smile on Bela's face.

The game began downstairs the next morning during breakfast. The four were seated in the dining hall. Bela and Alcina eating in silence while both Daniela and Cassandra kept shooting one another glances.

This did not go unnoticed by Bela, who under normal circumstances would have berated them from irritation, but this time she allowed it.

Daniela watching Miriam like a hawk had not noticed another maid approach. The girl was carrying in Daniela's special afternoon brew when she tripped on the rug, causing the cup to go shattering to the floor.

"You clumsy idiot!" Daniela shrieked, snatching the knife off the table and slashing the maiden across the face. "You did that on purpose, didn't you!?" She leapt out of the chair, raising the knife high over her head in preparation to stab the girl again when Alcina cleared her throat.

"Daniela," she clucked.

"But Mother!"

A stern look silenced the youngest Dimitrescu who gave the maiden a swift kick in the ankle before returning to her seat.

"Clean yourself up," Alcina snapped at the young maiden, who was holding her face and crying.

"I will attend to her," Miriam said, guiding the maiden back into the kitchen.

"I will be sent to the basement," the maid blubbered.

"No you won't, Sierra. Hush now and hold still," Miriam consoled her, taking a wet rag and wiping the blood. "Thankfully the wound is not too deep. Meaning you will not need stitches, but I am afraid it will leave a scar."

"T-thank you," she sniffled.

"Listen to me, Sierra, you will not have to endure this any longer. None of us will. Remember my friend, Rowan? I am meeting him tonight and he is going to kill those monsters once and for all."

"What?"

"Yes, Rowan will come tonight. He will take them out once and for all." Miriam said, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into a firm hug. "Remember our plan? You and I will get the servants out while he kills Lady Dimitrescu."

"Yes, Miriam. Th-thank god this nightmare will finally end."

Miriam patted her friend's back to help calm her down, though in the back of her mind she wondered if the poison would be so effective on Alcina. Lycans were small fish compared to the tall lady.

"We best get back to our work," Sierra said, wiping away her tears. "We do not want to arouse suspicion."

"Right. After I let Rowan inside, I will come and meet you in your room. Make sure you spread the word to the others to be prepared for our escape."

"Yes, my friend," Sierra said. "Thank you. Thank you for saving us…"

{-}

Miriam picked up the hairbrush and started to brush through Alcina's thick black mane. She had the softest hair Miriam had ever touched. It was so full of life and the color itself. Never had Miriam seen anything so black.

She shook her head.

Stay focused!

Another bizarre attribute Lady Dimitrescu possessed. She did not have to say anything. It was her aura. No matter how terrifying she was, you gravitated towards her. And once she captured you in her penetrating gaze, she had you held hostage. Slowly killing you without even realizing you were dying before it was too late.

She could not be taken hostage. She was here to release all who were held hostage by her.

"You seem tired tonight."

"My lady?" Miriam blinked rapidly, realizing she had stopped brushing. "My apologizes!" she kept going trying not to look at her. To be drawn in by that seductive smirk on her crimson lips. Blood red lips.

"Anya says you are doing quite well in the short amount of time you have been here. A natural she claims. No mistakes she can find. Hardworking and always ready for the next task. I cannot express how much I appreciate those qualities in a person," Alcina said, grabbing a tube off her dresser and squeezing it into her palm. Rubbing it up to her elbow and back down to her wrists.

Peach lotion.

"I am eternally grateful you gave me this position, my lady," Miriam said, diverting her gaze downward just a second before Alcina locked on to her. "My mother taught me from an early age to always have a good work ethic."

"Your mother was a wise woman."

"Yes," Miriam said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Yes she was."

Finishing with Alcina's hair, Miriam reached over and placed the brush back down when Alcina snatched her wrist. Miriam felt her heart skip a beat, like a mouse frozen in the sights of a snake. Her yellows eyes digging deeper into her as if searching for the deceit. To pluck out the secret Miriam was harboring.

Could she see? Or worse could Alcina hear her thoughts? Did she already know?

Instead Alcina placed a light kiss to the top of her hand before rising out of the seat.

"I expect to hear more stellar reports by Anya throughout your stay here. Perhaps you will wind up being the Grand Chamber Maid when Anya's time comes to an end…"

Miriam just smiled and bowed her head to Alcina, but the way she had said that had sent a cold chill up her spine. She dismisses lives like they are jewelry. She enjoys them for a time, but as soon as she finds another depending on its value, or if it is simply her favorite for the month or week, she keeps it. Then when she no longer likes it, she disposes of it.

Suddenly Miriam was filled with rage at Alcina. Her determination to destroy her more prominent than ever.

"Miriam?" Alcina quirked a brow at her.

"Forgive me, my lady," Miriam said. "Is there anything else you require of me."

The tips of Alcina's fingers brushed across her cheek, her smirk growing to see Miriam flush pink.

"You have never been touched, have you? Innocent."

Miriam was taken aback by her words and strangely feeling very self-conscious about it. Embarrassed even. What an odd question to ask.

"I have had a few lovers, but no we—I—" Miriam's cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of pink.

Alcina started to laugh.

"Do not be ashamed of that, my dear. Every young lady here including my own daughters are just like yourself. Untouched. Clean. Pure. Stay young; free. Do not let a man take that all away from you." All humor suddenly drained from her. Her tone deathly serious. Her attention not looking at Miriam, but through her and somewhere far, far away. "Stupid; worthless men…"

"My lady?" Miriam said softly, sensing the malice filling the room. Her mind screaming danger! Danger! Run! "Lady Alcina?"

She blinked.

"Yes," she said, yellow eyes flashing with a predatory hunger. "You best go now, my dear. Sleep well…"

Miriam did not waste another second. Once she was out of the room, she ran all the way to the servants quarters and to her room first. She would need to meet him at their arranged time, but she had to prepare first. Surely the lady of the castle and her daughters would be fast asleep… Hopefully.

{-}

The castle was calm and quiet. Save the fires crackling in the hearths. The slight creak of the wood. A snore here and there. Miriam sat on the edge of her bed, twiddling her fingers as she watched the clock.

Three.

Two.

One.

The clock struck midnight.

It was time.

Her legs wobbly at first from her nerves, she steeled herself and put her cloak on before she walked over to her door and left her room. Closing it as quietly as she could, she crept down the hall. Stopping now and again when the floor would creak under her.

Her heart racing right out of her chest, she waited for a moment until she felt all was safe and started to walk again. Going over the plan to herself again. She would let Rowan inside and take him to the Hall of Four. From there he would enter into Lady Alcina's bedchamber and assassinate her. Meanwhile she would meet Sierra and get them out through the Entrance Hall.

"We will beat her…" Miriam whispered. "We will not be kept prisoner any…more…"

She stopped dead in her tracks. Entering into the Entrance Hall, she covered her mouth in shock. Blocking the doorway was a gate.

"No!" she ran over to the windows and peered out, but she could not see Rowan. "Damn. Damn it." She tried lifting the window, but it was stuck fast. Looking around to find anything to break the window open with, she spotted a chair in the corner of the room.

Smash!

Smash!

"Rowan!" she called out.

Silence.

No.

Yes, she watched as a dark figure sprinted towards her.

"Miriam," he said, lowering his hood.

"Hurry. The door is blocked. You must get through this way."

Rowan carefully slipping inside, cursing as a piece of glass cut his palm. He leapt into the room and stared down at Miriam with a small smile.

"Well done, my dear," he said, rustling her hair.

"Thank you," Miriam said, unable to smile back. She was afraid. Afraid for him. Now that they were finally going through with it, the realization that he could die started to sink in.

"Do not be afraid, Miriam. We must do this. We must. For my wife, daughter and for the people of the village. Remember our objective."

"I-I know," she said, taking in a shaky breath. "Just… just do not die. Please."

"I cannot die. Not yet anyway. Not until all of these monsters are dead. Now, take me to where the beast sleeps."

{-}

Rowan stood in front of the double doors. On the other side the monster was fast asleep. His heart beat was steady. His fingers strong around the hilt of the dagger. Unwavering. Resolute. He was prepared for this moment. And all the rest of the moments to come. Straight to the moment he would send the blade piercing through Mother Miranda's heart.

His thoughts on Myra and Katja. What horrors had happened to Myra in this prison? What fate had led to her demise. Every single night he would lie awake. Hatred filling him to the point he would bellow until his lungs felt about ready to burst. After that day she had gone through the gates.

'I should have gone inside. I should have…,' he swallowed, his thoughts next on Katja. The night she had unexpectedly appeared. She was ill. Covered in mud and blood. Her own blood. Just like what had happened to Charlotte. 'I tried everything, but her fate was inevitable. She was turning faster than Charlotte. Her humanity waning faster than I could make any effort to help her. And then… then I had to.' He stared down at the dagger. Having had no other choice but to do it. When he returned to her bedroom, she had turned. There was no humanity left in her. She was a monster.

'Forgive me. Forgive me, Myra. Katja… I will avenge you and make up for my sins.'

Slowly he reached out and turned the doorknob. It opened without fault. The heat of the room stifling from the fire. He eyed around the room and caught sight of the bed. There he spotted /her/, but she was not alone.

There was a blonde sleeping right beside her. Cautiously he crept up to the bedside. Staring down at the massive woman. Beautiful he had to admit, but that was merely a mask to hide the monster underneath. Just like the blonde who had her back turned to him.

'Do it.'

Clasping the hilt of the dagger in both hands, he raised it high into the air, directly over Alcina's heart.

'Strike down with all your strength!'

Ba-doom!

Ba-doom!

His heart raced with adrenaline. Time seeming to slow as his arm descended and at the same time did Bela turn. Eyes blinking open.

"Mother!" she yelled out.

DIE!" Rowan roared.

Bela leaping over to protect her mother from the blade, Alcina had only enough time to whip out her arm and block the blade.

Clink!

Her claws and the blade hit. The impact so fierce it had caused Rowan to lose his grip on the knife. The blade flew through the air and landed near the hearth. While Rowan staggered backwards and started to reach for his belt.

"Bastard!" Bela leapt straight at the man, using her bugs to disorient him and pin him to the floor. "Stop your wiggling!"

"You goddamn monsters!"

"You call us the monsters?" Alcina said, rising off the bed and retrieving the knife. "You who breaks into my house in the middle of the night, like a sneak thief, and tries to assassinate me and my family. Which makes me inquire how you managed to slip in here?"

Rowan spit at her.

"Very well…, I suppose we will need to do this the fun way," Alcina said.

Bela met her mother's eye and gave her a smile.

"Yes, Mother…"

Miriam had just returned to the servants' quarters when she came to a halt. Standing in the middle of the corridor and holding a candelabra was Anya, part of her face covered in shadow.

"What are you doing out of your room?" Anya said.

"I was going to the lavatory," Miriam said.

"Is that so?" Anya said, approaching a door and knocking on it twice.

Miriam swallowed, feeling a cold sweat forming across her forehead at the sight of Sierra and ten others exit out of the room.

"I am so sorry, Miriam…" Sierra squeaked.

"Why?!" Miriam said.

"Because we do not wish to leave, nor do we wish to see our mistress killed," a maid named Lora said. "Many of us came from the orphanage, or wandered into this village with nothing but our clothes on our backs. Lady Alcina took us in, gave us shelter, food, and a warm place to sleep. That is more than we ever had. We are well cared for."

"Only because she has plans to kill you!" Miriam shouted, unable to believe her ears. "You are all nothing but pigs, how can you all be so blind? She feeds you well and keeps you maintained, but in the end you are all going to wind up slaughtered!"

"I rather face that than go back out there," another young woman named Evelyn spoke up. "I came from the streets. No one cared about me. I was dead out there anyways, but Lady Alcina made me feel useful again. She gave me a purpose to my miserable existence. Even if it will be short. At least I have found some form of peace working for this noble house."

Miriam took a step backwards, watching as more of the young women came out of their rooms, all with the same vicious looks. Hatred. They were not on her side. They never were…

Alcina stood in the now dilapidated cathedral. She could imagine what Sunday worships were done here. Which lords and ladies congregated together. The baptisms. Now this would be occupied and used for one special reason.

She stared down at the mercenary in the coffin. Setting the knife inside with him to hide it away from anymore villains. There will always be more as she knew, but she could not allow her fear to linger too long on that fact. They had an antidote for it. A way of procuring the venom from harming she and her daughters.

"Farewell, Mercenary," Alcina tittered, staring down at his terrified face. "Apologizes for such an uncomfortable accommodation." She eyed over his broken legs, which prevented him from moving an inch. Lifting up the lid of the coffin with one hand, watching as the mercenary wiggled and grunted as she placed it down. "There is no escape for you, nor anyone else who dares threaten House Dimitrescu."

Alcina entered into the Main Hall. The servants all bowing to her with smiles. Inquiring how she was this fine morning. If she needed anything. Their spirits were high and gay.

"My lady," Anya bowed her head. "Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes."

"Excellent."

Alcina ventured up the stairs and to the nursery where she found Daniela drawing. She went to speak, but a loud sneeze beat her to it.

"Hello, Mother," Daniela said without looking up at her.

"Hello, dearest," Alcina sniffed, eyeing around for little Alci and spotting her sleeping sprawled out on Daniela's pillow. "Breakfast will be ready shortly."

Daniela just nodded, sticking out her tongue as she scrutinized her piece of art.

Alcina looked down at it with a smile.

"Is this your first or second draft?"

"Second. I am having trouble with the shading. The first was too dark and now this is turning too light…" she sighed, setting her pen down and stretching her arms. "Perhaps I just need a little break."

"That is wise. They say an artist gets inspiration while walking."

"Then I shall do that," Daniela said. "Will you come with me?"

"Of course. I was on my way to collect your sisters."

"To the cellar we go, then. Oh!" Alcina turned and watched her youngest place a light peck to Little Alcina's head. "I will be back soon with some milk for you."

Alcina could not help but smile, watching her youngest glide happily through the door to help hunt down Cassandra and Bela…