A/N: Hopefully folks can see this chapter. Site's gone bonkers again.
I'll say it plain, if this email opt-in business with the site doesn't get resolved soon, I'm probably going to retire.
It HURTS to say that; but with this new system, reviews and readers have dropped to an all time low, authors are leaving the site in droves, and it feels like the end of an era.
If you're not already aware of it, ever since the 16th of November, you now have to turn ON your email alerts in account settings-MAKE SURE YOU CLICK SAVE SETTINGS!-else you won't be notified when anyone updates. No alerts, no email, no nothing. Apparently that's a thing we all have to do every ninety days or so, now. Alas, not many are aware of it...which is a problem. As things stand this new "fix" as it were, has cut everyone's viewership/reviewers in half because most folks don't know about it. Authors are leaving/quitting because of this.
Sometimes opting in works. Sometimes it doesn't. Really depends. Hopefully the devs can fix tweak/update this system before everyone leaves.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this story, and all others.
I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
As ever, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story, POOF! Away it goes. Gone forever. With two jobs and rent to pay, my free time is...well, at an all time low. I'm lucky to have four hours to write a day. I can't afford to pen stories that no one enjoys. So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke!
No questions this time. Only the merry madness of this story.
Only a few questions this time. Why? Because the feast awaits. What feast, you ask...?
Q: Where's Mother Miranda?! What's she up to?
A: *whistles innocently*
Q: Is this Elena really Elena? Or is it a certain shapeshfiting witch?!
A: Suppose that remains to be seen.
Q: Damn...Chris and Ethan are f****d aren't they?
A: Not as such; not if they play their cards right. But they're in for a damn sight more than they bargained for.
Q: More slow burn romance?
A: Not as such. But its not fast and hard, either. Hard to explain. Chapter tells it all.
Alrighty, then I've kept you waiting long enough. As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Seriously. I mean that. They're tributes to legends far greater than a measly writer like me...
...hope this puts a smile on your face in these crazy times.
The feast awaits!
"Do you have any idea how much blood and sweat it took to raise those daughters? Now look what you've done! You have incurred an impossible debt!
"Sure, they like to bite me. But what's the harm? Better me than those villagers. I'm not going anywere.
Debt? Alright. I can take it. Yeah, I can take it all. Whatcha got?"
~?
Fifth Bite
Some say Dancing is a language all its own.
An ancient art of communication, body language, the sensual sway of one's soul to the beat...
.
..
...you stepped on my toes, again."
Daniela winced in his arms. "I did, didn't I? M'sorry...
"Don't be." Naruto laughed. "I can hardly feel it by this point."
If dancing really was a language, Naruto was having a damn hard time understanding it. For all the prancing and prattle, it wasn't anywhere near as easy as it was cracked up to be; sure, it was an ancient, esteemed art, but he was terribly, horribly bad at it. Speed wasn't the problem here. All the agility and grace in the world couldn't make up for one singular disconnect he suffered from. You see, his mind wanted to move one way, his body another, and Daniela an entirely different direction.
The result? Disaster!
In truth they'd chosen the Foyer as the best place for this; not only did it have more room than the library, but it allowed them to be seen. More than a few servants paused to watch them as they. Others observed them out the corner of their eyes. If this helped alleviate some fear of them, all the better. Daniela certainly seemed determined to try despite it all; even if she kept stepping on his feet.
Honestly, he found it adorable. And slightly painful. His ankles were going to need a long soak in hot water after this.
Step one, two, three. Step one, two. And twirl. Step again. He fumbled more than once at the latter, much to his chagrin and Kurama's eternal laughter. Misery loved company and Daniela faltered all the same. They were learning-improving, even!-that much wasn't in doubt, but it was treacherously slow going all the same.
"No, no, no." Elena chided behind them, her sweet voice rising over the music. "That's not it at all. You must dance together. Move with one another, not apart. Again!"
Daniela hissed. "Don't make me bite you."
Her handmaiden tutted. "I'm flattered, mistress, but I believe that's something you reserve for him."
Ha! Girl had a spine.
"Why you...?!"
The redhead sputtered. Naruto tugged her into him and drew her away as the music swelled again. Their bodies went through the steps once more, taking them one at a time, then two, followed by three, and soon enough he found her distracted again. The same went for his mind.
He didn't want to admit it, but Elena had made a fair point back there. Daniela was certainly monopolizing his time today, but for once she was behaving.
Strange. She hadn't tried to bite him once today. Not a bit...
.
..
...she was up to something, wasn't she?
"Yes, good!" Elena urged them on. "That's the way."
He twirled Daniela, reveled in her laughter, and bent her low. She yelped and grabbed at him; trusting in him after only after he tugged her back. Then they were off again, dancing as the music swelled around them once more. The steps slowly but surely, naturally, even. Her laughter rose in his ears and despite his best efforts he found himself smiling in return.
Before long, they lost themselves in the dance.
For reasons he couldn't explain, he liked Daniela better like this. Her sisters, too. Not when they were trying to jump his bones or drink his blood; but just...normal. Well, as normal as they could be after the cure. Strange, wasn't it? He, who was living weapon capable of wiping this Village clean off the map, found solace in little acts like this. No, that wasn't quite it. He loved them like this. He'd fallen for Bela in the snow, and now it seemed Daniela had found her own way to tug at his heartstrings. Strange indeed. Maybe he'd seen too much of the fantastical and longed for simple normalcy. Who could say?
He wasn't about to question it. This felt raw. Primal. Right.
The music cut out abruptly and he found Daniela in his arms, chest heaving. He couldn't even blame her; because he could feel his pulse pounding all the same. Huh. Maybe this dancing thing wasn't so bad after all...
"Well done, well done!" He turned to find Elena wiping a happy a tear from her eye, the other clutching her heart. "That was beautiful! Oh, I wish I had a camera!"
Daniela's lively gaze met his. She reached one hand up to cup his cheek, fingers tracing the whiskers there. "Do you love me now?"
It was such a Daniela thing to say. Her words tore a startled laugh from him.
"Is that a yes?" Her smile grew another inch, hope shining through the lest. She stepped into him and pressed the fullness of her form against his own. "Oh! That feels like a yes." His hands responded of their own accord and settled loosely at her sides. Half-lidded eyes rose to meet his. "Do you want me? We could do it right here if you like...
His blood was up. Calm. Calm down. He couldn't take her here; they'd make an awful mess, nevermind the talk-
She kissed him softly, shattering that thought. Her lips lingered over his. "Don't you love me?"
Someone coughed. "Ahem."
A shadow fell over Naruto and Daniela. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled beneath a sudden chill. Behind them, Elena squeaked and scarpered.
Daniela looked past him, brightening in the face of her handmaiden's fear. "Mother! You finally left your room!"
'Uh-oh. Thought it was her.'
And she doesn't seem best pleased at the moment...
Against his better judgement he turned. Looked up. Waved now. "Heya, tall lady. Long time no see?"
Hey, indeed. Lady Dimitrescu had hidden herself away from him for the better part of several weeks now, and while he was grateful for her reappearance, he still couldn't truly understand why she'd fled from him in the first place. Try as he might, he'd couldn't comprehend it, even now. Was she truly that afraid of flowers?
Not so apparently, because those were undoubtedly the roses he'd picked for her awhile back, clutched in her right hand. The other...
"YOU!"
He blinked, somewhat nonplussed to find a slender claw poking his nose. "Me?"
"You!" She all but brandished the bouquet at him as one might a mace. "I would have words with you!"
Daniela made happy cooing noises behind them. "Is this the part where you get married?! Can I be a bridesmaid?!"
Alcina leveled a flat stare upon her youngest. "Daniela."
The young perked up. "Yes, mother?"
She scowled. "Shoo."
"Shooing~!"
The fiery redhead dissolved into a swarm of laughing black butterflies and swept up the stairs. Naruto didn't doubt for a moment that she'd gone to find her sisters. Wasn't a thing he could do to stop her. Something told him he'd best not take his gaze off Alcina right now. She looked quite cross with him.
"Told you this was coming."
'Told me what?!' he flailed mentally. 'You didn't say a damn thing!'
"Alone at last." her claws retracted, but her gaze locked onto him anew." "What have you done to my daughter?"
...do you have any idea how little that narrows it down? Which one we talking about."
"Don't be gauche." she swatted his head with the bouqet. "Am I to understand you bedded Bela without my blessing? You were about to do the same to Daniela just now...
Heat speared up the back of his neck and bloomed in his face. "Well, its kinda complicated."
She all but loomed over him. "Then you shall uncomplicate it."
'Give me orders, will she?'
Naruto felt his temper spark. He shoved it back down. Alcina was a mother, after all. She had every right to be concerned about her brood. "Look, she jumped me."
A scoff. "And you did not think to fend her off?"
"I did!" he clicked his tongue at her. "Cassandra, Bela, Daniela, all of them! So many times! Your daughters can be pretty damn persistent when they wanna be! Nevermind what they're doing now!"
Yikes. Claws were back, now. "Listen here you-
His right eye twitched. "No."
"No?!"
"It means no!" He stabbed a finger at her knee and she flinched. "You're gonna listen to me, now! I've been cooped up here in the castle with you and yours for weeks since I helped you out! Did you seriously expect me to stay celibate?!"
Anger darkened her pearly pale visage. "I had thought you would seek me out!"
"And I thought you'd stop hiding like a coward!" He snapped back. "Funny thing about hopes and dreams. They don't become a reality unless you act on 'em."
Alcina actually took a step backward before she caught herself. The fury that flashed across her face was nothing short of thunderous. "You dare?!"
"None of that!" he cut her off with another poke, driving his finger into the one of the few places he could hope to reach on someone so huge. In a word, her stomach. Alcina jolted back with a startled squeak and batted his hand away. Huh. That was a surprisingly girlish sound. It quelled his anger for a moment. But only a moment. Then he pounced.
"You don't get to be angry! Not at me! Not for this! Not after all I've done!" He advanced and she retreated in the face of his fury. "You've been hiding from me for almost a month now! Not a word! I even sent you flowers, but you didn't make so much as a peep! What gives?!"
Finally, she had nowhere to retreat. Her back hit the wall and her golden eyes flew wide open. "I have my reasons!
No, no, no. He wasn't letting her squirm her way out this time." Then enlighten me, my lady." he drawled the last word with dripping sarcasm. "What possible reason could you have to stick your head in the sand like some damn ostrich?"
"I didn't know what to say to you, wretched man thing!" her words lacked their previous rancor and they both knew it. "You baffle me! What was I to say?!"
"How about hello." he stepped to her, body blocked her now when she tried to bull past him and flee. "How are you? How was your day? Little things. It ain't that hard, lady!"
Alcina sputtered incoherently. He could feel her trying to hold onto her anger...and failing. It gave her strength; strength she was quickly losing in the face of his heated remarks. She was very much terrified, not of him, but of something else. What was it...?
...I have no experience in such." she fiddled with the rim of her hat, trying to hide her eyes beneath it, only to fail as she realized just how close he was. A long finger twirled a strand of long black hair and he suddenly found himself stricken by the urge to see her without her hat. "Why do you persist in this madness?
"Well," he scratched the back of his head. "You like me, don'tcha? I was hopin' we could get along now that your reformed and all...
She crossed both arms before her chest. It did amazing things to her bosom. "I find you an infuriating and baffling creature."
"Is that a yes?"
"Insipid little...no." Her brow furrowed. "I won't let you rile me. What is your intent here. Do you intend to court me?"
That blasted word again. The heck did it mean? "If that's what it takes to bust you out of your shell, sure."
She squeaked and hid her head beneath her hat. Successfully this time. "Why not my daughters?"
Kuama told him what the word "courtship" meant a moment later.
Oh. Ohh. Ohhh! We'll, he'd said it now.
No take-backs, he supposed.
Still his turn to feel bashful. "Last time I checked, they were courting me. Heavily. I really don't have any say there. I'm pretty sure your family is a package deal...
...I see." Alcina raised the bouquet anew, not to smack him as he suspected, but to do something else entirely. As he looked on she she hid the lower half of her face behind the thorny roses. By the sage, was she actually blushing? She was! It didn't stop the low whisper that followed. "Courtship with a view on marriage, then?"
"M-M-Marriage?!" His throat went dry for all the right reasons. "Ain't it a little early for that?"
"In due time." Golden eyes flashed as she threw his own word back at him. "I am not some maiden to have my heart toyed with. If you intend to court me like the rest, be assured, this is a battle not even Mother Miranda herself could save you from."
...who?"
"...!" He didn't miss the sudden bleat of panic that passed through her eyes. "Never you mind that! Give me your hand."
"Okay...?"
Her plams were rather large -so was she!- but he didn't find himself disheartened by them. Not warm to the touch, but perfectly cool. She pricked his right hand with a clawed finger. Blood welled up. She set her lips to it and drank deep. Deeper. Deeper still.
She pulled away with a sigh...and moved.
"Whoa, jeez!"
He'd picked Alcina up before, carried her even, but now she did the same, hoisting him up to press him against the wall. There was no pain. He could've broken free at any time he knew, but doing so would've broken her tentative trust in him all the same.
"There." she all but purred the word. "Our pact is sealed. Don't think you can escape from me now. Running will get you nowhere."
"Kinky."
'Quiet, you!"
A faint bang had the two of them jolting apart.
His head snapped to the side. Alcina followed his gaze. It was coming from the door nearest the foyer. Muffled voices echoed from within. The pair exchanged a wry look. More noise echoed from within. Were one to strain their ear -and Naruto did!- they could even hear whispered words.
"Bela! I can't see!
"Shh! Why haven't the kissed yet?!
"Hurry up and kiss already! Kiss, kiss, kiss!"
Alcina flicked her claws at the worn oak with a dismissive huff. The doorframe crumbled, buckling beneath its own weight. A chorus of gasps and startled shrieks filled the room as those within were revealed. Sure enough they found Bela, Cassandra and Daniela sprawled out over one another. Sheepish golden eyes met theirs without so much as a hint of remorse.
Naruto whistled. "We seem to have an audience."
Alcina hummed. "So it would appear. Girls. You'll each get a spanking if you don't run in three...two...
That was encouragement enough for the Dimitrescu daughters. They blurred away in a storm of butterflies.
(.0.0.0.)
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
Donna cursed herself as she kicked over a stone.
She'd hoped the Lady of the House would cut him down; that Alcina had the strength of will to do what her daughters clearly could not. Angie tittered on her arm. Donna ground her teeth and glared her into silence. It just wasn't fair. Why did they get their happiness, their family, while she was left out in the cold. Mother Miranda hadn't given her any orders for days now.
Enough! No more watching them!
Something must be done.
It would be done.
(.0.0.0.)
News came the next morning.
"You have a letter from House Beneviento."
"House who?" Naruto looked up from his journal. "Never heard of 'em...oh. Thanks."
Alcina handed him the open letter. Idly, he noted the broken wax seal:
"Interloper,
I know what you want. More importantly, I won't let you have it."
If you insist on playing these sordid games, I shall tell Mother.
Please come to my manor at your earliest convenience,
~Lady Donna.
He crumpled it in his fist.
"Well, that's not ominous at all."
A/N: Ze plot thickens~!
So? Should this continue to be a story? Yay or nay! Really need to hear from you guys and girls here. Helps a lot.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story...and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular...? Well, I'll not be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs with ever-increasing hours so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matter! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustains me. Without them, I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
They're mostly the same. Mostly, but not all.
And spoilers for the DLC, though I'm sure everyone's played it by now.
(Previews)
"It wouldn't be fair. Bela and Daniela had their turn, but to exclude Cassandra...
...what did you have in mind?"
"CASSANDRA! Come here! Now!"
"What do you fear, Naruto? What's your worst nightmare?"
There was a girl there.
"Hey, wait a sec-
She most assuredly did not, she took one look and him and bolted with a scream.
"Monster!"
He winced a little and was left scratching his head. "Who in blazes was that? Why'd she run off?"
"You don't seem to understand." blue eyes drifted shut. "I'm not trapped in here with you...
When next they opened, they were the slits of a beast.
"You're trapped in here with me."
"I don't wanna die...!"
"Sh, sh, you won't. Its fine. Just a bad dream."
She whimpered and curled up against him, shivering under the sheets.
"Aw, hell." he sighed. "I've gotten attached."
"What's eating you?"
She jolted; if only because she knew that voice. "Why are you here?!"
Karl Heisenberg.
But he was crafty. Clever. Dangerous.
"Running out of test subjects." Heisenberg shrugged. "Came by to see what all the fuss was about."
Heisenberg howled with laughter. "Ha! I knew it! You're sweet on him! Oh, this is riiiiich!"
"Don't worry." he winked. "It'll be our little secret. Besides, I know monsters."
"The hell's that supposed to mean?"
Heisenberg tipped his hat and walked away. "From one to another, good luck."
He sauntered off with a laugh.
"Fascinating. I didn't know such a result was possible...
A most curious experiment indeed.
Perhaps I shall...partake."
"You must be pretty tough, huh?"
"Take a swing at me with that hammer. See what happens."
Donna peeked through her fingers. Her face was practically pink.
Alcina peered over his shoulder. "What ARE you doing?"
"Making something." He held it up for her. "See?"
Her eyes widened.
Moreau glowered at him. "We don't need you here. Leave."
"Whoa, hey! Where is this coming from?"
"You can't just take a kid!"
"I did her a service. The poor girl's practically feral. No one in the village wanted to look after her."
Little hands reached for him. At least, he assumed he was reaching. Naruto sighed.
"Well, she is kinda adorable-ouch! She bites!"
"I was first!"
"First at what?" He sat beside the girl.
She tucked her knees into her chest, bunching up her blue dress. "...who're you?"
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well, it won't be continued. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.
So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back~! Have a great day~!
R&R~!