Ethan stumbled into his bed, utterly exhausted. His day/night cycle lately was likely unhealthy in the extreme, and combined with long days, longer nights and all-encompassing chaos, a proper, eight-hour rest was a luxury.
Therefore, the moment the gang arrived back to the safehouse villa as their club outing was successfully concluded, Ethan had promptly excused himself - not forgetting to give his lovely Bela one more passionate goodnight kiss, as well as to check up on Rose - who had appeared soundly asleep in her own bed. It was almost 2 AM when he fell into a deep slumber, full of pleasant dreams.
Perhaps too pleasant, as he found his manhood rock hard upon awakening at 12 PM. Still, the invigorating rest was exactly what his body craved and the man was ready for the big day ahead...after taking care of his urgent morning's business.
Whistling a joyful tune, Ethan somehow felt like the happiest man alive today - which was quite baffling, considering his many woes - past and present. Checking Rosie's room, the father wasn't surprised at the fact that her bed was unoccupied and neatly made.
Out of the bedroom and down the stairs, the father was momentarily stopped by what sounded like Moonlight Sonata - coming from the 2nd floor of the large villa. Curious by nature, the intrigued man proceeded to check up on the sound and was baffled to see a full-sized Grand Piano in one of the rooms. B.S.A.A. must have gotten rich indeed to be able to afford luxurious safehouses such as this one…
The pianist herself was none other than Jill Valentine, yet she was not the only occupant of the music room. With bated breath and apt attention, the youngest Dimitrescu sibling observed the musical performance - her keen gaze never leaving Jill's deft fingers as they worked the keys with envious amounts of precision and grace.
As Jill finished the piece, Daniela exploded into a thundering applause, with Ethan joining in. Even though the perceptive redhead had noticed the father the moment he peeked his blonde head into the room, her attention was wholly on the pianist, as she delivered a heartfelt compliment - while swiping away a few glistering specks from her expressive molten gold eyes.
"Oh, I always shed a tear or two when somebody plays that piece… But ah, what a beautiful performance, Ms. Valentine! Maybe even Bela could learn a thing or two from you!" Daniela gave Ethan a conspiratorial wink, before adding, "But don't tell her I said that! Ha!"
Ethan returned the wink, while placing his index finger to his lips, making the girl grin in mirth. Jill herself glanced at them with some amusement, before addressing the earlier compliment.
"I have played since I was a little girl… Even though... the circumstances'' Jill noted that word with particular pain momentarily taking over her expression, "forced me to put that hobby on hold for more than a few years, I now like to indulge on occasion - it reminds me of better times… and my shrink tells me it's also good for my mental health."
The brunette pianist finished her response with a smirk, but despite her upbeat tone Ethan could plainly see that the woman had gone through her own fair share of unspeakable horror - just like the rest of them, perhaps even moreso.
"I'd love to play a couple of happy songs I know for Rosie! That'll cheer her up!"
Daniela's joyful voice brought Ethan out of his musings about Miss Valentine's troubled past, bringing him back to the no-less troubled present. At the mention of Rose needing to be cheered up, Ethan felt a spike of anguish pierce his heart at his failure as a parent, once again.
"Where is Rosie?"
Feeling the pain in his voice, Daniela's face fell a bit, but she helpfully provided the answer, nevertheless. "I think she's with Bela - sis wanted to read her our favorite bedtime storybook!"
Nodding his thanks, the father departed the music room, leaving the two ladies to their piano exhibition. Not having asked the precise location of Bela, the father had to wander the reasonably large villa for a minute or two before finally locating them at the end of the second floor.
The wholesome sight made the father grin wide as he took in his loved ones. Bela was lounging in a well-furnished window nook, with soft pillows surrounding her from every side and the gorgeous view of Nice available to her perusal. Rosie was tightly nested on her lap, her intrigued eyes not leaving the contents of the book Bela was holding in a way so that they both could see it. Their position simply could not be any cozier, at least Ethan presumed so.
"Long ago, a young girl went with her mother to pick berries for her father who was hard at work.
But the forest greeted them with a dark, cold silence, the bushes empty.
Yet, determined to find the berries, the rascal broke free from Mother's grasp and vanished into the trees.
Mother's worried cries faded fast as the girl ran on; over vine, and under branch and into the forest deep."
Instead of immediately approaching them, Ethan leaned against the wall and simply enjoyed the sight of his daughter having some supremely comfy storytime with her vampiric stepmom.
Bela's amber orbs glinted his way and a smile immediately graced her full lips, yet she did not interrupt her melodic and passionate storytelling. While Ethan wasn't a particularly big fan of the creepy-ass story Bela was reading, he found himself mesmerized by her soft, expressive voice and listened to the full story that he recalled Mia the Impostor had once read.
"With rampant rage, Father fought the Witch while Mother's loving touch shattered the dark enchantment.
But the Witch was strong and Father yelled, "Save our daughter!"
So Mother bore their child to safety as the forest was consumed.
Even now, the burnt forest is a grim reminder of Father's sacrifice.
To this day, any child who stares too long into the charred wasteland will be haunted by nightmares of getting lost while picking berries."
As Bela finished the story, Ethan found himself frowning. Somehow it all sounded awfully familiar… Before Ethan could ponder on it, Bela finally gazed right at him, while softly speaking to the girl on her lap.
"Look, little one - daddy is finally up!"
The girl did not waste a second in vacating the warm lap, only to rush her dad, jumping into his eager embrace. "Good morning, daddy!" - which the father was only happy to provide, as he held his child close to his chest.
"Hey, honey! I see Auntie Bela is reading you a scary story…"
At that, Bela actually scowled a little, before noting with an index finger raised up.
"It's not scary, Ethan. It's a story about the perils of blind curiosity and courage winning the day. It's a local favorite back home!"
Again, the father could not help but ponder on the curious parallels depicted in this story… It strongly reminded him of his own 'adventure' in Romania, and the creatures he has met there. "Doesn't it… remind you of anything?"
The woman adopted a questioning expression, as she curiously glanced at the book she still held. "Remind me of what? There are plenty of stories like that one in this book."
Ethan tried a more direct approach. "Well… the four creatures the girl meets sound awfully like the Four Lords of the Valley, if you ask me: Dimitrescu, Beneviento, Moreau and Heisenberg." Bela's eyes widened in shock - as if she had never even considered it, but now could see it plainly as he spoke the thought out loud. "The witch is obviously Miranda, while the father and the girl…"
Ethan paused, gently caressing Rose's blonde locks as he chewed on his lip and finished his thought. "Well… they could be us? Except I didn't die in the end."
Rosie added her own impression, in a quiet voice. "I liked the story...except when the girl's daddy died… I am glad you didn't die, daddy!"
Rosie's honest words made Ethan chuckle and ruffle her hair. The girl giggled as he responded, "Hah, that makes two of us, honey!"
"Make that three." Bela immediately replied, while adopting a pensive look as her thumb fumbled with her lip. The woman's whole attention was now fixated on the beloved storybook she carried all the way from Romania - now gazing at the object as if seeing it in a new light. Ethan couldn't help but ask the question that was now burning on his mind.
"When was that book published, Bells?"
The blonde Dimitrescu merely shrugged her slender shoulders, before offering, "Before my time, I can tell you that much...perhaps mother knows the exact date?"
An unsettling chill runs through Ethan's body, making the man shiver. This whole discussion raised more questions than it answered, and now they all were stumbling in the dark.
Perhaps it's all just one hell of a coincidence and I am looking too much into it?
Before he could get completely entangled in the mysteries of the enigmatic Village of Shadows storybook, Ethan noted something that was definitely not there before - a shallow scar on Rosie's left wrist. It looked like it was a week old, yet the father was more than sure that yesterday that patch of skin was pristine.
Putting his child back on the floor, Ethan quietly inquired about the scar, even as he carefully inspected the tiny arm.
"Rosie, did you cut yourself, honey?"
The girl got visibly upset by the question, with her lips curling into a frown and wetness starting to glister in her eyes. She looked away, not answering.
"Rosie?"
"I made her do it."
Out of nowhere, Eveline's voice made Ethan's heart skip a beat. Goddamn it, I am never getting used to this! Disregarding the shock, the second instinct was to get angry. Really angry.
"...You made Rosie cut herself?"
Ethan's nearly inaudible hissed out whisper, as well as his gaze - directed at an empty corner forced Bela to recall Eveline's existence. Following Ethan's gaze, the blonde Dimitrescu narrowed her own gaze, trying her hardest to see what he could see. Unfortunately, all that was open to her view was that same, featureless corner. Letting out a sigh of disappointment, Bela focused her attention on one thing she could perceive - the father's suddenly fearsome expression.
Eveline herself took note of Bela's fruitless attempts to detect her, yet answered Ethan's question - with some discomfort - the normally kind and caring man was quite scary when his baby girl was concerned.
"Just a little bit… I really needed to get into that servant's head, and you didn't want to help me! You just dismissed me, without even listening to what I had to say!"
Ethan's face turned livid as his fists clenched. "What the hell, Evie!? You could've just waited until I'd come back and talked to me then! Why would you force Rose into your insane plots?"
"Stop it, daddy! Evie just wanted to help us! And she didn't force me into anything!" Rosie's own raised voice soothed some of the father's anger - instead, he started to feel a speck of guilt for having dismissed Evie like that - like a stupid child, and not an individual worthy of respect.
Eveline herself appeared subdued and shamed, as she quietly mumbled out an apology. "I am sorry, daddy… I knew I should've waited for you… but I got angry… and I really, really wanted to find out what was going on in that servant's head. Rosie - like a true hero - donated a little bit of her blood, and grandma Alcina delivered it to Anna, mixed with some wine."
Ethan couldn't stifle a gasp of disbelief at that. "You've roped Lady Dimitrescu into it, as well? Jesus…" Bela's own amber orbs widened at that exclamation. She continued listening with rapt attention.
"Lady Dimitrescu is a bit scary… but she helped us… she was nice to me…" Rosie meekly offered, making Bela coo at the precious child. Not thinking twice, the tall woman stood up from her comfy perch, just to embrace the girl once again.
"Mother will never hurt you, precious one. Never again…" Bela's comforting tone and gentle touch made the girl fully relax, as she smiled up at her 'aunt'. The heartwarming sight dissipated Ethan's anger completely, giving way to curiosity, instead.
"So… Evie… have you managed to learn anything from poking inside Anna's mind, then? Is she some kind of an evil mastermind, here to bring about our painful demise?"
Ethan's attempt at dramaturgy failed to evoke mirth in Evie, who simply poked her tongue out at him, before adopting a serious expression.
"Ugh...no."
"So you've made Rosie cut herself and infected Anna for nothing?"
The ghostly girl immediately went defensive at that latest accusation, with her palms open wide. "No! Blood alone - especially in such small quantities - is not enough to permanently infect anyone." Ethan suspected that to be the case, as he recalled his own Louisiana experience - when the Bakers attempted to feed him that moldy stuff, yet he felt reassured hearing Eveline admit as much. The black-haired girl continued.
"It's only really good for a look around, and only surface-depth, usually...but…"
"But..?"
Eveline huffed, as she tried hard to explain her experience inside Anna's mind with words. "I don't know. I never saw anything like that before - and I've poked inside the minds of over a hundred people! Most people have some kind of barriers that protect their deeper psyche, yet… Anna? Way more than that..."
The ghostly girl pondered for a few moments, before finally settling on a description. "Her mind was surrounded by a hazy mist - which is already unusual, as normally only sleeping people have something like that - while she was awake... But the really strange thing was further still - as I got closer to its center, It's like her core was enclosed by a stone wall. I couldn't even peek inside. I have absolutely no idea what's behind it, or what she is thinking about."
From her vivid descriptions and pensive looks, Ethan could only stare at his adopted daughter with a slack jawed expression, attracting Bela's attention.
"What's she saying?"
Ethan faithfully relayed the subject of conversation, making the blonde woman curl her lips in surprise. "How curious!" After several moments of musings, Bela offered a possible solution to the unusual phenomenon Eveline experienced.
"I've read somewhere on the internet - fascinating invention, by the way - that recently they've developed a powerful anti-fungal vaccine in Russia - where Anna is from. Perhaps she is simply vaccinated, and therefore Eveline's influence over her is severely limited."
Ethan raised a finger up to inquiry about Eveline's reason to be suspicious in the first place, yet amazingly Bela's responded to that before he could give voice to even a single word.
"And that would also explain the reason for the suspicion little Evie felt towards our poor, maltreated Anna! Eveline merely sensed an organism that was inherently hostile towards her own, so there's that!"
Everyone was stunned into silence by Bela's passionate, yet logical delivery. Ethan scratched his head, but could not offer a counter argument, as the practice of vaccination was quite widespread after the first outbreaks that occurred more than two decades ago. Who was he to know how exactly it interacted with sentient fungal-based lifeforms? Apparently, that's how Eveline felt herself, as she merely grunted out something unintelligible in response.
Shrugging his shoulders, Ethan glanced at Eveline next, who stared back at him with her guilty green eyes. The man couldn't even amass enough anger to make his question sound frightening - she was just that cute and innocent-looking in the moment.
"Will Anna not suffer any side-effects from Rosie's blood?"
The ghostly girl promptly responded. "No! Her body will terminate all of my cells within two-three days on its own." Evie paused for a moment, before sheepishly offering more. "There might be a little fever. A teensy tiny one. I could also forcefully expunge myself from her at any moment, but that would actually cause a painful seizure that would even paralyze her for a couple of moments, so…"
Ethan could only smirk at the phantasmic girl who was wringing her own wrists, trying to come out with a solution that would benefit the innocent servant she had slighted. Eveline had truly come a long way from a remorseless and selfish monster that he had met in Louisiana. He couldn't be any prouder.
"Yeah, don't do that…"
The girl nodded, but at that time the father's stomach decided to remind him that he hadn't properly eaten for quite a while - with a loud rumble that made Bela's eyes glint with mirth. "Daddy sounds hungry, Rosie." The tiny Winters nodded, and let out a lovely giggle herself.
Ethan snorted, before inquiring about their own culinary intake today. "What about you, girls? Had a nice breakfast, I presume?"
"Lady Dimitrescu made such a tasty… egg-meal with cheese!"
Bela chuckled before correcting the term. "Mother is famous for her omelette au fromage, indeed."
Rosie's genuine outburst made Ethan be unable to hold back a light gasp of surprise. Somehow, he couldn't even imagine the noble lady cooking anything herself, much less something for his own child. He'll definitely need to thank her properly for her latest acts of kindness towards Rose.
Bela chuckled as she ruffled the girl's hair lovingly, before placing her back on the ground. A speck of hunger in her own amber orbs made Ethan direct his attention fully towards the blonde woman. "What about you?"
Bela nibbled on her lower lip and gazed briefly but longingly at his neck, making the implication clear. A bloodless diet was not something the Dimitrescu daughters were accustomed to and after evacuating the Duke's ship, none of them were able to satisfy their...not exactly human cravings.
"I am okay." Bela's voice was quiet, and Ethan was surprised by the lack of conviction the normally composed woman displayed. Slowly approaching her, the man gently caressed her cheek, even as he sensually whispered into her ear, making the woman shudder from delight and excitement.
"No, you're not...but I am sure we will be able to… solve the issue."
On hearing the unspoken generous offer, Bela's amber orbs widened, as she beheld her grinning lover. A grateful nod was all she could muster before a tiny hand tugged at the hem of her dress. "Auntie Bela, tell me another story? Please? Evie loves them, too!"
The blonde woman hummed with satisfaction, before moving back towards her comfy window nook, motioning for Rose to follow - the girl happily jogging along.
"Sure thing, sweetie. Come here!"
Bringing the girl back to her warm lap, Bela reached for her large, ornately-decorated and likely very old and very well-read storybook. Eveline herself did not fade from view, instead choosing to sit on the floor next to the cuddling pair.
"Would you like to hear a story about a boy who could turn into a wolf?"
"Yes!"
Ethan lingered for just a moment longer - to simply admire the way the gentle sunlight illuminated Bela's fair features, as she read a story to his daughters.
Even though Bela could never be Rose's mother, for - despite all of her sins, Mia would forever remain Rosie's true mother. Despite knowing that, Ethan could not help but consider what a wonderful stepmother Bela could be… They could be a loving family - a whole family, once again…
Taking by the sudden overwhelming feelings of love, the father could not help but approach his cherished ones - only to place a quick peck on Rose's forehead and Bela's cheek, before hastily taking his leave - letting the girls have their storytime. Little did he know that Bela's longing gaze followed his frame until it vanished downstairs.
Moving through the first floor's living room, on the way to the kitchen, Ethan was greeted by an unlikely company. Dion, Emily, John and Cassandra were playing cards. The latter was winning, if the sour grimaces of the former three, as well as a large pile of chips next to the brunette Dimitrescu were any indication.
At seeing Ethan, Dion was quick to offer an overly friendly greeting towards the father. "Yo, Ethan, bro! Not an early riser, huh - understandable, honestly. Anyway, there is some leftover pizza in the kitchen, if you're in the mood."
"Get back to the game, carrot-man. Mhm, can't wait to taste your blood. Youthful. Bright red. Delicious. Maaan-bloooood." Cassandra's voice was saturated by self-assuredness, as she dramatically licked her black lips, making the rest shudder in barely-contained fright. The stakes in that game must've been curious, indeed.
Even though his complexion noticeably paled, Dion settled on a shrug, as he went all in. "Game ain't over yet, vampire goth lady. I might be the one to taste your famed family wine, after all."
Cassandra craned her neck backwards as she gave out a loud, hearty laugh, before revealing her cards - 'Flush', and giving out a mocking taunt. "Keep dreaming, whelp!"
"Shit…" John muttered, giving up.
"Who knew Romanian vampires were so good at damn poker…" mumbled Emily, dropping her cards, as well.
Yet Dion was undaunted. With a cocky grin, the youngest person at the poker table revealed his own cards - one at a time. A six of Clubs, then six of Spades, followed by six of Diamonds and finalized with a six of Hearts. Four of a kind.
With a hiss of rage, Cassandra swept the cards off the table - clearly struggling to restrain herself from flipping the whole table, instead - before storming off into the garden. The Hound Wolves exchanged high-fives as well as breaths of relief and cries of joy.
A distinct sound of knuckles hitting the wood started coming from the garden, intermingled with frustrated, barely-human growling.
Smirking, Ethan left the celebrating soldiers alone, as they waited for Cassandra to blow off her steam and return to their ongoing game - with a good portion of her chips going to Dion.
Entering the kitchen, Ethan immediately spotted the immaculately dressed Lady Dimitrescu. The noblewoman merely stared at a potted plant that occupied a small window nook. The plant in question appeared to be nothing special to Ethan - just a green shriveled thing that wasn't watered for quite a while; yet clearly Alcina found it captivating, nevertheless.
Somehow feeling as if intruding - despite the kitchen being a shared area - the man froze at the entrance, shuffling his feet for a few moments, before offering a polite, if neutral greeting.
"Good day, Lady Dimitrescu."
Alcina flinched at the suddenness of his voice. Her response was a measured one, delivered with her back still turned towards the man.
"And a good day to you, Mr. Winters."
Clearly, the lady was not in the mood for smalltalk now, so Ethan simply, yet quietly - without disturbing the woman too much, proceeded to wolf down the still warm remnants of pizza that were lying on the large kitchen table.
Pepperoni was exactly what Ethan wished at that moment and lo and behold - it was exactly what was left. With gusto, the man dug in and the delicious taste made him unable to suppress a small moan of pleasure from breaking through his chewing.
That must've been enough to finally break Lady Dimitrescu out of her trance, as she slowly turned around to glance at the man who had stolen her eldest daughter's heart.
"My, my, Mr. Winters… I was hoping that you would have a more refined palate than this…"
Swallowing what he had bitten off, the man merely grinned at the noble lady, before offering her a slice. "Food doesn't have to be fancy to be tasty, my lady."
More out of curiosity than anything else, Alcina accepted the offered piece, before inspecting it, as she held it in her gloved hand. Her lips curled in distaste at the sight of the plebeian treat.
"Ehm… I also wanted to thank you for being so nice to Rosie lately… entertaining her crazy idea yesterday, as well as preparing a breakfast for her… You didn't have to do that."
Alcina gazed down at him with a somber expression, as she offered a measured response to his meekly-voiced gratitude.
"Poor child needs all the comfort she can get. It's not easy to be separated from one's mother at such a tender age."
Suddenly, her expression darkened and the slice of pizza fell down from her gloved hands back into its box.
"I stood by and just watched as Rose was taken apart, you know that, Mr. Winters?"
The man froze, a bite of pizza hanging from his mouth. Alcina continued speaking in that same monotone voice.
"I did not even offer a single word of protest, as that heinous act was committed."
Lady Dimitrescu turned away, returning back to her potted flower, even as she spoke further.
"And that was only the latest villainy. Do you know how many maids I had ordered to be drained dry - for a slightest misstep? How many tortured souls were consigned to oblivion in our dungeons? I lost count many, many years ago."
Ethan could not even begin to guess the number. Silence was his only answer. Lady Dimitrescu gently plucked a single shriveled leaf with her gloved hand - the wilted plant surrendered it easily.
"I'd love to blame it all on the cruelty of men in my former life… or the circumstances that led to my rebirth… or Miranda herself forcing my hand… but that would hardly paint an honest picture, would it? Somewhere along the way, I had become no better than her. Worse even, as I reveled in the wanton, unnecessary cruelty I had inflicted… that my daughters had inflicted. The power… it is intoxicating, Mr. Winters. It is a blessing… and a curse."
In a blink of an eye, Alcina's gloved hand had clenched, crushing the withered leaf into fine powder. The lady did not hold onto the dust, instead she opened her palm up and let the air currents from the window carry it away.
"Cuba was supposed to be our second chance… but I never forgot my homeland or the atrocities committed there. Neither by myself, nor to me. Sometimes, as I would lie in my fine silken bed, sipping on finer yet wine, I wondered - did I deserve that second chance? Perhaps being buried along with Miranda in our Valley would have been a more fitting fate for me, wouldn't you agree?"
The noble lady had turned to face Ethan once again, but at seeing conflicting thoughts rushing across the man's eyes, merely sighed, before finalizing her monologue.
"My precious daughters are the only reason I kept going… to protect them against the world that saw them as nothing but monsters to be put down. Yet I failed to do even that. And now… how can I ever hope to be able to defend my darling lovebugs… with this... " Alcina removed her glove, only to hatefully gaze at her own pale flesh. "...this weak body?"
Pizza was left forgotten as the speechless man's attention was wholly focused on the Dimitrescu matriarch, who suddenly was pouring out her heart to him. Ethan couldn't help but wonder what evoked such trust in him. Was it her genuine remorse for Rose's mistreatment? Or does she believe that he would make a better protector for her daughters? Perhaps witnessing the kindness of strangers reminded Alcina of her past life, presumably - once free of endless horrors and callous murders?
Regardless of the reasoning behind her change of heart, Ethan observed the fragile woman in front of him, not with fear or hatred, but with compassion. For all of her monstrous deeds, there was a spark of goodness not yet extinguished in her heart. And that spark desired to walk the path of atonement.
Standing up, the man slowly moved towards the still matriarch, before taking her ungloved hand in his own, with tender care. As her amber orbs met his kind brown-gray eyes, Ethan spoke with a measured, calm tone.
"Forgive for being presumptuous, my lady, but I can see that your life could not have been easy. You've made mistakes along the way… committed terrible acts… Unforgivable crimes, even." Alcina's eyes fell at his harsh yet truthful words, but Ethan was not done. Clenching his hand around her small palm, the man continued with a suddenly upbeat tone.
"Yet… you're still alive. Your daughters are still alive. Doesn't that count for something? And… I may not be a certified shrink, yet even I can tell that all four of you attempt to do better by others - in your own ways. Everyone deserves a second chance, and so far I don't think you've made the worst of yours."
Lady Dimitrescu glanced back at feeling the warmth of his tone; the gentle yet firm grip he had on her hand somehow appeared to invigorate her exhausted spirit. With a smile, Ethan did not relent in his, perhaps foolish, attempt to cheer the woman who had kept him captive up.
"And don't sell yourself or your new body short, my lady - you may yet be stronger than you think… And if that's not enough, I would gladly lend you my own strength - for what it's worth."
The countess took a moment to simply gaze into Ethan's eyes - as if measuring the authenticity of the spoken words.
Ethan could be seeing things, yet he swore a speck of wetness glinting in the countess' eyes as she mumbled out a surprisingly timid question.
"Would you help protect my daughters, Mr. Winters?"
Ethan did not need to think twice. Not when his mind was quick to conjure the smiling images of the three sisters. Bela - with her serene smile - one of kindness, comfort...and love; Cassandra - fierce and merciless towards her foes, but a stalwart ally to those who had earned her friendship; Daniela - horrible in her rage, yet innocent in her joy.
"To my dying breath."
Alcina's second palm placed itself over his own - the one that still clutched her right hand. The countess gave the father a small, yet genuine smile, before murmuring, "I appreciate it… Mr. Winters… more than you can know."
Ethan returned her smile with a grin of his own. "Just Ethan is fine, my lady."
Lady Dimitrescu gave a light scoff as the last fragment of her old life was threatened - the strict adherence to formality. Surprising even herself, she did not hold onto it for long.
"I suppose your actions have earned you the right to refer to me by my given name." With a reserved chuckle, the countess added - with mock seriousness, "I hope you can appreciate such an exclusive privilege."
"I can, Lady Dimi…" Alcina's red lips curled in a small frown, making Ethan quickly correct himself. "...Alcina."
Pronouncing the name left a strange, yet not unwelcome feeling behind. Suddenly feeling awkward, Ethan let go of her hand - with her own limbs quick to accommodate the motion.
Returning to his pizza - which was a bit cold by now, Ethan smirked at the sight of Alcina's amber orbs lowered to gaze at the slice she had discarded previously, almost considering giving it a try, as well.
"It's better fresh and hot, but still pretty good!"
With a resigned sigh, Alcina grabbed the slice before slowly edging it towards her mouth - as if afraid that the revolting produce would attempt to bite back. Giving it a tentative bite, the countess took several moments to chew before swallowing.
"It is… adequate."
Finishing her slice, Lady Dimitrescu hummed in satisfaction, before suddenly grabbing a chair's backrest for support. With Alcina's whole posture going stiff, her eyes opening wide, sweat starting to bead on her forehead and her hands grasping the backrest tightly, it was plain that an onset of seizure or vertigo had gripped the noblewoman.
Seeing her unexpectedly unbalanced state, Ethan was quick to inquire, "Something wrong, Alcina?"
The noblewoman waved his concerns off, even as she made a motion for the door. "Just a dizzy spell, Eth.. Mr. Winters. They happen from time to time after my tenure with your caring wife. I think I'll go lie down for a bit."
The carefree mood died quickly at the mention of Mia's name; Alcina's almost friendly demeanor gave way to her more characteristic detached - painfully cold - noble bearing. Ethan stood up and was about to offer help, yet Alcina dismissed the motion before it was even spoken.
"Finish your meal, Mr. Winters. I'd like to think myself capable enough to reach my own bed, at the very least. And, perhaps we should stick to formal terms of address, for now - after all."
Not letting the man respond, Alcina promptly departed - while making sure to stick closer to walls, for support - leaving Ethan to his cold pizza.
Finishing his own slice in silence, Ethan did not let the disappointing conclusion ruin the otherwise enjoyable interaction. True, they took a step back in the end, yet not before they've made several forward. The harrowing experience Alcina went through in that facility was clearly something the noblewoman still struggled with and Ethan was guilty by association.
The father noted that he was fortunate to catch such an insightful glimpse into the inner workings of Lady Dimitrescu's mind. Bela's mother turned out to be a complex character herself - hardly a one-dimension villain he'd assumed her to be the first time he had met her - which was really not a surprise at this point.
Perhaps, given time, they might strike a peculiar friendship, yet.
Vacating the empty kitchen, the father wandered the halls of the villa, in search of something to do. The options were many, all were exciting in their own rights, and hours went by in a blur. Playing cards, listening to piano performances, walking in the garden and simply conversing with the colorful personalities occupying the villa, Ethan found himself genuinely surprised as he glanced outside the window and saw that it was evening already.
One man Ethan had not stumbled upon today was Chris Redfield, and so Ethan went to search for the large captain to ask him a simple, yet important question - what comes next for them all.
The search was not a long one, as it appeared that Chris, as well as several unexpected men had spent the whole day inside the conference room. Entering the room in question, Ethan raised an eyebrow at the mess that was inside - pizza boxes, empty beer cans and documents were littering almost every square inch of the place.
Leon, Chris and the defector - Mr. Sallow - were all absorbed into what appeared to be a serious conversation as they leaned over a large, electronic map. Chris still took a moment to give the father a nod in greeting.
Ethan was surprised to see Sallow still present in the safehouse, as Leon had implied that they would fly back to the U.S. immediately upon return to the villa.
"You're still here, guys? I figured you'd be half way back to the States by now."
Leon made a displeased noise at that, with Chris explaining the reason for the delay of their departure.
"The Dragonfly experienced a malfunction - Charlie is working on it right now."
James Sallow scoffed, before offering his own insight. "A4 Dragonfly series are famed for their reliability. A malfunction occurring at precisely this moment sounds mighty suspicious."
Chris folded his arms, as he took in the smaller man's appearance. "It is still a complex machine, with a great deal of moving parts - hardly infallible. Despite its manufacturer's advertisement and promises, I know for a fact that minor malfunctions do happen, from time to time. Luckily, Charlie went through a mechanic's course, in addition to pilot training. I am sure that he will be able to rectify the issue in short order."
"The faster - the better. We need to stay on the move if we want to remain ahead." The defector was jittery, if his restless figure - unable to settle on a pose in his seat was any indication. Leon attempted to placate the man, by reminding him of the formidable military escort surrounding the premises.
"Relax, Mr. Sallow! This safehouse is protected by the finest U.S. has to offer, in addition to the present company! There is no reason to feel threatened by our foes. The Connections would not dare to openly strike against us here, even if they were aware of our location. And that's a very big if."
The defector only scoffed at that, while glancing around the house nervously, unconvinced. "You guys have no idea, do you? The Connections are not who you should be worrying about. It's our… their client."
"The Connections have a lot of clients… you'd have to be more specific." Leon was not amused by the lack of details their informant provided.
"The client! The one that demanded the E-001 series bioweapon production to be restarted! The one that got us into all that horrid mess with these bug-bitc…"
James wisely did not finish that sentence, as both Chris and Ethan's eyes hardened at the obvious insult that was about to leave the man's lips.
"Who is the client, Mr. Sallow?"
As the plain-looking man gazed at them with uncertainty in his expression, Ethan felt his hands clenching into fists. Suddenly, all Ethan saw was an enemy. A person who had wanted to hurt them. A person who had wanted to hurt Rose and Bela. Cassandra's cruel words about beating information out of him came to the forefront of his mind.
Why should we deal with this scumbag? He only switched sides because he felt it was in his best interests to do so. For all I know, he was directly responsible for Mia's betrayal and the attack on Dimitrescu. And now he is playing fucking games with us…
Chris appeared to be on the same wavelength as Ethan, as a scowl on his battle-hardened face made itself present.
James, seeing multiple glares directed his way, gulped and mumbled out a barely-audible answer.
"That knowledge was above my paygrade… but… I have my suspicions."
"Do share them." Chris' bark brooked no argument.
Again, the average-height man merely glanced around the living room, as if expecting a spy or an assassin to pop out from the window or a fireplace. Several beats of tense silence followed, until - eventually James gathered enough courage to give voice to his wild-sounding theory.
"U.N. Secretary-General."
Even Chris and Leon appeared too shocked to respond, with their jaws hanging wide open. Despite the fact that it was plainly obvious that The Connections had their people, or people who owed them favors deep within several international political and economical institutions, this newest revelation was earth-shattering for everyone present.
"Why the hell would the Secretary-General want to have a mold-monster?"
Ethan's question shattered the silence, making James gaze at him with a curious look. Clearly, the defector was aware of Ethan's own unnatural body at this point.
"Again, all I can offer is my theory."
Leon motioned with hands, in a bid for the man to continue. Sallow, after massaging his temple with his fingers for a few seconds, obliged.
"It's always about the same thing, Mr. Winters. Power. I don't know how closely you follow modern geopolitics, but the U.N. are more powerful than ever and the Secretary-General has been pushing hard for the reformation of the Security Council in recent years - to amass all the international political power in the hands of their own cabal. Yet despite the bribes, the promises, the threats - the Americans and the Russians had stopped the motions to do so hard, every single time."
The man glanced around the room, making sure everyone was following him, as he continued.
"Perhaps the time for words or bargaining had passed. E-002 prototypes are capable of taking over human hosts - which is something I theorize the Secretary-General would want to use."
"Impossible. I've been to Louisiana. Nobody sane would mistake Bakers for normal, unaltered people. How the hell would that voting appear even semi-legit?" Ethan was quick to protest, making James sigh and rub his temples harder.
"Haven't you been listening, Mr. Winters? E-001 - Eveline was the original, flawed creation. E-002 prototypes have been enhanced with what we have managed to gather from the blood of a person under this very same roof."
"Jill…" Chris' own fists now clenched until the knuckles were bone-white. The sight of the powerful punching tools made Jame's blood chill in his veins, yet he continued his explanation, nevertheless.
"Indeed...it was not my project, yet I am familiar with the results. As loathsome as Albert Wesker was, you cannot deny his genius in the field of genetics. His P30 compound - the one Ms. Valentine was exposed to for so many years has forever altered her internal biochemistry - as I am sure you are well aware of, Mr. Redfield."
The captain grunted, and James nodded, as he proceeded. "Our refined mold-shaping techniques, combined with the results of our research into Ms. Valentine's unique blood - which still contains trace amounts of P30 - has allowed us to create a true puppeteer. E-002 prototypes are capable of taking complete control of the human host, without altering their core personality or behavioral patterns. Perfect sleeper agents - living their own lives, yet obedient to their master - when the time comes. Or in our case - ready to vote for the resolution, instead of against it like their governments demand."
Ethan felt his stomach churning at the depravity of it all. That someone would stoop so low as to mind-control high-standing government officials - perhaps whole delegations, just to pass along some resolution that would see that person empowered further yet.
"And now… with the E-002 - as well as their handler - passed along to the client… We are the only ones who still remain in their way. How does it feel to oppose the most powerful human on the planet?"
A pregnant silence followed James softly-spoken words, yet the man was not done.
"We are not safe here. We are not safe anywhere."
Ethan did not consider himself a man with a weak stomach, indeed, how could he be one - after surviving through all that filthy mess in Louisiana and Romania. Yet it seemed that this time the rabbit hole went so deep that it was mind blowing. The butterflies that were now fluttering inside Ethan's stomach were not induced by any pleasant feelings.
As if on cue, Charlie walked into the conference room - to deliver a report on Dragonfly condition. The man's grime-covered face was a fierce scowl, as he did so.
"It was a leaking coolant pipe, captain - just outside the sensor's range. Had to spend hours finding the bastard… only to fix it in five minutes. We're good to go."
"A leaking coolant pipe? How did that happen?" Chris was quick to inquire and Charlie scratched his chin, before shrugging his shoulders, as he offered a response.
"Who knows, captain? Could be just standard wear and tear."
Chris scoffed, apparently not finding that explanation satisfactory. Before he could go on, however, a certain blonde Dimitrescu barged into the room, stealing the spotlight.
"Oh, there you are! I was looking for you, Ethan. Are you busy with the men?"
Bela was giving them all her trademark serene smile, while holding her clenched hands together at her chest level.
"Nah, I am just intruding here, anyway, I guess. What's up?"
Hearing Ethan's reply, Bela did not waste a second and roughly grabbed him by the arm, before leveraging her barely-human strength to drag him out with her.
Humming a pleasant melody, the woman marched right towards her room, with Ethan in tow. On their way to the room, the fears and anxieties that were induced by Sallow's panic mongering were dispelled and replaced by anticipation of a different kind.
Giggling with mischief, Bela closed and locked the door to her room after Ethan had crossed the threshold. Even though Ethan could see where this was going, her next action still took him by surprise, as the woman roughly slammed him against the wall, before assaulting his mouth with her own hungry lips.
"Oh-ho, someone is impatient for some manly blood, aren't we?" Ethan had to struggle to find a breather in between her shockingly vicious kisses. At that, Bela finally gave him a moment of tranquility, standing back a bit, with her amber orbs open wide.
"Is that what you think this is, Ethan..?"
That was the unspoken assumption, yet Bela laughed with mirth at his lack of response, as her delicate fingers started caressing his face.
"While I appreciate the offer greatly - and will likely take you up on it soon, I want something else from you right now, Mr. Winters."
"Oh? Whatever is on your mind tonight, Ms. Dimitrescu?"
Bela grinned even wider, before her slender but powerful hands forcefully rotated Ethan around, only to unceremoniously shove him towards her bed. Before the man could even recover his bearing, the gorgeous woman was hovering right over him, her grimace twisted into one of lust - with her amber orbs open wide and her full lips forming a wicked smirk.
Letting out a slight moan of impatience, the blonde daughter hungrily licked her lips. Her pink tongue working around in circular motions was mesmerizing, yet after a moment the woman pushed back her lustful impulses, only to lower her head - to sensually whisper into the man's ear, "What we had yesterday… I will cherish the memory of that beautiful moment forever, Ethan… but today… I want to show the extent of love I feel towards you. And that means…" Bela took a moment to slowly lick around his earlobe, before continuing, "Someone else will have to be at the bottom."
"Oh...don't let me stop you then, Bells." Ethan answered with a whisper, even as his own heart rate increased considerably.
The woman leaned back, and the fierceness of her desire made shudders of anticipation run through Ethan's spine. She almost appeared as if ready to tear the clothes right of his body.
Ethan did not stop Bela, yet something else did.
Without warning, the room went dark.
"Bells… tell me you did it."
A silly question, since Ethan could still feel her palms pressed firmly against his chest, yet the man desperately wanted to believe that it was merely her sneaky bugs flicking the switch, instead of some other, nefarious reason for the sudden pitch-black darkness that had enveloped the two lovers.
"I did not…"
Her voice betrayed the anxiety they both felt, as the woman slowly crawled off him. Ethan stood up shortly, trying hard not to stumble in this environment where his eyes were rendered completely useless.
"Ethan...look!"
Bela's frightened whisper came from the window and Ethan realized the issue even before he approached it - even during the night, Nice was always illuminated by a myriad of lights and some of them should've reached their little window, yet the room was utterly devoid of lighting.
Looking outside the window, the man felt breath being caught in his throat as he beheld a foreboding sight - a good portion of the surrounding suburbs were as dark as their room. Not a single light was visible within several miles around them.
"Ethan… what's going on?"
The man in question felt a smaller palm enveloping itself around his hand. He did not think twice about giving it a reassuring squeeze, or about offering a theory concerning the sudden darkness.
"Perhaps an accident at a power station?"
Before Bela could respond, the duo heard a strange noise coming from the villa's rooftop. If Ethan had to describe the alien sound, he would probably settle on something like garbled radio transmission or distorted electrical interference. Regardless of that, the quiet yet pronounced noise that the man had never heard before in his life sent chills of fright through his spine. The noise died down, only to shortly repeat again - closer this time. It sounded wrong.
"What was that!?"
Bela was squeezing his hand hard now.
"I don't know, Bells…"
Somehow, the duo of lovers no longer felt any lust or desire - none, whatsoever. These pleasant feelings were completely overtaken by anxiety and fear. Raw, primal fear of darkness; of the unknown. Not even the apparently unaging, bug-shapeshifting woman was immune to that.
Ethan did not survive what he did without developing powerful survival instincts. And they were screaming at him right this instant. Something bad is coming. James' words came back to him, with a vengeance.
We are not safe here. We were foolish to think that we are.
In utter darkness, Ethan could do nothing but squeeze Bela's hand tightly. Whatever was coming for them, they would face it together.
Author's Note:
Funnily, this chapter was supposed to be a very short intermission-type one, yet it got quite sizeable, with several important scenes of its own. I'd love to hear what you guys think about how it came out :)
Thanks for reading and have a great week!