Notes: My apologies for taking so long with this chapter. As it's the ending, I wanted to work harder on it and due to my health issues I often need breaks from writing. I hope you enjoy it!
Eastern Europe, Ritual Site - Present Days
Death was something Bela was very familiar with. Starting by the fact she had already died once, before being turned. It became something normal, something ordinary, considering she, her mother and sisters often killed humans to consume their blood, or simply for fun when they were feeling too bored. She lost count of how many lives she had taken in all those decades living in the castle as Alcina Dimitrescu's daughter.
She never cared about the loss of another life before. Grief was something unknown for a family that was mostly immortal. They were immune to regular weapons. They were immune to sickness. Now they were also stronger to the cold. It brought her a sensation of relief, not only because she had earned more freedom, but because her sisters were safe. She didn't have to worry about the possibility of losing them anymore.
Bela was aware of Aleena's mortality from the moment they met. That girl, with the bravest and strongest heart she had even seen, had a weak and fragile body. One that was not immune to time or sickness. Someday Aleena would eventually age and she'd remain the same. She didn't care. She was willing to protect her and take care of her until the moment of her death.
But she didn't expect that moment to happen so fast. When Miranda's claws impaled Aleena's chest, for a second, everything seemed to stop. She stared paralyzed at the scene in front of her for what seemed like an eternity, before she was actually able to act.
"Aleena!" Bela managed to be fast enough to catch her before she hit the ground. Which was ironic, considering she didn't arrive in time to stop the battle or to prevent her girlfriend from attacking Miranda's monstrous form. "Come on, love. Wake up!"
The girl barely opened her eyes. Suffocating with her own blood, that gurgled inside her mouth and down her throat, she struggled to speak.
"B-Bela..."
"Don't push yourself too far, okay? I'm going to give you some of my blood and you'll be fine. You're going to heal and I'll get you out of here."
She wasn't listening. Not only because all her senses should be failing at that point, but because she knew somehow she wouldn't heal from that.
"I'm... sorry..."
Bela opened a gash on her wrist, inserting it on Aleena's mouth. It was useless. She didn't have strength to drink her blood. She still tried to force it down the girl's throat but it was too late.
"Aleena, please," she begged, brushing off the strands of brunette hair that insisted on falling over her girlfriend's pretty face. Some tears rolled from her eyes, dripping on Aleena's forehead. "Stay with me, love."
The blonde Dimitrescu sister had seen corpses enough to know the girl was dead. She had no pulse, no heartbeat. She had lost a huge amount of blood, through the hole in her chest.
Bela raised her eyes again. Miranda was standing in front of her, laughing maliciously.
"YOU KILLED HER!" She yelled.
"Yes," the Black God told, "and once she wakes up again, she'll be my Eva. I just need to give feed her with the boy's blood. Where is him? Bring him to me, child and I'll let you live."
"You're the one who's going to die! You'll pay for this, Miranda."
She stood up. The serum Aleena injected on her body had made her stronger. She didn't feel the impacts of the temperature drop anymore. Her flies reached the dagger before Miranda did it, returning it immediately to her hands. She also took the opportunity to spy on the rest of the group. Auryk was unconscious, but safely locked inside the truck. Meanwhile, Gustav, Elena, Cassandra and Daniela started to drench the fungal roots with gasoline, before setting them on fire.
"What?" Miranda started to feel the effects on her body. The destruction of the Megamycete's roots was making her weaker. "What are you doing? Stupid children! I'm going to kill you all!"
As she started to move, Bela got in position for the fight. She couldn't let her go. If she passed through her, all the others would be in danger.
"Not if I can stop you."
"Bela," Miranda was about to attack her when Cassandra flew back to where they were and shaped back to her human form. "What happened? Where's... oh fuck!"
Although her middle sister would never admit it, Bela knew Cassandra had learned to like and respect Aleena. She already saw the girl as a member of their family.
"Is she..."
Bela replied with a nod. Cassandra fists clenched in anger.
"YOUR UGLY-ASS BITCH!" Daniela finally recovered her strength and returned to the battle. This time, she was done pretending to act composed for their plan's sake. "You fucking tried to kill me. How could you even dare?"
"Okay, we need a new plan," Cassandra exchanged a glance with the two of them. Both Bela and Daniela nodded in agreement. "If we work together, we can take her down."
"Got it. We need to attack her at the same time," Bela spoke. "Which move?"
"The Twilight Attack," Daniela suggested. "It never fails."
Bela hated that name. She told her youngest sister a thousand times to not use that name for their special move, however she wouldn't listen. She never listened.
She and Cassandra consented. Bela gave them a signal to pay attention on her. They needed to work in perfect sync for that to work.
"Three... Two... One... Go!"
At the same time, the three Dimitrescu sisters turned into flies, surrounding Miranda in a tornado form. While they were in that shape, she couldn't hurt them or realize what they were planning.
"Your freaks!" The Black God yelled. "I knew I should never created you. You were a failure from the start. You are always causing me trouble."
"Yeah," Cassandra reappeared by her right side, holding her long skeletal arm. "Causing trouble is my specialty."
"Do you call this a failure?" Daniela reappeared on her left, doing the same move as her sister. "How do you like that, bitch?"
Bela finally reappeared behind her back with the dagger in hands. She only had one chance. She couldn't fail.
"Good riddance, Miranda," while Miranda was weakened and steady under her sisters' grip, Bela positioned the dagger, pointing to her chest.
She stabbed her with all her strength. Like when Aleena did it, the creature Miranda had become started to bleed intensely and convulse. She let out another loud growl before her body started to turn into stone and dissolve into ashes.
The sisters watched in silence, until they were sure Miranda was really gone.
"It's over," Cassandra said. "We did it."
"Nobody messes with me and lives," Daniela bragged.
Bela's lips curled up into a smile, but then she remembered. Even thought they managed to defeat Miranda, Aleena was still dead. She rushed back to the girl's body, who didn't show any signs that her mutation was going to bring her back this time.
"She'll come back," Bela felt her youngest sister's hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know if it's going to work. It's different this time, Daniela. Miranda did something, she tried to implant her daughter's conscience in Aleena's body."
"If she doesn't, you should ask mot... Lady Dimitrescu to turn her," Cassandra suggested. Bela didn't understand why she was calling their mother by her name. "She'd become one of us."
"It wouldn't be the same. She'd change and lose all her memories. She'd forget everything about her life, her brother, about us. It's not fair to force her to this life."
?, ? - ?
I woke up feeling weak and confused. I looked around, I was still at the ritual site, except that it was completely empty. There was no sign a battle even happened there in the night. I couldn't spot Miranda, Auryk or even the Dimitrescu sisters anywhere.
A panic sensation started to crush my chest. What if they were all dead?
I tried to remember what happened. I was standing in front of Miranda, in her new monstrous form. I tried to attack her with the dagger Bela gave to me, but I missed. Before I could act again, her long claws were deep into my chest and I passed out. Passed out? I was being optimistic. There was no chance anyone would survive that injury. I was dead. Definitely dead.
If I was immune to the creatures of the village, my body was supposed to heal and bring me back to life. Unless... I wondered if Miranda had succeeded. Maybe that was the reason I was standing in that kind of limbo, her child was occupying my body.
"Oh shit..." I started to walk around, explore my surroundings as I tried to figure out a manner to return. I was still in the village. Not the actual village, but some sort of... 'Upside Down village'? I was completely alone in that alternate version of my reality. I couldn't see a single soul wandering around that place. At least I hadn't met my deceased father, otherwise I'd know I had gone to hell.
I followed the way to my house, considering the possibility it'd be the first place my brother would be taking my body. As I opened the door, I heard a noise coming from the kitchen. Guess I wasn't alone after all.
I walked silent and cautiously, I didn't know who or what was waiting for me. As I approached I could take a better look at the figure standing in front of the counters. But... was it even possible?
"M-Mom?" I called, a little bit scared and emotional.
"Aleena?" My mom turned around, surprised. She still looked the same as the day she died.
Yeah. That was really her. Savannah Novak. I could recognize her loving voice even after so many years. I quickly threw myself in her arms. Hallucination or not, her embrace was still warm and real.
"I miss you so much..." I began to sob.
"I know, my dear. I miss you too."
"Am I... Am I dead?"
My mother held my hand and forced me to sit on the couch. I swallowed dry, wondering if she was trying to keep me calm before she confirmed my suspicions. I started to think of Auryk. He would lose himself even more if something happened to me. I also thought of Bela. Her face was the last thing I saw before losing my conscience. We didn't have time enough. I wanted, I needed more.
"No, Aleena. You're not. Not yet."
"Not yet?" I asked, confused. "Does it mean I still can return to my body? How do I do that?"
"I don't know," my mother smiled and caressed my hair. "But if someone can figure it out, I know it's you."
Okay. I wasn't dead. Yet. But I still had to find a manner to return to my body and I had to do it on my own, because no one else was here to help me.
I decided to enjoy the moment and spend the time I still had with my mother. I hugged her again, then I lay my head on her lap while I told her everything about the last few years. I told her about Auryk, about going to California and about Bela.
"One of the Dimitrescu daughters?!" Her eyes went wide in shock. "There were stories about them, about that castle."
"Yes, but she's not what the stories say. There's a lot more about Bela, more than anyone has ever found out. She's amazing and sweet. She makes me happy like I've never been before. And her family, they're crazy and dysfunctional but I kinda like them too."
I let out a laugh as I shared some of the best moments I spent with Cassandra, Daniela and even Lady Dimitrescu.
"Oh god..." I lamented. "I gotta come back. We... Bela was going to California with me. It'd be the opportunity of a new life for both of us."
"Why don't we go search for her then?"
"But how? She's alive, so she's not here."
Mom stood up from the couch and headed to the front door.
"Come on," she invited me. "First we need to find your body. What's the second place where you could be taken?"
I was pensive for a moment. Some flashbacks of the battle with Miranda returned to my mind. Auryk was unconscious. He couldn't be the one to take me home. But maybe Bela did. I was in her arms when I died.
"I have an idea," I grabbed my mom's hand and we started to walk together. There was only one other place I could be, Castle Dimitrescu.
Castle Dimitrescu, Bela's Room - Present Days
"She's awake," Cassandra announced as she entered the bedroom. "What about Aleena?"
"Nothing yet," Bela told. Since their return to the castle, she placed Aleena on her bed and didn't leave her side for a minute. If she showed any signs she could be waking up, she wanted to be the first one to see it. She sighed weary, remembering there was something else she was supposed to deal with. "What are we going to do?"
That was the first time she asked for her middle sister's opinion on something. She was usually the one who was in charge of most of their decisions, but this time, she was completely lost. She'd like to hear Cassandra's point of view on that matter.
"I don't know."
Lady Dimitrescu was almost dead after Miranda drained all that power for the battle, but now, she was starting to recover. As well as the other Lords. After their discoveries at the laboratory, her sisters were also unsure about their relationship with their 'mother'. Clearly, nothing would ever be the same now they knew the truth about their past.
"Where's Daniela?" Bela wanted to know. They needed to discuss their options with their youngest sister too.
"Around," Cassandra told. "Now we're stronger, little Dani is free as a bird. She's probably at the village, trying to make friends."
They both laughed. That has always been the youngest Dimitrescu sister's dream, to live as a normal girl.
Bela remembered Aleena's brother and friends. She hadn't told them yet. And she didn't know how. As more hours passed, it was becoming more and more clear she wouldn't come back to life this time. She squeezed Aleena's cold hand one more time, as if it would let her know she was there, waiting, hoping for her to wake up.
"It wasn't your fault. She knew the risks."
"It was my duty to protect her. If I wasn't so weak, I could've stopped her."
When Daniela arrived, all the three sisters went to Lady Dimitrescu's chamber for a talk. The Countess was still weak but conscious. Her face lighted up when she saw her three daughters were alive and well.
"Daughters," she smiled, "you did it. You defeated Miranda."
"Yes," Bela was the one to answer as usual, but this time was different. If it wasn't for Cassandra and Daniela she wouldn't have been able to do it. "We did."
"She said 'we'?!" Cassandra and Daniela whispered to each other.
She returned the dagger to her mother. That blade could harm any of them, it would be better if she kept it somewhere safe again. Especially now a couple of villagers were aware of its existence.
After this, the sisters fell in absolute silence, exchanging glances and wondering who would be the one to ask the questions first. They had a lot they wanted to hear from their mother.
"Mother..." Daniela decided to go first. "We discovered some... stuff in Miranda's lab. Who were we before you... turned us?"
"Did you even ask what we wanted?" Cassandra asked, still angry. "Because I certainly never asked for this!"
"Wait..." Lady Dimitrescu raised her gloved hand, "what has Miranda done to you, daughters? Where did you suddenly got these ideas from?"
"I always knew," Bela told. "Deep down. Then I had these visions while I was in the cave with the Megamycete. It showed me some memories that we lost inside me."
Alcina sighed, knowing she couldn't deny it anymore. She patiently told the sisters everything they wanted to know, softening some parts of the story to avoid even more angst and rage.
"I understand if you can't forgive me. I just want you to know I've learned to love all the three of you like if you were really my daughters."
"We love you too, mother."
Daniela was the first one to climb onto the bed and hug the woman. Cassandra didn't take so much longer, even though she was still showing signs of being hurt. Bela watched the scene in silence, pondering about her options.
"Bela..." Lady Dimitrescu looked right into her eyes.
"Mother," she finally took a step forward, joining her sisters in Alcina's arms. Her act was more for them than for the Countess herself. It would take some time before that wound healed. She wondered if it would ever heal someday. However, she wanted to keep a good relationship with Cassandra and Daniela. They were everything she had now.
"I was so scared I was going to lose you, daughters."
"I'm not going anywhere, mother," Daniela told. "But we need some new rules. Now we're able to spend more time outside, I'd like a normal life."
"Define 'normal'.
"Modern, I mean. I want to have a cell phone, a computer, some new clothes. I want to spend more time outside the castle. I want to have friends."
"Okay, Daniela. We can try to... make some new rules."
Cassandra also expressed her wishes in order to remain in the castle. Bela listened to everything they said first, choosing carefully her next words.
"I... uh... I need some time alone," she finally announced, leaving her mother and especially her sisters in shock. "I need to discover who I really am and start a new life."
"What is that supposed to mean, little lady?" Alcina's face turned into a scowl. "I forbid you, Bela. You're not going anywhere!"
"With all respect, I'm an adult and... you're not really my mother."
The woman grunted some words of anger, especially at Miranda, for leaving the truth so exposed at her daughters' reach.
"Are you going to leave us?" Cassandra wanted to know.
"I'm afraid so."
"You can't," her youngest sister seemed to be about to cry. "Not after everything we went through together!"
"I can't stay in this castle anymore," Bela told. "Too many painful memories."
"Where are you planning to go, Bela?" Lady Dimitrescu asked. "I suppose I have the right to know, at least."
"I don't know yet."
"Let me guess..." she inhaled deeply. "You're going to California with Aleena Novak. That girl! She's..."
Only the mention of that name brought back the painful sensation Bela had in her chest during the whole morning. Going to California was her plan. But now, with Aleena gone, she didn't know where exactly she wanted to start her new journey.
"She's gone. Miranda killed her," the tears started to fill her eyes all over again. She took a deep breath and headed to the door. "Excuse me."
She left the bedroom, but as she started to rush back to her bedroom, she noticed there was someone at the castle's front door. She opened it, it was Auryk. Damn, he was probably looking for Aleena. How was she supposed to tell the boy his twin sister was dead?
"Hi," he was a little bit uncomfortable, but more polite than when they first met. "I passed out last night after Miranda went into her final boss form and I just woke up. Where's Aleena? I need to talk to her."
"Auryk..." Bela sighed. She didn't know how to say it. She never cared about the death of a human before. She had no idea of how much pain it could cause, until now. "I-I... I failed to protect her."
"What are you talking about? Elena and Gustav told me she was injured and you brought her to the castle until she healed."
"She didn't heal this time. I'm sorry."
"S-She can't be..." he started sobbing in front of her. And now she couldn't hold her tears anymore. Though her sisters could be a pain in the ass, she couldn't imagine losing them. "My sister can't be dead. She was my everything!"
"And mine too," she spoke, more to herself than to Auryk. In only a few weeks Aleena became Bela's whole world. Without her, everything felt empty and dark. The sun didn't shine the same outside. She had no one to prepare breakfast to. She wouldn't hear that voice again, or laugh at that stupid jokes Aleena told. No one had ever made Bela smile so much.
"Can I see her?"
"Sure."
They followed together to her bedroom. Auryk hesitated for a second before walking in. Bela could understand him, it wasn't easy to see her girlfriend's corpse lying on her bed. She stood by the door, giving him some privacy to say goodbye.
In her mind, she already started to plan how she'd tell him how everything happened. She was the only one to witness that tragic moment. They also needed to discuss the details of Aleena's burial. His brother should know what she wanted or not.
"What the... Bela! Come here," he spoke after a couple of minutes inside the bedroom.
Bela's eyes went wide in shock. Her heart skipped a beat. She didn't want to lose any time walking, she transformed into flies to arrive faster at the scene. Aleena was slowly moving her head and sweating. A lot. She was burning in fever.
"What happened?" She wanted to know. "Before I left the room she was cold and dead."
"It's like when she got bitten by that Lycan, it seems. Her body is fighting whatever Miranda tried to implant."
The eldest Dimitrescu daughter didn't know if she should cry or smile. She ended up doing both at the same time. She finally had something to hold on to, the hope Aleena would beat the odds again and come back to life.
"Love?" She touched her face fondly. "It's me. Stay strong, okay? You can beat this. We're here for you."
"Leena?" Auryk grabbed his sister's hand too. "Stay with me. Please, you did it once. You can do it again."
Bela checked her vital signs, being sure Aleena's heart was beating again. She felt her own pulse quickening at the confirmation she was indeed alive. This time, she wouldn't lose her. She'd do anything to help her girlfriend to recover.
"What do we do now?" Her brother asked.
"I... I'll grab some towels," Bela told. "We need to lower her fever."
Castle Dimitrescu, Bela's Room - Present Days
It felt like waking up from a nightmare, but worse. I could barely breathe. My heart was thundering inside my chest and my mouth had an awful taste of blood. When I opened my eyes, I easily recognized the place I was. It was Bela's bedroom at the castle. I began to wonder if the last days were only an hallucination and I was still there, in the night she prepared me that special dinner.
"Hey," Bela was sitting on an armchair, right beside me. It seemed like she had been watching me for a long time. She looked exhausted. "You're awake, love."
"How long have I slept for?" I asked, noticing my brother was sleeping on the couch. I really couldn't imagine what circumstances brought Auryk to the castle and he was getting along with Bela, to the point she allowed him to stay in her bedroom.
"Two days."
"Oh my god."
I remembered the fight with Miranda. Bela was weak from the cold. Auryk had passed out. And me... she had impaled me with her long sharp claws. I checked my stomach for any wounds or scars, but there was nothing.
"You were dead, Aleena," Bela's expression changed as she spoke those words. "Really dead."
I noticed her crackling voice and the tears forming inside her golden yellow eyes.
"I'm so sorry," I squeezed her hand. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay, love. What matters is that you're here now."
"I won't ever leave you again, I promise."
Hearing my voice, Auryk jumped out of the couch, running immediately to the bed.
"Leena, you woke up," he examined every part of me, to make sure I was really fine. As if I hadn't noticed Bela had done that a thousand times while we talked. "God, I thought I had lost you."
"I'm sorry, Ryk. I had to risk it," I told. I remembered I had no idea of how the battle ended. Was Miranda still alive? "By the way, is that bitch dead? Who killed her?"
Bela opened a huge grin, taking credit for the achievement.
"I knew it," I smiled back.
"With the help of my sisters," she added.
"Are they okay too?"
She nodded in agreement. I rested my head on the pillow again. Dead. I was dead. I had no idea what happened to me during that time I was unconscious, but judging by the soreness on my body, it felt like I was fighting against something evil. An unknown power or force. Now everything was over, I could finally breathe relieved.
In the morning, Bela prepared me a special breakfast. Her family also joined us on the table. Lady Dimitrescu was already fully recovered too.
"Somebody can explain what a man is doing in my castle?" She asked as soon as she laid her eyes on Auryk. "Who even gave him permission?"
"I did," Bela shrugged, without taking her eyes off the cup of tea she was holding. "He's my brother in law. He's part of the family now."
"And he's cute," Daniela said, making Auryk choke with his food.
"Yeah, he's not that stupid," even Cassandra agreed. Things had really changed in that place while I was dead.
I muffled a small laugh as Lady Dimitrescu shook her head in denial. She knew it was useless to go against her daughters' wishes, especially Bela's. She recomposed herself before announcing:
"We need new servants, daughters. Some candidates will be here tomorrow for an interview and I expect you to be in your best behavior when they arrive."
Considering Bela's sisters excitement, I supposed the new candidates' interview was something they expected greatly.
"I won't be here," Bela told. "We're leaving tomorrow in the morning."
"I can't believe it," Cassandra protested. "Selecting candidates won't be the same without you. You always get to pick the best ones and I make it a mission to steal them from you."
"I wouldn't participate anyways. You can have the best ones all for yourself, Cassandra. I'm out of the market, remember?"
I finally understood what was so special about that occasion.
"Wait," I interrupted. "So selecting candidates is about choosing the women you plan to seduce later?"
"No!" Alcina shouted before Daniela could answer my question. "They must be selected based on their skills! Skills, daughters!"
Cassandra shrugged and Bela decided it was a good moment to tease her.
"Maybe you'll fall in love and find yourself a girlfriend too, Cass."
"Impossible."
Their mother wasn't thrilled about the possibility of gaining a new daughter in law.
"One more girlfriend and I swear I'll lose it."
Castle Dimitrescu, Bela's Room - Present Days
There wasn't much Bela wanted to take from the castle to her new life. She wanted new habits, new memories and... new clothes. She definitely needed new clothes. She had nothing in her wardrobe that seemed appropriate for the modern days.
She also knew that as soon as she left, her sisters would invade her bedroom and take possession of some of her belongings. Especially Daniela. She grabbed her favorite books and placed them inside a luggage. Aleena wouldn't mind, would she? After all, she was a book worm herself.
Bela decided to take all her jewels too, in case she needed to sell them. She didn't have Lady Dimitrescu's approval, so she probably wouldn't have any of her money either, even what should be hers by right. She didn't want to be a burden for Aleena or her brother. At least she would have enough to live comfortably for a while. Until she was adapted enough to have her own source of income.
There was only one necklace she decided to leave behind. That one with the red gemstone. It was the first gift she received from her mother, right after she was turned. She hadn't wore it since the day Alcina betrayed her for Miranda. It made no sense to have it anymore. She placed it on her vanity before returning to her study.
"Aren't you going to take this one?" The voice behind her made her freeze in place and sigh. The door. She should've locked it.
"No," she returned to the bedroom. Lady Dimitrescu was standing there, analyzing the stuff she'd be taking. "You can have it back, if you want. I plan to sell the rest, I'll need money."
"Don't be ridiculous. Do you really think I'd let you go to another country without anything?"
Her mother handed her a check. It was a lot more than Bela expected.
"It will be more than enough for the first few months. And when you need more, you can call me. I can ask a servant to go to the bank in town."
"Thank you, m..." Bela was still struggling with that word, "mother."
"I... uh..." Alcina also handed her a small package. "I asked Daniela to get these. One for you and one for me."
She opened it and for her surprise, it was a cell phone. Her mother showed hers, making a confused face while staring at the screen. Bela let out a small laugh.
"Do you know how to use it?"
"Yes."
"You'll have to teach me before you go. It seems so... complicated."
"It's not," Bela say down by her mother's side on the couch, showing her how to make calls and send texts.
"Oh, I see," Lady Dimitrescu tapped the screen, doing exactly as she told. "It'll be much easier to locate Cassandra inside this castle now."
For a second, the eldest Dimitrescu daughter almost felt sad about the life she was leaving behind. She'd definitely miss some parts of it. Watching Cassandra always getting scolded was one of them. She'd also miss Daniela unsolicited hugs, even if she'd never admit it. And she'd miss her mother too, especially they long conversations in the library, about the most diverse subjects.
When she looked at her mother's face again, she seemed emotional, nostalgic about her own thoughts.
"I can't believe you're going away. It feels like yesterday when you first woke up after..."
After dying. After having a parasite implanted in her brain against her wishes. Yet, Alcina talked about that event like if it was the day she had been actually born.
"Can we not talk about this, please?"
"I'm sorry," the Countess apologized. "Let me say it different. It feels like yesterday when you first arrived at this castle. You were so young, so beautiful, so intelligent... You were different from all the chambermaids I had before. We bonded since the very first day. I looked at you and I thought that if I ever had a daughter, I'd want her to be like you."
Bela knew that. She could see it in the memories she was able to remember. Her admiration for Alcina Dimitrescu started long before she became one of her 'daughters'. Since she was a human girl, she respected and cared about that woman.
"One of the things we have in common is our difficult to admit when we're wrong. However I'm doing it this time, Bela. I know I made a mistake, but I can't go back in time and fix it. All I can do is hope someday you'll forgive me."
"You made a mistake but in the end, I wouldn't have met Aleena if you hadn't turned me," Bela sighed. "We can't go back in time but we must deal with this. And for now, I'd rather to do this alone. Away from you, from this place. I want a chance of having a life on my own and find out who I truly am."
"You're right, daughter," Alcina placed her hand over hers. This time, she didn't pull away. "And I hope you'll find what you're looking for."
"Thank you, mother."
"I must go now, I heard some noises coming from the cellar and this castle needs to be organized to receive the servants tomorrow."
As soon as she crossed the door, Bela heard Lady Dimitrescu shouting at the top of her lungs.
"CASSANDRA!"
She shook her head and laughed. Yeah, she'd definitely miss them.
Eastern Europe, Village - Present Days
"So, have you decided what we're going to do about this house?" Auryk asked. My brother always thought we should sell it, but I was still attached to the memories of that place. Even if most of them were bad, it was still the place I grew up. The place where my mom taught me how to play the piano. The place where I used to play with Elena and Gustav. The place where I had good moments with Bela.
"I think we should keep it," I said. "When Bela come to visit her family, I'll come too. We can stay here if she doesn't want to stay in the castle."
He didn't argue. Instead, Auryk smiled and touched my shoulder fondly.
"Okay, Leena. After all the trouble I caused, you're in charge."
"I've always been in charge, Ryk. But I'm glad you finally admit it."
"Idiot," he laughed and shook his head. It was good to see that smile again. He finally seemed more like my twin brother and less than that jerk that showed up weeks ago on our birthday.
"Bastard," I showed him my tongue and punched him softly.
Together, we walked to the pub where I used to work. Our friends had prepared a party for us, as a form to say goodbye. The girls would be meeting us there too, after all they played a huge part in defeating Miranda. The whispers around the village now were about how they managed to save them all. It'd take some time before they earned the villagers' trust, but they were no longer feared as before.
"I'm telling you, she was dead," Gustav told his mother about our fight with Miranda another time. Her face suggested she was exhausted hearing it over and over again.
"Stop," I playfully punched him while sipping my beer. "You're making me sound like the weirdest weirdo in the village."
"You died and came back to life. You are the weirdest weirdo in the village."
"Okay. Maybe I am."
Olga came back from the kitchen, bringing us some food. Elena was helping her to cook, she opened a huge smile when she saw me.
"Aleena," she ran straight to my arms. "How does it feel like to be the village's hero?"
"Nah," I told. "This is all on the Dimitrescu girls. But I admit it. It felt great to stab that bitch at least once."
I noticed her expression changed. I could imagine why. For decades most of those people had Miranda as some sort of God. They trusted and worshipped her, without knowing they were being fooled.
"I don't know how we could be so blind."
"She had this effect on people, don't blame yourself. So, have you and your father decided what you're going to do now?"
"I'm going to take your job here at the pub, save some money and maybe I'll move to the city in the future. I just can't stay here anymore, it looks... toxic, suffocating."
I agreed. That place truly had the habit of making me feel that way, since I was a child. I wondered what would be of the Lords too, now Miranda was gone. How would Lady Dimitrescu and Heisenberg coexist without killing each other?
Some minutes later, I received a text on my phone and I was surprised to see it came from Bela. As far as I knew, any kind of communication, except for the phone in Lady Dimitrescu's office and bedroom, were allowed at the castle.
"My mother," I turned around and she was standing right behind me, along with her sisters. She showed me the phone she was holding. "She wants to keep in touch now I'm moving away."
"Wow," I exclaimed, surprised. "Things have really changed in the castle, huh?"
"You have no idea."
I wrapped my arms around her neck and we exchanged a kiss before we sat down on a table, where Bela told me about the conversation she had with her mother.
"I can't even imagine what you went through," I held her hands tightly. "But hey, you'll get there eventually. You don't have to feel bad for not forgiving her right way. I feel the same about my father."
"Yes, maybe in a few years," she sighed, holding my hands back. "Right now I just want to focus on our future together."
The party ended late at night for the first time in decades. The people in the village had nothing to fear that night. There were no Lycans or other creatures that threatening their lives.
"It's too early to say that," Cassandra said as I drove back to the castle. "Miranda's gone, but someone will want to continue her legacy."
"Who? One of the other Lords?" I questioned.
"Unlikely, she betrayed them. She must've left all her research, all her experiments in the hands of somebody else. Someone powerful."
"Well, tell us if you notice any strange signs. We'll see what we can do."
I parked the truck in front of the castle. Bela and Cassandra were the first ones to leave. Daniela stayed behind, examining every minor detail of my old piece of junk.
"Aleena, I was wondering," she pressed the radio's button, making one of Adrian's tapes start playing. She immediately turned it off. "Who's gonna have this truck now you'll be away?'
"Uhhh, good question," I couldn't imagine why would someone want to buy that. So I only had one option. I handed her the keys. "You can have it, if you want."
One more time, I knew Lady Dimitrescu would want to kill me when she found out. At the least this time I'd be far, far away. I would never see the claws again.
I lay in bed, but I couldn't sleep. Not only because I was extremely anxious about our move to California, but I couldn't forget what Cassandra said.
"What's wrong, love?" Bela asked. "You look worried."
"I can't stop thinking about what your sister said. About Miranda's legacy and everything."
"Maybe she's right, or maybe not. Only time will tell."
"Yeah, I really don't want to think about it. After everything, all I need is a break. A long break."
United States, California - A Few Days Later
It would take some time before we adjusted to this new reality. I still had nightmares about the fight against Miranda. Auryk pretended he was okay, but I knew my brother enough to know he was suppressing his traumas again. Bela was the one having the hardest time. She had never left the castle's lands before. She had never been in contact with the real world. Everything for her was completely new and strange.
My grandparents knew about the stories from the village and Miranda's experiments. My parents always kept them informed, it was certain someday we'd need their help. They weren't surprised about my mutation, but they didn't expect me to be dating one of the Dimitrescu daughters. My grandmother was the first one to warm up to Bela. She was always assuring her that they accepted her for who she was and that her past actions didn't matter. Although she was doing everything to make her feel comfortable and well at their house, I was searching a small apartment only for the two of us.
For a moment, I started feeling insecure. Once we had to face the feeding issue, I feared we wouldn't make it. Bela had needs I couldn't supply without somebody else's help. My grandfather had a contact inside the hospital, one who was familiar with suspicious occurences in the past. They wouldn't let us hear much of their conversation, but Bela could identify the names "Umbrella" and "Raccoon City". She remembered them from the files she found at the BSAA's base. In the end, my grandfather's contact agreed to help, providing us a few blood bags every week, as long as Bela was kept 'under control'.
"It's not the same," she said the first time she tasted the blood from the bag. "It's cold and stale. It tastes horrible."
I sat on the couch, burying my face between my hands. It was unfair to keep her like this. She was clearly miserable and lost. I should stop being selfish. I should force her to go home. She was a predator. It was a stupid idea to believe she'd thrive without her habits.
"Bela, we need to talk," I started saying. "You have to..."
For my surprise, she returned from the kitchen with a glass of wine, where she poured some of the blood and mixed.
"But if that's the price I have to pay to be with you, I don't care," she drank it all in one sip and smiled. "Well, it's not so terrible like this."
I smiled back, taking a relieved breath as I hugged her. I would thank Lady Dimitrescu someday, for having this idea of mixing human blood to the wine she produced.
We still had a few days before my classes started. My grandparents borrowed us their car so we could travel around the state, visiting and exploring the most interesting places.
"So, we made it," Auryk told me as we both stopped to stare at the ocean in front of us. "We survived Lycans, our father, Lady Dimitrescu and Miranda."
"I wouldn't count on Lady Dimitrescu," I joked. "Everytime Bela won't answer her calls, she'll text me threats about how she's going to catch the first airplane and come after me if something happened to her daughter."
"Where's Bela, by the way?"
I rolled my eyes at him.
"Take a guess."
Since my brother taught Bela how to use his camera, she had found a new passion. She loved taking pictures of the places we were visiting.
"Come on," Auryk laughed. "You're an artist, your girlfriend is a natural photographer. It all fits together."
"Yeah, I know. But it's all fun and games, until they start trading you for the camera."
I was obviously joking. It was a relief for me to see Bela was adjusting to this new life by finding stuff she enjoyed doing and discovering all the small things her mother denied her for over sixty years.
"And there she is," I spoke as she started coming in my direction.
"Are you ready to go, love?" She pressed a quick kiss on my lips. "I still want to take you to that restaurant we saw earlier."
"Of course," I looked into her golden yellow eyes, still unable to believe we were somewhere else outside that castle, outside that village. And most of all, we were happy.
I took Bela's hand and together we followed to our first official date.
So, this part of the story is finally over but I'm not ready to say goodbye to Bela yet. She's my favorite character from RES: Village and I love writing her. At the same time, I've been planning a Cassandra fic for a while now.
I'm gonna leave a question for you guys:
What would you like to see next?
a) A Cassandra x OC fic
b) A sequel to this fic (Bela x OC)