Behind Porcelain Eyes
Author's Note: So I'm having fun working on Bela/Donna ideas and this one came about after seeing more art on Tumblr. LOL. Keep up the art it really keeps me motivated.
"Presents are made for the pleasure of who gives them, not the merits of who receives them."
- Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present."
-Bill Keane
By: VampireQueenAkasha
~O~
House on Haunted Hill
Donna didn't pay much mind to the conversations.
Heisenburg was chomping down on one of his smelly cigars again and the stench somewhat lingered in the air, stagnant and unpleasant. Donna seemed intent to sit there in silence, of course; and Salvatore was...well, himself. Nothing more could be judged from him, at least not from her. Besides most of them considering him to be a complete buffoon and Donna made no effort to make him feel that way. She saw no reason to do so.
Alcina had brought them to her castle upon Miranda's request; she had wanted to witness the three Dimitrescu daughters herself and insisted the others join her. Donna failed to understand exactly why, but such was Miranda's way. She gave her orders and everyone was expected to obey them. Perhaps she felt proud of the idea to use the flies to create new life.
"So I'm walking into the castle..." Bela was sharing a story with her sisters. "I have a head under my arm dripping blood and no one notices."
Cassandra grinned. "Just under your arm."
"Yes!" Bela giggled at the thought. "Then, I see these visitors walking around. I knew that Mother invited them over as she does."
"Of course."
Daniela was also listening with interest.
"And it's this cute little couple," Bela continued, still delighted to share the story, "A little queen and her dreamboat boyfriend just walking by me without a care in the world. So I put on the charm and told them where mother hid the best wine."
Alcina grinned a little, letting out a small chuckle as she lit one of her cigarettes.
"And after I led them below and played with them for a while," Bela said, "I had this funny thought: I've never been on a date before. Ever. In my entire life."
They stopped talking when Miranda raised a hand to silence them. When they did, she turned her focus to the three daughters and circled them, taking in every detail. Donna tilted her head as she watched beneath her veil. Even she couldn't resist her curiosity in understanding the beings before them.
"Hmmm..." Miranda mused, "The flies are carnivorous and vigorously consume meat. Form is stable...ravenous. Appetites are as I predicted."
Daniela grinned at her. "Thank you."
"That was not a compliment."
"Oh..." Daniela pouted with disappointment.
"Any further observations?" Miranda questioned, turning her attention to Alcina.
"Yes." Alcina explained, eager to discuss it, clearly, "When I opened a window a few months back, some of the flies dropped dead onto the floor. It would seem the cold petrifies them. I quickly closed the window to avoid weakening the insects further."
"I see." That didn't seem to bother Miranda much. "With the spring seasons arriving, I expect we will find these three out seeking suitable prey."
The idea certainly seemed to excite the three daughters.
"Would you like to see a performance?" Alcina questioned.
Miranda thought of that. "Mm, very well."
Alcina grinned and held up two hands. The three nodded their heads.
"Yes, mother." they said, collectively.
They vanished in swirls of flies, disappearing into the castle. Alcina gestured before her with a small bow and Miranda walked first. Karl scoffed as he watched them go, slouching in his chair. Salvatore was content to eat the meat on his plate. Angie made a disgusted sound.
"Eat with your mouth closed!" she snapped, "You're making a mess."
Salvatore looked at her. "What?" he asked, between chews.
Karl shook his head. "So we end up dragged over here just to watch Lady Supersized Bitch kiss Miranda's ass all morning?"
Angie giggled. "Are you jealous?"
Karl pointed an angry finger at her. "Shut the fuck up, Heidi!"
A scream drew their attention toward the windows and they rose, making their way over to witness the three Dimitrescu daughters dragging a bound man out into the courtyard upon Alcina's orders. Miranda was witnessing how quickly they disemboweled him. Typically, she was hardly ever impressed with much of what they'd done for her - such was her way. But here, she did seem to smile a little.
Karl recoiled with an "oooh!" when the man was split open. Salvatore laughed a little and Donna watched in silence. Well, they were certainly vicious and knew how to be proficient in the ways of killing.
"Wow, that guy didn't have a chance!" Angie hissed, laughing.
"No. Wait, was he local?"
"Uh-huh." Salvatore answered.
Karl shook his head with amusement. "Too bad."
The daughters were laughing gleefully, dancing in a circle around him. They were skipping in his blood that stained the stone beneath them. He was still barely alive, twitching in the final throes of death before stilling. Miranda said something to Alcina and the larger woman seemed quite happy with whatever she was told. She ate it up like it was the sweetest treat.
It must have been good.
O
Donna returned home removing her veil from her head. She had no mirrors in her house to look at the Cadou that had been implanted in her face; a mass of flesh that reminded her of what she was. It blinded her in one eye, but it had never really been an issue as far as sight was concerned. Her little friends helped her quite often and she sensed things with sharper clarity in her mind.
She had only just recently learned to give a part of herself to her dolls. A few had roamed the house to comfort her a little. It was nice, really; the silence had a way of getting to her.
"Hey!" Angie hissed, looking up at Donna. "Movie night?"
Donna smiled down at her. "That would be lovely, yes."
Angie floated away to the projector in the office across from them; a few dolls were preparing a comfortable place on Donna's couch for her to sit with cushions and knitted blankets.
"How was your day, Donna?" one of the dolls asked.
"Fine." Donna replied, "I hope you didn't miss me too much when I left."
"We were just waiting for you to come home!" another doll said, in a high voice, "We always miss you when you go!"
Donna gave a quiet, almost sad laugh. "I know you do."
She entered the office - it had been her father's. Took a seat in the nearby couch and rested her hands in her lap.
A doll was readying the projector with a few simple gestures. Donna remembered how it took her a few days to teach them what to do. It took a moment before the film started up and she watched it silently.
Her mother and father smiling on the white screen, waving from a place at the beach. It made Donna chuckle quietly. Angie had taken her spot in her lap and she held the doll close as she continued to watch the movie of her childhood memories unfold.
Another scene of her as a little girl.
A scar on her face that she kept hidden out of view. She barely recognized herself in the images at times; even then, she looked happier. It should have been hard for her to watch the movies, but it wasn't. It was just nice seeing them again and reliving the memories of the past.
A whisper from one of the dolls. A comfort.
"Thank you..." Donna said, quietly.
She visited the grave, then; carrying a doll meant for her mother. The one who protected the grave that was surrounded by many little dolls was a giant being infected with the Cadou, wielding an axe. Donna had little words to speak to the creature during her daily routine.
He had once been her gardener. It was an instinct that he remained and obeyed.
A low rumble, a throaty noise from the giant.
Donna knelt down before her mother's grave and placed the doll there at the base of the massive stone tomb. She rested her hand over the smashed stone where "Claudia" had been removed. A grave robber had tried to steal the Beneviento treasure buried with Claudia and he had made a fatal mistake; Donna had taught him a lesson never to underestimate her.
"Hello, mother." Donna spoke to the grave. "Angie and I are here to see you. I've made you a new doll. I hope you like it. The merchant brought me new materials that I had requested."
She let out a small chuckle and Angie remained silent, sitting in her lap to let her address the former lady of the house.
"I did as you said; I made the dolls the way father taught me," Donna continued, "I know they made you smile when he made them for you, too."
The giant remained where he was before moving to tend to a few branches that had grown over. A doll was hanging by a noose nearby.
Donna blinked, shutting her eye when she remembered how they'd swung from their nooses.
Mother's pale face.
Father's tongue swelling out of his gaping mouth.
Donna, nothing but a little child,, staring up at them.
"Hmm..." Donna said, softly. She let out a small laugh. "Oh how rude of me. I never told you of the others. They've been around ever since the tragedy. Angie is here, too. She talks now in ways others can hear her. I remember it was just me before."
Angie laughed.
"Well...that's not quite true, I suppose," Donna continued, "Some are old, some are new, but they've...changed. The gift from Mother Miranda changed their voices as they changed mine. I hope that doesn't worry you, much. I'm really doing quite well."
The dolls and their whispers echoed in her head. Or was it her own mental whispers?
Or was it her thoughts?
(Go back. It's not safe.)
(Go back to the house.)
Donna looked around a little. "Yes, here lies the ruins of our great family," she said, with a small sigh, "Look around and you will see them. But the dead don't always lie still here, do they? This is not a place of peace. This is a graveyard, filled with restless ghosts."
(She's lost. You can't save her.)
The little whispers were there again and Donna knew that they didn't belong to her dolls.
No, not this time.
She wanted to return to the house. The fog seemed colder suddenly. She fought for warmth and rubbed her hands together.
She had tests to perform, anyway.
It was routine, after all.
Once she returned to the house, she ventured below to her workshop.
The music and her dolls talking with her helped.
She knew that wishing the voices away never helped; they were there always and it was only by will that she worked to muffle them. Keep them away for a had learned that wishing things away never made them disappear.
Donna leaned over her workshop table, sleeves rolled up as she tended to the little doll; it had unfortunately ruined its dress when it had run too far and tripped.
She smiled warmly at it. "There. We're alright, yes?"
"Thank you, Donna!" the doll chirped, in a happy voice.
Donna was laughing gently when the doll drifted into her arms for an embrace. "Of course. You're my cute friend. I take care of those I love."
Yes. She certainly did.
