~O~
Brama
The man wandered through a labyrinth of doors.
He was terrified, trembling as he noticed several dolls walking passed him. He could hear the deep, sinister laughter from somewhere in the house. One of the doors flew open and an enormous porcelain arm shot out of it, reaching for the man.
He screamed, fleeing down the halls. "Stop it!" he wailed, "Stop!"
The porcelain arm was dragging a torso that was made up of wriggling flesh that giggled in an infant-like voice. It dragged itself after him and he was sobbing, rushing toward the front doors when they appeared. But he froze when he saw Donna's shape standing there.
"Don't go." she hissed.
He shuddered, whirled when the porcelain arm disappeared. When he looked back, Angie was in his face, cackling.
Donna hummed a song to herself as she worked on the doll.
A new one; made up of fine materials that had somehow found its way to her doorstep one morning. She had known who had brought them, of course. The red and gold patterns were only capable of coming from the castle. It had to be perfect for something truly special.
Angie hovered over her shoulder to look at what she was making. Donna smiled back at her and held up the little doll.
"Well?" she said. "What do you think?"
"She looks different!" Angie told her, "Making this one for someone special?"
Donna chuckled a little. She ducked her face aside to hide the light blush. "Perhaps. It's not as terrifying as my original creation for another person."
"Oh! The one-armed thing that made that guy scream?"
"Yes, that one."
Angie laughed at that. She savored the memory and, quite frankly, so did Donna; the man thought she was easy prey. She'd proved him otherwise.
She looked down at the doll, to the tender care in every little stitch. This one would be special.
(Go to the castle.)
(She wants to go. She wants to see her.)
(Go see her!)
She was on her mind again; Donna had thought about Bela when she made the doll and wanted to give her the gift. She was proud of it.
"She won't like it, you know."
Other Donna looked at her with disapproval, eyeing the doll. Donna ignored her.
"She hates these creepy little things you keep around." Other Donna continued to try and press her buttons. "I mean, who can blame her. Look at their eyes."
Donna glanced up at one of the dolls that had been watching her work. One of its eyes rolled loosely in its head and it let out a manic giggle.
Well, perhaps she could fix him, first.
O
The walk took an age and Donna had worked up enough nerve to carry the gift she intended to give Bela in one arm, Angie in the other. The Others were talking all at once and it felt like a buzzing in her head, almost unbearable for one who'd grown accustomed to the noise. Her heart was thudding wildly in her chest and Other Donna was laughing softly somewhere. She had covered her face in her veil as well. She wasn't quite ready to go out exposed like that just yet.
(Why is she doing this? Why doesn't she turn back?)
(For her. She's making a gift for her.)
(She's stupid. It won't work.)
A humming in her brain, laughter from Them. She made her way to the castle gates where a servant welcomed her inside. It felt warm and she was suddenly aware of Alcina there before she could even hear her approach.
"Donna!" Alcina's smile was friendly. Her cheeks flushed somewhat. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
She must have fed recently; Donna was always aware of the little signs in the older, taller woman. She was usually in good spirits when she had a fresh meal.
"I'd...like to see Bela." Donna told her, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Alcina's features lit up with pleasure. "Would you now?"
"Yes."
Donna wasn't sure if the attention was something she wanted; she felt nervous and Other Donna was leaning against a statue of Plato, smirking at her and shrugging her shoulders. It was a dare, really; to see just how uncomfortable she could get.
Alcina tittered with amusement, turning to beckon Donna forward. "My daughters are feeding. Their morning breakfast. If you'd like to follow me..."
Donna did follow Alcina through the castle and into a grand hall where she noticed the three daughters crouched over the corpse of a blood-soaked man. He was long dead, mutilated beyond recognition. Donna had been used to such sights.
Alcina cleared her throat delicately and the three looked up from their meal. Bela noticed Donna standing there and she grinned, happy to see her. Her mouth was slathered in bright red blood and bits of flesh stuck to her teeth.
"Donna!" she exclaimed.
Alcina surreptitiously touched her own cheek and Bela looked down. "Oh!"
She quickly moved to clean her face on a nearby cloth, earning giggles from her other two sisters. Once she was sure her face looked proper, she turned to Donna, surprised and pleased to see her there.
"I didn't think you were coming." she said.
Donna tilted her head toward the other two watching them. Bela followed her stare and noticed the two grinning widely, curious by their interaction.
"Aww, aren't they adorable?" Daniela said, her tone an affectionate drawl.
Bela shot her a irritated look. "Be quiet."
"Bela, darling," Alcina stepped forward, "Perhaps you'd like to take a walk with her while I see that supper is prepared."
Bela nodded eagerly and took Donna's hand. The two left the room.
Cassandra and Daniela were too curious not to follow in clouds of flies. Alcina cast her gaze to heaven and turned, calling for them.
"Cassandra! Daniela! Come back here." she said.
The two clouds of flies returned after a moment, assuming their shapes. Daniela was pouting with disappointment.
"Aww, but mother..." she protested. "We want to see her!"
"And you will at supper. Play nice, girls. Donna is skittish." Alcina reminded them. "Like a doe, but with better manners."
It made Cassandra grin. "I like a good doe."
"I know you do, darling." Alcina replied, with a smile of her own. She couldn't resist her pride in her.
O
Donna watched the statue in silence.
Bela smiled up at it as well; several women executing another with spears. The statue was utterly tacky beyond measure, but her mother seemed fond of it.
Her focus was on Donna now. "You're wearing that veil again."
"Yes. I'm...not quite ready for them to look at me." Donna admitted, with a small sigh.
She parted the veil to look at Bela properly and the other woman grinned at the sight of her. Donna licked her lips slightly, glanced down at the box she'd brought her new doll in. She began to feel as if Other Donna had been right; what if Bela hated it?
"I'd like to give you something." she eventually said.
Bela's features lit up and she took a seat on the floor. "Oh!"
Donna joined her and hesitantly offered the little box. Bela eagerly opened it and paused, tilting her head at the little doll within it.
She studied it with a thin smile. "Oh, a doll."
Donna grinned a little, uncomfortable. "Yes, I...really loved the material you brought for me." she explained. "And I only make dolls for those I..."
Bela raised an eyebrow at her and Donna sighed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. It was a stupid idea I - "
Other Donna laughed from somewhere in the room.
"It's cute." Bela told her.
Donna's head snapped up at her, surprised. Bela chuckled, studying the doll in her hands. "I'm not much of a doll person, but you put a lot into it. I can tell." she said, honestly. "And no one's made me a present before. I like it."
Donna smiled a little, hopeful. "Really?"
Bela returned the smile. "Really." She paused now, studied it. "Wait, it won't come to life and try to murder me in my sleep, will it?"
Donna's brow wrinkled. "No. I wouldn't do that to you."
"That was a joke."
"Oh. I see." Donna managed a little giggle at that now.
It was manic and sounded ridiculous, earning a look from Angie. Bela raised her eyebrows, surprised by the sound before she laughed a little with her.
Then, she looked over toward the door of the room. Donna followed her stare.
"What is it?" she asked.
Bela rose, walked over to the door and gave it a vicious kick. The sound of Daniela's giggling came from the other side, along with the sounds of buzzing flies. Bela turned back to Donna and forced a polite smile on her face.
"Anyway, where were we?" she said.
O
It was nice just sitting and talking with Bela while they sat together in that room. She didn't know when Alcina would call them for supper, but talking with Bela alone in the castle was nice. The other woman complained about Cassandra's messy eating habits at the table and Daniela's playful nature when it came to the humans.
Donna found that it was easier and easier to talk about it; the Others and her own life. But it was only so with Bela. The woman's smiles and light laughter comforted her in some way that it hadn't before. The more she spent time with her, the more she enjoyed it.
(You're stupid.)
(She's going to hurt you.)
"...I just closed my eyes and tried to forget it, I suppose..." Donna replied.
Angie looked up at her with a small sound.
Bela murmured thoughtfully. "That's the funny thing about forgetting," she told her, "It always comes back to you, doesn't it?"
(No matter how hard you tried and begged, you couldn't close your eyes, could you, Donna?)
(She looked in the dark and saw it. And they saw her too.)
"It does..." Donna answered, with a quiet sigh through her nose.
(You're stupid!)
Bela tilted her head, studying Donna for the longest time. She made a thoughtful, low note in her throat and reached out, putting a hand over hers. Donna blinked, stared down at it for a moment. She felt warmth through her arm where Bela had touched her.
The taller woman leaned closer, lips parting, eyes inviting. They looked bright in the candlelight, practically glowing. She reached up to cup Donna's cheek where her Cadou was placed, but the woman flinched away at the contact, earning a frown from Bela.
"I'm sorry, I just..." Donna hesitated.
"Hey." Bela moved over so smoothly before sitting closer to her. "It's not that bad, is it? Here..."
She pulled her hood back, revealing the shaved half of her head and the gruesome scar on her head where her Cadou had been placed. Donna looked at it with a mixture of awe and uncertainty. Bela just chuckled and shook her head.
"We're the same, you know." she told her. "Well, except you're a Lord. But I think we understand, don't we?"
Angie had been quiet the entire time. Donna didn't know why.
"It's not the same." Donna eventually said.
Bela frowned intensely at that. "Why?"
"You're beautiful."
Bela's look softened now and she stared at her, astonished by the confession and the self-deprecation. She eventually smiled widely and slipped her arms around Donna's shoulders. She noticed a seize, a startled look on Donna's face.
"Well, first of all, thank you for calling me beautiful," she said, with a low chuckle, "I could enjoy hearing that every day. Secondly, you don't lack beauty, Donna. I think you're very pretty and I like looking at you."
Donna let out a shy laugh, lowering her eyes. "It's kind of you to say that, but..."
"No 'buts'." Bela interrupted, "I wouldn't be wasting my time with anyone if I didn't enjoy being with them. And I like being with you."
Donna's cheeks warmed and Angie crowed with laughter. "Look! She's blushing! That's adorable!"
Donna glared down at the doll with disapproval.
"What?" Angie said, with another giggle. "You are!"
Donna looked up, eye widening somewhat when Bela cupped her cheeks, studying her with a soft, curious smile. She felt utterly vulnerable, watched by her like she were a hungry predator. It made her skin itch pleasantly.
"Here..." Bela leaned forward, placing a small, chaste kiss over the mass of flesh on her head that snapped her from her darker thoughts. "Better?"
Donna blinked, taken by the action; it was such a tender act that had shot fire through her. She hadn't expected such a benediction from a Dimitrescu.
(It's nice. She wants to be gentle.)
(She's going to bite your face off, idiot.)
She took her hands, pulled them from her face.
Bela smiled a little, shrugging her shoulder once when she noticed a small, shy look on Donna's face. It was cute watching her go through every single emotion at once in her look before frowning at her, lips parting as if she wanted to say something.
Bela stared at her for a moment. She blinked once. Twice. Then, smiled. Any other time, such a look meant death for those who saw it. But here, there was something unique; a warmth that looked foreign on her.
"Come on. Let's go to supper. Mother's waiting for us." Bela stood up, offering her her hand.
Donna took it and Bela's bright smile of affection made her force resolve, hold her head high. She was a Lord. She was someone to be respected and admired. She had to play the part.
Other Donna appeared in front of her, backing up with every forward step as the two women made their way through the halls.
"Oh, this should be good." she said, with a grin on her face. "You're going down there without your veil?"
Donna swallowed thickly, ignoring her.
Teenage Donna was there at her side, holding her hand - no of course she wasn't. Eight year old Donna was also there, smiling up at her.
"You'll be fine. You're with Bela." Teenage Donna reminded her. "You like one another. Just focus on that and nothing else."
Other Donna rolled her eyes. "Yes, because focus is something she's so very good at."
Donna looked up at Bela, who glanced at her briefly before smiling, giving her a wink. She held her chin high, taking Donna's arm into hers as if they were an elegant couple strolling through the park on a summer day. It was charming.
Donna smiled at her, letting out a small laugh at the look on her face. That certainly helped ease her nerves a little.
O
When they arrived for supper in the dining hall, the Dimitrescu family couldn't resist their stares at Donna. Even Alcina looked surprised to see her without her veil. Cassandra was staring at her with a curious grin and Daniela was giggling.
Bela pulled out a chair for Donna to sit down into and pushed her toward the table. Alcina smiled and nodded her approval to her, raising her goblet before taking a sip of what was surely wine. Bela joined her mother's side at the table across from Donna.
What was before them had been a plate of something bloody; Donna could only assume it was some poor unfortunate human.
A maid had come with a plate of something for her; a soup that smelled delicious.
"Ciorba de Burta," Alcina announced the type of soup before her. "I hope you enjoy it."
The maid who had handed it to her looked at Donna with an uneasy smile. She was certainly relieved when Donna seemed pleased with it after taking a careful sip with her spoon.
"So...what's with the thing on your face?" Cassandra asked, gesturing to her own face.
Alcina rigidly sat her goblet down on the table. "Cassandra, manners." she warned, her eyes narrowing.
Donna tensed visibly and Bela caught the wounded frown on her face. She glared at Cassandra and kicked her viciously under the table. Cassandra jumped with an indignified yelp and shot her older sister a wide-eyed, enraged look.
Donna blinked, staring at Bela with surprise. Bela gave her a demur smile, shrugged her shoulders and resumed eating.
"Donna," Alcina addressed the other woman, smiling pleasantly. "Bela has done nothing but talk about you. Such pleasant words she has to share."
Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Yes, and it's annoying."
"I think it's cute." Daniela said, smiling at Donna, admiring her up and down. "Lord or not, Bela outdid herself. Too bad she doesn't want to share."
Donna's face was red and she cleared her throat, raising her chin in an effort to put on an air of superiority. Angie waved her hand at Daniela with a hiss.
"Back off, fly face!" she growled. "She isn't yours to play with."
"Donna, your doll is mean." Daniela said, with an intense frown.
Donna felt the tenseness in her shoulders as she sat as rigid as a statue. They were talking again - something she couldn't hear over the voices of her own chatting at her. Some were laughing from that dark, shadowy place. Others were whispering in the corners of her brain.
(She's afraid.)
(She wants to leave.)
(Don't make her unhappy.)
Then, Donna froze, feeling Bela's heel against hers. She was lightly rubbing the hollow of her ankle, all the while calmly conversing with her mother. It seared heat up her thigh and she nearly jumped out of her seat, earning a look from Angie.
"Donna, are you alright?" Alcina questioned, staring at her.
"Yes." Donna said.
Bela glanced at her with an affectionate smile and it made Donna's cheeks warm anew. She felt a shiver, though her shoulders slowly relaxed. The voices had calmed themselves and she resumed eating her soup.
Cassandra and Daniela had started an argument, much to Alcina's dismay.
Donna looked up at Bela and she tentatively returned the little game beneath the table; she rubbed her foot against Bela's, earning a little grin from the other woman.
