Alcina Dimitrescu always felt alone.
Owner of the castle now called Dimitrescu, Alcina was a direct descendant of Cesare, a family renowned throughout Romania.
She was intimately linked to Mother Miranda, since it was thanks to her that she had discovered not only her descent, but had also granted her her castle.
One day, a very weak Alcina appeared at the home of Mother Miranda, who, at that time, was already worshipped as a kind of goddess before the village.
-"Mother Miranda. Please". She begged, the pain was unbearable, her porphyria was already uncontainable.
-"What's wrong Alcina?". She asked with false ignorance.
This was her fault, she had infected the whole town, including the woman in front of her; but that, was something she had no reason to know.
-"I'm sick. I need your help". She asked again.
Lady Dimitrescu must have been feeling too ill to do something like that, and Mother Miranda knew right then and there, she had her hand on it.
-"Perhaps I have something".
Alcina's face lit up.
-"What? Please. Anything".
-"It's something that's still in the process of being experimented on, and you'd be one of the first people to try it".
Alcina hesitated only for a second, before nodding.
-"Yes, whatever it takes to cure me, Mother Miranda".
At first, and in part, it turned out to be a complete disaster, Mother Miranda had had to get her hands dirty to stop what she had done, and, as a result, part of her laboratory had been completely destroyed.
The idea of Lady Dimitrescu turning into some kind of giant dragon was clearly unthinkable.
But it wasn't all bad, because when Alcina was finally able to control her transformation, a lady appeared with a better appearance, somewhat whiter, of course, and a taller head, but undoubtedly stronger, improved.
Mother Miranda allowed herself to smile, she already felt her daughter so close.
Everything was so good, until the moment Lady Dimitrescu began to walk, for when she passed under an opening in the roof of her laboratory, the sun hit her squarely.
Alcina immediately roared like an animal that had been attacked, retracing her steps.
Mother Miranda, as she approached, noticed how the sun had burned a part of her body.
-"What?". Alcina exclaimed, looking at Mother Miranda for answers.
-"I said it was experimental". She replied bitterly, feeling her daughter once again pulling away from her.
-"Maybe, you should start wearing a hat". She recommended, just before leaving the place.
One afternoon, which she would have in her memory for the rest of her life, the young son of Mother Miranda appeared at the gates of her castle, dragging a cart of hay.
The servants called out to her, for the young man had asked for her, fervently, and that is why she now stood there, in front of the boy.
-"What is your business here?".
-"I am sorry, Lady Dimitrescu. But I did not know where else to go, your castle was the nearest place. Please". The boy begged, while holding in his arms a young blonde girl in very bad shape.
-"I found them in the village, badly injured and in very bad shape, simply left to their fate". He finished spitefully.
The?. Lady Dimitrescu wondered, raising an eyebrow.
She found the answer quickly, as she looked behind the boy, for right there, in the cart, were two more young men, not far off the blonde's age.
-"I'll only let you in for one reason. Boy. I cannot allow a maiden to suffer such a fate".
Jason was about to let the blonde back into the carriage, so he could drag him inside, but Lady Dimitrescu stopped him with a gesture, calling to her servants.
-"Wait. They will take over".
And so it happened, two servants appeared from inside the castle, and entered the carriage, while he thought only of not letting go of the young blonde in his arms.
And Lady Dimitrescu noticed it.
-"Watch what you're doing. Boy". She said, as she began to guide him into the castle.
Lady Dimitrescu led the boy to one of the rooms, there, the young man deposited the blonde on one of the beds, while the servants placed the other two in the remaining ones.
For the next five days, and, although there was no improvement. The doctor had said there was no salvation. Jason did not leave the girls for even a second, and neither did Lady Dimitrescu, she felt something inside her that made her not want to be separated from the three girls, a kind of maternal sense that tugged and tugged.
Finally, on the sixth day, the three young ladies turned, to Jason's utter surprise, into a swarm of flies. Jason, totally frightened, staggered back, and Lady Dimitrescu raised an eyebrow, wondering if Mother Miranda had something to do with it.
The three swarms of flies went around the room, stopping at a window, Jason totally curious about it, walked over and opened the window.
Big mistake, as the swarm upon feeling the cold, immediately seemed to scream in agony, instantly moving away from there.
Jason, understanding what was happening, closed the window as best he could.
Alcina remained silent, watching in amazement as, in just a matter of seconds, the three swarms of flies turned back into three young women, the first was blonde, the second brown, and the third redhead.
The blonde opened her eyes, and upon seeing the boy, she immediately threw herself at him, squeezing him tightly.
-"Thank you, thank you for keeping your promise".
Alcina frowned, looking directly at the boy, and Jason despite feeling choked by the girl's strength, realized he had to give answers.
-"It's just that... When I found them, she was still conscious, and... I.. I promised her that I would save her". He exclaimed, nervously, touching the back of his neck.
Lady Dimitrescu stopped frowning, and gave the boy a small smile, perhaps he was not what she thought.
A new voice stopped her thinking.
-"You... You are our mother?". The redhead asked, her eyes glinting for acceptance.
-"Mother?". The brunette joined in, looking directly at her.
Alcina Dimitrescu watched the three girls closely, and couldn't resist. She smiled broadly, finally she would have what she had always wanted.
-"Yes, my girls. Come here to your mother!". She exclaimed, advancing towards the three girls, squeezing them in a big, heartfelt hug.
Jason just stood there, silently, contemplating everything with a big, happy smile on his face.
Lady Dimitrescu was angry and frustrated.
She still could not understand why that young man kept coming to her castle.
She wanted to refuse to let him come, fervently, but her daughters wanted him there, you could see it in their behavior and in their eyes, they held the boy in very high esteem, and she could not deny something that made her little girls so happy.
Despite feeling that she was somehow spoiling her maids, being a mere and simple boy, she couldn't help but admit that the young man was extremely polite and had the uncanny ability to always know what to say, whatever the time or situation.
He was very much like Mother Miranda in that respect, she had definitely taught him well.
On one of his repeated visits a pivotal moment in their relationship occurred, Alcina would recall many years later.
For, as of that moment, Jason had finally earned a place in her family, in and of itself earning her complete trust.
What did a strange knife, a young man, and a bloody arm have in common?.
None, anyone would say, anyone but Lady Dimitrescu.
It was one of those days when the cold was unbearable, those days when anyone would rather stay at home, enjoying the warmth of a blazing fireplace in full magnitude.
But, apparently, not everyone was at home. Jason, unable to work due to the temporary conditions, had decided to keep the three young Dimitrescu girls company.
And now here he was, cursing inwardly, for having been so callous as to have offered to bring more logs for the fireplace; the cold out there was unbearable.
After a couple of minutes, a voice called out to him.
-"Hey".
Jason turned toward the source of the sound, running into a man, maybe 40 years old, completely covered in a cold weather outfit.
-"Hi". Jason responded timidly, he had no idea who this person was, as he did not appear to be one of the castle servants.
-"Do you work here?". He added quickly.
-"I thought you worked here, young man". He narrowed his eyes.
-"Oh no, I'm just visiting".
That seemed to upset the man, Jason noticed.
-"Visiting? Really, boy? You, in this castle full of witches". The man jumped.
-"Hey! Nobody here is a witch". Jason raised an eyebrow.
-"There are people who say otherwise...". Whispered the person next to him to himself.
-"Well, what I came for". He continued, changing the subject.
-"So... Will you tell me where to find Lady Dimitrescu. I have... I have some important business to do with her".
-"Something about wine?". Jason guessed, with a small smile.
A trick question, because if the gentleman answered yes, he was an impostor, someone who came with bad intentions, and if he didn't, fine.
-"Yes. Yes". The man answered quickly, as if he had been bailed out, and Jason smiled inwardly.
-"Come on. It's this way". Jason offered to lead the way, with the man immediately following.
What neither of them noticed, was the tall person watching them from the window, grimacing and narrowing his eyes.
Jason ended up leading him inside the castle, all the way to the dungeons.
Once there, the man showed his impatience.
-"So, where's Lady Dimitrescu?".
-"Oh. Did you really think I was going to fall for that bad tale?". Jason smiled, replying in a mocking tone.
-"I won't let you hurt anyone". He added, narrowing his eyes.
The man's eyes immediately darkened, and out of nowhere he drew a gun. Jason's eyes widened deliberately, he didn't expect that, maybe a knife, but not that, apparently he had it well hidden.
-"You'll be sorry, boy". He said, starting to point the gun at him, but Jason was quick and agile, running towards him.
They both struggled for the gun, until a new voice was heard from the entrance stairs.
-"Jason. Are you here?".
Bela. Jason thought worriedly for only a brief second.
And that, was enough for the man to finally take the advantage over him.
Managing to master the gun again, he struck Jason with the butt, causing the young man to fall to the ground in a thud.
The noise quickly reached the ears of the blonde, who immediately descended the stairs.
To her utter surprise, the scene in front of her provoked in her an imminent terror, Jason was trapped by a man, who was also pointing a gun at his head.
-"Oh. One of the little witches". He spoke.
At this, Jason began to struggle again, managing to get free, and Bela did not hesitate for a second to advance towards the man.
But he was now pointing at her.
-"Stay there. Or the boy dies". He threatened, pointing at Jason this time.
-"Go away Bela. I won't let you hurt them". Jason groaned from his spot.
-"No, no. You stay. You both stay".
-"Now. You listen to me you fucking bloodsucking witch. Tell me where the hell Lady Dimitrescu is!". He finished.
-"I won't". The blonde challenged him, about to make her move.
-"Too bad then. Fine, you'll go first". The man decided, and, without further contemplation, in one swift, target-shifting motion, fired his gun at her.
Jason didn't even think twice, and threw himself in front of Bela, receiving the projectile in his chest.
The blonde stopped the young man's fall, while he just grabbed his chest, moaning in pain.
That was the moment, when a person having had enough, came out of the darkness, his golden eyes glittering with anger, he came resolutely up behind that unclean being. That man would be sorry, oh yes.
The next thing heard, was the echoing sound of flesh being cut. A brief moment later the man screamed in agony, no longer holding his right hand.
-"I heard you were looking for me!". A voice exclaimed from behind him.
The man only had time to open his eyes and turn around, with sheer terror in his eyes.
There she stood, Alcina Dimitrescu in her full size, staring at the blood-covered claws in her right hand, while giving him a murderous smile at the same time.
Her smile turned into a slight frown as she watched the man, with his one hand, pull out a strange hidden knife.
-"Where did you get that?". She growled.
The man, still trembling, glared defiantly at the matriarch as he gripped as tightly as he could the knife.
-"You won't talk? Good. Have you any last words?".
-"Wait, Lady Dimitrescu, no, don't!". Jason begged, coughing blood.
-"He comes to MY house, threatens one of MY daughters, makes an attempt on the life of one of my guests, and you want him to get away with it. Or no, that definitely won't happen!". A very displeased Alcina Dimitrescu exclaimed, as she pointed her claws at the man.
Bela with a slight shudder understood what would happen next, and pulled Jason to her.
-"Don't look. Just... Concentrate on me". She asked, gently squeezing him to her.
That was the first time, and not the last, that Jason ended up getting completely lost in those golden eyes.
Suddenly, he had completely forgotten about his injury, beginning to feel, moreover, that he could have stayed looking into those eyes for the rest of his life. He would never tire of them.
That, too, was one of the things he would never tell her.
He immediately fell into unconsciousness, and those worried eyes were the last thing he would ever see.
A few days later, Jason had finally woken up. Immediately discovering that he was not in his bed, he frowned, until a throat clearing caught his attention.
-"Finally. Sleeping beauty woke up".
-"What? Cassandra?".
-"Who else". The brunette rolled her eyes, and Jason remembered what had happened.
-"What about Bela? What about Lady Dimitrescu? What happened?". He asked in less than two seconds.
-"Wait, wait. You already sound like Daniela when she wants to know something". The brunette next to him grunted, and Jason allowed himself to laugh, which immediately caused him pain.
-"Oh sorry, I forgot". Apologized the brunette.
-"Bela and her damn rules". She grumbled.
-"Rule number one Cassandra. Don't make Jason laugh". She continued, mimicking Bela's voice.
Jason was about to respond, but the doors to the room opened, and, from there Lady Dimitrescu made her presence known.
-"Jason. Finally!". She exclaimed, with a slight joy in her tone.
-"Lady Dimitrescu". The young man saluted, and she laughed.
-"Not at all, young man. From this moment on you will address me as Alcina, and I want no buts". She snapped, it was an order and Jason knew it.
So he just nodded his head.
-"Now. If you'll excuse me Cassandra. I would like a few minutes alone with Jason". The tall woman turned to her daughter.
-"Yes, mother". The brunette obeyed immediately, walking to the door, once there, she turned around, looking directly at the young man lying on the bed.
-"Good luck, Jason. Don't die". She waved goodbye, just before turning into a swarm of flies and walking through the door.
Jason allowed himself to smile, Cassandra was literally something else. He stopped smiling as he noticed Lady Dimitrescu sitting in the chair next to him.
Oh god. I'm dead.
-"You have earned my respect Jason. And without a doubt, you have earned a place within my family. That, I hope you will always remember". Jason couldn't believe it, he thought the complete opposite.
-"B-but. Why?".
-"How could I not. After hearing you fervently defend my family, even me, who treated you with contempt".
-"And not only with words, but also with actions. You took a bullet for my daughter, for my little Bela. And that, Jason, I will never forget. I thank you". She continued, with a look full of gratitude.
-"There's nothing to be thankful for, Alcina. I would do it again and again".
-"Honestly, I do". She smiled, rising from her seat.
But Jason's expression stopped her from leaving, as the young man, was frowning, in a questioning expression.
-"How.. How did you know?". He exclaimed finally, and she smiled sideways.
-"Oh my dear Jason. I know everything that goes on in my castle. And if that's not answer enough for you, I know all its nooks and crannies as well". Declared the tall woman, just before she left the room, in a strange mix between humor and smugness.
Hello. The next chapter is a kind of continuation of this one. I will upload very soon.
I re-uploaded it because when rereading it I noticed some errors. Excuse me.
Greetings and thanks to all.
