When he caught up with her, he thought about killing her. It was a fleeting thought, and only out of habit...a kind of reflex. It's how Miranda had programmed him - in her own way at least. In fact, he was a bit surprised she was still alive, after finding she had been trapsing around this den of vipers.

Karl had followed her here, after a rather expensive exchange with the Duke. Standing in Alcina's courtyard, he could see her, through the dirty, grime-covered windows of the formal dining room. It was a shame really. Maybe if those sacks of maggots she called daughters didn't eat all the maids some cleaning would get done around here. It wasn't just the windows. Though it had been some time since he had stepped foot on her property, he was taken by just how much the time and neglect had taken its toll.

Knowing his standing invitation had been somewhat…revoked…he still found it was as easy as ever to let himself in through the side door in the opera hall. For better or worse, all the Lord's held keys to the others domains as commanded by Miranda. He had changed the locks on his factory years ago. He didn't need anyone sniffing around his business. Thankfully none of his idiot siblings ever attempted to visit him; but he was no stranger to their territories.

He thought about a time when he could see clearly through these windows. When, as a boy, he would watch her take her meals and entertain guests. In the courtyard how the Gardner would shoo him away, but he wouldn't leave; choosing instead to follow him around to watch as he watered her flowers and trimmed the hedges. Before she created those bug-ridden harpies that clung to her like leeches. He pushed the echoing laughter of ghosts out of his mind. No use dwelling on the past now. The future was in front of him.

He watched her struggle; heard smashing and Alcina's voice rising and could make out the outline of her lithe body moving around the room. Maybe he should test her and see what she was capable of. Leave her to Alcina and see how many body parts she would lose before she walked (or limped) away. He considered it for a moment…and brushed it aside. Why, he didn't know. Maybe he was bored. Pushed beyond the edge. Going soft. Either way it was a fine use of his time. The soldats were ready. He just needed to activate them, if it came to it.

He had made the reasonable assumption that this person was related to Miranda's attempted assassination. His first thought was using this outsider to get to the firepower of whatever group she was working for. Whoever they were, they must have pretty big balls to try to take Miranda down. Maybe they came complete with a full arsenal. The more, the merrier…he wasn't going to be too picky.

The screaming continued, followed by smashing of glass and he watched as shards blew both outward and inward; caught between the pressure of the wind and the implosive strike of her bullets. Face turned away from him, he could see she appeared to have all her limbs. Impressive. Maybe she, herself, would be of use to him.

Taking the keys out of his pocket, he slipped it into the lock of the dining hall doors and turned, feeling the pins click. That should do it. At that, he turned on his heel and walked back towards the entrance to the west wing of the castle. He had an idea. If anything, he could buy some time. For this plan to work, he couldn't be implicated in it.

xx

Alone now in the dining room, Celia's skin still burned with the ghost of the woman's lips and fingers.

Daniela. Was she even really a woman?

She shook it off, she would have to process it another time. She probably didn't have long before Alcina would be back and ready to spill her blood. Grabbing the handle, she tensed her body to try to slam through; and was surprised as it swung open revealing a snow-dusted courtyard. Had she just imagined it was locked?

She looked down. Footprints in the shallow layer of snow. They looked fresh. Should she follow them? It was a dangerous gamble. Weighing her options and not wanting to linger out in the open, she decided to ignore the trail and instead opted to run through the first door she found. Nudging it open, she scanned the room for threats. But it was silent.

A grand staircase was before her. Celia figured she might be able to get to other parts of the castle this way, maybe to a servant's exit and hopefully, sneak out undetected. Reaching the top she found another hallway. A large map of the castle hung in the corner. Studying it, she traced her fingers along the path to Dimitrescus' personal chamber. She was standing right outside of it. She turned again to the map to plan her exit strategy.

She could get out through the balcony.

Entering through the door to the west, she saw the windows. Scanning the room, a well-worn cast teacup caught her eye. Shimmering with gold plating at the lip and inset into the border, it portrayed horses wrapping around the entire cup, their profiles raised to create a beautiful effect of them prancing. Inside, a dark crimson liquid. Pulling her lips back in disgust, she was about to head for the window when a shriek pierced the room.

No, not a shriek. A phone! More importantly, a working phone! Lunging forward, she nearly grabbed the receiver when she had a terrible realization. It was probably summoning Alcina right to her. She had to get out of there. Running for the windows, she grabbed the ledge and pulled. The phone seemed to ring louder, more urgently has her heart rate increased. Was it locked? Grabbing the sides of the wooden frame, her fingers met steel and she balked. The window was nailed shut.

Another door!

Cracking it open slightly, as if there was someone waiting on the other side to grab her, she spied a humungous tub and knew it led to a bathroom. A bathroom with another door. She tried to remember the map. It must lead back out to the hallway. Deciding it was better than waiting around, she slunk in and pushed the door closed behind her. Now, she could hear the footsteps. They were coming closer. Passing the door in front of her.

If she wanted to make it out of this place, she would need to move quickly. Putting her ear against the wood, she waited for the creak and click of the strike plate. Alcina was in the room.

The ringing stopped, replaced by a muffled voice. "Mother."

This was her cue. Blood racing and chest constricted as she tried to will her body to move, she twisted the knob and without closing the door behind her, slipped out into the hallway. Nearly paralyzed, she hugged the wall, waiting; listening for any indication that Alcina had heard her. All she could hear was the sound of her heart hammering in her chest. This was it. Now, she would get back to the main hall and hopefully avoid the rest of Alcina's personal freakshow.

Pulling out her gun and sprinting as lightly as her feet would allow, she took off down the hall, beelining towards the stairs. She held her breath as she passed each door, waiting for one to fling open. They didn't, though, and Celia breathed through her nose as she practically jumped down the steps, skipping far more than she hit. Reaching the bottom, she flung the door open and ran right into the broad chest of the man who had murdered Ethan Winters.