Donna Beneviento was a quiet girl from a quiet town, who grew into a quiet woman. Some would say she was born with the burdens of the mind that she carried; some believed it was the tragic murder of her twin sister Claudia – others assumed that after her parent's death she crumbled upon herself. But no one knew her enough to make any real judgments of their own. Just town chatter. While it was up for debate whether or not she was born with an illness of the mind; it was certain she was born with the talent to create beautiful dolls, just like her father.

And so, they called her the doll-maker – though she also made the most beautiful clothing and tapestries. Mostly for her dolls, but every so often she would sell some pieces to the Duke when she would patron his shop for fabrics and sundries. He always did find the most beautiful fabrics. She made all sorts of things. Simple stuffed animals. Window drapes, blankets, shirts and pants and even dresses for little girls. She liked making those the best. She would always design them to complement a girl with fair skin and dark hair. Like Claudia had. Like she had. She often wondered where her pieces ended up. Would she ever see those dressed worn by children in the village? Would she see them playing with the dolls? Would they be as loved and appreciated as she hoped? As much as she loved Angie?

Angie was not a creation of hers; she was crafted by Donna's father Alexi. It was the last thing he ever made for her, and so she treasured the doll above all others. He gave her a moveable jaw and dressed her in elegant wedding whites, complete with an intricate dress and veil. Her arms were set with rings at the joints, allowing her to be positioned naturally. When he had given it to her, Donna could not hold back her tears at the beauty of the thing. And much later, through the power of her cadou, Angie was made real. As real as Donna was, at least. Angie no longer had to whisper to her in secret as she had done all her life. Angie now had a voice. A body.

Donna was given her gift not long after her parents death. Though it was not painless, it was a blessing that would forever scar her face...the reminder of her worth. Mother had been so generous to share it, only asking for her help showing some villagers visions in return. She would attend meetings with the others who would call themselves her siblings, but she didn't really understand them. She didn't see them as siblings. She didn't see them as anything, in fact.

Despite her wishes, Donna knew that the chances of her seeing her creations after they left her hands were slim. When she would walk the village to visit Mother or Alcina; the villagers would scatter like roaches. She heard them whisper to each other and ignored the slamming of window shutters and clicking of locks...and eventually the villagers altogether. Shutting herself up in her home, it seemed her dolls and Mother were the only companions she would tolerate, and vice versa. Except for him.

Now, Donna sat by her phone, the conversation still replaying in her mind. Her hands fell to her lap. What was she to do? She felt an awful darkness swirling within her that threatened to pull her into a murderous rage. But she sat still, stoic. On the first floor, below her, the dolls whipped around the great room, smashing and colliding into each other. Angie sat silent on the bed beside her, her body still and eyes glassy and cold staring into nothingness.

Mother commanded the remaining villagers to be sacrificed to the Lycans.

She could not disobey Mother. But maybe...

xx

When she knocked on his door and peeked inside, she saw him placing seeds into small cups at his workbench. "Marius?" She whispered to him, knowing that despite the quietness of her voice he would hear her. He always did. He was a good man. His family had been caretakers of the estate for many years and Marius was by far the most adept. He lived here, on the property, tending to the gardens and cemetery. After his family tragically passed from illness; he took even more to his work. In his early 50's and entirely alone; it was all he had left. She would visit him often, speaking to him about different plant hybrids and listened as he would tell stories of his past as he worked in the yard.

Once, to cheer her up after she smashed one of her favorite dolls in the foyer, he picked a beautiful bouquet of flowers and delivered them in a hand-painted clay pot. When the flowers eventually started to wither, she hung them to dry and pressed them into a book she kept in the study. The pot she moved into the secret room behind the study where she kept the dolls she made for Claudia. She kept her most treasured dolls there, save for Angie.

Her emotions still conflicted; Donna pushed down the compulsion to leave. Tried to push out the thoughts that told her Mother was wrong. How blasphemous. She was loyal. She would obey her.

Looking up from the seeds, his face brightened. "Donna!" He had never seen her without the doll. "Come, see what I've found." He led her to the table and shook the small seed packets he was pulling from to plant in the cups of dirt. "From the Duke – vegetable seeds. I have tomato here and dill. Oh, and some radish. "I'd like to grow a vegetable garden! It's much too cold now of course, but we can get the seedlings started. We could put it on my part of the property, right outside. Oh, it doesn't get the best sun exposure, but, life will find a way." He looked at her, not expecting an answer. They smiled at each other, though through the black veil he would not see it. He turned to grab more packets to show her.

"Are you happy, Marius?"

Marius's hand stilled, though he did not look at her. His eyes stayed on the bench before him.

"Why...would you ask that Miss." He didn't phrase it like a question.

"Life has not been good to you. I hope that your time here with me has not been unkind to you."

At that, he did turn. "Miss Donna, No! It's been a blessing to me."

Without hesitation, she lifted her veil, revealing beneath it the mutation obscuring the entire left side of her face. To her surprise, he did not shrink away from her. Just smiled sadly at her, staring into her face intently as if she had just given him something precious.

"Miss. It's so wonderful to see you smile. It's been so long since I've witnessed it."

"Do you miss your family, Marius?"

He didn't answer, but the smile faded from his face as his gaze cast down.

"Give me your hand."

Marius looked at her with confusion but held out his hand to her anyway, eyes full of trust.

Closing her eye, she felt the energy rising from Marius and let it lead her back into his memories. Having his family recently mentioned, it was not difficult. She opened her eye again and watched as his pupils constricted, no longer really seeing her – but through her into his past. Into the past where he was no longer alone.

From her dress pocket where it was hidden, she slipped the long handled blade and slid it across his throat, spraying blood across her face and arms. So enamored with the visions of his family, he didn't even cry out when he fell to his knees. She would not have let him be torn apart by those monsters...he did not deserve to face such an end. This was her gift to him. She knelt to him, then, and closing her eye placed a chaste kiss on his lips before speaking from her own.

"Now, you can return to them. You are free from your sorrow. I'm so sorry, my dear friend."

Marius choked and gasped and seized on the ground, but his eyes stayed wide and bright, his mouth still open in an awed smile. She waited silently by his side as his eyes finally closed and he went still. Minutes passed, and then, she felt it. It felt like the cracking of ceramic deep in her chest. Dropping the knife, Donna fell to her knees and began to sob.

[AN: Thank you again for your comments and follows and interactions with the story! I love to see them!]