A winter's storm is unforgiving on such a night.
Will it claim the life of one of the Dimitrescu daughters or will the broken hearted make in time?
STYX
I had lost track of time while speaking with my mother and visiting my father. Realizing I had missed them terribly.
"It is a success…"
I nodded
"I will inform the others. Lady Dimitrescu will want to begin immediately"
"As soon as your ready Jezebeth will be there"
"Father?"
My mother shrugged
"As usual always at heads with Lucifer...keeping to his own and out of the charred council's radar"
I chuckled
"A war that will last eons…"
My mother nodded in agreement before turning to me, giving me her full attention
"There is a great heaviness in your hearts Styx…"
I turned to look down at my mother. Her eyes were the color of silver orbs with no pupils much like Zozo's, but her hair was as black as night like mine with streaks of red orange and gold.
Her warm hand cupped the side of my cheek, as a blood tear escaped, her thumb wiping it away
"You found her?"
I shook my head
"It matters none…she's chosen for us, and it wasn't me…"
The moon was at her fullest tonight, bathing the white mountains in white light, the winter storm was strong tonight. It was harsh and unforgiving, my wings, which were as black as my hair cocooned my form, protecting me from the harsh elements of winter; my eyes scanned every corner and crease of the scene before me.
Like every other night it was my usual patrolling, The Samcăs remained close to the castle avoiding the angry storm. But it was this night that I felt unease…my beasts began to pace, something was off, way off and they sensed it, the thought of Bela had them growling and even more restless than usual.
Something was terribly wrong. But it couldn't be Bela, Helena informed that she had retreated to her room earlier in the evening. Deciding to give the land a once over before checking up on her, I circled the castle perimeter checking to see if there was anything unusual and that's when I spotted it.
One of the hidden towers thick glass tinted doors was wide open, the cold entered with no mercy which was the one Bela claimed as her own little sanctuary where she would escape. Where she admitted her most wanted desire.
My hearts dropped to the ground below me as my beasts roared in agony; there stood Bela icicles enveloping her body as she took another step, her hand crystallizing
"BELA NO!"
I flew straight toward her, enveloping her into my arms the heavy doors slamming shut behind us, as I landed on the lower level, I stared down at her shaking form, splotches of her body were crystallized and cracks clearly visible, streaks of tears stained her cheeks, her skin was like cold marble covered in cracks
"Bela…open your eyes…"
I enhanced my body heat, my wings along with my body emitted warmth from the Hellfire of my home, enveloping her cold form.
I cupped her cheek gently
"Baby…open your eyes…I need to see those ocean blue eyes…please baby…please, please"
I pleaded, seeing the icicles disappearing and her color returning as the cracks slowly mended, I checked her hand to see it slowly returning, her blowflies that glowed like fireflies began to buzz, trying to regain their bright red light once again.
A soft groan escaped her lips, it was still freezing, making sure she wasn't as fragile as she was before I found her, I scooped her up in my arms and teleported us back into her room, locking the door I sat in front of the fire. Once I was sure that she would be alright I laid her in her bed and covered her in heavy blankets before leaving her to make some hot herbal tea.
My fear slowly disappearing and anger replacing it, deciding to cool off I took my time making her tea.
By the time I got back, she was freshly showered and dressed in a warm Victorian black nightgown with a square neckline, sitting in front of the fire with her legs tucked underneath her. She didn't even flinch at my entrance as I closed and locked the door, walking up I silently readied her tea
"Drink this…"
The sound of my voice sounded harsh and cold as she slowly turned to me, avoiding my gaze as her hands wrapped around the fragile cup, slowly raising it up to her full black lips she took a few sips before setting it on her lap.
"Your…angry…" came her soft whisper,
"Angry? Angry doesn't describe what I'm feeling right now Bela…" I said in a low growl, her gaze was glued to the carpet
"What the fuck were you thinking?"
"I…just wanted the pain to go away…I…wanted to feel something…besides…the pain in my heart"
"…Helena told me you retreated to your room early. But something was off…if I hadn't come in time and you…"
I looked away from her, trying to calm my racing hearts, trying not to remember the scene of her reaching out into the freezing storm
"The magnitude of what could have happened…the effects that would have caused your mother, your sisters …"
I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes trying to calm myself
I couldn't get myself to think about it as I turned my gaze to the fire.
I sighed turning my gaze toward her, the tea was working as she gazed sleepily at the fire, sighing I stood up, crouching in front of her, getting to her eye level
"The experiment was a success we will begin tomorrow night…I'll find the demon in league with her and rip it to shreds and hold her spine in my grip"
Bela blinked for a moment, looking down at her tea
"I don't want it…"
I stood up scoffing,
"This is what you've wanted all along…you'll finally be free from here…"
"Not without you it's not…"
"Bela…"
"No!"
She was fighting the effects of the tea as tears escaped
"I don't want the conversion…my mother has my sisters…but I can't live an immortal life without you…before…you…I thought that if there was a way of leaving these castle walls…exploring the outside world would be enough for me but after you came…everything crumbled…I knew…I knew it wouldn't be the same…before everything looked promising and beautiful…but you…you just had to come here and…"
Her bottom lip trembled
"You add so much more beauty, more color…you and…her"
"Her?"
My hearts seemed to skip a few beats as I stared at her in shock.
"Bela…?"
"Mmmm…" she was almost half asleep, the fragile cup tipping just about to spill whatever tea was left over until I reached out and saved the cup and the carpet from the spillage, placing it on the coffee table.
The last bit was a mummer as I gently slid an arm behind the small of her back as she automatically wrapped her arms around my neck, letting me slide my other arm under her knees, lifting her up into my arms, I carried her to the warmth of her bed.
"I…was sitting in the meadows…and she came up to me…she was so beautiful, she looked just like us…"
Bela smiled
"She had a huge ugly toad…she was so happy showing me…"
BELA
She was covered in warmth, but it still felt somewhat empty as Bela blinked the sleep away. The echoes of Styx's screams fresh in her mind, her begging for Bela to open her eyes. She felt the utter terror consume her.
She knew Styx found her.
Bela sat up and pushed the heaviness of her hair over her shoulder. There was a light knock on her door,
"Enter…"
Candance the young maid that was attacked by Doris's daughter Meg and her miscreants walked in. She curtsied
"My lady…your mother asks for your presence in her office"
Bela stood with flashing speed, revealing the thin night gown she was wearing which complimented her hour glass figure. Candance though kept her eyes averted out of respect
"I'll be there…"
"Yes, my lady"
Curtseying once more, Candance turned to leave
"Candance?"
Candance turned to her mistress's voice
"It's good to see you well"
Bela held in a chuckle at seeing the blush spreading across her cheeks as she curtsied once again
"Thank you, my lady,"
Bela was the first to arrive at her mother's office, she heard laughter coming from her mother, Clementine and one other female voice. Puzzled she entered
"Ah…Bela…Dragă mea!"
Bela turned to see a breath-taking woman with a waterfall of midnight hair with streaks of blood orange and gold that reached past her bottom. She resembled the sisters; her eyes silver orbs much like Zozo's held kindness and such pureness Bela wanted to weep. She wore a beautiful white and black hugging dress with a plunging neck line and three leather belts with skull heads caressed the left side of her hip which held the flowing skirts that parted with each step she took; she was petite yet held such power.
Bela didn't realize when she had gotten up and made her way over to her, taking her hands in hers
"Ah…so this is your oldest Bela…Styx indeed found you"
Bela turned to her mother and Clementine
"This is Leviathan…Styx, Helena, Esme, and Zozo's mother" Clementine introduced
Leviathan leaned forward
"Give her time darling Bela, she will come around"
Bela averted her gaze from those silver orbs,
"I'm afraid it is too late…" She began but was interrupted as Leviathan lifted her hand and pinched her chin
"None of that…we shall do this…together, my daughter may be stubborn much like her father but…she will see reason…in the end she always does"
"I've said cruel things…"
"Ah…yes Zozo did mention what happened when this Miranda…"
Bela could hear the disgust coming from her voice as she turned to her mother for a moment as she continued to speak before returning her gaze back to Bela
"Came for an unexpected visit. You said them out of fear when you saw your sister the way she was. You are not to blame, sometimes emotions are very powerful and come at unexpected moments like a wave or a tsunami ready to destroy cities and she used them perfectly against you,"
Soon the doors opened again, and Cassandra and Daniella swarmed in, they turned to see her, though they were startled in surprise as she gave them a beaming smile
"Cassandra and Daniela, I presume?"
Both of her sisters turned to each other than to their mother in question
Leviathan pulled back squeezing Bela's hands
"Alcina your daughters are just breath-taking; I can see why my girls are so smitten with them…now where are those daughters of mine"
"Daughters?!" Cassandra and Daniela exclaimed as Clementine giggled
"This is Leviathan…"
"Yes…those four are mine…Styx has mentioned to your mother that the experiment was a success and we shall begin immediately" Leviathan explained as she turned to Cassandra and Daniela giving them a warm smile,
"You must be Alcina's youngest Daniela, or would you prefer Dani my darling?" she asked approaching Daniela and taking her hands just like she did Bela's
"Uh…Dani is fine"
"Dani…finally, I get to meet the one who can tame my wild Esme…"
She turned to Alcina as they shared motherly smiles, who doted about their children
"Even as a child…Esmeralda was such a wild one"
She turned to Cassandra
"Ah…Cassandra…the one too stubborn to give my youngest her heart…All she does is speak about you"
That got Cassandra blushing blood red
At that moment the flames in the fireplace changed into a vibrant blue as one after another the sisters approached all but Styx.
"My lady…" Esmeralda began only to stop short as they turned in shock
"Mother!?"
Leviathan grinned as she placed her hands on her curvaceous hips
"Well…are you just going to stand there or are you going to give your mother a proper greeting?"
Leviathan approached her daughters and greeting them with hugs and kisses on their cheeks though it was funny to see that Esmeralda and Helena had to bend down for her to reach as she was indeed Zozo's stature while the eldest daughters were seven feet and six inches in height
"I seem to be missing one…"
Leviathan said looking about
"Styx…you might want to come into Lady Dimitrescu's office" Helena said
"Is something wrong?"
"No but you might want to be quick about it" Zozo added
No sooner did they inform Styx, she had appeared in no time
"What…"
Styx turned; her face changed from annoyance to shock
"Mother…I thought…"
Leviathan had an annoyed look on her face as she crossed her arms staring at her youngest of the Triplets
"Don't you mother me…You and I have much to talk about young lady"
"Mother…it is a great risk coming here…whatever demon helping Miranda might sense you, especially the power you expel…" Styx began not looking at Bela.
"I'm masking my power just fine. I should box your ears…I can sense your stubbornness, now what about this demon?"
Styx crossed her arms as she sighed
"It's smart…hasn't shown itself…yet"
"And you are still set on leaving?"
Styx clenched her jaw,
"Mother…my decision is final…" Styx said through their mind link
"I think not…I have convinced Bela to go through with the conversion, take as long as you need but you will not leave that poor girl alone to suffer"
Leviathan turned to the women
"Now…Jezebeth will be here in a few minutes, she can only shapeshift one at a time, so she has enlisted the help of Shidu and Noszu"
Helena, Esmeralda, and Styx turned to her clearly surprised
"Jezebeth's brothers? They are nothing but shapeshifting troublemakers…are you certain we can trust them with this?"
"Clearly I'm offended" Leviathan commented
Zozo rolled her eyes
"It's as if you don't know our mother at all…Jezebeth's brothers fear mother more than they fear father besides…mother bartered a deal they just couldn't refuse"
"And this deal being?" Esmeralda asked
"A weeks' worth of trickery on Vulgrim and his realm, they've been dying to try some of their tricks on that old merchant" Zozo stifled a laugh
"Are you three ready?"
All three daughters turned to one another before turning to their mother who encouraged them with a loving smile. Just as the fires from the fireplace erupted in blue flames as a young woman with short jaw-length blonde hair and big yellow eyes stepped out alongside identical blonde haired young slim men with the same big eyes.
The young demon was bouncing up and down on her heels
"Zozo!"
She was immediately on the youngest of the sisters, hugging her tightly. Cassandra almost growled but held herself in check, clenching her jaw.
She was letting her emotions get the best of her.
"Ah…Jezebeth, Shidu, and Noszu just in time, meet Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters, Bela, Cassandra, and Daniela…" Leviathan introduced
Jezebeth gave a nod,
"hey zozo…Is that the hottie whose been a complete jerk to you but in reality has been wanting to jump your bones?"
Jezebeth asked through their mental link pulling away from Zozo
"What? Jeze…Cassandra does not want to jump my bones…" Zozo began noticing the look Jezebeth was giving her
"apparently your not as observant as you make out to be or your completely clueless cause that woman is absolutely head over heels for you not to mention that she wants to drag you to the nearest isolated location and strip you down and have you screaming her name"
Zozo went blood red turning to her childhood best friend
"your just as bad as Esme…Cassandra she's just…" she began trying to explain as Jezebeth rolled her eyes
"I come and give you a hug and she looks ready to jump me and slowly skin me alive."
She retorted
"pay close attention to her"
Jezebeth said as she turned and dragged Zozo into another tight hug, slowly she leaned down and pressed her lips to Zozo's cheek. Discreetly from the corner of her eye Zozo could see, Cassandra's eyes begin to give off a glow as her hand gripped her sickle even tighter to the point she was afraid she was going to break the handle.
"Missed you Zozo bear! So when are you going to finally come to my bed?"
Jezebeth whispered loud enough for Cassandra to hear, the others were too immersed on what would be going on with the sisters and their conversion, Clementine reassuring Alcina as they spoke, informing that it would not be at all an easy time.
"I need to have a word with Zozo…" Cassandra said out loud through long sharp fangs as she stomped over and gripped Zozo's wrist in her larger hand and all but dragged her out of the room. The women looking puzzled as they watched the door slam closed as Jezebeth laughed.
"Sister you are nothing but trouble Noszu grinned his mischief grin
"I'll say are you asking for a death wish? She wanted to break each and every bone in your body" Shidu added
"Jezebeth was trying to prove a point to a completely clueless Zozo and Cassandra there completely fell for it" Noszu explained to the group
"This will truly be a sight to see, Jeze riling Cassandra up..."
"Yes brother...let's see how far she can take it till Lady Cassandra does decide on breaking her bones and skinning her alive" Shidu added bursting into laughter
Jezebeth turned to her brothers chuckling
"Alright...let's begin..." she began and all three shape-shifted into the sisters in a smooth transition. Now there were two of each as the original Dimitrescu sisters, their mother, even Clementine stared in awe and surprise at their counterpart.
CASSANDRA
"What the hell was that? And why the fuck would you ever get into her bed!? Why would you give her that impression?"
Zozo stared up at Cassandra clearly confused
"Cassandra…that was Jezebeth my childhood best friend…I didn't give any impression and I'm not getting in no one's bed…and why would you care about me getting in anyone's bed? Last time I checked whoever I sleep with isn't your concern"
"The fuck it isn't…"
Zozo stared up in disbelief
"What has gotten into you? Since when did you begin to care anyway. You can't really stand me anyway…and when you do talk to me your a complete asshole, the only time you were really ever nice to me was back in the train."
Cassandra clenched her jaw crossing her arms
"I don't…"
Zozo arched an eyebrow
"Doesn't look like it to me…"
Cassandra growled, pushing past her
"Do what you want…"
"Cass…wait…"
Zozo reached out and grabbed her wrist only she was caught by complete surprise as she found herself against the marbled wall, Cassandra's face inches from hers
"Fuck you Zozo…Goddamn you for coming here and making me feel. Everything was perfect before you had to waltz your pretty little ass here and fucking everything up. Fuck I want you so fucking bad…fuck!"
Cassandra slammed her fists against the wall on each side of her head. Startling her as she stared up at her with her big silver orbs.
She was so gorgeous it hurt looking at her. Cassandra pulled away and dispersed, disappearing in the other direction and leaving Zozo dumbfounded with her hearts beating out of her chest.
POV
"They've masked their scent to match your daughters, so not even this demon will suspect anything during these two days, though two days in my realm will be a week here." Leviathan explained
"Two days? A week?" Alcina asked able to mask the worry in her voice, Leviathan smiled reassuringly at her
"Tonight, the conversion will begin and tomorrow I will need to examine and keep a watchful eye on them on their progression, though we will need to train on how to maintain the charade of still being vulnerable to the cold. We don't want Miranda or this demon to suspect of anything, in case they do make a surprise visit. It will be hard not having your daughters here Alcina, but I assure you, they will return stronger than ever and you will no longer worry for their health or safety" Leviathan said as she turned to the demon siblings
"You will learn under Lady Dimitrescu while Styx and her sisters keep a watchful eye. I expect nothing less than perfection or the deal is off"
Shidu grinned in Cassandra's form
"Don't worry your highness…it'll be beyond perfection; they won't know what hit them" Daniela and Bela or should they say Noszu and Jezebeth nodded in agreement
"This bitch sounds like a real pain in the ass so this will be a lot of fun!" Noszu said rubbing his hands or more like Bela's hands together a wicked grin on her features, which was strange seeing such an expression on Bela as she was always the more serious one and rarely smiled. Cassandra once again made an appearance as the original sisters followed Leviathan toward the fireplace where the fire roared with blue flames.
"Bye Cassandra...I'll take care of Zozo for you..." Jezebeth called out with a small wave and evil grin on her features. Without thought Cassandra turned to face her doppelganger and growled
"Touch her and your brothers will be going on a scavenger hunt to find all your body pieces"
"Thought you hated Zozo..." Dani said with a shit-eating grin, growling Cassandra passed her sister and into the flames first but not before retorting with a shut up and a middle finger. Causing Dani, Jezebeth, and the twins to burst into laughter as they followed suit.
Leviathan's lab chambers were simply breathtaking. Each of the four walls were covered from ceiling to floor filled with scrolls, books of all kinds. To the far left stood an Alchemist's dream study. Besides books filling the nooks of the wall there were glass bottles filled with liquids. And all the tools needed for Alchemy. In the center stood an enormous telescope observatory that pointed upwards, though Bela would have to ask how Leviathan studied the stars since they were in the Hell realm. Beyond the telescope at the front wall stood a wide marbled desk filled with notes, open books on horology and astronomy. And over to their left was yet another table that had wealth of information on science philosophy, herbology Bela herself knew she needed more than a life time to study everything in front of her.
"Girls…"
Startled all three turned to see Donna standing near the alchemy section of the chamber, between two of the three beds that were put near the fireplace.
But it was her appearance that surprised the girls as the abscess on her right eyes was gone completely. And she looked just like the portrait in her estate, she wore her long wavy black hair in her usual bun and black dress, though this dress had a square neckline that showed off the paleness of her soft complexion and complimented her hourglass curves
"Aunt Donna!"
Donna gave them a big smile as Dani exploded in a cloud of green glowing botflies, forming once again as she embraced her.
Hugging her tightly Donna reached her hand out toward Cassandra and Bela who slowly approached her and falling into her embrace
"Aunt Donna…your"
"Yes…"
"Donna…was the first to go through the conversion and she will be here to help me in getting you three through it" Leviathan explained
"How?" Cassandra began
"When?" Daniela added
"Angie?" Bela asked looking around for the small doll in white
Donna smiled
"I underwent a week ago...After Helena confirmed that the experiment with my blood and hers was a success, I decided I had nothing to lose"
"How do you feel?"
"Free…for the first time…in a long, long, time. My powers are enhanced which is why I can help Leviathan with you. Angie is at the estate keeping an eye on things"
She turned to look at the three as the smile disappeared
"It will be painful…I will not lie but that is just the blood taking over and ridding the Cadou for good and it will be as before Miranda infected your bodies with it" she explained
"Back to human form?"
"You'll be more than that…"
"Come…we should begin" Leviathan said
Sighing each sister took a bed, once in position both Donna and Leviathan began strapping their wrists and ankles, just as Helena made an appearance.
"How is everything fairing?"
"We're just about to set them up" Donna answered as Helena approached, cupping her cheek gently, Bela witnessed the overwhelming love in Helena's eyes as she leaned down and pressed soft kisses on her right eye just where her abscess would have been.
Looking away Bela felt that she was interfering an intimate moment though she felt the pang of longing in her heart and thought back at what Leviathan's words to her.
"What did you mean that we'll be more than human?" Dani asked curious
"When Styx came to hand me your blood vials…she revealed the failed experiments of this so-called Mother Miranda. The Samcăs and Moroaicǎs…"
"Yes…Styx and I were talking that day Aunt Donna brought Lilly to the castle…she believed the Cadou was a successful pair only with humans that had special abilities…she believed we had abilities when we were human" Bela said as three women set each sister up with an IV
"Any surprises?" Leviathan asked turning to her daughter
"None…but Styx isn't taking any chances and is on patrol for anything out of the ordinary, though we believe we know who might be helping Miranda"
"Yes…Amerina was it?" Cassandra offered; Leviathan stared at Cassandra in shock before returning her gaze back to her daughter
"Does Styx know?"
"Gods no…"
"Zozo thinks she's also the cause for Viviana's death" Dani said Leviathan scoffed
"Knowing her obsession with Styx it hasn't crossed my mind…we keep this between us"
All six women were in agreement
"Ready?"
Looking at each other once more they nodded in union as Helena, Donna, and Leviathan took a bite guard and placed it in their mouths.
Taking position, the three women began injecting each sister.
Once where there was silence, now screams echoed throughout the room...
