The Oblivion offered respite from the creeping chill that held her soul within its icy claws. That alone was not enough to cause Daniela Dimiterscu to embrace the darkness, however.
What truly drove her deeper into the abyss from which one doesn't return was its promise of eternal release from her lifetime of sin and the bleak, hopeless future. The salvation from the misery of her existence. The end of all torment.
So she walked willingly into the lightless expanse of nothingness. Soon, the cold that ravaged her physical shell faded into irrelevance as darkness became her everything…
Just when her psyche itself was about to meld with the endless realm of Oblivion, a curious speck of alluring warmth drew her back from whence she came, just a little.
That tiny little spark grew in intensity and the warmth it radiated gave an entirely different promise.
The Joy of Life.
Something she had forsaken, believing that she had nothing but torment in store for her.
Yet…
It caused her soul to linger in its desire to embrace Oblivion; that teasing little taste of life. It was akin to sitting in front of a crackling fireplace after an exhausting trek through a frozen wasteland - Daniela could not deny its call.
What started as a spark soon grew into an alluring flame that her soul could not resist. Like a moth, it abandoned its exodus into the darkness to return to that teasing light.
But the Oblivion did not want to relinquish its hold on its newest acquisition that easily.
The tendrils of pure darkness shot forth to ensnare their victim before she could get too far. More than merely constricting her soul in this hollow dimension, they induced a sense of lethargy that made Daniela cease all of her efforts to escape.
Oblivion offered solace that her life did not…
Yet, the material plane would not relent in this little tug-of-war, the prize for which was her life.
The flame began to burn brighter and stronger while radiating a different kind of warmth. It was the heat that transcended physical barriers of flesh and bone, soothing her scarred soul. Even in her current lifeless state, Daniela had no trouble recognizing its origin, for it was something she had always treasured. It was the manifestation of care others had for her.
Not even the lethargy that came from being so close to the boundary between life and death could withstand the pull of that extremely potent emotion that suddenly blossomed in the center of Daniela's psyche.
That indescribably beautiful notion that somebody cared for her well-being reignited the woman's passion for life; the nearly extinguished embers becoming a roaring bonfire within a heartbeat.
Oblivion's sweet whispers of eternal peace transformed into a dreaded curse that made Daniela cling to what remained of her life with sudden ferocity that proved too much for the tendrils of darkness.
Others wanted her to live.
She wanted to live!
Chief Inspector Ignacio Vázquez was not having a pleasant morning. He'd seen plenty of dead bodies during his lengthy career in the police, of course, but rarely would they be mutilated to this extent… with such inhuman malice and animalistic rage.
"Jesus Christ!" Deputy Inspector Marina Amado was having an even worse morning, however, as was plain from her horrified reaction as she beheld the grisly scene. Unlike him, she had no experience handling such macabre matters, so he could not truly blame her for struggling to contain her breakfast at the sight of a man with his head brutally caved-in.
"Excuse me…" the woman muttered before hurriedly excusing herself to presumably empty her stomach in a thankfully unspoiled bathroom.
Ignacio rubbed his head - a headache was starting to bloom despite the early hours of the day. He lit a cigarette before addressing another officer that was dejectedly staring at a bloodstain on a wall next to him.
"Any preliminary findings that can make our life a little easier, Adrián?"
The younger man shook his blonde head in silent frustration. "Depends on how you look at it, I guess." Before his superior could get annoyed, Adrián elaborated, "thanks to some documents we found in their van, we managed to ID the three victims as Italian nationals."
"Fuck," Ignacio swore. It was bad enough that a triple murder had been committed under his watch, but the dead foreigners added further hassle by introducing an international element to what already looked to be one hell of a mess.
"It gets better," Adrián continued, finally establishing eye contact with his superior, "the deceased are flagged to have potential ties to the Mafia, though our records had nothing solid on 'em."
Scoffing in displeasure, Ignacio had ambiguous feelings about that particular revelation.
On one hand, he absolutely hated these Italian criminals who abused the fact that many cities in Spain had little organized crime of their own and so did their best to expand their corrupting influence here.
On another, three people were murdered in an extraordinarily savage fashion and the perp was still on the loose, potentially stalking their next victim even as he observed their latest masterpiece. For a veteran officer of the force who wasn't in it just for the paycheck or the benefits - like himself - the very notion that such a deranged killer was prowling the streets of his fair city was bone-chilling. It was his oath-sworn duty to apprehend such dangerous individuals, and he took it with utmost seriousness.
As if reading his darkening mood, Adrián resumed his summary in an uplifting tone that was clearly forced - Ignacio could not truly blame him - even with every window in the house open, the stench of the three deceased bodies was overwhelming. It was challenging to hold a proper conversation while inhaling such fetid air.
"We had yet to walk the neighborhood, so maybe we will have some witnesses stepping forth; else, the forensics should be able to shed some light on what happened here."
Ignacio had little faith about the former scenario producing any tangible results: the late hour of when the murders were committed combined with respectable distance between each individual villa in this upper class neighborhood meant that the chances there was a witness to it all were slim at best. Not for the first time in his lengthy career as an investigator, most of his hopes rested on the forensics department getting to the bottom of it with their cutting-edge technology.
Sighing deeply and having nothing to say, he took a look around the house - it seemed lived-in, with plenty of signs of recent habitation. The forensic guys would begin collecting evidence shortly, and with access to modern equipment there was a decent chance that they would be able to connect some names to this site of massacre by the end of the day - provided any of those present in this house were in the Eurozone's persons registry - something that was mandatory for both citizens and visitors in all countries under the European Union umbrella.
Regardless of that, however, they still had one more lead that would need to be followed: the true owner of this house, which their preliminary investigation found out to be registered under some offshore firm - a most unusual fact, considering the location.
Rubbing at his chin, Ignacio knew that their work was cut out for them. Nevertheless, the grizzled man was determined to see it through, if only because having a vicious murderer like this on the loose was something he could not abide.
The first thing Daniela's dazed mind registered as she slowly regained consciousness was a peculiar sense of duality that permeated her body.
Everything hurt.
There was no singular source of great pain, rather it was like her whole body suffered from a dull but persistent ache. From head to toe, it felt as if every single muscle was fatigued and every tendon sore; with every cell drained of energy.
Even most minor motions caused waves of sharp pain to radiate across her extremities.
Hunger raked her stomach while thirst made her throat so dry that she felt like she could drink liters of water - or blood - in one go.
Moreover, her eyelids felt unbearably heavy as she tried to open them, causing her to abandon that course of action for now.
Yet…
Despite all these notable shortcomings of her current situation, she could not deny that she also felt an unusual level of comfort. The bed she was in was extremely cozy; blankets soft and cover warm. A subtle but pleasant earthy aroma teased her keen nostrils. Birds were joyously chirping outside, unconcerned with the dire affairs that the viciousness of humanity created. The gentle morning sunlight, streaming into the bedroom at a perpendicular angle relative to Daniela's face, created a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere.
All in all, Daniela struggled to decide whether she ultimately felt good or bad. What she could say was that she felt alive.
Satisfied with that peculiar sensation for now, the exhausted woman tried to recall just where she was or how she had gotten here, but her drowsy mind struggled with that task.
Therefore, she laid there, unmoving as memories of the past month slowly but steadily trickled back into her brain, each single one causing a spike of forceful emotions to drive itself further into her heart.
The tearful flight from Castle Dimitrescu.
The bittersweet reunion with her dearest Ethan.
The two weeks of almost perfect bliss that followed, even though they were not entirely bereft of stress that came with acclimating to an entirely new environment, or realizing her unenviable place in the wider world.
The heavenly day spent with Ethan by her side, culminating in an unforgettable kiss shared under the firework-lit sky…
…and the crushing despair from his rejection of her feelings that followed immediately after.
The depression of an awfully lonely night…
…and the utter mayhem of the unbound bloodshed she unleashed during the confrontation with the trio of robbers.
Finally, the last moments before the darkness took her, where the anguish of her miserable existence became so great that Daniela could bear it no longer.
So she took the way out she had been considering for a very long time, yet one she had been reluctant to take as even the smallest spark of hope was always enough to dissuade her.
But then, in that abyss of despair in which no light of hope could reach her, she went forth with what should've been a final and irreversible decision…
There was nothing but darkness afterwards…
…then, how come the gentle morning sun was soaking her in pleasant light right now?
Why am I alive?
As the memory of what should've been her final moments came flooding back in, Daniela felt her lower lip quivering, with moisture gathering in the corner of her eyes.
For whatever reason she was alive now, yet the brush with oblivion made its mark upon her body and mind alike. The sudden realization of just how tightly the icy talons of death had gripped her soul made her whole body shudder with dread.
Even though she had no real reasons - beyond waking up in a warm bed, anyway - to suspect that her overall circumstances had drastically improved, Daniela found herself feeling as if she had committed a grave mistake. It was getting hard to breathe just from thinking about that close call, so she tried to focus her mind on her current predicament instead.
Before she even opened her eyes, one thing became painfully obvious to her - someone had located and recovered her fading body. There was no way she could've crawled to this comfy bed on her own.
A small spike a fear shot through her heart as she considered the possibility that it were the associates of the three robbers that got their hands on her, and now planned to torture her to death in revenge for the deaths of their friends. It was an unlikely possibility given the comfort of her bed, but a troubling one nonetheless.
She did her best to dismiss such bothersome thoughts, but if one thing was certain, then it was that it wouldn't hurt to identify this place she had suddenly found herself in.
With that in mind, she tried to take in the familiar-seeming room next, though it seemed that her eyes had yet to recover from her ordeal, as all she could see was an unidentifiable mess of vague silhouettes and blurred colors.
For whatever reason, Daniela couldn't help but let out a scoff of amusement as she wondered if this was how abstract artists saw the world on a permanent basis. If that was the case, she had no desire to join their ranks, so the woman blinked her eyes a couple of times in a bid to clear her vision, though a different stimulus soon attracted her attention.
It was a very minute motion of something below her knees, making the redhead focus her attention on that spot. It did not take her long to realize that something particularly warm and cuddly was nestled next to her legs.
Somehow it felt really good, but Daniela's blurry eyes had a hard time identifying the mysterious object beyond that it was mid-sized and multicolored. Curious to the point where she lacked the patience to wait for her vision to stabilize, the redhead gently reached a hand to inspect it.
The strange object turned out to be covered by what felt like soft and warm fur; more importantly, it reacted to Daniela's touch by shivering and letting out a low whine. It was alive!
"Ah!" Surprised and even a little frightened, Daniela quickly pulled her hand back. The motion caused her to wince in pain as her sore arm protested the vigor its owner demanded of it.
Perhaps it was that spike of minor activity, combined with a flare of pain, that finally allowed the haze that clouded her sight to part, as soon enough she could clearly see the object for what it truly was - a supremely cute little dog that was staring back at her with its intelligent eyes. Its familiar tricolor coat allowed Daniela to easily recognize the animal as Winters' family pet Roxy. That revelation left little doubt about her present whereabouts, putting the somewhat frightened woman at ease.
Moreover, instead of fretting over her circumstances, Daniela found herself able to enjoy this simple contact that had eluded her for so long.
After all, she had attempted to pet Roxy on more than one occasion before, only for the skittish critter to flee at the merest hint of contact.
Today, though Roxy still appeared somewhat wary of her as her brown eyes scrutinized the redhead, the lively beagle seemed quite content nestled next to Daniela's legs. That was all the encouragement the woman needed to tentatively reach towards the dog once again.
Roxy's brown eyes observed Daniela's pale fingers carefully, but the animal made no attempt to move from its comfy spot.
As Daniela's curious fingers reached the soft fur of Roxy, a whole new world experience was suddenly open to her. "Oooh…" the redhead murmured while tenderly caressing the pet.
Truthfully, Daniela always fancied herself more of a cat person - unlike her sister Cassandra, who not-so-secretly adored dogs - but due to Alcina's distaste for pets of any kind, neither sibling had much opportunity to interact with any such animals. Rats and crows were pretty much the only beasties Dimitrescu siblings could expect to encounter during their daily routines and these were up Bela's alley more than anything…
That overbearing isolation was one reason why Daniela wanted to pet Roxy so much, and why she had been dismayed when the beagle had demonstrated her unwillingness to interact with the redhead in the past.
Now, however, the little dog appeared amiable to physical interactions and Daniela couldn't help but smile a bit as she gently ruffled Roxy's soft coat. Even the dark clouds of her overarching depression seemingly parted before this loyal and joyful creature. To feel the pet return the affection by nuzzling into her hand before giving it a playful lick brought back a sense of contentment that Daniela wasn't sure she'd experience ever again. The smile that graced her sickly pale lips was all too genuine.
The canvas of her life had become unbearably gray overnight, yet now the splotches of color were slowly returning to it. Unbeknownst to her conscious mind, her soul was already aching to feel alive again, and just now her heart started to catch up with its metaphysical counterpart. With it, ever so slowly, so did her once inexhaustible passion for life started to trickle back into her body.
Of course, as lovely as the beagle was, she could not entirely rejuvenate Daniela, not after the harrowing events of the past night.
There was, however, something that stood a better chance of doing just that. As Daniela's eyesight returned fully and allowed her to perceive her surroundings properly, she was finally able to spot two heads poking out from both sides of the bed.
Naturally, without her sister Cassandra there was no decapitation at play here, so the heads peacefully connected to their respective torsos, as indicated by the slight movements of the one to her right. There was little room for interpretation to whom that head belonged, as the pale brown - almost blonde - hair instantly betrayed his identity to Daniela's eyes.
Her heart fluttered in her chest as she considered the obvious implications.
It had to be Ethan who had waded through the bloody mess of her foyer to recover her freezing body, only to then promptly warm her up.
Looking around for a second, Daniela was able to properly recognize this room as Ethan's own bedroom, the same one she had already visited multiple times - both times without its owner's consent.
To see her back in Ethan's bed again made it plain to her that the man did his best to care for her waning body. For several moments, the redhead struggled with the implications of what that truly meant.
If he had been only toying with her feelings like she had assumed previously, would it really make sense for him to investigate her house in the middle of the night? Even if he was planning to play some cruel jest on her before unwittingly stumbling into the scene of a massacre, why would he keep going? Why would he rescue her from her self-inflicted fate instead of allowing her to pass to the other side? Why would he trouble himself in bringing her over to his own house? Why would he go out of his way to nurse her back to health? Why would he remain at her side as she healed, in a pose that relayed his heartfelt concern?
These myriads of 'whys' had only one answer that applied to them all, and fresh tears started to trickle down her cheeks as soon as she figured out the bittersweet truth.
Ethan truly cared about her well-being, and nothing could make her happier.
Ethan truly cared, and that meant that both of their lives would remain in a state of chaotic upheaval, with uncertainty, doubt and fear reigning supreme over their feelings of mutual affections - because life just couldn't be easy - Daniela had learned that hard lesson well by now.
Her exit from life would've been an escape from struggle and uncertainty, but to continue existing means to endure it all - good and bad. To live and to love is to suffer, as was written in one of Daniela's favorite books - a quote that she now understood intimately.
The complexity of life stood at a stark contrast to the simplicity of death, a fact which sometimes made the latter state a more desirable one to the weary redhead.
…yet, the tantalizing promise of requited love and all the associated breadth of experience was a lure that once again made Daniela's heart beat strong and fast. The desire to live, which had been virtually extinguished tonight, reignited within her breast, from an ember into a roaring bonfire.
As if on cue, the focus of her attention showed some signs of life of his own by violently shaking his head while murmuring something indecipherable under his breath.
It was only too easy to assume that the man was once again in the throes of a nightmare of some kind and Daniela found herself reaching out to him with her left hand, wishing to soothe his worries and fears away as her first, almost instinctual reaction to his plight.
Alas, the bed was large and her body felt like lead, so her outstretched arm managed to cover less than half the distance to its destination. Grunting in effort due to her crippling weakness, Daniela merely kept her hand above the bed covers.
Observing the situation with her intelligent eyes, Roxy took a moment to comprehend the conundrum before apparently deciding that the best course of action would lay in simply waking Ethan up.
It seemed to Daniela that it was not the first time the loyal beagle saw its owner gripped by terrors of the night, as Roxy waddled straight towards the man before forcefully nuzzling into his head.
With that simple act, the man's best friend lived up to her title by rescuing Ethan from the grip of nightly terrors.
Ethan awoke with a start, letting out a muffled gasp of distress. As she quietly observed, Daniela wondered if she was to blame for this latest nightmare the man had to endure - after all, he had to have seen her handiwork, and that was the stuff the nightmares were conjured from.
The redhead mused on that for a while, using the time Ethan took to recover from his slumber. It made her recall her own personal theory that she was nothing but a burden to anyone. Suddenly feeling dejected, Daniela lowered her arm, as well as her head. That burning question from before reemerged, even more forceful than before.
Why did you save me?
As if hearing her unspoken plea, Ethan turned his head to his right and their gazes connected. It felt as if a spark of electricity passed through them.
Because I love you.
There was the answer in his eyes, as care and concern for her well-being all but poured out of them, yet Daniela refused to believe it. She knew that she was unworthy of love. It was a lesson well-learned from her numerous interactions with those she was close to.
…but then why did her heart rate suddenly quicken?
"Dani…" Ethan murmured in a tone that had easily shattered through the barriers Daniela hastily erected around her weary heart.
She had thought that her capacity for hope had been exhausted, yet the undisguised affection stemming from his call seemingly revitalized her very soul.
"Ethan…" her parched lips parted just long enough to let out the name that meant so much to her.
Daniela's voice was so weak that she wasn't sure that Ethan heard her, yet their eye-contact remained unbroken as the duo shared a moment of heartfelt silence. Both of them were lost in this instant of time in which soundless emotions reigned supreme. Though both of them had so much to say, their mutual affection for one another was truly palpable and no words were needed to express it.
Of course, the tender moment of silence did not last too long as the other two occupants of the room made themselves known.
First, a cute little yawn alerted Daniela to the presence of the younger Winters - precious little Rose. Ethan must have been cuddling his child close to his chest all this time.
A second later, a motion from the redhead's left caused her to pay a modicum of attention in that direction, only to see a person with a headful of ebony hair awakening from a slumber of their own. "Ugh… my neck is killing me…"
Daniela had no trouble recognizing the voice as one belonging to Laura the babysitter, especially since she was particularly prone to complaining, reminiscent of her dearest Bela.
Her first instinct was to snicker in amusement before wisely noting that such neck cramps came naturally with Laura's chosen position for a nap.
The second instinct, however - one far more powerful - was to tear up at this display that was now open to her.
To see multiple people arrayed around her resting place in a way that demonstrated clear concern and profound care pulled on her heartstrings. Amber eyes, already wet, could not hold back the cascade of fresh tears invoked by such powerful emotions.
Living up to that derogatory nickname 'crybaby' that Cassandra would sometimes call her, Daniela suddenly began bawling to her heart's content.
In turn, unable to avert his gaze from her quivering lips, Ethan misjudged the situation by assuming that something was wrong.
"What's wrong, Dani? Are you in pain!?" He carefully but quickly stood up from his spot, his own cramped muscles crying out in protest but being utterly ignored.
Faced with his mounting concern for her well-being, Daniela only cried harder. Through the haze of tears, she could barely see the angelic face of Rosie, peering down at her with worry of her own. The guilt returned in a heartbeat, reminding the redhead that it was her actions that led to this innocent child losing sleep and nerves alike.
Weeping like a baby, Daniela felt herself alive like never before, as strange as that may have been. Not so long ago, she wanted to end it all; to embrace oblivion. Now, as she was confronted with an undeniable proof that her existence mattered to others, Daniela was invigorated to a degree she had not thought was possible.
As he gently placed Rose at the foot of the bed and approached Daniela, from her body language alone Ethan realized that she was not in pain or distress, but the true reason for the tears still somewhat eluded him.
"I think Dani is just happy to be alive…" Laura mumbled with uncertainty once she came around and gave the woman in question a good look. She had no idea just how right she was, but Daniela herself decided to give them a sign by allowing her lips to split into a wide grin, even as yet more tears cascaded down her cheeks.
She no longer had any true need for questions such as why - as the care was palpable in the air. Through wordless contact these three compassionate souls had already relayed their level of concern for her.
Yet, she couldn't help but voice the query that represented the very essence of her inner conflict.
"Why… why would you guys help me?"
Out from her dry throat and parched lips, through the haze of weeping, that hoarse query was a particularly meek one, barely audible even to those in her immediate proximity.
Yet hear it they did, as implied by three pairs of widened eyes.
Perhaps the answer to that question was an obvious one for them, but Daniela realized that she needed to hear it, regardless. After a lifetime of feeling like a disappointment, an annoyance or even as a pest, she genuinely had a hard time understanding just why she was that important to someone else. If not even her own family was particularly concerned about her well-being, why did these three wonderful people feel otherwise?
"Why?" Ethan repeated with a hint of disbelief in his voice, momentarily unsure of how to answer.
"Because you are our friend!" Rose immediately picked up where her father had left off, demonstrating not a hint of hesitation or doubt. Her perky voice radiated honesty and innocence alike, filling the empty void within Daniela with nothing but joy.
Rubbing her neck, Laura nodded at that, before speaking for herself, "Even if that was not the case - and it totally is! - you've gone through some tough times, Daniela and you deserve a helping hand." The teenager smiled then, a genuine, heartfelt smile, before continuing, "I chose to believe that you're a good person - and I want to help you to find happiness in this world."
"Well said, Laura," Ethan noted with an uplifted expression, briefly glancing at the raven-haired girl with obvious pride, as if she was his own daughter. Laura beamed at him with happiness in turn. Turning back to regard Daniela, Ethan knelt before the bed in a way that saw them on about even eye-level.
His soulful eyes brimmed with affection. The redhead felt like she couldn't take her own amber orbs off his handsome face even if she wanted to.
"You're not alone," Ethan spoke with conviction in his voice while gently brushing a palm across Daniela's head. "You have people who care about you - we care…" He hesitated for a moment, before adding something even more personal to his already touching response, "I care…I don't want you to go, Dani, because I…"
love you
Ethan didn't get to finish his sentence as the doorbell interrupted him. A part of him was actually grateful for the interruption, as he wasn't exactly sure where he was going with that half-baked confession. Surely he wouldn't have admitted his feelings with Rose and Laura sharing the room with them, would he?
The short-lived relief was almost immediately replaced by a slight tingle of dread, however.
Giving a brief glance at his watch, Ethan had to wonder just who would disturb them at 9:00 a.m., on a Sunday no less. Nothing good came to his mind, so he unconsciously fingered the handgun that was still within his pants' back pocket.
Likewise, Daniela's expression shifted from hopeful to frightened the moment her keen ears picked on the noise that came from downstairs.
"Hnk…" Ethan allowed a displeased grunt out. He naturally wanted to ignore this attempt at intrusion, but something told him that it may not be the best course of action. He'd better go down and check it, though he absolutely loathed leaving Daniela's side even briefly now that she was finally awake.
"Sorry," he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I better go take a look at who it is and send them on their way."
Daniela nibbled on her lip, suddenly feeling anxious. Her exhausted body was weary enough that she could barely move, much less transform into her signature swarm form. Knowing that all too well, she couldn't help but experience trepidation at being at the mercy of an outside force.
As Ethan moved to vacate the bedroom, he briefly stopped for a second. Turning his head around to regard the bedridden woman, he gave her a small but meaningful smile. "Everything is going to be okay, Dani."
She believed him. Though her mind was permanently scarred by the countless disappointments of being let down, the second their eyes connected, Daniela just knew that this man was not going to deceive her, not intentionally. Therefore, she trusted him to take care of her. To protect her, even, if need be.
Once Ethan saw Daniela give him a brief nod, he vacated the room, satisfied in the knowledge that his redheaded guest appeared somewhat at ease.
Going down the stairs he felt some growing anxiety of his own as he considered all the potential people that could be knocking at his door at this moment. That list was not a short one by any means, and more importantly - a number of individuals on it were of a distinctly unsavory variety.
His firearm provided the man a much needed reassurance. Using it would naturally be the last resort - beyond the fact that Ethan was not entirely comfortable with the notion of taking a human life, Rose was in the house and he'd loath to subject her to such a morbid experience. With that in mind, however, Ethan was also certain that he would not hesitate if it became clear that his early morning guest bore lethal intent towards any occupants of the house. Rose was in the house, after all, and to ensure her safety he was willing to take even the most drastic of steps, as he had already demonstrated several years ago.
As he approached the door, Ethan's fingers were all too conscious about the exact location of his handgun's grip, but the man made a concentrated effort to calm down a notch while peering through the peephole.
What he saw left him with ambiguous feelings. There was a rather attractive young woman in her late twenties, waiting to be granted entrance. Her tanned skin and an ample amount of freckles spoke about her tendency to spend time under the sun; brunette locks made into a neat ponytail that rested over her right shoulder implied that the woman wanted to exude femininity without sacrificing professionalism.
Of course, Ethan paid these superficial details no more than a second, as a far more important hint lay in the woman's outfit - that of a police officer from the local force.
There was only one reason for a police officer to visit him that early in the morning today, and it had to be something connected with the Duke's house and the gruesome murders that had taken place within it.
The man briefly wondered if maybe he should pretend like nobody was home, only to discard that idea once he realized that the police woman had likely already heard his footsteps.
Moreover, Ethan figured that this had to be a routine questioning of neighbors - if he was already a suspect, there would be more than one cop knocking on his door, or maybe they would even be kicking his door down. Therefore, he really had no choice but to let that woman in. The alternative would achieve nothing but invite unwanted suspicion.
Still, Ethan knew that it was vital for him to play his cards right, so he lingered for a couple more seconds as he juggled potential scenarios in his head. He obviously couldn't afford to divulge too much information, yet if he shared too little it was possible that the police would become suspicious of him down the road, given the ample amount of his DNA left at the crime scene.
Deciding on his approach, Ethan steadily opened the door, while giving the woman what he hoped was an easy smile.
"Good morning, officer. Is there something I can help you with?" He greeted her in fluent but accented Spanish, hoping to project an innocent front of an ordinary civilian who did not dabble in unscrupulous midnight activities.
She returned the smile, though in her case it was obviously forced. Moreover, now without any barriers between them, Ethan was easily able to discern the haunted look that dominated her admittedly pretty face. It was plain to him that this youthful officer of the law saw something that the police academy did not quite prepare her for - the slaying of her fellow humans in the most gruesome manner possible.
Hardened by his experience, Ethan also couldn't help but briefly and inconspicuously note the armament of his morning guest - a standard-issue Heckler & Koch USP - peacefully resting in its holster on her hip. The woman herself paid it no mind and appeared relaxed enough that Ethan got the solid impression that she came here without any hostile intent.
"...Good morning," she forced the greeting out in a meek voice, before briefly consulting with her handheld PDA, likely to affirm his identity, "Mr. Winters." Clearly distracted by the vicious sights that had to be ingrained in her mind, the woman stumbled through the proper procedures before arriving at the root of the issue, though even there she sounded a little uncertain and Ethan wouldn't have been surprised if she messed up the protocol in one way or another.
"My name is Marina Amado and I am a Deputy Inspector with the local police. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
In a way that was perhaps so uniquely him, Ethan was suddenly able to deeply empathize with this person. To be violently thrust in a situation where the veil that separated life from death was so brutishly torn was a bitter and difficult experience, which Ethan did not wish on anybody. Of course, as an actual officer of the law, she should've been better prepared for that than him, but Ethan did not judge her uneasiness in the slightest.
In fact, it was at this moment that he was somehow able to garner the fact that this woman was not his enemy, nor would she ever be one. Though their circumstances and goals were wildly different, Ethan felt like Marina was not unlike himself in a way - stumbling into something she never bargained for. Realizing that, Ethan experienced a strong desire to protect her - a complete stranger - from the rippling aftereffects of Daniela's actions, which in turn were influenced by his own deeds. He had to prevent her from becoming an obstacle, and to do that he needed to keep his story straight and narrow.
"Of course," Ethan responded amicably after a moment of consideration. He did not invite her in, naturally, mindful of the need to protect Daniela just as well.
Marina nodded and, apparently not minding standing on the porch at all, consulted with her PDA again before launching into a pre-formulated questionnaire made out of simple questions. Ethan had no trouble understanding that they were all pertaining to the murders inside the Duke's house, however.
He answered honestly, where he could do so without incriminating himself. When pressed about his own whereabouts for the night, he took the calculated risk to lie, however, hoping that there would be no witnesses that could call him on it. Ethan was satisfied that the woman did not press his self-made alibi that he was peacefully sleeping all through the night.
Near the end of the questioning, Ethan expressed, what he hoped was, an appropriate amount of curiosity by asking just what had occurred tonight.
Marina visibly paled and dismissed the question with the vague excuse that the investigation was still ongoing, though she had finally dropped the address that Ethan was waiting for all this time. Now he had the chance to preemptively explain the presence of his DNA in that house without drawing too much suspicion.
"Oh?" He did his best to feign shock and surprise alike, but not fear as he understood that he wasn't supposed to know that a trio of gruesome murders had been committed under that roof. Ethan wasn't going to pry into that either, instead mentioning the peculiar coincidence that his old acquaintance from his Romanian days had actually invited him to that very house a couple of weeks ago.
At hearing that, Marina's brown eyes briefly widened before slightly narrowing, though she regained her composure quickly. A couple more questions followed, which Ethan answered in a way that advanced his story, not forgetting to mention how he liked to frequent that part of the neighborhood for his occasional walks or that he had no idea who the actual owner of that house was.
Eventually, once Marina was satisfied with his explanation and had no further questions to ask, she expressed her gratitude for his cooperation and bid him a good day. Before departing, she not-so-subtly hinted that perhaps it would be for the best if he did not leave the city for a while, making it obvious that this was not the end of it.
Closing the door behind the officer, Ethan was finally able to breath easy, knowing that he had put quite a show there. Weaving lies among the truths was never a simple endeavor, but judging by Marina's parting expression, he felt like his deceit was successful in establishing an alibi for himself, though it would have to be reinforced down the line, naturally. Nevertheless, this dialogue was a very important first step in dealing with the police investigation and Ethan felt like patting himself on the back for how well he felt he had handled it.
In surprisingly high spirits, Ethan briskly walked back to the bedroom, eager to see how his redheaded friend was doing.
Predictably, nobody there has moved much from their previous spots as they all understood the need for subtlety - even little Rose.
As he entered the bedroom, the trio plus the dog looked upon his face to gauge his expression and see for themselves whether the danger was averted. His carefree smile was telling and the change of atmosphere in the room was palpable as everyone relaxed.
Daniela was first to move by trying to rise up from the bed, though the effort was cut short by a grunt of pain.
"Argh…" Her face warped by discomfort, the redhead abandoned the short-lived attempt and returned to a resting position, though a seed of worry was already planted in Ethan's mind. He did not enjoy seeing Daniela so vulnerable and helpless.
Just as aware of the woman's plight as was Ethan himself - or perhaps even more so - Rose climbed the bed and purposefully crawled towards Daniela's exposed arm, only to gently finger a visible crack that now marred what once had been an expanse of pristinely smooth skin. "Dani is hurting…" the empathetic girl whispered to herself before turning around to regard her father with pleading eyes, as if begging him to heal the redhead right then and there.
Tears brimming at the corner of her eyes, Daniela pulled her left hand from under the covers with some effort, before using it to lovingly pat Rose's blonde locks.
The scene was so touching that Ethan himself felt something sharp prickling at his heart, as well as a measure of wetness appearing on his own eyelids. He approached the bed slowly, hoping to provide comfort that its occupants craved, "Everything is going to be fine, girls." Ethan did his best to sound confident, though in truth he had no idea if that was actually going to be the case.
Beyond the uncertain threat of the outside forces, Daniela's current condition was a cause of concern on its own. She might have survived her self-inflicted exposure to biting chill, but it was plain to see that some negative aftereffects still lingered, such as the spider web of cracks in her skin all across the body.
It was nothing like Ethan had ever seen in a human being, yet it was so painfully reminiscent of the early-stage of crystallization process that the creatures of the mold underwent shortly before their demise. Contrary to his hopes, neither the increased temperature nor the healing bath were able to provide a remedy for this unenviable condition.
At least he was able to find a small mercy in the fact that her skin lost that unnerving translucent quality during their mutual slumber, returning to its rightful opaque state. That was a sure sign of her recovering, even if her overall condition still remained under question.
Uncertainty about the redhead's physical condition aside, his presence seemed to provide a measure of reassurance to the frightened girls, as they all were able to breathe easy once it became apparent that no uninvited guest was about to ruin their morning.
In particular, as Rose allowed herself to relax, her natural body processes made themselves known with a loud grumble coming from her stomach. The girl sheepishly glanced around herself, as if ashamed of her needs. In turn, Ethan was all too familiar with his child's habits or the way that she required somewhat more frequent nutrition than even your typical growing girl.
Likewise, Laura was just as aware of that fact. "Let's go fix us a breakfast, Rosie," the babysitter chirped in, and after receiving a barely-perceptible little nod as acknowledgement, proceeded to stand up and walk around the bed towards the child.
Before vacating the bedroom with the tiny girl in tow, Laura gave Ethan a telling glance that implied that if he or Daniela needed anything, she'd be back in a heartbeat.
Roxy the beagle also seemed eager to get her cute little snout into her favorite red bowl, so she quickly leapt from her spot at Daniela's side and skittered out of the room. The redhead appeared a little dismayed that the pet had left her side so easily, but did nothing to stop her.
In turn, grateful for Laura's continued assistance and amused at Roxy's predictable antics, Ethan offered the departing girls a nod and a smile before focusing his attention on the bedridden redhead.
She looked back at him weakly, though there was that lovely spark of life brimming in her amber orbs once again, setting his own heart at ease.
He slowly approached the bed, "How are you feeling, Dani?"
Daniela awkwardly nibbled on her lower lip, hesitating with her response. To Ethan it looked as if she was embarrassed to be a further burden on him and therefore wanted to underplay her current condition. His brief musings were proven correct in the next second as the redhead mumbled through her slightly parted lips, "I am okay…"
It was obvious to Ethan that it was not the case from the way her face would grimace in discomfort from even the most minute of motions performed by her body. She was in clear pain; moreover, the dark circles underneath her weary eyes spoke volumes about just how exhausted she felt.
Somehow, Ethan felt indignant from her lackluster response - he straightened up and folded his arms, "No, you're not."
She averted her eyes, saying nothing.
Immediately feeling a little bit bad from appearing that forceful, the man relaxed his posture before approaching her side with tender steps. His hand went to lovingly caress through her messy hair in a way that hopefully relayed just how concerned he was about her well-being.
"Come on, Dani - I am not your mom who expects perfection from you at any given moment."
That vocalized observation must have struck the chord, as a small shudder resonated all throughout the redhead's body, but Ethan wasn't done.
"I am your friend and I care about you greatly. I want to help. I want you to feel as good as you possibly can."
Whether touched by his gentle voice, loving words or tender ministrations, Daniela let out a sigh, "Oh, Ethie… you are far too kind to me…"
"Nonsense," he immediately shot back, a little bothered by the notion that there could be such a thing as 'too much kindness'. This woman was hurting right now and there was nothing he would've liked more than to ease her suffering. Looking at her dry lips, Ethan realized that the least he could do was to bring her a glass of water.
"You must be thirsty…" he said before finally noting an empty water bottle laying on the floor next to the bed. It seemed like Laura - thoughtful as always - beat him to the punch in this particular regard while he was dealing with the police lady downstairs.
Nevertheless, that simple assumption evoked a peculiar reaction from Daniela. A little bit of life finally crept back into her weary body and she craned her neck to get a good look at Ethan's face. The large crack that went all the way from her left shoulder up to her chin must have not been particularly pleased with that motion as Daniela was not able to suppress a small hiss of pain.
The discomfort faded from her visage soon enough, however, and a different expression took over - one that made Ethan's own heartbeat a little quicken from an inexplicable, eerie dread.
Daniela stared at him unblinkingly - no, not at him, but at the pulsing vein in his throat, a certain part of his mind informed him. She looked at it with a focused gaze of a predator - there was no mistaking that particular look after everything he had been through.
Ethan realized that the answer to his question was a resolute 'yes'; moreover, he understood exactly what it is Daniela thirsted for. There was a terrible hunger in her amber eyes, with an appropriate dose of bestial viciousness to boot. Ethan would've lied if he claimed he was not even a little bit scared at that moment.
A couple of tense seconds passed, with the duo's gazes interlocked and bodies unmoving - Ethan frozen with dreadful comprehension and Daniela spellbound by her unnatural cravings.
The man could find no words to describe his feelings and thoughts at the moment, yet the woman needed none, as she broke through her predatory stupor herself before he could do anything. As if awakening from a trance, she shook her head before averting her eyes, ashamed.
"I am okay…" she repeated in a low, husky voice that had a foreboding quality to it. To Ethan it felt as if two sides of her were at odds with each other. One requested Daniela to act with humility; another demanded his blood. From the way her shoulders slackened with weary resignation it was clear to see just which side held dominion now.
No matter how hard she wished for that precious sanguine substance of his, her restraint proved greater. This was not something she would ever ask of him, no matter the circumstances. That alone was an indisputable proof of her humanity in Ethan's eyes.
However, just because she would never dare to ask for his sanguine ichor didn't mean that it would be inconceivable for Ethan to offer it himself, out of his own free will.
As he looked upon his dear friend - a person that occupied such a special place within his heart - he knew that he would be willing to go to great lengths for her sake.
Seeing her suffering like this - weakened, in pain and gripped by her unnatural urges, Ethan couldn't help but consider that he was more than willing to sacrifice some of his blood if that would ease her unenviable condition.
"Would you like to…" Ethan mumbled uncertainty, dubious about how to even inquire about something dire like that, "…ahm… take a bite?"
That awkward question made the woman freeze in shock for a moment as the true meaning sunk in. Suddenly embarrassed, she then shook her head violently, ignoring any and all discomfort such rapid motions would cause to her injured skin, "No! I could never!" she protested vehemently, though her pupils dilated in a way that implied just how excited she got from considering the very possibility of indulging her vicious urges.
Even as the next words flowed from his mouth, Ethan couldn't help but wonder if he had gone completely crazy, "I… I wouldn't mind it. If it helps you… or if it makes you feel better, Dani…"
She remained silent for a moment, apparently baffled by his generosity or his insanity.
"Would it make you feel better, Dani?" Ethan pressed on, even as he lowered himself to get on her eye level, "Just answer me honestly."
Daniela's amber orbs focused on his own green-gray eyes with a burning intensity that held within a multitude of sensation: primordial hunger, mounting dread and tantalizing fascination - all warred for control.
Finally, after a moment that seemed to stretch for eternity, Daniela averted her eyes again. She licked her parched lips in a way that seemed nervous and excited alike, before providing her carefully-worded reply.
"Fresh blood tends to have a revitalizing effect on our bodies...Yes…"
That was good enough for Ethan. He did not bother questioning further, whether any mammalian blood will do or whether it was human blood in particular that was so valued by the Dimitrescu sisters. He was not going to go and chase down some random unfortunate animal regardless - his own body was uniquely suited for providing this kind of assistance, after all.
Ethan felt his heart beat quicken as a frenetic sort of energy took over his body. He knew exactly what he wanted to do, so he swiftly got to it, with Daniela watching his every move like a hawk - both terror and delight seemingly dancing in her expressive golden eyes.
If someone had told him that he would be volunteering his blood and flesh to a ravenous vampiric lady before all the shit he went through, he'd definitely call them batshit crazy.
Now, however, as he prepared the necessities for what he had in mind - a large white towel and a bottle of green herb-derived gel - Ethan found himself determined to perform even this foolhardy deed for the sake of one he cared so much about.
He then quickly went to close and lock the bedroom's door - so neither Rose nor Laura could potentially stumble on what promised to be a bloody sight, before briskly wondering how he could make this procedure go as smoothly as possible, considering Daniela's weakened state.
Recalling the Dimitrescu sister's apparently preferred place to bite a human - a shoulder - he quickly juggled the potential poses they could assume before deciding to simply lay parallel to her once his preparations were complete.
To that effect, Ethan spread out a large white towel next to Daniela's head, as well as placing a bottle of Green Herb gel, that would ensure his own continued well-being, on a nightstand next to them.
"This is too much, Ethan…I am not going to put you in danger…" the redhead tried to protest feebly.
Ethan shot her down quickly, however, "It's fine, Dani." He took a good long look at her before taking off his shirt. "You remember how quickly I heal, right? You're not gonna be putting me in any real danger."
The ravenous hunger in her eyes could not be denied as they roamed over his bared torso. "This is for you, Dani," Ethan whispered before laying next to her, only to stare at the blank ceiling while continuing, "I want you to feel better."
There was a moment of silence and stillness, but it did not last. Feeling her fidget a little, Ethan tried to adjust his position in a way that granted her the best possible access to his shoulder. The nerves were slowly getting to him despite his brave exterior.
As he sensed her mouth hovering over his shoulder, there was a measure of growing anxiety that washed over his body. Her warm breath, blowing over his naked skin, sent shivers of both excitement and fright to prickle through his nerves.
He was certain that he was ready to sacrifice a bit of himself if it meant that Daniela would get better, but a certain aspect of this procedure suddenly started to terrify him.
It was nothing but good, old-fashioned fear of pain - the same kind he experienced a lot during his days of tangling with flesh-eating monsters, who would occasionally take a bite out of him. It was never a pleasant experience and most of them were still etched onto his memory, yet it was something he was certain he could handle.
However, with Daniela hesitating in performing the deed now, that memory of old trauma was quick to surface, reminding Ethan exactly what he signed up for right now, causing him to start doubting his own course of action.
It might have been a very long time since someone took a bite out of him, but he vividly recalled how it felt, nevertheless. Whether bites from mindless molded, feral lycans, cruel Cassandra or carefree Daniela herself - all of those were etched onto his memory.
In particular, he remembered that Daniela's teeth were sharp, but unlike that of a traditional vampire as media portrayed them, they were regrettably human-like and therefore inflicted more collateral damage to the surrounding tissues than fanged analogues would have.
Suddenly, he was transported back to the library of Castle Dimitrescu, where he had laid sprawled on the floor, helpless against the unchained aggression of the Castle's youngest vampire as she feasted upon his flesh and blood.
The collective agony of his ravaged nerves made an unforgettable impression and even years later, the phantom pain would occasionally visit that spot to remind him of the harrowing experience he went through. The past met the present in a most peculiar of ways.
Now, he was offering the very same shoulder out of his own free will, expecting no praise or reward beyond Daniela's own well-being. How things have changed…
Not even realizing it, Ethan gritted his teeth in the anticipation of the agony to come. He was probably even shaking a little and a large part of him wanted for Daniela to stop dawdling and get to it already. Her warm and somewhat erratic breath on his shoulder implied that the redhead was quite eager herself to begin the feast. Yet she still hesitated…
Nervously he wondered if allowing her to bite him in the shoulder was the best approach, after all. Perhaps offering his arm would've been a more suitable choice; maybe he could've even just cut himself with a knife and let her suckle the wound? Why did he have to act so brash without thinking it through?
Such technicalities faded into nothingness in the next second. Finally, there was the dreaded contact as her mouth touched his shoulder, but it did not feel at all like Ethan had envisioned and was preparing for.
It was not a savage bite that pierced his skin, only to claim access to his subclavian artery like he had expected.
Instead, it was a gentle touch of her soft lips that slowly brushed across his waiting skin. These lips - otherworldly in their tenderness - brought soothing chill to his feverish body, relaxing his tense muscles and frightened mind alike. The memories of pain and agony dissipated in an instant, replaced by a comfort brought by a gentle lover.
Ethan felt these soft lips gracing his skin with a loving kiss that spoke louder than any words could. It was a kiss of a person who could not bear to see their loved one suffer.
"Dani..?" Ethan mouthed, though he did not move to look at her.
Her voice was surprisingly firm as she responded, "I won't do this, Ethan." The vampiric hunger that plagued her tone previously was gone entirely, as if she forced it out of her body with a herculean show of will.
Ethan finally turned his head to regard the redhead and found himself utterly captivated by her gorgeous amber eyes; determination and passion alike danced in them.
She looked at him accusingly, though her eyes were softening with affection.
"Don't you get it, Ethan?"
He was lost in her mesmerizing eyes, so full of raw emotion. Her voice, though feeble and hoarse from her ailment, was akin to a beautiful melody to his ears, yet the words themselves stung with their implications.
"You say you do this for me, that you want me to get better… Yet how can I accept relief that comes at the expense of you? How can you ask me to cause you suffering for nothing but my own personal benefit!?"
Her tone became as piercing as her gaze, causing Ethan to struggle to withstand the eye contact. "But…" he tried to protest meekly, daring to presume that from a purely rational perspective his relatively short-lived suffering would've been more than worth it if it brought her lasting relief.
But Daniela would have none of it. Before the words of cold logic could even leave his mouth, her voice - engulfed in powerful emotions - interrupted anything he might have conjured in his defense.
"Don't you get that I can't bear to be that creature again?"
Ethan had no trouble comprehending what Daniela meant by that creature. The one that hurt others for its own sake - the one she, and her whole family, had been for so many years. She wasn't done speaking, however and what came next shook him to the core.
"I'd rather die than to be that creature again, Ethan."
The man could not respond immediately as he processed that weighty statement, with guilt soon emerging to claw at his innards once he realized the full folly of his supposedly noble - self-sacrificing, even - offer.
Daniela had murdered her way through this night and in the end had decided to end her own existence rather than simply fading into the darkness - like she easily could've. The truth was beyond obvious now that he gazed into her teary eyes - eternal oblivion was preferable to existence as a malevolent creature of the night to Daniela Dimitrescu, and he had just offered a glimpse into her bloody past.
Instead of helping her overcome her demons, he proposed for her to succumb to them.
What a presumptuous fool he was.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions, huh…
They shared another long look.
Though Daniela hardly appeared to be at her prime, the determination in her eyes was anything but faint. Ethan met her gaze, taken by the conviction shining within.
For who was once but a mindless monster, feeding off blood and misery of others, now desired above all else to preserve the remnants of her humanity. How could such nobility of spirit - shining brighter than any meaningless titles her so-called Mother possessed - fail to inspire?
Just like he was already resolved to help get through this mess, so did Ethan suddenly realize that he would do anything in his power to aid her in this most worthy of endeavors.
Staring at him with an intensity that apparently only she was capable of, Daniela seemed to catch a glimpse of his train of thought, as a small smile soon came to decorate the corners of her mouth. Moments later, once she was completely satisfied that her chosen course of life will be respected, the frenetic energy - and the last hints of unnatural hunger that preyed on her weakness as much as it did on the blood of others - relented from her softening expression.
They both knew that this would be the first test among the many more to come, but Ethan and Daniela alike dared to hope that she would emerge better and stronger for taking this path.
Appearing peaceful and relaxed, Daniela adjusted her head so that she faced the ceiling before closing her eyes. "Do you mind if I rest a bit more, Ethie? I am so very tired…" she mumbled weakly.
"Of course, Dani," Ethan replied while his treacherous hand apparently decided that it was a good idea to lovingly brush its fingers across her red hair around her scar. Daniela didn't appear to mind that unasked gesture, however, as she responded to it with nothing but a soft hum to display her contentment.
"Rest as long as you need to," Ethan murmured gently before standing up from the bed and walking towards the door with tender steps. "Call for me or Laura if you need anything."
The redhead hummed again, before providing a more verbal, if softly-spoken, acknowledgement "I will, thank you…"
Leaving the bedroom, Ethan did not deny himself another chance to glance at this unique woman. Though not much had happened after her awakening, it was obvious to him that the invisible bond between them strengthened even further from these minute interactions they just shared. Affection and even love aside, he could feel a peculiar sense of kinship towards her, one reserved for those who went through hell and back only to develop a certain outlook on life without compromising their core values.
Like never before Ethan was aware of that immaterial connection he had to Daniela. It felt as if they were truly kindred souls, meant to be together in life and death; sharing joy and sorrow alike.
Today was certain to bring more challenges they would need to overcome, but Ethan was ready for them.
Author's Note:
You guys have my deepest apologies for such a long delay. Its a silly excuse but to get into a writing mood I usually need a certain amount of solitude, and my apartment been much more communal during the last month. I also had a minor surgery done, which further decreased my desire to write. Things should be better now, though.
I hope this chapter was not disappointing, especially after such a lengthy delay and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the reviews or DMs! In particular, I am curious if you find these small segments related to the outgoing police investigation enjoyable or just a chore to get through, as I planned to have a couple more of those, but can scrap them if you are not too fond of them. As always, any kind of feedback is welcome in my review section, whether critique, praise or just a neutral observation or a simple question. Your feedback, my dear readers, is my greatest source of inspiration :)
Have a wonderful week everyone and thank you for reading!