There was something about Lia's stare that didn't sit right with Cassandra. She could see the fawn boring deep into her soul with that glare of hers. It was like she was studying the woman – looking for anything she needed to know.

After a short moment of awkward silence, Lia finished her sentence, "Good to see you." She lowered her eyes, scanning Cassandra's body for a second or two. "Are those my clothes?"

"I was told they were," she answered casually, trying to remain as neutral as possible. She felt it would be best to let Lia direct the flow of their interaction. She did not want to be responsible for any clashing that may occur.

"I see…" Lia rolled her lip and began to walk away, fur cape waving down her back, not saying another word as she did so. Her demeanor was strange. She had to have been holding a lot back. It was not much different from how she was when they first met each other. The woman practically spoke in cliffhangers. However, she seemed more light-hearted in her mannerisms back then.

There was no sign of joking or friendliness on her part today. It was more foreboding than anything else.

Cassandra didn't take her eyes off her until she moved to the other side of the table, directly across from her. She couldn't shake the newfound sense of hostility from the woman. The fawn must have still been mad over their last encounter, she figured. She couldn't blame Lia if she held a sour outlook on her guest after a sickle was thrown at her.

As soon as she reached her seat, Lia's gaze shifted to her sibling. "Leta, what are you doing?" She had asked as if the girl was making a mistake.

"Uhm, I don't know?" Her sister was perplexed at what she could have done wrong.

Lia tapped her palm against the chair to her right. "Come, sit beside me." Her focus briefly landed on Cassandra as she spoke. It was akin to a blink, but the action was indistinguishable.

She did not want Leta to sit close to her for whatever reason. Cassandra chalked it up to pure jealousy. It was the only explanation she could think up.

Ugh, I'm starting to remember how much I am growing to despise this rat.

Watching Leta hesitate – caught between both women – Cassandra acted to cut the tension there and then. "Sit with your sister. It's fine," she said.

With a soft smile, Leta bowed her head before she rose from her seat and moved over to join Lia. As much as Cassandra would have enjoyed the close company of the girl, she was trying her hardest to avoid any fights. After everything that she had been through in the last twelve hours, she didn't have the strength to carry on with such pursuits.

As soon as everyone at the table was seated, Milo began to remove the top of the trays that held the food that he had prepared for the ladies. Like the previous day; it was a large feast that electrified every taste bud on the brunette's pink and purple tongue.

Cassandra could already smell the Ginyol before the lid was raised. That tender aroma was like a drug to her. She could already feel her mouth salivating at the thought of chewing down on the tasty flesh. Milo lifted a second lid and exposed the alternate dish of the evening. It was a strange type of meat; dark brown in texture though not overcooked. Dried to perfection but saturated with an unknown type of sweet sauce.

It wasn't the Hikan that was available at Gibbin's stand. Cassandra could still recall the smell of that and she wasn't very impressed. This meat had an enticing scent of its own and her curiosity began to grow.

"What is that?" She asked Milo.

"Dhin," he replied with a chuckle. "I suppose it is only fitting that since one got a bite of you today, we should return the favor."

It was a morbid joke. Cassandra would have never expected such a thing to come out of that man's mouth. Caught completely off guard, she burst into a bout of genuine laughter that occupied the room. Her cackles grew louder, encouraging Leta to join in with a low giggle – all while Lia sat there unimpressed and agitated. It did not take long for the fawn to emerge from her silence.

"This wouldn't have been funny if Leta was hurt by one of those beasts." She expressed her displeasure at their humor. Cassandra's laughs died down but that condescending smile remained etched on her face.

"Relax, it was my fault I got injured," she remarked, waving the whole thing off.

"And it would have been your fault if my sister was killed," her voice began to rise. Lia's brow pinched as her eyes glared at Cassandra. "I guess that is just another joke to you, isn't it?"

Where did that come from?

That was enough to make Cassandra's smile fade away, trading for a slight parting of her lips. It wasn't hard for Lia to work her way into the core of her bad side. The way that she had said that spat in the face of everything that had been done to ensure Leta survived the encounter in the woods. She wanted to speak her mind to Lia there and then, but Milo interjected, trying to avoid the conversation from devolving any further.

"Please, do not fight," he said, prompting Lia to break her stare. "Today could have been tragic but we must remain thankful that it did not. Cassandra was injured, but she will recover, just as you have, Lia."

The fawn's eyes shifted from Milo right back to Cassandra, still as angered as they were before. "She was the reason I needed care in the first place! She got herself hurt because she chose to go into those woods, despite knowing about the dhins. Recklessness at its purest!"

Cassandra's brows tightened as her fists balled against her legs. Lia's stare did not waiver even as she bared her teeth at her. The older sister was looking for a fight and she was about to get one.

"If you do not cease your words –" Cassandra leaned over the table but was cut short as Leta's worried face turned to her. She knew right then and there that continuing the argument would only cause it to escalate and that the younger girl would not want to be caught in the middle. She'd have to soak up a loss on this one, despite her instincts compelling her to do otherwise.

"Am I lying?" Lia fired back, seizing the moment of silence.

Frustrated, Cassandra leaned back in her seat and remained silent, uttering only a low rumble at the bottom of her throat.

Control yourself, Cass. You can do this. Leta doesn't deserve you making another mistake…

"What?" Lia continued, leaning forward as she sought to escalate the matter further. "You have nothing to say now?"

Milo, having now had his fill of their bantering, put a swift end to it. "Lia! There will be no more of this. I will not tolerate this display of behavior."

Lia glared at him as she sat back, just as annoyed but now, subdued. Leta nervously tugged on her sleeve, eliciting her face to take on a softer expression. She knew it wasn't right for her younger sister to have to witness this. She had to set an example for her. Burying the contempt that she held for Cassandra, Lia cleared her throat and nodded her head.

She quietly responded, "I'm sorry."

No one made eye contact for the next couple of seconds in the wake of the argument. Milo took a breath and began to serve the food to everyone at the table. Leta was the first to receive hers, with Cassandra and Lia following suit. The brunette kept her eyes down, rolling her tongue along her teeth with closed lips. As much as the exchange angered her, she couldn't help but think back to the occasional disagreements she and her sisters used to have at the dinner table.

She was usually the antagonist that started most of them. Daniela would often go on and on about whatever story she was currently reading at the time. Her sibling could get lost in her retelling of those stories and it would stretch on for a long period. Cassandra found it funny to comment on certain aspects of the plot or make a joke about what she thought should have happened, much to her sister's dismay.

There was one summer, many years ago, when Daniela had been enveloped by the story of Romeo and Juliet.

The only things that the brunette knew about the story were from what she had heard from the redhead. It wasn't too hard to decipher the plot, either. Having heard enough about the annoying couple, Cassandra had made a remark about what the outcome would have been like if Romeo's poison had been replaced with a form of laxative.

To say that Daniela reacted calmly was a lie. It didn't get better when Cassandra added that Juliet probably would have stuck the dagger into her stomach twice as fast. It was such a dumb thing to get mad about, in her opinion, but Daniela treated her books and stories as if they were her closest friends at times.

She could still hear her mother shouting her name following the comments. For all the laughter it had provided, it was worth getting in trouble for.

So many dinners filled with such stupid, little fights.

As per tradition, Milo fixed his plate and continued to stand, taking his spot as the host for tonight's meal. His focus moved to Lia, as he offered her a chance to lead the discussion. "You are well and with us, Lia. Do you wish to go first?"

Looking somewhat ashamed of herself, Lia's eyes closed momentarily before she rose from her seat and accepted his offer. "Yes, Milo."

Her eyes scanned around the table, meeting those of everyone else – Cassandra, in particular. "Today, I awoke from my loss of consciousness. I am happy to be in good health and to be here for Leta, my younger sister. Tomorrow, I plan to assist Milo in his research as to how we can get Cassandra back to her realm. In the meantime, I will also spend time with Leta and help her practice her abilities. Being with you all today is a reminder that hardships may last for so long, but there is always an after. Thank you, Milo, for this meal."

She gestured toward her sister to begin her part. With a small smile, the child quickly arose and looked around the room. "Today, Miss Cassandra and I spent time together and were unfortunately involved in an attack by two dhins. Miss Cassandra suffered her wounds today saving me, and for that, I am grateful and wish her a fast recovery. Tomorrow, I plan to spend the day as Lia has described. Being with you all today is a reminder that there is good in this world…" Leta paused, prompting Cassandra to become concerned. Was something wrong?

"…and other ones."

Thank you, Leta.

Cassandra's frown lightened up, though she did not want anyone to catch a glimpse of the change. Lia already seemed on edge due to her sister interacting with the brunette. For the sake of less dialogue with her, she'd abstain from showing emotion for the time being. She hated the idea of having to tip-toe around the possibility of stirring up the woman's anger, but she did not want Leta to feel as if she was the cause of it all.

"Miss Cassandra," Leta turned to her, "you may go if you desire."

"Of course." Cassandra began to push her chair back so she could stand but Milo quickly gave her a second option.

"If your leg is in too much pain, you may sit while you speak."

A small grunt sounded as her nerves flared again but otherwise, no sign of distress. Whatever medicine he had given her was working exceptionally well. If it stayed on the same track, she should be back to her former self by tomorrow. She had never seen a wound such as hers heal so quickly – with only the exception of one man.

"I'll be alright," she told him as she steadied her body.

Standing before the rest of the table, Cassandra held her hands together in contrast to the laid-back, uncaring posture she had during their last meal together. "Today…well, a lot of things happened. We all know it. I'm happy to be healing."

A swarm of thoughts popped off inside her head, derailing her focus. "Tomorrow, I…ugh!" She stopped, unsure of how to continue, and looking frustrated as ever.

Milo tried to be reassuring. "It's okay, Cassandra. It doesn't have to be perfect."

Her eyes tightened as she shook her head, her hair waving around from the openings of her hood. As angered as she was with Lia, the fawn wasn't the cause of her confliction. "I don't know what tomorrow brings anymore," she confessed, displaying a previously unseen sense of humility that surprised her hosts. Her eyes barely lifted from the table as she flipped the script on how self-centered she had been ever since she arrived here. This was not the same Cassandra that they had met two days ago.

"I thought I knew how yesterday would go but I was wrong. I was even more wrong about today. My last day in my realm was normal until I woke up here. I don't know what is ahead for me anymore. I do know that I am here with all of you, for better or worse. If you will continue to let me sit at this table, I will gladly eat here. Being with you all today is a reminder that I still have things to learn." Cassandra shrugged her shoulder as she took her seat. "I hope I said that right. I'm not good with stuff like this."

With his lips pulled and brows raised, Milo nodded, as impressed as he could be. He had not expected such a display from their often scornful guest. "Well said, Cassandra. I couldn't agree with you more. Tomorrow is never written before it is complete. Wise words."

Leta added to the encouragement. "Yes, Miss Cassandra, I agree. Spoken very well."

Lia glanced at her sister momentarily before averting her eyes from Cassandra. There was disdain in her soul for sure. Regardless of how her speech reflected the emergence of change in the volatile woman, there seemed to be no consideration for that in the fawn's mind.

For all she thought; it was either a lie or a short-lived spur of thought, destined to be thrown away as she reverted to her old ways.

As Milo stood up to give his speech, Cassandra retreated to her thoughts, replaying what she had said over and over to herself.

Did I really just say all of that? I've never done that before. I feel…a little better now. Where did all of that come from?

Castle Dimitrescu – February 7th, 2021

It was mid-afternoon and the powerful winter storm outside had yet to subside. Tired of listening to the endless howls and whistles from the wind, Cassandra had retreated to the kitchen to scavenge for food while her mother and sisters were elsewhere.

Lunch had just been served over an hour ago, but the hunger in her stomach was barely satiated. Several things got in the way of her enjoyment of the meal. For starters; the atmosphere of last night's dinner still hung well and alive in the air. She couldn't shake the dark cloud that loomed over her head as her mother and Bela glanced at her in silence.

Daniela had come down to eat, but she remained just as quiet as she had been during that horrible night. However, there was a noticeable change to her appearance ever since she had last joined them. Her eyeliner had grown increasingly heavy. Cassandra would have assumed that she had spent the night crying, which would have explained the enlarged circles.

Tears were not the cause, however. Daniela had decided to apply copious amounts of the cosmetics for whatever reason. There were no questions asked and no explanation offered.

Additionally, Daniela's silence would occasionally be interrupted by several soft giggles that came out of nowhere. Aside from that, she would resume her depressed state of mind without hesitation. It turned Bela's head each time, but her eyes would then make their way back to Cassandra as if she had to answer for it.

The blonde still held the same resentment that she had earlier in the morning. Bela would often hold on to grudges. That was nothing new for her. Whenever something was not done around the house, she'd spend the rest of the day bringing it up – much to the huffs and groans of her two younger siblings.

This glare – it was similar but different. Her frown kept that same, tired expression that continued to press Cassandra to respond. She must have been waiting for her to formally apologize to Daniela – which she had still yet to do. In her eyes was a spark of indignation that she had not seen before.

From what the brunette could gather; Bela was more than simply irritated about what hasn't been done.

As much as Cassandra had grown to regret her actions that night, she struggled with bringing herself to be able to talk about it. It would be easier to simply try to forget and hope that Daniela would come around. The redhead had been upset about things before, sometimes furious, and she'd usually bounce back.

Bela had warned that this would not be forgotten and the longer it played out, the more Cassandra worried that her actions would continue to be called into question. Seeking to avoid any responsibility, she wouldn't acknowledge the giggles, hoping that neither would her mother. If the matriarch of the castle were to address the matter, then there would be no more running from this. She'd have to confront what she had done and face the embarrassment of admitting to them all how she had made a terrible mistake.

It contrasted with the image of the strong and ferocious creature that she tried to project. To solidify the perception that she was nothing but a terrible sibling and the reason for such dysfunction instead was nothing less than terrifying.

She'd feel as weak as ever, having to admit her shortcomings and have them all agree. There had to be another way around it, where she can do the right thing and put her faults aside.

Alcina had instructed her to rectify her actions – but she did not say how. Cassandra had taken it as a means to ration that it could be settled behind closed doors and not in her presence. As much as the tall lady's orders were swift and comprehensible, there was a lack of clarity in her previous demand.

Her daughter was afraid to inquire about how she wanted it to be carried out. She was scared of the thought of Alcina exploding into yet another fury over not being understood, or how her daughter needed assistance with what should have been a simple task. But, most of all, Cassandra was afraid to ask because that meant that she still had yet to do it.

She leaned into the comfort of assuming that Alcina would eventually believe that it had been done – a risky endeavor in and of itself. Only time would tell if the gamble was worth it or not.

Her mother's silence during the meal spoke volumes about how much must have been on her mind lately, furthering Cassandra's unease. Was it all about Daniela? She had been meeting with the rest of the lords more than usual in the last few days without much explanation. It had to have been tiring, but she wouldn't often discuss such matters with her daughters.

If so, then surely, she trusted Cassandra enough to rectify this on her own, hopefully. If not, then the silence was a keen warning that she was in for a nasty consequence if she did not address the matter soon. Alcina was like a big cat watching its prey from a nearby distance. All the unlucky animal in its sights had to do was make one slip-up and then it would be time to pounce.

Cassandra could not afford to commit another mistake. The ice was thin and the ground was cracking. She was one step away from drowning in the ice-cold abyss of her mother's heart.

It was a long lunch but with all the stress to be considered, her mind only orbited around leaving as soon as she could. She'd simply eat when the others were gone.

Standing beside the large wooden island in the center of the room, the various hunks of raw meat that dangled from the hooks above grew more and more enticing by the second. Droplets of blood dripped down from the freshly flayed mounds of flesh, soaking the grain and stone below them. In all of its sanguine glory; the kitchen was a paradise to the starving noblewoman.

Cassandra could feel her stomach beckoning for sustenance as she eyeballed the delicious displays of food. With the orange light of the only lantern in the room to help her choose the perfect one, she inspected each segment, looking for the most tender portion she could find.

These all look so good! Ugh, I wish I had eaten more lunch.

Her stomach growled with each passing second. She was hungrier than she had thought. Dinner wouldn't be for another handful of hours at least, and she wasn't sure if she'd be able to hold out until then. She had to pick something. At this point, almost anything would suffice.

This slab of ribs isn't too large. Surely mother would not mind if I were to eat this. There is still plenty much to go around.

"This will do," Cassandra mumbled to herself as she lifted the rack off the hook with a smile.

The sound of multiple footsteps could be heard coming down the hallway. Cassandra peeked her head up before her teeth could latch onto the top portion of the slab. Her eyes aimed toward the door, just as two of the servant girls came walking in.

Upon spotting her holding the ribs in her hand, both women immediately froze in place, shocked to have encountered one of Alcina's other daughters here. As her discerning amber glare stayed locked onto them, the girl to her left decided to speak up before their silence became disrespectful.

"Good afternoon, Miss Cassandra," she said, her voice as shaky as her body. The one beside her was too afraid to speak at all.

Displeased that she wasn't alone in the room any longer, Cassandra's frown hung low on her face. She could care less about either of the two themselves, but Bela often made her rounds in the kitchen, especially when it was time to prepare the next meal. The servants wouldn't seek to get Cassandra in trouble, lest they find themselves at the center of her wrath. Yet, they also knew better than to lie to Bela if she were to ask why their supply of meat was lower than recorded.

"Good afternoon…" Cassandra drew out a long, threatening exhale as she walked around the table with the ribs. "What is on the menu for tonight's dinner?"

"Uhm," the same girl struggled to provide the correct answer, "Miss Bela said that…she requested we prepare…"

"Spit it out!" Cassandra's patience had sunken to rock bottom in an instant. She wasn't about to waste time listening to this girl stutter while her fellow staff stood there silently. "If you cannot answer, then the other one must know. You…" She tilted her head over at the second servant, "…what are we eating tonight?"

The girl shot the answer out of her mouth as fast as a cannonball, "Six servings of ribs and pork, Miss Cassandra!"

This is barely enough for me and Bela expects it to satisfy the entire family? She has no business running this kitchen!

"Tell me that this isn't all that you will be making tonight." She began to get closer to both the girls, her presence intimidating them immensely. In the face of the grim reaper herself, the posture of both of the women shrunk like a dying spider.

The first servant returned to the spotlight as she tried to settle the complication. "Miss Bela stated that because today's lunch was rather large, tonight's meal shouldn't be –"

"Bela doesn't make the rules in this castle!" Cassandra roared, flies ejecting from the outer perimeter of her body. The insects circled her, buzzing violently in the air. The second servant uttered a loud scream, driving the daughter to become further infuriated. She bared her teeth, throwing the ribs back onto the kitchen island as she pointed her finger toward them. "Shut up! I don't care what my sister says. You will make more food for us tonight, understood?"

The servant who screamed nodded vigorously, hoping that Cassandra's fury would soon settle. However, the other one remained adamant in sticking to Bela's word.

"With all due respect, Miss Cassandra, we must ask Miss Bela beforehand, so she can approve the number of products used in the preparation." Surely, she must have viewed the blonde as the superior daughter. If that was the case, then she might as well have scoffed and ignored Cassandra's voice altogether.

It would have been the same thing, in the brunette's eyes.

Cassandra's flies rejoined her body, leaving a stillness in the air as she stood before the two women. She lifted her head back as she breathed slowly, lowering her shoulders during the exhale. Seemingly calm, Cassandra's head leaned ever-so-slightly to the left as she smiled and stared down at the servant.

"Very well," her voice went low. "Ask Bela if more food can be made."

Stunned that Cassandra had reached a level of reasonability, the servant nodded. "Yes, Miss Cassandra. I will ask her right at once!" She turned around, gesturing the other servant to move out of the way as she went to exit the kitchen and go into the adjoining hall.

Before she could take another step, Cassandra struck her in the back of the head with a closed fist.

The girl instantly collapsed to the hard stone ground, her body convulsing as soon as it landed. Eyes closed and mouth wide open, the servant's arms and legs straightened out, toes pointed down, hands turned outward, and wrists bent as far as they could go. Locked in this position, she buckled up and down uncontrollably.

The other girl backed herself into the wall, another scream escaping through her mouth. Moving her attention from the one she had just punched; Cassandra threw her deathly glare toward the remaining staff member.

"I just told you to shut up! Does my word not carry weight?" She stepped closer, getting within inches of her tearful face. "How dare you belittle me?"

Reduced to a whimpering mess, the young lady panicked as she shielded herself with both hands. "I'm sorry, Miss Cassandra! You will have all the food you desire tonight! I am so sorry!"

Her breath seething out of her teeth, Cassandra eased up enough to return her focus to the injured servant who was still convulsing terribly on the ground between them. She was no medical expert at all. Such things would have been Bela's forte, but she knew what she was seeing.

Decerebrate posturing; the telltale sign of severe brain damage.

There would be no coming back from such a state – especially in this castle. She was as good as dead. Blood was beginning to leak out from the woman's nostrils, trailing down the sides of her cheeks and jaw as she continued to rock along. The streams of red bubbled as air escaped from her facial orifices, catching underneath the thick liquid.

I must have hit her harder than I intended. Great…

Cassandra was strong, gifted with the ability to throw a fully-grown man around if she so wanted. A full-fledged punch from her fist would easily devastate someone's cranium. With the amount of anger that powered this particular strike – she dealt a deadly blow.

Regret soon kicked in. What was she thinking? Now, there would be a deceased servant that she would have to answer for. At this current time, their staff was already at record low levels. Such numbers required everyone to pull double duty and cover multiple aspects of the castle's upkeep. It pushed meals to the absolute limit when it came to time, but Bela always ensured they remained the highest priority.

Damn it!

With one down, everything would get harder and when demands weren't met – answers were needed. Bela would likely be breathing down her throat in no time…

As the second servant watched, Cassandra reached down and picked the other girl – still shaking violently – off the ground by her hair and dragged her along as she exited the kitchen. She stopped short of the opening to the hallway and shot the other servant a deathly glare.

"When Bela asks; tell her nothing. If you disobey me, you will join your friend. Now, get back to work. I am expecting a good meal tonight." She wore a blank face as she turned away, taking the other one with her. Cassandra did not make an effort to watch the surviving girl as she exited, but she could imagine that the poor soul was still too afraid to move and would remain so for a little while.

There was no time to dwell on such little things. She had work to do now…

In the dimly-lit wine cellar, Cassandra was mid-way through cutting up the servant's nude corpse. The girl's death was quick. After a prolonged period of thrashing around – mixed with copious amounts of blood loss through her nose – she eventually passed out completely. Normally, the daughter would have waited for her to regain consciousness before any flaying of the skin was to be done.

But, tonight, she did not have the patience to enjoy a good torture session. A quick snap of the neck ensured that the girl was dead and quiet. Chances were that she was not going to wake up anyway, she decided.

The murdered servant had already been decapitated; her head severed perfectly above the C1 vertebrae. It was a clean cut, saving the process of gouging the flesh around the bumpy and rigid spinal column. Seating her head off to the side, Cassandra had already sorted through both arms, stripping them of skin and muscle, piling the heaps of meat atop one another. The flayed portions were then placed into a large, metal bucket. The severed hands then got tossed on top, one left to hang just off the edge – blood dangling from the cold, colorless fingers.

The bones would be left for the Moroaicǎ to play with.

Her blood smells so good. I can spend all night drinking it. Damn, I already tasked the other one with preparing lots of food. Bela was right – I'd spoil my appetite.

Cascading down the stairs was a horde of flies, buzzing through the surrounding rooms with a heated drive. It caused Cassandra's knife to pause for a split second before resuming the cutting.

Speak of the devil herself…

Without turning around, Cassandra casually enjoyed a small portion of the servant's bicep. The sound of over a thousand wings died down into a loud splash as heels kicked through the submerged floor with determination.

"Cassandra…" Bela's voice was just as upset as it was earlier. This was going to be another lovely conversation between the two for sure.

Here we go…

Cassandra remained calm as she ran the edge of the knife down the corpse's torso, splitting the skin apart like soft cheese. She had yet to direct her face toward her elder sibling. "Yes, sister?"

Stepping closer, the sound of Bela's dismayed tone picked up slightly, though she remained composed. "I can ask many questions about many different things right now, but I know the answer for each one is the same. Care to explain?"

The knife tore through the muscle surrounding the corpse's abdomen, exposing the various internal organs inside and releasing hot steam into the cool room. Cassandra shrugged her shoulders as she always did whenever she was confronted with such demands.

Bela had grown tired of the charade. She moved closer, appearing in her younger sister's peripherals. "Cassandra!"

She wrenched the knife out and ferociously plunged it deep into the servant's bloodied chest wall. "What?!" She screamed as loud as she could.

The sudden outburst caught Bela off-guard, causing her to lean back as soon as it boomed beside her. Nevertheless, she was persistent in what she had come down here for. "Why is Luana being dissected instead of preparing tonight's dinner?"

Breathing heavily – each exhale akin to a snarl – Cassandra's fingers curled against the body. Bela knew that this was going to be a potential one-sided conversation, as most of them lately often were. Yelling at her sister wouldn't do much good. She never took it well and always had to top it.

"Cassandra," Bela lowered her tone, "why is Luana dead?"

"Does it matter?"

Bela's eyes widened and her brow curled, yet she stayed on track. "Yes, it does matter. She and Sorina are our entrusted cooks. Staff is already as low as it is and mother had explicitly stated that we were to do no lasting harm to any of them without her orders. I can push Sorina to the edge of her abilities but she won't be able to prepare all of our meals by herself. What did she do that warranted such an outcome?"

"She talked back to me," Cassandra lied, using the knife to saw through Luana's sternum, cracking her chest wide open. Blood that had pooled inside the cavity began to pour from the sides akin to lava out of a volcano. Bela didn't believe it for a second.

"Luana talked back?" Bela reached over and picked up her severed head, inspecting it. "My loyal servant, who I could always depend on?" She turned Luana's head as soon as her fingers felt the depression in the back of her skull. "The one who would never dare second-guess a single one of my orders?"

Cassandra groaned, finding her remarks condescending. Bela waited for her to answer, looking deeper into the depression as she waited. Cassandra peeked over, seeing that her older sister already pieced everything together. The blonde directed Luana's severed head in her direction. The girl's lower face was nearly completely covered in blood that had drained from her nose. Her eyes were shut, mouth agape in the absence of a life no longer to be lived.

Normally, whenever a servant was punished with death, they'd be hauled down to the dungeon where the killing could occur. It was better than slaughtering them on the upper floors. Their mother had grown tired of seeing the carnage ruining the castle décor over the years and had restricted her daughters to do it only down below.

They were free to do as they pleased in the lower levels. Cassandra, in particular, took the time to have fun with her victims. Bela and Daniela were no strangers to committing such acts either. They were just as guilty, but Cassandra reveled in it.

She'd maximize the pain and go out of her way to find new prey. Her bloodlust would often become a problem with maintaining the number of staff that tended to the castle's needs. If there wasn't a good reason to send a maid to the dungeon – Cassandra would be sure to find one and personally escort her down herself.

From spilled soup to mixing up their names, the slightest mistake was sufficient enough to warrant death in the earlier days. They'd find themselves removed from the ornate, decorative halls – restrained to a metal chair or table, surrounded by the dark, wet corridors of the dungeon below.

Days and nights blended together with no sense of time besides the addition of more injuries whenever Cassandra would come down to visit them. They'd beg and plead for a second chance, apologizing for their mistakes as she peeled their skin and shattered their bones. There was no reasoning with someone like her. Even if one could; she was too enthralled in the violence to remove them from their confines.

Killing was a drug. Removing the knife was like removing the needle. Cassandra could never do it. The countless screams and cries that echoed in those halls were like melodies to her ears. The louder they were – the more pride she felt.

To be chopped up into pieces was usually something that would happen to them after many hours. Glancing at Luana's remains, there were no other signs of external trauma apart from the dismemberment. Cassandra had not tortured her at all – it seemed.

Seeing as Bela would continue to wait for a response, she offered up one that would hopefully satisfy her. "I made a request and she denied it, happy?"

Bela's amber eyes lifted and locked with Cassandra's. "What kind of request?"

With a click of her tongue, Cassandra rolled her head. "I wanted more food to be added to tonight's meal."

"How much?" Bela would have to ask more questions to get the full story in leu of her sister's limited responses. It tugged at her patience – but patience was required with someone like Cassandra.

"Just some extra meat, that's all." Cassandra's hands would not stop twitching. Bela could see that she was trying to keep it together long enough to see this talk through. At any point now, the brunette would be bound to explode. She hated prolonged conversations.

"Huh…" Bela sat the head back down on the table. She already heard what she needed to hear to paint the picture. Cassandra wanted what wasn't planned, and loyal to Bela's word, Luana did not immediately jump into the demand. Cassandra struck her and the impact was fatal. End of story.

The blonde thinned her lips as she put more thought into the outcome, seeing that her sister had been exceedingly angry lately. It didn't excuse what she had done to Daniela, but perhaps this was the time to come to some sense of understanding.

"You could have asked me, Cassandra. I would have had Luana add more food to the plans," she said. Seeing the freshly smeared blood across Cassandra's mouth, it was clear that she had already been helping herself to the stripped flesh. The temptation was there for Bela as well, but she knew better than to indulge right now.

"Well," Cassandra threw her hands up in the air before retaking the knife, beginning to cut into the upper thighs, "I didn't."

Resuming her cutting, it was apparent that she did not want to speak any further about the matter. What was done was done and there was no reversing it. Luana was dead and the best thing that Cassandra could do was ensure that the castle had some extra blood and meat to keep them through the ongoing winter.

If anything; they could attempt to recruit another woman from the village to replace Luana. There had been discussions about bringing in one called Elena. She seemed to be a good fit, from what Cassandra had seen. If that solution would work, then Luana's death was nothing more than a slight inconvenience for the time being.

With a sigh, Bela looked back at Luana's head one, final time. She didn't care for the well-being of the girl overall, but she held her in high regard and felt that her death was unnecessary and preventable. It was an event that would have to be answered for. "Mother's going to ask what happened, you know? I'm going to need to provide her with an explanation."

Cassandra's expression grew angrier, but she kept her voice the same way it was before. "What are you going to tell her?"

"I'm not going to lie, Cassandra. You know that."

The cuts became more erratic and out of place. What was precise and aimed at sectioning the legs had now become a means to ravage what was left. She expected nothing less from the blonde. "Of course. Why wouldn't you?"

"I'm not taking the fall for what you did, Cassandra." Bela remained adamant about her decision, knowing that this put her integrity on the line as well.

"I'm always doing something, aren't I?" She ripped a strip of meat out with her bare hand, bringing it to her mouth and taking a bite.

"What does that mean?" Bela rested her hands on the bloody table, leaning in with an intrigued glare.

Cassandra offered only a simple mumble, "Forget it…"

Rolling her eyes, Bela removed her hands and stood back up. She wasn't going to chase this around, especially if her sister wasn't willing to put in any effort. "Can you just talk to me? Just for one second without migrating to these sour moods that you always find yourself in?"

Bela caught herself as soon as she realized that she had dipped into the emotions that she was trying to avoid, but it was too late. There would be no getting Cassandra to relax now.

"I don't want to talk to you right now," Cassandra's defensiveness was already kicking in. "I want to clean up this mess and get on with the rest of this night. That's what you want, right? Me to finally clean up after myself? Well, here you go!" She raised her arms in the air. "Aren't you happy?"

"Fine," Bela bitterly conceded, not wanting to deal with her attitude when there were still chores to be done. "Since you're working on this, will you be joining us for dinner tonight?"

"No, unless mother demands it. I have to get this done."

"I'll leave you to that then. Just have an answer ready for mother when she asks about Luana." She began to walk away, her body slowly breaking apart as her flies dispersed.

"Mother's little princess," Cassandra called out. "Always looking for a pat on the head. Too perfect to do any wrong."

Bela stopped as soon as she heard that. She had grown tired of Cassandra's antics. The constant chiding and rudeness that her lips perpetrated had been forgotten over the years. To be spending her entire day overseeing the castle's upkeep while watching her siblings – Cassandra in particular – disregard her actions as if they were nothing, was the most insulting thing of all.

The mature part of her said to just walk away. Leave the brunette to sort out her mess alone. But she was tired of it, especially from the last forty-eight hours.

"I'm not perfect, Cassandra." Bela rotated her body. "I make mistakes from time to time. The difference between you and me is that I accept responsibility for them. I admit to it. I don't deflect and pin the blame on others." She could see that her sister had ceased cutting the corpse up. Instead, she was listening to every word that there was to be said.

Bela decided to top it off with one, final remark that she knew would stir in Cassandra's mind for the rest of the night. "Because that's what cowards do."

"Shut up!" Cassandra screamed, slamming her fists against Luana's mutilated remains.

"Apologize to Daniela and own up to what you did, Cassandra!"

With a loud yell, Cassandra grabbed the corpse and shoved it off the table; guts spilling out as it crashed into the pool of water, wine, and blood below. Tense as ever, her arms shook, ready to flip the table next. Bela couldn't believe what she saw, regarding it as a blatant display of immaturity on her sister's part. To her, Cassandra was nearly a lost cause, so distorted in her ways and unwilling to improve. Talking to her was virtually impossible.

Without another word, Bela dispersed and made her way out of the area. She'd have to be the one to explain everything to their mother for now. There was still time to pick up the pieces and recover from the loss of Luana. For Cassandra – as far as she was concerned – her sibling could clean up her mess for once.

Alone with nothing but the drips of moisture from the ceiling and the distant growls of the Moroaicǎ to accompany her rapid, heavy breathing, Cassandra's curled fingers balled into wrathful fists. She slammed them down onto the wood, splintering it in several places.

Her eyes locked shut, lips pressed together, lifted toward her nose until they broke into a grimace. Two steady tears broke out from her eyes, and a soft whimper echoed along the dark corridors.

This was not what I wanted tonight. Why do I always keep messing up? What is wrong with me?

NOTES:

Welcome back! A lot happened in this chapter; some good…and some bad.

Cassandra is on her way to improving. It is obvious by now that at least with Leta around, she is trying to steer away from the anger that has caused her so many problems up to this point. She's aware of what her circumstances are and it shows in the speech she gave. There is hope for her.

Unfortunately, Lia does not seem to agree. I know some of you were expecting a big showdown with a major reveal of Cassandra's past, but the fawn was strangely tight-lipped about what she knows. We haven't seen much of her character, and there is still more of her left to understand. She does like to go about things in her own way. Expect her and Cassandra to not be warming up to one another anytime soon.

Looking back into the past, it's no secret that Cassandra arrived in Locwitary with blood on her hands. I wanted to use this chapter to peer into the horror that Castle Dimitrescu was known for. Residing on a foundation of countless bodies, it wasn't long until we'd see a servant get killed and Cassandra is a killer.

Needless to say; this death was not intentional and there will be far-reaching repercussions. This truth is sitting well in Cassandra's mind, as she keeps finding herself responsible for various disasters around the castle. The woman is trapped in not just its walls – but in herself. She's trying to claw her way out from the ground, but the dirt is only causing her to get buried deeper. Now, at the very end, we see her starting to break.

For the denizens of the castle and the rest of the village, fate is fast approaching. It will not be long before Mother Miranda returns with her new vessel – and a desperate father not far behind.

The next chapter will take place exclusively in Locwitary, where we will see some more of Milo as the plot continues to progress. Without spoilers; horror in this story is always right around the corner…

The next chapter will release on October 21st.

Follow this story on Archive of Our Own to check out the latest artwork that was created for this chapter. There is at least one with every installment!

I've got some great and interesting content planned for the next couple of chapters as we begin to get further into the story. Some unexpected things will take place, and others…not so unexpected.

Thank you all so much for all your continued support of this story. You are such great readers and awesome people and I get so excited every time I hear from you! I am so glad that this story has captured your interest and given you something to look forward to. I'm going to continue saying this all the way up to the final chapter, but I am so happy to have you all here. I wish every one of you nothing but the best in the week ahead! Stay safe and sound and I can't wait to see you again!