Lia sat down in front of her book, searching through every passage in the hope that she could find some answers regarding her sister. Leta's sudden indication of being a surge was something she had never seen before, and she needed the book to hold notes of similar events. If she could find some reference to a past fawn who underwent the same situation, then maybe she could learn more about what was to come.
Milo stood at the end of the table, watching her as she frantically scanned each page to no avail. He glanced over at her with a somber look, as he knew how upset she was. "Everything is going to be okay, Lia."
The fawn's eyes were deadlocked on his as soon as he said that. Lia's scowl twitched as she flashed her teeth. "How is my sister a surge, Milo? You answer that for me."
"I don't know how this happened." He remained subdued, knowing that this was – and should be – handled by someone such as her. However, it was her unending anger that made him want to pull her away. If she did not let go of this hatred she held, she would only find herself in more troubled waters.
"Exactly: you don't." She buried her head back into her book. "This has never happened before, as far as I've read. She should have demonstrated such abilities at a much younger age. Why is it all coming out now?" Lia grew flustered, ready to tear out the pages and fling the literature across the room. Her rate of breathing increased, prompting Milo to try to calm her down.
"You've taught her well. She knows not to go too hard on using her powers."
"She doesn't know how to control them!" She glared back at him again. "What don't you understand? She can die and it's all because of that damn murderer that you let into this castle."
Lia stood up from her desk and shoved the book to the side, looking angry as ever. Her rage swirled inside her body with nowhere else to go but out her mouth. "How many times have I addressed this to you? Huh? How many times, and yet, nothing happened? You undermine my authority in front of my sister and that witch." Her arms sway furiously as she struggled to keep her temper from bursting. "You let Cassandra stay and look what has happened!"
She pointed her finger at him as her brows and nose curled. "You're just as responsible for this as she is. If I had things my way, she would have been sent away as soon as she first tried to kill me. I only gave her another chance because of you, and then she almost succeeded in killing me! Do you not care for us? What are we to you, Milo?"
Milo took a stance; her words having touched upon his own values. He raised his shoulders before quickly dropping them. It would not be worth the screaming match that she was looking to have. Nonetheless, he had to get his point across to her as well. "You know I care about you and Leta as if you were my own children."
"And if Cassandra had caused your daughter such pain, would you have kept her?"
He hesitated – just what she wanted to see.
Lia shook her head, ready to leave the room. "That's what I thought. I wish your daughter was here, only so that you could have spared us all of this. You would have come to your senses and seen what a horrible monster she is."
As she made her way toward the exit, Milo called back to her; the memories of his beloved child at the center of his mind. "Will you stop bringing her up? She has nothing to do with this, Lia."
"Oh, that's right!" Lia spun around as she re-engaged him from across the room; her voice at peak levels. "We don't talk about the dead, do we? We try to forget! We pretend that everything that happened in the past never did. It makes it easier to not remember why we are all here. Well, Milo, here's something for you: I miss my mother!"
Lia's body froze as she slowly lowered her arms, shrinking down to a woman who fought to divide her wrath from the heartache she carried. "I shouldn't be here, and neither should Leta. We should be with her, not here in this…damn castle!" Her discontent flowed back into her heart as her teeth bared once more.
"You took that life away from us and we're never going to get that back! So, don't lie to me like I am a child because those days are long passed. I will not let Leta fall victim to this madness. You will not take the last thing I have in this life, and neither will that evil woman that you welcome here."
"Lia, I –" Milo tried to talk to her but she immediately vanished as soon as her name fell from his mouth. "Damn it!" Milo kicked the chair that she had just been sitting on before their argument. He bit his tongue, weary that the next words he spoke may foster regret in the future. He breathed a slow breath as he thought hard about the circumstances that have led to this.
All Milo wanted in this world was for things to be made right. However, such desires only proved to have birthed greater tragedy. In his continued pursuit of the same – he began to believe that history was only doomed to repeat itself yet again.
Lia held solid ground when it came to her views and opinions. She was right.
He had taken everything away from her and as strong as she was, he was a fool to believe the burden of loss was a weight she could carry forever.
Castle Dimitrescu – February 9th, 2021
"Daughters!" Alcina's loud voice echoed throughout the castle. "Come here, now!"
Instinct kicked in, and Cassandra found herself dispersing into a cloud of flies and darting away from the windows. While the call was for all three of the women, she remained anxious about the circumstances. The verbal lashing that she had been dealt previously was still fresh in her mind, and it would not be leaving any time soon unless things were to change.
She followed Alcina's voice, tracing the echoes to the Hall of Ablution. As Cassandra stayed in flight, she could not help but question why her mother was calling them to this location. It was close to her chambers, which made sense, but something about it seemed off.
Earlier, Alcina had spoken to her and Bela about the acquisition of a child named Rose by Mother Miranda. Daniela received the talk in private.
At first, the display of the yellow flask their mother held in her hand was quite the oddity. But, as she often advised them, the daughters placed their trust in Miranda's actions. They were allowed a closer view of the capsule, where the crystalized head of the child could be glimpsed past the dirtied glass.
It was a strange morning, indeed, but the chaos of the village during the middle of the night fell in line with the rest of her mother's words. She explained that Heisenberg was tasked with leading the Lycan horde throughout the village. From her view, Cassandra had witnessed the shapes of people as they were attacked and brutally devoured by the relentless wolfmen. It was a spectacular sight – one that she yearned to have been a part of.
She had also made mention of the infant's father – a man named Ethan Winters, who was captured and killed by Heisenberg, much to Alcina's disdain. With all the death that was taking place around her, she wanted nothing more than the opportunity to cut a man open.
It had been quite a while since she last did.
She had spent the remainder of the early morning contemplating the events that had just occurred within the settlement – wondering what the future held in store now that most of the people were dead. It was a question that she could not answer on her own, and mixed with the aftermath of everything that had taken place within her home, her brain was in a thick fog.
Thoughts could only survive for so long before they were swallowed up by the sea.
As she materialized in front of the door, she was greeted by the sight of Bela and Daniela as they formed beside her. Cassandra's eyes briefly glanced at the redhead.
Daniela…I…
Her youngest sibling danced around the hallway with an unexpected sense of joy. "Oh, dearest sisters, good morning!"
There was no trace of the heavy depression that Daniela had carried over the last few days since Cassandra had beaten her down inside the library. While it would have been a relief to think that everything was forgotten and better, she was wise to assume that wasn't the case. Bela seemed just as perplexed as the middle daughter was – and that spoke enough.
"Daniela?" Bela cautiously spoke. "You seem well."
Gleeful as she could ever be, Daniela spun around with her arms out, reflective of the dances that she was known to perform for their mother. Her unusually heavy amounts of make-up stuck out, as she had piled even more on than yesterday. "I couldn't be happier! Last night, I had the most wonderful dream!"
Cassandra finally found the strength to speak, testing the waters between them as she did so, "What kind of dream?"
Daniela paused as she held a stare at the one who had berated, ridiculed, and battered her all in one terrible evening. Yet, as strange as the look she gave Cassandra was, she simply reverted to her happy self. "I dreamt that I was getting married to a handsome man! Everyone in the village was in attendance. Mother Miranda led the ceremony, while mother and you two stood by my side. It was so beautiful! I realized that day may soon be on the horizon, as I see this man everywhere I go now!"
What?
"Uhm…" Bela seemed concerned, though she wasn't sure what to say. "Daniela, where is he now?"
A big, bright smile gleamed on the woman's face as her eyes shifted to Bela's left. "Right next to you, dearest Bela," she said with a laugh. "Have you lost your eyesight?"
The blonde turned her head to the left, the obvious truth that nobody was there weighing heavily on her mind. She wanted to say something to help Daniela see reality, but with the way she was acting now, it seemed better than how the last few days had gone. Cassandra felt the same way and chose not to address the redhead any further.
She was still so ashamed of what she had done that facing her actions would not have gone well. She couldn't muster the courage to do so, and instead, chose to stay in silence as Daniela's mental health continued to decline.
She could only imagine what had been going on in her head over these last few days if this was how she turned out.
Before the situation could develop any further, Alcina stepped out of the doorway, crouching down as her eyes met with those of the three women she held close so dearly. The matriarch bore a content – if not analytical – expression as she stared at her daughters. It wasn't so much that she was scrutinizing them, but more as if she was watching the seconds play out in the anticipation of events that were to follow.
"Come, daughters," she welcomed them. "I have a special announcement to make for us all."
The three ladies replied in unison, "Yes, mother."
Upon entering the room, Cassandra immediately took notice of how all the castle staff was gathered together along the walls. Only seven women had remained after all this time; save for Luana, who had only recently met her end at the brunette's hands.
Sorina, the last remaining kitchen cook, could be seen at the left end of the line near the horseman statue. Madalina, the Grand Chambermaid, was found on the right, next to the statue of the three begging men. It was an odd arrangement, compounded by the fact that Alcina had always forbidden the staff from entering this room.
It went without saying that their eyes bore a look of nervousness and unfamiliarity. Madalina was often as composed as Bela was. Such temperament was required in her position, as even the slightest hint of emotional instability would have resulted in swift punishment for her. While she tried to remain emotionless inside this room with the other women surrounding her, she could help but shoot the occasional glance at Alcina; wondering just why they had all been called here.
The lady of the castle took her place near the table at the center of the wall. She straightened her large hat; a cigarette lit at the end of her long holder, balanced between her fingers in the opposite hand. "Daughters, stay where you are."
They replied again, "Yes, mother."
Alcina turned her attention to the rest of the staff. "Madalina, remain where you are as well. The rest of you, take your place inside the circle." She motioned toward the large recess that occupied the center of the room itself, flanked in all corners by the four statues that surrounded it. Without a moment of questioning, the other six women approached the rim of the circle; stepping down into it and standing ideally by while they awaited the castle lord's next instruction.
"I'm sure you are all wondering why I brought you here today," Alcina began. "Mother Miranda has returned to this village after her long absence, and she has informed me and the other lords that great things are in the making. However, as she also mentioned, great things take work. They take time and dedication. Diligence to tasks. I'm sure all of you understand what that means, especially if you are still here today."
It did nothing to ease their worried state. If anything, the tension only grew larger as Alcina cast a grim smile at the end of her sentence. Though these women had not all arrived at once in this dreadful domain that the Dimitrescu family called home, their staggered length of stays were all universal when it came to witnessing the carnage that its denizens were capable of.
Friendships were a risk – bound to last only as long as a drop took to fall from the edge of a soup bowl.
The daughters had been instrumental in ending the lives of so many maidens before them, and it stood to reason that the cycle was not going to end anytime soon. It was never a good sign to be in the same room as all three of them; as any one of the vicious ladies was likely to find a reason as to why blood should be shed.
They had heard of what happened to Luana. Sorina herself was there when it happened. The young lady's death was a sudden turn to the unusually long period in which these girls had managed to survive. They all wanted desperately to return home and be reunited with their families, and with the lack of killing that had gone on lately, that once unrealistic expectation seemed just the smallest bit possible – no matter how crazy it sounded.
However, the events of the outside world could not be ignored. The howls and roars of Lycans echoed across the cold night air. The multitude of screams in the far distance signaled that the village was in the middle of something entirely unforeseen. The women couldn't understand what was happening, as Mother Miranda always protected them.
Yet, if Miranda could allow such brutality to occur under Alcina's watch – then 'protection' was a hollow word.
"Madalina," Alcina said, "step forward."
"Yes, my lord." The Grand Chambermaid did as she was instructed and approached Alcina. As soon as she took her final step, her posture returned to the respectful pose that she so often held. Madalina cupped her hands with her legs together, greeting the tall lady with a sharp bow.
Alcina bore a smile. "You have always been my favorite, I must admit. Your instant obedience to orders and how you've consistently carried them out has always managed to impress me."
Cassandra eyed Bela, who seemed almost jealous to hear such a thing.
It doesn't always have to be about you…
"That standard you set for the rest of the staff is one that I have continued to hold you to, time and time again," Alcina continued her speech; her stare shifting between Madalina and the rest of the girls. "You've dedicated your life to House Dimitrescu, and for that, I will remain grateful."
What is mother getting at?
"Thank you, my lord," Madalina bowed once more.
"As for the rest of you…" Alcina turned to the crowd of servants who watched on in anticipation. "I wanted to give my thanks for your continued service. Mother Miranda once told me to 'hold on to what is there,' but she also stated that 'the day will come when it is to be taken from you.' I wondered for a long time what she meant. At first, I foolishly believed that she was referring to me. I thought over time that she may have been referring to my dear daughters, instead."
The imposing matriarch took a long drag of her cigarette before she continued; expelling a plume of grey smoke into the air after. She uttered a small cough to clear her heated throat. "However, this morning, I realized that she was referring to this life itself. Mother Miranda has returned to our village, and she brings forth news of what is to come after. She has given me strict orders – orders which I must obey."
What could Mother Miranda have asked mother to do?
"Mother Miranda said that today is the day the Black God rises and that we will all play our part in bringing forth her prophecy." She turned to the Grand Chambermaid. "Madalina, I ask you to help me once more."
"Yes, my lord," she responded. Alcina gently rested her large, gloved hand atop the woman's left shoulder. Her fingers curled inward and stayed stagnant.
"You have earned this with your remarkable servitude," Alcina informed her. "Unlike the rest of these women; your death will be swift."
In an instant; Alcina's long, sharp nails shot forth through her fingertips, spearing the Grand Chambermaid's body in multiple directions. The woman's face jumped with a gasping mouth as the sword-like appendages protruded through her ribcage and back – dripping with fresh blood. The action had succeeded in slashing multiple organs wide open; releasing the floodgates of massive, internal hemorrhaging. As soon as the crimson broke loose, her time left in this world shrank to mere milliseconds before everything around her fell into darkness.
The crowd of servants erupted into a collection of screams, while the daughters instinctively moved in to quell their uproar. Alcina turned her attention to the remaining staff with a devilish smile. She retracted her claws, allowing Madalina's corpse to plop onto the ceramic tiles.
"The Black God demands blood, and daughters, today…you shall feast! Slaughter these cattle! I want no survivors!"
I…I…yes! Blood!
The three daughters turned into wild carnivores as they dispersed into their respective swarms and descended upon the helpless servants below. Cassandra could feel the energy booming throughout her body. This was a dream come true. Never in all her days had she expected her mother to hand down an order as fun as this. At that moment, in the midst of all her sudden urges, she forgot all of her problems.
The violence would settle them – for now.
Alcina then opened the door as she prepared to make her exit. "I will be in my lower chambers. Come to me when this matter is finished."
"Yes, mother!" The daughters cheered as they embarked on their blood hunt. Cassandra could feel the excitement building in her chest at the thought that things would improve from here on out.
She rushed in, cackling like a madwoman as she withdrew her sickle and closed in on the first servant girl that she could find. Frozen with utter fear; the woman could hardly move as her eyes watched the pale huntress barrel toward her.
Cassandra swung her arm forward, piercing the woman's upper chest with the sharp tip of her signature weapon. The skinny maiden fell against the sheer force of the powerful daughter, striking the ground with a loud crack as her face ricocheted off the tile. The brunette ripped the sickle from its implanted spot; spilling out a splash of blood from the slit she had just created.
Shaken and dazed, the girl continued to scream and fight, though her swings were useless as they fazed through the clouds of flies that nipped at her skin. Giggling as loud as she could, Cassandra slashed at her hands and arms, severing fingers and opening veins in the process.
The girl cried out for mercy, "Please, stop!"
Cassandra offered no answer – no sign of humanity as she gave in to her deepest urges.
She brought her head down and clamped her teeth directly onto her victim's jugular. With a strong bite, she easily broke through the skin and tissues that protected the vital passageway of blood. The warm dam of sweet, tasty lifeforce burst through into her mouth, coating her cheeks and chest in a fabulous display of barbarity.
As the servant quivered and twitched under the immense pressure of Cassandra's power, the brunette continued to chomp down and tear her flesh apart, strip by strip. The sounds of panic and screaming could be heard from all around her, along with the distinct buzzing of her sisters. She peeked around, spotting Bela and Daniela in the middle of culling the herd.
The blonde dashed around the perimeter of the circle, spotting a servant who was attempting to get out of the pit. Before the woman could even stand on both feet, Bela delivered a lethal uppercut with her sickle. The blade tore through the underside of her jaw and went straight into her cranium, Blood seeped through the smallest tears in the openings of her wound – draining down her neck and chest as soon as the weapon was yanked out.
The girl convulsed as she fell back into the pit, colliding with another servant as she did so – Sorina. Bela chuckled as she moved closer toward her trusted cook; the stained weapon still tight in her grasp.
Daniela could be seen cornering another girl, Delia, who had managed to hop out but found herself with nowhere to run. She halted her sprint, doubling back in a frantic effort to find another way to escape. As soon as her eyes turned, she could feel the fire of separated skin. Daniela's sickle cut a path of hate across her thigh – embedding itself around her femur.
A high-pitched wail sang to the floor as she collapsed.
Cassandra tore another segment of flesh out from the dead servant's neck, relishing in the heap of raw meat as it tunneled down her throat. Her stomach would not be satiated but the bloodlust in her heart kept her in hunting mode. This was the greatest thing ever and she lived in the moment. Various flies circled her as she used them to sense the next kill.
By the time she had turned her attention around, most of the staff had vacated the pit; save for Sorina – whom Bela was already working her towards.
I need another!
Cassandra flew into the air in a cloud of determination, searching around for her next prey. The brunette spotted another member of the castle staff taking cover behind the statue of the horseman. The tearful maiden cowered behind the sculpture in a feeble attempt to survive the horrific slaughter that was taking place around her.
Yes! Yes!
Cassandra dove in, watching as the girl scrambled to get away. The brunette's demented giggling surrounded her ears as hundreds of flies attached themselves to the skin of her legs; biting into her skin and ripping it from the foundation. Her legs buckled as a tornado of pain birthed from the countless wounds. She dropped onto her knees, fighting to get back up as the dark cloud closed in.
Out of the abyss, Cassandra's sickle swung out and cleaved her left hand straight off her wrist. Before she could even respond to the assault, a second strike ripped into the right side of her abdomen. The weapon tore through her organs, opening them up and unleashing their contents into the cavity of her lower section. The injury provoked a reaction of pure shock; freezing the woman's movement as her body attempted to compensate for the disruption of everything it had known.
She fell back down, striking her face against the hard floor. Blood rushed out from her nostrils, painting the tiles in a splash of gore.
Meanwhile, Bela continued to close in on Sorina; the frightened cook was barely able to get any words out as her superior drew near. The blonde held a deathly glare in her eyes as she stared the distraught woman down.
Sorina's dark brown hair blew in all directions as she searched for a way out of the pit. Her face only grew in terror as she spotted Cassandra not too far away; on top of yet another unfortunate soul.
"Please, Miss Bela," Sorina pleaded, "I did everything for you!"
"Hmm…that you did," Bela said as she smiled at her; sickle held out by her side. "And now, your servitude is at its end."
Cassandra gripped the woman that she held underneath her by the back of her head; fingers intertwined with her hair – tugging it with pain on the opposite end of the tension. The servant coughed to push the blood out of her mouth – but the brunette simply reversed the act with a swift slam of her face back into the ground.
Die…worthless thing…
Daniela pushed the injured maiden to the ground. She hit the floor, gripping her lacerated leg as she rolled onto her back. The blood stained the bottom of her white gown, smearing across as she scrambled to get back up and run. Alcina's laughter could be heard from outside as they overwhelmed the rest of the sound in the room. It soared above the cries of the helpless women, bringing the true evil of this family full circle.
The woman had feared death all these months, and in doing so, worked as hard as she could to keep herself alive. In the end, it was all for nothing. No matter how much of herself she gave to this castle – it would have her blood. She was Daniela's closest servant – for better or worse. It made sense as to why the daughter sought her out during all this madness.
The redhead dispersed and quickly reformed in front of her, pinning her down by the arms as soon as she could. The sheer force of her strength was insurmountable. Delia's legs kicked around with nothing to stop them, as Daniela's lower body began to break apart yet again.
"Have mercy, Miss Daniela!"
With her amber eyes glaring down, Daniela licked her lips. "Hey…kiss me?"
"What?"
The youngest daughter opened her mouth wide and bit down on the woman's lips as hard as she could. Agony reverberated throughout her face as she felt her flesh get torn all around. Daniela held her place, seemingly enjoying the close contact as she chewed on her skin; pulling it in piece by piece into the back of her mouth. Warm blood flowed in and coated her tongue.
The purple appendage glossed the top of the servant's clenched teeth, while muffled cries breathed out from under them.
"Mhmm…" Daniela basked in the tasty treat.
Cassandra continued to bash the girl's face into the hard ground, splitting her nose wide open. Globs of blood dangled from her compacted nostrils; sticking to the floor as the brunette shook her skull around. The servant was motionless – but she still had a heartbeat.
I need more!
Cassandra stood up and dragged her by the hair, all the way to the edge of the pit. She hopped onto her lower spine; effectively pinning her down for good. Once the girl's head was over and looking down below, she lifted her neck and used her sickle to carve a valley across her throat. Blood rained down and into the massive circle, filling that section with a lake of sanguine liquid.
She's done for. I'll let her bleed out. There has to be another…
Bela raised her sickle as Sorina used her arms to cover her face. The girl's slender forearms served little hope to protect against the sharp metal that slashed her skin in all directions – splitting her tissues down to the bones. Tears fell from her eyes as she endured the fury of the blonde's murderous impulses.
With her arms cut up, Sorina turned to her side, unable to take any more of the violence. She'd rather allow Bela an avenue to finish this than try to survive for much longer. She had worked for this family for months and she knew that there was no negotiating with them when their love for killing took the reins.
She felt like a fool for having held out some hope that doing her best would have aided her in the long run. She had trusted Bela with her life, but after Luana's murder, she realized that trust was only as good as the value one saw in it.
"Bela, please stop…" Sorina whimpered, coated in her own blood.
The eldest sister's smile faded for a moment as she glanced down at her second most-trusted servant. A remembrance of their interactions came to mind as she watched the girl withering in pain. They were never friends, but the time that they had spent together was notable. When Luana had been killed, she was as indifferent as she would have been regarding the rest of the staff.
However, that indifference didn't mean that she was without some sense of loss.
Bela's devious grin returned – only to suddenly fade away again. It was a break in the carnage. One that would only last for so long.
"Just close your eyes," she said in a somber voice.
Daniela yanked her head back; tearing what remained of Delia's lips off and swallowing them whole. Her victim's face was splashed with a heap of blood. The white glow of teeth shined between the streams of red, as tense and teary eyes rattled around from the immense suffering that had been placed upon them.
The redhead straddled her prey, holding her down as she lowered her head beside her neck. The tip of Daniela's pale nose rubbed against the skin of Delia's pulsating throat. She could sense the overdrive of her carotid arteries as they pumped away. The daughter's signature giggle sounded as she smiled.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Cassandra took flight, looking for anyone else that she could kill. She witnessed her sisters as they tended to their victims and at the same time – marveled at the incredible display of blood.
This beautiful blood is everywhere! Ah! I can smell it! I haven't had this much fun in forever!
She glanced at the dead bodies of the women who had once served them.
All gone now…hmm…what is after?
A shrilled scream from below acquired her attention. Cassandra looked around and quickly found the last remaining servant who had avoided death so far. The woman had managed to escape the pit and was now seen running around the perimeter of the walls, desperately trying to avoid the other daughters.
"Help!" The woman's mind reverted to the most basic of instincts. She cried for salvation that would not come. It was nearly autonomous as she was too afraid to think any harder. All she could do was look for a way past the massacre that was still unfolding around her.
Daniela was too occupied with the woman under her to have even heard the scream that came out from mere feet away. The servant suddenly picked up on it and realized that the redhead's tunnel vision provided the best avenue to escape. The exit was right past her and she didn't have to avoid the maniacal noblewoman to get to it.
With a mad dash for safety, the maiden sprinted as quickly as she could. The muffled wails of the poor soul who was being ravaged by Daniela clawed into her ears as she bypassed them. The servant's face winced as she tried to shield her view of the tenth circle of hell that took place near her feet.
Her body slammed into the door due to the outpouring of adrenaline that overrode her motor control. She scrambled for the handle and as soon as she was able to turn it, the sadistic yell of the middle daughter came soaring from up above.
"Rah!" Cassandra swooped down at her; slicing her right shoulder open with an inescapable swing.
"Argh!" The girl screamed as she felt a warm, wet trickle befall her arm. She knew she couldn't succumb to the pain. Not yet. She had to press on.
Using all her might, she turned the handle to its fullest capacity before the exit to the room came crashing open. The girl's body fell forward, but she managed to catch herself before she could hit the ground. It would be another dash for the exit – and she had to be fast.
Bela craned her neck to the side just as she witnessed the servant escaping. "Cassandra! Get her!"
"On it!" The brunette replied as she funneled out of the room.
The blonde turned her attention back down to Sorina, who was still cowering below her. She knelt and gripped her neck – albeit gently. She could feel the vigorous thumping of the girl's heart from the top of her collarbones. She knew how scared the maiden often was, and this was the peak of it all.
As much as she wanted to harm her and listen to her shouts, Bela had changed her mind to some degree. Just like Madalina; Sorina had served the family incredibly well. While she was nowhere near as confident in her approach as the Grand Chambermaid had been, the regard to which she held her was unforgettable.
It demanded mercy.
"Shh…" Bela tried to soothe her. "Close your eyes, just like I said."
Sorina did as instructed. The final command that she would obey.
"Rest now." With a powerful motion, Bela clenched her hand and jolted it to the left – breaking Sorina's neck.
To Cassandra's surprise, the maid who had escaped the room managed to pick up speed and descended the stairs before the brunette could catch up with her. By the time she made it to the bottom, the door to the courtyard had already been opened and a fresh gust of cold wind came rushing in. She stopped in her tracks as soon as she felt the bitter sting of the frozen air creeping up on her sensitive skin.
Damn it! Alright…she couldn't have gone far. She must know the only way out is through the front. I'll have to circle back before she gets to the Main Hall.
Daniela bit down on the servant's throat as she choked on the blood that had fallen into her mouth from her shredded lips. The redhead's teeth phased through her skin and muscle like a hot knife as she used all her force to clench the woman's esophagus in her mouth. With another tear, she pulled back and ripped a large hole into the center of the girl's neck.
Delia convulsed as she drowned in her blood; agonal gasps and gurgles galore. The crimson liquid bubbled and erupted out as she fought to clear her passageways but to no avail. The massive amount of blood loss cost the girl control of her consciousness as she began to fade out into the abyss.
More and more blood continued to be displaced as it left her veins and pooled around and deeper into her body. As the surrounding environment shifted into a black void, her mind slipped away.
In less than a minute, so would her heart – freeing her from the nightmare for good.
Bela stood up and took one more look down at Sorina's corpse before addressing her youngest sister, "Daniela, is it done?"
"Mhmm," she replied as she sipped on the blood that was still on her face and chest. The reawakening that had spontaneously occurred today seemed to put her in line with her normal self. The blonde couldn't find the desire to address the past, as long as she looked like she was enjoying herself.
Perhaps, Bela thought, a fresh kill was enough to take the bad memories away.
After a couple of minutes of searching, Cassandra was able to spot the final servant as she snuck through the dining room. The brunette was able to snake around the castle just in time to catch up with her; stalking her prey silently as she waited for the perfect time to strike. As soon as the girl rounded the table, the huntress made her move.
In her prey's stressed-out state of mind, she had neglected to leave the courtyard door open. Such an action would have been effective at preventing Cassandra from emerging from her hiding spot as the winter air would have held her back with effective results. Unfortunately for her, months of being told to ensure the doors remained closed had been firmly ingrained in her head. As soon as her life was on the line and all rational thought stopped, she had nothing but her training to fall back on.
Training that would only prove to be the end of her.
"Run little rabbit…" Cassandra's sinister voice called out to her as she gave chase, watching the woman's face turn to pure horror as soon as she realized just how close the daughter had gotten. She let out a scream and bolted through the doors that lead to the Main Hall as fast as she could.
The hunt was on and she would not fail.
She couldn't fail.
I must catch her! If I don't…
The maiden pushed with all her strength as she sprinted toward the doors that led to the Hall of Four. Cassandra was hot on her trail; dispersed into a large cloud of vicious insects as she took to the air once more. The girl could hear the dreadful sounds of buzzing from up above – prompting her to push harder.
Sweat fell from her brow and across her eyes, obscuring her vision in the process. As she struggled to wipe it off, the prickling sting of individual flies that feasted on her skin told her that this was quickly becoming a losing battle.
All of a sudden – a powerful blow impacted her backside and she fell face-first onto the ground. The heavy mass that landed on her quickly reformed into its human image, and she could feel the clawing hands of the murderous brunette around her face.
"Got you!" Cassandra laughed as she turned the woman around and the two were left facing one another. She raised her sickle in the air as the girl slapped her arms and shoulders to a futile end. The daughter merely cackled at such ambitions before she stared the final servant down, knowing that it would be her hand that would end the long line of souls who this castle had employed.
The girl's face widened with shock as she saw her life about to come to a stop. In a final act, she let out the loudest scream that she could breathe, which could be heard throughout the castle halls. As soon as the last sliver of air left her mouth, Cassandra slammed her sickle down and embedded it inside the center of her forehead – splitting her skull and unleashing a stream of blood out of its cavity.
It was lights out for the last servant.
As she basked in the rush of the kill, she was joined by her two sisters who had arrived to aid in the search. Bela laid her eyes on the scene as soon as she entered the room, a small giggle to compliment the act. Cassandra smiled as she stood and cast a gleeful amber glance toward the eldest sibling.
Bela took to her swarm and moved closer, re-forming as soon as she and Cassandra were together. Daniela followed, laughing softly to herself as she sought to meet with her sisters. The presence of the redhead continued to bring forth a strange feeling for the middle daughter, as she still couldn't forget what had transpired between the two just days ago.
Daniela was an odd individual and while Cassandra worried about her mental state; the way she carried on seemed like everything had gone back to normal. In fact, after the mass killing, Daniela's mood only seemed to have improved even more.
I guess I can work with this. As long as it is left in the past, I suppose…
"So," Bela glanced at the fallen servant, "I guess it's over."
"Nobody escapes from me," Cassandra confidently stated.
"We should drag this body back to the room and consolidate it with the others," Bela suggested. "Mother would be happy to have a nice bloodbath fixed up for her when she comes out of her room. Drain the bodies into the pit and mix it with wine."
Daniela's cheery voice jumped in, "That sounds wonderful!"
Her two siblings smiled and laughed along. Bela was ready to take hold of the dead body when she tilted her head toward the doorway that the servant had made a run for. Cassandra tossed her a confused stare before she picked up on it as well. Daniela followed suit, realizing that something was nudging at her sister's senses.
"Hmm," Bela chuckled. "I think someone wandered in here…"
Locwitary
Cassandra had left her room for the first time since the incident with Leta. She hoped to locate Milo and speak to him about everything. He had informed her earlier that the child was still completely hysterical and that as soon as he mentioned the brunette's name, she recoiled in fear.
It was a horrible reality. All Cassandra could do was think about what she could have done differently to have avoided this result. She wondered if the contact of their hands would have brought forth the visions of all her terrible misdeeds under normal circumstances, or if it was due to the fighting between herself and Lia at the time.
As much as she wished there was an answer to that question, she knew in her heart that it did not matter. What was done was done and there was no going back. Leta had been made aware of everything that she was in the world that she had come from, and she was rightfully scared.
I can't run from my problems anymore. This is what it has done to me. The fawns think I am a monster, but Milo is still willing to speak to me. I just…I just want to talk to someone. I hate this. I hate all of this. I wish I had never killed anyone.
Dried tears coated her cheeks that were seated below her pink eyes. She had spent enough time crying today. There was no use in wallowing in her guilt by herself. If anything, she hoped that Milo could provide her some insight, or at the very least – believe that she was no longer the monster she used to be.
I've done so many bad things. Why did I ever believe that there may have been something after? I don't deserve to have kindness around me. I can't create kindness. All I can create is…
She ceased her walking, taking the time to catch her breath. All the negative thoughts inside her head had taken their toll on her and she was on the edge of a total mental breakdown. There was just too much going on and she doubted that she could handle it.
I need to talk to Milo! Argh!
Scanning around the library, Cassandra could see that he was nowhere to be found. She wanted to call out for him but she feared Leta would hear her voice. The last thing she wanted to do was frighten the girl any further.
The sound of energy shifting caught Cassandra's ear, and the question that she had in her head was answered the moment she heard that familiar voice behind her ear.
"What are you doing?" Lia growled.
She turned her head slowly; her eyes relinquished of all her anger toward the fawn. She did not seek any further arguments with her at this point. She was done with such actions. All she wanted now was to heal. "I…where's Milo?"
Lia stood still, watching Cassandra's every move. Her thin chest rose steadily against her gown, taking in deep breaths as she fought to contain her boiling rage. "What do you want with him?"
"I need somebody to talk to…"
Lia's face embodied the wrath she desired to unleash. Her slender lips bundled together, forming her signature curve toward her right nostril. Her brows pinched together on top of her fiery green eyes.
Green eyes – that flashed to a vicious blue.
"Nobody is around here except me…so let's talk."
NOTES:
Welcome back! Hope you all enjoyed this latest chapter!
Yes, it was pretty violent. I wanted to really focus on the evil that Cassandra displayed prior to her arrival in Locwitary. At the same time, I wanted to show a possible way the staff was massacred. In the end, everything comes together and parallels are drawn.
Cassandra isn't this person any longer and the aftermath of Leta's emergence as a surge has brought her mind to a state of pure regret. What chance does our brunette stand in fixing this mess? Well, that may be difficult to answer.
She isn't the only one with trouble in her heart – nor is she someone who is a shell of their former self.
Lia is out for blood and all her resentment and rage toward Cassandra is about to come flooding out. This next chapter will be the one that you all have been waiting for and expect an emotional rollercoaster as these two collide. It's going to hit hard.
In violence, we forget who we are.
The next chapter will release on February 4th.
Now, I wanted to take the opportunity to also clear up some questions regarding Fragmented Flies and Fragmented Fears.
ARE THESE TWO STORIES CANON TO EACH OTHER? Yes – to an extent.
The events of Cassandra and Bela's home realm are 100% the same in Flies and Fears, all up until their final moments there. After that is where things change.
In Fragmented Flies, Cassandra is pushed out of the hole in the wall by Ethan, where she eventually meets her end. The rest of the game's events continue as canon with no changes at all.
In Fragmented Fears, Bela and Ethan are inexplicably transported to a different realm, which means Cassandra never faces Ethan in the armory and therefore, is never killed and sent to Locwitary. What takes place after will play a role in that story's events.
***That also means Cassandra does eventually assault Daniela in Fragmented Fears***
ARE THE LUANA AND SORINA SEEN IN FEARS THE SAME ONES SEEN IN FLIES? Yes.
Their scenes and fates will be the same in Fears as we've seen in Flies, as they are both canon. However, they will be much more prominent characters in Fears and their relationship with Bela will be further explored.
DO I NEED TO READ BOTH? You don't have to.
Both stories will show different sides of the Dimitrescu family before the events of Village, reflecting on how Bela and Cassandra lived their lives. All interactions and events are canon, but as they are written through one daughter's viewpoint, so is the story itself.
For example, we see Bela kill Sorina in this chapter. There is a hint of remorse in the blonde, and we'll see why as Fears goes along. As far as Cassandra's story is concerned, it's not important nor is it emphasized any further.
In short: They are mostly standalones in a canon universe.
WHEN IS THE DANIELA STORY COMING OUT AND WHAT WILL THAT BE LIKE? After Fragmented Flies and Fragmented Fears are complete. It will be different.
The third entry is planned to be the biggest out of the three and will have Daniela as the main character. While different, it will still revolve around the existence of other realms. For plot reasons, I simply cannot release it alongside these two. You'll all understand once these are finished. The title itself is already a major spoiler.
Fragmented Flies is a thriller/drama with themes of horror mixed in.
Fragmented Fears is a horror/romance.
The third story is planned to be an action/drama with themes of horror, alongside a larger cast of characters.
I know Daniela fans are clamoring for a fic about her, and she will get her fair due in time. The wait will be worth it, I promise.
I hope this has helped clear up some confusion. If you guys have any more questions, please send them my way. I am so happy to be able to provide these stories for you all. The feedback and reviews have been amazing since day one and I couldn't be more grateful! None of these are going to be rushed one single bit, and I'm really excited about where this story is about to go! I invite you all to enjoy this journey as there is still plenty more to see 😊
Leave a comment or a kudos if you wish! I hope life has been treating you all well in the meantime! I've been so busy lately but I'm going to have more free time in the coming weeks so that's a plus! More time to write and draw, basically.
Thank you for everything! Stay safe and happy and I'll see you again soon!