Bela glanced at the opened tin can with the most scrutinizing eyes. The contents inside hardly seemed fit for a dog; much less a noblewoman such as herself. She turned her stare to the one that Ethan had already finished, wondering how that man managed to eat it.
He looks like he's eaten worse things. I wouldn't put it past him.
She brought the tin up to her nose to take a sniff.
Ugh!
Her nose wrinkled back into her face as she shut her eyes and set it down. Ethan did not hesitate to take notice of the act.
"It's not gourmet dining, if that's what you were hoping for."
Her rolled lips dropped to an irritated frown while her lower eyelids signaled that she was not in the mood for jokes. With the fork that was in her hand, she circled the rim of the can over and over – all while ceasing to break eye contact.
Ethan huffed a soulless chuckle that was short-lived. The man was not going to fight for her approval. She knew that all he wanted was to get back to their realm so he could continue running through her castle while searching for his daughter. There was no need to make friends with the woman who had stood in his way. With that short, weak laugh, she was able to remind herself of their true rivalry.
He thinks he can mock me…
She did not respond, continuing to trace her fork around the edge of the can. Ethan sat back in his chair before he withdrew his pistol from his coat. Not knowing what to expect from the man, Bela paused and glared at him once more. The gun that she had brought in was right beside her and she was ready to turn it on him at a moment's notice.
If not the gun – her sickle.
Ethan promptly unloaded and cleared the firearm before he popped out the slide-release lever. The top of the pistol came forward along with the barrel, followed by the retention spring. The next thing to come out of his pocket was a small, dirty rag.
Bela went back to occupying herself with her fork and can.
I do not trust him at all. He's just waiting to kill me. That's fine, as I'm waiting to kill you too, you bastard. You should not have come outside looking for me. That was a foolish act on your part.
Ethan wiped the carbon out from the internals of his pistol, so engrossed in whatever he was thinking, that the presence of her did not seem to matter. Bela's amber eyes peeked at him again as she tried to decipher his thoughts.
He's thinking about killing me. I can see it on his face. The moment we get back, he's going to shoot open another one of our windows. I should have killed him in the dungeon when I had the chance. I yelled at Cassandra for playing too many games with him and now look…
The circling on the can came to a sudden halt.
Why do you have to be so stupid, Bela?
Castle Dimitrescu – January 18th, 2021
"Luana…"
The maid, previously hunched over as she chopped the section of raw meat into tiny bits, stood up without hesitation. "Yes, Miss Bela?"
The eldest daughter held a list of the required ingredients for tonight's dinner, reading it like Daniela read her precious novels. She approached the blonde maiden from the side, maintaining a somewhat-casual tone in her voice, "Cassandra does not like her food chopped up. Be sure to save a whole cut just for her."
"Yes, Miss Bela." She returned to her duties as usual, hardly ever asking for clarification unless necessary. That was one of the qualities that Bela admired about the woman, finding confidence that things would be done appropriately if her subordinates were competent.
She looked across the table – glaring at Sorina.
Luana was a full-fledged young adult. A responsible woman in her early twenties. Sorina, on the other hand, was a few years younger, and far less composed. She sported a very slim frame, appearing much physically weaker than her fellow staff. The girl always seemed frantic, which often came off as quite amusing to the sisters.
However, in situations like these, it poked at Bela's nerves, as she saw fear as a detriment to success.
Sorina had been tasked with sorting out the vegetables and seasonings. Greens were not something that anyone in the family dined heavily on. Such foods were to be included, lest the family lose their touch of elegance in exchange for pure savagery, according to the matriarch of the castle.
Bela held no objection, Cassandra complained, and Daniela preferred to save them for last.
It wasn't in such large quantities that the foods should present a challenge, but for Sorina, organizing and sorting the various greens was a daunting task. The maid fumbled with her knife, crushing and mashing the tomatoes. The lettuce was cut in uneven paths, mixing the greener sides with the tasteless white roots. The seasoning bowls had been placed too close to one another.
At any given moment –
"Sorina!" Bela shouted as soon as the maid's elbow dropped on the bowl of anise and flipped some of its contents into the one with black pepper. The young woman jolted in shock, knowing that many ladies before her had been sent to the dungeons for similar missteps.
High-pitched and scared as ever, she responded immediately, "I'm sorry, Miss Bela! Please forgive me!"
Luana ceased her cutting as she watched Bela storm up toward the young maid. Sorina shrunk under the presence of the taller lady as she approached her.
Speaking through her teeth, the eldest daughter snarled at the feeble woman, "How does a mistake like that happen? Look what you've done!"
Sorina's tearful face winced as Bela drew closer to her. The girl buckled under the pressure, hands shaking and lips twitching. She could barely speak, despite knowing how any hesitation of a response would only serve to strengthen Bela's anger.
Luana hurried around the table, hands cupped together as she addressed their master, "My apologies, Miss Bela! I saw how close the bowls were and made the mistake of not telling her. I was too occupied with my tasks."
Huffing a deep sigh, Bela craned her neck and turned her body to Luana, who managed to hold her posture in the face of the daughter's unsettling presence. "Clean it up. Fix it," she said as she got closer to the maiden's face. Their noses were only an inch apart, and the woman could feel the blonde's hot breath across her skin. Her amber eyes tore into her soul, containing a ferocious rage. "If tonight's dinner is not up to standard, I will hurt someone, understand?"
Luana nodded vigorously. "Yes, Miss Bela. Understood."
Without another word, Bela walked out of the room, leaving the two women to their duties. As she passed through the hallway and into the dining room where her family would be in only two hours, her stare found itself at her mother's chair. The large throne-like seat was a staple of the power Alcina wielded. It was fit for a queen, and her eldest daughter was happy to serve her.
Bela often enjoyed her spot at the table, seated to Alcina's left, where she can speak to her mother with no obstructions. The sisters usually sat in the same spots but tended to shift around whenever times got tense between one or the other. As much as she would have protested having to move, the blonde did not want to give in to what she felt were nothing more than childish squabbles.
The only thing that managed to tug at her nerves was Cassandra's condescending attitude and her messy habits. The brunette had to have been doing it on purpose, as she enjoyed getting a rise out of her older sister.
I just want everything to go to plan. Mother will be so proud of me when she sees how dinner has turned out. I can't wait for her to praise me.
Bela stopped when she noticed one of the forks was tilted at an angle. She went over to adjust it, ensuring that it matched the rest of the silverware perfectly. Just as she was about to move away from the table, her eyes drifted toward the empty wine glasses that had been set out. The distance between them was unequal, and further adjustments had to be made. With each movement, she realized just how many more things on the table were out of place, and the frustration inside her chest swelled. She could hear her sisters carrying on beyond the doors that led to the Main Hall, and it only made her contempt grow.
Worthless sisters. I have to do everything myself.
Serpenmoor
Bela ran the fork around her can one more time before she set it down on the table and got out of her seat. Ethan had been scrubbing the barrel of his pistol, only stopping to see where she was heading off to. Kyia, who had been staring at her book ever since they argued, also peeked over the top to see where the blonde was going.
Without any words, Bela began rummaging through the box of food that Kyia had kept in stock. Ethan turned his back over the chair, watching her as she searched for something else to eat. Kyia, however, only appeared to become annoyed at the act.
The woman set down her book and sat up, eyes sharp as she fixated on Bela. "What are you doing?"
Bela said nothing.
Kyia paused for a second, trying to process why Bela had not responded to her. Her thin hands gripped the sheets of her bed, clenching in irritation. She spared Ethan a glance as if telling him to address it. When he said nothing, she groaned loudly before getting up and walking over to the blonde.
"Did you not hear me?" Kyia said as she approached her. "Hello?"
Bela continued to comb through the cans of food that they had, barely paying attention to her. "What now?"
"I was watching you at the table. You did not eat any of that. That is wasteful. Do you think that food here is easy to come by?"
With her hood up, Bela would not even turn around to look at her.
The lack of recognition left Kyia feeling an immense amount of disrespect. It inflamed her nerves, making her want to yell. Holding her rage as best she could, she looked at Ethan once again. "Are you not going to say anything about her?"
Ethan began to shrug his shoulders, knowing that Bela would not listen to him, either. However, as he saw Kyia standing there, he knew that he'd rather not see the two ladies fight. If anyone had to deal with Bela's attitude, he'd rather be the one.
"Bela," Ethan called out to her. "We can't waste food."
"Shut up, man-thing."
Kyia lifted her eyebrow at the name. "What?"
Ethan shook his head. "Never mind that." He focused on Bela. "Hey, I know it doesn't taste great, but we can't pick and choose things here. Kyia was nice enough to allow us to have some, and if we –"
Bela groaned and grabbed a different can without even looking at it. "Ugh, whatever! I'm not eating that over there." She held the can in front of her, pointing at the other two occupants. "If this isn't decent, then forget it."
Her eyes then met with Kyia's. "And you need to stay away from me, for your own sake…"
It was a threatening statement that offended Kyia greatly, lighting a fire in her green eyes. She wanted to argue with Bela, but the woman stayed cautious. Her shorter stature and her thin frame did not deal the best set of cards. There was something about the woman's glowing eyes that didn't sit right, and she found herself troubled at the sight of them.
Kyia leaned her head back slightly, not wanting to get into a physical fight. Nevertheless, her dislike of the woman that Ethan had brought in would not go unheard. "You should clean the blood off your mouth. You look just like one of Vikcia's creations."
Bela took another step closer to Kyia, her voice low, "Go back to reading your stupid, little book…"
The brunette's breathing picked up. She was visibly angered, but she did not dare to pursue such emotions. She wanted to lash out at Bela, but she feared what would come of such an act. It was easier to just retreat to her bed, even though it meant submitting. She rolled her lips and walked away, glancing at Ethan again as she did so.
The man sighed and shook his head. He could not believe that this had just happened. As Bela made her way back to her seat, Ethan turned his head to Kyia. He followed her eyes, watching as she stared aimlessly at the closed book before peeking back at Bela once it was safe. He dropped his gaze before she could see him looking at her, but his face wouldn't hide how annoyed he was to see her treated like that.
Bela took her fork and used it to pry the next can open. As soon as she did, she brought it up to her nose and inhaled the scent of what awaited her. "Disgusting…"
She placed the can back on the table and pushed it away. Ethan rolled his eyes, finding her demeanor to be the epitome of immature. He did not want to start a fight, as they all had much bigger problems to deal with. Before he could say or do anything, Kyia had gotten up from her bed and marched over to the table. She grabbed both cans that Bela had opened and carried them away.
The blonde glared at her, but Kyia kept her eyes down. She looked angrier than Bela was, but neither said a word to the other. The brunette tossed the food into a sealed bucket that contained other discarded trash. The way she stood silent after closing the lid showed that she had a lot on her mind, but was unwilling to divulge it. With a long breath, Kyia went back to her bed and sat down. Her fingers twirled one of her curly locks as she drifted away in thought.
Ethan wondered what she was feeling. He did not doubt that Bela was the cause of it, but the reaction of the woman and the timidness she displayed reminded him of some classmates he had met years ago. They were kids who never fit in and often found themselves outside of the social circle. Kyia may have been a pretty woman, but she was not sociable. She displayed no desire to be part of a larger group, and the accommodations of this room proved that she got along fine by herself.
Ethan was a chance encounter that had turned out well for her. She was still cautious about him, but she was willing to open up a little bit and smile. Maybe it was due to him being a literal manifestation of everything that she had been researching throughout her life.
Or, maybe, it was because he was a genuinely kind man with a noble cause.
Bela – on the other hand – was not kind nor noble, and they both knew it.
She carried the essence of a violent woman. One smeared in blood with a devilish glare in her eyes. Ethan had glossed over the truth about the blonde so Kyia would not be alarmed, but in the end, the woman from Serpenmoor was not a fool. She knew that there was a level of brutality in her soul.
It made sense as to why she backed down when Bela got in her face. The vampiric lady had to have caused her intimidation. The fact that Kyia now had to share this small space with her made Ethan want to do his best to alleviate her worries. He could already see the anxiety plastered all over her face.
Ethan withdrew another rag from his jacket and tossed it to Bela. "You really should clean your face, you know." He didn't want to fight, but he wasn't about to let her think she could step all over them.
Bela cast her sharp glare at him, looking offended that he had told her to do such a thing. Her eyes darted between him and Kyia, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. She was getting mad.
Her gloved hand reached out for the rag, taking it with a quick swipe. Utilizing a small cup of water that was nearby, she dabbed the cloth into the liquid and wiped her mouth and face, turning her back to Kyia and Ethan in the process. It cleansed her skin of the dried crimson and runny makeup, leaving her natural glow.
Who does that man think he is? He thinks he can tell me what to do. And that bitch over there…she needs to stay quiet.
Drying up, Bela turned back and tossed the bloodied rag back on the table. "Better?"
Groaning, Ethan took the rag and brought it to the bucket Kyia had dumped the wasted food in. Watching as he disposed of the cloth, Bela went back to her seat and turned it toward the wall. She did not want to interact with them. The mere sight of that man-thing infuriated her. She wanted to twist his neck until it broke. Slice his jugular and watch it drain. For a few seconds, she contemplated just killing Ethan and Kyia right then but was reminded of the greater threats that required teamwork.
Kyia knew this world, and Ethan was decent at not dying. She'd need both of them to make it out of here.
He thinks because he went out there to save me that I owe him my servitude. It changes nothing between us.
Staring at the wall, she moved her rear forward, closer to the edge of the chair, and leaned back as comfortably as she could.
I hate everything about this. I just want to go home.
As Bela sat in her thoughts, Ethan ripped out a piece of paper from his journal and spent a minute writing something down. The blonde paid no mind to whatever was going on behind her. As long as there were no sounds of firearm actions or footsteps coming up from behind her, she didn't care what they did.
Kyia moved further across her bed and rested her back against the wall. She crossed her legs and kept the book on her lap, teetering on the decision of whether to open it or not. Her mind was too clouded with angst and contempt. It hindered her focus and made the task of reading far too difficult.
After a minute of debating, she finally decided to go ahead with opening it. Just as the cover turned, a piece of scrap paper from Ethan found its way on the center of the inner spine. She peeked her eyes at him with a slight perplexity before directing her attention to whatever had been written down.
"I'm sorry for the way she is acting. I'm also sorry about the wasted food. I thought she would be grateful, but well…I don't know. It's best if we leave her alone. If anything happens, I'll deal with it. I just wanted to say thank you for taking us in. I owe you so much already. Please, try to cheer up if you can. We're going to make it out of this, together. I promise."
Kyia's left hand slowly raised to cover her mouth and her eyes lifted at Ethan. She held her gaze for a few seconds, staring at him as if she were searching for the physical signs of his goodwill – however that may manifest.
When she saw the pen in his hand, she used her other hand to gesture for it. Ethan tossed it over to her and she quickly began to write her own message, extending her arm as far as she could to hand it back to him.
Exchanging the note, Ethan opened it up to read what she had to say.
"I'm sorry about the way I spoke to you earlier. It warms my heart to read your words. The forgiveness is mutual, if you would allow it."
Ethan nodded with a tiny smile. With her hand still covering her mouth, Kyia leaned forward and pointed at the note. He handed it back to her, and she began to write another thing on it before the process repeated itself. With the note back in his hands, he read it again.
"I would love to hear more of your Skynet stories when you find the time. They are most enjoyable!"
With a soundless laugh, Ethan's smile brimmed with the amusement the note gave him. It was nice to be able to have a decent conversation with someone ever since the madness in his life re-emerged. The sense of normalcy was perfect for the respite that this uncertain moment would allow. He glanced at Kyia and nodded once more.
She withdrew her hand from her face, silently mouthing her reply with a smile of her own, "Thank you."
Bela paced around the corner, growing restless as time went by. Ethan had occupied himself with cleaning his pistol. The shotgun would have gotten the same treatment, but after he realized just how many small parts it had, he opted to clean the inside of the receiver as best he could instead. There was no time to risk rendering it inoperable.
Kyia had managed to put her mind away from Bela and continued reading her book, studying it as much as possible. She seemed content in her activities, as long as the blonde stood on the other side of the room.
For Bela, the only thing she could focus on right now was the stampede of thoughts that swirled inside her head. It had been a chaotic last couple of hours, and she was still reeling from the encounters with Vikcia and her minions.
Though she prevailed in all the fights, she still found herself shaken up after the multiple close calls with death. It stripped her of her feeling of immortality, as she was no longer the predator that causally stalked her prey throughout the halls of their glorious castle.
To be stuck in a room with her greatest enemy and a woman who annoyed her to no end, Bela could not accept the truth that she was on the same level as them. She knew the signs were all there, but she would not allow it to be confirmed. She held on to her belief that there was a hierarchy of life, and she sat at the top. It was the only thing keeping the illusion alive.
She dreaded thinking that she was going to die here.
Most of all – she did not want to show the fear that had grown inside of her.
I've never felt like this before. Something about me just feels so different. I've seen monsters in my world. Why…why do the ones here leave me with…no, stop. You need to stop thinking like that. What would Cassandra or Daniela say if they saw you now? What kind of example would I be setting?
She stopped walking, keeping her arms crossed and her head down.
What would mother think? If she saw me as a failure…
Her walking resumed.
Ethan watched as Bela moved about, wondering why she was suddenly so up and about. His journal sat in front of him, and his pen stayed pressed at the top corner. He debated on what he would write down, as so much had taken place since he arrived here. He wondered what the point of his journal was, as he often believed that no one would ever read it.
The tip of the pen departed from the page, and he turned the paper over to the last entry that he had written. It was a short couple of sentences that described his capture by the Dimitrescu family, along with some artwork he had sketched of the towering lady of the castle, alongside Bela and her two witch sisters. Even though it was an excruciating experience and nightmarish on its own – he longed to return to that castle.
It was where his world was. Where his daughter was.
It all seemed so far away now.
Biting his lips, Ethan turned the page forward and began to scribble down everything that came to mind. His eyes drifted around the room, between the pacing Bela and the reading Kyia. Word after word, sentence after sentence; he wrote it all down.
Bela eventually turned and saw the two of them engrossed in their respective books. She rolled her eyes, huffing another groan. "Aren't you two just made for each other…"
Ethan looked up, confused as hell. "What?"
Kyia's eyes opened wide at Bela before they darted to Ethan. The brunette turned her attention back to the blonde with a pressed brow and a repulsed tone, "Do not tell lies." Her stare shifted one more time to the man across from her, only to go back down to her book when he looked back.
With a laugh, Bela lowered her head. "If my sister, Daniela, was here, instead of me, I'm sure you'd all be having a great time."
Ethan was about to comment, but he remembered his end of the bargain he had made with her. If she didn't make mention of Rose, he would not talk about her siblings. It was only fair. He kept his words to himself, though he would have loved to remind Bela of how disastrous the company of any of her sisters would be.
Kyia would not look at her, staring at the pages as if they were a source of escape. "I'd rather escape this city than try to have fun in it."
"Why so?" Bela asked in a strangely friendly voice.
"Because there are monsters and killers outside these walls. How can anyone have fun with that?"
Bela laughed again, causing Kyia's brows to tense up as she wondered why the woman found her words amusing.
The brunette sat still. Her eyes still would not move. "Why is that so funny?"
"Because it was a joke, you idiot. Do you really think I don't know that?"
Kyia kept quiet, bringing the book closer to her face, which was noticeably more stressed. Ethan stepped in, hoping to prevent any further insults that would come her way. "Can I ask you a question, Bela?"
"No."
"What do you do for fun?"
She would not answer him, angry that he still chose to ask the question anyway. Bela picked up her sickle off the table and took her seat. It was a subtle show of force; one that would tell him to stop asking, or there would be consequences. It was a useless attempt in the end, as the man did not falter.
"Seriously, I want to know," Ethan continued. "Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy? Any talents?"
She tilted her head at him, eyelids curled with a rising suspicion. "Why are you asking me, you annoying pest?"
"I just want to know if you can do anything else besides degrading people. Like, if you weren't some girl up in a castle, what would you be?"
Bela's lips split as her teeth flashed in a venomous pull. She wanted to kill him more than ever right now.
"Shut up, Ethan…"
"I'm not surprised," he remarked. "I've seen it before. People who have everything handed to them often can't do things on their own. At the same time, they think everyone else is below them."
Bela snapped, standing up from her chair so fast that the seat tipped over and hit the floor. Kyia, who had been listening intently to the conversation, put her book down the moment she heard the commotion.
"I can cook!" Bela shouted, nearly growling as she drew breath. Her sickle was firmly wrapped in her hand, but Ethan did not think she would use it. Kyia took alarm to the weapon, choosing to move further away.
Ethan nodded and shrugged his shoulders. "Then, I was wrong. What is your favorite –"
"We're not talking, so shut up!" She picked up her chair and sat back down without another word to be said. The last thing Ethan and Kyia heard from her was a delayed exhale before she turned away once again. The unforeseen eruption of rage quieted the room, as no one felt like talking to one another for a while after it.
Kyia and Ethan would occasionally exchange a look or two, both turning their heads toward the volatile woman who wasn't so far away. They had time to pass. Daylight would come sooner or later, and before they knew it, it would be time to go out and check.
Bela returned to the thoughts that captivated her. She tried to sort through all the frustration that the other two brought her, hoping to bring her mind back to only her family. Her lack of control was never as bad as Cassandra's, but she could hold a grudge.
Ethan Winters infuriated her to no end. His condescending remarks made her want to slap his face off. His blatant disregard for the nobility she held boiled her temper. He challenged her and she hated it.
But, she could not forget how he had done his best to help her throughout this whole mess. That was what drove her crazy most of all. No matter how much she lashed out at him, she understood that she would not be in this room had he not left to guide her back. She loathed the fact that she owed him her life.
She wanted so desperately to not feel any sense of gratitude – but, she did.
Don't ever try to help me again, Ethan. Why would you ever do that?
Castle Dimitrescu – January 18th, 2021
"Daughters!" Alcina shouted as she stood beside the dining room table. Within seconds, all three young ladies assembled in front of her near the door. Bela was the first one to re-form, quickly bowing with her hands in front of her.
"Good evening, mother."
"Good evening, Bela," Alcina said with a smile as she stared down at the blonde.
Cassandra's horde of flies was the next to come to shape, with the brunette trotting forward as soon as she was done. Holding the same pose as her older sister, the middle child bowed as well. "Good evening, mother."
"Good evening, Cassandra." Alcina's eyes narrowed at the specks of blood on her cheek. "Cassandra…did you have a snack before dinner?"
Cassandra's eyes lowered to the floor in an act of shame. "Yes, mother…" Bela closed her eyes, doing her best to simmer her irritation.
With a slight roll of her lips, Alcina shook her head mildly in disappointment. "Well, I hope you have not spoiled your appetite."
"Of course not, mother!" Cassandra's head raised; eyes wide with determination.
"Good." Alcina's head turned to the last remaining daughter. "Daniela…"
The redhead was mostly complete, though her right arm trailed away above the wrist. It seemed as if her last batches of insects had not made their way back to her yet. With a bright smile as always, Daniela gleamed as she bounced her shoulders up and down. "Apologies mother, there was a rat that crossed my path on the way here and I needed to catch it."
"Ugh," Alcina gagged, "I despise rats."
Daniela glanced at Cassandra with a triumphant grin. "Maybe someday I will be as skilled of a hunter as you, sister."
The brunette did not seem too pleased at such a comment. There was a roll of her eyes, as if she were growing tired of her younger sibling's persistence. "I have my doubts, Daniela."
"Hmph!" Daniela crossed her arms before realizing that her hand had still yet to form. She directed her flies away from the rodent's carcass and back to her, where they completed seconds later. The last two buzzards trickled in under the door, much to the hidden disgust of the maids who stood beside it.
Seeing all three of her daughters complete and in her presence, she gestured toward the dinner table. "Take a seat, daughters. Dinner is ready."
Bela waited for Cassandra and Daniela to sit down, feeling that as the oldest, she was responsible for them. As Cassandra lowered her body onto the chair in the middle, she glanced at her with a small hint of smugness. That signature curve in her eyes coupled with that closed smile always spoke of mischief.
Why is she staring at me like that? So immature. Just sit down already.
Bela took her seat a few seconds after, anxiously awaiting the maids who were about to bring out the food that had been prepared. Alcina was aware that the blonde had spent a considerable amount of time in the kitchen ensuring that everything was up to par, which made her daughter excited at the prospect of recognition.
Any moment now…
The maids placed the food on the table as soon as Alcina gave them the order. While Cassandra and Daniela's eyes were glued to the metal trays that contained their food, Bela's would only stay on her mother. The anticipation of seeing the brimming smile on her face at the sight of such a well-prepared meal kept the blonde at the edge of her seat. Her fingers twitched inside her palms as she held them on her lap, out of view from the rest of her family.
Alcina lifted the first tray cover, revealing the delectable raw deer meat that had been presented. Seasoned with assorted spices, the aroma of the flesh took to the air, igniting the senses of everyone at the table. Cassandra leaned in closer, ready to take a piece, only to be stopped when Alcina raised her finger in the air.
"Patience, Cassandra."
The brunette leaned back in her chair. "Yes, mother."
Bela kept her eyes on Alcina's face, watching for the first sign of praise. Alcina began to open the rest of the trays, revealing meat that had been cooked, alongside various vegetables. With the dinner all set, she smiled at the display in front of her.
Yes! Finally!
The mistress of the castle turned her eyes to the staff. "Serve my daughters first. I will have the rest."
The three staff members acted upon Alcina's command with instant obedience. They began to cut up and serve the portions accordingly. The wine was poured into their respective glasses, and one of the women remained close by in case any immediate needs of the daughters needed to be met. While Cassandra and Daniela grew excited at the incoming food, Bela found herself in a dull cloud as she figured her mother's praise would have come by now.
Alcina often would recognize her actions at the start of dinner whenever she was involved. It was so common that the routine could not have been easily forgotten. Had she not impressed her?
"Mother," Bela said as she smiled, albeit somewhat nervously. "How do you like this dinner?"
Alcina glanced at her eldest daughter, offering a smile in return. "I haven't eaten it yet, my child. I'm sure it will be very good."
Of course it will be!
Insistent on receiving some form of recognition, Bela straightened out her posture and offered the brightest smile that she could muster. She wanted to shine above her sisters and prove her worth. "Mother, I hope you enjoy it. I made sure the kitchen staff worked tirelessly to prepare it. Everything is made to expectation." A nearby maid set the blonde's plate down in front of her, but she did not pay it any mind. Her attention was dead set on the towering woman to who she pledged her utmost loyalty.
Alcina glanced down at her plate as soon as it was handed to her. "As it seems so. Thank you, Bela."
That feels better, but, I still feel like it's not enough. I'm sure she has more to say.
Alcina spared her other two daughters a glance. "Cassandra, you did a great job picking out the perfect kind of deer from the Duke. I trust your judgment on that."
The brunette's face elevated with a smile. "Thank you, mother."
"And Daniela…" Alcina turned to her youngest. "I can already smell the spices. Excellent choices. I may have to remember this combination in the future."
The redhead grinned and bowed her head. Her giddiness was so contained that she looked ready to burst with joy. A short giggle escaped her nostrils. "Thank you, mother."
Bela swallowed a small gulp as she sat there. After so much time spent with Luana and Sorina, she was hoping that the quality of the food would have been enough to steal her mother's heart. Cassandra may have picked out the deer and Daniela may have chosen the spices, but what did any of that matter, she thought? Those were simple choices, mere recommendations.
It was she who spent hours in the kitchen supervising those two women, tirelessly inspecting their actions to ensure that nothing was messed up. Cassandra and Daniela got to frolic around the castle at their leisure, but there was still stuff that needed to be done. Bela had tasked her siblings with several errands and check-ups, but when she was finally free from the kitchen, none of it had been done.
It burned her heart to hear the two of them receive even more verbiage from their mother than she did.
Bela coughed as she tried again to reap the desired results. "But, mother, surely you must be very proud of how much time I spent getting this prepared for you."
Alcina was about to take her first bite, but her daughter's words halted the fork before it reached her teeth. She turned to the blonde with a slightly tired expression. The woman just wanted to eat after a long day of dealing with Heisenberg's insufferable presence. "Thank you, Bela. Now, please, eat your food before it gets cold."
But…
Bela pressed her lips and bowed her head. "Yes, mother.," she said in a somewhat defeated tone.
Cassandra had just down a glass of wine and held it out for the maid nearby to re-fill. The brunette peeked at her sister with an expression of entertainment. She comedically rolled her eyebrows into a sad curl. "Aww, what's wrong?"
Bela looked down at her plate and began cutting up her food. "Nothing, Cassandra. I'm just tired."
While her glass was still being filled, Cassandra leaned in ever so closer. "You look disappointed."
"I'm not…"
The brunette's glare morphed into a hateful glow as she turned her attention to the maid. "Argh! You're taking too long! Just give me the bottle!"
The maid acted quickly to simmer the sadistic daughter's nerves. "Yes, Miss Cassandra!"
Taking the bottle and bringing it to her lips, Cassandra enjoyed a large helping of the wine before she set the container down. Her eyes once again fixated on Bela, with a small glint to them. She poked at the hefty portion of raw deer flesh on her plate, sampling another bite of a segment that she had cut for herself. "I sort of am," she remarked, waving the fork around as she did so. "Something about the food tastes a little off."
Bela knew her sister was trying to taunt her, and she would not allow herself to give in to her little games. "You wanted yours raw, Cassandra. The deer was delivered earlier than expected, so it's not as fresh as I intended."
Cassandra continued to swish the portion around in her mouth, tilting her head to the side as she did so. "Hmm…no, it's not that. It's not fresh, yes, but I'm okay with that. This…is not deer."
Ugh, she is such a liar…
Bela sat back in her chair, already growing visibly annoyed. She abandoned the food on her fork for the glass of wine at her side. The stress inside her called for it like a thirsty traveler. Hopefully, the alcoholic content would be suitable enough to dull the incoming arrogance of her younger sister.
It was only when Daniela chimed in that Bela began to believe it. "I think she's right, dearest sister. Something is certainly different about this. It tastes…overly sweet. Could it be elk?"
Cassandra turned to Daniela, slightly offended. "I know a deer from an elk, Daniela…"
"No." Daniela shook her head. "I know you picked out the deer, Cassandra. I saw it myself. I just don't think this is that deer."
What? How? Luana and Sorina were cooking it while I was there.
The blonde raised her eyes at Alcina, who seemed to scrutinize the meat with each chomp of her teeth. "Hmm…I believe you are right, daughters. This isn't deer. It tastes good, but I assume there was a mix-up in the kitchen."
Bela's heart immediately sank into her chest. She could feel the weight of failure pressing down on her shoulders, compacting her being. It came like a slap to the face. The belief that everything had gone according to plan, only to have one fatal flaw stung like hell. While her family did not seem to be upset, enjoying their food regardless; she could hardly eat.
She sat there in a slump, trying her best to put on the face of the content eldest daughter who would not break down under pressure. She could only imagine how much faith her mother had lost in her now. The constant influx of negative thoughts filled her appetite. By the time dinner ended, most of the contents on her plate had gone to her sisters. Alcina did seem to enjoy the meal, but it would do nothing to alleviate the way the blonde felt.
When her mother dismissed them without much else to be said, Bela was the last to leave the dining room, hoping that there would have been some sort of support to be gained. No pat on the shoulder. No words to encourage her that her duties had been fulfilled.
She felt as useless as ever.
"Worthless!" Bela shouted at Luana and Sorina. "Absolutely worthless!"
The two maids, whom the blonde had called back into the kitchen from their quarters, stood nervously against the stone wall. It had been a harrowing last couple of minutes as the eldest daughter tore into them in a violent tirade. She had never gone off on either of them for this long.
It could only mean that they truly crossed the line tonight.
Luana peeked to her left, seeing the tears that fell from Sorina's face. She did not want the young girl to be involved in all of this. She had hoped that as the leader of the two, Bela would have sought her instead. Ever since they stepped foot inside the room, most of the blonde's wrath had been focused on the youngest maid, who she believed was the cause of the issue.
Bela picked a knife from the large counter and threw it near Sorina's side. The blade recoiled off the wall and bounced around before hitting the floor. The girl winched and yelped as soon as it flew away from her. She did not know whether this was a threatening action, or if Bela had just tried to kill her.
Luana tried to calm her down before something tragic happened. "Miss Bela, please! We did everything that was asked. The meat that was provided to us was what we used. I swear!"
An open palm strike across the cheek sent Luana's back to the wall. She kept her mouth shut, knowing that trying to explain herself was not going to help. Bela's eyes went from Sorina to her, back and forth. She was full of animosity, ready to harm the two of them.
"Don't lie to me, Luana! If you even dare lie again, I will send you back to your room without a tongue!" She clenched her fists, and the grit to her teeth made it look like she was so close to doing it.
The two had seen Bela angry before. That was not uncommon when behind closed doors. The scariest part was that neither of them knew what could have gone wrong. Whenever a mistake was made, it was best to be upfront and accept the punishment that would come down. Back in the day, such would have resulted in a horrific fate down below in the dungeons.
Nowadays, with staffing so short, such punishments were reserved for the greatest of errors. Bela's response was often firm, and physical aggression was sometimes handed down. However, there was a part of the blonde that went outside of her bloodthirsty ways. She was smart and sought to preserve these women as best as she could. If she mutilated or killed them, then she would have maids who she didn't trust that would be tasked to do the cooking.
It wasn't a mercy based on kindness – but out of necessity.
Still, that did not mean she lacked limitations.
Bela approached Sorina, closing in on her with a barbaric growl. She was ready to enact every ounce of her resentment onto the maid, evidenced by the purified hatred in her eyes. The girl faltered under the pressure and broke down crying on the spot, which only made her situation more dire.
"Shut up!" Bela screamed at her. "It was you, I know it! You can't think straight and always mess things up. If you'd rather cry all day, then I have a place where you can do just that."
Bela's gloved hands gripped Sorina's white gown by the collar. She pulled the maid forward before slamming her against the hard backing. Sorina cringed from the flash of pain, eyelids pressed with tears that bathed her cheeks. Her dark brown hair partially fell from the bun that it had been tied in, falling out of the small, white basmele she always wore. It ran down the right side of her face, yet failed to hide the panic in her eyes. She looked so helpless at that moment; resigned to the mercy of a woman who had none.
Luana had to do something.
"Wait!" The woman intervened. "Miss Bela, please, if Sorina made an error, it was my fault!"
Bela pinched her brow as she rotated her head at Luana. She said nothing before she released her grip on the girl and began to step toward the other maid. Each advancement of her feet carried a foreboding sense of doom. Luana knew that she had just bought herself a ticket for a violent ride and there was no getting out of it.
Bela got in her face, though she kept her screaming at bay. "Explain…"
Pushing through her fears, Luana swallowed her nerves and did as told. "I was supposed to watch her, just like you instructed me to. I did, for a while, but then I began to focus on what I had to do. I thought everything would be fine, but I was wrong. I promise you that I do not know how this happened, but my oversight must be the cause. I don't know how we mixed up the meat, but we did. I am so sorry I failed you. Please, punish me, instead."
With a sigh, Bela took a step back from Luana, turning her attention back to Sorina. The girl shook like a scared child from the horror that was in front of her. It was an embarrassing sight for the blonde, who wished that staffing had not been what it was now.
She would have loved to send Sorina down below to the darkness, but when times got tough, she had to make do.
Bela's amber eyes turned back to Luana., paused and ready. "Very well."
She struck the woman again with a slap that sent her down to the ground. Luana's long hair flew across her head like a bird's wing as she toppled down. A sharp cry of pain escaped from her lips, but she fought to stay quiet. If she wasn't, it would only agitate Bela even more.
The daughter reached down and took Luana by the throat, choking her until her face turned blue. Before the girl could pass out, Bela loosened her grip and dragged her across the misaligned slabs. With a swift throw, she slammed Luana against the large bucket that sat under the table. The force of the impact knocked some of the tools and ingredients off the top, but Bela did not care one bit about the mess that was being made. She had a point to make and nothing was going to get in her way.
Sorina covered her eyes as she listened to the carnage unfold in front of her. With her keen senses, Bela turned her head and shouted at the young maiden to uncover her face. "She's suffering because of you! You will watch this!" She ordered.
As soon as Sorina's hands came back down, Bela returned to Luana, who was still trying to recover from what had happened so far. Bela took her by the throat once more, pulling her up to her knees with the strength that her powers allowed her to wield. The maid was like a doll in her hands – unable to do anything.
A series of slaps befell Luana's face, knocking tears from her eyes and tinting her light skin into a moderate red. She endured the pain as best as she could; sobs restrained and her face tightening with each blow. She did not even try to touch Bela as the daughter unleashed her assault upon her, keeping her arms down to her side.
"I've been too forgiving to you!" Bela yelled at Luana, shaking her like a dog shook an ensnared cat. "Allow me to remind you of where you stand." Several more slaps followed, each with just enough time for Luana to process the previous one before the next one followed.
She pushed the maid back to the ground and crawled on top of her, tearing apart the sleeve of her right arm. Luana could do nothing but conform to the uncomfortable position that her body had been forced into. Bela pressed her knees against the maid's inner thigh and on top of her left wrist. It compressed her arteries and numbed the corresponding extremities.
With Luana's arm in her grasp, Bela's teeth went straight for her shoulder, clamping down on it as hard as she could. With a feral shake of her head, the blonde tore through the skin and veins, engorging herself on whatever blood she could take. Luana finally broke from the pain and let out a loud scream that did nothing to quell her master's onslaught.
The only thing it did was cause Sorina to crumble against the wall where she stood, slumping down as her knees gave way. The scene that played out in front of her made her want to close her eyes, but the intense fear of what would happen to her if she did so forced the girl to keep them open.
Luana tried to simmer her shouting as best as she could. Bela continued to ravage her shoulder, biting down harder and harder. The act lasted another half-dozen seconds as the blonde's mouth filled with blood. It was only when it was full that she pulled away and stood back up.
A final kick to Luana's side was given just as the woman tried to get back on her feet as well. She groaned as she fell back down, clutching the area where Bela had just struck her.
The blonde shook her head at the duo. "I better see improvement tomorrow. Be here before sunrise." She made her way out toward the exit, stopping only to turn back to them one final time for the night. "In the meantime, clean up this mess."
With that said – Bela dispersed into a cloud of flies and departed.
Sorina sat where she was for a little bit while Luana struggled to get back up. Soon, the younger maiden approached her friend, offering to help as soon as the coast seemed clear.
"Luana, are you alright?" She whispered.
The woman was in great pain. Blood trailed down the wound on her shoulder, and her muscles ached from the blunt precision of the daughter's pointed heel that had struck her during the kick. Her legs wobbled as the strength flowed back into them, though she was not ready to return to normal anytime soon.
When she did not reply, Sorina attempted to help her back up, but Luana pushed her arms away. "No," her whimpering voice spoke. "Just give me a minute." The often-composed cook was in clear despair, though she still tried her best not to openly cry.
Sorina looked around at the mess that the act had created, fearful of what would happen if it were not immediately addressed. "We need to clean this up before we leave. Please, let me help you."
"Sorina, just…go back to our room. I'll take care of it."
"But, Luana…"
"Sorina!" Luana grew agitated, shining her pink and teary eyes at the girl she spent her days with. "Listen to me: go back. I'll handle this. Just…try to not mess up again."
The young maid was adamant that she had not done anything wrong. "I cooked what was given to me. I didn't take anything that I wasn't supposed to. I don't know –"
"It doesn't matter," Luana remarked as she got onto her hands and knees, using her uninjured arm to reach up and grab the tabletop. "I need you to stay focused. One of these days…" A groan of pain cleaved her sentence.
She pulled her body up, turning her head to Sorina while she stood hunched over.
"…I'm not going to be able to protect you."
As bedtime approached, Bela had taken the liberty to spot-check some more of the areas of the castle, hoping that she could find something to remedy. If she did a good enough job, she thought, then maybe she could win back her mother's praise.
As she looked around for things to fix, she encountered Daniela, who was seen darting through the halls with a book in her arms.
"Daniela," Bela called her back. "What are you doing up? It is late."
The redhead stopped in her tracks and re-formed in front of her sibling. The look of joy was clear on her face. "Oh, dearest Bela! Good evening! I wanted to read a little before bed and that library was getting boring. I need a change of scenery occasionally."
"That's fine, Daniela. I just don't want any messes getting made," Bela remarked with a curl to her eyes. "I already had to take care of one today. I'd rather not have any others."
"I'm not going to make a mess, dear sister." Daniela's teeth shined as she smiled at Bela, skipping around in a circle as she cradled her favorite blue and gold book. The redhead had always enjoyed that one ever since they were born. She had to have read it a thousand times by now, but every time she cracked it open, it was like she had no idea what was ahead of her. "I promise."
"I believe you, Daniela," Bela said before she sighed. "Just, please be cautious. Accidents do happen."
"Cassandra is the messy one, Bela," Daniela laughed.
The blonde lowered her walls for a moment and breathed a small chuckle of her own. "Yeah, she is…"
"That's why I'm glad mother has you in charge of the kitchen."
She has me in charge of everything, Daniela. How could I forget?
"As I am proud to be," Bela stated.
Daniela skimmed her fingers across the metal inlays that formed the spine and corners of her novel. "Cassandra is great at barking orders too, but she would never have allowed those two girls of yours to last for so long."
"Believe me; they are one their last rope after tonight's mix-up."
"Hmm…" Daniela brought her finger to her dark lips, expressing that she was deep in thought. Whether her emotions were real or not, the woman always carried on theatrically. If she was truly contemplating something, she had to act the part. "You know…I was thinking about that. I didn't mind what we had for dinner, but I know you would never mix up the food."
I still don't know how those two idiots managed to screw that up.
"It's already taken care of," Bela informed her. "They won't be making that mistake ever again."
"But…" Daniela went on, zeroing in on a possible explanation. "If I know Cassandra, and I do…she's always in the kitchen when you're not there. I did hear her yelling at those maids about something. She may have just gone in there for a snack, but she did walk off with a large slab of meat."
Bela's heart burst into flames as soon as she heard those words. She had told Cassandra on numerous occasions to stop taking food from the kitchen, and most of all, to stop being sneaky about it. The brunette would groan and agree over and over, just to shut her sister up. It was a blatant act of disrespect, and the blonde hated it.
But, something about Daniela's words did not add up. She hated to think that Daniela was making up stories, which she sometimes did. Throwing one of her siblings to the Lycans was not a trait of her personality, as she often tried to keep things between the three of them stable.
If Cassandra took a large amount of the meat, then why did our portions still come out correctly? I knew Luana had to be lying to me! She tried to cover it up!
"So, Cassandra made off with some deer meat, is that correct?" Bela was ready to go back into the kitchen and throw Luana across the room. She did not care if it meant that the woman could sustain a terrible injury. She absolutely despised being lied to by anyone – especially a servant.
"Well, it was weird," Daniela explained. "She ran off with it sometime after, but I think she may have had a change of heart, for once." The redhead giggled at the thought. "She went right back to the kitchen storage area and dropped off the meat that she had grabbed from there. I've never seen her do that before. She loves deer meat more than anything, besides, well…"
…I get it now…
"Cassandra came back with a slab of meat is what you're saying?"
"Yes!" Daniela danced around. "Enough worrying about Cassandra! Come enjoy this wonderful story with me, Bela! We can start from the beginning!"
Rolling her lips, Bela shook her head. "I can't tonight, Daniela. You go have fun. I…have a mess that I need to tend to."
"Ugh!" Daniela exhaled loudly. "You're never any fun! Can we find some time to play tomorrow?"
"Just go enjoy your book, Daniela."
She rolled her eyes and kicked her foot. "Fine! Whatever…" The redhead dispersed and jetted out from the hall and into the deeper areas of the castle.
Bela was left by herself in the room, where all she could do was think about everything that had taken place.
My good-for-nothing sister took that deer meat for herself and replaced it with elk! Argh! No wonder why she brought it up like that! I am getting so tired of her stupid little games. I worked so hard to please mother and she screwed it all up!
Bela took a somber breath once she realized what she had also done.
That meant that Luana and Sorina were telling me the truth. They didn't know what Cassandra did. I punished Luana for nothing…
Anger took hold. With a grunt and a kick, Bela knocked over a collection of fireplace pokers that stood nearby. The metal bars rattled as they rolled along the floor, leaving the echo of their clanging in the air. She normally did not care how much the maids suffered. It was not her place to feel remorse for them.
Still – she had given those two women her word that they would not be punished unless they failed her. They had done everything up to her standard, not knowing how much the plan had already been sabotaged. To mindlessly return and inflict harm upon them offered no value to the image that she wished to uphold of herself.
She believed that if they respected her, they would work as hard as they could. Fear was necessary, but devotion was key.
Luana and Sorina were hers – no one else's.
They were supposed to trust in her judgment and that she would protect them. She knew that come tomorrow, they would still work as hard as they could and do what she would say. That was not the issue. As much as Bela didn't care about them – part of her did.
They were her responsibility and she failed. She had failed to ensure the correct things were given to them. She did not deserve her mother's praise because she did not do her job properly.
Way to think before you act, Bela. Now, look what you did…
NOTES:
Hope you all enjoyed the latest update!
So, I'm not going to lie: Bela has been pretty unlikeable throughout most of this story. I know many of you can agree. In keeping with the canon, she is a villain. Her compassion for others and compulsion to do good are quite lacking. Is she going to be like this the entire story? Of course not. There is plenty of character development coming her way, but she is a tough shell to crack.
We've seen little snippets of who she truly is and what she can be. Like Cassandra in Fragmented Flies, progress takes time. Bela, however, is more composed, which means her true emotions don't easily come out.
She and Ethan definitely don't seem like the type who will eventually fall in love, but this story is a slow burn that will be well worth the wait. Their love will be earned.
Not too much in the present took place, but I wanted to elaborate on Bela's past some more, especially with Luana and Sorina. I'm sure this chapter may have been hard to read, but none of the staff in the castle lived happy lives. Luana is a resilient woman, and the relationship that she and Sorina had with Bela will have its impact on the eldest daughter as she goes about her journey in this new realm.
What to expect in the next chapter? The suns are coming back up, which means there is an opportunity to make some progress. But, just because daylight keeps the monsters away, that doesn't mean Serpenmoor's horror is lost. Sometimes, it's better to stay inside.
That chapter should come out in about two to three weeks, as usual.
Follow this story on Archive of Our Own to check out the latest artwork that was created for this chapter!
There are tons more chapters yet to come! I want to thank all of you for following this story and supporting it! You have been so awesome, and I say this every time, but I am so grateful to have you here! As I mentioned in Flies, I'm considering what other stories I can create outside of this planned trilogy. There was a Donna Beneviento story I had initially planned titled "Fragmented Flowers," which put her as the main character. That may very well still be in the cards after this trilogy is finished, but let me know what kind of characters in this fandom you'd like to see me explore!
In the meantime, I want to wish you all a safe few weeks ahead. Hope you stay happy and healthy as can be, and looking forward to the next time we chat! Until then! 😊