Author's Note: I'm so happy that there are people who are reading my story! I'm hoping to get more chapters out as well as write more chapters hehe. Thank you everyone for the views, favorite, and follows!
Special thanks to Auburn4000, Letsi, and LukaLukaa for following and favoriting my story!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Resident Evil Franchise! All rights belong to Capcom! I only claim my Sinclair! Any grammatical errors you see I apologize and I hope you can forgive me! ^w^ Happy reading everyone!
"You didn't have to escort me to the entrance Ianto." I said to the man who was walking just beside me. Ianto simply smiled as he shook his head from side to side.
"What kind of caretaker would I be if I were to not see you off, Lady Sinclair." Ianto stated quite proudly before his whole body seemed to deflate and the enthusiasm he previously boasted about vanished. "Must you really go to see that woman Lady Sinclair?"
"I'm afraid I must." I stopped just at the threshold of my greenhouse. I turned to look at Ianto and gave him the best smile of assurance I could offer to my caretaker. "If I don't go today, I fear that she may pay our village a surprise visit just to seek me out. If she does, then I can't protect the villagers living here should she decide to do something toward them that would endanger our friends."
Ianto looked as if he wanted to say something more, but refrained from speaking his mind, taking to instead averting his worry-filled eyes to the ground.
"Thank you for worrying about me, but I must go when I'm summoned else Mother Miranda would grow suspicious." I reached out and grabbed both his hands with my own. Held on to them tightly and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I won't be gone long. I'll be back before nightfall. Keep our home safe in my absence until I return?"
"You know I always do my lady." Ianto assured with a dejected sigh, and the moment I had let his hands go he had lifted one of them to bid me farewell. "Safe travels Lady Sinclair."
With one last wave, I reached for the hood of my cape and drew it further over my head as well as pulling the fabric of my cape closer to my body for warmth. The trek toward the old church where Mother Miranda had asked me to meet her would be long and exhausting for someone who rarely went out in the cold, but it must be done.
The dilapidated cathedral located right beside Castle Dimitrescu. The sole meeting place where the four Lords and myself would meet whenever Mother Miranda would summon us to deal with something important, one which required all of us present. Though, it has been quite a while since I had seen Mother Miranda as well as my siblings which was quite upsetting. If it weren't for the people in my domain, life for me would've been quite…lonesome.
It was a long walk from my humble, isolated home to my sister's castle, and the cold didn't make the traverse any easier considering how warm my greenhouse always was. But it was the greetings from the people in the village as well as their friendly smiles directed at me that made the walk worthwhile. But today, something seemed off. I noticed that there was something strange going on in the village today compared to the last time I had walked through the main section. There were fewer people walking out in the open, and those that I did see out in the cold seemed on edge. They were careful with the activities they were doing as well as rushing from place to place as if something dangerous would get them if they lingered longer than usual.
'The smell of death lingers in the air…it's suffocating.' I thought, the familiar stench prickling at my nose as I pulled the hood further over my head, eyes averted to the ground as I rushed toward Alcina's castle. 'Best not to dilly dally or Mother Miranda will be furious.'
No matter how many times I've seen the castle looming in the distance I always end up stopping to admire such a hauntingly beautiful structure. It was so different from the living conditions of my domain, though I can't say that I envy Alcina's home completely. The housing conditions fitted the personality of its master. They were specifically given to us by Mother Miranda, she had said it suited our conditions to give us a chance to grow as well as the perfect environment for all of us to conduct our own experimentations concerning the parasite: cadou. Who were we to ask for anything more from Mother Miranda at that time, sure I loved Alcina's home, but I wouldn't trade what I have for anything else.
'Across the bridge, through the first door on the right…oh look a fish!' I thought, backtracking my steps on the bridge when I saw movement in the water, and in the process of kneeling onto the wooden boards, I saw a fish swim just to the surface to greet me. It had been a while since I've seen fish swimming in this river, but I had to stop myself. Remembering why I came here in the first place and immediately got back to my feet. 'Across the bridge, through the first door on the right…' I began narrating my every move since there wasn't much else to do on such a lonely walk. 'Then a right turn and then…there should be another place I can go…' I started to squeeze through a certain area, making sure to avoid catching my cape or my dress on the splintered wooden edges that were jutting out from the wall, before I finally found the double doors leading into the cathedral.
I didn't knock, I didn't have to, Mother Miranda was expecting me and I knew I had arrived earlier than the appointed time. Better to be early than be lectured by Mother Miranda for being a minute late.
When I entered the cathedral, standing at the very front of the makeshift podium was Mother Miranda. Her back was to me as I carefully and quietly walked further into the cathedral. Aside from her…it was just the two of us present which was strange considering I knew from past meetings that Alcina loved to be one of the first ones to arrive. The same could be said for Salvatore, just like Alcina, he too wanted to always stay in Mother Miranda's favor.
"Mother Miranda?" I called out with unsurety as I saw the feathers along Mother Miranda's back ruffle, creating a wave from the top to the bottom before her body turned to me, the bottom of her dress flaring out in showmanship before settling around her. Pale blue eyes behind her mask landed on me as I saw a smile peek out from under the beak portion of her mask.
"Sinclair, my child, thank you for coming to see me." Mother Miranda greeted me with warm and kind words, yet it was not reflected in her actions as she motioned for me to approach, her palm held out to me as the claw jewels on each of her fingers created an elegant wave as she beckoned me closer. "It has been a while since you've last graced me with your presence."
"I would've come sooner, but you had not called for me in some time, Mother. I was beginning to worry that you had forgotten about me." I forcefully spewed out when I approached my creator, words wrapped in a pretty bow, spoken simply to appease the powerful woman who I knew could destroy me with a flick of her wrist.
"I could never forget you, my dear child." Mother Miranda smiled as she lifted her hands up as if to caress the side of my face, but I saw her hand hesitate just inches from my cheek. It seemed to be a reoccurring habit of hers. The older I had gotten, the more it seemed she was hesitant…or dare I say that she seemed fearful to have any kind of physical contact with me. The last I remembered ever feeling any type of contact was when I was but a child sitting in her dark and dinky little laboratory under the village.
"Where are the others Mother?" I asked as I pretended not to notice her slight hesitation. "I assumed that I would be seeing my siblings today."
Mother Miranda shook her head. "The others will be here, but your presence will not be necessary for my meeting with them. What I'm about to discuss with you will cover what I speak to your siblings about and much…much more my child."
'So I won't be included once more with my siblings.' I thought as I smiled up at the blonde immortal. "What was it that you wished to speak about with me, Mother?"
"Sinclair, I have found something that has given me hope once more." Mother Miranda proclaimed as she motioned for me to see what she had previously been looking at that was placed preciously on top of the broken podium. When I had moved closer to examine it, looking back at me was a photo of a tiny, chubby-faced, smiling baby.
"A child?" I questioned skeptically as I furrowed my brows in confusion. "I…I don't…I don't understand."
"After a century worth of failed experiments, of failed subjects responding negatively to the parasite…this child has reacted perfectly. She is a suitable superhuman vessel for my daughter Eva." Mother Miranda informed me, her hand reaching out to trace the picture of the little baby. "I no longer have the need to continue my research or subject those mortals to any more of my experimentations."
"You-you brought me here to tell me that you have no further use for the village and those residing there?" I questioned before watching Mother Miranda carefully, inwardly seething at what I was hearing come out of this woman's mouth. They are living, breathing people…are they so easily disposable? "What about us? Your children?"
"Their usefulness has expired, and after years of research and searching, I have found her, Sinclair. What gift that was given to us, our miracle, must now be returned to the Megamycete in order for the ceremony to commence. Once it is done, I will have my darling Eva back to me." Mother Miranda proclaimed. "As for my children, your siblings, I'm afraid that they, too, will have to return as well…but you Sinclair. You are different. I have asked you to come here to inform you that I have a different plan for you, my dear."
"Where do I stand in your future plans, Mother?" I asked out of curiosity, though still processing what she was revealing to me.
"Unlike your siblings, you are perfect. I want you to be a guardian to my dear Eva…the older sibling to guide her on to the right path." Mother Miranda said. "A few days from now, I will be gone. On my return, I will have the child's mother…to see with my own eyes how far her own mutation goes, to test her limits, and then? I shall go to retrieve the child…bring her here to the village." Mother Miranda was lost in her own little world as she revealed more of her own idea of a bright…promising future. "Once the girl is in my possession I can start the process of bringing back my Eva. And when that time comes, Sinclair, all shall end and we shall start over. A new life…together."
I didn't want that, an eternity with just Mother Miranda and this child that wasn't even her own flesh and blood. What would happen to the child's parents? Another child abducted for experimental use only to be thrown away in the end…except this one. This one you intend to keep just to get back your dead daughter. And though I hated the idea, I couldn't do or say anything but smile. "…understood Mother Miranda."
"Good girl." Mother Miranda praised, though for me that didn't really mean much, I was still absorbing the previous information about how easy it was for her to discard us. After uprooting us from our normality, the experiments we were subjected to without any concern for our wellbeing. Without our consent! All the hardships! I was angrier for my siblings who continue to blindly follow this woman…and for ruining my relationship with the one person who I was exceptionally close to. "Run along now, Sinclair, the others will be here soon. You should not trouble yourself with such matters."
"Will you tell them this Mother?" I asked. "About having to return back to the Megamycete?"
Mother Miranda simply smiled. "No."
'I remember Mother Miranda writing in this red book…' I thought as I ruffled through the pages of what seemed like unnecessary information as well as illegible scribbles concerning her observation of my condition. My reactions to the parasite in my body as well as the nonexistent gift that was bestowed upon me. It also seemed like she was concerned about where my allegiance lies, suppose it was right to continue to play my part. Though it seemed close to the end of her observation, she seemed…fearful of me? Slightly paranoid? With how much she continued to scribble out her previous log, I couldn't tell.
'Is there a connection with how much she avoids physical contact with me?' I couldn't help but wonder as I relaxed further into my clawfoot bathtub that was full of warm water. And when I found the book held nothing more of import, having read it front to back countless times, I let out a sigh of relief and placed it on the small glass table that I kept beside the tub. 'Nothing…'
A few years ago, hard to remember or keep track of time nowadays, I had asked the Duke to keep his eyes open for such a book. I wanted to know what Mother Miranda had found out about me all those years ago…and now that I've seen it for myself I am thankful that she remained none the wiser.
'If Mother Mother Miranda remained ignorant about my condition, then it could be very beneficial in the end…' I thought, jumping suddenly when I heard a loud commotion going on inside my very own house. I attempted to listen carefully, straining as I heard the distant sound of Ianto's voice echoing throughout the house from the first floor. Ianto was panicking, judging from the sounds he was making as he yelled at whoever had just entered my home.
"My Lord, I'm afraid you can't go up there! Lady Sinclair is not decent nor proper right now!"
"I can do whatever I damn well please old man! Besides, I have some business to discuss with Sinclair."
I heard the sound of footsteps stomping up my stairs, the wood beneath the person's feet creaking at the added weight before the door to my bathroom flung open, slamming against the wall from the unnecessary force that was used to enter. When the door slowly swung back I saw that the knob had created an indent on my bathroom wall.
When I turned to my guest who had rudely interrupted my bath, standing in the doorway was Heisenberg, his bulky body blocking the entirety of my doorway as the two of us stared at each other. I was at a loss, wide-eyed, dumbfounded, and unmoving while Heisenberg stared back emotionless though his body was tensed up in irritation possibly from Ianto's constant bickering. But when my brain finally caught up to the present, I began to register that Heisenberg was standing in my doorway, in my bathroom…while I was still naked in my bathtub.
"What the fuck, Heisenberg! What is the matter with you!" I yelled as I ducked down further into the water. "I don't have any clothes on! Get the fuck out of here!"
"Lady Sinclair, I am so sorry ma'am." I heard Ianto's voice speak up from behind the metal man. "Lord Heisenberg just forced his way into your house-"
"Please, it's not like I haven't seen you in the nude before." Heisenberg scoffed before I saw his head turn to glare over his shoulder to the man behind him. "Leave old man, I have some business to discuss with Sinclair…alone."
"But my Lord, I must insist-" Ianto began to protest before I decided to speak up, cutting him off to prevent angering Heisenberg anymore as well as avoiding the metal man from injuring my most trusted companion.
"It's okay Ianto." I assured as I kept my eyes focused on Heisenberg who was still glaring over his shoulder. "Leave us."
I could hear the floorboards creak as Heisenberg turned back to look at me indicating that Ianto had left us to converse alone. His expression was unreadable due to the glasses that were blocking his eyes, his lips turned down into a permanent scowl as I continued to glare at the man.
"We have something urgent to discuss Sinclair." Heisenberg was the first to break the silence between us, not even catching on to the awkward situation he put me in!
"We're not discussing it here," I said, putting my foot down so to speak as I continued to stare at the man who remained unmoving. I lifted my hand out of the tub and motioned for Heisenberg to turn around, and when he didn't I let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm not comfortable talking to you naked! So, unless you turn around to allow me some form of privacy so that I may put something on we'll stay in my bathroom in silence for as long as possible." I huffed immaturely. "I'm sure you don't have anything better to do today, right? How's the factory coming along? Have you been to the graves lately?"
The corner of Heisenberg's lips twitched, whether he wanted to smile because he was entertained by my immature behavior or frown because I decided to not act my age…I'm not sure. And after a second of silence, Heisenberg had let out a huff before reluctantly turning his back to me. "Knowing how stubborn you are we'd be at a stand-off even while you're pruning. You've got two minutes."
"…thank you." I said causing the metal man to grunt as I carefully lifted myself out of the tub, gingerly stepping onto the tiled floors and moving over to grab the fluffy bathrobe I placed on the bathroom vanity. I slid my arms into the sleeves and tied the fluffy rope that kept my robe shut securely around my waist. When I made sure that the robe wouldn't accidentally open I went over to the man standing in the bathroom doorway. "Let's take this to my bedroom."
"A tempting invitation, Sinclair, I'm flattered." Heisenberg stated, and knowing the man so well I knew there was that signature smirk plastered on his face at his own comment. Through the narrow doorway, I pushed past the man and led the both of us toward my bedroom. "But I'm afraid I'll have to pass, this is more business than pleasure."
"You think you're so funny." I tucked my hands into the pockets of my robe. "The next time you decide to pay me a visit I'd appreciate some common courtesy."
"Common courtesy?" Heisenberg scoffed. "And what might that be, your highness?"
"How about sending me a notice ahead of time?" I grumbled under my breath. "So that when you do come I'm at least fully dressed."
"As I've said," Heisenberg said as I heard him let out a chuckle. "it's not the first time I've seen you naked Sinclair."
"Things are different now." I mumbled, not intending for Heisenberg to hear as we reached the door to my room. I stepped through the threshold, waiting for the man to follow, before closing the door shut behind him. I walked over to my bed, sat down on the mattress, and folded my arms over my chest. "I apologize for not being a proper host, you gave me no time to prepare so…let us get down to business, yes? What was so important to cause you to barge into my domain, into my house, unannounced?"
"The Bitch is dead." Heisenberg spat with as much venom as he could muster. Putting as much strain and emphasis on the word 'bitch' to signify his well-known hatred toward a certain 9-foot tall woman. "I figured, you haven't been to our so-called family gatherings when Mother Miranda summons us that I would be so kind to inform you what you've been missing." Heisenberg grabbed the wooden chair tucked into my desk and dragged it across the floor close to him so that he could sit and make himself comfortable. The sound of wood scraping against the wooden floor caused my teeth to grind together as I saw little scratch marks form due to the strength he had purposely used to drag my chair around. It was only when he sat backward on the chair did he speak once more. "Long story short, Mother Miranda brought back a crying baby a couple of days ago. Kid had an interesting mutation and our Mother proclaimed that with that child she can finally bring back her true child. So, for the ritual to revive her daughter she gave our siblings these yellow containers." From inside his coat, he brought out a yellow flask that was labeled 'Rosemary W.' as well as another word with large capital letters: HEAD. "When the time is right, we'll assemble for the ceremony to start, and then boom! Mother Miranda will finally have the daughter she always wanted back in her life."
I knew all this already, Ethan had told me so as well as a few meetings I had alone with Mother Miranda…but I didn't want to open up that can of worms again with Heisenberg so I feigned innocence. "Why tell me this Heisenberg?"
"Because now, there's a man running around the village looking to save his little Rose while killing us off one…by one." Heisenberg listed off ominously. "I suspect Donna and Moreau are next on the list, myself included." Heisenberg growled, his gloved hands resting on the back of the chair he was seated on clenching as I saw the wood lightly give way under his grip. "Ethan Winters will be picking us off one by one just as Mother Miranda planned…and though you're isolated on this side of the village it doesn't mean you're excluded from Mother's purge." Heisenberg shrugged his shoulders. "Thought I'd be the nice one for a change and warn you…tell you to be wary of any strangers that venture into your little bubble of tranquility."
"I'm not a child anymore Heisenberg, you don't have to tell me to be wary of strangers not of our village." I sighed before I heard the sound of splintering wood and when I looked up I saw that he had broken the back of my chair he was resting upon.
"No, but you are a naive woman who trusts too easily and insists on pleasing everyone." Heisenberg growled and I immediately knew that I need to mediate the situation before he decides to lose control.
"Is…" I tilted my head to the side. After all this time, is he finally concerned about my wellbeing once more? "Is that all you wanted to tell me?"
"Pretty much," Heisenberg shrugged, the tension still there but it looked like he deflated at the sudden change in the direction of our conversation. "hopefully this will bring you back to reality instead of staying confined to this 'perfect little lie' you've built up for yourself."
'After not seeing me all these years, that's truly all you want to say to me.' I thought sadly, sighing as I stood back to my feet and closed the distance between us. In reaction, Heisenberg stood to his feet as well as we stood face to face, my chest almost touching his as I stood tall and unafraid. "I appreciate the warning, I shall keep my eyes open. If that is all then allow me to escort you out, Heisenberg."
The both of us didn't talk, I wasn't sure what more to say to this man…even though there was so much I did wish to talk about. I hadn't seen Heisenberg in years, but I knew him well enough to know that now wasn't the best time to talk about the things that had happened. Judging off the aura he was exuding I knew that he wasn't in the mood to talk about our past, and I'd like to think I knew my best friend well enough. I knew if I said anything right now he wasn't going to have any of it or give me a chance to speak if he knew what I wanted to talk about.
At the entrance to my house, as I was about to continue walking him back to the front and only entrance of my greenhouse, Heisenberg had held up his hand to stop me from continuing any further.
"As much as I appreciate your whole…persona you have going on about being the perfect host, Sinclair, I don't need you walking me the rest of the way. I've had enough unnecessary interactions for today, I don't need anymore, especially those from my past." Heisenberg's harsh comment struck a nerve with me, but I bit my tongue to prevent myself from lashing out. Not because I was afraid of what else he would say to me or what he could do, believe me, I could never be afraid of this man…but because I had a village of people to protect. Speaking up to the most dangerous man alive, even just to stick up for myself and to confront him about all that happened years ago wouldn't end well for the people I vowed to protect in my domain.
"Then I bid you a good day," I lowered my head, placing my right foot a couple of inches behind my left, and bent my knees…offering a mock curtsy before lifting my head up to stare at the man. "Lord Heisenberg."
The metal man scoffed, his teeth bared as he smirked at my audacity and courage before turning his back to me and started walking away. I watched as the metal Lord nodded his head to the side in greeting in the direction where I knew the Duke would be sitting comfortably before staggering in his departure. He stood in the middle of the walkway leading up to my house before I saw the brim of his hat turn just a bit.
"Figure out where your allegiance lie, Sinclair." Heisenberg turned further to look back at me over his shoulder, offering me no smile…even his fake one I would take, but he remained unreadable as he called back to give me one final warning. "Because at the end of this, you're either my ally…or you're in my way."
But the man didn't give me a chance to respond just as he did all those years ago, and maybe if he did allow me that chance things would've turned out differently.
'But…I've always been on your side…Karl.' I longingly thought as I watched his figure walk further and further away from me.
"I remember a time when you two were as thick as thieves." A jolly voice spoke up before bursting out into a fit of laughter. I turned to the Duke and saw him staring at a piece of paper he held in his hand. "Never one without the other if I recall."
"Times are different, times change…even when we don't want them to." I said before scooting my way closer to where the Duke sat in an attempt to get a better look at the paper in his hands. The Duke, at first, had tried to move away to prevent me from looking so I went to stand on the balls of my feet in an attempt to make myself leveled with the large man. I leaned against the arm of his chair to pull myself further up as I tilted my head in curiosity. "What are you looking at that's got you in such a jovial mood?"
The moment I laid my eyes on whatever the Duke held in his hand I could feel my cheeks instantly heat up in embarrassment. Immediately, I jumped up and attempted to snatch back the black and white photo out of the Duke's hands only for him to hold it further away and out of my reach. "Where did you get that!"
"It's hard to imagine that you two used to be so tiny and carefree." The Duke laughed as he kept holding the photo away from me. After a few seconds of me flailing around on the arm of the Duke's chair and trying not to fall off, I was finally able to grab the photo out of his hands. I turned my back to the Duke and gently held the photo against my chest while from behind I heard the Duke let out a soft sigh. "You never told me what happened that day, I remember vividly that you returned to your home in tears."
"I don't want to remember that day…" I mumbled before shaking my head as I moved the photo away just a bit from my body, looking down at the image affectionately as I was hit by a wave of nostalgia. "that's a lie. I just don't want to relive that day. I want to always remember the good times we shared fondly. While hopelessly wishing for things to go back to the way they used to be."
I made my way back into my house, tightening the furry belt firmly around my waist as I walked to my living room. I went over to carefully place the photo securely on the mantel of my unlit fireplace just so that it was always in my sight. I let out a breathy sigh as I stared at the picture that had captured a single moment of two smiling children trapped in their own little bubble of cheerfulness. Two children lost in their own world, ignorant of the hardships that had yet to come. It was a moment that Mother Miranda had captured while we were in her lab, but for what reason though I couldn't say. She had said it was for studying purposes, to capture the moment of her success, since it was the first that two children had had a positive reaction to the parasite and lived through the ordeal.
'I miss those days…' I folded my arms loosely over my chest as the longer I stared at the picture I felt my eyes begin to burn and my chest beginning to tighten. The usual reaction whenever I would recall that moment all those years ago because it was that day that I truly lost my best friend and the person I've been…well, as cliche as it sounds…in love with since I found out the definition of what 'love' meant. The both of us now walked different paths, even though I would wish so badly to get back and walk the same path together. I've thought about ways to try, but the man can be so incredibly stubborn!
It's a bit of a short chapter, but here we get a glimpse of her 'relationship' with Mother Miranda and the tension (as well as a small glimpse of background/relationship) between Karl and Selena! A little heads up, we will be jumping from past to present and I hope you can kinda see the change. Hopefully, it won't be too irritating, but I think it'll fit with the storytelling. ^w^
If you are enjoying my story and looking forward to more chapters then leave a nice little review, favorite, and follow to let me know! It's not mandatory though, but it's greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone for reading! Sending lots of love and big hugs your way!
-SO