Chapter 24: The Big Day
Iris had been scrubbed, poked, pinched and pulled at for what felt like an eternity.
The two maids that entered her room avoided eye contact, merely curtseying and getting to work on the bath as Iris watched them with bleary red eyes and a tightness in her heart. She knew these girls, they'd helped her countless times as a maid, dragged her to bed after feedings, giggled over books at night, and even gushed over her leaving to work at the factory, both of them fond of Lord Heisenberg's… manly wiles.
She desperately wanted to talk to them, touch them, hug them. But remained silent, eyes downcast until they left the room with another curtsey. She wouldn't allow another maid to be punished because of prying eyes and ears.
The bath was perfect, Iris taking dollops of the luxurious gels and oils that Dimitrescu had left for her. This was the first proper bath she'd had in… forever. The showers of the factory were far better than the icy baths she'd been forced through as a maid, but they were still rusted, leaky and would switch between lava hot and ice cold at random. The oils left Iris's skin shimmering in the soft light, her hair smelt of roses, and some kind of herb or spice that she was too ignorant to place.
The door opened abruptly, with Bela, the eldest of Dimitrescu's daughters, arriving with an arsenal of hair and makeup products. She was chirping happily about how she'd barely slept from excitement, that she and her sisters were so happy that they were allowed to attend the ceremony, at Dimitrescu's insistence. They were all to be Iris's bridesmaids, since they were so close when she worked as a maid.
Iris sat still and kept quiet, murmuring polite agreements with the girl and trying not to wince and whine too much as she wrenched her hair into some intricate style that Iris knew will take an age to remove when all of this was done and over with. It didn't take long for the girl to become impatient, complaining about her hair, her skin, her eyes.
"It's a shame they look like that now. The whole point of eye makeup is to make the colour pop. But you don't have any colour at all. It's such a waste."
"I'm sure your talents will pull through Miss Bela, they always do."
The girl snorted, "You're correct. I'm exceptional."
After more plucking, poking and far too much powder, Bela was finishing up by painstakingly painting Iris's lips with blood red lipstick, using a tiny little brush as if she was a canvas.
"Don't you dare lick your lips. This is Mother's special lipstick."
"I will be sure to thank her for her generosity."
Another snort, "Is that politeness what turns Uncle Heisenberg on? Is that why he used to go after all of our maids?"
Iris tried to keep her face neutral but the shock betrayed her, Bela leaning back and cackling.
"Were you one of those maids? I shouldn't have bothered with the blush if all it took was some teasing to get so much colour on your cheeks!"
"I-I'm sorry Miss Bela I was just surprised. I only became aware of his… proclivities, in your home after I was sent to the factory. I would have surely informed your mother of his break ins had I known."
"Yeah, and then you'd be in the dungeons chewing on rats, not here becoming a Lord. It all worked out for you didn't it?" Bela smirked cruelly, disappearing out of the room as Iris tried to push the vision of her friends, just a few floors below her, starving in cages, transforming into monsters, for no reason other than a petty mistake, or bad mood of their Lady or Mistresses.
"It's not fair." Iris's throat felt full, leaning her head back to prevent tears leaking, Bela would have her head if she ruined her makeup so soon, then she'd be able to apologise to the maids herself, for not being able to save them.
"WHAT'S NOT FAIR?"
Iris jumped out of her skin, whipping around to see Angie scrabbling by Donna's feet, as she hooked and fluffed the wedding dress to the grand wardrobe of the guest room.
"M- Nothing, Miss Angela. I'm so sorry, I didn't hear you enter."
"It's a busy day. It's understandable." Donna spoke, tracing the lace patterns and delicate buttons of the dress with a critical touch. The dress was supposedly from the 1930s, which would've been impressive if Iris was aware of the current year. It was some shade of white, with long sleeves, the dress itself was satin, with an intricate lace overlay. The veil was equally detailed, and stretched all the way to the floor.
Iris found it all very over the top, for a ceremony that would take place in a cave deep under the village.
Donna wordlessly helped Iris into the dress, buttoning her up with surprising speed.
"There should be no chance of any mishaps. But I shall bring my kit… Just in case."
"Thank you, Lady Benniviento."
"Donna."
Iris felt a small, genuine smile grace her face.
"Thank you Donna."
"Donna? Is she ready yet? We must stick to our schedule sister!" Dimitrescu's booming voice called through the door.
"Just one moment my Lady" Iris called out, her chest feeling like lead as she stepped into her wedding shoes. More white satin, with thin little heels and floral details on the toe. She absorbed the delicate patterns for as long as she could, knowing they'd end up coated in the Megamycete's muck in no time.
Sucking in a deep breath and schooling her face into one of an excited, blushing bride, Iris opened the door and got ready for the show.
"Darling you look wonderful! Why I knew that lipstick would be your colour!"
"Thank you for your generosity my Lady."
"Oh please, Alcina now. We're to be sisters in just some hours." Dimitrescu winked cheekily, the thick, too thick, liquid in her wine glass sloshing dangerously to the edge.
"Thank you, Alcina." The word felt tainted on her tongue, they were not sisters, were not friends. She was a parasite who leeched off the women of this village, taking advantage of their youth and poverty, only to work them to dust, experiment on them, destroy them.
The giantess coo'd at her words, sipping her bloodied wine and leading Iris to the main entrance where the three sisters awaited to follow her through the village.
All of the villagers would be there, even staff, Dimitrescu announced. Mother Miranda had ordered it, declaring the day as a sacred one where Mother Miranda would publicly accept her new daughter and Lord of the village.
Iris's stomach turned at the thought of her friends, the people who knew her and her grandmother, seeing her now. Paraded through the village for all to bow down and weep. How would they feel? Happy? Jealous? Betrayed? Disgusted?
She felt disgusted.
"I have good word to know that your groom has managed to dress himself and be escorted to the ceremony by Moreau with no bloodshed" A disappointed look flashing across her face "Mother is just outside, she will lead, followed by myself and Donna of course, then yourself followed by my dear daughters. Don't they look beautiful?" Her face oozed pride, staring lovingly at the trio of girls squabbling over who stood where and what part of Iris's train they'd get to carry.
"Yes Alcina. I couldn't wish for better bridesmaids."
"No. You couldn't. Why I've taken so many photographs of them, Mother allowed me to use her own, which is usually reserved for Lord portraits of course. I require only the upmost quality to capture my girls. Soon, it'll be time for your own. Then to be hung in every home in the village!"
Iris responded with more polite drivel, wishing nothing more than to be arms deep in a cadaver, or sweating in her forge.
"Ready?" Dimitrescu asked, all cheery smiles and wine reddened lips. With a nod from Iris, Donna brought the veil over her face, finally hiding her from their constant watch, as Dimitrescu pushed open the grand doors. Outside, Miranda stood in full regalia, her wings spread high, her halo blocking the sun.
"Let us commence this sacred day, and welcome our newest family member to our people." She announced without turning, her voice booming throughout the silent grounds, all but floating down the steps towards the village where Iris could already hear faint mumbles and shushing over the tinkling of the bells of Miranda's staff.
Let the show go on.
The walk was slow, to ensure each and every villager, lined up in the cold breeze, got a good glimpse of the bride. She moved robotically, every step punctuated by a screaming order in her head to not flinch, to not run, to not, absolutely not, cry.
Every so often a shutter of a camera would click over the jingling of Miranda's ceremonial staff. The tiny sounds startling Iris's heart as if a grenade had gone off. They slowly paraded through the graveyard, where the majority of the villagers stood, having likely come from an early service at the church just off the grounds. They looped through Old town, where from the corner of her eye, Iris could see villagers watching from both the cobbled path and high up on the balconies and roofs of houses, eventually parading back to the graveyard, stopping at the Maiden of War and up the narrow road towards the ceremonial site.
The ceremonial site was off limits to villagers. It was said that ancient kings met to bless the land, where Mother Miranda decreed her protection of the village, and where Iris was supposed to give her blood to become one with the sacred grounds.
Miranda stood in wait, a large silvery dagger ready for slicing in hand, the other stretched out for her to join.
"This village is sworn to us, our protection. Ruled by my four children, Lord Moreau" the dagger pointing to his emblem of a mermaid, "Lord Dimitrescu", a rose with two swords, "Lord Heisenberg," A horse and horseshoe, "And Lord Benniviento", a sun and moon. "Now you may not rule over your own domain. But you will be a part of something much greater. Bringing life to my Eva, who has slept for far too long."
The cut came swiftly, with no warning. She steeled her resolve, kept herself silent, and allowed Miranda to manipulate her hand, squeezing her palm until the centre symbol, an octagon with alternative light and dark segments, was drenched in her bright red blood.
The woman leant forward, cold lips pressed against Iris's veil covered forehead.
"Welcome daughter." She murmured, staying far too close for far too long, then pulling back and sheathing her bloodied blade.
"We go forward."
In silence, Miranda led them down a lone road to near the edge of the Dimitrescu estate, where a flimsy wooden bridge joined the land and a boat lay in wait, Moreau hovering next to it, wringing wort riddled hands together.
"M-Mother! I did it! He is there!"
"Good job my son." The bloated fish-man near fainting from joy, gleefully dancing in his spot as Miranda settled into the boat, hand on the steering wheel.
"We shall continue the ceremony in front of the Black God's gaze. Karl is waiting for us there. This is a gift. No one but I have seen the Black God in person before."
"It is an honour." Iris murmured, head low. She wondered if Miranda could sense her fear, hear her thundering heart.
The journey was short, Miranda stopping the boat in front of an old dock that led to nowhere. Without looking back, she squeezed through a crack in the rocky mountain face, disappearing from view. Clearly Iris was expected to follow.
Why on Earth Donna bothered with a white dress she had no clue.
The scent of damp dirt and stuffy air filled Iris's nose, with the sound of trickling water droplets ringing in her ears. The cave was near identical to the one in her dreams, dark and dank with a hidden, winding stone staircase that descended deep into the Earth. Candles had been lit to ease her way, but Iris would've been able to walk to her destination blindfolded, drawn by the immense power radiating from the dark, foetus-like entity suspended in the air.
Beneath it, stood her Karl. His hair was tied back, his glasses and necklaces gone. He wore a dark suit, with smart shoes, and his hands bare.
It was the cleanest she'd ever seen him. The smartest. Her heart rattling against her ribs as his eyes glanced up to meet hers, still hidden behind her stupid veil.
To his side, Miranda stood with her dagger brandished in one hand, her bible in the other.
"Come, daughter. Join your betrothed in dark matrimony, under the Black God's unending gaze."
Iris stopped just to the side of Miranda, staring up at Karl, who gently lifted her veil, a small smirk gracing his face.
"Under his eye, I join you, Lord Karl Heisenberg." Miranda motioned for his hand, slicing the blade, still dirtied with her blood, across his palm, "and Iris, devout and humble servant," she sliced over Iris's already wounded arm, forming an X shape across her palm, stinging with pain, skin lifting and peeling from the wounds. "To be forever entwined. To serve the Black God forever, under the midnight moon".
Under her careful hands, Iris placed her bloodied palm onto Karl's, their blood mixing, merging, becoming one with another. A blood bond was an eternal one. Stronger and far more intimate than any silly ring they could procure for her to wear.
Miranda turned her back onto the couple, head tilted to stare with agonising longing at the pulsating thing. Iris and Karl followed her lead, turning and staring up in horror, the form twitching and convulsing as if Miranda's mere presence brought it alive. Was this Eva? Her soul, somehow trapped in this hulking beast, desperately reaching out for her mother?
Or merely a parasitic lump of Cadou, desperate to infect them with its filth.
"Please. I know you're there my sweetheart. Take this fertile womb, ascended to the proper status of Lord of this village, married under the eye of He who has granted me so many gifts" With a final longing look, Miranda bowed her hair, hands clenched together in prayer.
"Please."
"In life and in death, we give glory. Mother Miranda." Karl spoke, shooting Iris a forceful look whilst the woman continued to bow and pray silently.
"In life and in death, we give glory. Mother Miranda." Iris repeated.
The woman rose slowly, turning to the newlyweds. Although Iris didn't feel like she'd just been wed. She knew fully well from the start of this rushed engagement that the ceremony was all a ruse for Miranda to mould Iris into the perfect host for Eva. Apparently that included a fancy dress and ring.
But she thought the woman would've put more effort into the ruse. Vows, a kiss?
"Karl, if you could wait outside for a moment, your bride will follow in a moment."
"Of course Mother," He left without fight, probably desperate to escape the overwhelming pressure of being so close to the Megamycete. It hurt all the same, to see him leave her so easily.
"My dear I want you to visit this place as much as possible. Especially after every copulation." Miranda gently took her hands, taking care to not irritate her wound. "Prolonged exposure will warm her up to you, increase your chances of being chosen."
The woman's watery eyes glanced back up to the thing fondly, Iris wondered what it looked like through her eyes. Did she see the veiny, bulging mass of reds and black, or did she see her baby? Waiting to be born.
"It's a peaceful place. I come here often to just sit. With her."
"Would you like some time alone with her Mother Miranda?"
The woman tore her eyes from the Megamycete, smiling.
"Yes, that would be nice. Thank you, Mrs Heisenberg."
Author's Note: In this fic, I imagine that villagers became more able to get hold of "modern" tech like disposable cameras, maybe some bulky tvs and computers, during the time Miranda was away. But a Lord like Dimitrescu would still be stuck in the past due to not having any interactions with the common folk.
In truth, I'm replaying the game again and after seeing the photo album in Luiza's house, started overthinking way too much.