Published: 19-05-2019 on AO3
Ethan had made a right mess of Castle Dimitrescu, leaving nothing but the fallen bodies of Alcina and her daughters behind, but that was alright because the Duke was now here.
"Ah, my beautiful Lady Dimitrescu. Beautiful in life and in death," he smiled as he collected her crystal form.
He also slowly but surely made his way for the three daughters, collecting them all up to take back to his wagon.
"Time to get started," he said aloud to no one but his horse as he sat himself down.
The crystals were set steadily upon the floor as he got to work on the first, of which was Lady Dimitrescu.
oOo
He'd worked tirelessly through the night until the crystal started to crack and form the body of a young fully naked woman.
"Hello, my dear." He greeted her with a warm smile.
"W-Where am I?" she asked, slightly panicked, her long dark hair now falling over her shoulder as she looked around.
"Shush, you're safe now." He cooed softly to her.
"Missing something," she now said as tears formed in her eyes.
"I have them right here, so don't worry about that." He smiled as he gestured to her daughters.
She seemed to ease up a little at that as he turned to grab a blanket for her. She took it gladly to cover herself, now watching as he got to work on her first daughter.
"Ah, Miss Bela." He chuckled lightly as the blonde looked around terrified until setting eyes on her mother, to which she scurried over to be held by the older woman.
"My darling," she smiled warmly as she held her daughter tightly.
"Mama," the younger girl whimpered against her.
"You're safe now, my darling. I won't let anything happen to you ever again."
"Welcome back, Miss Cassandra." He now smiled as she too looked around.
Setting eyes on the Duke she hissed at him.
"Settle down, my dear." A soothing voice now snapped her attention to the one speaking.
"Ma-ma!" she too scurried over to her.
"Now for Miss Daniela."
Alcina watched as the Duke did his magic to bring Daniela back into the world.
"Can't...die! Don't...want...to...die..." She cried. "Want...mother."
"Daniela, my dear." A voice called out to her.
She sat up with tear stained cheeks.
"M-Mama," she stammered as she pulled up to head over to her mother, literally throwing herself on the pile.
"Very touching indeed," the Duke chuckled lightly at the scene.
"What will you do with us?" Alcina now asked.
"I've brought you back so you can enjoy your lives, my dear. You're all reborn to start a fresh."
"What of the Donna?" she now asked.
"She will be revived in due time, my dear. For now I shall get you and your daughters someplace safe."
Before setting off, the Duke grabbed yet another three blankets to hand over to the girls. Alcina helped each one of them wrap it around themselves while he turned back around again
"Walk on, girl." He softly spoke to the horse as he whipped the reins a little.
The wagon started moving and soon the four would come to find life a little more different.
"Are we going far away from that man?" Daniela asked from her position snuggled right up to her mother, with Bela on one side and Cassandra now crawling over to the back of the wagon to look outside.
"Yes, darling." Alcina reassured as she stroked a hand down her daughters hair before looking over at Cassandra who was now holding her hand out the back.
"Mother, it's snowing." She turned with a smile like an excited child. "I can touch it, the cold isn't affecting me. Mother, it's not affecting me!"
"Of course it won't," the Duke chuckled. "You've been reborn anew, back to your former selves."
"Then that means..." Alcina now worried for herself.
"No, my dear. You no longer have a disease of any kind."
"I-I don't?" she asked to clarify.
"You're in the best of health," he reassured her.
Bela couldn't help but look to her and smile, resulting in Alcina wrapping an arm around her daughters neck to bring her close.
"We're going to start a new life, just the four of us." She smiled, trying desperately to hold back the tears but failed miserably.
"Mother," Bela frowned, trying not to get emotional herself.
"I'm sorry, darling." She apologised to then kiss the top of her head.
"The first thing I want to do is play in the snow. Can I, mother?" Cassandra pleaded.
"You can do whatever you want, my darling." Alcina smiled as the Duke chuckled before addressing someone.
"Family of four," he spoke in Romanian. "Yes, the small cottage. I arranged to see it. Thank you."
"Cottage?" Daniela now lifted herself up from her mother to try to look outside.
"Onwards," he pressed the horse on again.
"We're living in a cottage?"
"Anythings better than nothing, my sweet." Alcina smiled while standing to look as well.
"This isn't just any cottage," the Duke spoke up again. "It belonged to a Lady Alexandrescu."
Alcina perked up at that, her daughters still didn't quite understand the importance of it but they'd see. The wagon came to a holt in front of the beautiful building standing in front of them, four pairs of bare feet climbed down to head over.
"You should have no problem getting settled in," the Duke told them as he threw Alcina the key. "You can live off the land, all expenses paid so there's no need to worry about a thing."
"Mother, my throats so dry." Cassandra whined.
"Go get yourself a drink then," Alcina gestured to the kitchen.
"I-I don't have the urge for blood! Mother, why?"
"We're human again, sweetheart." Alcina soothed her.
"Cass, come try this." Bela offered her a can of pop with a smile.
"What is it?" Cassandra asked, eyeing up the can. "Pepsi."
"Try it," Bela offered.
"Ohh, I want some." Daniela now rushed over as Cassandra took a good amount before coming up for air. "Give me some!"
"No!" Cassandra snapped, raising it to her lips again.
"Mother!" she yelled. "Cassandra won't share!"
"Dani, here there's another." Bela handed her one.
She took it to drink it down just like Cassandra.
"Just remember we're human now. Stuff like that is bad in large quantities."
"I think you're going to get on just fine," the Duke smiled from the doorway. "Well then I bid you farewell."
"Bye!" the three all said in unison as he left them to it.
Alcina headed to her room, finding a dress already laid out on the bed for her. She decided to bathe first before getting dressed. Once she was done, she headed back to find the three all outside playing in the snow, even with just a blanket on.
"Girls, come in. You'll end up getting sick without proper clothes on."
The three laughed and giggled before heading back in.
"Go bathe and dress. We can start dinner then."
"Yes, mother." They all nodded.
Bela was the first down, her hair still damp from her bath.
"What would you like me to prepare for you, mother?" she asked.
Alcina looked around the cupboards, there was just so much stuff to try. In the end she settled on a simple soup.
"No meat?" Cassandra asked, sniffing the soup that Bela was stirring while Alcina chopped the veg.
"We don't have any."
"Then I'll go hunt something," she smiled as she grabbed the gun from the wall to head out.
"Is dinner ready yet?" Daniela now asked as she took a seat at the table.
"Your sisters just gone out to catch something," Alcina told her just as a gunshot was now heard.
"Mother, sisters, I bring you fresh prey." She announced a little while later, carrying a dead warthog to dump in the kitchen for Bela to get stuck into. Bela was always the one to prepare mother's meals before, not trusting the maids.
Once Bela had stripped the animal of all the meat they could eat, she stored the large amounts in the fridge, while adding the rest to the soup. When it was ready, she took it over to the table to share into everyone's bowls.
"Delicious," Alcina commented. "Thank you, sweethearts."
Cassandra gave a huff, knowing Daniela did nothing to earn it.
"Daniela would you like to help me out in the gardens tomorrow? See if we can get it set up for spring."
"Yes, mother." She nodded before lifting her bowl for seconds.
Bela scooped more soup into her bowl, which was then promptly followed by everyone else's as well as her own.
"What do people do for entertainment?" Cassandra asked after dinner was done with.
"TV," Daniela shrugged as she grabbed the remote. "Uncle Moreau used to watch it a lot."
"But what's the point when you could be outside or hunting?" Cassandra frowned as Bela collected the bowls to wash, Alcina now helping with drying and putting them away.
"How are you taking this?" she asked her eldest.
Bela shrugged. "It's going to take time to get used to, but I don't care as long as I have my family."
Alcina took her in a hug, which for once was nice as she could actually hug her properly now seen as she was just a head taller than her daughters.
"I like this," Bela smiled, finally able to hug her mother properly. "I like the new you."
"You do, do you?" Alcina frowned as she softened to lightly towel whip her daughter.
"Ow, mother." Bela giggled as she tried to get away only to have Alcina grab her and start to tickle her. "No! Stop! Hahahaha! "
Daniela and Cassandra quickly stood to rush over, tackling their mother to tickle me her instead.
"No! Girls! Stop! Stop!" she panted through giggles.
"Quick run!" Cassandra shouted.
They all fled, leaving an angry looking Alcina, who now smiled. "I'll find you."
"No you won't!"
"Daniela!" Cassandra glared at her sister.
"Shit!" she giggled as Alcina loomed over them.
"Hey mother," Cassandra smiled up at her before grabbing Daniela's hand to run out of there.
They stopped at Bela's room, seeing her sorting out her bedroom. Cassandra now climbed upon the bed to jump up in it.
"Cassandra!" Bela screamed at her. "I can't believe you're making a mess!"
The brunette dropped down to run out before getting punished.
"I will have to buy those girls a pet, perhaps that will keep them under control?"
xXx
Come morning she left the girls to sleep in while she made the short walk down to the shops. It was nice that there was a small pet shop here. Passing the pups, she stopped to look at a cage that held the kittens. One of which was immediately drawn to her.
"Meow!" it cried as the others played in the background.
"Hello there, little one." She bent down to look at the small creature.
"Meow!"
"Everything alright?" the owner greeted her.
"I'd like this little one," she pointed to the small creature.
"No problem, I'll get her a suitable carry case and we'll sort out the rest.
Alcina couldn't help but talk to the small bundle of fluff on the way back home. Once back she was greeted to Bela eating breakfast, Cassandra slumped on the settee and Daniela yawning loudly at the table.
"Where'd you go, mother?" Bela asked as she placed her bowl in the sink.
"I went to go buy a new family member," she smiled at their reactions.
"What do you mean family mem..."
Lifting the carry case, she set it down on the table to open it up. At once the small bundle was climbing out to greet them.
"Awww," Bela cooed. "She's so cute."
"What's she called?" Daniela asked.
Alcina shrugged.
"Who's cute?" Cassandra now asked as she rubbed her eyes to slink down at the table to yawn just as something furry touched her, nearly making her jump out of her skin.
The kitten also jumped and ran back to the others.
"Good one, Cassie." Bela smiled as she stroked the little furball.
Cassandra rolled her eyes before standing to come closer. The three now petting her as well as playing with her.
"What should we call her?" Daniela asked.
"Killer!" Cassandra offered.
Daniela frowned at her with that. "I say Valentine."
"No," Bela frowned.
"Well, what have you got?"
Bela shrugged.
"Mother?" Daniela asked.
"How about Stella, meaning star?" she suggested. "She's our little shining star."
"I like it," Bela shrugged.
"Me too," Cassandra nodded.
"Stella," Daniela smiled. "Thanks mother."
"Take good care of her now, won't you?"
"Yes mother of course." They all nodded.
She made herself busy around the house a little just until the snow stopped falling. It was different after all that she didn't have maids doing all the work for her now, but this was a new life and she didn't care for others looking after her, though she made an exception for her daughters.
"Daniela," she called, while slipping on her shoes and coat.
"Yes, mother?"
"You'd help me in the garden remember?"
"Yes, mother." She nodded, slipping on her shoes and her coat.
Cassandra did the same, only she would be going out for the sake of seeing the nature around them. Bela stayed back to continue with the house and as well as watching their little kitten.
"Let's see what can be done," Alcina thought as she headed out.
She gave the small patch a good looking over, seeing they could in fact start to grow some plants in the rich soil.
"Tomorrow I'll go to the market to pick up some seeds."
"Mother!" Cassandra headed over to them, a chicken under each arm. "I found livestock."
"That's not all you've found is it?" Alcina smiled at the red stain around her lips.
Cassandra grinned. "There's berries all around the edge of the forest."
"And you ate most of them instead of bringing them back?"
"There's tons of them, I couldn't eat them all." She frowned as she walked past to place the chickens in the coop.
The sound of hooves is heard once again, followed by the sound of wheels running along the dirt road. Alcina, Cassandra and Daniela all turn to quickly look as the Duke steadies the horse to a stop at the cottage across from them.
"Who is..." Daniela asks while trying to get a good look.
A woman is helped down from the wagon, she looks to be carrying something under the blanket too.
"We're home, Angie." They heard the woman softly say.
"I wish you all the best, my dear."
The woman turns to look up at him, giving a nod. "Thank you," she says before heading into her new home.
"Is that auntie Donna?" Cassandra asks, getting a smile and a nod from Alcina.
"Should we go see her?"
"No, let her settle in first."
Cassandra turns back to her chickens to scatter a few seeds she'd found in the woods.
xXx
The Duke hobbled on in to House Beneviento, finding what was left of Donna as a pile of stone. But in that pile was her heart, he just had to bend down to find it.
"Ah, there you are." He smiled upon finding the small crystal. "And little Angie too."
He turned from the pile to tsk at the blood splatters and smears.
"You do make quite the mess, Ethan Winters." He frowned as he headed back out with the pair.
Once he was back at his wagon, he brought the pair back to life. Donna being the first to awaken.
"Miss Beneviento," the Duke smiled at her as she backed over to the back of the wagon.
"No more!" she warned, holding up her hands in surrender.
"It's alright, my dear." He soothed. "Mr Winters isn't here."
"Then where am I?" she asked timidly.
"You're safe," he smiled at her. "I brought you back."
"But what of Angie, my precious baby."
"She's here," he gestured to the doll next to him. "I was just about to bring her back now."
"Y-You won't hurt her, will you?"
The Duke chuckled lightly. "No, my dear. It will be painless, just like yours was."
Donna crawled forwards, watching as he got to work on Angie now. Soon a figure was born from the doll, a little girl.
"A-Angie!" Donna quickly wrapped her arms around the young child, who looked slightly disorientated.
"M-Mama," she stammered upon the woman's embrace.
The Duke was quick to grab a blanket to lightly place over the top of the pair before turning around to urge his horse on. Donna was quietly sat in the back, which wasn't surprising. She hugged the young girl close to her, keeping her and herself calm by stroking the child's hair.
"We're here, my dear."
Donna looked up. "W-Where?"
"A small town on the outskirts, you will be safe here."
She stood with Angie in her arms, the Duke followed her to the back to help her down.
"Don't forget your doll now," he said as he handed the doll over to her.
"Thank you!" she nodded.
"You're very welcome," he smiled as he headed back to now turn the wagon around to head back.
Making her way to her home, she stepped inside. There were a few dolls inside and that already made her smile. In the corner sat a sewing machine. She was going to enjoy her new life.
"We get to start a fresh, baby." She softly said to her daughter.
"A fresh, mama?"
"Yes, my darling." She smiled as she headed for the bathroom to bathe.
Once her and Angie were clean, she took her daughter to the bedroom to get her changed. She didn't mind the outfits left for her, but she'd been so well used to her black dress and veil. Though seen as she didn't have the scar on her face anymore there would be no reason to cover her face. Her tragic past had her mostly mute, but hopefully now she would start to come out of her shell.
"I'm tired, mama."
"Off to bed with you then," Donna caressed her daughters face softly with her hand.
Putting Angie to bed, she left her to sleep while she started work on making a few outfits for the dolls on the table. Maybe she could hand them out at the local orphanage. But first she looked down on the doll her father had made for her and decided to do her up for Angie to cherish as she once cherished her.
"A few fixes here and there. Sew up the dress a little here and yes, you'll be fit for Angie."
She sat herself down to take the dress from the doll, in order to start repairs. She was happy to have a mini workshop to work on her dolls here too. Seems the Duke had thought of everything.
"Now to just give you a clean," she smiled as she sat proud of her handy work.
She took the doll over to the sink to give her a good clean before looking her over properly.
"I can't thank you enough, papa, for this amazing work."
Taking the doll back, she brushed out the hair, styled it to then work on the dress. Once that was done she cleaned it and left it to dry. Come morning she'd dress her and properly give her to her daughter.
xXx
She found the doll exactly where she'd left her, the dress was now clean and dry ready to be slipped on. Which she now promptly did, movement was heard behind her making her turn to see her half asleep daughter yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"Morning, my sweet." Donna greeted by walking over to lift her up, planting a kiss on her daughters cheek.
"Mama," Angie giggled as Donna now set her down at the table.
"I'll do us some breakfast," she now told her as she got breakfast sorted out for them.
After they'd ate and Donna had now given her daughter her doll, she sat down to work on making a few more dresses when there was a knock at the door. Standing she headed over to go answer it.
"Alcina!" her face now lit up at the familiar face.
"Hello, my dear." Alcina greeted back warmly as her daughters stood beside her. "We thought we'd come to see how you are."
"We also brought you these," Cassandra now added as she held up a few eggs in her hands. "My chickens just laid them this morning."
"Thank you," Donna smiled as she took them from her. "Please, come in."
"Thank you," Alcina smiled as she and her daughters stepped inside.
Angie looked to them all.
"Hey," the three now greeted her.
"I like your doll," Bela smiled.
"You want to hold her?" Angie asked.
Bela took the doll to hold as Angie now led them to her room to show them her dolls up there too.
"How are you?" Alcina asked as Donna set the eggs in the fridge.
"My mind's more clear now, but I still can't rid myself of the memory of what happened to me."
Alcina took her hand in hers. "I've had the same problem. My daughters have been through a lot, they're badly affected too."
"I'm glad we now get a second chance in life and I just hope he doesn't get away with everything he's done to us. The trauma he's caused."
"He's managed to take us on and win, we can only hope Salvatore or that fool Heisenberg can take him out. If not it's down to Miranda."
That name didn't sit too well now, not after everything she'd done to them.
"I just hate that we were used as pawns to help aid that woman!" Alcina now scowled.
Donna nodded. "We should put it all out of our minds. We've been given a fresh start."
"You're right," Alcina smiled warmly at her, now letting Donna make them a cup of tea.
The two then sat and chat for a good while, enjoying their tea while the four played together upstairs. Before it got too late, Alcina called upon her daughters to leave Donna to rest before she headed for bed.
"We had fun, auntie Donna." They waved as they left.
"Thank you for the talk," Donna warmly thanked her before Alcina now joined her daughter's.
"You're welcome to come visit us anytime. You know that."
"Yes," Donna nodded. "Thank you, Alcina."
She smiled before heading off with her daughters. Settling down in front of the fire, she watched a bit of TV before going to bed. This time Angie slept along side her.
oOo
She'd spent hours working on new dresses for the dolls, as well as making up new dolls to which she now gathered up to take to the local orphanage. She gave a knock on the door to then be greeted by a older looking woman.
"Hello," Donna greeted first. "I didn't know if you would be interested in my dolls?"
She pulled one out to show the woman, who took it to look it over.
"It's beautiful," the woman smiled. "Do you make them yourself?"
"I do," Donna nodded.
"And the one that the little one is holding is that yours too?"
"My father's," Donna lowered her head.
"It's really beautiful looking," the woman complimented. "You take after your father with this work."
"Thank you," Donna smiled at the compliment.
"We would gladly take them off your hands. How much are you offering?"
"I want no money," Donna quickly stopped her.
"Oh, but these are just too beautiful to just give away."
"No, I insist. I only wish to help the children."
"Then I feel it would be for the best that you hand them out yourself," the woman offered.
"Oh, I..." Donna protested.
"Please, I insist."
Donna followed the woman inside, it was quite noisy until they set eyes on the newcomer and her daughter.
"Hello," they grinned as they jumped up and down to greet her.
Donna gave then all a nervous smile as the woman told them all to settle down.
"If you calm down, the lady can offer you a gift."
"Gifts!" they all shouted to now settle down.
Donna pulled out the first doll to hand over to the first child.
"Do you like her?" she asked.
The girl took the doll and held it tightly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she smiled as she now pulled out another to give to the next.
"Thank you, lady."
"You're welcome,"
The next was a shy young girl, which didn't seem to want to come over until Angie started to talk to her and even let the girl hold her doll.
"You can have one if your go over," she told the girl.
"I-I..." the girl shook her head.
"Here," Angie smiled, taking her hand to lead her over to her mother who was waiting with a doll.
"This is for you," Donna smiled as she held out the doll.
"T-Thank you," she said as she took the doll to hold.
"Well I never," the woman now thought surprised. "Anna hasn't spoken since she first came here."
Donna looked to the child and offered her hand to her. The child took it and smiled.
"Will you come again?" she asked.
"If I'm allowed," Donna looked to the woman.
"Yes, of course." The woman nodded. "It would be nice to have someone else help me out."
"Thank you," Donna nodded.
"No, thank you. You've really got these girls to open up, especially Anna."
"It was my pleasure."
"Will you read us a story before you go?" the girl asked, getting the others excited.
"Story! Story!"
Donna couldn't help but chuckle. She was glad to be doing something to help others and it was helping her too.