In a land far from the reaches of the world, a young woman wandered the forests in search of the one she loved the most. The tree trunks were dense, narrowing as she journeyed through the unknown path. She felt like she had been walking for miles. Perhaps she had. The woman could only look ahead as she visualized the reunion with her heart, knowing that she would have to push on if she was to succeed.
They must be here, she thought, ignoring the growing pain in her legs.
The cold wind of dusk stiffened her skin. She knew that night would soon be upon her and that when the darkness came, she risked getting lost.
"Where are you?" she called out, hoping that somewhere in the forgotten, a voice would answer her. She had been wandering for so long. Part of her wasn't even certain how she had found herself in this vast wilderness. She imagined that it was fate that placed her here, but with her past but a sealed memory, she could not find comfort in such a word.
The gloomy skies faded to black before she realized it. She could barely see a thing. Soon, her face connected with the tree in front of her. She stumbled, losing her focus as she did so. It threw her off course. The woman fell to her knees when she attempted to regain her footing, but it was useless. The ground was uneven, and the world around her felt like it was spinning.
The night sky had taken over, and she could not see her own hands.
"Please!" She begged. "Do not let me leave here without him!"
In a blink—almost as if the world had heard her call—a light flickered in the air.
What was that?
Descending from the sky was another young woman, clothed in long white robes. The forest around her was illuminated with great clarity upon her arrival. It was as if she was the sun personified. Maybe she was.
"I have watched you circle this expanse," the woman said angelically. "Where do you seek to go?"
"My heart," the young lady answered. "I must find her!"
"Her?" The woman turned her head, a raised brow meeting her long, braided hair. "Is your heart not a man?"
"I…" She did not know how to answer. Her hand would only grace her forehead instead. The woman was confused, but the lady of light seemed to catch on rather quickly.
"Is your heart seeking love or someone closer?"
"Who could be closer than the one I love?" she asked.
"Those you are born to love," the guiding spirit replied.
"I am at a crossroads," the girl told her, her fingers pointed ahead as her arms waved around, unsure of what direction to go. She could feel the disconnect in her chest. Something was indeed missing. Was it her heart? Or, was it something else?
She did not know.
The other woman extended her palm, casting forth a bright torrent of rays that pointed the girl in the direction that she needed to go. However, just as the light shone on the trees, a woman clad in armor burst forth from the branches. In her hand was a large and powerful sword. Under her helmet, those emerald eyes glinted at the girl before her. She raised her weapon in the air, pointing it toward the lady of light.
The girl sensed that there was an existing rivalry between the two. An age-long battle between good and evil, one that threatened to engulf her at any moment.
The Valkyrie shouted as she ascended into the air, her arm cocked back as she prepared to inflict a lethal blow on her target.
As the lost girl turned her head, she witnessed the woman who had come to help her take off in flight; her focus now shifted to the aggressor who had emerged. However, just as she glanced down at the young lady, there was a sparkle to be seen in her eyes.
Somehow, some way, the wanderer heard the woman in her head.
"You will find what it is that you are searching for, but it is up to you to decide what will transpire after. You are not far from your heart, but you must hurry! My light will only carry you so far!"
She took those words with haste, but the second she turned her feet to run, her ears picked up a loud scream that came hurtling down from above her. Frozen, she reared her head up, eyes pointed toward the sky.
The Valkyrie's broad sword was the first thing she saw. By the time the girl's eyes were set on it, the tip of the blade was only an inch away from her chest. In that fracture of time, she embraced what would be her final moments of this tragic adventure that so many have called 'life.'
"Daughters!" Alcina's thunderous voice was heard throughout the castle. "Dinner is ready!"
Daniela breathed a somber sigh, closing the cover of the book on her lap. Her gloved fingers graced the surface of the front, admiring the blue background and gold inlays within it. She sat up, straightening out her hood, before she set the book off to the side, leaving it on the cushion of her ornate couch.
The redhead stood immediately after, humming as her amber eyes found themselves glued to the piece of literature. "Where is my love?"
She shook her thoughts away in the next second, remembering that she had been called down for supper. There was no time to waste. Mother's orders were final. Within seconds, her form had dispersed into a cloud of flies that made their way straight for the dining room.
Along the way, the only sounds that accompanied her were the whistling of the strong wind against the castle windows. She felt so alone during her journey toward her family, wondering if this feeling was a passing moment or a piece of something far more complex.
Bela watched as Luana and Sorina, her most trusted kitchen staff, carefully laid out the silverware on the long, rectangular table. The chandelier above the table was fully lit, its candles burning with a luminescent yellow glow that gave life to the room. The dark sky outside isolated the interior of the room. There was nothing visible unless one was to press their face against the glass and glimpse the sellout of the towering castle. With the whistling breeze playing its melody softly in the ears of everyone inside, Alcina had made certain that the windows were extra secured and that the courtyard doors were tightly locked.
Luana set down a large bottle of wine next to the center of the table, only to be promptly corrected by her superior as soon as she did. "Luana," Bela said to her, "does that appear to be my mother's preferred bottle?" The sharp rise in her right bow signaled that the servant was on the edge of causing great displeasure and that it was best to reverse course before any further mistakes were made.
The young woman immediately tightened her hold on the bottle and withdrew it from the table. "Apologies, Miss Bela. I misread the label."
However, defying expectations, Alcina waved the concerns off. "Nonsense," she said, dismissing Bela's dilemma in an instant. Her palms rotated to face the ceiling, and her fingers curled inward, beckoning for the wine. "I've grown rather bored of the same old taste over and over. Tonight, a different drink would be preferred."
Luana did not waste time giving her master what she had requested. "Yes, my lord!"
Alcina took hold of the bottle and removed the cork from its top, inhaling the aroma that had now sought to escape the confinement of its interior. Bela exchanged another glance with Luana, gesturing for her to move along and not say another thing. The servant averted her eyes and bowed her head, tapping on Sorina's arms just as the nervous lady finished setting up the remainder of the silverware.
"A-all done, Miss Bela!" Sorina blurted out in restrained fear, only for the blonde to groan.
"Go." That was all Bela had to say, annoyed that she had missed an opportunity to please her mother. Her mind was wracked with the scenario of her being so on top of her game that she would have correctly guessed the woman's intentions. It was a pat on the head that she would not receive, or at least, not in that aspect. "Mother…" She turned to Alcina. "I hope you enjoy your wine to the fullest."
The tall matriarch smiled as she looked down at her eldest daughter. "Thank you, Bela. I hope I do, too. But I have come to expect a lovely dinner prepared by you and your girls."
With the hood over her head, Bela's eyes glimmered at the response. She raised her right shoulder, smiling with a giggle that she couldn't hold back. It only lasted for so long before that dismayed groan soon creeped into her ears.
"Ugh… really?" Cassandra complained as she lifted the cover of the metal tray and gazed at the contents underneath.
With a curl to her lip, her older sister turned her head and glanced down at the brunette. "Is there a problem, Cassandra?"
The middle child set the cover down and leaned back in her chair. She pursed her lips as she let out a hum, crossing her arms and closing her eyes in the process. "Don't you think your servants can ever cook something else besides lamb?"
Bela's jaw grew tight, swaying as she stared her sibling down. "Did I not tell you that imports of animals are in short supply? The Duke was kind enough to procure lamb to be sold to us. Otherwise, would you prefer chickens and cows?"
With a sly grin, Cassandra cracked open her eyelids and curled them at Bela. "I'm due for a fine steak, now that you mentioned it."
Bela's fist was beginning to clench. She couldn't stand her sister's constant criticism of the food she prepared for them. In her heart, she knew that it was nothing more than a subtle attempt to rile her up in the presence of their mother. Cassandra did this all the time, seemingly finding delight in the distress of those around her.
She sought to maintain her composure, but winter had just begun, and she was already at her wit's end with this woman. "Sometimes we don't always get what we want... Cassandra."
"Hmm?" The brunette lifted her chin as she glanced up at her. She spoke calmly, yet coyly, as her smile began to grow. "Can you please say that again, but slowly this time? I want you to hear those words."
Before Bela could return fire, Alcina shut the exchange down. "Enough arguing," she said quickly, but nonetheless, directly to both of them. The two ladies immediately halted all conversation, bowing their heads in unison.
"Yes, Mother."
Alcina set the wine bottle down on the table as she prepared to take her seat, only to turn her head over her shoulder as she peeked at the Main Hall. "Where is Daniela?"
Bela and Cassandra both looked around, surprised that the redhead was nowhere to be found. She was often the last one to arrive, but she was never this late. Ever the obedient daughter, the blonde's body began to dissolve into a horde of insects, ready to take flight in search of the youngest of the family.
But just as she was about to bolt toward the door, another cluster of flies was there to greet her. The eldest child quickly reformed into her refined self, arms crossed as she glared at the tardy noblewoman. "Daniela…"
Her body was still coming together, and Daniela was already on her way to her chair by the time the final bug fell into place. The servants around her remained silent, each one visibly unnerved by the display before them. Seeing these three women morph into a carnivorous mass of winged invertebrates at will was something straight out of a horror story. Even after all these months, none of them had grown used to it.
"Apologies, sister!" Daniela pulled her chair out, taking her place in the center, beside Cassandra. "I was just so engrossed in that book I was reading."
Groaning again, Cassandra laid her head back as she gazed up at the ceiling. "That same book that you've been reading for how many weeks now?"
"The story is just so good!" Daniela insisted.
"If it's so good, then why do you always seem to forget what it's about?" the brunette teased, playing on the frequent occurrence of Daniela's memory lapsing. In a way, it was a cruel remark, given how both the older daughters were aware that her mental state was inhibited for reasons unknown. Forgetfulness was the least of the woman's problems, but in this case, Cassandra saw it as nothing else but a weapon to utilize in this conversation.
And Daniela fell right into her trap, her eyes going still as soon as she noticed how both statements conflicted. "I, uhm, well… I just have a lot on my mind, is all."
Cassandra mumbled under her breath, but audibly enough for her sister to hear, "I have my doubts about that."
"What does that mean?!" Daniela raised her voice, having rightfully taken offense to what her sister told her.
Cassandra, meanwhile, was never one to back down from an argument. She immediately turned toward her sibling, leaning forward as her eyes grew wider. "Can you scream louder? I'm right next to you!"
"Daughters!" Alcina's voice shut down the room. In an instant, all three women went silent, their heads bowed. Even though Bela had played no part in this tirade, she was not exempt from the correction that was handed down. "Enough. I will not sit here and listen to this petty squabble. You are all adults, and I expect you to act like it."
"Yes, Mother."
Daniela rolled her lips as she slumped in her chair.
She started it.
In the wake of their mother correcting them, Bela cast an eye toward Cassandra's silverware. The brunette took notice, visibly annoyed but aware that this wasn't the time to contest it. She straightened out her fork and knife at that moment, her eyelids narrowing as she watched the blonde maintain her glare.
Dinner was being served to the family as they sat down. Luana stood by Bela as her superior held out her wine glass. The young woman carefully poured the contents of the bottle into the container, maintaining her composure as she did so. "That's enough," the eldest noblewoman ordered.
"Yes, Miss Bela," Luana replied softly before she corked the bottle and set it down on the table, cupping her hands at her waist and backing away toward the wall. She only got to stand still for a short moment before Cassandra quickly ordered her back, her own glass held out as well.
"You!" She singled Luana out. "My throat is dry. Pour me a glass."
"Yes, Miss Cassandra!" Luana rushed over, repeating the same task as before.
While this was going on, Daniela scanned around the room, looking for one person in particular. Her eyes set on the servant at the far left. That head of auburn hair and those honey brown orbs were the first things she noticed. "Delia," the redhead called out. "Come here."
"Yes, Miss Daniela." The maid calmly walked over, taking her spot beside the youngest of the three. "How may I be of assistance?" Daniela said not a single word, only choosing to hold up her wine glass. "Yes, Miss Daniela," she said again, picking up the bottle nearby and showing it to the woman.
"Good," Daniela replied. Without another word, Delia began to fill her cup. As she watched the servant go about her task, she could not help but consider how her relationship with this woman seemed better at times than it did with her own siblings.
Delia was a young lady, just like the rest of the staff. But like Luana, she held herself in high regard and always sought to go about finishing her tasks appropriately. It almost complimented the situation that Bela had, given that she had two close servants at her disposal. Cassandra, meanwhile, was not trusted to have a servant who personally attended to her.
Years ago, there was one, but that was a long time ago. Lessons were learned, and blood was needlessly spilled. In Alcina's opinion, it was a waste of flesh.
As soon as the level of wine reached an acceptable level, Daniela dismissed Delia back to her place and began to enjoy the drink for herself. The contents of the trays were served to the trio of women, while the lady of the castle patiently waited for the remainder to be given to her. When everyone's plates were filled, they started eating.
The dinner had been filled with several jovial conversations, mostly between Bela and their mother, while Cassandra chose to stuff her face, as she often did. Daniela, on the other hand, quietly ate her food as she listened to her oldest sister go on about some studying that she had been engaged in. Science had always been the blonde's forte. At times, she couldn't seem to get enough of it.
Daniela glanced at the smile on Alcina's face, taking note of how happy she appeared to be about Bela's education.
She's the smart one, after all, isn't she? Huh, I guess she must be. Cassandra's such a great huntress. What does that make me? Mother says I'm special because I am the youngest, but that doesn't make me feel special. I feel like I am just there. There must be some redeeming quality about me.
Cassandra was still munching down on her food, gnawing at it like a wild animal, when Daniela tapped her on the arm. The brunette paused, slowly craning her neck to her left as she glared at her sibling. With a full mouth, she groaned through her teeth. "What, Daniela?"
With a broad grin, the cheeky redhead pointed to the window behind them. "Oh, loving sister, I wanted to ask you for a favor!"
The room went quiet.
Cassandra repeated herself, this time groaning even louder, "What, Daniela?"
Alcina interrupted the exchange. "Cassandra, swallow your food before you speak."
A loud gulp followed. She wiped her mouth, displaying a rare show of etiquette in the face of Alcina casting the spotlight on her. "Sorry, Mother." Her amber eyes then trailed back to her sister, setting themselves on her for a second as she breathed slowly. "And what is your request?"
Daniela swiftly clapped her hands in excitement. "When spring is upon us, do you think you can teach me how to hunt like you do?"
Bela chimed in, seizing the moment to antagonize the arrogant woman next to her. "That sounds like a great idea, Daniela."
The redhead's smile broadened. "It does, doesn't it?"
"No." Cassandra shook her head, waving her hands across the table as she did so. She would say nothing more, choosing to return to eating her food instead. But Daniela would not allow the conversation to end there. She tapped her on the shoulder again.
"But Cassandra, I am willing to learn."
The woman was about to answer, but remembering what Alcina had just said, she abstained from speaking until her food had been swallowed. Her fork and knife were carefully set down at the sides of her plate. She looked like she was ready to scream. Cassandra had always been a temperamental soul, always prone to fits of anger at a whim. The last year or two had witnessed a steady increase in such actions.
It seemed like she just kept getting more hateful with each passing month, but she never gave a reason as to why.
"Do you know how short spring is, Daniela?" Cassandra gripped the body of her wine glass, not taking her glare off her sibling as she slurped the remainder of its contents down. With a firm snap of her fingers, she ordered Luana to grant her a refill, which the young lady promptly did without hesitation.
Daniela sensed the looming disregard that was about to come her way. The last thing she wanted to hear right now was another heartless comment. Cassandra was known to make them from time to time. She had a devilish way with words, ensuring that they would always be remembered.
"It can be short," she responded.
"It is short," Cassandra corrected her. "Too short for me to waste my time trying to teach you not to frighten the deer with your antics. Last spring was a failure for my ambitions, and I intend to not repeat it again."
But Daniela would not relent. She wanted to be able to socialize with her siblings during the upcoming warmer months. Between the three of them, Cassandra was the one who preferred to venture out of the castle the most. Daniela had recently found herself yearning for a rush of the great outdoors. There was something about nature that had begun to captivate her.
If Bela stayed in as much as she did, then Cassandra would be the best way to experience such things while also bonding with her family. It sounded like a win-win, but the brunette was a brick wall, and the redhead was a bird without a path. If she flew too fast, she would crash. Unfortunately, when she got to asking for such things, this bird never knew how far her wings could take her.
"Besides," Cassandra remarked, "you asked me this at dinner last night."
Huh?
"No, I didn't," Daniela affirmed. But to her surprise, Bela backed up Cassandra's statement.
"You did, Daniela," she said. "Around the same time, in fact."
Daniela raised her eyebrows, scanning around the room, as if the servants would break ranks and come to her defense. Their loyalty to the family did not entail getting in the middle of such discussions. Hell, they were always afraid to come even remotely close to it. With her gaze returning to her sisters, all she could do was ponder her own truths.
"Did I?" Daniela asked herself out loud.
Cassandra giggled as soon as she heard that. "How do you not remember? What is wrong with you? This is the third night in a row that you have asked me the same exact question. Is everything alright in that head of yours?"
There it was. That was it—Cassandra's painful way with words.
I'm not stupid! Argh! I just forgot, that is all! I can't ask anyone a damn question anymore!
Despite her rageful thoughts, the only emotion that Daniela could convey was sadness. She looked defeated, choosing to hang her head and let out a soft whine. Curling the edge of her mouth, her eyelids angled in a somber pull, staring at her food as her fork carelessly shifted around her plate. "I guess I forgot. Never mind, then."
But Cassandra was not done. "Why don't you lock yourself in the library like you did last spring? Maybe you can learn how to hunt by reading one of your silly stories."
My stories are not 'silly.'
Daniela sank further into her seat, only to listen to their mother's annoyed tone wash over the room. "Cassandra! That is enough!" She paid no mind to the exchange between her mother and her sister, choosing to isolate herself as her surroundings soon faded away, leaving her in what felt like a displaced reality.
All she could do was focus on the food that she no longer felt like eating. Whatever happened during the rest of the dinner did not matter. She didn't want to be in this room any longer. She felt down and defeated, as if nobody cared about her.
She knew better than to believe that, but after so many occurrences, why shouldn't she? Maybe Cassandra was right. Perhaps there was something wrong with her.
Back in the library, the first thing that Daniela did was fix her gaze on her favorite book, taking it into her hands before she returned to her spot on the couch. Her instincts told her to open the pages and return to where she left off, but her mind could not get away from the exchange that had happened during dinner. Her eyes gazed blankly at the text before her, unable to process any of it as her thoughts descended into heartache.
What did I do wrong? I just wanted to be with them.
She could feel the whimper rising in her chest. Daniela didn't want to cry right now. She hated crying. All she wanted to do was just enjoy her favorite hobby, but the ability to do so had been poisoned by the venomous remarks thrown at her. She moved the book away before the first tear fell from her cheek, nearly landing on the bottom of the paper.
So what if I enjoy these stories? Sometimes the worlds in them sound so much better than the one that I'm in.
She set the book aside. There would be no reading for her tonight.
Why can't I have the life I want? Why can't my sisters just stop what they're so preoccupied with and see that I am here? What is it going to take to change things?
Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 - The following morning
As the particles of the portal behind her vanished into the air, Narratha continued to set her sights on the village below. Reeling from the fight that she had endured with Cassandra, the fawn took a moment to catch her breath. She was still winded, having exhausted her powers combating that woman and the horde of insects that she carried along with her.
The surface of her skin ached from the wounds that had been inflicted on it. She glanced at her arms, studying the cuts that the sickle had carved out. A trail of blood ran down the edge of her left temple, meeting her freckled cheek before she wiped it away.
Her emerald eyes fell on the crimson-coated sword that was in her grasp. She replayed her final memories of Locwitary in her head as she stepped closer toward the edge of the mountain. It should have been a death blow, she thought. There was no way that the brunette would have ever survived such a strike. Planting the weapon in the center of her gut within the confines of that decayed castle of murder was a sealed deal.
Still, she couldn't help but think of what had transpired prior. The blood on that sword wasn't all Cassandra's. No. Narratha thought about the child, whose throat she had slashed with its edge.
Leta.
"Argh!" She gritted her teeth, shaking the droplets of blood off of the weapon, before she began to plot her descent. There was no use in dwelling on the past. Her goal had been completed. She was in a new world, and this place appeared to hold promise. She wanted nothing more than to escape from her past, and by the grace of luck, a gateway to a new land had opened before her.
It was an opportunity that she could not turn away. Something about this place had called her the moment she saw it. Narratha knew when things felt right. With the village on the ground now the center of her focus, she prepared herself for whatever may happen next.
The air around her was growing colder. She wasn't dressed for the environment. Never before in her life had she been exposed to such elements. As far as she knew, nothing like this ever existed in Locwitary. Before she could do anything else, the woman knew that she had to find shelter.
"I can't stay out here," she mumbled to herself. Grasping the sides of her large, fur cape, Narratha began to advance down the pathway that emerged from the mountain's edge. It looked like it would be a clear shot to the village from here.
All she would have to do was make it.
The wind was growing stronger. It chilled her skin to the very bone. Narratha shivered as the frigid breeze washed along her exposed legs and arms. Her garments were thin and short, offering no reprieve against the forces of nature. Her bare feet had turned numb, and the snow was creeping into the straps of her sandals. She could see her breath vaporizing in front of her with each exhale, which caused her to become more uneasy with each one.
"Damn it!" She muttered to herself. "I'm so cold!"
The regret was already beginning to foster within her. She had no idea what she had just jumped into. Her impulsive nature was always her downfall. Whether it came to arguments with the other fawns or venturing into the forests, unaware of the proximity of the nearest dhin, Narratha had a track record of never thinking things through.
The village was closer, but still so far away. She needed to make contact with someone, but the more she ventured through the snowy grounds, the more she considered the possibility that the inhabitants here would be hostile.
She was in no condition for an extended fight. She had already been weakened by her exchange with Cassandra. Expelling her powers was the only way to shut those flies down and render that pale woman back into something that could be easily killed. It would take a while before her energy could manifest again, but there was no time to wait for it.
If she still had her fire, she could warm her body up at will, thus negating the effects of this icy wasteland. Everything would have been easier if she had arrived here with what she had. But despite her current limitations, Narratha had spent her life with little to go on. She knew what it took to keep her body going, not having to rely on the gifts of a surge when times became tough.
She could persevere.
She would persevere.
Pushing further down the hill, the redhead swayed as she fought hard to get through the deep pools of white, shivering intensely in the process. Her cape offered her almost no protection. The wind was at her front, and she would have to endure its sting.
Grunting, Narratha extended her palm, hoping to test what may have remained inside her body. She concentrated as best she could, seeking to channel her energy through her fingertips and ignite a torrent of fire. But there was no spark to be found. Nothing at all.
Clenching her fist, Narratha threw her arm down at her side and continued to move ahead. The wind seemed to pick up in speed. The flakes of snow blasted her face like tiny projectiles. Her bushy curls waved across her back, propelled by the currents around her. She could barely keep her eyes open, relying on her hand to shield her sight.
The whistling in her ears heightened in pitch. It sounded like the world was screaming at her. Maybe it was.
Narratha struggled to stand up. It felt as though her legs were giving out. The frost crept up her calves, radiating from the numbness that had overcome her feet. The village was just up ahead, but as she moved a few steps closer, the sound of a branch breaking steered her attention away from salvation.
"Huh?" Narratha turned her head in the direction of where the noise had originated from. The flurries around her were still dense. She may have found herself in the midst of a storm, but no force of air could mimic the melody of that sort of noise.
A powerful gust of wind could knock down an entire tree. But for a branch to make that sound, something had to have stepped on it.
Something sizable.
Something that was watching her.
The redhead stood her ground, pausing as she sought to take in the commotion around her. The wind did a great job of hindering her hearing capabilities, but as she tuned in as best she could, another crack was heard in the background. It was further away. Nothing should have been able to cover this distance so quickly, but what did she know? This wasn't her world, after all.
She took a stance, readying her body for possible combat. The fawn gazed around the snow-covered trees, peeking through the transparent portions of the currents to get a better view of what was in between the trunks. The heart of the forest was black. She could barely see anything at all, but a passing shadow soon caught her focus. There was something there, she concluded, but what?
With her sword by her side, Narratha listened as a sudden howl cut through the open air. As her head jolted in its direction, a growl caught her on the right. Her head spun around again, but there was nothing to be seen. When she inhaled a breath, the noise of a man-sized lifeform leaping off a tree was heard from behind her. Narratha rotated her body as quickly as she could, with her legs buried in the snow.
She abandoned all her survival instincts at that moment, allowing her ferocity to mix with her pride. "Come out and face me!" she screamed. That was when the howling multiplied.
Without warning, three dark shapes appeared in her view, surrounding her in the field. At first, Narratha thought that she was in the company of regular people, but when the shapes drew closer, her expectations were gutted on the spot. Instead of men, these creatures were an amalgam of hounds and humans. Their stature resembled that of strong adults, but their grey skin was covered in patches of fur.
The disheveled and tattered clothing on their bodies hinted that they may not have always been the monsters that they were. Could these have once been people?
Their faces, animalistic in all manners, bore a righteous glare of intensity and hunger as they each eyed the woman before them. Their pupils were a hot silver, while their teeth were as bold as an axe's wedge. They snarled as they slowly moved forward, preparing themselves for the inevitable attempt that they would make to kill her.
Each breath carried a grunt, the mist expelling out from their nostrils like a frost dragon.
The makeshift weapons in their hands exemplified their sinister intentions, constructed from wood, bone, and stone, ready to butcher her at a second's notice.
Narratha ignored the cold, focusing everything that she had on the fight that was about to come. "What are you?" she whispered, aware that there would be no answer given. She had never seen creatures this monstrous before, not until she discovered the ability to open the barriers between realms herself. While she could not pass through them, the long-tongued beasts that sprang forth from the one she had created over the town of Acomb spoke of the horrors that lived outside her reality.
These ravenous beasts were likely no different. They shared the same world as those red flesh-eaters. She should have thought this through. Who knew what else was out there?
The pack sprang toward her without warning, with the first Lycan making a move with his axe as soon as he took to the air. Despite his muscular frame, it took nothing for his legs to propel him off the ground. With a swift swing, he slammed his weapon down, narrowly avoiding burying it in the top of Narratha's skull.
The redhead was not prepared for the onslaught. She tripped over her feet, stumbling back as the snow knocked her off balance. Her fur cape was the only thing that rescued her body from the shock of the plush ground. But by the time she landed, the Lycan that had just attacked her was only a few feet away. She scrambled to get back up, but the cape on her back hindered her ability to do so. The wolfman was already beginning to wind up his next swing by the time her eyes picked up on the advancement of the other two.
She had to get back into the fight.
When his axe came down at her again, Narratha quickly blocked it with her sword, which caught the wedge just under the base of the handle's neck. The creature was stronger than she had realized, and with him standing above her, he had the upper hand. But as nimble and intelligent as the beast appeared, there was something about it that she could not shake off.
It was so direct. So primal. The only thing that it cared about was killing her and eating her. It pressed against her sword with the axe, using all its power to try and overwhelm her. Yet, if the creature was smart, he would have simply withdrawn his blade and hacked at her legs. They were exposed and out of her reach to defend.
It was so hungry that it couldn't consider the bigger picture. That was a major fault that she could use to her advantage.
With no time to waste, Narratha used her strong legs to wrap around the Lycan's arms, which forced him down to his knees. The head of the axe shifted, now lying flat against her stomach.
The Lycan turned his attention to her thick thighs, picking up on the hefty scent of blood within them. Narratha could see his teeth baring at her skin. She needed to end his life before he could bite into her. Sliding her sword across and freeing it from the hold of the axe, the redhead cocked her arm back and angled the tip forward. With a sharp thrust, she plunged the sword into the Lycan's right eyeball, piercing through its skull in the process. Dark blood flowed out from the wound like a faucet, draining down the beast's arms and down onto her legs. But as soon as it did, the wolfman's strength disappeared. His body fell limp, as dead as it could be.
But there was no time to celebrate. The next Lycan was already upon her. It dashed across the snow and went directly for Narratha's throat by the time she stood up. She couldn't slash at him with her sword by the time he came along, so the only option was to block the impact. The might of his arm knocked her stance off. She stumbled again, her balance broken. Before she knew it, a set of claws connected with her left shoulder blade, digging further into a wound that had already been left there from Cassandra's sickle.
"Argh!" Her body locked up, shocked by the barrage of pain that it had received. The Lycan was not done. It prepared itself for another charge, seeing that its prey was still on her feet. The creature ran toward Narratha, roaring like the wild animal it was as it closed the distance.
She threw her sword up the moment its axe chopped across, and the two weapons locked for a brief bit until the Lycan wrenched his tool away. Grasping at her wound, Narratha felt the stream of blood that leaked down her back. She wasn't sure how grievous it had been, but the animal had left a sizable wound. There was no telling what would happen if he managed to secure another lucky shot.
She had to kill him.
Lurching forward, Narratha slashed at the beast's gut, succeeding in slicing a portion of his stomach open in the process. Her eyes caught sight of the third assailant trying to sneak up on her, and she was quick to deflect a throw of his axe as well. But the effort cost her greatly. She could already feel her strength waning. If this fight had to go on for much longer, she was as good as dead.
Breathing heavily, she placed the two wolfmen in her sights, the duo now shoulder to shoulder as they moved in on her. The one she had just wounded was the next one to strike. His axe went for her chest, and her sword went for his arm.
A clean cut. The edge of her blade channeled deep into his bicep, severing the muscle just above the bone. When her sword ended its blow, the Lycan's arm was left dangling by its side. It did not mean that the creature was no longer a threat. Far from it. With the opening for a follow-up available, Narratha slammed her curved sword into the center of the Lycan's sternum.
The beast was not done. It continued to kick and claw at her as it slowly drifted down onto the snowy ground, blood draining from its body. She yanked the weapon out as it rolled along helplessly, her eyes set on the last remaining one as she jammed the tip of the implement down on the fallen creature's neck.
"Ready?" She cried as her arm ripped the sword out from the side, ending the beast's life in a bloody show of dominance. Staggering as she steadied herself, Narratha then pointed the weapon at her final foe as she smiled. "Your turn!"
The Lycan angled its arm for a swing as he stood there, but before he could do a single thing, the sword in Narratha's hand flew from her grasp and spun toward him like a saw disc. The wolfman could not react in time, and the edge of the metal blade ended up decapitating him instantaneously. The redhead watched in awe as her opponent's head fell onto the snow, his body collapsing in tow.
While object manipulation was within a fawn's nature, this was not her doing.
The sword continued to hover in the air, slowly drifting until its tip was now pointed at her. A man's excited voice was heard from behind Narratha, followed by a series of claps. "Good show!" he exclaimed in a boisterous tone.
While he did not look as monstrous as the three creatures that she had just faced, Narratha's intuition told her that he was not friendly. The way the man cheered as he approached her, a sinister grin pulled within his scraggly beard. His eyes were obscured by a dark pair of glasses, while the remainder of her body was covered in an overcoat and hat.
Her eyes glanced at the large, hammer-like weapon in his possession. He cradled it in his left hand as if it were weightless. How could someone lift such a thing like that?
Catching her breath as best she could, Narratha pinched her brow as her shaky hand gestured to her sword. "Give it back," she said.
"My, my... demanding," the man remarked, his smile unwavering as his words trailed off his tongue. He raised his hand at the sword, his fingers curled in a commanding manner. "Be careful what you wish for." He flicked his thumb against his forefinger, which sent the sword straight past Narratha's throat.
She felt the force of the trajectory come within millimeters of her skin. It was a close call with death. Closer than she could ever handle. Her hand gripped her neck as she let out a gasp, frozen in place while her eyes turned to him.
"Who are you?" she asked, questioning how a man could hold the powers of a fawn. Unarmed, Narratha could only anticipate his next move, but the concern in her eyes was there. She knew she was at his mercy.
But the man did not respond to that question directly. His free hand rose, its palm open as he waved it around. "I hate to see the show end so soon, but Miranda is going to love you."
Narratha could sense the looming turmoil that surely awaited her. She had only made it so far into this world before being bested by those who occupied it. She wanted her powers to remerge so that she could crush this man where he stood, but her rationality took command. There would be no victory in this match. The best thing that she could do was ensure that she would survive.
"Who is Miranda?" Narratha asked, but there was no reply that would follow—only a barrage of metal debris to blacken her vision. It all came at her so quickly. Something may have struck her in the back of the head, but she could not tell for sure. In the darkness, it was difficult to tell if one's consciousness was still intact. The pain in her skull was the only clue regarding what might have happened.
She remembered nothing else after that.
When Narratha's vision returned, she found her hands shackled together. The cold temperature that had infected most of her body had made itself known before the rest of her senses kicked in. Everything was blurry at first, but the fawn could feel the stone ground beneath her. The dim lighting of the room was combated by the large opening in the background, where rays of gloomy sunlight peered in through the shattered walls.
Rolling onto her side, she pushed her body up as best she could, only to find that her ankles had been shackled as well. Her rear was her only option for a seat, and as she came to, Narratha sat up and glanced at the people around her.
The first thing that she was met with was a grotesque little doll. A disturbing creation seemingly gifted with a life of its own. Its twisted face gazed back at her, somehow mimicking a smile through the bobbing, vertical jaw.
It giggled like a psychotic spirit, dancing around as it pointed at her. "Oh, ho, ho, ho! She lives!"
Gasping in shock, Narratha moved back a foot or two, her green stare honed in on the monstrosity before her. She had never seen anything like this before, nor did she even think that such a thing was possible.
A doll filled with life? What kind of world was this, she thought?
While she was still processing the living object before her, the redhead's attention then picked up on a strange, bumbling mass of ugliness that hobbled about the room. His laugh could only be described as obtuse if such a measurement could describe sound. One would have considered it a mark of his lack of intelligence or his appearance of.
Most concerning of all, under that dirtied cloak, from what she could see, he appeared to resemble a fish.
"Mother Miranda!" The fishman blurted out. "This one could work! Let me put some cadou in her belly, and if it fails, she'll go boom!"
Groaning with a repulsed glare, Narratha took a breath and tilted her head. "You're not putting anything in my stomach."
The deformed man leaned in, reeking of cheese and river water. "You don't make the rules." He pointed his finger at her.
She defiantly grinned before her head snapped forward, her teeth attempting to bite his finger. The fishman pulled his arm back, only for Narratha to chuckle. "I made you jump."
He immediately turned around, acting like a distressed child. "Mother Miranda!"
Narratha then heard that same laugh from before. It was the man who had captured her, sitting on the bench to the right. "Like I said, Moreau is in no shape to determine the woman's fate." He laughed again, speaking louder as he added to his statement, "I mean, look at him!"
The doll danced around more, becoming enthusiastic at the sight of the fishman's mental anguish. "Ha ha! Ugly is going to cry!"
Moreau shouted back at the doll, "No!"
"He's crying again!" The doll giggled.
But Narratha could not help but comment on the horrid little puppet, either. "Do you ever shut up?"
It spun around and glared at her with those fixed, circular eyes. Narratha could have sworn that it was staring in two different directions at once. The two stared at each other, deadlocked in a battle of will. The doll's face could not express emotion, nor did Narratha show any on hers. She wanted to kick the annoying little toy across the room, but sadly, it was too far out of range, and her feet were still numb from the snow.
The animate object only moved away when a woman cloaked in a dark robe in the background beckoned it over. With a sigh of relief, the redhead watched as the doll distanced itself from her, sitting on the obscured lady's lap instead.
As she shook her head, Narratha then caught sight of another young lady shackled not too far away from her. As soon as she noticed the brunette, her brow raised. "Huh? How long have you been here?"
The woman was pale and slender, her exceedingly long hair bundled up into a large bun that rested at the crest of her skull. Several curly locks dangled from the massive ball, complimented by the sharpness of her features. She shook her head as well, visibly stressed, if not incredibly frustrated, at the same time. But in regards to Narratha's question, she did not say a thing.
In fact, the way she stared at Narratha was what stood out the most. This woman appeared shocked, as if she had not expected to see the lady beside her. Neither of the two women could ignore their thoughts the moment they locked eyes. It was a natural bond they seemed to bear.
Narratha's green irises shone in the glimmers of light from ahead, as did the brunettes.
That was when the brunette finally spoke, visibly astounded, "That fur cape… your eyes… Are you a fawn?"
Narratha inched closer, trying to get a better look at the other woman. They were only a few feet apart, but she had all she needed to discern the truth. Though this pale lady lacked the traditional fur cape and gown most fawns wore, the accent in her voice gave it away. "Yes," she answered. "I am."
The brunette was stunned, her mouth agape, as a million thoughts emerged in her head. She put them all aside in the pursuit of further information. "How did you get here?!"
Before Narratha could answer, a woman with a dark set of robes and a gold, beaked mask raised her arms in the air. "Silence!" The room became deathly quiet as the three freaks on the benches shut their mouths, despite the command being directed at the two prisoners. The redhead eyed the blonde, who seemed to have control over the rest. This one was very important, she figured.
The sound of heavy footsteps emerged from the background, with Narratha turning her head, only to witness a massively tall woman entering the room from one of the back doors. She immediately greeted the leader with a bow of her head, preparing to take her seat as well. "Mother Miranda," she said, "I am confident that we are alone."
"You may sit," Miranda ordered.
"Yes, Mother," the tall woman responded.
Mother Miranda's eyes swept across the four subordinates under her, just before they met those of the two captured fawns. "I have heard all your arguments. Some were more persuasive than others, but I must admit, the emergence of a second outsider has changed my mind on them. Evidently, our village is more open to trespassers than I prefer."
Narratha shuffled her body, rising to her knees as her eyes landed on the shackles around her wrists. She tried to manifest her magic, hoping to shatter her bindings and attack those before her, but her flame was gone. She wanted to pin the blame solely on her fight with Cassandra, but she couldn't help but think that the barriers of the realms may have inadvertently affected her in some manner.
She shuddered at the very thought of that.
The brunette beside her appeared to shake her head at herself, mumbling in dismay, "This can't be happening again."
Mother Miranda then pointed to the tall lady. "Dimitrescu, your reasoning that this second prisoner would serve your family well was greatly considered. However, as Heisenberg mentioned, she has endured a claw wound from the Lycans. I imagine that she will be gone by nightfall, and I will not risk you consuming tainted blood."
Narratha eyed the large lady in the white gown and wide-brimmed hat. She whispered to herself, taking mental notes along the way, "Tainted blood? Consume? What are Lycans?"
The slender fawn next to her made a sharp noise to get her attention. "Please, you must tell me how you got here."
Narratha rolled her eyes over at her. "A window that became a door," she answered. "I do not know how…"
Lord Dimitrescu cut the conversation short with a loud yell. "Do not speak!"
Narratha then locked eyes with her, angered that someone would dare order her around. Yet the second she looked at her, there was a striking sense of familiarity. That tone, that shape—it all resembled someone she had encountered in the past, or better yet, something.
That horrific parody of humanity that had suddenly appeared in her realm that one day. Bulbous and crystalline, she was plagued with tendrils along some parts of her body. This tall lady fit the bill so well, even though she looked nothing like that in the present. Still, Narratha sensed that this was the same world that she and that wretched Cassandra had descended from. It would only stand to reason that they were one and the same.
Against all her better judgment, Narratha squinted her eyes and casually addressed the tall lord. "I killed you."
"Excuse me?!" Dimitrescu shouted in disbelief that an outsider had spoken to her like that. Her long talons extended out from her fingers, forcing the two fawns to jolt back in surprise. But while Narratha had been caught off guard by the horrific display, the presence of the blade-like nails matched what she had witnessed in her own realm.
There was no doubt in her mind that this was the same woman. She then affirmed her statement. "Oh yes, that was you."
"You insolent little..." Alcina began to step forward, but Miranda voiced her objection.
"Sit!" The prophet screamed, which halted all movement from the towering lord and forced her back into her seat. She then glanced over at the bearded man with the large hammer. "Heisenberg, how many Lycans died when you captured her?"
"I had to kill three, Mother Miranda," he said.
Narratha raised an eyebrow. Why was he taking credit for the two that she had slaughtered? What was the purpose of that?
Nevertheless, the masked woman pointed at the redhead as her eyes remained on the arrogant man. "She will make up for the cost. When her infection takes over, she'll best serve us as a guard to our village, rather than an intruder."
Alcina grumbled as she plunged her cigarette holder into her lips and inhaled a long draw, blowing out a plume of grey smoke as her lips parted. Her amber eyes fixed on Narratha, still filled with a boiling anger that demanded every resource available to be kept at bay. "Pity to see a waste of flesh."
But Miranda still had some good news for her. "On the contrary..." Her attention shifted to the slender brunette nearby. "Seeing how submissive the other one is, I think she would make a great servant for your castle. If your daughters can abstain from eating this one, she will help remedy the shortage that you have been facing this last year."
Alcina smiled as soon as she heard the decision. "Thank you, Mother Miranda," she replied humbly, grateful that the prophet had chosen her to be the recipient of this trial. Heisenberg, on the other hand, did not let his opinion go unheard.
"Knowing those girls, you'll be begging Miranda for another replacement by tomorrow."
"Quiet, you simpleton!" Alcina yelled back, leaning forward with a vicious curl to her lip. "Do not even speak about my daughters!"
The disgusting doll hopped off the lap of the woman in the black robes and pointed to the two captives. "We never get any prisoners!"
Heisenberg pulled out a lighter from his pocket and used it to start a cigar. The end of the stick glowed with an orange ember as the flame did its work. He mimicked Alcina's actions and took a long drag before blowing out a cloud above his head. With a low groan, he tapped against the top of the cigar, knocking a few embers from its exhausted front. "Stay out of this, would you kindly?"
Narratha overheard the brunette talking to herself.
"Dimitrescu?" The pale fawn spoke quietly. "No, it can't be, could it?"
"Hey!" Narratha pulled her out of whatever mindset she was currently in and brought her attention back to the present. "What is your name?"
She glanced at her immediately. "Kyia. Yours?"
"Narratha," the freckled fawn replied.
Their conversation was once again shut down by Miranda's commanding voice. "I will not have this display of childish squabble! Do not forget where you come from." She straightened out her posture, signaling for Heisenberg to rise from his seat. "Now, find this one in the forest where she belongs."
Through those dark shades on his face, Heisenberg stared Narratha down. "Yes, Mother Miranda."
As he approached the redhead, that devious smile on his face would not waver. "Up you go!" He used his powers to lift the shackles that bonded her wrists, and in doing so, her as well. The cuffs at her ankles suddenly exploded, and the handle of his hammer found itself wedged across her back, the interior of her elbows holding it in place. With her hands now pressed against her stomach, Narratha could only shake around as she was led out of the dilapidated church.
Narratha shouted, unwilling to submit to anyone, "You demand silence?" She craned her neck over her shoulder, fixating on Miranda as the priestess of the village grew smaller with each step Heisenberg forced her to take. "How's this for silence?!" The next thing out of her mouth was a series of loud, bellowing screams that filled the entire room with a symphony of echoes.
Using his control over the metal that carried her, Heisenberg ushered Narratha out of the room, leaving the others to listen as her voice died out. Mother Miranda was no less irritated than Alcina, but she thought allowing the redhead to turn would be a worse fate than simply murdering her right here. The woman's defiance could only carry her so far, as sooner or later, she was expected to be rendered into another mindless drone.
Cruelty came in such subtle ways.
Kyia kept her eyes on the ground as she awaited her fate. Alcina Dimitrescu, a woman whose physical form existed outside the confines of imagination and reality, stood up from her seat as she set her sights on the fragile-looking prisoner.
The brunette could not believe how fate had deceived her in such a way. She had bounced from one nightmare to the next, and there was no telling what would happen now. Her only hope now lay in the truth that there was another fawn who somehow had been sent to this place.
Alcina approached Kyia, grinning in a devious manner. "Have you ever seen a castle before?"
NOTES:
And so, the journey begins...
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of the final installment in the Fragmented trilogy!
We're staying home with this one, but that doesn't mean that there won't be visitors. Kyia and Narratha, two very notable characters from the previous stories, have found their way into this world. I'm sure everyone was expecting chaos and destruction, but it seems as though both fawns, for one reason or another, are without their powers… for now.
As for Daniela, her story of redemption is going to play out differently than what we have witnessed before. As you will see, she is not all there, and this story will explore her mind in ways that Fragmented Flies and Fears could never explore Cassandra and Bela. There are so many pieces to the puzzle, and by the end, they will either be all joined together or scattered away completely.
Only time will tell.
We're resetting the timeline in this thriller/drama. This is shaping up to be the biggest story in this series, and we're going heavy on the character development. Don't expect nearly as much death as you saw in the first two, but that doesn't mean this story will go easy. Daniela's journey is a multi-faced path of self-discovery, bound by a broken sisterhood and a past that still clings to her. Faced with the onslaught of two very sinister women from another world, the life that she once believed to be true will slowly unravel.
In the end, what kind of choice will she make?
What kind of choice will there even be?
This is Fragmented Fawns.
I look forward to having you all back here. For newcomers, I deeply recommend that you check out the first two stories, but this one is enjoyable as a standalone as well. However, knowing what came before only gives what is to follow so much more impact.
Follow this story on Archive of Our Own to check out the latest art!
When can you expect the next chapter? Saturday, the 25th.
Also, for those who are eagerly awaiting the spin-off/alternate timeline Fragmented Flies: Flickers, that story will be released on the 24th, so enjoy that! It'll be short, but worth the viewing, especially for those die-hard Lia fans out there!
I'll leave it at that. I'm so happy that we've made it here! I cannot wait to get more of these chapters out for you all! If you have any questions, always feel free to ask! I never expected my first fanfiction to birth this trilogy, but when this concludes, I believe that it will be something that, in its own way, shape, or form, completes the story of the Dimitrescu daughters.
That was always the purpose.
I hope you all have a safe and warm weekend out there! I wish you the best and hope to see you again soon! 😊