Locwitary – 512 years before Cassandra's arrival

The Spector Moons had risen over the lush landscape, casting a golden light over the green grass. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the sounds of birds chirping away. It was another morning just like any other. The warmest months would soon be approaching, which made this period of the day the most peaceful.

Yet despite that peacefulness, the war between fawns and poils was still raging. But this small commune of women had settled in a place where they felt like they would be out of its reach. The region of Deas was the center of the conflict, but Joulin, on the other hand, had been spared most of the bloodshed.

Kyia stepped out of her tent, cradling her 2-month-old daughter, Kalennia, in her arms. The infant cooed softly, her tiny fingers grasping at the curly locks of her mother's long hair. With her fur cape adorned across her back, the brunette smiled at her offspring as she kissed her on the forehead.

"Look at you…" She gently tapped her forefinger against the infant's nose, causing the girl to wave her arms and giggle at the gesture. It brought joy to Kyia's heart in seeing such a response. She could only imagine the sort of personality that her daughter would end up having.

Kyia's closest friends, Vattia and Oenella, were already busy with the morning preparations. Vattia, a tall fawn with blonde, wavy hair, greeted her as she approached the brunette from behind. "Good morning, Kyia. How did you sleep?"

Kyia smirked, glancing down at her child. "Well, I spent most of the night trying to keep this little one calm," she replied with a hint of amusement. Motherhood did not entail rest, and over the years, she had seen the same thing happen to her fellow sisters of magic as they birthed children. Now it was her turn.

Oenella chuckled softly, cupping her hands at her waist as her shoulders raised. Her exceptionally long braided ponytail was slung across the right side. It was a trademark feature of hers. One that she took great pride in having. "Motherhood is a blessing," she said, her eyes gleaming at Kalennia. "I hope I can become a mother one day."

Kyia nodded, her expression thoughtful but also reflective of what her life was like now. "I never expected to become pregnant, especially without much intent," she admitted, emphasizing that while fawns reproduced asexually, it often wasn't a surprise when new life was conceived, as the others would create the life themselves with a great deal of their powers all concentrated at once.

In Kyia's case, the life had begun on its own. A rare occurrence, but one that has been known to happen from time to time. The commune figured that such a powerful surge would likely conceive without any aid, but at the age of twenty-three, the state of her powers was very remarkable.

As if on cue, Kalennia began to cry. It seemed as though any moment of calmness would remain far from her mother's reach. Kyia gently rocked her daughter, humming a soothing tune to quell her distress.

"Dancing little bird, up in the sky so high," she sang. "When your wings do spread, oh my, oh my. Won't you fly as high as the wind will pass you by? My little bird, so blue and bright, won't you fly and light my night?"

The infant's cries gradually subsided, replaced by soft mummers of contentment. Kyia looked up at her friends, her eyes filled with love. "I am so thankful for her," she said softly, her smile broadening across her thin cheeks. "She has brought much joy into my life."

Oenella only grew more envious, playfully pouting as she leaned back and glanced at Vattia. "Oh! I want one so badly!"

Her friend reached over and picked up the woman's lengthy braid, using the bushy end to gently smack her on the forehead. "Nobody sleeps as much as you do! And I know you. You will get tired and beg me to take care of it, so that you can rest."

Oenella pulled her braid back. "You don't know that." She ended with a bit of a yawn, showing that even with a full night's sleep, her body was never satisfied enough.

Vattia sighed as her eyes drifted over and met Kyia's. "Kyia, can you please talk some sense into her?"

With a chuckle, the thin fawn softly rocked her daughter back and forth in her arms. "Oenella, how's about you help me take care of my child? If you enjoy it, then we can meet with the elders and see what can be done for you."

Oenella smirked as she waved her freckled nose at Vattia. "See? She's on my side."

"Ugh…" The taller fawn only shook her head in response, astounded by how dense her beloved friend could be. "You are the true child, Oenella."

Stepping closer to them, Kyia looked up at the two orbs in the sky, seeing how they were still cresting over the mountaintops. "Everyone else is already getting to work, and unless you want Elder Marisha bothering us, I say that we should begin making this morning's meal for everyone."

Happy to be done with the conversation, Vattia eagerly accepted. Anything to get Oenella to stop talking about babies, she thought.

...

The trio continued their preparations over the next hour, their laughter and conversation making the time speed by. They had grown up together since birth, with Kyia being the oldest by only a year. While the commune was smaller in size compared to the rest that were in the area, the prospect of Kyia's powers placed her in an important position.

The elders of the group had debated what someone with her abilities could offer in terms of ending this war, but Kyia had voiced her opposition to violence. She wanted nothing to do with the possibility of having to take someone else's life. For her sake, the group agreed that staying out of the conflict was the best bet.

Some communes had taken it upon themselves to defend their sisters. Others didn't have a choice at all. The fewer fawns that took part in the killing, the better it seemed. Such great powers yielded great destruction.

Too many lives had already been lost.

As they cooked the vegetables in the pot, Vattia's expression shifted, her eyes narrowing as she looked towards the edge of the forest. Her gaze followed something that was moving about, and her actions soon caught the attention of the other two fawns. "I think I see a group of men walking around the woods," she said with concern.

That only meant that they were poils.

Kyia's heart skipped a beat. The sight of poils in their territory was a cause for alarm. How could they have ventured this close to their commune? The nearest poil settlement had to have been hundreds of miles away. The vast wilderness that separated both parties deterred anyone from trying to cross through. If a ferocious dhin didn't snag them, exhaustion and lack of supplies would finish the job.

Oenella, sensing a threat, whispered urgently, "Kyia, you're the strongest. Maybe you should display your powers. That will scare them off."

Kyia looked down at Kalennia, her face conflicted. She did not want to part ways with her daughter, nor did she wish for the men to contact them. "I will not put anyone in danger," she said firmly, though worry was evident in her eyes as she stared at them. She had not seen poils in years. If these men were to discover their commune, it would put the entire group at risk.

And as if fate had heard her fears, the poils quickly noticed the fawns and began to approach. Each of the men carried bags strapped to their back. Raiders? It was anyone's guess. Vattia, feeling the urge to end this right here and now, clenched her fists as she began to move towards the group. "I will stand and fight if I must," she declared, a blue glow emanating from her palms.

But Kyia placed a calming hand on Vattia's arm. "Not all poils seek conflict," she reminded her friend, hoping that she would stand down. "Remember what it means to be a fawn. Violence is not our nature."

Vattia's anger simmered down, but she remained on edge, weary if her wise friend was making the right call. "We should get the elders," she suggested. "If they decide that we need to take care of them, then would you agree?"

Kyia expressed both concern and disbelief as she pulled Vattia close, their faces just inches apart. "When did you become so willing to kill somebody? This is not the Vattia that I know!"

"I'm not," she defended her actions. "It's just that… I'm scared."

Kyia's green eyes shut for a second as she exhaled a somber breath. There had been so much war throughout the last decade, and she was worried that its scars would remain forever. "It's okay to be scared, but listen to me: do not fill your heart with regret, okay? I'll handle this."

"What about Kalennia?" she asked. "Shouldn't she be removed from the situation?"

Kyia held her daughter close, her motherly instincts telling her to not let her child out of sight, but her rationality suggesting that it was best to keep her in a safe place. "Oenella, can you please take her and go alert the elders? After that, just go in my tent and keep her safe until I return."

"Yes, Kyia," her friend responded, taking hold of the infant girl and departing to do as she was told. As the brunette watched her teleport away, she felt a piece of her heart turn to stone. She knew that she could defend this commune with no difficulty, but this wasn't the future that she wanted for her child.

The four poils, all young men around her age, approached the commune with seemingly no signs of hostility. Judging by the way they pointed their fingers, they were well aware that this was a group of fawns in their path, but the way they raised their hands also raised the brunette's sense of unease. Kyia's heart pounded against her ribcage as she stood her ground, Vattia close by her side.

The four poils cautiously moved closer, their eyes scanning the commune as they introduced themselves. The leader, a young man with striking blue eyes and a resounding sense of confidence, stepped forward and spoke. "Hello! We are not a threat! I am Renilvo, and these are my friends."

Kyia remained stern, her stance as still as a statue as they stepped forward. "What are you doing here?"

Renilvo took one more step closer, and Kyia's stance broke. She instinctively stepped back, her palms beginning to glow blue with her flaming energy. He raised his hands again in a gesture of surrender, knowing that at any second she could tear his body apart. "Please, we've been living in the forest for about a month, trying to make it over the mountains into Tyillioum."

Kyia's eyes narrowed. "You are a long way from Tyillioum," she said coldly, implying that they should not go further.

Renilvo could see the displeasure in her eyes. He was no idiot. His friends had advised him along the way that treading into the fawn's territory was a risky endeavor, and even if they managed to break words, there was no reason for the women to be inclined to help him. But still, he felt the need to press on with his request. "We don't have enough supplies to turn around, nor do we have much to keep going further ahead. I'd give it a week before we court death."

Vattia, standing beside Kyia, defiantly posturing her parted fingers at her hips. "We will not trade or help you," she yelled. "Leave!"

Renilvo looked at Kyia, sensing a glimmer of empathy in her eyes. He lowered his voice to a gentle tone, taking a few steps closer. She did not move this time, which gave him the chance to whisper to her. "I'm begging you. These people are my friends. We don't want anything to do with the war. We heard that Tyillioum is free from the conflict. We just want to get away."

Kyia's glare intensified. She couldn't trust them at all. "You were lied to. People are dying there as well," she replied, her eyes sharpening as they fixated on his. "Nothing good will come of your group intermingling with us."

Renilvo maintained his gaze. "Why not?"

Kyia's anger showed itself in her words. "If others find out about this commune, more will come. I'll be merciful and spare you some food, but that is it. Do not mistake my kindness for anything else."

Renilvo nodded. "Thank you for your kindness," he said sincerely, studying the vibrance of her emerald orbs. "I wish this war never happened, you know? The biggest tragedy is how people get pulled into fighting for something they know nothing about. Strangers killing total strangers."

Kyia took a silent breath as she reared her head back. "You sound wise," she remarked. "You should preach that message to others."

"I will," he said. "But please, don't let what is happening in this world destroy your goodwill. That's why I like fawns."

Kyia got quiet.

Renilvo's blue eyes lingered on her, and he smiled softly. "I yearn for Locwitary to one day be as beautiful as someone like you."

It caught her off guard. Kyia's cheeks flushed slightly as she pointed to the food sitting nearby. "Take it and leave," she said firmly, ending the conversation at that very instant.

One of the poils stepped forward, taking a little food for himself and his friends. "Thank you," he said gratefully before returning to the rest of his buddies. The way he walked seemed to lend some truth to Renilvo's story. These men looked so beaten down and dirty. If the fawns had allowed them to sit and eat, they likely would have gladly done so.

Part of the brunette wanted to heal them so that they could be as fit as possible, but she felt like she had done enough. They had some extra food to keep them going. It was on them to heed her warning and never return.

Another part of her worried that they would soon return with more men. The anxiety it brought was the cost of her choice to do something decent in this cruel world.

Renilvo turned to Kyia. "I promise no one will find out that the fawns are here," he vowed before he and his men moved to steer away from the commune. It did nothing to quell her judgment. She did not speak to him, leaving him with only a stone-faced glare before he turned around and directed the others back to the outline of the woods.

As they disappeared into the forest, Vattia nudged Kyia's shoulder playfully. "He called you beautiful."

Kyia brushed it off, grimacing at the bunch as they eventually vanished from view. "I don't care what he said."

Castle Dimitrescu

The kitchen was buzzing as Bela paced around, overseeing her two cooks, Luana and Sorina. Tonight's dinner was a planned mix of stripped pork, coated with assorted greens and garnish, served with a side of chicken, dipped in a crimson-mixed sauce. The blonde had been planning this meal for a long time, and after all the preparations had been met, it was time to make it a reality.

She could only imagine how excited her mother would be.

Luana, always focused and efficient at her job, was cutting portions from a deceased pig, knowing precisely where her master preferred each slice to be made. There was to be no wasted flesh from these carcasses. Each of the daughters had a ravenous appetite, and the servants knew full and well how far their hunger could go. If that pig wasn't a skeleton by the end of this task, then she had failed in her duties.

Sorina, on the other hand, was struggling. The sight of the pig's guts and the overpowering smell made her stomach churn. The young woman never had the proper strength to get up close with death. The temptation to vomit was high, but she knew that if she did, Bela would ensure that her guts spilled out of her abdomen as well.

As her knife trembled in her hand, Bela's eyes narrowed at the sight, keenly aware that there was a malfunction in this well-oiled machine of hers. Unwilling to let this problem continue, she strode over, her presence looming over the frail maid like a deathly mountain as she closed in.

"Stop standing there and get back to work," Bela demanded with a sharp voice that caused the girl's nerves to suddenly soar.

Sorina's hands shook even more as she buckled under the pressure of her overbearing master. Fighting against her fears as best she could, the maid managed to nod, trying her best to cut the pig the right way. "Yes, Miss Bela!"

Luana glanced over after she heard Sorina respond. The distressed look on that lady's face was already apparent. She knew how scared she was of the people in this castle, and the sheer volume of food needed for the meal made tonight a particularly challenging one for her. Even if the daughters had been advised not to permanently harm any of the servants, that did not stop Bela from punishing them in any way that she saw fit.

Sorina's weaknesses had resulted in multiple beatings during her first days in this castle. If there was anyone that could not last on their own here, it was her. Luckily, Luana had quickly taken up the role of a guide, doing everything that she could to help keep this girl alive.

When it came time to see which of the staff was best at preparing food, Luana stood out among the rest. When Bela was about to assign her a permanent role in the kitchen, the maiden respectfully begged her master for Sorina to be included. It was just by pure chance that Sorina's cooking skills were acceptable enough; otherwise, the request would not have been considered at all.

The plan was for Sorina to at least be in a place where her friend could keep a watchful eye on her. But it was not always easy, and sometimes Sorina's fate was out of Luana's hands.

Luana took a deep breath as she watched Bela's posture begin to tighten up. The blonde was surely about to lose her temper over something, and time was of the essence. Taking a risk, the maid intervened, her voice once again respectful as she addressed the one in charge. "Miss Bela, perhaps Sorina can prepare the broths and vegetables instead. I can handle the pigs."

Bela turned to glare at Luana, her eyes piercing. She loathed to think for even a second that this girl would dare undermine her authority. For a moment, the kitchen came to a complete standstill. But Bela knew Luana was sensible and reliable, and most of all, obedient. Out of all the servants, she trusted her enough.

"It better get done on time," Bela said. "I will not stand for another late dinner."

"Yes, Miss Bela!" Luana responded quickly. She gently pushed Sorina over to the other side of the kitchen, where all the greens had been stacked in bowls. "Start with the vegetables, Sorina."

Sorina was still as shaken as before, but Luana's aid had caused her to steady her hands. Finally moved away from the deceased pig, she took a breath and began her work with chopping the vegetables. It seemed to be a mindless task, but as she tried to focus, Bela approached her from behind and grabbed her by the wrist.

Sorina let out a loud shriek.

Luana froze as she helplessly watched Bela lean in close to Sorina's ear, whispering with utter contempt in her words, "You better get it together."

Sorina was on the verge of tears, but she responded as needed, "Yes, Miss Bela!"

Content that the message had been received, the blonde released her and moved to the corner of the kitchen, inspecting the ingredients laid out there. She wanted to see if anything else could be added to enhance the flavor of the feast. Sorina, still reeling from the encounter, resumed her duties immediately, hoping that Bela would not approach her again.

Luana returned to her work as well, her focus divided between the pigs and the woman she cared about. There would be a short glance tossed at Sorina every now and then. She hoped that the girl would be able to accomplish this without any further help, as she knew that she wouldn't always be there to save her. The last thing she wanted was for Bela to go insane and batter her.

The eldest of the noblewomen held these dinners as a testament to her reputation, and if they turned out subpar, then she saw it as a direct insult.

Bela continued to move back and forth between the tables, handing Sorina various ingredients to add to the mix after she had deemed them worthy. "Chop these into the tiniest bits possible," she instructed as she isolated the specific ones that she wanted the maid to dice repeatedly. "I want them mixed with the meat Luana is cutting. Make them as tiny as possible!"

"Yes, Miss Bela!"

Just as Bela turned around to grab more ingredients, she saw Cassandra entering the kitchen. The brunette's face immediately twisted into a frown at the sight of her older sibling. Luana and Sorina had both froze the moment she appeared, but the sadistic daughter's concerns were not on them.

She began to turn around to leave, but Bela's voice suddenly rang out from the back of the kitchen, agitated as ever. "Oh, no! Absolutely not!"

Cassandra stopped and groaned. She knew she had been caught. The woman turned back to face her sister, trying to muster any expression that could aid her in this endeavor. "Come on, Bela! I'm starving!"

Bela's eyes narrowed as she started to move closer toward her younger sibling. "Dinner is being prepared, and you will have to wait."

"I just need a snack," Cassandra said. "That's all."

"That's too bad," Bela replied, her patience wearing thin. She already knew what would have happened had she not been here to catch her. "I will not have you sneaking into the kitchen and taking food."

Cassandra scowled as her persistent anger began to emerge. "Like you don't eat when nobody is looking?"

Bela rolled her eyes. "I don't! And you know why? Because Mother has strictly ordered that…"

Cassandra cut her off with a loud groan, wanting to hear none of the spiel that Bela had ready to lay out. "I know! I know! Ugh! How could I forget? When would you ever pass up the opportunity to be the perfect daughter?"

Bela stepped closer, moving past the table and getting within feet of the brunette. She absolutely hated to bicker with her in front of the staff, but sometimes things were out of her hands. "Leave," she said with a growl. "Dinner will be ready on time." The blonde then craned her neck over her shoulder to look at Luana and Sorina as she emphasized the last part. "There will be no delays."

"Yes, Miss Bela!" Both servants shouted in unison, working as hard as they could to get the job done.

Cassandra huffed, saying nothing further as she stepped out of the kitchen, her frustration evident in her every step. As she disappeared out of view, Bela let out a small sigh and returned to supervising the preparations. The oldest daughter found herself incredibly frustrated. How much longer was this problem going to go on for? "Keep going!" she ordered the maids. "In one hour, this better be done!"

The library

With the evening's dinner approaching soon, Daniela found herself standing beside Delia, who was busy cleaning the shelves, as usual. The last few minutes had seen the two engaged in conversation, and the maid was instructed to continue her assigned tasks despite her master's presence.

"Why did you decide to climb on stage?" Daniela asked, still unaware of the circumstances that had caused the abrupt ending to her performance.

Delia swallowed hard, the memory of the Opera Hall still fresh and painful. She had cried her eyes out as quietly as she could after she had been left alone. The woman hated how unfairly she was being treated, but there was nothing that she could do to put an end to it. "I'm sorry, Miss Daniela," she said, her eyes downcast. "I didn't mean to—"

"Sorry?" Daniela interrupted, angry and confused. "You just did it without thinking, didn't you?" She shook her head, seemingly baffled by her own recollection. Delia was always the reserved type. She couldn't imagine why the girl would have suddenly lost her mind like that.

What is wrong with her? Huh, I guess I can't answer that. Everybody makes mistakes from time to time. I'm just glad that I didn't hurt her as bad as I wanted to.

Delia couldn't help but feel a string of sadness run through her soul. Daniela's hallucinations were becoming more frequent, which caused her hold on reality to slip further each day. As vile as these women were, the sheer frequency of the redhead's distress was cause for alarm. It was almost like life was torturing her by allowing her mental stability to slip.

She feared that one day Daniela may be pushed to a point that she could never return from.

"I'm truly sorry," Delia repeated, hoping that it would be enough to calm her down and put an end to the matter. As she glanced at the pale woman who controlled every aspect of her life, she began to reconsider her own ambitions as well.

As twisted as it sounded, Delia wanted to help Daniela, but the futility of such an impossible feat weighed heavily on her. Each member of the Dimitrescu family was a killer, and there was no way that a singular maid would somehow be able to undo decades of bloodshed.

Why did she even care? She had endured so much—the hits, the psychological torment, being forced to witness two unfortunate young ladies be murdered before her very eyes. She remembered vividly the day Daniela had shown her the severed hand of a former servant, who she implied used to hold the same position that she did now.

Maybe that was the reason behind all this—Delia just wanted to save her own skin. She had been so terrified to do anything to upset the woman who would so easily take her life that she abandoned all links to her own rationality. If she was anywhere else, she would have run away from such an abuser, but not here.

No. Here, she coddled them and sang them songs. She wiped the tears from their eyes and told them that everything was okay. It went against her core instincts, which told her that she was only spiraling towards a more perilous situation.

Delia's depression had deepened throughout the last few months. The walls of this castle closed in on her with each passing day, and the maid felt like she was on borrowed time. She had thought about ending her life during many dark nights, and she wouldn't have been the first to do so if she did.

What kept her alive was the thought that she'd only be dooming another poor soul to suffer in her place. The cycle would continue, but if she could bear the brunt of the suffering, then maybe her friends would be spared.

Turning away from the servant, Daniela sighed, her anger dissipating as it became replaced with regret. She leaned against the shelf that the young woman was dusting, her eyes distant. Delia picked up on the change, and she saw this as a chance to ease the tension. Leaving the redhead on her own was never a good idea at all. "Your singing," she said, "it's wonderful. And your dancing is quite skilled. If I were a dancer, I would be very jealous."

Daniela's demeanor shifted in a blink, a spark of joy igniting in her eyes. She turned to Delia with a smile that broke along that pale, ovular face. "Do you really think so?"

Delia nodded, forcing a smile of her own. "Yes. It's truly beautiful."

Without warning, Daniela enveloped Delia in a tight hug. The maiden stood still, feeling Daniela's breath against her neck as she slowly set the duster down and hugged her back. The tip of the noblewoman's nose and the edges of her lips brushed against the auburn-haired woman's skin, skimming across the rim of her jaw.

To Delia, this would seem like a prompt display of gratitude, but the longer Daniela held her face there, she could begin to see that something else was arising, but she wasn't certain as to what.

In Daniela's mind, the compliment had a different affect than intended. The youngest of the three imagined it coming from the same nameless man that she had seen before. She had no clue that the fellow's origins were rooted solely in her own thoughts, and as she hugged Delia, her delusions quickly took hold, envisioning such words in the deep, sultry voice of someone like him.

That was so sweet of you.

Delia sensed a change in Daniela's grip, and weary that all hell would break loose if she tried to circumvent it, she dared not to move. A long draw indicated that the redhead was inhaling her scent. Based on her past experiences, she figured that it was the scent of blood that she craved the most.

But for Daniela, it was only the smell of humanity.

Your body smells so good! I just want to bury my face into it!

Daniela took another deep breath, running her mouth and nose through Delia's bundles of curly hair. Her mind was unable to distinguish between the maid and the man she longed for, which only mixed with her senses to create a more realistic fantasy.

The world around Daniela slowly melted away, once again replaced by the simulation concocted within her own mind.

She giggled flirtatiously, her fingers tracing deliberately across the top of Delia's shoulder. The maid didn't know what was going on, but the act made her freeze up. It was clear that Daniela was drifting away, but her intentions could not be determined, but interrupting them had proven to be detrimental to one's health.

Daniela's amber eyes, still infused with the delusion behind them, turned to the lounge chair nearby. In her head, she built a scene where she was sprawled out across its surface, her nude body being taken by the strong man she wrapped her arms around. Her grip on Delia's arm tightened as the one she had on reality loosened.

The pressure continued to build until Delia yelped in pain.

Huh? What was that?

Daniela blinked, seeing Delia beside her but not processing the absence of the man. It was the perfect blend of everything she thought she saw and what she was seeing now. The redhead didn't question it at all. Instead, she seamlessly reverted to their conversation as if nothing had changed. "It has always been my dream to sing in front of my family," Daniela said, her voice somewhat mellow as she tried to find a direction to go in.

Delia took a breath once Daniela's hand let go, repressing the urge to express any further pain. "Your family can be your biggest support," she suggested, acting as if nothing was wrong at all.

But when those words hit her ears, Daniela's expression morphed to a depressed hang.

They should be, shouldn't they?

Delia showed concern. "What's wrong?"

Daniela broke out with a sigh. "Have you ever felt like your family never cared about you?"

Delia hesitated, unable to stop herself from thinking of her own family and the life she had before becoming a maid in Castle Dimitrescu. The feeling of having made a grave mistake clung to her back ever since she first stepped through those large doors.

Her parents never suggested the role of a castle maid to her. It was all her choice. In fact, she had begged them for approval. As much as it pained her to part with Cecilia, her little sister and her best friend, Delia had believed that she was doing what was right for the household.

That all changed on her first night here. Those castle doors closed and she was trapped. There was no money to be sent home. No hope that the sun would rise on her future. She watched Cassandra drag another young woman down to the dungeons, kicking and screaming. The rest of the staff could have sworn that they heard her gurgling as the door closed.

That poor soul probably never made it to the dungeons alive. Maybe that was luck in disguise. Delia didn't know. All she knew was that there was no way out of this castle, and after so many months, here she was, still alive, but far from the woman she was before.

"Yes," she said. It was the biggest lie that she had ever told.

One hour later…

Dinner was finally ready to be served. As Daniela sat down on her seat, she watched as Delia carefully took her place amongst the group of staff beside the wall. All the women were prepared to file into the kitchen and assist Luana and Sorina with bringing out the food. It was common practice for them to do so, but Kyia, the newcomer, appeared to be struggling with getting her duties correct.

Delia couldn't help but notice the slender brunette glancing around as she stood in front of her. In her experience, the Dimitrescu daughters did not take kindly to wandering eyes. All maids were expected to face the front, one ahead of the other, before they were permitted to enter the kitchen hallway. It was a paramilitary approach to the procedure, but the intent was to limit each maiden's sense of individuality.

Their only focus was to be the successful delivery of the food, and that was it. Once that was done, then they would attend to the needs of the four ladies of the house. Madelina had explained this to Kyia earlier, and the fawn seemed like she understood the concept, but as Delia watched her head rotate about, she knew that something was amiss.

Leaning slightly forward, the auburn-haired servant whispered as covertly as possible, "Don't look around. Just follow the others."

She couldn't see what was going on past that obscenely large bundle of hair that Kyia had knotted at the crest of her scalp. After hearing her words, the brunette kept her head straight, but a long, drawn-out breath that followed hinted at a dormant sense of aggravation.

Delia would say nothing else, as it was out of her hands. There was a bit of mercy that came at the throes of a first day on the job. Neither of the daughters were ever kind, but if a servant were to mess up in the beginning, the punishments were often less severe. It was as if they wanted the girls to learn the ropes by the hand of fear.

To end a life so quickly meant that the terror could never grow.

Alcina, already seated before her three daughters, raised her long arm toward the ceiling and signaled the maids to begin moving with a snap of her fingers. The first of the five women took the initial step, rounding the corner and entering the hallway. The second one followed, and then the third.

Kyia was the fourth. She hesitated.

Just as Bela began to tilt her head at her, Delia gave a gentle tap to the back of the woman's heel. As soon as it made contact, Kyia walked ahead. A second later, Delia was right behind her.

The eldest of the noblewomen abandoned her potential act of wrath, her eyes turned toward the lady of the castle. "Mother, I think you will love tonight's dinner."

Cassandra peered across the other end of the table. "You say that every night, Bela."

It stoked the flames of the blonde's ire. She didn't want to have to hear that smug voice calling her name. If Alcina wasn't there, she would have loved to tell her sibling to can it, but an argument would draw no praise. "I'm confident about tonight, Cassandra."

The middle child still wouldn't let up. "You say that every night, too, Bela."

Daniela glimpsed the tensing of her older sister's hands at her lap. She could see that Bela was trying to hold herself back.

Seeking to be the peacekeeper, the redhead intervened with an encouraging statement. "Bela puts so much care into every meal," she said, glancing at the blonde next to her. "We should all be grateful."

Cassandra rolled her eyes but fell silent, choosing not to escalate the argument in front of their mother. She had already received enough reprimands for the week. Tacking another onto her list of infractions would not do her any favors with the tall woman.

Alcina's gaze shifted between them. She had long grown used to the bickering over the years. It wasn't too long after the three ladies were born that they started to butt heads over the silliest things. She figured that it was just common sisterhood rivalry at its finest. Why wouldn't they be upset if one obtained the spotlight?

As the maids filed back into the dining room, they placed the dishes in front of the Dimitrescu women, arranging each one in an organized manner. Kyia's hands trembled slightly as she set down the largest tray out of all. It seemed like the slightest tilt would have resulted in it crashing to the ground. She shuddered to think about what would have happened if it did.

But lucky for her, there had been no mistakes. Once her fingers departed from the metal rim of the base, the brunette quickly moved away and turned back to the wall where the other maids stood. Luana and Sorina then began withdrawing the lids from each tray once the containers had been set. And as they did, Delia was there to arrange the wine glasses and assorted bottles.

Alcina studied the food with her hungry eyes, grinning as the women around her cleared the way for the mistress to inhale the aroma of the cooking. "It seems tonight's dinner will be quite the delight," she said.

As the family was served their food by the two cooks, Delia stood beside Kyia against the wall, watching and waiting. Like every night, she hoped that things would go well, but there was always a chance that something could go wrong.

Only time would tell.

Bela, confident that her efforts would be rewarded, dipped into her ego for a second, craning her neck and leaning to confront her antagonistic sibling. "See, Cassandra? Worth the wait."

Unwilling to accept any form of defeat, Cassandra merely shrugged. "We'll see," she said, stabbing a piece of meat with her fork and bringing it to her crimson lips.

The sound of utensils filled the room as the others at the table joined in, but as Cassandra took a bite of her food, her left eyebrow raised. "Something's off," she remarked, speaking with her mouth full.

Bela let out a forced chuckle, attempting to dismiss her sister's comment as another one of her instigating lies. "Nonsense," she said, biting into her own pork right after. As her teeth chewed the pork to shreds, she couldn't ignore the subpar taste that followed. There was a sting to her pride as she swallowed the portion down, knowing that the grimace on her face had to have been visible.

Daniela, noticing Bela's reaction, decided to see for herself. After a single bite, she set her fork down. "This is pork, right?"

Bela's did not respond, already beginning to grow agitated at the looming failure of this meal. In one final attempt to succeed, she turned to her mother, hoping for a different opinion that would set the matter straight. "Mother, how are you enjoying it?"

Alcina causally took a sip of her wine. "The seasoning is fine, but the meat is overcooked."

Bela said no more, her face filled with embarrassment. That expression only lasted for so long, as once her eyes turned to the right, she cast a deathly glare toward Luana and Sorina. Both maids knew that this meant a violent punishment awaited them.

They could only imagine what kind of retribution Bela was cooking up in her head right now.

However, Alcina continued. "I think the addition of the vegetables conflicts with the sauce. It's not overcooked, on second thought, but it throws everything off."

Bela, knowing that the vegetables were her choice, bowed her head. She couldn't blame Luana and Sorina for this one. "I'm sorry, Mother."

Alcina said nothing, which only heightened Bela's immense disappointment. Meanwhile, Cassandra leaned back in her chair, a smirk broadening across her malevolent lips. "At least the wine is always good," she said, holding out her glass towards the staff.

Her eyes became fixated on Kyia, who had just become her newest target of sadism. "New girl, refill my drink!"

Kyia gulped before she approached the table, picking up the first wine bottle that she could grasp in a hurry. Just as she went to pour it into the cup, Cassandra's sudden scream startled her. "Not that one, idiot!"

Kyia immediately set it down and reached for the second closest one, but the noblewoman quickly shouted again for her to put it down. The fawn's frustration was parallel to her fear. Cassandra hand not specified which bottle to take, and the intent behind it was evident.

She wanted to make this difficult for her. The glint in her amber eyes said it all.

"Which one should I use?" Kyia asked with a slight tremble to her voice.

"Figure it out," Cassandra scoffed, reclining back in her chair as she glared at the servant.

Kyia picked up another bottle, but again Cassandra yelled at her. There were only so many to choose from, but the ridiculousness of the situation gnawed at her patience. Finally, on her fourth attempt, Cassandra allowed her to continue, which signaled that she had chosen the correct bottle at last.

When the glass was filled, Cassandra took a long sip and promptly waved Kyia away as if she were nothing to her.

Kyia tried her best to keep it together under all the degrading comments, but just like the three daughters, her own threshold for the world was a thin line. Against her better judgement, she momentarily allowed her anger to get the better of her.

When Cassandra ordered her to depart, the corners of Kyia's mouth and brow flared, and the fawn set the wine bottle down on the table hard enough that it made an echoing vibration.

The room went silent.

Just as Kyia went to leave, Cassandra called her back. "Hey! What was that?!"

The servant stopped in place, frozen. She knew that she had just made a terrible mistake.

Daniela joined in, her voice rising as she yelled at the brunette. "Say something!"

Cassandra spoke again, "I don't like her attitude, Mother!"

Bela, just as furious as the others, but not willing to pass up the chance to look good in front of Alcina, rose from the table. Daniela's voice trailed behind her as she slowly, but sternly, maneuvered around the corner and approached the insubordinate maid. "Oh, Bela's mad now!"

Kyia's emerald eyes were locked onto Bela's as the blonde got within inches of her face. She could see the carnivorous wrath burning behind her eyes. This was the same woman she had met back in Serpenmoor, only ten times worse now.

What went down in that realm meant nothing here. Kyia had no powers to rely on, and Bela was more than willing to make an example of her. She had the upper hand in every category, not to mention that her family was just as dangerous.

Bela snarled as flies began to break away from parts of her body. "Did something make you angry, new girl? Well?!"

The rest of the maids cowered at the sight of it, knowing that Kyia's first day in the castle was likely about to end in death. Even the fawn couldn't hold back her terror, gulping and shaking as she imagined her body being torn to shreds.

But her survival instincts kicked in. She knew that this was her only chance to fix things. She understood weakness. The strong would prey on the weak until there was nothing left. Everyone in the Dimitrescu family had their eyes on her, ready to slaughter her for the perceived disrespect.

Disrespect—that was it.

"Yes," Kyia admitted in a shocking display of confidence. This could only go one of two ways, and Bela's next response would determine her success.

"Explain to everyone why you are angry," Bela demanded. This was it, Kyia thought. This was what she needed to happen.

"I am angry because you are upset with your meal," she said, manufacturing the best lie that she could conjure. "You all should be happily enjoying a delicious dinner. Noblewomen of your rank should never be fed a meal worthy of anyone less!"

Kyia placed her hand against her chest, turning her manipulative gaze toward the rest of the family. "It breaks my heart to see you beautiful ladies so displeased. Where I come from, it is a great insult for a servant to fail their masters! It is an insult to me, and an even greater insult to this castle! I beg you for forgiveness, as my anger is only born from your displeasure."

Bela, though surprised by Kyia's response, was still ready to rip her throat out right then and there. "Oh, we can still have a delicious dinner…"

Sensing her daughter's intentions, Alcina stopped her. "No, Bela." The blonde turned around in an instant, caught off guard but obedient to her mother's command. The tall lady leaned back in her chair, eyeing the slender brunette who stood nearby. "I like this one," she said, her eyes gleaming with piqued interest. "What's your name, again?"

"Kyia, my Lord," the fawn replied, bowing her head.

"Well, Kyia," Alcina continued, twiddling her wine glass in her hand, "do you know how to cook?"

Kyia nodded, even if her heart was still relentlessly pounding inside her chest. "Yes, my Lord."

"Good," Alcina replied. "We need some extra staff in that kitchen. I'm certain that we will have no further mishaps if so."

Bela raised her head as soon as she heard that. "Mother?" She could not believe the turn around.

"I will not waste any staff," Alcina remarked, still eyeing Kyia as she did so. "If she knows about cooking as much as she claims, then I will have her put to use there. Plus, I admire her dedication. She's yours now, Bela. Take care of her."

The blonde nodded in response. "Yes, Mother." She then abruptly turned and faced Kyia. "You will be at the kitchen at five in the morning, understand?"

Kyia took another breath, steadying herself as much as possible. She hated every aspect of this reality. If she had her powers, she would burn this wretched family and everything around them to the ground. But there was only one thing that she could say, and in the process of saying it, she had to repress her soul.

"Yes, Miss Bela."

The eldest daughter then shot a glare over toward the Grand Chambermaid. "Madelina, see to it that Kyia is placed with Luana and Sorina!"

The woman nodded respectfully. "Yes, Miss Bela!"

Kyia saw those amber orbs center on her like the hungry predator that they belonged to. "Do not be late. Now, get back to where you belong."

Finding a slight bit of relief in her success, Kyia nonetheless had to account for the grim outlook that lay ahead of her. Tomorrow morning would likely prove to be a dangerous ocean of uncertainty. To be a direct pawn to this vile woman's demands made her want to vomit, but there was nothing that she could do besides obey.

Obey—and plot the demise of the woman she should have killed back in that forsaken city.

"Yes, Miss Bela."

NOTES:

Castle Dimitrescu is slowly changing, and so is the course of fate with it. What will happen now? Kyia is by no means perfect at her craft. She relies on luck to help her when she needs it most. If she can't make a good impression on someone or chooses not to, there will always be another that will hopefully bite the bait. We've seen it happen in Serpenmoor.

Exploring her past is something that this story will show. Even though she is a rightfully hated villain, I think her backstory is one worth seeing. It's a really tragic path that a once kind-hearted woman found herself on. Kyia's actions can't be forgiven, I suppose, but maybe we can understand why she became who she is now.

Daniela and Delia's interactions are not straying from the realm of concern. What will happen if the redhead continues to orbit the idea that the maid can provide her with an answer to her burning question? Delia didn't make it through the original timeline, so will this one be different?

There will be death in this story as it plays along. Not all of our characters will get to walk off into the sunset together. Some may end up in the fire.

The next chapter will explore more of Daniela and Delia's interactions as well as Kyia's first day in the kitchen. Wish her well, if you care to do so.

On that note, life has taken a more complicated turn for me lately. Nothing bad, but it'd be easier to spare myself some extra time to write. So, the next chapter will be out in two weeks instead of one. I hate to keep you guys waiting, but an additional week should be fair. I'm also going to push the release of the latest Fragmented Flies: Flickers to tomorrow.

But I wanted to say thank you for all the support that this story has received since it began. It has been quite the ride since this trilogy first began two years ago. I am so excited to conclude it when the day arrives, but until then, it is all about the journey. I'm looking forward to every step of the way with you all!

Have a great weekend and stay cool and stay safe! 😊