The Factory
Narratha stood at the side, her hands chained, while Heisenberg and Miranda continued to converse inside the factory. The priestess, or prophet, or whatever she was seen as in this place, occasionally cast a glance at the redhead as she listened to Karl's words. The fawn could not read her too well, but she had also been advised not to make direct eye contact.
A submissive nature would keep her alive above all else. Heisenberg had informed her of one notably defiant outsider who thought it would have been a good idea to insult the woman. The way Miranda crushed his skull must have been indescribable. All that had been said about it was that she left a gory mess for the Lycans to devour later.
Keeping her mouth shut would keep her head on her shoulders.
"Like I said," Heisenberg began, "I didn't want her to freeze to death. What would be the point if she couldn't turn?" He spoke so casually. It was like he had rehearsed this lie repeatedly in his head. It blended in well with his usual tone of voice. Narratha couldn't tell if he had been lying to her before. It all sounded so fluid.
"Are you saying that I don't know what a Lycan wound looks like, Heisenberg?" Miranda remained still as she spoke to him, her voice laced with an accusing tone. Behind that bird-beaked mask, it was difficult to make out her facial expression, but the way she talked made it seem like she was less than pleased.
With a smile, Heisenberg put up his hands, chuckling the same way he always did. "It's not that," he said, as if he didn't have a fear in the world. "She had been attacked by Lycans, but I've concluded that the one who got close only knocked her down. Admittingly, I was a little energetic when I captured her. Some of my scraps must have sliced her back. I didn't check them back there because, well, why would I?"
Miranda glared at Narratha again. The redhead bowed her head, not saying anything. "She has yet to turn, which can only lead to one conclusion. Pity. I was hoping for an extra Lycan to guard this village. I still don't know how two outsiders wandered in here."
The way Miranda's amber eyes gleamed through the lines of that mask was chilling. She studied the freckled fawn as much as she could, wondering how she was able to make it this far. Heisenberg had explained her previous attire as being the remnants of a larger outfit. He theorized that there may have been a larger group that she broke away from, noting how the winter could make some people delirious.
Thankfully, Miranda had said nothing else about that, but the way she hummed in response was not the most relieving answer. It was clear that she was still thinking heavily about the prisoner. Did she truly believe everything that Heisenberg was telling her?
"I know that I never say this," Heisenberg said, showing a tinge of excitement, "but maybe we should put this one to better use. She is strong, and I've been needing someone to help me sort all this junk out."
Miranda gazed around the room, listening to the sounds of heavy machinery down below. "You mean to tell me that you need this outsider to keep your factory going?"
"No, Mother Miranda," he replied. "I just think she can handle the bullcrap that takes extra time out of my day. I need counts and note-taking, and blah, blah, blah. You've seen how much stuff is in here."
She tilted her head to the trapdoor nearby, staring at it for seemingly no reason other than an extreme curiosity. "Hmm… No. I don't care to, either. But I have made up my mind."
Narratha gulped as she steadied herself, knowing that this could possibly be the end of the road for her. She debated lashing out and going out with a fight. Miranda would likely kill her immediately, but it was better than dying like a coward. The redhead took a breath, calming herself so that she wouldn't make a rash decision, but the beating of her heart was up to her ears.
It was one decisive roadblock after the next. If she made it far, then she had to be carried by pure luck.
Both Heisenberg and Narratha eagerly awaited her decision, and when Miranda spoke, it sent a shock through both of them. "It will be an exceptionally harsh winter. If she has no memories of the world, then she will work for the village. I don't care if she dies during her labor, but I'm going to need everyone else to be alive. She can stay under your care, but she will not stay here indefinitely."
Heisenberg looked like he was at a loss for words. He had not expected Narratha to be integrated with the rest of the villagers. Miranda was very adamant that the villagers stay away from any outsiders, lest their minds be poisoned with the truth of the world around them. Since Narratha genuinely appeared to have no idea what lay beyond those mountains, she would likely serve the community well.
Hell, even the other outsider had been granted the opportunity to work in Alcina's castle. It was a rare turn of events, but rare circumstances often beckoned unusual outcomes.
Narratha's green eyes glanced at Heisenberg as he asked his final question. "So, when does she start?"
"Tomorrow morning," Miranda said. She would leave with no more to be said, exploding into a murder of crows and flying out of the door.
Narratha couldn't believe her eyes when she witnessed the spectacle unfold. Her mind was wrapped in a mix of thoughts, from the fate she had been handed to the impossible biology of the denizens of this world. The factory was silent for a few seconds before Heisenberg grunted, but the redhead wouldn't take her eyes off the door.
He knew that she wanted to make a run for it, but her hesitation said it all. She didn't have a single clue as to what was out there. If Miranda's shapeshifting form was enough to startle her, then she wouldn't be prepared for the more sizable monsters that lied in wait. This region was a dangerous place, and nobody else knew that better than the dead themselves.
If she didn't wish to join their ranks, then she would do as she was told. That was all the assurance that he needed to maintain control of her.
Heisenberg waved his hand, ushering her back to the cell that he had constructed. "You get what you get tonight for food, understand?"
She reluctantly stepped forward, gazing down at her shackles as she breathed a somber sigh. "You sound disappointed."
"Just shut up," he said as he walked ahead, passing through the threshold of the doorway and sitting down at his desk. Narratha's cell was just right across from it on the opposite side of the small room. It would take just a flick of his will to get the door to shut and for the locks to engage. All she needed to do was step in.
Narratha's brow was low, and her lips were devoid of expression as she lifted her head and stared at him. She spoke quietly, taking one more glance at the exit before she obeyed his command. "I'm not a stranger to labor, you know?"
He lit up another cigar. "I don't care."
She mumbled under her breath as her body entered the cell, "Well, I do." The door shut behind her with a loud clang. Narratha didn't even turn around to watch the locks move on their own. She already knew what was happening. Instead, she took a couple more steps and sat down on the ground, her eyes gazing at the grey wall. "That's all that I was good for."
"Are you still talking?" Heisenberg called out as he leaned forward over his desk.
She raised her knees and laid her arms on top of them. Her cheek was buried in the crook of her elbow just seconds later. "No."
Castle Dimitrescu – Later that night...
The evening's dinner had gone off without a hitch. Alcina and her three daughters each sat at the table, enjoying a delicious helping of roasted deer mixed with goat. To Bela's delight, their mother had commended her on the taste of the meal, which added to the blonde's happy mood. After everything that had been going down inside the kitchen lately, she was just glad that another meal had not been delayed.
Daniela sipped on her glass of wine as she watched Cassandra shove more food down her gullet. The brunette's appetite was insatiable. It felt like she could just eat forever if the supply of food was there. None of their stomachs were ever truly full. Such an idea as a fulfilled sense of hunger seemed like a dream, a myth. In each of their bodies were thousands of tiny mouths to feed, and when each fly was fed, it only wanted more.
Cassandra's flies could never get enough blood or wine.
Smiling as she set her glass down, Daniela giggled as she glanced at her sibling. The brunette took notice of her sister's enthusiasm, casting a side glare her way but biting her tongue. She knew that their mother did not wish to hear any bickering tonight. Clearing her throat, Cassandra took a breath as she picked up her fork again.
"Are you going to eat all that, Daniela?"
"Oh, yes!" she exclaimed, still not taking her eyes off her older sister. "But I was just thinking about the time you hunted the really large deer and brought him back to the castle. What a wonderous feast that was!"
Cassandra hummed as she stared up at the ceiling, shifting her fork around her plate as she thought about it. "You're going to have to be more specific, Daniela. I've hunted a lot of deer."
"Yes, but this one was exceptional!"
Bela chimed in, sensing that there was something amiss. "Daniela, are you sure you're not referring to the elk that Cassandra killed that one summer?"
Elk? Deer? What is the difference?
Daniela's gloved finger pressed against her chin, her amber eyes drifting around the room. "Hmm, I suppose you might be right. Either way, it was such a lovely dinner. Do you have plans to hunt anything equally as big this coming summer?"
Cassandra shrugged, taking a momentary break from her usual state of contempt. With a soft stare aimed at the food on her plate, the middle daughter rolled her lips, thinking about the only pastime that was near and dear to her. Going hunting meant being able to escape the castle. Lately, after so many years, she had begun to feel like a prisoner. The sense that nature called her contrasted with the embedded idea that her life was meant to be spent inside these walls.
She yearned for every possibility to explore the world around her. It added to the feelings of isolation that she often felt in the colder months. Bela and Daniela could easily go on with their lives. Their hobbies were doable at any time during the year, but with hers being restricted to the very few months that were tolerable for their bodies, she felt empty.
It was as if life didn't want her to be happy, and so, in turn, she hated to see others be happy. On top of the idea that she fell short of her mother's expectations and couldn't live up to the image of her siblings, Cassandra was just a big ball of negativity. The years only made it worse, and despite her hard shell, the brunette could only take so much.
"It would be nice," she remarked, stabbing the prongs of her fork into the food, imagining it being a helpless deer. "I haven't killed a bear in a while," her voice spoke softly. "So, I'll try to do that."
This is the best chance that I have! She'll have to agree to take me hunting with her!
"Hey, Cassandra!" Daniela then called out. The room went silent for a second, only for the brunette to hum as she turned her eyes and saw that broad grin on her sister's face. "Do you think that I can go with you?"
Cassandra didn't want to start a fight. She was too tired. Her antics had placed her on thin ice. After everything that had gone down, she simply wanted to have one quiet night. No discussions about that book. No pleas for her little sister to accompany her on her prized hunting trips. The last few hours before dinner had been spent in relative solitude, and now she just wanted to be left alone.
She wasn't going to say yes, but she wasn't going to deal with what was to follow after a denial, either. Daniela would likely ask tomorrow, so why not just put it off until then? "Summer is so far away, and I haven't planned anything out yet. Could we just leave it at that for now?"
"But…" Daniela wasn't happy with the answer. In her mind, anything but a yes was an automatic no. Her hands trembled at the edge of the table, a torrent of unstable emotions swirling around inside of her. She couldn't lash out at her sister. There would be no point. Cassandra's fury would only rise and overtake hers, and then it would be a fight, and then their mother would have to get involved, and then...
Then it would just be one giant mess. Bela hated messes.
Why doesn't she ever want to take me? We used to be such great friends. There's always an excuse, for whatever reason. Is it because of me? Am I doing something wrong?
Daniela's mood sank, as did her body. She adopted a semi-pouty face as she reclined in her chair, staring blankly at the plate in front of her. "Okay." She would say nothing else to add to the conversation. What was done was done. As Bela leaned in to check on her, the redhead only shook her head, declining any further conversation.
The remainder of the dinner would carry on as normal, or at least, devoid of any comments on the matter. Daniela felt like her family was pretending that she wasn't upset. Another part of her got the feeling that they just didn't want to bother her.
It didn't matter. Neither of the answers were pleasant.
...
As Daniela paced around the library, Delia stood idly by next to one of the shelves. The maid had witnessed the conversation that had taken place during dinner. Judging by the way the redhead had responded to it, she was certain that this was going to be another terrifying night.
The noblewoman had a nasty habit of taking out her anger on Delia whenever she got upset. It didn't matter if her loyal servant had done everything correctly. There was always going to be some mistake. Some failed orders. Whatever it took to justify the abuse, it would surely come her way.
It left Delia feeling hopeless. No matter what or how hard she tried, it was worthless. She hated to believe that there wasn't some honor in this existence, even if everything pointed to the contrary. The punishments never fit the perceived crime, but she prided herself on doing a good job.
It was the only thing that she had going for her in this castle. If that piece failed, then what was her purpose? She had to keep going, hoping that one day she would be able to see her family again.
Daniela stopped with a grunt, standing only several feet away from the auburn-haired young lady. Her fists were clenched, and her lips were tense. The wrinkled pinch that set along her eyebrows told the rest of the story. She was furious. A volcano is ready to erupt and melt everything in its path.
"Sometimes, I just really want to hit you, Delia."
The maiden bowed her eyes, despite how worried that statement had just made her. She could feel the impending strike that was bound to come her way. The surface of her skin anticipated it. Daniela never standardized those beatings. Some were worse than others, and Delia feared that there would come a point when her master just went too far.
"Yes, Miss Daniela." Those were the only words that she could say.
A series of heavy breaths heaved out of the redhead's chest. Her fists clenched tighter, and her amber eyes darted around the room. She wanted to swing a punch, but there was so much rage behind it that she knew it would crush Delia's skull instantly. Worried that she would accidentally kill her own maid, Daniela considered just bashing one of the shelves, but then she remembered how much she needed those shelves.
There would be no quick replacements. No place for her books to rest. Each one of those bindings was like a child to her. All her books carried some sort of life inside them. She hated to rob them of their rightful place to sleep.
And so, she stayed by her hand, even if the fiery waters of her soul bubbled beyond measure.
"This library is so dusty." She fell back on her tired, old excuse, speaking in a calm yet wrathful manner. "I tell you to clean and clean, and what do you do? You just stand there and waste my time."
"I would never intentionally do such a thing, Miss Daniela," Delia calmly pleaded, trying her best not to show how distressed she was inside.
Daniela grunted as she pushed past her and went to her favorite lounge chair. The redhead quickly took a seat on it, huffing as she picked up her wine glass and held it out. Delia already knew what was expected of her. She hurried over to the bottle and uncorked it, pouring some of the wine into the glass at once.
When the level was high enough, Daniela gently shook the chalice around, signaling for her maid to stop. Delia nodded and cautiously set the bottle back, recorking it and stepping away. With her hands joined at her waist, she watched as the noblewoman began to sip on the drink, awaiting any further instruction.
It wasn't long before Daniela rotated her body and lifted her legs onto the cushions, adjusting her gown so that it would not get in the way. Letting out a sigh, she pointed to the nearby chair.
Once again, Delia already knew what was expected of her.
She joined her master right after, still resting her hands in her lap as she straightened out her back. Daniela continued to drink more wine as she lay there, looking as if she were lost in her own thoughts. It left Delia with a persistent feeling of unease. With how quiet the redhead was being, there was no telling if she would snap at any second.
As she sat down in the chair, Delia did her best to balance the ratio of eye contact between the two of them. Too much of it could be seen as a sign of disrespect, while too little could be the same as well. It was a constant game that seemed destined to be lost, but the maid swore to play for as long as she could.
"It's so cold out there," Daniela remarked, glancing upward at the skylight above. "I just hate it."
"It is most cold, Miss Daniela."
The redhead took a breath, calming her nerves as she sought to rid her mind of the troubles of the season. "When summer finally arrives, I plan to get out more."
"It is a beautiful time of year, Miss Daniela." Delia's responses were so kind and general that they were practically robotic. She didn't want to say anything that could stray the noblewoman's thoughts into violence. Over the months, she had improved her act, learning what it took to keep her mostly on track.
Daniela only preferred deep conversation when she asked for it. Any signs or signals that she wanted more could not be trusted to be just that. Delia had made the mistake of bringing up bad matters long ago when her master displayed a hint of sadness. The mere mention of the topic nearly resulted in a broken hand.
She sipped her wine, her anger slowly dissipating into dullness as the relaxing liquid worked its magic. The silence between them was heavy yet familiar. Delia sat with her hands in her lap, her eyes downcast but attentive, just as she needed to be. The redhead's fingers drummed on the armrest, hinting at the growing anxiety that she was trying to suppress.
After a long moment, Daniela spoke again, her voice softer this time. "Do you ever miss your family, Delia?"
The question caught Delia off guard. It was rare for Daniela to ask anything personal, let alone something that hinted at her humanity. Delia lifted her gaze cautiously, meeting the noblewoman's eyes. She couldn't afford to lie, as the redhead would likely pick up on it in an instant. Yet she feared the aftermath of what would happen if she divulged how much she yearned to reconnect with her loved ones.
There was no other option. No other way out but forward. "Yes, Miss Daniela. I think of them often."
Daniela nodded, an intrigued look crossing her face as her amber eyes wandered towards the skylight above. "I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a normal life. To be free of this existence."
Delia felt a sudden ringing of sympathy for her tormentor. Despite everything, she could see the girl Daniela sometimes was. It wasn't the same one who beat her and ridiculed her. No, it was someone else entirely. That unknown person was the balancing factor in Delia's resolve. The only reason she fought so hard to navigate this seemingly insane woman's personality. There had to be a route towards salvation.
She had witnessed this before, and she hoped that part of Daniela could allow her to escape. "I believe everyone longs for freedom, Miss Daniela."
The redhead stared into her wine glass, swirling the liquid absentmindedly as her gaze drifted across the ceiling. "Freedom," she repeated, almost to herself. "It's a nice dream, isn't it?"
Delia nodded, unsure of what else to say. She had never seen Daniela like this—so vulnerable, so introspective. It was a side of her that rarely surfaced, hidden beneath layers of rage and cruelty. This wasn't just the softer side of the vicious noblewoman. This was something else, but what?
"I used to dream about my family," Daniela continued, her voice battered down to a sorrowful call that mirrored a faint wind. "But now... now I just dream about people who I do not know."
Delia swallowed a short gulp, but she wasn't afraid. She only felt the sting of the daughter's pain. "It must be a lot to forgo the dreams of the ones you love the most. To think that your mind is replacing them is quite tragic. I say that because I know that is not how you want to feel."
The noblewoman's eyes turned back down to the auburn-haired servant, who relinquished all their predatory nature. "I don't want to feel like this at all. I hate it."
For a moment, the two women sat in silence, sharing a rare moment of understanding. Daniela set her wine glass down and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. "Tell me a story, Delia. Something to take my mind off things."
"Of course, Miss Daniela." Delia straightened out her body as she leaned forward, her eyes set on the lady across from her. "Romance?"
"I think maybe a story about hope or something," she answered.
"Then fantasy?" Delia suggested.
"Fantasy."
"Alright." Delia cleared her throat. "This is a story that my mother used to tell me about a land far away from here. So far away, in fact."
"Where is it?" Daniela perked her head up, curious about the setting.
Delia let out a friendly giggle, reminiscing about those old nights in her bed so long ago. She craved nothing else but to be back there. But with the memories in her head, it was like she was home again, even if for a brief second. "I think it was a completely different world. She never gave me the answer."
Hmm… another world?
"What happens in this story?" Daniela took a breath, rolling her head back as she contemplated the future.
"Well, one day, there was a young woman who did not know anything about herself," Delia began. "For years, she thought she did, but in the end, she never understood a thing. It wasn't until another woman showed up one day that she had someone she could talk to. This new girl was a strange lady, seemingly born from a land far from her own. 'Why did she come here?' the girl wondered. For that answer, she could only guess."
Will someone come into my life and change it around? Is something like that even possible? What does it take to make that kind of difference?
Daniela stewed in her thoughts as she listened to Delia describe the story. It was a world of wonder. A place far beyond her wildest imagination. A world with multiple suns, centered in the expansiveness of a universe yet to be understood. But the heart of the tale was something more human. It was about two women whose lives intersected, flanked by the struggles of their separate existences, only to bond together as their struggles became one.
Women loving women. Hmm, is such a thing true? How could a woman love another? It doesn't make sense to me, but if the person she loves gives her everything that she wants, is that not love? Love isn't based on attraction, but attraction must play a role, doesn't it? If so, then she must be attracted to this woman, and if... Ah, that's it, isn't it? It's all there. She does love this woman, after all. My, my…
Delia continued, "The girl could not tear herself away from her mission to help the young lady find her way back home, but at the same time, she wanted to keep her there. She found a piece of herself in this person, and she did not want to let that go. Yet fate would be the deciding factor in both of their lives. In this woman's world, there resided an evil who…"
What do we do when the loss of what we desire is on the table? If you love something, let it go. Isn't that what they say? But why must I give up something that I have worked so hard for? Something that I've always wanted my entire life. Is love only temporary? It's supposed to last forever!
"But the woman of blood would not allow peace to exist amongst the world. Her will, born from a life of regret, perverted the lens through which she viewed the others. Through her hand, she sought to dismantle everything that came before so that she could build it up again in the image of her own will. So, the girl, a woman born with a special power, took a stand against her. She would not allow..."
Maybe love is something that does last forever, but only in our hearts. It's so strong that it outlives itself. If we can love someone for only a fraction of our lives and yet carry that warmth until our final day, then it truly is immortal. If we are to let it go, then it naturally entails sacrifice.
Delia took a breath. "Snarling as she drove her sword clean into the gut of her next victim, the woman of blood glared at the girl. Her eyes shone with a glint of cruelty. It was a mark of retribution. In defiance, the girl raised her hand, and out came a beam of light."
"Wait!" Daniela sat up from her seat, seemingly taken aback by the uncanny semblance between the story and what she held dear. "The woman of blood? A Valkyrie?"
"What is a Valkyrie, Miss Daniela?"
"Hmm," Daniela said as she glanced around the room. "I can't define it exactly. I believe it to be a woman with a sword. A powerful warrior. One who can ascend the heavens."
"Oh." Delia nodded. "The woman of blood could fly, yes."
"Has your mother read the same book as I?" Daniela leaned closer, visibly interested in the next thing that would leave her servant's mouth.
"No," the girl replied. "It was a story passed down in my family through generations. It began with my great-grandfather. One day, according to my mother, he pricked his finger on a piece of metal that appeared in the grass. Later that night, he had a strange dream about this world. It was quite fantastical, but he thought it felt more real than a dream. So, he wrote it all down, and it became a story that my family grew to enjoy."
"My book talks about a Valkyrie," Daniela mentioned, pressing her finger against her lip as her gaze toiled around. "There is a woman of light, whose powers stood to change the entire world. Then there was a lost girl, trying to find her way. The woman of light guides her, even though she doesn't want the girl to go down the path she seeks."
"That is very similar," Delia agreed. "Very similar indeed. My mother did tell me another story about a dream that my great-grandfather had a few days later. She didn't say much about it, apparently because it was too violent for a child my age."
"Oh!" Daniela's morbid curiosity got the better of her. "A violent story is always so exciting!"
Delia suppressed a gulp, anxious about whether or not the redhead's bloodthirsty nature would rear its ugly head once again. "I only know a few details, but it is a love story between two unlikely people. I guess that they were enemies at one point. However, it is violent because of the monsters in it."
"What kind of monsters?"
Delia shrugged her shoulders. "My mother only mentioned one. Instead of the woman of light, she described this monster as the woman of shadows."
"I wonder if this woman of shadows was more dangerous than the Valkyrie in my book."
Delia's anxiety was shattered with a faint chuckle. "My mother did mention that she had heard the end of the story. The woman of shadows wasn't quite the monster that we thought she was. But in that story, there was a woman of light too, and she was the true monster."
"Then is this woman of light more dangerous than the Valkyrie?" Daniela looked at her, awaiting the answer.
Delia paused only to smile. She wished that she knew the truth. "If the Valkyrie is a warrior, then she will fight for what she believes in, right to the very end. I'd say that would make her dangerous." Her eyes then drifted downward, just as her voice softened. "But only dangerous to those who oppose her."
The Village – The following morning…
"You heard what Mother Miranda said," Heisenberg grumbled as he led Narratha towards the outskirts of the settlement. They would be at the square in just a few minutes, but the grizzled machinist couldn't simmer his unhappiness. Mother Miranda had ordered the redhead to be a servant to the townsfolk, and that was that.
If she did not know a single thing about the outside world, then she wasn't a threat to the woman's rule. There would be no truth to poison the minds that the blonde so desperately wanted to control. The intruder would have been a good candidate for the experiments that she had planned for some of the local folk, but with the prospect of this winter being especially harsh, Miranda figured that putting an extra body to work would at least help procure some resources to keep her peons alive.
If Narratha could benefit her in any sort of way, then it would be the outcome. If the perfect vessel for Eva, could not be found by winter's end, then a cadou would be planted right into the prisoner's body, and whatever followed would be jotted down accordingly.
With her hands tightly bound by metal shackles in front of her, Narratha walked with her head down as she followed his lead. The frigid, cold air rattled her skin. Even the additional long-sleeve covering that he had placed over her could not stem the tide of the freezing wind. She shuddered with each step, hoping that her body could generate enough heat to combat the encroaching numbness that plagued her.
Yet, despite her physical dilemma, Narratha's worst problems were more mental. She sighed as soon as she caught her breath, reminiscing about her past choices. "Life is a cruel thing," she muttered. "We don't understand it, and then we must struggle to make it work."
Heisenberg said nothing. He probably didn't even hear her. She didn't care.
Narratha chuckled somberly, her emerald eyes still turned to the snowy ground. "I've tried numerous times to make it work, but at the expense of the woman who I used to be." Her chuckling died down to another sigh. "I don't know if I would have chosen to be born if I had been given the option. I guess it's reasonable to assume that the woman who I used to be is dead."
She pressed her lips into a brief grimace. A reflection of all the horrid deeds she had willingly performed back in Locwitary. Her face then loosened as she shook her head to the side. "Maybe it's for the best. She wouldn't have wanted any of this. Death does not make life work."
"Anything else?" Heisenberg finally broke his long spell of silence.
"What else is there for me to say?"
...
As they entered the heart of the village, those around them could only stop and turn their heads in wonder, their eyes having grown wide at the sight before them. Lord Heisenberg, accompanied by an outsider? It was something that previously could only have been imagined in the most insane of minds, but here it was.
The man was a hermit, and out of the four lords, he hardly left his factory. With Miranda's ruling that outsiders were not to be permitted access without her strict permission, seeing someone who did not belong here was one thing. To be in the casual presence of a lord was another. She was not on her way to trial. The way he pointed out the various areas of the place spoke of a guide.
He was clearly showing her around.
With his cigar still burning at the edge of his lips, Heisenberg blew out a plume of smoke that was promptly whisked away in the currents. The scent quickly found its way into Narratha's nostrils and tempted her to cough, but she suppressed the urge to do so. She had been instructed to not speak unless she was spoken to. It was an order that she would otherwise fight, but when Mother Miranda entered the factory, the weight of that woman's power could already be felt.
Narratha did not know if it was her latent fawn abilities that allowed her to pick up on the blonde's strength or if it was just naturally so palpable. Either way, she knew a threat when she saw one. As composed as Miranda seemed, it appeared as though she could unleash chaos in the blink of an eye.
With no fire to combat such an adversary, all that Narratha could do was back down and remain silent. Heisenberg had warned that the tyrant was always watching, and the redhead took that advice to heart. Maybe it was her paranoia at play, but making a mistake so early on in this dangerous game was a death sentence.
She was just thankful that he had convinced the leader of this village that her scratch wound was anything but. Miranda did not argue the matter; rather, it was a simple look of disappointment at best. She had no care for the life of someone else—something Narratha understood all too well.
"Mother Miranda cares greatly about the harvests," Heisenberg mentioned as he pointed to a large dwelling up on a hill, which was surrounded by stalks of yellow crops. It must have been a tiny farm, but one that yielded great importance to the people here. "I'm sure she would be thrilled to see you making some progress over there."
"Am I expected to reap the gifts of this planet?" Narratha shifted her eyes between the man in the overcoat and the house ahead.
Heisenberg pulled his cigar out of his mouth and let out a small groan. "Why do you talk like that?"
She flicked her head to the side, trying to push some of the bushy locks of hair away from her freckled face. "Fawns are supposed to be concise in the way that they speak. We do it so that we may set the example for...
He interrupted her right then and there. "Alright, enough with this 'fawn' shit. In fact, do not even mention any of that to the villagers. Don't. If you act like some fucked-up headcase, then there is nothing that I can do for you."
Narratha squinted her brow, her voice soft and confused. "But it is true. Even though I have turned away from the teachings of…"
"One. Last. Time." He popped the cigar back into his mouth, his next words muffled. "Enough."
She wanted to argue with him. Everything inside of her compelled her to do so, but once again, she was at a loss. There would be nothing to gain from trying to prove him wrong. Narratha tilted her head down and accepted defeat. It killed her on the inside to accept being so belittled, but she knew that she would have to press on.
"I will stop."
He turned back around to face the house up on the hill, taking a second to glance at the church to his left. Heisenberg could not bear to even think about all the offerings that these villagers gave to that wretched woman inside there. All the pictures of her vile face adorned the walls. It sickened him. They were constant reminders of how he was a prisoner in his own kingdom.
With a low grunt, Heisenberg took a lengthy drag and tapped the spent embers out. As the cloud of smoke encapsulated his head, he directed his attention at Narratha, eyeing her intently. "You wait here," he said. "I have something that I need to get from inside that place. I'd rather not have you inside."
"Is it dangerous?" Narratha set her sights on the church, unaware of what such a thing even meant.
"No," he answered. "You'd probably stand there and ask questions, and that means that I'll be in there for longer than I need to. Wait here and do not move." With that said, Heisenberg quickly paced over to the church, closing the door behind him and leaving Narratha alone for the moment.
The redhead immediately scanned her surroundings, trying her best to get a better idea of what she was up against. It was difficult to tell just how big this village likely was, as she had only been able to witness so much of it. It had to have been comparable to the town of Acomb back in her world. A settlement not too large but not too shallow either.
She watched as the villagers went about their business, noticing how their concerned eyes would glance at her at every turn. She felt like a stranger. She was a stranger.
"Do I still ensnare disgust?" Narratha mumbled to herself, believing that her red hair and freckled skin were the cause of their curiosity. She shook her head, averting her eyes and trying not to look back at them. The wind around her was cold. She anxiously awaited Heisenberg's return, wondering what in the world he could be doing inside that building by himself.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a bolstering voice found itself in her ear. "Oh, ho! A customer!"
She turned to look to her right, only to be shocked at the presence of an unimaginably large man, who was seated amidst a collection of odd artifacts. With a squint to her brow, Narratha could see that he had plopped his massive behind over the edge of an equally exceptionally large horse carriage. His bare feet, ankles swollen with edema, swayed in the air without a care in the world.
She had never seen a person like this before. He was so big and so tall. How could such a creation be possible?
"Me?" She asked him in a meek voice.
"Yes, yes," the man responded with a smile, beckoning her closer with the call of his wide hand. Narratha approached his stand, aware that she was disobeying Heisenberg's orders by doing so. But if this ghastly-looking man had something to offer her, then she would take what she could get. He appeared to be friendly enough. Was it a chance to escape this mess?
Narratha hesitated as she moved closer, her eyes darting around the village square to ensure no one else was watching, even though they were. The man's presence was as unexpected as it was unsettling. Yet, there was something oddly comforting about his demeanor—a strange warmth in his smile—that made him someone who could possibly be trusted.
Yet, at the same time, that very smile was cause for alarm. Trust was the perfect weapon.
"So," she replied cautiously, "who are you?"
The man chuckled, creating a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate through the very air around them. "Oh, people around here call me the Duke," he said. "You see, I'm something of a merchant of oddities and secrets. And you, my dear, are quite the enigma."
Narratha's curiosity and concern instantly rose. "What do you mean?"
The Duke leaned forward, the wooden beams of his carriage creaking under his weight. "You're not just a simple outsider, are you? More than that, you're not the innocent woman you appear to be, right?"
She immediately got on the defense. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He only laughed. "Oh! Not a good liar, either. I won't get into specifics right now, anyway. Best not to alienate a potential customer on petty things like, well, murder, to start."
A shiver ran down her spine, and Narratha's posture stiffened. "You know nothing."
The Duke's smile didn't waver. "I know many things, my dear. This village is full of secrets, and I've made it my business to buy and sell them. You, however, are a particularly interesting case. A new life in a strange world... What will you do now that everything has changed? Quite the new life, indeed."
Narratha's eyes narrowed. "What are you implying, fat man?"
"Consider it a fresh start," the Duke replied, his tone still infuriatingly calm. Narratha could see that he was toying with her emotions, but the way he spoke made it sound like he knew what he was talking about. Hell, he already seemed to know enough about her. There had to have been a million other things that he wasn't saying but that she needed to know. "A second chance, if you will. What do you plan to do with it?"
Her anger flared, and she stepped closer to him, her fists clenched at her sides. "I warn you, I'm stronger than I appear," she hissed, fighting to re-ignite her stripped powers and incinerate him, only to fail to do so once again.
The Duke's expression softened, a hint of genuine concern crossing his features. "I know," he said simply. "But strength without empathy is a dangerous thing. The strong should know what it feels like to be weak so they can empathize with others."
Narratha's patience wore thin. "How do I escape this?"
The Duke's smile returned, but this time it held a trace of the empathy that he preached. "Escaping is all you ever try to do, isn't it?" he said softly. "Running from your past, from your deeds, from yourself... But perhaps, in this new life, you should consider something different."
She took a step back, his words striking a chord deep within her. "What are you saying? Enough with these games! Tell me everything that you know, right now!"
"I don't give much out for free," he stated, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. "Where there is coin, there is product. However, that doesn't mean that I can't still be of service. You'll be working in this village, from what I've heard. You'll have the chance to purchase something from me then. In the meantime, you should get to know these villagers, within the bounds of Mother Miranda, of course."
"I care not for these people," Narratha uttered, visibly disgusted at the sight of them. "Worthless poils."
"They're not poils," the Duke replied, the sound of his voice direct, almost as if to tell her that she should reconsider her approach. "The choice is yours," he said softly. "But remember, you're not alone. There is someone else in this village. Someone just like you."
Narratha took a breath, remembering the slender brunette fawn whom she had encountered at the beginning of this mess. "Kyia? Yes, how could I have forgotten? She could be my way out of here!"
"There are three ways out of here, and she may be one of them," the Duke informed her. "But... I suggest you explore all your other options before doing so."
Narratha calmed herself momentarily, just enough to ask the Duke a clear-minded question. "I simply wish to leave this place. I must find her. We will leave together, and that will be it. Where is she?"
The Duke let out a final giggle, cupping his hands over his massive stomach. "You cannot sell a lie, can you? You want to hurt some very prominent people. I know it. I don't sell lies. Again, it is one of your choices. I implore you to explore the other options. But if you do wish to find her, she is in that castle right over there."
He pointed to the towering fortress just behind his shoulder in the distance. That structure had been on her mind ever since she first spotted it during her walk with Heisenberg. She knew she was right to assume that it had a great deal of significance.
"The choice is yours," the Duke said. "You've always wanted to be able to make a choice, haven't you? I do not doubt that she will seek your aid, but before you go looking for her, go find yourself."
"I have already found myself," Narratha said.
"Then I was wrong," the Duke replied, leaning back in his carriage as his eyes sat upon her. "You can sell pretty well, but only to yourself."
NOTES:
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! The story is now about to enter its second arc!
So, Narratha will be integrated with the village. You can expect a very familiar cast of characters to cross paths with her as she goes about her time here. What happens will play a role in the future of this story. We've finally got the chance to see the Duke, someone you all have long begged for in this series. His words to Narratha hold a deeper meaning. It's clear that she still harbors resentment over what happened in her world, but this isn't her world.
Mind you, Narratha is the secondary antagonist in this story. Don't expect a sudden change of heart that will see her abandoning all her ideals. While she does regret her actions, she has shown that she has the capacity for extreme violence, and there will be violence to come.
As for Daniela, we're about to look into her psyche some more. She is a complex character, and I want to explore that in the best possible way. The pieces of her puzzle will slowly come together.
I'm expecting the next chapter to release in three weeks, on the 23rd. Now, before you all panic, I'm only doing this because I am expecting to start a new job soon, which will impact my writing time. I also want to work on some art and try to get that out to you all. So, another delay, but with the way life has been going for me, I have been changing so many things for the better. This story will not die. I will not allow it. The chapters will keep coming, and I cannot wait for what will happen.
Thank you for all the support! You have been so awesome, and I hope that you are all staying cool in the midst of this horrible heat. Enjoy your weekends, and I will see you all soon!