Thank you for reading! We return to the present with Dorothy destined to her new fate with Donna along with Elijah's fate in Castle Dimitrescu.
Dorothy opened her eyes to the room spinning. She winced in pain as her ears rang to the point she covered them in hopes that would alleviate the pain.
Mother Miranda sat and stared at her with a cruel smile.
"Rednic!" she called out, her manservant appearing from out a doorway and bowing his head.
"Yes, your eminence?"
"Call Donna. I have a gift for her…"
Rednic disappeared back into the room he had appeared from while Mother Miranda stood up from her bench.
"I am sure you have many questions, but once your head stops spinning, I believe a revelation will hit you."
"You… you did not answer my question to where my mother is," she managed to get out, her chest tightening so badly it felt like it would explode. Dorothy barely able to get herself into a sitting position. It was all she could manage at the moment. She felt as though she were about to pass out.
"I have already given you the answer," Mother Miranda said.
"When?"
"What I showed you, child. Sift through it as best you can, the answer is there if you dig carefully through it," she said, turning her back to Dorothy.
"Wait!"
"Sadly I cannot wait, my dear, for I have other business to attend to. And you will be long gone by the time I return…"
"No," Dorothy said, wincing as another sharp pain coursed through her. "You cannot do this!"
"I could have killed you the first time my raven caught sight of you, but I decided to show you some mercy. Donna will enjoy your company until she no longer finds you desirable. Farewell, Miss Bogdan."
Dorothy went to call out to her again, however, she was silent as the pain intensified and she collapsed. The world was spinning once again.
"Mother… Mother where are you?"
Dorothy blacked out shortly after. She did not feel Rednic picking her up and hauling her over his shoulder. The walk to House Beneviento was a short walk, but quite cold. Despite the cold not bothering him, he could not help but shiver as a cold breeze blew down from the mountains and struck him. The snow cloaked path made walking a bit treacherous in places, especially the bridge he had to cross. He could hear the sound of the waterfall booming close by despite the freezing temperatures. It was a welcoming sound to his ears.
He knocked on the door a couple of times before it creaked open. As quickly as he could go, Rednic delivered Dorothy on the floor; bowed his head respectfully and left the house. It was ill advised to linger in the dreary house for too long.
The house creaked and groaned from the cold air bombarding it, but no one came to greet Dorothy. Only a few dolls that decorated the house stared down at her with unblinking eyes. After an hour passed by, Dorothy groaned as she woke up. Her body did not hurt as bad, but a lingering headache continued to plague her. She sat up and looked around at the new place. She shivered upon feeling a cold draft hit her from one of the nearby windows.
"Hello?" Dorothy called out, not liking how quiet and still the house stood. With another pained groan, Dorothy pushed herself up to her feet, swaying slightly before catching herself. "Hello?" She called out louder this time, not wanting to just wander through the house. Instead she walked over to the staircase to look at a portrait of a dark haired woman with the same colored eyes. "Is she a doll maker?" Dorothy wondered, now looking at the doll she held.
Thump. Thump.
Dorothy jumped at the sound of footsteps coming from upstairs. She did not call out, her heart beating faster in her chest as more thumps could be heard.
Thump. Thump.
Dorothy drew away from the staircase and rushed over to the door. She pulled and yanked on it, but to no avail. She then ran over to the one window and attempted to open that, but once more she had no luck.
"Damn it," she cursed, deciding to try a few other doors, which she found success. Down a hallway she ran to come upon a door and an elevator. No longer hearing the 'thump' of footsteps, but instead came a high-pitched giggle. The sound sent a shiver down her spine.
"Are we playing tag or hide and go seek?" came a female voice. "Shall we play tag first? I will be it."
Dorothy could see the shadow of the figure hugging the wall as it drew nearer. She ran over to the door first to find it unlocked and ran through it only to find she was in a shorter hallway that led back to where she had just stood a few moments ago.
"Round and around you go," the voice came again. "You should have taken the elevator… oh well."
Dorothy desperately tried the window again, grabbing hold of a small lamp from a table and going to shatter it, but she was stopped by firm digits wrapped around her wrist.
"Found you," the woman said, sounding unlike the higher-pitched voice she had heard before. She wore all black garbs and wore a long black face covering.
"Y-you must be Donna…" Dorothy said.
Slowly she relinquished her grip on Dorothy, taking the lamp from her and setting it back down on the little table.
Dorothy did not know what to say to her. Donna had fallen silent and was just facing her. Perhaps she was deciding whether or not she was going to keep her or toss her out into the cold.
Dorothy skittered back slightly when Donna raised her hand and motioned for her to follow. She led her back down the hallway she had just run through and to the elevator. Donna pushed the button and once more motioned for her to follow. Down the elevator took them to a second floor below, the two entering the first door to reveal it was a study. Dorothy gazed around for a moment before they left and walked down the hallway to other rooms.
'She is giving me a tour, I presume…, but why does she not speak?'
The tour ended with Donna bringing her to a kitchen. The many rooms needed much cleaning, especially the kitchen space, but that would clearly have to wait. Donna picked up a kettle and held it out for Dorothy to take.
"Tea, my lady?" Dorothy said, receiving a little nod from Donna, who took a seat at the table and waited in her usual silence. Dorothy approached the sink and got to work preparing her new mistress what she desired…
{…}
Girlish giggles filled the Main Hall as they shoved the poor soul from one to the other. He was bruised and bloody. One eye swollen shut due to the abuse he had received from them. They were keeping their new guest entertained while their mother spoke to Mother Miranda.
"Shove him this way, Daniela!" Cassandra barked at her.
Daniela laughed gleefully as she shoved him over to Cassandra, who caught him by the throat and licked the blood from his face.
The man groaned in pain, making Cassandra shudder with pleasure. She reached down to her boot and pulled out a little knife.
"Normally I do not get such aesthetic pleasure from tormenting a man, but there is something about you that I cannot get enough of," she said, placing the knife to his face and slashing at his cheek.
He gritted his teeth to keep the cry in as she sliced and once again ran her tongue over the new flow.
Daniela approached Cassandra with caution. Wanting to join in and taste the man.
Seated on the couch and watching this all play out was Bela. She would not participate in her sisters' asinine games. Instead she monitored and ensured they did not prematurely kill the man-thing. At times her attention would divert upstairs to where their mother and Mother Miranda were speaking. Their voices just out of reach of her keen ears to pick up the details of their discussion. Of course she was listening more to their footsteps returning, she was growing bored and annoyed to be playing the babysitter once again.
Daniela permitted by Cassandra to join her, the two continued to make small lacerations over his body. Their lips and teeth stained red from his blood, Bela could not help but feel the thirst beginning to beckon her into joining them. The smell of his blood the extra temptation calling to her.
"I remember the last time we had a man visit us," Daniela smirked, stroking his graying beard. "He was a bit younger than this one."
"The other one had sweeter blood," Cassandra said.
Daniela nodded, continuing to eye him over.
"So very handsome," she hummed, grabbing hold of his chin and then unexpectedly slamming her lips against his.
Cassandra's jaw dropped.
Bela blanched.
The kiss lasting for a solid minute before she pulled away, her teeth latched onto his bottom lip and drawing blood.
"What are you doing?" Bela snapped. "If Mother saw you doing something like that!"
"Oh relax, Queen B," Cassandra sniffed, grabbing hold of the man's face and slamming her lips against his just as Daniela had. She was moaning in pleasure as she extracted the blood from his lips.
Bela rose up from the couch and was about to pull them away when…
"Girls!"
Daniela and Cassandra whipped their heads to the direction of the staircase, horror stricken.
Bela deferring to their mother immediately by lowering her head. Just from her tone, it was obvious she was unamused.
"Mother…" Cassandra spoke up, backing away from the man along with Daniela as she clambered down the stairs with Mother Miranda beside her.
Mother Miranda held a blank countenance as she gazed upon all three of Alcina's creations and then to Elijah. She could not help but inwardly smile with glee. To finally have this nuisance out of the way was a huge step forward.
"Bela, I want you to take this man down to the dungeons," she snapped, turning her fiery eyes on the other two. "Cassandra, Daniela get yourselves cleaned up."
The two were gone in seconds while Bela grabbed Elijah by the back of his shirt and guided him towards the dining hall.
"My deepest apologies, Mother," Lady Dimitrescu said. "It would seem they still have a long way to go with disciplining themselves to their bloodlust."
"He is yours to do with what you will," Mother Miranda said.
"Mother?" Lady Dimitrescu said, confused. "I thought you wished for me to torture him for information?"
"That is no longer required, but there is one last thing I do need done," Mother Miranda said.
"Anything, Mother," Lady Dimitrescu said.
"A couple was disposed of who were found out to be part of Elijah's cult. Upon further investigation of the home, I uncovered the couple have a daughter under your employ." Mother Miranda reached into her cloak pocket to reveal the family photograph.
Lady Dimitrescu took the photograph, her eyes widening slightly upon seeing the face of Wendy.
"Tell me, is she still under your lash? Or have you already disposed of her?"
"She still lives, Mother," Lady Dimitrescu said. "But she has had no contact with her parents' since I recruited her almost two years ago. I assure you she is no threat."
"I want her disposed of immediately, Alcina," Mother Miranda said sternly. "Anyone who has ties with Elijah must be destroyed. Now you will do this for me, or I will find her myself and do it."
Lady Dimitrescu kept her face blank; silently walking over to the fire and tossing the photograph into the flames. She turned back and faced her mother with a bow.
"She will be gone."
"Excellent," Mother Miranda said, reaching into her opposite pocket and pulling out a vial. "Not only is Elijah my gift to you, but I have for you medicine to combat your migraines."
"Mother, I am overwhelmed by your generosity," Lady Dimitrescu said, keeping her head bowed. "Thank you."
Mother Miranda eyed over her creation with a faint smile. The image of Lady Daciana unexpectedly appearing before her. Her countenance filled with vengeance.
'She is my daughter now,' she thought inwardly. 'After waiting so long and such tedious planning, she is all mine…'
"Is there anything I can get for you?" Lady Dimitrescu asked.
"No I must take my leave," Mother Miranda said. "Moreau has invited me to the reservoir to inspect a new specimen of his."
Lady Dimitrescu tried not to grimace at that, walking her mother out to the Entrance Hall. Mother Miranda turned one last time to look at Alcina, once more seeing Lady Daciana before her face vanished from sight.
"Farewell, Mother…"
"Until next time…, Daughter."
{…}
Lady Dimitrescu returned inside shortly after Mother Miranda had left to venture to the dungeons. After she would see what Bela had done with Elijah, she would congregate all of them to give them a lecture.
Lady Dimitrescu entered into the dungeons and called out to Bela. She responded telepathically and was led to the secret chamber. From there she found Bela had chained him to the wall.
"Mother…" Bela said, bowing her head in deference once more. She was still frightened of her mother's wrath from earlier.
"We will carve him up shortly," Lady Dimitrescu said. "But that will have to wait. I require you to join me in my bedchamber."
"Yes, Mother," Bela said softly.
The two walked in silence, Lady Dimitrescu calling out for both Daniela and Cassandra once they neared the bedchamber. Inside revealed her girls stationed by the fireplace, both lowering their heads in submission as their mother entered.
Lady Dimitrescu took a seat in her rose embroidered chair, looking at each of them with a stern countenance.
"Look at me. All of you."
All three raised their heads.
"Would any of you care to start off by telling me why I have asked you here?"
"The man-thing," Daniela whispered.
Lady Dimitrescu looked straight at Daniela, knowingly. The child had found a collection of books in the library regarding descriptive discussions of intimacy. Lady Dimitrescu forced to confiscate every single one of them with Bela's help. She would not have been surprised to uncover more of these books Daniela had stowed away.
"Precisely. I have told you this time and again, my daughters, whenever there is a man-thing in our abode, you will never touch them. You keep watch over him until I am present. So how dare you disregard my simple rules."
Daniela flinched at her tone.
"I am most disappointed in you as well Cassandra. You must work on controlling your bloodlust."
"I am not the only one," she mumbled.
"I beg your pardon?" Lady Dimitrescu's voice grew dangerously low.
"What I mean is Bela is just as guilty. If you had not shown up when you did, Bela would have joined in with the festivities."
"Perhaps she would have, my darling, perhaps she would not have. The point of the matter is she did not succumb to her carnal urge."
Bela held a blank countenance. Not about to be sucked into Cassandra's baiting, though inwardly she was grinning at her failed attempt to throw her under the carriage.
"I apologize, Mother," Daniela said. "It will not happen again."
"It better not," Lady Dimitrescu said menacingly. "This time it is just a warning, but next time I will not be so lenient."
Daniela nodded in understanding while Cassandra looked on bored.
"You both are free to go. Bela stay with me."
Daniela walked out of the room first with Cassandra lagging behind. She shot Bela a nasty look, knowing she would be rewarded again while she was being punished. Once more Cassandra would not receive the one on one time with their mother. Always Queen B. Miss Goody-Goody two shoes who never made any error.
She growled in rage, flying through the room and straight down the hall. She would go below and find someone to torture.
"Cassandra wait for me!" Daniela zoomed after her sister.
Back inside the bedchamber, Lady Dimitrescu sat further back in her chair, staring straight at Bela who had not moved an inch.
"I suppose you think me unfair to leave you babysitting them so often," Lady Dimitrescu said.
"I do not, Mother," Bela answered. "I only wish to support you in any way I can."
"And your support never goes unnoticed," Lady Dimitrescu said, motioning for her to step closer.
Bela walked up to her mother, who reached out and snatched her wrist. Bela started to smile as her mother pulled her directly into her lap. Her arm snaking around her waist to hold her in place as she nipped at her neck.
"My beloved," she hummed, pressing a kiss to her jugular.
Bela wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, shuddering at the feel of her mother's teeth sink into her neck and extract her blood.
"Mother," Bela moaned, her mother vigorously sucking as she became lost in her blood lust. It was rather amusing to Bela that she was so harsh on them about controlling their own bloodlust, but she could barely control her own. The point even more evident in this moment. Never did she lose it over Daniela and Cassandra, but their mother could not stop herself around her.
"Bela." Lady Dimitrescu slowly pulled back from her neck, her face flushed with color.
Bela smiled, cupping her mother's face and kissing her lips to remove the residue of blood that lingered there.
"How was that?"
"Divine," Lady Dimitrescu smiled in satisfaction, though there was one more thing she had to put onto her child's figurative lap.
"What?" Bela inquired.
"What?" Lady Dimitrescu held her smile.
"You look like your about to ask me something."
"You are correct," she said. "Later on tonight when all the other little mice are asleep, I will need you to bring Wendy here to me."
"Really?" Bela's brows shot up in surprise.
"Yes, I must dispose of her immediately."
"As you wish," Bela said, leaning forward and kissing her mother's plump, red lips once more.