Thank you for reading!
Four days later:
Dorothy wiped the sweat off her brows. She had finished scrubbing the hallway floors and was on her way to the next section of the house. Never had she felt so alone in the house. Every morning she would wake up and find a list of chores left on her bedside table. It had been over a week since she had seen Donna. There was little trace of her in the house. She was to prepare her her breakfast, lunch and dinner at a certain time, serve it on the table and then leave. When she would return, the plate would be empty and she would clean it up and repeat.
Dorothy ventured back into the study to begin dusting and putting the books back. She turned on the light and got to work on the bookshelves. While she dusted off the shelves, Dorothy scanned over the different books. Many of the books were about different herbs and flowers. Clearly Lady Donna enjoyed gardening, though in such a cold frontier, it would be difficult to sustain any kind of plant life.
She picked out one book and flipped through it curiously.
"Alkaloids of Mountainous Plants,'" Dorothy read the title aloud before she began to flip through the pages. "That reminds me I need to water the plants after this…"
In the silence as she worked for the past four days, Dorothy thought about what Mother Miranda had shown her. So many questions swarmed her all at once. One in particular was how Mother Miranda did it? What exactly was her power? What also disturbed her the most was the realization that not only did Mother Miranda destroy Lady Dimitrescu's family, but her own. Over and over she tried to filter through what she had been shown to find the answer to her mother's location.
As she walked down the hallway to retrieve the watering container and fill it up in the kitchen, she caught sight of a figure standing on the opposite side of the hall. At first she thought it was Lady Donna; however, the woman was wearing a purple dress and had blonde hair. Her eyes widened in shock.
"M-Mother!" Dorothy sprinted down the hallway only to watch her mother walk away. "Wait! Mother wait for me!" She rounded the corner and found the next hall empty. "Mother!" she checked the study to find it was empty. She was dumbfounded. Her mother was there so where did she go?
Dorothy spent the next ten minutes searching for her mother. Looking through other doors as she ventured back to the kitchen. She felt such heartache and confusion. Was she losing her mind? After all, if her mother had been there, why would she just walk away?
"She would not have," Dorothy answered her own question out loud. "She would have ran straight to me, though with Alzheimer's maybe she would not have known who I was." She placed the watering container in the sink and turned the water on, continuing to think this through. "My gut tells me she is not here. I would have seen her before this incident…" Dorothy turned off the water and picked the watering container up. She kept her eyes vigilant as she walked to each plant she had been told to water from the note.
Nothing.
"I will not give up on you, Mother," Dorothy said. "I will find you. I will…" She walked back to the kitchen, eyeing over a clock to see it was almost time to prepare Lady Donna her lunch.
{…}
Castle:
Lady Dimitrescu tapped her nails against her goblet, thinking. Her thoughts on Mother Miranda's firm request for her to dispose of Wendy. Normally this would be a simple task to perform, but Wendy had become an invaluable asset. One who she planned to take over for Anya, who was nearing her 'retirement' soon. Now she pondered who else would take on the role. There was Harriett who showed much promise, Allison, of course, and then Robin. That being said, they were unlike Wendy in her quick wits and leadership skills.
She released a heavy sigh, drawing from her cigarette and exhaling the thick smoke through her nostrils. The aroma of the cigarette was easing her racing thoughts.
"I will dispose of her tonight," Lady Dimitrescu said. "I will bring her here to my bedchamber and do away with her…" She drew in more of her cigarette, wanting nothing more than to relax and not think about this next task. "Perhaps I will just let Bela do it when she brings her. After all, she does deserve a reward for all her help."
"What reward, Mother?"
Lady Dimitrescu turned at the sound of Cassandra. The child having somehow developed the ability to appear anywhere with Lady Dimitrescu unable to detect her.
"You must stop doing that."
"Must I?" Cassandra grinned, walking up behind her mother and resting her gloved hands on her shoulders. "It is so very effective when it comes to hunting my prey."
Lady Dimitrescu fought back a smile.
"Have you finished carving our friend?"
Cassandra growled, walking around her mother and collapsing down on the bed.
"Cassandra."
"Bela did most of it."
"I see," Lady Dimitrescu said, presuming there was more to it than Bela taking command. "Well, there will be other opportunities."
Cassandra sat straight up in excitement.
"What?! When?!"
"All in good time, my dear," Lady Dimitrescu hummed. "Why are you in here anyway?"
"What? Can I not spend some quality time with you like Bela and Daniela?"
"I just presumed you would rather be below tormenting the poor wretches."
Cassandra puckered her lips in annoyance.
Lady Dimitrescu smiled, resting her knuckle underneath her chin to watch Cassandra as she started to unbutton the front of her dress to reveal her plump breasts.
"Attempting to seduce me?"
Cassandra shrugged coyly, removing her necklace and plopping it down on the bedside table before she lay down on the bed.
"You will have to do better than that," Lady Dimitrescu purred, watching her temptress remove a little knife from her boot and run it across her own breasts. She did this a few times before she applied more pressure and drew some blood. Her nipples perky as her blood rolled down.
Lady Dimitrescu removed her hat, rising out of her chair and leaning down towards Cassandra, who was now lying flat on her back and licking the blood of the knife.
"I accept your tribute," Lady Dimitrescu said, resting both hands down on the bed to support herself to not crush Cassandra.
Cassandra giggled delightedly, raising her arms back to allow her mother all the access she needed to take her blood.
Lady Dimitrescu ran her tongue over the light flow, shuddering as the warm blood quickly coursed through her. Her lips grazing over Cassandra's breasts and tenderly kissing her nipples.
Cassandra purred happily as her mother started to take her blood aggressively. Moaning out in pleasure and wrapping her arms around her mother's neck.
Lady Dimitrescu released a growl in the back of her throat at the feel of Cassandra digging her nails into her. The wounds on her back would heal in seconds; however, the holes would require stitching.
"Enjoying ourselves, I see."
Lady Dimitrescu turned her attention over to the doorway to see Bela casually leaning against it with her arms crossed, unamused.
Cassandra cocked her head back to look at Bela with a haughty air.
'That's right,' she thought inwardly. 'Take a long; hard look. Understand you are not the only one here who is special.'
"Bela," Lady Dimitrescu went to rise, only to quickly realize she was raising Cassandra up with her. "Cassandra."
"First a kiss… please?" she batted her eyelashes sweetly at her.
Lady Dimitrescu permitted Cassandra this little request, the child licking the residue of blood off her lips.
"Thank you, Mother," Cassandra purred, stretching out like a great lioness and closing her eyes.
Lady Dimitrescu straightened her posture and looked back at Bela.
"What is it?"
"Nothing of consequence. I can come back when you are finished."
"We are finished," Lady Dimitrescu said.
Bela tried very hard not to roll her eyes as she walked out of the doorway to grab her mother a napkin. When Bela returned she found her mother was staring down at Cassandra adoringly. The nuisance had actually fallen asleep with her breasts still revealed.
"Shall we go to the study?" Lady Dimitrescu invited her.
"What about her?" Bela said, not even looking at Cassandra.
"She will sleep for a while yet," Lady Dimitrescu answered. "Come along, beloved, I have something to discuss with you."
The two were silent as they walked to the study. Many of the maidens who were out cleaning paused and bowed to them. It did not take long for them to reach the study, Bela closing the door behind them in preparation for this news her mother had.
Lady Dimitrescu took a seat behind her desk and started to speak.
"As you already are aware, I will have you bring Wendy to my bedchamber. Once she is inside you will kill her."
"As you wish," Bela said, wanting to ask her the reason, but decided against it. Instead she walked over to the window and stared out at the landscape with her arms crossed.
"Do not pout. It is unbecoming of you."
"I am not pouting," Bela said.
"No?" Lady Dimitrescu said.
"What would you like for me to do with the wretch after I kill her?"
Lady Dimitrescu sat back in her chair, sighing.
"Bring her down to the dungeon to be drained."
"Do the others know of this?"
"No," Lady Dimitrescu said.
"Are you going to tell them?"
"No."
Bela did not say a word.
"Come here," Lady Dimitrescu said.
Bela ignored her mother and changed positions so her back was now to her.
This Lady Dimitrescu would not allow.
"If you wish to continue this childish tantrum, you may leave the room until I need you tonight."
Bela dropped her arms and turned back to face her mother. Her countenance was blank, but Lady Dimitrescu could see the jealous rage behind her eyes. This was not uncommon. She could think of many occasions where Bela had beaten some maidens half to death due to jealousy. Their eyes lingering a few seconds too long and receiving a brutal beating because of it.
'She cannot kill Cassandra, but she has come close to," Lady Dimitrescu thought. 'She tolerates Daniela; however, I would not put it passed her to try to hurt Daniela if she lost her temper.'
Bela took a seat in the chair, stiffly.
Lady Dimitrescu glancing down at her for a moment before getting to work on the endless paperwork…
{…}
House Beneviento:
Dorothy walked out of the kitchen once she had set the food down on the table. She was off to do the laundry while Lady Donna ate her lunch. As she walked down the halls, she kept looking around to see if she could spy her mother again.
'She cannot be here.' She thought. 'There is no possible way.' Despite that she felt such doubt. The reason why she began to snoop through every room she could access.
There was no one here save the many dolls that seemed to be watching her.
"Stop looking at me," Dorothy said, grabbing the laundry out of the basket.
Dorothy scrubbed the clothes and sheets as best she could and then hung them up in the room to dry. Once she was finished, she walked out of the room and in the direction of the foyer. She took the elevator and as she pressed the button, a figure stood staring at her from the corridor.
"Elijah?" she said, the door closing just as he started to speak. "Wait!" she hit the button rapidly to get the door to open, but upward she continued to go. The door dinging and opened to reveal the first floor. "What is going on? First my mother and now Elijah…" Dorothy felt a cold chill pass over her. "Why am I seeing them?"
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Dorothy heard quick steps going up the staircase in the foyer. She sprinted into the room, but found the room was completely empty. Dorothy climbed up the stairs to investigate to find no one was in the room.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Dorothy was drawn to the window, gazing out it to see two figures standing below. A man and a woman.
"Malkin. Gabrielle." She covered her mouth with trembling fingers. They stared up at her with frowns on their faces. Their mouths moving and then raising their pointer fingers at her.
Slam!
Dorothy spun around to find the door was now closed. She dashed to it and attempted to open it; however, it would not budge.
"Open the door!" she banged her fist against it, using her shoulder to try and force it open, but to no avail. "A-am I going i-insane?"
'Dorothy.'
She stiffened upon hearing her voice. Not wanting to turn around to come face to face with her mother.
"You are not here."
'My little girl,' she whispered.
Dorothy swallowed down the lump in her throat. Just to hear her voice was all she ever wanted, but this was not real. That was the truth. She continued to work on getting the door open, ignoring her mother as she persisted that she was real. That she must turn around and look; Dorothy remained stubborn and refused to look.
'You cruel child,' she snapped. 'How can you just ignore me? I am sure you were thrilled when I disappeared. No longer did you have to take care of me and my ailment.'
Dorothy yanked and pulled on the doorknob with little success.
'Well, I will relieve you of any further searching, because the truth of the matter is I am dead.'
Dorothy went still at her words.
"Liar."
'I am no liar,' Beatrice answered.
"Stop talking to me."
'Turn around and this will all end…'
Dorothy dropped her hand from the doorknob, a pull of sorts coaxing her to look back.
'That's it, my darling, let this all end and we can be reunited…'
"I cannot, Mother," Dorothy said, kneeling down in front of the door and praying.
Click.
The door unexpectedly opened before her and there before her stood her mother. She was wearing a white dress. Her blonde hair kept down around her heart-shaped face.
"Mother?"
Beatrice knelt down in front of her and embraced her in a firm hug.
"Dorothy," she said, placing a kiss to her cheek.
Hot tears surfaced in her eyes. The kiss was real. Her touch was real. Dorothy wrapped her arms around her thin frame and placed a kiss to her cheek.
"What happened to you?"
Beatrice just smiled.
"Mother?" Dorothy said, wincing as her mother's hold grew tighter and tighter. "You are hurting me."
She continued to smile, closing her eyes and holding her daughter with an iron-like grip.
Dorothy attempted to wiggle away, but it was to no avail.
'Now we are together…'
Dorothy released a scream at the sight of her mother's face starting to melt away into one of wrinkles. She was decaying right before her eyes.
"NO!"
A girlish giggle filled the room around her, and then the voice she had heard the first time she had arrived.
"Looks like the plants are having an effect on her. Interesting how it took her much longer than all the others."
Dorothy was now laying on her back with blurry vision. She could not see who was speaking, but heard the familiar steps of Donna approaching her.
"What should we do with her?" Donna asked the mysterious voice.
"Keep her around for a little while longer; then we can make her into a puppet for our collection. In the meantime we should get her into the bed to rest."
"That is most kind," Donna said.
"We must keep our friends in pristine condition," the voice answered.
Dorothy felt Donna's arms snake underneath her armpits and haul her across the floor. She was stronger than she looked and easily hoisted her onto the bed with ease.
"Come along, Donna, Mother will be calling us soon."
"Yes…" Donna answered, walking out of the room and closing the door behind her.