Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoy.
Lunch was a quiet affair as food was placed on the table for the family. All three daughters did not dare speak. Their mother was in a terrible mood and none wanted it directed at them. She ate her meal in silence, drinking a bit more than she normally did and finishing by smoking her cigarette. Lady Dimitrescu noticed her children's change and began to feel some guilt for that. It was not their fault for her outburst. None of this was their fault. It all fell back to her and her alone.
She looked at Daniela, Cassandra and then Bela. The only three to have survived such a long and grueling experimentation. The three that filled her empty heart and gave her purpose once more.
"I apologize about earlier," Lady Dimitrescu started, all three looking up to her now. "It was inappropriate and I should not have done it in front of you."
"Hmph, I say he deserved it," Cassandra said. "Worthless man-thing."
"I agree," Daniela chimed in, making Lady Dimitrescu smile at her affectionately. Yet when she looked at Bela, she was not in the same disposition as her siblings.
"I feel I have been so far away from you three for too long, and I swear to you all, I will return to you soon. Very soon, but I have one final act of business I must finish."
"What is that?" Daniela asked.
"Something private, dearest, but rest assured when I return, all will go back to our normal lives." Slowly she rose out of her chair, sensing Dorothy was in great pain and needed her attention. "Finish dining. I will see you all later."
Lady Dimitrescu rose up from her chair and ducked through the doorway leading into the Main Hall. She had just made it to the stairs when she heard Bela calling out to her. She stopped walking and turned around to face her eldest, who glided right up to her side, staring up at her with a knowing look in her eyes.
"I was curious if you knew."
Bela looked towards the direction of the Hall of Four.
"How long?" Lady Dimitrescu went on.
"I could hear the beat of her heart as soon as she reentered these walls."
"She is dying," Lady Dimitrescu said.
"I knew that, too," Bela said. "Will she live that much longer?"
"No," Lady Dimitrescu said.
"Then I will not keep you from her."
"Bela," she called out to her.
"You needn't apologize, Mother," Bela said, turning halfway around. "I will keep things in order until you have returned to us. Do not worry."
Lady Dimitrescu watched her walk back in the direction of the Dining Hall with her head raised high. Her heart swelled with pride at the sight of her.
Once she was back in the room, Lady Dimitrescu walked down the steps and made her way through the hall. She could feel Dorothy's heart was slowing down, and when she entered the room, she could barely hear her breathing.
"Dorothy," she called out to the child, picking up the pitcher full of water and filling up the cup. "Here, my dear, try to drink this."
With the help of Lady Dimitrescu, Dorothy sat up in the bed and took in as much water as she could, coughing a bit as she swallowed.
"T-thank you," she panted, sweat glistening on her face.
Lady Dimitrescu set the things back down on the table and then took a seat. From there she stroked her face to give her some comfort.
"Not much longer now," Dorothy said hoarsely.
"I do not want you to think that way," Lady Dimitrescu said softly. "Just live in the moment with me."
"I can manage that," Dorothy said, giving her a weak smile.
"Good," she said. "I never said this to you before, Dorothy, but you have reminded me of your grandmother, Countess Bogdan. She was a formidable woman with a strong head on her shoulders. She was quite intelligent and so very kind. She loved your mother with all her heart. I would bring Helena over for a visit to see her. She was so happy, but I could see deep in her heart she missed Beatrice. As you have already seen, she never got to meet you. It would be a long hiatus before your mother would return home to Romania…" She paused, listening.
"Wh-what is it?" Dorothy whispered.
A sudden feeling of dread washed over Lady Dimitrescu, making her turn her gaze over to the double doors. It took her but a moment to realize /she/ had entered her castle. Rednic had reached her and had told her of what happened.
She turned her attention back to Dorothy, who had her eyes closed and was breathing in shallow breaths. She would not allow Mother Miranda to hurt her any further.
"Hold on, my darling," she said, placing a kiss to her forehead before she rose up from her chair and made for the Hall of Four to intercept her. She walked calmly and in control, ducking down through the remaining door, she rose up to her full height to see Mother Miranda descending the stairs.
She came to a halt upon seeing Lady Dimitrescu standing right before her with a most unwelcoming stare.
"Daughter you look most stressed," she said, not the least bit intimidated by her creation as she continued down the stairs. "You have caused quite the ruckus."
"Not I, Mother," Lady Dimitrescu answered, remaining by the doors in case Mother Miranda were to attempt to slip in.
The act noticeable to Mother Miranda and making her laugh.
"Oh, Alcina," she said. "How much I see your mother. The defiance in her eyes even at her last moments. It was just the same look Dorothy had before I injected her. How is she faring? I am sure she is embracing death as we speak."
"Silence!" Lady Dimitrescu's voice scaled up to the high ceiling.
Mother Miranda clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"I should have destroyed that child the moment I saw her, but instead I showed her mercy, which has caused you grief. The reason why I will remove every last trace of your past memories. This silly charade has gone on long enough."
"You will do no such thing," Lady Dimitrescu hissed challengingly.
"You wish to keep your past memories?" Mother Miranda said, snapping her fingers and causing the double doors behind her to slam shut and lock. "You find comfort now in milling through your mortal days? Well, if that is what you want Daughter, allow me to open old wounds and show you more."
Lady Dimitrescu recoiled as if she had just been punched in the head. It was the same pain she would get from her migraines, but only a thousand times worse. It felt like knives stabbing into her skull over and over again. She released a cry of pain, grabbing hold of the nearest statue to keep herself upright.
Tears bubbled in her eyes from the pain, the excruciating pain. And then came something else. The scent of something burning. The sound of bullets popping off nearby.
"Aresian, I order you to stay with them. I am entrusting you to keep my family safe."
"Yes, sir!"
"Fredric!"
"It will be all right. Now go!"
Lady Dimitrescu placed her hand over her mouth upon watching the scene play out before her. She was back. Back on the night she would find Fredric… The policemen's dogs were now barking. The captain yelling out at the young officer.
"A body, sir! Decapitated!"
"Man or woman?"
"Man, sir!"
"Lady Alcina!" the captain was calling to her, but she kept moving. She nearly fell in her haste and then dropped to her knees. The dark silhouette was gone and where it had stood was a stake. A stake that had Fredric's head on it.
'Do not let this be true. Please, dear god! Please do not let this be true…' she chanted in her mind over and over until she collapsed onto her side, distinctly remembering the captain talking and then everything went dark…
Lady Dimitrescu removed her hand and vomited, her body lathered with sweat and her breathing heavy, but Mother Miranda was not through with her yet. More pain erupted in her head and nearly made her fall to her knees.
"Josie! Lower the gun and give it to me."
"I-I cannot," Josie said, her chin quivering. "He deserves this, does he not?"
"Jos." Alcina took a step forward. "I will see to it he is punished for everything he has done, but not this way. Not by you. Come to me, and give me the gun."
BANG!
Smoke billowed up from the muzzle.
BANG!
Roderick remaining where he stood, watched Josie take a step back and then look down at her belly. The front of her white nightgown was red. The stain growing larger.
She gasped, turning back to her mother and then she started to fall.
"NO!" Alcina ran straight to Josie, managing to catch her and ease her down. "Josie." She clasped her hand over the wound, desperately searching the room for anything, or anyone to help. "Helena!"
Her mother's voice broke her out of her shock, spurring her over to where her mother was knelt with Josie tucked in her arms.
"Helena?" Alcina said, removing her now bloody hand so Helena could look.
"She is l-losing too m-much blood," Helena said, shakily. "Keep pressure on it, I will call the doctor…"
"You will do no such thing," Roderick then spoke up, cocking the hammer back and pointing it at her. "Just you, Helena. Let's see if all your studying can save your sister's life, hmm?"
Alcina shot him a murderous look, turning her attention back to Helena who was staring at her sister, paralyzed.
"Helena…"
"Mama…" Josie gasped, blood dripping from out her mouth and making her already wan complexion pastier. "I'm sorry."
"Hush," Alcina soothed. "You will be just fine, sweetheart."
"F-Father made m-me promise to protect you…"
"Did he?" Alcina said, her voice cracking. "He loved you, Jos. He loved you so very much."
Josie tried to smile as a wave of pain swept through her. Her body beginning to convulse, her mouth agape as she tried to breathe.
"J-Josie," Alcina held her closer, taking hold of her daughter's outstretched hand.
"Mother," Josie whispered. "I was h-hoping tom-tomorrow we could all go out to the peach tr-tree to pick peaches f-for father. H-he always loved peach pie." She shut her eyes, taking in another deep breath. "And some jam… we could ha-have a picnic by the pond." She then opened her eyes, a stray tear streaking down her cheek. "I wonder if t-the ducks h-have had their du-ducklings yet?"
"We can do all of that, my pretty girl," Alcina croaked, kissing the top of her hand.
"Mama…," Josie opened her eyes, staring straight up at her mother. "W-will I go to heaven?"
Alcina's chin quivered violently, stroking her cheek with her thumb.
"Yes, Jos. Yes, my pretty girl."
Knowing there was nothing to be done to save her. All Alcina could do was watch the light leave Josie's eyes. Those beautiful green eyes. The sound of her exhaling her final breath. The familiar numbness. The crack that had been created after Fredric's death, expanding. She remained where she knelt with her daughter's body in her arms, blood staining her own nightgown. She did not notice.
"Stupid girl…"
Alcina blinked, staring up at Roderick through tears.
"You may call the doctor now, Helena, though I fear nothing can be done for our poor Josie," he snickered, leaving the room.
Helena getting up to her feet, grabbed hold of a phone situated near the billiard table and did her best to dial the number. Urgently speaking in rapid fire to the person at the other end.
"Please hurry." Helena did not hang up the phone right away, all the while Alcina was watching her. Hearing a sniffle escape her eldest. "Damn it." She hissed, slamming the phone down on the receiver and then raising it again. "Damn it! Damn it! GOD DAMN IT!" over and over she slammed the phone down until she felt fingers wrap around her wrist.
Her mother's arms snaking around her and that was when she sank to the floor, weeping.
"Stop this. Stop!" Lady Dimitrescu cried out, her body trembling violently.
"I thought this is what you wanted?" Mother Miranda sneered. "How about one more."
"You killed him!" Lady Daciana bellowed. "You—"
Bang! Bang!
Lady Daciana shot at Mother Miranda first and then turned the gun to Rednic. She was just about to squeeze the trigger when a hand grabbed her around the throat. She was thrown across the room, landing hard on the floor and losing the gun in the process. She lay gasping. The breath having been snatched out of her lungs.
"Hold her down, Rednic." Came Mother Miranda's calm voice.
Lady Daciana swung out her arms to defend herself, but the man had a grip like iron. He was smiling down at her with crooked teeth, his attention directed to Mother Miranda who had a syringe in hand.
"You will have me," Lady Daciana snarled at her. "But you will not have my Alcina!"
"I have no intention of taking Alcina; however, if you should fail like your husband, I may just change my mind…"
"Please, I beg of you. Do not take her," Lady Daciana pleaded. "I will come to you willingly… just leave Alcina alone."
Mother Miranda said nothing as she rolled up Lady Daciana's sleeve, the needle point penetrating through her skin. Whatever was in the syringe worked instantly. She felt as if her entire body was on fire. A scream erupted out of her. Sweat already generating across her face.
"Shall I take her?"
"No," Mother Miranda said, hearing dozens of footsteps headed towards them. "We will leave her here for now, in fact, I can observe her within these very walls. After all, those peasants will no doubt call the doctor."
"I could easily dispose of them."
"No, we do not need unnecessary bloodshed," Mother Miranda said, walking over to the window and opening it. "Go now. I will call for you when I need you."
"Yes, Mother Miranda," Rednic said, leaping right out the window and landing on the ground with ease.
Mother Miranda turned back around and knelt down beside Lady Daciana who was panting heavily now. Already she could tell the woman was probably headed towards death, but there was some hope she would pull through. In the meantime she would observe what the doctor looked like and create her new mask.
"Remain strong, Lady Daciana…" she placed a kiss to her lips. "You will forget what you have seen here, my dear, but do not fret for I will be watching over you."
Just as the door burst open did Mother Miranda disappear in a flurry of ravens, flying out the window and to the forest. She would return soon and see how her patient was faring.
"What is wrong with her?"
"It is hard to say. It could be the flu or even a nasty strain of allergies. I do not think it is food poisoning, but I will not rule that out."
"So she will recover?"
"Yes," the doctor said. "She will be fine."
Alcina sat back in her seat. All the stress leaving her in a state of exhaustion.
"Thank you."
"Call me if anything seems to be making a turn in the opposite direction."
"I will," Alcina said, smiling over at Phoebe who entered the room once the doctor opened the door. "He said she will be just fine."
"That is wonderful! Oh thank God," Phoebe said, unable to help herself and give Alcina a small hug.
"I will remain in here with her," Alcina said. "Just in case she wakes up and needs something."
"Very well, Miss," Phoebe said.
The night wore on. Alcina falling in and out of sleep in the chair, she was awoken to the sound of her mother groaning. She stood straight up and went to her side. Her mother was shaking uncontrollably.
"Mother?"
Her mother did not open her eyes as she kept shaking.
Alcina ran out of the room and straight to the study. She called the doctor, which required her to call him three times before he answered his phone.
"Please hurry!" she slammed the phone down and ran straight back to her mother's side. She had calmed now, but she was once again sweating. Her breathing uneven. "The doctor is coming, Mother. Just hold on." She raked her fingers through her matted hair.
"A-Alci…" she gasped, her mouth agape as she struggled to take in air.
"I am h-here, Mama," Alcina choked. "I am here."
'Alcina.'
What felt like cold breath tickling her cheek woke Alcina from her slumber. She was knelt in the same spot she had been earlier that night, one hand still clasped tightly around her mother's.
Her attention went straight to her mother's face. Her eyes were closed. Her mouth slightly open.
Alcina rubbed her mother's arm up and down. She felt so cold it made gooseflesh appear all over Alcina's skin.
"Mother?"
She was too still.
"Mama," she whimpered, gripping hold of her as she moved up closer to her and buried her face into the crook of her neck, weeping. "Mama…"
Lady Dimitrescu finally collapsed under the weight of the memories and down to her knees, more vomit exploding from her and leaving her in a state of exhaustion.
"There now, Daughter, why would you want to keep such memories with you? I want only to take care of you. To keep you safe."
"You… you took them f-from me."
"Yes, Alcina, we have already been through that," Mother Miranda said, walking up to her, wrinkling her nose in disgust from the smell of her sick. "Hold still, my dear, and all your pain will be gone in an instant."
Lady Dimitrescu wanted to move, but found she could not. Her body would not obey her. She felt Mother Miranda remove her hat and then place her hand on the top of her head.
Bang!
Mother Miranda's grip on her loosened as she turned her gaze to the double doors, her mouth falling open in surprise to see Dorothy there. The child's eyes were gleaming yellow, though her face was far more animal-like than human.
"How strange," Mother Miranda said, walking away from Lady Dimitrescu. "You are not in fact dead, or rather you are, but something is keeping your spirit alive."
"Mother. Miranda." She panted, her voice deeper.
"You should have allowed yourself to slip away, child," Mother Miranda said. "But just like Beatrice and your grandmother, you are far too stubborn."
Dorothy roared at her, her gait uncoordinated as she took one step after the other towards Mother Miranda.
"You poor creature," she said, side stepping Dorothy and punching her in the face.
Her attack sent her flying across the room and landing hard on the marble floor.
"D-Dorothy," Lady Dimitrescu grunted, once more grabbing hold of the statue to ease herself up.
"You think yourself an avenger?" Mother Miranda said, walking up to Dorothy and going to grab her, but the blonde sprang upwards with surprising agility and managed to slash with her claws at her mask.
Mother Miranda winced, touching her golden mask to ensure it was still securely on.
"You are nothing," she hissed, catching Dorothy by the throat in her futile attempt to leap upon her while she was fractionally dazed. "Prepare yourself, my dear."
Dorothy kicked at Mother Miranda in effort to dislodge her, but she was losing strength. She could feel her bones starting to snap, and just as her vision started to darken, did she see over Mother Miranda's shoulder Lady Dimitrescu rising. In five steps her mother was upon Mother Miranda with her claws poised to strike her down.
Mother Miranda sensing Alcina's presence upon her, she had no choice but to drop Dorothy and catch her daughter's wrists. She grunted in effort to keep her at bay, but her daughter was proving to be quite a challenge. She was so strong. So full of vengeance. It was too much.
In a flash Mother Miranda sprouted an idea, a smile spreading across her lips as she morphed her face. Lady Dimitrescu's attack lessened until she stopped altogether, her face twisting into one of deep longing and sadness.
"B-Beatrice?" Yes there she stood before her. She was older, but her beauty never dimmed. "My darling. Oh my love…"
"Alcina," she said, placing a kiss to her hand. "I found you. After so long I have finally found you."
"I-I hurt you terribly." She fell silent and stared at her claws, mortified. "What is this? What is going on?"
"There is nothing there, Alci, look again."
She blinked and just as Beatrice said the claws were gone. It was all gone, and then there was warmth. Such beautiful warmth on her skin. The sound of water hitting the shore just a few feet from them where they sat underneath the tree.
"I do not understand. Have I been dreaming?"
"You seemed to have fallen down quite the rabbit hole, darling," Beatrice teased her, placing a kiss to her cheek. "I left you for a moment and I find you fast asleep here."
Alcina kept looking around and around, unable to understand any of this. Had she really just dreamed it all?
Beatrice continued to look at her with growing concern, reaching out and touching her forehead.
"Are you feeling well? Perhaps we should go back to the abbey and have Aggy prepare you some soup."
"No, no I am fine," Alcina said, touching her wrist and pulling her down. "Stay with me for a while longer."
Beatrice smiled and sat right down beside her, resting her head against her right shoulder. The two staring out at the distant water where a pair of ducks were swimming.
Alcina lifted her lips up into a smile, leaning her head against Beatrice with growing ease and peace. It had been a nightmare. It was all just a horrible dream. Soon her mother would come to collect her and they would return to the manor.
{…}
"It would seem the medicine has finally begun to take effect," Mother Miranda said, having injected Alcina with a needle and watching her crumple down to her knees. "Such defiance. This scene reminds me of the day her mother fought me. Futile, but truly something I will never forget."
She then turned her focus to Dorothy, who was now laying on the floor, panting. Her remaining strength sapped and leaving her helpless.
"And you are no different," Mother Miranda said, kneeling down beside her. "You unearthed Alcina once more, but I do not require Daciana's Alcina. I require /my/ daughter now. Lady Dimitrescu whom I created."
"She i-isn't yours…"
Mother Miranda chuckled at her, watching Dorothy open her eyes. The hatred clear despite how puffy her face had become.
"She will a-always be the d-daughter of Lady Daciana Johanna D-Dimitrescu."
Mother Miranda rose to her full height. There was not a trace of pity on her countenance.
"Say your farewells, for when your mother awakens, she will be my daughter again."
Dorothy looked away from her and back to Lady Dimitrescu who was so very still.
"Mother." Dorothy grunted in pain as she managed to turn over on her belly and crawl over to her. With the last of her strength, she pushed herself up into a kneeling position, and rested her arms around her neck. "Do not forget. Do not forget yourself. Do not forget them."
"She is crying again…" Lady Dimitrescu mumbled.
"Who?" Dorothy whispered back to her.
Lady Dimitrescu lowered her chin down on Dorothy's shoulder.
"My girls…"
Dorothy tightened her grip around her mother, burying her face in the crook of her neck and placing a kiss to her neck.
There was a bitter silence. A frigid coldness that slowly claimed Dorothy, but she held on to her mother with the last of her strength. The sudden warmth of an arm now wrapped around her and pulling her away. At first she believed it to be Mother Miranda, which made her swivel around to attack…
She paused in her assault. Her arms dropping and hanging limply by her sides upon the person.
"M-Mother."
Beatrice stood before her smiling. Her face so full of life.
"Mother!" Dorothy launched herself at her and cried. "Mother you are here."
"I never left," she whispered, placing a kiss to the top of her head. "Come along now. It is time to go home."
Dorothy relinquished her hold on her mother and took her offered hand.
{…}
A deep, rumbling growl could be heard from within Lady Dimitrescu. It was like a great beast was about to burst forth from her body. Such rage and hatred breathing life into it again. Fresh blood on her tongue and flowing down her throat. She could hear the sound of screaming in her ears as she grabbed one girl after the other. Biting out their throats and draining them of their blood.
"No one will escape," she said.
There was no stopping her as she continued to hunt for the maidens. A burst of laughter escaped her as she became drunk on the blood. The room she was in had started to spin faster and faster. She could feel the touch of her loved ones hands on her, kissing and nipping at her face to take in the blood.
On and on she laughed, feeling herself falling now and hitting the soft cushion of the bed on her back.
"My daughter. Alcina, can you hear me?"
"Yes, my mother…" slowly she opened her eyes to find herself in her parlor bed.
"How are you feeling, my child?"
"Tired," Lady Dimitrescu placed a hand on the top of her head, feeling a headache coming on. "What happened?"
"You were not feeling well. Your eldest, Bela, called me and wished me to come and check in on you."
Lady Dimitrescu started to smile.
"She is a good girl."
"She certainly takes her duty as lady of the house very seriously. I am most impressed with her."
"Thank you, Mother Miranda," Lady Dimitrescu said.
"Speaking of your daughters, Alcina, they are most anxious to see you. They are waiting for you outside at this moment."
"I wish to see them…"
Mother Miranda rose up from the chair and opened the door.
"Enter girls."
Daniela was the first to enter, followed next by Cassandra and lastly Bela. All three did not move towards the bed until their mother gave them the word.
"Come."
Daniela launched at her mother first, placing adoring kisses to her face.
"Dearest…"
Cassandra walked up behind Daniela, growling. Wanting to be in Daniela's position, but her little sister was leaving her no room.
"Come over here, Cassandra," Lady Dimitrescu said, her child going around the bed and crawling up to her with a smile. "Good girl."
"Are you feeling better, Mother?" Daniela asked.
Lady Dimitrescu nodded, wrapping her arms around their waists and pulling them closer to her.
Both giggled upon her action, each placing kisses to one side of her face.
Lady Dimitrescu's smile only widened, her attention then directed over to Bela, who was still standing in the same spot. Her gaze was focused on Mother Miranda, who had placed a hand upon her shoulder and was whispering something into her ear.
"Alcina, I will call later to check in with you."
"Thank you, Mother Miranda," Lady Dimitrescu said, curious as to what she had said to Bela.
'Bela.'
The blonde turned her focus directly to her mother, winking.
'You little devil.'
Bela rolled her eyes at her.
"Mother," Cassandra touched her mother's chin with the tip of her fingers to guide her head to focus on she.
"Yes, my beauty?" Lady Dimitrescu hummed.
Cassandra placed a kiss to her lips, wanting only her mother, her mistress's attention solely on her. This then brought about Daniela sitting up into a kneeling position and vying to kiss her, but Cassandra would not share. She was growling at Daniela again, baring her teeth to intimidate her, but Daniela would not shrink away. Instead she started to bare her own fangs back at Cassandra.
Lady Dimitrescu was about to praise Daniela for standing up for herself, but stopped upon knowing that would only further fuel Cassandra's jealousy and start a war.
"You both are such children…" Bela said under her breath, turning away from them and starting to walk out the door.
"And where are you going?"
"I am going to check in with Anya about dinner preparations. I will return afterwards."
"Busybody," Lady Dimitrescu heard Cassandra murmur, making her turn her gaze back on her and place a kiss to her forehead.
Cassandra purred upon the sweet affection.
Daniela did the same when Lady Dimitrescu kissed her next.
{...}
A few days later:
Lady Dimitrescu strolled around her castle after just finishing lunch with her daughters. The weather was much warmer and allowed much of the snow to melt away. She would be happy when spring arrived. Her courtyard would be filled with beautiful flowers once again.
She entered into the next section of her castle that led into the Opera Hall, upstairs leading to the library where she suspected Daniela had vanished. She felt oddly changed after her sudden 'illness'. She could not help but feel a huge part of her was missing, but she did not know exactly what it was.
No matter how much she thought about it, Lady Dimitrescu could not grasp this seeming misplaced piece.
She entered the Opera Hall and took a seat on the bench behind the piano. She liked to play to release her stress and calm her mind. She rested her fingers down upon the home keys and started to play.
She did not follow a song, but played something that just came to her. An unnamed song she was making from the heart. Her eyes were closed as she played, her mind traveling to a beautiful lake on a clear blue sky. Fields of lush flowers behind her. It was a scene of tranquility. Peace.
On and on she played. Oblivious to her youngest tiptoeing into the room with a box in hand and taking a seat on the stage. Daniela hummed the tune softly to herself as she picked through the box of photographs.
"Daniela?"
"Mother!" Daniela said. "Did I disturb you?"
"No," Lady Dimitrescu said, leaning her head in curiosity as to what her child was looking at. "What do you have there?"
"Photographs. I found them in the Atelier room," she explained. "It is odd, Mother, because there are some photographs in here that look a lot like you. Not to mention there is a passageway behind your portrait."
Lady Dimitrescu did not know what to say to her as she approached her and stared down at the photographs. She did not know why, but she felt pain as soon as she gazed upon the picture of a blonde haired woman. She drew away from the box hissing, like she had just been stung.
"Take those away! Burn them!"
Daniela jumped at the sharpness of her mother's voice.
"Do you want me to burn the rest of them?"
Lady Dimitrescu's eyes widened in panic.
"There are more?!"
"Yes, there is a gallery upstairs with another box."
"Take them all down and burn them!"
Daniela stepped away from her mother, like she had just been struck by her. Never had she seen her look so crazed. So unhinged.
"I-I will burn them all, Mother," Daniela said in a small voice. "I am sorry… I did not mean to make you upset."
Lady Dimitrescu turned away from her and walked back over to the piano, rubbing at her forehead to regain her composure.
"It is not your fault, dearest," she said. "Please just get rid of them all. Get Bela to assist you."
"Yes, Mother," Daniela said, picking up the box and stepping off the stage. She took one last look at her mother before she exited the Opera Hall.
Lady Dimitrescu felt guilty for how she had spoken to Daniela, but the sight of those objects. It felt as though a large nail had been driven deep into her temples. Thankfully the pain had subsided as she moved away from the photographs.
'Bela,' she called out to her eldest, telepathically. 'Please join Daniela in the Atelier room. She has something she needs help cleaning out and disposing of.'
'Yes, Mother,' Bela responded immediately.
Lady Dimitrescu took a seat back down on the bench behind the piano and began to play again.
Upstairs in the Atelier room, Daniela was upstairs in the gallery collecting the rest of the boxes.
"Daniela?"
"Up here!"
Bela soared up to where her sister was, eyeing the box she had placed near the ladder.
"What is this place?"
"A storage space, I guess," Daniela said. "What are you doing here?"
"Mother asked me to help you dispose of some things. I assume this is it."
"Yes," Daniela said. "Mother was quite disturbed by the photographs and vehemently instructed me to burn everything."
"Why?" Bela asked, poking through the box and going through it. "They are just dusty books and photographs…" Bela fell silent upon spotting a photograph of their mother. She was a young woman seated on a horse. She quickly placed the photograph back down and got to work shoving the boxes down. Once they were all down, the sisters took two boxes each and decided to take the things to their room. From there they walked over to the hearth and began to throw the pictures and journals into the flames.
"Do not worry, Mother. All will be well…" Bela whispered, watching intently as the flames consumed every last trace of the photographs and journals.
{...}
"Mother?"
"Enter," Lady Dimitrescu admitted her eldest.
Bela entered into her study with a bow.
"How many times must I tell you not to bow before me," Lady Dimitrescu chided her.
"I am sorry, Mother."
Lady Dimitrescu removed her glasses and set them on the desk.
"Did you finish helping Daniela with the task?"
"Yes, Mother," Bela said, taking a seat beside her.
"Thank you," Lady Dimitrescu said, patting her cheek lovingly.
"What are we working on?"
"A new shipment from the Abbess. We are in need of new hires, and she is in need of a fresh supply of wine."
"I will work on the numbers."
"Let me know if you need any help," Lady Dimitrescu said, smiling proudly at her. Bela would not need any assistance from her, in fact, it was she who would always ask Bela for aid. At some point within the hour, Daniela appeared in the room. She took a seat on the couch near the window and sat reading. After the hour had passed, Cassandra then appeared in the study. Normally she never made an appearance here, but today she had a book in hand (another anomaly) and took a seat in front of the second window.
Lady Dimitrescu's heart swelled with even more pride at the sight of them. How much she loved and adored them. How truly lucky she was to have them beside her.
Below in the servants' quarters, Anya was going through clothing, pillows and blankets that would either need to be burned or washed. She stopped in front of the bunks where Dorothy and Harriett had slept. It was when she went through Dorothy's pillow case did a piece of paper fall out. She picked it up and read over the content.
She blanched at what she read, rushing to the kitchen and throwing the letter into the flames. It was consumed in seconds. Not a single trace of it was left…
—
Far from the castle, Mother Miranda was seated in her lab and examining a vial of blood with the initials D.B.
"Her blood is truly remarkable. A cure to combat the virus…" she mused aloud, standing up and looking into the microscope again. She had taken a very small sample of the Cadou and placed some of Dorothy's blood onto it. Instantly the Cadou had begun to sizzle and disintegrate. Her blood had completely torn apart the cells. "She was truly remarkable. I was lucky to take so many samples before her death." Mother Miranda sat back and continued to stare at the vial. "You could have single-handedly ruined everything for me, child, though your life was not a total waste. After all, dear Dorothy, you have given me quite a perplexing mystery to solve."
Mother Miranda rose out of the chair, setting the vial down into a specific container to be held for the time being. She left the lab, transforming into her old hag garb and walking out into the village. All who saw her gave her a wide berth.
They were terrified of her. Many rumors went around the village claiming she was a witch who would put a spell on any who crossed her. She could not help but smile at that. How sad they all were. Consumed by their own fear and hatred. How quickly they would turn on each other. So many had perished after the injections. Many blame one family or the other for the sickness.
It had always been like this. Even when the Spanish flu had hit their home…
Mother Miranda shuffled her way to the grave. There she stood in front of one gravestone in particular… she rested a bony hand on top of the stone, whispering a silent prayer to her lost child.
"Soon, my darling, soon…"