The Bones of The Rabbit

Chapter 14

Standing by her mother and waiting patiently as the handful of maids and servants came to the foyer, Daniela felt her stomach turn to ice. In the corner of her eye, Daniela watched Cassandra slip behind the maids and servants, trying to sneak away. "Cassandra!" Their mother called, stopping Cassandra in her tracks. Daniela felt her hands tremble.

Did Cassandra call Uncle Heisenberg? Did she start all this?

Daniela watched Cassandra slowly turn around, eyes wide and shrinking in her cloak to try and be less visible in their mother's gaze. "Yes, mother?" Cassandra squeaked out, looking to Bela and Daniela for help.

"Did you call Heisenberg?" Daniela heard the icy dagger that dripped from her mother's tongue as she spoke. "I may have let him know about what happened." Daniela watched Cassandra rock on her feet and try to avoid eye contact as she admitted what she did. "And I thought he would be mad, but he sounded really happy for you, if not surprised." Daniela watched Cassandra give an awkward grin and bat her eyelashes to try and appear innocent.

You dug yourself this hole, Cassandra. What have you done?

Daniela looked up to her mother, seeing her eyes locked on her sister, unwavering and full of anger and disappointment. "You will not be able to hunt outside for the next month." Daniela turned her gaze to Cassandra, her mother's venomous words bringing shock and grief to Cassandra's eyes. "Th-that's not fair! That's not fair at all!" Cassandra hissed, stomping her foot. "You promised to not tell Heisenberg, and then you go behind my back in my room and tell him anyway." Daniela listened to the anger and pain in her mother's voice.

Cassandra, you fucked up!

After the meeting and Cassandra having her privilege to hunt outside taken away, Daniela wandered the halls to get her mind off things. It wasn't until she saw Cassandra lurking on the corner to the main hallway, hunting you down. Before you could turn around, Daniela tackled Cassandra before she got up, sickle in her hand.

Daniela kept Cassandra pinned, hearing her mother's door open then close. "What the hell was that for?" Cassandra hissed, trying to get up. Daniela used the ball of her palm and pressed it against the back of Cassandra's head and pinned her back down, straddling her back. "What do you think you're doing?" Daniela hissed back, grabbing Cassandra's sickle and throwing it down the hall behind her. Cassandra managed to roll over to face her sister.

Where do you think you're going?

Daniela got off of Cassandra, then grabbed her ankle when she tried to run to their mother's room. Like second nature, Cassandra turned to strike Daniela. Her arm exposed, Daniela sunk her teeth into Cassandra's arm. Daniela looked up at Cassandra, seeing the horror in her eyes. She felt Cassandra try to shake her off, which prompted her to let go as she heard her mother's footsteps down the hall to her left. Daniela, grabbing Cassandra, hid in the closet.

Daniela grabbed the broom handle, holding the wood between Cassandra's jaws. "If you make a noise, I will break your jaw." Daniela whispered, listening to her mother walk past the closet and the room door open and close. She watched Cassandra struggle, then give up. Daniela put the broom to the side, but kept her legs wrapped around her waist.

"Why did you try and attack (Y/N)!?" Daniela hissed quietly, eyes wide. Cassandra struggled in her sister's legs, then gave up again. "I don't want to talk about it." She huffed. Daniela smacked Cassandra upside the head in anger. "You're going to talk about it whether you like it or not. Or else I'll have to tell mother what dumb shit you tried to do." Daniela whispered. "Okay, okay, fine."

Daniela let go of Cassandra, letting her talk as she shifted to one side of the closet. "Mother, after her death, was in that deep depression. After Ethan Winters died and we had the time of our lives eating him without mother joining us, I couldn't cheer her up, I couldn't do anything to make her smile or happy. She just wanted to stay in her room, door barely open. Next thing you know, (Y/N) comes along and somehow magically fixes everything as though nothing ever happened, like my best friend never happened. Like the death of my best friend never happened. Do you realize that when she died, it was like watching myself die? Daniela, I loved her. I wanted to tell her, but then she dies because of a stupid argument over Mother Miranda's choice."

Daniela stared at Cassandra, watching the tears run down her face. "I don't hate (Y/N), I envy them. I envy how they managed to make mother laugh and smile, I envy that they get along with you all. I just want my friend back." Daniela pulled Cassandra into a hug, listening to her sobs. "Everything will be okay." Daniela whispered, stroking her sisters hair. Watching the door open, Bela stood in the dim light. "You two done fighting? You're lucky mother didn't see either of you." Bela whispered, pulling Daniela and Cassandra out.

Watching Bela walk away after giving them both a hug, Daniela looked to Cassandra. "If you sneak out tonight, I'll cover you." Daniela whispered, patting her back. "Hide your evidence though." Daniela added.

Sneaking around the castle, Daniela finally sat by her mother's door, looking at a clock. It was already 3 AM? Daniela looked up, watching Cassandra sneak into her room. Daniela poked her head into her mother's room, checking on you and her mother.

Why do you sleep so far away from my mother? She looks stressed when you're not in her arms.

Daniela slipped into the room, making sure to step on the boards that didn't creak. Gently nudging you into her mother's arms, she watched you stop fidgeting and watched her mother relax in her sleep. Then, an urge struck her.

Just a nibble on the ear, you know you want to. Just a touch of blood.

Daniela gave your ear a gentle nibble with just her teeth, unable to bring herself to pierce skin. She watched you stir in your sleep a little. "Alci, that tickles!" You muttered. Daniela slipped over the side of the bed, sitting on the floor. Panic washed over her as she hoped she didn't wake you up. She heard you snore a little, then looked up. There were so many vials of blood. She recognized the bandage on your arm, you drew blood!

They won't notice if one vial is gone.

Daniela grabbed a vial, stashing it in her pocket and snuck her way out. She made her way to Cassandra's room, seeing her asleep. Looking for a carcass, Daniela found a partially eaten rabbit. She grabbed the carcass, taking it to the back door. Drinking the blood in the vial, now she knew why her mother was so protective. Daniela could feel her heart rushing and her hands tingle. Her mouth watered, wanting more. Instead, she dug into the rabbit, not bothering to be civil. Her eyes closed, matching your flavor as a sweeter, more delicious rabbit, more addictive.

Throwing the bones and fur into the bushes outside, Daniela snuck into her room, laying in bed and falling asleep...

Opening her eyes, Daniela was on her knees, her hands holding your intestines and flesh. "What have I done?" She whispered, devouring your flesh without hesitation. Tears ran down her cheeks as she continued to devour into you, mouth watering with every bite. "I'm so sorry. I can't stop." Daniela cried out, then looked up. She didn't see herself. She only saw fangs and a pair of golden irises with black pinpricks for pupils. "(Y/N), you're so delicious." She whispered, looking at her bloodied black gloves. "I'll savor every bite." She growled, then found herself on the floor awake.

Rubbing her head, she looked around. It was just a dream... It was just a dream! Daniela took a breath, then saw you come into the doorway, holding the empty vial. "You know, you could've just asked for a vial."