ETERNAL. 𓄼 𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑢.

vi.

The weather the next day is warm, a delicious warmth that provides heat to your skin from where you sit just outside the castle, a drawbridge allowing you to dip your toes in the water below, it wasn't as warm, though. Behind you, you can hear Daniela chasing Bela around, having somehow roped her eldest sister into a game of "hunt." It seemed more like a game of tag to you, though.

Alcina is resting on a bench next to the castle entrance, a book nestled between two fingers and wine in the other. When you woke up that morning, Mihaela informed you that the weather had taken a turn, a warm front rolling over the village, meaning that the girls were able to spend some time outside.

You still weren't sure why they couldn't be outside all the time but perhaps it was a question for Alcina.

Alcina. She'd been awfully quiet towards you this morning, a little detail that made you worry you had severely angered her yesterday evening. Bela and Daniela had told you not to worry about it, but you still wondered if she was upset with you. After all, she was beginning to grow on you a little bit.

A fish jumps from the water below, splashing your legs with water when it emerges into the water again. A fly lands on your palm, biting your skin–not too harshly, only enough to get your attention–and you hiss in pain, swatting the little thing away.

"Why, it was only saying hello."

You turn, surprised to find the middle daughter standing at the edge of the little dock. Cassandra huffs, coming over to where you sit and, to your surprise, she takes a seat.

A silence passes between the two of you, one that has you on edge. Goosebumps litter your skin at the memory of those creatures that had almost taken a chunk out of your neck. You're not sure if she can sense your nervousness, but she herself seems unphased.

After a moment, she speaks. "I did not intend for you to encounter them in the dungeon."

You swallow, nodding your head quietly. Cassandra Dimitrescu had made a subtle comment that she needed to get something from the "lower levels" but had to return at once to her mother with something for her guests. You, unaware of what was down there, volunteered to get it for her.

"Why would you let me go down there?" You ask, tilting your head to look at her. In your short time at the castle, you had a feeling Cassandra would be the hardest to get to know, according to Bela, but you didn't know it would be like this.

Cassandra smiles, an amused little smile that makes you raise a brow. "I was only thinking they would frighten you from their cells, not attack you, it was intended to be a joke, I have a very...sadistic sense of humor. I am not used to my mother bringing humans into the castle, unless they are a maiden, much less her actually caring for said human."

Ignoring the last bit, you continue, "what if I had died?"

The raven haired woman flashes you a look through her golden eyes. "I would have come, had I known you were still downstairs. Mother is insistent we keep you out of harm so I would have obeyed that."