Lady Dimitrescu and Hekate's Follower

Chapter 33: Φυγή από τη Ρουμανία (Fleeing Romania)

Alcina woke up, struggling to keep her eyes open. She lazily reach over to Melania with her hand, but only felt empty sheets. She immediately started panicking, jolting upright and scanning the room. She sighed in relief when she spotted Melania, asleep in her chair by the fire. Her Stephen King novel open on her lap. Alcina got up, wincing in pain as her shoulder was still painful, but thankfully healed. Although Melania was asleep, she looked stressed, as if having a terrible nightmare.
"My love?" she asked softly, placing her hand gently on her shoulder. Melania's eyes opened slowly.
"You're awake! How's your shoulder, love?" as she got up and tightly embraced Alcina.
"I'm fine, love. It's still painful but I'll manage. Did the girls make it back alright? How long have I been out?" she asked, hugging Melania around her hips. Melania closed her book and they got back into bed.
"Well, it's 3am now, which means you slept for about nine hours. And yes, the girls and the twins are perfectly fine. Barely. Cassandra is extremely upset about losing Teroare. I can't stand this constant fear all the time!" she throws her hands in the air in frustration.
"I know, my love. We'll make do." Alcina said, resting her head on Melania's lap.
"Love, you died." Melania cried suddenly, tears streaming down her face. Alcina sat up quietly, and looked at Melania.
"I'm so sorry, my love." she mumbled, understanding what Melania must have gone through.
"I want to leave. Take all of you out of Romania, away from this dangerous place. I promised to keep you all safe, and I'm failing you." Melania said, getting a bit angry.
"Leave Romania? Are you serious?" Alcina frowned, the idea of them leaving her family home sounded ridiculous to her, almost laughable.
"Yes I'm serious? I can't, no, I won't lose any one of you. Not again."
"I can't leave my family's generations of hard work? Do you expect me to just pack up and abandon Castle Dimitrescu?" she said, astounded that Melania could even suggest such a thing.
"I do! I want to keep my family safe!" they argued, not necessarily angry, but rather frustrated with each other. This would be their first fight, and neither of them liked it one bit, both of them too stubborn to give in.
"I think we're safe here, Melania. We're safe in the castle. I don't understand how you can just leave this security!"
"To keep you safe! It's not safe, not at all! They nearly got in a couple of months ago! How the fuck can you think it's safe?!" Melania didn't mean to, but she yelled at Alcina, immediately regretting it. There was an unreadable expression on Alcina's face, and without saying another word, she turned around and laid on her side, her back facing Melania.

The next morning, Alcina woke up to Melania's side of the bed empty and cold, again. She frowned, remembering their little argument and how they left it. Even though it wasn't a fight, it certainly felt like one. She hated it. She got up slowly, and got dressed. She absent-mindedly walked towards the kitchen, looking for Melania. She was so deep in thought, she didn't notice Cassandra and Luca sitting in the dining room, talking.
"Mother? Are you alright?" Cassandra asked, walking towards her mother. Cassandra could see something was wrong, and yet she patiently waited. Luca remained seated.
"Mm? Oh, draga mea, I'm fine. Have you seen your mother?" she asked, looking at Luca, eating his oatmeal. She frowned, seeing how comfortable he got, while he was still technically an employee. She was in a bad mood today.
"Luca, mind yourself, boy. You will still treat me as the Lady of this castle. Do not forget your place. Am I understood?" she growled, making Cassandra gasp slightly.
"Mother-"
"Not now. Luca, get to work. And be sure that your sister is working as well, otherwise it's the dungeons for the both of you!" she said, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Of course, my lady. My apologies." he quickly bowed, and ran out of the room.
"I'll leave you to it then. I don't know where mother is, but I hope you find her. Soon. All of us will be in the library, if you need something." Cassandra said plainly, knowing not to upset Alcina any further. Before she could leave, Alcina grabbed her hand.
"I'm sorry, draga mea. It's not fair of me to take my anger out on you. Your mother and I had an argument, and now I can't find her." Alcina had an uneasy feeling, looking down at her feet. It surprised Cassandra, to see how much her mother changed, she had never seen this side of her.
"I understand, mother. Try to put yourself in her shoes. She can be stubborn, but so can you." Cassandra smiled and gave her a hug. Alcina said nothing, just warmly embraced Cassandra. Alcina made herself a cup of tea and thought hard. After Cassandra left, a maiden entered, bowing politely.
"What is your name?" Alcina asked, looking at the maiden over the rim of her tea cup. The maiden froze.
"Roxanne, my lady." she said softly, her grey eyes scanning the room for an exit.
"Calm yourself. Even if there was an exit, you'd never make it." she said sternly.
"Yes, my lady."
"Roxanne is a beautiful name. Please be a dear and make tea for myself and Lady Dracos. We will be on the roof of the west wing." she said, placing her empty tea cup down.
"Right away, my lady."