(( Really sorry about not posting yesterday, work was a lot yesterday. Updates will continue normally! ))
It takes hours before the shrieking in Alcina's ears resides but it rings in the back of her mind, grating on her nerves. Bela won't least her side. She's worried. All the girls are but there's nothing they can do to help. Daniela, handling it least well of anyone, goes off to find a way to distract herself. Cassandra goes between monitoring the youngest sister and her mother.
"Mother," Bela's voice is still quite soft. Alcina looks down.
"What are you looking for?"
Alcina sighs, "I'm looking for Catalena."
Hearing this Cassandra goes on the hunt. It's not long before she stumbles upon an open door to the scarcely used attic. Catalena is there sitting in the shadows crying softly.
"What are you doing up here?"
Catalena jumps and vanishes, then slowly bleeds back into existence. She sniffles and sighs, "Don't worry about me lass. Go check on your mum."
"She's looking for you," Cassandra says, walking over.
The two sit in stark contrast, white sitting in the dark and black sitting in the light.
"I should never let me hopes get up again."
"I don't understand," Cassandra struggles to make it sound polite.
"I'm cursed," Catalena points to the purple stain in her chest. It had been just a scar but now all the veins in her chest are seemingly black again, "My mother couldn't stop me being born, but she could stop my father from using me to his advantage. I can touch and feel other people. They're fine. But if someone loves me and they touch me it hurts. Hurts like a fist wrapped round me heart squeezing, full of glass."
As she listens Cassandra wishes it were Bela or Daniela. They'd care. She only cares that she manages to get this woman back downstairs to her mother. But in forcing herself to listen she realizes something.
"She loves you?"
"Truly and dearly," Catalena almost laughs, "It's never hurt tha' bad." Her fingers trace shaking over the skin.
"Okay. Curses can be broken though."
"Not this one."
Finally she's had it. Cassandra grabs Catalena by the wrist and she yanks her arm away and shoves the young vampire away.
Catalena hisses and gasps, groaning, "Damnit. Damnit girl!"
"Go downstairs and tell my mother."
"It's not just her!" Catalena snarls, "I can't touch you! I can't touch ye sisters! The only ones I can touch are the maids and they don't want me near 'em. Leave me alone, I'll come downstairs when I'm good and ready."
When the hot headed Dimitrescu heir tries to force the issue she suddenly finds herself standing with Bela and her mother, with her sister snapping her fingers in her face.
"Grrrrr! I hate it when she does that!"
"Does what?"
"Hypnotizes me or something!" Cassandra sighs, "But I know what's wrong."
Of course Alcina hears that. After hearing Cassandra's explanation she sighs and sits for a long time in silence. Bela looks at her gloves, "Are the gloves enough?"
"I dunno!"
"I'll be fine on my own Bela. I won't be at dinner."
Seeing Alcina leave she's like a ghost, listless and partly absent. She puts her hand on the doorframe to duck through it. The look in her eyes is, strange. Bela shudders, "I'm worried."
"Let's go get mother Miranda, I'm worried too."
"It's a curse, right?"
The two turn to look at Daniela. She has a pile of books in her hands. The very books their mother had looked through. And unlike their mother their youngest sister has a very lucid look to her amber eyes.
"I have an idea."
Mother Miranda appears at the door, quite wary. The girls left it askew, unable to get too close. Once inside with the door closed all three swarms appeared.
"You're sure about this?" Miranda demands.
Daniela nods, "Positive."
Her expression is apprehensive and deeply unhappy. Bela had called her. They hadn't divulged it was Daniela's mind that was so sure of this scheme. Now that Miranda has more context what she's dealing with she's absolutely more cautious. Anyone who's been around as long as she has has heard of the fae. She's always counted herself lucky not having to deal with them.
"Where is she?"
"I'm right here ya bloody hag," Catalena comes stalking out of the shadows.
"Waiting for me?"
Catalena didn't trust mother Miranda not to hurt the girls. She's quite fond of them and she doesn't want to see what happens when they get too cold. There's a reason Alcina is so aggressive about it.
"What do you want?"
"Mother Miranda can break your curse," Daniela says excitedly. Somehow it goes over her head, the look of utter loathing on the woman's face.
Catalena puts her hand on Daniela's shoulder and both her sisters jump, then realize the contact isn't direct.
"Give me the book lass. You lot go to bed."
"Will we see you in the morning?" Bela has picked up on the fact that Catalena is always very clear and very purposeful with her words. Now she has none.
"Go on."
Once they're gone the room becomes icy and cold. Miranda keeps her distance.
"I know what you are now."
"And I know what you want," Catalena tosses the book onto a nearby piece of furniture. She saunters closer without hesitation, "You want your daughter back. You'll do anything for her. What's her name?"
Miranda grinds her teeth, "Eva."
"Lovely name. Bet she was a cute little girl."
When Miranda swipes at her Catalena vanishes and reappears at her side with her own claws bared at the woman's throat.
"Do you know what fae do best?"
"Have illegitimate children-" Miranda swallows to make sure she can. The pain against her throat is sharp and runs deep.
"Steal children." Suddenly, the two have an understanding.
YOU ARE READING
The Love of Lady Dimitrescu ((Completed))
Fanfiction(( +18 Chapters are marked )) There's an old saying that it's lonely at the top. Lady Dimitrescu has all the power she could ever want. A thriving business. Easy access to maidens to sustain herself and her daughters. She has her lovely daughters. B...
