The Love of Lady Dimitrescu ((Completed))

Chapter Sixteen: Too Quiet

With winter and snow on the ground the whole castle has to be locked up tight in order to protect the girls. Two days are spent boarding up the castle and securing every nook and cranny. The second day is spent with Alcina nitpicking everything, making doubly sure is perfect. Meanwhile Catalena goes behind her thanking the maids and pasing out home made pastries.

When she isn't working or otherwise occupied with mother Miranda, lady Dimitrescu can be found checking the locks on the windows and doors rather obsessively.

Sitting one afternoon reading Catalena looks up. She frowns, "Alcina, why are ye checking on the windows love? They're aw'right."

Alcina sighs heavily and shudders, "Because once, they weren't."

It did not escape Catalena. While she had been exploring she'd found a sealed door. To a Fae that may as well be throwing down the gauntlet. Getting in was simple but it left her with a litany of questions to which she knew the answers would be dangerous and thorny.

Catalena sets her book aside carefully and floats to sit on the back of the couch. When Alcina sits she's rigid but it's nothing physical like a strain. It's sheer stress stretching her tight like a guitar string.

"I found a room," Catalena murmurs, "At the base of the ruined tower."

Another deep sigh by Alcina. She rubs her brow, waiting. If she were comfortable she'd prompt Catalena in some way. But she doesn't. She remains silent, meaning she doesn't want to talk about it. Obviously it's a very uncomfortable subject.

Catalena snuggles in Alcina's lap and tucks her head into the curve of her neck. She hopes the proximity will make this easier somehow.

"There was, dust, and rubble. It-" Catalena sighs and her breath hitches, "It smelled like you, but you were dead."

Suddenly it feels as cold as it does outside and Catalena's hands close until she's clutching fists full of Alcina's dress as though someone or something might take her away.

"Because, we were. We all were," Alcina murmurs. She growls and slams her fist down on the arm rest of the couch, reducing the corner to fuzzy splinters.

"A manthing came here. He was, looking for his daughter. It was all mother Miranda's fault. I thought, my daughters could kill him. I thought," Alcina stops to make sure the perfect composure in her voice doesn't break, "I thought they would slaughter him like all the other manthings. And I have never been so wrong nor paid so dearly for it."

Having seen Alcina when she was injured and how her veins looked stony and grey suddenly the rubble didn't seem to outlandish now thanks to Catalena.

"But you're alive now," Catalena says, "And that's all that matters."

Alcina hums as her hand smooths up and down Catalena's back.

"I am still very, bitter about what happened. But I am at peace now. The manthing is dead and he won't be coming back. My own survival is due entirely to my daughter Iulia. Her body will replace whatever it loses. Cut off her hand, and she will grow another. Mother Miranda removed her heart, and a new one grew. So she used Iulia's heart and harvested her blood to revive my daughters and I."

For a long time it is completely silent. Unable to contain her confusion Catalena sits up and points, "Her chest-"

"Iulia is very unique. It would take too long to explain entirely."

When she went looking for the youngest daughter to do a little bonding Catalena had found her with Cassandra. Iulia was in a bath and Cassandra was washing her back. Or rather, she was carefully cleaning six inky black raven wings of varying sizes. Where they met Iulia's back were fresh wounds.

Mortified and not sure what to say, Catalena had simply let the subject lie. Now she is completely content to continue doing just that.

During the moments of quiet Alcina's mind has wandered. It is still troubled, but obviously by a different subject. She sits back comfortably with her hand at Catalena's back stroking up and down her spine like a cat.

"What's bothering ye love?"

Alcina smiles briefly. She loves that Catalena doesn't hide her accent anymore, it shows how comfortable she's becoming.

"Usually at least one angry father or fiance comes to break down my door and demand retribution for hissing woman. But, none have come," Alcina murmurs.

Catalena cocks her head slightly and shifts her hair behind her ear, "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It's of no consequence either way. Bela no longer has any interest pursuing them since she has Donna's immature mood swings to keep her occupied," Alcina's gleaming golden eyes trace the line Catalena's fingers draw, "Cassandra and Daniela would happily slaughter them for me and they would enjoy it. I'm simply suspicious."

Very aware of her actions Catalena's devilish smirk emerges and she pulls her dress down off her shoulder, exposing the tender, inviting surface to her countess.

"Catalena are you trying to distract me?"

Alcina pulls Catalena close and captures one wrist in her hand to habitually disarm her prey before feeding.

"I don't know what you're talkin' about. You're just insatiable."

As Alcina gently sinks her teeth into Catalena's shoulder the doors explode open and all three girls come swarming in.

"Mother-"

"Oh, sorry."

Out in the hall Bela's voice is retreating, "Nope!"

Then just as fast as the hurricane that is the three Dimitrescu daughters appeared they vanish and slams the doors, crashing through the corridors and tangling Iulia into the mess and then some of the maids until a din fills the halls.

Catalena laughs softly, "Never a quiet moment."