Ill Met By Moonlight

Chapter 6: Family Dimitrescu

Lex's feet tapped against the stone steps, leaves rustling in the wind, some breaking away from the tree tops and being squished under her shoes. She stood in front of the large and impressive front door. Judging from where the sun was sitting, she'd say it was a little bit before noon. She ran a few fingers through her wild hair before pushing the doors open to the large castle that sat near a mountain range.

The front hall was warm and had four different statues in the position of a square. Lex took a few steps into the house and up a small flight of stairs that led to the front foyer. There was a large chandelier hanging from the high ceiling and grand staircase, a red carpet descending from it. There was a couch and a few chairs in the front foyer with a roaring fire place. Lex was so entranced by the luxury she'd only ever dreamed about as a child that she didn't hear the three Dimitrescu daughters enter the area. They appeared from a swarm of flies, landing behind the woman as she took in every tiny detail of the pristine environment.

''Hey, that's Lex!'' the youngest daughter, Lady Daniela exclaimed which startled Lex, but she did her best to hide it. She turned to see the three girls, all with the same cloak-like dresses and bloodied smiles.

''What are you doing here?'' Lady Cassandra inquired while Lady Bela stayed silent, observing the thick haired woman just like her mother had done just the other day.

''Lady Dimitrescu requested my presence here, however, I'm not familiar with the layout of your home. But I'm sure I'll be able to figure out where I'm going.'' She explained, dipping her head down out of respect.

''Oh come on, you don't have to bow around us!'' Lady Daniela smacked Lex on the back playfully but was hard enough to force a small portion of air from her lungs. The woman looked at the youngest Dimitrescu daughter in confusion. She thought that, being Lady Dimitrescu's daughters' they would like to have someone show respect to them but she seemed to have been mistaken.

''I... I don't?'' Lex was sure she was hearing things incorrectly despite her acute sense of hearing.

''Of course not! Mother will want you to respect her though but it doesn't matter with us, right Bela? Cass?'' the redhead turned to her older sisters, and arm around Lex's shoulder and a bright smile gracing her features.

''I don't really care if someone bows or not, you know this Dani.'' Lady Cassandra said with the flick of her wrist.

''I'd prefer it if she did bow.'' Lady Bela's voice was low and in a threatening tone, her eyes were daggers that pierced Lex's soul. The blonde approached Lex quickly, startling her two younger sisters. ''I'll take you to mother, she doesn't like it when people are late.'' she said, taking hold of Lex's wrist and pulling her along. Lady Daniela and Lady Cassandra just looked on in confusion as Lex and their older sister disappeared to the second floor.

''What's up with Bela?'' Lady Cassandra cupped her chin.

''Maybe it's her time of the month?'' Lady Daniela tugged on her older sisters' sleeve. ''Come on Cass, let's go find momma, she promised to take us to the garden today!''

***

Bela walked ahead of Lex, neither of them speaking a word to each other. Lex didn't mind, she just saw it as part of the job and besides, she was a tad-bit distracted by the luxury of the hallways. Everything looked so expensive, almost too expensive for her to even look at. She had only been a castle in her dreams as a child, but those childhood fantasies couldn't even begin to compare to the real thing.

They stopped at a door, Bela taking in a breath before turning the knob and opening the door. At a desk in the room sat Lady Alcina Dimitrescu, still wearing the same gown she had worn the previous day.