Fair Maiden - Alcina x Fem Reader

52: Stranger

Alcina returned to Castle Dimitrescu. The journey back was excruciating. Conflicting thoughts and emotions raged inside her. Seeing the missing woman that she loved within the clutches of Mother Miranda was the last thing she expected to see this evening. Although your face the same, you were entirely different. The moment Alcina's eyes had met yours, her heart shattered; replaced with burning flames of rage for what she knew Mother Miranda had done to you and remorse that she couldn't protect you from it. She cursed herself for being so blind. She should have known Mother Miranda was behind all of this. However, her strategic manipulation blocked Alcina from realizing the truth until it was too late.

Alcina can't contain her surging emotions. She shoves the castle doors open, sending them crashing against the wall. Mary stands in the Grand Hall, bewildered by Alcina's abrupt entrance.

"My Lady..." Mary speaks, but Alcina silences her words with a wave of her hand.

"Not now, Mary." Alcina huffs. "I'm in no mood for your questionable advice, nor your vague predictions."

Mary assists Alcina with removing her coat. She slides it from her strong arms and hangs it on the rack. Before Alcina can turn away, Mary gently grabs her wrist. As soon as the tips of her fingers graze the skin below Alcina's sleeve her expression zones out. In a quick second, she snaps back to herself. Her eyes are wide, meeting Alcina's. Mary studies Alcina's face for a moment before speaking. Alcina knows exactly what Mary had done. She invaded her memories. Alcina's eyes swell with tears.

"You saw her..." Mary whispers.

"Why couldn't you have told me?" Alcina questions, voice shaky and hushed.

"As I told you, my abilities have their limits. If I would have known, you know I would have warned you." Mary quietly exclaims.

"She's gone, Mary." Tears fall down Alcina's cheeks. Mary's brows furrow with sadness. "Miranda destroyed her life. Took her memories. The way she looked at me..."

"She didn't recognize you." Mary finished Alcina's words.

"I'm a stranger to her." Alcina sighs. "I was foolish. I ignored the obvious. I could have saved her if I wouldn't have been so blind!" Alcina's voice begins to rise, frustration building inside her chest.

"It was her fate, my lady." Mary regretfully exclaims. "There's nothing that could have been done."

Alcina jerks her arm away from Mary's grasp. Her chest begins to rise and fall, emotions bubbling to the surface.

"You sound just like Mother Miranda." She hisses.

"My lady, I didn't mean-" Alcina cuts Mary off.

"Enough!" She demands. "I don't want to hear another word. Not to me, not to my daughters. Keep your knowledge to yourself. Understood?"

"My lady..."

"Am I understood!?" Alcina raises her voice, eyes wild with anger.

"Yes, My lady."

"Nobody is allowed in the east wing. I don't want to be disturbed. If you are needed, I will call for you." Alcina's voice is cold and harsh.

"As you wish." Mary sighs, bowing her head.

Alcina doesn't say another word. She swiftly turns and proceeds up the staircase. Mary watches her as she walks away, feeling the pain of what Alcina had experienced. It's not only the Memories that she can see. She can also feel the intense emotions that go with them. She's not a mutant, simply a gifted human. However, sometimes, she too despised her gift.

Alcina struts down the hall with determined steps. Her thoughts and emotions rage inside her like an uncontrollable storm. Her parasitic creature seems to be clawing it's way to the surface. Instead of going to her bedchamber or the lounge, Alcina finds herself bursting into the gallery. She slams the door behind her. At this point, she had little to no control left. She shoves the tower of canvases to the ground with a shattering scream. Tears flow from her eyes as she continues her destruction. She lifts a vase of paintbrushes and flings it across the room. It shatters as it hits the wall, shards of porcelain flying through the air. Alcina swipes the shelves of paint onto the floor. They clatter and clank, splashes of paint spilling out. Her screams and sobs fill the room as her claws shred your paintings on the wall. Alcina has lost the last of herself, just as Mary had feared. Wooden canvases snap and splinter in Alcina's grasp. She's destroying everything there is within her reach. Once there is nothing left to ravage, she lets out one last rumbling scream.