Fair Maiden - Alcina x Fem Reader

56: All Too Familiar

Bela leads you down the dimly lit stairs. Surprisingly, the darkness is no match for your now keen eyesight. The shadows only leave a slight haze, allowing you to see as if the space was fully lit. As you reach the bottom of the steps, your taken back by the gruesome sight in front of you. Thick layers of blood is crusted to the stone floor, filling each gap with deep red stains. Chains dangle from the ceiling, sharp rusted hooks resting at the last link. One hook holds a severed hand on the metal curve, not attached to whoever the owner may have been. Opposite of the chains sits a large metal table covered in blooms of crimson, much like the table at Mother Miranda's. A heavy crank is welded below its surface. Leather straps and silver restraints are spread around the table top. Wooden buckets sit within pools of gelatinous blood, full of what appears to be bone and flesh. The entire scene gives the dungeon the appearance of a slaughter house. A twinge of nausea gurgles in your stomach.

"Sorry for the mess." Bela remarks. "My sisters and I may have gotten a little carried away after out last hunt."

You clear your throat, pushing the bile back down before it spews across the floor. You don't need another thing to clean up. Before you can speak, the unsettling sound of buzzing creeps down the stairs. Turning to the sound, you see another vast swarm of flies rushing towards you. Just as Bela arrived in a similar way, two girls appear as the insect bodies dissipate. They both wear the same long black cloaks, sickles at their waist. Much like Bela, their black lips are accented by smudges of red. Their hoods are lowered, revealing their hair. One girl has bright ginger strands, one side of her hair pinned to the back to give it an asymmetrical look. The other girl has medium length dark brown hair with slight waves. The girls look at you with bewildered eyes, peeled open in shock.

"Y/N, is that really you!?" The girls chime together.

"It's her." Bela coos with a warm smile.

The girl with the ginger hair wraps her arms around you with a happy giggle.

"I missed you." She releases you, stepping back to get a full look of you. Her eyes wander the entire height of your body. "You're a lot taller than I remember."

"You're nearly as tall as mother." The brunette coos.

"That's what I said." Bela chuckles. Bela introduces the two girls to you. "Cassandra, the middle child. And Daniela, the youngest."

"Oh, right." Daniela begins. "You don't remember anything."

"Unfortunately, I don't." You tell her. "But, that only means we get to start off on a fresh canvas." You exclaim with an assuring smile.

"I think all of us would like that very much." Cassandra coos. "Welcome home, Y/N."

"We're glad to have you back." Daniela chimes in.

"What exactly happened in here?" You question, returning your attention to the bloody mess spread throughout the dungeon.

"Perhaps we should spare you of the gory details." Bela exclaims, not wanting to overwhelm you.

"That's probably a good idea." Daniela agrees.

"We'll get rid of the scraps for you." Cassandra picks up two buckets of bloody rotting flesh and bones. "The lycans could use a snack anyhow."

"Thanks." You tell her, thankful you don't have to go anywhere near the foul contents.

"Do you want a hand cleaning up?" Daniela asks. "After all, this mess was our doing."

"If you'd like. Otherwise Mary should be here shortly." You tell her.

"We'll help you get started." Bela smiles at you.