Big Love • Alcina Dimitrescu

3.

"Our two new members," Mother Miranda spoke in a clear, confident voice, it's obvious that she's a natural leader. I cast my eyes across the stage and over to Donna, noticing how entranced she was with every word Mother Miranda spoke, I hope that Donna fits in here and can find comfort.

I shifted my gaze to Lady Dimitrescu, she was watching me with curious eyes. We locked eyes for a time, neither of us shied away from the other's stare, only breaking gaze when Mother Miranda spoke up,

"Now Marlene, Donna? I know the two of you have your own home, I'll have to task one of the others with showing you the route from your home to our meeting point," Mother Miranda explained, smiling at both Donna and me,

"Thank you, Mother Miranda," I bowed my head. My eyes landed on Lady Dimitrescu once more, the dark glow in her eyes had disappeared, along with her frown. I let my eyes take in her beauty while she sat like she was sitting for an oil painting, so still you might think she was dead.

"Now, I would like to ask Heisenberg, to accompany Donna about the village. Just fill her in on everything so far, our history,"

"Of course, Mother Miranda," Heisenberg spoke in a strained voice. The man wasn't a good actor, he plastered a very obvious fake smile on his face and was unable to hide the irritation in his eyes. He doesn't want to spend time with my sister, that is very clear, is it because he has things to do or because he doesn't like her? I hope it's the former, if he does anything to hurt or upset my sister I won't hesitate to damage him beyond repair.

"Alcina," Mother Miranda eased her voice as if talking to an animal that could attack at any moment. Just from hearing her name and the previous request made to Heisenberg Lady Dimitrescu was already rolling her eyes in annoyance, "I would like for you to..."

"Accompany the other Beneviento around the village? Since we are both tall that means that we will get along swimmingly, with no problems?" Alcina cut in, leaving Mother Miranda looking quite shocked beneath her bird mask, "Because that's quite stereotypical if you ask me," Alcina finished with a huff, crossing her arms over her chest,

"Actually because I have matters to tend to with Salvatore and I don't think Heisenberg will be able to handle both ladies. Ultimately, yes Alcina, because you are both tall women, and from what I have witnessed you both have more in common than just your stature," Mother Miranda smiled kindly over at Alcina, who still sat with her arms crossed, her face the same expression a child wears after they've just been told off.

"I hope you don't expect me to play babysitter whenever you demand it just because she's another 'tall bitch'," Lady Dimitrescu continued to argue as if I wasn't sitting in front of her, able to hear everything she was saying,

"Listen, Lady, you were hardly my reference photo for this experiment, I don't know what you expected but I wasn't planning on waking up the size of a house. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to be here for a while and I'm going to stay like this. So I suggest you calm down and come to terms with the fact that you are going to have to see me and engage with me every day and I'm sure it'll be a lot easier on the both of us if we can get along," I stated in a hard tone, seeming to throw Lady Dimitrescu off guard. Everyone in the room was looking at their feet awkwardly, except for Heisenberg who was leaning forward with an ear to ear grin on his face that wasn't fake at all,

"I like this one," Karl pointed to me with a deep chuckle, 

"Shut up! You stupid man thing!" Alcina shouted, resulting in her and Heisenberg jumping out of their chairs to standoff with each other. It was my turn to watch the entertainment as Heisenberg's hammer flew into his hands and Dimitrescu's claws retracted from her fingernails. I had heard of their gifts from Mother Miranda when she was explaining to me and Donna why we should move ahead with the transplants, it's one thing to imagine it but a whole other thing to witness it.

"Enough!" Mother Miranda interrupted just as Lady Dimitrescu's and Hesieberg's bickering was reaching an all-time high. Her wings were fully extended, reacting to her outburst the soft feathers shook in anger brushing against my shoulder, "Alcina, you will do as I have told you. I am not asking you to enjoy your time with Marlene or that you take a liking to her, but like Marlene has already said I would appreciate it if you could put your pride behind you and get along for the sake of the rest of us," as Mother Miranda spoke, her wings retreated to her sides, the feathers going limp as she calmed down, "I'm sure you can remember what a confusing time it was for you when you first woke up after the implantation, I am simply asking you to make her feel welcome and to offer her some insight into how to deal with these changes,"

I felt more than awkward listening to two people I don't know argue about me while I do nothing but sit in this foldable chair that is so small compared to me that I am angled on my side so that I don't fall off whilst I can slowly feel the cheap material starting to cave in due to my weight.

"Fine," Lady Dimitrescu caves, knowing this is a fight she won't win, her attention turned to me, "I can remain civil for our meetings if I have to." 

[Rewritten]