Big Love • Alcina Dimitrescu

5.

After 5 hours of Alcina telling me over and over again that I need to duck through doorways so I don't decapitate myself, I can safely say that I am now officially guided in the world of being 9ft 4in. Alcina was such a big help in 'training' me, I could tell that the game we played on the carriage ride over really loosened her up and helped her trust me a tiny bit more. 

Alcina filled me in on what roles we take on in the village as Lords, she told me Mother Miranda's plans, what the others do, everyone's special skills and also about her own experiments. She also told me a bit more about her wine company, about how she uses the blood of the maidens she employs. I've never tried Alcina's wine but if there was anyone who could make maiden blood taste nice it's Alcina. She told me all about the Moroaica that roam her basement/dungeons and how they are maidens who didn't make it through her experiments, that didn't come as a shock since I know all about the lycans and how they are past candidates who didn't make it past the first stages of implantation, Mother Miranda was very thorough in making sure Donna and I knew the risks before being implantated. I'm just relieved to know that Bernadette died instead of turning into one of them horrific creatures.

She advised me on what to look out for in the next few weeks to know if Donna and I possessed any special abilities like the other Lords, "If any abnormalities are going to manifest it will be in the next few weeks".

Alcina also opened up a little about her condition, telling me all about how her family came from a long line of incest, an act that was very common amongst rich families to keep their blood line pure, and even though her mother and father and herself never partook in the acts she ended up with a hereditary blood disease, and now with the Cadou, she's sentenced to a life of drinking others' blood,

"I need to sustain myself on blood or I... I'm not quite myself." She shared, taking a sip of her blood infused tea.

We were sat before the fireplace in the grand hall, I was in awe since the moment I stepped into the room, this and the corridors leading here were all mahogany walls and ceilings with golden accents, pristine tiled floors, grand entryways and plush furnishings. If I had to describe the type of person who lived here it would be Alcina, she looked so at home amongst the glistening suits of armour and the ornate vases.

In the middle of a conversation about food, the shrill ring of the telephone echoed around the hall. A brown haired maid, who had been standing idly in the corner of the room, rushed to answer the telephone,

"Lord Heisenberg wishes to speak with you Lady Beneviento," the young maid spoke nervously. I crossed the room in 3 steps and took the reciever she was holding out to me,

"Thank you," I dismissed her, holding the small reciever between my thumb and forefinger, 

"Heisenberg? What's wrong?"

"Does your sister have a problem?" Heisenberg whsiper-shouted,

"Not that I'm aware of no. Why? Has something happened to Donna?" I made eye contact with Alcina who watched me from her spot on the sofa,

"We were both walking down the streets of the village perfectly fine then we walk into the market and she started breathing heavily and gripping onto my arm tight so I drag her out of the village and she started crying really loudly, I've brought her to the factory and she hasn't stopped"

"Oh yeah,"

"Oh yeah. What do you mean 'Oh yeah'? I think she's having a heart attack, or I am she's scaring the shit out of me. I'm about to call the priest to perform an exorcism, all she's done for 20 minutes is scream, cry and mutter quietly to herself,"

"I mean, oh yeah, Donna does that, she can't handle social interactions and she doesn't like to be with crowds she gets very panicky, has done ever since we were children. I think it's social anxiety or something like that. She'll calm down," I inform Karl,

"Oh good, I thought she was dying," Karl sighed, aw it's so sweet that he cares for Donna so much, "The last thing I need right now is to be dispossing of a dead body,"

"And here I was thinking you cared about her," I shook my head, "I know it's hard for you to care about someone other than yourself but can you please make sure that she's alright,"

"I'll try to give a shit long enough to walk her home," Heisenberg teased,

"Thank you, Heisenberg,"

"Nah, you two are family now,"

"It's nice to know you're not as annoyed as you were initially,"

"Did I not hide it that well? What gave me away?"

"Bye Karl," I ended the call and turned around to face Alcina once more,

"You've got to go?" She asked me, her tone saddened,

"Yeah, Heisenberg's having a melt down,"

"I'll walk you out. I want to apologise,"

"What for?" I was surprised by Alcina's need to apologise to me, I don't recall her doing anything that requires an apology,

"I enjoyed your company today, I don't recall ever having conversations like we have had today with anyone, let alone with someone I have met so recently," Alcina guided me through to the extravigant foyer, "I was very quick to brand you as a person not to like, I think I could find myself becoming friends with you,"

"Well, I'm glad I've proven myself to greatly. I'm pleased you think we can get along."

We gave each other a small, short hug, despite the awkwardness of our embrace my body instantly relaxed, the same sensation I had on the carriage ride over here when our legs touched. Like I could feel my body relax, like coming home after being home sick for years. Almost relieved to be right here.

The hug ended as soon as it began. As I stepped out of Alcina's embrace, my body chilled, I became cold on the inside. I had to check I was covered, I felt naked and vulnerable like any sense of safety I had before was ripped away from me. I wrapped my arms around my waist to warm myself up.

I need to pull myself together.

I bid my last farewell and ducked slightly through the large iron door. I felt like I was missing a piece of myself as I walked away from the magnificent castle and the equally magnificent Lady Alcina Dimitrescu.

[Rewritten]