From Dusk Until Dawn

Chapter 17: The Second Daughter

''Of course, please, take a break for a while.'' Alcina said in a stern voice, showing Rue that she was serious and should not protest. Rue responded with a simple nod before going to the door of the study, opening it and greeting the person who knocked.

Cassandra stood there, a plain look on her face when she realized it was Rue who opened the door. The maid bowed her head to the woman before stepping off to the side, allowing the girl to enter before leaving herself. The second daughter waited until she heard the door click before speaking.

''What is it, Cassandra?'' Alcina asked, reaching for her glass of wine.

''I was just curious if we were still having tea later today.'' she said, moving to one of the book shelves.

''Of course, what makes you think I wouldn't?'' the Countess asked, watching as the girl flipped through a few pages of a book absentmindedly.

''Because you've been really busy lately. You didn't show up for tea with Dani and I a few days ago.'' Cassandra said, obviously trying to hide the hurt in her voice by slamming the book she was holding shut before placing it back on the shelf. Alcina noticed this, usually she'd tell Cassandra to be more careful but not this time. She could feel the guilt crashing over her in waves. She had never meant to miss tea with her daughters.

''Oh my girl, I apologize.'' she said getting out of her seat, going to her daughter and kneeling down. ''It completely slipped my mind. I promise, I will be there tonight.''

''Okay, if you say so mother.'' she shrugged nonchalantly. 

Alcina pressed her hand against her daughter's cheek, wiping away some blood that ran down from the corner of her smiling mouth. ''I hope you don't mind, but I invited Rue to join us for tea tonight.'' 

Cassandra's smile didn't falter, but she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. Tea at night had always just been and mother-daughters thing between them. No maids ever joined; not even any of Alcina's previous lovers got to join either. So what made Rue so special?

''Okay, sounds good.'' she said as her other pulled her hand away.

''I've been meaning to ask, what do you think of Rue? Do you like her?'' she asked. Cassandra didn't know why she was asking. She had never once asked this with any of her past lovers. But it was no secret that Cassandra knew what Rue and her mother had been doing in this room before she arrived. She had over heard the muffled moans and decided to wait for a few minutes once they had stopped as to not embarrass her mother.

''I don't really have an opinion.'' Cassandra shrugged, walking towards the door. ''Oh, and mother, if you're going to fuck a maid, maybe do it in your chambers next time.''

Her mother's eyes widened as she left. Just because she didn't embarrass her mother earlier doesn't mean that she couldn't do it now. Dinner wasn't going to be ready for another few hours and the man that she had found wondering the Castle earlier was already dead after just a half-hour of torture. It was boring. He didn't even try to stab her; hell, he didn't even have any sort of weapons when he broke in. She had met dumb thieves in the past but this one was probably the dumbest.

She finally came to the gallery, maybe painting something would help keep her entertained until dinner was ready. As she entered the room, she spotted something that wasn't usually there when she was. It was that maid, Ruenheid Frostbite. She was looking at one of her finished paintings of the Castle. It was the only paintings that had her signature on it.

''What are you doing in here?'' Cassandra questioned, startling the girl. No one other than her family knew of her hobby other than torturing people. So Rue's startled expression made her feel a bit better.

''Oh, I'm sorry. I was just admiring your work.'' she said with a smile, gesturing to the painting.

''I swear to Mother, if you tell anyone about this I'll watching your blood spill onto the floor.'' she growled, brushing past the maid and removing the painting, hiding it behind a stack of paintings against the wall.

''My lips are sealed. But... why do you not want anyone to see your work? It very well done.'' Rue said, walking over to a different painting. This one was a family portrait of her two sister and mother. Rue pointed at the painting curiously. ''Why aren't you in this one?''

''Because I just didn't want to paint myself.'' the girl said, crossing her arms and glaring at the woman.

''Have you ever tried painting yourself?'' Rue asked. Cassandra looked off to the side. She had never once attempted to paint or even draw herself. She always focused on paintings of her family and gave her paintings to them as birthday gifts.

Cassandra shook her head. ''I've never tried.''

''Maybe you can try now.'' Rue said, picking up a brush. 

Cassandra watched her movements carefully. She had no idea the reason why this woman was getting so close to her mother. Everyone who had gotten close to her mother had their reasons. They did it for pleasure. For greed. For power. For assassination. Very rarely did any of them genuinely want a relationship with her, but those were always short-lived. Daniela liked a majority of them while Bela stayed neutral.

The maid handed the brush to the girl. Cassandra looked between the brush and the woman. Rue only smiled warmly at her. There was no hidden motive in her eyes. It was weird to her. She just groaned and grabbed the brush. ''Okay, what is it? What do you want?''

Rue looked confused. That only angered Cassandra. ''By Mother, just tell me. What game are you playing!''

''Game? I'm not playing a game. I'm just doing my job.'' Rue answered.

''Oh, sure. Tell me, where in the job description does it say you can get fucked by my mother?'' Rue flinched at that, her cheeks red. At least that god a reaction out of her. God, she was so sick of guessing games. All she wanted was to know what she wanted with her family; the only people she had ever bother to care about. ''What? Got nothing to say to that?''

Rue took in a slow inhale, closing her eyes while her warm smile faltered. After a moment, the woman opened her eyes. ''Lady Cassandra, I apologize if my actions towards your mother have made you uncomfortable. I have no ill intentions meant for you nor your family. If you wish to stay skeptical of me, then that is your choice. Now, if you need anything, please call for me.''

She brushed past Cassandra as if nothing had transpired between them. The girl watched as the maid opened the door. ''Before I leave, I look forwards to seeing your next piece of artwork and don't worry, I won't tell a soul.''

Then she left. Nothing else. She just left. Cassandra watched the door, waiting for something to happen. But when nothing happened, she didn't feel angry or disappointed. She just felt confused. Usually, people close to her mother was easy to read, but not her. She couldn't find any hint that she any ulterior motive. So she pondered her words. She replayed every single word and every movement she made. But one moment she kept going back to was when Rue had asked if she had ever painted herself.

She looked towards a blank canvass before looking down at the brush in her hand. Cassandra  set up a canvass and gathered paint that she'd need. She looked down at the paints she had gathered, dabbing her paint brush in the paint. She groaned to herself before beginning her newest project. 

What the hell am I doing? This is stupid. She thought to herself.