Big Love • Alcina Dimitrescu

18.

Alcina, Donna and I are currently sitting in the grand hall, Donna is sitting in a chair in the corner whispering quietly to Angie. I'm sat on the sofa with Alcina, my legs spread across her lap,

"I'm really worried about her," I shared with Alcina, the worry eating me alive. Donna has barely spoken a word to me or Alcina since we arrived, she's been sitting in the corner with Angie for 2 hours now,

"She seems fine to me," Alcina looked over her shoulder to Donna, "I mean, she's always been a little shy  around everyone, hasn't she,"

"Not like this. She never takes her veil off and she hasn't spoken more than a few words to me in days. I'm scared that something is wrong,"

"If something was wrong, you'd sense it, right? What is she feeling?" Alcina moved her gaze from Donna to me.

I looked over to Donna and focused all of my attention on her. Any regular person, I can easily determine their emotions but it is difficult with the other lords and Mother Miranda, since the cadou is a barrier, protecting them from any external threats trying to break through. It's hard to get through to their head, and when I do, it's foggy. I kept my gaze trained on Donna. Sadness and confusion.

I looked back to Alcina, "She's confused about something,"

"Do you know what?"

"She was talking about having to sort something out the other day, maybe that's it,"

"Sorting something out?"

"Yeah, that's all she said. She has barely spoken a word since,"

"Weird," Alcina hummed,

"Yeah."

The conversation soon wore out, so we sat in silence for a few hours. Just as I was about to fall asleep I was woken by Donna, "Marl, don't you need to go do that thing for Mother Miranda?"

"That's at nighttime Donna," I mumbled before moving to get comfortable, being careful of Alcina's sleeping form underneath me,

"It is nighttime," Donna whispered,

"No, it's not it's only been 3 hours since we got here,"

"No, it's been 6 hours,"

"What?!" I jumped up from the sofa, waking Alcina up in the process,

"What?!" she shot up, her nails retracting out of her hands,

"We've been asleep for 6 hours,"

"Oh my days, Marlene! I thought something was wrong," she sighed, slumping back down onto the sofa,

"There is something wrong, it's 10 pm," I replied, putting my boots back on, getting ready to leave,

"Didn't realise you needed to leave at a certain time," Alcina smiled at me rushing around,

"I don't, Mother Miranda wants me to search the village doesn't she?"

"Oh right yeah, I forgot about that,"

"Donna, you want to stay here or are you gonna  go back to the manor?"

"I think I'll go back. I need to get this veil off," Donna mumbled, walking toward the front door,

"See what I mean," I sighed to Alcina,

"Just give her some time," Alcina stood in front of me,

"I'll be back in an hour," I smiled, placing a kiss on Alicna's lips. She stuck her fingers in my hair, her long nails scratching at my scalp, and our kiss deepened. Our tongues fighting against each other, her taste filling my mouth, drawing me in. Despite my brain screaming at me to stay in this amazing moment forever, I broke away, "I'll be back in 20 minutes," I breathed out.

I walked in the direction Donna walked in, the sound of Alcina's laughter filling the castle.

I walked Donna to the entrance of the Beneviento estate and then I walked around the village at a faster pace than usual, the need to get back to Alcina very strong. I scoured the streets, searching for any sign of life. The villagers are no strangers to the wrath of the lycans, the villagers have seemed to figure out that the lycans hunt more at night. Smart move to have a curfew.

I walked around the corner when I smelt the strong copper scent that means only one thing, someone's bleeding nearby. I rushed toward the scent and found two lycans hunched over a small figure. I shooed off the lycans, both of them growling as they backed off slowly. Disgusting creatures. I bent down to see a woman who couldn't be any more than 16 years old, I put my hand in front of her mouth, she wasn't breathing. I was too late.

It is really sad to think that everyone in the village has to stick to certain rules so they won't die, that the children are taught from a young age to have to be home by a certain time and never break the rules, not because they'll be grounded but because they'll die. It's a depressing thought that this little girl hasn't even lived yet, her parents will probably find her in the morning. It makes me feel guilty for wishing that I find a villager dead. I wish to find anyone, not thinking that they are someone's son, someone's daughter, husband or wife, someone's parent. It's a cruel world, but the village is even crueller.

I spent the rest of my search hoping that I don't find anyone. I've been through the pain of losing family, it's a horrible feeling. I just hope these villagers appreciate the people they're with before the inevitable death that will happen sooner or later.

It took me another 10 minutes before I reached the castle once again. Right now all I wanted to do was be in Alcina's arms and never leave again. It seems like I'm always thinking this but I can't believe how much I love her. It's unlike any feeling before. I have had boyfriends and girlfriends before but I have never felt love this strong before. After a hard day, I have never wanted to be with anyone, but my sister, now Alcina is who I think of. She is my every waking thought and I wouldn't want to think of anyone else. She has taken over my life and I quite like it. I don't mind at all.

This is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I never want to be without her. I have lost both of my parents and my two sisters and I'm still here, I'm strong, but if I were to lose her, I wouldn't recover. I wouldn't be the same person, I would die with her. She is everything to me. She will never understand how deep my love for her is. She is my life now. I couldn't ask for a better girlfriend. She is perfect. There isn't a single thing I think is wrong with her. She is flawless. I can't even go more than an hour without missing her. I don't ever want to be without her again. I won't be content with my life until we are happy, together. I won't be happy until I'm hers forever.

I want to marry this woman.