Silent Pain

32

Angie sat quietly on the edge of her seat, Miranda smiled at her as she sighed. She was a patient woman, however, she expected them to be here a bit earlier. As she thought about the time and such Alcina and her girls came into the run-down church, Karl and Salvatore arrived a bit later.

"Are we late?" Alcina asked and Miranda shook her head "No. We have about 20 minutes before they arrive." The bug babies sat down next to their mother as Daniela and Cassandra played in the dirt Bela stood beside her, not feeling like getting her dress re-washed.

About 15 minutes later the black carriage with the sun and moon print stopped in front of the church, "They're here!" Angie hollered as she jumped from Miranda's lap, and sprinted from where she landed.

Miranda winced slightly but smiled as the doll excitedly ran out, "Can we go greet them, Mother?" Cassandra asked, Alcina nodded and the girls rushed from the church and out into the beautiful summer afternoon.

Alcina got up and trailed over to Miranda who stood and sighed, "How was your time with Angie?" She asked and the priestess smiled "She is much more like babysitting a 5-year-old than being constantly pulled around and chaotic. I'm sure she's worse with Donna and Marie."

They walked outside the church to watch as the two lords stepped from the carriage, Angie just making it as Donna planted her feet on the ground and caught her as she lunged out for her. "Donna!" She excitedly cried out, Marie smiled and hugged the three bug babies as the women waited in line.

"Oh goodness, I've missed you," Donna said as she kissed her doll's head and held her close. The next one to receive a hug was Miranda as Marie walked over and smiled, "Was she good for you?" Donna asked as she hugged the priestess, the wolf lord gasped as she was hugged by Alcina, getting picked up in the process.

"Yeah, she wasn't as bad as I thought. Mostly clingy and quiet." Donna looked at her, her veiled face didn't show the confused expression on her "Mother Miranda... Are you sure you watched the right doll?" Marie laughed while Angie flew over to her, "We missed you gremlin." She hugged her as Angie laid her head on her shoulder and nuzzled.

Donna smiled "Alright, you wanted to have a meeting when we came back yes?" Miranda nodded and smiled "First tell me all about it. Did you two have fun?" Miranda and Donna walked off as Marie stayed back a few paces, humming as Angie seemed comfortable in her arms.

"You did miss us huh?" Marie whispered, Angie nodded and her arms draped around the woman's shoulders. "We want to talk to you about something but not right now, a bit later alright?" Angie nodded as Marie and she trailed into the church, where she found a chair next to Donna with her family crest on it.

Sitting down comfortably she held Angie close and kissed her head, listening to the conversation. "In the next few months, I would like each of you to have a test subject. Not only to keep hold and expand your powers but to test out what you can handle."

Marie glanced at Miranda, noticing she had 4 people tied down, each of them being men. "Alcina, come pick yours out." Miranda motioned to the men kneeling beside her tied up and and blindfolded. "These aren't villagers are they?" Alcina asked as she stood up and grabbed one "No, a group of stragglers I found in the woods one day... for a bit of motivation they were looking for Marie, and willing to shoot her down."

Marie swallowed as Donna was called next, "Come pick." She said, Donna got up and with a flick of her wrist she worked her way through his mind showing him hallucinations of whoever he loved dearest, and had him follow her. "Couldn't forget about the lord herself, Marie, you're turn." The wolf lord stood up and all the men, except for Donna's, looked up at the name.

"Anna Marie?" One asked as the wolf lord approached the last two. "We've been looking for you." One said, "Your family misses you." Another one spoke, Marie stayed quiet as she gripped the man by his coat and dragged him with her, forcing him up on his feet and slamming him into the pavement to sit down.