Bathing in Blood

Bathing in Blood - Part 7

When Elizabeth saw the girl a sickeningly sweet smile spread across her face. She looked perfectly innocent, though Natalia was no longer fooled by the pretence. "Oh, there we are Anna! Our little lamb is all washed up and ready to play! Aren't you, pet?"

Natalia found herself unable to speak. Her throat felt dry, like she hadn't had a glass of water in ages.

Elizabeth's sweet smile suddenly turned sour. When she was about to... play... she was liable to sudden mood swings. Anna knew this, and felt almost sorry for the ignorant girl. Almost.

"ANSWER ME!"

"Yes, Madame!" she squeaked.

The smile returned. "Good little girl. Now, come over here and sit down." She gestured to a plush, velvet chair that sat in front of a large ornamental looking-glass.

Remembering Addy's words, Natalia was quick to sit down.

"Well, quite the obedient one here, isn't she?" Elizabeth crooned, turning to look at Anna.

"Yes, I quite agree. Perhaps we should reward her for her good behaviour. Would you like that, Natalia? A reward for being such a good girl?" Anna advanced towards her, like a prowling cat. She leaned over to whisper in the girl's ear. "Say something, pet. Would you like a reward?"

"Y-yes M-Madame, only if you wish to g-give me a reward."

Anna smiled. This girl was playing along excellently. "Good answer, sweet angel. Good answer." She turned back to Elizabeth. "A reward, then! What do you say?"

Elizabeth pursed her lips, thinking hard. "Although her face is clean, the girl has not a spot of rouge on her lips or cheeks. She looks a bit pale, wouldn't you say?"

"I would, Elizabeth."

"Well then!" She clapped her hands together. "We shall make up her face, so that she looks like a real angel. She'll be a very pretty girl; that will be her reward."

The two women opened the drawer of the vanity desk and pulled out a pot of rouge. They dabbed it onto Natalia's cheeks and lips, making sure to smooth out her hair. When they were done they asked her to look in the mirror.

"Do you think you look pretty?"

"Yes, Madame," she answered.

Elizabeth frowned ever so slightly. "Prettier than me?" There was a silence.

Natalia's eyes widened in confusion. "Prettier ... than you?

"Yes, you stupid girl! That's what I said! Do you think you look prettier than me?" she demanded, suddenly angry again.

Anna, sensing a rage spiral coming on, backed away slightly. She knew that Elizabeth valued her greatly as a friend, but when she was truly angry she didn't care who she hurt. Better the wretched peasant girl than herself.

"N-no! No Madame, not at all!" she cried.

Elizabeth snarled. "Liar!" She drew back her hand and slapped the girl in the face.

Natalia nearly fell out of the chair. When she looked up again, her red cheek had a cut sliced across it from Elizabeth's ring. She was too frightened to utter a sound.

"You think you're prettier than me, don't you? Hm? You are wrong, I am more beautiful than anyone! Everyone! You could never be prettier than me, never! You hear me? Never!" Elizabeth yanked open the desk drawer and pulled out a pair a sharp silver scissors.

Anna watched warily, unsure of what she was about to do. If they killed her now, it would be too soon. But on the other hand, better to let Elizabeth do what she wanted than risk being turned on. She stayed silent.

"We'll see how pretty you are after this!"

Elizabeth grasped the girl and yanked her out of the chair, throwing her onto the floor. She walked behind Natalia and grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to sit up in a kneeling position.

"Ooh, look at your hair, so golden and pretty. I bet you're quite proud of your hair, aren't you! Well, are you? Answer me, wretch!"

"Y-yes, Madame!" she sobbed. Her shoulders were shaking violently.

"I thought so, vain little creature! You should be taught some humility! Let me help you with that!"

Elizabeth grabbed the girl's hair in her fist and yanked upwards on it. Natalia cried out in pain. Taking the scissors, the Countess began hacking away at the golden strands. Snip, snip, snip, one by one the chunks of hair fell to the floor. After a minute of cutting, Natalia's hair was nothing more than a mass of choppy, split ends covering her head.

As the last few hairs were cut off, Elizabeth suddenly calmed down. She took a step back. "Oh dear, look at you now," she half-whispered.

The sudden change of tone frightened Natalia, almost more than the rage.

"Elizabeth," Anna said cautiously, "do you need to take a minute? To relax?"

Elizabeth turned to her friend, eyes still blazing from her sudden burst of fury. "Yes, Anna. I think that would be a good idea." Her voice was even and calm. "I shall take a short walk around the dungeons... use up some energy. Would you please get Addy to clean up this hair? Have her save it in a bag. And as for this," she paused, turning to Natalia, "get her ready for the next part of our night's activities."

"Of course, Elizabeth."

She smiled. "Thank you Anna. You really are a true friend."

Quite the temper Elizabeth has, don't you think? Anyway, updates will continue to be daily over the holidays and I may even throw in an extra one here or there depending on how much I get written. I hope you are all enjoying Bathing in Blood, and are hopefully not too terrified! But trust me, the worst is yet to come!