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Chapter Text

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Crunch Crunch Crunch

"Fuck"

Ethan Winters dropped to his knees grasping a nearby sapling for support, his blood stained the virgin snow as he grunted leaning against the slender trunk, his old, worn pump shotgun hung off his arm by its sling before sliding into the deep snow, the muzzle still warm from excessive firing at those...things and that big bastard with the hammer back at the factory, and that other hammer wielding little bastard in the trench coat with the fucking Magneto powers. 

Ethan narrowly escaped with his life just barely, the big one wasn't so lucky after tearing through the warehouse and tossing Ethan around like a rag doll it managed to trap Ethan into a corner, through a sheer stroke of convenience however that particular corner had an ancient control panel for a crane set against the wall, in an act of desperation he slammed a lever and the crane tore through the old timber and corrugated steel roof bringing it down directly on top of the hairy, towering maniac, he kicked a barrel of chemicals onto the rubble and set it alight for good measure, if it won't kill that thing he don't know what will,  than it would at least slow it down for a while enough for him to make his escape, Ethan knew all too well how tough B.O.W's or whatever that traitorous piece of shit Redfield called them. he had staggered out of the wreckage than was nearly cut in half by that...Heisenberg asshole flinging metal scrap around with his fucking mind before Ethan managed to blow up that old gas tank and get away and cave in the rest of the huge warehouse, at least he hoped he had gotten away.

He gasped in pain his ribs were broken, a deep laceration trickled blood on Ethan's thigh and his mouth was filled with the coppery taste of blood, he spat out a mouthful into the snow and looked down at the deep gash on his right thigh, already he could see the muscles in his leg slowly knit themselves together and the bleeding was beginning to staunch.

Her Gifts

He thought to himself, his encounter with Eveline back in 2017 left his DNA forever altered and warped luckily it just resulted in an accelerated regeneration and immune system, the Mould did the same thing to Mia but at least Ethan didn't wake up screaming in middle of the night as often, he was lucky compared to his late wife because Eveline and the Bakers and those three years with Evie inside her head had broke her, how it all changed when she fell pregnant with Rosemary how full of joy and life she was, how they both were, the nightmares stopped everything was normal, he remembers the found memories of the summer barbeques with Chris and his sister Claire pregnant Mia bursting with the radiance of the precious new life she carried, the weeks he spent doing up Rosie's room with Chris.

The BSAA promised to keep them safe, he had to leave everything behind in America for a life in a witness protection program in Budapest, starting again was easy enough even learning the languages was easy, but he missed his mom and pops back in California he wished they could see Rosie, at least he sent that video recording to them before he left Budapest to find Rosemary.

"Bad guys will be after you and Mia, Ethan listen we'll look after you my teams the best, we have safehouses all around the world, we will protect you and Mia you can live a normal life, have a kid hell, have a couple, just don't end up like me, a broken lonely old bastard chasing demons"

Chris's words from a month after the Dulvey incident echoed in his mind as Ethan remembers how many rounds Chris put into her head how her blood and brains soaked the carpet and the two shots he put in Ethan, and with a grunt pulls himself up the memory of Chris standing over Mia's body with Rosemary balling in his arms filling him with enough spite to haul his pack open and start wrapping a bandage around his blood soaked thigh before picking up the shotgun from the snow and pushing off from the sapling, Ethan bite his lip to suppress his gasp of pain and began to trudge onto the small dirt trail leading back towards the village crossroads and away from that hellish factory with those monsters, as he reached the track he caught the sound of roars and howls behind him "Fuck" Ethan muttered and as he broke into a limping run down towards the village outskirts.

The sun had already begun to slowly clear away the early morning dew and haze slashing the bleak, grey sky with strips of orange sunlight that radiated over the village, small wisps of smoke drifted from the chimneys and raven in the distance cawed, Ethan crested the small hill down towards the crossroads outside the village walls looking back over his shoulder one last time at the woods and path leading back to the factory, a tower of black smoke rose from the direction of the warehouse he set alight to, he sighs softly as he continues walking down the path his leg feeling much better and no monsters in sight, for now.

He recognizes the crooked figure of the old woman who led him to the factory sitting on a stump by the crossroads, a man holding an old bolt action military rifle stands by her wearing strange long black robes almost resembling a Christian priest if it wasn't for the strange writings and symbols sewn and painted onto his robe and the strange large necklace bearing a foetus shape and raven wings like the ones he saw around the village he raises his weapon bringing it to bear as Ethan approaches.

"Lower your gun Lazlo my child, this is the American boy I told you about, the outsider " the man grunts and lowers the rifle.

"He doesn't belong here and now he's caused trouble at the factory with Lord Heisenberg this will make things difficul-" the old woman gently strikes his leg playfully with her skull topped staff the bone, bead and wicker effifies and fetishes adoring it rattling together, she grins her toothless gums on full display.

"Not all outsiders bring trouble he will be our salvation, our warrior"

Ethan's brow furrows "Warrior?" he chuffs "Is that why you sent me to that fucking place with those... wolfmen or whatever they are? to fight them?"

The old woman lets out a rather unsettling phlegmy chuckle.

"You survived didn't you? unless of course you've become yet another poor soul slain by the monsters of this land doomed to wander this place and to come to disrupt my morning peace my child?" her grin spreads, an almost infectious, endearing smile.

"I don't think so ma'am" Ethan smiles back before closing his eyes and sighing "Look I'm not here to kill your monsters or save you, I'm sorry but I'm just here for my daughter I need to find her she wasn't at the factory and that Heisenberg guy... thing whatever was hardly cooperative I'm just here for Rosemary"

"I do believe fate would disagree, are goals are one and the same our paths are intertwined as one, consider your ordeal at the factory as a test my child, if you can face down Lord Heisenberg and his pack and live then I'm sure you can brave Castle Dimitrescu" she points her staff at the looming castle towers and battlements sat upon the eastern mountains still shrouded in mist, the imposing sight sent a shiver down Ethan's spine.

"Wait, you know she was there all along? why didn't you tell me?" the irritation plain in his voice "My daughter is there?!" Lazlo steps forward a scowl on his face, taking Ethan's agitation as a mark of disrespect, the old woman places her staff between them and Lazlo relents still glowering at Ethan who returns his stare with a clenched jaw.

"Truth be told Mr Winters I wasn't sure she was, there are rumours abound in the village that the Lady of the castle has taken in a new child a babe, she often claims waifs and strays as is her fancy but I wasn't certain it was your child but it does seem all to coincidental does it not my child? but the castle is a dangerous place I would not tread there lightly" she leans back and holds up her arm as Lazlo helps her to her feet.

"I don't care I need to find her, no matter what or who has her" Ethan replied his voice shot with steely determination his pale blue eyes full of iron.

what a perfect gulliable little pawn you are

"I must warn you Mr Winters, the mistress of the castle is a cruel witch she takes young girls and turns them into monsters or butchers them for dark magic, her servants are mutilated and killed for the slightest infraction and her own pleasure, this is why I didn't tell you, for whatever you may have been through, that dark bastion is a place of pure evil you must be ready in body and mind" she shuffles closer to Ethan "Here boy, take this" she holds out a pendant of a crows skull etched with strange writings attached to a length of twine "It is blessed against dark magic even if your body fails your spirit will remain pure"

Ethan keeps his scepticism to himself as he takes the strange pendant, looking down and touching the skull and blood red beads curiously and places it around his neck "Erm... thanks, which way is to the castle?"

"That trail there leads to the front gatehouse mind you, I wouldn't let anyone see you my boy, to the right of the gatehouse along the wall there is a smaller doorway used by the servants to get to the old family crypts and gardens outside the walls, I would advise you take that path to find your girl I wish I could help your more my child but there's only so much an old hunchbacked crone like myself can do these days"

Lazlo reaches into his satchel and pulls out a stick grenade "this Mr Winters may be of some use to you" he holds out the old explosive the grey canister on top of the worn wooden stick still had German lettering stencilled onto it.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

"Christ okay, does this thing even work anymore? You expecting me to invade Poland now?" Ethan enquired jokingly turning the stick grenade around in his hands and inspecting it curiously smiling at the antique grenade, the old crone chuckled Lazlo did not.

"It's an old family heirloom I haven't tested it, why don't you go over there to that field and pull the cap and cord wait a few seconds and find out?" He growled darkly under his dirty mattered beard, eyes shot with hostility and mistrust.

"Easy now Lazlo my child it was a jest, now you must be on your way Mr Winters you have a child to save" the old crone said as she began to hobble back to the village Lazlo following suit "I wish you well on your quest my boy, and if you get the chance please do try to kill that wicked, meddling bitch if you can for me please dearie, farewell my child and good fortunes be with you!"

Ethan closed his eyes briefly and inhaled a deep breathe, of course this wouldn't be easy "Thank you ma'am and you too bud" he stuffed the grenade in his belt and turned to walk down the path leading up to the castle gates.

"For Rosemary and Mia" he says to himself as he begins walking away from the crossroads.

"Do you think he'll actually even put a scratch on her? you know how powerful she is, Mother and despite his gifts I don't think that will help him" Lazlo inquires turning to look back at the out of place American walking down the track towards the treeline that skirted the long sloping path to the castle, the dark trunks and branches swallowing him up.

"Of course not silly boy!" she snaps "but he will shake things up in that wretched little keep of theirs at least, maybe even present us with a chance to get the child back, even if he doesn't kill her what he will bring to her vile family will be punishment enough, for too long has "Her Ladyship" been defying me, thinking she is above her place all because of her name, wealth and castle she forgets who gave her the Gift, they will all die one way or another a shame too, he is such a handsome and charming young man..." 

She stands up straight her features changing shape and appearing more youthful, she turns to her high priest "Gather the congregation, there are plans we must make ready" she bursts into a murder of crows which take off into the dawning sky, Mother's cackle is a caw that breaks the eerie silence of the morn. 

The path went up steeper and steeper until Ethan found himself trudging up his legs aching and his thigh wound began to flair up shooting pain up from his leg, the climb was made worse by the cold wind that had picked up and by a drizzle of rain that started as he rounded a bend in the path, however the thought of Rosemary locked in some dark, dank tower with an evil witch doing God knows what to her gave his movements purpose and helped shut off the burning pain, although Ethan was sceptical of the Lady's supposed "dark magic" he had seen enough of biological weapons and what they can do for it to easily be taken as witchcraft by illiterate isolated peasants.

Werewolves and witches, what next vampires and Frankenstein's Monster?

He idly thinks to himself as he stops to chug some water from his canteen before placing it back in his rucksack, he was close now, closer then he would ever like to be to that dark, foreboding castle, even when he entered the valley last night he could see the castle backlit by the moon in the distance and it filled him with fear and trepidation, he didn't want to go there he hoped he could avoid that place and find his daughter elsewhere in this valley but he had no choice now "I'm coming Rosie, I'm coming" he spoke out loud voice laboured by his winded lungs.

The sky had darkened significantly and the rain began to pour down, soaking his old field jacket and bloody torn cargos by the time he reached level ground and was staring down the gatehouse, its portcullis was raised and the vast iron reinforced doors were open revealing a passageway that lead down to a large closed front door lit by two large burning sconces, as inviting as the warmth and light was he heeded the old woman's advice and went right taking a small path that led to another which seemed to lead off to a clearing with a large metal fence and gate around it likely the castle owners personal family graves, he turned left and walked towards the looming dark walls where a small archway held a reinforced door, he hoped it wasn't locked.

He gripped the iron ring that served as the handle and pulled it up with a loud thunk he slowly pushed the heavy door open and slowly stepped inside, shotgun at the ready he looked around the long plain hallway lit by candlelight, he came to what must be the servants stairwell he elected to climb the wooden stairs cautious of every creak, Ethan stopped at the first floor and was about to turn right down another relatively barebones passageway before he heard the click of a door opening further down the hallway to his right, he crouched himself down behind the wooden banister and hoped the gloom would help conceal him, footsteps and voices echoed down the corridor.

"Hurry up! I don't want to get in trouble again, Miss Olga said she'll take an ear from both of us if we don't clear her room by midday" a thin and worried female voice whined

"She's an evil little bi-" another female voice said before being cut off by the sound of flesh being slapped and a gasp.

"Be quiet! don't say such things you stupid cow! you'll get us flayed alive, you know what they say about the walls having eyes and ears here! now hurry up and get those linens to her chambers now"

The hurried footsteps got closer forcing Ethan to hold his breath before he heard the sound of the stairs leading to the next floor being ascended, he let out a quiet breath and got up continuing his journey down the passage, before coming to a white and gold inlaid door left ajar, he peeked through the gap scoping out the much more grandiose hallway beyond cautiously he pulled the door open and stepped out into a beautiful marble floored hallway, the walls were whitewashed and covered in intricate golden floral patterns, delicate crystal glass lamps and golden chandeliers lit up the rich scene as he made his way through the hallway and rounded the corner into a large gallery even more richly decorated and opulent as the last, with heavy floor length black curtains covering each window, and portraits lining the walls.

He felt the warmth of this beautiful and grand place fill him and chase away the cold from his bones, he was still soaked but at least he was warm, he came to a door on his right and opened it slowly peeking in before taking a step inside a roaring fire crackled in a stone fireplace in the room, clearly some sort of small study judging by the desk with a typewriter, the bookshelves and cabinets, he turned back and checked each room in the gallery carefully peering in before stepping in.

I'm never going to find her like this, how would I even know where they're keeping her?

Ethan sighs softly as he steps out from the last room closing the door behind himself as quietly as possible

The sound of metallic clanging and rattling and the shattering of crockery to his left startles him as he spins around to find a young woman dressed in a plain black shift and dark red woollen skirt staring at him wide eyed a dropped silver platter and shattered china at her feet, she steps back her mouth hanging open.

Shit

"Hey look I'm not gonna hurt you please I'm trying to find someone" Ethan pleads keeping his voice as quiet as possible his heart thumping loudly the old woman's words about not being caught replay in his head "I just need to find my baby and I'll be gone you do-" he is cut short as she begins to backpedal as she starts to babble.

"Y-you're not supposed to be here..." her eyes trail down to the shotgun held low in his left hand his right palm exposed in a gesture of reassurance  "You're not supposed to be here" she says meekly one last time as turns around and starts to run "HELP! INTRUDER!!" she screams, Ethan takes off after her, hoping to reason with her.

"Please don't!, Be quiet wait!" he calls after her, she slams into a door at the end of the hall fumbling with the knob before shoving it open, Ethan was almost within arms reach before she lets out a loud gasp and throws herself flat against the open door as a figure clad in black hooded robes flies at Ethan laughing with demented glee.

And the nightmare begins all over again.

The figure slashes at Ethan with a sickle causing him to wildly backpedal only barely retaining his balance as he raises his gun in front of him as a shield as the sickle comes down hooking onto the barrel pulling both weapons down, letting Ethan get a good look at his attacker, a young blonde woman no more than 18 years old at the very least, her eyes are a blazing gold like a tiger and just as predatory, her black lips are spread across her face in a sadistic grin and strange symbol was drawn or tattooed on her forehead, she would be pretty if it wasn't for the fact her mouth, chin, throat and her chest was smeared with blood, she smelled of blood, death and dirt and wasn't trying to murder him, she leans forward inhaling the air between them deeply before chuckling.

"Ahah! I knew I smelt man-blood!" she giggles "an intruder? a sneak-thief? or a lost little lamb? either way how exciting!"

In a display of surprising strength for her size she backhands Ethan across the jaw as she unhooks her sickle from his weapon, he staggers back dizzy from the blow to his head, he raises his shotgun to chest level taking advantage of the space between them she hesitates for a moment never ceasing her wicked grin.

"Stay back I'm not here to cause trouble I don't wanna hurt you we can just talk I need help, I said back off!" he warns anger and fear rising in his chest bracing the old wooden stock to his shoulder.

"Awww... you don't wanna hurt me?" she mockingly coos voice and face full of mock sympathy "Well that's too bad Man-prey, 'cuz I really really  want to hurt you" She cackles as the sound of droning insects fill the air as a swarm of fat black wasps appear from behind the blonde girl engulfing her entirely, swirling around her like a chitinous maelstrom.

Ethan's eyes widen in shock and fear, as the memory of the night he fought Margarete Baker in the old greenhouse back in Louisiana rushes back to him the buzzing of her swarms the biting gnats and the horrifyingly large mosquitos in his mind mingles with the very real droning of the swarm enveloping the blonde girl, he steps back several paces and fires into the swarm, a splatter of green ichor, shattered chitin and wings burst from the swirling mass around the girl as the buckshot shreds the bugs but leaves her untouched.

It's fucking shielding her

Ethan pulls back the pump a red and brass shell case clatters and rolls on the wooden floorboards as he slowly retreats and fires again, once more to no effect, he turns to run just as the girl flies at him again howling wildly with laughter.

"Come back here Mr Gunslinger!" she tears after him levitating off the ground her swarm abates slightly but the bugs fly at Ethan, their stings biting into the back of his neck and flying in his face, he stops suddenly and lets out a cry of pain as her sickle catches him between the shoulder blades cutting into him thankfully only piercing his skin and hooking under it she violently pulls him back the skin and clothing tearing open, desperately fighting the pain as he feels her grab his left shoulder he stomps his right foot back as hard as he can onto her barefoot making her give out a short growl of pain and shock, loosening her grip enough for him to spin around and smash the butt of his shotgun into her face, she staggers backwards clutching her bloody broken nose closing her eyes and shaking her head and grunting with frustration stunning her long enough for him to run down the hall crashing through a door, slamming it behind and flinging a nearby cabinet down in front to form a barricade.

"Whatthefuckwhatthefuck..." Ethan gasps under his breath as he runs down the hallway sliding two shells from the old leather chest strapped bandolier into the breech and cocking his gun, he comes to a halt as he sees a cloud of insects fly in front of him those same black wasps and swarm around in a whirlwind at the end of the corridor, menacing and wicked laughter echoes at him and raises his gun.

"Stupid little man-thing... that hurt, just a little" The grinning face of the blonde emerges from the cloud of insects Ethan can only watch in horror as the wasps form a human body, he steps back and fires, nothing happens as the bugs take the shot, she twirls her sickle in her hand, cracks her broken nose back into place and growls, somehow managing to maintain his nerves he cocks his weapon and is about to fire again when she rushes at him covering the ground in a heartbeat and battering the shotguns muzzle away and slashing her sickle at him just as he fires Ethan screams as he raises his arm and lets the sickle embed itself in his forearm rather than his skull, she stops in her tracks her face turns fearful as the shell shatters glass and shreds a hole in the curtain a gust of ice cold wind and dim sunlight fills the corridor, he notices her wasps drop from the air and she shivered violently and growled "You rat!" She clumsily tears her blade from his arm and rushes him, he kicks her hard in the gut and barrels into her knocking her down as she screams bitterly at him.

"I'll kill you for this man-scum!" She screams as she attempts to pull herself up and continue her hunt, she might've weakened her but she will be fine in a few moments, she stares evilly at him as he runs down the corridor and turns. 

He has no idea what just happened, but he's still alive so that's a plus, he wasn't sure if it was the cold or the sunlight but that seems to stop them maybe if it really came to it he could kill them that way, he really didn't want to hurt anyone though, no matter if they're demonic bug witches or whatever. He sees two screaming maids run into a room ahead the door slamming in his face as he reaches it, throwing it open the two servant girls cower in the corner a younger mousey haired one steps forward in front of the weeping maid clutching her face.

"You must leave! GO!" she shouts shakily at him her lip trembling "Please leave this place I beg of you"

Ethan steps forward left hand raised "No! I can't leave, you gotta listen to me, I'm looking for my daughter my girl I can't leave without her!" the adrenaline and pain making him more aggressive then he intends to sound.

"NO!! JUST LEAVE" she screams "You'll get us and yourself killed!"

Ethan growls in frustration as the blood running down his arm, back and lip drips to the floor as rage fills him he scowls and raises his shotgun in a snarl at the girls his mind overwhelmed by rage, pain and annoyance at the girls non cooperation the weeping ginger girl gasps and squeals, the mousey haired one closes her eyes and her lips move wordlessly as if in prayer, already accepting of the coming gunshot.

"Where's my kid?" he growls spitefully.

What the fuck are you doing? this isn't you., threatening innocent, scared girls with a gun, what the fuck is wrong with you Ethan?

He thinks to himself sighing, he lowers the gun "I'm sorry look please I won't hurt you, I just real-"  a large black beetle drones in front of his face he instinctively waves it away him before coming to the realisation that someone stood behind him , his eyes open wide with fear as he turns around to find himself staring at another bloody faced girl, this girl had black long hair, a taller frame, blood red lips and a more slender face yet the same bloody, nightmarish grin.

"Well hello there Man-blood, threatening the help are we? Tsk tsk that's our job" she giggles as she grasps Ethan by his jacket her sharp nails digging into his flesh through his clothes and flinging him through the door sending him crashing into a small stone stand with a fine vase atop shattering it to pieces as well as bruising his side, he shouts in pain as he tries to get up his shotgun sent skittering across the polished floorboards away from his grasp, he pulls himself to his knees and looks up at the approaching raven haired girl, who draws a long slender blade from her belt.

"I haven't got to play with a man in a while!" she says enthusiastically flourishing her blade slashing the air in front of her, the polished steel flashes in front of her as she slowly stalks up to him "let me string you up, slice open your jugular and just...watch"  the prospect of bleeding Ethan clearly exciting her as her golden eyes flash with glee and murder.

"Fuck you!" Ethan pulls his Beretta from his thigh holster and fires two shots one misses but the other hits her chest making her stagger back with a gasp and a growl of annoyance, as a cloud of black beetles soon envelope her shielding her from any more incoming fire she leaps forward slashing her blade in cut that would've opened his throat if he hadn't thrown himself back and leapt to his feet, making for the shotgun while blindly firing three more rounds at her as he runs over and grabs his more formidable pump gun and fires four shells at her as fast as possible, swarm in front of  her splatters into goo allowing him a brief chance to fire at her, a chance he never has as she closes the distance and stabs the blade at his belly, Ethan barely guards against it as she slashes her nails at his face raking his cheek and making him stagger back.

"I saw him first Olga! he's mine!" A scream from his right makes him turn around just as the blonde girl levitates towards him at a terrifying speed, the idea of her prey being claimed by another causing her to discard her sickle and rushing him teeth bared and clawed nails at the ready.

She pounces on him wrapping her legs around Ethan's waist pushing him against a curtain as he desperately attempts to throw her off and keep her away from his throat, he attempts to grab her by the throat but she quickly just grabs his hand and pulls it towards her mouth.

"Just a taste..." she says with malicious wonder.

She sinks her teeth into his wrist and begins to lap her tongue and draw blood into her mouth, while her right hand clutches at the earlier wound she inflicted on Ethan's back, fingers digging into the wound blood oozes out from the gash, agony tears through him making him cry out and grunt as he attempts to pull his arm away, she suddenly pulls away and hisses loudly at the dark haired girl who was approaching the struggling pair.

"You always get first dibs! especially on the men and you don't even get to have some proper fun before you break them! Your so impatient Daniela, it's not fair!" "Olga" whined her voice sounding like a scolded brat, Ethan stares in horror as the girls bicker over who gets to eat him first but it buys him time.

"I said he's my kill! back off you can have him after I'm done!" she roars.

Olga frowns and mutters to herself "How does he taste at least, dear sister?" Olga inquires curiously.

"Absolutely divine, something I can't put my finger on..."

"Fucking eat this!" He bites out.

Seeing his chance he grabs her hair with his free hand and yanks it back hard before slamming his forehead into her face, she falls back her legs still clinging on as Ethan spins around putting her body between him and the other one, his balance however gives out and he falls back against the curtained window, the heavy dark cotton linen catches on him as he slides down the curtain rungs snap, the rail and curtain falls down.

Dim sunlight floods the corridor from the exposed large French window, Daniela covers her eyes and screams throwing herself off scampering away, Olga cries out too shielding her face and retreating back into the candlelit gloom away from the sun's rays, Ethan throws himself up and makes for the shotgun he dropped, before cursing loudly and crying out as a cloud of beetles harassed and bit at him Olga slowly pulled herself up still blinded by the dim sun and shielding her face. 

He starts to run and pulls out the old stick grenade from his belt hastily unscrewing the cap and pulling the nylon cord that unfurled itself from the handle's butt and with an underhanded toss towards Olga, as he grabs the shotgun by the sling and makes for the door panting heavily, just as he almost rounds the corner he chances a look behind him.

He sees Olga stand there her hands still rubbing her eyes clearly still blinded and supporting herself against the wall and sobbing in pain oblivious as the grenade rolls by her feet, he catches the one called Daniela leaping forward shielding her blinded sister with her body and a thick swarm of wasps knocking her away from the explosive as it detonates with a deafening crack, shrapnel slices the air tearing through Daniela's swarm, the concussive force alone bursts her insect shield into a cloud of ichor and chitin, the window and above chandelier shatter and paintings fall off the wall, a long shard of wood embeds itself in Ethan's left calf he falls down catching himself on his knee and hands

"Ah! God! Fuck!" he pulls himself up grabbing his pump gun, Ethan limps forward not even bothering to check his wound, far more concerned with fleeing the scene of his clash with those "witches" and hoping the grenade would do some damage, breaking into a limping run and slinging his shotgun on his shoulder burst through a rich pair of tall white and gold doors, into a beautiful well lit first floor of a grand hall, the richly decadent walls were wood panelled on the right side and overlooked the hall below a spiralling wooden staircase lead down to a white marble floored hall with a large roaring fire place and beautiful antique furniture set in front of it and a large rug, paintings and weapons lined the walls suits of polished plate armour were here and there set on or against the wall.   

She drank my blood... are they vampires or something? I gotta find Rosie now and get out of here, I don't even think I've met the Lady of the castle yet.

He pauses briefly to look down at his calf a trail of blood was behind him on the white and black marble floor, just as he leans against the elaborately carved darkwood banister railing to reach down to pull the splinter out of the wound the sound of buzzing insects and a bloodcurdling shriek of rage startles him, he unslings his shotgun but before he can raise it towards the sound and turn fully, another black clad hooded figure rushes him flying down the corridor that led off to his left, a paler skinned girl with blood red hair slams into him he felt a series of intense piercing pain jab into his side as she howls and stabs him in the side franticly with a small dagger before throwing him over the edge of the railing.  

Ethan lands on his front onto the hard, cool marble floor with a audible crack of his ribs once again breaking knocking the wind from his lungs, his vision blurred and dazed he tries to pull himself up to no avail, his left arm gives out as he realizes that his shoulder is dislocated, using his knees to bring himself up he turns around to see the redhead leaning over the bannister an expression that is a cross between a smirk and scowl on her face before she grins and pushes herself back with an echoing chuckle his shotgun likely still on the first floor he pulls out the pistol of his holster and brings himself to his feet groaning in absolutely agony, before raising his pistol up at the top of stairs and dumping half the magazine as he sees the redhead make her way from the top the stairs she ducks down giggling as the bullets slam into the wood panelling behind bursting small splinters from the varnished wood, the empty brass cases clinking against the marble floor.

"What terrible aim you have, Man-blood" she stands as a maelstrom of buzzing horseflies surrounds her shielding her from anymore incoming fire she slowly makes her way down the stairs humming to herself as she casually pulls a gold inlaid halberd from a rack full of medieval polearms nailed against the stair wall, and continuing her descent, taking her sweet time as Ethan loups away to a doorway at the far end of the hall shoving it open and closing it behind himself.

"Don't worry Man-blood, you won't get far I can wait, I'm a very patient girl" she mocks "besides, Mama's so mad with you little man, you woke up my little sister and hurt Dani and Olga, so I'll be right here waiting" her voice emanating from right outside the door, the sound of fingernails rapping against the wood went on for a few seconds, before she laughed and walked away from the door.

What is their game? Is their little sister Rosie? 

He gasps as his body is racked by pain and blood loss he stands at the door pistol raised for a few moments as he turns around to find a lit dining room with a long ebony wood table with a golden inlaid sigil of a flowers and crossed swords in the centre similar to ones he had seen here and there around the castle , silverware and crockery was set, four chairs are set around one end including one particularly large white cushioned and golden chair at the head of the table beside it was a white infants highchair with blue velvet cushions and small images of various animals painted over it, he paused to look at it for a moment.

At least there's definitely a baby here somewhere.

Ethan looks around and spies double doors at the other side of the room judging by sound of the wind coming from beyond it led outside perhaps he could find another through whatever courtyard or garden it led to? he staggers towards to it reaching into his pocket to pull out some of green dried herbs the crone gave him prior to his trip to the factory chewing it before swallowing with a heavy blood laden gulp, the earthy tasting herbs instantly rejuvenating him somewhat and complimenting his healing abilities which was already working overdrive, he places the pistol on the table briefly as he grabs his left arm takes in a deep breath and forces it back into place with a loud crunch and a cry of pain he bends over and tears the wooden splinter from his calf and bites his lip as he tears it out, rubbing herbs hastily onto his rapidly scabbing wounds within a day or two most will be little more than scars, that is if he makes it that long, he turns to pick up the pistol and rotates his left arm in its socket the anaesthetic properties from the herbs dulling his pain and giving him some strength to push on. 

"Okay, okay" he draws a deep breath once more as he reaches for the door handle pausing halfway as a heady aroma of roses, perfume and wine hits his nostrils he pauses to sniff the air, the intense rich smell was very pleasant and almost soothing in a way like one of those oil burners Mia was obsessed with back in college, it momentarily clouded his mind as both door handles turned down and clicked in front of him.

Ethan stepped back and raises his pistol, before both doors are flung open a howl of wind and a blade of cold air slices through him and the warm dining room he jumps back startled he slips on the marble floor landing on his ass.

Before him was a towering, voluptuous feminine figure wearing a long white silk dress, a large imposing brimmed black hat crowned her head, under which ebony curled hair spilled out to the base of her slender bejewelled neck, her skin was porcelain white and looked particularly soft and unblemished, her blood red full lips curled into a sneer as she looks down her straight noble nose at him her kohl lined golden eyes flaming brightly with rage and disgust, the features soften slightly and smirk spreads across the crimson lips as she looks down at him curiosity causing her to cock her brow.

"Well, Well if it isn't the intruder, I'm glad we finally meet" 

Ethan found himself torn between wanting to shoot at her, run or just stay there to admire her, he was drawn into her she mesmerised and captivated him, for the first time in months his thoughts turned from finding Rosemary, avenging Mia and survival to something more base and sexual he felt ashamed as he felt the prang of attraction hit him throwing him completely off focus for a few moments before he hesitantly brought his handgun to bear at her.

"No, no that won't do at all" she purrs as she tears the gun from his hand and flings it behind her outside "Much better, you've already caused enough of a ruckus with your weapons"

She brings her heel down onto his chest pinning him to the floor he gasps as the tall elegantly powerful woman pushes down on his already damaged ribcage grinding the heel into his sternum making Ethan squirm and gasp for air he clutches her shoe the cold black leather of the woman's high heel was slippery in his bloody, clammy hands, his fingers brushed the stockinged foot clamped on his chest, her soft warmth sent a tingle through him.

"You don't look like you're from the village no one there would be foolish enough to trespass on my estate, besides your far too handsome to be one of those ingrates no cleft lip or scarred faces"

"I-I can't breat-" Ethan struggled to get the words out

"Ah, a foreigner? American?" she said leaning down to get a better look at the squirming gasping man her lips parting in a devious smile "That makes sense, only a foreigner would dare come to my home, who sent you? are you here to steal from me? no your far too well armed for that, an assassin perhaps?" she presses down harder making him wheeze and choke "an assassin sent to kill me and my daughters? yes that sounds about right doesn't it little dove?"

"You shoot holes everywhere in my property, scare my maids half to death, you even blew up the west gallery worst of all you almost killed my poor Daniela" she takes her foot off allowing him a few seconds to breathe he gasps for air "do you know what I do to those who hurt my family? I'm sure you can imagine... Mr?..." she pauses allowing Ethan to speak.

"Win-Winters, it's Ethan Winters" the the lump in his throat making it difficult to talk, looking up at her his head swimming with a thousand emotions and thoughts at once "Who are you?" 

She laughs briefly "Whoever sent you, Mr Winters was either a fool or wanted to send you to your death, I am Lady Alcina Dimitrescu, Mistress of this castle" she smiles once more a deep predatory beaming glare lights up her face as she grasps him by the throat and raises him up to her eye level "let's take a proper look at you, my dear assassin".

Ethan clutches her wrist and kicks his feet wildly as he is raised up several feet off the floor to look her directly in the eye his pale blue eyes lock with her burning golden irises the small focused pupils search him up and down, she turns his head slightly each way "hmmm very nice" she brings him forward to take in his sent she sniffs deeply at his throat and jaw  "You reek of fear, blood and cordite a most wonderful mixture my little dove, you are a very fine specimen" she sets him down on his feet holding his back to support him while clasping his short blonde hair he could feel the sharpness of her claws beneath her gloves scratch his scalps as she yanked his head to the side and slowly moved down to sniff his sweat soaked grimy neck, her sheer height shadowed him and the glow of fireplace danced off her pale skin, she was utterly captivating to Ethan.

  "I do like my meals to look a bit more presentable" She wipes the grime and dried blood away from the side of his neck with a small handkerchief she pulled from her sleeve, "But I simply must have a taste, my little intruder..."

Oh shit, Ethan knew what was coming as she latched her mouth onto his neck her white teeth easily piercing his skin, Ethan screamed loudly, she began to draw blood from his wound greedily gulping down mouthfuls the strange sensation of blood being pulled from his veins was dizzying, bizarre and surprisingly not as painful as Ethan would've thought he grasped her biceps with each hand tightly, she moaned softly at the touch taking her off guard he left bloody smudges on here silken sleeves, the soft curls tickled his stubble and cheek dark spots danced across his vision and his legs felt weak he fell into her embrace as she released his hair and held his cheek as she slowly pulled back, blood ran down in small droplets from her lips and she started running her tongue across the wound making sure none of this would be assassin's precious lifeblood went to waste.

"What a rich and deep taste you have dear such a wonderfully sweet bouquet, you have a very unique flavour Mr Winters, I think I may just have to keep you for a while before I give you to my daughters, it would be a waste to see you get drained and torn apart in a single sitting, you should be enjoyed slowly like a fine vintage"

She grinned licking her lips and running her thumb over her chin before sucking the blood off.

Ethan's head was a confusing rush of arousal, terror and the blood loss, but a single sobering stark thought pierced the misty vale of his mind I will die here, I failed you Rosie I'm so sorry I wasn't strong enough.

"R-Rosemary, I'm sorry..." he groaned softly as the world grew dim and dark, even his regenerative abilities couldn't cope with the volume of blood drained from him he lost consciousness and flopped back eyes slowly closing and his breathing shallow, the last thing he sees is a sudden a flash of surprise and shock struck upon Lady Dimitrescu's beautiful face.

"What? How do you know my child's name?" she looked down at the unconscious blonde man in her arms, she sighed softly and looked up at her daughter Kassandra standing there.

"Did you really mean what you said about keeping him?" she frowned disappointment clear on her daughters face.

"Yes I did especially now, fetch the maids and take him to the dungeon to a clean cell with bedding and food, I will question Mr Ethan Winters once he is conscious and strong enough, if he was truly sent here to kill us my dear, then how would he not be given our names yet know Rosemary's?" she scoops him up in her arms and walks into the main hall laying him down on the lounge couch by the fire. 

"If any harm comes to him from you or you sisters, I will be most displeased do I make myself clear?" her brow furrows sternly

"Yes Mama" Kassandra replies curtly as she drifts off shouting for the servant girls.

What a most peculiar morning.

The noblewoman thinks to herself as she moves to climb the stairs heading to check on Olga and Daniela, and put her Little Rose back to bed after all the noise woke her up wailing and balling, looking back at the passed out stranger laying there on the couch as four maids rush out of a servants side door carrying rolls of bandages and begin binding his wounds and preparing to move him downstairs to the dungeon, she stares down at his handsome face one last time skin pale and clammy, before turning away to tend to her four daughters.

Chapter Text

"You're the type of guy that's lucky when he's unlucky if you catch my drift"  Chris hands him a beer and sits down lighting up a cigarette next to him  his brow beaded with sweat it was a warm summers day and Ethan and him had been running and sparring together, Chris had been training him in Judo and Krav Magra unarmed combat, he had often taken him out for firearms and tactical combat training he was a good shot , decent room clearing and stealthy when he needed to be, but like most civvies he panicked under duress, but he would always find someway to get around his nerves "Guys like me are born for this life, we live for this shit, you just stumbled into it and you got out alive with Mia, that's' Fate and that's really something"  they stand together on Ethan and Mia's porch.

Ethan had always maintained it was just for fun, so he could better protect his family, liked guns and it was good exercise but Chris knew it when he saw him in action that he liked it deep down, the rush of adrenaline and fear, he saw when Ethan could focus and put his mind to a goal he could achieve great things and manage to stay on top, the last few years had made the grizzled veteran superstitious almost, he recognized a lucky son of a bitch when he saw one.  

"Is this gonna lead to another preppy recruitment talk? I appreciate the faith you have in me Chris I do, but I just want to build our lives back together, I'm not cut out for monster hunting or whatever it is you really do" Ethan sighs smiling as he watches Mia pull up to their drive, he stands up and moves to help his wife with the groceries.

"It wasn't going to, just sometimes the monsters end up finding you" Chris replied standing up " It was just something I want you to think about, I should get going I shouldn't smoke around Mia" he slaps Ethan's shoulder "Catch you tomorrow for more training?"

"Sure thing, I'll catch you later dude"   

Ethan awoke to darkness he lay staring through the black above him at at the vaulted stone ceiling letting his eyes somewhat adjust to the dark he was bathed in , he pushed down the thick woollen blankets and sat up the wooden cot it creaked as pulled himself out of it, clutching the dark as he shuffled towards the outline of a wooden table, making out a candle and a small matchbox set beside it, he struck a match lighting up the room in a small, bright orange glow, which grew chasing away the blackness of his cell when he touched the flame to the wick of the candle.

The stone cell was small and barebones with a small cot set against the wall, a wooden table with a washbasin and a tin bowl with hard bread in it, several buckets two of which was full of water, iron bars and a thick wood and iron door caged him in, the whole place smelt of dust, mould and copper, Ethan caught a whiff of himself and screwed up his nose, looking down to inspecting his battered body by candlelight, he lifted his bloody, ragged, sweat soaked shirt and saw clean bandages wrapped around his bruised flesh, his wrist was also bound with linen

They clearly wanted him alive still.

Ethan reached up and touched the burning wound at his neck, his wounds had healed and were for the most part painless despite the general aching he felt all over, all aside from his neck wound which was hot and tingled slightly under the bandage bound around his neck, he gently traced his fingers over the clean linen thoughtfully.

Her scent flooded back to him, remembering the feeling of her soft, red lips brushing his flesh before the piercing agony of her teeth sinking into him, her immense height towering over him how he came barely to her hips when she held him close, the noticeable cut of her silken dress and her full enticing bust and the fiery golden eyes, the memory of Lady Dimitrescu sent a shiver down his spine, how Ethan wished that it was just fear and loathing he felt.

He washed his face and drank some water before attempting to eat some of the bread, it was unbearably tough and grainy and Ethan gave up after several forced bites flinging the crust away in frustration, he walked over to the door and tried his luck pushing and attempting to find something to pick the lock like Chris taught him to, he gave up when realizing he had nothing that would likely work with the heavy, old medieval lock, he peered out into the hallway on the other side, to find nothing that would aid him there, he ran his hands through his greasy, gore crusted hair and sat down with a heavy sigh on the cot.

With his basic needs somewhat sated and any chance of a way out unlikely the reality of his predicament set in and utter hopelessness washed over him, he was trapped in a dungeon in the underbelly of some Godforsaken castle by super human predators who will likely torture and murder him.

He wasn't like Chris or Zoey or Mia, he wasn't brave he was terrified of this type of shit he was a normal guy, he wasn't some badass ex military and STARS member like Chris or some secret bio criminal agent like Mia was, but that fear made him strong at times, he was scared back in Louisiana and at that vast factory full of death and monsters, he's always been scared.

He didn't even have the pictures of Rosie and MIa or the family albums on his phone to comfort him just his easily hijacked thoughts, every memory of his family he had was tainted by tragedy and disaster, his pictures of Mia holding Rosie and Rosemary herself at three months old were the only thing he had, he couldn't remember Rosemary's cries without picturing Chris taking her, he couldn't even remember Mia's smile without seeing it all turn into blood and her lifeless dead eyes looking back at him it got even worse when her dead pale, lips began to speak in his dreams blaming him, her eyes turning black and her teeth yellowing, black veins appearing under her skin.

"It should've been you Ethan, why did I have to die? Why do you have to leave again? Jack was right I really don't know what I saw in you, I was better off with Evie than I ever was with you"

His eyes welled up with tears and he laid back down, covering his face with his hands as he wept in the gloomy small cell occasionally sobbing out Mia or Rosie's name, his mind attempting to think of happy thoughts each time he found one it was dashed by tragedy, alone, hopeless and afraid in that dark, dingy cell he wished he was dead already.

"It should've been me..." He chokes on his tears and mucus "It should've been me, I'm so fucking sorry Mia"

Alone, afraid and devoid of hope, Ethan Winters cried himself to sleep that afternoon.

The candle had burned halfway down when three dark shapes materialised in his cell in a swirl of insects and black mist, the rush of air, demented giggling and buzzing of hundreds of wings threw Ethan out of his slumber, fear and survival chased away his sorrow filled fatigue.

"Fuck!" his tear stained eyes flashing awake as he threw himself out of the bed looking around panic stricken as the three dark figures stalked towards him, the dark haired one was closest, she flashed her long sharp slender blade at him making him flinch and step back tripping on the cot and falling back down onto the mattress.

"Good Evening, Mr Winters" they said in unison, the three girls stood around him all staring at him eyes glowing in a hungry, malicious glee.

The blonde one's eyes looked especially terrifying as she stared him down, while her sisters grinned at him she sneered, mouth twisted in sheer contempt. 

"He's finally awake, dear sisters" Olga said leaning down to look at him, her grin spreading "Not so brave without your guns now are we Mr Winters?" the point of her blade touched Ethan's Adams apple and the cold steel made him shiver. 

"I'd say he's absolutely terrified" Kassandra said as she took her place next to her dark haired sibling, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving Ethan a mocking smile and sniffing the air "Fear makes the blood sweeter"

Ethan clenched his jaw and returned their glares with a look of defiance attempting to appear brave, his blood ran cold when he locked eyes with Daniela.

"Who the hell even are you guys?" He inquires, trying to hold back the nerves.

"Ah right, I suppose we never did get properly acquainted." The redhead giggles "I'm Kassandra, my lovely sister pointing a sword at you is Olga" She gestures over to the glowering blonde "And that's the charming Daniela, she really wants to kill you, I mean we kind of all do but she's the one who spent most of the following two days pulling splinters out of her ass and lying in bed drinking Mama's medicine, so it's quite understandable."

"Shut up!" Daniela snaps

"Dani always likes to hold a grudge" Olga chimes in "Either way it was a delight to meet you, really appreciated getting shot in the chest and you throwing a grenade at me by the way, thanks for that" Olga replies sarcastically 

 "I want to kill him" Daniela growled her eyes glowed with a bloodthirsty fury, she looked like she wanted nothing more than to leap over and tear him to pieces "I want kill him slowly, I want him to watch as I pull out his guts and make him eat them, I want to put out his eyes..." She floated menacingly towards the cot, Ethan's fists balled up ready to ward off any attack.

"Dani, No!" Kassandra flew between her and her prey "Mama said we are to be good girls and bring him to her, she would be so mad if we kill him, remember last time you disobeyed her? We all wanna kill him but Mama must give us permission" 

"Your such a goody two shoes Kass" Daniela retorted and sighed glowering at Ethan as she stepped back "I'll get the door I guess..." She muttered something about boxing her sisters ears darkly under her breath as she unlocked the cell with a large iron key.

"Look I'm sorry for everything, for trespassing and hurting you guys I just came here to find someone, that's all" Ethan pleas "As soon as I get answers I'll be gone"

"Who are you looking for?" Olga asks her grin dropping and her face showing genuine curiosity.

"Mama will answer your questions, it's not our place to do so, we're only here to take you to her" Kassandra butts in before Ethan can reply "As for you leaving, well it's far too late for that methinks"   

"Come along Ethan Winters, before Dani gets grumpy again and guts you!" Olga cackled as she floated back and grabbed Ethan's foot and violently yanked him out of bed, he fell onto his back with a gasp.

"H-hey! I can walk!" He cried out attempting to reach down to peel her clawed gloved hand off his boot.

Kassandra loomed over him and giggled "Too slow! Our way is more fun!" 

Ethan didn't even have time to scream before he was being dragged at a terrifying speed through the cell and out into the hall, he attempted to grasp the iron bars but they slipped in his grip, all he could do was cry out and shield his skull with his hands and arms as he banged and bounded across the hall and up the rough stone stairs, the other two girls flanked him flying through the halls and corridors beside him, laughing at Ethan's misery as his back, forearms and hands are grazed, burned and battered along the marble and wooden floors.

Ethan almost blacked out after being dragged up the fifth flight of stairs he counted so far, before being violently flung across the hall, crashing into the wall opposite the stairs he was dragged up, agony shot up his body and he groaned, attempting to pull himself up and leaning on the wall for support, gasping for air and reprieve.

"Still conscious are we?" Olga giggled

"Shame I was hoping that would kill him" Daniela sneered grabbing Ethan and pulling him up, pinning him against the wall, her hate filled features inches away from him, before letting go and drifting back

"As soon as Mama says the word, and she will Mr Winters, I will tear your throat out and savour your agony as I watch you die, it's going to be delicious" Daniela smiled wickedly.

"Yes, yes very scary Dani" Kassandra rolled her eyes as she opened the large white double doors "Stop scaring him, I doubt Mama wants him too petrified to speak"

"This way" Kassandra gestures for him to enter the room beyond the open doors.

Ethan approached the doorway as he walked he was violently shoved into the room by Olga who grabbed his arm and pulled him through towards the centre of a large darkened room lit solely by a large crackling fireplace, it was well furnished, decorated and warm, much more pleasant than his dreary, draughty cell but the shadows hung heavy around the edges of the fires glow casting the majority of the room in darkness.

That's when the smell struck him.

Her scent.

"He's here Mama" 

"Good girl Olga sweetie, I trust Daniela was behaved?" A maternal but commanding voice spoke from the corner of the room behind Ethan, he froze in place the hairs on his neck stood up and goose bumps ran down his flesh, afraid to turn around lest she have the same bewitching effect on him as last time, Ethan preferred being just scared to whatever that woman made him feel when he felt her eyes lock onto him.

"As well as she can be Mama, I mean she didn't kill him anyways" she replies to her mother sweetly.

"Good, but please do be more careful with potential stock in the future, you forget they can bruise and bleed so easily, and you know how I can be around a fresh bloody cut"

"Yes, Mother I'm sorry"

Potential "stock" what the hell does that mean?

"You may leave us now, my dear" she brings an ivory and gold cigarette holder to her lips and pulls in a lungful of smoke as she stares out the open curtained window her superhuman eyes peering through the night and the heavy rain that pattered and raced down the glass, the orange glow of the cigarette reflects off the pane as she smokes.

"Yes Mama" Olga gives Ethan one last menacing smile and floats off to the door, closing it behind herself.

"Good evening Mr Winters, I trust you rested well?" He hears the heavy click of her heels against the polished floorboards as she stalks towards him, making him flinch "It is polite to at least look at the person whom is speaking to you, Mr Winters"

Turning to face her, Ethan attempts to act brave to show some sort of willpower, he fails as soon as he sees her walking towards him.

She wore a silver silken dress with the same revealing cut as before with the black flower at her breast, a wine red wide brimmed hat made her already vast stature more intimidating to behold, her jewels and pearls bound around her neck winked fire back at him. 

God she's gotta be at least over 9 foot tall he thinks to himself, and she's so... beautiful, his confusing attraction to her made him uncomfortable to say the least, it made him honestly horrified at times, why was she so appealing? 

Aside from the obvious attractive elegant, strong face, the full cleavage, her curvy full tall frame and rather charismatic and confident aura, she was a predatory monster who had taken Ethan's child, perhaps even had Mia killed potentially, her taste for human blood and her inhuman strength all made it clear to him she was far from human, his bite tingled as if to reinforce the point

The only difference between her and Jack Baker is a pair of tits pull your fucking self together, Mia's body isn't even fucking cold yet.

But yet how he wanted to be held by her again, how her warm, strong embrace when she held him after she fed and  flopped down into her waiting arms was like floating on a cloud to his weary blood deprived mind, how her smile was absolutely perfect and enticing to him, the beautiful red lips, the flat white teeth, her she was powerful, sensual, wonderful and terrifying to behold all at once, he felt unworthy at times to look at her, he could easily see how she had cowed the village for so long.       

Pale, icy blue eyes met her golden, burning ones which seemed to light up even more fiercely when she looked down at him, her elegant features had that same glare of stern superiority to them however her lips wasn't curled in rage and disgust like before, but a knowing, neutral look of authority tinged with slight curiosity, she stopped a few feet in front of him and began to slowly circle him studying him up and down.

He felt like he was just thrown in a cage with a hungry tiger. 

Ethan idly thought about how soft those lips were when they touched his neck and how they would feel pressed against his own lips...

He clears his throat "I rested well enough, thank you ma'am" His voice wavering slightly, attempting to be cordial.

She tuts and rolls her eyes "Thank you My Lady"  She corrects him from behind, evidently slightly annoyed at this strangers lack of manners "If you wish to address me again you will do so as My Lady, Your Ladyship or Lady Dimitrescu, do I make myself clear? " she takes another elegant pull of her cigarette "Blood and titles mean something around here Mr Winters, and good manners and decorum never go amiss"

"Apologies My Lady"  Using such a formality was strange to Ethan, the archaic title fell out his mouth clumsily.

"Good man" He felt her get close and her clawed leather bound fingertips brush over his shoulder, making him shiver she clearly noticed this as she let out a chuckle from between her soft red lips, along with a stream of smoke, she leans down and softly sniffs his nape, taking in his smell of sweat, blood, dirt and gunfire residue she clearly liked it, for whatever strange reason, to Ethan he smelt revolting considering his last real shower was a week ago in a dingy motel room on the side of the last stretch of somewhat inhabited and drivable road before it became all dirt tracks and old, crumbling roads built way back in Soviet times.

"Hmm now, let's get to the meat of the matter shall we Mr Winters?" She walks towards a large, elegant red velvet lined golden couch in front of the fireplace with a beautifully carved low coffee table between the couch and a single armchair that had a white linen sheet thrown over it, she takes a seat on the couch and taps her cigarette holders stem on a large crystal ashtray set on a stand beside her. 

"Sit if you would be so kind" She gestures for him to take a seat at the armchair the linen thrown over it made him incredibly nervous it was clearly there to prevent his blood from staining the antique furniture, also likely to soak it up for later consumption.  

How thoughtful of them.

The table was set with two wine glasses one being more like a large crystal and silver chalice, a dark, corked bottle inlaid with beautiful silver flowering details, he sees the flames reflect of another mirrored surface on the table as sits down, his phone with his pictures of Rosemary and Mia beside it as well as the strange bird skull talisman the old woman gave him.

"How do you find my home?" She looks dangerously alluring as she leans back, her free arm casually draped along the top of the couch and her hand holding the cigarette holder hung over the ashtray, her legs crossing under her dress.

Ethan wonders exactly how long those legs must be, how shapely they were and what it would be like to be between them...

He throws the tantalising thought out of his head.

"It's beautiful My Lady, truly" Apart from that God awful dungeon he thinks to himself. 

"I'm glad you like it, the servants work diligently making it so, I am very proud of it, my daughters and my home mean the world to me Mr Winters, more than anything so when an armed stranger breaks in, destroys my property, harms my daughters and has pictures of one of them I understandably get quite concerned for my daughters and castle's wellbeing, as you can imagine Mr Winters normally intruders like you would have been dealt with by now" She takes another pull on the cigarette holder, her lipstick leaving crimson marks on the ivory mouthpiece "Most violently" she adds. 

"But you intrigue me, tell me why would a foreigner come here looking for Rosemary?" She brings her arm around and pushes the pictures across the table towards him she pulls back her hand across the table top as she does so long, metallic claws begin to slowly extend themselves out of her fingertips, the polished blades glint in the firelight and leave thin scratches across the tables veneer, the wicked spearpoints begin to tap rhythmically.  

Ethan's eyes widen and he clenches his jaw, hands gripping tightly on the chairs armrests. 

"And do not, think for one second that you can lie to me" She says sternly her tone that of an angry mother, eyes flashing malice and threat,

"S-she's my daughter, My Lady that's why I'm here, to find her" He replies eyes never leaving those gleaming blades. 

Her features harden and she leans closer, he gulps down his fear.

"I'm afraid you must be mistaken Mr Winters" She blows smoke gently away from their faces "Or you are just lying in an attempt to stay alive, which would be most unwise" Her index claw moves under the twine necklace of the strange pendant and lifts it up.

"Did she give you this and the photos?" She scowls at him.

"Wait, the old woman?!" He blurts wondering what she has to do with this. 

She stares at him for a moment as if waiting for something.

"I'm sorry My Lady, the old woman?" He realizes his mistake, she really takes the whole title thing seriously.

She smiles clearly sated by his redressal "Much better, Yes Mr Winters the crone, did she send you here?"

"Yes, but she was just helping me in the right direction My Lady, I'm not working for her if that's what you're get-" 

Lady Dimitrescu screws up her nose and growls, the inhuman sound rumbling from her diaphragm startled Ethan.

"Helping you?!? " She scoffs "She helps no one but herself, if you truly weren't sent here to take Rosemary on her orders then you're nothing but a pawn in her vicious little games"

"Did she tell you this would protect you?" She holds up the skull pendent before tossing it into the fire, and muttering something under her breath in a language Ethan did not understand, it sounded almost like Latin or something like a priest would say at Mass.

The bird skull crackled and popped in the fire "That was given to you as a warning to me, and it very nearly sealed your death warrant when I found it on your person" Her lip quivers in anger "I won't have her filthy blood magics in my home, Mr Winters, she is not the frail old hag she seems"  

"Then what is she Your Ladyship?" He inquires glad her ire was focused on someone else for a second.

"You don't need to know Mr Winters, there are some things you would neither understand nor comprehend" Her claws return to the table pointing towards the pictures "How did you lose your child? Where is the mother? I assume this is her in the photo?"

"She's dead, she was murdered by the man who took Rosemary and brought her here, I've been tracking them for weeks and all the clues led me to here, I am not mistaken Your Ladyship, on the back there's writing, it should say "My Girls and My World, 2020 x"" Ethan musters the courage to stare her in the eyes, his face honest and determined 

The tall noblewoman sighs her eyelids shut momentarily, the black eyeshadow covering the gold of her irises.

"I am sorry for your loss" Her sincere tone takes him off guard "I truly am, grief does terrible things to one's mind, it clouds the judgment, my heart aches for any parent who loses their child and spouse" Her eyes flash open the fire within them softening becoming almost soothing molten pools that Ethan felt entranced by, his pulse slowed down and the fear he held inside his chest abated.

Why would she feel bad for me? 

Her soft genuine voice was soothing and full of care "But you are mistaken Mr Winters, if you so wish I could help you in anyway I can, did they perhaps demand a ransom? Children are taken all the time for many insidious reasons, I could help with that..." she said somewhat uncertainly almost as if what Ethan had already said made sense.

"I can show you more pictures and videos on my phone My Lady, just press the button on the side she's my wallpaper" Ethan interrupts carefully 

"On the side? I can never properly work these things you see, I'm an old fashioned Lady" She picks up his cell phone and moves it around in her hands curiously, fiddling with the volume buttons.

"Blasted things..." She grumbles before pressing on the other side and the open button.

The screens lighting flashed a white, warm electronic light, his phone had to have been the most modern thing in the castle, Ethan had noticed a few vintage turn of the century style lamps and phones white cables leading to ancient looking golden plug sockets here and there mostly in the lower levels, for the most part the castle was lit by oil lamps, fireplaces and candles, and given Olga and Daniela's reaction to the Sun, he doubted any natural light was allowed in, he didn't think the sunlight bothered Lady Dimitrescu much as she had waited to ambush him in the courtyard.

The screen lit up her face as she looked down and casted a shadow in the gloom as she held it closer to her face, unfamiliarity with such devices clear, but given her expression she instantly recognized Mia holding Rosemary with Ethan leaning down to kiss Mia's head she wore a beautiful white wedding dress and Ethan wore a grey three piece suit, Rosie was swaddled in white and blue blankets, their faces beaming with joy, aside from Rosie's who was red in the face frozen in mid wail.

"It was taken when we renewed our vows two weeks before she was taken, My Lady, she cried the whole time" 

She stares down at the screen her pupils focusing in on Rosemary with a soft slight purr of adoration, smiling lovingly at the picture. 

"No, My Lady my daughter is here in this castle you must have her if you recognize her from the pictures, it can't be coincidental"

His face was straight and determined, "I bet my life on it, I wouldn't be here otherwise My Lady"

She lays the phone down, "A suitably high gamble for a high stake" She picks up the wine and retracts all but one of her claws, she uses her pinkie claw to extract the cork and sets it down pouring a glass for herself and Ethan, pushing the smaller glass towards him which he reaches out for, eager for something to help calm his nerves.

"Let it breathe a while before drinking Mr Winters it is an expectational vintage" She swirls her own chalice in front of her the thick, wine leaving a red sheen on the inside of her glass.

"I can accept that Rosemary may be your biological child, but she is also my daughter, custom dictates she is now my child" 

"What!? My Lady just because you had her brought to you by her kidnapper she's now yours!?" His tone is raised and aggressive his brow furrowed, and the prang of fear came back to him realising he may have overstepped the mark, although his determination overrode that this time.

"Your wife's killer most certainly did not come to me, you are the only man who has set foot in this castle for two years, aside from relations, I found Rosemary outside the walls on my lands, and moderate your tone when addressing me Mr Winters, I am being most civil with you I expect it in kind" The last words were cut with matriarchal sternness.

"I'm sorry My Lady" He looks down at his glass

She pearly white teeth show as she smiles "It is quite alright, from one hot headed parent to another I understand your impatience with me, but I'm afraid Rosemary's founding is something you won't be privy to, the less you honestly know the better," she brings her chalice up to her nose and inhales while delicately swirling the wine in the glass, she sips it clearly enjoying the taste intently, Ethan follows suit.

He regrets it instantly as a familiar strong mineral, coppery taste combined with the sweet and delicate flavour of the grapes hits his tongue.

Blood, they put blood in the wine, of course they do...

He screws his face up and almost spits it out, but not wishing to offend his already on edge hostess he swallows reluctantly with a gulp.

"Ah, perhaps I should've brought another bottle for yourself, although truth be told I didn't expect to actually share a glass with you, honestly I imagined killing or at least carting you back off to the dungeons by now" She grins and drains another larger mouthful of wine, and swallows it slowly.

"I-it's fine" Her honesty about having him killed or tortured made him nervously smile.

"Why does custom dictate she is yours?"

Lady Dimitrescu sets her glass down and stands up her height towering over him once again as she walks towards the gramophone set on a stand on the other end of the room, pulling out the attached drawer on the stand and flicking through the vinyl records.

"It is an old law, going back to ancient times, if a child is found alone on a noble's estate they have every right to take that child in as their ward or servant, my daughters are all foundlings and orphans I have taken into my care, as you can imagine my condition doesn't allow me to bear a child naturally, Lord knows in the past I've tried but..." She trails off sadly her eyes closing softly, the lovely  porcelain face perks up as she stops flicking through the vinyl sleeves. 

"Ah! Chopin! perfect" She pulls out a sleeve and removes the disk setting it on the turntable and gently placing the needle onto the disk as it spins slowly, soft piano music begins to fill the room.

"May I see her My Lady?" Ethan inquires "I haven't seen her in months"

She hesitates mid sip and puts the glass down "No, Mr Winters you may not" She spins around on her heels and walks back over to the couch, sitting down opposite him staring him down as she reaches for her glass "She's been most boisterous since your arrival and I've only just got the little lamb to go back to sleep at a decent time of night"

Ethan's mouth hangs open, hot, burning anger rising inside him at being denied the only thing he has left, the thing he was willing to risk so very much for.

"It would be best if you do not see her and leave, it will only make the pain worse and I can't risk you doing something rash she is happy, well fed and content I make this my promise to you she will never want for anything or be in danger, I love her with every fibre of my being" She takes a sip of her wine "If you so wish you may leave tonight or tomorrow morning, I would recommend tonight however, I can lead you out of the valley in safety, give you any money yo..." 

He is still willing to risk his life for her.

He throws himself to his feet "I am not going back empty handed!" He roars, hair standing on end fists balling up and intently staring at her, rage boiling inside him "No amount of threats, money or demands can make me, I trust you do love her, but she is my flesh and blood, I'm willing to die for her, give me to your fucking psycho daughters if you wish, let your Daniela torture me to death, fucking bottle every drop of my blood up for all I care!" Ethan notices her eye twitch slightly and her brow furrowing in anger.

"Either I see her or you kill me, if you throw me out I will find a way in even if I have to kil-!" He barely has time to gasp or react when she grabs him by his throat and lifts him over the table.

Her golden eyes brimming with rage again at this impertinent little man who just so rudely insulted her daughters and dared to threaten her life, lips twisted in a sneer "Or you'll kill me?" She cocks her head to the side as she holds him up at eye level "I would very much doubt you could Mr Winters" her grip tightens.

"S-she's a-all I have l-eft, I-I will gah do a-any-thing" He manages to choke the words out his arms by his side not even attempting to fight back or loosen her vice like grip.

She pouts angrily at him and drops him back onto the chair, her lips drew together tightly before giving a slight smile at Ethan as she bends down and picks up her dropped glass that was kicked to the floor by Ethan's swinging legs and refills it taking a hearty mouthful before looking back down at Ethan who was drawing heavy breaths and massaging his throat, staring up at her defiantly.

"You are either a very brave man or an utter fool, Mr Winters" She promptly says and sits back down.

"It's interchangeable Your Ladyship" He croaks out almost reaching for his wine glass to soothe his throat before remembering it's contents.

She laughs out loud, her rather charming laugh echoes in the room and almost drowns out the record still playing gentle piano notes in the background.

"They often are" She sighs as she softly smiles at him

"No wonder my brother struggled with you at his stinking old factory, Mr Winters"

Ethan sits back up straight shocked  "Wait, that Heisenberg or whatever is your brother? You know about that?"

"News travels fast around here it has been five days since your little incursion into my castle, after all Mr Winters" She replies, placing the glass down.

"Five days My Lady?" No wonder he was wracked by hunger and smelled repulsive, vague, fever dreams of maids fussing him over cleaning and redressing his wounds by lamplight and remarking at how fast his wounds had healed, and a tall white silhouette standing over him as he slept and writhed around in pain, came to him.

"Yes, you caused quite the head ache in the village and factory for my dearest brother, you did gun down twenty-eight of his little flea ridden pack, not to mention my brother being almost burned alive and crushed, don't worry it serves him right we really don't see eye to eye these days Mr Winters" She assures him

"Plus while I dislike those sheep down at the village in their little hovels, they are my main source of... produce and my recruiting pool for my help, I can't have them all torn apart by those beasts, you saved them for that you have my thanks, Mr Winters"

"Produce?!?" He gasps appalled by her utter disregard to their lives "Are they just food for you My Lady? They're human beings for fucks sake!" 

"And superstitious fools, in the past Mr Winters me and my daughters used to attack the village take who we want, these days we sustain ourselves by taking what we need when we can but we don't fecklessly murder and butcher the peasants, I regret our heavy handed approach in the past, I did things most questionable, that's how I came across my darling Olga" 

"Besides we make a lot of money through the production of our wines, the soil on the eastern slopes is magnificent for grape cultivation and wonderfully fertile, legend tells of a great battle fought between my forebears and the invading Ottomans in 1492 the spilt blood left the ground fertile to this day such was the slaughter Duke Vladimir II Dimitrescu brought upon the invaders, of course we take a small amount of blood from the maids, and pay the villagers for donations for the actual wine and for what we need, they grumble and call it "witchcraft", yet happily accept my money and send their daughters to me for employment" She sneers and chuckles. 

"My daughters can be overzealous but a hunt is good for them from time to time" She smiles wickedly.

"Oh how you should've seen how happy Olga was to find out we had a dangerous intruder, She does love to fight" she reclines back and looks at Ethan, before sighing "But I digress" 

"Look here, I respect you Mr Winters, you have a fire in your heart despite your obvious terror, especially when it comes to family it seems, I find that most endearing and relatable, Heavens the only reason I haven't killed you for hurting my daughters is for that very reason, I understand better than most what a parent will do for their child, but how can I trust you? "

"If you'll let me see my daughter I will do anything you wish, My Lady I stand by what I said it all depends on me seeing my Rose again." 

She turns her head looks at the fire for a while in contemplation.

"If I let you stay, Mr Winters and see her you must prove your loyalties, do they lie with my daughter or with someone else?" Her Ladyship continues to stare into the flames longingly, she looked as if in deep thought "My enemies have used you against me unwitting as you seem to be, but I can't blame a determined man for being duped and doing what he must to survive." 

She turns back to him.

"I will do anything for her, no matter what My Lady" Ethan won't back down from this.

They stare into each others eyes for some time she gives him a warm stare of admiration and something else that sends a warmth that spreads from his chest throughout his body, Ethan smiles back "I will do whatever it takes for her" She returns it with a strange warm glow that softly flashes in her her eyes, she bites the corner of her lip slightly and flashes a playful smile, the look sends a smouldering effect inside Ethan blood rushes through his body, and his heart hammers in his recently healed ribcage.

"Very well, on your head be it, Mr Winters" She suddenly stands up straight, Ethan's neck cranes quickly upwards to maintain eye contact.

"You may take your cellular telephone and pictures"

"Cellular telephone My Lady?" Ethan says playfully, feeling slightly more at ease around the noblewoman "just call it a cell phone, My Lady"

She smiles back at "I'm sure theres much you can teach me about the outside world Mr Winters, I look most forward to it"

She sniffs the air and huffs

"As appealing as I find a man in duress's musk and the smell of blood, you do reek like an abattoir, and your clothes are filthy and ragged, I can imagine you are famished too" She turns to pick up a small silver bell from beside the couch, it chimes as she shakes it daintily, the single brown door to their left opens immediately, and a maid who Ethan recognizes as the mousey haired maid he snapped at and raised his gun to walks out head bowed and her hands carrying a bucket and mop.

She looks up her eye face not wishing to look her terrifying mistress in the eye instead staring at the flames.

"Yes, Lady Dimitrescu?" Her grey eyes widen slightly and she looks shocked briefly to see Ethan still sitting there alive, she panics and puts down the mop and empty bucket full of rags.

"I-I'm sorry Your Ladyship, I assumed tha-" She stammers. 

"It's quite alright girl" She chuckles as her maid flusters "Now escort Mr Winters here to the servants quarters, make the old valet's room available for him and get him fed and bathed."

"Yes My Lady" She picks up the mop and bucket and walks of to open the door she came from up inviting Ethan in "This way sir"

Ethan stands up still continuing to stare up at this imposing yet seemingly merciful "monster", he felt completely different about her now, she showed compassion even if she had a short temper, was uptight as hell and had little patience, but she clearly cared for Rosemary and even seemed to like Ethan.

She seemed to like him a lot judging by the fiery look she gave him as he went by grabbing his items from the table, he awkwardly bows his head unsure of the protocol for such things, she nods her back warmly as she reaches for a golden cigarette case and pulls one out "Oh and Mr Winters? I would avoid Daniela for a while if I was you, I trust my Kassie and Olga, but Dani is hard to control at times Mr Winters, I'm sure she'll behave however.

"I'll bear that in mind, thank you My Lady you won't regret this" 

"Please don't make me, good night Mr Winters" she waves her dismissive hand playfully and turns her face to the fire as he walks out of the room.

She reaches over and takes up his full glass and drains it in two gulps and sighs.

Please don't make me regret this Ethan Winters.

Ethan was led to the servants side of the castle, walking through green painted halls lit by candles and lamps and heading back down stairs, Ana, the maid held out an oil lamp, when he reached the maids quarters he saw they all slept in one large dormitory, most of the thirteen young girls were asleep tucked up in wooden cots wrapped in blankets, he was led to a room at the end of the hall with a bed against the corner of the room, and a vanity with a shaving bowl set, a bedpan and a dresser and wardrobe.

The fireplace was cold and the room dark.

"Apologises sir, I had no idea that you would be staying with us" She looked down and scurried over to the fire place and began to light the firewood and kindling with a match.

"It's fine, hey look about what happened with the gun" she turns to look him in the face as the fire begins to crackle and glow behind her.

"You don't need to say sorry sir, it is what it was sir"

"Don't act like it was okay, it wasn't I'm not like that" He pleas.

"It's okay Mr Winters sir, this place makes people wicked, you should not have come here still sir" She looks at him sorrowfully "This place is filled with nothing but blood and death, I'll get you some soup and set your bath sir" she turns and leaves abruptly. 

Ethan stares at where she stood for a few moments mouth hanging open.

Blood and Death.

Ethan eats a hot rabbit and potato broth from the servants kitchen Ana meekly assured him it was blood free as she set down the tray with the food and a jug of milk on it, as he sits on the bed awaiting his bath leaning against the wall greedily devouring down mouthfuls of the ceramic bowl's steaming contents and chugging down the milk.

"Your bath is ready Mr Winters, when you are ready sir in the room next to, I left towels and clean clothes on the side sir, will you require anything else sir?" She bows.

"No, thanks I'm good" He smiles at her "Good night Ana" He nods.

"Goodnight sir, thank you sir" She bows and leaves.

Poor frightened girl.

Ethan's mind is tired from being emotionally overwhelmed the thought of seeing Rosie again filled him with some hope, although he dreaded what Lady Dimitrescu might have in store for him.

He opened the bathroom door and walked into the well lit plain room with a steaming plain tin tub set in the middle, he peels off his clothes and removes most the bandages inspecting each wound in the wooden vanity mirror, most had healed being little more than healing scars and fading red scabs and lines, Lady Dimitrescu's bite however struck him as particularly curious, as it was just a perfect, red flat imprint of her teeth, almost delicate compared to the savage mauling Daniela gave his wrist. 

He bathed quickly, the warm waters soothing him and the filth finally fell away from his body, making the soapy warm water grimy and bloody.

He left after washing himself down completely using a bar of soap and a plain jar labelled shampoo to scrub away at his gory, greasy lank hair, he pulled himself out of the large and frankly uncomfortable tub, drying himself down heading to his room, carrying his clean clothes that had been set aside, using a candle lamp he he navigated his way back to his small, now very warm cosy plain room and settled in he pulled on the plain brown trousers and button up and woollen jumper the maid gave him. 

He couldn't sleep for a while his mind wrestling with his predicament.

He had very good idea what she wanted in exchange for contact with Rosemary, and his flesh crawled and quivered at the thought of her bite and the blood tithe he owed her.

I would do anything for Rosie, even if I have to become a human blood bank.

He began to slowly close his eyes and drift for the first time, he had pleasant dreams.

Dreams of Rosemary and Her Ladyship.

Now that was new. 

Chapter Text

"As the midnight moon arises on black wings we await the light at the end, in life and in death glory to Mother Miranda..."

The old rusty, battered green 4x4 growled as it trudged and crawled through the sludge on the old dirt road, the other grey decrepit off roader had an easy time but was forced to drag itself behind just as slowly, the head lights lit up the icy, muddy road ahead of them surrounded by trees and darkness.

Igor hated this, he felt exposed he know the main road that cut through the valley was impassable due to torrential rain melting the deep snows turning much of it into bogs and muddy mires, they should've waited for it to clear before sending the child north to the Beneviento's estates, but Moreau insisted it will be done tonight the Most Beloved Mother Miranda commanded it he said, and her word is law, and Igor gladly does her divine bidding. 

But he still wished they would've waited, they were on Her Ladyships lands now on the higher and more stable highlands and foothills of House Dimitrescu, they had passed the ancient boundary stones carved with the ladyship's house seal half buried in slushy deep snow about 15 minutes ago it would've taken them less than that to traverse her lands if the roads were in a better condition, but now they were crawling along dangerous ground, the giant witch despised trespassers his mother used to tell him and would gobble up any who dared set forth on her lands, all apart from virgins for they were too pure of heart for the wicked, pale giantess and her evil hideous daughters to stomach so she kidnapped them for her slaves and jealously murders them, at least that's what the old fables say.  

The babe hadn't stopped wailing and balling since the eight men picked her up from the old reservoir, it's little pudgy face was scarlet from her constant weeping it was grating on everyone in the vehicles ears, the four men's heads were racked by migraines as they sat there in silence, Igor had his pistol drawn as he stared out the widow eyes scanning the dark closed in treelines the thick canopy of branches made it even darker, an old revolver, single action and made way before he was even born but it was comforting in his hand as he bounced and shuffled in the backseat, the child lay next to him in a basket, Brother Simeon had his hand on it protectively, she was precious to Mother and had to be taken to her, this is all that Igor knew and that was enough.

That and the money that fat little repugnant creature Moreau gave him for his service.  

Despite how annoying her constant screaming and crying was.

" Were she my own" The driver Mihai turned and said "I would've struck her by now"

Brother Andrei turns and snaps at him "Shut up, she is clearly a sacred child and Mother says we must get her north, get such notions out of your head and keep your eyes on the road"

"I was just joking brother calm yourself" Mihai responded with a yawn.

"It was not funny" Igor growls.

"What is there to see but mud, snow and trees?" He replies "Mother above, we'll be fine, my friend".

"You know exactly what you idiot!" Shouts Simeon over the crying child, trying to rock the basket softly to soothe this wailing little offering. 

Mihai eyes widen in fear as he catches a crimson figure standing ahead in the periphery of the 4x4 headlamps, he slams on the brakes, wet muddy snow splatters around the wheels as the old jeep lurches forward to a stop and halts the following vehicle.

"You fucking idiot Mihai!" You damned us!" Shouted Simeon as he looked over the frozen drivers shoulder, all four men stared out the windscreen at the tall, figure wearing a long dark red dress, a grey dappled long fur coat and a large brimmed black hat, her face staring ahead at the men who returned her angry stare with fear.  

"R-run her down!" Igor said his voice croaking and he pulled the hunting rifle he held between his legs towards him.

"I can't! no way I could get enough speed." Whispered Mihai, terrified of her hearing him with her wicked evil ears.

"Hey! Guys why we stopped?" A voice crackled over the walkie talkie on the dashboard "Brothers?"

"She's fucking here, Mother preserve us, get out stay alert, I got this I dealt with her brother before." Said Andrei over radio set, he opens the door and steps out boots sloshing in the muddy ice and the rest follow suit "Stay back with your car for now" He calls back to his men  outside the grey jeep, Andrei's men flank him Igor stays back near his door to guard the child rifle in hands, breathing heavy billows of steam into the cold night air, the scene lit by their vehicles lights.

She seems to glide over the snow and filth as the hems of dress remains somehow unspattered by mud as she moves towards him  "Gentlemen, you have chosen a strange night for a nice, evening drive haven't you?"   

"And you for a midnight walk My Lady, forgive us please, we must pass we have business with the Beneviento's" Andrei says his hand on his pistols grip on his hip.

The witch stops in front of them a couple of meters away, she looks past the gunmen and at the jeep, staring at the source of the crying, Igor shuffles nervously placing the rifle stock to his shoulder but keeping the barrel low.

"Yes, I know all about that, and that Mother Miranda kept this secret from me for this exact reason" She looks down fiercely at Andrei "The child, hand her over if you would be so inclined"  She says polite yet as firm as iron.

"No! My Lady, we cannot! We have guarantees of passage through your lands by Mother's decree, you dare interfere with Our most beloved Mother?"  Andrei shouts back "Step aside woman!"

She growls threateningly, the inhumanly deep rumble in her voice emphasises her rising annoyance " Oh I'm sorry you horrid little man, is "Our beloved Mother" here to ask my permission? Is she here to stop me?"  Her bewitching golden eyes scan the three men closest to her, her body is tense and primed ready to slash out them in a moments notice, like a leopard ready to pounce at a fawn "These are my ancestral lands, and I claim my prerogative of Right of Foundling on the child Rosemary, you know the custom and laws."  

"We will not, Mother has claimed her life she is forfeited to the Ceremony " Andrei shouts back firmly  

 " Step aside you abomination, or Mother will hear of this"  Growls Simeon. 

"You call me abomination yet take a child to her doom?" Her face curls up in disgust and she snarls at them "You vile hypocrites sicken me, you slaughter the innocent yet blame me for when your children die in their cribs and your cattle take ill, am I that loathsome to you?" 

He ignores her, hoping to threaten her into submission "Your brother Lord Heisenberg stands in support of the Ceremony My Lady, he would disprove greatly of this and your defiance!" Andrei shouts up at her, he begins to sweat a little despite the cold.

She laughs the sound echoes in the night, making the men uneasy  chilling them fast then the wet, winter air "He can rut with his pack for all I care, he has as much power over me as I him, now the child, she's m-..."

She's interrupted by the loud crack of a rifle and a sadistic cackle followed by screaming from the rear vehicle's right side, Igor spun around to see a swarm of dark insects and swirling black mist wrapping around a struggling pair of figures, the dark laughing one was hacking a sickle down on the screaming man, the other cultist lay on the ground thrashing on the slushy bloody snow clutching his ruined throat and gurgling 

"For God's sake young lady!" Shouts Lady Dimitrescu as she lunges forward at Andrei who pulls his pistol out he doesn't even get to fire before his arm is severed at the shoulder, Mihai fires as does Simeon, the rounds hit her torso, a slight flinch on her face and a spatter of blood from her body is the only indication of any effect, the wounds do not slow her down as she takes Mihai's head clean off with her long sharp claws, Simeon cocks his rifle and fires again and misses he falls in a flurry of slashes and a roar of anger from the witch, Igor steps forward to fire at her but panics when he hears more screaming behind him noticing another dark figure walking behind a staggering wheezing cultist with a long decorated hunting spear sticking out his side, he cries as he falls the redhaired laughing girl silhouetted by the headlamps leapt on him and sinks her teeth into his neck. 

Igor feels a burning in his side as he realises Lady Dimitrescu was now with arms reach and he falls back onto the sludge and mud, she stares down at him her flaming golden eyes were focused slits her chest heaved with the primal rush of slaughter her kind felt, claws dripping blood and gore, her face was spattered with red, nostrils flaring taking in the rich scent of spilt blood and the thrill of a kill, black stains trickled dark liquid on her red dress and coat, two bullet wounds one to her right side and the other to her left shoulder. 

They did nothing, Mother help him.

He rolls over his left side slashed open and pouring blood from a deep cut, he crawls through the slush, hands numbed by the cold and by shock, he whispers a prayer as he scampers, he hears the wicked laugher behind him.

"Going somewhere Man-blood?"

He reaches for the revolver in his belt before croaking and coming to a sudden stop, a piercing intense pain in his neck and his breath being cut off he drops the pistol and gasps, a sickle is embedded through his neck the wicked point sticking out of the other side. he's pulled back up on his knees, he feels clawed nails hooking into his scalp, Daniela cackles as she tears the sickle out and throws it down pouncing on Igor and savaging his gushing wound with her mouth, tearing the flesh and drawing blood. 

The last thing he hears is her satisfied slurping, content purring and the crying of the child before he enters Mother's embrace.

Kassandra wipes the blood from her chin with her sleeve, belching daintily as she drifts over past the feeding Daniela who was far more interested in tearing at the twitching corpse she straddled, Kassandra's face was struck with a content curiosity her eyes dilated and her pulse had slowed, feeling the warm satisfying, pleasurable Ambrosia of lifeblood taken straight from the source filling her up taking away the bitter and nasty aftertaste of Mother's medicine a foul cure all mother had made for the girls using her own blood, soured wine and something Mother Miranda gave mother they had to drink it to come along with Mama otherwise the cold would hurt them real bad the stuff made their bellies ache and their blood feel aflame, she went towards the green vehicles open rear door, Mama was leaning inside .

"Shhh, it's okay little one, I have you now..." She softly coos slowly pulling out the precious bundle from the car "You are safe now".

The babe looks up still crying her fists flailed and legs squirming under her swaddles, Rosemary's teary blue eyes looked up at this funny looking smiling woman with the shiny sparkly eyes and the big hat , sh e held the bundle of life to her breast and tucked her into the furred collars of her coat, her tiny hands reach up at her one grasping her cleavage and the other reaching for her pearls and golden jewels at her neck, gurgling with glee at the warm motherly stare Lady Dimitrescu gives her, the pale woman's face beamed with absolute affection for the little cherub, months of planning and pretending to be ignorant of Mother's plans has lead to this moment, as with all of her children's foundings the emotions overwhelmed her.

The vehicle engines still ran, heir droning and exhausts filled the silent air, Rosemary had stopped crying for the first time in hours.

Kassandra came to her mother's side "Can I see her Mama?" She asks curiously.

"Of course my love" Alcina replies her usually straight and clear voice almost shaking with care and love, her previous fearsome form replaced by one that was frankly close to bursting into tears of joy, she kneels down and shows her formerly youngest child.

"Hey there lil' ducky!"  Kassandra's heart melts as soon as she see's the child's grinning cooing face "She's adorable Mama!" She giggles excitedly but lowers her voice as not to disturb the baby who was fixated on Her Ladyship's jewels and smile , Daniela floats over her face covered in her recent meal, thick blood  on her chin, her gory face beaming with affection at her mother and sisters bonding for the first time.

"She's beautiful!" Daniela smiles widely floating to her sisters side, wrapping her arms around Kassandra, her excitement barely contained within in her "She has blonde hair too just like me!"

"You're getting blood on her Mama" Kassandra frowns noticing her mother's wounds "Does it hurt?"

"Oh! " Lady Dimitrescu gasps and tuts at her dark blood staining Rosemary's swaddle "Yes, a little but I'll be fine, come let's leave this place get her and ourselves warm, and get our little Rose here cleaned up and fed" She beams.

Tucked under bloody furs and held against the warmth of the noblewoman's body, Rosemary settles in tired after all the wailing and excitement as her new family takes her away from the charnel house of a scene on the road.

The dreary morning sun crept over Castle Dimitrescu and the Eastern Mountains turning the sky a foreboding grey the sun hardly ever shone brightly in these lands.

Within the walls of the vast citadel the servant's begin their morning chores, starting fireplaces, replacing candles and lamps and preparing the morning castle for their mistresses, although the young ladies preferred to sleep in till midday being creatures of the dark they often spent most of their time at night awake although thankfully mostly in the gardens, main levels and dungeons doing Mother alone knows what, Her Ladyship's sleep pattern was erratic to say the least before the new child had taken up most of her time and attention, she went unseen for days sometimes and on others never seemed to sleep, constantly stalking the halls and galleries as silent as a ghost or sitting in the various lounges of the castle spending time with her daughters, often tutoring them or by herself smoking and helping herself to the copious amounts of wine she ordered stocked in her regular haunts, getting notably more drunk the longer she stared into the fire usually cursing and hurling empty bottles against the wall before storming off after sinking the third or fourth bottle or playing the grand piano in the ballroom her deeply mournful playing echoed around the empty silent halls of the castle sometimes bringing Ana to tears, Ana had seen it many times she knew Her Ladyship more than most people, certainly more than she would've liked to at times being her personal hand maiden meant she was privy to many things 

Her mistress never usually paid her much mind although Ana rarely provoked her ire or annoyance like the rest of the help, Her Ladyship would often be somewhat affectionate towards Ana, complimenting  Ana's needlework remarking how she was a naturally gifted seamstress and she soon had making all of her mistresses clothing, chuckling at her fumbling nervous ticks and slip ups, referring to her by name a privilege the rest never got unless she was enraged then as with all mothers Her Ladyship would address the offending servant by her full name, but it didn't make Ana any less fearful of the lady of the castle, despite her status protecting her from the wicked pranks and games of Her Lady's daughters being just a call away at almost all times from Her Ladyship was terrifying enough.

But since the arrival of the child the mistress has been much more predictable spending all her waking hours with the girl, often calling for Ana at ungodly times to bring her warm milk and clean soft towels for diapers, she even manages to keep a proper daily schedule having meals at a reasonable time, and seemingly spending less time drinking and scowling into a fireplace, even the daughters are putting on a show of normalcy, while the family has always been close especially the sisters, the child seemed to bring them together the sight of the whole family sitting around the dining room table laughing and fawning over the baby was something most of the maids found somewhat disturbing the servants didn't know what to make of it, although none of them were here when Her Ladyship last raised a child so it was hard to say if this was normal, Ana finds it somewhat sweet and heart warming a happy mistress is a happy life after all, although half the maids think the child would be better off in Mother's embrace than in the care of their mistress, Ana sees the child happy and content it was just a babe after all and was drawn to the motherly and sisterly affection of this cursed family she couldn't help it, Ana and the rest of the servant's offered quiet prayers for the soul of this innocent, a pup taken in by wolves will grow to be just as feral. 

The last few days had stirred the usual tedium of castle life most of the servants had been assigned to keep Her Ladyship's prisoner alive in the dungeons working in rotation to clean his wounds, there was little need his wounds had practically healed before their eyes his strong, lean pale body was covered in scars and various healing wounds including curious old scars encircling around his left forearm and right leg, almost as if they were cut off and reattached, they recognised the savage claw marks, bites and slashes along his body from the daughters a familiar sight as well as the singular bite of their Lady on his bruised neck, he had lost a tremendous amount of blood from his wounds and her feeding from him, for a while he seemed like he would die he was feverish and shivered deliriously calling out various names in his sleep and thrashing in pain even though his body healed quickly it seemed to burn him out whatever, blessing he had also brought him agony a normal man would've died they were certain of it, the names "Mia", "Chris" and "Jack" meant nothing to them but he most often called out for "Rosemary", the name of Her Ladyship's new daughter, Lady Dimitresu loomed over them as they worked to keep him alive her brow furrowing curiously every time he called out for Rose, staring down at his bare torso, strong build and face with a certain appeal in her eyes, a sentiment the maids also shared it wasn't often a man was present in the castle, particularly a fiery and handsome one at that, a couple however did grumble at the mess he left behind and the damages caused by his bomb and firearms, the wooden floorboards and panelling had to be replaced which would be difficult given the amount of carnage the recent lycan attacks at the village wrought leaving few able bodies to come and repair it.

Ana knew the reason he called for Rosemary he was her father, her real God given father, her fellow maids hassled her for news at the breakfast table the following few mornings while having their morning meal of porridge, eggs and strong tea at the crack of dawn since the day he aimed a gun Gabi and her, she tried to change the subject but there was little else to talk about, today she had enough of it, she decided to wake the stranger or at least see if he was hungry, if only to get away from her gossiping colleagues, he was likely eager to see his child, she had overheard most of the conversation last night between Her Ladyship and this Ethan Winters and had expected at any moment the screams and cries of agony and the soft chime of the bell, and the sight of Lady Dimitrescu standing over his butchered remains her glass full and mouth bloody, purring contently and beaming as she often does after a bloodletting before commanding her servants to clear the mess, but that was not the case for Ethan Winters yet lived, which was good for he was allegedly the same stranger who fought off Lord Heisenberg's lycans in the village even taking off after the retreating packs to face them at the factory, they owe him a lot for saving their families, even if they curse him.    

She prepared him a tray of food and excused herself from the maid's kitchen, approaching the previously long uninhabited valet's room, gently rapping on the wooden door.

"Mr Winters?" She meekly inquires "Are you awake sir?"

Ethan throws himself out of bed on edge looking around in a panic half expecting to wake up back in that dreary dark cell, instead of the warm, well lit and somewhat cosy valet's room, last night was not a cruel prank or part of his pain stricken delirium, she did keep her promise.

He slept well enough if briefly, his mind was full of visions of Rosie laughing happily in the arms of her merciful benefactor and apparent new mother it made him restless, and uncomfortable for many reasons.

While he was glad Rosemary lived and was safe, what right did she have to claim her? He didn't care for some outdated medieval tradition or her title, he was Rosemary's father her only true parent left and that gave him more right than she ever had, just exactly how did she find Rose anyway? Why did Chris bring her here to leave her and disappear? These questions raced through his head stirring him as he attempted to sleep, that and the dry lump in his throat and aching in his pants when he thought about Lady Dimitrescu.

She terrified and captivated him still, and last night's conversation didn't help his strange feelings towards her if anything he softened his view on her, he imagined her drawing him close in her powerful arms her molten amber eyes flaring up as she smiles wickedly and moves down to bite him, the worse part is he isn't even sure he would particularly mind it. 

A part of him wanted to take Rosemary and get out of here as far as possible and he did attempt to think of someway he could escape with his child but he was alone and weapon less and even if he was still armed there was no way he could take on the family not without putting Rosemary and himself at risk.

That and he promised her he would stay and be loyal, if not to her than Rosie and Ethan Winters always keeps his promises.

"Yes I am now" He calls back to the door shaking his head awake and recognizing the maid's voice form last night "Come in please" he sits up straight and buttons up his shirt, as the door opens as the young girl walks in staring at the floor.

"I brought you eggs, bread sir and some tea sir" She lays the tray down.

"Thank you Ana I appreciate it, you know you don't have to keep calling me sir" He gets up and picks up the bowl of eggs and buttered bread from the wooden tray as well as the hot black tea.

"I'm sorry sir, I just get nervous around outsiders sir" She steps back still staring at the floor, Ethan wonders how long she's been here, she's no more than twenty years old at least, her long face is tired and distant.  

"Well given how we first met that's understandable, you shouldn't be worried around me though, thank you for waking me I wanted to get up early, is Her Ladyship awake?" He asks eager to see if he could attend Rosemary's morning feed, sipping his tea.

Ana shakes her head "No sir, and I must attend to her soon, she'll be wanting some tea before dealing with little Lady Rosemary sir, if you will excuse me sir" She turns to leave before stopping halfway to the door and turning to Ethan.

She pauses nervously before speaking "Forgive me sir it's not my place but, may I ask you something?"

"The child, Miss Rosemary, she's yours isn't she sir?" She asks voice wracked by concern and worry.

"Yes she is, why?" Ethan asks puzzled by the timid girl's questions.

She frowns sadly "Take her and leave if you can sir, as soon as you can sir" Her voice almost a whisper "My mistress... she-" Ethan puts his hand up.

"I know what she is, kind of anyways and what she is capable of, but I promised her I'd stay, I can't break my promise, thank you for the food, and the concern, Ana" He says sharply.

She frowns once more and looks at him sorrowfully "Then you made a promise to the Devil sir, Mother Bless you Mr Winters, Her Ladyship will call for you when she's ready sir" She walks out and closes the door behind her leaving Ethan with his meal and another worried look in his face his mouth open in shock dread creeping up his spine, before he sighs and eats his meal and tries to come to terms with her ominous warning.

I really wish she'd stop leaving me like that.

He doesn't have to wait long when his door is flung open the handle slamming against the wall loudly, chipping and denting the plaster, for the second time today he throws himself up out of bed, his stance defensive and eyes alert as one of Her Ladyship's daughters float inside towards him grinning proud of the startled look she caused on Ethan's face, her yellow eyes scan him up and down beaming.

"Oops"  Looking back at the damage on the wall before giggling childishly, she walks towards him, her curious, malevolent smile made Ethan uneasy. 

"Good morning to you too, Kassandra" Ethan replies sarcastically standing slightly more relaxed although still tense, her very presence put him on edge.

"Yes Good Morning Mr Winters I suppose" She picks at fleck of dried blood on her chin and flicks it away "Now come along, Mama wishes to see you" She turns around and starts levitating again her feet trailing in the air.

Ethan steels himself and follows her down the maids corridor they pass a corner before a startled screams cuts through the hall, Ethan freezes and looks up to see Kassandra staring down a cowering maid, her eyes fixed to the floor stuttering and stammering.

"I-I'm s-sorry M-M-Ms-" The scared girl whimpers. 

Kassandra cuts her off and grabs her chin forcing her to stare into the sadistic and horrifying yellowed iris, her nails digging into the trembling scared girl's flesh "Silly girl, you should be more careful in the future, look where you're going rat!" She leans in close to inhale her delicious and fresh fear growling softly, the vampire playfully presses her index finger on the girl's nose "Boop! run along little rat" She throws the girl aside, the maid's teary eyes lock with Ethan's who returns her look with sympathy before she hurries off past him weeping silently. 

Kassandra smiles at her work, pleased she ruined one of the help's morning, she spins around to stare at Ethan "Wanna say something?" She asks menacingly, eyes narrowing.

"You don't have to be so rough on them" Ethan growls back "Most of them are just girls your age"

She cackles loudly, wiping a tear from her grubby, bloody cheek "Oh my!!" She laughs "Is this going to be a lecture from Old Man Winters? What right do you have to say how I treat the help?" She drifts towards him and grabs his arm pulling him forward "Now move it!" Ethan stumbles behind her and continues following Kassandra, rubbing his arm and scowling into her back.

They move up several staircases and through the rich, decorated shadowy hallways of the castle before Ethan freezes in place the sound of soft melodic humming and laughter reaches his ears echoing from the ajar door at the end of the hall, a child's tired laugh, a shrill cry and gurgle that has haunted Ethan's dreams for months, hearing her laughter alone almost makes fighting and killing his way through monsters and now to be a prisoner worth it.

Rosemary.

His pace quickens almost walking past the floating girl before she grabs his shoulder and pulls him back with a hiss "Wait here!".

He reluctantly stays still, throwing back the urge to instinctively swing a desperate punch at this girl who prevented him from laying his eyes on his daughter and storm the room.

"Don't be rude, Mr Winters" She pushes past him and taps softly on the lavishly inlaid door "Mama?" the humming stops, she gently nudges the door open and floats inside, the warm inviting light from the room bathed Ethan as he stands there, his nerves fraying themselves to pieces, his heart flutters in his chest.

"Don't just leave him out there girl, let Ethan Winters in, he has a daughter to see" A familiar and haunting voice calls from the room, inviting him in.

Kassandra waves him in, his legs feel weak as he steps through the threshold into the warm lavish lounge, he sees the same image from his dreams, his daughter and her new mother sitting there.

She looked as captivating as ever, beautiful and fierce even now as she looks blissful and tender, she was shining with the radiance of a mother holding child, her gaze fixed on the small, sleepy blue eyes as Rose's arms lazily reached up at her beaming face her tiny hands grasping her lip and nose as Her Ladyship raises her up and kisses the child on her forehead chuckling silently, Rosemary gurgles softly as she's nestled into the pale woman's shoulder, her gloved hand cradles the babe and rocks her gently planting a trail of soft kisses on the child's temple, she looked up at Ethan, he was a mess.

His knees buckle, and he lets out an uncontrollable sob of joy, his eyes tear up as he stifles the rest of his pathetic sobbing, all the pain he has suffered and brought upon others, the horror, the demons he slayed, his fears are cast aside from him as finally lays eyes on his babe after all these bloody, vicious months, his quest feels at an end. 

"Mr Winters" She looks up at him her golden eyes soft and loving beam at him, feeling his utter joy and taking the sight of a man who who clearly not only recognised but cared for Rosemary "Please" She offers the seat beside her on the velvet couch, he moves to her side heart hammering in his chest, noting Kassandra following him in as she floated other to the couch opposite and leans against the arms, staring at Ethan cautiously hand on her knife.

"Thank you... My Lady" Ethan utters breathlessly his voice breaking, wiping his tears away with his sleeve "I-I don't know how to thank you..."

She looks down at this man, this curious little fiery intruder, a man willing to die for her daughter, her father he had to be, now there was no doubt.

Her face softens further and she smiles at him moved by Ethan's expression and glistening, Icey blue eyes, she feels compelled to brush away the single tear trickling down his cheek, she reaches out and pauses inches from his face, looking at him as if for permission, he looks up at her his sad eyes closing as her fingers touch his skin, she cups his cheek and raises his head to look at him, Ethan feels her warm soft gloved hands and flinches at her touch before relaxing as he opens his eyes to stare back at her, even though being what she was he felt safe as she caressed his cheek.

"I'm sure we can think of someway in the future Mr Winters" She tenderly strokes his cheekbone with her thumb and smiles playfully before frowning and beaming warmly at Ethan "You truly are her father..." 

"I wasn't lying, My Lady, may I hold her?" Ethan looks up steadying himself for rejection.

"Here..." She gently offers the child out for him to hold "Be gentle, she's just fed and is all ready for a nice nap" She supports the child's weight until Ethan has enough of a secure hold on her as he takes her into his arms, her baby scent flooded his nostrils mixed with the smell of her surrogate mother, a most curious combination as he leans down to take it in and place a soft kiss on her downy, fluffy hair, the babe wiggles as she feels someone apart from Her Ladyship hold and kiss her, his stubble scratching her soft skin, dreary eyes open up in shock to see a familiar yet distant face, her mouth opens in a tired soft cry.

"Oh hey, lil' lady... noo noo shhh..., it's only silly old pops, remember?" His mind races with what do, it's been so long since he had held her, Mia was often protective of her usually whisking Rosie out of his arms and soothing her herself, Ethan never had the right knack for it, distant memories of Mia sitting by the kitchen side singing lullabies and rhymes at four in the morning flashed through his mind.

Lady Dimitrescu smiles smug that she is still the only person capable of putting her Rose instantly at ease, "It's been a while I'm sure she will remember you soon enough Mr Winters, I'll take her back I'd rather one of your grenades than my Rosemary going off..."  His smile becomes sad as he slightly nods in understanding, he remembers how fiery Rose could be when awakened.

She leans over and supports her pressing her body up to Ethan, her finger dangles in front of Rose's distracting her from Ethan long enough for her to take her back into her arms, he feels like a piece of his heart is torn away as she takes her back, she leans down and plants a wet kiss that smudged her lipstick on Rosie's forehead she giggles and settles back in, content to be back with her mother "Now, now settle in for Mama, there's a good little rosebud..." The towering woman coos at the tiny bundle in her arms.

Ethan feels happy if somewhat empty inside, has it been so long that she had forgotten me? Had Mia and I really been replaced by this new woman and her new sisters?  Ethan's head is a whirl of  emotions, he hasn't felt this way since he had Mia and Rosie together, was that wrong of him to think? How could she replace Mia in either of their eyes?  He forced his doubts back down as he stared up into the loving, pools of gold, he didn't want to ruin the moment.

"I'm sorry Mr Winters I must get her rested, and you and I still have much to discuss, meanwhile little one here has been a good girl and had all milk and needs a nap before she gets cranky" She smiles stroking Rose's head before reaching out and placing a clawed hand on Ethan's shoulder he looks up at her than Rosie longingly, he imagined her face lighting up upon seeing his, not reacting like he was a stranger, "You'll see her again soon enough, I assure you." 

Her Ladyship held Rosemary close to her breast and stood up, and slowly walked towards the far door "I shall return momentarily, Mr Winters" She ducks down through the door, leaving Ethan alone with Kassandra, who stared curiously at her mother and Ethan during their little 'interaction' and now fixed her gaze on the man-thing.

He doesn't notice as he stares at the fire for a while and leans back running his hands over his face and rubbing his eyes, glad to have finally seen and held his daughter but disappointed at how brief it was and estranged she seemed, he sighs deeply. 

Kassandra jumps onto the armchair and throws her body to the side dirty bare feet dangling, the noise snapping him out of his thoughts he looks up and he sees the biggest most shit eating grin anyone has ever given him, she was clearly amused by what she saw, it was rare to see Mama show respect let alone affection to anyone outside of the family, particularly man-things like Ethan even that snivelling little hand maid of hers who Mama is fond of for whatever reason, it was a strange and new sight, in the almost thirty years Kassandra has been with her mother she had never seen anything like it, and never saw that type of interaction between a man and woman, none of them had fathers that they know of and most man-things they encounter are too scared to have anything else but fear for Mama, Ethan clearly felt something else for her though and it was a interesting new smell for Kassandra to take in, she had read about it often enough and was always curious to see how the dance of courtship would play out, so far it was in it's early clumsy steps. 

Taking her amusement as mocking his emotional vulnerability he scowls and snaps at her "What?"

 She wistfully picks at a tangle in her hair "Oh nothing at all Mr Winters, apart from you liking Mama and being Rosie's daddy" She leans over and grabs a dirty, smeared teacup and takes a gulp, the dark ruby drop that falls from the corner of her mouth confirming what Ethan already suspected was it's contents.

"I don't like your mother, at least not like that..." He lies to her, and himself. "She was kind to me, I don't like her in that way"

She guffaws and drops the empty cup back onto it's saucer, licking her bloody lips before throwing herself around to properly face him "I can literally smell it!" she giggles and places her hands under her chin, Ethan shifts uncomfortably on the couch, very much aware of how his body and heart felt when Her Ladyship touched him and stared at him affectionately and the beads of sweat forming at his brow "I-I..."  He stammers before her cackle cuts him off.

"Don't deny it Mr Winters, I for one think it's romantic!" She leans over close to Ethan her predatory eyes glowing with mirth and glee "It's just like my books, a brave knight comes to the scary old castle to save his baby from an evil witch who turns out to be a pretty and charming queen, and has three of the bestest, prettiest daughters in the world and falls for their beautiful mother, now that would make for a fun read don't you think?" 

He blushes and smiles, her erratic joking behaviour amusing him "No look, Kassandra it's not like that, I think you should stick to your books".

"Uh-huh, keep telling yourself that Mr Winters" She tuts "Dani won't be happy about this..."

"You can all think what you like, I'm here for Rose even if I have to stay for as long as it takes or do whatever I have to" he says determinedly 

"See? You fit the archetypal brave knight bill perfectly! Oh so very headstrong and resilient, oh brave sir knight Ethan Winters..."  She clutches her chest and pretends to fawn, before laughing wildly, not sure whether to scowl or chuckle Ethan stares at her confused, he's glad to see Lady Dimitrescu silently ducking down through the elaborate doorway.

"Are you teasing Mr Winters dear?" She stands up straightening out her pale blue dress and walked over the heels making their distinctive heavy clicking sounds as approaches her daughter's side.

"No, Mama I'm just telling him about my books" She replies sweetly at her mother who leans down and plants a kiss on her daughter's head, Kassandra nuzzles herself against Her Ladyship's legs.

She purrs at her Kassie and strokes her hair tenderly "Would you give me and Mr Winters the room? Go and find your sisters, my love" 

"Yes Mama" She stands and curtseys slightly at them still grinning wickedly at Ethan before drifting out the room softly whistling.

"Such an imaginative girl..." She takes her seat next to Ethan her fingers softly trailed his shoulder carelessly as she bends down to sit, turning herself to face Ethan.

"She certainly is My Lady" He turns up to look at her, she leans over past him to pick up her cigarette case on the table, he finds his gaze drawn to her glittering pearls and intricately detailed golden pendent bearing her house sigil, and down to her generous breasts, he gulps dryly as she leans back his brain forcing himself to look into the golden eyes staring at him gleaming softly, pulling out a cigarette offering the open case to Ethan, he shakes his head.

"No thank you Your Ladyship" He manages to say.

"Very well, do you mind?" She snaps the case shut and places it down on the table retrieving her cigarette holder and attaching the cigarette to the, placing it between her bloody red lips, waiting for Ethan's reply.

"Go for it My Lady" He feels wonderfully blissful being so intimately close to her, the crack of a gold plated lighter and the spark of a flame makes her eyes and jewels twinkle against her pearl white skin "It's your home" he says admiring her beauty.

She smiles at him "I'm sorry I doubted you being my Rose's father, it was difficult for me to believe even after last night, but given your reaction to merely seeing her, well" She takes another drag "Now there can be no doubt"

"Was there any still?" He asks as his mind turns to darker thoughts.

"Some, Mr Winters" She replies tapping the ashtray beside her "I can never be too careful" taking another delicate pull before placing the cigarette holder down "Is something the matter Mr Winters?" noticing Ethan's doubts creep up and wipe away his happiness and comfort.

Ethan's shoulders' slump and he looks down at the table "I was hoping she would've recognised me at least or something My Lady, I dreamt about seeing her for so long, how it would be, I've done horrible things for her My Lady, and seen things that would make me question my sanity, all those horrors to just feel rejected, if she doesn't remember me how would she ever her own mother? She never will, she didn't even get to see her first steps or words..." He thinks back to the monsters at the village, the lycan's tearing at the old man's flesh as they pull him through the floor and Ethan's blood splattered hands pushing a magazine into his pistol as more clawed hands smash through the shack's walls grasping at him, he shivers as he thinks back to what happened, the BSAA agent he had to torture and kill in cold blood to find out Chris's destination, the villagers he couldn't save, he closes his eyes thinking back on the bloody whirlwind that was his life for the last couple of months and the realisation Rosemary wouldn't even know what Mia looked like unless she saw a picture, sadness fills him up inside. 

His troubled mind is almost instantly soothed by Her Ladyship's touch, her hand strokes his hair away from his brow and brings Ethan's chin up to look at her "Do you know what I see Mr Winters?" Her eyes boring into his own, her look one of admiration and care "I see a man who has dragged himself through Hell to see his child, a man willing to place his life in the hands of a stranger just to see his daughter, you are a brave man Mr Winters, Kassandra was right you are a 'brave knight'" She chuckles softly making Ethan grin, he loved her soft, low laughter it was musical to him. 

He wonders what else she heard from Kassandra's teasing...

"Your girl will remember you soon enough, she is still a small infant Mr Winters, and she will remember your late wife, her birth mother, because you will be around to tell her when she's older, as long as you remember her so will Rosemary" Her Ladyship brushed her hand against his cheek her gaze brimming with care "What was your late wife's name? she looked beautiful in that dress." 

"Mia" replies sadly but also returning her stare with one of happiness.

"A lovely name, Rosemary will remember Mia Winters, I promise you that" She angles her face at him continues to beam at him.

Her warm words and assurances cut down his sorrow like a blade, he looks up and smiles at her "You plan on keeping me around that long My Lady?"

"That depends on your actions, and how you feel, Rosemary deserves a father Mr Winters if he still lives, and here you are, I can no more rob that from her than you can take her away from me, I see a lot of myself in you Mr Winters, a parent's love is something I understand very well" She continues to run her thumb along his stubble and cheek, eyes move up and down taking in every detail of his good looking younger face, she could feel what he felt towards her, and found it eerily similar to her own feelings towards Ethan, it was improper, it was... unseemly she tells herself and drops her hand away and turns to grab her cigarette holder quickly startling the mesmerised blonde man and clearing her throat attempting to quell her need to grab his face and kiss him.

Her kind words ease his mind and he places a hand on her arm hoping he didn't overstep any boundary by merely touching her, she didn't seem to mind. "Would you tell me how? You didn't tell me before but I must know, you lay a claim on her because of some rule that frankly, doesn't cut it with me, some old custom isn't enough to claim someone else's child My Lady"

Her Ladyship nods softly "I think that is fair Mr Winters, I can understand why you would feel that way about such things" She takes in a drag from her cigarette, smoke wafting elegantly around her "She and you owe me her life, men were going to take her to her demise, I stopped them, I hope that is justification enough in your eyes."

"What?" Ethan is appalled that someone would try to do that to his baby "Who??"

"Mother has many cruel rituals and servants Mr Winters, she is the cause for many atrocities in this land and ultimately the cause of everything you see" 

"Mother Miranda right? the villagers mentioned her all the time like a god or something even your maids" He says thinking back to the strange prayers of the villagers and Ana's blessing earlier.

She nods disdainfully clearly unsettled by this line of conversation "Yes Her , Mother Miranda she's been controlling this land for centuries and us all for a very long time, my brother and I have held most of the power, recently I've become... 'sentimental' as Mother puts it, she dislikes how I raise my family just because I refuse to make my children into her thralls and I won't tow the line when it comes to her barbarism and her power grabs, Rosemary was destined to be given to her as sacrifice for a ceremony that would've given her the means to achieve her ends, I will not partake nor allow a child's death if I can prevent it"

He sits back shocked that such a horrifying act would've happened to his Rosemary if Lady Dimitrescu didn't step in "She was gonna kill Rose!?" 

Taking another elegant lungful and blowing it out she looks for the first time worried "Yes, and she knows I have you now, I'm just hoping she will believe I would've killed you by now Mr Winters"

He looks up and nods "What will she do about you taking Rosie?" he asks with a concerned look, finding himself worried about the safety of Rosie, himself and even Her Ladyship and her family.

She turns to look away at him, he recognises the look of dread that flashes on her face before being replaced by her bright beaming false grin "A matter for another day Mr Winters, this topic is something you should not be privy to as it is, rest easy knowing that you are my guest and maybe even our newest resident, and I have a duty to protect you as long as you are under my roof, even she knows that" as she looks back at him smoke drifting from her lips, the strong, pungent smell of tobacco makes Ethan's throat tingle and he clears it he hadn't smoked since he was nineteen.

"Oh sorry dear" She leans back and stubs out the cigarette placing the holder on the table beside them

"I don't smoke around Rosemary, by the way" She blows out a stream of nicotine from her lungs careful not to get any more in Ethan's face.

"I didn't think you did, I'm sure you're responsible around her My Lady" He replies, still scanning her, taking in every detail of this utterly captivating creature that sat next to him 

"I try to be Mr Winters, I've been terribly responsible around you at least" Pearly, perfect teeth shows as she smiles "I'm quiet surprised at my own self control honestly"

He flashes her a confused look "What do you mean?" Worried and curious as to her answer, heart rising to his throat.

"Mr Winters, we must get to the topic of your 'repayment' " She smiles wickedly and playfully, reaching up and tapping the side of her slender pale neck, her eyes turning predatory and hungry "I had to skip breakfast, my little golden Rose was so demanding this morning, and truth be told I have been waiting so long for another taste Mr Winters" She coos and teasingly pushes him back against the couch pressing herself against him and moving her hand up to cup his jaw again, before turning his head slightly to see the old bite "My, it's healed quickly hasn't it Mr Winters...?" She asks leaning down to press a kiss on the wound, his skin feels aflame and his pulse quickens.

"I-it's a gift, fast metabolism..." He trails off finding his gaze drawn to her ample bosom almost pressing against his chest, he starts to shift awkwardly as he feels his blood rush downstairs.

"Mm, I'm sure it is" She inhales his delightful scent, now lacking that certain rugged, primal musk of a scared, bloody man-thing that she liked from her prey this was the first man that was allowing her to feed from him, for a very, very long time at least, she wasn't even sure she could regard him as prey anymore, what was he to her? 

Either way the teasing is enjoyable, it flavours the blood she tells herself, like that's the only reason Alcina... 

"Your blood is so delectable Mr Winters..." She pines into his ear the tone of her voice is hypnotically seductive, he feels her clawed fingers scrape his skin as she unbuttons the first three buttons on his shirt, "May I please?" She runs her tongue down his neck just below his old bitemark and waits her mouth open the soft red lips just brushing her chosen area to sink her teeth into, her hot wanting breath sets Ethan's racing aroused and confused state into overdrive.

Gently holding on to her for support he nods "Er... go for it, My Lady..."

He winces and sharply inhales as he feels her teeth easily pierce his skin and his blood rush out into her mouth she pulls back for split second panting heavily and gasping, he side eyes her heaving ample chest, and her intense staring golden eyes fixated on the blood flowing from his neck, before she's back on the wound in a heartbeat running her tongue over the welting blood and latching her lips over it sucking loudly and panting between draws, her eyes were open and focused the whole time burning more intently as she drew more of the ruby red nectar into her mouth, the sight of Her Ladyship who was usually so graceful and dignified become almost feral at just the taste of blood as she sucked on his neck was intense, powerful and terrifying, and even though he hated to think it, kind of arousing.

He relaxes and lets her feed as she becomes more calm, closing her eyes and purring happily, holding Ethan by the shoulders and massaging them, taking slower more deliberate draws from his neck. The pain had subsided and he could focus in on the smell of her perfume, the touch of her hair, the brush of her dress against his clothing and skin, he feels himself almost blissful and at peace.

Lapping her tongue across the wound and pulling back Lady Dimitrescu just noticed the bleeding staunching almost before her eyes, most curious. She leans down to lick the rest of it up from his skin, softly tutting as she notices the mess she made of his shirt collar and cursing her undignified table manners.

She pulls back to look at him "How are we feeling Mr Winters..." pausing to lick her lips, Ethan sluggishly stares up he feels almost like he's high, the vampire's pupils made her eyes black with their dilation, her lipstick was smudged and her lips bloody, her breathing heavy and pink tinged teeth were on display in her panting mouth "...Was I overzealous?" she brings up a handkerchief to wipe the smeared lipstick off her face, and dab at Ethan's wound cleaning up any residual blood.

Ethan stares up hazily "I-I dunno...  My Lady, It didn't hurt like the first time anyways, I feel fucked up..." He slurs and lolls heavily, it takes tremendous effort to sit up straight.

"Language, Mr Winters dear, and thank you" She leans down and kisses his brow "You really do taste wonderful, most unique..." She buttons up his shirt and flattens out his collar, how she loves his dazed, dizzy expression.  

"I wouldn't know My Lady... everyone wants to eat me these days it seems so I guess I must be..." He chuckles softly shaking his head and touching the wound timidly, his vision was cloudy and shaky and he struggled to stay conscious she had indeed been a bit overzealous, but it was impolite to mention it, he suffered just as bad when he lost his leg and arm, except this time his adrenaline was replaced by libido.  

"If you keep poking it you may get an infection" She laughs her breathing finally steadied fully, "Well who can blame them, you are such a scrumptious morsel, Mr Winters believe me." She purrs seductively, she strokes his face slightly perspiring face and grasps his hand bringing it up to kiss it, her burning eyes draw him in and he reaches up lazily to touch her rosy flared cheek, tempted to draw her in to press his lips against her own crimson smiling ones.

"I'm glad you think so..." He beams at her, his eyes widen in surprise as she cups his cheek and pulls him close to her almost close enough to kiss, he burned inside he wants her badly, her dark eyelashes fluttered and her eyes became soothing and smouldering with intense want, he could smell the coppery prang of his blood on her breath, he started to slowly move towards her...

It was at that moment the door rapped, and Lady Dimitrescu shot up straight to her feet almost making Ethan fall off the couch, she glares at the door angrily, very much frazzled and annoyed at this interruption "Enter!" She roars, Ethan adjusts himself and tries to hide his bite with bloody collar, and his erection by shuffling and leaning forward, clearly flustered, he would be blushing if he had the blood left for it.  

A very scared looking maid stumbles into the room, eyes glued to the floor she meekly stammers "My L-Lady, t-th-".

She's cut off by Lady Dimitrescu cutting her hand down and shouting "Speak up girl!"  growling at the terrified servant.

She practically jumps out of her skin, and weeps at her mistress's ire, she closes her eyes, still trembling as she clears her throat "My Lady the monthly shipments need signing off, and I believe Ms Rosemary is crying My Lady" she gasps.

"Tell him I will be sending Kassandra to sign the dispatches, and why would Rose be crying, girl?" She snarls menacingly, Ethan feels bad for the girl even if she did interrupt them, it was probably for the best anyways...

"Ms Daniela and Ms Olga are chasing one another My Lady, I think Ms Olga broke Ms Daniela's mirror My Ladyship" The maid whimpers.

Lady Dimitrescu looks down at Ethan longingly, and sighs heavily "I'm terribly sorry Mr Winters, another time perhaps..." She bends at the waist and offers her hands to the him "Can you stand dear?" 

"Y-yeah thanks My Lady" He takes her hand and lets her pull him up, she catches him as he stumbles slightly "Woah..." Her Ladyship lets him steady himself on her legs and waist, smiling listlessly down at him, she reaches down and strokes his hair fondly.

She snaps back up to the maid who tried to hide her confused and curious expression at her mistress's display of affection towards the intruder "Take Mr Winters to his room and see to his wound, I will attend to my daughters"

"Yes Lady Dimitrescu" She bows and waits by the door for Ethan.

"Can you manage Mr Winters?" She asks concerned, as he looks up and straightens himself almost awkwardly hunching in order to hide the lump in his pants crouch out smiling his eyes sharpening up a bit and gaining a bit more colour than before, she smiles teasingly she can knows exactly where the remainder of and his rapidly replenishing blood flowed to...

"I-I'm fine please My Lady, I just need some food I think" Her fingers trace his shoulder "Thank you for everything, can I see Rosemary and you soon?"

"Soon, Mr Winters don't fret" She assures him.

"I won't, good luck with your daughters" 

She takes in a deep breath and pauses "And Our daughter, Mr Winters."

"Our? My Lady?" He asks shocked to here it being said out loud, he wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

"Well she is, is she not?" She smiles as she turns away from him towards the door at the right side of the elaborate lounge.

"I will call for you soon enough Mr Winters, rest and eat for now, Adieu..." She looks over her shoulder at him still regarding him with desire, her smile was playful and content "Fetch him some beef, something red and bloody! And some wine he has reason to celebrate girl!" She calls out sternly to the maid, who doesn't even get to say her acknowledgement as Lady Dimitrescu leaves the room, her footsteps echoing away from the lounge.

"Please sir, this way" The maid wipes a tear away and gestures for Ethan to follow her, he nods and walks towards the beckoning maid and open door.

Our Daughter, he smiles as they walk down the gloomy candlelit halls of Castle Dimitrescu.

" 

Chapter Text

"...Midnight brought us sweet romance, I know all my whole life through..."  Sings Alcina softly and idlily to herself along with the gramophone playing in the corner of her lavish bedchamber, in the golden framed vanity mirror she has been staring into for the past hour her make was wiped off for the evening, "...I'll be remembering you whatever else I do, midnight, with the stars and you..." 

She was pining, her longing sad eyes staring back at themselves, her pale lips turned in a frown after she finishes singing, she hated how she was feeling she felt weak and improper and she hated above all things weakness in herself, and she knew exactly why.

Her Rosie's father, that damned Ethan Winters, that beautiful, handsome, loving, angry, broken, tragic, tasty little man-thing...

She had been eating her supper of a particularly bloody cut of venison when she put down her knife and fork, and excused herself from her chatting, giggling daughters who were arguing over the merits of flaying the help alive and it's affect on staff moral, a topic that Her Ladyship would usually never allow at the dinner table nor allow to be done on the help for that matter, bullying them was one thing but torturing the maids with no good cause was something Alcina considered excessive in the very least, ten or so years ago however...

But her mind was absent from their playful bickering.

Her children stared at their mother confused and shocked she never excuses herself from a meal first unless it was for business, she had told them enough times that it was bad manners, they were not too surprised when Mama grabbed the bottle of Sanguis Virginis and her chalice that was on the table on the way out, she was likely heading to the other side of the castle to get drunk and brood she didn't allow her daughters to see her like that but they knew she did it fairly often, before Rosie came along she would do it practically every night, they had found her sleeping on the lounge softly snoring away, a spilt glass beside her on more than a few occasions, but since their little sister's arrival she only does it whenever Rosemary has a full good night's sleep, tonight it seemed it was one.  

Little did they know she wasn't drunk although she wished she was it would explain away her irrational feelings, but Rosemary was sleeping in the corner and she would never even allow such a notion into her head if Rose was in the same room, instead she sipped her blood-wine delicately and moped at herself in the mirror listening to her music.

Like some pathetic pining besotted schoolgirl .

She scowled at herself and slumped in her chair, Ethan Winters had been at the forefront of her mind for days since their chat five days ago, she fed from him this morning after letting him see Rosie for the third time, and his taste and scent still clung to her, she could taste him on her tongue every time she inhaled, she didn't even eat much of her meal, his warm lifeblood was enough to keep her sated and content, it made her feel something strange as well the notion that it was Ethan's blood inside her made her feel excited in a particularly perverse and uncomfortable way, she had to throw that dirty thought out of her mind more than once today, as well as many others.

She wrestled with what to do with him and her predicament, she had known Mr Winters for but a short time but had already felt so attached to him, not only was he appealing visually to her, his courage, determination and fatherly affection for Rose was endearing and attractive to Her Ladyship he seemed like a genuine and good man and they in her eyes were rare, even if he did try to hide his secret, his gift that made him special, they hadn't discussed it but she knew, she could taste it, and he was being naïve if he thought she was ignorant to his healing factor, pretty much everything about him made him desirable in her eyes, she even liked his occasional bursts of defiance towards her, his shocked angry face when she described unseemly grisly acts or half hearted attempts to restrain himself when she fed from him, she enjoyed teasingly quashing them even more. 

What was stopping her from just going down there and taking what she wanted from Ethan? Blood and all, She wasn't used to having to restrain herself when she truly deeply desired something, she was Lady Alcina Dimitrescu after all, Mistress of Castle Dimitrescu and matriarch of her family, she took what she wanted, but she wanted more from him than just a caged plaything to feed on and bed whenever she desired, she wouldn't want that for Rosemary's father and a man she respected and frankly admired, it wasn't the right thing to do and she wanted to be good for Rosemary to set a true example for her new daughter. 

She also felt somewhat ashamed, as if it was wrong to like him the vindictive prude in her told herself Ethan was beneath her, he was little different to those peasants outside, a commoner of a lesser species, he was just produce.

That was nothing but a hollow, vicious voice in her head however, she didn't feel an ounce of spite towards him, even if he fought her daughters and would've killed them if he had to or at least tried to if they stood in his way, she couldn't bring herself to do it, he seemed too good and wonderful to hate from what she saw of him.

How could she condemn a parent for being ready to do what she had done herself for her daughters?

But why was it mutual? She was an immortal, blood drinking 'monster' after all why would someone, even someone special like him, want or be attracted to her truly? Was it just lust or something more? Of course she was not ignorant on the effect she had on men but she was also not human to most she was a demon, a nightmare even if she was a beautiful one.

This whole situation was just so...

She was almost grateful when the shrill cry of Rosemary waking up as thunder crashed outside as the storm rolled in from the northern forests to the mountains, snapped her out of her conflicted thoughts.

She sighs happily and stands up turning to the elaborately carved white painted wooden and silver inlaid crib, a crib that once bore her and all her children throughout the decades, she grasps the sides and peers down on Rosemary whose chubby little face was screwed up in a scream "Hello my little rosebud, did the storm scare you? Come here..." She coos softly as she leans down to pick up her child and comfort her in a tender loving embrace,  "It's nothing to fear my love, I'm here for you, I always will be my love... shhh..." She kisses her Rose's brow taking in her rich clean baby scent,  the storm cracks and roars loudly again, flashing through the curtains as the mother begins to sings a soft tune to her wailing babe.

Ethan drags the straight razor across his face before sloshing it the bowl, it was another dreary, rainy morning in the castle, and Ethan had slept well his newest bites were healing well and his first initial one was all but gone, his second one was barely there at all save for a slight red ring, he places down the razor and inspects his clean shaven face and bites, they are worth it he thought to himself.

Anything for Rose, and to be close to Her Ladyship, he had seen Rosemary since then several times, always with Lady Dimitrescu present and close, Rose had also seemed to get used to having him around, especially when he made her little teddy dance on his lap on his second visit as she watched from Her Ladyship's knee, her tiny mouth hung open in glee, blue eyes lighting up with joy, darting between the happy, familiar face of her father and the teddy bear he playfully held by the arms and walked around on his legs while Her Ladyship encouraged Rose to look at him "Look what your Papa has for you our little rosebud...", it still strange to hear her say Our daughter,  Ethan's heart was close to bursting when she reached out for him wanting a cuddle from him afterwards laughing and gurgling happily when her mother let him take her into his arms and hold her close as she grabbed at his clothes and hands, Lady Dimitrescus adoring happy face beamed down the sight of him and Rose bonding, cuddling and playing together "I think she's warming up to you Mr Winters" Ethan wept tears of joy as he held her to his chest and laughed the tiny arms clinging on to his clothing, his eyes beamed into Her Ladyships own as he thanked he between sobs for the hundredth time.   

He wasn't this happy since him and Mia renewed their vows, he really didn't mind the bites at all.

What he did mind however was the judging glares and hushed whispers mentioning curses and evil magic from the maids as they clean them, he decided to do it himself yesterday morning and had Ana fetch him some disinfectant and cotton, it didn't stop the disapproving looks from them however aside from Ana, she had always regarded him with sympathy, she clearly found his case pretty tragic, in all honesty it was.

He wasn't sure himself if he would laugh or cry at the absurdity of being a locked up by a seductive vampire in Romania in an old castle and used as a human blood bag, it was even more laughable that he enjoyed it and even looked forward to her bleeding him and her body against his, even if they were both being slightly restrained and coy about it the last two times. 

But at least Ana was kind to him and didn't treat him like a leper, since Her Ladyship has called for him more often they've been keeping a wide berth from him despite his friendly demeanour and manners towards them, Ana would often bring him his meals and act as a liaison between her mistress and Ethan, the day before yesterday she even had him measured up, Her Ladyship had apparently ordered Ana to tailor him some clothes, she really was adamant on keeping him around.  

"Mr Winters sir?" Ana knocks on the ajar servant's bathroom door "Would you care for tea and gruel sir?" She called from the door.

"I'll pass on the gruel but I'll have some tea please" He calls back and turns to grab his shirt when he hears gasping and shouts from the halls as several maids burst into the room two of them holding up a whimpering shaking girl clutching a bloody rag to her eye, she cries out in pain as they bring her over to the vanity with the washbasin, Ethan can see from her reflection in the mirror her right eye is a ruined mess, crushed into s red jelly and her whole socket is swollen, bruised and bloody.

"It's okay, stay calm we'll clean it shhh..." The one Ethan knows as Sofie coos as she dabs her colleagues face with a clean, disinfected cloth.

The girl does nothing but whimper and sob as Sofie tries to hold her still and tend to her wounds, the other maid Gabi glares at Ethan, she's covered in her fellow maid's blood.

"Christ! What the hell happened?" Ethan gasps walking over pulling on his shirt and buttoning it "Can I help?" He asks concerned at the wounded girl.

"This is your fault..." Growls Gabi, she steps forward angrily her fists are balled up, she looks ready to strike at him "'Miss' Daniela overheard Janice talking about you, saying how you were laying with Her Ladyship and she smashed her eye in with an ashtray!"

Ethan is confused, he steps forward " I'm sorry it happened but How is this my fault? I-" She screams at him.

"Because you are cursed Mr Winters! That witch has taken your soul! A righteous man would take his and his child's own lives before being complacent in her magic,  you are but a weak willed foreign non believer! It's no wonder you lost your child to her!" Her fear of any retribution overturned by her anger and loathing towards Ethan.

Ethan's brow furrows as rage takes twists his features, he pauses staring at her angrily "...What the fuck did you say?" He says menacingly "You don't get to say that!" He shouts at her, fire in his eyes and in utter disbelief that someone would say something so cruel to him.

Ana steps between them "That was out of line Gabi!, apologise, now!" She feared for her fellow maids life, even if the others were jealous of Ana's position and the relative safety it afforded her, she still was a fellow maid and a pious woman.

"Why because we're beneath you Mr Winters? Maybe you are just as wicked as them!" she snapped at him.

Gabi ignores her colleague "A man who lies with a witch deserves to burn as much as her, Mother take you Mr Winters" 

"Enough with the superstitious bullshit, leave if you don't like it! I can't and won't, you and your 'Mother Miranda' can get fucked!" Ethan snarls back his voice steely, all the maids simultaneously gasp and bow their heads to whisper a prayer of appeasement.

"Forgive his blasphemies Mother, he knows not what he says..." Ana mutters out loud, Ethan glares around temper flared and still shaking with anger.

"You're all actually insane..."

Sofie leaves the wounded maids side to grab Gabi's arm pulling her back "Watch what you're saying, you'll end up like her, fetch me a needle and thread, now!" She says firmly at Gabi and pushes her away from Ethan who returns her stare with anger, as she is pushed out the door by her colleague and friend.

"This is just ridiculous... I'm going to talk to Daniela" He turns to leave head shaking in disbelief at these people, how could he be to blame for another's action? He felt guilty, that girl will likely lose an eye due to Daniela's psychotic actions, he may still be new here and an outsider but he wasn't going to let people get hurt just because of rumours and because of some insane, backwater superstitions, he tries to be tolerant of their beliefs, he's not one to discriminate on such things but it's difficult to be open minded towards some 'deity' that demanded Rosemary's blood for sacrifice and apparently cursed him, although that would help explain his life for the past few years.  

Ana steps out after him "Sir wait please!" she calls out grabbing his arm, he tugs away from her, turning to look at he, his face stern and serious.

"What?!?" He snaps "I'm not letting you all get hurt on account of me or am I taking the blame for this shit!" He barks.

"Mr Winters please sir, Miss Daniela is, well she's Miss Daniela sir... You can't just shout at her she'll kill you!" She pleas attempting to pull him back, she doesn't want him die, the stranger was kind to her, few people were, her dreams were already haunted by nightmares of his bloody, pale face wrapped in linen eyes open and lifeless, mouth contorted in pain as the daughters drag his wrapped corpse away to butcher and devour while cackling, and cleaning the very plates and chalices his flesh and blood were served with the next day, she dreaded that fate for him.  

He moves away from her outstretched arm "Then she'll be killing her sisters father, and disobeying her mother." he retorts, he turns to walk away from Ana she meant well, but his tempers were flared she knew first hand how headstrong Mr Winters was.

"She disobeys her behind her back all the time sir and Her Ladyship often allows it, please think about this sir" She weeps, she thinks a silent prayer to Mother, even if he would not appreciate it.

"No, I'm gonna talk to her and Lady Dimitrescu, you won't stop me, Ana I'm sorry" He walks away from her, opening the door into the main castle at the end of the hall and into the castle's chambers and halls, he wasn't scared of them anymore, at least not like he was.

Ethan followed the sound of loud swing jazz and wild laughing over by the East Gallery by the library, a large lounge room was the source of commotion, Ethan's heart hammered in his chest as he stormed up the white and gold hallway bathed in light from golden chandeliers above, he had to calm himself down before he confronted her, he risked losing a lot from this not just his life, he knew how irate he could get when pushed and Gabi's words had hurt him, he was enraged by what she said about him, Rose and Her Ladyship, and for getting the blame lumped on him, he didn't particularly care what the maids thought of him, but his own conscious would tear him up, he did pause momentarily dreading on displeasing Her Ladyship by directly confronting her daughter, but even if this accomplished nothing but raised tensions he would not allow his daughter to be near that type of behaviour, he didn't want Rose to be raised seeing the maids nearly beaten to death for mere gossip

No matter how true he wished the gossip was.

By the time Ethan found himself having second thoughts he was already gripping the door handle and pushing it open, he really should've planned this better.

Fuck it, nothing ventured...

Olga was spinning around wildly a swarm of droning black beetles and mist shrouded her as she danced around hovering inches above the floor, dancing a mad Charleston dance with herself, humming aloud and giggling in the centre of the large well lit room, her sister Daniela lounged on the velvet sofa laughing wildly at her younger siblings antics, she was drinking from a large silver and crystal chalice like her mother had, its crimson contents had already spilt on the white cushioned sofa as she howled with laugher, blood had stained the carpets and Ethan noticed a small stand by an arm chair that had a large blood spattered crystal glass ashtray.

Ethan walks into the room completely unsure of how to engage this conversation, he felt somewhat calmer but still determined, he felt better having Olga there, but he would've preferred Kassandra she seemed to like Ethan in her own weird way or at least always was obedient towards her mother and wouldn't dare to lay a finger on him, either way it was too late now as Olga spun around towards him grinning as usual "Well! Hello Mr Winters! Care for a dance?" she stretched out out her hand at him and smiled happily, Daniela stared at him he could already feel the daggers he stared at him rake his flesh, her hatred made her eyes flare up maliciously as she scowled at him. 

"No, thank you, Olga." He declined politely but firmly, he wasn't in the mood for their games.

She tuts and rolling her eyes, withdraws her hand and starts elegantly spinning in the air and laughing as she moves over the record player to turn it down, Mr Winters clearly wanted something he rarely left the servants quarters unless he was sent to mother, she was very curious as to what. 

He looks over to Daniela bracing himself for that hateful yellow glare "Can I help you Mr Winters?" Daniela smiles sickly sweet, her eyes tell a different story, oh how she wanted to cut out his own pretty, staring blue eyes...

Ethan clears his throat and walks over opposite her, she looks almost shocked that this wretched man-thing would approach her, "The maid, you hurt her, why?" He says calmly but firmly, her black lips part in an evil grin.

She leans back and rakes her nails along the arms of the sofa "Because that little cunt was spreading vile rumours, false rumours about you and Mama, disgusting foul things, Mr Winters" She spits out his name like it was poison, she takes a gulp from the chalice maintaining eye contact the whole time, the more Ethan looked at her the more her blood boiled, he wasn't worthy to look at them, he certainly wasn't worthy enough to look at Mama, disgusting little man-thing, she knew exactly what foul thoughts ran through his head when he looked at mother, she always used to tell her what man-things always desire from women...

"Besides why shouldn't I hurt her? She should be grateful I didn't kill her." She's says nonchalantly fiddling with her necklace, she turns to Olga "But I have already just eaten, I am on a diet after all..." They both giggle like schoolgirls. 

"Because it's wrong..." He says almost confounded by her apathy.  

She cocks her head her smile dropping to a look of genuine puzzlement "Erm...Why is it wrong?" Do they actual have no empathy? Olga moves over to watch the altercation, she thought Mr Winters must've been mad or drunk coming at Dani like this, either way it was entertaining.  

Ethan is dumbstruck by the answer he gets "Because smashing someone's eye in for a rumour is excessive Daniela, that's why." 

She laughs out loud, even Olga stifles a chuckle "Oh dear! Mr Winters, but it feels oh so wonderful to inflict pain! You best remember that around me..." She takes another gulp and picks at bloody stains on her dress "And that's Miss Daniela to you, 'Ethan'" She growls "You will learn your place while you are here, and try not to bother me with such nonsense again, man-thing" She turns away from this annoying pest back to her sister "Turn the music up so I don't have to listen to this sheep bleating at me, dear Olga" 

'...Learn my fucking place...' He would only let one person talk to him like that in this castle and she wasn't here in this room, he won't let this little psycho vampire bitch walk all over him "I am your little sisters father, you best get used to me bleating because I won't leave her, and I don't want her seeing you do that shit to people, I won't allow her to be raised around... that" He grits out between clenched teeth.

She rolls her eyes at him and sucks her teeth clearly getting annoyed "And what makes you think you have any say in how she is raised? You're just a glorified walking personal reserve for Mama nothing more, a little snack for her to chew on every now and then when she's peckish, Rose does not need a father, she has us, we don't need a man-thing here chasing Mama's skirts and pathetically letting her feed on you whenever you feel like being a father, no wonder you lost her being the pathetic wretch you are." She smiles wickedly knowing that last part would get a rise out of him, it worked wonderfully.

Ethan's face flashes with anger and his eyes narrowing, he steps forwards hard "I lost my child through no fucking fault of my own! I'm her father that means I have a goddamn right!" his fists ball up and he gets tense "Rosie needs me and I'll do what I need to be with her, your mother shares that sentiment so why can't you?" He glares her down.

"Why would I? One day Ethan she will be like us and there will be nothing you can do about it, even if you do somehow manage to still lurk around when she's older, I for one won't think you will be, especially if you continue to look at me like that, worm." She growls raking her nails harder against the arms of the couch again, The notion that Rosemary would be an immortal, bloodthirsty predator one day never occurred to him till now, he was too focused in the moment these days to think of the long term, he really didn't know how to react to that.

"You are nothing but prey Ethan Winters, blood and meat that is all and we are hunters, maybe Rosie's first will be you?" She stares back at him any sense of amusement is gone from her face, she can sense Ethan tensing up his testosterone and adrenaline starting to make him aggressive, she takes that as a challenge.

"You know what?" Ethan sneers ready to let loose his thoughts on her "So what if your mother likes me? The rumours may be false but I like her too take that as you will, I'm glad she found Rosemary and is willing to provide for her, I owe her so, so much, I'm happy she's let me into her home, she is a wonderful, kind but deeply flawed woman, one of those flaws is you Daniela, I can't believe someone like her raised a vicious creature like you that selfishly clings to some petty grudge, I get it you're all vampires or whatever but you don't have to act like this, Daniela in fact I just feel sorry for you, you all fucked me up that day but I'm not here holding out for rematches like a spoilt, scorned bully, I'm sure Her Ladyship tries real fucking hard with you..." 

Her eye twitches and she lets out a low rumble from her throat, her muscles ready to spring, her black wasps crawl up from her back and take to the air circling her head, how dare this vermin question her relationship with her beloved mother, Mama loves her so very much, even if she drives her up the wall sometimes, deep down Daniela always had doubts about her mother especially lately, Her Ladyship was not the same woman who raised her, Dani had secretly thought that Mama had started getting soft after the whole incident with Kassie's founding, and deep down Daniela was disappointed in mother, not that she would ever say that out loud, and she had a feeling mother was disappointed in her too sometimes for staying the same fiery, bloody handed creature they both were in their youth, this rat's words had struck upon those doubts, like a pickaxe striking a black vein of ore deep down the dark recesses of Daniela's black mind. 

Now you done it.

"What do you know of mother you filthy perverted man-thing?!!" She screams her teeth flashing animalistic and fierce as her mouth snarled at him.

Ethan starts to feel his heart racing, and that all to familiar flight or fight mode start up in his brain, get ready this'll get ugly he thinks to himself, Olga quietly, playfully gasps like a schoolchild watching two schoolmates gearing up to fight in the playground, drifting over by the fireplace on to get a good view, the air was palpable, Daniela launches her goblet at Ethan and he ducks down to avoid it, it's bloody contents sprayed across the coffee table between them and the carpet, it shatters and crumples as it hits the wall.

She howls an inhuman scream and leaps at him clawed nails at the ready and teeth bared, he stumbles back knocking himself into the stand with the ashtray on, falling on his ass briefly cursing himself, Daniela chuckles at him as she pounces "Clumsy stupid man-thing!" he raises his legs up and rolls on his back attempting something Chris taught him that he usually never quite managed, as soon as she is above him falling onto him he kicks out catching her in the belly, she gasps her face shocked and in pain, and using her momentum launches her over his body with his legs, she flies behind him with a shocked scream and crashes into the wall. 

Holy fuck, that worked??  "Lucky when you're unlucky Ethan..."

Olga is pretty impressed, maybe Ethan can knock some sense into her sister as much as she loves her, she can be very petty, she always plays pranks on her sisters to get her back for jests and slights that Olga didn't even remember, Olga thinks back to the time when she took Dani's favourite silver hairbrush and didn't give it back and how weeks later Dani locked her in a room with no curtains up as the sky was starting to turn grey with the morning , she even blocked the gap under the door preventing Olga from dissipating into a swarm of beetles to get out, Mother above how Olga was scared and cowered and pressed herself in the corner weeping to avoid the sun's rays and begging Daniela to open the door and how Mama nearly throttled Daniela for such a cruel and dangerous form of payback, she always took things too far, She didn't even get shot and the grenade was meant for her anyways, why did Mr Winters bother her so much? Dani needs to calm down and let things go sometimes, Olga grinned as she watched Ethan stand up and momentarily stop to check Daniela, his face was panicked and slightly concerned  but he raised his fists anyways, when he saw Daniela growling and pull herself up shaking her head angrily and spitting out some blood,  he turned to run he didn't get far, Olga told herself to step in if it gets too bad, she remembered the lecture mother gave them all about not killing her prisoner the afternoon of his incursion, but he looked like he could handle himself especially when she saw him just dodge a clawed lunge that would've torn out his throat, this was all too fun, she wished she had snacks.

Ethan jumped back as she tried to grab him and raised his arms to avoid her slashing claws she screamed and growled "I've been looking forward to this man-filth!" Daniela cackles her claws slices through his sweater, shirt and flesh as he guards against her strikes, he pops a job at her face and she steps back roaring and flies at him again her lip trickling her own dark blood, she tears open his arm with her nails again and he staggers back shouting in pain, he kicks out at her leg and hits her knee hard, but that only causes her to stumble at him and fall onto him she grabs his collar and yanks him towards her open mouth, he desperately pushes her back they tussle and wrestle on the floor grunting and screaming "I-I'm gonna kill you scum!".

"Fuck you! You crazy bitch!" Ethan shouts back in her face, he was gonna die there was no way he could hold her off for long she was damn strong and thrashed out like an eel.

Olga's nostrils flare and she takes in the smell of blood, she pauses just as she was about to rush over and pull Dani off him, she had thought they had proven their points by now, but the smell of spilt blood threw her off and mesmerises her, her eyes turn hungry as the temptation to let her sister kill him and feed together creeps up on her, she throws that thought back and shakes herself sober of the dizzying aroma of blood, Dani was greedy she would never share him before mother found out and when she found out...

"Dani! Enough!" She calls out and flies over "Dani please! Mama wil-" Her hearing picks up the sound of someone entering the room and a short gasp of surprise by the door.

"ENOUGH!" A loud matriarchal inhuman roar tears through the room "You will stop this nonsense at once the pair of you!!!"

Daniela throws herself off Ethan quicker then when the curtain fell down on her and the sun scolded her, she stands  hands by her side looking down at the ground, a routine Ethan was sure she practised often enough, he pulled himself up gasping in pain, he was bruised and cut, six or seven savage tears had lacerated his forearms bloody, luckily it was the backs and sides she missed his arteries and veins his left arm was especially torn and bleeding heavily he clutched it to his chest, and looked up as Lady Dimitrescu stood there wearing the same striking white apparel as when he first met her, she held the weeping form of Rosemary close to her breast she had just been awoken by her mothers shouting, she flailed about in her blankets and pretty pale pink dress, Her Ladyship's dark make up shadowed eyes regarded her Daniela and Ethan with fury, her face was straight and authoritarian, her stern gaze was terrible to be under, no wonder Daniela would usually never misbehave around her.

Her gaze froze on Ethan for a while, staring at his bleeding arm, regarding it hungrily he notices her slightly bite her lip and lick her lips, she closed her eyes heavily and inhaled in his scent, she was fighting the temptation to just feed on him then and there, the cry of their child threw her out of her primal cravings and back to the situation, that could wait she thinks to herself as she jostles Rosemary leaning down to kiss her forehead and soothe her "There, there I'm sorry my love, your papa and big sister are being silly... shhh" her face snaps up her adoring, calming smile replaced by her previous stern, motherly gaze.

"What in God's name are you doing? Rolling around like squabbling children? I would expect that from you Daniela Dimitrescu but not you Ethan Winters a grown man?" Her tone was more composed for Rose but still firm and disapproving, underneath the pain Ethan felt ashamed and worried, this could seriously jeopardize their arrangement, what was he thinking?

Kassandra drifts in behind her mother eyes bewildered and as she wondered what was going on, she stops and looks over at her big sister who was clutching at the dress by her sides, face frowning, Ethan stood there backing away from Daniela, holding bloody wounds on his arms, she did the same thing her mother did when she saw Ethan, she looked hungry "Why's Mr Winters bleeding...?"

"He started it mother!" Daniela looks up and shouts voice apologetic her bloody face put on a veil of innocence "He attacked me Mama!" She lies.

Ethan turns to look at her angrily "I didn't attack you! You came at me! I just wanted to talk"

Her Ladyship rolls her eyes as she continues to rock her child softly in her arms "Don't lie to me, Daniela Dimitrescu, Mr Winters did not attack you first, moderate your voices the pair of you" She looks back down Rose cooing at her and pulling a funny face at her sobbing mewling babe "... no, no they won't be loud anymore dear, settle my Rose..." 

"He was being rude mother, speaking out of his place" She snapped quietly "He thought he could tell me what to do, so I put him there, he has no right to tell me what to do" She side eyed him evilly, but she looked at her mother like butter wouldn't melt. 

Her Ladyship frowns at them "Is that true Mr Winters?" 

"She smashed a maids face in, My Lady, I won't allow that around Rosemary, I wanted to make her know that"

She stands there staring him down firmly "Our Rosemary was not around when it happened, and rest assured my daughters know better than not to do that near an infant Mr Winters, My Daniela was right you did speak out of turn, you should've came to me if you had any concerns, I will not have you going behind my back to discipline my daughters".

Daniela smiles smugly, she feels like she's won, maybe mother will see some sense and let her finish the job, maybe it would be like old times again...

Ethan feels like shit and not just because of his wounds, she was right he had no right to discipline them, he was Rose's father not theirs, but coming to terms with the more brutal aspects of the Dimitrescu's nature was hard, they were what they were, they could no more help their tendencies than he could help being a headstrong fool and coming up here to give Daniela a piece of his mind, he was an adult but he felt like he was a naughty boy being scolded. 

He looks up at her his eyes uncertain and apologetic "I'm sorry if I overstepped My Lady, I just get worried about our child" He shuffles nervously.

Her Ladyship looks down at Rose with an absent smile as she starts to stop her sobbing as her mother rocks her softly, she puts her finger in Rosie's outstretched tiny hands and lets her pull it to her tiny mouth to suckle and drool on, her golden eyes lock back on Ethan content her child was calm and more than happy to let her chew and suck on her gloved fingertip she smiles at the father of the bundle of life she held, he had sired such a beautiful child.

"You need not worry Mr Winters but I can see why you would confront her, you do not understand our ways" She turns her gaze at Daniela "And you, young lady" her quiet tone tinged with iron "Will not lash out at my guest and the father of your sister again, you have equally no right to 'put him in his place' as you crudely put it Daniela Dimitrescu, he is not one of the help." 

The blood smeared, tattooed face turn exasperated and confused, she whines at her mother "But he's man-blood Mama, he is a lesser! a prey-thing!" 

Her mother pouts sternly at her "Let me put this in a way you will understand young lady, Mr Winters is mine, I claim him as my own, he is not yours to harm, do you understand child?" 

He really felt strange about being referred to as a possession, but he was glad that if he was going to be anyone's to claim it was her. 

"But mother the maid-" She whinges out stamping her foot.

Her mother growls slightly, the rumble in her chest making Rosie kick out and fidget "Enough, I care not what caused this, you've already upset your sister and I, you will stop your senseless hostility to Mr Winters and he will not confront you about things he does not understand again, you will apologise to Mr Winters and he will apologise to you" 

Ethan is more than willing to eat humble pie and apologise, the last thing he wants is Her Ladyship's scorn, he turns to Daniela "I'm sorry Daniela." his voice genuine as it can be.

Daniela on the other hand looks at him and sneers, she spits on the ground in front of him, and looks back at her mother "I won't apologise to him, he's not wort-"

Her Ladyship takes several steps forward and scowls at her eldest "You will say sorry, right now and cease your vulgar manners" The contrast between how she tenderly held Rose and the fierce look and tone she gave Daniela was bizarre for Ethan to witness, he didn't think anyone could look so torn between tenderness and anger.

Daniela looks at sisters for support, Olga and Kassandra stood by the fireplace, they often got a kick out of seeing mother scold one of them, it was even more interesting she did the same to an outsider of the family, they didn't expect her to be so soft on Mr Winters however, they shrug their shoulders at Daniela.

"Don't look at them child, look at Mr Winters in the eyes and say sorry, or I'll confine you to your room with no blood" She warns, still letting Rose suckle and play with her hand.

Her venomous yellow eyes stare at Ethan, his blood runs cold again "I'm sorry Mr Winters..." She grits out disingenuously, she refuses to look directly at his eyes, staring at his bloody wounds instead, she's content she at least managed to give him a mauling for his impertinence.

"That is much better Daniela" She turns on her heels content that this matter is solved, for know at least "Olga, fetch us a maid to bring in some bandages and salve for Mr Winters wounds take your time please, Kassie dear take your little sister and go play with her, me and Mr Winters have to talk in private" She leans down to kiss Rosie one more time, she appeared to had become calm now, Kassandra drifts over arms out stretched and smiling to take Rose as their mother bends at the waist to deliver her child into Kassandra's eager arms.

"Come on Ducky, it's grown up time, let's go play with my dolls together..." She coos sweetly, despite what had happened and what the daughters were like Ethan was glad they loved Rosemary just as much their mother, it was just as heart-warming to see them bond, Rose fidgets and tussles slightly before her eyes focus in on the pale, messy face of her big sister, and she gurgles happily, her infantile brain associated the redhead with her collection of pretty dolls that she would stage tea parties for Rosie to watch and make them dance, how Rose's face lit up when her big sisters fussed and played with her.

"And you Daniela" She stands up straight to scowl at her disobedient daughter "I don't want to see you until dinnertime, do I make myself perfectly clear young lady?" Her hands drops to her hips.

"Yes, mother"

Olga had left the room already keen to get away from Daniela who would likely drag her and Kassie off to the dungeon or one of the old towers so she could listen to the angry blonde rant and rave at this apparent misjustice done against her by mother at some point, Kassandra lifted up Rosie so Ethan could see her grinning face "Say bye bye to your dada!" ,Ethan smiles and waves a bloody hand back at his child.

"See ya kiddo!" He says happily for Rose, how he wished this had never happened he likely would've been holding her by now sitting next to Her Ladyship, what a damned fucking fool he was, Kassandra kisses her soft temple leaving a dirty smudge that she quickly cleans off with her dress sleeve, as she spins around and floats away copying Rosie's babyish incoherent babbling and jostling her, Kassie was fluent in speaking baby and could understand her perfectly, even if her sisters thought her mad for saying such things, then again they always have.

And Kassie agreed with her, grown ups are weird...

Daniela is the last to leave, she slowly drifts towards the door burning golden eyes leaving Ethan's wounds, she hated him even more now, she was humiliated by mother all because of that little worm and his stupid effect he had on their mother and the fact he could manipulate her as he was Rosie's father, why did such a beautiful lamb like her new little sister have to have a father? Mother above how she wanted to kill him even more now, she leaves the room following her sisters, she stops to spin around and scowl at Ethan one last time, she silently mouths "You're so dead" at him as she pulls the doors to, closing them and leaving Lady Dimitrescu and Ethan alone in the room, he shudders and looks down at his bloody arms.

Ethan turns to face the intense staring visage of Her Ladyship "I'm so sorry My Lady I didn't know what I was thinking..."

She sighs and looks at him, full red lips turned in a disapproving frown "You clearly were not thinking dear, now..." 

"Your clothing Mr Winters, remove it please" Lady Dimitrescu orders as she walks up to him, the distinctive footsteps in the now silent room echoed, the golden eyes looked at him tenderly even if they had the slight predatory gleam she get's when she catches the scent of blood.

He looks up at her confused and wonders for what purpose "Erm... My Lady?"

She tuts "Just your jumper and shirt, I need to clean your wounds dear" She places a reassuring hand his shoulder and directs him to the armchair.

"Oh My Lady, yeah right..."  He smiles awkwardly as he lets her lead him to the chair, he pulls off the bloody sweater, the ragged sleeves cling to his wounds and he winces, he knew they would've stopped bleeding by now and on the cellular level had started to heal but they still hurt a few of them were likely deep enough that if he were normal he would've got some pretty permanent nerve damage, he notices Lady Dimitrescu turn away from him sharply as he unbuttons his shirt, looking down and a slight flutter of her lashes and a small tinge of pink at her cheeks as he undoes the last few buttons and pulls it back exposing his bare torso.

It was rude to look at one undressing she told herself, but that didn't stop her from looking once he was done she had wanted to see his bare body again since the dungeons, now it looked much more appealing in the light of a warm room and all cleaned up, well relatively clean at least, his forearms were still covered in blood, she walks over to him and grasps his hands lifting them up to look at his torn forearms, getting a better look at the claw marks, her eyes flare hungrily, although they had stopped bleeding they were still smeared with his sweet, delicious blood, her breathing gets heavier as she stares at them, she presses her hand against his pectoral running it over his firm strong chest, trailing the clawed fingertips gently scraping his skin, making him shiver and tingle, and lightly pushes him down onto the chair, before dropping to her knees in a front of him between his thighs in a blink of an eye, God she moved so fast when she was like this, shuffling closer and staring intently at his bloody wounds, he has a pretty damn good idea of what's gonna happen.

She doesn't even ask like she usually does, she gently takes his left arm and runs her tongue along the skin, turning it from pink to red, her tongue curls back in her mouth and she closes her eyes briefly in pleasure as she gulps down his blood, gasping with satisfaction at the first taste, her eyes flash open burning brightly at him her chest swells, she stares back at him, smirking wickedly before lapping at the rest of his skin, Ethan feels hot and weird as her soft, warm tongue runs over his wounds, it stings a bit at first but that soon fades when he feels her grasp his thigh with her free hand and gently squeeze it, her thumb running tantalisingly close to his pant's crotch, he closes his own eyes and takes a deep breath trying to steady his accelerating pulse. 

When he opens them she's staring up him continuing to lap at his bloody skin moving on to the other arm, not breaking eye contact as she does so as they bore into his own pools of blue, her soft moans and hot breath against his skin, is all too much for him to register his mind starts swimming with all sorts of thoughts, 

Jesus Fuck this is intense he thinks to himself, he also thinks what it would be like to have Her Ladyship on her knees like this and running her tongue along another appendage of his... 

He tries to turn his mind to other things but fails, he raises his now cleaned left arm to her face, she nods as he caresses her cheek and moves past to stroke her soft, dark curls as he often does when she feeds, she continued to stare up at him and clean his wounds, he feels his blood rush to his cock. 

Please don't let her notice I'm pitching...

She does.

"There..." She coos softly "...All clean now..." She licks her lips, and plants a small trail of kisses down along his right forearm "Oh... looks like I left a bit..." She grins before she brings up Ethan's hand to her mouth and gently places his thumb onto her lower lip letting him stroke it softly before sucking the tip of his thumb playfully, her soft wet lips wrapped around and suckling it seductively was mind numbing to Ethan, he bit the corner of his mouth and flustered.

There was no blood there, she just wanted to gauge his reactions, she adored messing with him like this, it was all so much fun making him all hot and bothered, she loved hearing his heart hammer in his chest, that dumbstruck, confused look on his face as she teased, his awkward fidgeting and his brow slightly beading with sweat, and that funny hunch he does to hide his swollen manhood.

With a soft smack of her lips she withdraws his hand away from her and kisses it "I was most disappointed with you..." She playfully frowns her eyes moving up his chest as she drums her clawed fingertips on his thighs "... But you taste just too good for me to stay angry at you, curse you Mr Winters..." She leans forward and plants several kisses on his bare chest over his heart leaving small marks from her lipstick, her hands grip the arms of the chair and pushes herself to her feet resisting the urge to stay down and tear off his pants, composing herself he had the same effect on her after all, she was just much better at hiding it. 

He looks back at up her his head feeling more clearer now she wasn't 'cleaning' his wounds, with a smile on his face "Well I can be grateful for that, I don't want you to be mad at me My Lady"

She turns away from him and walks over to the drinks stand in the corner of the room, bending down to scroll through the attached wine rack to find a suitable vintage, Ethan can't resist a glance at her shapely rear being thrust out as she does so.  

"Then don't pick fights with Daniela dear, even with your accelerated healing she could tear you to pieces in a straight fight." She smiles playfully as she drops the fact he knows his secret on him,  tapping the neck of a good 1998 vintage red, blood free for Ethan's preferences before pulling it from the rack.

Ethan looks shocked and he clears his throat, he had his suspicions she knew, after all she was the one drinking his blood but now it was confirmed. "You know??"

She spins around in her dramatic signature way a bottle in one hand and two glasses in the other "Of course I do Mr Winters, you were being quite silly if you thought I didn't know, dear" She walks over and sets the glasses on the stand by Ethan, pressing her pinkie against the cork and shooting the claw into it and retracting it, the cork drops to the floor and she pours him and herself a glass, "No normal man would've recovered as quickly from the wounds you've suffered since your arrival" she walks over to the fireplace and leans against it with her glass regarding him with a coy knowing smile.

"You are very special Mr Winters, which is why I don't want you getting killed by Daniela nor anyone else for that matter" She brings up the glass and swirls it she would've preferred her Maiden's Blood but she wants to share a glass with him, it was a good enough bottle after all.

"I don't know about special, an idiot maybe but not special My Lady, I shouldn't of done what I did, it was stupid of me" His eyes drop down and he looks regretful.

She takes a small sip and nods in agreement "It was very stupid of you, don't try to tame Daniela Mr Winters, leave her and my daughters to me, worry about ours, not mine" He was glad she seemed to change the subject from his 'gift' to something else even if it was a lecture about boundaries.

"I won't anymore, if I have any problems with them I'll come to you first My Lady, I swear" 

She smiles and nods "Good, I don't think I would ever forgive her if she took away Rosemary's father from me..." Her eyes flash as if she said something she shouldn't of "Excuse me, I mean her, I meant Rose..." She sinks the regular sized wine glass in a single gulp.

You idiot Alcina... You'll ruin our little game if you make it too obvious.

Ethan smiles coyly upon hearing her speaking out a titbit of her mind as she looks away, almost flustering herself "It's just..." he begins before stopping choosing very carefully what to say next before giving up "Never mind" he reaches over to grab his glass, bringing it to his nose to sniff for the tell-tale coppery notes of blood, there was none, he takes a hearty swig. 

She walks back over to him and picks up the bottle, her plucked brow raised in curiosity "Go on Mr Winters, you may speak your mind" she says as she pours another glass for herself.

Ethan sighs deeply and bracing himself "The maid, she smashed her eye in with that ashtray, My Lady" he points to the bloody cracked ashtray next to the wine on the stand "It's...cruel to treat them like that My Lady, I'm sorry this is not my home bu-" She shushes him and smiles softly.

"I understand dear, I completely do, you are not from here, your world is so very different to ours, what happens here can be... cruel, but it is the lesser evil, my family struggles with our natures, before it was much worse I assure you, Heavens I would've crushed the maids skull myself if I heard her stepping out of place, I made tremendous efforts to change myself but I allow my children their vices because they are not exactly like me, I can change my nature easy enough even if it does take time, my dear children however are more...primal, they don't understand life is more than just a playground for them to mess around in, that will take a long, long time, Daniela is the worst in that regard because when I first had her Mr Winters I was... wicked, a tyrant, I slaughtered in Mother Miranda's name and for my own pleasure and unrestrained by any remorse or sense of morality, Dani grew up around that behaviour, believe me Mr Winters I won't let them fecklessly kill the help" Not often she thinks "Besides, as I'm sure you've noticed the beasts in the village have made getting staff difficult as of late, that and the servants are few as it already is with such a large castle, an occasional lost eye, cut or bloody lip  is preferable to hanging disembowelled corpses everywhere" 

Her explanation leaves Ethan confused, what exactly are they? Was their base natures that savage that beating and bullying the help is the lesser evil compared to what it was? She looks down at him stroking his soft golden hair that she adored, before sucking in a heavy breath and sighing, her eyes turn sad and full of regret.

"My Kassandra was the turning point for me, when I found her Mr Winters I was covered in her parents blood, I had just butchered her entire family because their eldest daughter stole from me while she worked here, I gave her to Dani and Olga and went to her family home in the village...I went too far Mr Winters, it made me ill what I did to her birth family, some nights I can still hear baby Kassandra's cries mixed with her parents and sibling's pleas for mercy, do you know what her eldest birth sister stole? Food Mr Winters, a bag of flour and some onions from the castle larder so they could get through the winter alive and I did that, it- … that haunts me Mr Winters... I just want to be better, to throw off Mother's shackles and be good for any future daughters I have, so they can be better than I was and have a better life than I."

She looked sad and vulnerable, as vulnerable as she could seem anyway, it hits Ethan that was one of her deepest secrets and regrets, she was speaking from the darkest corner of her heart, and it was something she likely never even spoke about with her daughters. 

He stands up and takes her free hand, kissing it softly and stroking the warm leather, "I would say if a person realises when they go too far then they had some good in them anyways My Lady, no matter how buried and deep down it lies, and now you're trying to bring that out, to fight against what your own instincts and Mother wants you to do, to be better, that takes a lot of strength, that in itself is a good example to set for your daughters, to show them that it is possible to live like that, to be kinder than what everyone thinks you are capable of."

Her lip trembles slightly very few people have ever said something like that to Alcina that she was capable of being better, that they believed she could be good, she beams down at him "When I look at our Rose Mr Winters, it gives me hope that I can start again, that I am capable of creating something good for the world instead of just more pain and suffering, I love my daughters so very much, but I made so many mistakes with them, it took me twenty years of raising Kassandra wrestling with those regrets before coming to this conclusion, the past ten or so I've been trying so hard, even turning against Mother and openly defying her, I want to change and Rose is a part of that, truth be told it is selfish of me to see your daughter like that I know-"

Ethan raises his hand to stop her "My Lady, I don't think it's selfish at all, if Rose can be a fresh start for you, and as long as you cherish and care for her than I don't see why it would be, yes, I wish Mia was still here, that me, Rose and Mia were living our old lives together, but if some happiness can come out my family's tragedy than I can be at peace with that I think My Lady, like I can be at peace with who you and your daughters are My Lady." He hopes he can at least, but he can try, for Rosemary and her.

And you are a part of that Ethan Winters, you are starting to make me feel good, like I can do good.

Her Ladyship looks down at him warmly, their eyes lock and she feels at peace staring at his honest, caring eyes "Thank you Mr Winters... You are a kind man, I'm glad you are with me and my family, even if the circumstances are painful for you, one day I hope you will come to see this place as a home for you."

He kisses her hand again and smiles "I'm just glad I have Rose back to help with the pain, and you, Your Ladyship" Her body tingles when he says that and her large heart flutters in her chest, Why would he be like this towards me? She thinks to herself, does Mr Winters really care about me like that? Why?

She chuckles as she places down her glass and holds both of his hands in hers "My, you do know how to charm a lady Mr Winters, no wonder Mia snapped you up!" She laughs loudly and pleasantly. 

He returns her laughter with his own and blushes "I dunno about that My Lady, I think I got lucky with her." He was glad he said the right things, he was starting to see her more than a parent he was forced into raising Rosemary with and a object of repressed desires, in Ethan's mind she was starting to become a friend and that was a surprise to him, he just hoped she felt the same.

"Don't be so coy Mr Winters, you are more charming than you think!" She let's go off his hands smiling tenderly at him and picks up the glass to take a sip, just as there is a knock at the door.

"Enter!" Lady Dimitrescu calls over her shoulder, Ana opens the door and steps through the threshold, holding a tray with bandages, disinfectant, salve and a sewing kit as well as a small basin of water, Ana was terrified for Ethan when Olga burst into the maids dorm and started hollering that Mr Winters needed medical attention, for a second Ana assumed the worst, it was even worse when Olga demanded she take her time getting the pieces together, her mind raced with whatever Daniela did to him.

"Ah! There you are Ana girl, come here leave the tray on the stand" she hurries over to them and leaves it by them, briefly looking at the smiling Mr Winters who gave a warm look and a nod of assurance, one that Her Ladyship noticed and regarded curiously, feeling a slight prang of jealousy that she shrugged off, as if they could ever compete with her for Ethan's attentions, she laughed at herself for that notion.

Ana stands by her mistresses side and bows "Is there anything else My Lady?" looking down at the air between Her Ladyship and Ethan.

"Yes, bring him a shirt and prepare a hot bath and meal for Mr Winters while we finish talking, there's a good girl" She traced her clawed fingertips over Ethan's shoulder and smiled at him "Run it in my bathroom girl, it's much more comfortable than those horrid tin ones" 

Ana was glad Her Ladyship liked him, and was looking after him if anyone can protect him from Miss Daniela than who better than her own mother? She smiles ever so slightly and curtseys "Of course mistress, My Lady, Mr Winters" She nods at both of them as she turns to leave almost quaking with relief that the kind outsider was alive still and well, even if he didn't know or want it Mother was protecting him Ana was certain of it, her prayers were working.

She turns back to Ethan smirking and cocking her brow "Friendly with her are we?" She asks playfully.

Ethan looks at her confused before returning her smirk "Jealous My Lady?" 

She cackles and playfully slaps his arm "Not at all dear... She is pretty in a rather plain way, too young for you though I should hope, the girl is only nineteen"

He blushes and look shocked "My Lady! I'm not down there hooking up with your staff if that's what you think!" he thought Ana had looked older, it must be the stress of this place.

The pearl white teeth show and she grins taking a sip of wine "I would hope not, I only employ maiden's after all"

He looks at he confused again "You mean like virgins My Lady?" He wonders as to why, honestly not sure if he wants to know.

She nods "Yes virgins, for my signature wines, virgin blood is particularly sweet, untainted by all those nasty diseases, pheromones and the vulgarity of life"

Christ this really is another world he thinks, he assumed it was something like that "That's not fair on them, what happens if they have sex?" dreading the reply.

"They are given their last salary and shown the door dear, most of women in the village had worked here at some point, did you think I would murder them for being harlots?? My daughters may rough them up a bit but unless they lie then they are just dismissed" She replies eager to dispel any horrifying notion he may have.

He looks up at her still slightly feeling at odds over this topic "And if they lie My Lady?..." he asks, silence hangs in the room for a while.

"Rest assured they know better than to lie, their lies could ruin my name, I can't sell a high class exclusive vintage tainted with lover's pox can I?" She leans over and smiles at him

Ethan tires to change the conversation from maiden's blood and the fate of lying 'harlots'. "No, Ana is kind to me My Lady, nicer than the rest of them, the others think I'm cursed or something" He shrugs.

She rolls her eyes at her help's feverish paranoia "Let them think what they want Mr Winters, a lion cares not for the opinion of the sheep my dear, they are superstitious fools nothing more, I'm glad Ana is making you feel comfortable at least, I don't want you feeling alone down there." 

He grins slyly "Am I a lion now?"

"More like a little, grumpy alley cat dear" She winks at him, they laugh happily together.

"That sounds more likely I guess, It's enough knowing I'm under the same roof as Rosie My Lady anyways." She beams at his answer, good heavens he's being a sweetheart today isn't he? Making up for that ruckus with Daniela he must be.

Lady Dimitrescu smiled as she picks up the salve "Sit back down and let me dress your wounds please" Ethan sits back down and offers up his left arm first as she pulls off a glove to rub the soothing salve, it feels odd for her to touch him and not feel the leather of her gloves she constantly wore, the porcelain skin of her exposed hand was incredibly soft as she delicately dabbed and rubbed the salve on his wounds, he notices her dark fingernails were fairly long and sharp, and almost looked metallic due to their colour and touch when they slightly scraped his skin, curious.

She does the same to the other arm, before looking up at him and pouting happily "So, how did you become special Mr Winters?" The question took him off guard, he didn't like that question at all and he twitched slightly, that question opened up the memories of that bloody long night in Dulvey.

"I-I..." He stammers, his memories racing, his eyes close heavy...

The shotgun's muzzle flash lights up the hallway in the main house, the Molded closest to Ethan  flies back against it's slimy, erratically twitching fellow creature behind staggering it, it's hideous, toothy face blown off by a hail of red hot buckshot the one behind it pushes the corpse out of the way relentless in its pursuit of Ethan, it's arms reaching out mouth open and wide, grey drool rolling from it's fanged maw, Ethan steps back his shaking, bloody, bandaged hands reaching into his pocket fumbling for more shells to push into the breech of his weapon, he walks backwards eyes wide and terrified, his heavy scared breathing is loud in his ears, as is the rasping, growls of the monster coming at him and the ringing of the gunshots, he slides a single shell in and fires it at the creature, taking it's arm off at the elbow staggering it for second or two, he steps back through the doorway and slams it shut in the beast's face, walking back and driving more shells into the breech.

"There you are Ethan boy!" A familiar heavily accented voice stops him in his tracks, it's him, Daddy... Jack...

"You shooting the family pets are we, motherfucka? That won't do at all boy, come here!" He storms towards Ethan who shouts in terror and fires two shells that tear open his chest he staggers, coughing up blood and grunting Ethan stares in horror at the gaping hole the blasts took out of him, he can see the lungs moving with each breath in the ruined, broken mess of Jack's chest, as well as the flesh bubbling and reforming.

"WOOO-WEEEEE!!!" He laughs "That smarts you cocksucking fuck!! My turn Ethan!!"  He raises the pickaxe and brings it down on Ethan...

Lady Dimtrescu's comforting touch takes him out of his traumatic flashbacks that lurked around the periphery of his mind "Ah, I see..." She says face concerned and sympathetic Ethan stares past her for a while before saying something.

"It can be hard to explain, I was infected by something... a bioweapon made by some organisation Mia worked for, she went missing for three years, I found her, and the bioweapon..." He reaches over and drains his glass "... I'm sorry My Lady, I don't want to talk about it right now... that was the night that lead to everything... going wrong, to now..."

She starts wrapping his arm gently in bandages "Is this right? Is what we are doing wrong Mr Winters?" She asks eyes focusing down on dressing his wounds, being tender as to not hurt him.

He bites his lip unsure how to reply "...No... I don't think it is...it's just unexpected My Lady, if that makes any sense?" She finishes the left arm and start dressing the right, still looking down, hiding her eyes under the brim of her hat, she doesn't want him to see any flashes of disappointment in her eyes from his replies.

"In a way yes, Mr Winters, you wish things were different, as do many in this life, you wish that you were not here and you were still in your old home, with you wife and child, that you did not know me nor this valley ever even existed." She says quite bluntly, he felt a bit hurt by that for some reason.

"No, I'm glad I met you, someone who didn't try to kill me or throw a hex or whatever at me" He says "Someone who seems...kind, and cares for Rosemary." 

She looks back at him with a grin, kind is a word that she doesn't hear directed at her often "I'm not terribly sure about that, Mr Winters, I very well was prepared to kill you but a few days ago" 

He chuckles "Okay My Lady, someone who didn't kill me on the spot and at least gave me a chance to explain myself, and someone who wasn't covered in hair and trying to smash my head in" He thinks of her brother and the lycans, and shudders, he realises how at ease he has become around death and monsters as well, as if it was starting to become something normal in his life, he had changed, he wonders if this what was Chris was like, if that normalcy around death and horror was what started him off.

She snidely chuckles "Yes the lycans are foul aren't they? Repulsive beasts, not the worst creatures in this land however..." She trails off "I'm sorry for bringing up your gift, I didn't mean to upset you Mr Winters" Her eyes are apologetic and she smiles reassuredly "I will have to know at some point however, I can't risk something happening Mr Winters" Worried his condition may be unstable for him or even potentially dangerous in the future, Lord above she knows how unpredictable beings like them were, she dreaded if Ethan ever saw her in her terrible, 'true' monstrous form the dragon, the beast that lies within her flesh, any notions of attraction or whatever he felt towards her would be quickly dispelled she was sure of that, he would run and never look back.

He nods softly "I can understand that I guess, even I'm not sure of it entirely all I know is I don't get sick very often and I'm tougher to kill." It was true the E-Type Mold that clung to his DNA was something he was constantly worried about, he worried how it would effect Rose, despite the BSAA telling them she would be fine, how could he ever trust anything they said now?

She finishes dressing his arm and brings up his hand and kisses his knuckles, noting the callouses on them and the small scars, she looks sadly at his hands for a moment, before pressing another kiss to them "I for one am glad you are tough, Mr Winters and that you are special" she gives his hand a loving squeeze and drops it "It means I don't have to wait days between feeds for you to recover!" She jests.

"Heh well, I'm more than happy to be a well stocked bar for a tall drink of water like yourself My Lady..." God Ethan, stop trying to flirt, It's cringy dude, he thinks and slightly blushes, she seems to find it funny at least.

Her attractive elegant face is wracked by laughter and she wipes a tear from her eye howling "My word Mr Winters! Did you just refer to me as 'a tall, drink of water'?, Good heavens!!" She almost snorts she laughs so hard "That is a new one dear I have to say" She puts a hand on his shoulder and strokes his collarbone tenderly, her golden eyes sparkle with happiness "You are becoming most endearing to me Mr Winters, truly." 

He puts his hand on hers, and beams up her craning his neck to stare at her eyes lovingly "I do have some uses it seems than My Lady, aside from getting into pointless fights and tasting good My Lady." She bends down to cup his cheek and press a kiss on his brow.

"Don't sell yourself short dear, now how is your arms Mr Winters?" She asks standing up fully, he moves it about inspecting the bandages.

"I'll live, I've had a lot worse My Lady" She is sure he has, poor Ethan.

The door knocks again "That must be Ana with your shirt" She turns over to the door "You must want to relax in the tub for a while, try not to get your arms too wet, not that it matters Mr Winters" Noting the fact they were likely already scabbing and healing, she was mothering him. "Ana will take you to my bath chamber, I must attend to business I'm afraid..."

He looks at her curiously "Business?" His mind wanders as to what she could mean.

"Politics unfortunately, I still have to maintain the balance of power, and my brother has been calling me often lately, perhaps the boor wants to make amends..." Unlikely she thought to herself "I shall have to see you later my dear I'm afraid" She looks at him fondly, wishing she could spend more time with Ethan, she leans down one last time and plants a kiss on his head, he senses her longing.

He reaches up to trace her jaw, she shivers slightly jostling her curls "I won't be going anywhere, remember? You claimed me?" He grins playfully, still feeling conflicted about that.

Her red lips split in a tender smile "I suppose I did..." She stands and turns to the door "Enter!" She calls for Ana to come in, she walks in meekly as ever but her face looks much happier than usual carrying a neatly folded button up white shirt in her hands, she approaches Her Ladyship and Ethan.

"Sir, your shirt" She thrusts it out to him avoiding looking at his bare body, that amuses Her Ladyship, she may have limits with the staff but she does enjoy watching them squirm and fluster, she is well aware of the terrifying effect she has on them, results of generations of stories and superstitions about the castle and her firm demeanour towards them is the cause, and her daughters of course, Her Ladyship is more than happy to let them quake and quail around her.

"Thanks Ana" He nods as he takes the shirt and pulls it on, buttoning it up, Her Ladyship catches a last lovely glimpse of his body before it is covered.

"Take Mr Winters to his bath girl" She says, as her handmaid bows.

"Yes My Lady, please Mr Winters sir... She gestures for him to follow when he is ready, Ethan looks up at Her Ladyship smiling one last time before he makes for the door, they stare at each faces for a while beaming warmly at each other.

"Good day Mr Winters..." She says wistfully and pouting slightly, she wished she didn't pine so damn hard for him, as she watches him leave with Ana. 

"Here we are sir" They had been walking through extravagantly decorated and opulent family quarters of the castle, everywhere Ethan looked he saw golden inlay, intricate floral decorations, fine art and antique furniture, he had never been to this part of the castle before he walks down a bright long, wide corridor passing by three doors on his right each door had a golden intricate letter on it "K", "D" and "O" they had to be the daughter's rooms, the white doors were dirty and had scratches and bloody streaks on them, he noted Kassandra had doodles of stickmen and flowers all over, Daniela's was particularly savaged and mauled and Olga's was relatively clean compared to the other two, he dreaded to think what they were like inside, Ana led him to the large tall, decadent golden decorated doors on the far left of the hall.

"Here sir, there is towels and clean clothes in there" She opens the door and ushers him inside, Holy...

The entire marble room is lit up in golden light from the chandeliers and wall mounted lamps, there are beautiful murals on the walls depicting various detailed scenes of hunts, ships at sea, lovers dancing and scenes that Ethan figured had something to do with Greek mythology, he wasn't an art student but he was absolutely awe struck with how gorgeous the room was, the carved marble columns had gold leaf grapevines crawling up them, there was huge silvered mirrors against the wall, a large marble wash basin stood in the corner of the room and in the centre was a huge ivory white claw footed tub, with even more gold inlaying it, veins of the precious metal covered the polished exterior of it, hot steam billowed out from the vast tub, Her Ladyship must've had that custom made or something, it was more like a damn pool than a bathtub, beside it was a beautifully carved dark wood dresser with an attached golden towel rail, a variety of bottles, pots and jars were on top of it.

Ethan whistles as he walks into the room bathed in it's warm golden light "Damn, Her Ladyship takes bath time pretty seriously..." He idlily says looking up at the beautiful mosaic on the ceiling of a sword bearing woman fighting a huge dragon or monster, the woman reminded him of that statue in the village graveyard.

"She does sir, I usually have to attend her during bath times for hours, she often takes a long time in the tub sir, I believe she just finds it soothing" She nods, Ethan wishes he could attend her while she sits and lounges in the tub, how the warm, soapy water must've ran and glistened on her perfect, pale skin... 

"Her Ladyship has exquisite taste when it comes to interior design sir" Ana continues, she nods proud to help upkeep such a beautiful home, even if she was brought up with stories of curses and unspeakable horrors about this place and she was convinced more than a few trapped spirits roamed the halls, this place held wealth and beauty Ana would have never even been able to dream of in her dreary, old family shack in the village, Ethan was equally struck by castles beauty, even if he did find himself missing the amenities of modern life and it ticking every box in the Gothic horror movie cliché.

He thoughtfully swirled the warm soapy water with his hand, his mind turned from the opulent sights he saw to Her Ladyship and what she said to him earlier, he hadn't expected such a intimate conversation with her, every time he comes face to face with her finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into his desires for her, he keeps trying to tell himself he is just here for Rose but that get's harder to believe with every conversation, touch and restrained kiss to his brow, he knew Mia would want him to move on, she wanted him to do that to her when she was taken by Evie, she would want that for him now, but with someone like that porcelain skinned towering aristocratic vampiress? How would she feel about that? About their daughters new mother? He looked at the wall staring at a mural of two lovers dancing hand in hand his face blank and in deep thought, Ana noticed, and even if it was not her place to do so she touches his shoulder to assure him that whatever ran through his head it would be okay, she was certain he wouldn't mind.

He snaps out of daydreaming and looks at her with a warm look on his face, despite his doubts he was still happy. 

"Are you well sir?" She asks concerned.

"Yes, thank you, I'm fine Ana" He appreciated having someone to talk to who he didn't have to put on airs and graces for, even if he found her beliefs distasteful and strange "I'm just happy, and I haven't been for a very long time that's all."

She smiles "I'm glad of it sir, Our Mother loves you despite what the other maids say, I can tell sir" She steps back "Will that be all sir?" She had duties elsewhere in castle she had to attend to, Her Ladyship would need help getting ready for this afternoon.

"That's all Ana, thanks" He nods as she bows and walks off closing the door behind him.

He takes another look around in this grand room he found himself alone in and starts to undress, before climbing with slight difficulty into the tall huge tub, stepping into the hot clean water and laying back, Christ he could almost do a lap in this he thought as he lounged back and sighed.

A soft jazzy tune plays from the hallway outside the door Ethan can hear it echoing as he lounges and relaxes, for the first time since he came here, he feels completely safe and for a while at least, his stresses and worries melt away in the steam and hot water. 

Chapter Text

"It's not fair!!!" Daniela screams in an inhuman pitch as she swings a chair against the bars of a cell the old wooden chair shatters to pieces and she flings the legs across the dungeon chamber with a loud angry hiss, she kicked a bucket against the wall and throws back her head and screamed a long, hateful screech into the cool, dank, dusty air, Olga and Kassandra sat together on a bench against the far wall of the sisters personal chamber in the dungeon, their little clubhouse Kassie called it, it was a large, vaulted stone chamber the walls were covered with old, rusting shackles and lit torch sconces, against the walls and scattered about here and there were a variety of fun toys the daughters used to often play with, racks, spiked chairs, iron maidens, Cruxi Decussata, cages and tables and chests filled with all sorts of appendage screws, knives, whips, hammers, flails and all sorts of barbaric and wicked tools of torture.

They had for the most part gone unused for a while, Olga stares longingly and fondly at a St Andrew's cross that many, many years ago she once bound a poacher who had been stealing game from the family lands to, they caught him retrieving hares from the snares he set, they beat him, cut him, flogged him, burned him, broke him and fed from him for days before Kassie got bored and slit his throat finally, his blood and flesh was deliciously seasoned with his fear, good times she thinks to herself, she misses those days, all three of them do, none of them aside from Daniela can remember their first or when they saw their first human die in front of them, Olga's oldest memory was when mother skewered a maid who had foolishly spoke back to her, through the groin at supper one evening and how they all watched her die as they ate, she remembers it took around forty minutes before the light finally left her eyes, Olga was ten years old, that was before mother shared the family gift with her, good times indeed she sighs.

Those days were gone but there was the occasional trespasser or maid that had crossed a certain and precarious line that mother allowed them to punish, but she usually restrained them from anything too vicious and it wasn't too often, Olga missed the old days but she loved her Mama and wanted to make her happy more than anything, she may be getting a bit soft but Olga didn't mind enough that she would ever defy her wishes not like Dani anyways, Olga had switched off about an twenty minutes into her elder's rant, and just continued sharpening her ivory handled slender blade dragging a whetstone across the fined honed edge and lovingly rubbing polish into the silver inlay that ran up the spine, she loved her blade, absently nodding whenever Dani directed a part of her ravings towards her, she didn't mind Mr Winters, she thought it was quite interesting having someone around from the outside, man-thing or otherwise, Olga had been especially interested in his phone and the music he played on it when he was in the library or his room, she had been hoping to ask him about it, the latest vinyl they had in the castle dated to 1961, it would be fascinating to hear something else and new, none of them ever had a man around them like Mr Winters walking around freely as a resident, let alone a father for one of their siblings, it was too early to see how this would all turn out in Olga's opinion.

The younger sibling however was much more invested in the rambling threats and promises of retribution against Mr Winters that Daniela spewed, she was leaning forward frowning eager to interject but Kassandra knew it was better to let Daniela make her threats and curses and break anything in her vicinity, let her wear herself out first before she spoke up, and her streams of the various ways she would murder Ethan had become more coherent and her frantic pace had slowed.

"How dare he!!! I'm going to rip his manhood off and...choke him with it, yes!" She cackles content at having broke everything within arms reach, she slumped against the wall, "That will teach him for having such filthy, vile feelings for our mother the disgusting perve-!".

Kassie cuts in "Mother above that's just gross Dani, and a bit much!" She says honestly quite revolted at that threat, face screwed up in disgust

Olga nods "Yeah agreed, even for me... that's really, really depraved Dani." Daniela's creative and vulgar threat perked her interest momentarily, she had never gelded a man before, Dani did once she said he screamed like a little girl and took a long time to die.

Daniela snaps up at her sisters "Oh!! He would deserve it!" She grins at the mental image of Ethan bleeding to death in front of her whimpering and crying clutching himself, that would be a wonderful sight.

Kassie looks confused "Why would he? Just because he beat you in that first fight? And has the audacity to be Rosie's papa?" She genuinely doesn't understand why Dani feels so strongly towards Ethan "He's nice to Mama and Rose, I like him" 

The eldest snaps up and snarls her teeth gritting together, "He didn't beat me!" Kassie rolls her eyes, she had come across the barely conscious body of Dani lying on top a dazed Olga, Kassandra panicked at first but when she saw them moving and heard their groans, she giggled glad they were alive, dodging the beam of sunlight from the shattered windows she approached them, the idea that a random intruder and a mere man-thing had bested two of them was entertaining, she stopped laughing when she realised Daniela's body was torn and covered in with her own blood, shards of glass and splinters had embedded themselves in her back and flank, and Olga had been shot, not that a mere 9mm round and a some stray buckshot would do much to beings such as them, but she still tore off to find mother who had been making sure Rosie was safe before she joined the hunt for the intruder, mother had always told them they were very hard to kill, practically impervious to most forms of damage but an out right good shot to the head or anything too grievous would be mortal, that and the cold of course, Mama had taught them all how to use their gifts, how hunting armed prey was a completely different game to killing prisoners, they had to be careful and use their gifts to their advantage, she even took them lycan hunting a few times just in case they ever had to confront them, not that they tried to lycans tasted like garbage water and moss, Kassie hated the beasts. 

Kassie snaps back "Yes he did!" She says smugly "He beat you and Olga" Olga looks up and nods she's more than happy to take her licks, Mr Winters put up a good fight and messed them both up, even if it was by sheer dumb luck with the curtain, it's not often she gets into a decent scrap with humans she adores that burning look in their eyes as they try to defy what is often the inevitable for them, that final stand against fate, that often short but exhilarating rush of hot blood as her opponent lashes out or fires their weapon in a pathetic attempt at defiance, and that satisfaction of cutting them down, to her that was much more fun than torture, but fighters were few and far between, Olga wished she had clashed with Ethan longer.  

Gritting her teeth Dani growls "He didn't beat us, he got lucky that's all, like he did when Mama saved his hide yesterday, I don't know why she lets him live let alone stay" She grabs the bottle of wine she swiped from one of Mama's various stashes by her feet and takes a swig and broods.

"Pass some, Dani dear" Olga says still focused on her blade lovingly checking the keen edge of her weapon, Dani hovers over and passes it to her, if Olga is going to listen to this she'll at least have a drink.

Kassie looks at her elder and sighs "Mother saved his hide because he's Rosie's father he's family now, just like Rosie is" Kassandra shifts nervously when Dani spun around and glared at her, her eyes angry at her little sisters words.

"No he isn't! I don't accept him and neither does Mama! She' just using him for his blood no matter what he thinks!" Kassandra rolls her eyes.

"He's Rose's papa! that's how it works Dani! And you haven't seen how Mama looks at him, how they look at each other, it's sweet." She finds the whole situation quite lovely really, Kassie adores a tale of forbidden love and desires, Kassandra has always been a romantic airhead as her siblings put it, she spent most of youth nose deep in tales of lovers, brave princes, beautiful maidens, monsters and treasures, she loved the idea that the monsters could be beautiful too just like her wonderful family, she didn't mind being the monster or the princess in the story that is life.

Dani dry gags and sneers "It's not sweet!!! I know exactly how he looks at her!" She spits out disgusted by the very notion "It's revolting!! And she doesn't look at him in that way! She's hungry that's all, he does taste pretty good for such a wretched man-thing" She couldn't wait to taste him again when she kills him, she had never eaten someone alive before, that would be fun, something to try in the future perhaps "You're being ridiculous if you think Mama wants him for anything other then food."

Kassie leans forward and grins "Then why is she letting Rosie play with him? If Mama just wanted to eat him she would've done so, or just kept him locked in the dungeon, this is all a part of Mama's changes, she want's Rose to have a daddy, and you wouldn't know what romance is anyway Dani" 

"Her Changes... please..." She always liked to believe these changes were just 'mid-life depression' as she once read about or something, it wouldn't stay like this she saw how close she had been to breaking her silly rules in the past, she will eventually see sense,  " Why do you like that wretched little coward so much Kassie? Maybe it's you that wants him?" Daniela smiles wickedly and snatches the bottle from Olga, chugging it back beaming at Kassie mischievously, Kassandra stares back with a confused disgusted look.

"Eww...no...Dani, he's too old, besides my prince charming has dark hair and green eyes and a big moustache! And Mr Winters is not a 'coward' he's courageous, him coming here for Rosie is a brave thing" She replies, Ethan wasn't the handsome dashing man-thing that would ride up to the castle on a white horse for her hand that she often fawned about in her dreams and when she was deep in her fantasies, he was Mama's she was sure of it.

Daniela laughs at her, Kassandra's childish fantasies were always funny to her, Dani thought Kass was living in a world of her own sometimes, "If he was really brave he would take Rose from Mama" She retorts she wishes he would do something so stupid that would give her all the excuse she needed "I wouldn't let a stranger take my baby without a fight, even someone as wonderful as mother."

"He isn't stupid Dani, he wants to live for his daughter, to see her grow up and he trusts Mama" Kassandra shifts and leans over to grab a grape from the bowl of snacks they brought with them, she pops it in her mouth and chews "Besides, the way you're always on about him, you sound infatuated by Mr Winters" She teasingly giggles even Olga who was fixated on her weapon still smirked. 

There is a low growl radiating from Daniela's chest as she stares at her youngest sister angrily "I do not like him, I hate him." Kassie was sure that was pretty much the same thing in her elders mind though, Daniela showed nothing but scorn towards anyone outside their family aside from Duke, but everyone likes that fat man and his caravan of wonderous goodies he brings to the castle as he makes his deliveries of supplies and takes Mama's wine away to be sold outside the region, and Mother Miranda she revered Mother more than her siblings and more than Mama for certain, all three had been brought up to respect and honour her, until recently that is, but Dani made her occasional prayers like mother used to teach them to do before bed, Kassie joined them sometimes but she never actually prayed, she just liked being in Daniela's company they would often end up sharing a bed and chatting and telling stories for hours afterwards, even if Daniela thought Kassie's fantasies and stories were delusional she still enjoyed hearing them, right now however was not one of those times.

Olga's face flashes up at them "I mean, it isn't like Mama hadn't had men before in the past, Dani she has urges like most adults" She remembers when she was very, very young that Mama had one or two male playthings in the decades long since past she remembered a soldier who ran away from some big war in the outside world, she kept him locked away in the dungeons, he ended up dead after he couldn't could give Mama a child not that it was his fault, Mama always said her condition made her infertile as it would the daughters, but when it was just Dani and a very young Olga she did everything to have a child, she tried every treatment, ritual, medicine, spell and incantation that she could,  it almost worked once, but Olga had come to mothers door one night to find her sitting up in bed, shaking, her eyes wide open and dark blood pooling between her legs and soaking the sheets, Olga clambered up and nestled up with her frozen, bloody clammy mother, Daniela found them later and joined them on the bed, they fell asleep on their mother's rapidly drying bloody sheets, Olga pretended to be asleep as she heard her mother softly sobbing as she held her daughters close, she still doesn't really know what happened but that was a very sad memory for Olga and Daniela. 

"See!" shouted Kassandra glad Olga seemed to be backing her up on this topic "She's done it before!"

"It wasn't like that! You weren't around Kassie you wouldn't understand what happened with them!" Daniela snaps back at Kassie, she didn't know what she was talking about, they were just a means to an end for their mother "They weren't their for mother's... urges..." the thought of her mothers carnal needs being sated by pathetic human man-things made Dani ill, no man would ever be good enough for her in Daniela's eyes and that type of stuff always disgusted her.

"That was different Olga, and you know you shouldn't bring that up!" Dani shudders at the horrid memory of those days, she was glad Kassandra wasn't around to see that, she would've broken down seeing her mother like that, Kassie was far too sensitive to see their mother in so much pain and sorrow.

Daniela could begrudgingly accept that maybe Mama had a fancy towards Ethan she does love a blonde after all, but if that was the case it wouldn't be long before she tires of him, Mama loved to have pretty things to play with but sooner or later she always broke them "Don't bring that up again, ever." Daniela sternly chastises her sister "No, it is not like that at all, she's just happy she has a new toy and someone she can pass Rose off to till she gets older, you know how tiring our little angel can be, even mother needs a break from her" Rose was adorable and all the family loved her with all their blackened hearts, but Mother above how she was a little spitfire, her wailing was so loud that it even woke the girls up in their rooms at times even with their mother's superhuman endurance Rosemary wore her out, much like how little Dani was Mama often told her, Daniela hoped so badly she would grow up to be just like her, she couldn't wait for mother to give her their gift when she was old enough and started her first womanly bleedings.

Kassandra sighs she was getting tired of trying to convince Daniela that Ethan wasn't that bad and just looked at her sister exasperated "Fine, think whatever you want Dani, but just don't hurt him again please, I don't want Mama getting sad again and if you go too far..." Daniela snarls at her sibling.

"And what makes you think you can tell me what to do? If I want to kill him I will find a way, I'm the elder I do what I want Kass, stop being such a sentimental, weak little cry baby it's so pathetic, go and play with your stupid dolls and leave this to the grown ups." Daniela could be so cruel sometimes, Kassandra stands up and opens her mouth to scream back at her sister , but she stops as her lip trembles and her eyes glisten, her wicked words cut deep into her, she wasn't weak or a cry baby, even if she felt like crying right now, she just wanted Mama to be happy, truly happy.

"You know what Dani? You're just so mean sometimes, just think about what Mama wants for a change please..." She pleas before turning around and making for the door 

"Hey! Kass where you going?" Olga called after her sister, she knew what Kass was like they had to be careful with what they said to her she took it to heart too often and she would often end up weeping and teary eyed if they went too far with their teasing, they remember how they once both went too far with a particularly vicious bout of mocking one day and she screamed and hollered at them, before she rushed over to the door, threatening to walk outside in broad daylight before mother talked her down and made them both apologise, Dani suggested they bake a cake and put on an elaborate surprise party for her a couple of days later to make up for it which they did, the blonde had her moments of tenderness. 

"I'm going to play with 'my stupid dolls!'" She chokes out as she bursts into a cloud of horseflies and takes off through the torchlit gloom of the dungeon, they could hear her start to cry even in her insect cloud form as she sped away from her wicked sister, Olga turns around to glare at Daniela and shakes her head disapprovingly, Daniela stares after Kassandra and rolls her eyes, what a silly little girl she was. 

"You shouldn't say that to her Dani, she means well she just sees how Mr Winters makes mother happy even if it is for a while" Olga says, standing up herself to go after Kassandra and play with her for a while to calm her down, Daniela spins around and tuts.

"Oh for... not you too Olga, I thought you were better than that" Dani sits down and drains a sizeable portion of the wine bottle before leaning back and chuckling "Are you getting soft too?" She mocks.

Olga just sneers and shakes her head again "You just don't get it do you? I want mother to be happy that's all, I want us all to be happy" Dani scowls at her, there was no getting through to her clearly Olga thought, as usual...

"Well I'm not happy!" Daniela growls "I won't be till I kill that vile man-thing..." 

Olga gives up and makes her way to the door, Dani was getting drunk and angry and that was a dangerous and frankly frustrating combination in Olga's eyes, she had her cello practise with mother soon anyway, she would have to tell Mama that she had to play with Kass to calm her down instead, that was annoying Olga loved it when mother taught her to play instruments, she wouldn't tell her what set Kassie off however she would have to lie, one of the rules of the Dimitrescu daughter's little clubhouse was secrets stay there, and no boys allowed, unless of course they were strapped down on a rack first.

"And I'm sorry you feel that way Dan, but you need to get over it" Olga was done with her sister for now, she didn't have the patience for this topic and she wasn't like Kass if Dani said something out of line to her, she would snap and lash out, and she was not in the mood at all for a fight, they would tear each other bloody in their current states, Olga slides her blade back into it's elaborately silver and gold inlaid sheath and tied it back on her belt "I'll see you later Daniela my love, I got much, much more important things to do than argue with you".

"Ugh...am I seriously the only one that is sane around here!" Dani shouts at her "Fine, go off I don't care! I'll kill him one day, and Mama will get over it! You all will!" She watches her sister leave, Olga just ignores her, her day was already ruined by Daniela she wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of responding.

Daniela huffs and empties the bottle in a long draught before flinging it at the walls and screaming once more into the dark, gloomy air of the dungeons.

Ethan was bored, as much as was he starting to get used to this place and was constantly amazed by the luxury of the castle, he found himself missing the modernity of the outside world there was no internet nor any televisions or computers, and while he did spend time in the library, many of the books were very old and very few were in English, most were written in French, Romanian or Latin, and while he could speak Romanian he still struggled to read it sometimes, and he didn't know a lick of French or Latin so he had no way of reading the vast majority of the countless tomes, novels and texts in the grand library, he had come across a room that seemed to be a small home theatre during one of his explorations around the castle, but he had no idea how to use the ancient projector or how to attach the reels, most of the films he found in the large steamer trunk full of reel spools he had never heard of, he imagined a lot of them would be silent films or early talkies given most of them were dated on their labels to the 20's and 30's, he didn't want to risk damaging any of the old reels so he gave up trying to figure it out, and carried on his exploring.

Her Ladyship had given him free reign of the castle he could go wherever he wished she had told him, however she did politely request that he stay out of the family's personal bedchambers unless invited, and away from the deeper levels of the dungeons and two of the old abandoned towers, she had told him they were dangerous places due to the understaffing there was a lack of maintenance, some of the oldest towers dated back to the 15th century she had told him and the narrow, worn out spiralling stairs were unlit and dangerous to climb up, so for the most part he had contented himself with the main castle and it's many floors, he had stumbled across several hidden passages and crawlspaces, although he did want to go exploring in them unprepared they were likely just as hazardous as the old towers and deep cavern like tunnels under the dungeons, she also had told him to stay out of her daughter's 'clubhouse', which was a large chamber on the far end of the dungeons past the cell block, he had stumbled across the large, iron reinforced door that had a sign nailed onto it with words "Stay out!" written on it, as well as various pieces of paper with doodles done by the girls scrawled all over pinned to the door, he assumed that was the girl's little clubhouse and stayed clear of it, the dungeons themselves scared and fascinated Ethan, he found a variety of interesting objects down there, from stacks of rusting cobweb covered medieval weapons and armour, to evil looking torture devices that sent a chill up his spine, especially when he saw some of them still had rusty, red stains on them, he tried not to dwell on whether or not they were still in use, he found a particularly beautifully made long thin bladed dagger that had been left lying around in one old cell, he did feel tempted to take it, the fight with Daniela was still fresh in his mind despite it being nearly a week ago, and the mental image of her making her silent threat to kill him as she closed those doors made him nervous, and he was afraid that he would wake up in the middle of the night with Daniela leaning over him, sickle in hand and grinning evilly, he had been very much tempted to take that dagger for some form of defence against the psychotic girl who had sworn bloody vengeance against him, but he was worried how Lady Dimitrescu would react to him having a weapon and what she would do if he was forced to use it against her eldest daughter, so he left the dagger down in the dungeon.

What really blew his mind was that strange circular room with the soldiers, encompassing the entire room was a scene of two medieval armies clashing, all the figures had been carved out of the walls, three golden hanging sconces swayed down from the ceiling, the room was incredible, he spent ages staring at the battling knights and warriors the craftsmanship of the stone carving was truly something else to behold, he wondered why this room was down here? What it all meant?

The wine cellar was at the other end of the vast subterranean level, and was well lit this seemed to be the only part of the lower levels that the maids regularly came to, likely to collect the wine to bring it upstairs to the wine room located in the main hall, the vast oak barrels lined the walls on both sides of the long, high ceilinged chamber, there was a stack of smaller barrels as well as large metal old  iceboxes in a small chamber that led off down a flight of stairs from the main wine cellar, large blocks of ice and piles of snow had been packed in to cool the room which an all too familiar metallic smell emanated from, he had a very good idea as to what was inside those barrels and refrigerators, there was a tasting room by the wine cellar which was stocked with full wine racks and had several barrels with spigots attached, he also noted a corking machine in this room and a large amount of empty bottles, including the beautifully decorated Sanguis Virginis bottles, the Lady's signature wine, she had told him she bottled that vintage herself and by hand, she was exceptionally proud of her signature wine and her wine-making lineage, Ethan nearly balked when she told him that a single bottle cost around in 45,000 in his US dollars, it was well known amongst exclusive wine circles and was shrouded in myth and mystery she had told him, as far as her clientele knew she was long dead and it was still made by her descendants and the virgin's blood was more symbolic than an actuality, Ethan wondered if anyone would buy it if they knew the truth about it's vintner and what was in it, they probably would, too many idiots in the world with far too much money to waste, she laughed at that "Well Mr Winters those 'rich idiots' fill the family coffers, not that need to in all honestly" he'd noticed how proud she was, he couldn't particularly blame her, she lived an extremely luxurious if antiquated lifestyle and was a wealthy, powerful, divinely beautiful woman even without her abilities and being immortal Ethan couldn't help but be impressed and happy that she had the means to support Rose, he did wish she'd get some wifi or something installed though...     

Once he had explored the lower level as much as he was willing to, he took to wandering around the rest of the castle, it took him around two days to fully explore every room and corridor, although he hadn't been on the battlements yet, the view over the village and valley from them must've been breath-taking, that and it dawned on Ethan he hadn't been under the open sky for a while now it would be nice to feel the wind even if it was constantly laced by rain, snow and hail, the doors that lead to the outside walkways on the walls and keep were mostly locked, and when he did find one door at the top of a tower that lead outside that was unlocked, he heard pretty unsettling noises like a pair of large wings beating just outside the door "Fuck that"  he said to himself before turning back he had no idea what was out there and frankly, didn't want to know, he found himself by the damaged Eastern gallery where him and Daniela and Olga clashed the broken windows had been boarded up and covered and the damaged floor boards in that hall had been torn up, and came across a room that piqued his interest an old study room where he looked around in when he first arrived and attempted to sneak around before Janice came across him, and found some pretty interesting thing's including a long letter written in what looked like Italian signed by a Donna and Angie Beneviento whoever they were, a postcard from 1957 from New York addressed to Lady Dimitrescu from a mysterious Mr Ashford, a box of old 45-70 Govt rounds, a golden pocket watch with the Hose Dimitrescu seal of a floral shield and swords, a silver flip lighter with a two headed eagle stamped on it as well as the date "1916" and the words "Fur Kaiserreich und Gotte", a plaid scarf that he took a liking to and 'borrowed', a decorated box containing two well embellished and silver inlaid flintlock duelling pistols and gunpowder cartridges with shot, and most interesting of all a small framed gold and mother of pearl locket of a woman whose face he recognised instantly his eyes shot open with surprise, it was Her Ladyship, she looked younger though, very young in fact likely around her daughter's age, and her skin was not as pale and her eyes were grey, her black hair was long, curly and had ribbons in it and spooled down her shoulders, and her blue and white dress was very, very old fashioned was this her before she was made into what she is today? What made him even more shocked was that the tiny portrait was painted and not a photograph it was so realistic looking he didn't notice at first, it wasn't dated and the initials "A.D" were the only writing on it, this only made him more confused just what was Her Ladyship?

No, from what he seen of her he can't refer to Dimitrescu's as 'monsters' or just creatures, non-human abominations to be 'neutralized' as Chris used to say, they are a family just like he had, like the Bakers had been, he did feel sorry for Jack and his brood even if what they did traumatised him and Mia sending their lives tumbling downhill, a part of her is still human and that's what he see's shining out from all that all the blood and horror, a monster doesn't reunite a family, even if part of that family is already now hers a evil demon isn't capable of love, remorse and compassion,  he shudders to think what would've happened if he killed the sisters that day, although it somewhat comforted him about Daniela's threats, that if he really, wanted to and with the right tools he could take her, not that he would nowadays he has too much too lose, and he won't stoop to that brat's level. 

He had thought she looked absolutely lovely in the picture and decided to keep it and place it in his drawer alongside his other photos of Mia and Rosemary, he didn't even really know why he took it, he was starting to get sentimental when she wasn't around he guessed, he soon found himself staring at that picture as he lay in bed listening to his music like he did with his photos of Mia. 

Today Ethan wanted to be productive instead of just inquisitive, he had just gotten out of bed and dressed and washed and joined Ana on the small table in the corner of the maid's kitchen, she had been eating a bowl of porridge and sipping her tea when the American sat down beside her on the bench, she hadn't brought him his breakfast this morning and he was slightly worried about that she always woke him up with a cup of tea and some eggs but for some reason not today, he could see why when she looked up at him and gave him one of her signature meek, nervous smiles, by God she looked exceptionally tired he though as he placed down his food and steaming cup of black tea.

"Good morning sir" She greeted him before yawning quickly turning away from as not be rude "...I'm so sorry sir for not bringing you your food-" Ethan smiles and cuts her off with a reassuring hand on her shoulder, he notices her blush and look away, bless the poor girl, Ethan knew she liked him he found that sweet, not that he would ever reciprocate it, he only thought of her as a friend and someone he could talk to without the formality of titles, he only had eyes for her mistress anyway.   

"Hey morning, it's fine Ana, I'm a big boy I can get my own breakfast" He digs into his eggs with a fork "Besides, if you don't mind me saying, you like shit, you need the rest" She smiles and nods tiredly, she found his foul mouth amusing it wasn't often she heard anyone so brazenly use those words around her, her mother used to chase her around with a wooden spoon if she heard her swear, she missed her mother but she was killed by lycans before Ana started working at the castle, she still remembers the gunshots as her father and brothers fired from the windows trying to keep the lycans off her corpse as she lay on the frozen, bloody ground in their yard after the beasts savaged and hacked her to death as she was outside drawing water from their pump, and how they had to give up and let the monsters drag her corpse off to feed on as they turned their attentions towards the house, Ana was happy knowing her soul would be at peace by Mother's side.

"You are so crass sir!" She laughs, it was strange to hear laughter echoing in the servants quarters it was usually so dour down here, even stranger that it was coming from someone as melancholy as her.

"I know, it's most undignified of me isn't it?" Ethan jests as he shovels some eggs into his mouth, chewing them and swallowing "What happened anyways? Didn't you get much sleep?" 

Ana sighs "I got none sir, your Miss Rose kept Her Ladyship up all night, which means I had to attend her, I believe she may be starting her teething sir" Ethan smiled at that, God she was growing up fast, he had seen her often enough recently but it was always at appointed times of the day, he thought Her Ladyship was being a tad possessive of her, although he put it down to her being used to raising her children on her own, either way it was something he had to discuss with her at some point very soon, she needs to let him be in her life more and have free reign with their child, after all she had said it herself Rose needs a father if he is still alive.

"I will need to speak with Her Ladyship then I could help her, she is my child after all" He replies between mouthfuls, whoever made these eggs did a damn fine job.

Ana looks at him sadly as usual "My mistress is still very worn out sir, she's having a lay in today sir and given me a few hours off duty, I wouldn't ask her yet sir not until she's left her room, she can be very... agitated when she gets tired sir, but she will listen to whatever you have to say"

Ethan looks up and angles his face curiously "Do you think so?"

She nods softly as she sips her tea "She respects you sir" She looks around and leans in close, she looked nervous for a second or two before she took a deep breath and grinned slightly "My colleagues say she is using and manipulating you sir, but if anyone is being wrapped around a finger it's her around yours sir" She flashes a brief smile "I joke of course sir, but she will listen to you, I see how my mistress looks at you, she is fond of you sir."

Very fond Ana thinks to herself, downright infatuated even, Mr Winters may not know this but more than a few times has her mistress glided as silent as a ghost late at night through the maids dorm and stayed outside his door as Ana pretended to sleep, at first Ana was horrified what would happen fearing she would go in and do Mother alone knows what to him but she never goes inside she just lurks outside sniffing and murmuring slightly pressing herself against the door and letting out a very bizarre soft, keening mewl occasionally, given how she wobbled slightly she had to had been drinking, she stays there for an hour or two much to the horror of the staff who witnessed it and drove themselves deeper under the covers to avoid seeing whatever strange, monstrous courtship was going on, Gabi started a rumour that she was putting a bewitching spell on him as he slept, making the non believer fall deeper into his vile desires for her as she fills his dreams with lustful images and wicked, sinful wants, Ana was sceptical, she thought she was just a bit drunk and pining for him, she was honestly getting fed up with Gabi's nonsense, Mr Winters was not cursed or anything she threw off that notion a while ago, Mother looked out for the outsider that was obvious to Ana, she had half a mind to tell the mistress about Gabi's malicious lies and have her disciplined, if it carries on she may just have to do that, Mr Winters has been nothing but kind and helpful towards them, he even helped cook their meals and cleaned up the servants kitchen and bathroom, despite Ana's protests, she was in all honesty getting angry with her gossiping fellow maids, and Ana never gets angry, she was even tempted to tell the daughters directly first about Gabi, now that would shut her up, for good most likely.

Ethan finishes his bowl of eggs and picks up his cup of tea "Well I don't know if I can influence her that much, even if she is fond of me she's a strong woman, but I'll try she needs to get used to me still I guess" Despite the obvious mutual attraction and flirtatious behaviour he still had small doubts about her and her feelings towards him, he still wasn't too sure if this was all a game to her or something more "Either way, is there anything that needs doing in the castle today?" He asks her.

Ana looks up at him "Mr Winters please, you don't need to do anything it's fine you are not a servant, you already do more than you should sir" She finds the idea of Her Ladyship's newest resident doing manual labour absurd, Mr Winters may not be a noble or have a title but he is still here at their mistress's pleasure it would be improper for him to do chores around the castle.

"Nonsense, I want to do it I need to keep myself busy somehow, I can't just keep wandering around or staying down here until Her Ladyship calls for me, I'd feel useless otherwise" He needs something to help distract him from moping in bed about the Lady and his late wife and wrestling with his thoughts anyways, but he doesn't tell her that, and he certainly doesn't tell her what he does when he's alone in his bed and can't get thought of Her Ladyship and her teasing out of his head... much to his own self indulgent shame.

The hand maiden frowns "Well... truth be told Mr Winters the courtyard needs sorting out sir, the paths have become overgrown and there is dead leaves everywhere, we usually don't have the time or staff to look after it sir, but it can be a lot to ask sir" The Lady does the gardening but she only cares for her strange, black flowers and her roses she doesn't maintain the actual place itself, neither does she enforce a strict schedule in it's upkeep, which Ana always found strange seeing how stringent she was with the castles work rota the daughters usually leave a mess anyways in the garden from their late night games and antics. 

"Nope, say no more" Ethan puts his hand up smiling warmly at her, "I'll see to it today before I see Our Lady, I would appreciate some warmer clothes to work out there however" he's eager to work outside in the open air.

Ana stands up and smiles meekly as ever but at least her eyes seem happier "Thank you so much sir, we all are really thankful for the help, even if my colleagues don't show it sir, I'll get you a good coat, gloves and some boots, we have some laying around somewhere" She doesn't know if her colleagues would particularly notice or care, but Her Ladyship would and she figured the American would be grateful for that, she nods as she turns around to leave, she would find his clothes and get back to her project that her mistress ordered her to do for the stranger.

"Okay let's see..." Ethan mutters to himself as he closes the courtyard door behind him and looks around to the courtyard it isn't particularly large but it's still quite grand even if it long past it's prime, it has a stone path and some stairs leading down to a large fountain in the centre with dancing nymphs and the house seal carved onto it the water still trickled and flowed from the nymphs jugs and pipes, rows of blackened twisted trees run on both sides of the yard, there are flowerbeds and shrubberies that are infested with bramble bushes, weeds and dead leaves whatever was originally planted there has been choked out and killed, aside from a beautifully arranged plot of rose bushes by some stone benches and stone statues of angels and dancing maidens, the place needed a lot of work more than just a day at least, but he was content to do what he could, he had found some gardening tools in the servants quarters and brought them with him in a wheelbarrow, the long grey, woollen overcoat, good quality work boots, leather gloves and the scarf he had claimed helped keep the cold off of him as he set out but he still instantly shivered as he felt the cold mountain air cool his face, it had been a while since he was last outside and his body had gotten used to the warm crackling fires the servants kept diligently burning in every inhabited room in the castle and its perfumed, warm, cosy, smoky air, at least it wasn't raining today and the recent 'mild' weather had melted the snows and ice the sky was a silvery grey but at least it was clear, Ethan grabbed a yard brush and got to work sweeping the paths clear of the dead brambles and leaves.

He had to have been working for at least a couple of hours now, he had plugged in his ear phones and tucked them under his coat listening to his music as he had cleared off the paths piling up the leaves and twigs to be burned in the fire pit he had found someone had dug in a patch of grass lawn  by the fountain, stone benches had been dragged to the firepit and there was empty bottles, cups, bowls and refuse around it, Ana had told him the young ladies like to stay out in the courtyard on clear nights and build a fire and 'camp out' as Olga had put it, they could at least take their mess with them, he would have to clear this away when he packed up for the day, he had planned on getting the fire going with some kerosene and a burning rag and had dumped the majority of the leaves and twigs on it for later, he then turned his attentions to the thick brambles that spooled like barbed wire and tugged at his thick gloves and clothes as he tore them up from the flowerbeds and disposed of them, he used a machete to deal with the more thicker ones hacking them up to get at their roots.

Ethan had little experience with gardening and was just winging it, but when he stopped to look around panting hot steam into the cool air it looked tidier, he had been getting worn out many of the bramble bushes had been annoyingly stubborn as he pulled and yanked at them and sat down on the stairs, pulling off his gloves thankful they were thick enough to withstand the thorns, and leaning back warming his hands he  wished he had some good coffee and a decent meatball sub right about now, when he heard the muffled chuckle of a child through his earphones it startled him and he turned around sharply to see Her Ladyship standing at the top of the stairs wearing a fur lined dark purple cloak over her silvery evening dress, as well as red cats eye shades and her large brimmed hat she held Rosemary who was swaddled in thick soft blankets and furs and had a small floral woolly cap on her head, Lady Dimitrescu looked between the two smiling her brow raised.

Rose gurgles happily and playfully slaps her mothers chest as she attempts to clutch the gleaming pearls and silver and ruby pendent she wore "Mr Winters" She turns to look at him "Good afternoon, Just what are you up to scrabbling around in the dirt? I tried to call you but you seemed in a daze or something dear" her eyebrow raised and her free hand on her hip.

Ethan pulls his headphones out and jumps to his feet, his face lighting up upon seeing his child grinning and laughing "My Lady... I...sorry I had my headphones in, I didn't hear you" He walks up the stairs towards them "Hey there kiddo..." He approaches them and looks down at his child her mother bends to let him see her, his fingertips brush her thin soft hair as her happy blue eyes lock with his.

"Ooh!...Ooh!" Her face beams up at the smiling face of her father she kicks out happily and laughs at him, he reaches down to press a kiss on her forehead, her tiny hands reach up to grasp and explore his face, prodding and squeezing his cheeks and nose.

Ethan chuckles "Hey! kid, easy on your old man!" Her Ladyship purrs with affection at their bonding, she leans forward and kisses the top of Ethan's soft hair, inhaling his rich, masculine scent and letting it cloud her thoughts momentarily, his heart starts hammering in his chest, he pulls away from his daughter to look up at Lady Dimitrescu who reached down to his chest.

"She's as feisty as her parents are, most fitting" She jostles the happy babe at her breast "Your music?" She takes one of his earphones regarding it curiously her full red lips smiling whimsically at him "May I listen please?" She asks.

"Help yourself." The rich smells of his daughter and Her Ladyship flooded his senses overwhelming the smell of damp soil and leaf mold that clung to his coat, he couldn't help but stroke her curls as she leant down and placed the earbud into her pearl decorated ear, she was more than happy to let him touch her like this, his cold, scarred fingers sent a ripple through her, as did the music that came from his earphone she flashes him a puzzled, jovial look

"And this is what they call 'rock music' I suspect?" The plucked brow arches at him again and he chuckles softly, it was pleasant enough, Ethan puts on faux shock.

"That is one of the greatest musicians of last century My Lady, David Bowie surely even you've heard of him?" He smiles playfully at her, God she looked lovely in the cold light of day, how the silvery daylight made her dazzle, even if it was overcast and grim out.

"I'm afraid not dear, he has a good voice, not the greatest however, I once met Dean Martin in Paris don't you know?" She brags looking smug, she had met a lot of influential people in her time.

 "Really? I didn't know you even travelled" He had thought she had shut herself away in this castle forever, given what she was he would've imagined it was near impossible for her to get around.

"Of course Mr Winters, I have been to many places, albeit a long time ago" Her lips part and she sighs happily, fond memories come back to her of fireworks in Vienna at the Imperial Palace, Masquerade balls in Paris at the court of Napoleon III, New Years Eve 1926 in London, debauched bloody evening parties with that strange and outrageous Russian monk in the crypts of the Tsar's Palace before those horridly dull Bolsheviks took over...  "Even as I am now I found ways to see the world, I even saw your New York" 

"I'm not from New York My Lady, I'm from Sacramento, California" He corrects he, what sights she must've seen in her long life Ethan pondered "I would've thought travelling would be hard for you in all honestly My Lady" 

"I had my ways and contacts, but home is where the heart is as they say dear, and my daughters can't exactly leave and come with me the sun has no effect on me but as you know for them that's not the case, and I have found they get... unruly when I'm not around" Ethan could very well imagine "I haven't travelled since the end of the last World War truth be told" She been far too busy in raising her daughters and following Mother's plans, she honestly preferred her homogenous life, travelling was exceptionally difficult due to her stature, appearance and appetites, she missed the roaring hearths, the lavish comforts and her family whenever she was away anyways.

"A lot has changed My Lady" Ethan hands her his phone eager to let her scroll through his music player and discuss their musical tastes "Just pick whatever you want just scroll do-" She shushed him

"I'm not that technologically illiterate please Mr Winters..." She scrolls down it her eyes focusing full of curiosity, she had never heard of any of these musicians or even the genres, one artist or groups name makes her pause with it's absurdity, her face is bewildered and confused "...Mr Winters?..." she turns to him, her puzzled frown makes is something he finds quite funny "What on Earth is a "Wu-Tang Clan??'""

Ethan's laughter fills the cool air, and makes their daughter giggle along, whatever made her daddy happy made her happy too, Ethan has to compose himself slightly, chuckling as he steadies himself he never imagined he would ever hear Her Ladyship in her old timey, sophisticated accent bring up one of his personal favourite gangsta rap groups in casual conversation.  

She pouts at him "What is so amusing? Is my musical ignorance humorous to you Mr Winters?"

"No, it isn't that My Lady...you saying those words took me off guard I dunno…" He smiles at her.

She tuts and presses on the song "I don't see wh- Oh..." She frowns, clearly disapproving of the first few verses of "Da' Mystery of Chess Boxin'" and she takes the earpiece out "...That was..."

"Not your cup of tea My Lady?" He jests, he loved seeing her confounded her nose screwed up, her mouth turned up in puzzlement and disdain, how he loved her exaggerated pouty expressions. 

She stands up straight and jostles Rosie who cooed and giggled at her mother's funny face "It was... most vulgar Mr Winters, a tad much for my taste"

Ethan shakes his head still chuckling "I figured, maybe ease you into the hip hop" He puts his phone back into his coat pocket.

"If it was anything like that I would prefer if you didn't..." She looks past him at the cleared paths and flowerbeds and nods approvingly "...Look what your papa has done for your mama... what a lovely little handyman he is..." She says softly to their child.

Her Ladyship angles her face down at him and she warmly smiles "It is greatly appreciated Mr Winters, the weeding has been long overdue I admit, you didn't have to though, my dear" 

"No, I wanted to I'm getting a bit restless truth be told, I don't have much to do" Ethan replies.

"Are you growing bored? I apologise it must seem dull compared to your world at times I suppose" She flashes Rose a bright smile as the babe reaches up yet again at her jewels, she pretends to nip at her fingers, Rosemary squeals with glee.

Ethan grinned at the sight of them playing "It will take some getting used to, I don't mind it's just a bit...'old school', you know?"

She looks back up "I'm afraid I am very 'old school' dear anyways, would you care to join us for some tea and a bite Mr Winters?" she moves her hand past her, knowing he would accept.

"Of course Your Ladyship that sounds great" He follows her gesture and walks towards a stone table being laid out for them by several maids who throw a sheet over and bring out a tray with a fine china tea set, and silver trays of teacakes and butter and jams, as well laying cushions down on the stone benches, Her Ladyship shoos her servants to stand by the courtyard doors ready to attend them "Please Mr Winters..." She invites Ethan to sit first as she stands by the table, he smiles as he takes a seat.

Her maid instinctively steps forward to serve him tea but the Lady turns her head sharply and savagely scowls at her as she takes her seat opposite Ethan, the scared girl almost slips over as she stops dead in her tracks and scurries back to the door way head down and mouth trembling, Ethan pretends not to notice and instead focuses on his child opposite him on Her Ladyship's lap and nestling herself into her mothers cloak, staring happily at the elaborate silver, white gold, pearl and ruby brooch at her mothers breast holding the cloak, she loved her mother's sparkly jewels so much.

Lady Dimitrescu looks over at him and smiles, her wanting and loving eyes shielded by her shades, "Care for some tea Mr Winters?" he nods smiling at his gorgeous daughter, he was so happy he could see her safe, cared for and loved he was so worried about the state he would've found Rose in, he even brought milk powder and a small gas stove to make her milk in his rucksack when he came to this place, he was terrified of her being neglected, malnourished or worse... but those worries had long since been put to rest, he genuinely didn't know how he could ever truly make this up to Her Ladyship.

"Milk and sugar dear?" She asks him pouring the tea into his delicate china cup.

"Milk and one small sugar please, My Lady" She adds a splash of milk and a small sugar cube before stirring it in, daintily with a small golden floral tea spoon, and picking it up by the saucer and passing it to Ethan, her other hand still held their child safe and close to her chest, she places her cup in front of her before stopping to frown at her little rosebud "Mr Winters? May you hold her?" knowing she would likely knock it out of her hand she was so wanting of her mother's attentions as of late.

Ethan almost leaps up at the chance "Gladly My Lady" He walks over as she holds her child out for him to take "Easy, It's just pops my angel shhh..." Rose looks confused for a second as she is passed off to her father, Rose kicks out and quails before Ethan jostles her to his chest, letting her get acquainted with him and get more comfortable she coos and babbles as  her tiny hands grab at his collar and scarf, he untucks the scarf and lets his baby grab hold and pull it to her mouth, she starts chewing and drooling on the scarf's material, he strokes the soft skin of her chubby cheek and he fusses her "...I hope you're being good for Mama my Rose..."

Her Ladyship had poured her tea "I'm afraid she is being most boisterous as of late..." She picks up a small silver and crystal decanter "May I Mr Winters?" she asks him, he stares confused for a second before he remembers his co-parent and hostess's needs.

"Oh-Yeah go for it My Lady" She smiles and takes off the small decorated lid, bringing the decanter to her nostrils and taking a delicate long whiff, before pouring a small stream of the virgin's blood out into her tea stirring it in with a golden teaspoon, the tea became thick and turned the colour of rubies as she tapped the spoon softly on the rim and brought it to her equally ruby red lips, blowing gently into the cup and taking a pleasurable sip and sighing with satisfaction.  

"Much better... She is teething Mr Winters" He can gather seeing how she's chewing and drooling all over his scarf "It leads to her having sleepless nights, I have a pacifier but she won't take to it, and I worry about my claws hurting her if she decides to bite or chew on my fingers too intently" She places her cup down and reaches for a tea cake and cuts it with her knife before spreading butter and jam on it "The cherub won't let me eat around her neither, jealous little dear" She takes a big bite and hastily chews worried her daughter may see and start wailing.

"I mean, I could help some nights My Lady" he looks nervous "I was meaning to ask you, My Lady..." He takes a deep breath he's worried how she may react to this, despite their good relations, he was always apprehensive about being too direct "I need to be around her more My Lady" He gently pulls the scarf out of her mouth and lets her have his thumb to maul instead, she gleefully accepts.

She sighs and put's her teacake down and wipes her lips with a handkerchief, "Mr Winters... I'm sorry you feel like you are still excluded, but you do see her daily, and I don't even feed from you per visit like we initially agreed, I am being most generous as is" Ethan doesn't like that answer, he jostles his child again and kisses her, taking in her scent.

"I need free reign with her My Lady, not just arranged visitations, she needs to see me more and you need help with her" Her lip curls slightly at that and it isn't in a smile.

"Mr Winters..." Her voice is firm, even through her tinted lenses she can feel that stern gaze burning him even through her shades "...I have raised three daughters, you raised one, forgive me if I value my expertise over yours." She understands his worry but that will come in time "Besides this as not a prearranged visitation is it dear?" He looks down at his babbling little angel glaring up at him, he felt like she was scolding him too.

 "My Lady look I understand this is all new, you are used to doing this alone, I get that but you're tired My Lady, even I can see that" He doesn't want to back down from this, she looks slightly annoyed at his impertinence, her fingers drum against the table as she drinks her tea, Ethan feels that nervous knot grow in his chest, he fucked up, yet again and overstepped 

She slumps back slightly and frowns, she can't stay upset at him it isn't fair, not when it isn't his fault "Forgive my mood, I worry Mr Winters, I worry about Rose...and you" She relents "...My brother he knows about you, as does most of the Houses... and Her".

Ethan shifts and coos softly at his child to settle her, before looking up in dismay "And that's why you've been like this?"

Her features turn sad and she looks down "Truth be told, I don't know how long I can keep you in our daughters life, it is all well and good saying you will do anything for her, but I... I care for you Mr Winters, and I don't know if I can protect both of you if Mother demands your blood she had hardly forgiven me for taking Rose, they believe I'm keeping you prisoner and torturing you... I must make them believe that." He leans across the table his hand out stretched grasping for hers, she takes it and lets him squeeze the warm, soft leather.

"Is that what it will take then? Letting them believe you're still like that?" He nods and smiles sadly "Then My Lady let them think that, I see the real you anyway, let this whole valley think that for all I care, if letting the world think you are still a monster is what it takes so be it, you are the adoptive mother of my child and I trust you to keep her safe, you are not a monster." 

 "But I... I am a monster, I'm evil... yo-" She says her voice heavy with sorrow, how could anyone say this to her? How can a mere mortal, a prey-thing sympathise with their predator?

He cuts her off he doesn't often do that "No, My Lady you are not, I don't see you like that you're just as human as me, flaws and all, I get that you are 'special' like what you think I am My Lady, and you  have done some pretty cooked things, but I don't see a monster, I see a fellow parent and someone who has good in them and wants to change, you can change and that is what I...like about you, it's why I'm so glad someone like you had found my girl, and that you let me into your life to be with my child, monsters wouldn't do that" He squeezes her hand and warmly stares at her, he can just make out her eyes soft golden ember like glow even through the red tinted lenses. "I'm not going anywhere My Lady, I don't give much of a fuck..." Her face flashes disapproval, he smiles he's beginning to find that uptight attitude towards cursing and her insistence on decorum cute and she equally thinks the same of his crass mouth,  "...sorry, I don't care what they think or want, I can look after myself and I can look after Rose, and you" Her heart skips a beat, and a warm sensation spreads from her chest, the idea that a mere man with all his limitations had just vowed to look after her and her family despite not even knowing what he was up against should've been laughable, but it wasn't, it made Alcina fluster, his words had touched her, she had been waiting ten years for someone to tell her just that, maybe even her entire life.

"I always keep my promises remember?" Rose screams jealous her Papa's attention was away from her "...Hey... shhh, Mama needs to talk to daddy too sometimes...easy lil' Rosie..." He moves down to nuzzle her she chuckles loudly and gurgles as her father nestles his face into her belly.

If her eyes weren't covered up he would've seen them turn into those soothing golden pool and light up warmly, She beams at him, her head giddy, Her Ladyship can't also help but blush over the sight of them bonding, she smiles happily and clutches her chest, practically jumping for joy before composing herself, God he's... just perfect  she thinks to herself "Well, you have so far Mr Winters... What you said was... moving, albeit delusional perhaps but... thank you Mr Winters...I do want your help." 

"It wasn't delusional, Hell maybe I am, but I don't care, I have my child and I know that's real enough for me" He wants to bring that goodness out of her, to convince her that she can do it, to help her in anyway he can.

"Let me be her father My Lady a child this young can be a burden and I'm more than happy to be there with you, it's why I'm here." Ethan looks up "I need to be there more with her to spend nights with her"

She sips her tea and stares down into the steaming bloody cup sombrely, before snapping her face up and grinning "Very well, it is however most unseemly for a gentleman to be calling on an unmarried lady Mr Winters" She has had enough of the self pitying she feels for herself and lightens the mood.

He chuckles "I'm not there to call on you, I'm there for Rose" He leans over Rose and whispers "You're just a bonus My Lady..." They laugh happily, Rose gurgles and shrieks along too. 

"Mr Winters, such a charmer you are..." She giggles and smiles at him before finishing her cup, she was starting to get hungry and Mr Winters had been her choice vintage, the sound of his warm, lovely blood rushing through his body was becoming a distraction, but she didn't want to feed off him, yet at least it would render his whole point moot she felt, it was most frustrating having to balance out her desires to bed him and feed from him, but she managed well enough, being near him and talking was enough, that alone made her feel whole and well.  

Ethan straightens his face but his eyes are still glinting happily at her "My Lady I stand by what I said that night you first spoke to me, she is my everything and all I have, sending me away or me leaving would do no good neither..." He had been hoping to hide this but sooner or later she would've found out, "I'm wanted by a global counter bioterrorism taskforce, sending me away would likely put me back on their radar, I'm stuck here My Lady regardless" He wishes he told her sooner and he can't help but feel her get slightly on edge at that, her brow arches curiously.

She sips her tea and sighs "Are these people aware you are here?" A look of worry flashes on her face before she composes herself, for a brief second she's angry at him, but that isn't his fault, none of this is.

Ethan pauses at her question, he had thought about this often enough, if the BSAA found him, they would wipe him, Rose and this entire family out, despite what the Dimitrescu family were the sheer amount of specialist anti B.O.W weaponry the Agency had would kill them, they could level this entire castle if they wanted to. "No, I covered my tracks as best I could, but they are the ones who killed my wife and took Rose and left her here two months prior to my arrival, I had a tail who followed me for a while but..." He gulps as he thinks back to what he did to Agent Ranov, the BSAA agent who helped Chris take Rose and who chased him around Budapest and how Ethan jumped him, dragged him to a warehouse and put Chris's 'Advanced Interrogation' techniques to good use... he nearly gagged, his face went pale and he froze.

Her Ladyship notices his distress and stands up and moves by his side kneeling down and placing one hand on his shoulder drawing him in close for an embrace and her other gloved hand under her child's head holding her father's hand, she leant down and let him rest his head against her chest as he stared ahead tears forming in his eyes, he felt disgusted with himself, what he had done to get to where he was now sickened him, his memories of Dulvey terrified him, he was happy for now but he still felt broken, the love of his life had been murdered by a man who for the past three years helped rebuild their shattered world, and lead them to bringing Rosemary into it, it wasn't fair that they had brought Rose into this life, they were so fucking stupid to think they could escape it all, to trust some faceless organization, they were nothing but assets to them, how fucked in the head do you have to be to feel guilty about just the act of bringing a child into this life?   

A warm silken set of lips pressing against his brow brought him out of his melancholic epiphany "Mr Winters...please look at me" She takes her shades off and gently strokes his cheek as he looks up at her soft reassuring, perfect face, her tender caring smile washes away his shame, her golden eyes brim with care and sympathy, their loving gaze scours away the blood staining his mind "I care not what you did to get here, I won't judge you no matter what you have done but... look at our Rosemary" her clawed, gloved warm hand directs his face to their daughter who was mesmerised by her parents leaning above her, their emotive expressions captivated her and her mouth hung open, she wailed and gurgled with glee when their eyes looked down on her, the deep burning gold of her mother and the icy, pale blue of her father, her father's were streaming tears, "Ooh! Ooh!" Rosemary cooed her happy sound and wiggled around in her parents grasp.

"Whatever you or I have done has been worth it for this moment alone, and I swear to you whatever demons you have hanging onto your coattails I will fight them, just as you promised to help me face mine, for both of us to be here together with our girl is all that I care about, you were robbed of your chance to be a father and a husband, the path you took has lead to this, another chance at being a father to her Mr Winters, fate has given you this." She strokes his hair, and he presses himself up closer against her radiating, soft, firm body his teary eyes move back up to the golden ones.

"No, you gave me this Your Ladyship... It wasn't fate." He manages to croak out happily "That means so very much to me..." She cups his cheek and pulls up his face to align with hers, Alcina can't hold back anymore,  he gasps with surprise at her speed, her clawed thumb gently trails his lower lip and down his chin, she stares at his lips drawn into them, she moves his head over to the side, Ethan closes his eyes more than content to let her do as she wished and moaned softly as she starts kissing his neck, and running her warm velvety tongue across his bites, ever so gently nipping his pulse point, her breathy panting lips move up to his ear, teasingly nibbling his lobe and whispering hot and breathlessly into his ear...

She had been overwhelmed by his sorrow, his tragedy drew her in she always felt drawn to sad, broken things, her daughters were tragic, this castle's history was tragic, Ethan Winters was tragic, and she loved him for it, and she wanted to taste his sadness, to drink it in with all his courage, compassion, hopes and fears, perhaps she could ease him, fix him if just for a while.

"...Show me just how very much this moment means to you please..." Lady Dimitrescu purrs.

She turns his head back slowly to face him, their eyes locking again, Ethan couldn't look away from those loving golden flaming irises, she was right everything he did prior to this pales in comparison he had his child, they were safe and he had a woman who made him happy and whole, even if she wasn't Mia.

They were so tantalisingly close, he wanted to take his time with her this moment has been in his dreams and idle thoughts since he saw her, he kissed her pink streaked cheek first softly trailing the kisses to the corner of her blood red mouth, his body felt like lightning ran through it when his lips finally brushed hers, even if it was ever so slight, she stayed still wanting to let him go at a pace he felt comfortable with, her dark lined eyes slid shut and her heart pounded hot blood through her body, he pulls back slightly "Are you sure?" He asks he doesn't want to ruin what they have by them both doing something they may regret, his free hands traces her jaw longingly, she shivers.

She nods her inky curls bouncing, her gloved fingers brush through his hair to the base of his skull gently digging in and pulling him closer, she leans forward mouth ever so slightly open, he retaliates his head feels close to bursting when they finally meet in a burning kiss which they both softly gasp into, her red lips are deliciously sweet like cherries or a dessert wine, slightly tinged with taste of her blood-tea and teacake, not that he cared, he quickens his pace as he becomes greedy for more of her, she matches his intensity, her clawed fingertips softly trail along his cheek, as she pushes back against him mindful of their baby who was staring in bewilderment at her parents, the Lady moaned softly against his lips, her tongue flicks against them and he parts his mouth slightly inviting her in, she shudders as she takes in his taste, she almost doesn't notice the first fat, cold, heavy drops of rain landing on them, neither does Ethan, their little Rosemary however does.

Her cry parts them so fast they might've well had just been doused with a bucket of ice water, and judging by how the rain had started to come down they might as well have been "Oh for fucks sak-!" Ethan roars at the Heavens, Her Ladyship cuts off his frustrated curse with a glare and a light playful slap to the arm, they're both tingling, breathing heavy and blushing, Ethan was downright angry at being torn out of the moment he had just shared with his child and Ladyship, the rain began to hammer down and both parents leant over their child, the Lady snapped up at her maids who had been staring in absolute horror, fear and revulsion at what had just happened, they had closed their eyes and silently prayed hoping to wipe the sinful sight away from them, even they had failed to notice the sudden rushing rain clouds.

"You there girls! Clear this all away now! And next time inform your mistress of sudden weather changes instead of just gawking like dumbstruck sows!" She growled at them, they hastily bowed and moved to clear the table trembling from the soaking the rain gave them and Their Ladyship's scolding, Ethan blushed even further as he stood up and rushed inside the dining room shielding Rosie as much as possible from the downpour, he had completely forgot the maids had been standing there, they were a constant presence for Her Ladyship, she barely acknowledged them, it was different for him,  his mind wondered as to what new, fresh and annoying rumours will be spawned from what just happened.

Her Ladyship storms inside behind him "Stupid girls!" She mutters angrily "I ought to discipline them..." She stares at them as they clear away the soaking wet tea set and food and trays onto a trolley, she takes of her hat and shakes the water off it, she puts it back on and turns towards Ethan who was shushing Rose as she wept, he wiped her wet face with a tea towel.

"Easy Rose... dada's here for you... you're gonna be warm and dry now" He feels Lady Dimitrescu touch his shoulder and lean over him.

"She needs dry blankets Mr Winters..." She pauses and sighs, Alcina feels elated she finally kissed him, that they made their passions truly open to one another, but his wife was but a few months dead... He was a grieving widow, she may of been too hasty "...How do you... was that what you wanted?" She leans down to take Rosemary into her arms her eyes staring at his, he smiles and offers the wailing infant to her.

"It was My Lady... but don't just do this to make me feel better, you don't have to do that to prove you are a good person or anything" He lets her get a good hold of Rose and steps back 

She stands up straight and offers her hand in supplication to her needy babe who bats and grabs at her fingers abating her wails for a while "It wasn't just that... I... making you happy would make me happy... I am very...fond of you" She never usually stutters or is so careful with her words, her awkward expression touches Ethan "I've wanted to do that for a while..."  She leans down to kiss and coo at Rose, her lipstick left a small print of her lips on her velvety soft skin, Ethan realized his lips was likely also marked by rouge red waxy smudges.

"Before or after you stomped my ribs in and nearly broke my neck?" He winks and points to the doorway where they first met that they had just come through, she looks back over as if fondly remembering the event.

"Oh, most certainly after" She chuckles as Ethan presses a kiss against her waist and lets her trail her hand through his hair "I was hoping to have some lunch and get my Rose fed outside today... Alas" She huffs before chuckling as her soaking wet maids trudge themselves in pushing the water logged trolley "Silly girls, serves you right for not paying attention, serve mine and Mr Winters lunch in here, and fetch dry blankets for our daughter, quickly now!" She snaps.

"Y-yes My Lady" They both chatter out between quivering teeth as they push away the trolley and leave the room.

"Shall we get her changed  and fed Mr Winters?" She asks him, he looks up ecstatically, happy she's finally letting take part in that part of their child's life and not just feeding and fussing her their eyes stare into one another for sometime, before she cocks her head and smiles, Ethan knows what he wants to say to her, but he feels it is far too soon.

"Nothing, you just look wonderful today My Lady" He says idlily, concealing what he really wants to tell her "But yeah, lets..."

"By the way dear..." She turns her head to him, her eyes gently burning away "Your mouth, I left a mess." She taps the corner of her lips as she hands him a handkerchief and starts walking to her large golden throne like chair, Ethan dabs at his lipstick stained lips, wiping the wet waxy substance off and smiles, relishing her taste and sits down.

Ethan had been in a good mood as he washed and brushed his teeth in front of his vanity mirror, he had been avoiding the maid dorms and bathroom dreading whatever new wave of gossip that would spread from today's encounter with Her Ladyship.

Fuck 'em

But it still bothers Ethan, he saw them as his equals he wasn't raised around some weird feudal ass class system or practically brainwashed by some dogmatic faith he couldn't see the help as their mistress did, in a way he wish he would it would've helped get rid of the shame of being a source of gossip and paranoia, he sighs as he runs his hands over his wet face staring into the mirror, trailing his finger across the small and slight scar he received from Jack's knife at that dinner table, Jack had cut him to his cheekbone, he shivered in fear and moved his hand thoughtfully to the bites on his neck, they made him feel different he was happy and wore them gladly.

He had a reasonable lunch with Her Ladyship but they could hardly properly talk, Rose wailed almost the whole time before she got tired and settled in for a nap, he and Her Ladyship spent some time together in casual conversation careful not to wake Rose, Ethan watched her for a while as Lady Dimitrescu went off to spend time with her girls and fill out some paperwork in her study, Rosie was a good girl for her papa as he sat by the fire reading a collection of 19th century horror stories and was stuck into "Carmillia"  a story about a vampire, funnily enough, he laughed at that parallel for a while as he started reading the first page, Rose's soft snoring and warm crackling of the fire soothed and relaxed him, he had to had been there for a while, by the time Her Ladyship returned with a typically glowering Dani they had found him asleep in the armchair and Rose nestled on his lap.

He had taken his leave of them as they took Rose off to feed and bed, and went off to take their evening dinner, Ethan was tempted to ask if he could attend but he was truthfully tired and wanted to take his leave.

Ethan after he asked a half petrified maid to bring him some food, she nodded and hurridly walked off returning later with some chicken stew and black bread and wine, the tray shook in her hands as she laid it down on his table he thanked her and she stares at him disapprovingly but scurries off before Ethan can address her, he ate his meal solemnly and chilled out before getting ready for bed, he walks towards his bed and starts to undo his belt and kick off his boots, yawning to himself it was now pretty late, just as the door knocked, he pauses and calls out "Yeah? Come in"

Ana walks in looking just as tired as earlier holding a lamp and shaking "Mr Winters, Her Ladyship, requests you, urgently sir" 

"What's wrong? Is it Rose?" He pushes his boots back on and grabs his shirt pulling it back on over his vest, his face struck by worry and his mind racing as he walks to Ana.

She looks down "Please sir, follow me she... is most distraught" He nods and they hurriedly walk through the long halls of Castle Dimitrescu, dread and uncertainty laced his steps.

"Sir, please...Wait!" She struggles to keep up with outsider in the hallway to Her Ladyships bed chamber, he practically ran when he heard his child's wailing echoing down the corridor, he doesn't even knock when he swings open the tall lavishly inlaid bedchamber door, her richly decohered and decorated room is lit by a single lamp and the blue steel moonlight shining through the window, he freezes in place when he sees her...

Her Ladyship is in her nightgown the moonlight reflects off her pale bare skin and white gown, she's curled into the corner of her room rocking herself and shivering her face is lowered to her weeping child as she nestles her close, both are crying, Ethan approaches her "M-My Lady... what happened?" his voice is low, his skin goose pimples as his hearing picks up a low, strange inhuman whining sound coming from her before her head snaps up at him, her eyes are streaming tears and puffy, the gold in them burns bright and her pupils are small and focused, she looks struck between utter panic, terror and close to lashing out her muscles are quivering, her breathing is heavy and panicked, he rushes over before she tenses up protectively making him pause and raise his hands "Hey... easy My Lady".

Her voice is croaky and wavering, her unpainted pale lips quiver, "... She stopped breathing... her face it... went blue...I...I..." She leans down and weeps showering her child with kisses gasping and muttering to herself, Ethan's stomach drops as he rushes up to her and drops down beside the fragile and shaking mother throwing his arms around her, lightning flashes outside, Ethan pulls her close and strokes his child's hair and shushes her as he leans down to kiss her, his heart is hammering in his chest, oh God... what if... no, he can't think about the what ifs, Ethan has to be strong for them right now.

"Is she okay now?" He leans down to examine their thrashing babe, nothing was certainly clogging her airways now, her chin was wet with puke and drool, he tries to dab it off with his sleeve, he attempts to steady himself but can't help a small happy sob of relief.

"I...I got her to throw up and cleared her airways but... Oh Ethan..." She puts her head down into his shoulder and he kisses her soft, dark hair taking in the scent of the rose shampoo she used "...I was so...scared..." She starts sobbing, her cries jostled her weeping babe, who kicked and wept along, Ethan holds them both tight.

"It's okay now My Lady, she's fine... shhh" He starts to stroke her hair "These things can happen with a young child, it's what they call a 'Brief Resolved Unexplained Event' or something I did research about some stuff when Mia was pregnant, the main thing now is that she's safe and we monitor her in case it becomes frequent" Ethan was terrified in the run up to Rose's birth, he was unsure of his capabilities as a father, and with what to do with a new-born and he had heard so many horror stories of cot death, birth defects, disabilities and other such things including BRUE's, it was made worse that both he and Mia were infected with some experimental bioweapon, so he read up as much as possible and tried to prepare himself for any eventuality.

"And if it is frequent? What then Mr Winters?" She pulls back her unmasked but still wonderfully beautiful natural face full of worry and shaking, her reaches up to to hold her cheek and wipe away her tears.

"Then she may have apnoea, and that will be a bridge to cross if we get to it" He assures her "For now she is okay, let me hold her please My Lady, lay down you look rough, no offence" He smiles softly at her leaning in to secure Rose, she nods gulping down and sniffling as she hands their child to him.

She slumps back her eyes and mood cooling off, smiling idlily wiping her tears away with her hand as Ethan stands up with Rose at his chest "... caused quite a scare for momma didn't you angel?... Easy Rose...daddy's got you now" He starts to hum a soft melody he could remember Mia used to use to sooth her, he looks to Her Ladyship and she starts to purr softly at him.

"Thank you Ethan Winters" Her voice low and caring "Thank you so much"

He stops humming and jostles his weeping daughter and rocks her softly "For what? I'm just doing what I have to for Rose... and you"

She chuckles as she slowly pulls herself to her feet "For that, for being kind, for just being here in our lives" She leans down and tilts his chin up to stare at his handsome face, she loved memorising every detail of it, he had never seen her without her make up before, she looked just as perfect "May I please?" He nods as she leans down to press her lips against his as Rose flails between them weeping, they share a short but deep kiss, Her Ladyship smiles and starts weeping, she pulls back and presses her forehead against his holding him close she wants to say how she truly feels but Alcina is already vulnerable enough as it is she thinks to herself, before she stands straight, turning away from him towards her bed and sitting down sighing "Will you be okay with her Mr Winters?" He stands and walks over to her crib to grab her teddy and blankets.

"I'll be fine get some rest please, My Lady" He sits down on the armchair "Ana!" He calls out to the door, Her Ladyship's maid stumbles in.

"My Lady" She nods at her mistress who looked absolutely horrifying in this state to Ana, but Ana could understand why "Mr Winters sir, is young Miss Rosemary okay?" She asks concerned for the baby's wellbeing, if her colleagues ever found out about this they would gloat and mock her mistress and the stranger, it would affirm their daft curse gossip, that would also likely make Ana snap and bash the loudmouths head in herself, whatever happened here tonight stays in this room. 

"She's well girl, it is not your place to worry, it is your place to listen, do as Mr Winters says" She snaps Alcina's blood was still hot and Ana was an unfortunate target for an outlet, Ethan frowns and ignores her,

"She's fine thank you, I appreciate the concern, could you fetch me some warm soapy water, disinfectant and a frozen cloth or a thin one with ice in please, thank you" He jostles and rocks her and dangles the teddy at his child who swats at it and screams, Ana bows and leaves, Her Ladyship glares at Ethan.

"Don't contradict me in front of the help Mr Winters" He looks up at her trying to soothe his babe still.

He sighs "My Lady please...not right now, lecture me later, but not now..." His hands were already full as it was, he wasn't in the mood for a cultural crash course in treating the help.

She pouts and relents "You are right... I apologise I'm just... distressed" She tuts angry at herself for being so emotional, even if it was understandable "Why the ice Mr Winters?" 

Ethan looks back at her, glad she had calmed herself down "Her gums, I reckon a lot of her crying is due to that, if we give her something cool to chew on it may help My Lady." 

She nods. as she brings her legs around and stares up at her floral bed canopy "My so very knowledgeable, I'm sorry I didn't call on you sooner for such things Mr Winters" She truly does, she feels bad for not doing this sooner.

"I'm here now, get some rest please you get real cranky when you're tired, and call me Ethan please." It's long past the time for formalities and titles he feels after seeing her so stark and open to him, and after they kissed of course.

Her Ladyship chuckles "I do don't I? Very well I suppose we are past that stage, Goodnight Ethan, and thank you again" She tries to get comfortable and to shut out her babes wailing, as difficult as that is, but she knows she is safe now, safe with her father.

He smiles despite the thrashing weeping babe in his arms "Goodnight Alcina..."

It takes two hours for Rose to properly settle in, Ethan stares at the fire Ana had lit in the elegantly carved marble and gold fireplace before he dismissed her, the warm orange light bathes father and daughter, as he softly sings and hums to her, his strong arms holding his babe close rocking her, she takes to suckling the chilled cloth well and Ethan massages her gums gently with a clean finger, with her teething pains abated, tiredness washes over her and she settles into her father's breast and is soon dozy and yawning, Ethan beams down, filled with relief she has finally settled in and was now sound asleep.

He places her in her crib after a while and leaves the room as the sky begins to turn blue, he looks fondly at the crib and at the sleeping form of Her Ladyship, who was nestled deep underneath her vast, soft duvet sound asleep tired after almost three days of no sleep, he softly closes the door behind him and makes his way out of the family quarters, hoping to get at least a couple of hours shut eye himself. 

Today... sure was something he muses as he blows out his bedroom candle beside his bed and pulls up his covers and settles in.

For what must've felt like the fiftieth time since Ethan became a resident at Castle Dimitrescu, he woke up shouting, incoherently cursing falling out of bed, thrown out of his dreams that these days were often much more pleasant than the ones he had prior to when he made his arrangements with the mistress of the castle, he had only gotten one or two hours sleep after all of last nights drama.

As of right now however Ethan's head was ringing and he looked around franticly still half asleep, a loud trumpets fanfare deafeningly blasted in the small valets room, he rubbed his dazed eyes as he throws himself up to see Her Ladyship's daughter Kassandra standing at his open door, holding a large brass trumpet hanging from which was a white and gold banner bearing the sigil of House Dimitrescu, she stood at attention and bowed dramatically, her face in it's usual sickeningly sweet and devious grin, she clears her throat and pulls up a piece of paper she had been holding.

"Oh noble Sir Ethan of House Winters" She puts on an exaggerated, ridiculous accent, Ethan stares at her dumbstruck and confused, he just wanted to go back to bed "Most courageous knight Father of the fair and beautiful Princess Rosemary, you are hereby invited to the birthday celebrations of I, the most wonderful Princess Kassandra Dimitrescu, Daughter of Queen Alcina the most loveliest and fairest queen in the whole world!" they shall be held here in Castle Dimitrescu tomorrow all day!"

She steps aside and waves her hand through the door, Ana steps in, strangely enough also smiling for a change and looking up, she's holding a brown paper parcel wrapped in sting in her hands, she chuckles Ethan doesn't think she's seen her so happy before, Kassandra tuts "Hey stick to the script like we planned! No laughing!"

"Yes Miss Kassandra, sorry miss" She clears her throat and looks close to bursting into laughter "Oh Noble Sir Winters, here is thy garments to attend thy ball in..." She does an exaggerated bow and offers up the package, he curiously takes it, he's still half asleep as he looks at it and starts to tear off the package, both Kassie and Ana are grinning, Ana especially she is most eager to see what he thinks of her handiwork.

He pulls out a pair of very well polished oxblood patterned leather dress shoes in his size and puts them on the bed and he starts to unpack the clothing, a dark grey well cut wool suit jacket with a black silk lining, well tailored pinstripe pants, a dark red silk faced dress vest with gold buttons, a soft white shirt and a black silk tie, all were beautifully made "...Ana... these are lovely...thank you, I would be more enthusiastic but I'm honestly still half asleep guys..." He yawns he had a long and stressful night last night, as Ana knows, he genuinely doesn't know where she can find the energy to do her job.

Kassandra floats over to them "You better bring some enthusiasm on the day I'm sure you will, it will be fun! Even Mama is looking forward to it!" She bows "Ana! Come along leave Mr Winters to get some sleep, we got lots to prepare for my big day!" She grabs Ana and drags her back

"Thanks for the compliments sir!" She manages to say happily as she's pulled out the room by a giggling Kassandra, Ethan is left dumbstruck and sits back down huffing.

I just got invited to a vampire's birthday party... Fuck.

Chapter Text

Alcina Dimitrescu sighed pleasurably as she slid down into her bath tub letting the steaming water swallow her body up to the base of her neck feeling her muscles relax, it had been a long messy day for her and the sun had set and the crescent moon had risen on a clear starlit night over the valley away from the odious lights of modern civilisation the night sky here always shone with the brilliance of a million unblemished stars, she had put her golden Rosebud to bed and took the evening off to relax before her Kassandra's big day, Alcina always put in great effort to make her children's birthdays and the holidays as enjoyable as possible it could get dull for the girls stuck inside the mountain citadel avoiding the sun and the extreme cold of winter, so she always did her very best to make them special for her three precious angels.

She had spent most of the day in the kitchens baking cakes and pastries Kassandra had an extravagantly decorated birthday cake filled with lemon custard and cream, Alcina even made a little castle out of sheet icing complete with a tiny princess standing out on chocolate drawbridge, her Kassie would adore it. Alcina had a hard time keeping her out of the kitchens, several times Daniela had to shoo away a lone horsefly that had been sent to spy on them as they decorated and baked, Rosemary was sat in her high chair watching her mother and big sister rush around, Dani even attempted to teach her to stir it ended in disaster as Rose dropped the batter instantly and flicked the spoon all over her big sister, spattering her with cake mix, Alcina had warned her she was still too young, Daniela pretended to get mad and nibble her little sisters toes and growl before laughing loudly along with her coos and wails of glee.

Olga and Kassandra had set up the decorations in the opera hall and the dining room, bickering over what colour banner and bunting would look good where and the arrangement of the flower garlands Kassandra had wanted wrapped around the balcony columns in the opera hall, their mother was more than content to leave them to it, the maids had scurried around all day under their feet helping their mistresses prepare everything, and Mr Winters had helped, or Ethan seeing as they are now on a first name basis ever since they first kissed at that rained out botched tea party yesterday afternoon, she yearned to taste him again how delicious he was to her, how that unspoken passion had came to ahead and overwhelmed them, after all these long decades she feels like a piece was being put into place, filling a an empty space she never even knew she had within her, her heart fluttered as she thought about those pale blue eyes staring at her, so full of steel and care, the short, soft lovely blonde hair, the calloused scarred hands, that aura of determination and drive that radiated off him and his giddying delightful scent.

But they had been too busy to spend much time alone today and while Alcina gave not a fig for the opinions of the help, she didn't want her daughters to see her lust and hound after Ethan, the girls wouldn't understand why she feels this way towards the outsider and a man-thing, they may be ageless but they still see the world through the eyes of children, Kassandra had already ran rampant with the idea of a fairy tale romance and on more than one occasion she had silenced Daniela's slander whenever she dared to speak her mind about him, and the ever so brief look of disgust and disappointment she gave her mother, before turning down to the floor as Alcina gave her a stern word about respect.  

He was such a darling and a help although he was no patisserie he was adequate enough at mixing and the like, his lovely laugh made Alcina roll her eyes and pout at him when he saw stooped low over the counter in an apron covered in flour and cake batter lip bit and frowning in concentration as she piped icing onto a little blue and white marzipan and icing castle on Kassandra's cake, but for most of the day he had helped shift the supplies sent up by Duke, he pushed through his tiredness to carry the crates laden with consumables to the storerooms and larders of the castle from the carriage gate in the rain, he had such determination whether it be tracking down their daughter or hauling goods and arranging buntings, she added his tenacity to be useful to his list of charming qualities. It was strange to have a man around the house it changed the mood of the castle it made Alcina think of the old times when the castle was fully staffed and the halls and corridors were filled with men and women working and living here, back when she was young and before she became Miranda's daughter so very long ago, regardless it made her glad to see him adjusting so well to his new life and working with the daughters and the help. 

Alcina smiled and shivered slightly despite the hot, bubbly water. She felt all fluttery whenever she thought about him, that and the half a dozen or so glasses of wine she had drank likely didn't help her inflamed emotions, she extended an arm from the gold inlaid tub to grasp her crimson chalice and sat up slightly to take a sip to calm her thoughts before she looked down into the empty silver and crystal cup and frowned "Girl" she called out as she held her glass out carelessly over the side of the tub.

"Yes Lady Dimitrescu" Ana walked from her spot beside the tub over towards the gold detailed and slightly dusty bottle of her mistress's signature wine on a stand by the gramophone which played soft piano music into the warm, perfumed air of the magnificent bath chamber the hand maid loved this room, Ana looked up briefly at the beautiful mural of two lovers hand in hand dancing in a pavilion beside a idyllic stream and forest she hoped that would be her far away from this place with a true love, one day she thinks to herself as she sadly smiles and takes up the bottle to refill her mistress's glass. 

Alcina's suddenly eyes lock onto Ana's face as she pours the thick, aromatic bloody wine, almost making the hand maid fright and spill some but her trained hand steadied itself, Her Ladyship hardly ever lays her eyes on the help directly unless she wants something Ana felt a knot in her belly, Her Ladyship would occasionally command Ana to offer her wrist out to feed from during bath times, and although Her Ladyship was gentle with her she dreaded that part of her duty above all else it made her feel most... uncomfortable to be in Her Ladyship's warm, soft, wet naked arms and to feel her hot breath against her skin before she bit down or her delicate touch and how she softly hummed to reassure Ana as she opened the skin with a claw and sucked and lapped at Ana's pale trembling flesh moaning softly with the revitalising taste of virgin's blood the pain and blood loss was always a secondary concern. "My hair, condition and comb it Ana" the maid had a feeling it was more than that Ana turned and silently gulped as she picked up a plastic bottle from the bath side stand and poured some into her hands and began to massage the conditioner into the wet, dark thick strands of Her Ladyship's hair.

The noble woman leant her head back and closed her eyes, white eyelids covering the gold, Ana was exceptionally careful not to cause any discomfort to her mistress as she unpicked any tangles and smoothed out her hair, the rose scented conditioner was one of the few modern items that Ana had seen her use, her mistress was always selective with her beauty products and had them sent in from France and Italy from high end exclusive salons specially, the Lady had an eye for fashion and beauty she kept up-to-date with all the latest trends it was one of the few things outside the valley she took an interest in, the Duke had often sent bundles of fashion magazines with their monthly supplies, although she never changed her own unique dated style she enjoyed giving scathing commentaries while reading the magazines to her daughters on the state of modern women's fashion viciously remarking how the model's need a decent meal and how much skin was on display ironic given her preference for low cut dresses and how in her day fashion and people were of a better class, her mistress even gave the old copies to Ana occasionally as a reward for her needlework, Ana spent hours studying the colourful clothes and beautiful models, maybe when she does leave one day she'll make those clothes? Ana often fantasised about setting up a trendy little boutique in the village making and selling bright modern clothing and bringing a bit of colour to her dreary, old home town, the mistress had promised her a very generous salary and pension when she took on the position as hand maid after all, she would have the money for it although how well that would turn out in a isolated village of 700 odd souls that every now and then has to deal with packs of demons raiding them she would never know.

Ana was snapped out of her absent thoughts as she ran a comb gently through Her Ladyship's wet, slick hair as her mistress turns her head slightly to regard her hand maiden, the unpainted pale lips upturned in a frown, her brow furrowed slightly "Ana, What do you think of Mr Winters?" The young woman paused combing her hair, Ana's mouth hung open she was beyond shocked she never asks something like this, Ana is confounded and doesn't know how to respond. 

"Well girl? Speak up I want to hear your thoughts on the man" Alcina said curtly steely gunmetal coloured clawed nails rapped on the tubs rim she was getting impatient, Ana had to think of something to say quick, the maid cleared her throat and head, afraid this was some wicked trap or mind game, Ana was terrified her mistress would see her as a threat to her attraction to Mr Winters or something ludicrous, but Ana knows her place here she would never jeopardize it. 

"H-he's kind Mistress." She managed to blurt out, hoping a short brief answer would satisfy her as it usually does.

Alcina tuts her maid's timidity can be tiring to put up with sometimes "Is that all? What do you make of the man?" She asks raising her voice ever so slightly, she wants to know more what girls like Ana think of a man like Ethan, and what does one normally do in these situations, it had been so very long since Alcina had been courting, if that's what she and Ethan were doing anyways.

Ana manages to steady herself "Well My Lady, he's an outsider but he is nice to us and helpful Mistress, he means well and I think he's a good father" Ana thinks Mr Winters is great man she hopes she would be lucky enough to find a man like him one day.

She takes a sip from her glass and hands it to Ana to set down "He is an excellent father he's willing to put his child's happiness before his own, a surprisingly rare quality for men especially around here is it not?" Her Ladyship sits up, moves forward and tilts her head back signalling Ana to start to rinse it, Ana nods in agreement with her mistress's statement as she picks up the golden water jug and starts to fill it and wash her mistress's hair, life was hard in the village and fathers often arranged their daughters marriages, Ana herself was to be sold off to that lecherous farrier by her brothers for the 'fair' price of two good horses, several thousand Leis and a lifetime discount on horseshoes and tack she had ran away from that to seek employment at the castle, even her thuggish brute of an elder brother wouldn't be stupid enough to follow her here and even if she left veteran ex maids often receive great respect in the village, for service to the Great Ones is atonement and proof of devotion to Mother, her gained wealth alone would allow her to choose a good suitor. 

"It can be Mistress, yes" Ana meekly replies the warm water runs through the slick, black curls as the maid pours water from the jug down onto the scalp careful to avoid her face, bubbles and glistening water runs down Her Ladyship's pale back and shoulders. "Not all men are bad though My Lady" She adds.

Her Ladyship runs her hands through her hair washing out the remaining suds. "Of course girl, and Mr Winters is certainly a good one, your colleagues think differently however I suppose those chattering little rodents have already made some absurd claim about yesterday" Ana's gut drops she was afraid the mistress would start asking around for what nonsense the maids have been spouting about the outsider.

"I-err... They still say he is cursed Mistress... that he has angered Mother and is a part of your magic... and yesterday was proof of this" She answers her mistress her nerves beginning to fray and her finger begins to twitch one of Ana's several nervous ticks, Ana felt strange when she heard the news that two of her colleagues had saw the Lady and the outsider kiss, a tiny part of her felt hurt but she pushed that away and felt happy if anything, he was kind and Her Ladyship could do with a good man around the house, and maybe even make her a better woman.

Alcina's cackle echoes through the chamber making Ana startle slightly "Oh my! They persist with that? Do they believe I'm rutting with him in a pool of infant's blood under a full moon? Perhaps he and I sacrifice goats together in the gardens to spoil the villagers milk and give their pigs the flu?" She snaps her fingers for Ana to pass her the wine, as she wipes away some soap that gotten near her eyes composing her self from her amusement at those rumours, she liked to foster a mysterious and villainous reputation amongst her help, and it was hilarious to see and hear the effects they had on the staff and villagers, how they balked and quailed, their eyes glued to her dress's hem or the floor, refusing to match her golden, predatory gaze lest they have their souls snatched or some nonsense, the fear was a delightful aroma to the Dimitrescus, it was even more humorous to Alcina given that these days they are much more reserved and held back Alcina cares only for the wellbeing of her home and family, as Ethan said let them think they are monsters she knows how much her reputation protects her and her family and not just from defiant maids and disrespectful peasants, there wasn't just fear she scented from the people of this place when she encountered them but also reverence for a Great Lord and occasionally from the few braver souls that dared to look at her magnificence, the smell of base desire.

She particularly enjoyed that delicious aroma of fear mixed with lust, that was a mouth watering effect that sweetened the blood of men and sometimes women wonderfully, the more emotions one can draw out from prey the richer and more complex the taste of the blood becomes, Ethan's was especially delightful on the palate given how he consented and clearly became all hot and bothered by just her touch, the taste of fear was replaced by something else entirely with Mr Winter's lifeblood, she was hooked on it and craved it constantly, she takes her refilled chalice from her maid who was rapidly becoming a bundle of nerves.

Ana trembles, talking to her mistress so casually is alarming she never does this with the help.

Alcina shakes her head still smiling as she takes a big gulp of blood wine "Well tell them they can leave Mr Winters out of their silly rumours from now on, any of those stupid little girls you hear gossiping around you, you will send them to Olga, tell them that girl" Alcina understands how those rumours can eat away at him, make him feel unwelcome, him being an outsider and an American his head was likely filled with all those terribly gauche ideas of social equality and class suffrage, he wouldn't be able to rise above it like she could.

"Yes Lady Dimtrescu I will" She would warn the girls, unsure if even that would stop Gabi's yammering mouth it should keep the rest of them quiet for now though.

"Strike the bitches yourself, you have my permission, I'll even give you a big beating stick to keep them in line" She grins into her chalice side eyeing Ana playfully.

"I-I think that should be enough Mistress" Ana shakes her head managing to crack a nervous twitchy smile, why is she talking to me like this? She must be drunk.

"What more do you think of him? I want details girl!" She slaps the water playfully and chuckles "He has a lovely build doesn't he? He looks delicious without a shirt on, that muscled chest and those strong biceps..." Her eyes flash and she purrs softly as she thinks about his naked body and all the lustful things she would do to it.

Ana blushes and stammers, the strange cat like purring sound always made Ana's flesh goose pimple and her hair stand up, "My Lady I-It's...It's improper for me to say..." She thoroughly agrees with Her Ladyship but she can't bring herself to say it, her mistress picks up on the flashes of pink at her hand maiden's cheeks and grins, how delightful Ana looked when she squirmed.

"Come on we're just a couple of ladies! Of much different classes mind you but please girl speak your mind, he is handsome is he not? I won't reprimand you for being a young lady fresh on the cusp of womanhood." The mistress's playful devious grin amused and discomforted the girl, but she managed to crack a slight smile and nod.

"He is Mistress, Greta says he looks like some American movie star Mistress" Ana giggles softly, the noblewoman laughs alongside the commoner.

"I suppose he would seem quite exotic to you girls, well as long as you keep your mitts off him and stop the vicious rumours I don't mind you girls fawning over the man as long as it stays just that" She was confident it would stay that way, very few people were left alive that ever dared to take something, or in this case someone from Alcina. 

"Of course Your Ladyship, I know the conditions of service here"

"Yes... You always have haven't you? Why I don't think I've ever had to discipline you... such an obedient little useful pet compared to the rest of them" Her Ladyship says thoughtfully and low, Ana doesn't know if she should take that as a compliment. 

"What do you think are his best features?" She's enjoying fraternizing with Ana like two schoolgirls it's quite refreshing, her darling girls wouldn't be up for talking about men like this, it was nice just to have a grown up conversation with another warm blooded woman, even if Ana was just a maid and a peasant "I adore his eyes, so expressive one can see where Rosie got her baby blues from." Her excited giggly tone put Ana at a slight ease.

"I-I like his hands Mistress, my gran always said a man's hands tell a story My Lady" The young girl thinks to her dear old grandparents who lived by the well in their crooked little two story home, her grandpa's fuzzy chops twitching as he welcomed Ana to their door and her grandma's wrinkled soft right hand that missed several fingers, she used to be a maid here herself she lost her fingers after displeasing Miss Daniela, that must've been over 50 years ago and Miss Daniela hadn't aged a day since then. The hand maid does wonder what magic is responsible for their eternal youth, what blessing Mother must've bestowed upon them?

The Lady is surprised by the answer "Then your grandmother seems wise girl, what story does Ethan's hands tell then?" From Alcina's experience old women usually are either wise or mad or something much, much worse at least here in this valley anyways.

Ana meekly smiles as she stares at the water thinking of the day he first arrived after he had ran around the castle hiding from and fighting with the daughters when they brought his broken bloody pale body to the cells and patched him up she had remembered her old gran's words and looked at his bloody, cut, muzzle burnt and scarred hands to see who he was Ethan's hands were not calloused and roughened by a life of work at the plough or from a trade as an artisan like the men around here but tempred by violence and lashed by small scarring from past horrific deep wounds. 

"A sad one Mistress, but I think one that will have a happy ending eventually My Lady" She somehow musters enough courage to look up and say something to Her Ladyship that she never would've thought she would say "You gave him an opportunity to have that Mistress, it was... really good of you, not many people would allow him to stay with his child My Lady."

That warms the tall woman's heart she may be a monster but she does hold herself back so very much and tries to make the right decisions especially with her children these days, a few years ago if a desperate handsome father like Ethan turned up at their doorstep she would've snatched him up on the spot, done whatever whim took her fancy before killing him herself or letting her daughters have their fun without even letting him get a word in, she was fully prepared to let him go that night after he proved his innocence and ignorance to Mother's plans he still is welcome to that if that is something he would ever wish, he is hardly a prisoner anymore but she hopes with every fibre of her being he doesn't leave.

She hides a thoughtful and grateful expression with a jest "It did help that he tastes absolutely marvellous too and is easy on one's eye!"

Ana chuckles meekly "Begging your pardon Mistress perhaps you should do something for him My Lady, or get him something nice?" 

"He does deserve it the dear, he has been such a delight to have around" She would need to think as to what would Ethan enjoy or want, perhaps hunting? Or fishing? maybe a picnic by the waterfall in the mists of Donna's lands or the river gate? "Thank you for advice Ana", She had wanted to hear something like that, maybe if just to reinforce some normalcy into her and Ethan's relationship. 

"Of course Mistress" She was relieved her mistress didn't scald her or anything for speaking out of place, this whole evening was just... unusual for Ana, Her Ladyship had seemed pleased with the garments Ana had made for the girls and Mr Winters for the party, she carefully studied Ana's needlework, meticulously checking each seam and stitch, her face light up with approval each time she completed her examination of her daughter's new dresses and Mr Winter's suit, it had been Ana's first attempt at making a suit from scratch and a long time since she made any male garments, she felt Mr Winters would find it a bit old fashioned in the cut but he seemed to like it when Ana bumped into him in the hall and he properly thanked her for the clothes and remarked on how well made and fitting they were, he joked he couldn't wait for Her Ladyship to see him in them, perhaps her handiwork greatly impressed Her Ladyship and she was just pleased her little hand maid did a task well, that had to have been it.

They both beam happily at each other for a while Lady Dimitrescu had a powerfully charismatic effect on people when she wanted to indulge them in pleasant conversation, how her golden eyes smouldered softly and soothed a person's woes for the first time in four years of employment Ana stares into Her Ladyship's eyes almost mesmerised by their beauty, drawn into the varying flecks of gold against the fiery amber and small jet black pupils that were focused in on Ana no wonder Mr Winters was struck by her she was incredibly beautiful so much so it dizzied Ana just to look at her for too long the maid had grown up on stories of how ugly and grotesque the giant witch was in her dilapidated old castle they couldn't have been further from the truth in fact the reality was far more terrifying, Ana felt odd and looked away again fumbling her hands, she still felt Alcina's gaze on her, Alcina gets a craving to sink her teeth into someone.

Good God does this adorable mousey little lamb look just... delicious Alcina thinks to herself, it would be improper to call Ethan in right now but Ana would more than do for a night cap, her innocent blood was like honey and had a creamy depth to it that held that wonderfully divine note of an unspoiled young woman, Alcina was picky after centuries of being a 'Strigoi' as the locals had crudely called her she had developed a refined palate while her daughters would gladly savage and consume their prey flesh and all raw, man or beast their mother found such ways of feeding ghastly. She hadn't devoured human flesh for years and consumed only blood, preferring a diet of regular solid food and blood her preferred vintages being virginal blood and what Alcina called 'impassioned blood', prey that felt extremes in fear, happiness and lust were her favourites and feeding directly from them rather than from a bottle gave Alcina a rather base satisfaction, it allowed her to draw all those delicious and subtle emotions out and create a blend of flavours in the blood and and to taste it when it's freshest.

"I think Mr Winters is a good and handsome man truthfully Mistress, Miss Rosemary has a great father My Lady, and we are lucky to have him here Mistress" Ana adds, she swallows dryly and her fingers twitch more rapidly as Her Ladyship's eyes turn predatory and wanting, Ana knew what was coming and steadied herself as her mistress gave her the empty glass to set down.

"We are so very lucky are we not?" Alcina smiles as she turns around in the tub the water splashing around, her wet generous full breasts jiggle as she moves and beckons Ana closer to the tub beside her.

"Y-yes My Lady we are..." She trembles, she began to feel that knot in her gut and her breath feels laboured as she moves over.

Alcina's teeth flash at her as she smiles "I'm afraid I'm quite famished girl, the wine just isn't cutting it, Ana, your neck please..." She said her voice low and dominating Alcina usually doesn't add the "please" often but she feels generous tonight, and she heard how Ana's heart hammered and her pulse quickened, her blood was beginning to become flavoured with the rush of desires Alcina could draw out from a person, man or woman it didn't matter she bewitched many in her time with her inhuman, otherworldly beauty and charm, it was made even easier with her voluptuous nude marble skiinned body wet and glinting from her bath on full display, poor Ana didn't stand a chance maybe Alcina should call Ethan here to attend her sometime he'd hardly be able to contain himself she thought, the randy devil would likely leap in the tub clothes and all.

Alcina's pale beautiful hungry features yearn for her hand maid to bear her neck, Ana gulps and thinks a quick prayer to Mother as she undoes the buttons of her blouse and pulls it down exposing her bare chest and small pale breasts, Alcina smiles fondly and hungrily, sniffing the air daintily her mouth is almost salivating at the mere thought of tasting virgin's blood, she licks her pale soft rose lips slightly.

"It's okay girl, you know your mistress is gentle with you..." She coos brushing a mousey strand away from Ana's face, Ana nods and composes herself as she leans against the tub that almost came to chest height and looks down staring blankly into the water, Her Ladyship hums softly as she traced her claws ever so delicately over her maid's bare shoulders making her shudder, the tune is one most of the local girls know "The Song of the Dark Weaver", Ana's mother would hum it as she sat at her weaving loom making sheets of wool for her families clothes, she grips the tub's rim her fingers nervously drumming and scratching against the tub, the young woman gasps when she feels the warm damp and soft hand of her mistress lay on her own the thumb gently stroking it, reassuring her and stopping her nervous twitch.

She was much more direct in her feeding with Ana than the maids who her daughters would extract a bi monthly blood tithe from them using venepuncture and drawing the blood into jugs to be transferred to barrels or straight into IV bags for refrigeration, it was an accepted part of being her hand maid and had been part of the position since Alcina's adoption by Mother Miranda that hand maids be fed upon like this, but never so intimately Alcina had often taken her fill from the girls wrist. 

"Ready girl?" Alcina asks in a way that makes Ana sweat slightly, she always asked permission it was just good table manners even if the girl could not refuse, and she had almost made Ana bashful and hot blooded enough for her to taste absolutely divine, almost.

"Yes Mistress...please..." Ana whispers out breathlessly shocked with herself that she added the please like she somewhat wanted this, her head was dizzying with peculiar wants but she repeated her prayers wordlessly to stave them off, just barely. Her Ladyship moves down to her chosen mark,

It had been a very long time since she fed from Ana however the old bites were healed, her lips hovered over the quailing flesh hot breath in her ear dries Ana's throat and sends her head spiralling, she almost screams when her mistress plants a small tender kiss to her searing flesh before she sinks her teeth into her maid's neck careful not to bite too deep and sever anything too important, worse case scenario, they top the girl back up with an IV full of her blood down in the larder but it would ruin Alcina's evening if she accidently killed one of the best servants she's had in years, and such a tasty little pre bedtime treat, not to mention Ethan's reaction, that was a new concern on her mind as of late.

There we go... Alcina thinks the slight sensual touch of her lips was enough to season Ana's blood properly and set her off like a juicy Marselan being burst under the wine press, her other hand holds Ana close and steady by her shoulder, she withdraws her teeth and covers the flowing blood with her mouth, moaning and purring ever so softly into the wound as she sucks mouthfuls letting it sit for a while before swallowing it was like a fine sweet, honey wine on the Lady's tongue it warmed her gullet and belly, sparking a steady, pleasant burn in her chest as satisfaction overcame her, her cells began revitalising and her body was as if it was being wrapped in satin, it was almost as good as Ethan's blood but the girl lacked that fiery liquor like burn of passion and the deep notes of sorrow that made his blood unique that and his special gift which gave him a peaty aftertaste. 

Ana flinches and whimpers her legs almost give out, thankful the pain took away her confusing feelings momentarily, she felt her warm sweet blood being pulled away from her body and saw several dark drops splash down into the water below her, she breathes heavy along with her mistress's curious purring loud in her ears lulling her even further, she felt her tongue lap against the wound between sucks it was soft and velvety against her neck strangely enough it almost tickles rather than stings Ana feels light headed.

Her mistress pulls back and runs her tongue across the wound her low rumbles sending a vibration into Ana's already quailing body, she pulls back, sucking in air and letting the blood aerate before swallowing it, she tuts carelessly as she looks at the still bleeding wound and presses her hand against it staunching the welting as best as possible noticing Ana had started swaying sighing at her maid's lack of stamina but content with her fill she couldn't drain a normal mortal as vigorously as she could Ethan, her lips were bloody and her teeth were pink tinted, a drop rolled down her chin "Use the towel" Alcina says softly her eyes blazing like torches. Ana grasps the towel by the bath stand and presses it against her wound hard, wincing slightly still feeling flustered and confused by her mistress's behaviour, the bleeding should stop soon enough and Ana was just grateful for it all to be over as she attempted to stand up straight, she nearly fell down, Alcina smiled as she licked her lips sucking and running her tongue across her teeth, a delightful warmth spread through her body.

Well, that was fun... Alcina bemoans not using that approach earlier on the girl she had been hooked on the sweet taste of aroused blood ever since Ethan made his way into their lives, the peppery savoury notes of fear felt dull on her palate these days.

"Dress your wound by the mirror" Alcina splashed water on her face to wash away the blood and leant over to grab the other towel, Ana hobbled to the basin sink and roots around for the medical kit in the white and gold cabinet under the sink to properly dress her wound the bleeding had slowed to a manageable degree and she could press a bandage to it and bind it.

"Y-yes Mistress thank you" Ana meekly replies as she inspects her neck and bites her lip in the mirror, her bite was a mark of ownership and one of devotion to Mother a test of her faith, Ana still trembled and a part of her felt like bursting into tears, not necessarily out of fear or pain but mostly out of sheer confusion her siblings and fellow maids often mocked how shaky and close to crying Ana looked whenever difficulty was presented to her, she hated her own shy and timid nature.

Alcina steps out of the tub onto the bath side rug and wraps her appropriately sized towel around her wet, towering dripping alabaster body she frowns at her maid who stifles gentle sobs as she cleans and binds her still oozing wound.

"Are you well girl?" Alcina feels slightly guilty for some reason, maybe she pushed the girl a bit too far, she was pretty amazed at how she even cared if she hurt Ana this was just part of her duty as her constant shadow as a hand maiden, but she did regardless.

"Yes My Lady, just slightly woozy Mistress... I'm sorry" Ana turns to face her mistress leaning back against the vanity for a second or two before propping herself upright, clutching a disinfected cloth to her wound. 

"Don't apologise for that girl, finish tending to yourself and leave for the evening, unless Rosemary wakes you shan't be needed, take the morning off too you will need it." Alcina dries her hair dabbing it with a towel, preparing to move to the vanity in her room and style her hair and finish her skincare regimen and dressing herself for bed, she would sleep exceptionally well tonight.

"Thank you Mistress" Ana bows in her direction before turning back to finish up, pulling up her blouse buttoning it she needed to get to her bed before she swooned and not just because of the bleeding.

"Don't be afraid to speak your mind if I ask for it Ana, I just wanted some light hearted chat girl" She means that genuinely, Ethan would be happy after all if he knew she was being kind to Ana he might not be so happy about her acting like that towards Ana during a feed, Alcina didn't think much of it personally she liked being intense and a tease her daughters may love sowing terror and brutality but she prefers more subtler means of acting out her seasoning her meals.

That makes Ana pause as she moved away from the sink to leave the room "I-I... well, yes Mistress... I will bear that in mind" She bows again and almost falls over "G-goodnight Lady Dimitrescu" She wanted to truly say what in Mother's name was that all about? But she knew her place, even speaking one's mind should have limits.

"Yes...Goodnight Ana and wake those cows downstairs to clear the bath chamber!" She shouts as she turns off the gramophone with her free hand and makes for the door that opened into her bedchamber, leaving Ana alone awkwardly smiling at the space her mistress just stood in for a few moments feeling very much unsettled with Her Ladyship and herself, before she shook herself clear and headed to her bed likely to be plagued by very, very... confusing dreams of what just happened.

It's all a test, Mother Miranda give me strength.

"Well how do I look?" Ethan playfully struts up and down in his room at Olga in his new suit, pouting like an overpaid fashion model as Olga chuckles leaning back on his bed, the raven haired girl had come down to make sure Ethan was ready for the big day ahead. He had gotten some shut eye after a busy day helping around the castle yesterday and felt fresh and ready for whatever demented or ludicrous form of birthday entertainment Kassandra would throw at him, he had a nervous feeling he would be her guest of honour. 

He was pretty shocked when he woke up and opened his door to see Olga standing there her unusually gore free face grinning at him, her lips were painted red like her mother's and her yellow eyes were dark and smoky, the inky black hair was straight and flattened out, it looked soft and clean as opposed to it's usual greasy dirty appearance, she thrusted out a tray with a pot of hot freshly brewed coffee, a small jug of cream, a bowl of sugar and two cups and saucers and a large mound of toast lathered in melting butter and strawberry jam "I made you breakfast Mr Winters!" She chirped at him, a bewildered smile broke Ethan's tired face as he invited her in, she fussed him to put on his suit behind the plain wood and linen modesty screen. Olga refused to let him have any coffee till he put it on.

"You look great Mr Winters!" Olga says happily as she munches on a slice of toast covered in sickly amounts of jam "Very much like a gentleman, you clean up well Mr Winters."

Ethan smiles smugly and sits down next to Olga "Now, can I have some coffee?" He had been looking forward to it as soon as he saw and smelt the contents of the pot, tea was all well and good, but long hours in college and at work staring at a screen and paperwork led to him becoming hooked on the stuff to stay awake, caffeine addiction is just part of modernity after all. 

"You may, pour me a cup please Mr Winters" She said her mouth full of toast and jam, wiping crumbs off her black silk dressing gown.

He nods as he pours them a cup each "Cream and sugar?"

"Lotsa cream lotsa sugar please" It was nice talking to Mr Winters like this she hadn't really had the chance to talk to him alone, she had so many questions for him.

Ethan arches a brow while pouring a cupful "No blood?"

Olga smiles and shakes her head "Blood and cream? Ew... it would curdle, I don't always drink blood." 

He stirs in the cream and large spoonful's of sugar before handing it to her, he notices her nails are cleaned and well manicured, "Good because I don't keep any lying around here" 

She grins wickedly as she brings the cup to her lips and blows "Why would you? It's all in you..."

Ethan smiles nervously as pours himself a cup and shifts slightly.

"That was a joke Mr Winters, you're Mama's please calm down." She takes a sip "Oh! that's a good cup of joe y'all!" She put on a terrible stereotypical American accent that sounded more like a drunken John Wayne impression Ethan chuckled at her.

"Is that what I sound like to you? And no one says 'a cup of joe' anymore" He smiles and gasps in satisfaction as he sipped the dark nectar he had so missed these past few months, this was really good coffee it must've arrived with the shipments yesterday.

"No you sound well...like you, I don't hear many outsiders talk often and please do forgive me for being out of touch with popular slang..." She rolls her eyes and takes a small sip burning her lip slightly "I was born in 1906 Mr Winters". 

He nearly spits his coffee out "Wait you're 115?!?"  She cackles and picks up another piece of toast.

"Yes, we're all pretty old, apart from Kass she's just 32 she's practically a kid Mother bless her."

Ethan himself is just 35 "How old is Daniela?" 

"135 or something I can't exactly remember" She munches a corner off the toast "That's why she's so cranky cuz she's old"

Ethan tries his luck as he drinks his coffee "And Her Ladyship, your mother?"

She shakes her head "Nope, that's for her to tell you, it's rude for me to tell on a lady's age without her consent Mr Winters." 

Worth a shot, he liked the mystery surrounding Alcina it made her so very intriguing and that oh so much more appealing.

"You did just tell me your sisters' age Olga."

"I'd hardly call them dignified ladies, we can be most 'uncouth' as mother puts it I do try but... well you should know what we're like by now."

"Fair enough I guess" He sips his coffee he knows exactly what the daughters were like wicked, with a cruel streak a mile long and much more instinctual than their mother but they loved each other, their mom and Rose so very much, they certainly could be shocking, mischievous and terrifying at times to Ethan but how his heart lit up when he saw them being affectionate and caring the young ladies of House Dimitrescu could be lovely to be around, aside from Daniela unless she was with her sisters or mother.

"What's America like?" She asks her face full of curiosity.

"I mean that's a big question I dunno if I can really answer that very well, I grew up and lived in one state, I travelled a bit but everywhere is different California is pretty hot and sunny in general I'm not sure if you'd like it." He sips his coffee and lays it down and grabs a piece of toast using a knife to remove some of the jam thickly spread on it.

"The sun we can kind of get used to, it just really hurts our eyes for a bit it's the cold that really messes us up, it takes away our gifts if it's too cold or if we're in it for far too long we'll die, we're stuck here most of the year because it's too bloody cold in this stupid valley." Olga has really only left the castle at night after drinking that awful stuff mother makes them or in summer when the snows had melted, they can cover up and wear shades to help deal with the natural sunlight the merest glimpse of even dim sunlight still blinds them for a while until their eyes adjust, Mama said it had something to do with their Cadou born insects being extremely sensitive to light, the cold however took away their regenerative abilities, killed their bugs and made their skin go all numb it was much worse, they were really easy to hurt in that state, they had to drink mother's medicine to make their bodies cope with the cold even then that worked only a little while.

"I would like anywhere that isn't this castle Mr Winters it does get so boring around here, I'd love to see New York Mama went there when I was younger, I couldn't come and Dani and Auntie Donna looked after me for a while that was in like 1931."

"Damn she probably hung out with mobsters and Broadway stars that must've been something, I wonder how much has seen." He bites into the toast finding it still far too sweet, Ethan had a passing interest in history prior to coming to Romania he liked WW2 and loved reading about Wild West gunslingers and tommy gun toting gangsters, and he expanded it to older European history when he lived in Bucharest being surrounded by a history that predated his home country was pretty cool, most of the readable books in the library were about Classical, Medieval and early Modern history so reading about mighty heroes, noble lords and men and women like Alcina was a hobby of his these days.

"A lot most likely a lot happens around here too, we're just stuck indoors and don't get to see most of it and mother can be quite private it's so annoying Uncle Karl let's us know everything that happens with the other Houses, he's great!" The girl adored Uncle Heisenberg even if mother hated him they had a very on and off relationship since Karl Heisenberg was adopted by Mother back in '44, Olga remembers they got on really well for decades but had fallen out for some reason that Mama was insistent on keeping to herself.

"Karl? You know he threw a truck and half a building with his mind at me?" He shudders as he thinks back to the lycans he faced at the ground floor of the factory and that crazy Magneto motherfucker with the hammer and how he barely escaped Heisenberg after just killing that massive bearded freak, he certainly isn't keen to meet this Karl Heisenberg again that's for sure.

Olga shrugs "I'm sure he had his reasons whether mother likes it or not he is still family and he helped raise me and Kassie as did Auntie Donna and Aunt Angie." 

"Does he know about Rose? Isn't he loyal to Mother Miranda"

She gulps down her coffee "Yes but so's Mama technically still, he stood up for Mama when Mother Miranda wanted Rose back without him Rose wouldn't be here Mr Winters, you kind of owe him in that regard" Ethan nods he didn't know that.

"I guess so... I'd rather not see him again or have him near Rose, I don't trust anyone else outside this castle and certainly not Miranda" He must've had an ulterior motive if he wanted to help his 'sister' against Mother.

Olga agrees with him "That's smart too many jealous little people outside these walls that want what we have and hate us, and Mama is not in Mother's good books as of late."

"And who's Donna and Angie? Are they another House?"

"Yeah House Beneviento Auntie Donna is depressing to be around but she is nice to us and Angie is well... I'll let you find out for yourself..." She giggles deviously.

"Why will I?" He's curious and slightly worried.

"They're coming around later for Kassandra's day"

Ethan has a good cause to be worried "Is that a good idea? Bringing another lord here?".

Olga looks up at the clock on the mantle place and frowns stands and grabs a final bit of toast "It will be fine her and mother go way back she's always keeping to herself anyways she won't tell, just if she takes off her shroud, please don't stare at her Angie gets really mad at that" She warns the outsider.

"I'll bear that in mind I guess" He notices the time too, it's half past eleven already everyone was given a late start today even most of the help. "When does everything start?"

"Soon I think around two, Kassie takes literally forever to get ready" She spins around and makes for the door still munching her toast "Then again so do I" She giggles "I'll see you in a bit man-thing enjoy your coffee."

Ethan looks at his empty plate laden with crumbs and half munched crusts and smiles fondly "Thanks for my breakfast" He chides, she jumps around to face him and bows her crimson red lips grinning wildly as she stuffs her face with the last bit of toast.

"You are most welcome Mr Winters!" Her laughing echoes in the servants quarters as she bursts into a cloud of beetles and flies out of the ajar door and tears down the dim corridors terrifying the maids awake in their beds as she goes.

Ethan can't help but chuckle to himself as he drinks his coffee eagerly awaiting the afternoons high jinks.

Ana comes to get him around half three for dinner he notices she's wearing a silk scarf bound around her neck he knows why it's there she can't fool him if that's what she hopes, he of all people can reconise someone who felt the bite of Lady Dimitrescu as traverse the servants quarters and walk into the Hall of the Four as Alcina called it for whatever reason Ethan can't help but feel nervous as he walks up to the stairs into the grand hall, loud jazzy big band music fills the castle's interior and the all too familiar sound of the girl's laughter echoing down the marble steps.

The hand maiden stops at the railing and gestures for him to head up "Just head on up sir I have to oversee the kitchens and the meal preparations, please enjoy yourself sir" Ana says in her typical sad tone although her eyes are fixed on him and her mouth is ever so slightly raised in a smile, Ethan's eyes drop to the scarf.

"What happened?" He's worried about her.

"Oh...sir that's just part of the position I serve to keep my mistress happy please don't make a big deal or worry sir, Her Ladyship is..." She feels weird again thinking back to last night "...gentle sir." 

Ethan frowns and looks down at his brand new highly polished oxblood shoes "I..." He sighs "This place is just so different to what I'm used to I should've figured she does that to you... if you want it to stop I can talk to her."

"Sir please I do what I can to make her happy and she had such a busy day she is entitled to our blood sir after all." Ana figures he would've been slightly upset at this he just doesn't understand.

She is eager to get away from this conversation and the horrible sensation that Mr Winters is somewhat judging her "Sir just enjoy today, deal with it another time if you must sir please Miss Rosemary is up there waiting for you, I have to check the food sir." Before he can say anything else she strides off to the brown plain servants door and disappears from sight.

Ethan runs his hand through his hair and turns around to see Daniela standing at the top of the stairs scowling at him, she looks completely different her hair is beautifully done up in Hedi braids she wore her new satin slim long dress which was similar to her normal black dress but was much cleaner and a deep wine crimson with black lace embroidery, her make up was carefully applied and she looked downright lovely if it weren't for her venom filled yellow eyes flaming down at him.

"Hurry up man-thing enough nattering with that cow, Kassie has already waited long enough for your miserable company." Nice to see she was cordial to him even on her sister's birthday...

"Why hello Daniela, wonderful to see you..." His voice heavy with sarcasm.

"And it's a downright shame to see you just get up here now you dolled up cockroach."  She spins around pleased at that creative insult and faintly muttering bloody murder as she drifts away.

Ethan reaches the top, the hall has it's usual warm and inviting atmosphere the birthday girl herself leaps up from the sofa and rushes over to Ethan her make up caked face split by a warm happy smile she's pleased to see him clearly, she looks lovely in a richly gold lace embroidered rose petal pink silk gown over a gold cloth petticoat, her blood red hair is done up in curled ringlets and bound in pink ribbons, adorning her head is a white gold, diamond and garnet tiara she looks just like a fairy-tale princess. 

"Mr Winters!" She flies over to him and stops just short she offers out her white silk gloved clawed hands for him to grasp, he smiles at her and does so she suddenly giggles and pulls him in close for a warm hug, he's nearly thrown off balance by her eager embrace he gasps in surprise and laughs softly as he returns her embrace "You look great!" she squeezes him harder. Ethan was always thrown off by the strength that lay within their seemingly nubile and slight teenage frames.

"So do you, Your Grace Happy Birthday kid" He never thought he'd be happily hugging the same girl that hurled him off that very floor above them after sinking a knife between his ribs not too long ago like some niece or... hell like a step daughter, he pushed that aside as they stepped back from each other "Sorry I don't have anything to give you."

Her sparkling ochre eyes roll back "Don't be silly! I'm just happy to spend my day with someone else new!" She takes his arm before drifting over to the couches and fireplace, he stumbles after her briefly before she remembers not everyone can float around like her and sets herself down and walks beside him Olga is sitting with Rosemary on her lap, it was a lovely sight.

The middle child of the Dimitrescu's looked like some 1920's flapper dame in a black silk straight knee high dress, long black silk gloves with a blue silk small turban like head wrap broached with a silver and ruby jewel, her long black hair spilled down past her shoulders her pale death toned arms and shoulders on display he notices intricate feathered and floral tattoos on her arms, he wonders why Daniela and Olga wore strange markings on their skin yet Kassandra seemed to have none, as she jostles Rose and nods at Ethan and her sister his daughter looks beyond adorable in a white and blue frilly dress, a small blue bow is in her light blonde fluffy hair, God her hair is growing out quickly he thinks as he approaches them he notices Rose's happy gaze is glued to something between the lounge couch and the opposing Ladyship sized armchair, that's when Ethan see's what he thinks is a tiny person standing there before Olga and Rosemary, a miniscule person with their back to Ethan wearing what looked like a wedding dress...

No... it can't be no one can be that tiny... than again I though the same about Alcina's height being impossible it must be child or something surely... wait... His ears pick the sound of wooden joints creakily moving as it's head spins around like that girl from the Exorcist, Ethan goes pale and freezes. It's a fucking doll, just a creepy ass toy...The doll's hideously carved face is locked onto him, and the wooden jaw drops down and from what Ethan assumes is some sort of recording device comes a rattling, scratchy cackle.

Well...that's an absolutely horrifying toy, what kid would want that?

"...And this is the child's father?..."

An unfamiliar accented female voice came from the huge armchair one laden with absolute sorrow and heart break despite it's frail, almost whisper like quality he was startled and was thrown around to see a woman dressed in a long, coal black dress sitting in Her Ladyship's chair her head completely covered in a black veil a Victorian funerary shroud the black lace transparent shielded visor that covered her eyes was facing him dead on he felt a blackness wash over him with her shrouded gaze.

Daniela who was helping herself to a glass of fruity and strong punch flavoured with maiden's blood to his left on a table smiled at Ethan's fright at Auntie Donna and Angie, she felt tempted to spit in the smaller punch bowl filled with a boozy mix made especially for Mr Winters but restrained herself and drifted off inhaling Ethan's quiet discomfort as she passed by.

"H-Hey there you must be Lady Angie right?" He hopes he got that right it was either that or Donna he couldn't quite remember.

What happens next terrifies Ethan so much it almost makes him reach for his hip hoping to find the comforting grip of a handgun at his side his heart sinks when he remembers he isn't armed.

"I'm Angie ya' dummy!" The doll corrects him and laughs again.

It's fucking alive isn't it? Christ above...

Ethan attempts to compose himself he can deal with wolfmen assholes, he can cope with slime zombies, kill giant mutant bioweapons, face off superhumans, dodge psychic trench coat wearing nutjobs and he can somewhat handle crazy vampire chicks and their hauntingly beautiful mother... well maybe he can't handle Alcina. But if there is one thing that he can't deal with it's cursed ventriloquist dolls or whatever horror he was looking at right now with his wide alert eyes, it's strangely designed split looking face and soulless glassy bulging eyes were fixed on him, he swallows and manages to speak.

"I-I'm sorry My Ladies..." He tries his best to appear calm and put on his airs and graces to nobility and bows there is a soft, hollow laugh emanating from the shrouded woman.

"...My you were right Kassandra dear he is a sweetheart calling us by titles and everything..." Her ghostly laugh honestly chills Ethan far more than her living Tim Burton on acid creation of a doll "...Saluti Ethan Winters it is a pleasure to finally meet you... " 

"He sure is! He'd make a great playmate wouldn't he Don?" The doll chirps at her sister.

"...He is claimed by Lady Dimitrescu Angie, now behave yourself, you are an outsider yes?..." 

Ethan nods and nervously looks back at the woman while walking to the empty space by Olga on the couch sitting down to take his child holding her would help with his nerves, she hands him his child with a smile her happy wails pulls his gaze down from the nightmare in front of him and the blue eyes lock with her father's he nestles her gently and kisses her crown as he hands explore the lapel and buttons of her father's new clothes.

"Yes Lady Donna, I'm from California originally but moved to the capital three years back." 

"...most fascinating we do not get that many visitors to the reg-..."

The doll's rattily voice interrupts her "And ya' ended up here after your darling Rose was taken!" 

"What do you know about that?" He slowly tears his eyes away from his child to stare out the doll hoping to press for more answers. there was still so much mystery regarding why his wife was killed, his daughter being brought here and left by Chris he still didn't fully know why his life was shattered to pieces.

"...She knows nothing within that silly hollow wooden head of hers Ethan Winters I assure you and even if we did we love Mother so very much but Alcina is our friend..." Her phantom voice turns even more icy "...our discretion on your current wellbeing is due to that don't pry Ethan Winters where you shouldn't and we shall do likewise..." Ethan could understand a threat when it was given it was made even more sinister by her cold presence and tone.

"I think that is fair" Olga chimes in eager to diffuse and change the subject.

"Yeah no business or serious talk today" Kassie sits on the arm of the couch by Ethan sipping a sweet glass of chilled lemonade with a dash or two of maiden's blood she leans over to look down at Rosie and coos and babbles at her "Even Rose agrees Mr Winters no boring talk!" 

He lifts up his child who screams with joy as she is raised "And my lil' lady is always right ain't you angel?" He brings her back down and showers her with kisses, Kassie can't help but melt inside over Ethan and Rosemary it was so sweet.

"...she is a beautiful child Mr Winters..." The veiled figure said as the doll with a jittery gait scuttled back to her mistress although Ethan knew it could've easily just been the other way around.

"She sure is a pretty baby! Strong looking too!" Angie creaks out as she crawled onto Donna's lap.

"Thank you My Ladies" He holds her closer his previous fear and unease was being eaten away "Have you travelled far?"

"...no we live by the waterfall to the west of here in a misted vale is where our house lies it is not too far and no man nor beast bothers us" Many feared the Beneviento woman and her doll to see her stalk the graveyards of the valley was an omen of death to the locals and the lycan's would even sometimes drag unsuspecting 'playmates' for Angie's delight and Donna's experiments to their home compelled by Mother's instructions to appease her sad, lonely daughter in that big empty house by the waterfall "...the walk is pleasant and brief enough it's no worry for me and Angie here I haven't seen my nieces for months after all..."

"And it's wonderful to see you both here auntie" Kassie loved Auntie Donna and it was always great to have someone new in castle willing or otherwise. "Oh Dani love! Show Mr Winters my present from Auntie Don and Ange!" 

"Do I have to?" The blonde girl sighs under her breath as she drinks her punch and leans against the fireplace's mantle.

"Just get it it's right by you Dan..." Olga turns to her voice frustrated Daniela was being a bitch and she really did not want Dani to cause a scene in front of guests and on Kassie's big day.

"Fine..." Daniela necks her punch and floats over to grab it to show Ethan "Our little sister Rose loves this Ethan" Dani's red leather bound gloves grab the hauntingly lifelike doll dressed in a similar fashion to Kassandra in a puffy dress gown and petticoat, the hair is even the same hue and style and Daniela moves over in front of Ethan showing Aunt Donna's craft to Rose again more than she was Ethan.

The babe called out her happy sound and stared transfixed by the porcelain detailed face of the doll Ethan's glad his Rosemary likes it he frankly finds it creepy "That's lovely..." He said trying to hide his slightly disturbed tone Dani strokes Rose's cheek tenderly and leant down to kiss her temple smiling sweetly, briefly flashing an expression of wicked sadistic amusement at Ethan's discomfort from Donna and Angie, Kassie's doll and having herself that close to him, her eyes staring poison tipped daggers at him before they lock back down on Rose as she lays her black lips to the child's skin.

A grown man scared by dolls how wretchedly pathetic.

Her siblings click on to her attempts to make Mr Winters uncomfortable and look at each other Kassie jumps up "Do you want some punch Mr Winters?" 

He snaps up glad to be pulled away "Y-yeah sure please..."

"Don't worry I made some especially for you, no blood or anything Mr Winters." Said Olga nudging him and leaning her head on his shoulder while staring at Daniela her yellow eyes burn a warning to her elder, one the blonde takes onboard for now and backs off, Ethan smiles as he feels the middle child of the Dimitrescu family snuggle up to his arm, they were beginning to accept him as family, this was all going so fast for Ethan much faster than he would've imagined it wasn't a bad feeling he didn't feel so alone in this cold uncaring world anymore. It was just a shame about Daniela...

Her bare pale skin feels much cooler than her mother but it's no less comforting as she fusses Rose with him, letting tiny pudgy hands grasp the assortment of gold, silver, pearl and jewelled bangles and bracelets at her wrists, her silk gloved hands make Rosie giggle with glee.

Donna rocks Angie on her knee beneath her shroud she smiled at them this happy little family with the outsider seeing such affectionate behaviour made her cold dead heart glow warmly. 

The dining room's doors opening makes Ethan snap around as an all too familiar sound of high heels clicking against marble fills the room as Lady Dimitrescu stoops low and steps into the hall he stands to look at her properly his heart rising to his throat.

His jaw practically falls off when she stands to her full height.

Alcina's dress was stunning a deep purple silk satin and velvet ballgown with a matching purple shrug the pale flesh of her her upper arms showed before the rest was covered by long elbow length velvet gloves the waist bound with a gold cloth silk sash, high waisted and low cut her breasts as ever drew his gaze but his eyes soon caught hers, the golden jewels on her fingers and neck paled to how her dark hooded eyes shone at Ethan Winters her red lips were a slightly darker shade of crimson than usual, and her head was crowned with her black trademark hat with an added long white feather curling back from the cap.

"Ethan Winters..." She purrs at him, he feels weak at the knees before he remembers the weight of his child in his arms "Good Afternoon" She smiles as he flusters at her the effect was intentional and likewise she blushed slightly seeing him dressed as a gentleman his hair well groomed and pomaded he looked utterly ravishing in his garments.

"M-My Lady good afternoon..." He feels as nervous as he did when he first met her for some reason she looked breath-taking God he was falling for her hard. 

She strode up to him to lean down and take their child as Kassie floated up beside him offered out his glass of punch Ethan craned his neck to maintain her captivating gaze he was so distracted by Alcina he didn't realise Kassandra was addressing him.

Alcina leant down to take Rose Ethan slowly offered her up to her adoptive mother she side eyed him giving him a wickedly seductive smile she took Rose with one arm and let her clawed fingertips with her free hand trail over his jaw he closed his eyes and inhaled her sweet rose, vanilla and slightly coppery scent "You look rather trim Ethan if I may say so." 

"Well... I try to be you all must bring out the classy gentleman in me." He jokes managing to throw off her hypnotising aura for a while "You look... incredible."

He suddenly becomes very much aware of the present company and restrains himself cursing his flirtatious behaviour feeling judging eyes rake him as he awkwardly takes his punch glass from Kassandra avoiding her adoring eyes and downs it Christ that's strong... 

Her cheeks flash even more brightly as she laughs and her longing heart flutters, she cares not in this very moment. 

Daniela almost vomits at this display her seething rage rising with her bile, Kassie and Olga fawn over it.

"Oh-Oh Al's got a boyfriend!" Angie cackles before Donna beats her over the head "Ow! Hey! Don!" Alcina stands up staring blankly at the wooden and Cadou caricature of life internally wishing to stomp it to pieces if she were not holding her Rosebud and whatever that would do to poor Donna, She much preferred the company of Donna to Angie.

Donna felt that too "Be quiet!" she looks up under her shroud at her old friend and stands dropping Angie onto the chair and approaching Alcina "I'm sorry Lady Alcina"

Her Ladyship's expression changes to one of warmth at the only fellow Lord truly fitting of that title the rest were common riff raff but the Beneviento's were an old noble family with a long lineage tracing back to their home country of Italy, a nation with much better taste in Alcina's opinion she had known her parents and had been the one to introduce the grieving broken young woman to Mother Miranda in an attempt to fix the poor girl's melancholy after Alcina caught her attempting to hurl herself off a cliff, suffice to say it did not work.

"It's alright." She hides her disgust and distain for the puppet Alcina bent slightly to grasp Donna's hands gently "Welcome Donna" she looks over to Angie coldly. "...And you too I suppose..." She drops her gaze back down to the ghostly shade of a woman.

"And how are you my dear?" 

"...I am well Alcina I hope I am not going to be a bother tonight..." Donna replies wispily

"Nonsense you never are any trouble dear we have a room prepared for you and Lady Angela for the night we did invite you after all." The taller lady of the valley stands fully and addresses everyone "Now Ladies and... Gentleman" casting a playful look at Ethan "Shall we retire for a bite?"

They had all taken their seats with Ethan sitting to Alcina's right Rose in her high chair to her right beside them and the birthday girl to her mother's left sat opposite Ethan, beside her was Lady Donna, he honestly would've preferred Daniela at least he didn't have to see that wooden face leering at him every time he looked up and he would know when Daniela was staring at him, her couldn't tell with Lady Donna behind her shroud but he felt watched the whole time he sat there.

The maids strode forth from their corners and poured everyone one a glass of wine Alcina sets their babe in her chair and nods at the maids to begin bringing in the food.

Ethan takes a small sip of his non blooded wine he poured himself some water and took a gulp he was absolutely prepared to cut loose tonight but he was going to steady himself around Rosie until she was put to bed after her supper, Olga assured him she won't be up for long only until the cake is brought out for dessert, Ethan's plate is stacked with smoking cuts of beef, fried onions and mushrooms, peas and potatoes and drowned in gravy by a sad looking one eyed maid he recognises as Janice she wore an eye patch now he tries to smile at her but she ignores it and scurries back face fixed to the floor Ethan feels guilty for whatever reason.

The girls snatch cuts of meat from trays on the trolleys designated for the young ladies making the maids jump back as they fill their plates with rare cuts of beef, venison and bloody steaks of something else that was frozen in the larder from several hunts ago that Ethan really wouldn't want to know where it came from a small birthday treat for them, Alcina turns away from setting a bowl of peas and carrots for her Rose "Ladies come now show some manners" Even Donna shifted at their ravenous appetites.

As one they said obediently "Yes mother" They sat down having already filled their plates and dirtying their gloves with blood and meat juices, they began to cut and tear without hesitation, Kassandra only stopping to pour gravy on the meat and thank her mother.

"Thanks Mama!" Her voice giggly as ever as she spears a piece of elk flesh on her knife.

The mother smiles at her formally youngest daughter eyes burning with joy at her merry ditzy adorable daughter, her fiery happy red rose "You are welcome child" 

Ethan stands to attend Rose "May I feed her Alcina?" The pale amethyst clad woman nods warmly inviting him to take up the small golden handled ivory infant's spoon glad to sit down and eat herself, he briefly pondered how much the small antique must've cost and if it was used for all her children.

Daniela silently scoffs at that he has no right to call Mama by her first name.

"Hey lil' gal..." He softly coos as he tries to get his baby from stop staring and babbling for her mother Rose was fixated on her, her young mind was drawn to how sparkly and happy her new mother looked this afternoon.

Alcina looks longingly at her roast beef dinner before turning to her child to help Ethan with a sigh.

"She's going to be a handful it seems" She leans in close coaxing her child and stroking the babes soft hair Rose's open mouth gives Ethan a chance as he moves the spoon close "No!" Rosemary wails covering her mouth.

Ethan smiles at her "How is her speech coming along?" He had heard her babble a few discernible words before.

"Well enough, Kassie and I have been trying. She is ten months old it is to be expected she has only just started haven't you princess?" She leans in close to nuzzle her infant "Olga hardly spoke till she was almost three a late blossom..."

"Mother please..." Olga looks up embarrassed her pink streaked cheeks turning even more red as she swallowed a mouthful of flesh. 

Donna laughs thinly "...You were more interested in trying to start a fight with Daniela and in hassling your mother..." Angie shifts in her lap still staring at the outsider.

"Not you too Auntie..."

"Maybe I can help her?" Ethan inquires Olga was glad he pulled away her giggling mother and aunt's attentions he winks at her as she gives him a slight thankful smile.

"Of course you can, it will be good for her to be bilingual too start her early but she will speak the correct form of English Ethan..." She replies grinning slightly egging him on.

"What's wrong with my English?" He raises a brow at her in response.

"It's full of your Yankee vulgarities dear" She clucks as she drinks her wine daintily.

"Fine, I guess I'll have to speak like the Queen of England from now on, I'm sure you're probably best pals with her right?" 

She rolls her eyes jokingly "No, but I had dinner with her grandfather once... a pleasant man, he had a lovely moustache and looked marvellous in a uniform..." 

Ethan shakes his head smiling.

"Ma! No!" Rosie bats away the air in front of her as Ethan tries again.

"Come on Rose sweetie eat" Ethan has caught her attention and eats some of the peas and carrots himself "mmm see? Yummy..." Rose stares at him and back at her bowl dribbling and laughing at him, Got ya now he refills the spoon and goes in making chugging noises like Mia used to when she fed her the homemade baby food she spent a whole afternoon stocking their cupboards back home with the sounds bring back a clouded memory of another happy dark haired woman in a different home who lived with her pa.

"Yum! Ma!" She cooed as she accepted the spoon happily her face told another story but she accepted another spoonful from her relieved father he had just remembered Mia's old trick from a corner of his memory.

"No Rose, Ma no yum, Papa yum." She replies happily at her Rose gesturing to her father the child's sparkling blue eyes shift to Ethan and she laughs shrilly at her father."My she can be struggle sometimes can't she?" Alcina said softly "Seems you found a knack for it Ethan dear"

"Something Mia used to do" He dabs at the mush and drool at his babe's messy chubby mouth with a napkin as she clumsily mashes her food with her tiny brand new crowing teeth "...there we go lil lady..."

"Can she have some cake Mama?" Kassandra happily asked "I don't want her to be left out."

"A small piece dear, wait my petal." Her Ladyship says returning to her throne like seat to eat her meal content to let Ethan feed their daughter and eagerly but as dignified as ever tucking in to her meat sawing the flesh daintily before looking over to her guest and frowning at the woman.

Donna still sat in silence staring at her plate still fully veiled her hands on her lap.

"Donna dear you can eat..." She didn't want her friend to feel left out and awkward.

"...I'm quite alright Lady Alcina I shall have it in my room later..." She often eats alone and while Lady Dimitrescu and the girls reserved their judgment of Donna's mutation Mr Winters may not Donna was especially worried her appearance may unsettle little Miss Rosemary even. She knew how hideous she was Angie often mocked it and brought up the ever so slight feeling of jealousy Donna felt towards Alcina and Karl for maintaining their good looks with the Cadou implantation Donna used to be so beautiful at least it wasn't as bad as that foul Moreau she lamented.

"She's scared her mug will spook your toyboy! Haha- Ow!" Angie cackled out before Donna slapped her again her own head jolting forwards from her own blow and ringing out with a migraine Ethan noticed that as he brought another spoon to Rose's mouth and waited for her to chew.

Are they symbiotically attached or something? 

"Shut that doll up before I wring it's neck Auntie Donna!" Blurted out Daniela she certainly didn't want to hear Angie's opinion on her mother's and that disgusting man-thing's relationship for once Daniela, her mother and that outsider agreed.

The Lady of the castle maintains her composure and chewing a small piece of beef swallowing it delicatley ."Young lady keep such threats to yourself you shall do no such thing...Even if 'Lady' Angela is being most...rude" She scowled at the foul construct that contained all of Donna's nasty qualities and fed off her sister's depression like a leech she despised the abomination but Donna and Angie were one and the same they shared a soul in a way.

"...I'm so very sorry for her behaviour she has been most horrid lately, Angie apologise now..." Her thin voice made it even more malicious to Ethan's ears.

"Yes Donnie, Sorry Al!" She giggled.

"Yeah don't be rude to Mama Aunt Ange!" Snapped Kassie

The doll laughs creakily " 'Kay for you Kass I'll play nice, you are my favourite niece anyways"

Kassie beams at the puppet and continues stuffing her face and gulping back cups of warm blood.

Donna clears her throat as she slowly pulls up her shroud and tucks it back, Ethan tries not to look but he can't help it.

The right side of her face is swollen by tumorous growths that clumped around where her right eye once was he could she wisps of black hair fall down to cover it as much as possible, her cool corpse like lips trembled as she smiled weakly at the family who carried on with their meals as though nothing had happened she catches Ethan's eye and he maintains it knowing looking away would have been worse for the woman, she looked quite beautiful aside from her scarring her cold green eye stared at him sadly.

"...I'm sorry Mr Winters... my face can be off-putting perhaps I should cover back up..." She looks down her voice wavering with shame.

"See? You made her upset now ya' bastard why did yo-" He cuts the doll off he doesn't feel disgusted at all.

"No look it's fine Lady Donna, I've seen a lot of things the last few years your appearance is not a problem for me at all why would it be?" He had seen much worse in his time her deformity honestly didn't bother him, he smiles at this said ghost-like woman to reassure her she beams somewhat warmly at him with her one good eye and picks up her glass and takes a drink of wine and begins to eat daintily Angie settles down sated by his reply. 

Ethan finishes up feeding Rose glad he diffused the situation he catches Alcina's adoring grateful flaming eyes while kissing his child and taking his seat again to eat. She silently mouths a "Thank you" at him he shrugs, a poor depressed girl's scarred face is hardly that shocking to him he's far more disturbed by the doll besides.

He eats his meal in relative peace before Kassandra belches finishing her meal and licking her bloody greasy lips her make up smeared, yellow merry eyes darting at him.

"What's the worse thing you've seen Mr Winters?"

Alcina looks up at her daughter "Kassandra Dimitrescu you know better than to ask such questions." She knows what pain can be dragged up from Ethan upon mentioning his past, the past was so very painful for her too she understood him and the fearful gaze and panicked expression as he thought back to his wife's murder or prior events he may be strong but he has a tender soul.

Ethan flinches slightly feeling everyone's gaze on him "N-no...it's fine Alcina..." 

The redhead laughs and ignores her mother and Ethan's discomfort "It's my birthday Mr Winters I wa-"

"And I said stop probing girl! I care not if it is your birthday Kassandra you will be respectful to Mr Winters" Her Ladyship's stern voice cuts across the table.

"O-okay I'm sorry Mr Winters..." 

He smiles awkwardly and lays down his cutlery "It's fine I'll tell you other time I promise Kassandra." He didn't think that bringing up how out of all the horrors and monsters he had seen the worst thing he had ever witnessed was his late wife attempting to dismember him with a chainsaw. It would not make for a pleasant dinnertime topic.

"I'll hold you to that!" She chuckles "Is it time for cake Mama?"

Alcina smiles her previous disciplinary tone changing "Of course dear." She picks up the small silver bell from the table and rings it "Clear this away and bring my daughter's cake" She snaps at the nearest maid who nods and acknowledges her mistress's commands.

The table is quickly cleared and Kassie sits down on a chair facing away from the table giggling and bubbling with glee her mother calls for everyone to gather around her as Alcina calls for the trolley Ethan scoops up the happy form of Rosie from her chair and walks over beside Olga as Daniela moves behind Kassie and covered her eyes with hands.

"No peeking!" The blonde chuckles in her sister's ear. The girls and their mother had worked hard to keep her extravagant cake a surprise.

Alcina has to bend over low in a most undignified manner to wheel her daughter's cake in on a golden trolley stuck in the little icing and marzipan castle's keep and walls the candle sparklers fizzle and flare the castle sat on a field of white icing, surrounded by a blue gel icing moat complete with a chocolate drawbridge with a small waving princess standing by it.

"Happy Birthday to you..." Alcina starts singing low and melodic her Daniela and Olga joins in, even if it was a simple traditional birthday tune her voice was soft, haunting and beautiful it drifted elegantly to Ethan's ears and sent a shiver down his spine she had one of the most beautiful voices he had ever heard. "...Happy Birthday Kassandra Dimitrescu, Happy Birthday to you!" Ethan joins in for the last verse jostling and rocking his smiling dribbling little angel in his arms her drool staining his jacket sleeve, before Dani steps back laughing merrily as Kassandra gasps at her cake she giggles and kicks out happily in her seat her face grinning wildly.

"It's so pretty Mama! I don't wanna even eat it it's too pretty!" The room is filled with so much happiness Ethan had forgotten what it was like to be around a happy family celebrating a loved one's special day or a holiday, how he missed the Thanksgivings with his family and Mia back home all so very long ago even the hot, happy smoky BBQ's with the Redfields felt like a distant hazy memory in the Winters yard back in Bucharest. 

"I'll have it then!" Creaks out Angie.

"Nah! You can't even eat Aunt Ange!" Kassie replies chirping.

"Make a wish already Kass" Jeered Olga, the bubbly girl clutches her eyes shut screwing her face up and thinking of something to wish for and makes her wish blowing out her candles.

I wish for Mama to be happy...Really happy.

The maids cut the cake as they sat back down in their places and put the slices on plates Alcina broke a small piece of hers off soaking it in cream in a bowl and moved to feed Rose some of the softened sponge with her spoon.

"Ah! I see you little devil now it's cake you're more than happy to wolf it down!" Rose happily chews the cake Alcina spoon feeds her  cream and sobby crumbs rolling down her chin "Do you have a sweet tooth just like your sisters my rosebud?"

"Ma! Cay! Cay! Yum!" Comes the babe's reply laughter fills the room.   

The girls had begun talking happily with their aunties and each other speaking of the old days and fond memories gathering around the Lady Donna who still ate her cake while softly conversing with the young ladies as Rose sat slumped lazily in her chair having been stuffed with as much cake as her little belly could handle and feeling rather dozy she slowly rolled around her silver rattle in her sleepy chubby hands, Ethan stared happily at his girl. He had found the cake a bit too sweet for his taste but the sponge was light and fluffy and the lemon custard was zesty and complimented the sugary icing and sweet cream nicely, it was a local recipe Alcina informed him just made special for her darling Kassandra.

He was just reaching for his glass of wine when he felt something light and tender brush his calf he nearly jumped from his seat and knocked over his glass spilling the crimson liquid over the table cloth "Shit!" He muttered. 

"Language dear..." Before he could grab a cloth and stand to mop it Ethan turned to Her Ladyship that gaze drew him in yet again her eyes smouldered and glowed softly with golden hued desire  "...Leave it for the help..." She said low and seductively her children suitably distracted and fed she decided to play with him for a bit she had been restraining herself and wanted a small outlet, Ethan looked down under the table discretely and saw a black stockinged foot run up and down his calf he gulped silently as her foot climbed further up to his thigh, he smiled coyly at her she raised her plucked brow playfully as he shifted himself to allow her foot to climb up his inner thigh she slowly raised her glass to lips to take a steady and deliberate sip as she played footsie with him, her toes trailing closer to his crotch, Ethan sighs slightly careful not to draw any attention to them.

His pulse quickens and his body aches with a burning need to take her right now, one he has to restrain greatly as he almost yelps out loud when Ethan feels her foot nudge and rub against the growing bulge as his cock begins to fill with hot blood and his mind with searing lust, she leans over slightly biting the corner of her dark blood red lips she winks at him, he feels giddy as she rubs his dick through the fabrics of their garments.

He drowns out the chattering and giggling of the girls as he stares at the beautiful and devious woman who had stolen his heart and sparked up a feeling in his scarred breast he never thought he would ever embrace again, the only things he hears is his own heavy rapid heartbeats and the jazz music and it's romantic fluttery lyrics coming from the turntable in the corner of the room, her wicked lustful grin burned him to the core, she clucks her tongue softly and pouts knowingly as she runs her foot slowly up his practically fully erect yet sadly covered member she likes what she's feeling up and can get a good estimate of just roughly what she's working with.

Oh my well...Ethan Winters... how pleasant your 'build' truly is...

She focuses in her own senses hearing his blood rush through his body and his heart hammering away in his chest beating with a fierce intensity as she pleasures him, she can feel the heat and lust radiating off the man, his cheeks flush red and he smiles coyly at her barely containing his arousal, she gently inhales the air between them picking up his heady lovely scent, Alcina quivers slightly feeling a warmth spread down to her womanhood, how Alcina was most tempted to move her own hand down and up her thigh while staring at him squirming...

She so loves driving him to this state and working herself up in a giddy sexual haze.

He almost moans out loud when her foot finds the right rhythm and strokes him he slumps slightly allowing her teasing him to lull him.

Jesus... 

He can't even steady his thoughts properly, flashbacks to how Mia used to tease him like this at that Italian restaurant they went to back home ran through his hazy mind but how shook that free wanting to be caught up in the reality of now it wasn't healthy to compare them, he bit his lip.

Lady Dimitrescu flashed him the most intense and lustful coy perfect smile her golden ember like eyes burned at him, her elegant playful face silently screamed "Fuck me Ethan..."

"Mama?" Olga's puzzled expression threw the fondling pair from their lustful haze, they had both forgotten themselves yet again.

Ethan shot up and adjusted his tie almost falling over the table as he leant for his wine, his brow sweating and his face scarlet, Alcina just rolled her eyes and moved her foot swiftly back "Yes Olga dear?"

"W-We were just talking about..." Olga composed herself they had caught the last few seconds of whatever... that was, Kassie bit her hand and stifled her laughter, Olga stared dumbstruck completely confused by whatever Mama was doing to Mr Winters, the eldest swallowed her vomit Daniela seethed and screamed internally visibly shaking with utter rage she knew exactly what mother was doing to Ethan and it disgusted her.

She debased herself like a common whore Daniela's thoughts ran with blood and venom.

Lady Donna blushed and looked away averting her good eye Mother dearest that was... sweet?... She thought Donna was just happy her friend was happy even if Lady Alcina couldn't keep her hands off the man like a smitten lusty tavern girl, it was bizarre to see a woman who was so uptight around the other lords be so... well that, her hand covered Angie's mouth to stifle whatever disgusting comment her sister would make.

"...We were just talking about Dani's birthday... four years ago..." Olga squeaks out.

"Yes the one where we hunted down that man-thing in the castle, perhaps Mr Winters would be interested in hearing about that mother?" Daniela spat out turning at Ethan and scowling, her eyes cutting through him.

"Daniela..." Alcina sighed adjusting herself turning to their baby 

"W-What happened?" Ethan asks them concerned by that.

Daniela cackles coldly "Mother brought a man from the village an-"

"Daniela Dimitrescu enough now." Alcina doesn't want to hear it and Ethan likely wouldn't either.

He shifts and looks down at his empty glass his blood had cooled and he felt ashamed having been caught out Daniela had tried to sour their mood clearly "I think you..." He checks himself to see if he was still pitching and adjusts his pants before standing up staggering as the blood spread back to his legs before turning to a rather sleepy looking Rosemary who had slumped and started yawning and babbling softly "... need some shut eye young lady..." He moves over to pick up his tired rosebud and holds her close she coos softly and lazily almost flopping in his arms.

"Agreed she is most tired Ethan take her to my chambers Ana shall escort you" She turns to a maid to fetch her hand maiden from the kitchens.

The towering Lady stands Ethan holds her out slightly Alcina moves down to kiss their golden Rose giving Ethan a brief apologetic look, he smiles and shakes her worry off , Alcina smiles slightly at her father as she presses her lips to their child's soft fluffy hair "Goodnight my princess we all love you so very much..." 

Their infant yawns out a "Ma..." and rolls her eyelids shut and nestles into her father's arms, her little tummy full and she finally let sleep overcome her.

Ana appears soon smiling at Ethan and his child and bowing at the family "Yes Mistress?"

"Take Mr Winters to my chamber so he may lay down Rose you know the rest girl" Alcina gives out her orders and waves her hand dismissively at the hand maiden before turning a furious and iron glare at Daniela the blonde girl falls apart at her mother's rage filled gaze.

"This way sir please."

"Here we go so sir, so all is going well?" Ana opens the grand decorative doors into Her Ladyship's chambers, Ethan steps in stroking his baby's head tenderly as he looks around at the white and gold floral décor and the vast four posted bed he walks past it to Rose's crib in the corner he admires the quality craftsmanship of the silver, gold and white wood infants crib.

"Yeah it is, Daniela's being a ball buster but it's fine I'm enjoying myself" He honestly couldn't wait to get back have a few drinks and be with Alcina again, he looks down fondly at his babe and kisses her as gently lays her down in her soft bedded crib and rocks the crib tenderly beaming down at the half sleeping girl, the child he has killed and bled for "I love you so very much Rose... I wish you would only know..."

Rose's hazy sleepy eyes catch her father's caring face "...Pa..."

His eyes almost water "...th-that's me..." He reaches down and strokes her cheek she nuzzles his scarred fingers blue eyes sliding shut "...your silly old papa..."

"Thank you sweetheart..." He almost sobs out Ana approaches him quietly her heart warmed by Ethan and his daughter.

"Get back to them sir, I've been instructed to attend Rose tonight if she needs anything more I shall call for you sir just enjoy yourself." She wants him to have some enjoyment tonight, Ethan smiles at her he can't help worry for his baby especially since her attack but she seems well just tired and well fed.

"Thanks Ana I will." He slowly turns from the crib.

"They're in the opera room now sir do you know the way?" He nods as Ana take her seat in the corner and picks up her knitting basket.

"I do I'm good Ana, take care" .

He walks away ready for whatever the rest of the evening would throw at him...

Ethan found his way to the Opera room easy enough although he hadn't spent much time in the grand leisure hall of the castle, as soon as he entered the large room he was grabbed by Olga who burst as if from thin air taking him by the arm her red lips split in a playful grin.

"RAH!"

Ethan startled back with a shout as she giggled and pulled him upright "Sorry couldn't help it!" Olga thrusts a glass of the strong punch in his hands, he looks at her disapprovingly

"You know one of these days you girls will regret jumping me like that..." He sighs as he sips the sweet boozy orangey red drink "Christ! What did you put in this?"

She ignored his silly harmless threat "Lotsa cognac, lotsa rum, a splash of gin, vodka and tropical and cranberry juice Oh! And like a ton of sugar! Why don't you like it?" 

"It's nice...just strong is all"

"Don't be a wimp Mr Winters come on!" She pulls him into the room he spills his glass everywhere mid sip as she flies with him to the stairs and lets him descend them to ground floor, the family is lounging around Kassandra is sat down on an armchair fiddling with a box eagerly tearing off the wrapping paper. Daniela is sunk into a red velvet dark wood framed couch briefly regarding the man-thing as disdainfully as ever Olga drifts over to and jumps down next to her grabbing the bottle of port from the blonde's hand the elder growls playfully and nips at her sisters cheek.

Donna is sat by herself on a armchair between the girls and the long decorative couch that Her Ladyship is sprawled along. Angie on the floor next to the Lady Donna it appeared almost asleep he didn't know if that... thing needed sleep, the woman's shroud is still up as she holds her port glass out to be refilled by a trembling maid she nods as Ethan as he walks in obviously feeling more comfortable around the outsider he returns it.

"Ethan dear..."  Alcina swung her long lovely legs around to sit up and make room for him taking a pull on her long cigarette holder inhaling the nicotine deep into her lungs "Come here..." She pats the space beside her smouldering form. He certainly hadn't forgotten what happened earlier and they smiled knowingly at each other.

She replaces his empty punch glass with a crystal tumbler "Here dear something..." She pops off the cork to a green glass bottle and pouring the caramel liquor into his glass "...more your taste."

"What is it?" He swirls it around in the glass it was a whiskey of some kind.

Alcina lays the bottle on the low table in front of them "Bourbon real American sour mash a souvenir from your homeland." She takes a drag from her cigarette blowing out the smoke.

Now we're talking.

He slams it back much to Alcina's surprise and amusement.

"Oh? Eager are we?" She pours him another larger glass. The warming familiar booze singes his gullet and fires him up Ethan smiles as he drinks.

"If there's bourbon I certainly am I haven't found a good Tennessee or Kentucky whiskey in Romania till just now." He chimes in pulling back another slug "I can handle my drink" She raises her brow and takes a heavy gulp from her chalice.

"I do believe you are challenging me sir..." She elegantly lets the smoke drift from her lips.

"Am I? Well I'm game for doing shots..."

She grins at him before calling over shoulder for a maid to fetch shot glasses from the cabinet.

"Well Mr Winters has called us out my girls..." She looks up at her Olga and Dani  who giggled back at their mother Kassie didn't drink so she wouldn't be up for a few snifters of hard liquor the trembling maid lays down a tray with the glasses.

"Shall I be mother My Lady?" He asks teasingly.

"By all means Ethan dearest..."

Ethan pours everyone a shot of whiskey he was surprised when Lady Donna hurried over and necked hers instantly "...another please Mr Winters..." He laughs as he refills her glass Lady Donna was eager to steady herself after seeing Alcina burn with want over the handsome stranger it honestly got her a tad bit excited herself.

"So what did Uncle Karl get you Kass?" Olga ask Kassandra rolling her shot in her hands before taking it and shivering with the fine burn, she wasn't a fan but she didn't mind it.

"I dunno..."  She pulls off the box top and giggles excitedly as she pulls out the boxes contents holding up a large bottle of perfume in a delicate looking crystal pink bottle a note hung from a ribbon she tore it the bottle's neck and read it outloud "This was damn expensive but I hope you like it now you can finally smell like the princess you are! To my darling Niece lots of hugs K.H"  She continues "P.S Soz I couldn't be there your mother is being.... Oh...I'm not saying that bit..."  She throws the note down.

"Charming as ever Karl... Vulgar little cretin." Alcina tuts snidely tapping out her cigarette.

"I mean I like the present Mama It's thoughtful and it is a shame he isn't here." Kassie chirps eagerly spraying the sweet delicate floral scent all over herself almost choking out Daniela.

"The man is a state I won't have him tracking engine grease and stinking the place out with his reefer and filthy clothing, the man looks and acts like a vagrant." These days he greatly wishes she killed the man back when she plucked him out from that tank Mother ensnared with her vines back on that most wonderful and exhilarating warm bloody night back in 1944 when those German and Russian man-things dared to make the domain of the Three Lords a part in their petty wars and fight each other in the valley, before night descended and the beasts and denizens of the valley gorged themselves on man-blood she fondly remembers stalking the trees slaying and feeding as she went her beloved Daniela and Olga cackling with wicked glee as they flew through the dark hunting their prey.

Ethan laughs hysterically "Wait Heisenberg's a stoner?!"

"Yes he is a drug addled arrogant fool, he stays in his workshops all day smoking and making drugs listening to God awful music tinkering with scrap creating absolutely abominable monstrosities he is a most horrid man Ethan." Her voice is heavy with distain for her 'brother'.

Apart from creating monsters and nearly killing him Karl Heisenberg sounds like a pretty cool dude in all honesty Ethan thinks, but he just agrees with Alcina.

"What kind of monsters?"

"A foul combination of man and machine I'm surprised he didn't sicc them on you."

"I don't really know what happened I just followed the lycans from the village to his factory I guess I must've disturbed him after I got chased into one of his warehouses by them." Ethan vividly remembers Heisenberg appearing looking bewildered in front of Ethan while he loaded his shotgun as the big bastard was chasing him in the warehouse and how the lycans backed off from the man.

"And just who the fuck are you?" Karl asked him before spearing Ethan with a piece of rebar through the thigh.

"Wait you chased lycans after fighting them?" Olga was impressed.

"I like him Mama..." Chimed Daniela as she grabbed the bottle and refilled her shot glass "...Maybe Ethan shouldn't have been trespassing on his land."

"I didn't know it was his land Daniela, he could've helped me like you guys did."

She sneers as she drinks the whiskey "Ah yes we 'helped' after you also trespassed on our land do you have a habit of breaking into where you are not welcome?" The drink made her more courageous with her barbs around mother.

"Girl... what did we just speak about?" Alcina's face snaps into her stern motherly glare "Play nice or I'll haul you in a cell downstairs for the night."

Daniela shrugs and cackles "I'll just fly out Mama!" 

She stares at her impetuous little daughter coldly "Than I shall have the maids fetch the the insect repellent young lady."

That shuts her up Ethan can't help but smirk at that comeback.

"...Lord Karl's inventions are marvellous in my opinion I have no flare for machines I prefer to bring animation to what should be inanimate Alcina, but there is a... gritty beauty in his art..." Lady Beneviento adds from her seat.

"I disagree, they are morally and aesthetically wrong he has such a ghastly taste in design."  Alcina cares not for him nor his little tin soldats he's building "Perhaps he is just lonely and wants some toy soldiers to play with?" She cackles to herself.

"What did Uncle Moreau get you?" Olga asks wanting to change the topic before things got more heated.

Kassandra opens the next box covered in dried slime and mucus, Alcina curls her nose up as the smell of rotten fish, lake weed, algae and pond slime wafts by her her Kass didn't seem to care as she giggled and tore the damp filthy box apart with her claws "Wow!" She pulls out a huge pearl the size of a tennis ball from the packaging reading the small note "I made this for you took a long time hope you like Uncie Moreau" She ignores the spelling mistakes and rolls the huge pearl around in her hands.

"Damn that's gotta be worth a fortune!" Ethan wonders how exactly someone can make a pearl that size let alone find a natural one that big.

"It's so pretty right Mama?" Kassandra lets her mother inspect it.

"Hmmm..." Unlike it's creator it was exceptionally beautiful the large polished perfect sphere brought out the inner magpie in her, she adored pearls and jewels "It is quite lovely..." Moreau often sends them jewels and other glamourous gifts, she has a pretty good idea as to why the foul little slimeball of a man... Of course they did keep all the jewels he sent it would be shame to discard such finery.

"Maybe we should invite him?" Kassie asks her mother.

"If you want to be helping the maids scrub the pond mud from the carpets and slime from upholstery sure Kass!" Olga laughed.

"No, I won't have him here neither." Alcina only trusts Donna in the company of Ethan and Rose.

The weird gathering of bewitching vampires, nightmare Lady Pinochiccio, the woman who Ethan was convinced was more ghost than flesh, his beautiful child and whatever oddity he himself was idly sitting around a warm fire drinking in a magnificent Eastern European castle hidden away from the world discussing relations and memories like any other family was surreal for Ethan Winters, he starts smiling to himself

After several shots Ethan feels pretty loose and chilled out Kassandra put on some loud waltzing music that echoed through the hall Daniela and her laughter rang out as they danced, spun and dipped hand in hand floating a foot or two off the stage their insects chittering as they mingled in the air together.

He watches them fascinated by their fluid levitating movements trying to ignore the swarms of bugs and the horrible correlation his mind made with them and that night in Dulvey he wonders how some bioweapon or virus can do that?

Her Ladyship lazily scratches his hair with the tips of her claws ever so carefully scraping his scalp making Ethan tingle and move closer to her body, he puts a hand on her thigh and traces it gently against the silk satin deep rich purple skirt feeling her warmth underneath, he nestles into her and she softly closes her eyes feeding off how safe and happy they made each other falling into each others care for one another. 

His flustered and rapidly inebriated mind idlily wonders if she wore a garter belt and suspenders with her stockings under that beautiful gown...

She was thinking if she should 'seal the deal' tonight...

"Mr Winters!" Kassie leapt in front if him offering her clawed hands out "Shall we dance?"

"I-I don't really dance..." Certainly not like how she does he looks at Alcina for help she does nothing but nudge him.

Kassandra takes that as permission and snatches his hands pulling him up and onto the stage the poor man can only cry out as Kassandra clasps him close and starts wildly twirling in the air spinning him around laughing wildly "Come on Mr Winters keep up!" Dipping low and high to a composition he knows but he can't put a name to. He holds on for dear life his drunken state not really helping things the room becomes a blur.

"Ka-Kass! Please!" He's caught between laughing and screaming he feels like he's on a rollercoaster as he holds on tight afraid of being flung off stage "Easy!"

Their audience laughs and giggles along with Kassandra with the blonde girl taking particular pleasure from his cries.

She thankfully slows down and lands twirling him around Ethan staggers back dizzy from the girl's dancing he is caught as he falls by a most welcome embrace.

Alcina catches him and helps him stand up right chuckling softly as she stares down at the dazed smile he gives her "Was my red rose too rough on you dear?" 

He feels a lot better leaning against her body and being held by her his mind rapidly steading itself as best as possible. "N-nope I'm all good here..." The music turns jazzy and upbeat as Olga changes the record and winks at Kassandra who does the same at her mother who looks at them wide eyed and smiling.

My lovely little angels...Thank you

Kassandra had waited for the right moment to set a mood for Ethan and Mama now all she had to do was dislodge Daniela from her seat "Hey Auntie Donna wanna see this new painting Mama had brought in?"

"...A painting? Well I have no part-Oh..." Donna gets the meaning behind Kassandra's wink and nodding towards the door "...Of course Kassandra dear come along Angie..." Donna finshes her drink and stands her sister-doll in hand moving to where Kass stood grinning.

"Come along Dan dear..." Olga grabs Daniela's shoulder and hauls her up.

Daniela hisses and almost lashes out "Hey! Watch it! I'm fi- Kass!" Kassandra grabs her sisters other arm and pulls her along with Olga her sister's cries and growls of protests are drowned out by their manic cackling as they pull her out of the room, leaving Donna staring at her friend and the outsider for a few moments.

Angie crawls up to Donna's ear and whispers "They are gonna fuck ain't they Don?" She giggles low and wickedly

That almost makes Donna strike her yet again before Olga called down the hall for them, the ghostly woman and her doll leave Mr Winters and Lady Alcina to their privacy.

"So... What's all this about?" Ethan trails his fingertips along the gold cloth waist sash of her dress looking up at her golden eyes was like staring at the sun it was so dazzling and fiery it was almost too much sometimes.

"Well I wanted to cut in Mr Winters I saw you were struggling with Kassandra." She replies coyly.

"And the room being cleared?" He raises a blonde light brow at her and regards the empty hall

"The girls idea" She concedes "They figured you and I could be... alone for a minute or two"

He grins wickedly "For a dance right?"

"Oh yes Ethan Winters... a dance" Her tone is like honey being poured in his ears.

"And how exactly shall we do that?" He steps back slightly noting her height "Gonna be even trickier."

She leans down and cups his jaw raising his face to hers "Well...I'll lead dear..." She moves down to softly sniff him and hear his pulse pound away in his veins she sighs softly, Alcina draws him in again.

He doesn't hold back he doesn't feel like he can anymore and the man grabs her cheek and pulls her garnet red lips to him her eyes flash with surprise and she can't help but briefly and softly chuckle into their kiss before relaxing and letting his lips press and battle against her own his heart almost burst and the rush of passion sent his already intoxicated head spinning he gasps out letting her tongue move in between his parted lips and start 'dancing' with his own she holds him close and even drops to her knees allowing him  to better access her mouth greedy for his taste they both burn each others mouths with the taste of strong whiskey.

His hands explore where they can her face, the broad bare shoulders, her ebony curled hair, the pale bejewelled throat his hand gently pressing against it she shivered and gasped into his mouth at that action so he squeezed tighter around her neck and her claws raked down his back shredding his jacket and almost drawing blood in response he winced but didn't care, he moved his other hand to her soft full breast and starts groping and massaging them through the velvet fabric.

The sleaze in him is sated he'd been wanting to cop a feel of them for ages.

"Oh!" Alcina gasps surprised as he feels his hands explore her chest Ethan trails his lips down to her neck to chew and nibble at her pulse point "Mr Winters... trying to prove something tonight are we?" Her voice heavy and lusty.

"Too much?" He asks between bites against the perfect porcelain skin of her throat, up close her noted her laugh lines and crows feet, she had to had been slightly older than him when she became who she was, but he didn't care it just made her oh so more attractive, several times he's joked with himself how she made him feel like Miss Kensington his old college tutor used to make him feel.

He almost falls back wards when her hand cups his crotch and begins to gently squeeze it "Oh no Ethan dear it's just right..."

Ethan moans softly as he trails his lips back up so he can face her the sapphire's meeting the gold again "Then what's the issue?" They both wish they could take each other right there and then his thumb strokes the pearl in her ear lobe.

She frowns and giggles like a young maiden, she blushed like one too "My girls will be back soon you silly red blooded brute of a man!" She pulls him close for another kiss their bodies bolt with passion as the lips meet again, Alcina sucks and nibbles his lower lip slightly tugging it while staring at him through half closed smoky eyes, she lets him go and snatches a quick kiss to his lips before standing up to her full height "How I want you Mr Winters..." She starts purring at him.

Ethan is absolutely struck by her he wipes the warm, waxy lipstick from his mouth savouring her taste noticing a coppery tang mixed with the cherry sweet taste of her, his lip slightly bled he smiles at that "We could just you know...'retire' surely?"

She fixes her dress and gently holds him by the shoulders "I am the hostess and that is bad decorum Ethan".

"And you are the very model of proper decorum right?" 

She mock gasps and slaps his arm lightly "How very dare you..." She laughs pleasantly "My governess always used to tell me I was the very model of ladylike grace despite my 'ungainly' height... 'Duty, Discipline and Decorum! The three D's of House Dimtrescu'! Remember it girl!..." Alcina spat out mocking the haughty tone of her old governess.

Ethan laughs at her and runs his hands down her thighs content in waiting just a bit longer "Have you always been this tall?" 

"No but the Dimitrescu's have always had a tall gene, our founder Duke Vlad II was allegedly eight foot and judging by his old plate armour and sword in the armoury I can see some truth to that, I used to be around six foot five if you must know dear."

"And now you're what?" Ethan already roughly knows he's been stewing on this for a while. "Nine foot?"

"Correct dear, the heels and hat makes me taller they add another six or so inches." She replies smugly Alcina was very proud of her height and the effect it had on people how they were awestruck and fearful of her because of it.

"Well..." Ethan can't help but balk slightly.

Jesus t hat's alotta woman...

She spins him around to look at his jacket and sighs "Sorry dear..."

"Is it bad?"

"You'll have to take it off for now Ethan I tore it quite badly I'm afraid." His rough strong hand around her throat pushed her over the edge back there,

Ethan tuts playfully at her and takes it off "How sharp are those things?"

"Very, Very sharp my dear..." She purrs at him.

"...Love her 'till the seas run dry!" The fluttery and merry singing of the girls reaches their ears giving them time to compose themselves and clear their thoughts.

"If Irene turn her back on me gonna take morphine and die!" 

The girls giggle wildly at that part of the song as they flung the door open Kassandra and Daniela burst into the Opera hall the blonde stops in her tracks as she stares up at this disgusting sight her eye twitching slightly she storms off to the couch managing to cast her gaze down before her mother noticed.

I will destroy Ethan Winters.

She was not stupid she clicked on pretty quickly why her siblings had dragged her out of the room to show Aunt Donna a painting that had been hanging in the wine room for almost 50 years Daniela knew for a fact Auntie Donna had seen it before. Daniela was not stupid they all were for thinking they could trick her into giving their silly mother and that vile perverted rat the room she seethed at her sisters for that but for now she sat down and stared a hole into the floor.

With Mother Miranda as my witness I will kill him and bathe in his blood.

Alcina sat at the grand piano playing a soft piece into the quiet sombre air of the Opera hall.

Gnossienne No.1 by composer Erik Satie a wonderfully thoughtful piece to calm a heady mind...

Ethan sat up staring at his last glass of whiskey they had chatted with the girls and Lady Donna and Angie for a while before Olga asked her mother to play the piano Alcina played some upbeat merry tunes that the girls danced and sang together with but the music had become more steady and slower paced the girls had started to slur and fall about clearly pretty drunk Olga stared at their mother almost drifting off herself stroking the sleepy Kassandra's hair as the birthday girl leant her head on her elder sister's lap and Daniela had curled up beside Olga leaning against her sister's shoulder chugging back a bottle of port scowling at the ceiling all three were cozied up together on the couch, Lady Donna and 'Lady' Angie had retired for the evening almost half an hour ago. 

He couldn't find the effort to turn around and look at the clock behind him he figured it was late by now he had helped himself to one of Alcina's cigarettes he coughed a few times but soon got used to it he hadn't planned on smoking but his drunken state was grateful for the calming effects of the nicotine and the soothing burn and pungent taste of the fine tobacco. 

Her Ladyship was glued to the keys her eyes closed while playing her familiarity with the instrument the result of decades of tutoring and repetition, her eyes were not closed to show off skill but because she was in deep meditative thought and it helped stave off the hazy effects of the wine and whiskey.

Alcina can't help but feel like she was too... much with Ethan tonight was the judging glares of Daniela worth it all? A large part of her said yes but still...

The other girls clearly had a good evening and she hoped Donna enjoyed herself as did Ethan she certainly know he liked the teasing.

The air hangs heavy with the sombre last note of the composition while Ethan finishes his glass and puffs on his smoke letting it sit in the corner of his mouth as he slowly applauds Her Ladyship.

She opens her golden eyes and smiles at him happily her pearly white teething showing as she grins "I'm glad you find my playing adequate dear."

"More than adequate Alcina" He loved it. 

She casts her gaze to her doozy children who have drifted off asleep Olga still clutching her bottle and back to him "Shall we 'retire' for the night Ethan Winters?"

I thought you'd never ask

He almost bowls over when he stands the room is a spiral.

It had taken him considerable effort to get out of the room and even more for him to traverse the corridors and stairs leading up to the family quarters he had to stop to lean himself against the wall and the long, warm, legs of Alcina.

"You have great legs..." He stopped at one point to inform her as her attempted to climb the stairs leaning against Her Ladyship she looked down tutting at him.

"Thank you dear..." She looks down at Ethan he was frankly a mess "Shall I carry you?" She cackles.

"N-no I got it..." Somehow he managed to make it to Her Ladyship's bedchamber Ana who had been dozing in the corner stands up at attention as Her Ladyship ducks low into the room.

"Ethan..." Alcina coos at him.

He turns around careful not to lose his already weak grasp of balance staggering to the huge comfy bed and sitting down heavily "Yeah?"

He was not in the right frame of mind for this he was clearly too drunk for anything other than perhaps a kiss she was also far from sober and disappointment rose within her she did not want their first time together as a couple to be a drunken blurry screw. Not to mention the danger of a woman of her stature drunkenly coordinating herself with Ethan.

"...Never mind my dear..." She hides her disappointment.

"Sir... Mistress" Ana bows at them.

"Yo... Ana. " Ethan waves groggily he was clearly very drunk, she stifles a giggle.

"Evening girl, was our daughter behaved and well?" Alcina asks kicking off her heels and walking over to pour her and Ethan another glass of wine each.

"Yes Mistress she slept the whole time almost she woke but I managed to get her to sleep again My Lady." Ana managed to lull Miss Rosemary back to sleep with the same old songs she grew up with back in the village the little sweetheart was so dozy and sleepy it didn't take long and Ana could get back to her knitting.

"Grand... you are dismissed fetch us water and tea in the morning"

"Of course Mistress, Mr Winters Goodnight."

Ana bows and gathers her things to leave closing the door behind herself still hiding her smile.

Alcina sucks her teeth and turns back to Ethan smiling weakly at him as he leans forward to kiss her.

"Ethan wait..." He pauses and withdraws worried he did something.

"W-what's wrong?" 

Alcina strokes his face and softly chuckles "Nothing is wrong you're perfect Ethan..." Her fingers brush away his hair "...But you are most tipsy..." 

Ethan had drunken at least two bottles of wine, four glasses of punch and pounded down a fair amount of that bourbon he was very much aware of his state "...Oh... Right..." 

"As delightful as you are in this state I don't want you chundering on me my dear" She laughs "Come here..." She pulls herself up and lays down beckoning Ethan to lay in front of her, he lays down and attempts to focus in on her eyes but the whole world seems like it's running on it's axis and her golden orbs against the pale moon tinged skin moved around in blurred leaps in his vison, she pulled off her gloves loosening each finger with a bite and tugging them off her warm silk soft hand clasped one of his own as the other traced his jaw daintily he felt the warm embrace of an alcoholic induced blackout creep up on him in his comfort.  

"There's a bedpan underneath the bed on your side if you need it dear" She quietly says.

"Hey Alcina stop being a mom..."

"I'm afraid I can't my drunken little alley cat..." She starts humming a soft gentle melody at him as she plays with his hair Ethan snuggles into the warm soft mattress and the feather stuffed silk covered pillows.

Caught between the soft bed, the drink and Alcina's touch and song Ethan Winters soon passed out.

She tuts as his head comically rolls to the side and he blacks out "Goodnight Ethan... my love" She kisses his cheek softly content to lay beside him staring at his sleeping twitchy face before letting her own eyes slide shut neglecting her strict pre bed regime for the first time in years.

Chapter Text

Daniela stares at the bloody bite mark on her arm watching her dark blood begin to welt and bead before flowing freely, she squeezes the flesh around the wound gasping softly in satisfaction from the pain and watching with fascination how the blood runs down her arm running like small rivers down her other bites which already healed in moments to become dried bloody smudges covering a ring of bruising and small white teeth marks.

Pain was good it helped tear Daniela's mind away from her thoughts, the rage she felt about what happened between her beloved mother and that man-thing last night had been washed away and replaced by gut wrenching sadness, shame and disappointment.

She had awoken in the Opera room nestled next to her softly snoring sisters shaking with anger and disgust she was careful as she dislodged herself from her siblings and left the room raking her claws down the wall as she drifted down the hallways to her bedroom. Daniela had pretended to be asleep when she saw mother leave with him, they left together...

She had been hoping Mama would carry them off one by one to their beds like she always did when she found them tuckered out and nesting on the lounge or in some warm cosy corner of the castle singing a sweet gentle lullaby as she held them close in her arms, or that he would take his leave first and know his lowly place as Mama's little pet. But her heart sank when he staggered away with her clutching and pining like a hound at Mama running his filthy man-hands all over her, it sickened Daniela that she would let a mortal grope her like that and it was even more vile when she saw Mama look at him like that, like she wanted him to touch her. Mother liked it.

She was not a naïve fool like Kass or a goody two shoes like Olga who pretends like nothing is wrong she knew exactly what mother was doing to him under the table in the dining room Daniela also knew she wanted the room for herself and the man-thing so they can salivate in each others mouths and grope one another in privacy Daniela could smell the stench of mortal attraction coming off Ethan when they came back to the hall and the look she had continued to give him Daniela saw there was more to that gleam in her mother's eye than her vulgar 'adult urges'.

That was something Daniela had been terrified of when she first saw him after she spent the two days in bed recovering from the cold and shrapnel from his damned grenade she knew Mama would've liked him he was just mother's type a handsome, blonde, blue eyed, healthy and strong foreigner who tasted delightful but she didn't expect this game to go on to this extent, way back in the past Mama always 'broke' her playthings quickly but she had gotten way too soft the last decade or so and Daniela's heart sank when she found out who he was and why he was here Mama wouldn't of killed him even if she didn't like him like this, she would never hurt their sister's family not after what happened with Kassie's Founding she was too weak willed these days to even pass him over to them and let Daniela have her revenge for daring to bare his teeth at the House of Dimitrescu.

She was so ashamed of her mother for letting herself get fooled by that man into thinking he would stay and like her for anything more than her appearance their mother was the most beautiful woman in the world and that was a fact to the girls Daniela loved how the man-things were often caught between their stupid piggish lust and fear when faced with Mama, that fish mouthed dumb look of awe, want and terror that made man-things hesitate or fall to their knees in submission in front of their betters it made the blonde laugh so much with sadistic mockery, mortals were pathetic enough but man-things with all their gross thoughts and desires that make them act like apes were especially wretched.

But this wretch was different he knew how to use his charms and his relation to Rose to get what he wanted from their mother she must've gotten clumsy and made her misguided attraction towards him obvious, and the rat pounced on Mama's weakness. That much was clear to Daniela Ethan Winters was a sly, manipulating clever little rat he would ravish their mother, toy with her sentimental head and steal Rosemary and run away leaving Mama and her deluded sisters heartbroken and Daniela would once again have to pick up the pieces. She won't let that happen.

And after all those decades of her telling her daughters they all were without equal aside from Mother Miranda and of a superior species and class and that the outside world was corrupted and a wicked place full of manipulating petty little prey-things. And the daft woman goes all weak at the knees because of some doting, pretty little Yankee?

This whole affair brought shame to her House, what would the other Houses think? What would Mother think? And Auntie Donna and her loudmouthed stupid doll was just as bad for not trying to talk some sense into Mama they could've at least said something about this unseemly relationship, although she didn't expect much from a grown woman who plays with dolls and can't get over herself.

Mama was either being stupid and was being lead on by him so he can steal away their precious Rose or she had lied to them all their lives and neither answer brought Daniela any joy, nothing would apart from blood preferably from that stupid, disgusting, perverted, lying bastard who was laying in her mother's bed alongside her right now just down the hall.

Oh Sweet Mother above what if they... Ew...

Her savage mind wonders if she might be able to kill him quickly if mother left the room or if he left by himself...

No, for now my blood will have to do.

It still wasn't enough however she needed to feel something else other than her anger and sorrow at her mother's betrayal Daniela curses her inhuman pain tolerance and healing.

Daniela grits her teeth together in frustration as her healing factor kicks in and her flesh slowly knits she leans over in her chair and pulls open a drawer, the random assortment of mismatched blades and knives rattled as the girl throws it open grabbing a suitably sharp hunting knife checking it's keen edge with her clawed thumb before pressing the point down against her corpse grey flesh.

Before the girl could draw the blade deep down her wrist she paused, she could pick up the sound of tapping at her terrace window the sky had been starting to turn silvery blue and soon the sun would rise and Daniela would have to draw her heavy curtains down.

She turns to the source cautious in case she had misjudged the time and ended up painfully blinding herself as she had clumsily done in the past, she becomes very aware that she is being watched from her window by many pairs of eyes Daniela leaps to her feet clutching her knife, she drops it when she can see properly what exactly was out there her angry and annoyed expression dropping instantly to one of reverence and fear...

Outside a crow taps at the lower glass panes of the her bay door and lining the stone terrace railings are the rest of it's murder, the carrion birds suddenly fly up colliding into each other in an eerie unnatural silence bursting into a storm of feathers that flutter gently in the early morning breeze, falling around the human figure they were forming right outside the door like ebony leaves.

"...May I enter Daniela Dimitrescu my poor sweet child?..."  

A voice calls to Daniela she couldn't tell if it came from inside her head or outside the door but she obliges the question carried by that commanding but caring tone and nods, she has no choice besides, She never asked twice.

"Y-yes Mother." Daniela shakes and sinks to her knees her head bowed in fear, Daniela was terrified particularly when the figure walks through the door's surface black steam rising from it's feather bound body and with a sound like ice cracking underfoot as she phases through glass and solid wood, the haloed figure enters her room regarding the kneeling trembling girl behind her elaborate bird like caged mask with her silvery eyes that burn coldly at the girl. 

Daniela keeps her gaze locked down as the figure approaches her, not often does fear grip the daughters of House Dimitrescu and they feared almost nothing aside from being caught out in the icy gales of winter, their mother's wrath and Mother Miranda.

The girl trembles and recoils in absolute terror, she manages to let a few shaky words part her black lips "I... It's a-a honour most holy Mother Miranda to have you here... I-I will inform Lady Dim-". The smell of incense, blood and something earthy like wet moss and leaf mould in a forest caught in the autumn rains overwhelms Daniela as does the overall presence of Miranda.

She can feel the malevolent and raw power coming off from the Dark Goddess it makes her tremble and whimper like a struck and scolded hound, a shadow much larger than the actual womanly winged figure fell about the room she filled the empty air of the bedchamber with her dark power.

Mother Miranda unfurls her eight Seraphim-like black wings that were wrapped around her body they almost span the whole room, despite the slow movements of the wings Daniela still flinched and stayed her tongue, finely made long blue and white robes flow down to the floor softly ruffling as she walks towards the scared girl.

"There will be no need for your mother..." Daniela was frozen to the core and tensed up her heart pounding in her ears when she felt Mother lay her outstretched hand on her head, Miranda's touch was grave-cold and so very heavy, Daniela was terrified she had not been in her holy presence for almost 20 years and knew her mother had fallen out of favour with the goddess of these lands, the icy fingers stroke her still tightly bound braided hair  "...raise your face I wish to look upon you."

Daniela obeys and looks up at the face of a god, her fear was washed away with sheer awe and reverence as Mother Miranda lazily smiled at the girl "Do not fear me Daniela..." She pauses to brush Daniela's pale cheek with the back of her hand the girl felt the fires of faith and devotion burn within her "... it has been a while since I have seen you my child, too long has your mother hid you from my light, a great shame you and your sister were my most... enthusiastic of servants and have developed wonderfully all of your sisters have." Daniela can't help but feel proud over that compliment Miranda was the one that gave mother ability and knowledge of how to use the Cadou eggs to create the girls in Daniela's eyes unlike her sisters she had two mothers, Miranda was just as responsible for re-forging her from her weak mortal bonds and into an apex predator as Mama was.    

The Dark Goddess brings her cold fingers to trail the girl's cool flesh at her cheek "...thank you Mother Miranda..." Daniela replies her voice barely a whisper.

"I have come to speak with you child your desperate prayers have not fallen on deaf ears, I can see so much troubles and pains you Daniela." 

The girl nods eagerly her tears beginning to form "...Yes Mother I... This is beyond any honour I deserve I am not worthy of your attentions." She knew she was a failed experiment little more than a useful servant in the grander scheme of things she had come across Miranda and Mama's old lab notes long ago and read the words:

"They were unsuitable host bodies for the Ceremony, further experimentation with the Cadou born Mold insectoid colonies proved unfruitful the surviving two infant test subjects will be given to Lady Dimitrescu  for further examination, however it will most likely yield little success, Alcina's assistance with the project and allegiance has been noted her dedication should deserve a reward she may keep the subject let her build her family as she has helped to rebuild mine."

Although she still doesn't fully know what she was a host for, in all honesty she didn't really care until recently if being a nigh unstoppable hunter of prey-things was seen as 'unsuccessful' than she would've loved to have seen what goal Miranda had in mind.

A chill laugh cuts through the room "No girl you are most worthy there is so much potential inside you and your sisters, all held back by your mother's arrogance and her... sentimentality." The Dark Goddess means her words to an extent the Witches made great assassins and loyal guards, especially when their host cadavers were young and the Cadou eggs implanted as soon after death as possible, if Alcina wasn't a coward she could have a whole army of thralls like Daniela instead of balking at the process and allowing the girls to choose their fates when they begin menstruation while continuing the ridiculous charade of motherhood towards what would be a useful and devoted living weapon.

Daniela agrees with Miranda before her yellows eyes turn fearful, perhaps this is why Miranda was here? To punish their mother and hurt her? That speculation makes the girl throw herself at Mother's feet clutching her long robe the silvery eyes flash disgust briefly at her pitiful reaction.

"Mother Miranda please if you are here to hurt mother please... don't... I beg you Mother" She whimpers as she paws at the robe's hem and Mother's feet.

"She does deserve punishment Daniela she took something from me something so very important she must take what is due and it will be a severe and painful price that would make her remember her place in these lands my child." Miranda's plans had been scuffed by Alcina's misguided mother hen approach and she had been so very tempted to just burst into her castle and tear her daughter's hearts out and make the defiant, weeping, broken bitch devour them as she takes back Her Eve.

But I have something much better in mind for her I've waited hundreds of years for my Eve to be reborn what's a little while longer? Rosemary will become Eve I will have my child back soon but first Alcina must pay.

The girl can't help but weep as she pleads "No... Mother please don't hurt her! T-take me... Hurt me instead please!" She throws herself at Mother again clutching her legs and crying into her robes.

For a while Miranda looks down at the girl her half hidden expression torn between disgust that this creature would dare lay her hands on her and pity for the girl, she was a mother to her congregation after all and even if the Dimitrescus were wayward these days they were once her most loyal and steadfast of servants without Alcina's initial support Miranda never would've achieved her power in the valley convincing the sickly noblewoman of her divine gifts was her first step to finding a suitable host for Eve's rebirth.

Perhaps there will still be a use for her daughters in the future? Alcina however was destined to be given to Eve as a sacrifice once her child is reborn and Miranda and her beloved long lost daughter can walk the Earth as living gods Miranda knew what a feast her failed experiment of an adopted daughter would be for her Eve how much strength it would provide her.

She pretends to ponder deeply as she lets the girl muffle her sobs into her robes. Daniela feels a cold, heavy hand raise her chin once more "That sentiment is beautiful Daniela truly, a child offering to take their parents place is such an pure act of love..." The weeping girl sniffs as she stares up at the shadowed lunar irises looking down at her. "... But no l I don't want your blood Daniela, I want Ethan Winters's heart given to me on a platter child..."

Daniela is confused "M-Mother? The man-thing?" Daniela's mind goes blank for a second registering what Miranda had just said.

My prayers have been answered...

Daniela releases her hold and wipes the tears and snot away from her face very much elated bur trying her best to stifle her glee.

"Ethan Winters is here is he not?" Miranda asks her knowing full well he was.

"Yes Mother the rat is here." Daniela spits out her voice brought down to a growl just thinking about that man-thing.

Under her white gold corvine mask she raises a thin blonde brow "And under what terms of imprisonment?" 

Daniela swallows and her features furrow as she thinks about him again "He isn't a prisoner Mother I'm afraid he... he's allowed free reign of the castle Mama is keeping him around for some reason Holy Mother."

"I thought as much... she has lied to me and the other lords about what she's doing to the man, her weakness is obvious to me these days which is why I am here, this is all a great blessing for me... and you Daniela." Miranda knew Alcina lied to her and the others when Karl demanded to know what became of that annoying, gun toting outlander that blew him and his warehouse up, Miranda had planned for Ethan to end up here and had guided him in her crone form to Heisenberg's property and Lady Dimitrescu. She had initially planned that he would be able to kill her daughters in his pursuit for Rosemary and unless by some miracle Ethan kills her, Alcina would kill him of course but he was strong enough to kill her daughters or at least teach Alcina a lesson for taking Rose, then all Miranda had to do was 'consul' her grieving wayward adopted daughter and take Rose back, Alcina was so easily swayed when she was broken and at her weakest Miranda would make promises of more daughters for her and take what was hers even if the she still defied her than Miranda would easily crush her.

Miranda was more than content to let the two parents tear into each other and wash her hands of at least one of them but she had a feeling Alcina would take a liking to Rosemary's father given how obnoxiously sentimental and emotional she had been as of late, Miranda had a much better plan for Alcina Dimitrescu, Ethan Winters and her little brood.  

"A blessing? How can it be Mother? He is ruining everything!" She growls out.

"Shhh my girl calm yourself now..." Her wings fold back into her flesh with a sickening ripping and snapping sound, a couple of black feathers float gently to the floor in their wake and she leans down to raise Daniela up she can't bear to look at her pitifully whining and sobbing on her knees anymore the girl stands and Mother holds her by her shoulders reassuringly "...I need his blood girl as do you, I know the delusions he must be casting on your mother it's making her worse is it not? It brings out her weakness that must be so painful to see for such a proud and noble creature as yourself." The girl nods frantically.

"He's fooled her into thinking he... loves her I think" She screws up her face in revulsion spitting that word out.

Miranda was hoping for that. "Take him away from her that will be pain enough, kill him and present his head and heart to me and I shall forgive all your mother has done even her theft." That wasn't true she would use Ethan's special blood to give to the Megamycete and after that she will take Rosemary from Alcina, the Ceremony will go ahead and there will be nothing she can do to prevent it.

"You want me to punish my mother by killing the man-thing?" She's so happy now that Miranda herself wanted him dead she felt validated and righteous how could Mama stay mad at her if she was just doing her bidding? Besides she'll get over it she'll have her Rose to focus on and they can raise her together like how it should be, and that cretin will be gone from their lives forever and mother can finally be In Mother Miranda's favour once more if she needed his heart than it must've been for something important.

How Daniela has missed the days when Mother would grace their home with her holy presence and they reigned the valley with her blessing they even had the power to boss around the other Houses it was such a wonderful time mother's eyes would be opened by her and Miranda, the blonde daughter can't help but feel giddy as she hopes mother would even allow their night time summer hunts in the village like she used to, those delightfully bloody and twilight rampages through the village and breaking into the homes of the produce to seize the tastiest of a household before dragging the prey back to the castle to glut themselves on warm fresh blood and meat.

But she can't help but feel a slight tingle of nerves so much could go wrong with this, what if the man-thing puts up a good fight and she is caught? She would have to strike when he is alone and isolated as he sleeps she might even be able to stash his corpse in one of the of many secret passages and crypts of the castle where Mama can't venture to and lie that he fled she knows several places that even her sisters are unaware of, Daniela can't wait to feed smugly on his sweet flesh and it would all be for herself.

"Ethan Winters must die" The Dark Goddess's words make Daniela her black lips crack open as she grins wildly while she bows at the avatar of pure divinity,  

"Mother Miranda I will see to it I will be the arbiter of your will." 

Alea iacta est Alcina Dimtrescu.

" Ethan Oh Ethaaaannn..." A familiar and most unwelcome voice sings at him through the static of the television the voice is cut with a whiney Southern drawl he knows who it belongs to.

He woke up in front of a TV he was sitting in a room he had been in a few times in his life but in his head he'd been there a thousand times it was as familiar to Ethan as his and Mia's own bedroom back in their old L.A apartment or their house in Bucharest it was the Baker's sitting room.

He was glued to the couch he wasn't bound but he just couldn't find the strength to move all he could do was stare at the tv and speak.

"Fuck you." He bites out Ethan is not in the mood for this.

"Ohhh...C'mon Ethan don't be like that now, it's been a while since we had a chat so... let's have good ol' heart to heart, a catch up if you will." The voice laughs at him "Just us boys..."

"It's been a heck of ride ain't it pal?"  

The static clears to show manic, twitching eyes and clammy pale skin filling the screen as the man steps back Lucas Baker was still uncomfortably close to the camera  "Let's see... right first of all your sweet darlin' Mia got greased right in front of y'all and your kid gets napped while y'all are weepin' an' ballin' over poor dead Mia ,left for dead your lovely little family all wiped out by your best buddy... Some friend huh? " He jumps back onto his office chair leaning back to grab something from off camera "Oh I even got pictures!" He sits back down on camera and shoves pictures to the screen, Ethan goes pale and quails.

Polaroids of Mia's body lying there in a pool of blood , a huge dark crimson pool surrounds her, he shows more closer images of her shattered bloody face...

Ethan growls in between his tears and tries to stand and smash the television, he can't "Fuck you Lucas you're dead!" Ethan shouts the tv "Chris killed you!"

"And he killed your wife..." Lucas tosses the pictures in the air and laughs "And after all... What's it that new fancy girlfriend of y'all's says? 'As long as you live on with fond memories a loved one can never truly die...' Or some corny bullshit..." He sniffs his lip twitching "Oh no... Ethan y'all are stuck with me for life boy, unlike Redfield I'm a true pal."

Ethan scoffs " The last thing you are is my friend you weaselly piece of shit." 

"Well of course I am! I'll be with you through thick an' thin from good ol' Louisiana to darkest Romania! Look at y'all! A regular Van Helsing killing werewolves an' fuckin' vampires..." He laughs again slapping his knees "I meant fightin' ... Although them Dracula bride daughters... well they're just as fine as Momma's apple pie I'll tell you what!" His cackling makes Ethan feel ill "... Which one would you fuck first Ethan? If you don't mind the bugs on ya' shooter that is!"

Ethan feels even more angry with the daughters being mentioned in that way "Why don't you go fuck yourself first?"

"No... oh no you wanna be a Momma's boy right Ethan?" Lucas sniffs and spasms as he claps his hands and rubs them leering at Ethan "Well I certainly don't blame y'all Her Ladyship is a mountain I'd love to climb myself, didn't know y'all had a thing for the tall ladies Ethan or older women, much older women ya' hounddog!" He howls and slaps his knees wildly "Oh then she's got them big ol' ti-"

Ethan would've loved to have been the one to kill him instead of Chris. "Just fucking why?...Why are you doing this?"

Lucas shrugs his shoulders "Well why not? What else is there to do in your head Ethan ol' buddy but piss you off?"

"You could fuck off for a start?"

"Oh I'm sorry you wanna talk with Ma? or maybe Mia?" He certainly doesn't want that if they're like this Ethan looks down at the coffee table "Thought as much... after all I'm sure she'd love to find out about y'all new girlfriend moved on mighty quickly didn't you? I thought Mia was supposed to be your one and only?" All that stuff we put you through for her that night and for what?"

"I'm not talking to you asshole" Ethan replies still wrestling with his invisible bonds.

"Hey man I ain't judging!" He throws his hands up "I mean the new one is certainly... unique, you like fucking freaks Ethan?" Is that what gets you going these days boy?" 

"Alcina is not a 'freak' you don't know her..."

"That ain't true partner I know exactly what she is..." Lucas moves close to the camera again "Oh she is a freak Ethan in more than one ways but that's alright by you ain't it? Maybe if I was as pretty as Her Ladyship and had boobs the size of Arkansans you would've wanted to be a part of our family? She's a blood drinking murderin' monster Ethan and here you are droolin' after her..."

Ethan really doesn't to hear this it eats away him enough when he's awake he knows what kind of 'baggage' Alcina comes with and her needs and he accepts her, a vicious voice in his head won't change that but it still cuts deep into him all he can do is stare spitefully at the screen.

"Look at you all moody and growlin' away there! Touched a nerve did I boy? I get it y'all wanna start again." He leans back again his sweaty gaunt face twitching and nodding "Y'all wanna try an' play daddy again with your Rose and have a lil' piece on the side from Momma Dracula in a nice comfy castle livin' out her pocket, play Lord of the Castle maybe even be daddy for her daughters too? but why should this be any different?"

Ethan snaps again "Because it will be different! I won't lose it all again I won't..."

"Ain't up to you is it bud? Wasn't last time won't be now, Chris will get you and that Mother Miranada? She seems nasty gotta be a real piece of work to make the big girl wet her knickers huh?" 

"We'll deal with it together I have someone now, someone who can look out for me and Rose and I'll do the same for her." Ethan replies the room starts spinning and he feels ill again, the burning bile rose in his gullet he was going to puke.

"And what about her that Daniela of hers? Or herself for that matter? Either way this won't end well Ethan, it never does for you."

The room gets brighter and everything starts to turn blurry Ethan starts to gag but his mouth just won't open to reply or to puke, he starts to choke on his own bile his eyes start bulging and he claws at his throat and face screaming as he starts turning red in the face and thrashing.

"Wow Ethan must be a hell of a hangover you got going on... Oh are you alright there boy? Something a matter?"  Lucas mocks howling with laughter "Don't tell me you came all this way just to die chokin' on your own puke? Ya' know Attila the Hun died like that, maybe great men just die in shitty ways, but you ain't great, and ya' ain't dyin' tonight boy! Get the fuck up and sto-!"

Ethan kicks out sending the coffee table flying at the television smashing it on the stand, silencing that fucktard for a while at least.

Ethan still is choking as he thrashes like a stuck hog and spasms on the sofa still clutching at his neck and mouth trying to pry his jaws open, he rolls off the couch with a choked muffled cry...

Ethan Winters hurls himself onto the soft bearskin rug beside the tall bed the fall is a lot more than he was expecting and he lands hard on his knees groping under the bed for the bedpan grasping it and burying his face into the floral painted enamel while retching hard, the purple bile he threw up a reminder of last night's drinking.

"Oh fuck..." He whimpers out before spewing again the taste of acidic bile and last nights dinner hit him and he heaved again, spitting and drooling into the pan.

Alcina was startled awake by his loud heaving and spluttering she rolled over to check he was okay her own head pounding and her make up smeared all over her face and pillow, she stared down at his curled form yawning "Ethan? Oh dear..." That's why she told him about the bedpan she was glad he managed to retain that memory before blacking out Alcina pulled her body over to the side of his bed cursing herself for not at least changing into her nightgown last night, She leans down softly groaning herself from the hangover and reached out to run her fingertips lazily over his messy hair.

"...Morn-" Ethan tries to greet her with a smile but hacks up bile laced phlegm and shudders instead,

"Good morning regretting last night's festivities are we?" She chides

Ethan clears his sticky mucus laden throat and manages to croak out "Nah... My stomach on the other hand..." He weakly smiles at her he hasn't drunk heavy since him and Chris got messed up watching a soccer game one evening when he brought over tequila months ago.

Alcina frowns at him "My father always said to 'never mix the grape and grain' it's your own fault really dear" She sits up and instantly regrets it "...Oh..." the rush of her blood brought about a most unpleasant migraine all of a sudden.

"Hypocrite..." Ethan spits into the bowl again making Alcina curl her nose as the sting of his bile reached her "Besides I'm pretty sure you're the one who brought out the bourbon and brandy." He groans at her.

"Oh... be quiet you... I know I'm as bad as you dear but I'm not the one hurling into a bedpan am I?" Her smug smile besmirched by smeared lipstick.

Ethan laughs as he wipes his mouth with a towelette "You just get a kick out of being smug and superior don't you?"

Alcina chuckles back rubbing her throbbing brow and feeling her belly rumble slightly "My Mr Winters... Please stop, how can one possibly withstand such a stellar observation and a sharp wit first thing in the morning?" Her lovely voice rung with irony as she stands up slowly and fumbled in the bedside drawer for aspirin.

Ethan stands leaning against the tall bed and gazing at her as she pops the pills from their packaging he stares at her happily smiling away like the stricken idiot he was, he loved her bedraggled tussled hair and her slightly pained expression which turned into puzzlement as she notices him.

"Something wrong?" Alcina asks half-chuckling as she sips her glass of water that Ana had placed when she snuck in earlier in the morning placing glasses and towels by their sides, she went downstairs to brew some tea.

"No nothing is wrong it's just..." He looks around in the room and sits back down feeling a bit better having hurled his guts up. "Seeing you in the morning, soon as I wake up and sleeping next to you... it feels nice if that makes much sense?"

She hands him some painkillers and a glass of water easily leaning across the broad bed to reach him "It feels familiar doesn't it?" She says as she walks over to her vanity looking away from him to sit down and begin removing her make up from last night.

"It does yeah." Ethan gulps down his water and pills and rinses his mouth out with the rest of the glass. Ethan might've been having a nightmare again and woke up spewing  but he often descended into panic attacks when he was thrown out of his traumatic unconscious thoughts like he just did he would wake up wide eyed, sweating and defensive mind racing and alert, terrified he, Mia or Rose would be in danger Ethan often struggled to sleep alone he only felt at ease knowing where his Mia and his daughter was. When he was tracking Chris he rarely slept well he was fuelled by cheap energy drinks, shitty coffee and his sheer willpower to find his daughter, he managed to sleep well mostly at the castle in his room but waking up here in the large, lavish and decorated bedchamber of Alcina was something else she was right it felt 'Familiar'... 

"I've missed being beside someone who makes me feel... safe and wanted."

Ethan notices her gaze fixed on him in the mirror as she wipes her face with the make up remover and cloth, massaging moisturiser into her cleared pale skin "It has been a very long time since a man had shared my bed, it is an almost alien sensation for me, I must admit." She pulls open her make up drawers and arranges her usual daily selections of lipstick, pastes, powders and mascara getting ready to replace her face for the day "Not an unpleasant one however Ethan, I've missed it too, even if you did wake up ill." Alcina takes off her jewels and places them in an elaborately decorated jewellery box and takes up her usual assortment of pearls and the golden pendent bearing her seal.  

"Sorry about that..." He says somewhat embarrassed by his awakening he'd hoped to have awoken a bit more graciously then that, Lucas fucking with his head likely didn't help.  

"Don't be dear as long as you are not dying and had a good time last night I don't mind, it's not like you hurled all over my bed linens and dress." She says applying a slight dusting of powder to her skin he didn't really know why, it was pale enough as it was.

"Would that have pissed you off?" He grins playfully at her from across the room.

"Oh most certainly... This dress took hours for poor Ana to make, the materials are all specially ordered in and are exceedingly expensive dear." She rolls her eyes in the mirror as she brings up the brush to darken and curl her lashes "And language Ethan..."

He chuckles lightly "Sorry..."

Ethan smiles lazily at her reflection for a while as she reapplies a fresh layer of make up distracting her for a second as she catches him staring again, she knows the man can't stop staring at her with that adorable stricken dumb look on his face, she found it sweet that he couldn't keep his eyes off her, it wasn't a look of lustful intent just one of warmth and care his icy blue eyes burned with affection into her. 

She smiles as their eyes meet through the mirror she knows what he may enjoy.

"Ethan dear my dress, can you get the buttons please?" Alcina says in that particular low, somewhat domineering tone that drives him wild.

He almost leaps up before remembering his still fragile state, checking himself before he hurries over to the sitting woman "Erm sure..." He stands behind her for a while taking in her broad but still femininely built back and shoulders, the soft pearl white skin mesmerised him even sitting down her height was still apparent, with her shoulders being almost parallel to his own "These buttons right?". 

Ethan pulls his gaze from her lovely exposed skin and the back of her slender elegant neck to the small, silver and pearl buttons at the back of her crumpled purple ball gown "Yes dear those buttons..." She coos at him ironically.

He undoes them fumbling slightly with the buttons, the decadently soft satin and silk slipped between his clumsy fingers, his heart was starting to race being this close to her was a wonderful sensation, his senses was overwhelmed by her.

That rosy, vanilla scent ever so slightly tinged with blood flooded his nostrils and his mind went all giddy and fuddled, he cursed himself for still being so emotionally volatile and fluttery around her and becoming a bumbling schoolboy all over again.

"Are you done yet?" Alcina could sense the effect just him being this close was having on him she could hear his brave, caring little heart hammer away in his chest and the scent of his blood was as ever a delight to the woman "There's only thre- ...Oh! Ethan..." She cooed the last part softly as she jumped up slightly Alcina felt rough, grizzled hands move over her shoulders and start massaging them.

"...Relax..." He whispers low and husky she shivers at his touch and voice.

She didn't expect his lips pressing against her nape kissing her snow white skin and inhaling her inky, messy curls Ethan trails a row of small kisses down to the crock of her bare oddly undecorated neck he notices a small birthmark on her neck he'd never seen the small thumbnail sized patch of discolouration and kissed it lovingly, he increases the pressure he's putting into her shoulders kneading and smoothing out her tense muscles, Mia always used to say he was a bit heavy handed when he used to give her a massage but he figures Alcina can take it.

Ethan undoes the with the white silky lace bra straps at her back almost tearing the clips apart with his eager hands.

"Careful dear, it's hard to find a good brassiere my size." He can imagine.

Fuck she's so tensed up Alcina must worry so much...

She closes her eyes and lets him work his magic it had been a long time since someone other than Ana gave her a shoulder rub and that poor lamb was a weakling, but Ethan was delightfully thorough with his ministrations she starts purring softly and reaching back to pull him closer so she can feel his body pressed against her.

"I love that sound you make when you're happy." Ethan whispers breathlessly against her ivory skin he adored the strangely comforting cat like vibrations she let off when content her unpainted lips smile and her pale cheeks flash pink, she gasps aloud when Ethan removes a particular tense knot from her shoulder he continues to kiss her neck softly and ever so slightly nipping at the porceline skin he has to almost tip toe to get a good position to nuzzle and kiss her.

"My such gifted hands Mr Winters..." Her sultry voice coos at him.

Alcina almost yowls when he sinks his teeth into her neck biting relatively hard but not enough to pierce her skin, a bolt of fire spread from his bite the pain was delightful and she suddenly felt rather... base she wished he had bitten harder and made her bleed.

Ethan laughs "Consider that payback" He whispers into her ear.

She smirks at the mirror.

You cheeky little man-thing...

She turns around on her cushion Ethan just about manages to step back grinning wickedly at her "Now you've done it!" She laughs as she grabs his dress vest and pulls him onto her, he has to awkwardly straddle her lap to get closer, the size difference is something Ethan struggles with sometimes even if he weirdly finds it appealing.

"Christ..." He says looking down at how he's sitting on her lap legs spread apart he feels a tad emasculated sitting on her lap like this, he feels like a kid sitting on a Mall Santa's knee in all honesty.

"Awww poor Ethan..."  Alcina pouts at him her brows knitting upwards in ironic pity at his slight discomfort. "What's the matter dear?" She pulls him closer and her still bare hands rest on his thighs.

He grins slyly as he strokes her collarbone steadying himself on her bare shoulders Ethan's gaze is drawn to her chest as her breasts almost press against him, the violet dress hangs loosely and her delightful assets were one gentle tug away from spilling out "I have been a good boy this year Mrs Claus..." He jokes, Alcina just looks at him puzzled wonder what on earth he meant by that.

"Pardon?" She laughs before rolling her eyes and tutting "Just kiss me you silly man-thing..." Alcina grabs his face and pulls him to her unpainted lips, he's still lazily grinning and fixated on her bosom when he feels her nails slightly scrape against his skin and her irresistible grasp, he half moans half gasps when their lips meet, that familiar electrifying feeling of first contact making his heart thump like a piston in his chest, her claws run through his soft golden hair as they press their lips together their need for one another burning brightly, her tongue darts across his lips begging to be let in Ethan obliges and the kiss deepens the both moan pleasurably into each other's mouths.

Alcina takes his hand and presses it against her breasts, he squeezes her large, pillow soft breast she whimpers as he cups the other one with his hand begins to fondle them gently, brushing her hardening peachy-rose pink nipple under the rich fabric, Alcina flusters and starts to purr again as the couple pull back to gasp for air, before Ethan presses forth again and seals her lips with his.

God, she's delicious... 

Ethan's cock feels painfully constricted as it presses against the fabric of his trousers making him shift awkwardly on her thighs her hands move up to his crotch "Oh dear...Mr Winters..." She coos low and seductively at him her eyes darting downwards as she can feel his manhood poking her as she leans forward to kiss him "...Looks like someone is very much awake..." He starts moving down to nibble her throat again, his soft moans suppressed against her skin as she starts to fondle him back through his painfully pitched pants.

He presses her breasts slightly harder as she slowly rakes the back of his neck while she continues to tease him, her moans and purring is too much for him to bear his dick genuinely kinda hurts and he has to pull back.

Her flaming eye flash worry at him she was enjoying herself immensely and she hoped she hadn't done something to upset him "Are you okay Ethan?"

He shifts back "Yeah it's just... well." He looks down.

"Ah...I believe I can help with that..." She grabs his belt and pulls open the buckle "If you so wish..."

His head is a rush of arousal and he feels so giddy right now Ethan can't really even muster the focus to answer her, he just awkwardly nods, she pulls off his belt and starts to ever so slowly and teasingly undo his pant's silver buttons, he composes himself and grins coyly and in partial relief he's glad he can have some room to 'manoeuvre'.

Ethan gasps as he feels the last button being undone and she pulls apart the opened fly, his underwear covered him still but she soon pulled that down.

"Oh Ethan..." She leans back slightly to get a good look at his hard swollen naked cock and smiles hungrily, she was impressed with his length and girth, Ethan couldn't help but feel mighty pleased with himself, and gloated internally that she liked what she saw. He had been a tad self conscious about this worried he wouldn't be 'big enough' for a woman of Lady Dimtrescu's stature, Mia and his exes gave him a fair few compliments in the past but they weren't 9 foot tall.

He shudders when he feels the cool, soft palm of Her Ladyship wrap around his shaft and softly begin to stroke him, she let's go to briefly run her tongue across her hand to wet it, her playful gaze burned into him overwhelming him, he moaned as she went back to gently jerking him, he grins at her as her tugs down her dress.

"You randy little blighter!" She laughs at him kissing his head as he lowered his own to plant small wet kisses down on her bared breasts moving down the porcelain soft flesh to her pert nipple, he massaged and cupped the other one with one hand.

"Says the one with their hand on my dick..." He chides, she squeezes him harder that makes him flinch and buckle as she moves her soft hand up and down him.

"Oh? Is that a problem, I can stop dear..." Alcina replies in her scathing, ironic tone.

"N-nope, no complaints here." 

They ground their bodies together and Ethan bucked slightly as she pleasures him she does slow down Ethan was likely a bit backed up and she didn't want him to come yet, he'd ruin her dress besides. His former hung over state completely washes away as he playfully nuzzles his face between her breasts, Alcina mewls and giggles at him grasping his short hair to guide him to her firm nipple she moans loudly as he brushes it with his lips and nips at the rosy areola, he suckles it before moving to the other doing the same, planting hot, wet kisses wherever his lips hovered over.

His fingers and hands pinch, roll and squeeze them firmly he's relishing the silky, pillow flesh between his hands, everything in his head yells at him to leap off her lap and try and pull her to the bed.

Take your time Ethan...

She grasps his hair and pulls him up to her letting her eyes beam down into his, he feels like her gaze is melting him from the inside out it smoulders like pools of molten gold and amber she takes in his handsome, twitching, open mouthed, panting stricken face "You're beautiful Mr Winters..." He stares at her warmly feeling hypnotised as she moves down.

"So are you... You're just perfect Alcina..." They kiss tenderly, her unpainted lips softly brush past his and run down his jaw, she spies her former bites and her belly softly rumbles with a primal hunger, she sighs at herself she would've preferred to feed afterwards but she can't hold back that question Ethan knew was coming as soon her as her mouth moved down past his lips.

"May I please Ethan..." She asks running her tongue across his skin relishing the slight salty taste she moves her free hand up to steady him, he can't really refuse he feels, and he doesn't want to.

"Yeah sure... just a little though okay I'm woozy enough as it is." 

She kisses his neck again "I just need a little pep dear a mouthful or two, in preparation..." He gulps and feels awfully hot he just hopes he can still have the stamina to make love to her afterwards, she undoes his shirt and pulls down his already loosened tie, exposing his neck fully, her heart hammers away and her eyes flutter and gleam as she studies his throat moving a finger up to feel his precious pulse, she runs her tongue along his throbbing jugular, the thrill of her being so dangerously close to the source of his lifeblood was horrifyingly arousing, she moves away an inch or so she didn't want to cause to much damage to her precious Ethan.

Alcina's hums a soft song as she hovers over her mark, cleaning the skin with a few licks that made Ethan shudder and burn up, he hardly felt her sink her teeth into his trembling flesh she had become so practised on feeding off him that her bite was swift and so very measured, he gasped as she withdrew her teeth and placed her lips over the wound latching on and sucking the flowing blood. Alcina hadn't bitten too deep.

Ethan fell into her embrace slightly slumping down with a relaxed sigh to hold her close, his pulse had calmed now that he was being drunk from, that strange, throbbing drawing sensation in his neck was almost soothing to him. As much as he hated to admit it to himself it felt awfully degenerate.

It was even worse for poor Ethan when her hand returned to his cock and began stroking him again while drinking from him, he moaned loudly and grasped a handful of her soft inky hair, he wishes he had better access to tease her womanhood back, but Alcina was getting a wonderfully wicked sense of enjoyment out of messing with him, his rich fiery blood only gave her teasing more momentum and energy, she could feel the slick leakage of pre cum wet her hand and his head.

"Ahh Fuck Alcina... You b-bitch..." He manages to say between his writhing and moans of pleasure and pain he feels a tad disgusted getting off as she feeds on him it feels sinfully perverse, she pulls back with a loud gasp her mouth stained a dark red, a trickle of blood rolling down, Ethan's healing factor had started to kick in she watched it for a second or two as the bleeding stops.

So very delicious... and rude...

She laps the staunching wound, coating her scarlet tongue in blood and swallowing it like a fine wine, aerating the bloody mouthful and sucking it down with a satisfied smack and a pout, Ethan smiles lazily down her back tracing his fingers along her bare shoulders, Alcina laps away at his bloody skin until it's clean enough, she kisses the wound tenderly planting a row of small kisses up to his ear.

"Are you okay dear?" Her eyes are glowing at him as he stares at her, Ethan shakes himself slightly and snaps out of his dumb, haze she hadn't taken much like she said and he still had enough strength to look up and stroke her cheek tenderly, and enough for what Ethan and Alcina had longed to do with one another since that night when they spoke for the first time.

"I-I'm fine... You feeling better?" He says his vision was still clear and he had gotten quite familiar with his healing factor he knows the healthier and less injured he was the faster he healed from any further wounds, he was far from invincible and the harder he pushed his body the more it struggled to keep up with the damage but already he felt like he was healing.

Her lips are tinged red and he moves his thumb across her chin to wipe up a small drop of his blood placing his reddened thumb on her lip, sighing softly as her blood tinged pale lips wrap around his thumb to suckle it clean she releases his thumb with a wet pop and grins.

"A 'bitch' am I?" She cocks her eyebrow, .

Ethan blusters and shrugs his shoulders "Heat of the moment, sorry..."

Alcina laughs "Oh my such a rude young man..." Clawed bare fingers turns his head sharply to the side, he shivers as he feels hot breath against his ear "...I adore that pretty foul mouth of yours Ethan..." She nibbles his lobe and growls "...Get on the bed and put it to good use..."

The intensity of her suggestive tone burnt him from the inside out, he couldn't take it anymore, he clumsily falls off her lap and jumps up much to Her Ladyship's amusement.

He almost cried when his heavy footfalls and awkward bumbling woke their daughter from the crib in the corner.

"...Rosemary Dimitrescu-Winters, please don't..." Alcina stares at the crib her eye twitching and her shoulders slumping down, with a heavy and disappointed sigh she pulls up her dress and pines at Ethan who stands their with a blank look of sobriety on his face as he slowly tugs up his pants and buttons them up, walking over in defeat his blood instantly cooling off.

"Oh sweetheart please no..." Groans Ethan he curses himself for not seeing to Rose as soon as he woke up "You really know when to pick your moments, huh angel?" Ethan bends down to attend to her pulling her up in his arms and jostling her.

Alcina walks over with another long frustrated sigh "You are by far the most needy little beastie I've ever known dear..." She strokes her babes soft, thin fluffy hair.

"Me or Rose?" Ethan jests.

"Both of you now that you mention it..."

"It's my fault I usually wake her to feed and change her diaper at this time, poor dear missed out on her Mama's morning song..." She showers small kisses over her wailing babe who's cries of hunger are slightly abated by her mother's affections, and Rosie let's out a string of babbles and wails at her parents teary eyes darting between the two.

Alcina laughs as she places Rose's small blue teddy in her chubby outstretched hands before, coiling her nose "She needs changing..." 

Ethan nods "Yup thought so, want me to do it?" 

She nods happy to let someone else do that task for a change "Of course, call for Ana to bring more towels and wipes there's a servant's bell in the bathroom dear, as well as fresh diapers and powder." Alcina brings his face up to look at him with a gentle push of her hand, stroking his cheek as she does so  "Thank you dear, you really are lovely." 

Ethan smiles "Gives you a chance to finish putting on your make up I guess and I really don't mind, alright see you in a minute."  He goes to turn around before pausing "Rosemary Dimitrescu-Winters?"

The towering noblewoman's tone slightly wavers as she replies to him "I-Is that alright by you Ethan? It's just something I thought up..." She hoped she hadn't done anything wrong by conjoining their names for their daughter.

"No, I actually really like it, she's gonna grow up like a princess in a castle." He looks down at his child's chubby beaming face as she chews her teddy bear's ear, drooling happily away at her papa, he hopes she does Rose deserves a happy life and maybe this will be a chance to give it to her? 

"Dimitrescu-Winters, I dig it." Ethan said voice full of joy "Sounds fancy, she is our daughter Alcina I don't mind it at all." 

Alcina blushes a bit as she sits back down to finish up her make up "I know, I just don't want to take too much control of the reigns, this may be my home but you do have a say here."

"It's a team effort, we should always consider each others opinions, we both come from such different places... And times, I don't expect us to always agree on everything." Ethan must consider her worldview must be so different to his he still doesn't fully know her true age "I mean I'm not an immortal noble vampire living in a spooky old castle after all, I'm a suburban middle class systems engineer from Sacro, Sunny California." 

She laughs loudly making Rose fidget and chuckle along "Vampire?!?" 

"Well what are you then? If not a vampire? I thought you was Elizabeth Bathory or something?"

"I suppose in the eyes of mortals I display certain... traits that make me vampiric I just dislike the word, it's so cliché." Alcina unscrews the cap to her lipstick and leans forward to apply it, trying to steady her grin.

Vampire... please...

"Oh come on you're like Bram Stoker's wet dream, you are a walking cliché!" He playfully mocks her.

"Says the gun toting, hot headed, brash American..." She scowls in mock annoyance at him and grins "And Elizabeth Bathory? I'm not that old dear..."

Ethan is puzzled "Then what would you call yourself?"

She pouts and checks her applied crimson red lipstick in the mirror she applied it perfectly as ever "Special dear, like you." She adds another waxy red coating for good measure.

Ethan feels a bit fluttery when she says that "Well..."

"Don't." She sternly replies "Don't say you are not special, you are to me..." She looks at him warmly when she says that.

"Alcina..." Ethan steels himself to say it, he was usually honest with matters of the heart, his exes before Mia dumped him partly because he was too honest sometimes, he usually said that dreaded eight letter sentence far too soon but he was going to be a loved up fool and say it again. 

"Alcina I think I-" He starts again Rose's wailing cuts him off and he clears his throat "Sorry lil' lady you must be so uncomfortable right now, let's get you cleared up..." He flashes Alcina an awkward smile and leaves to sort out Rose.

The woman stared at the doorway with her golden sad eyes, she had a good idea what he was going to say.

Alcina stared at her garnet tinged tea stirring it lazily the heavy clockwork clunking of the old grandfather clock filled the heavy sombre atmosphere of the dining room, that and Rosemary's constant happy cooing and laughter.

"...You're playing a dangerous game Alcina..." Donna's cold voice made even the towering woman chill, Donna was right she was putting herself, her daughters and Ethan in terrible peril, she told herself she could handle anything but even she knew she was being naïve not that she would ever admit it, Donna leans forward to pick up her fine china cup and take a small sip of her earl grey.

"I know how to play it Donna my dear, I've been playing it longer than you" Alcina replies sternly her eyes dart away glancing over to the chair Ethan had sat in last night, she wished she hadn't sent him away and he was here, Alcina nearly murdered the poor maid that had delivered Donna's message to see her alone before she left for her estate, Alcina had wanted to spend breakfast with her daughters, Ethan and her guests and after Rose was fed and calm she can pick up where her and Ethan left off, and she can finally have her wicked way with that delicious man.

But Donna clearly wanted to discuss politics with her instead, how very droll of the woman.

"...You seriously believe you can outfox our Mother?..." Donna is bewildered that Alcina still puts on her stony faced front.

Angie cuts in laughing "You really are as crazy as you've been acting Al!"

Alcina's red lips curl into an agitated sneer towards the wooden mockery "Acting?" She acidly spat out "This isn't an act, Our twisted little family we've been forced into is, Mother's 'love' is all an act."

Donna just shakes her head the two old friends had been arguing like this for a while now and both had started to annoy one another, Alcina had always tried to make herself as invulnerable as possible, she was stubbornly proud and headstrong and these last few years she had been downright defiant preferring to stay holed up with her daughters in the castle, then plotting and brooding with the other Lords "...If it was all an act then why would she grant us such power and give us our positions? We are her family, the Cadou makes us so..."

Alcina laughs aloud "You silly woman, we are but failures in her eyes you and the rest need to wake up I won't be apart of her schemes, and I certainly won't allow her to take Rosemary." Alcina had been slightly worried about Donna' presence here but Kassandra was ever so insistent and she personally trusted Donna but the woman and her puppet was loyal towards Miranda more so then Karl or herself, she had hoped her close ties with the girl was enough to keep her friendly Alcina cared about Donna and she returned her affections in her own sad way, but recently they've been butting heads more and more.

Once upon a time Alcina even offered to take in Donna as her own after the death of her parents she even optionally offered her the Gift that made her three daughters special but Donna declined despite Lady Dimitrescu's pleas and attempts of coercion.

Now however Alcina couldn't help but wonder if she had made a mistake inviting the Puppet-Mistress here.

"...We are not failures Alcina..." She places her cup down and traces her cold, thin fingers over Angie's veil, the doll's eyes half slid shut almost lovingly, if such a term can be applied to the beast "...and unless Mother directly orders me than I won't lay a finger on Rosemary, I am not ignorant as to what would become of her..." Alcina always found it eerie how Donna seemed to pull scraps of information and thoughts from one's mind.

The pale noblewoman drinks her blood-tea her eyes are almost pleading "Then you know we have to stop her, you and I, we can end it."

Angie's scratchy voice is coarse and makes Rosemary jostle unhappily in her chair "You traitorous bitch! You sayin' we kill Mother?!?" The doll laughs at her, Alcina's eyes burn at the construct her previous pleading tone and expression instantly dropping, the doll prods further before Donna can silence her "You are fucking insane, and ungratef- Ow!" Donna's hand strikes the doll, making herself whimper out in pain.

Alcina launches herself to her feet she's had enough of that vile wooden tongue of Angela's her angry reply thunders in the dining room her raised voice was both beautiful and terrible despite her attempts to control her tone for the sake of Rosemary . "Say another vulgar, venomous word and I will hurl you in a trunk and toss you outside." Donna and Angie both are cowed by the towering woman leaning over the table staring at the doll with flaming gold and amber fury fuelled flaming irises, Alcina had such a hideous temper and was not above intimidating even the ones she loved with it Donna knew that all too well.

Donna manages to squeak out some frail, thin words "...I can discipline her there will be no need for...that..." 

"And each time you strike her you hurt yourself, she does that on purpose you should know that by now."

Angie cackles "No I don't! Why would I want to hurt my sister?"

Alcina growls "Because you are a spiteful little creature that drinks in her pain as I do mortal blood." She turns back to Donna trying to drop her menacing façade and gritted tone but failing "Angela uses you, as does Miranda everyone uses you Donna, we can end this."

Donna's pretty pale lips contort into a frown "Even you it seems, would you have me abandon my sister as well as Mother?"

"That's not what I meant, I know you can't and won't get rid of her." Alcina stands up straight her raised voice and aggressive behaviour had upset Rosemary and she made a series of wet sobs and wails "...No, sweetheart shhh be calm now little one..." She leans over to Rose and lets the babe grasp her gloved finger, chubby hands wrap around her mother's finger and shake it happily she lets out a happy gurgle as warm, velvety soft lips press on her blonde fluffy hair "I am not using you Donna, you would be my equal you are my friend." Alcina continues to make her case, her gaze locked on her daughter and her voice low and soft.

Donna smiles ever so slightly at the sight of mother and child, how she wished she had found someone right and had a child of her own before her Ascension, the smile instantly fades away as Donna sighs "...That's the problem with you Alcina, you have no 'equal' in your eyes, you are far too proud, too stubborn your hubris has corrupted you from the light of Mother..."  

Alcina snaps her head back around at Donna "I know I may be proud, but that has nothing to do with this I've seen Miranda for what she truly is, and what she wants I won't let her kill Rose so she can resurrect her dead daughter to use her as a weapon in some absurd plot for global domination." 

"She wouldn't use her like that." Donna never believed any of Alcina's conspiracies about Eve's resurrection, Miranda was the Guardian of the Valley, the Goddess of the Dark Mountains and the Mistress of Forest and Rock, she had no interest for ruling the world or forcing non believers into their faith. 

Alcina picks up a small silver and rubber pacifier and offers it to Rose who begrudgingly accepts it allowing Alcina to sit back down, she turns her full attentions to her guest and deluded friend "Once she wouldn't dream of it but now? She truly believes she is a God Donna, she is a danger to everyone."

"Since when did you care about the 'produce' isn't that what you call them Al?" Angie creaked "You hate normals unless that toyboy of yours is changing your mind?"

Alcina sighs fed up of attempting to hide her attraction to Ethan and still confused as to why it made her feel weak and all to exposed having it brought up, she couldn't hide it very well anymore besides but it still made her seethe whenever it was pointed out, especially by that carved little sow.

"This isn't about them, Miranda won't simply just let us be and carry on if she does have Eve back I dread to think what will happen to everyone I care about if that occurs, Ethan and my relationship is not your business, but we're both Rosemary's parents we want her to grow up to be herself not just an empty shell for a dead child offered up as sacrifice."

"Does she not deserve her Eve back?" Donna retorts raising her own voice as much as she can, surprising Alcina a little.

The Lady of the Castle side-eyes the drink stand in the corner of the room hungrily craving a sip of strong wine to calm her down, good God does she need a drink... And it wasn't even noon yet...

She looks back into Donna's cold single eye "Her child died, she's been dead for so long now Miranda should just let her go and move on." 

"Like you would?" Donna snaps at her "If you could bring Bela ba-" She manages to stop herself before she can finish her sentence, she knows she just crossed a line that she never meant to cross, the atmosphere becomes unbearably tense and heavy, Alcina just stares blankly past Donna her face as neutral as it can be, her claws rapping against the mahogany of the table, the babes soft content quiet gurgles and the constant heavy ticking of the grandfather clock are the only sounds for a few moments.

"...Alcina I'm-" Donna's soft apologetic tone falters when the blood-vermillion lips twist into slight sneer.

"Don't you ever mention her again." Alcina's tone was low but full of threat, her golden eyes ebb sadly at the thought of her seldom mentioned long deceased daughter, not even the girls mention her and especially not around her, Bela's death was her fault after all "I've moved on, I've had Kassandra and Rose since, what is dead should stay dead Donna, and now I have Rose and her father."

The mention of her sweet dead second daughter brought back such terrible memories of that night, her lost beautiful angel gone forever how her dark blood stained the snow, and the hollow point silver bullet her murderer put through her head ruined her beautiful face she didn't even get to hold her in her arms to comfort her and to look down into her fading yellowed eyes as she died it was too quick, too violent, it was just too much for any of the Dimitrescu's to bear it was their greatest failure and shame.

"...Is he that important to you?..." Donna asks her tone dropping to it's regular cold, frail pitch she didn't want to set Alcina off further and was desperate to change the scowling angered woman's attention to something else.

Alcina chews the inside of her cheek in thought for a while inhaling deeply and sadly wanting to wipe away the thought of Bela it was easy enough, she had almost scrubbed her poor child's memory from her mind, it sickened how very easy it was, but even the fond loving memories of her lost rose were blackened by her blood.

She bites back an almost silent sob as she clears her throat and shakes herself from the internal tide of melancholy her golden eyes look down at Donna, she wants to be careful with her words "Yes... He is, and not just because of my 'attraction' to him he is Rose's father I am doing the right thing here by letting him stay, Mother be damned I won't surrender either one of the Winters without a fight."

Lady Dimitrescu hates this she can feel and scent the resentment starting to boil up inside her friend, if she can still call her that.

Donna shakes her head and tuts "...That's the problem there will be a fight, and I'm afraid you and I won't be on the same side..." 

"You would stand against me? I'm trying to be a better person, a good mother and all you care about is following her orders?" Alcina doesn't want this she'd hoped to bring Donna around but she was being foolish to think she could, the woman and her doll-sister were reliant on Miranda's attentions and praise, it seemed to be the only thing that made her somewhat elated in life that and her gaggle of toys she brought to life.

Donna glowers back at Alcina, she won't be pushed around by her 'friend' and she will not raise a hand against Mother "She created us both, gave us this power and you repay with talk of open treason? I could stand by while you defy her on the small matters, I would even support and stand with you but to deny Mother what is hers? What she has sacrificed and given so much for? Rose would be reborn into something greater power given flesh a great being it is the greatest of gifts and as good of man as Ethan is surely he is inconsequential?" 

The gloved fingers ache to extend the steely bladed claws that lay within her bones, Alcina grits her pearly teeth and lets out a rising growl in her throat "You would have mine and Ethan's daughter killed? Torn apart and rearranged as someone else? You're beginning to sicken me Donna I thought you were better than that."

Angie cackles wickedly "Really?!? Comin' from you? The woman who takes an annual blood bath, and used to torture peasants to get off? You're the worst outta all of us! Me and Don don't go 'round eating people!"

"I have changed I want to be better and if deifying Mother is what it takes I will gladly do it and you gut people and turn them into human puppets you vile cretin." Alcina turns up to look Donna in the face ignoring the vicious wooden beast, "And Ethan is not 'inconsequential' he is no mere man-thing, if he and if I have to cut you down in order to protect our child, so be it you are my friend Donna, don't let it come to this."

Donna just looks caught between bursting into tears or screaming bloody murder at her "You'd threaten us both now!?!" The doll dryly spat out "Why? Because you can't stop picking up lost causes and turning them into pets? You wanna play mommy to every waif and stray? Or has Lover-boy fucked you so hard your brains have turned to fuckin' mush?" Donna nods in agreement even if Angie sought to mostly just enrage her she goes to open her mouth when she jumps up from her chair with a slight wail almost throwing her sister to the ground, as Alcina slams her fist down onto the table, the dark carved wood cracks and creaks under her gloved fury, the woman's face is sheer anger manifest.

Donna and Angie's head snap up as the woman towers over them again bearing over them eyes burning hot with rage and insult "ENOUGH!!!" She walks over to the other side of the table "I will not abide such foul language, insults or lewd insinuations, least of all from you!" She almost flicks her hand out to spring out her blades to whittle the bitch down to matchsticks, when she halts and buries the thought even if her and Donna were now enemies she did not want to kill her, even if she would gladly toss Angela headfirst into a furnace if she had her way.

She stands over them trying to cool her temper managing only to moderate her tone ever so slightly, Rosemary's crying makes her cool off enough to regain some composure, Donna looks up trying to look brave but Angie is the one who can bare to stand Alcina's golden wrathful gaze "You've upset 'your' child Al again." The doll mocks her, Good Lord was Alcina restraining herself.

Donna sniffs and clears her throat "We should leave..." She knew Lady Dimitrescu was reaching the end of her tether. 

"Yes, I was just going to recommend that." Alcina replies flatly how very dare they come to her home under invitation to Kassandra's day to insult, threaten her family and her mate and to berate her choices, she was angry with her but still felt bad for Donna.

It shouldn't have come to this, I never wanted to lose you too Donna you are just another of Miranda's victims like me.

"You don't have to do this Alcina, Mother wi-" Donna's final plea is cut off by Angie.

"Oh just stop it Don Al's gone crazy, she won't listen."

"For once Lady Angela is right, I won't listen to your delusions Donna, now leave us" Alcina walks away from them sweeping over to Rosemary whose wailing began to grate and worry her mother "The help will see you ot, Good day Lady Donna" Her flat and faux cordial tone turned even more sour "And you too Angela."  The Lady of the Castle didn't even acknowledge her guests with a glance as she moved away from them her gaze was on her child who she scooped up in her gloved, soft hands while pressing kisses to her reddening weeping fat face.

Donna stands holding Angie in an eeriely similar manner to the mother who now stood by the window looking out to the courtyard, jostling Rosemary at her breast, Donna opens her mouth to say something, an apology or another warning that Alcina would undoubtbly take as a threat, Donna wasn't entirely sure what she was going to say.

"...Alcina I'm sorry about all of this... I..." She trails off when Alcina turns over her shoulder sideying her coldly but Donna could still see how there was a subtle glance of sorrow and heartbreak in those molten golden pools.

"Leave. Now." She growled.

Donna sighed deeply and pulled her veil down, Alcina dropped her gaze back down to Rose and started humming softly, shutting off Donna and Angela's presense, she didn't think she could stand looking at them any longer.

As quite as a ghost and with a cool hand clamping down on Angie's mouth preventing any last departing barbs at Alcina Donna leaves the dining room, leaving behind her friend and the woman who in the very near future she knows blows may have to be exchanged with to brood and soothe Miranda's rightful child.

Ethan is stands outside the cool mountain air is wonderfully refreshing to his still hazy mind he wipes the sweat beading from his brow he's been there cutting firewood for at least an hour or so, he looks around briefly at the treeline across the grassy muddy clearing, he can see the distant smoke plumes off in the direction of the village, he hopes that the smoke is from cooking hearths and warm metal stoves and not burning bodies and homes he idly wonders how people can stand living in that village so cut off and beset by horrors even if it was walled and the homes seemed secure, he  remembers running and gunning from the lycans as they chased him down the streets and he frantically tried to find someone who would let him in or an unlocked door, before that poor old dude hauled Ethan inside his rundown home and they made a stand against the monsters together.

That poor sorry bastard.

He leans down and grabs another log and places it on the chopping block shaking away the screams of that old man from his head, he had decided something repetitive and physical may help his humming mind burn away his haze and spend some of his pent up energy from Alcina's affections, he had already chopped a significant pile of wood and placed several wheel barrows by the side door for the maids to collect and distribute throughout the castle, he hefts the axe in both hands brings it down on the log, hewing it in one stroke it was a good quality axe he had sharpened the head in the small stone woodstore shed built against the wall for a good half an hour on a small old rusty pedalled grindstone that had an obnoxiously loud squeak to it that grated on his already delicate throbbing head.

Ethan had been working himself up to repairing the damage to the East gallery and the wood panelling in the main hall Ethan had felt bad about damaging the castle and he wanted to make it up to Alcina by fixing it up, but his carpentry skills were rudimentary at best he hadn't a clue where to start and what he would need to get the job done, he tosses the split logs into the barrow beside him as he thinks about playing castle handyman before he's thrown out of his musings by Ana walking outside with a mug of coffee each, wearing her blue knitted shawl she finished last night.

"Mr Winters?" She smiles when he turns to her slightly wide eyed the outsider always seemed to be deep in thought "I've got some coffee sir, and my company if you want it sir?" 

Ethan takes his cup and kicks off the log he placed on his chopping block offering it to her as a seat "Of course Ana, thanks for the coffee." She smiles in her meek characteristic polite way as she sits down "How's things?"

"Well sir, Her Ladyship seemed pleased with last night as did the girls sir, I trust you found it pleasant sir?" She asks sipping her hot drink and looking up at the tall stone tower behind Ethan, the other side of the castle leant against the edge of a sheer cliff heading down to the river and the Eastern side held the vast vineyards that produced her mistress's wines but she liked coming here by the side door to look out other the treeline and towards her village. 

Ethan nods and pants slightly singeing his lips on his own brew "Yeah it was... good, I had fun, you did great work with the preparations." 

"Thanks you sir!" She bows her head the outsiders gratitude brightens her day "And I got time off to finish my shawl sir while watching Miss Rosemary, she was as good as gold sir."

Ethan regards the pale blue knitted shawl tied around her shoulders "It's nice..." He politely lies it looks like something his grandma would've worn. "...And I'm glad she was behaved she can be a handful sometimes."

Ana laughs "Oh believe me sir I know! She's kept me awake many nights sir Mother bless her."

Ethan flinches slightly at her well meant blessing, Miranda scared him but he didn't want to shatter Ana's worldview by telling her that her 'god' wanted to kill Rose, he just smiles instead looking over to the tree line when something moving catches the corner of his eye.

He turns towards the blur of movement coming from the trees and bushes to the left of the path to the old iron fence's of the Dimitrescu family tombs and memorial garden somewhere Ethan had wanted to go and explore the grounds but for the meantime he wanted to stay close to Rose and Alcina in the castle, a distant cry reaches Ethan's ear even Ana bolts up and turns around to look where Ethan's gaze is fixated, a human figure bursts out from the trees with a cry.

"HELP! HELP!" a voice of a young boy cried out.

Ethan and Ana stare at the boy as he slips in the mud his cap flying off as he throws himself back up and sprints towards them, Ethan snaps around at Ana puzzled for a moment she stares at the boy blankly and shrugs at Ethan "I-I don't know who that is..." Ana meekly trails off just as confused by the interloper as the outlander.

"YOU MISTER!! MISS! HELP!!" The boy screams at them Ethan's mind snaps into gear, the kid is obviously in danger, he drops his coffee silently grimacing as the hot liquid scolds his leg, and snatches up the axe from the log pile and rushes at the shouting boy leaving Ana to stare at them her mind still trying to process the situation, no villager within there right mind came here especially children most of the young ones were to scared to come here their mothers dutifully told them terrible stories about this place and it generally did well enough to keep them away. Teenagers were the most occurrent of any trespassers often together in groups, drunk off pilfered vodka and beer minds hazy from smoking Heisenberg's hash and meth he sells to the villagers foolishly daring one another to get as close to the castle as possible, she often has to shoo them away rifle in hand before the girls see them and deviously attempt to coaxe them inside for an easy meal, tragically some of the village's poorest residents were forced to poach the Dimitrescu's estates for deer, boar and rabbits especially in the deep of brutal winter, when Father Frost strangled the land of easy game forcing the poorest wretches who couldn't afford to stock up on vast winter stores to risk Her Ladyship's ire and hunt in her part of the forests and hills.

Mother above, this can't be good...  

"Y-You gotta help M-Mister please!" The boy shouts at him he can see the kid clearly now as the run at each other down the track he looks like a street kid from the 1900's or something his face was scratched by branches and bloody his short brown hair messy and his eyes streaming tears that mixed with his slashed cheeks. Ethan comes to a halt when he see's the short barrelled pistol in the boys hand Ethan tenses up and lowers his hand holding the axe.

"Hey easy kid... careful with the gun." He said in his heavily accented Romanian "What are you doing here?" His eyes are glued to the kid's hand as the boy almost runs into him barely coming to a stop, before Ethan grabs the boy making sure to secure his pistol and snatch it from him and stowing the small pistol in his coat pocket, the kid didn't resist he was too busy wheezing, weeping and shaking.

"M-my sister, the g-graveyard... my cou-cousin the monst-" The kid throws up onto the ground between them and starts sobbing loudly, almost falling over into Ethan's arms, Ana runs over hitching up her skirt her face stricken by worry.

"Take it easy, you're safe now kid..." Ethan pats his back the boy had to have been now more than 13 "Your sister and cousin are in the graveyard?" Ethan asks the scared boy, he nods gulping.

"Y-you gotta help them mister please..." Ethan nods.

"Alright kid, get over to Ana tell her I'll help them out, go now!" He runs over, he didn't even really think about asking the kid what the hell was really going on or waiting for Ana to reach them, all he knows was that people were in danger and he had to help them.

"Sir!! Wait!!" She calls after him as he takes off the weeping boy rushes over to her and falls into her open arms, she looks at the boy and shushes him before looking back up to see the outlander shoulder barge open the old metal gates of the Dimitrescu family cemetery, axe in hand.

Playing hero yet again... You idiot Ethan.

Ethan stumbles through the gate several crows take off from headstones in the graveyard startled into flight in response, the gate had gotten jammed in the mud and he had to shove it again, his shoulder ached from the impact but he didn't care he adjusts himself to take in his surroundings looking up towards the steely face of ancient mounted warrior frozen in stone glaring iron eyed ahead at the castle silently and solmenly watching over it.

"Lord Boyar Duke Vlad II The Giant, founder of House Dimitrescu, Hammer of the Turks and Feaster of the Flesh of the Infidels, Knight of the Order of the Dragon and Armed Pilgrim to the Holy Lands." 

The brass plaque on the towering statues base read, Ethan was impressed by this terrifying ancient ancestor of Alcina's many titles and feats, the Duke was huge bearded man in plate armour astride an armoured steed he held a sword in one gauntleted hand and in the other he gripped a severed head by it's long hair and raised it high in the air in bathing in victorious slaughter, the ancient warlord guarded the gateway to the graveyard and his lands even in death.

Ethan can't help but feel like the stone lord judged him an unworthy match for his blood ancestor's affections.

The place was overgrown and decrepit the many ancient elaborate mausoleums carved with the floral designs characteristic of House Dimitrescu, grinning skeletons danced the danse marcabra hand in hand with paupers, priests, knights and lords around the door ways with Latin script etched at their feet decorated the marble and granite lavish resting-houses of Alcina's forebears, gothic medieval headstones of the ancient knights and notable servants of the house were arrayed in jagged rows between the mausoleums, statues of weeping angels and dancing maidens were covered in moss and vines, the old cobble stone path was broken by thick, jutting roots and smothered by dead black leaves, gnarled ugly trees cast shadows over the graveyard, the iron fence that surrounded the site had collapsed in many places and the gardens were all but choked out by weeds, bracken and ugly black hued grass, here and there nightshade and belladonna plants sprouted beside the graves and statues providing some spots of colour to the grim, dismal place.

The neglect makes sense after all why would a family of immortals need a graveyard anymore?

Ethan feels particularly uneasy as he walks down the old path past the statue the cobbles feeling loose under his boots, he gulps dryly and looks around that's when he picks up the sound of snarling past some mausoleums, a scream and a bestial roar cuts through the cool damp air and Ethan he raises his axe and feels that God awful knot in his chest, there's freshly spilt blood on the cool gentle breeze, he hopes he isn't too late.

He was a fool for just rushing off alone to save some random kid's alleged sister and cousin for all he knew this could've been a trap but he couldn't let some kids get hurt and the boy seemed to be telling the truth.

Ethan crouches low and moves alongside the mausoleums, he freezes and clutches his axe tight as the sound of low growling, wet tearing, the snapping of bone reaches him, the smell of blood and wet dirty animal fur fills his nostrils he feels ill, there's another child like female scream, an answering roar and the clanging of metal and rattling of a chain, and he throws caution to the wind and hugs the corner of mausoleum, carefully peeping around.

Lycans, two of them... and a kill... fuck.

A grey skinned muscular figure covered in clumps of matted, gory, dirty mangy fur and ragged filthy clothing is tearing at the shredded corpse of a young man laying face down, the monster is glutting itself on the poor bastard it was the closest creature to Ethan and had it's back turned. The other pounded on a metal iron bar door of a small mausoleum that was padlocked and chained up, a small girl's scream rang out from the tomb, making the shaggy haired monster bound in torn rags increasingly agitated as the monster pounded on the gate with a crude club roaring and growling wildly. 

Ethan spies a rifle or some other long gun laying on the path by a overgrown stone bench by where the monster was feasting he makes a note of it and hopes he can grab it, Ethan slows his breathing and steels himself for a fight, he can take the one out with the axe if he's quick, maybe.

Another scream throws him into action, Fuck it...

He turns the corner and approaches the lycan distracted with the kill hoping to stealthily dispatch it, he approaches within several meters and readies his axe.

His gut sinks when the wet mud squelches and sucks loudly under foot and the monster pauses to sniff the air and spin around at the sound, it's corrupted yellowed bloodshot eyes alert and gleaming, the monster stares at Ethan with those awful, hateful hungry eyes blood and drool poured down from that open mouth lined with a broken array of filthy human teeth and sharp jagged fangs, the stunted flat, bloody face of the lycan is full of baleful malice that flashes to evil glee as more prey approaches it, Ethan swears the monster's torn bloody lips curl into a toothy grin as the monster tears it's rusted machete free from the corpse and stands, wiping away the gore rolling down it's chin with the back of a bloody hair clawed hand and dropping the handful of innards it was feasting on.

Stay calm Ethan.

The other lycan spins around and cocks his head as it's compatriot stalks towards Ethan who held his ground axe raised and glaring defiantly at the beast, he was well aware of the other one's presence and he knew facing two at once would be suicide being so lightly armed and in the open, so he shouts out a war cry and charges the closest one hoping to bury his axe in it's skull and draw the pistol to kill the other one he hoped he wasn't being overconfident in his abilities.

"FUCK YOU FREAK!!" He screams as he rushes the monster, it's the best he can come up with in the heat of moment regrettably, the lycan bears it's teeth and snarls as it accepts his challenge charging itself at him bounding towards Ethan before pouncing, Ethan swings his axe praying to whatever mocking God is out there that his axe finds it's mark and drops the monster cleanly, the creature moves slightly and the axe embeds itself into the beast's neck with a wet thud, missing it's skull but throwing the monster to the side it lets out a strangled howl of pain and it's machete cleaver flies from it's grasp mid swing and clatters against the stone bench as the wounded freak falls hard and Ethan lets go of the axe, the man barely controls himself as the lycan falls to the side thrashing and grasping at the axe, he let's out a heavy breath grateful he was able to interrupt the monster's swing.

 He doesn't waste time to take several steps back as the other hairy wolfman freak loped towards him snarling savagely, he draws the pistol from his coat it was an old Soviet Makarov PM and likely held eight rounds if it was a full magazine, he checked the safety was off with a practiced slide of the thumb over the catch and brushed the hammer which was still closed with his other hand, he swiftly cocked the pistol pulling back the slide and praying to God that it would fire given how old and battered the pistol looked and raised it at the beast and fired, the god's of ancient Soviet military engineering smiled at him as the hammer slammed the firing pin forward twice when he squeezed the trigger in a dual rapid succession.

Two rounds both struck the creature the loud pops are answered by a growl of pain, unfortunately he missed the head and hit the monster in the chest and arm he remembers how much damage these assholes can take.

The lycan is still dissuaded by the rounds and growls angrily at the singeing pain of gunfire, it throws itself into a bush and leaps up onto a nearby mausoleum hiding from Ethan's sights as it scampers over the edge, the beast jumps onto the next larger one and Ethan fires an unaimed shot pre-emptively at the leaping mutant, the round clips off a gargoyle's horn as he curses himself for wasting it, he steadies himself again gripping the small pistol with both hands, the beast ducks low on top of the tomb growling at Ethan and the wounds he inflicted on it, he trains his pistol upwards and waits, just like Chris taught him to.

"You always gotta keep calm under fire or at least try Ethan."  .

His heart is pounding away and sheer adrenaline is making him focused and shuts off his mind momentarily from screaming at him to flee, to run away and stay out of danger.

The cool dewy air is silent for a while, only the wind rustling between the branches and the slight, rapid breathing of an armed man trying not to shit himself in fear as he faces off against werewolves can be heard.

The sound of wet sucking and a wheezing growl makes him turn on his heels as the other lycan tears the axe free, it's face contorting in pain as it hurls itself up to it's feet, dark, thick blood pours down it's hairy corpse grey body from it's wound to the side of it's neck, a clawed hairy arm raised out as it staggers at Ethan fanged maw drooling, bleeding and lolling at him. The monster would've bled out given time, but it was still a threat.

Please just fucking die.

Ethan brings his pistol to bear, aims down the sight and squeezes off a round the bullet hits the beast in the left eye and and bursts out from the back of it's skull spattering brains and blood behind it, the lycan instantly drops down dead without even a whimper, but Ethan can't celebrate his victory and marksmanship for long as the other lycan leaps down at him, taking advantage of it's packmates death to attack the man. 

Ethan barely manages to dodge the creature from leaping onto him but he can't dodge the monster's lunge that grips his gun arm forcing it away clawed nails sinking into his flesh making him wince, the lycan forces Ethan backwards he barely manages to stay upright instead backpedalling and pushing the gnashing teeth of the monster away from his face and throat, they both fall back onto the bench Ethan cries out as his back crashes against the stone shooting pain through his body and making him drop his pistol and his guard.

*CRUNCH*

He can only stare in horror as the freak suddenly snaps down and clamps it's jaws onto Ethan's left hand.

"Ah!! Jesus fuck!!" Blood oozes and bubbles from between the monster's jagged lips and his hand, the smell of wet, mangy fur, rotting flesh and filth is nauseating.

The searing agony is somewhat subsided almost instantly by the adrenaline and as the nerves are torn up but he still can feel a crushing pressure lock onto his hand, his finger bones break instantly Ethan screams out as the lycan shakes his arm like a dog with a chew toy tossing him around the bench blood spattering everywhere as it gushes out from the monster's snarling lips, the flesh tears and the numerous hand bones begin to crack with a vile pop that makes Ethan queasy, he tries to tug his hand free but to no avail the lycan's leering face with it's wide focused eyes that took in his agony and fear burned itself into his mind, he would be seeing that shit again in his nightmares if he lived that is, he notices the machete lying by his left side on the bench but he can't grasp it with the monster on top of him, and with his left arm somewhat incapacitated right now. 

"Fuck! Ah!" He cries out as he franticly punches the monster in the head hoping to loosen it's grip his mind is racing and the fear and dread starts to overwhelm him, he's almost grateful when the creatures crushes his hand bones to powder, and bites a chunk clean from his left hand along with his entire pinkie and most of his ring finger tearing the sinews and flesh away in a mouthful, Ethan screams and curses loudly as his eyes welt up in sheer agony briefly, he brings his legs up lashing out to kick the lycan hard in the chest sending it staggering back it seemed to be emitting a low, guttural grunting chuckle as it loudly chewed his hand and gulped down the bloody remains of his hand and fingers, he stares dumbly at the blood soaked chewed up wedding band and at his mangled half-hand, blood spurts out from the ruined red mess of pulsing inflamed flesh a small sliver of broken pinkish bone falls out from the gaping wound.

The lycan's bloody maw opens in a boasting roar and it rushes the wounded pale, panting man.

"Yo-you motherfuck..." He trails off as he swiftly grabs the machete with his ruined hand forcing his remaining two functional fingers to grasp the wooden handle and swing it upwards catching the lycan in the face and making it reel back howling and blindly thrashing, the handle is slippery from the blood and it flies out from his weak grip, Ethan wastes no time and leaps up as the monster staggers at him again clutching it's ruined eye and growling angrily.

Ethan sprints at the gun laying discarded in a spatter of blood on the pathway, as he gets closer he can see it's a double barrelled shotgun, a side by side model, the large old school hammers are cocked upwards, it had to still be loaded he hadn't heard any gunshots when he was cutting wood.

The lycan shouts loudly behind him and beats its chest in an ape like manner, gnashing the broken, sharp teeth together as it leaps onto all fours and gives chase the beast's feral mind assumes he's fleeing and it instinctively bounds after him, the creatures comes to a halt curious as to why the man had leapt down onto the path.

Ethan hits the ground hard and grasps the weapon as he lands onto it, he knows the monster gave chase and was almost on top of him he was amazed he managed to make it to the gun in time, he hurls himself on his back and raises it at the approaching monster who had stood up and stalked towards the prone wounded man, he can see a dumb look of surprise on it's flat ugly face as he aims down the gun and pulls one of the two triggers.

The old school coach gun had been loaded not with 00 buckshot like Ethan had thought but a 12 gauge rifled slug, the solid lead round bursts from the muzzle in a cloud of smoke, flame and heat and struck the lycan square in the chest blowing out a portion of it's spine as the slug tore through it's body leaving behind a baseball sized wound, the heavier kickback sent pain flaring up his ruined left hand and he let go of the foregrip letting the barrel kick upwards with a cry of pain and shock, the beast stumbled back and dropped flailing to the ground.

Ethan pulled himself up keeping the shotgun trained on the beast as it's violent spasming slows and the creature kicks and gurgles in the mud before lying still, Ethan's breathing is pained and heavy he's struggling to stay composed as he moves towards the corpse of the beast, the cemetery is eerily silent again, another crow caws in the nearby trees.

That's when he gets a good look at his wound and almost collapses it's a mess, his adrenaline and force of will helps to steady him as he slings the gun across his shoulder and pulls off his scarf crudely wrapping it around his half eaten hand, although the bleeding was almost a trickle by now he preferred to have it covered up it hurts like hell, he can't help but let out a tearful, throaty chuckle as he dryly ponders whether or not the fingers and hand would grow back.

Ethan binds the makeshift bandage tight and looks around at the carnage checking both lycans for any sign of life, already the damaged flesh around their bloody fatal wounds had slightly crystallised they were definitely dead, Ethan spies the boy's pistol laying beside a tombstone and retrieves it shoving the old pistol with four remaining rounds in his coat. He approaches the corpse they were feeding on, the poor bastard was torn apart beyond any recognition Ethan balks at the grim scene he hopes it was quick for the guy, the face was almost chewed to the bone, his ribs broken outwards and his organs laying half eaten around him, he needs to find more shells lycans rarely travelled alone or just in pairs, Ethan goes all pale and ill as he forces himself to snatch up a bloodstained satchel that rattled and clinked from the gory mess, he opened it up and saw spare shells inside he puts it over his over shoulder and makes for the chained up mausoleum that the second lycan prowled outside of.

"He-" His throat feels clogged he clears it and tries again "Hello?" he calls over to the tombs door as he approaches it the man looks over his shoulder again, worried of being flanked by more of the beasts.

"...Your not one of them are you?..." A quite voice squeaks out from the interior gloom of the tomb, a small figure shuffles around from behind the stone sarcophagus a trembling brunette young girl walks out wearing a dress and grubby brown petticoat clutching a teddy and a small pocket knife, her small weary blue eyes focus in on her potential saviour.

Ethan smiles at her still wincing from the pain "No... I don't think so sweetie, what's your name?" He asks in a friendly and reassuring tone, he grasps the padlock and wonders how she got in there as he examines it.

"Iona" She replies meekly still fearful of the man.

"Iona? That's a really cool name I'm Ethan, your brother sent me to get you, how did you get in there sweetie?"

Iona is happy her brother made it at least "The monsters jumped out when we chased a boar who ate all our cabbages up here, Stefan wanted to shoot it I told him we shouldn't of come here! But they wouldn't listen!" She sniffs and starts crying "And they ate him!" 

"I'm sorry I couldn't help him, I was too late Iona..." He sighs he wishes he could've saved them all, as usual Ethan has to fail someone, Stefan's name is added to an ever growing list of people that end up dead around Ethan. "But I can help you, do you have the key?"

She shakes her head and wipes away her tears from her muddy face with her teddy "No Mr Ethan, I ran in and locked it so they couldn't get in."

He chuckles softly "And how were you planning on getting out?" 

She shrugs "I dunno..." Ethan unslings the shotgun, planning to blow the lock off.

"Okay well step back sweetie I'm gonna shoot off the lock okay?" She runs back over to the stone tomb as he raises the gun and fires the remaining shell, the slug shatters the lock most of the chain and a chunk of the doorway, metal and stone fragments spray up as the door swings open "You okay still?" Ethan calls out as he snaps open the gun bracing it with his left arm as he withdraws the empty shell cases and pushes in two old fashioned brass jacketed shells and closes the weapon up.

"Yeah... Can we go now please? This place is scary Mr Ethan." She walks out folding her small knife away and walking up to the man.

"Good idea let's go Iona." He offers out his left hand, the girl stares at his bloodied wrapped half-hand.

"W-where are you from mister?" Her mother's words about not trusting strangers ring in her ears, she wishes she hadn't put away her knife outsiders were dangerous.

He awkwardly shifts the gun to his left hand gasping as his swollen and mangled hand struggles to hold the weapon, and offers out his right the girl likely didn't want to grab his mutilated bloody hand "America, but I live at the castle with my dau-." 

The girl's face drops to one of terror "T-the castle mister? You live there? With the Pale Witch?" The girl knows all the stories about that fearful old keep and it's inhabitants they knew they were trespassing on the Witch's land and bad things would but her stupid brother and cousin wouldn't listen, but why was this American stranger here? Did he really live at the castle?

"The Pale Witch? You mean Lady Alcina? She's nice to me and she'll be nice to you I promise, we'll get you h-" He's cut off by a long drawn out roar coming from outside by the treeline, they both freeze and look at each other "We need to go now Iona."

Iona doesn't need telling twice as she grabs Ethan's hand and they run from the mausoleum making for the exit, running together along the path, the poor girl screams when she sees her cousin's mangled corpse.

"Don't look at it sweetie, come on run!" The forest around them seems to be alive it sounds like a whole pack of them were in the trees, Ethan spots a greyish brown figure pull itself over the fence to his left and slink behind some tombstones "RUN!" He screams at the girl rushing hand in hand with her past the statue.

"Fuck!" Ethan pushes the girl behind him as two lycans jump out from the bushes by the cemeteries' gate "Stay behind me Iona!" He shouts as he shoulders the gun, more lycans surround the pair appearing from behind headstones and mausoleums.

"C-close your eyes sweetie!" He shouts the monsters form a ring around them, there had to be at least nine or ten of them all snarling savagely, saliva spattering from brutal looking maws, slowly stalking up to them waving around crude bludgeons and blades, eagerly drawing out the hunt taking primal glee from the girls screaming and the panicked man pointing his weapon around at them.

A scrawny looking beast covered in long mattered furs steps forward and makes the first move towards them, Ethan shouts out and fires at the encroaching monster the slug takes it's head off at the shoulders, the others step back snarling but cautious of his smoking gun.

He had one shot left.

I'm fucked... and so is the poor girl.

Iona pulls out her knife and fiddles with the blade, she whispers a silent prayer as she does what her mother taught her and places the point of the blade over her heart, it was better then letting them tear her apart, Ethan would've wept if he saw what the girl intended to do to herself a nine year old girl should never do that.

A loud crack of a single rifle shot rung out through the air and one of the lycans by the gate dropped down with a yelp, the other spun around roaring loudly before whimpering like a struck pup and stepping back to join it's packmates as a loud inhuman angry shout challenged it.

"FILTHY VILE MUTTS!!"

A powerful, booming and very familiar female voice laced with disdain and outrage calls out at the beasts Ethan almost drops to his knees in absolute relief as Alcina came into view her features twisted in sheer disgust she flicks out her hands and long sabre like talons shoot out from her gloved fingertips as the towering woman stormed over to assist her 'mate', Ana stumbled behind her tugging back the stiff old bolt of the Mannlicher rifle  they kept in the small supply cupboard by the servants door alongside a box of 8mm Mauser rounds the weapon looked large and cumbersome in her small hands.

"Ethan! Over here! Now!" Alcina shouts out her flaming golden eyes focused in on the disgusting lycans that grouped up to face her, Ethan and a small girl run past her to Ana to safety she doesn't even offer them a glance as they pass by, but she can smell the sweet melody of Ethan's spilt blood which only serves to enrage her more.

"I will deal with these miscreants..." She stands before the pack who loosely begin to spread out around her.

How curious... The beasts usually flee before me, they rarely ever bother us, no matter I shall enjoy this...

She grins wickedly as she doesn't even stop to face off with them and warn the beasts off, she could very simply order them to leave, few of these creatures would ever defy her yet they stood their ground and looked ready to fight her that suited her just fine, Alcina's blood was already up from Ethan's attentions earlier and she still fumed and broiled from her argument and crass dismissal of her former friend a bit of slaughter would do wonders to ease her anger.

Alcina lunges at the closest one skewering the monster as it leaps at her it's hatchet raised, she raises it up and bisects it with a casual flick of her claws, Ethan can hear her cackle in glee as he spins around glad Ana has secured the scared girl.

"Your rifle! Quick!" He exchanges the shotgun for Ana's rifle and fires at one of the lycans that attempted to flank Lady Dimtrescu dropping it with a well placed headshot the century old 8mm round slicing clean through it's skull, Alcina drove her claws at another beast spraying gore and foul smelling blood all over her light blue satin dress, exposed pale skin and face as the beasts intestines and an arm are cut away from it's body. 

He goes to cycle the bolt but he only has to tug it back and push the straight pull bolt back into place to rechamber the old, unfamilirar weapon. Ethan runs over to help her out, she snatches a lycan from mid air who jumps at her side and holds it aloft before snapping it's neck contemptuously with a uncaring sneer and hurling the twitching beast into the ground.

"Oh please, you miserable rats, do keep trying!" She laughs it isn't all to often she can cut loose and kill without remorse and with impunity, these simple minded, disgusting, wretched vermin had trespassed and hunted on her lands, and had attempted to eat her man-thing, that would not stand killing these lycans was akin to pest control in her eyes, a most exhilarating form of wildlife culling no different to a badger-bait, fox hunt or a wolf cull.

One of them strides forward and hurls a crude spear at her with a snarl the jagged metal point embeds itself into her belly she tuts at the shaft jutting from her flesh and tears it out with a frustrated growl, Ethan runs to her side and shoots another lycan in the chest, rapidly ejecting the spent case and firing again killing the beast, he briefly looks over at Alcina worried but she looks more pissed off than hurt as she lunges at another beast who attempted to scamper away.

"My dress! You ruined it!" She shouts angrily as her claws sever the head from the lycan's shoulders sending it soaring off into a thorn bush, Ethan turns around and fires as a lycan rushes him cleaver raised figuring he would make for an easier kill than the noblewoman who was clearly enjoying herself killing it's packmates.

The beast drops dead at his feet and Ethan throws down the rifle and draws the pistol, scanning his surroundings and backing up to Alcina, who stood there her chest heaving, her claws at the ready still eager for more flesh to tear and cut through, the few remaining lycans decided this really wasn't worth the trouble and began to retreat shoulders slunk and heads bowed in submission as they back away from Alcina, before they jumped down onto all fours and fled before her scattering off to squeeze themselves through holes in the fence and into the woods with long, mournful howls of defeat.

"Alcina? You good?" Ethan looks up at her still aiming his gun around him, she turns to him for a couple of seconds she looks absolutely terrifying, her crimson lips pulled back in a menacing sneer that was almost a malicious smirk, her eyes were burning slits burning down at him, boring into his soul it was that same contemptuous scowl of supremacy and malice she gave him the day they met, she was splattered in dark stinking lycan blood, a deep wound in her gut oozed thick blood that looked almost pinkish the pale flesh sealed itself up before his startled eyes, Ethan had never seen her bleed before or her own healing factor, it was much more rapid and powerful than his own it seemed.

Ethan Winters was suddenly reminded of what exactly Lady Dimitrescu was capable of, this morning and the past couple of days had almost made Ethan forget that Alcina could slice a man in two with a flick of her wrist, that she loved the thrill of taking a life even if it was justified or in self defence, if driven to it she became fury manifest a towering whirlwind of steely blades and unfathomable strength if things went differently that fateful dreary day she would've killed him in a fight he has no doubts about that.

It was unnerving to Ethan to say the very least mostly because he found it disturbingly relatable to himself with the triumphant rush of adrenaline and indiscernible calm that fell on him after a victorious fight against some abomination or foe it was a high he'd secretly been chasing since Dulvey, no matter how scared or outmatched he was during the fight afterwards the feeling of victory was bittersweetly intoxicating. 

Alcina's chilling predatory fury eased off when she gave another look around the graveyard regarding the bodies of the fallen beasts with contempt and a sigh of disappointment, she didn't even really register Ethan approaching her until he called out again.

"Alcina? Your hurt." His body instinctively was tensed up as he got within arm's reach of her "Alcina?" He nearly leapt back when her gaze shot down on him, her chest heaved as she took a deep breath to calm herself and flashed him a smile that still struck Ethan as vicious.

"No dear, I am most well." She looked at her gory claws before retracting them back into her bloodied gloves with a slight flick of each hand she studied the bloody hole in her dress, tutting at the damage and staining to the expensive satin material "The oafs ruined my dress..." She said sadly like a child who broke it's toy.

"That all you care about?" Ethan couldn't help but laugh slightly before his laughter is replaced by the burning pain in his wounded hand he winces and curses as he raises it up, the rush of combat and victory had wound down making Ethan very aware of his gruesome wound, Alcina's eyes snap up from her stomach to Ethan.

"No it isn't Ethan, your hand let me see it." She says soothingly and worried, she leans down to tenderly take it up she examined the blooded scarf binding the hand and sighs, a small voice in her head berates Ethan as she recognises her true blood brothers old scarf the one they sent back to her after he died fighting the Prussians Ethan must've been snooping around in her old study, but she can't berate him for that not right now.

"I'm fi- Ow!" He shouts out as she starts to unwrap it "Wait till we're inside please the girl needs to get somewhere warm." He motions over to Ana and Iona who still wept and buried her face into Ana's dress the hand maid akwardly held her and the shotgun in her other hand, she looked pretty uncomfortable and out of place with either of the things she held.

She stands back up to her full towering height "Agreed, you shouldn't of done this it could've ended much worse for you." 

He opens his mouth to protest when she turns on her heels towards the castle "Come along, I can still smell the monsters nearby."

Ethan looks back around and wonders how much of stern telling off she's gonna give him for playing the hero and almost making Rose lose her last blood parent, he strides after her pausing to pick up the rifle and survey the scene one last time with a slight cocky smile.

Big boy hero Ethan Winters... You fucking idiot.

Chapter Text

9th January 1862

Alcina Dimitrescu wept into the cold night air she felt ill as she usually did, she was never a particularly healthy young 19 year old woman her inherited blood condition made her suffer random bouts of fatigue, vomiting and severe pain, agony and illness is something Alcina has learnt to deal with throughout her life, not that it would be a long one, her Aunt Daniela was stricken with the same affliction and she died before she made 40.

"Good God above please I hope I don't live that long, I hope you take me Oh Lord take me away from this horror please..." She whimpered out a desperate small plea to the heavens as she looked up at the cloudy night sky that gently wept snow down onto the girl's crying face, heaven's frozen tears melted against her cold skin and mingled with her own hot, streaming ones that run down her pallid cheeks.

She almost wished she was going through another painful episode, but no she was crying because her father hurt her again, in a way that no father ever should hurt their daughter his foul scent clung to her still and she gagged and heaved because of it, he came into her room drunk, he used his own child's body and beat her before skulking off to find his mercury pills and vodka shouting that he was the "Dragon of House Dimitrescu incarnate and the beasts wings shall shadow the valley" and other insanities likely to get drunk with the band of thugs he keeps around with him to bully the locals, drink, whore, gamble and hunt with .

Her father Alexander Dimitrescu was never an especially kind or warm man but he was at least like a father to her once, his wife's tragic death drove him to drink, cards and women and a misdiagnosed case of syphilis and a bad fall from his horse sent him over the edge, he turned from a fair and proud man to Alcina's deranged jailor a man who as his mind festered further thought himself more beast than man, and developed a sickening lust for his own flesh, it had been like this for three years now, it seemed like a never ending torment for Alcina, the girl weeps and spits bile onto the snow.

Alcina's bruised pained wet eyes dart up to look longingly at the stone railings, it would be so very easy just to throw herself off the balcony, to shatter her body on the jagged hard rocks below and join her mother in Eternity and be done with it all she has fought that dark urge so many times, but she must outdo him and outlive him all she has is spit on his grave like all her kindred she still has that fierce sense of pride. No Dimitrescu since the great Vlad himself slew themselves, and he only threw himself in the Danube to avoid capture by the Turks "We Dimitrescu's die in our bed or on an enemies blade." Her uncle once told her, he was cut down by a Bosinak bandit's sabre.

In-between the drinking and 'medicine' the physicians keep prescribing the evil bastard the 'Dragon' will keel over soon, she just wished she wasn't a timid, frail coward and had the strength to kill him herself, Alcina is disgusted by her weak, gangly body and her cowardly mind more than anything, she wishes she was brave like her brother is and her beautiful mother was.

Her sweet, brave Henri Dimitrescu he was always a gallant and headstrong young man Alcina remembers when they were young and played by the river with some local peasant children that when a girl fell into the river and struck her head, her brother Henri was in the water swimming like a boy possessed to rescue her before anyone could even cry out he didn't have an inkling on what their father was doing to his beloved sister, when he turned 18 he had left to pursue a military education in France, England, Austria and Russia he desperately wanted to fight in the Kaiser's Imperial cavalry like his forebears had done against Napoleon's Grande Armée, Fredrick of Prussia, the hated Turks and the ever present threat of ethnic peasant uprisings abound in the Austro Hungarian Reich that their family had always claimed loyalty to via the Kingdom of Hungary he had been away from home ever since.

The Dimitrescu's despite their localised name and origins had always preferred their ties to the more civilized Hungarian, German and Russian courts than the dismal, crumbling forts of local Romanian boyars who were uncouth, impoverished and of little note for their esteemed family to associate with, the old petty landholders were forever bemoaning the days of glory when they could raid the Turks freely despite the fact that many of them were likely old enough to remember the days when they paid tribute to the Turkish Viziers.

Either way this land seemed forever soaked in the blood of warriors and soldiers, from the titbits of news her governess told her there was more war on the horizon, ethnic tensions were abound once more and the discontent Romanian's began arming themselves and turned against Imperial administrators even going as far as to elect a Prince hoping to forge a new independent kingdom regardless the House of Dimitrescu shall endure, they always have somehow. 

The recent Romanian uprisings had certainly caused enough of a stir that Henri had now been sent to Wallichia to fight the Romanian nationalists in the region he had written to let his family know he was near and perhaps even said he may winter his men at the castle but that was months ago now and he hadn't visited or sent anymore letters, although Alcina suspected their father had a hand in the lack of correspondence from Henri, she had taken a severe beating when father found out that she smuggled a letter out of the castle, although she had lied and said the letter was meant for a doctor to be sent from Vienna, she'd been glad at least the castle groundsman and gatekeeper managed to keep the letter out his hands and deliver it before father found out and sent out his thugs to murder him, Viktor apparently put a bullet in one's head and speared another one with a pike before escaping her father's men, he was good man and she was grateful the grizzled old Russian veteran managed to flee and was safe with her letter and some money, she would've despaired if someone else innocent was harmed due to her father's depraved obsession with her.

But that was back in the summer now winter had come and she heard no word of her brother or the groundsman, perhaps she had misplaced her trust and Viktor made off with the coin to drink himself silly? He was just a peasant after all and Russians were never to be trusted that closely... 

Her Henri had to have been close to the valley, she longed to see him ride up to the castle to save her ,slay the Dragon and set her free, but she was foolish to believe that would ever happen to someone as cursed as herself, her whole life was a nightmare imprisoned in a frail body within the gilded cage of her family's castle she was doomed to stay here till she died sweating and bleeding and wracked by agony in her fever bed.

She prayed harder clutching her polished ebony glass prayer beads hoping to hear the voice of her Saviour, God that night answered Alcina in the form of a distant shout and a crackle of musketry .

The unfamiliar sound of the discharging of several firelocks simultaneously threw Alcina out of her despair and filled her with a new curiosity her brow furrowed as she attempted to register the odd loud sound over by the carriage gate, from her balcony she saw nothing but the vineyards and the distant mills of the village lit by the fires and lamps of the villagers, she walked to the railings and listened still unsure of what she heard, several loud hollow cracks and another loud snapping crackle and the harrowing death cry of a horse made her gasp aloud, gunfire  it dawned on her as the sulphurous smell of  gunpowder was carried to her by a cold mountain breeze, as if to confirm what she knew more gunshots broke the night's silence, Alcina stepped back from the balcony before turning and running into her room, her father locked the door when he left, there was no escape, whatever was happening filled her with a mix of elation and a strange sense of knowing, she felt like she was leaving her family's hunting lodge deep in the mountains after summer stays at the cabin heading back on the old trail home it was an odd sense of comfort to her, a gunshot echoed from within the castle fired in the main hall, it was answered by more shots.

She told herself this would be an end to it all, it was either Henri her desperate letter having reached him or a rabble of peasants breaking in to kill their overlords, either was a cause for joy her body or soul would be saved this night, if it was a mob of killers then they would likely try to seize her they would certainly try to rape her before they killed her that realisation made her sob.

Her joy was dampened by that horrifying coming ordeal and she grabbed a candelabra hoping to at least put up a fight, maybe force them to kill her before they could seize her?  

Alcina was very tall for her sex and could be quite imposing she would die fiercely and defiantly like all her family before her in such times, she stood in the centre of her room ready to strike out at anyone who burst through her door, she gritted her teeth and tried to settle her nerves.

"I am a Dimitrescu, I will die like a dragon." She repeated under her heavy nervous breath, however she twitched with every gunshot that cracked through the keep the smell of fired powder was almost overbearing it giddied her already hastened mind, another hollow thunderous bang and a man screaming in agony from the hallway outside her door made her squeal and quail.

"NoNoNoNo..." She wept and broke down clutching her makeshift weapon to her body and shaking as she almost buckled to the ground.

Stop it you miserable coward, just stop it.

She attempted to straighten herself up when a heavily accented voice called out through the door "Miss Alcina? Young Miss?"

It was Viktor, she fell to her knees and screamed in relief as the door was unbolted and thrown open. Alcina half laughed half wept she had braced herself for the darker outcome of this intrusion expecting armed men to burst through the door leering grinning peasant faces and grasping hands surrounding her, and as Viktor rushed her muttering in his native language to reassure the manic distraught girl she shook and wept he threw his heavy frockcoat over her shaking pale bruised shoulders, the strongly built one eyed bearded man's coat stunk of black powder, blood, sweat and cheap pipe tobacco but it was comforting as the smell of baked bread and as pleasant as the most expensive Parisian perfume.

"Easy young miss you are safe now dorogaya..." He whispered to her softly the girl still shook like a leaf "Your brother is here miss, I got the letter to him" 

Alcina's face withdrew from his chest and stared up at him with a trembling, meek voice she whimpered out her brother's name "H-Henri..." the lips slightly formed a small smile the old man's face was as beautiful right now to here as an angel's he had saved her, him and Henri.

"Yes dorogaya Master Henri is here, with soldiers." Viktor stroked her messy dark curls "I wouldn't leave you miss, I promised you." 

Alcina cried some more as she threw her arms around him sobbing her gratitude into his shoulder "Y-your kind Viktor, so very kind thank you."  Another shot rung out through the halls of Castle Dimitrescu fired from a carbine wielding soldier at a hired henchman who limped down the stairs in the family quarters clutching his bloody thigh skewered open by a bayonet the man turned to fire a pistol at the soldier who cocked and shouldered his weapon at the bandit for hire, the Minie ball struck the cutthroat who found employ with the mad Duke dead spattering his blood all over the golden bannisters before he fell down with a raspy death rattle. 

The Russian laughed deeply  to himself  his laugh drowning out the man.s death "No miss, I really am not, but it was the right thing to do you are safe now."

"May I see Henri now?" She replied her voice quavering with her overwhelming elation that even as someone as tormented and unlucky in life as her had people to rely on, that there was kindness out there and she was worthy of it.

Viktor sighed and looked down at his bloody coat sleeve with a frown "Soon miss, he's dealing with your father." He continues to stare at the thug's fresh blood soaking his old beaten coat when Alcina stands up holding the garment close, Christ he forgets that she's taller than him and the old one eyed man almost jolts back with the speed in which she composes herself.

"I don't care, I want to see them. Both." She said the last word with a sternness and fire that made Viktor nod and bow his head, if anyone should see him before her brother took their revenge and dealt justice than it should be her.

Alcina's still chilled hand takes hold of Viktor's gnarled left one and she pulls him to the door "Very well miss let's go see a dragon die."  The old man only stops to grab his loaded uncocked musket leaning by the door the bloody sharp bayonet Viktor spent hours honing prior to Master Henri's storming of the castle left a red scratch on the alabaster walls.