Chapter 6: The Truth
3841 Words
Chapter 6: The Truth
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Gently Reminders: The early of this chapter is still in the 3rd person point of view as the story was being told to place our benevolence vampire lady in the center of the spotlight! Also, The Afterlife wouldn’t come to be if it wasn’t for the obsession I have with the fearsome countess. Therefore, I dedicate this story to you, lady Alcina Dimitrescu—Alright. Let’s get back to the story
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The scenario where her little prey soaked in blood terrifies the vampire lady for some unknown reasons. She doesn’t get where these feelings are coming from, nor does she know how to describe them. Maybe they’re humane feelings that I long forgot, Alcina assumes while working her way through the botanist’s bloody long-sleeved shirt.
“Disinfected gauze,” Says the tall lady.
“Here you are, mother” Bela hands what her mother asked and receives a cut shirt to dispose of in the nearby bin.
Turns out, the vital fluid isn’t all of Tiana’s. Her whole body was almost coated with it, apparently, but there’s hardly severe open-wounds to be seen—Dozens of bruises reside all over her shuddering body, cat’s claw scratch-like mark underneath an unlucky botanist’s left eye, and a handful of cuts on both arms. There’s no way that much gore would be hers alone.
“Mother. Is it right of me to assume we’d need a new coachman?” The eldest’s daughter question summarizes the situation well without further explanation needed. Alcina’s expression shows that she has the same idea too. She replies.
“You’re right. And go find Daniela, tell her of our find. There’s no use looking for him since it came to this”
“Don’t you want me to stick around and help you tending her anymore?” The blonde tilts her head to the side questioningly which her mother says.
“Thanks, my dear. But, it’s alright. Also, our guest appears to be in a stage of shock. I don’t think being around an unfamiliar face would soothe her down” Bela’s face falls at the idea of leaving her mother’s side so soon, but she aware she could always come to the vampire lady later when she’s less busy, trying to save one’s life. Hence, she simply leaves to find her sister.
“Alright. Let’s take a look at you, my little prey”
Carefully, Alcina examines the botanist’s condition more closely. Despite her large hands, they only touch Tiana’s blood-covered skin feathery, cleaning dried trace of the red fluid away with saline-soaked gauzes. One after another, a white gauze was used. Once it’s dirtied and turned into brown color, it’s being thrown away. The vampire lady continues cleaning around the areas where those wounds are to prevent infection and so she can see better how severe they are. It later shows that Tiana has some deep cuts that need to be stitched.
“Little prey, won’t you tell me of what happened?” Alcina asks. She intends to gradually bring the botanist back to reality, so the pain and the cruel fact won’t startle this unfortunate soul too much at all sudden.
“…My lady?”
“Yes, my prey. I’m here” The tall lady beacons her orbs from thread and needle at hand to Tiana’s face. Her eyes seem to flick a little when she heard her voice, but she doesn’t fully gain her awareness back. So, Alcina pushes on.
“Little prey. Listen to me. These gashes need to be stitched. I’ll try to be as gentle as I could, but it’s still going to hurt which is why I want you to focus on something else instead” She pauses when Tiana’s eyes grow dim and lose their focus from her again.
Alcina ponders what to do for a brief and changes her tactic to approach the botanist. She puts the needle with thread aside, takes gloves off her hand, wipes away any sweat with a clean towel before captures Tiana’s face with them. The tall lady calmly explains the circumstance, attempts to get her guest’s attention once more.
“Tiana…can you hear me? If so, say something”
“…It’s hurt, my lady” Although her guest is in pain, Alcina smiles at that response. It’s a good sign that she can get through Tiana’s shocking stage. She uses her long, sleek digits to caress the botanist’s cheek to relax her some more and goes on.
“I know it’s hurt, my dear. But as I said earlier, you will need to be patched up. A few stitches here and there are in order. I need you to keep your movement to the minimum or things may go ugly. Will you be able to do that for me?”
“Okay”
“Good. I’ve got to warn you it’s going to hurt since I don’t have any anesthetic. So, I want you to fix your attention somewhere else. Like telling me a story or something. Will you do that for me as well?”
A silent nod from the botanist puts a mild smile on Alcina’s lips. She composedly puts on her gloves and gets back to tending the wounds while Tiana comes up with her childhood memory for her lady.
“When I was a child, I met one strange kid, …Susan”
“Oh?” The tall lady works with thread and needle before gently pierces through Tiana’s pale cuticle, gains a feeble whimper from her in process. Alcina distracts the botanist once more by asking about her childhood memory, “What makes you think she’s strange?”. Though Tiana’s experiencing pain, it’s not unbearable when the tall lady is showering for her with noticeable care. The botanist lets herself drown in the tall lady’s attention a while longer, afterward, carries on with her story.
“She’s the same age as me and all I could think at that age was to beg my parents for a fluffy stuffed animal or a doll. I love the tickle sensation when seeing something cute or rubbing something soft against my skin. But Susan doesn’t share a mutual adoration over any kind of doll as I do”
“What’s her take on a doll then?” Alcina tossed in proof that she’s still listening while swiftly, yet neatly stitching one of Tiana’s wounds then moves to another.
“She’s deadly afraid of it. I didn’t get it why back then. But later, publicly called her condition Pediophobia, fear of dolls. I still feel guilty for startle her like that even now”
“Don’t blame yourself too much. You didn’t know” Another wound is done. Only one is left for the tall lady to stitch it back together. “You said you still feel guilty despite years passed. Was it that bad? You startled her, I mean” Alcina distracts her little prey one last time.
“Yes. Pretty bad” Tiana’s face falls. The tall lady smiles sympathetically at her, nudges her to carry on.
“I recalled wanted to befriend her, so I brought my favorite toy to the nursery, planned to share it and play together. I went to sit by her side during lunchbreak, exchanged a few words of greeting, introducing ourselves and all. Things were going well until the moment I pulled Charlie out of my backpack. And then…and then…! My lady! Charlie, n-no, I mean, that doll! —That doll is alive!”
‘Ah. She snapped out of her shocking stage already, isn’t she?’ Alcina raises a corner of her mouth, using scissors to cut the thread once she is done with the last injury. She places a caring hand over Tiana’s shoulder to stop her from getting a panic attack and calmly soothe her down.
“Listen to me, little prey. You’re at the castle Dimitrescu now. My castle. Safe and sound. No one could harm you here, my dear. So, currently, I’d like to ask you to relax. Then I’m more than willing to answer any of your curiosity, if you may have” Alcina stops and gives the botanist a few seconds to process what already said first before continues. “And I also have questions for you too. But we can’t do anything if you’re still freaking out. Hence. Breathe, Tiana”
“O-okay. Okay… Alright…” Slowly but steady, Tiana’s panic attack settles down. She holds Alcina’s hands on her face to fastens herself to ease.
“That’s more like it. In and out. Easy, isn’t it?” The vampire lady waits patiently for the botanist to come around on her own without shouldering a poor soul with pressure from her account.
The botanist attempts to speak a couple of times but later decides to keep her mouth shut. She doesn’t know what incoherent things she would spill since she’s not entirely calm. It has nothing to do with the prior traumatic event anymore because her heart is now racing to the fact that this honorable lady is the one who takes care of her. Personally, no less. The imagery of her benevolence lady lets go of her face, shifts on her seat to get a clean roll of gauze, and starts wrapping her arm with it emphasize that fact further.
‘I wish to be hers’ Tiana whines lowly in her throat, pities herself as she’s having a crush on the tall lady this bad.
“Oh. Did I hurt you little prey?” Alcina takes the botanist’s self-pity whine as a sign of pain. Which Tiana quickly replies, “N-no, my lady. I’m more of…embarrassed, caused you yet another problem”
“Don’t think so much of it, Tiana. It was on me that you’re hurt like this” Alcina’s sentiment gets the botanist’s gaze to lift. She averts it from watching the tall lady’s major hands tenderly cover her left forearm to look at her face, doubting what could that mean.
The graceful lady doesn’t quite meet her eyes. Tiana thinks maybe she wants to finish wrapping her up first before she’d start talking. When the botanist’s left forearm and upper right arm are enclosed nicely, Alcina packs up all scattered medical supplies inside a nearby box, grabs a towel, and extends it to the botanist, then says.
“I’ll have my maid help you clean up. After that, come meet me at my office, so we could talk”
Only then Tiana realizes she’s topless! Even with her undergarment on, she still considers this topless. Instantly, the botanist snatches a towel from the tall lady’s hand to cover her body. This action of hers cackles the mistress of the house inevitably.
“I-I’m sorry, my lady. I don’t mean to be rude, but, umm—It’s just embarrassing”
“Don’t worry about me. Just. Come find me once you’re done” Alcina replies with a pleasing tone and takes her leaves soon after.
‘I must have lost my mind’ Tiana exhales sheepishly and falls back on the couch.
She doesn’t have to wait long before a maid her ladyship mentioned would come in. Actually, Tiana doesn’t want to be a burden and depend on others, especially when it comes to bathing. Alas, fate isn’t in her favor here. She doesn’t want to throw lady Dimitrescu’s effort over patching her up in vein which is the only reason why she surrenders and lets the maid assists her at last.
“Please keep your arms above water and lean back while I wash your hair, miss” The maid instructs Tiana politely.
“Thank you. And please. Tiana is fine by me” Answers the botanist.
“As you wish, Tiana” The maid returns the gesture. Tiana realizes she hasn’t asked for the maid’s name yet which she tells you, “It’s Mila”.
“Thank you for helping me, Mila. Both now and before”
Warm water within the tub puts Tiana at ease. She’s able to think straight now after everything that happened. She remembers Mila now as she’s the same one who has been taking care of her since the 1st day she came to the castle Dimitrescu. Which means yesterday, truthfully. Everything that happened in only 2 days makes her feels quite overwhelmed. Her head isn’t yet be cleared from quizzes and doubts. But her ladyship promised that the two of them will discuss it through soon enough. Therefore, the botanist chooses to let it go and focus on Mila for now.
“May I ask why a fine lady such as yourself come to our village?” Mila asks while rewashes Tiana’s hair once more since it’s not yet clean from gore.
“Oh please. I’m not that much of a lady” The botanist’s cheeks burn slightly red, hearing Mila addressed her like that. Tiana slips out a timid chuckle before she would answer the question. “I’m coming here in hope to do plants research with lady Beneviento—”
When the name leaves her mouth, Tiana can see terror flashes across Mila’s expression. There’s no use for the botanist to query its meaning. She already experienced 1st hand how dangerous this village could be. Truthfully, doesn’t this apply to every place she has been? During her journey to learn verities cultures around the world, there are many cruel native traditions that she wants to forget. Sadly, the human brain has its mysterious way of work. While some may lock themselves away from all cruelties, some tend to recall them vividly like they happened yesterday. In Tiana’s case, her brain doesn’t let her get rid of the horror memories easily.
Shaking her head, the botanist clears the negative away and beacons the conversation to somewhere else. She wants to get to know Mila and befriends her if she’s alright with that.
“How long have you been with the castle Dimitrescu Mila?”
“Oh, a couple months—” She rinses Tiana’s hair, made it impossible for the botanist to hear her response for a brief. Tiana later catches the rest, “So many rumors of this castle, but it’s actually not that bad.”
“Is that so?” Finally done with the bath, Tiana steps out of the tub and lets Mila dries herself with a towel.
The two of them exchange light topic talks for some more while Tiana’s getting dressed. Once everything is done, Mila ushers the botanist to her mistress’s office and excuses herself. *Nervous Sigh* Alright, Tiana hesitates by the door for a quick moment before knocks and gets in. It feels like a déjà vu to her, seeing the mistress’ sitting behind her massive desk like that. Just like the 1st time she came here.
“There you are. Have a seat and excuse me for a minute. I’m almost done with this” the tall lady raises her golden orbs to meet Tiana’s, showing the botanist how she looks with glasses on.
Though it may not be what Alcina aims for. Maybe she’s just being considerate, meeting the other’s eyes when speaking. Anyhow, the botanist can’t find it anywhere in her to complain when she could admire her crush with glasses on like this. Sits still on her face, the round frame reading glasses, rather thin and slightly wide which soften the tall lady’s angular features. Sadly, enough for the botanist, Alcina lowers her mysterious orbs back to her work soon after.
‘I want her to look at me…! –Stop it, Tia’ The botanist scolds herself internally and does as being told, sitting across Alcina’s desk on the padded seat.
“Alright. Now you have my full attention” Says Alcina. She closes the report in front of her that bears the moon with the sun crest on it. Tiana flinches moderately as the crest awakes the dreadful event at lady Beneviento’s estate fresh in her mind. The tall lady takes notice and smoothly place one of her hands on top of the crest, covering it away from the botanist’s vision. She then uses another to take off her glasses at the same time.
“Would it be alright with you to tell me of what happened?” Although the content Alcina is seeking should frighten the botanist, yet she doesn’t feel any difficulty. Does it have something to do with her silky voice? Tiana asks herself before takes it like that. Somehow, she can feel both calm and excited by the mistress’ tone whenever it was used to talk to her.
“I… *Sigh* I don’t know where to start, my lady” Tiana doesn’t lie when she said that. Despite being calm, it doesn’t mean she isn’t confused. Her memory appears to be disjointed from the shock. That’s why she can’t get them out in word. Alcina taps her forefinger soundly, using her head.
“How about we start from the beginning? Since the moment you left the front gate”
“Okay,” The botanist pauses a few seconds to collect herself and continues. “It was a normal journey, using your carriage. We’re heading to the town square since the coachman said it’s the safest way from your castle to lady Beneviento’s”
“He was right about that. The locals know best not to go anywhere too close to the forest line. My inadequate brother couldn’t be bothered and lets his pack run wild in the forest after all” The detest in Alcina’s voice when she referred to her brother is as clear as day. It adds another quiz to Tiana’s mental list. But before she could ask, the tall lady brings their conversation back to the story.
“What happened after that? Were you attacked before reaching Donna’s house?”
“N-no. It’s more of the opposite” The botanist’s speech shakes a bit. She squeezes her hand to settle down her nerve and says, “We arrived at your sister’s manor without a hitch. I tried knocking on the door while the coachman waited by the carriage. No one answers, so I assumed lady Beneviento might, umm, lost in the dreamland as you told me”
Tiana jams her hands tighter to the point both turn pale. Alcina leaves her throne to walk to the botanist’s side. She places her palm warmly on Tiana’s back and suggests both of them move somewhere comfier. The botanist follows Alcina to the terrace close to the office obediently. The tall lady also had a maid brought some tea along with refreshments to help soothe Tiana down.
“We can always discuss this later, if it’s too much for you at the moment,” Alcina says before sips her fine ruby tea. It has different fragrance from Tiana’s. Such a unique metallic smell, Tiana thinks after a few sniffs. However, the botanist only takes it as a different kind of tea and replies to her mistress.
“I’m better now, my lady. And I…I also want to sort this out too. Or else, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight. Wide awake with curiosity, trying to process what happened” Tiana jokes about her trait.
Tiana’s natural curiosity is one that her parents considered a double-edged sword. It’s a good thing when it helps her broaden her knowledge, to reach far and beyond the horizon. But at the same time, if she doesn’t get an answer to what she’s curious about, Tiana could become restless and would even skip her meal or her sleep to satisfy her inquisitiveness. If you both were still here, I’d worried you all the same, Tiana smiles bitterly when she reminisces about her parents. She holds a teacup to her nose, enjoys its relaxing aroma before takes a small sip. The botanist feels much better now, thus she presses on.
“So, at the idea that lady Beneviento might come around if she heard me. Or at least at that moment, I’d like to try. I started wandering around, outside her manor, looking through the window for any sign of her. And that’s when I heard a giggling noise. A high-pitch voice of children’s”
Alcina’s goldens whisk to the sound of that. She can guess what happened later at an instant because she knows now who’s to blame for all this. I’ll fire a complaint to my little sister once we’re done here, the vampire lady suppresses her inner thought with a mild curve on her lips and patiently waits for the botanist’s next word.
“Then a Porcelain doll appeared before me, f-floating—You may think I’m losing my mind, b-but that’s what I saw. That Porcelain doll is floating and alive, my lady!”
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To Be Continued >>
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