Lyn

You, Alcina and her daughters were invited over to the Benneviento castle by Donna and Angie. Actually, Donna and Angie only wanted to invite you, but you wouldn't have come on your own (and would've probably tried to escape the village), so Alcina was making sure that you didn't reject the kind offer and insult them.

"You're looking so nice in that dress." Daniella said, swinging your hand with hers.

You looked down at the lilac lace dress. "Thanks."

Alcina smiled. Donna had made that dress herself and sent it over today. She actually makes Alcina's and her daughter's clothes too. And she's very good at it. No one could do finer embroidery than her.

"You be sure to tell Donna that you like her gift, darling."

You only nodded, shoulders sulking as you bit your lip and walked ahead with Cassandra and Daniella.

"She's weird." Bella whispered to her mother.

"She's a child. Like you."

Bella scoffed. "I am not. But she sure is more childish than Daniella and Cassandra combined."

Alcina only rolled her eyes. Bella really liked to act mature, like she's above her sisters. She's not, but its cute to see her try. She is right about you being childish though. No matter how many times you've failed, you still try to run away from her. She won't tell you, but she actually always gives you a headstart when you run. She could catch you within seconds, but she thinks it's a good parenting strategy to not completely rip hope away from you.

As you guys reached the Benneviento castle, the doors opened before Cassandra could even knock. Donna and Angie stood on the other side; looks like they had been waiting.

"Took you long enough!" Angie shrieked.

Donna bent down to pick her up and gestured for you guys to come in. Your sisters, one latched to each arm, pulled you in, Alcina and Bella following close behind.

Donna led you to her garden, where she had set a table and chairs, covered in a pretty white tablecloth and the chairs had silk ribbons tied to their backs.

Donna sat at one end of the table, Alcina on the other, while you were seated between Bela and Cassandra.

"Y/n, sweetie, don't you have something to say to Donna?" Alcina asked you, raising an eyebrow at you.

Right.

You cleared your throat, before turning towards Donna. "I- um, wanted to say thank you for the dress. It's very beautiful. Thank you."

Donna didn't reply. The veil covering her face didn't help either, she just stared at you for a couple of minutes. Just when you thought she was about to nod, Angie interrupted.

"We're glad you like it! And we can make you a dozen more if you came here often! Donna is able to make better dresses if she can take your measurements, just like its a bit loose around your waist right now."

You really are surprised every time that doll speaks. Vampires, you can believe exist, but something about a talking doll... it just doesn't seem right.

"Oh, um, thank you."

After a few more moments of silence, Donna got up suddenly and started walking back into the castle.

"We'll be back with snacks!" Angie said before trailing behind her creator.

"Snacks?" You looked at Alcina.

She nodded. "Yes. Bella, be a good girl and help them out, will you?"

Her daughter stood up. "Yes, mother."

"Do you want to look around- Cassandra stop trying to eat Y/N! She's your sister too now!"

You turned just in time to see the culprit way too close to your neck, her fangs out.

"But- but she smells so good." Cassandra batted her eyelashes. "Just a bite mother? I promise I won't drink too much of her blood-" Your eyes widened.

"No. And no more whining Cassandra. We're guests here, you better be on your best behaviour. Look, they're coming back."

Cassandra sulked in her seat after mumbling a tiny "yes, mother."

Bella was holding a tray, while Donna was rolling a trolley of snacks towards the table. In a matter of seconds, the daughters quickly set the table with different kinds if snacks, all looked old style, some of them you haven't even seen before.

"Whats all this?"

"Isn't it obvious? We're invited for tea." Daniella replied this time.

Donna placed many pastries and sandwiches and other things, and although none of them looked appetising, they didn't taste as bad as you had thought initially.

"More?" Angie asked.

"No, thank you. I'm stuffed."

"Yes, they are quite delicious, Donna. You used your mother's recipe, didn't you?" Alcina asked, wiping her lips with a napkin.

Donna nodded.

She turned to her daughters. "You girls should learn something. Your poor human sister has been forced to eat so much bland food, she's begun looking depressed."

It's true. None of them know how to cook for shit. God knows how you've survived this long.

"Do you take sugar or honey in your tea, Y/n?" Angie asked while Donna was holding a spoon of sugar over a cup of tea.

"No, thank you. I don't drink tea."

"Oh. Coffee, then? I'll brew some right now."

"No. I'm fine, thank you."

"Y/n, its cold out here. You need to drink something to warm you up." Alcina said, looking at you from her cup of tea.

You looked down at your lap. "No, I'm fine, just not a fan of hot beverages."

"Not even... hot chocolate?!" Cassandra looked at you bewildered.

You shook your head.

Alcina cleared her throat, looking pointedly at Cassandra. "Well, that's quite alright. But I don't want you getting sick. Y/n, darling why don't you come sit near me. You can warm up in my coat-"

Suddenly, your thighs were covered with hot fluid. It wasn't too hot, but hot enough to make you hiss as the now wet dress clung to your thighs, further burning them up.

"Bella!" Alcina yelled.

"Oh my. I'm so sorry, Y/n. It was an accident!" Bella said, as her empty cup was on the floor now, it's hot contents coating your skin. Her face was contorted into worry, but her eyes held no remorse.

She was faking it.

"Its- it's fine, Bella." You said as you pulled the bottom of the dress away from your legs, trying to dry it off.

"We have some more clothes in the house that you can change into" Angie said, getting off her chair and walking to you. "Follow me!" She said before she began marching off.

You looked at Alcina who nodded at you to follow her in, so you did.

Angie led you into a bedroom. It was old and had a victorian touch to it. In one corner, there was a sewing machine and next to it was a mannequin wearing a ruffled blue dress, pins holding it in place.

This must be where Donna makes clothes.

"There's more dresses in the closet. Pick whatever one you like!" Angie giggled, before whispering. "I think the light pink will suit you."

You nodded. Her giggles were creepy.

"I'm going back to the garden! Don't take too long!"Angie said before leaving you alone in the room.

You walked over to the closet and opened it. There were a lot of dresses in it, along with a few robes. You picked a simple black gown that had a little lace at the bottom and on the sleeves.

Placing the dress on the bed and walked over to the door, locking it. Although no one was inside the castle, you couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched.

You took off your lilac dress, placing it neatly on the bed. Should you take it back at the Dimitrescu castle and wash it there, or should you wash it here? Or will Donna wash it for you?

I should wash it. It wouldn't be nice to make Donna clean it. Yeah.

There was vanity next to the dresser. You walked over to the mirror and looked at your reflection.

There's still a little belly but I do look a bit slimmer. Cool.

Your back felt a bit itchy. You hesitated, but then turned around slowly and looked at the reflection.

The scars were still there as a white line, but the burn mark was a bit inflamed. The lace must've irritated it.

Perhaps you could ask Donna to make you cotton dress. Maybe ones with poofy sleeves.

Slipping on the black dress, you went back out, the ruined lilac dress in your hands.

When you finally reached the garden, everyone was silent as they looked at you. And you had a feeling it was definitely not in the "woah! You look amazing!" sense.

"Um, should I wash it here or at the other castle?"

No one replied. Even Angie, who doesn't miss an opportunity to put in her 2 cents was staring at you with those beady doll eyes.

What's wrong with them? Oh God, please don't tell me I'm in trouble.

"Oh, I'm so sorry that I took so long up there. There were just too many beautiful clothes to choose from."

Again no one responded. You couldn't decipher the look on their faces, but it looked like they had just stumbled upon some horrific information.

"Alcina? Is everything alright?"

As if finally broken from a trance, Alcina smiled. "Yes, darling. I think we've overstayed our welcome." She stood up, as did everyone else. "Thank you for inviting us, Donna. The tea was lovely. We'll invite you over next time." Donna only nodded and began leading the way towards the exit.

"Come on, girls. Time to go home." Alcina said as she began walking behind you, while the daughters in front of you.

Angie didn't say anything as she and Donna only stared at you when you guys left her place, which was extremely unusual of her. But what do you know about creepy dolls?

The entire way back to Dimitrescu castle was also quiet, and the silence was uncomfortable. All you know is that something happened while you were changing-

Wait. Did something happen to Dad? Did he- did he come back?

No, no he died.

Did Chris come?

Probably not.

Once you were inside the castle, they all went their separate ways. Which again, was odd because Cassandra would always bug you before bed, whining at you to tell her more about the real world.

"Its getting late, Y/n. You should get some sleep, hm?" Alcina said before walking away, to her room you think.

You stood at the bottom of the staircase, dumbfounded.

Well, alright.

You went up the stairs to your room, changing into your nightgown. As you laid in bed, sleep didn't come to you. You kept tossing and turning as your mind replayed the series of events of the day. Why are they acting like this? What went wrong? Did you do something?

After God knows how long, you threw the covers off you with a huff. You can't take this anymore.

You walked over to her room and knocked.

"Y/n? What are you doing up this late?" Alcina asked you. She had changed into her own nightgown, but she didn't look like she had been sleeping.

Do vampires even sleep?

"Did I wake you?"

Alcina furrowed her brows a bit. "No. No, I don't sleep much." She opened the door wider. "Come on in."

You walked in while Alcina closed the door behind you, before taking a seat on her bed. She looked at you expectantly.

You gulped before walking in front of her.

"I'm sorry."

Alcina tilted her head. "What for, darling?"

Good question. "I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I don't. Well, I kinda do, but I'm not sure." You paused. "Did I do something wrong at the tea party?"

Alcina shook her head. "No. Why do you ask?"

You shrugged, playing with your thumbs. "I don't know. When I came back after changing, you've all been acting weird since. You were staring at me, and then no one was talking at all. Even after we got back here, no one spoke a word, except you. Did I make a mistake? Is it about the dress? I'll wash it off and return it back to Donna-"

Alcina chuckled a bit, shaking her head. "No, darling. That's not an issue. Donna didn't mind. You don't have to clean it, I'll get one of the villagers to do it for you."

"Then what's the problem?"

Alcina pursed her lips. She looked like she didn't want to tell you whatever she was hiding.

"Please, tell me."

Alcina sighed, giving into your sad face.

She patted the seat next to her. "Come here, peach." You sat next to her.

"We know about the marks."

You froze.

"Marks?"

"The ones on your back, the scars and the huge red burn."

"What? When- how-"

"Donna saw them today."

Your eyes widened. "She was peeping at me while I was changing?"

"No. One of her dolls was in the room, and you know how all of her dolls are connected to you. She saw you through them."

You looked down at your lap, tears gathering up in your eyes.

"I- I-" You sniffled. "I'm sorry." The wobble in your voice broke Alcina's heart. She quickly wrapped her arms around you.

"Shh, honey. Its okay. I'm not mad at you. No one's mad at you. Just tell me what happened."

Perhaps it was her soothing voice, or maybe it was her big warm embrace that pulled you tighter into her chest. It just felt like something you had been missing all your life and it felt so right then to unload this plethora of emotions on her.

"I didn't mean to do it." You sobbed into her chest. Alcina stayed quiet, letting you speak. "I didn't mean to do it. It was- it was an accident."

She hummed. "Dad had bought mom a white dress. They were going on a date that night. They were going to leave me with a babysitter that night, but I wanted to go with them. I thought- I thought if I did something nice, they'd take me along with them." You sniffled. "While mom was in the shower, I took her white dress from her room and took it to the laundry room. Put it on the ironing table and turned on the iron." You laughed. "There was this just one crease that just wasn't going away. I was so stupid. I thought that if I let the iron stand on it for long enough, it'll smoothen itself out. But I guess I left it for a little too long."

Alcina's wanted to cry as she looked at the pained look on your face. "I burned through the dress. It's a surprise it didn't end up in flames actually." You wiped your eyes. "Mom was so mad. Furious. She yelled at me, screamed at me for being a nuisance. She took me to her room and pulled out one of Dad's belts and she beat me with it for some time. I think for 15 minutes, but at that time, it felt like an eternity."

Oh god. Oh god, that cunt-

"She wasn't done though. Told me that I still haven't learned my lesson. She took me back to the laundry room and turned on the iron."

She better have not-

"I was crying one second, and then I remember feeling this white, hot pain. I fell to the floor as this hot burning sensation wasn't ending. My back felt like someone was slashing the skin open with knifes. When I looked up, all I could see was her holding the iron. I realised then she had placed the iron on my back." You let out a shaky breath. "She picked me up and took me to my room, laying me on my bed with my back up. I was still screaming. She waited until I stopped. She told me that I was to stay here locked in my room for the night. And if I made a single noise, she'd have dad come and iron my tummy. At that time, I really believed he would've done that."

You rested your head on her chest. "After a week of ignoring me, she bought me McDonald's and told me how I was going to be a big sister. I forgot all about the incident since then. I can't really blame her for that time though. She was pregnant with Rose then, so hormones make you lose control a bit. Besides, that was the only time she was violent with me. And I was an annoying kid if I'm being honest-"

You felt something wet hit your hands in your lap. Droplets. You looked up and saw... Alcina was crying?

Your eyes widened as you wiped her tears. "Alcina? Why are you crying? Are you okay-"

She tucked your head underneath hers, rocking you back and forth slowly. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop it. I'm so sorry."

You were shocked. She was sorry? Why? You rubbed her back. "Its okay. I'm over it now. It doesn't bother me anymore."

Alcina pulled you away from her and looked at you. You were just a girl putting on a brave smile for her, but behind those glossy eyes was still the little child that just wanted her parents to love her.

"Does it hurt?"

You shook your head. "The scars? No. The burn mark doesn't either, it just got a little irritated by the lace."

"Can I see?" Alcina aksed in a low voice.

"Oh, um, sure." You know she would be worried if you didn't show it to her. You lifted your gown over your shoulder, turning your back towards her. You panicked when you heard her let out a sharp gasp. You tried to shove the gown back down but a large hand took ahold of your wrists. "I-it isn't as bad as it looks!"

Alcina slowly traced one of her fingers over the scars and noticed how you stiffened. "How old were you, Y/n?"

You didn't reply.

"Y/n."

"... 8."

Alcina clenched her jaw tightly. "They haven't healed."

You finally managed to pull away from her grasp, the nightgown falling back in its place. "They- they would've! It's my fault for touching them constantly."

No, its because they were too damn deep and very painful.

"I'm fine, really..."

Alcina wanted to tell you you were not, that what happened to you was not your fault, that you were just a child who shouldn't have gone through this. But she knew that it would only trigger you and make matters worse.

"I can ask mother Miranda to make something for some healing ointment." You looked at her, worried. "Does everyone know?"

Alcina shook her head. "Just me, Donna and your sisters for now. But they've promised not to say a word of this to anyone else. Is that okay?"

You nodded. You can't handle all of them being... weird with you again.

Alcina stood up and took you back to your room. She tucked you in bed, her fingers smoothing over your hair. "Donna's making more dresses for you tomorrow. Something more breathable and light." You smiled. Alcina smiled back and kissed your forehead. Before she left the room, she turned to you and said "You're safe with us, Y/n. I won't let anything hurt you."

"I know."

Alcina closed the door and walked back to her room, where her daughters were waiting for her. She knew they already heard your entire conversation with her.

"You three, stay outside Y/n's room. Guard her with your life from now on." Alcina sat down on her vanity and picked up the phone.

"Who are you calling, mother?"

"Mother Miranda. I want her to send Mia Winters here.

It's my turn to torture that bitch."