Donna's siblings slowly parted from their endearing hug once they heard the sound of footsteps approaching. The three siblings looked up at the stairs to spot Ariel Eden, Rue Frostbite soon-to-be Dimitrescu and finally, Lex Miroslava.
Donna's heart fluttered as soon as their eyes locked with one another. However, Alcina was the first to get up, taking quick steps towards her beloved and kneeling down to her level. Rue smiled and softly caressed her lovers' pale jaw. Donna smiled at the pair but then frowned when she saw the maid who blushed at Lex now trying to strike up a conversation with the woman. Before anyone could even blink, the Dollmaker was by Lex's side, holding her arm and resting her head on the woman's shoulder.
Lex looked at the woman, blinking a few times before blushing profusely. ''H-Hello Donna.''
''Hey Lex, you okay?'' Donna smiled, gazing at the woman lovingly, making sure that Ariel saw everything she did and heard everything she said.
''I-I'm alright.'' Lex blushed, her composure slowly slipping from her. ''How are you?''
''Better now.'' she cooed in a deep, yet feminine whispery tone. The white haired woman visibly shuttered in delight. The Dollmaker hummed before, out of the corner of her eye, she saw everyone staring at her. The two woman turned to everyone who stared at her.
''Gay!'' the two youngest Dimitrescu daughters shouted, peeking their heads from around the corner and revealing themselves. Donna and Lex looked at each other before pulling away from each other with red faces.
Rue turned to her two daughters, ''Daniela and Cassandra Dimitrescu, apologize.''
The two daughters removed themselves from their hiding place and walked towards their family. Alcina quickly stood, adjusting her hat while Karl sipped his tea as Angie continued to poke his belly.
''It was gay! Why should we have to apologize?'' Daniela gestured to her aunt and Lex. ''We saw gay.''
''So we said gay!'' Cassandra finished the sentence. An angry pout formed on Rue's face but it came across more cute than angry. ''That ain't bullying!''
''That's an astute observation!'' Daniela pointed out.
''That's my girls!'' Karl shouted happily from the couch. Alcina's fiancée groaned, pressing her palm against her forehead.
''Hey, what's for dinner anyway?'' Angie asked loudly, changing to subject; much to Donna and Lex's delight.
***
If Lex said dinner was silent, she'd be lying. The table was erupting with chatter and laughs. However, the Countess of the castle wasn't there. She had gone off to look for her eldest daughter who had not joined them for dinner. Every time Lex and Donna stole glances at each other, their cheeks would flare up and their eyes would dart back to their food.
Lex felt a little strange sitting at such an elegant table with nobility. She had never sat at a table with so many people before. It was all a bit overwhelming. As silently as she could, she took a small bite of the food that had been served. It was the first bite she had taken since the dish had been presented to her, which was nearly fifteen minutes ago.
''Do you not like it?'' a voice came from behind her. Lex turned to see a maid with dirty blonde hair and kind eyes. The white haired woman gave her a slightly embarrassed smile.
''No, it's not that. I'm just-''
''Not that hungry?'' Sofia quirked an eyebrow. The white haired woman nodded. ''Alright, just eat as much as you can. No one's forcing you to eat.'' the maid leaned towards her ear and whispered, ''But I'm sure Lady Beneviento will want you to eat. You look a little on the thin side.''
The white haired woman just smiled at her. Sofia gave her a wink, but immediately after, she had a look of fear on her face. She swallowed before backing away and quickly walking towards the kitchen door. Lex glanced to her side, to see the usually shy Dollmaker glaring daggers in the direction Sofia had go in. When Donna saw Lex staring at her, her pale cheeks went bright red in sudden realization and her eye went back to her plate.
The doors behind Lex opened and closed and she turned to see the Countess of the castle with her daughter. Lady Bela had a neutral expression on her face while her mother, on the other hand, glanced worriedly in the blonde's direction.
''Bela!'' the two youngest Dimitrescu's shot up from their seats and rushed their older sister. The oldest daughter grunted went her younger sisters rammed into her, hugging her tightly with happy grins plastered on their faces.
''Belaaaa, where were you!'' Lady Daniela pouted, looking up at her older sister.
''Yeah! Where did you go?'' Lady Cassandra hugged her sister tightly, burying her head into the crook of the blondes' neck.
Lady Bela blinked in confusion before hugging her sisters tightly, a small smile on her face. The three sisters slowly part before going to their seats with Lady Bela sitting between both of her sisters. Lex gave the eldest Dimitrescu daughter a friendly smile. The blonde woman looked at her with a deadpan expression before giving her a small wave and taking hold of a bottle of wine, pouring herself a glass. Alcina took a seat next to her fiancée, giving her a quick kiss before eating.
Lex swallowed down her food, her leg bouncing up and down anxiously. Her palms were clammy and her stomach twisted, damaging her almost non-existent appetite even more. After a few minutes, something warm snuck onto her leg. The woman looked down to see a hand on her thigh and looked at who that hand was attached to. The Dollmaker, in response, gave her a shy yet reassuring smile.
Heat creeped up Lex's neck. Her mind briefly entertained the idea of asking Donna to remove her hand from her thigh, but her own hand unconsciously went on top of Donna's. She saw the Dollmaker blush lightly and her hand shifted under hers'. Donna's palm pressed against Lex's, their fingers intertwining. Lex's heart soared and her heart skipped a few beats.
''L-Lex and I have something to tell you all... and ask of you.'' Donna's shy voice somehow cut through the loud conversation and everyone's eyes went to the two woman who secretly held hands. The white haired woman saw Lady Rue sneak a short glance at the two of them.
Donna took in a shaky breath, her shoulders shaking. Lex looked over at and gave her hand a small squeeze. The anxious woman looked at her companion and smiled. After a moment, Donna spoke and explained their situation. Everyone's expression, except for Lady Rue's, went from confused to shocked horror. Donna repeatedly stopped speaking and would only continue when she felt Lex's thumb rub circles on her hand in order to calm her.
Once Donna was finished explaining, the room fell deadly silent. The three Dimitrescu daughters looked between each other while Lady Dimitrescu and Lord Heisenberg stared at the anxious Dollmaker in disbelief. Donna took in slow, shaky breaths and began to squeeze Lex's hand tighter. The snowy haired woman don't pull her hand away and just returned to harsh squeezes with gentler ones.
Then, the oldest and youngest Lord turned their eyes to Lex. Lady Dimitrescu's eyes went from disbelief to boiling anger. She shot up from her chair, toppling it over and pointed a threatening finger at her. ''You put Donna up to this, didn't you Miroslava?!''
''No, Alcina, she didn't do any-'' Donna tried to defend her white haired companion but the Countess didn't seem like she was willing to listen to her younger sister.
''You snake... you play an emotionless act and then pretend to open up!'' Lady Dimitrescu's voice only grew louder with each word. Based off of everyone's expression, it was rare for Lady Dimitrescu to get this angry with someone. ''Then, you manipulate her-''
Lex clenched her teeth and released Donna's hand, standing up and slamming her balled fists into the table with a loud bang, unable to hold her tongue any longer. ''Alcina Dimitrescu! These accusations you're making are utterly false! I would never manipulate Donna into doing this!''
''I think you've forgotten your place.'' the dark haired woman growled lowly. Lex's arms began to shake a little, her stomach churning. Beginning to regret her decision to retaliate.
All of a sudden, Lady Dimitrescu's retractable talons lunged from her finger tips and plunged into her torso. Lex felt the razor sharp nails tear through her muscles and tendons as if they were cutting through fragile parchment. The woman stumbled against the wall, nearly falling over. The feeling of the talons digging deeper and running right through her made her want to vomit. Two of the nails went through both of her shoulders, two just below her abdomen, missing her vital organs. The last one teased her jugular sadistically. Lex could feel the beast inside her trying to claw its way out as her blood boiled and her left eye throbbed painfully.
Donna stood from her chair, a desperate look in her eyes. ''Alcina! Please stop! Leave her alone!''
''You bitch.'' Lady Dimitrescu growled. ''First you manipulate Donna into betraying Mother Miranda and then, you turn her against us as well? What? Just Mother Miranda wasn't good enough!''
''Alcina, please! Stop it! Lex didn't even want to go along with this plan, it was all my idea! Please, just let her go!'' Donna begged, tears beginning to surface in her eye.
''I don't think Aunt Donna or Lex are lying!'' Lady Cassandra joined. Lady Daniela soon followed her older sister in her defence. Lady Bela however, just simply watched but looked as if she wanted to say something. But she held her tongue and remained silent. Lady Dimitrescu looked at her daughters, then, her fiancée.
''Alcina, let go of Lex. Their both telling the truth.'' Lady Rue said.
''We can't know that for sure.'' Alcina ground her teeth, glancing back at Lex, who was still standing and refused to fall. Blood beginning to overtake and stain her undershirt.
''Alcina, you know their not lying. I know that for a fact. Let her go, she didn't do anything to provoke this reaction from you.'' the woman stood and slowly approached the Countess. The much taller woman just looked at her lover and then back at Lex.
''Y-You turn Donna against us and then-'' she couldn't even make it through her sentence. After a long minute she let out a breath, her head dipping down as her claws slowly began to leave Lex's body. The white haired woman let out a small gasp, her blood beginning to calm, her eye stopped throbbing and the clawing inside her ceased.
''Get. Out.'' Lady Dimitrescu's voice was low and threatening as her talons returned to their original form. Lex only saw one of her eyes, which was glowing a golden colour. ''Get out of my home. You're not welcomed here, Lex Miroslava.''
Lex swallowed and straightened herself, forcing one of her shaking hands to one of the puncture wounds that had already begun to heal. She looked to Donna and then the rest of the people at the table. ''As you wish, Lady Dimitrescu. Please, enjoy dinner.''
And with that, Lex left the room silently. She shuffled towards the door, putting her footwear back on quickly and grabbing her jacket, which she could barely hold, before stepping outside. The woman went to the bottom step and sat down, her head low. She just stared blankly at the snow as a few droplets of crimson landed on it. Staining it red, just like her hair.
I knew this was a bad idea. Now, Mother Miranda will know and there's no telling what she'll do to Donna. Maybe... Maybe I should pretend to be doing what Lady Dimitrescu thinks I'm doing... It might just work and Mother Miranda might spare Donna... She thought to herself. Her next thoughts were interrupted by the castle doors behind her opening and closing. Her heart began to flutter a little as she turned around to face the person behind her.
''Don-'' she stopped speaking. It wasn't the woman the made her heart flutter. It was the maid with dark, wavy locks who was wearing a jacket. The maid gave Lex a small smile before walking down the steps and sitting next to the woman. Lex merely turned her attention back to the snow below her.
''Disappointed that I'm not Lady Beneviento?'' Ariel asked. When Lex didn't answer, she continued to speak. ''Sofia will be out in a minute with something to clean you up with. I know it's not ideal, but can you remove your waistcoat so I can take a look at you injuries?''
Lex still didn't answer and Ariel sighed. ''Lex, I don't imagine sitting in all that blood feels great. And it's cold out.''
Lex still didn't speak and instead, moved away from the woman and just stared at the snow. Lex heard the woman sigh and move towards her again. Then, she felt something go around her shoulders. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the fleece inside of her jacket. Her head immediately went to Ariel who smiled at her. ''I've already told you, servants like us need to stick together and help each other in order to survive. Being a lone wolf will only get you killed in this world Mother Miranda has created.''
She pressed her hand against Lex's cheek but didn't do anything else. Lex just stared at the woman, trying to figure out the real reason for her sudden act of comfort and warmth. The wavy haired woman's smile remained as she spoke. ''May I check your injuries? Please?''
After a moment of hesitation, Lex nodded slowly and carefully removed her waistcoat and unbutton the top two and bottom two buttons of her shirt. Ariel moved towards her, and pulled down the collar of her shirt. Her eyes widened at the sight of Lex's injury healing, a small bit of steam emanated from her skin. She checked Lex's abdomen and it was the same as her shoulders.
''Well, that's uh, certainly interesting.'' Ariel pulled away, a little surprised. ''I guess your body is special.''
''I suppose it is.'' Lex finally said. Ariel giggled, her hand going back to Lex's cheek. The woman began to lean forward but the sound of the castle doors opening, made the maid pull away quickly. The snowy haired woman looked towards the door, her cheeks red from the realization about what Ariel was going to do and relief that she was interrupted.
The two people who had opened the castle doors were Donna and Sofia. She saw the Dollmaker look between her and Ariel before looking away. Sofia didn't seem to notice and rushed down to Lex's side with a small bucket of warm water and a clean cloth. The wavy haired maid explained to her colleague that Lex's injuries had healed and to just focus on cleaning her skin. As Sofia did so, Donna had moved to the bottom of the stairs and placed her veil over her face, not looking at her white haired friend.
After Sofia cleaned her injuries she was ready to leave. The white haired woman stood up and slipped her arms through the sleeves.
''Have a safe trip Lady Beneviento and Lex.'' Ariel smiled and then leaned towards Lex's ear, her hand resting on Lex's shoulder. ''My window is always open if you ever want to talk.''
''Seriously Ariel?'' Sofia placed a hand on her hip. Ariel just shrugged and began to happily chat with Sofia.
Lex, wanting to leave, quickly went to Donna's side and gave her a small smile. ''Ready to go?''
Donna simply nodded and walked away, clutching onto Angie. Maybe it was her imagination, but Lex could have sworn she saw the Dollmaker's shoulders shake.