Chapter Text
The morning sun slashed through the heavy drapes of Belli Castle, casting fragmented shadows upon the stone walls where Fiona Belli stood surveying her latest venture. Months had escaped like sand through her fingers, and now she was the orchestrator of rebirth, a Phoenix coaxing the ashes of her ancestral home to ignite once more. Her family’s legacy had become a double-edged sword—money that whispered freedom, yet echoed with the memories of dread, blood and loss.
With every step across the grand hall, her boots kicked up the dust of desolation, a testament to the castle's long slumber. She admired the resilience of the old structure, mirroring her own newfound determination. The vastness of the room hummed with potential, a hollow vessel yearning to be filled with life and laughter. Fiona envisioned the space transformed, alight with chandeliers and swathed in silks, a refuge for the whims of the eccentrically wealthy seeking novelty amidst the castle’s somber beauty.
"Picture it," Fiona whispered to Hewie, who sat obediently beside her, her voice barely audible above a whisper, "this hall packed with people who believe they're too superior to enjoy simple pleasures."
Her thoughts danced ahead to the bustling cityscape that awaited her, a future carved from the rubble of a haunted past. The idea of leaving the castle's oppressive embrace for a life thrumming with vitality was a siren call she found irresistible.
"Rentals for celebrations, an escape for those craving unique indulgences…" Fiona mused, her words weaving through the air with visions of possibilities. "Hmm, no, I need to craft a better advertisement."
Before she could fully immerse herself in her daydreams, her thoughts turned to Daniella. It had been months since she last saw the maid, and Fiona couldn't even begin to guess where she might have gone. Despite sending Hewie after her numerous times, the dog always returned empty-handed. On one hand, this was a relief—it meant Daniella might be still alive, only too far away for Hewie to track. But on the other hand, Fiona found herself missing her too much to simply forget about her.
Hewie suddenly lets out a bark, and Fiona's heart raced as she heard approaching footsteps. Whirling around, she's stunned to find Daniella standing at the doorway. Relief floods Fiona, but it's quickly overshadowed by astonishment as she takes in Daniella's appearance. Gone is the composed maid Fiona once knew; before her stands a vision of disarray. Fiona's eyes widen in disbelief at the sight – Daniella's once impeccable attire now hangs in tatters, dirt and grime streaking her once flawless complexion. It's as though Daniella had been swallowed and regurgitated by a feral monster, but it doesn’t stop Fiona from rushing forward, enveloping Daniella in a tight embrace, the months of separation melting away in an instant. Tears welled in Fiona's eyes as they held each other, the worries of their time apart fading into insignificance in the simple joy of reunion.
At first, Daniella remained rooted to the spot, her body tense with uncertainty. Then, as if a dam had broken within her, she tentatively returned Fiona's embrace, her arms wrapping around her with a hesitant tenderness. Time seemed to stand still as they held onto each other, their embrace a lifeline in the tumultuous sea of their emotions. Each moment stretched into an eternity, filled with the weight of unspoken words.
Trembling with emotion, Fiona finally breaks the suffocating silence, her voice choked with tears as she confesses, "I... I missed you." Tears cascade down her cheeks, leaving salty trails in their wake as she buries her face in the comforting shelter of the taller woman's shoulder.
Daniella's gaze softens at the sight of Fiona's tears. With a gentle touch, she delicately strokes Fiona's hair, the tender gesture a silent reassurance of her presence. "I missed you too," she murmurs softly, her voice barely more than a whisper in the heavy air of the room, yet carrying with it the weight of all the longing and loneliness she had endured in Fiona's absence.
Fiona takes a hesitant step back, her gaze sweeping over Daniella's disheveled appearance. The sight before her is jarring; tattered remnants of her attire hanging off her frame, leaves and broken branches tangled in her messy hair. Now, dirt and grime in her face and body, painting a stark contrast against her pale skin. It's as if she's emerged from the depths of a long-forgotten wilderness, with every crease and crevice telling the story of months spent battling the elements.
The girl gazed at Daniella, her brow furrowed with concern as she took in the state of her friend. "W-what happened to you, Daniella? You look like you've been through a storm," she murmured, her voice laced with worry.
"In a way, I suppose I have. I've been exploring the woods around the castle, observing the animals and the changing seasons."
"In the woods? All this time? Alone?" Fiona's voice rose slightly with disbelief, her concern deepening at the thought of Daniella venturing into the wilderness by herself.
"Yes," Daniella confirmed, her voice soft but resolute. "It was... enlightening, to say the least. I've learned so much about the natural world, about survival and adaptation," she slowly continued, her words carrying a sense of wonder and awe.
Fiona's eyes widened with concern, her worry evident in the crease of her brow. “I mean… I’m glad you found something you’d like to do on your own, but… why? Why risk yourself like that?"
"Because, despite everything, there's a freedom in the wilderness that I've never known within these castle walls," she confessed, her voice quivering with longing. "Out there, life is... untamed. Unpredictable. Chaotic," she continued, her words carrying a weight of bittersweet memories. "For those few months, I was a part of it. I felt alive. But it doesn't satisfy me anymore. I had a yearning… Something was missing. I realized then that I want more than to exist as a wild creature. I… I wanted to see you again," she confessed, her voice cracking with raw emotion.
Fiona's eyes glistened with tears of joy as she rushed forward once more, enveloping Daniella in yet another tight embrace, squeezing her with all the longing and affection she had bottled up inside. "I missed you SO much," she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. As her arms wrapped around Daniella, she felt the taller woman's immediate response, a new coming warmth that melted away any remaining tension. Daniella leaned down, effortlessly lifting Fiona from the ground, spinning her around in a joyous dance of affection.
***
After retrieving Daniella some clothes from a bedroom unclaimed by the flames, they spent the entire day talking about the woman’s experiences in the wild, including the way she fooled Hewie every time he was close to finding her location. They also talked about Fiona’s plans to move to a big city and make profit out of her once torment place.
"Or perhaps, Daniella, would you wish to remain?" Fiona asked, the offer hanging between them like a delicate cobweb. "This place… it could be yours."
In the silence that followed, Fiona studied Daniella's face for any flicker of emotion. Daniella's fingers traced the rough stone of the wall, her touch tentative as if she were reading braille inscriptions of an ancient secret. Fiona watched the maid, her heart drumming a staccato rhythm against her ribs, anticipating the silent woman's response.
"Miss Fiona," Daniella began, her voice a whisper, almost lost amidst the echoes of the vast chamber. "I have... desires." She paused, her gaze flitting to the world beyond the stained glass windows before returning to Fiona with a newfound determination. "I wish to accompany you. I wish to see the world."
The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. For a moment, Fiona could only stare at Daniella, her eyes wide with surprise. The thought that Daniella might want anything other than to inherit the castle's familiarity had never crossed her mind. It was a testament to change; even the most ensnared bird dared to eye the open sky.
"See the world?" Fiona echoed, the notion, despite stating the obvious, settled into her bones like a revelation. "You mean to leave... with me?"
Daniella nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes. I've spent my life confined within these walls, knowing nothing but servitude and shadows. I’ve spent months roaming the wilderness, observing as life engulfed me in all its glory.” Daniella paused, looking outside a window again. "I know beyond these walls lies a world vast and teeming with life," Daniella continued, her voice now a beacon calling them both towards exploration. "It can be unforgiving, harsh... yet it's also filled with beauty and wonder. I want to see the world through your eyes. To experiment civilization."
Her voice trailed off, but her eyes told stories of yearnings unquenched by the mere existence within the castle's cold embrace. Fiona felt a kinship, a shared sense of imprisonment and the itch to break free that tethered them together in the first place. She reached out, her hand hovering just above Daniella's own. "We shall experiment it together," she promised, the words not just an acceptance but a vow.
When the darkness of the night cloaked Belli Castle, Fiona's voice cut through the quiet stillness, her words a gentle plea tinged with longing. "Then come with me tonight," she implored, her eyes searching the maid's face for any sign of agreement. "I rented a room in a nearby village a few months ago, I couldn’t bear to stay here alone any longer."
Daniella's reply was a nod, slight but resolute. The castle loomed around them, its history etched into every crevice and corner. Yet, as Fiona looked upon Daniella, she saw a reflection of herself: a soul ready to emerge from beneath the rubble of their haunted pasts, eager to write a narrative free from the haunted whispers of ancient stones.