Chapter Text
Growing up in the village was not like you imagined it. You always thought it would be peaceful. You thought you’d help your family care for their farm, attend the local school, and meet new, friendly faces. Life in the village was all but peaceful and friendly. People were scared to leave their homes at night, scared to go fishing in the reservoir, scared to visit the waterfall and admire the scenery, and were scared to be anywhere near the factory.
You didn’t care much for your life in the village, but you didn’t have anywhere else to go so what could you do? Your family owned a farm and supplied meats and crops to a portion of the village, including the castle. You were never allowed to help them, though you’d always offer. Your parents… weren’t the best. Being the youngest of 6, they didn’t care for you the way they cared for your siblings. You knew they didn’t want you around, as they’d often express that their lives would be better if you hadn’t been born. To them, you were a burden. You don’t even know if they’d given you a name; you were always “child” or “brat”. You gave yourself a name when you were young, but even as an adult, your parents don’t address you by it.
Everyone in the village worshiped the Four Lords and the mysterious deity, Mother Miranda. Your family worshiped them as well, but you couldn’t understand why. You’d heard stories of the horrors that occurred with each lord from people in the village. The doll maker, Donna Beneviento, would lure people towards her estate using hallucinogens only to murder them and use their bodies to fertilize her garden. The supposed doctor, Salvatore Moreau, was a grotesque creature who did nothing to benefit the village. He’d do whatever it took to please Mother Miranda. Karl Heisenberg owned a factory. You’d heard that the men in the village would go to work in the factory, only to be experimented on and turned into cyborgs or lycans. Lastly, there was Lady Dimitrescu, the winemaker and the most feared lord. The stories you heard of her were horrible. Young women were taken from their families to ‘work’ as maids for the Lady and her daughters, but they never returned. The rumors were that their blood was drained and made into wine. All the lords served Mother Miranda, a self-proclaimed goddess. You knew that she used her powers and the element of fear to control the villagers; they either worship and obey her, or they die. You had to keep your disdain for the rulers of the village a secret, or you’d be sure to meet the same fate as the fools that publicly expressed their hatred.
This year’s harvest was quick to approach, your family was doing everything in their power to make sure they met the demands of the villagers. The weather hasn’t been kind, and a lot of the crops were destroyed due to the constant rainstorms. They prayed and prayed, begging Mother Miranda for the rain to stop, but in the end, their prayers weren’t answered. The day to deliver everything was upon the farm, but there wasn’t much to deliver. There were no issues with the livestock, but the food from the crops that were to be delivered to the castle was destroyed in the storms. It would take a whole year to replenish everything. Your parents sent what they could, hoping that it would be enough to meet the demands of Castle Dimitrescu.
That night, you were awoken by the sound of a crash coming from the living room. You grabbed the ax you keep under your bed and made your way toward the source of the commotion. When you peered in from an adjacent room, you saw a woman in the center, holding your father in the air by the neck. The woman donned a cloak made of black feathers, gold talons on the ends of her fingers, and an ornate golden mask that seemed to come together at the end almost like a beak. You recognized her from the pictures your parents have on their altar dedicated to the rulers of the village. Mother Miranda was in your home, about to murder your parents.
“Please, Mother Miranda, we beg you. Have mercy on us! The storms destroyed our crops, we promise next harvest season will be plentiful!” Your mother exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. Mother Miranda’s grip on your father’s neck only got tighter.
“I care not of your pleas for mercy. You have angered my child and it shan’t go unpunished.” Miranda says, digging her talons into your father’s neck.
“M-Mother Miranda, please. We’ll give you anything you want, just spare us, please!” Your father cries out, struggling to breathe as Miranda’s hold on his neck crushes his windpipe.
His body goes limp, and Miranda drops him to the floor. Your mother is quick to prevent his head from hitting the table. You step into the doorway, ax at the ready, but Miranda’s presence prevents you from taking another step. Miranda notices you immediately, looking you up and down with an intrigued expression.
“And who might you be, young maiden?” Miranda asks, stepping toward you.
“She is our daughter.” Your mother says, holding your father close to her. Miranda grabs you by the jaw and begins turning your head, observing you.
“She’s a delightful looking specimen, and she would be of great use to my Alcina. Perhaps a nice vintage.” Alcina. That’s Lady Dimitrescu’s first name. “Give me the girl, and I’ll spare your lives. However, should this happen again, I won’t be so forgiving.” Miranda turns to your parents, who are cowering in fear next to the sofa.
“You can have her! You can have anything you want! Just please, spare us.” Your mother says quivering. You drop your ax, and you stare in disbelief that your parents didn’t even try to save you.
“Very well, I shall deliver her to the castle to serve as a maid. What will happen to her, however, is not within my jurisdiction.” Miranda says with an unapologetic tone. You didn’t think your parents would give you up so easily, but it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. They feared Mother Miranda more than they loved you.
“In life and death, may we give glory.” Your father says weakly, coughing between words.
Miranda leads you out of your home and to a horse-drawn carriage outside. The carriage is black, with gold detailing, and the horses are large black Clydesdales. The footman opens the door and Miranda steps in. You reluctantly enter, sitting opposite the mysterious deity. Miranda taps the roof of the carriage, and the coachman urges the horses to take off toward the castle.
The beginning of the journey to the castle was… interesting. Miranda was a very reserved woman, only asking you questions about your life on the farm. It was odd considering you were being sent to die. Why strike up a conversation with someone as insignificant as you?
“Have you any other family?” The deity asked.
“I have three older brothers and two older sisters.” You respond, timidly. You tried not to let your hatred for the woman seep through in your responses.
“They were not on your farm, have they died?”
“No… they’re all married and have their own families.”
“Ah, I see. Why have you not been wed? You’re still a maiden, surely the young men in the village are eager to have you.”
“The young men in the village know not of my existence. Surely, I’d be wed to one of them had my parents treated me more like their child and less like an inconvenience.” Your response was honest, but the truth was that you’d always been fond of the fairer sex. Marriage between women was not common in the village.
“So that is why they gave you up so quickly. Worry not child, you will be an inconvenience no longer upon your arrival to the castle.” Miranda says, nodding to the fact that you’ll most likely die as soon as you’re inside the castle walls.
The rest of the ride was silent, with the exception of crows cawing when the carriage rode by. You didn’t feel nervous, or excited, or anything for that matter. You just waited patiently for the inevitable. Will your siblings ever be informed of your death? Will they care? None of that matters, you suppose. They felt the same about you as your parents did.
Upon arriving at the castle, you peer out the window, silently admiring the scenery. The castle was larger than you imagined, and the illumination of what you assumed were candles cast a warm glow through the windows. The carriage stopped at the front gates. The footman opened the door, helping Mother Miranda out, then you. You weren’t expecting Miranda to personally escort you to the castle, but you suppose it was her idea of a kind gesture before you met your untimely demise. Perhaps she was playing her role of the benevolent goddess the villagers so often claimed she played. Either way, you knew death was upon you once she was gone.
The large castle doors opened, the sound of the screeching metal hurting your ears. Mother Miranda entered the castle – you follow close behind – and was greeted by two of the maids.
“Good evening, Mother Miranda.” The maids said in unison. Mother Miranda gave them a curt nod as the two of you stepped into a hall with four statues.
Two doors were on either side, a large staircase leading to another room to the front of you. Three clouds of insects appeared in the room, quickly taking the forms of three young women. A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead. They each had similar clothing; long black robes with hoods, ornate necklaces with different colored gems, and each woman had a sickle strapped at the waist. At the top of the staircase stood an incredibly tall woman. She wore a floor-length, cream-colored gown with three black roses to the left, a large-brimmed black hat, and a pearl necklace with a golden pendant in the center. You conclude that the woman must be Lady Dimitrescu, and the three women dressed in black must be her children. She descends the staircase into the room, stopping a few feet away from Mother Miranda
“Good evening, Mother, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” The Lady asks. Despite your hatred for her, you can’t help but admire her strange beauty and elegance. Damned accursed heart.
“I paid the farm that failed to meet your demands a visit. I was going to punish the owners when I found this hidden gem, a maiden.” Miranda pauses, pulling you forward. “I made a trade with them, their lives for their daughter, and they were quick to agree to the terms. I think she is going to be of much use to you. Whatever you want to do with her, you may.” With that statement, Mother Miranda vanishes in a plume of black feathers.
“A maiden… let’s take a look at you.” Lady Dimitrescu says as she grabs you by the wrist and lifts you into the air. She uses her free hand to cup your jaw, tilting your head from one side to the other. “What a beauty.” She pauses, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply “You smell absolutely divine, let’s see if your taste is as delectable as your scent.” The Lady says as she lets you down.
She holds her hand out and the blonde girl presents her with a knife. She extends the arm that she was holding and slices into your hand. You wince in pain as the Lady brings her lips to the wound, drinking your blood as it flows into her mouth. Lady Dimitrescu takes one final sip before lapping at the cut with her tongue, stopping the bleeding. She pulls a handkerchief from her dress and wipes the corners of her mouth.
“Delicious, you would make the perfect vintage.” The lady states, handing the knife and the soiled handkerchief to the blonde daughter.
“Shall we take her to the cellar Mother?” The brunette asks, stepping forward.
“Yes, let’s drain her quickly before she goes stale!” The red-haired one exclaimed.
“Now, now daughters, I will decide her fate. Leave us, I would like to speak with her.” Dimitrescu says with a wave of her hand. The daughters quickly disperse, leaving you to your doom. You’d be shaking, had your body not been paralyzed by fear.
“I apologize for my daughters; they can be rather… ill-mannered. What is your name girl?” The Lady asks. You’re taken back a bit by the question, blinking as you try to compose yourself.
“My parents did not give me a name, but I call myself Y/N.” You respond softly.
“Y/N… a fitting name for a creature such as yourself. Tell me Y/N, why hadn’t your parents named you?” You weren’t entirely sure how to answer this, but you were going to try your best if it meant living a few minutes longer.
“Well, um, my parents they… they didn’t love me. They viewed me as a burden, as an inconvenience as… as a nuisance. They resented me, wished I was never born. I was the only child they didn’t want. I suppose now they are overjoyed that I’ve been brought here.” You explain. The Lady’s expression changes quickly to a more sympathetic look.
“I am sorry that you had such… hellacious parents.” Dimitrescu pauses, pondering the decision of what to do with you. “I would have preferred you in a bottle, but I will make you a maid. You will be of use to me yet.” She finishes. With a swift gesture, the maids that opened the castle doors now stand beside you.
“Catalina, Mara, take her to the servants’ quarters, find uniforms that will fit her.” She says to the maids before turning to you. “You will begin tomorrow at breakfast; Catalina and Mara here will teach you everything you need to know. Do not disappoint me, or you will be hanging in my vineyard. You are dismissed.” The two maids bow with a quiet Yes, my Lady, and you follow suit. If you’re going to be a maid, it’s best you do whatever they do. The Lady smiles faintly before taking her leave.
Catalina and Mara begin leading you through the castle to the servants’ quarters, pointing out different rooms along the way.
“You are extremely lucky; the Lady does not spare girls like you often.” Catalina states.
“Yes, maidens are the Lady’s favorite ingredient. Their pure blood is a taste she enjoys most.” Mara adds
“Maidens… pure blood… Do you mean virgins? Is that why she tasted my blood?” You question.
“A maiden is an unmarried woman, but they are most commonly virgins as well. She tasted your blood to determine your worth. Every girl that has ever entered the castle has been sampled by the Lady or the Lady’s daughters.” Catalina explains, showing you the scar on the palm of her hand.
“Her daughters… can you tell me about them?” You ask.
“Miss Bela, the eldest, is the blonde. Miss Cassandra, the middle child, is the brunette, and Miss Daniela, the youngest, is the red-haired one.” Mara states.
“They will give you a rather hard time; do not provoke or anger them. Miss Bela is quiet and reserved, much like the Lady. Miss Cassandra is a bit aloof but will try to get under your skin. Miss Daniela, is a bit playful, like a child.” Catalina says. You simply nod at the new information, not sure of what to ask or talk about.
When the three of you reach the servant’s quarters, you are shown to a room with four beds, one of them conveniently unoccupied.
“This is where we sleep, along with Olivia, another maid. There are other bedrooms, but our room was the only room with an extra bed. The fourth maid, Tania, recently passed due to illness. Why don’t you go in and rest while we fetch your uniforms?” Mara says, urging you into the room.
“Thank you, I appreciate your kindness.” You say as you take a seat on the edge of your bed. It was not extravagant, but it was much more comfortable than sleeping in the stables as you often did on the farm. Mara and Catalina leave the room, closing the door behind them. You fall back and stare at the ceiling, wondering how you ended up in this situation. You were sure you’d die but now you’ve been employed as a maid, to serve someone you hated.
Mara and Catalina return with a third girl, whom you assume is Olivia, and piles of clothing. You sit up as they all but throw the clothes onto your bed.
“These should fit you until you have more uniforms made. There are normal outfits and nightwear too, you can’t be expected to wear a uniform all the time.” Mara says, pointing out which outfits are which. She hands you a few pairs of shoes as well.
“Thank you, Mara. Can you show me where the bathrooms are?” You ask, standing up from your bed.
“The communal bathrooms are down this hall and to the left. You should shower and get changed. We have to be up bright and early tomorrow.” Catalina informs as she hands you things to shower with. “I picked these up from the supply closet. It should hold you over until you are granted visits to the village. If you survive long enough that is.” She finishes softly.
You exit the room, closing the door behind you as you head toward the bathrooms. As you journey through the castle halls, you can’t help but look around and admire the interior. Portraits of young women, large porcelain vases with ornate gold detailing, expertly milled crown molding on the ceiling and floors. The small portion of the castle that you’ve seen thus far was stunning. Had it not been for the fact that you abhorred the family that inhabited the castle, you likely would have been elated to be a maid.
You reach the communal bathrooms which were empty, leaving you to take a quiet and peaceful shower. It took a few tries to figure out how the plumbing worked, as you were used to hosing off in the stables or washing off your daily grime in the river. Your family wasn’t poor, but they would deny you access to certain things because they felt you were undeserving. Perhaps being a maid will be better for you.
You finished up and quickly dressed for the night. On your way back to your room, you heard a faint buzzing noise. It grew louder with each step you took until a cloud of flies appeared before you. It took the form of Cassandra, the second eldest of the Dimitrescu daughters.
“Good evening, Miss Cassandra.” You said with a slight bow. It is taking everything in you to be professional.
“Good evening, human. You must have had quite the story for Mother to keep you alive. What did you tell her?” Cassandra asks, eyes narrowing as she steps closer to you.
“I told her my name, and about my parents.” You respond, your voice growing softer toward the end.
“What about your parents?”
“I mentioned that they hadn’t given me a name when I was born, and the reason.”
“What was the reason? Parents can’t just not give their child a name.”
“They wished me dead from the moment I took my first breath. As to why they didn’t just do away with me when I was a baby, well, I’ll never know.” You pause with a sad chuckle escaping your lips. “I gave myself a name when I was young as an act of rebellion.”
“Your sob story must have made Mother feel sorry for you. Your name, human, what is it?” Cassandra asks, expressionless.
“Y/N.” You reply. Cassandra lets out a small hum, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Well, human, I must be off. Good luck staying alive, you’ll need it.”
“Good night, Miss Cassandra.” You say with a bow. Cassandra’s body dissolves into a swarm of flies and darts through the castle halls. You return to your room to begin organizing your things. Hanging up your uniforms, folding and putting away the normal clothes the other maids had given you. You settle into your bed and are fast asleep.
It was the morning of your first shift. You open your eyes groggily as the sunlight spills in through the window
“Good morning, Y/N.” Catalina says as she draws back the curtains, letting the blinding sunlight illuminate the room.
“Good morning, Catalina.” You respond, sitting up and wiping the sleep from your eyes.
“It’s almost time for breakfast, get dressed,” Mara says, brushing the wrinkles out from her uniform.
You’re hesitant to leave your bed, but you were determined to stay alive after hearing the doubtful words of The Lady, Cassandra, and Catalina. You open your closet doors and grab everything you will need for your uniform. You change beside your bed, turning your back away from the other girls that lingered in the room. You run your fingers through your hair to detangle it before plaiting it. You tie the end in a loose knot to keep the braid secure.
“All dressed and ready?” Catalina asks. You give a quick nod before the girl takes your hand and leads you out of the room.
“All of the servants dine together regardless of who works what shift. Since you’re shadowing us for the time being, you work mornings and afternoons.” Mara says as she leads you toward the servants’ dining room.
When you arrive, every pair of eyes in the room turn in your direction. Most of the staff turned their attention back to their meals shortly after you walked in, but there was a table of maids that trained their gazes on you as you walked about the room. When you sat down, you felt a bit self-conscious. One of the girls from the other table made her way over to yours.
“Hi, are you new?” She asked with her hands clasped behind her back.
“Um, yes. Today is my first day.” You answered hesitantly.
“My name is Irina, what’s your name?”
“Y/N…”
“What do you want Irina?” Olivia asked, seemingly annoyed.
“Calm down Liv, I was just introducing myself to the new girl. I’m allowed to do that right?” Irina questioned, feigning ignorance.
“No, she doesn’t need any distractions today. Wait until she’s gotten used to everything before you offer your warm welcomes.” Mara added, sounding equally as annoyed as Olivia.
“Hmph, have it your way then.” Irina scoffs before turning to you. “It was nice meeting you Y/N, good luck.” She says with a sly grin before returning to her table.
“Don’t pay her any attention. As a matter of fact, ignore her completely.” Catalina says, biting into an apple.
“Why? She seemed nice.” You ask, moving around your oatmeal.
“Ever since she became the Lady’s new favorite snack, she’s been arrogant and self-centered.” What did Olivia mean by favorite snack?
“What do you mean ‘favorite snack’? Is she…” You trail off, leaning in close as your voice lowers. “Is Lady Dimitrescu sleeping with her?”
Catalina lets out a hearty chuckle. “That and feeding on her whenever she gets tired of her special wine.” You stare at Catalina with a shocked expression as your appetite leaves you.
“Have any of you…” You begin, pointing at your roommates. They all shake their heads and you let out a silent oh.
You finish your breakfast (or at least, as much of it as you could stomach) and return your dishes. You join Catalina and Mara as you leave the dining room to begin today’s duties.
Your daily tasks start with serving breakfast to the Lady and her daughters. You watch them closely, studying and taking mental notes of everything they do to prepare their ‘meal’. Their diet of raw meat (from what, you have no clue) and blood is unsettling. It’s cut to resemble uncooked steaks. Catalina and Mara prepare a pot of tea and retrieve a silver flask from the refrigerator. For an old castle, they seem to have a lot of modern appliances.
You hear a bell ring from the other room, signaling that the Mistresses of the castle were ready for their meal. It’s placed onto a cart and wheeled into the family dining room. You were on tea duty, as it was the easiest of the tasks at hand. As you didn’t know much tea etiquette, you were coached in the kitchen beforehand. The Lady gets her tea first, along with the flask. Bela is second, then Cassandra, and lastly, Daniela.
Lady Dimitrescu trains her gaze on you as you serve everyone their tea, making you very nervous. You return the teapot to the cart and Catalina wheels it back into the kitchen. She returns to join you and Mara in the corner of the room as the three of you patiently await any orders that were to be given. Mara and Catalina were called upon more than you were, as they had more experience. You were only called upon once the table was cleared, and the daughters had departed to attend to their business for the day. Catalina and Mara were dismissed to wait in the kitchen, leaving you alone with Lady Dimitrescu.
“I messed up and now I’m going to die.” You thought as you waited for the silence that had fallen upon the room to be broken.
“Y/N, you did a wonderful job with breakfast this morning. You learn quickly.” The lady says, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag from it. You didn’t realize you were holding your breath as you let out a silent sigh of relief.
“Thank you, My Lady.” You respond with a slight bow of the head.
“Have Catalina and Mara been kind to you thus far? I want to make sure all of my staff feel welcomed.” The Lady’s statement takes you by surprise. Just last night you were close to becoming a bottle of wine, now she wants to make sure you’re comfortable?
“Yes, they’ve been very kind and welcoming. I appreciate them greatly.”
“I’m pleased to hear that. That is all I wanted to speak with you about, you are dismissed.” Dimitrescu finishes as she brings the cigarette holder to her lips. You exit with a bow into the kitchen.
“Well, what happened?” Catalina asks.
“She told me I did a good job with breakfast and asked how you two were treating me.” You explain to your roommates.
“Oh, is that all? We were sure you were done for.” Mara adds.
“I might be new, but you could have a little more faith in me. I’ll get better as the days go by, don’t count on me dying just yet.” You say teasingly as you help Catalina dry off the remaining dishes.
“We’re just teasing. We can tell you’re determined to do a good job. Whether it be to stay alive or otherwise, determination is an admirable quality.”
“Thank you, Catalina. It’s something I learned from an early age.”
“Because of your parents?” You nod. “I’m sorry they treated you that way. I don’t know if you want to share anything about them with us just yet, but… you can confide in us if ever that time comes.” Catalina says with a small smile as the two of you work in tandem to clean the remaining dishes.
The rest of your shift didn’t require you to interact with Lady Dimitrescu or her daughters, which you were thankful for. The three of you did laundry, polished the silverware, dusted the library, etc. All relatively easy tasks for you.
It was the end of your shift, and you were changing into something casual to eat dinner. Tonight’s dinner was cabbage rolls, polenta, and sweet bread. You sat at the table with Catalina, Mara, and Olivia, and the three of you ate silently until you noticed every person in the room turn toward the door. In walked Irina, looking a little worse for wear. She had marks similar to bruises on the small portion of her neck that was exposed by her uniform that she poorly concealed with makeup. She got her food and sat down with a triumphant look on her face. It seems as if she’s proud of looking like a worn-out ragdoll.
“How could anyone be proud of looking like that?” You murmur. Your roommates shoot you looks of confusion.
“You’d be surprised at the number of maids that wish they were in Irina’s shoes.” Olivia says with a shrug.
“But why? Don’t they know the kind of person Lady Dimitrescu is? She’s… a monster.” You look down at your food, quietly letting the last part of your statement escape your lips. All three girls at the table look at you with shocked expressions, as if you’d committed a capital offense.
“Never, and I mean never say those words again unless you have a death wish.” Mara says, Olivia and Catalina nodding in agreement.
“I’d run toward death with open arms then.” You push your dinner around, not feeling bothered to eat.
“Do you… not like the Lady?” Catalina quietly asks.
“Honestly, no, not one bit, and I’m sure she can sense it. She’ll do away with me soon, I’m sure. I’ve heard about the things she and Mother Miranda will do to people that don’t worship the very ground they walk on.” You respond nonchalantly.
“Hey, don’t talk like that. I don’t know the reason she kept you alive, but I’m sure she wouldn’t just kill you after employing you.” Olivia says with a reaffirming hand on your shoulder.
“Miss Cassandra did mention that she might have felt sorry for me after telling her about my parents. It’s strange, she doesn’t strike me as the sympathetic type.” Mara and Catalina share a look before turning to you.
“You can’t believe those stories you heard. Just… try to stick around for a while. You’ll see that the Lady is nothing like that. Neither are her daughters. Give them a chance, yeah?” Catalina asks with furrowed brows and a downturned smile. You sigh.
“I suppose.” You stand from the table and grab your plate. “I’m going to head to bed. I have… I’ll see you all in the morning, goodnight.” You return your plate and leave the dining hall toward your room.
You take a quick shower and change into your nightclothes. As you lie in your bed, you recall what Catalina asked of you at dinner.
“Give them a chance, yeah right.” You scoff before closing your eyes and letting sleep overtake you.