"A year... as if it's the final chapter."
The daughter with golden, radiant yellow eyes spoke with a voice that harmonized with a sigh, and darkness continued to wrap around the dimly lit place.
The person looked at her, signs of emotion on his face, tilting his head away from her, while she observed the being with curious eyes, skillfully interpreting the language of his body, allowing her to understand his desires and thoughts.
"I know you wonder if this is a warning of a recurring nightmare's beginning."
She smiled serenely, responding with a voice fluctuating between softness and elevation, looking proudly, her eyes shining intensely toward the person. "Don't let the last night of your life die in silence, create new memories for yourself with colorful blood."
Then she touched him with her fingers, and the candles immediately ignited in the place, she approached him closer, grinning broadly as she inhaled the scent of fear.
"If you're going to escape, try until the end, otherwise, don't start."
He manipulates expressive body movements, while she resorts to hand signals, examining the dark place with an uncovered smile, tension and speechlessness appear, she turns with a sharp look, delving into her thoughts.
Quickly, she drew her sickle after noticing danger approaching from behind, striking and defeating the attacker, pushing him to the ground, leaving the sickle's mark in his chest, the sickle then descends from his body, ending the life of the creature that was just a failed scientific project, created and terminated swiftly by her decisive action.
The daughter turns mysteriously, sensing his thoughts, and smirks mockingly. "Do you think you can feel pain?" She forcefully uses the sickle and adds with a scornful voice. "These will be your last moments, but you won't forget."
She continues to strike defensively and violently with a cold facial expression, black shadows swirling around the prone body, and silence takes over the place as the grieving daughter lies there, gazing at the ground.
"Do you see the flowing blood?"
A storm of thoughts and emotions erupts in her mind, swirling like a virus transmitting and affecting, she immerses herself in previous memories until silence prevails after the killing, as she continues to contemplate her thoughts, a scene in her mind resurfaces like a flashback, reviving those past moments, and she remains lost in her thoughts as ideas collide in her mind.
"To be alive? suddenly, the strangeness of this phrase shook me, as if it doesn't apply to anyone here, especially beside me." She said with a subdued laugh.
"Why are you always like this? why can't you ever understand my feelings?"
"Enough, don't start with me today, always this cursed crying."
The person's face paled. "I'm just trying, but you don't care."
"You're the one complicating everything for yourself, don't provoke me."
"I can't bear this pressure, even if I'm strong!"
She snapped sharply. "Enough! all this crying won't change anything, look at yourself!"
"Don't attack me.. I'm just trying to maintain my dignity as a human being."
"The conversation is over, I can't bear this foolishness."
The persona conveyed in despair. "Don't you have the ability to think logically and end things smoothly?"
"You tear up swiftly, and I become quickly incensed, how are we supposed to agree?"
She firmly grabbed the person's jaw and threw him back to the ground.
"To know that I'm thinking of you, can I keep some of you as a memory?" She declared with a tone carrying awareness of nearing some fate's end.
At this moment, as she returned to the present from the flashback, she took a deep breath, calm prevailed in the place, and she spoke reflectively. "It's been a long time since I killed my last prey, but I still insist that their species no longer exists."
In the darkness, she sighed in the realm of memories where reality intertwines with imagination, her senses blurred, and she found a bracelet sparkling, catching her eye.
"I don't remember the day I placed it here."
Then she decided to put the bracelet on her head with a black gemstone color, but while enjoying her moment, her younger sister entered through the cell door.
"Can I have a moment of quiet alone without your disturbance?"
"Put aside those repetitive remarks, Cassie, avoid seriousness, I'm here to create moments of happiness and madness for you, wouldn't it be exciting to make cell a more enjoyable place?"
"Cell isn't for pleasure, it's a place for contemplation and isolation, does the repetition of your antics not bore you?"
"Not at all, I have my favorite game, which is hide and seek in the dark, you hide, and I search for you, ready to savor a dose of excitement and play?"
"No, and I never intend to."
"Aw, why?"
"I'm here to change this place, not to play childish games."
Daniela playfully nudges Cassandra's shoulder with hers. "You may not want to play with me, but let's be realistic, you're looking forward to experiencing this with your prey, enjoying being the hunter and being hunted, do you feel the desire for that? I'll do it for you."
"No, thank you." She sighed, while her mischievous younger sister proudly smiled.
"Your eyes reflect passion and desire, you want to play, even if you won't admit it."
"Are you sneaking into my thoughts and spying into my eyes without my consent?"
"You know the game of hide and seek in the dark isn't confined to children, the thrill and excitement have a different taste for adults." Daniela teases Cassandra with a sly smile. "Let's be honest, I'm here to play and break the routine."
"I'm here for a bigger purpose."
Daniela probes with sharp questions. "Tell me then, what were you doing in this cell before I arrived?"
"That's not something I should tell you." Cassandra responded with a similar annoyance to the question posed to her.
Daniela smiles mischievously. "Stay in your dull world, but I'll borrow this bracelet for a little while, I have a brilliant idea for it."
"Leave my affairs in peace and don't manipulate them."
"No need to worry, I won't take it.. maybe." Daniela laughs playfully and takes possession of the bracelet.
"What are you doing?"
"Now, do you want to play 'Catch Me?' if you're excited, come and find me."
Cassandra whispers nonchalantly. "I'm not in the mood for this, anyway, before you leave, tell Bela that I.."
Daniela burst into a series of light laughs and left the place with a playful smile, leaving Cassandra and her unfinished sentence fading before her sister's eyes, moving in a swarm of flies, meanwhile, Cassandra crosses with a mocking smile, playing with a sarcastic expression and sighing, reflecting her immersion in absurdity, then leaves in a swarm of flies.
In a quiet corner of the castle lies a room bathed in dim light, where the winter chill touches its closed windows, silence fills the place, with a bed carrying the burden of books and dresses, and a quiet melody creeping into the mysterious night atmosphere.
A whisper accompanies a moment of calm, rising.
"I don't think this suits my character."
Her appearance changes in front of the mirror, and another sound is heard cautiously wandering in the room.
"The conclusion must be different from what it's now."
She wonders in amazement in the darkness of the place.
"What is this?"
Suddenly, a figure appears in the corner of the room. "Princess Daniela shines this time with a crown and a white dress."
Daniela asked with a blend of curiosity and indifference. "You? what's on your mind at this moment?"
As darkness enveloped the room, the two sisters met, and dim candlelights scattered on their faces.
"Perhaps we have an uninvited guest." Bela whispered as she approached Daniela slowly.
Daniela smiled subtly. "Yeah, you're the guest, do you have a specific reason for gracing me with your presence?"
"Maybe I came to brighten your night, and perhaps I'm the guest you were waiting for without knowing."
"Do you think the dress and the crown will be suitable for this intriguing atmosphere?" Daniela inquired, lifting the edge of her dress with a radiant smile.
"Of course petite princess, they will blend with the enchantment of candlelight and adorn this serene place with their beauty."
"Is there a chance to make tonight even more delightful?" Daniela asked playfully.
"Why don't we go to the piano room? we might find a melody that harmonizes with our cold and quiet night."
"I'm incapable of refusing this suggestion, let us go and experience the magic of music on this mysterious night." Daniela replied with a passionately smiling face.
In the tranquil atmosphere, candles began to sway in the corner of the room, and their shadows faded and fractured to create a vague image, they headed towards the piano hall with gentle steps, while Bela sat down to commence her performance.
As the melodies began, Bela's concentration started to slip gradually, as if it flowed between her fingers like calm water, her focus oscillated between regaining composure and returning to scattered thoughts in her conscious mind, like waves crashing and returning to the center of her calm.
"I noticed a strange effect in your piano playing, what's the reason behind that hidden energy you breathe into the piano strings?" Daniela asked with a cryptic smile.
"Well, I'll tell you about this, my taste in songs is unstable, much like my mood, sometimes I find listening to old songs boring, and sometimes I cherish them, loud songs sometimes annoy me, and sometimes I annoy them from excessive listening, my problem is that my liking for things doesn't last long, and for people as well, I focus too much on the details of everything, as if I'm searching for perfection while I'm imperfect, in most cases, I maintain silence, asserting my presence in gatherings, but my calmness imposes itself, I don't get affected for long by anyone's criticism of me, if I get affected at all, I love everything related to painters and music, I love people who are passionate about mystery and rebellion, I'm obsessed with working to make myself a more positive person, but bouts of depression occasionally shatter half of my attempts to improve myself and sometimes all of them, I often think about my end.. what do I want? and what do I become? I have gone through many experiences that have made me a boring, miserable, moody, and sad person, and the worst part is that it doesn't seem like it."
Daniela gazed earnestly at Bela's face. "I understand that these fluctuations in your musical taste reflect shifts in your personality, it's like a mirror reflecting the internal variations, you might be enamored with the beauty of contradictory things."
"In my playing, the ecstasy of disappointment is present."
Daniela continues to marvel, contemplating Bela's words, suddenly Bela shifts the conversation with a mysterious look.
"Do you want to make this empty place come to life?"
"How?"
"Follow me, sislet."
Bela takes Daniela's hand, leading her towards the center of the hall, the piano starts playing automatically, and shimmering lights surround the room, the melody begins to escalate, and they start dancing in harmony with the tunes, light manipulates shapes around them, and their movements synchronize with the rhythm of the music, colors sparkle, and sounds flow in a hall filled with freedom and passion.
At the peak of their dance performance, the atmosphere changes, and the melody gradually fades away.
"Bela, have you felt anything unusual?"
"What do you mean?"
"Cassandra.. we haven't heard any sound from her, and we haven't seen her since she entered the dungeon, is she here?"
"Let's look for her, maybe she's in one of the rooms."
They leave the main dance hall and walk through the quiet castle corridors, the shimmering lights cast swaying shadows on the walls, while the gentle melody continues to play, filling the air with a warm and comforting atmosphere.
"Cassandra, are you here?"
Their voices echo through the place, but there's no response.
"Maybe she's in this room."
They enter one of the rooms, dimly lit, but they can see a figure standing in the corner, the closet door slams shut violently, and her glowing yellow eyes turn towards them in the darkness.
Bela points cautiously. "Cassandra!"
Cassandra smiles slowly but remains silent, they turn towards her in astonishment.
"Why didn't we hear your voice? and why haven't we seen you until now?"
"Because I was here, in my inner moment, every time you immersed yourselves, you were getting closer to finding me."
"Um.. what's happening?" Daniela tries to understand her sister's words with surprise and curiosity.
"The answer isn't always in words but in feeling."
Bela gestures towards the closet and tries to communicate with it. "Why is this tool in the closet? I've noticed it before."
Cassandra speaks calmly. "Just a tool that can be used in emergencies, a precautionary measure, it's not just for self-defense, it's for moments when strength may be needed, there might come a time when we need to protect ourselves."
"And is there any danger?"
Cassandra approached them as Bela looked at her cautiously. "On the contrary, here is a refuge from danger."
"Why are you approaching like this?"
"You invade my space hunting for a glimpse of me, yet hesitation creeps in when I step toward you?"
Daniela expressed her feelings with a gaze into her sister's eyes. "But, Cass, I didn't mean to leave you alone, did you feel lonely?"
"Loneliness has been an internal presence all along, Miss Dani."
Cassandra slowly approaches as her sisters step back slightly, then she presses their noses.
"Did you notice a sudden feeling of thirst?"
Bela examines her pale face. "Yes indeed, but what's the connection between that and the reason for your stay here?"
Daniela, surprised, asks. "Yes honestly, how did you know?"
Cassandra pauses for a moment before speaking. "Each of us has unique moments, an experience that reveals desire in each one of us, all of this happens at the right moment, learn from this experience, now I'll be in the library if you need me."
Bela nods to Cassandra, while Daniela follows behind her, Bela heads to the opera hall, where immersion in her passion for music awaits, without the presence of her sisters, this space transforms into a sanctuary for her, filled with a curated collection of vinyl records and vintage audio equipment, as she loses herself in the melody of the tunes, music becomes a refuge that enhances her life's complexities, Bela expands her vinyl collection, continuing to search for rare and unique recordings from different eras, adding a touch of nostalgia to her musical haven.
Cassandra, in a moment of contemplation, sits surrounded by leather-bound books, delving into a series of dark crime novels in the tranquility of the library, she carefully plans her next moves, drawing inspiration from historical tactics and modern strategies, between the pages of the books, she uncovers hidden rooms and thrilling historical facts about the castle, shedding light on the historical significance of each room, she does this not only to reinforce her personal identity but also to find ways to enhance her family's status in the castle and in history.
Daniela felt the need for a creative outlet and crafted her room to be a sanctuary where she immerses herself in crafting romantic fantasies, the room is adorned with meticulous decor and soft lighting, filling its shelves with her favorite novels, here she weaves intricate tales blending romance and horror, enjoying the imaginative escape, at times, she creates short and thrilling scenarios for her own entertainment, when the monotony needs breaking, she organizes lighthearted prank nights in the castle, creating an atmosphere that defies the usual formalities, she also arranges secret movie nights, each with a different dark and romantic theme.
Daniela remained in the library as Cassandra wandered through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, where the soft light illuminated the ancient stones, lost in her deep and intricate thoughts, the deserted places seemed a source of tranquility, as she strolled through the cellar, a subtle smile played on her face, recalling moments of playful excitement.
Adding to her joy was the stormy night, she captured the sounds of thunder and rain, incorporating them into her collection of ambient sounds.
Inside her room, candles flickered for mysterious reasons, creating an atmosphere of serene reverence, in the secluded garden, she leaned towards the exotic flowers that only bloomed in the moonlight, approaching the trees with their dark, twisted branches.
Cassandra, with her shadow cast by the lights creating a haunting sight, remained still as Bela moved alongside her, directing herself towards her younger sister.
Whispering in Bela's ear, Daniela asked. "Do you have any news?"
"I sensed an unusual movement outside the castle, it seems something is happening."
"I understand, but don't deal with it alone, I'll be with you, you might need assistance."
"I've got the responsibility covered, I'll fill you in on the details later if necessary."
Daniela observed Bela heading towards the door, while she noticed Cassandra going to another corner.
"Cassie sweetie, did you withdraw from our game?"
Cassandra responded with a scowling expression. "Should I let dinner burn before you believe I haven't left the game?"
"Oh, since when do you care about such matters?"
"Don't ask me such a question when you know I'm more responsible than you."
"I guess you're having a bad day, maybe something happened to put you in this mood."
"Go and read your books, it's better for you than understanding my serious matters."
Daniela giggled and cast a glance towards the direction of the library. "Oh, I'll be in my library better off than understanding serious matters while I'm in the peak of my mood." She smiled and walked away, but Cassandra grabbed her by the wrist and looked into her eyes.
"Will you continue with this activity and hide your sad feelings, which are evident behind your smile?"
"Bela suits you, she's the smart one here."
"I didn't mean to be harsh on you, not to adore mystery, or that my head is burning."
Daniela looked down, and Cassandra pulled her into an embrace.
"You're really good at analyzing things, Daniela, not just reading books for pastime."
"You're also good at analyzing emotions, body language, and interpreting actions."
"Not everything has to be okay all the time, I have pressures here that haunt me all the time leading up to spring, and personal plans have failed, so I want to focus on the moment without spoiling the mood for others, I'm here if you want to talk or exchange light conversations, I also think it's the right time to enjoy our time together instead of thinking about all those heavy details."
"What's with your eyes, Cassandra? they seem almost closed."
"I'm just a little tired."
"You need rest, don't you?"
"Yes maybe, but I can't rest now, I have a lot of matters to address." Cassandra replied quietly.
"No, you can also think about yourself." Daniela murmured. "I'll stay with you in your room."
"Honestly, I'll need your presence."
"Happy to hear that." Daniela said with a smile, her voice carrying a blend of calmness and amusement, leading her sister to her room.
While the elder sister went to check the source of the external sound, she discovered a stranger sitting near the corner in that dim, dreary room, the boy seemed lost in a winter storm, defying the force of the raging winds, as his hair strands swayed in front of his face, he delved into reading something with deep concentration, as if immersed in a separate world, here he particularly noticed the sharp sense of something mysterious, as if a being was watching him attentively from anywhere in the darkness, when he turned to see who was observing him, he found a mysterious blonde girl, in a chilling moment of eerie silence, neither of them uttering a word to the other.
He quickened his steps to move away from the cold raindrops, but Bela walked towards him, he hurried slightly, but noticed the girl advancing steadily, then revealing herself with a smile.
Continuing his strides, as he progressed, she followed him lightly, revealing clear looks of astonishment and curiosity in her eyes.
"Aw, enjoying the journey in this rain while not expecting to encounter a mysterious person in this weather?" She teased me with a playful wink.
"Why are you following me?"
"I wanted to be kind to you, it's a stormy weather as you know, and you seem not to be from around here, why not stay in the castle? you'll find the time there enjoyable, we have vacant rooms if you need shelter."
"I don't expect that."
"It's expected to get this response, humanity tends not to trust strangers, but let's think deeply, there was no reason for a woman to detain you inside unless she's earnestly seeking to ensure your safety from the storm danger, so what do you think after contemplation?"
"Even if I were to agree to this suggestion.. are there any unusual events happening here?"
"Trust that you'll get full details inside the courtyard."
She noticed my focus on her inability to travel far, and when invited to come closer, she responded cautiously. "A storm forces me to stay away, and you can't cross the castle boundaries."
"Why don't you come closer?"
"Why don't you come to me?" Bela responded challengingly.
"Alright, I get it, storm and castle boundaries."
"Then move towards me." She extended her hand, and with each step, the coldness in the air intensified, as she got closer, her hand almost touched mine, but I noticed her sharp dagger.
"Why are you carrying something harmful?" I asked cautiously.
"Sometimes we must carry something sharp to stay alive, even if it hurts and harms others."
"Do you live alone here?"
"Look, why don't you come in and introduce yourself to the group? people here are all kind and love welcoming strangers, unless you prefer to stay where you are."
I entered the castle with slow steps, finding the shadow of the high ceiling reflected on the walls and enticing dim lights, the floating lights revealed glimpses of magnificent details, and mysterious art treasures captured my attention, spreading a strange charm.
The girl, appearing as a beautiful shadow, advanced slightly and accompanied me, I felt curiosity rising within me as I immersed myself in the beauty of the moment and the surrounding mystery.
I noticed she stayed close to me, her sharp glances and facial expressions changing, I stammered. "Your name, madam?"
"Bela, and welcome to Castle Dimitrescu."
"My pleasure, Lady Bela Dimitrescu."
"And you? even if your name isn't very important, I'd like to know more about you."
"It's Y/N."
"My sisters will want to meet you, especially one of them."
"I feel something strange here, is there something I don't know?" I asked with a clear inquiry in my voice.
Bela maintained her mysterious smile and answered. "You're right, not everything here is on the surface."
As I continued exploring the castle, I noticed strange shadows moving and disappearing, accompanied by whispers of a female voice. "What's this?" I asked, looking around cautiously, but Bela ignored my question as if she hadn't heard me, as I kept wandering, I observed peculiar symbols and a peculiar smell wafting through the air. "What are these symbols, and what's this smell?" I asked with tension, making my heart rate increase.
Bela stepped back slightly and whispered. "Ancient symbols and the blend of old and new scents are here, but don't worry."
I continued trying to understand things, but I felt tension and doubt. "Is there something you're hiding from me, Lady Bela?"
"It's smart to ask the question."
Before I could respond, I noticed a mysterious movement. "What's that sound?"
"I saw you yesterday, sneaking into the same place you fell from, I didn't give you permission to enter before, but today the accounts are different, I watched you closely as you examined the narrow paths you used to emerge from, soaked in salty water, when you wiped away what clung to your clothes and left without a trick, understand that the place is no longer yours, these are my eyes, and my vision has changed, now your fate is in my grasp."
I sensed a threat in her tone, and indeed, Bela noticed it as she approached me with her sickle.
"You have the courage to make your body language clear." Bela said with a broad smile.
"Who are you really?" I asked with astonishment, noticing blood suddenly branching out from her mouth.
In her heavy silence, I saw expressions on her face vividly revealing her emotions, she tried to approach me, but as she did, I made a quick movement in fear, accidentally my finger entered her eye, causing her harm, she leaned back with an expression full of anger.
"You.. made me consider that, or else I would have no defense against harm."
I became strangely calm at that moment, although my heart was trembling.
"It's been a long time since we kidnapped someone, and today is a blessing." She exclaimed enthusiastically, pushing me down and climbing on top of me, she licked her lips, then smiled. "Reality asserts itself, human! you're now in our castle, and you can never escape, do you think entering a place like this means an easy way out? if you trust yourself, try to escape."
She stepped back, then waited for me to stand and attempt an escape, knowing well that I couldn't, but she wanted to amuse herself in her cruel way to achieve her satisfaction.
"I challenge you, you won't be able to open any door or find an exit, all doors are locked and surrounded by our strength."
I felt it was the end, and my heart tightened facing this situation, I cast a wide glance at the corners of the castle in front of me and ran toward a random corner, escaping from the blonde girl.
"Oh, believe me." She whispered dramatically, advancing with her axe. "I didn't intend to hurt you much unless you bring one of my sisters into your fate, then you'll have a different destiny."
I felt a quick movement from Bela as she headed swiftly towards me, her warm breath touching my neck, intensifying the fear I was already feeling, the castle passages were unknown and numerous, vast, as I continued running in the whisper of darkness.
I hesitated a bit in the moments when I decided whether to turn or walk forward until I suddenly realized her disappearance behind me, darkness engulfed the place, pushing me to decide to head towards the door in front of me, and upon entering, I found myself in a dark room, where thin rays from the burning candle leaked into the corner, the room was adorned with old furniture, only revealed by the reflection of the candlelight, in that moment, I sensed a change in the atmosphere, realizing that I wasn't alone.
A creepy echoing sound reverberated in the air, shaking my trembling senses, when I turned towards the door in a desperate attempt to distance myself, Bela appeared swiftly, surrounding the place with a swarm of annoying flies.
Bela's face remained inert, with cold features fixed in her gaze, as I looked at her intently, our eyes met directly, exchanging silent expressions, then she suddenly disappeared into a swarm of flies, my heartbeats accelerated, and as I struggled to understand what happened, I heard a terrifying sound resembling demonic laughter, I had no choice but to flee, I ran towards the door, and my steps hastened when I felt the tongue of panic licking my heart, I opened the door violently and escaped outside.
I moved cautiously in unknown and empty places, and my steps were deadly silent, in one of those places, I hid behind a dark corner, listening to cautiously approaching footsteps, tension and fear wrapped around me, waiting for the ominous moment.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching me, but they surprised me by their sudden disappearance, I decided to rise and flee again, but at that precise moment of my escape, a girl appeared unexpectedly in front of me, she had red hair and golden yellow eyes shining with light, and she seemed to be Bela's sister, wearing clothes that closely resembled those her sister wore.
Her eyes sparkled with a cold gleam, and an enthusiastic smile adorned her face, as she confidently approached with assured steps, I began to withdraw, but she continued advancing with the same confidence, putting me in a confrontational position with no escape.
As I stepped backward, the redhead girl looked at me challengingly, continuing to advance steadily towards me, the moment she pressed me against the wall arrived, and as I tried to think of an escape, the girl forcefully pushed me and climbed on top of me smoothly.
"You have two choices now." She said with a wide smile. "Either be obedient or face your fate alone."
Her words flowed like a curse, and I stood frozen there, trying to comprehend their meaning.
"What do you want from me?" I asked hesitantly, attempting to read the expressions on her face.
"Reality isn't always black and white, so don't hesitate to express yourself with words that carry weight, what are your thoughts? is escape an option? just dismiss that rosy idea lingering in your mind."
"I'm not here to pay for my trust in your sister, lift yourself off me and let me free." I said, suffering from pain and heaviness, as her body clung to me like glue that couldn't be separated, and the pressure of her body trapped me, preventing any movement.
At that moment, her eyes seemed to express a slight retreat, but she didn't move, listening to my words with a silent smile.
"Don't you realize that this is unfair?" I said, trying to break free from her imposed restraint.
She gripped my shoulder tightly and looked into my eyes. "The world is not fair, and power rules!"
"Does your heart contain anything resembling mercy, or does it stubbornly reject stillness, with emotions dying in its cold corners?"
"I'm not here to save you, but I admit I'm not hungry."
I raised an eyebrow with effort. "So, what do you want?"
"Eating is just a small chapter in your game with Daniela Dimitrescu."
While the redhead girl took a step back, leaving a void to dominate me, caught between feelings of wonder and regret, as a mischievous smile crept onto her lips, her eyes showed indifference reflecting her lack of concern.
"I believe I'm here to complete the pleasure of the game, nothing more." I said, looking at her with curiosity.
She smirked sarcastically, saying. "Yes darling, you're here for my entertainment, providing a delicious scene in this hot spectacle."
"Stay away from me.." I whispered bravely as I pushed her away when I noticed her approaching with her sickle.
At that moment, Bela appeared, and I found myself suddenly between both of them, Daniela approached and pushed me in response to my previous push.
"Let me play with him." She said to Bela with a clever chuckle, sending a wink her way.
Daniela quickly closed in, and I found myself trapped between her and the wall, her teeth appeared menacingly, threatening with a mouth stained in crimson blood.
Daniela stepped back slightly, and while my face looked filled with fear, she took my hands, turning the situation into a more playful tone.
"You were a good boy." Daniela said with a mischievous smile. "Continue playing your role with us and be splendid." She added, looking at me as signs of exhaustion appeared on my face.
"I think I can be splendid at something else." I replied hesitantly, trying to think of ways to escape this frustrating situation.
"Oh, you don't understand." Daniela said with a repeated smile. "We play with our prey in our own way, and there will be no escape."
As I tried to find a solution, Bela continued with cruelty. "We have our own rules here, and you're now part of our world."
"But.. I don't want to be a part of all this." My eyes welled with panic, but Bela smiled with an unmerciful look.
"It's kind of you to be part of the entertainment." Bela sarcastically said, giggling loudly with her younger sister, both filled with joy and boisterous laughter.
After that, Bela grabbed my waist, while Daniela toyed with my arms with the tips of her fingers, I felt the strength of their grip, approaching the point of breaking under the younger daughter's grasp.
After deciding in their treacherous design to release me, I separated from them at a distance, escaping while they pursued me, there were many rooms and places, in a dark corner, Bela appeared in front of me with a wide smile. "Did you ever think you could escape from us?"
In a sudden twist, Daniela quickly appeared in another corner and said with laughter. "Your escape is just an amusing game for us."
Their faces transformed into hostility as they played with their movements and facial expressions, advancing toward me with their glaives, I ran quickly to another place, but I noticed they appeared in front of me every time I attempted to escape, I tried climbing stairs and hiding in corners, but they were always there.
Daniela winked at me. "You won't find a refuge that scares you, I'm always watching you."
Daniela approached me and placed the glaive near my neck to prevent any movement, while Bela suddenly appeared behind me and caused a sharp wound below my neck with her glaive, making me gasp.
"You're our prey, you can't intervene."
"Who told you that you deserve any of us? each of us has qualities that make you favor us and make you want to stay with us." Daniela declared with a manipulative smile.
Bela gripped my arms tightly. "In the end, we'll take you all, so there's no need for any childish attempts to escape."
"Don't even imagine trying to escape, your fate is written here."
"I caught him first." Bela said to Daniela.
"If you can't protect him from me, he'll be mine."
Bela clasped my shoulder and directed a smile toward Daniela. "I challenge you to make him lose consciousness."
Bela grasped my right arm, and Daniela clasped onto my left hand, leading me into a dark and mysterious hall, there, lights began to fade and sparkle randomly, illuminating the place for moments before disappearing in the blink of an eye, amidst this scene, there was a faint, continuous sound.
I discovered traces of blood on the ground, appearing to carry an ancient origin, then, light blood showers began to fall from the ceiling, filling the room with those red rains, transforming the eerie atmosphere into blood and darkness, my heart raced with each beat that came with the falling drops of blood, suddenly I saw Bela approaching with a knife, expecting torture, but she placed it on the table instead.
I finally realized that I was in the dining hall, where I found myself bound to a chair, and steel chains restricting my freedom.
Bela and Daniela, who seemed to be sipping from glasses of red wine, were enjoying the purest kinds of blood and pieces of meat, silence dominated the hall, except for the sound of chewing accompanying their consumption of fresh meat.
Amidst this scene, horror reflected on my face, contemplating everything helplessly unable to escape, blood showers fell like raindrops from the dark ceiling.
Those moments became even stranger when Bela and Daniela smiled terrifyingly, playing with my emotions, they cast threatening and mocking glances in my direction, then decided to present a gruesome spectacle as they approached me wielding sharp knives, smiles spread across their faces as they enjoyed my reactions, inhaling the scent of my fear.
"You seem terrified, don't you?" Bela smiles provocatively.
"But we're here to enjoy, and we have a new game for you."
"We need you in this tough choice, dear." Daniela said with amusement.
"We'll give you a chance to choose one of us to stay with you, and the other.. well, it will be a surprise."
"Will you choose me? or will you choose my older sister?" She asked with a mocking tone.
"Your decision is tough, but you must choose wisely, do you prefer gentleness or strength?" Bela pointed to the decisive choice.
"You know, let's make the game a little exciting, choose, or.." Daniela fumbles with the knife between her hands.
"The consequences of your choice will be intense, but whatever your decision, it will be the end." She spelled it out cautiously.
Amidst that pressure, I hesitated, realizing that any choice would have a dire consequence.
Daniela's face frowned. "Seems like he doesn't want either of us."
"We can make him talk nicely." Bela revealed a knife and threateningly touched my neck.
I hesitated for a moment, then turned to Daniela with a cautious look. "I choose.. you."
Bela's face appears grim, while Daniela responds with a radiant smile. "Luck is on the winner's side, that's me."
"Hmm, just as I expected, you'll see doubts creeping in, making you wonder if you chose the right option."
Bela positions herself next to me, turning her entire body with a maniacal laugh, intending to carve symbols on my skin with the knife as the beginning of the game, but I darted hastily, leading to a tumble onto the ground, my constricted form still tethered to the chair.
Bela continued to chuckle incessantly while Daniela looked at me with a smile, then glanced at her sister.
"I'll take care of him, while you check on the other sister, we haven't heard her voice or sensed her movement for a while, the last time I left her, she was sound asleep."
"Good luck making him endure the maximum pain and torment with you, I'll go to her while you deal with your prey, and don't forget to leave my share of the feast." Bela walked away with a smile. "I'll leave you two to enjoy your happy time."
Bela whispered and departed, leaving behind a tense atmosphere, meanwhile, Daniela proudly smiled and continued walking beside me, appearing as if she had won a grand prize, my body trembles with anger, knowing that my end will not be merciful at the hands of either of them, especially with Daniela's challenging gaze.
I remained there, my face scowling, while the redhead girl continued to stare at me.
"Oh, oh, look at someone not shy about looking at me like this."
"I'm not the kind of person who deserves trouble and harm, I'm not ready for this chaos." I respond cautiously, trying to conceal my fear.
"Well, don't worry, I'll be as nice as possible." She laughs lightly.
"Nice? isn't that a bit strange?"
"The most important thing is to be ready for fun, so, what do you prefer?" Her eyes glint with a mysterious sparkle.
"Hoping not everything is like this."
She grabbed my face firmly and looked closely. "Alright? so you're a brave person who dared to come here alone." She said, winking.
"All because of your blonde sister's kindness."
"Oh, my older sister hurts more than I do." She burst into laughter. "Well, you live in the human world, um, look at you."
"I'm not here for entertainment, I just want peace and quiet."
She started laughing loudly. "You came here by yourself, and now you can't go anywhere, be ready if I do anything to you, okay?" She winked again.
"I see thirst reflecting in your eyes, shining like two strangers in a sugar high."
Daniela stepped back slightly, then grabbed my hand with a mocking smile. "Oh, silly, you must bow and kiss my feet, I've shown you this harsh side of me in front of my sister, you can consider me harmless, I don't hurt anyone without any reason."
Before I could utter a word, Daniela closed my mouth and led me towards a quiet room. "You have a chance to speak freely with me only."
"Will you not hurt me?" I asked cautiously, sensing her influence over me.
She stopped me by the bed and poured her crimson drink into a glass. "I'm here to hear what you want to say."
I found myself perplexed in the quiet room. "I entered your life unexpectedly, and I find myself facing things I never imagined."
Daniela nodded with a smile. "It's human nature to find themselves in situations they don't know how to deal with, but do you have any idea about the next step?"
I looked at her with curiosity. "Not really, I feel like I'm in a strange world."
Daniela sipped from her glass and looked at me seriously. "Be cautious about taking the wrong step with us, and know exactly where you're heading."
"Well, what are you doing now?" I asked Daniela as I saw her attention quickly shift, and she was about to lock the door.
"You'll sleep here until morning, bury yourself in books, and the door will be open to you later." Daniela interrupted and closed the door quickly.
I sighed deeply and followed her elder sister.
Bela approached and asked, her eyes glued to every detail. "Did you prepare a shelter for him with us?"
Daniela answered after a moment of contemplation. "He was scared, and I didn't hesitate to carry out my game with him, he felt exhausted and lost consciousness several times, so I decided he should take a little rest for us to play with him more thrillingly tomorrow."
"Are you really telling the truth?" Bela asked with a skeptical and reserved tone.
"Listen to a real example, and welcome a literary genius." Daniela replied with a knowing smile. "The best way to prevent a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never realizes he's in prison."
Bela stepped back, absorbing her sister's words. "I won't add more words, drown yourself more in the drink to become crazier and pour your madness on him."
On Daniela's face, thoughts raced, and emotions converged. "I'll enjoy hearing his voice then, but seriously, I'll stay in control to ensure he doesn't go beyond the room's boundaries."
The sisters began to speak before each heading to their respective places.
I immersed myself in reading a book on the bed, the atmosphere in the room exchanging between darkness and nostalgia, trying to calm my anxiety and the sense of insecurity that surrounded me when I remembered that I was in the company of these girls, I navigated through the book's pages, searching for a refuge from the tremors of my soul, amid the room's atmosphere, resembling darkness, where nostalgia blended with the stillness of the moment.
The book that caught my attention had characteristics of antiquity and oldness, weaving the color of paper with the feelings of a distant time in its yellowed pages, each chapter revealed a different topic, at that moment, images of a girl with black hair intrigued me, as those pages appeared in royal brown, different from the prevalent yellow, feelings of shock overwhelmed me, surprised by her presence here, nevertheless, I remained convinced that I was the only one seeing her in every corner, and thus, my belief persisted that my vision of her was confined to my personal world.
As I flipped through the book's pages, the images and details intensified, and the girl appeared again in black attire, resembling exactly the clothes of Bela and Daniela, as I continued reading, the images accelerated as if telling an independent story, and when I reached a new chapter, I discovered that the girl's images still appeared on its pages.
Fear crept cautiously into my heart as I flipped through the pages rapidly, haunted by the images of the black-haired girl, despite feeling a sense of dread, I continued to contemplate every detail, amid the room's atmosphere casting its faint shadows from the yellow lights and candle flames that I could not clearly see, my primary focus was on what awaited me between the book's pages.
In a sudden moment, I skipped all the pages and reached a new chapter, where I began reading directly after only one minute, as in the previous context, the images of the girl reappeared, but this time somewhat differently, I realized that I could only see her images as I quickly read the pages, as if the book contained an endless array of images accelerating and unfolding endlessly, reaching into infinite levels.
I closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them with a gasp, astonished to find Daniela suddenly in the room, she was gazing at her drawn figure on the wall, throwing playful glances my way, and her stacked hands observed me mysteriously as I exchanged looks of amazement.
"At least make a sound when you enter, my heartbeats almost stopped when you came in."
"Did you like the pictures of my sister?"
"I thought you had only one."
"I have two, and I'm the younger sister, the little one in the family."
"Then.. what's her name?"
"You have your Lady Bela, and I'm Lady Daniela." Daniela said, continuing to weave some playfulness into her words. "And that is Cassandra Dimitrescu."
"Why have I never heard her voice or seen her all this time?"
"Because she, darling, is an expert in the art of hiding, Cassandra always keeps her glimpses and sounds like a precious treasure to be discovered by others at the right moment."
"I think I'm in a dream." I said, trying to believe what I see and hear.
"Not a dream, but a reality you can get used to." Daniela added in a calm tone.
"Did you see your third sister watching me?" I asked, trying to understand the situation.
"No, she wasn't in the castle chambers, Cassandra loves the night and contemplates a distant world, she hasn't shown up yet, so you haven't felt her presence or heard her voice."
"You all look very alike."
"Cassandra will enjoy welcoming you in a way beyond comparison, she has a power that makes the victim tremble multiple times more than the fear we caused you, she makes us seem like children in front of her arts in enjoying her prey and terrifying them." Daniela said with a threatening look, then added calmly. "Despite her recent seclusion, I'm certain that her activity and passion will return as soon as she knows of your presence, where she will delight in you like a little doll."
I tried to utter a word of defense, but I remained silent under her gaze, avoiding trouble, as she eagerly waits for the slightest mistake or any displeasing word to subject me to her harmful conditions and her mad ways.
"The time has come to turn off the room's light and allow the silence to envelop you, it will take you on a journey of sleep, I mean a journey of nightmares." Daniela left, laughing, leaving me in solitude amid the intense darkness.
In the midst of the nightly calm, I began to listen to myself, as Cassandra's thoughts infiltrated my mind. "Will she ever appear to me?"
Bela appears indifferent, and even Daniela shows her interest only in the early days, her true intentions are unknown, and amid this obscurity, how can I unravel and what is the day of escape? being prey that could be killed on any unknown day, my life seems at risk amid a game of false kindness and intentional deception representing a calm before the storm.
In the shroud of nightly darkness, thoughts dissipated, surrendering to the quiet of the serene night, where moments merged into a sea of tranquility, free from the impact of the past and the shadows of tomorrow, whispers of doubt overpowered the silence, drawing heavy details on my forehead, there was no tension to disturb the serenity, instead, the stillness pulsated with its undisturbed beauty.
As snowflakes gently fell outside the window, their sound became a natural melody, each snowflake touching the ground delicately, its sound sneaking into the ear like a gentle tune, calming the quiet and contributing to organizing the thoughts of the moment, signaling relaxation and deep focus.