Chapter Text
19-04
Bright blinding white lights and cold hard metal. Lights which pulled her out of her slumber. It was always that way. As long as she could remember, which in reality was the furthest thing from long. Strapped to cold metal by strong wiry wraps along her head, chest, arms, and legs. It was a table she slept on. A table was her bed and a humming white room with computers and bubbling substances was her chamber. She had wondered once if her life before had also been like this. If she could remember her before , would white walls, bright lights, and a cold hard table be part of it? Did she also carry that feather ring on a silver chain around her neck? Was she also barefoot, wearing that thin white gown then? Was she a test subject too? A vessel candidate? An experiment? Had she also been a failure before?
She picked up on the steps silently approaching the heavy metal door and wondered what could possibly be in store for her this… morning? Was it morning? Or midday? Or night? It was impossible to tell in a room with no windows or a clock. She knew how to read those, clocks . She had learned quickly as she stared at them for hours during her trials. Five minutes intervals with subject 17-44 or one hour with the gray Lycan and his brethren. That Lycan did know how to have fun. At her expense of course.
What would happen today, though? Pain of the mind variety? Pain of the physical variety? If it was her , probably both. She would fail once more and have to deal with the consequences. Consequences were the reason she was strapped to the metal table again but that was normal. She was always strapped to the table, which meant she had always failed. It would be nice not to. It would be nice to actually do something good for her . It was her only wish. To be useful. To help. That was what she was supposed to do. She was meant to be the strongest and yet she remained a failure.
The door opened and slammed with such a force that one would wonder how it still remained on its hinges. The loud sound drew her out of her head full of questions without answers and self deprecating thoughts. A familiar rustle of robes, a dark wood smell, and the steady beat of an ancient heart told her who had come. She had known from the sounds of the steps which had slowly approached. Mother. Mother Miranda in her ceremonial outfit. The leader of the cult of the Black God , a living organism which had provided the materials for some of the greatest mutations . The lead researcher in this lonely laboratory. The single most important person in her life now .
“You failed… again. Did you not, little thing?” Mother Miranda’s voice was calm and smooth and were she someone else, she would think Mother Miranda was being kind and warm. But she was not someone else. She knew. Mother Miranda was angry, so very angry. “How long have you been here, 19-04?”
19-04 . That was her number here since she had first woken up in the room of blinding lights. Her name for as long as she could remember.
Mother Miranda’s question hung in the chilled air. Someone had told her once that Mother Miranda’s questions could be nothing but rhetorical. Those questions that had no need for answers. However, she knew that mattered little. When Mother Miranda spoke, you were to remain silent. When Mother Miranda ordered, you were to obey without question. And when Mother Miranda asked, regardless of whether it was an actual question or not, you answered.
“Nine years.”
It had been quite a long time since she had used her voice. Or at least she thought. She barely managed a soft rasp. But it was too soft. The stinging pain on her calf told her as much when Mother Miranda dug one of her metal taloned fingers against her. Swallowing her yelp she gazed into icy blue eyes, which peeked through the golden bird mask Mother Miranda wore. Her leg shook and she whimpered softly as the talon was taken out.
“Nine years? No… it’ll be ten today.” Mother Miranda said quietly with a soft and warm smile as if she had not just pierced through her pale flesh.
“Mother Miranda.” She whimpered once more.
“Nothing but a failure. That is all you are.” Mother Miranda pulled away from the table and continued, “ten years of nothing but disappointment. Expecting a miracle from a thing such as you was foolish. Why oh why do you keep me from what I desire?”
“Mother please,” she begged. “I will try harder. I’ll make you happy. I promise.”
“Ah,” Mother Miranda began sweetly caressing her cheek with the cold talon, “but your words are meaningless.”
A quick snap of Mother Miranda’s fingers and there was now a slice across 19-04’s cheek. Blood beaded at the wound then slid down the side of her face, warm and thick, its metallic scent invading her nose. A scent she knew rather well. Mother Miranda watched it spill onto the table with mild disgust. Icy blue eyes then gazed into her’s and that disgust only intensified. However, seeing that didn’t deter her from the desire to be better for Mother Miranda.
At times like these she would remember her beginning. The first year when she awoke to blinding lights for the first time and without a clue of who she was, Mother Miranda had been there to guide her. That first year was bliss. Mother Miranda took care of her and watched over her. She would hum her to sleep and regale her with tales of the outside world. After the first few experiments and trials, Mother Miranda would hold her and help soothe her pain and fears. She had loved her that first year, much like a mother should or at least that was how she imagined it. Mother Miranda had loved her but she had failed over and over again. This behavior now was justified, was it not?
“I have grown tired of you, 19-04.”
“Mom—”
Pain erupted from her side in an instant and this time biting down her reaction was futile. She screamed and jerked while the talons dug between her ribs. The pain was near blinding as Mother Miranda moved her fingers within the wound. Breathing was becoming a struggle and tears now mixed with the blood, which had flowed from her cheek.
“How many times must I tell you I’m not your mother ? Do not refer to me as such.” Mother Miranda said softly, leaning closer to her and deepening the wound at her side. She cried out then bit her lip trying to contain herself. “Something like you would never come from someone like me. I could have only birthed perfection.”
Another scream escaped 19-04’s lips as Mother Miranda forcefully pulled her taloned fingers out. The wound on her calf and the one on her cheek were already closed. This new one along her ribs would take a few more seconds accompanied by pain, which she was doing her best to ignore. She struggled to contain her tears and whimpers lest Mother Miranda got angrier than she already was.
“It’s time, 19-04.” Mother Miranda called from somewhere to her right. “You’ve overstayed your welcome.”
“Mom—” A hiss made her retract her clumsy words. “Mother Miranda, please. Let me try again. I’ll go with the Lycans without complaining. Mind training. I’ll do that too. This time, this time I’ll—”
“What is it you will do this time?” Mother Miranda interrupted, coming closer. “This time will be no different than last time. You will come back here in tatters.” She continued in a sweet tone. “Or is it this time you will come back with two limbs intact as opposed to having none like many times before? Will that be the glorious outcome this time?”
“No, I—”
“Silence!” Mother Miranda yelled at her and after a few quiet seconds set about undoing the restraints around her. “Stand.” Mother Miranda commanded once she was done.
“Mother—”
“Stand!” Mother Miranda bellowed and the room seemed to shake under her.
Slipping off the table and onto the cold tiled floor, 19-04 clumsily stood ignoring the now dull pain on her side. Mother Miranda walked around the white room silently shutting off all the machines and equipment. The action made her more and more anxious and scared than even Mother Miranda’s words and slicing had. Nausea roiled within her and breathing was starting to become hard once more but not because of a wound.
What was happening? Was this what had happened to all the others ? It wasn’t real, was it? Mother Miranda was just trying to scare her. This was only another one of her elaborate tests. Wasn’t it? It was. It had to be because if it wasn’t then that could only mean one thing. Her pitiful existence was coming to an end — a painful and gruesome end at that. An end was the furthest thing from what she wanted. But then, she deserved it, did she not? She had accomplished nothing, amounted to nothing, in ten years. She had been nothing but a useless pile of flesh, which could not die easily but could still die.
Mother Miranda finished shutting off the last computer and turned to face her. 19-04 knew Mother Miranda had noticed the tears running ceaselessly down her cheeks when she tilted her head and her icy blue eyes began to glow. A few unhurried steps and the person who had given her the most affection and care in her life smiled in front of her.
In an instant wooden-like talons sprouted from Mother Miranda’s hands — 19-04 knew those on a personal level — and pierced through her chest. Thick blood spewed from the gaping wound and fell onto the white tiled floor, staining it a deep shade of red. Eyes wide and struggling to breathe, 19-04 looked into those glowing icy blue eyes. Soon there was blood coming up her throat, her lung clearly punctured, while she struggled to breathe. Her blood was so thick and dark unlike a normal human's. The sloshing sound reached her ears while her heart pounded muffly on her chest and she writhed in unending pain.
This would be it for her. She would die here in the lab she had woken up at ten years ago, with the woman who she had somehow loved as a daughter would a mother. She was going to die and yet her dying was taking longer than expected. It was true she healed quickly but Mother Miranda was killing her, was she not?
As she stopped coughing up blood, her rapid regeneration already working to repair the wound despite the long talons inside her chest, she gasped. Wind tore at her white long hair and black feathers surrounded them completely. Suddenly there was no cold tiled floor beneath her feet, the metal table was gone, and the bright white lights from the lab gave way to soft warm yellowish lights. One minute she was in the lab and the next she was in a big room with wooden floors and actual furniture softly lit up by… candles? That was what they were right? She had read about those once. Little torches, she had seen them before but Mother Miranda never let her approach. It was white room to the testing grounds and back.
Taking in her new surroundings she almost forgot she had been impaled. Her pain tolerance was starting to kick in slightly. Mother Miranda, however, had not forgotten her talons. A quick jerk had 19-04 grasping said talons and crying in pain, her flesh tearing all over again. While she gazed into icy blue eyes pushing the pain away she heard them . Buzzing and giggling and laughing and something else.
“I’ve brought a gift.” Mother Miranda sneered and with a quick flick of the wrist withdrew the talons, her hand returning to its normal form.
Another scream erupted from 19-04 as she crumbled to the hardwood floors. More giggles and buzzing filled the room while she writhed in pain. She could feel them there. There were others here aside from Mother Miranda and her. She knew they were there yet no one spoke. There were only giggles and buzzing and then there were soft and slow steps.
“Is it a pet?” A young woman said just a few inches away from where 19-04 lay.
“A toy?” Another woman said and giggled.
“A friend that I can destroy?” Yet another whispered and giggled along with the other two.
“Where is your mother, girls?” Mother Miranda said to who she assumed were the giggling and buzzing people in the room.
“Here she comes.” A giggly voice replied. The first to speak or maybe the third, she could not tell.
“Coming. Coming. Coming .” One of the others sang merily.
The steps she had been focusing on drew impossibly nearer by the second while the giggling and buzzing continued. Mother Miranda just stood by her while she healed the gaping wound on her chest. She coughed and more blood seeped through her still torn flesh. The thin gown she had been wearing was completely soaked through and clung to her skin.
“Is that blood?” The one who had sung asked.
“Is it?” The one who hadn’t spoken again asked too.
“A friend to destroy.” The singing one sang once more.
“Staining the floor.” The one who had initially replied to Mother Miranda said softly.
Fear made 19-04’s heart beat uncontrollably within her chest while she listened to the women talking and giggling. Were they the ones buzzing? And who was that walking slowly? Where had Mother Miranda brought her to? Was this a final test? Maybe it…
“Mother Miranda, good evening.” A female voice as smooth as velvet interrupted her thoughts. Was that the giggling girls’ mother? “Girls, greet Mother Miranda properly.”
“Good evening Mother Miranda.” The young women said in unison.
“Good evening.” Mother Miranda said with that same softness and calmness, which had once soothed 19-04.
“You didn’t tell me you’d be coming.” The woman with the lovely velvety voice spoke. “I would’ve organized appropriately but no matter, we of House Dimitrescu know how to conduct ourselves, not like those others .” She said with some distaste before continuing, “everything will be prepared for you. Girls, have the maids prepare tea and refreshments. Please Mother Miranda follow me to the—”
“I did not come for you to parade about, Child. I only came to give you this.” Mother Miranda spoke with an exasperated air before grasping 19-04 by the hair and tugging her up to stand with relative ease. “Stand.”
Standing quickly and grateful to her quick healing 19-04 finally looked up at the others in the room with them. Her heart nearly stumbled to a stop as she lifted her gaze to find the four women. Three who were about the same height as her one with blonde hair, the next with dark brown hair, and the last with red hair all wearing tattoos on their foreheads, matching unnerving grins and glowing yellowish eyes, which made it hard to focus on anything else. Those were the daughters or at least that was what 19-04 assumed since they looked younger than her . There between the three young women was another woman — their mother judging by the maturity her features exuded — who was about nine and a half feet tall, with glowing golden eyes, full painted blood red lips, wearing a long cream colored dress adorned with a black brooch of three roses, and topped with a black hat. The lady was mesmerizing and beautiful yet as terrifying as the subjects 19-04 had had to fight against.
A slight grin appeared on the lady’s face while she looked her up and down and she could feel her heart beating wildly within her rib cage. The three daughters also grinned but in a much more sinister way, which made the hair in the back of her neck rise.
“And what is this? If I may ask.” The lady’s gaze left 19-04’s own making her feel as though she could breathe again.
“A parasitic failure. As you can see…”
19-04 flinched as Mother Miranda unexpectedly sliced her arm open. In an instant the redhead, who had been holding onto her mother’s dress, pounced only to be held back by her mother’s large arm.
“Daniela.” The lady’s stern voice had the redhead pouting and settling back beside her.
“Show her your arm.” Mother Miranda hissed and 19-04 raised the healed limb.
“Interesting.” The lady said, eyeing the new and healed skin. “Shall I do some research with her?”
‘No, please no. Please no more. Just-just kill me.’ 19-04 thought and her heart racing within her chest.
“ It has no value. I’ve wasted years on its development and nothing has happened aside from her rapid healing and enhanced strength and agility. It amounts to nothing.” Mother Miranda said calmly, yet 19-04 could hear the bitterness in her tone.
“M-Mother Miranda p-please… I swear I’ll do better. I’ll try—” She began to plead once more.
“But there’s nothing you can do. You are useless.” Mother Miranda took her chin, running her thumb across her jaw before digging her taloned fingers into her cheeks. “And why are you speaking when I’ve given you no permission?”
Pain seared and again more blood ran down 19-04’s face. She remained quiet and still within Mother Miranda’s grasp, tears welling in her eyes. Perhaps she would be able to show her she could do anything Mother Miranda wanted. She could bite down the pain and remain her obedient subject.
“You can do as you like with it. Research it. Slave it away. End its miserable existence in that glorious way only you know how. It matters little to me what happens to it .” Mother Miranda said, finally releasing her grasp. “It’s a gift, child. Use it as you like.”
“Much appreciated, Mother Miranda.” The lady said with a wicked smirk as her eyes met 19-04’s.
“I shall take my leave now.” Mother Miranda said, turning away from the four women and without another look at her.
“No wait! How long do I have to stay? When are you coming to get me? This test… what is it you need? I’ll do good.” 19-04 grabbed at Mother Miranda’s robes as panic rose steadily within her but Mother Miranda slapped her hands away. “Please Mother… Mom.” She cried.
“I hate having to repeat myself, 19-04. I’m not your mother!” Mother Miranda’s icy blue eyes glowed brightly before a rush of feathers and wind smashed at 19-04 and sent her flying back and onto the ground.
With that Mother Miranda disappeared in a cloud of black feather while she stared after her. Small cuts covered her and bloodily wept all over 19-04’s arms, legs, and face. She was finding it hard to breathe with her panic while she lay there alone. Though she was not exactly alone, no. For right behind her, not even a foot away still stood the three young women with their very tall mother.
Giggling and laughter broke out when 19-04 looked up to see them all staring down at her while she lay before them in a bloodied heap. The lady grinned and once the giggles and laughter subsided she said, “welcome to Castle Dimitrescu.”