Chapter Text
You are the final servant in the entire castle, as the rest of the staff had been consumed over the winter months. Normally the ladies of the castle only kill when absolutely necessary, however, despite all the prepping via blood donations, this winter has been especially long and difficult. Which meant the stored blood dwindled quickly, the ladies became easily irritable, and a particularly horrid snow storm led to the maiden culling. Thankfully new staff was arriving today, and to say you were excited was an understatement. It’s only been a week, maybe two, since the last maid was killed leaving you to do your normal chores on top of all the other necessities. The extra work has made your body sore and stiff, every step feels like your feet are stuck with glue and it’s getting increasingly difficult to manage your own basic needs. With a final tug of your black tie it is flat against your neck, your fingers curl under the collar of the white button up and lift the flaps over to cover the sides of the tie, leaving a nice, crisp, neckline. A chill air whisks through the cobblestone room, causing goosebumps to rise on your skin followed by a brief shiver. The morning sun hasn’t woken up yet and winter was gasping its last cold breaths over the estate. Spring was around the corner, but the halls of the castle would not get warmer until Summer. With a final brush of your hands over the obsidian vest and pants of your uniform you pull the matching jacket over yourself, and leave your chambers to begin your morning ritual.
At the entrance leading to the vineyard hangs a dirty apron with sleeves covered in splinters, and wood chips. You grab it and place it over your uniform to protect the fine fabric from rips, and stains. Lady Dimitrescu once sliced open a maid for having a rip along the hem, as she was excessively obsessed with appearances. This duty requires carrying logs from the outer vineyard to one room after another, starting a fire, then stroking the flames to life. First stop is the kitchen so you can warm the stove and start a large pot of water to bring to a boil. The main hall is next, dusting off the couch and seats closest to the fireplace, and replenishing the wood stock next to it.
The water is boiling on your return trip for more wood, so you remove the pot, and use a ladle to pour the hot water into a tea kettle with dried tea leaves sitting on the bottom. The tea leaves will steep in the hot water, by the time you’re finished with the rest of the fireplaces and waking the ladies it will be ready to serve. After grabbing more wood, you walk through the main hall, down the large steps, turn right and arrive inside the Lady’s personal seating area. The fireplace there is no longer usable due to the sizable hole in the back of the brick paneling: an unfortunate consequence of Lady Cassandra's anger. After readjusting the wood sack on your back, you knock on the primed wooden door awaiting any indication of the Lady being awake. No answer. A gentle twist of the door knob and slight push from your weight opened the door. Heavy, rhythmic breathing comes from the left corner, as the Lady lay resting you place the wood into the fireplace and throw a lit match into it, blowing softly until it caught onto the kindling and began to burn.
With the warmth quickly spreading through the room, you stand near the door in order to wake the Lady. Although you never had an issue, subconsciously you fear that one day she is going to wake up in a sour mood and slice anything within distance of her claws. The task of waking the ladies is always the worst part of your day, because waking up is the worst part of their day. All them are incredibly moody in the morning, but thankfully they’ve become less and less violent toward you.
“My Lady.” You husk out, your voice stiff from the cold.
A low, rumbling, growl comes from the head of the bed, a throaty groan following soon after. Her body shifts in the bed, rolling toward your direction until she settles on her side with her predatory eyes reflecting the glow of the fire. She is the least moody out of all the ladies, but if her looks alone could kill, you and many others would have died long ago.
“It’s time to wake up my Lady.” You say softly.
She stirs from her bed without a word, waving a hand for you to come forward when she stands up. Every morning she goes to her dressing room to prepare for the day with her personal maid, but without a personal maid it was up to you to fill that role. You follow behind her, back to the main hall, up the main stairwell to the second floor, and down the hall to the dressing room. Inside the room she begins to strip from her nightgown while you use a stool to get out a fresh dress for her to step into. Once she has her undergarments on you await on your stool until the dress is at her shoulders and you finish the outfit by zipping up the back. Lady Dimitrescu dismisses you, for she can finish getting herself ready and it is time for you to wake up her daughters. To make the rest of the job easier, you take a large dirty sheet and load it up with wood to carry on your back. This way you not only cut your job time in half, but also how many trips you have to take. After having to climb nearly all the stairs in the castle daily, you’d think it would get easier as time goes on; but after each flight you have to pause and pant to catch your breath before continuing on your way. Once you ignite the fire in a hallway you go and knock on the lady’s door then move onto the next.
“It’s time to wake up Lady Cassandra.”
“It’s time to wake up Lady Bela.”
“It’s time to wake up lady Daniela.”
All of the ladies confirm that they’re awake with either a hiss or buzz as a response, which is better than the first time you woke up Bela who threw her sickle at the door. Hanging the wood apron back on its hook, you make your way to the kitchen and put on another apron that is stained red. Regardless of how raw your hands became from washing it, the blood stained apron would never return to anything less than a light red hue. Even bleach stopped working.
The back of the kitchen is decorated with hanging limbs, and barrels of blood because Lady Dimitrescu insists on using every part of their “kills.” That also means that the back is cursed with the permanent stench of death and decay. Everybody vomits when they smell the back room for the first time, but eventually you learn to suck in a deep breath and move like lightning. The final fire is lit, and your pinched face examines the scenario in front of you; all of these maids were killed over a week ago, and although the cold of the kitchen has kept them cool, they are beginning to turn tepid. The lack of quality will put the ladies in a worse mood than they already are. You’ll have to cook and season the meat to hide the staleness.
The nausea would subside once you were out of the room, until then, you hold it back as the sharp filet knife slices over the skin of a removed arm. The smell of cooked flesh makes your senses dull, the nausea forcing its way further, threatening to make you vomit. Your saving grace is your option of opening the windows to allow a fresh breeze inside, since the ladies of the castle never venture into the kitchen. Butter and spices are added to the flesh, overly seasoning to hide the rank of the meat. Once breakfast is done, you pile the tray of still sizzling food next to the tea onto a rolling cart.
Before you leave, you grab the last bottle of wine stored in the kitchen and would have to ask Lady Bela to get more from the cellar. If there is anymore. You let out a long sigh as you exit the kitchen, your stomach grumbling in protest but you will eat later. You hang the stained apron up, and roll the cart through the double doors leading to the main hall. Lady Dimitrescu is already sitting in a chair that faces the fireplace with a coffee table in front of her. Two couches are on each side of the table where the girls have materialized and perk up at the sight of their breakfast.
“Finally. I’m so hungry.” Daniela moans.
“I can’t wait for fresh blood.” Cassandra complains.
You remove the tray, placing it in the center of the three girls and removing the lid once it settles on the table. Each one starts reaching and digging their teeth into the flesh, followed by unimpressed ‘hmphs’ and ‘hmms’ at the taste. You pour the blood infused tea, and the wine, handing the cup to the mistresses before standing back, eyes forward and hands folded in front of you.
“Now now dears, I know it is always exciting to have fresh help around the castle, but please do me a favor and try not to kill them all so quickly. Otherwise we will be right back where we are.” Lady Dimitrescu says calmly, as she places the cup edge to her lips.
“We could always drink you.” Lady Bela eyes you devilishly.
Your jaw tenses. Aside from the occasional teasing, the last time they paid you any mind was around the first few months you began working here. All three of them tried to scare or threaten you, but apparently your reactions weren’t to their standards. Otherwise they left you alone, and you’re certain that at one point they forgot you existed entirely. However, having been deprived of other entertainment other than torturing each other, it seems their interest has peaked in you once again.
“You’ll kill her and then we’ll be without all of our help entirely.” Lady Dimitrescu speaks sternly.
A low groan leaves Lady Bela’s throat as she rolls her head off to the side and scoffs under her breath. You release a pent up sigh, release the tension in your jaw, and try to relax your posture a little. Lady Dimitrescu leans down to put her cup on the table, she crosses her legs at the ankles and rests her hands on her knees. Her eyes never look away from the flames of the fire as she begins to speak again.
“When are the new hires meant to arrive Y/N?” Lady Dimitrescu asks.
“8:30 ma’am.” You respond.
The clock chimed eight times in tandem with your answer, the girls begin to buzz with excitement as Lady Dimitrescu finishes her cup. Her eyes glow for more, her hunger unsatisfied, but all she can do is breath heavily knowing this is a temporary feeling.
“Y/N.” Lady Dimitrescu calls.
“Yes ma’am?” You ask, taking a step forward.
“The list of new hires is in my chambers on the writing desk. I will leave it up to you to decide who goes where.”
“Yes ma’am.” You answer, and start to walk to her chambers.
“Now daughters, when they arrive I want you all to make yourselves scarce. You can make your presence known after they are inside, and we can begin blood donations in a few days to replenish our supply. Understood?”
“Yes mother.” The three girls agreed in unison.
The names on the paper were scribbled in the familiar cursive of your Lady, and where they are to be stationed. Folding the paper up neatly and slipping it into your coat pocket, you exit the Lady’s chambers, and promptly return to the main hall to collect the dishes. In the half hour left you get the dishes done and a quick bite to eat before the bells of the castle ring to life.
You straighten out your uniform as you make your way to the carriage gate, once there you pull the wide double doors open, letting the terrified women all herded into the grand entrance. You close the doors quickly behind them, no need to lock the doors because there is nowhere for them to go anyhow. The eyes of the many are on you as the crowd of thirty or more women, all of various ages, walk behind you to the main hall. You clear your throat when you stop walking and turn to stand in front of them, all of them shifting uncomfortably, as remnants of your own time standing there tickle your head.
“Good morning. I am Y/N, the head maiden of House Dimitrescu. Here we serve Lady Dimitrescu, Lady Bela, Lady Cassandra, and Lady Daniela, whom you shall refer to as such. You are to report to me every morning for assignments until you learn the routine of the castle and your tasks. I will show you all your quarters to be allowed to change, and drop off your belongings before we continue on a tour of where you will be permitted. Follow me.” Your voice was monotone, slightly harsh and deep given the small flinches of the ladies near the front.
You lead the new girls to the maid’s quarters, the entire time a quiet buzzing is heard just outside of your earshot but you know it’s one of the ladies. You wait outside the door and motion your hands to the two different rooms, each room holds approximately 20 people with rows of beds along the walls and a trunk at each bed. After all the women change into uniforms that fit and return to the hallway, you continue the tour to the kitchen. All of the women start to gag and cough, even with the windows open the smell was potent and eye burning.
“If you’re going to vomit, there’s a bucket to your left.” Your voice is slightly softer this time, remembering when you first laid eyes upon the mutilated corpses of the maids before you.
“If you feel like running. Go ahead. Whatever you heard may or may not be true, but know that the ladies of this castle will consume you, and running will only make it come faster.”
A silent fear overcomes the group, until a lone voice speaks up.
“Why haven’t they killed you then?”
You ponder for a moment before answering, “they certainly might as soon as you all are adequate enough in your positions. I cannot speak as to why they haven’t yet. The only advice I can give is be quiet, respond immediately, and don’t make mistakes.”
An uncomfortable shift happens in the crowd, seeing the women wanting to run or hide or anything from this place. Their faces hold pure disgust while simultaneously their hands pinch their noses.
You sigh softly, “it’s better if you know now what is expected of you, instead of coming to the unfortunate conclusion yourself.”
The rest of the tour goes on without interruption, and at the end you question them for anyone who has any experience in cooking, cleaning, or gardening. You call out the names on the list and write down who goes where and does what. Those with cooking experience will be in charge of cooking all the meals, maintaining the kitchen and dining room, and ensuring the storage of wine is kept fully stocked. Those with cleaning experience will clean the linens, and the castle except the private halls and chambers of the ladies. Those with gardening experience will be stationed in the quarters off from the vineyard, they have the hardest jobs of all. They will have to chop wood for the fire places, prepare the vineyard, tend to the courtyard flowers, and remove any rotten corpses used for scarecrows.
By now it was near supper which makes an excellent transition time. The maids that are assigned to the kitchen come in a single file line, all of them looking at you expectantly. Their eyes shifting around in fright, and watering from the smell. Their uniforms are black long-sleeved button up shirts, with long black dresses, and white aprons to cover the front. The long sleeves are extra lined to prevent burns and cuts from happening. Dinner will take longer than usual, you pray to Mother Miranda that the ladies have a sliver of patience tonight.
The new maids begrudgingly begin to prepare the meal, you warn them that they instead can be the meal, and that makes them work with more gumption. Finally they get the meal on a tray, and you usher them out into the main hall. Lady Dimitrescu is walking down the stairs with a bottle in her hand, you eye the bottle and groan internally for forgetting to ask for more wine. You bow, eyeing behind you and waving with your hand that the rest of them did too.
“Good evening my Lady. I apologize for the inconvenience of supper being late.”
“No need.” She says calmly.
Judging from the vinegar in her voice, if her daughters don’t kill all the maids by the end of week she certainly will. Speaking of: buzzing fills the air as three black, swarming masses appear near the new maids. All three sisters poke their formed upper bodies from the masses and hiss, causing the maids to scream and one of them faint on the floor.
“Mmmm fresh blood.” Lady Bela giggles, inhaling sharply as one maid cowered her head.
“I think that’s a new record.” Cassandra taunts as she looks down at the fainted maid.
The other two giggle and follow behind their sister, inhaling the new arrivals, their eyes screaming with hunger. A cold hand touches your left shoulder, trailing along your shoulder blades then resting on your right shoulder. You glance over to see Cassandra’s face near yours, close enough you can smell breakfast that still lingered on her breath.
“You don’t smell too bad either, Y/N. You’re lucky we have other playthings now.”
Your eyes lock with her golden ones, not saying anything as she smirks and sits down across from her sisters. The new maidens serve the meal, their bodies shaking the entire time but nothing spilled or broke. The four women eat and drink in silence, the girls eyeing the new maidens like predators. The muscles in your jaw tense again, clamping your teeth together as you attempt to keep your face composed.
“Ladies, you may leave us for now. Y/N, stay. I need to speak with you.”
The other maids hurry out of the main hall back to the pungent safety of the kitchen. Your eyes look up at Lady Dimitrescu who now looks back at you.
“What can I do for you ma’am?” You ask.
She takes the final sip of her wine, the irritation on her face growing steadily more noticeable with the less blood she consumes. Soon there will be a steady flow of blood and she will not have to rely on wine reserves.
“With this new help I am changing your assigned tasks. Once the new maidens are comfortable, you will personally see to my daughter’s chambers and anything else they require. I can only imagine the destruction these girls have caused to their own rooms.”
The girls look up in agitation, “we don’t have anything to do. I even finished all the books in the library.” Lady Daniela whines.
The other two start to chime in, Lady Bela eyeing you unexpectedly makes you shift your gaze away.
Lady Dimitrescu raises her hand, “enough. I understand you three are bored. I do. We have to get through spring, and when the grapes are ready to be harvested, summer will arrive and you will be allowed full access outside to satisfy your needs. Until then, we only have a few bottles of wine left so I implore that you all practice your patience.”
Lady Cassandra taps her fingers against her cheek, “amongst other things I suppose.”
Her eyes land on you, this unexpected attention from the three daughters makes the hairs on your neck stand on end. A sensation that hasn’t occurred since the first time one of the girls touched you non-threatening.
“Y/N.” Lady Dimitrescu’s voice caught your attention.
“Yes ma’am.” You say quickly.
“I trust with your work load being lifted, you’ll ensure that the new maids do not cause trouble like the last bunch did. As much as I enjoy fresh blood, I do not want my daughters slaughtering the whole mess over fickle matters.”
“Yes ma’am.” You reply.
With that, she sets her glass down and stands, taking strides toward her chambers. You turn to enter the kitchen, asking for the maids to come and clear the dishes as the girls giggle. The daughters watch the new maids clean in a panicked manner, their eyes glowing with thoughts of blood.