Chapter Text
You had been feeling off most of the day. The harsh weather made your joints ache and protest at every little movement. Even still, you had your chores to do. You could work through the pain as normal. But when you made your way to the courtyard in order to tend to the gardens, you heard something. No. no no no. You turned around, horrified as you saw.. Something heading your direction. You couldn't move.
Go.
I can’t
GO.
I CAN’T.
You were frozen to your spot, your brain firing at a million miles a second. Memories of days you’d rather forget playing like a film over and over in your head. You couldn’t even scream. Then you heard it. The buzzing. Or was it just in your head?
No.
It was the girls. Thank god it was the girls. The daughters Dimitrescu reformed right in front of you, maniacal laughter spilling from their lips as they slashed the monster with their blades. When they were content with the state of the creature, they turned to you, their faces covered in what seemed to be black blood. “Liana!” Daniela exclaimed. They’d taken a liking to you after you’d shown an interest in their swarms. You always did love bugs.
Then they were coming towards you, bloody smiles flashing your way. And it was all too much. The memories of what happened four years prior were still fresh in your mind, stealing the breath from your lungs and sending a pain down your leg. So you ran, stumbling your way blindly to the restroom. And there you sat.
Struggling, gasping, begging for any semblance of air to reach your lungs, you pulled down your stalkings to reveal your leg. And you promptly took it right off, the prosthetic adding too much pressure to the forming phantom pain. Everything was too much. What was happening.
I need help.
Ow.
I can’t b r e a t h e.
Ow.
W s happ e.
hat ening to m
Ow.
You barely heard the buzzing and concerned yells from the other side of the door over your heartbeat pounding in your ears and your pathetic gasping for air. Just breathe goddammit.
But they’re here.
Who?
The monsters.
The monsters that broke your body.
Pounding at the door broke you out of your stupor, the sound of your lady calling out your name barely overpowering the assault in your head. “Liana. Liana darling, open this door right now.”
You were never one to deny your lady. So you took whatever energy you had left and poured it all into unlocking the door. That should be a new olympic sport considering how hard it was. ‘Unlock the bathroom door with one leg while you don’t even know which way is up.’ Fun. But you did it. Your lady ducked under the door with a panicked expression, one that increased tenfold at seeing you sitting distraught on the floor with one leg not attached to your body . Must’ve been a sight to behold.
“Liana. Draga mea look at me.” She snapped her fingers in front of my face. When did she get on the floor with you?
“Can I touch you, cel mic?” She asked, oh so gently.
No.
You shook your head. Not right now.
“Okay. That’s okay. I’ll stay right here. Everything is okay, Liana. You’re safe, you’re with me. My daughters are outside making sure no one disturbs us.” She said, trying her best to soothe you.
I’m safe. I’m with her.
You looked up. You met her eyes. You burst into tears again, this time craving the comfort of your lady.
“Liana?”
You responded by crawling over to her, embarrassed by your sudden need for physical touch. She welcomed you into her embrace as if it was the most natural thing in the world. You melted against her chest, listening to her breathing and trying your best to match it with your own. She began to hum a tune, a Romanian lullaby your mother used to sing to you. It made you smile. After what seemed like a lifetime of just sitting and willing yourself to breathe, you finally felt some semblance of calm.
“Would you like to talk about it?” Lady Dimitrescu asked after you removed yourself from her iron tight grip.
“I suppose I owe you an explanation.” You chuckled, glancing down at your stump of a leg.
“You don’t owe me anything, floarea mea. Although I am just the slightest bit surprised at your..” She seemed at a loss for words.
“Lack of a leg?” You finished helpfully.
She chuckled, “Exactly.”
“It’s okay, really. Around four years ago, I went out hunting with my father. We were out longer than expected, and by the time we realized how late it was, the sky had already grown dark. We knew there were creatures in the woods that thrived in the night, why else would there be a curfew for the whole village? But we never knew exactly what . I don’t remember much of the event, the doctor said it’s a common response to forget about a major trauma in your life. But I do know that my father and I made it back the next morning covered in blood and missing three limbs between the two of us. I, of course, made it. At the expense of my right leg. My father was not so lucky.” You finished with a sad smile and a far off look in your eyes. You missed your father.
Before you could even spare Lady Dimitrescu a glance, your leg convulsed in a shockwave of pain, protesting at the memory. Your leg that wasn’t there anymore. A small groan left your lips, and caught your lady's attention immediately.
“Are you alright, cel mic? Are you in pain?” She asked, concern clear on her face.
You let out a strangled conformation. “Forgive me, My Lady, but do you think you could hand me that mirror?” You politely asked, despite the immeasurable amounts of pain you were in. You were still going to be respectful to your lady. Lady Dimitrescu seemed confused at the request, but complied regardless. After being handed the mirror, you promptly put it in between your legs, making it so the mirror reflected the image of your good leg onto the empty spot. And it helped. Not instantly, nor did it ease all the pain. But it helped.
“If you don’t mind my asking, what is it that you're doing?” Your lady asked, all too curious.
“It helps with the pain.”
“Are you always in pain?”
“Not always, but more often than not, yes.”
“There must be something we can do. Shall I send for the doctor perhaps?” Lady Dimitrescu asked, a pained expression on her face as she began to process all that was told to her.
“There's no need, doamna mea. It’s something called phantom pain. It happens when my body thinks I still have my leg, and makes me feel pain. It usually happens when I have a memory of sorts that triggers it. The mirror gives me the visual aspect of my missing leg still being there. It doesn't work completely, but it brings me some relief.”
“And there’s absolutely nothing you can do? There must be something”
“I wish with all my heart that such a thing existed My Lady, but for now, all I have is mirrors and a metal replacement.” You said, referring to your prosthetic.
She only frowned at that, her brow creasing in contemplation. “My heart aches for you Liana. It truly does. To hear of such a kind soul like yourself going through so much hardship, and being unable to do anything to ease the pain is unimaginable. I need you to promise me that whenever you’re in pain, you’ll tell either me or my daughters, and we’ll be sure to give you a break if needed. Whatever I can do to help, draga, I am here.”
“Doamna mea.. you are too kind to me. This is more than I could possibly ask for. Thank you, my lady.” You said with a smile. Finally, you didn’t have to work through the pain anymore. You could stop.
She only cradled your face, and gave a gentle kiss to your forehead before excusing herself, leaving you sitting on the floor, a small smile on your face at the contact.
You were going to be fine.