Archive of Our Own

You were Daniela’s as soon as you entered the castle. 

Mostly because she claimed you immediately.

They were going down the row of new maids, the sisters were. Each sister had a group of maids that were under their charge specifically. The rest were under Lady Dimitrescu. Bela was first because of her age. Her golden hair was mostly hidden by her hood as she went down the line. She had done the curtesy of cleaning up her mouth, something you would later find out was uncommon for the sisters to do. She studied each maid asking them several questions. She seemed to especially want women who could read and write. Thankfully, she seemed to select the first maid she said yes. 

Cassandra went down the line, her dark hair hung in curls and her hood was down. She began scaring several girls, taking the one who freaked out the most.

Then it was Daniela’s turn. She walked down the line, looking kind of bored at first, glancing at the other girls. She paused in front of you, taking you in. She was beautiful in her own way. Though all the sisters looked very similar, Daniela’s red hair made her stand out, along with it being shaved on the side. Her golden eyes glanced up and down, making you suddenly feel self-conscious.

“You,” she said with a smile. 

 The first few weeks you had gotten your responsibilities from the head housekeeper. That was until the first time you had an actual conversation with Daniela. It was an… experience. There was no other way to describe it.

First of all you were just getting off work after finishing cleaning her room.

Second of all, she was drenched in blood, like, Carrie White at the end of Carrie drenched in blood. She seemed a bit too calm for the situation, looking surprised to see you.

Third she looked very upset. Not mad, or frustrated, or any of the other moods you associated with the Dimitrescu sisters. Just, sad.

“My lady are you-”

“Cassandra decided it would be fun to dump a vat of Sanguis Virginis on me,” Daniela frowned. “Mother was so angry with her but now,” she just motioned to herself, seeming at a loss.

You paused. You could just walk away, but something made you stay.

“Why don’t you take a bath? I’ll start it and then take the clothes to get washed?” you asked, worried you might be overstepping.

Instead, you earned a smile. “Oh would you?”

“Come along Lady Daniela,” you said, entering back into the room. You went into her bathroom, starting her bath. 

“There should be some bubble bath on the counter behind you!” She called.

You poured it in, taking a deep breath. Her clothes were on the chair by the door, she herself was behind a changing wall. 

“It should be ready soon,” you picked up the outfit gently.

“Thanks Babe!” she called.

You blushed scarlet, red, going to clean the clothes. Babe echoing in your head as you walked to the laundry room. After that the head housekeeper told you you were supposed to report to Daniela’s room in the morning. You’d usually find a list of tasks there written in Daniela’s messy handwriting. Sometimes they would be normal tasks like “clean my room” or “Bring my books back to the library.” Other days it would be “read this book” or “spend the afternoon outside.” Honestly, you had no complaints. The list was usually pretty easy to complete.

Daniela started appearing in her room while you were cleaning and you would discuss all sorts of things. Her recent read, her latest mishap in the winery, or even Cassandra’ latest prank on her. It seemed Danila got under Cassandra’s skin more than Bela and lashed out at Daniela as a result.

Soon it evolved into her not even leaving the room, just waiting for you to arrive so you could talk. You could claim you hated it and spending time around her made your skin crawl, but that would be a lie. The first couple of times you had been nervous, but the more you talked, the less Daniela felt like your scary boss who would kill you at the drop of a hat, and more like a friend.

And then one day she was describing animatedly the lesbian vampire trope and why it was so interesting to her when you realized that you had a major issue on your hands.

You found you liked Daniela Dimitrescu. Like, you like liked her as an elementary school student would say. Maybe even loved her.

Which wouldn’t be an issue except for the fact you saw her.

Every single day.

All day long.

You at first thought there was no way Daniela could like you back. In any sort of context.

Until one day, when she stormed into her room. She didn’t show up until you were almost done cleaning. She was absolutely steaming pissed off. 

“Daniela?” You asked. She’s made you drop the lady part awhile ago. 

She simply grabbed you and kissed you. Hard. She pulled away and almost out of habit you followed her, causing her to chuckle.

“Just something Bela had said,” She muttered. “Don’t worry too much.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s my job to worry about you,” you said, your eyes darting down to her lips.

“Is it bad I want to fuck you now?” Daniela asked.

“Only if it’s bad I want you to fuck me just as bad,” you whispered. She grinned, pulling you into another kiss.

Daniela had never put a label on what you were, and honestly, you were too afraid to ask. You had seen what Cassandra had done to the girls who assumed things about their relationships. It ended with them either in the dungeon, or a large scar across their face. 

But Daniela was different from Cassandra. You knew that already. Daniela didn’t come to you only for sex. Nor had she discarded you like a toy after a month like Cassandra did. Daniela came to you for someone to talk to. She came to you for comfort. Or at least, that’s what you told yourself. 

And then one day you were sitting in her room and she told you she loved you. 

You were laying on the bed, your head in her lap as she stroked your hair with one hand, a book in her other. 

“You know, I never understood when the protagonist does shit like this,” Daniela said breaking the silence. 

“Do what?” you asked sleepily.

“Confess their love while drunk.”

“Maybe they’re too afraid of rejection to say it sober,” You said, turning your head to look up at her. She seemed deep in thought. 

“Rejection is scary,” She admitted. “But I think not remembering if they reciprocated would be worse.”

“Perhaps,” You said. “But would you rather never say it and lose the opportunity?”

“No,” she said, quietly. “I guess I wouldn’t.”

The two of you sat in silence a little longer.

“Sometimes I don’t think I know what romantic love is,” Daniela said. Her expression was thoughtful as she stared straight ahead instead of down at you. “But then you smile at me or laugh at my jokes and I think I actually might know what it is like to be in love, because I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you.” 

You smiled up at her. “That’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”

She blushed, glancing away.

You sat up. “And just for the record?” You pulled her into a kiss before breaking it off and meeting her gaze. “I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you as well.” 

One day as it was approaching winter, you were dusting a vase in the hallways when you felt Daniela wrap her arms around your waist, giving you a hug.

“Daniela?” you asked confused.

“Surprise!” She said. “Come on!”

“I still have work-”

“And I’m your boss,” she said. “And I’m ordering you to stay by my side for the rest of the day.”

You felt a smile grow on your face. “As you wish.”

She pulled you along to the library, and into her lap. You leaned your head against her chest, and she rested her head on top of yours. You heard and felt a low purring in her throat as she wrapped her arms tightly around you. 

You sat in silence for  bit, before she finally said. “Cassandra hasn’t spoken to you recently, has she?”

“Only Dimitrescu I’ve spoken to recently is you,” you said, sitting up. You studied her face that seemed conflicted. You placed your hand on her cheek, and she leaned into your touch, closing her eyes. 

“Not that I don’t love spending time with you Dani,” I said. “But what’s all this about?”

“It’s nothing,” She said, pushing your hand away. “I just wanted to hold you, that’s all.”

“Dani,” you said. She glanced away from you. 

“Cassandra may have said some things.”

Your eyes narrowed. “Lady Cassandra says a lot of things, what’d she say this time?”

“She said that you don’t love me,” Dani said, her voice a little choked up. “That you’re using me and that if either her or Bela showed interest in you, you’d drop me within five second.”

“Now I know, you know, that isn’t true,” you said, leaning your forehead against hers. “I’m yours Daniela, I have been yours since you entered this castle.”

She didn’t respond.

“You believe that, don’t you?” You asked, your heart breaking. “That I care about you.”

“I don’t know,” She whispered. “Every time I fall for someone it seems I like them more then they like me. And Bela says I’m too clingy and needy. And I think I annoy you all the time, and I don’t know.” She glanced away from you again, obviously uncomfortable with the vulnerability she was displaying.

“Daniela, Not to be rude to Cassandra, but she was talking out of her ass,” You said bluntly. Daniela giggled at that. “You are very worthy of love, my love. I don’t think I could ever having anything close that I have with you with Bela or Cassandra.”

“Mean it?” Daniela asked.

“You can hear my heartbeat, you know I’m not lying,” you said.

Dani pulled you into a kiss. “Mine,” she whispered.

“Yours,” you said in response, placing her hand over your heartbeat.