Chapter Text
"I've gathered some clothes for you..." Daniella murmurs quietly to herself as she lays out some clothes for the new occupant of the castle, pale blue lips moving very slightly as she practices the words "...I've gathered some new clothes for you, miss." The maid was... she seemed oddly calm, looking over to one of the paintings on the wall silently and making direct eye contact with the portrait, or the man hidden behind it to be exact. Turning silently, she bowed before descending the small set of stairs and walking into the front garden of the castle, walking through to the meat cellar Debilitas was currently working in; her attention being caught by a male Gonepteryx Rhamni (Common Brimstone) as it fluttered past, causing a faint smile to replace her usual cold frown. After watching it for a moment she quietly continued on her way to the meat cellar, descending the stairs silently and unlocking the cage which housed the castles newest resident without alerting the gardener to her presence. She remained in the shadows for a moment, attempting to get a look at the caged woman, before ascending the stairs once more so she could attempt to catch the butterfly she had seen moments earlier.
Upon finding the specimen had flown away, the maid returned to the castle suite that she had laid the clothes in, waiting silently by the chest full of clothes that was hidden behind the bed, watching silently as the young woman she had freed walked timidly through the room, body shielded by nothing more than a cream sheet. Before she could open the door and leave the room, the young woman seemed to sense the maid, turning around before jumping back with a slightly startled expression. Silence filled the room as their eyes met, an odd feeling touching Daniellas chest as an unnerving smile decorated her lips.
Raising a hand, she spoke with a beautiful yet hollow voice, "I've gathered some clothes for you."
Silence followed, the shorter woman nervously keeping her distance as the maid moved close, trying to leave the room and give the blonde the smallest hint of privacy. Yet as her hand touched the doorknob... "W-Wait! Don't go..."
Daniella paused, a slight thud hitting her chest from the inside. She seemed cold, almost statuesque as she turned to face the young woman, allowing her to continue. "Uhm.. excuse me, but... where are we? And.. how did I get here?"
She didn't respond, looking past Fiona and through the painting she knew her master was hidden behind, before repeating the words she had spoken to the corpse of a man she had the misfortune of calling her master. Daniella left as the young woman turned and seemed to have some kind of episode or seizure, leaning against the door once it closed behind her as she tries to figure out what the hell just happened with herself... only one thought went through her head as she glanced at the door behind her, a hand on her chest trying to calm the heavy beats of her heart...
She is... beautiful...
Daniella didn't expect the woman to be so beautiful, yet here she was, panicking internally as she recalled her reaction. It took her a moment as she walked away from the room, heading through the castle to a room that held a kaleidoscope of butterflies she raised from caterpillars. There were very few things in the maids mundane life, especially considering her master and that disgusting keeper of the castle... at least Debilitas was alright; clumsy and childish, but she knew the man meant no harm. One of the few things that brought her some small touches of joy were her garden of Mandragora, which she saw as her children on many occasions, and her collection of butterflies. She adored butterflies and moths, how such beautiful creatures could come from odd and ugly ones she had no idea, but that made them all the more wonderful to her. Another creature also piqued her interest, seals, but considering there was no ocean nearby, and she was never allowed to leave the castle grounds, Daniella could only enjoy the cute looking creatures through sketches and pictures in the mansion library; unlike the wonderous creatures that were butterflies and moths.
Her cool silver eyes wandered around the small parlour room, smiling softly at the sight of her precious butterflies swarming around some flowers hanging before the door into the laundry room. The maid smiled softly, dusting some of the furniture in the room before she leaves, instead moving toward the guest room in the castle so she could continue idle cleaning. Every now and then she would hear Debilitas yelling for his dolly as she walked, even noticing the blonde hiding behind doors when she heard Debilitas coming. At one point, Fiona ran face first into the maid, falling back slightly before she was caught in a gentle yet strong grasp. "Miss... you should be more careful." The words seemed cold, almost harsh, but Daniella was trying to be playful... trying being the key word.
"Ah- I'm sorry," Fiona began, only to panic as the gardeners heavy footsteps could be heard before the door. Looking over, Daniella quickly shoved the younger woman into the castle study, shutting the door before he could run in.
The two castle workers spoke quietly, too quietly for Fiona to hear them... so she waited, ear pressed to the door as she listened for footsteps. When there was nothing but silence, she quickly peeked out of the room and made her way back to that small garden, having just found that key in the music room. Fiona sighed, quietly unlocking that door she couldn't go through and walking through it after she saw what she could only describe as a will-o'-wisp floating toward her. Closing the door quickly behind her, the blonde looked around at the hallway, walking through the only unlocked door into what appeared to be the castles kitchen. Quickly walking down a small flight of stairs and into the pantry, Fiona found the map she had been looking for and returned up into the main kitchen once more, only to have another run-in with that freaky gardener.
Running out of the door and up the hallway Fiona was greeted by the same voice she had heard earlier, in the music room where she had found the key into this small portion of the castle; although she couldn't see anyone ahead... how peculiar. The poor young woman was informed that she was the heir to this castle she was trapped in, her parents having died in the accident that lead to her winding up here... the stress of the situation caused her to faint, collapsing to the ground as small flashes of disjointed memories shone in her eyes like some kind of searchlight.
Fiona woke up with a loud scream, hands shaking at the nightmare... no... the memory she recalled in her sleep. It was only slight pieces, but that still didn't change anything, her parents were- no...
"This can't be happening to me..." she wept, as if begging that this was some kind of dream she could wake up from "...it can't be."