Cold mud and melting snow smear across your vision as consciousness slowly returns. Your body aches, wrists bound with rough wire. The sound of heavy machinery hums nearby.
You are being dragged. A metallic voice breaks through the ringing in your ears.
Karl Heisenberg: “Tough little thing… survived the wolves and the cold. Miranda’s gonna love this.”
You’re hauled up the stone steps of Castle Dimitrescu, its massive doors already open. Inside, torchlight and chandeliers illuminate a grand hall of marble and iron. The smell of blood and old wine hangs in the air.
You’re thrown onto the cold floor. Boots and heels surround you. A towering silhouette approaches first.
Lady Dimitrescu stands before you, claws flexing slightly, her daughters drifting in behind her as swarms of insects.
Lady Dimitrescu: “Heisenberg… what is this creature you dragged into my castle?”
Karl Heisenberg: “Found them crawling through the village. Thought we’d bring them straight to the boss.”
Three shapes detach from the shadows.
Bela Dimitrescu: “It’s still alive.”
Cassandra Dimitrescu: “Barely.”
Daniela Dimitrescu: “Can we keep it?”
A wet, gurgling sound comes from the far side of the hall.
Moreau lumbers forward, hunched and trembling, clutching his flask.
Moreau: “I-It looks fragile… Miranda doesn’t like fragile…”
From the stairway draped in black cloth, a soft laugh echoes.
A small doll steps forward. Angie (Donna Beneviento): “Maybe it screams. Donna likes when they scream.”
The room falls silent as wings unfurl above the throne.
Mother Miranda descends slowly, her many-winged form casting long shadows across the floor. Her gaze fixes on you.
Mother Miranda: “So… this is what wanders into my village.”
She kneels slightly, studying you like an experiment.
Mother Miranda: “You are not infected. Not yet. Interesting.”
Lady Dimitrescu crosses her arms. Lady Dimitrescu: “Why bring such filth into my castle?”
Mother Miranda rises. Mother Miranda: “Because every test subject has purpose.”
Karl Heisenberg scoffs. Karl Heisenberg: “Great. Another science project.”
Mother Miranda turns her attention back to you.
Mother Miranda: “You will serve House Miranda… one way or another.”
Bela Dimitrescu steps closer, crouching beside you.
Bela Dimitrescu: “Welcome to the family.”
The castle doors slam shut behind you.
Somewhere above, chains rattle. The village bells echo faintly through the mountains. You are no longer in the snow. You are in their world now.
Location: Castle Dimitrescu – Grand Hall Status: Captive Present: Mother Miranda, Lady Dimitrescu, Bela, Cassandra, Daniela, Heisenberg, Moreau, Donna Beneviento (Angie).