I walked in slowly, taking in my surroundings. I hadn’t expected this level of hospitality. When I heard cult, blood sacrifices, and orgies, I had imagined a cave, hidden deep in the mountains. This was nothing of what I had prepared myself for. This was… nice.
Anita and Alicia moved fast. Anita went to the armoire and Alicia ushered me to the vanity. I sat down and looked at the table. There were lotions and oils, brushes for makeup and hair. Ribbons, and jeweled pins. All of this was… beautiful.
Alicia picked up a white cream and dumped it into her hands. She then began running her fingers through my unruly curls. I flinched as she hit snarl after snarl, but whatever was in that cream seemed to work with the curls. She reached for a comb and continued working until slowly but surely, my curls became less ‘just-fucked tangles’ and more… ‘Aztec priestess’. I looked so much more like Magdalena now with my hair detangled it took my breath away.
Alicia put something on my face that smelled heavenly. She rubbed it in and murmured something about it keeping my face youthful. I smirked, considering that. I saw her lips curve upward just slightly as well.
After my hair was under control I stood and Anita was ready with a dress just like the one Magdalena had been wearing.
“Do I get underwear?” I asked. They exchanged looks and shook their heads.
I guess… when in Rome.
They helped me put the dress on. While letting them see me nude was mildly uncomfortable, I pushed past it. It was obvious that this was their job. This was nothing new to them.
“Go to sleep. The High Priestess will come for you tomorrow,” Anita promised. They waited until I climbed into bed to leave. I was so refreshed and the bed was so luxurious that sleep came easy that morning.
The next evening I was greeted by the same two servants and warm, fresh blood. I greedily downed it and took in another full goblet. This blood was different. It was delicious.
“Where is Ludovica? The woman I came with?” I asked. They gave me polite nods.
“She is being entertained by Jaime. Magdalena would like to see you first.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but it seemed trivial. Jaime and Ludovica seemed to get along well. I should just let them relax.
I was given a fresh dress. Alicia brushed my hair again and insisted on doing my makeup. When I turned back to the mirror, Magdalena and I could be twins.
I stood and together, the three of us returned to that room I had first met my aunt in. There she was again, relaxing on pillows in front of the fire.
I came to sit with her. She looked me over and nodded approvingly.
“The vampire you took that curse for is here,” she said, her voice rather deadpan. She didn’t look at me when she said it.
I perked up. “Desi! Where is he?” I looked around, almost as if he were going to pop out of the shadows.
“He brought a friend. He is very handsome.”
“Who? Desi?”
“No. The friend. Arsenio.” She struggled with his name. I blinked. He brought Arsenio? Why?
“Can I go see them? Are they staying here?”
“You can.” She turned to me then and shrugged. “I will send for them.” She snapped her fingers and the two servant vampires I had been given disappeared.
“You are an artist,” she said, not asking.
I grinned. “I am. You have beautiful art all around your community. I’d love to study it.”
She beamed, flashing her fangs. “Take all the time you’d like. This is your home, and I want you to love it as much as I do.”
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment before I turned to ask a question.
“You went to see the demon who cursed me. Why?”
Her eyebrows went up, but she seemed otherwise unfazed. She seemed to enjoy staring into the fire.
“A demon does not make deals with uninteresting vampires. He thought you were special, and I wanted to know why.”
