Revenge, and A Little Bit More

Chapter Seven: Peace Treaty

Lady Dimitrescu went back to her bedroom and took a bath, before getting dressed. She put on a Victorian Era black dress, with open shoulders, the Dimitrescu Family Crest standing out beautifully on her pale skin. She went to her vanity, doing her makeup and painting her lips her signature ruby red. She looked herself over in the full length mirror, and when satisfied, she took the pocket watch and made her way to Lilith's bedroom. She swallowed her pride, blushing slightly, and knocked on the door. Everything told her to leave. To run. She pushed the feeling back and took n deep breath. She heard noises coming from inside, like a body dropping to the floor and scrambling to get up. She heard a groan from Lilith, making her smile to herself. 'Stop smiling, idiot.' she scolded herself. Lilith opened the doors, trying to hide a small smile.
"Did you make an appointment?" she tried keeping a serious face.
"Can we talk? Please?" Lady Dimitrescu mumbled, fiddling with her fingers.
"I don't know... Are you going to choke me again?" Lilith asked, raising her eyebrows and crossing her arms. She saw something flashing in Lady Dimitrescu's eyes, too quick for her to see exactly what. 'Excitement? Did she just...' Lilith pondered.
"No. I promise." Lady Dimitrescu was exceptionally good at hiding emotions and facial expressions.
"Damnit." Lilith whispered, thinking Lady Dimitrescu didn't hear her.
"Alright, my lady. Come in" she said, turning around as the Lady ducked through the door. She looked around Lilith's room, slightly intrigued, yet annoyed. It was messy. On the desk was sketch books with drawings of a woman. Lady Dimitrescu squinted her eyes to try and see who it was, but Lilith quickly closed the sketch books and organized the desk. She stood with her hand resting on the desk, the other, on her hip. Lady Dimitrescu's eyes fell to a canvas, standing on an easel close to the balcony, depicting Castle Dimitrescu, with a colorful sunset in the background. Lilith's bed wasn't made either, which made her frown. Her room reminded her of her daughter's room, messy, but showing their personalities.
"Would you like tea or coffee?" Lilith asked, watching the Lady with curiosity.
"Wine, please. I need something stronger." she said as she walked towards the painting.
"Should I be worried?" Lilith joked, chuckling at the eye roll she got from the Lady.
"Lorraine! Come here, dear!" Lilith called, making Lady Dimitrescu frown at the pet name.
"Yes, mistress? Good morning, Lady Dimitrescu." she bowed slightly.
"Good morning, Lorraine." she said, still looking at the painting.
"Be a dear and bring some wine for my Lady and strong black coffee for me."
"Of course, mistress. Anything else?"
"Yes. Apologies for the mess in my personal chambers. Take another maiden and clean that up." Lady Dimitrescu said, looking between Lilith and Lorraine. Lilith was smiling like an idiot and Lorraine was smirking.
"Something funny, maiden?" the Lady asked, glaring daggers at the maiden. Both their smiles faded quickly.
"No, my lady. My apologies." she said and quickly left the room. Lilith cleared her throat and glanced at Lady Dimitrescu.
"Are the two of you... close?" Lady Dimitrescu asked, frowning at Lilith.
"Mmm. Yes. Super close." she said, smirking. But she soon realized what the Lady meant by the question.
"Super close acquaintances, my lady. We've become goof friends over the past few weeks. That's all." she held up her hands, palms facing the Lady.
"That's nice." Lady Dimitrescu said, making Lilith think that she doesn't like the friendship at all. She smiled to herself.
"So what would you like to talk about, my lady?"
"I want toapologizeforearlier..." she mumbled fast, Lilith pretend not to hear what she said.
"Pardon me?" she smirked, making Lady Dimitrescu roll her eyes.
"I want to apologize for losing my temper." she said, lifting her head, trying to be proud.
"That's quite alright, my Lady. I had quite a bit of fun." she winked.
"Good. I still have many questions. Shall we continue our conversation?" she said, as if she was busy doing business.
"Of course. I have questions too, and I want you to be honest with me."
"Why did you dream walk in my thoughts and dreams? I recognized you as my wolf." she said as she glared at Lorraine, who returned bringing their drinks. Lorraine poured Lady Dimitrescu's wine without making eye contact, and promptly left the room again.
"Your daughters woke first. They became worried, because you didn't want to wake up. I was merely trying to convince you to come back. They needed their mother. And I was growing tired of almost getting murdered around every corner. Why didn't you want to come back?" Lilith asked and say down on a couch in front of the fireplace. Lady Dimitrescu sighed, and joined her on the couch, crossing her legs elegantly.
"I believed that I deserved death." she said, not looking at Lilith.
"Why? Be honest with me. I might be a crazy witch, but I'm actually a nice person."
"Because Mother Miranda commanded it." she swallowed her tears, hiding it from Lilith.
"Since when do you listen to witches?" Lilith's smile faded, seeing the sadness in her face.
"I was in love with her." she whispered, tears escaped her eyes.
"I know. When I am dream walking with someone, I feel all their feelings. I'm so  sorry, my lady. Truly I am." she said softly, as Lady Dimitrescu composed herself.
"I know I shouldn't trust her. But my heart can't help it."
"Well, she did kill your daughters. That should be reason enough for you to hate her." Lilith said, placing her hand briefly on Lady Dimitrescu's hand, before pulling away quickly, frowning at herself.
"You're right. I hate her. I won't trust anyone like that ever again." she said, taking a sip from her wine. Lilith watched her, examining every detail of her beautiful face.
"You don't trust me. Understandable. I can be quite troublesome. And annoying. But. What I cannot understand is why I changed the way I look at you."
"What do you mean?"
"I no longer desire to use you and your daughters. I feel like I..." she stopped suddenly and got up. Lady Dimitrescu grabbed her arm.
"What's wrong?" she frowned at Lilith, who seemed to struggle to breathe.
"Uhm, nothing. I have to go." she ran out of her room, panicking. She kept running until she reached the gardens. She panicked, because she didn't know what to do, she's never panicked like this before. Ever. 'What's happening? Why can't I breathe?' she thought, taking a seat on a bench. She breathed deeply, in through her nose and out through her mouth. She sat there for about an hour, when she spotted Lady Dimitrescu through one of the windows of the castle. She seemed to be looking for her. She watched Lady Dimitrescu from outside, trying to hide, feeling embarrassed for her breakdown. Almost as if Lady Dimitrescu could hear her, she turned her head and looked straight at Lilith, smiling softly.
"Are you alright, Lilith?" she asked as she stepped outside into the cold winters morning.
"I am. I apologize for running off like that. I'm not entirely sure what happened." she frowned.
"That's alright. I won't bother you for long, I just wanted to give you something." Lady Dimitrescu said as she reached inside her coat pocket and took out Lilith's pocket watch.
"You... fixed it?" she asked, her mouth hanging open slightly. A lump grew in her throat as she gently took the watch from Lady Dimitrescu. She inspected the watch, looking at the photograph, melancholy coming through strong. She frowned as she felt strange all of a sudden. As if a veil has been removed from her vision, she suddenly understood her feelings for the Lady. She felt lighter, like a heavy weight has been lifted from her heart. She gulped, trying to process what she's feeling and why.
"You're welcome, darling. Let's go inside and finish our conversation, shall we?"
Lilith could only nod, unable to speak. She followed Lady Dimitrescu back into the castle. 'There is no fucking way this Romanian goddess would feel the same way. A countess, have feelings for a witch? Ridiculous.'