Chapter V: Dollhouse

Following the main path that connects the rural pass with the nearest town, the rattling of the carriage wheels ended up waking Aurora. Still feeling dizzy from the loss of blood, the girl tried to raise her head, feeling a cold, heavy metal encircle her neck.

- "It seems you've already woken up" - Holding some official documents, reading them with a pair of square glass glasses, Eusebio kept his gaze fixed on the content written on them. Talking to the little girl without directing her, she will look at her in a single moment.

- "Five years ago, inside the Albert house, a painful incident occurred. One of noble Miss Emilia Valeria Albert's personal maids was accused of stealing her mistress' belongings and selling them to a disreputable pawnshop. Said maiden was about to be executed by order of the patriarch of the Albert house, but in a magnanimous gesture of good will, the distinguished daughter of Count Albert took pity on her.

Having lost her firstborn in childbirth, she was moved by the maiden who appealed for her crimes, alleging that it was all to support her family in the countryside, since she planned to send her bastard daughter as a result of an extramarital affair.

It all looks like it's straight out of a romance novel, but those jerks love to adorn themselves with pride. Hiding the truth behind the scenes while they dance on the blood of enemies and relatives" - Frowning, squeezing the documents, Eusebio turned his face towards the girl, while from his pupils a slight purple light shone while the body of Aurora was enveloped by it.

Breaking the chains that held her to the carriage, the girl's body rose and was once again at the height of the captain. Who raised the face of the little girl with the tip of her index finger, fixing her cold gaze on the eyes of the unfortunate minor.

- "I don't know who did it, I must admit that such a feat in sorcery should be praiseworthy. But before my eyes nothing escapes. You may look like a commoner, look like one, and even smell like one. But no one can fool the palate of a noble lynch, except me, an inquisitor. If you want your head to remain on your shoulders, you must answer me truthfully right now. Are you the bastard daughter of the Albert house?" – Having experienced the horror of that man's power, unable to move or defend herself due to her sealed magic, Aurora could only move her lips to confirm the captain's suspicions.

Upon hearing the answer he wanted, Eusebio laughed, throwing his face back with the expression in his eyes wide open with euphoria. The soldiers who were pulling the reins of the beasts felt their blood run cold from that uproarious maniacal laughter that came from the carriage, praying that this journey would come to an end soon.

- "Who'd say? It seems that the goddess has blessed me greatly with this little tadpole. For years I have tried to bring down that accursed bastard Eduardo, to take away everything he has and behold, it will not be by the sword that his power fails, but by the hand of a little filthy blooded scum" – While in the other races miscegenation was something that was not considered serious, within the lineage of Lichen nobles , blood crossing was a taboo subject. Proud to remain pure for generations, considering blood the bargaining chip of souls, the vampire houses put purity of blood above all things beyond military or political achievement.

The fact that a house had among its members a Lichen of impure blood was a source of shame to the point that they could not remain flaunting their power over other lineages. Being degraded and on many occasions, completely exterminated.

Eusebio, who shared a fifth bloodline relationship with Count Eduardo, always lived in the shadow of that noble Lichen despite his achievements on the battlefield. Hating what he considered a petulant nobleman lacking in determination or strength, the captain of the guard always looked for a way to destroy that man's foundations to take his place.

Seeing that the little girl was trembling, Eusebio placed the tip of his thumb on the girl's lower lip, smiling at her mischievously while indicating the fate that was in store for him.

The girl would be taken as a slave under the emblem of the Rivera house; receiving training as a maiden in appearance, but stripped of all rights and freedom. Lowering himself to a mere object, subject to the whims of the direct members of the blood of Eusebio.

- "You will be a maiden in training, under the direct orders of my little daughter Berenice. Dress her up, comb her hair, serve her tea, even be her personal toy if she so desires. You will have clothes, food, and a roof over your head, but coming of age, you will serve my purposes."

- "What do you mean?" – Responding impulsively driven by fear, Aurora closed her lips immediately when she saw that her master's face changed to one of anger.

- "You dare question your master? Do you still not understand that your life ended the moment you fell into my hands? Your existence only has the purpose of serving my desires, apart from that, I could kill you right now and drink your blood" - Tightening her claw on the delicate neck of the little girl, Aurora felt how that cruel grip began to cut off her flow blood to the brain, changing the coloration of his face to a slightly bluish tone.

- "I'm... sorry... master" - Muttering with the little breath she had left, the girl's body broke free from Eusebio's grasp, falling to the floor of the carriage while gasping trying to catch her breath.

- "That attitude is better. Don't forget what you just felt, so you don't make mistakes in the future" – Adjusting the cuff of the sleeve of his jacket, Eusebio did not move his gaze of contempt on Aurora's fragile silhouette.

With the minutes that had become an eternity inside the carriage, the cold silence between master and slave became unbearable to the point that Eusebio himself kept tapping the tips of his fingers on the window frame, contemplating the landscape. the path that led to the mansion.

- "My lord, we have arrived" - When the carriage stopped, one of the soldiers opened the door bowing slightly while bowing to the captain, who took the little girl by her blouse, taking her with him as if it were a sack of potatoes.

Fully expectant, Aurora leered at the servants who had lined up at the ends, bowing their faces reverently to the manor's lord who had returned from his mission.

- "Welcome home, my lord" - A middle-aged man, with graying hair, a prominent mustache and a face with the marks of time already visible on it, welcomed the imposing captain who took off his cape and handed it over. in your hands.

- "Vicente, what has happened in the time that I have been away?"

- "Nothing particularly important my lord, just that Miss Berenice broke one of her wrists again" - Giving a sigh, leaning his face, Eusebio shook his head as if that was something he already experienced often.

Berenice Rivera was a nine-year-old girl, the captain's only daughter, who had experienced the loss of her mother at the age of three. Because her father was frequently away from home, the girl grew up without a father figure to dictate sober behavior. Becoming capricious and lacking a sense of gratitude or self-control.

- "Is it the fifth this month?"

- "Yes my lord, this last one lasted longer than the others. But it seems that the young lady got angry because it was difficult for her to comb her hair. So I rip its head off and throw it off the balcony."

- "Go to the city and look for another one that suits your taste more. I don't want my daughter to throw a tantrum that would embarrass me" – Nodding vehemently, Vicente withdrew, calling for one of the maids to assist the captain.

- "Here, take this and give him a bath. Teach her the basics so she can incorporate herself as a maiden in training" – Throwing Aurora into the arms of the servant, Eusebio retired to his study, leaving behind the little girl who was soon taken to the servants' preparation room.

Stripped of her garments and thrown into an incinerator fire, the girl was taken to a tub where the maiden proceeded to wash her body. Seeing the torture marks that she had received in the interrogation when she was arrested.

- "I can't believe how they could get so cruel with a little girl" – Pursing her lips in anger, the maiden seemed to contain her frustration at that infamous punishment. Eunice was a girl who had recently arrived at the Rivera mansion, like all commoner children looking for a better life, as soon as she finished her studies she applied for a recommendation in the captain's house.

Even when she knew of the terrible rumors that were spreading within the walls of the mansion, the young woman decided to risk the large pay that was well worth the risk.

- "Girl, what is your name?" – With a soft tone, Eunice passed the sponge through the girl's arms delicately, trying not to hurt her where the whipping wounds still remained.

- "My name is Aurora" - With a low tone of voice, the little girl kept her face lowered in fear due to the fear that she found herself in that place.

With eleven siblings to feed, Eunice felt an immediate attachment to the girl as she reminded her of her little sisters. Thinking that someone at such a young age would find it difficult to serve in that mansion.

Upon reaching his chest, the maiden started and collapsed on the ground, taking her hands to her mouth as she gazed in horror at the scar that had been left by the mark of slavery. Realizing the situation Aurora was in, the maiden cried hugging the girl as if a wound had opened in her heart.

When she was thirteen years old and still in school, Eunice's parents were accused of theft by a noble belonging to the Aspirtenos race . With no opportunity to defend themselves, both were sentenced to be slaves and serve for life at the hands of that nobleman. Being his mother taken as a slave to the mansion and his father, as a cargo slave in the orichalcum mines.

- "Don't be afraid, I'm going to protect you. I promise I'll protect you" – Tightening her arms around the girl, Eunice repeated those words as if her life was gone with each breath. The aroma of aromatic herbs in the water, similar to rosemary, impregnated that moment in which Aurora let herself be carried away, responding to the maiden's kind gesture.

As the days went by, the girl's training began at five in the morning before the first rays of the sun appeared on the horizon. First there were kitchen tasks, learning to peel vegetables and how to prepare young Berenice's special dishes.

Every detail had to be taken care of with great care, due to the explosive temperament of the captain's daughter. Then they continued with the laundry, doing the laundry, basic etiquette classes for servants and most importantly, training to suppress the emotions on her face.

Inside the Rivera mansion, the servants and maids walked the halls and did their chores without showing an ounce of emotion. As if they were dolls, their faces had to remain immovable in any situation.

That time Eunice opened up to the little girl, she was fortunate that the other maids were busy cleaning up the garden after the incident with the young lady. Otherwise, the situation would have been terrible for her.

- "Remember Aurora, your face should never show any emotion when you are in public . Especially with Miss Berenice"

- "Yes, Mrs. Eunice. I'll keep it in mind." – Serving a cup of tea according to the etiquette classes of the kingdom, the little girl had a face identical to the rest of the employees of the mansion.

- "Eunice, the maid has finished her training" - Appearing through the doorway, the maid rose from her chair and brought her hands forward to bow to the head butler.

- "Yes, she is ready. But…"

- "But?" – Slightly raising one of his eyebrows, the butler approached the maid with his arms crossed giving an air of severity.

- "But I think it would be better to take a few days to make sure she doesn't bother the young lady" – Gritting her teeth while keeping her face down, Eunice was more afraid for the safety of little Aurora than her own.

- "Certainly our young lady is something special with her tastes, but that is something that is not the responsibility of a mere maiden"

- "I'm sorry butler, this maid did not think properly about your words"

- "If you understand, move away. You, follow me in silence" – Leaving the room to follow Vicente, Aurora turned sideways in the direction of Eunice, who stood firm with her face raised and her gaze fixed on the girl. With a hint of concern that he barely managed to hide.

- "Remember that you must remain silent unless the young lady asks you otherwise. In the same way, no matter what happens, never dare to contradict him. At best, you will be disciplined by the head maid. And at worst... well, you'll realize that yourself" – Adjusting his monocle, Vicente turned his face towards little Aurora, while clearing his throat to hide the nervousness in his last words.

- "Young lady, I have brought the new maid who will be at your service" - Knocking twice on the door, a childish and slightly shrill voice responded from the other side giving permission to enter.

Sitting at the table reading a storybook, a little girl with golden-tint curly hair, red eyes, and lips as soft as cherries, finely dressed in a pink ruffled dress and a waistband that framed a red ribbon at her waist.

Berenice Rivera was the definition of a beautiful porcelain doll, perfect in her movements and manners. No one could say that behind that air of perfection, a temperamental lady was hiding.

- "Are you sure that this girl is suitable to be my personal servant Vicente?"

- "He is barely four years younger than you, my lady, but I assure you that he is efficient" - Rising from her chair, Berenice took a few steps to where little Aurora was, checking her thoroughly to the point of seeming that she was about to buy a horse. .

Smiling with satisfaction, Berenice expressed her pleasure with the new maid, ordering Vicente to leave the room.

- "Tell me, do you like to play with dolls?"

- "I like the games that the lady likes" - Just as Eunice had taught her, the girl responded in such a way that her will showed complete submission to her mistress. That answer was liked by Miss Berenice, who quickly took her arm and led her to one end of the room, where there was a dark wooden door with fine engravings that simulated fallen leaves.

- "My father travels a lot and spends little time with me. So I can't get out of this boring mansion. But daddy is also a wonderful man and he gives me splendid gifts to amuse myself " – Turning the doorknob, Berenice smiled at Aurora as she invited him into her playroom.

Inside that room, countless toys and stuffed animals were arranged in all directions. With the walls painted a pastel pink, this game room did not seem like something from another world.

Until the little girl turned her gaze towards a pavilion decorated with lights and artificial roses, simulating a small kiosk like the one noble ladies usually have their tea parties in the gardens.

Seated at the table, dressed in fine dresses without moving the expression on their faces, a group of women close to thirty years of age, remained motionless as if they were living dolls.

- "Look look. Don't you think the dolls in my collection are fabulous? My dad is an amazing man, don't you think so? While the daughters of nobles have boring dolls that can't move, my daddy only gets me the best" – Smiling enthusiastically before Aurora, Berenice showed off that sinister collection of living dolls.

From the slums or brothels, Vicente brought young women who were sold by their families or their pimps. Experiencing luxuries that they never imagined, these women wore clothes that they had only seen on noble ladies. Food, drinks, everything was at your beck and call. As long as they are the precious toys of the capricious daughter of Captain Eusebio.

- "Go Go. Follow me, I want you to play with me. Take a doll and follow me" – Giving the order to little Aurora, Berenice was excited to have a girl her age to play with.

The women who were at the table allowed their bodies to be manipulated like simple mannequins by the girls. Almost as if their souls had left their bodies and they were just puppets.

Suddenly, one of them began to show fear on her face when she felt the touch of young Berenice's skin on her hands. Making him spill a cup of tea on the noble lady's dress.

At that moment, the woman fell into a panic and knelt at the girl's feet, begging her to forgive her for that accident, before the rest of the people stared. Who kept their composure and their faces without the slightest expression.

- "Look Aurora, you see how my dolls are better than those of other girls. They can talk, move on their own and cry" – Berenice si bowed in front of the terrified woman, lifting her face by the chin while she smiled warmly at her as if she were a pet.

"Of course I forgive you! You are one of my beloved dolls." – Feeling an air of relief, the woman thanked the young lady by kissing the tip of her slippers. Being that moment, that he felt that his body did not respond to him no matter how hard he tried to move.

- "Hey Aurora, living dolls are fantastic, don't you think so?"

- "Yes, my lady, they are" - Keeping her face immovable, Aurora watched carefully, feeling that at the slightest hint of fear in her response, her life would be in danger.

Smiling once more, Berenice congratulated her maid for answering her the way she wanted. While the woman kept that horrified expression in her eyes, as if she were begging little Aurora to save her.

- "Let me show you how these incredible dolls work" - Turning her face again to the woman she was holding, using her lynch powers, Berenice twisted the woman's arms, breaking them completely. Continuing with his legs until the joints of the phalanxes of his body wobbled like pendulums, in the midst of cries of pain and despair that found no echo of mercy in that infamous heart.

The fruit does not fall far from the tree, was the thought that Aurora had in mind when contemplating the bloodthirsty behavior of Berenice, who had inherited that wickedness from Captain Eusebio.

With her consciousness nearly leaving her in pain, the woman could barely beg with what little air was left in her lungs. Being carried floating until it was in front of the little personal maiden.

That face that before showed no emotion, now seemed the spitting image of Calvary. With a lost look looking up at the ceiling and a trembling mouth barely articulating a word in front of Aurora's face. A slight murmur escaped from that woman's lips, being heard by the maiden and the young lady: "For mercy, kill me."

- "Granted. Look Aurora, this is the mechanism that makes these dolls move!" – Making a gesture with her hands as if she were tearing something in the air, Berenice's energy enveloped the woman, who showed on her face one last expression of agony as she screamed at being split in half. Bathing in blood the face of Aurora, who remained immutable as an ivory statue.

- "Brilliant brilliant! I told you Aurora, my dolls are the best my dad can get." -Smiling with a macabre air, Berenice watched little Aurora, who remained silent for a moment.

- "Did what I did bother you?" – Changing her smile for a serious face, Berenice walked through the blood to where Aurora was, who remained without saying a single word.

- "Your ears were deaf from the screams of my toy? I just asked you, so answer me" - Bringing her hand to Aurora's cheek, caressing her ear while squeezing it lightly with her fingertips, Berenice had her gaze fixed on the maiden's eyes. Who, keeping her face serious, denied to her mistress that she was upset by what she saw.

- "You are a good maiden, you know when to respond and how to respond despite being so small. The last stupid one that served me was so annoying, she would respond and act without me wanting it. He thought that by celebrating everything I did, he would win my favor. But there is nothing more annoying than a pet that keeps barking when its owner is upset. – Wiping the blood from her cheek to put her finger on her tongue, Berenice tried to intimidate Aurora in order to get an expression on her face. Without thereby achieving its attack.

- "Clean the room and go away, I want to be alone" - Bowing reverently to her mistress, Aurora did as she was ordered. Leaving the room as soon as she finished her work, leaving Berenice behind, who sat down again in the same place where she had found her, continuing her reading to finish it.

Walking through the corridors with the uniform and bloody face, the servants watched him without speaking to him. The fine scarlet red carpet perfectly hid the drops of blood that rolled down the girl's skin and fell to the floor.

- "Good job" – With a serious face, Vicente praised little Aurora for surviving the young lady's temperament. Instructing her to go wash up in the pond behind the mansion, where the bushes grew and did not allow idle eyes to witness her.

Walking through the grass that creaked with each step she took, the girl approached the pond and put her hands in the water while she saw the reflection of her face bathed in that scarlet red. Diligently washing herself trying not to leave a single trace of blood on her skin, Aurora plunged her head into the pool and screamed under the water as if trying to tear her vocal cords.

Despite having seen all kinds of murder and atrocities as a police detective in his past life, the emotions in his childish body clashed with the maturity of his soul. Causing him to break at that moment and cry in fear at that barbaric behavior.

- "Nobles are monsters"

- "Yes, we are" - That deep and sinister voice made Aurora's skin stand on end as if the devil himself had manifested himself before her. Falling by surprise in the pond, while feeling that a hand kept his head submerged in the water.

She knew that rough hand, it was none other than Captain Eusebio, who had arrived without warning at the Mansion.

Letting the girl's face come out for air at times, the ruthless captain continued to torture him until he felt the little girl's hands begin to lose strength.

Reaching the maiden out of the pool, Eusebio wiped his hands while maintaining his stern, disapproving gaze.

- "Now you are my daughter's maid. As promised, your life will not be in danger until I fulfill my plans. But you must take care of your tongue so as not to make another slip like the one from a moment ago" - Throwing her handkerchief to the ground, Aurora took it bowing in silence.

- "She is my most precious treasure, she has my temperament. But her face reminds me of her late mother. Try not to be a nuisance to her. Is it clear?"

- "Yes, my lord" - Leaning down, putting one knee on the ground, little Aurora curtsied while Captain Eusebio left the place.

Aurora looked at the emerald sky that was beginning to turn purple to give way to night, while a light wind made her tremble with her soaked clothes. She knew she was no different from those living dolls, trapped in a cage at the whims of the ruthless Rivera family.