ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ

you're my prey

[huntingswarm]

☩   lowsurvival·:

          lara  croft ,   always  getting  herself  in  messes  she  shouldn’t  be  in ;   messes  that  aren’t  hers  to  begin  with .   her  eyes  observe  carefully ,   even  catching  the  twitch  of  the  other’s  fingers  in  the  darkness  of  the  area  and  her  own  hand  settles  on  her  hip  just  above  where  her  pistol  remains  holstered .   she  may  take  it  as  a  threat  if  she  inched  her  fingers  closer  to  the  weapon .     ❝     warmer  than  outside  without  a  fireplace  going ,     ❞     she  quips  back  quickly  with  a  step  taken  back  and  as  much  as  she  wants  to  keep  her  gaze  on  the  other ,   lara  quickly  scans  the  area  surrounding  them .     ❝     the  place  seems  well  maintained .   i  wa  expecting  someone  more   …   human .     ❞

Her   head   slowly   tilted   to   the   side   at   that   assumption.      “      Human   ???      ”      she   repeated   in   a   hollow   voice.      She   strode   forward,      her   feet   hardly   touching   the   ground   as   she   did.      She   more   levitated   closer   to   the   stranger.      “      Now   WHY   would   you   ever   expect   something   so   foolish   ???      Had   you   SEEN   what   happened   to   the   MEN   strung   up   outside   ???      Those   were   not   decoration,      my   dear.      ”

[huntingswarm]

☩   thunderbringer·:

the   god   of   thunder   is   not   one   to   reject   an   invitation   of   any   kind   .   celebrations   and   feasts   were   in   his   blood   and   he   swears   the   ale   served   is   what   keeps   his   blood   pumping   .   the   life   of   the   party   he   is   at   any   gathering   ,   thor   can   steal   any   spotlight   with   his   tales   of   heroism   and   adventures   .      this   home   is   extravagant   and   everyone   within   it   enjoying   the   party   are   dressed   elegantly   .   thor   doesn’t   typically   enjoy   dressing   up   in   such   attire   so   he   has   foregone   the   usual   tie   that   most   wear   ,   much   to   the   lady   of   the   house’s   dismay   ,   he’s   sure   .   thor   makes   his   rounds   being   sure   to   introduce   himself   to   all   ,   just   to   be   courteous   .   ❝      aye   .   the   evening   has   been   well   spent   .   i   do   hope   i   find   you   in   good   spirits   .   ❞

She   tried   to   force   ANY   BITTERNESS   off   of   her   face.      For   her   mother’s   reputation.      She   could   do   it   for   her   mother’s   reputation.      Cassandra   was   given   enough   hope   at   the   thought   to   give   a   small   smile.      “      It   is   peaceful.      ”      Indeed.      In   the   way   that   it   was   SO   PREDICTABLE   AND   BORING   that   nothing   could   disrupt   the   small   talk   and   wine   tasting.      How   Cassandra   LONGED   TO   BREAK   THE   LULL   which   spread   across   the   hall   of   the   castle.      “      And   you   ???      Is   everything   to   your   liking   ???      ”

[mariidraws]

 Cassandra painting i made few days ago 

[huntingswarm]

☩  dimitresca·:

CASSANDRA’S   TONE   PRESSED   DANGEROUSLY   CLOSE   TO   THE   ONLY   FLESH   AT   WHICH   HER  MOTHER   WOULD   NEVER   BITE .    They didn’t face one another. Her mother’s eyes narrowed, lips thinned. The nature of having a brutal minded child as she so possessed             and as she so loved               was that brutality recognized no master.  CASSANDRA WOULD DO WELL NOT TO MAKE SUCH A MISTAKE .  This argument wasn’t a new one. It had arisen before, like a raised varicose vein.

“YES.  While your sister is away, undertaking her holy mission on Mother Miranda’s behalf, it is expected of us all in HOUSE DIMITRESCU to remain upright examples of radiance. You must shine, Cassandra. Not smoulder.” Her head quirked to the side, and her words were hissed over her shoulder.  If I must turn and tell you this,you will be regretful, her tone clearly imparted. At the moment, Alcina was white-knuckling her own fears about this mission and being resolute would be her only consolation. Her own illusion of strength must become her strength, her facade of comfort must be her comfort. THERE WERE MANY MORE WAYS IN WHICH SHE HAD, AND WOULD, MUTILATE HERSELF FOR MOTHER MIRANDA. 

Cassandra   had   to   fight   to   stop   herself   from   groaning.      She   despised   that   they   ALL   WERE   FORCED   to   wait   on   Miranda   hand   and   foot.      Her   mother   was   so   powerful   and   it   was   difficult   to   watch   her   risk   SO   MUCH   for   someone   who   rarely   lifted   a   finger.      Could   she   EVEN   DEFEND   HERSELF   if   Cassandra   and   her   sisters   were   to   pounce   EVEN   DEFEND   HERSELF ???      Cassandra   had   to   assume   that   she   could.      But   with   HOW   LITTLE   she   did   by   herself   made   the   girl   wonder.

“      I   was   SO   CERTAIN   that   Mother   Miranda   would   be   offended   if   I   was   to   take   any   attention   from   her   brightness.      ”      She   spoke   with   venom   dripping   from   EVERY   SYLLABLE,      not   bothering   to   HIDE   HER   DISDAIN   while   she   spoke   of   her.      While   Miranda   wasn’t   around,      Cassandra   had   no   fears.      Her   mother   would   SCOLD   HER,      but   she   would   never   hurt   her   for   her   opposition.

[foggeddd-deactivated20220408]

                                     NOBODY HEARS ME SCREAM

[huntingswarm]

☩   dimitresca·:

The girl is practical. She was, of course, plucked from the masses to be just that.  A SURVIVOR.  The coarse little uncut gem amid a mass of coal.  A gorgeous brute. Alcina feels something stirring inside of her, something she has only felt recently. The desire to consume isan agony she relished in: ALCINA IS SIMPLY DROP DEAD GORGEOUS AT WHAT SHE DOES.  But now? Her gloves find the soft under of Cassandra’s chin. Such good posture. She is proud.  The new feeling is this :     she wants to take her child’s hunger and feed it as she might her own. 

“ NOW ?    WE DEVOUR. ”     What else?“ Cassandra Dimitrescu :   your inheritance is this castle, the people within it, and my undying love. For this, you will obey me. You will kill & consume.”   She stoops, and presses a soft kiss to her daughter’s forehead  as if she had not just said something horrific.  No. Her eyes were bleared with one thing : PRIDE in the child before her. 

Cassandra’s   eyes   WIDENED   A   BIT   at   the   implications   of   what   her   mother   had   said.      Kill   and   consume.      Her   sense   of   direction   in   the   world   wasn’t   yet   there,      but   there   are   SOME   THINGS   which   were   already   instilled   which   told   her   that   wasn’t   correct.      But   WHY   BOTHER   with   right   and   wrong   ???      There   was   little   else   being   offered   to   her   by   life   besides   what   was   being   told.      And,      strangely,      she   DID   feel   hungry   at   the   thought.

“      What   am   I   to   kill   ???      ”      Her   eyes   were   still   wide   open   with   wonder   and   she   was   CLINGING   TIGHTLY   to   everything   she   was   saying.      There   was   already   feeling   a   strong   connection   being   formed.      A   bond   that   was   destined   to   be   unbreakable.      Who   was   Cassandra   to   FIGHT   AGAINST   HER   FATE   ???

[marypickfords]

Brigid Cherry, from “Horror”, 2009.

[huntingswarm]

@fallesto​   ☩   asked:   “ my desires will be fulfilled! “ (Mother Miranda)

Cassandra   had   to   put   forth   a   HERCULEAN   EFFORT   to   stop   herself   from   scoffing   loudly   in   response   to   Mother   Miranda’s   proclamation.      “      And   that   is   what   we’re   here   for,      isn’t   it      ???      ”      Cassandra   could   permit   that   ONE   PASSIVE   AGGRESSIVE   COMMENT,      at   least.      Whether   or   not   Miranda   would   even   care   enough   to   acknowledge   what   her   REJECT   HAD   SAID   was   yet   to   be   seen.

[mechanicaldemonio]

canon.

[huntingswarm]

☩   femori·:

she  isn’t  expecting  the  question:  not  from  someone  on  the  other  side  of  the  line,  not  from  one  of  her  tormentors.  it  wasn’t  like  claudette  had  never  considered  that  the  killers  were  people  too,  snatched  from  their  lives  just  as  claudette  and  the  others   had  been,  but  when  she’d  presented  her  theory  by  the  campfire,  she’d  been  shot  down.  it  was  easy  for  them  to  run  and  fight  because  running  and  fighting  to  survive  came  naturally,  was  the  counterargument,  but  who  would  choose  to  hurt and  sacrifice  people,  like  it  was  easy,  like  it  was  second  nature? 

“no,”  she  answers  after  a  pause,  careful  eyes  searching  the  face  of  the  (woman?  monstress?)  before  her.  she  straightens  her  spine  at  the  attention,  steels  herself  against  flinching.  “n-not…that  i  know  of.”  and  then,  knowing  she’s  overstepping,  painfully  aware  of  it  and  unable  to  stop:  “do  you  have…people  back  home?  a  family?” 

claudette  can  hardly  remember  her  family’s  faces  anymore.

Out   of   EVERYONE   ON   THE   OTHER   SIDE,      she   would   only   find   herself   able   to   someone   she   saw   display   selflessness.      The   survivors   were   all   rather   tight   knit,      but   Claudette   exemplified   determination   and   heart   she   didn’t   often   see   here.      So,      her   lips   were   a   BIT   MORE   LOOSE   than   normal.      Who   could   really   blame   her   ???      She   existed   in   companionship   for   SO   LONG,      being   isolated   was dwinding   away   the   last   of   her   spirit.

She   gave   a   LONG   SIGH   as   any   hope   she   had   squandered   up   was   crushed   right   before   her   very   eyes.      The   short   lived   plot   which   had   barely   taken   form   snatched   away.      Her   countenance   grew   solemn   and   she   nodded.      “      Yes.      I   had   two   sisters   and   a   mother.      I’ve   ALWAYS   HAD   THEM.      ”

[nylloth-deactivated20230512]

[vamp1r3luv3r-deactivated2024092]

i couldn’t resist creating this

[huntingswarm]

☩   dimitresca·:

AT LEAST SHE WAS HERE NOW.    Not wrecking heads across the castle.  Cassandra flummoxed onto the bed  &  her mournful, baleful tears were glinting in her eyes like knifes.  The soft humming of her flies was steady and arrhythmic against the Countess, who adored her daughter, if not her daughter’s dramatics.   BUT LOSING A LOVER WAS HARD ,    INCREDIBLY HARD .      (   What did you expect ?    One might ask.   One would receive a purse-lipped response from the Countess, whether asking about her affairs or her daughters’ :      THE IMPOSSIBLE ! LOVE FOR A MONSTER .   )    

“   What kind of mistake, daughter ?   ”       Oh,  she knew the kind.   It was common. The only reason to ask was to know what sort of expense   &  time would be needed for the clean up.  Alcina felt terse, but her words were, once more, simply  very even.   A gloved hand scooped the child closer to her, snuggling her small little thing against her side, into her long nightgown. The fire crackled thunderously, the room hot to accommodate her darlings. The Countess decided, there and then, that she ought put the book down. Her large brimmed hat was hung up in its correct place, and she nuzzled her forehead to Cassandra’s, a low groan of sympathy rumbling in the mother’s chest.      “    IS SHE DEAD ?   ”     She asked, gentle as sweet & delicious poison.  The relationship  &  heartbreak, she will hear about either way.   The state of play now was the differentiating factor. 

Cassandra’s   frown   DEEPENED   AT   THE   QUERY,      her   tears   welling   up   even   more   as   the   crushing   reality   was   presented   to   her   yet   again.      She   nodded   slowly,      her   bottom   lip   trembling   as   she   DESPERATELY   SEARCHED   for   the   correct   thing   to   say.      She   was   a   Dimitrescu,      she   was   meant   to   be   refined   and   restrained.      But   her   emotions   ALWAYS   got   the   better   of   her.      Mother   Miranda   may   have   been   right   in   CASTING   HER   ASIDE.      But   even   the   best   this   village   had   to   offer   couldn’t   right   her.

“      I                           I   didn’t   want   to,      mother   I...      ”      Was   else   was   there   to   say   ???      She   had   hurt   someone   she   ACTUALLY   CARED   ABOUT   and   made   more   work   for   her   mother   in   turn.      She   looked   down   abashedly   and   muttered   out   another   apology.

[draculasswife-deactivated202212]

Photography by Nona Limmen.

[huntingswarm]

☩   lowsurvival·:

          i’ve  seen  worse ,   lara  wants  to  tell  herself     —     but  she  hasn’t  seen  anything  like  what  her  eyes  have  witnessed .   how  loud ,   buzzing  insects  came  together  to  form  the  body  of  a  woman  when  nothing  had  been  there  to  begin  with ,   leaving  lara  in  a  state  of  uncertainty  with  fear  creeping  it’s  way  in .   even  when  she  is  scared ,   she’ll  force  herself  to  face  the  problem .     ❝     i  wouldn’t  use  the  term  brave ,     ❞     lara  utters  out ,   swallowing  thickly .   it’s  more  like  she  is  too  tenacious  for  her  own  good .   the  beauty  of  the  castle  hides  a  dark  secret  and  she  feels  that  this  is  the  moment  she  finds  out .

Cassandra   nodded   to   signify   that   she   had   relented.      “      I   would   BE   INCLINED   TO   AGREE,      ”      she   responded,      her   fingers   twitching   at   her   side   as   she   carefully   considered   what   to   do   with   their   unexpected   company.      “      I’m   sure   you   KNEW   that   this   isn’t   a   place   where   strangers   are   given   TEA   AND   A   WARM   FIRE,      hm      ???      ”   She   was   already   having   quite   some   fun   poking   at   their   new   guest,      and   it   got   oh   so   boring   here   during   cold   months.

[selquet]

ADELAIDE KANE in REIGN (2013-2017)

[huntingswarm]

@femori​  ​  ☩   liked

“        Has    anyone    EVER    ESCAPED    THIS    PLACE    ???        ”        Even    if    she    was    on    the    side    of    those    who    weren’t    tortured    every    trial,        Cassandra    despised    it    here.        IT    SATISIFIED    SOME    PART    OF    HER,        sure.        But    mostly    it    just    caused    her    to    long    for    her    lost    family.