The Countess Tribute II (second part)

After the long night Sylvester spend in maids quarters, I wake up and prepare to help the maids in common room. I ask the guard if he sees Sylvester that morning, but he reply Sylvester called sick and will be absent for a while. 

In the evening where the sun is set i was asked to stay outside the Countess bedroom. She enters the room alone, but i can clearly hear she talking to someone, and both of them end with argument. I try to stop Princess Anastasia who try to enter her mother's bedroom. After the argument end i knock on the door. The Countess allowed me to enter. The princess hug her mother, asking her to play together, but she refuse. She ask me to take her and play with me and the other maids. 

While Princess Anastasia playing with other maid, i continue my evening duty. I clean up the bodies of the tribute who decorate the halls. To my surprise they dont react to my touch as usual. After i finish my duty, i come back to my room in maids quarters. Hoping that i can bathe my sister's body, but what i found is something else. The empty maids quarters is full of chatters, even though i'm the only maid who exist at that moment. 

I look to my sister's body. She bathe in her sweats. She looks like try to breath, slowly, but hardly, her chest give a retractions of her fake breathing. I live her body to the bath. I swipe of her sweats with warm water. She still not enjoy it. Her body is shivering a lot. When i rub her belly, i feel something inside her tummy. I try to think it at most positive way. But i knew something has to be happen, because the next morning what i fear really happen. 

I slept with my sister's limbless body, without her head she is impossible to be alive. The night when Sylvester take her virginity, i thought it was only a small supernatural event occurred with my sister Maria. Her belly is like 3 month pregnant now. I kind of panic and making a loud noise myself. The head maids knock on my door, i apologize to be so loud. I hide my sister's body under the blanket. I hope it can help minimize the voice coming from her torso. I left the room feeling uneasy. 

That day, the next day and the after i cant found Sylvester. I wish i can tell him what happen with my sister, but the other guard he suffering in his bed and his wife take him to a witch outside town looking for help. Meanwhile my sister belly is become bigger and bigger, that it become impossible to hide her, if another maid peep at my room. Her belly is a woman with 7 month pregnancy. Just before a week she grow so fast. Happiness, confusion and sometimes horror comes into my mind. 
in the evening of 6th day she is contracting, something kicking from inside her belly, and make her looks like in deep pain. I have nothing left to do, i just rubs my sister's belly trying to make her contraction less painful. I kiss her pretty head before sing her a lullaby, hoping to make her sleep safe and sound: 

"Wolves asleep amidst the trees
Bats all a swaying in the breeze
But one soul lies anxious wide awake
Fearing no manner of ghouls, hags and wraiths
My dear dolly Polly shut your eyes 
Lie still, lie silent, utter no cries 
As the witcher, brave and bold 
Bathe in coin and blood 
He comes leave you naught behind
But heartache and woe
Deep, deep woe

He'll chop and slice you
Cut and dice you
Eat you up whole
Eat you whole" 

The night was long, very long, i feel i was in desert, a wasteland bathe in moonlight i open my eyes, i see 5 woman sits near the well. Four of them surround a woman in the middle. As i approach them i remember their face, one of them is the head maid Ivanna. In the middle is my sister, Maria. The girl next to her is somehow really looks like me. She look back at me with a smile as like seeing in the mirror. I smile back at her.

My sister get up and walk toward me, and suddenly, from beneath her loose dress she show me her baby. A baby boy is suckling her nipple. He asleep while drinking her breast milk. "Is she your boy?" I ask. She smiles and answer me, "Oh Eva, you already forgot ? You are the one who make this possible." I try to remember something, but i cant recall what memory was missing. 

She kiss her baby and hand him to me. "Now you take care of him for me sis." I accept him with my arms and cuddle him on my shoulder. "But i dont know what to do. Where you going ?" I ask, as the vision of my sisters become further and further from me. "You will know what to do." She reply from a far. "What should i call him?" I shout. But the vision of my sister and everything has fade far far away from my sight, leaving nothing but an empty darkness. A sudden voice speak from my left, she say "Gerson ~"

I open my eyes, wake up from strange dream i got. When i look to my left i saw my sister head really close to my left ear, and somehow her eyes are open. I remember her eyes always shut. I close my sister eyes, trying to be positive, before i wake up and realize. My sister already give birth. She really give birth to a baby boy. The most beautiful boy i ever see, i cuddle him in my arms. I shocked, how come she give birth to a baby ? My bed is soaked in blood from his birth. I cut and bathe him. I try to find a mother who can breastfed him. But before i leave my room, i look back and she my sister waiting, in silent, trying to tell me not to leave. 

Her body is silently waiting for her baby. I approach her and sit next to her on bed. I put her baby on her chest. A spiritual bonds are made within a mother connection and her son. A soft sound is whispered on my ear "My baby boy Gerson ...." And like magic the baby cries and searching for her mother's tit. 

Luckily all the maid are already out for duty and no one notice there is a baby on the chamber. I left Gerson to attend to my duty, and when i get back in the evening i greeted by a baby that twice the size before i left my room. The handsome baby already twice as handsome as he is now. I took a bath with my sister's baby and cuddle ourselves together to sleep. 

A month later, Gerson already able to go for a walk like a 2 years old boy. Princess Anastasia become curious of the beautiful boy. And i tell her, he is my distant relative, her mother is passed away, so i was in charge to take care of him. The Princess seems fond of my sister's boy. But seems not realize that he grew up so fast. So fast that everyone in castle would raise an eyebrow of the wonder boy. 

By that time the maids all already busy to take care for Walpurgisnacht night preparation in the next full moon. And also the ascendance of Princess Anastasia from her mother throne. Countess Elizabeth Bathory invite all her friends and family from the north Germany, to far side of Romania. 

The evening night of Walpurgisnacht is the busies, many noble family from Countess Bathory doesnt show up because they are afraid of the weird rumor that surround the Countess, and she not try deny. Some of her relative from German attend the party unknown of the rumors, and some from Hungary and Poland. 

The usual evening that filled with a hundred young maiden for sacrifice now is filled with glamorous feast of rich people. 

After dinner, The Countess announce to her family, that they here to witness her eldest daughter to ascend to throne and replace her as the new mistress of this castle. Princess Anastasia bow gracefully to the audience. Gerson pull my dress to say "Look mommy, the princess is so beautiful tonight." "Oh Dear, you surprise me. Do you leave your mother alone at bed ?" I boop his nose. "Yes, Mother said this is the last time i can see you mommy." I was very moved by him and hugs him tightly "Thank you sweetheart. You can stay after party. But promise me to call me mommy again tonight okay ? I dont want your mother get jealous." "Okay mommy." He say. We make a pinky promise and hold his hands at the far side of the room, waiting if my service was needed.      

Before the night of the full moon the Countess ask the guests to follow her to the castle's roof. The guillotines are there, waiting for the Countess to feed them victims of her cruelty. The usual 10 guillotines now become 51. An odd number for the special occasion. 

The guests are wondering what will happen next. The Countess walk to the farthest guillotine escorted by two of her guards. She stop at the guillotine and while the guards rip of her dress she shout  "Tonight my daughter shall bath in my blood and take my place as a servant for my Goddess. I love you my Daughter"

Her hands are tied and being placed on the guillotine lock. I help Princess Anastasia strip herself naked, and she walk to the empty pool. The Princess give a nod to the guard and they execute the beautiful Countess right away. 

Her head rolls and stop at the Princess feet followed by blood gushing from her neck. Her body is shaking unconsciously. The princess smile and lift up her mother's head. "Thank you for your precious sacrifice mother. I hope the Goddess give you a rightful place on her palace." before kiss her mom goodnight and help her close her eyes. 

The guests are shocked, stunned, and transfixed with the event. The head maid comforting the guess that this is the Castle tradition, and The late Countess hope them to stay until the ritual reach it's end.

After the guests are able to be persuaded the head maid turn to use and ask a simple question. "I assume that you all know what is her Grace last wish?", We nods in silent. "And we shall honor her request." She said. We walk to our guillotine, waiting for the guards to strip us and place us under the blade.

Gerson follow me "What will happen mommy?" While my fellow maid is being placed at the guillotine one by one, i try to explain to my sister's son. "You know Gerson. Mommy now have to go to your Mother's place." "Like in heaven ?" He ask. "Yes a very beautiful place, like heaven." "How if i miss you?" He ask again. "I will always be in your side Gerson, just like your mother. We will always watch over you, and protecting you. We will always love you. even if you cant see us." I made a pinky promise with him.  

The guard finally reach to me. They strip me naked, and want to bound my wrist before i tell them to wait. I kneel on before my son and look on his face for the last time. I pat his head and kiss his cheek. 
My heart is too heavy to say goodbye for my sister's son,
For my wonderful boy.
For my love, Gerson ♥

As i walk my guillotine i sing for one last time 

"Wolves asleep amidst the trees 
Bats all a swaying in the breeze 
But one soul lies anxious wide awake 
Fearing no manner of ghouls, hags and wraiths 
My dear dolly Polly shut your eyes 
Lie still, lie silent, utter no cries 
As the witcher, brave and bold 
Bathe in coin and blood 
He comes leave you naught behind 
But heartache and woe 
Deep, deep woe 

He'll chop and slice you 
Cut and dice you 
Eat you up whole 
Eat you whole" 

-end-


The songs lyrics are from The Witcher 3 Blood and Wine 
"Lullaby for Woe"
With a few change
Credit for Marcin Przybyłowicz and others who make the song