Private Dark Chest of Wonders

[Madalena Antares]

Daphne deWinter​

The warm rays of Spira made her feel like she wanted to just hop on a lamp post and happily stretch out. The weather on Eve was a perfect mimic of real life and felt as real as any, but there was no replacement for the very feel of the air you got when you visited places that held any sort of meaning to you.

Normally not one to take time off for personal pleasures, Madalena had come to this planet of rich people's vacations with a purpose. She knew that nearly two years ago, her sister had come here and by accident uncovered a Tome of Blood. Just touching that thing had made her become the Blood Hound, and it had been hidden at their aunt's mansion, Asteria deWinter . Asteria had no idea that she even possessed it.

Madalena had enough time to mull it over in her heads for months now, especially during her recovery phase after being the OPA's prisoner of war. And in her head, she had decided that there had to be more. She and her sister were happy right now, and they would be even happier in a few years, when the time came to return to Endelaan. But there were so many large question marks both women had. And with so much free time on her hands, Madalena had decided to do something to least try to find some answers.

It was true that both she and Scherezade held memories inside their heads. Memories that did not belong to them, that had first been branded on Scherezade's mind when she came out of the pebble, and then into Madalena when Scherezade thought she was creating her. But those memories had been chosen by neither of them – it had been their grandmother, Shery deWinter that had decided what to give. And she had not given everything.

Knowing that their grandmother was at war with their mother, Nessarose deWinter , and both were fighting it out on an alternate dimension, there wasn't really going to be a good time to just go and ask one of them. So it was left to Scherezade and Madalena to uncover pieces of their family.

Spira had been one of the planets that the deWinters had once called home. It was there that their grandmother and grandfather had lived happily together for over two decades, bringing five children along for the ride. The memories inside Madalena's head knew that these were happy memories, of a father, a mother, and their kids, and that there had been true love reigning there.

That mansion was no more, and on its place resided now her aunt's mansion and brothel branch. That hadn't kept the Tome of Blood from popping up. Perhaps, if Madalena went there, another thing would pop up.

But she had no intention of going to her Aunt's place. Not yet, at least. Unannounced, and unintroduced, it was going to be too much to bear the entire need of hey, I'm your niece from another dimension, embrace me as family and kin. Not from her end, anyway. Still she sent Asteria deWinter a message to let her know she was there. If her aunt would invite her… Madalena hoped it would be a good meeting. She knew her aunt loved her mother more than anything else, but it had still been centuries. She didn't know what changed, and what hadn't.

Madalena, dressed in style as ever, opened the doors to the brothel's lobby, and walked in.

 

[Daphne deWinter]

Madalena Antares

For Daphne getting into the brothel was no bother. Getting a job there, even easier with the way she looked and the way she spoke. For her mission she had to get close to them... close enough for them to trust her, love her even.... so when her hand turn to blades they would never see it coming.
She knew not why she hated the deWinters, only that they were targets, that they stood in the way of the Quintus and her goal of glory.

For some time she had been working to get close to @ Asteria deWinter deWinter. First starting as one of the girls, she was able to secure a position recently, as one of the hands around the house. Sure it was just running errands and handling small issues with the business but it meant she could keep an ear to the ground. This was the first one of them she had come across so far and so far wasn't lucky enough to have much time to talk with her yet. But this was the long game.

Today she was doing a run down with some of the newer girls. Sitting in the lobby and talking to them about the new clothes and what was expected of them. They seemed bright and they weren't half bad looking. A good supply, that seemed to have the right mind for the job.
She was just standing as the girls traipsed back to the rooms to try on their new gear.
When Daphne turned she would see the woman enter, her eyes scanning her over and seeing the vibrant green eyes, the trade make of a deWinter. This must be her lucky day.....
Daphne's own green eyes were kept hidden, contact inserts were added to make her own eyes seem different colors every day even she didn't know what her actual eyes looked like.

Daphne would smile, sweetly, the dimples in her cheeks appearing as she swept her hair from her face with her left hand and moved over to the greeting podium, bowing her head slightly.
"Greetings and Welcome to the Red Lady." Her voice purred as looked over Madalena Antares briefly before continuing. " How may we help you today Miss? May I fetch you a drink? Or a person of your desire?" She would ask softly, it was unlikely she was hear for a 'good time' so Daphne would assume she was here to speak with Asteria. This hopefully being a good time to ease drop for some free information.

 

[Madalena Antares]

Daphne deWinter​

The cool blow of the air conditioners made Madalena smile, a sharp change from the beach heat that reigned outside. Spira was not a planet for those who suffered in the warmth, its sands always warm to the feet, and the sunshine ever sprawling.

A moment later, one of the women had arrived to welcome her. Madalena nodded back, smiling politely to the woman. She couldn't remember ever having spoken with a lady of the night before, but she was pleasantly surprised to discover that it didn't bother her in the bit. The woman might have been serving as hostess in a restaurant, and wouldn't matter.

Is that an inherited opinion? Madalena couldn't help but wonder, knowing the history of her family very well.

"Hello," she greeted the woman back, her voice warm and inviting, "I would love a Kavasa Dakiri if you have any."

Looking around the lobby for a moment, Madalena frowned. In truth, she hadn't given too much thought as to what exactly she was going to do once she got there. There were boxes but…

"I'll also need a guide to one of the lower floors. I believe there's something there that belongs to my family."