Warning: PTSD Flashback mentioned, sexual assault mentioned

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     I sat up with a jolt. I couldn't sleep or even rest. My breathing fastened as tears streamed down my face. 'He- he was here! He was here...he's supp-posed to be dead!' I thought to myself, hyperventilating. 

     "Ronnie? What's wrong? Why are you awake?" Someone asked. I didn't respond. I couldn't respond. I heard the person, probably another maiden, saying something about getting Lady Dimitrescu. Why her? 

     Not even five minutes later, someone entered the room. By this point, I was a crying and shaking mess. "Daria, leave us." I heard Lady Dimitrescu command. Daria left. 

     Lady Dimitrescu walked over to me, kneeling down on my left. "Ronnie? What happened?" She asked. I couldn't reply so I just hugged her, sobbing. Surprisingly she hugged back, whispering sweet nothings. 

     She never did this. She despised us all. We were just blood bags. Things to make wine. But for some reason, she comforted me until I was calm enough to tell her what happened and why I was in the state I was. 

     "He was- was hurting me! He was going to assau-assault me again! Please don't let him.." I say through my panting. "If I may ask, who is he?" Lady Dimitrescu asks with concern laced in her words. "My father. Rather deadbeat pedophile. He's dead now though." I reply. Alcina tenses up for a moment before relaxing.

     Lady Dimitrescu pets my head. "It was just another ptsd flashback- it's fine. I'm sorry to have disturbed people." I say, getting off the floor and sitting on the bed. "First of all, it's not fine. You weren't fine. I don't want you to ever make it seem less severe than it is. Secondly, you hadn't disturbed anyone. Daria chose to get help. I chose to come here." Alcina says. 

     It takes a few minutes for me to respond. "You could've sent me to the dungeons or killed me with your claws." I say in a soft voice. "But I didn't." Lady Dimitrescu says, grabbing my chin to make me look up at her. 

     "Listen, Ronnie, if somehow he was alive, I or my daughters would not let him hurt you." Alcina says, caressing my face before continuing, "Ronnie, you live under my roof, in my home therefore you are under my protection."

     Tears fell down my face as I literally jumped onto her, clinging to her. "Trust me, dear. House Dimitrescu will protect you. I promise." Lady Dimitrescu says as she wraps her arms around me. 

     All I could say was thank you before Lady Dimitrescu carried me to her chambers where we slept close together.