Chapter Text
After getting food for Rose and a blanket to wrap her in from Duke, Ethan started to head towards the church. Hopefully Elena would be there, he needed someone to watch over Rose while he went to get whatever Duke needed from the house with the red chimney.
Ethan made his way through the village to the church, and when he entered, he saw Elena sitting and praying. "Elena?"
Elena turned her head towards Ethan and stood up, "Ethan, you're alright!" She looked at Rose in Ethan's arms and gasped, "Is this...?"
Ethan looked down at Rose and cupped her face in his palm. "Yeah, this is Rose. My daughter."
Elena walked over towards him and looked over Rose, "She's so small."
Ethan looked over at Elena, "And she's in a lot more danger than she seems. Elena,"
Elena looked him in the eyes, "Yes?"
"I... I... Did anyone come back for the laptop and files?" Elena nodded. "Did they say they'd help get you out of here?" Elena nodded again. "Good, I- I need you to do me a big favor."
Ethan looked down at Rose. She was so small and precious.
And breakable.
"What is it?" Elena said.
Ethan looked back up to Elena. "I have to do... a lot in order to keep her safe. But I need to go to places that aren't safe to take a baby and I can't take her with me and- and I... I..."
Elena looked down at Rose and put her arms under Ethan's own. "You need me to watch over her and take her with me when we leave the village to safety?"
Ethan nodded, "Yes, I need her to be safe, and I need you to not let her be taken by anyone that isn't me, please. I can't loose her."
Elena nodded. Ethan looked back down at Rose, pulled her up towards him, and kissed her forehead, "Daddy has to go now, I'll be right back, I promise." Ethan turned back towards Elena and carefully placed Rose in her arms. Rose cooed in Elena's arms.
Elena looked up towards him, "Be careful, Ethan." Ethan nodded and then left the church.
He went to where he was told the house was, but he had to take the long way around in order to even get close to the house and then unlock the gate to the house.
While going around, he managed to get his hands on an M1911, a better handgun than his LEMI, as it was much more powerful. Perfect for taking out more lycans.
The house with the red chimney was locked from the inside. Great. Just great. He walked around the house and climbed up to the roof. He saw a cable leading to a hole in the roof and leading inside. Perfect. He sat at the edge before falling down.
He heard growling, took out his handgun, and surprise attacked the lycan in the house. It went down easy. After some investigation, Ethan found a box, inside was a paper with an illustration of the winged key, and saying that three more parts made it whole. Under the paper was on of the parts. After some quick tinkering, Ethan managed to get the part onto the key.
Ethan was thinking, he was still trying to wrap his head around everything, "Damn it..." Now wasn't the time for thinking, now was the time for answers. "Better see Duke again." Ethan left the house and made his way through the village.
Ethan made his way through the church, but nothing and no one was there. Good. They moved bases or took Rose to safety. He made a silent prayer that Rose would stay safe. He left the church and then made his way back to the graveyard where Duke was.
"How was it?" Duke said upon seeing Ethan, "Did you learn anything?"
"I found these feathers, now tell me how to keep my daughter safe." Ethan said, panic starting to grow in his voice.
"Settle down," Duke said, waving his hand, "You must use that key and make your way through each of the lords, whether through violence or through mercy, up to you."
"Lords?"
Duke took in a breath, "Mother Miranda is the cold, calculated ruler of this village. Four lords serve under her. The first you've already met, the Lady Dimitrescu. The second lives deep in a valley of mist, the doll maker, Donna Beneviento. None of her playmates have ever come back from that dank, old estate." Duke put emphasis on that final sentence, almost like a warning. Duke took in another breath before continuing. "The third is Moreau. A being of twisted flesh that lives in the reservoir past the windmills. It's said that he is not the only monster living in those waters. The fourth and most dangerous is Heisenberg. He works in his factory on the village outskirts. And the project? Let's just say parts of the human imagination are better left alone."
Duke reached out to point at each door as he spoke. The four winged key, which Ethan had, was where Donna was. So Ethan would have to talk to her first, he would have to convince her to leave Miranda and join him instead.
Moreau would be next. He had no idea what he was gonna do then.
Then there was Heisenberg.
Heisenberg.
What was he doing?
"If you truly wish to save your daughter from future heartache," Duke said, "You have to get rid of Miranda, and they stand in your way of her."
All of them? He managed to convince Alcina to join him, but that was appealing to both of their parental instincts. He had absolutely nothing on Donna or Moreau and Heisenberg was sketchy since the death traps he put him through but left clear ways to be able to escape. Did Heisenberg want him dead or not?
Would he have to ask?
Oh, no what if the answer was he wanted him DEAD?
"Duke," Ethan said. Duke clasped his hands together and nodded earnestly, egging him to go on. "What else do you know about Donna?"
Duke took in a deep breath. "Well, she was very shy, and uses her doll to talk. That's about as much as I know. But good luck on your journey, or perhaps you'd like to buy something?"
Ethan shook his head and then waved goodbye. He walked up to the four winged gate and unlocked it.
Donna Beneviento.
What can be done to help you?