INT. GREAT HALL - DAY

Mira and Dominik play. They hop from one marble tile to the next. They laugh, having fun.

From the shadows at the other end of the hall, Bathory watches them. Especially Mira.

INT. GUEST ROOM - DAY

Mira puts Dominik down for a nap. He’s asleep before his head hits the pillow - Mira takes in the dark circles under his eyes.

She walks around the room, restless. To the window. Looks out over the world, cloaked in snow.

A sound - the heavy iron doors opening below. Mira looks down. Bathory leaves the castle, walking down toward the village. It’s hard to tell from this angle, but it almost seems as if he walks on top of the surface of the snow.

Mira looks back at Dominik - he’s sound asleep.

INT. CASTLE - DAY

Mira explores. Vast, empty corridors. Many of the doors she tries are locked. She comes to a door that isn’t, and enters--

THE LIBRARY

Tall, with its own set of stairs. Ladders for the highest shelves. Rich, dark woods, objets d’art, and books, books, books. Mira stares.

Then notices a WOMAN, sitting in an armchair, tome in her lap. Thin blonde hair, pale skin. Past slender and approaching emaciated. She turns a page with delicate fingers.

Mira gasps a little. The woman looks up sharply. ILKA (25), bright eyes and tremulous voice.Ilka puts aside the tome with difficulty, stands. She wears a simple dress, rough-spun wool.Mira shakes her head, dismayed.Mira shakes her head again. Ilka’s hand shoots out, grabs Mira’s arm.Ilka looks down, sees her nails disappearing into Mira’s flesh. She releases her arm, pats the skin.Ilka steps very close, whispers, divulging a secret.Ilka’s eyes go wide. She gapes at Mira, then grabs her hands.Mira hesitates.Mira backs up, finally wrenching her hands from Ilka’s grasp.Mira flees.

INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

Mira hurries away, Ilka’s voice still ringing out behind her.

INT. GUEST ROOM - DAY

Mira enters. Hurries to the bed - Dominik still asleep. Mira sighs with relief.INT. CORRIDOR - DAY

Ilka stalks through the halls, thin shoulders shaking as she cries. She enters--

HER QUARTERS

Huge rooms, but nearly empty. A small, thin mattress on the floor, stacks of books against the wall. Light patches on the walls where paintings once hung - now CRUCIFIXES adorn the walls. Ilka’s cries have become sobs.Ilka finds a clay vase - THROWS it against the wall. It shatters.ANA (16) hurries in from an adjoining room. Small and mousy, she coos and croons over Ilka.Ana puts her arms around Ilka, tries to draw the Countess’s head down to her breast. Ilka bats her away.She follows Ilka into--

THE CORRIDOR

Wringing her hands.Ilka ignores her.

INT. CHAPEL - DAY

Ilka marches down the aisle. Drops to her knees, lights a candle. Closes her eyes. Whispers a prayer soundlessly.

Ana hovers in the background, and when Ilka speaks the girl’s face falls.Ana pulls a KNIFE from a scabbard at her waist. Hands it to Ilka.

Ilka pushes up the sleeve of her dress. Scars, scabs, and finally fresh knife slices through the skin.

She draws the blade across her forearm, a new wound blameless for a beat - then CRIMSON BEADS OF BLOOD well up. Drips spatter on the white stones.The blood collects in the grooves between the stones. It inches toward the altar.EXT. VILLAGE - WOODS - NIGHT

Thick blankets of snow. A full moon shines down, the light reflecting off the snow to create an eerie blue glow.

A crunching sound. A figure wends its way through the trees - hunched over, heavily cloaked. SAMUEL, carrying several bags on his back.

EXT. MIRA’S COTTAGE - NIGHT

Samuel approaches. Sees the dark window, no smoke pouring from the chimney. He frowns.

INT. MIRA’S COTTAGE - NIGHT

Samuel enters, carefully lowers the bags to the floor. Stretches, slow.He stumbles over to the hearth. Pokes the ladle down into the hanging pot - CLANG. Samuel sighs.Samuel starts, turns. Out of the shadows, Bathory appears. Face cold, forbidding.Bathory just smiles.