*Ana*
The cup of cocoa is still hot in my hands, but I have yet to taste it. My mind can't seem to focus, and Maddie quickly diverts me. I can't help but get lost in her hands. It is mesmerizing to watch her at work. She makes it look so effortless.
I halfway realize It's comforting to watch her. Something so mundane can help me forget my thoughts. Thoughts that I would gladly forget because I don't understand, and it scares me.
"You're rather quiet, Ana." Maddie goes suddenly. She is still working on my hair, but I can see her brown eyes shift on me.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"I-Where did you learn all this?" I can't help but marvel after her. Maddie can even braid my hair without looking down.
"How did you get so good?"
"My mother taught me," Maddie chuckles and finishes the knot. She steps back to check over the braid.
"Your mother?" I repeat, and Maddie nods before smiling as if she approves her work. She moves for my headdress.
"Uh-huh. Mama taught me and my sisters all the braids." Maddie gently moves the red fabric over my head. It covers the braid entirely, and I can't help but feel a little sad about it. No one but me can see how much work she put into it.
But then they'll see my hair if I don't wear it. I curl my fingers on the hem. I decided it's better to keep it on.
I'm sorry, Maddie. I curl the hem tighter in my hands. Maddie must have noticed because her hands stop to rest on my shoulders.
"I can teach you if you like."
"Oh, I-" I see Maddie smile as if waiting.
"Maybe later." I shift my hands around the mug. The cocoa sloshes and steams, but it's growing cold. I still have no desire to taste it.
Maybe it's because of earlier? I can't help but blame that for my lack of appetite. I don't have the will to stomach anything, even sweets. But my appetite is the least of my problems right now.
What happened in Nicoli's room? What was that strange feeling? Even now, I can't shake the sensations.
Everything was so quick. I press a finger to my lips. My cheeks warm as I remember the kiss before it happens again. My stomach starts to curl like nothing I've felt before. It baffles me.
I'm not hungry, yet something is missing. I want- but what is it? What is this feeling?
What is it that I want?
"Ana?" Maddie chirps to snap me back.
"Oh," I blink and realize my hair and shawl is finished. "Thank you, Maddie."
I look up to find the woman smiling back, satisfied. She seems content about something that makes her lift her head.
"Maddie, why are you-?"
"I bet you are daydreaming about your brother, aren't you?"
"What?!" I squeak, which makes Maddie laugh outright.
"Don't play daft with me. I saw how you two were in the room."
"You-" My stomach drops as blood rushes to my head and cheeks, "That was, I didn't-"
"You two are already thick as thieves!" Maddie throws up her head with a great Ha.
"Just as I expected."
"Oh," I slipped back in my chair. That's what she means; Maddie wasn't talking about- I let out a little sigh of relief.
For a moment, I thought Maddie might have seen something. But even as I worry, I can't help but wish she did. That way, I could ask her about it.
Maddie could explain what this feeling could be.
"Yes, I guess." I dart my eyes back to my cup. The cocoa is now lukewarm.
"And look, your cheeks are still red from playing outside with the prince." Maddie teases. She pokes my cheek before stopping.
"You're hot." Maddie steps back to look me over.
"Maddie?" I peer up to see her smile shrink even more. She seems to grow quiet as she looks at me.
"Nah," Maddie suddenly shakes her head. "It's probably nothing. You can't be sick."
"I'm sick?" I ask, but Maddie waves her hand.
"No, well, I wouldn't think you would be," Maddie stops on second thought," Though Vampires are known to be sensitive to the cold."
"It never hurts to play safe," Maddie winks.
"Do you think I'm sick?" I perk up in my chair to touch my face. I feel warm, but that could be because we are inside with the fire.
"No, no, no, no. Oh no," Maddie quickly waved her hands, "You're fine. Really."
"Maddie?" I eye her with suspicion. I wouldn't put it past her to lie to me. But Maddie stays true to character and plays off my stare.
"Why haven't you touched your cocoa yet?" Maddie notes to my mug.
"Oh, I-"
"It's cold now." Maddie leans in before standing back up with an idea.
"Let me get you something different. Some tea." Maddie takes the cup out of my hands.
"Maddie, I don't like-" Before I can tell her, Maddie is off. Maddie is dead set on her mission and quickly rushes out the door and down the hall.
"-tea." The last word hangs in the now empty room.
"Ah," I can only sigh at the thought of it. Tea is the last thing that can help me right now.
If I wasn't feeling hungry before now, I am plain noxious.
"Ha," I sigh again, but I see no way out. I can only wait for Maddie to return with the dreaded cup of leaf water. The thought of the taste makes my throat clench, and I turn away for a new distraction. It's now I vaguely notice I'm in the same room I was last time.
The room remains the same. Nothing about the decor has changed. But it feels different now that it's winter. The room has the gentle crackle of a fire. I rise to investigate the fireplace, seeing nothing else of interest.
"Am I sick?" I touch my face to feel my cheeks. They do feel a bit warmer than what I'm used to.
"Perhaps that's why I'm like this?" I stepped closer to feel the heat of the fire. It warms my hands instantly, but nothing else. The layers of dress must be so thick that they are impenetrable.
Could it be the reason why I'm acting so strange? Why did I feel so weak and-
"Yes, I must be sick," I excuse.
It is so much colder here, after all. It would be easy to catch something. I must have been sick this whole time, nothing else. I've only been ill.
"Everything's okay—just a cold." I play off again with more confidence. Hearing me say it is a significant relief. I didn't realize how worried I've been till now, but all at once, I feel it. My back relaxed from being tense since coming back.
"It's just a fluke," I repeat louder and inhale the smell of firewood. I take in so much that it overpowers anything else in the room.
"Haha," A light giggle escapes my lips as I unravel. I have been so worried till now. I can't help but want to do something silly and move to curtsey to the fire.
"Thank you, Sir Calcifer, for listening." I thank the name of a fire demon I once read about.
In response, the fire crackles back. I'll take it as the fire's way of returning the gesture. It makes me smile again. I find myself having to twirl and lift all my skirts. The dress flies up to reveal the multiple layers like a rose petal.
"Hehe." I giggle as my shawl lifts. I twirl even faster.
"Whee~" I whoosh through the wind as something at my side clicks.
"Was that you, Calcifer?" I turn back, still in high spirits, to ask the fire. But the fire is calm. It didn't seem to come from there.
I hear another creak follow from behind me.
"Hello?" I turn. Is someone here? Is Maddie back? But I see nothing, and the door is still closed. Another creak echoes in the quiet room to make my back straighten.
Could this be a ghost? The horrible thought comes to mind and quickens my heart. My eyes travel over the room, slightly frantic.
What happens if it is? What will I do? I don't know. I've never seen a ghost before. How do you fight a spirit?
"Please don't be a ghost," I whisper, looking over the room. My eyes fall over the tapestry to find another crack emanating from the spot.
The hallway? Is the sound coming from there? My spine stiffens like a board.
Could someone be? My mouth runs dry at the thought. Could someone else know about the hall?
"Is someone there-" I swallow and take a step closer. "Who are you?"
I let out a short cry and widened my eyes as something shifted. The tapestry is moving. Yes, someone or something is there!
Please don't be a ghost. Please don't be! I tremble on the spot.
Let it be anyone but a ghost.
"Who goes there?" I hold my hands to my chest before I raise my voice. "I said who-"
"Shh." A voice hushes.
Did the ghost hush me? I blink in surprise. I don't know whether to be scared or offended. But before I can decide, the tapestry shifts to pop a face from the side.
I cringe and cover my face. I'm too afraid to look. I don't want to see a ghost but I can't move my legs. They won't budge, and I stand frozen on the spot.
"Please don't eat me, Mr. Ghost." I plead through my hands. I hold myself entirely still as the room grows quiet.
Did the ghost leave? I shift a finger to look through.
Are they gone?
"Why would I eat you?" A voice asks before I hear a chuckle. I know that voice.
"Brother Nicoli!" I drop my hands and see the pair of blue eyes peeping out of the tapestry. It's Nicoli.
Thank god. It's not a ghost. I feel instant relief. But my relief changes back to confused concern.
Why is Nicoli in my room? I look past him to see the hall behind him.
And how does he know about the hall?
"Nicoli, what are you doing here?"
"Quiet," Nicoli shushes again and motions with his hand.
"Brother, what are you doing here?" I change to whisper.
"What do you think? I came to find you." Nicoli pushes the tapestry wider to show more of the dark hallway. "Follow me."
"Follow?" I look past him to the dark hall. He wants me to go in there?
Should I? The question cuts deep into my mind. Is it a good idea? The memory of what happened creeps back into my mind.
If something were to happen-
It won't. I quickly corrected myself.
Didn't I decide? It's because I'm sick. Nothing else is wrong with me.
Nothing's going to happen. So I think with a smile.
"Okay," I look back to see Nicoli reach out. I walk toward him to find his hand and quickly take mine.
"Now let's go before-'' Nicoli stops, and I turn to see the door open.
"Anastasia? " I recognize Mykhol's voice. He's walking in.
Oh no! I glanced back at Nicoli to warn him, but was too late. Nicoli is gone. No one is there. All I see is the tapestry shift back into place.
"Oh?" I lower my hand. The feeling of his warm skin still prickles my cold fingers. But it's quickly growing cold.
Nicoli,
"Anastasia?" Mykhol calls again, finding me where I stand.
"What are you doing?" Mykhol takes a brief look over to what I'm staring at. But he doesn't realize anything because he quickly shrugs it off before returning to what he's here for.
"You ready, Anastasia?" Mykhol holds up his arm.
"Let me escort you to supper."
"Supper? Oh, yes." I slowly pull myself away from the spot to see Mykhol. Mykhol is watching me with a great expression. He's changed into a lovely gown in thick furs.
"Then come," Mykhol motions with his arm. "I want to eat." Mykhol beams one of those strange smiles that many girls like. I can only meet him with a polite but small smile.
"Thank you, Cousin." I take his arm but inwardly sink a little. I steal one final look at the tapestry.
I wonder why he went. Will he be at supper?
Will he come back? I have a passing thought that perhaps he will. I hope so. The idea of seeing Nicoli again makes my cheeks warm.
"Cousin, you're growing pink?" Mykhol goes, pulling me closer, and I almost trip because of the height difference but manage at the last moment. I find my feet to lift my head to stay in posture.
"Are you enamored with my new gown?" Mykhol teases, to which I shake my head.
"No, it's just warm." I return and look ahead. I try not to look back at the tapestry, as tempting as it is.
I will have to wait and see. I tell myself. Wait and hope that Nicoli will come back.
"Damn," Mykhol curses next to me as we approach the hall.
"And here I was starting to hope."