*Mykhol*
"Ah," Mykhol hissed bitterly as the sunlight peeked through the curtain to find his face. Mykhol immediately turned to hide, but it was already too late. The motion only made him aware of the pounding in his head.
It feels like someone is smacking both sides. Mykhol groaned again before swallowing bitterly. He didn't want to wake up now; it was still so early. But the pain was unbearable. He could not sleep even if he tried.
"Goddamn it." Mykhol gave in and sat up to feel another stab in his head. "Fuck,". It was already a bad start to his day.
I shouldn't have drunk so much. Mykhol rubbed his eyes as if that could help. It didn't. It only added to his frustrations. Mykhol was never a morning person, to begin with. Not that it was any surprise. Most vampires preferred late afternoon or night. Mykhol was undoubtedly one of them.
But not today. Mykhol hissed again with a new pulse to his temples. Today would be an abnormally early day.
How delightful. Mykhol had to sneer.
"Lord Mykhol," Abina, his Nochten maid, approached. The girl stood straight with her hands folded in front of her. A hopeful expression barely concealed on her face. "Good morning,"
"Hi," Mykhol hardly needed to look at her to see how eager she must have been. It was quite the opportunity to serve him. Like all the other girls, Abina pined for his attention.
Usually, Mykhol would make fun of girls like Abina. It was easy to toy with their emotions and give them hope. But not today. Mykhol was in pain already, and seeing Abina's evident nature made him sicker.
"Coffee," Mykhol rubbed his eyes to make black dots appear. It was a relief against all the sunlight filling the room.
Only a good cup of coffee will- Mykhol was already looking forward to the calming smell of ground beans when he lifted his hands to notice the maid. Abina was still standing by.
Why is she- "Ah!" Mykhol hissed as another throb hit his temples.
"What the hell are you still doing here-" Mykhol bared his fangs but flinched at another beating."Are you deaf? Go and get me coffee!"
I am not in the mood to be dealing with ill-trained maids. Mykhol clenched his bedspread as another throb hit the right of his temples. He already had enough problems at the moment. He didn't need to be handling a poor servant on top of it.
Why did I have to get her? Mykhol couldn't help but think that even Ana's human maid would have been better. And that was not saying much to him.
She at least could understand a simple command. Mykhol glared at the now quivering Abina. What the hell was she doing just standing there?
"You must be slow as well- GO and GET-" Mykhol slammed his hand on the bed to make a fluff of feathers fly.
"My lord, the kitchen does not have any." Abina wavered. "They only have tea." She grabbed at her skirt. The vampiress looked to be only a few years younger than himself.
"They only have- of course, they won't have coffee." Mykhol scuffed at the absurdity. "It's Dawny." Just how stupid could the girl be?
"I mean, go and bring up what you packed-" Mykhol tried to calm down. He didn't want to be yelling now. His head hurt, and he cried for sleep.
But here I am, having to wake up so damn early. Mykhol snarled to himself.
At least I will have more time with Ana today. Mykhol thought and somewhat calmed down. She should be awake now.
That was one positive thing about today. So Mykhol thought but stopped as he noted Abina. She still stood there. Her hands clenched her skirt tighter.
"Don't tell me," Mykhol stared coldly at her for a long, quiet moment. "You couldn't be that stupid, right?"
"Lord Mykhol…" Abina began. Her little hands shook her uniform."I didn't know I was supposed to pack it."
"You didn't bring it? Not ANY?!" Mykhol was both bewildered and repulsed. Had his ears deceived him, or had this maid been so stupid?
"OF-ALL-THE-ILL-PREPARED-HAlF-ASSED-MAIDS I could ever get!"
"Forgive me, Lord Mykhol." Abina threw herself to her knees and began to cry. Her head lifted to show her thick tears. But to no avail, Mykhol was unmoved.
Mykhol only glared down at the girl before feeling another shot of pain. He hissed and rubbed his temple. All this shouting and anger was making his headache worse. He needed to calm down.
"And now my head's worse, thanks to you." Mykhol could only sit back into the pillows and nurse it. He groaned loudly before opening his eyes.
"If I can't have coffee," Mykhol glanced back to see Abina still down on her knees. Suddenly, the coffee was less tasty than a new idea.
"Then there is something else you could give me." Mykhol motioned for the girl to rise. "Something extraordinary." Mykhol sharpened his fangs.
"My lord?"At his words, Abina quickly perked up. Mykhol only curled his smile, putting on his full charm.
"Come here," Mykhol shifted to give space on the bed.
"Do you mean-" Abina gaped, touching her neck to make Mykhol chuckle. It was a lovely sight to see. She was innocent and dumb. Two things he liked in a girl-
Or not. Mykhol's opinion changed as quickly as the girl got to her feet. Her face was again bright and ready.
"Of course, take my blood!" Abina practically jumped up. Her hands were already pulling back her hair and bare her neck."Take as much as you need." And with that, she was already crawling onto the bed and climbing over Mykhol.
It was evident that the girl was more than willing to be bitten. Abina practically begged for it, as many other girls before she had. It was something Mykhol had grown accustomed to.
But Mykhol was no fool. Nor was he any more enticed by her display of clear intention. If anything, it made him lose his appetite.
I wonder what Anastasia is doing. Mykhol gently pushed the girl off, no longer hungry.
"Lord Mykhol?" Abina blinked after him with fleeting disappointment. "What's wrong? Don't you want my-" Mykhol could see tears start to fill her eyes.
Damn it. Mykhol mentally rolled his eyes; not another one of those girls who cried at the drop of a hat. Mykhol hated the ones who cried. But Mykhol knew what to do. He again made his charming smile to make the girl brighten up starry-eyed.
"Be a good girl for me," Mykhol voiced gently. He patted her cheek before proceeding a finger to her lip. "Go and prepare my clothes."
"Oh, yes," The maid blushed and quickly turned with a new purpose. She seemed to have forgotten entirely about crying altogether.
So typical, Mykhol rolled his eyes as the girl left for another room. She was really like the rest of them.
"Disgusting," Mykhol got up to wash his hands in the basin. He carefully cleaned the finger that touched Abina with extra soap.
I'll need to do something about that maid. Mykhol decided as he washed. Whether to have her fired or punished, Mykhol had yet to choose. But either way, something was going to be done.
"She better hurry with my clothes." Mykhol went with a look to the door. He didn't want to delay anymore. The morning was already moving, and he didn't want to waste more precious time.
"Because, after all," Mykhol dried his hands as he looked himself over in the mirror. Despite the terrible headache, he looked as handsome as yesterday—a fact Mykhol could always count on to win over anyone he wanted. And there was one he wanted for sure.
"Anastasia is waiting for me."
-x-
Mykhol wasted no more time and dressed quickly. He chose another of Nochten's traditional gowns over the Dawny suits. Not that he ever packed any, but he would still prefer his country's fashion if there was a choice.
And that wasn't the only reason he chose a gown. There was another more noticeable reason. It was a reason that made Mykhol pause as he mentally went through Ana's wardrobe.
Her green velvet with black lace will match perfectly with mine. Mykhol smiled at the idea of them matching outfits. It was something Mykhol was surprised to find very fun to do.
"It makes it feel more like a couple." Mykhol laughed at his joke. It was a joke, but then again, the idea didn't sound all so terrible. But Mykhol quickly shifted the thought aside as he saw Ana's door opening.
"Ana-" Mykhol was about to rush over, as he stopped to see it was not her. It was Maddie. In her hands was a pair of shoes.
"OH," Mykhol almost dropped his smile as Maddie lifted her head to see him. The same lack of joy followed on her face. But this only made Mykhol smile again with purpose.
"Good morning, dear Maddie." Mykhol beamed with his fangs out.
"Lord Mykhol." Maddie returned with a bare smile.
"Is Anastasia up yet?" Mykhol went to look into the door. But he quickly saw the room empty.
"She's not in her room?" Mykhol's voice cracked around the edges.
"Empress Anastasia is downstairs breaking fast with family." Maddie voiced and turned. She began to walk without waiting for him. Mykhol scuffed at her rudeness but followed all the same. She seemed to know the castle better than he did.
"But her family is right here." Mykhol pointed to himself and winked. Maddie, however, only rolled her eyes.
"Is that what you think?"
"What else am I, then?" Mykhol sharpened his smile as they headed for the grand staircase. "I am her dear cousin, after all." Mykhol went on as they descended the stairs.
"Cousin, huh?"Maddie stiffened her lip as her hands clenched the shoes. "Do you think I don't see what's going on?"
"Is there something going on?" Mykhol smiled with a glance at the shoes. They were too small to be for her. He assumed they had to be Anas.
"What are the shoes for?" Mykhol asked as Maddie snapped.
"I know what you're doing. I saw you last night." Maddie whispered harshly. "You had your arms around her- you are no cousin. That is not how a cousin acts."
"Oh?" Mykhol laughed lightly as his eyes narrowed. He only had vague memories of last night. One was a faint recall that the maid did burst in.
But that's not what's important. Mykhol thought. There was something much more important. Something the maid said was exciting.
"You saw us? Mrs. Bustlier," Mykhol continued to climb down."Whatever are you implying? Something indecent?"Mykhol curled his lips, remembering.
"That- You know-" Mykhol watched Maddie deepen her frown. "Ana is young and wouldn't know better. But I'm no fool-"
"Now." Mykhol cocked his head. "Don't you think you should be more careful what you say?"
Mykhol again looked at the shoes. There was a sudden urge to take them. Maddie shouldn't have her shoes. He should. And he suddenly did not like that someone else was touching her things.
They're mine. Mykhol stepped up to snatch the shoes. As he did, an older couple was coming down.
"You-!" Maddie forced herself not to react less and gain notice. However, Mykhol saw the opportunity and took it without her resistance.
"Thank you for bringing her Empress's shoes." Mykhol bowed respectfully to the noble couple. They returned the gesture and walked past, none the wiser to what was happening.
Not that they could do anything. Mykhol smirked, feeling untouchable now. And in the spirit, Mykhol leaned closer to Maddie to whisper.
"Insinuations like that can ruin a girl." Mykhol stepped back with his new prize and turned. But on second thought, he stopped to glance at her.
"And only a hasty marriage could save it." Mykhol practically laughed.
"You-" Maddie seemed to gasp.
"See you inside." Mykhol purred and turned to follow the smell of food. The great hall was just ahead, so he no longer needed Maddie to guide him. But it was fun to see her little reactions.
But not as much as Ana's. Mykhol felt his cheeks warm at the thought. If Mykhol looked forward to seeing her before, he was now giddy.
"Little Ana," Mykhol giggled as he swung the shoes.