*Ana*
"Ah!"I let out a sharp cry, short of panic rather than fear. I don't feel them move, but I blink, and my arms are out. My hand is pushing back whatever is on me. My vampiric strength knocks and smacks into a wall of meat.
"Umphf!" whoever exclaims before I hear them tither and fall back as if I knock the air out. But even there, I am still reeling.
"Who do you think you are to touch me!" I turn, ready to face this interloper. Whoever it is, they will not go unscathed. I will give them the most severe reprimand they will endure for such foolishness.
"I am the Empress of Nochten, you can not-"
At least, I think I will until I turn to look down. All at once, my anger dies like a candle blown out as I see someone I least expect. My breath stops as I take what must be the same kind of shock on his face.
"Nicoli?" My voice finally finds a path out of my stutter. It's Nicoli? Is he the one? "Why are you-" the words drop as Nicoli groans.
"Ow," Nicoli sits up. A quick shot of pain crosses his face as he rubs his chest.
"Nicoli," My heart drops as I realize it's because of me. " I didn't mean to." I am off my chair and to his side. I immediately move to cup his hands to help him back up.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you. I would never have-" I try to explain, but my eyes dart over Nicoli.
Is he hurt? Did I hurt him- I hit him square in the chest! What if I broke something?
Please, I hope not. I think and quickly check for signs or bruises. Why did I not look first- how could I be so rash?
"I didn't mean to push you. Are you alright? Please tell me if-" I continue to check. His face looks fine- I didn't hit him there. I must have shot him in the chest- what if I broke a rib-My mind is playing the worst scenarios.
Nicoli's human. I could hurt him. With my strength, I could even kill him by accident-
I should have looked before. What if I hurt him? The idea stabs deep inside my chest. What if I did? Nicoli is only human- he won't heal like I do. What if he is hurt?
I couldn't forgive myself if I hurt him.
"Nicoli, I'm so sorry-"
"Gotcha!" Nicoli lunges up to grab my waist. He yanks me back to fall right over him.
"Ah!" I cry and close my eyes from impact. But as soon as I feel the ground stay firmly beneath me, I panic.
Oh no! What if Nicoli is getting squashed? I must hurry and-
"Whahoo!" Nicoli's voice trails into laughter, and moves to pull my waist into a hug.
"Nicoli-" The skirt- I'll squash him, but again, I seem to be the only one mindful. Nicoli doesn't see the danger. "Let goof you'll be."
"No can do." Nicoli snuggles his head into my shoulder. "You can't get away from me now."
"Nicoli?"The smell of honey radiates off his skin and fills my nose. It dulls my reaction while simultaneously speeding up my heart. It's that damn cold again. I force the smell out of my nose and gain composure.
"What are you doing here, Brother?" Despite his hold, I manage to prop myself away with my elbows.
Nicoli shouldn't be here. I know that well. My room is the last place he should be. Why isn't he downstairs?
"Nicoli, you shouldn't be here. Your guests downstairs-"
"I came to get you." Nicoli goes, bringing up a smile. It's sweet and makes me pause. But luckily, I find the strength. My sense of duty outwins my urges.
"Nicoli, you can't just abandon your guests. You're the prince." I steel my tone to push off.
"Go back down right now." I gain more space as I almost sit up, "You mustn't leave your guests-"
"Were you crying again?" Nicoli reaches my cheek. His tender fingers are warm against my colder skin.
"You were, weren't you?" The warmth spreads as Nicoli cups my cheek. "I don't like it when you cry."
"That-" my words catch as I can smell him. His honey-like perfume is overwhelming.
How can such a little boy smell so sweet? I want to lean in and- No. My resolve has me get up.
I will not fall for these tricks again. And Nicoli will not have his way. I must be firm.
"Nicoli, you can't just do what you want. You're going to be king. You have to fulfill your duties." I lift my head to appear taller, hopefully.
"Now, go downstairs right this minute." Thinking the conversation is over, I turn to leave, mindful not to hit him with the hoop skirt. But it snags on the chair, and I feel my hand suddenly yanked.
"What-" I look down to see it's Nicoli. "Nicoli, listen to your older sister. You must go. You can not be."
"I wanted to see you,"
"You wanted to…." My resolve drops as it's the last thing I expect to hear.
"We didn't even get to talk at breakfast." Nicoli continues. He moves to sit up and take both hands. "I was looking forward to eating with you."
"You…did?" A heavy pressure forms over my chest at the words. He wanted to eat with me. The statement is so simple yet renews my guilt.
"It's all my fault." I start and look down at my shoes. " I shouldn't have arrived without the proper-"
"For what?" Nicoli squeezes my fingers. He smiles as he leans in to catch my eyes. His blue eyes are so clear, but that only worsens my mood.
"Because of me, I ruined breakfast for you-"
"Pfft?" Nicoli's lips blubber before he breaks into another laugh. It's light and cheery, not at all what I expect. I can't help but stare back at him, perplexed.
"Nicoli, this isn't funny-" I start, but Nicoli blurts over me.
"Yes, it is! Here, look." Nicoli kicks off his shoes to fly across the room.
What in the world? I nearly fall over right there.
"Now they'll just have to yell at me too." Nicoli beams.
"Nicoli, no. Put those back on." I voice and immediately move to fetch them." I can't believe you- don't just undress out of nowhere. You can't do that."
"Why?" Nicoli asks as I turn to find where they went.
"Because-" I spy the shoes under the chair. " Because you have to."I go and move for them.
"But why?" Nicoli goes on. "Why do I need to wear them- it's just shoes."
"Because- because it's what you do." I try to bend down but immediately find the hoop push right up.
"Oh?" I gasp but right myself. I try again, leaning over one side, but this does not help. The hoop skirt only juts back into my face and blocks me.
"Why-" I puff." I push at the hoop only to have it spring back as I try to pick them up again. "If you would just-" I grumble as Nicoli laughs loudly behind me.
"Nicoli," I shoot him a disapproving look. Again, this is no laughing matter. But Nicoli shakes his head, utterly oblivious to the necessity.
"You're like a pigeon.' Nicoli jokes.
"A pigeon?" I frowned as Nicoli flapped his arms like wings.
"A big and awkward pigeon." Nicoli chirps as he flaps. "Eating crumbs off the floor."
"I am not a bird, Nicoli-" But I catch myself in the mirror. The hoop skirt bellows me out to form some heavy shape. I don't look like a person at all like this.
No, He is right. I look like a bird, and the sight makes me smile. But I quickly push it aside.
"Nicoli, please," I turn, this time trying to plead." Put them back on. It was already enough for me. I don't want you getting in trouble."
"That…okay." Nicoli nods after a moment. "But only because you said to." He retrieves his shoe.
I don't move until I see he has both feet in them. Once done, Nicoli looks up at me as if to say, 'Happy?' I am.
"Thank you," I go, seeing one problem fixed.
"Now, I want you to go back and-" But as soon as I start, Nicoli is up again. He finds my hand to pull me forward.
"Come on. I wanna play now." Nicoli pulls us to the tapestry. I see the light of the lantern in the hall. Was that how he snuck in? He must have.
"Play? But Nicoli-" Even as I try to protest, the sight of the dark hall ahead makes me curious. "Where- where would we go?"
"You'll see." Nicoli returns excited. He takes little effort to pick up the lantern without breaking my hand.
"But Maddie's-" I frown, remembering her. "She will be back soon with food."
"It won't be long." Nicoli squeezes my hand again. "I'll bring you right back. No one will know we were ever gone."
"Nicoli," I try to pull away, but it is futile. Even as I still try, my feet are following him.
"Come on, Ana." Nicoli barely needs to pull my hand to make me step forward.
Just go with him. I hear myself say. Besides, you know what you want. And I can't deny it.
I do. I want to go with Nicoli. I know I do, especially with how warm his hands feel in mine.
I never want to let go. The words echo in my hand as my fingers curl over Nicoli's. No, I don't want to.
"Very well," I give in. It's much harder to say no when Nicoli is this eager: I hope this won't be a problem later. "Lead the way, then.'
"I promise you won't regret it." Nicoli brightens. His steps become faster as he charges into the dark.
"We will be back, though?" I ask, still mindful of Maddie, but Nicoli doesn't answer me. He is busy pulling us through the curtain. "Nicoli, I said, will we be"
"You will love it!" Nicoli throws me a smile, and I feel myself lost to him.
Well, wherever we're going, at least we're together. I concede and squeeze Nicoli's hand as he pulls me deeper into the hall. The tapestry shifts down behind us to cover our hidden passage.
Or partially, I should say. If I had thought to check, I would see the tapestry pushed aside by my hoop skirt to bunch up on a dresser. I would also hear a knock before the door opens. I would find someone looking for me with as much determination as Nicoli.
But I don't hear them. And I don't look behind me. Instead, I follow Nicoli further into the hall. Our hands entwined as if afraid to let go and lose each other in the darkness. If only that were the only thing that could separate us.