*Ana*
"Oh!" I cover my mouth as Nicoli drops the lantern with a harsh clang. The sound is so loud that I can't believe no one heard us.
Or worse, what if the lantern broke? I hurried and checked, but it was not. It was a surprise with how hard Nicoli dropped it. But still, I have to frown.
"Nicoli, be more careful." I don't care for his careless treatment of objects. Someone needs to correct him.
" You could have broken that- ah!" Nicoli yanks me forward. "Nicoli-"
But his smile steals my anger. Nicoli smiles from ear to ear. And the lantern's light only warms his face with a soft glow. His blue eyes sparkle in the light.
"Don't be so slow. Come on." Nicoli pulls again. And suddenly, I remember his hands again.
They're warm. I shift my eyes to my shoes.
"Ana?" Nicoli smiles, be it a little confused. But he quickly gets back to it. Nicoli pulls me to the center of the round rug before letting go.
"Stay right there," Nicoli orders and marches off. "I'll be right back."
"Oh, okay." I nod, feeling the cold air hit my hand as Nicoli leaves to stop across the room. He opens a trunk and rummaged through it.
"Nicoli?" I step forward before he shushes me. He waves me back to my spot. I must wait, it seems.
Eventually, Nicoli finds what he's looking for. He pulls out the paper and tin of crayons and carries them over in his arms. A big smile is on his face. He looks as though he is looking forward to this all day.
"Ana, let's draw together," Nicoli speaks as something catches his eye. It is behind me.
What's he staring at? I turn to look. I see into the hall. I can pierce through the darkness with my eyes with ease. But I see only the lantern.
"Nicoli? What is-" I start, turning back as a thought strikes me.
Maybe he wants to go back? Or he wants me to? A lump forms in my throat.
Should I go? I sink as I feel something tug on my hand.
"Let's color." It's Nicoli. He drops everything to roll over the carpet. And I'm immediately reminded of the lantern.
"Nicoli! Didn't I say to take care-" I start, but Nicoli ignores it to pull on my arm.
"Sit." Nicoli gives another yank softly as he moves to sit. Feeling his warm hand back in mine again, I lose my will to reprimand him.
I'll forgive it once. I decide. It is nothing too major.
Instead, I should worry about myself. How can I sit with all this dress? Not easily, I quickly found out.
Nochten does not use hoop skirts, and I have little experience wearing them. So, I am surprised to find sitting on the floor exhausting. A simple act is rendered impossible in Dawny's dress. And my hoop skirt is my most prominent foe. It bumps up at weird angles and blocks my view where I can't see where the floor is or not.
I either must trust I find the right spot or do something worse. I end up on the paper or the tin of crayons. Or even find myself over Nicoli. Eventually, I'm afraid my temper will get the better of me.
"How can anyone do anything in these?!" I push down the skirt to have it immediately pop up on both sides. It flings paper and crayons away.
"Oh!" I cry, exacerbated. "I didn't mean to do that-" I wanted to use those. One crayon was the same color as Nicoli's eyes. But it's gone. I made it roll out of reach.
"Ah, this stupid skirt!" I wail before a muffled laugh. It's Nicoli, and he's trying to hold back.
"Hold on," Nicoli manages through a laugh. He stands up to retrieve the crayon and picks up some paper without needing to be prompted. He holds it over.
"You want these, right?"
"Er, yes." I feel ashamed of my outburst. Look at me throwing a fit. I am older than Nicoli, but who threw a tantrum? What am I thinking?
Be more mature, Anastasia Brokenoff. I command myself.
"I'm sorry for that outburst…thank you." I take and hold the paper close to my chest. "I…I still need to get used to these clothes, it seems."
"It's fine." Nicoli shrugs with another of his smiles. He returns to sit right beside me.
"Oh?" Nicoli's arm touches mine. I didn't expect he would sit so close. From here, I can smell him better.
His room brims over with his smell, of course. However, it is nothing compared to the source. The sweet smell of honey fills my nose and head and makes me swim. It's delicious. I want to move closer and-
Stop that. I cut down the thought. I pushed the smell out of my nose with a quick and loud snort. I will not mind it.
Just pretend you can't. I turn away to distract myself with the paper. Nicoli is already busy with his drawing. I should start on mine. I balanced the piece of paper over my skirt and began to draw.
I am mostly successful. It is not good, but I do manage a very shaky circle. It takes much concentration, and I almost miss something that shifts behind me.
Hm? I look over. It was coming from the hall. It almost sounded like someone's step.
It's like someone's walking in there. I blink, staring deeper. I scan the space. But again, I found nothing. The hall is empty.
Did I imagine it? I keep watch, with the odd sensation of being watched coming up. It feels somewhat familiar. Like it's not the eyes of a stranger, but I know this stare.
But why? I don't see anyone-
"Ana, look." Nicoli holds up a drawing. It's crude and drawn in purple. I blink at it before having to smile, confused but trying.
"Um…how nice?"
"Do you know what it is?" Nicoli rushes with excitement.
"Um…?" I smile at him again. But I'm afraid that's not right because Nicoli visibly wilts.
"It's you, silly."
"Oh?" I look again. But I still can't see it. I can't even tell if I have a face or if I have eyes or not.
"Oh, come on," Nicoli groans and points. "It looks just like you." Nicoli sounds determined to prove it."Keep it."
"Um.. okay." I take the drawing. I'm not sure if this is appreciation or offense. "Thank you?"
How does this even look like me? I eye the paper again. This picture is terrible.
Maddie will fall over in laughter if she sees this. I can already imagine Maddie going all out. I can even hear the faint laughter in my head.
But still, I can't help but find myself growing protective over the strange art. Nicoli made this. And that's all that matters.
"I'll draw you next," I go when it happens again. Something shifts behind me.
This time, though, it's loud enough for both of us to hear. Nicoli and I both look up with a start. It is now inevitable whatever it is is coming from the hall.
"Something there?" I peer into the dark, but there is still nothing. But what could have been making that noise?
"Maybe it's ghosts." Nicoli prompts, which makes me shudder.
"Don't say such things. Ghosts are no laughing matter. They're scary. In Nochten-" While speaking, a loud, hungry gurgle erupts—my stomach bubbles and growls.
"Oh, that-" I still haven't eaten.
"Er-sorry." I cover my stomach with my arms. But this doesn't fool Nicoli. He's heard it all the same.
"The only thing scary is your stomach." Nicoli jokes loudly and points at my belly.
"I…didn't get to eat yet, so-" I relay, feeling silly now. I should have stayed for Maddie. I could have food by now. She even said she had coffee-
"Let's go to the kitchen, then." Nicoli gets up. He holds his hand out, but I look at him. The suggestion is baffling.
"The kitchen?" I repeat as if making sure. Nicoli nods.
"Where else- the kitchen has food."
"I know it has food-" I start but stop as I look at the door. "Won't they see us-"
"We won't go that way." Nicoli, of course, doesn't seem phased. He shakes his head." and besides, Thomas is at the door."
"Thomas?" I repeat. "Who is he?" I haven't met him.
"Just My servant. But You don't want to meet him." Nicoli brushes off. "Thomas is like an unwelcome shadow."
"We'll go through the hall again." Nicoli motions back and takes my hand. He yanks me up with a smooth pull. My head slightly swoons when he does.
Was it from moving too fast, or- I swallow as it hits me again. The smell- my heart thumps in my chest.
No, stop it. I shake it away quickly. I want to focus instead on what is happening.
"Does it lead to the kitchen?" How big was this passage? How far did it go?
"Of course, it can." Nicoli bends down to grab his lantern. He looks at our footprints on the dusty floor. There are only two, each from us.
"This runs through the entire palace. We can go anywhere with it." Nicoli beams and yanks me closer.
"Nicoli!" I cry but let it happen. Even though we shouldn't be going anywhere, I can't help but let him lead. And it feels nice to be on the following end. But only by him.
I'd let you take me anywhere. I suddenly want to wrap my arms around him. He is just inches away. I can easily reach out and-
Please stop it. I push away the silly urge. I can't wait for this cold to go- it makes me think of the craziest things. It will be nice once it's over.
Another creak of wood echoes as we enter the hall, but it must be from us. There is no one here. So I push the thought aside as Nicoli guides me to a fleet of stairs. It seems we are going down a level.
"This hall is quite big," I remarked. "And you know the way?"
"Of course." Nicoli beams. "I know every inch of this place." Nicoli lifts the lantern.
"There isn't any place I haven't been." The light brightens the path before us as we carry on.
*Mykhol*
The hall darkened to blackness as the children carried the lantern further away. Then, now hidden, someone finally stirred. Mykhol quietly stepped out from one of the open doorways.
Mykhol turned without a word toward the door they came from. He could see the yellow and blue paint and toys.
This must be the prince's bedroom.
"Go anywhere, huh?" Mykhol repeated before a laugh escaped his lips. Then a wicked smile spread over. His fangs extended with excitement.
"So many possibilities."
Mykhol then pulled the golden key from his pocket. He twirled it around his fingers to feel it. It seemed like such an ordinary key. But it unlocked many extraordinary things.
"Ana," Mykhol clenched his hand over the key tightly. Its teeth cut into the palm of his hand, but the pain was too little to bother. Instead, seeing her with Nicoli was the real pain.
So this is their little secret. Mykhol scowled.
"Heh," Mykhol laughed and shoved the key back into his robe. He then puffed his lips together to blow a soft whistle.
He turned to see his footsteps in the dust. They were much more significant than theirs. Mykhol considered whether he should follow them back to catch them or-
"Perhaps I should have some tea now," Mykhol spoke in a mocking accent. And he knew just the person who would make the perfect company.
At last, it seemed, the day was finally improving.