*Ana* Once inside, I can see the grand crystal chandelier hanging over us. The light hits the crystals, splits into a thousand mini rainbows, and colors the ceiling. While I find the sight beautiful, I can’t help the sensation of old dread come back. My body flinches as I’m carried directly under it. “Still afraid of the chandelier, I see.” King Alexander laughs softly with a knowing look up. “You know I-? How did you know?”I blinked with astonishment that he knew. But Father seems unsurprised. “Even as a baby, you never seemed to like it.” King Alexander continued to watch the chandelier as we passed. His eyes softened while he went on. “You’d cling to the walls because you didn’t want to go under it. And you’d cry for me to help.” “Did I?” Ana spoke, still trying to picture it. How old was I then? I follow his gaze. “I don’t remember that.” “I do.” King Alexander nudges me a little closer. “I remember everything.” Everything? I look back to see him give me a strange smi
*Queen Belinda* Queen Belinda stared into the pair of red eyes. Even though Mykhol was exceptionally handsome, the hue of red warned Belinda to be wary. Even Lucifer was said to be beautiful. Thus, Queen Belinda was simultaneously intrigued and sickened by him. It could be worse. Queen Belinda relented with a sip of tea. She could withstand a thousand of these blood-red eyes if it meant a minute less of staring into her eyes. Half-blooded bastard of a child. Queen Belinda hid a sneer as she drank. Why must I endure this all over again? It was a shame and a waste in her eyes. Belinda had thought she had gotten the point across last time. But apparently, she didn’t account for Anastasia’s optimism. Again, Belinda made a face as she drank. It would have been God's mercy if she’d just died alongside her mother. How sweet would life be? Belinda mused. But alas, he must not have been listening that day. What a pity. Speaking of pity, Queen Belinda finally acknowledged the teen with a
*Ana* “Please, no more!” I squeal between tears. My sides are burning from laughing hard, and I can barely breathe. But this doesn’t stop Nicoli. He ignores my pleas for mercy and carries on his assault. “Bombs away!” Nicoli throws another snowball to explode over my back. “Ah!” The shock of ice-cold snow burrows underneath my collar. It's so cold that it almost burns. I immediately try to swat it out, but the snow seems to travel further. It's down too deep; I can’t get it. I must stand and suffer until it melts. Snow is so mean! I shiver as the snow again finds my skin. It sinks through my clothes like sand. The icy burn reminds me of the hot summer sand in Nochten. “It’s too cold,” my nose drips an icy snot before I peer back at him. “I want to go back inside.” “No way!” Nicoli blows a raspberry and is bent over. He gathers more snow in his gloved hands. “Not until you eat one- now, come here!” Nicoli charges at me. “No!” I threw up my arms and caught his hand. “Let go!
*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
*Ana* As we enter the great hall, I immediately dash my eyes around the room. There are many tables full of new faces. Many have come to celebrate Nicoli’s fifth birthday. But to my dismay, I can’t find the two people I want to see most. “They aren’t here yet?” I meant to whisper, but Mykhol must have heard me as he leaned. “Who’s not here?” Mykhol went with a look to the room. “Are you looking for someone?” “I- yes, the main table.” It is where the royal family should sit. I realize with a look at the room. It’s the only table that remains bare. “It’s empty.” “Oh them,” Mykhol immediately scoots his chair up to me. “I’m sure they’ll be coming.” Mykhol goes with a wave of his hand. He is so calm despite everything. I envy how he can be so composed at a time like this. I wish I could be because I am anything but. I feel as though I am on pins and needles. My breath seems to keep catching in my throat. I must tell myself to breathe and stay steady. But that’s easier said a
*Ana* “My good people,” Father’s voice booms to quiet the room. Immediately, people turn in their seats to look his way as Father lifts his glass. On cue, everyone moves to raise theirs. I lift mine as Mykhol refills his before doing the same. It must be pretty good for him to drink so much so quickly. I note that this must be Mykhol’s third glass. I wonder what it tastes like. Is it sweet? I hope so. I move to try a sip before I stop myself at the sensation. Someone is watching. I look up in time to see Stepmother wrap her arm around father. Queen Belinda looks utterly content just being at his side. While poor Nicoli, though, seems to grow impatient. He jitters a little in his seat, looking up at Father. “We are gathering here to celebrate my son and future heir to Dawny, Prince Nicoli.” King Alexander takes the chance to look over the room. “Though it seems just yesterday I was chasing this scamp about the palace with him butt naked-” “Hey!” Nicoli snaps in offense. His chee
Chapter # Drunkard (Edited and reviewed 11.7.23) *Maddie* “Don’t you think you should ease up on the wine, m’lord?” Maddie couldn’t hold back this time as she repoured what must have been; honestly, she had stopped counting by now. The teen didn’t seem bothered enough to keep track, either. Mykhol had been drinking non-stop since they returned—cup after cup emptied in minutes. If he gets sick and vomits, I swear to god- Maddie clenched her teeth. Even if this was part of the job, Maddie was not keen on mopping up human slop. Especially from the likes of him. Not that Mykhol cared at all. Mykhol was fully drunk now. His cheeks were flushed as his clothes became sloppy. In this state, Mykhol alluded to a casual aura that could come across as sex appeal. Any girl would swoon if they saw him right now, with his hair disheveled and his chest bare. Except for one, thank heaven. Ana’s oblivious nature relieved Maddie to no end. It was a godsend that the girl didn’t notice. His charms w
*Maddie* “What are you two doing?” Maddie could barely breathe through all her confusion. Her mind desperately tried to decipher what she was looking at. It was Ana and Mykhkol, but it was not like she had left them. No, she left them on the couches, separate. That’s how they were, not like this- Maddie’s mind struggled to take it all in in parts. “Oh, hello, Maddie.” Ana greeted, leaning away from Mykhol’s hand. “You changed quickly.” She smiled easily, not aware of anything. “Not quick enough,” Maddie breathed under her breath as she quickly moved to close the door behind her. I was only gone for a moment. Maddie knew she didn’t doddle. It was just a moment, ten minutes at the most. She only went to change her shirt and was right back. But in just that short time- If anyone else had walked in to see them- Maddie reeled with a new fear. Thank god it was just her and not another maid. The scandal alone- Maddie shuddered thinking of the aftermath. Who knows what else might ha
Naska stared at the cup instead of taking it, more shocked than surprised at the motion. Someone poured her drink? It was indeed a first. No one had ever done anything for her. She was so used to doing everything for herself. And glancing up, the sight of who did, only made her more confused.It was one of the veiled women—a Bulgeon, a human. Her eyes lined in that inky black shadow seemed to regard her in silence just as she did. Her hand lifted the cup, steady, as if she were still waiting. Naska, not knowing what else to do, took the cup. But her eyes remained glued to the woman. Because of the veil, she couldn’t know what expression the woman was making. Was it friendly? Bitter? What did her face even look like under the cloth?Watching her, the mysterious woman moved with grace. She poured another ladle of blood, not wine, to steam against the glass. Her thin fingers peeked out of her sleeve to swipe a slice of meat to dip in, and she moved to eat under the cloth. Naska raised
*Naska*“What a joke of a party,” Naska muttered, baring her fangs as she leaned against the wall. ”Mine will be so much better.” Her pale red eyes flickered over blue and gold streamers hanging from the center of the high ceiling with a sneer. Ugly colors, she immediately found it stupid. But not as stupid as having to sniffle every other minute. Her nose was irritated and starting to run from all the damn pine scent in the room. Each breath was like choking on a bottle of soap. From the platform near the far wall, the gentle strains of stringed instruments played a song too delicate and indistinct for her to recognize. It filled the air like perfume—pleasant to some, she supposed, but meaningless to her. Light laughter floated between the nobles, punctuated now and then by the sharp clink of crystal goblets. Beneath the noise, however, the pressure in the room was thick. Everyone waited for Her Empress to return. The tension curled under the music like smoke, unseen but unmistakab
*Johan*As he entered the banquet hall, Johan quickly noticed quite a few things. The first was that King Alexander was nowhere to be seen, though Johan expected that. He must have still been talking with Queen Bratha.What surprised him, though, was that others were missing—two, to be exact. The handsome brunette prince was not in the banquet hall as he thought he would be, considering he did not see him in the lobby or even the line. He was gone, and neither was Ana. Who he did see was just Hidi.The giant queen stood out among the partygoers- not just because of her size. Her very presence seemed to overpower anyone who dared draw near. Those who attempted to pass her either darted their eyes down or weakly bowed before hightailing it inside. Johan could see that even that old coot kept a safe distance if anyone wanted to try to talk to her, like the ever-eager Sir Celbest.The blonde was not pleased about something, and Johan could easily see it. The girl had never been one to hi
*Nicoli*Nicoli held onto Ana like a man gripping the edge of a cliff—tight, unyielding, unwilling to let go for even a second. The very idea of releasing her, even to their father, was absurd. No. Absolutely not.He had waited too long, ached too much, spent years longing for this moment. And now that she was finally by his side again, he refused to let anything—anyone—take her away. Not tonight. Not ever. So be it if he had to fight off the entire court to keep her close. Vampire, noble, or king, he didn’t care. He’d take them all on.She was his Anastasia. And now that they were together, everything felt right again.A rare, genuine grin tugged at his lips—one that wasn’t for show, unlike the practiced smiles he wore in Dawny. This was different. This was real.But as they moved through the white halls, his excitement warred with Ana’s slow, deliberate steps. Too slow. She still walked like an old lady.Nicoli’s muscles twitched with pent-up energy, his entire body screaming to mo
*Ana*My body freezes, every muscle locked in place as Nicoli leans in closer. His face is inches from mine, and I feel my breath catch, a whirlwind of confusion and anticipation racing through my mind. What is he doing? Is…he going to kiss me?But we can’t—we shouldn’t. We aren’t children anymore.As children, it was innocent. Nicoli used to kiss me on the lips, but it was always affectionate—nothing more, just like when he would hold my hand or offer a playful hug. It was natural to him, something that didn’t feel strange, something I expected from him without question. But that was then.Now, we’re adults. And that changes everything.We can’t– I try to tell myself that, but something in me hesitates, unsure whether I want him to stop or... not. I’m paralyzed, my heart beating so loudly I can hear it in my ears. As his face nears mine, I feel the world shrinks, the air around us thick with tension. A strange eagerness stirs in my chest—a warmth I don’t understand. It coils through
*Ana*“Nicoli–” He’s going the wrong way again. I shake my head, the soft chime of my gold chains punctuating my amusement. But he insists on leading, judging by the stubborn set of his shoulders. He’s determined to get somewhere despite having absolutely no idea where that is.For the past twenty minutes, Nicoli has forged ahead with all the confidence in the world, only to crumble in confusion when we inevitably hit another dead end or loop back to the same hall. Left, then right, then left again. Each turn is taken with steadfast determination — and each time, I have to stifle a new laugh as we encounter yet another wall.“Nicoli, just let me show you–” I try, though I’m already bracing for him to ignore me. It would be far easier if he let me lead, though. This is my palace, after all. I know the twists and turns, the subtle variations in the endless white corridors. But he seems lost in his resolve. As if doing this out of spite at the challenge and not wanting it to get the bett
*Hidi*“But, what about me–” For once in Hidi’s life, her voice was too soft to hear—lost, swallowed under the sound of laughter. Their laughter. Hidi froze, her breath caught in her chest, her words useless in the space they left behind. Her eyes only widened as she stared after them, watching–watching, but not moving in disbelief.The two of them were running, laughing, hands clasped like children lost in their own world. And she was still standing here.She blinked. Did they really just… leave me?The air seemed too still while everything else moved too fast. Nicoli had been right there. Right there. She could have reached out, close enough to brush her fingers against his sleeve. But he hadn’t even looked at her. Didn’t even voice a hello.Not once.His sapphire-blue eyes had locked onto Ana, and nothing else had mattered.For the second time.A cool flick of irritation ran beneath her ribs, lodging itself somewhere deep inside her. She knew this was their grand reunion, knew th
*Ana*Standing between my aunt and uncle in the banquet hall, I must appreciate everyone’s hard work for the party. They really put in a lot of effort.The banquet hall is beautifully decorated with blue and gold streamers cascading down to the center of the high ceiling. Each arched window features a garland of fir and pine, filling the room with a clean yet sweet reminder of the winter outside. The candelabras are all set and lit with fresh beeswax candles, brightening the room and causing the windows to fog up slightly. The tables that line the walls are adorned with an assortment of cakes, meats, and double boilers filled with various types of blood for those who prefer.It’s everything I could have hoped for. And I swell with pride. So far, I think my first real celebration is going well. I gaze over the steady stream of new guests. Once again, I have to note that most of those arriving are unaccompanied men I spot yet another group. They put on a show by bowing or smiling at m
*Nicoli*“So… this is Nochten,” Nicoli whispered, his breath barely stirring the cold air. He paused at the threshold, eyes sweeping across the grand lobby. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was certainly different from home.His gaze traveled upward, taking in the domed ceiling overhead, the polished stone walls that gleamed in the candlelight. Beneath his feet, a mosaic of a bat soaring toward the moon—Nochten’s national symbol—stood in sharp contrast against the pristine white stone. The palace lacked the excessive paintings and portraits he was used to. Instead of gold trim and plush fabric, there was only carved stone and painted walls. Even the flooring was a departure from what he knew. No wood, only cold, solid stone.Nicoli's eyes caught the mosaic again, its intricate details holding him transfixed. Slowly, a small smile pulled at his lips.It suits her. He thought. Yes, it most definitely did. This was most definitely Ana’s home. But, where was Ana?He stepped further