*Ana* “Oh…“ I barely manage to utter as I feel myself freeze on the spot. I only watch the maid continue to pull the doll out. Mykhol takes it from her to push into my free arm. I numbly feel the doll's long red wavy hair cascading over my arm. What is this? Unable to speak, I can only look back at the teen. My eyes dart around him as if to see some answer. But he doesn’t help at all. He’s just standing there grinning at me. What...this… My mind is trying to process the next word and failing. Finally, though, the teen doesn’t seem bothered by my silence, instead, he seems to take the opportunity to speak. I feel a rush of relief as he lets go of my hand- which I instantly pull back toward me. Mykhol turns to face the court. “This is a doll that our finest crafter has created. He specializes in creating replicas. He is detailed down to the mere centimeters. Each is a perfect copy-“ Mykhol explains in a prominent voice that carries through the room. But here he stops to look ove
*Ana* “You’ll like the library.” I go as I lead the way. Mykhol smiles with a nod, but I can feel his eye drift. He seems to look forlorn for some reason. “Oh.” I find my steps slow as I see it. Does he not want to go? Am I being pushy? “Unless…you’d like to go elsewhere?” Because you don’t seem that interested. But I don’t say it out loud. It just looks like he isn’t. But Mykhol quickly shakes his head. His energy is back, and he’s looking at me eagerly. “Oh no, please-“ As if to make sure, I feel him squeeze my hand. Then, he drives to move ahead before stopping to look at me. “Please, I would like to see it. Really.” His grin curls as it did back in the court room. He seems to be waiting for me. Or some reaction from me. Am I supposed to make one? I’m not sure. But I nod with a quiet sigh. It looks like he means it- that he does want to go. Maybe I just saw something by mistake. “Yea, well,” I make to step ahead. “It’s right this way.” I continue leading us to t
*Ana* (song suggested for chapter: State of Mind II by Vetle Naero) “Look who’s here again. “Maddie hums, but the sound makes my stomach sink. I didn’t even want to look up. I can already guess who she means. I know it’s not Aunt Funda or, on the off chance, my Uncle. So that leaves only one other person who can come into my side of the palace. And I’m already dreading it. I can’t believe he’s found me. I thought this place would be safe, and he wouldn’t think to check here. I want to cry. But it looks like not even the rose garden is safe- in the middle of winter with no one else around. With no one else who would want to be outside- I thought surely, he wouldn’t try here. He’d overlook the gardens, at least. Nope. I am wrong again. Cousin Mykhol has again located my existence. "He’s rather adamant, isn’t he?" Maddie must have heard my groan because she looked at me with furrowed brows. Does she notice that I’m not enjoying the onslaught of attention? Because I’m not. I don’
*Ana* “Maddie, “ I sigh as I at last feel at ease. It finally comes to that time of the day- bedtime. The now most sacred time of the day. It is the only part of my day that Mykhol can not be with me. He is not allowed to be in my bedroom this late. No one is, save for Maddie. So I relish this moment beyond all others now. My precious time with her. Alone. No Mykhol to peer up beside me. The sheer bliss of the nightly routine has me grounded. All the tension and weariness lift away as Maddie unties my skirt and top to put them back into the wardrobe. She comes back to unravel my braid next. “A rose?” Maddie stops as she finds the dried-out rose. She holds it out to me. I look at it but make no motion to take it. I don’t want to keep it. “Heh,” Maddie shrugs and tosses it into the fire. I watch it burn from my chair. The petals sizzle into white smoke before being swallowed by orange lines. The sight makes me think of Mykhol’s eyes- how he will stare at me almost like I could
*Mykhol* “Good Morning, Lord Mykhol.” Maddie greeted while fixing the bed. She was calm despite Mykhol bursting in without so much as a knock. “Your Empress…” Mykhol stood at the door. His red eyes darted over everything. It was early morning- so he had expected to find her still asleep. But it wasn’t so. She wasn’t in bed. Or sitting at the vanity getting herself ready for the day. Ana wasn’t even here. "She’s…not here." Mykhol voiced quietly before narrowing his eyes at the maid. He didn’t need to hide the irritation. The human just smiled at him stupidly. Mykhol felt his stomach turn at the sight of her and turned his head to look elsewhere. How could she already be gone? That’s what he wanted to know. Looking over the room, Mykhol found the envelope on Ana’s bed. He could see the blue wax. It was a letter from Dawny. Was. Mykhol noted. The letter was gone alongside the reader. And to where was the choice question? They both seemed to have disappeared entirely. Mykhol fro
*Maddie* Maddie made it through the empty halls without incident. Not that she had a worry she would. It was clear knowledge that no other servant wanted to be so close to Ana's wing. Let alone freely walk around it at night. Maddie had gathered that much over her months of being here. Hence she could move around now freely. No fear of being seen or caught. “Still kinda creepy, though.” Maddie had to confess to herself. Maddie shivered at the thought. It was quite something to be moving around in such a prominent place, chock full of vampires. No wonder the halls feel so eerie. But Maddie kept walking until she reached Ana’s study. Before stepping in, Maddie turned the gas higher to brighten the room. Unlike Ana, Maddie was only human. She needed light to see. "It's right near a wonder I can get around at all right now. Damn, near as dark as outside around here. If I didn't know my way, I'd be lost." "Let there be light, then." Maddie clicked the knob. Illuminated, Madd
*Mykhol* Upon hearing Ana enter, Mykhol read aloud. His fingers flicked the edge of the parchment like a rhythmic beat. It added background support to his cadence. “- I wish I was there with you. But I have boring lessons. I want to cry.” Mykhol read. He stopped there to now look up at Ana. She was standing perfectly still. Like a doll, Mykhol thought as he lingered on the image. It made him smile with his fangs. “My, does Prince Nicoli not like his lessons that much?” Mykhol posed, sounding innocent. “What are you doing?” Ana’s eyes were wide and shifted from him to the letter. Mykhol just smiled at her. “Good day, dear cousin,” Mykhol replied. He looked behind her to see the girl alone. Her maid was out of sight. About time. Mykhol had been waiting for the chance. He had to smile at his luck. “We finally meet after so long.” Mykhol folded the letter to put it back on top of the others. His finger lingered on the golden box before dipping back in. Then, his hand move
“Empress Anastasia seems quite attached to Lord Mykhol as of late.” A maid spoke to her master during court. “Yes, I seem to see them together quite a lot today.” The noble agreed. “I saw them together in the library just this morning.” A manservant interjected. “And they had breakfast together too.” “Well, I’ve seen them in the garden.” Another maid went. More turned in the crowd hearing the outburst. “Well, it’s clear to say our Empress enjoys Lord Mykhol’s presence.” Another laughed. “More like clinging to him. I mean, look now. Look how Ana has him standing right at her side.” He spoke loud enough for all to hear below. Hearing this, Ana flinched on her throne. It was slight and easily overlooked if one didn't know. But if they did, they could also tell the disturbed look that pushed in her brows. Mykhol, however, reveled in the attention. It was precisely what he had hoped for. And to further his ego, he made a show of taking Ana’s hand and holding it. “Mykhol?!
A honeyed whisper sliced through the ballroom noise, landing against the shell of his ear. "You’re so mean, to keep leaving me behind to deal with all these vampires, Nicoli." The words dripped sweetness enough to gag, a playful lilt barely masking the sting beneath. Possessive, triumphant, and just the tiniest bit petulant—all very much like her. "I might just have to punish you."Like she actually would, Nicoli suppressed a sigh, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as if she'd ever follow through with any of her threats. The giant just liked to tease. And she liked it even more when he rose to it. Nine years together had all but made that clear.And he knew the game by heart."Hello, Hidi," Nicoli said without turning, his princely smile tampered slightly but still on. Settling into their usual routine of push and pull.Her fingers slid into the crook of his arm, landing in their usual spot with the same easy certainty as sunrise. The sharp scent of lemon soap cut through the heavy
*Nicoli*Nicoli's practiced smile finally wavered as they left, the muscles in his face aching from the strain of maintaining such brilliant artifice. The tension he'd been holding in his shoulders released in a subtle drop, and he exhaled slowly, tasting the lingering scent of pine smoke mixed with the cloying perfumes of the vampire nobility.After the stiff, cold interaction with Ana's supposed family, Nicoli couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that all the things Ana had left unsaid were now painfully clear. Lady Funda and Lord Charles' hollow politeness, their icy demeanor, and the way their presence seemed to further freeze the already cold palace air compounded his growing sense of discomfort.If Nicoli held any fragile hope that perhaps her own family would be different compared to what he had seen so far, it waned like an ember dying against the chill the moment his father introduced him to Lady Funda and Lord Charles."Are they always like that?" he asked quietly, turning
“Hidi?” But before I can have a chance to ask any further, Hidi only taps my arm, her fingertips pressing just a fraction too firmly against my sleeve."But we will talk later, as for now—" Her green eyes immediately shift to Nicoli and brighten, like lamps suddenly lit from within. The strange expression suddenly disappeared again, replaced with a mask, so perfectly that I wondered if I had seen anything at all. Her smile is bright and full, with blunt white teeth again, but something about it feels rehearsed, a performance she's put on countless times. Her attention was solely on him, her body angling toward his like a flower turning to the sun."Nicoli, did you see that? Look how helpful I am to our dear Ana." She beams, as if nothing were wrong at all, stepping slightly closer to him than necessary, her arm brushing against his in a casual gesture that somehow feels deliberate. "Our dear Ana" sits strangely in my ears, as if I'm a shared possession rather than a friend. Her voice
Ana*“Please, everyone, if you would just-” But it's clear no one is listening. My voice is swallowed up by the cacophony of string instruments and the colliding conversations surging around us like crashing waves. The air thickens with perfumes and colognes—spiced amber, midnight jasmine, and something metallic that clings to the back of my throat. If I ever felt overwhelmed before a court of nobles shouting over each other after some new decree, it's nothing compared to the suffocating pressure closing in now. Actually, I think I'd prefer that over this.I don't even think my coronation was this bad. I recall that, being just a bit more orderly, the crowd maintained a respectful distance that allowed my lungs to fill properly. But then again, Mykhol was pushing them along so I could eat, right? It's a delayed shock of wisdom to realize that it was indeed helpful. I feel ashamed now that I ever thought he was being haughty at the time. He wasn't. His curt dismissals created a buffe
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