*Johan*
Johan looked over the east wing quietly. He was careful to hold his thoughts lest someone were to hear. One never knew who could be listening. The Queen's spies were just as prevalent as Alexander's.
But there were moments that even he felt tempted. Like now. His tongue twitched behind his teeth as his pale brown eyes observed the lackluster hallway. The faded and peeling wallpaper, the threadbare runner. Making one thing clear.
Queen Belinda was pettier than he even predicted. Because this hall was not fit for anyone to stay in. Let alone an Empress.
But he quickly dropped the thought as his real business came to light. The royal captain, Luke, was finally making his way up the hall. The man was short but built like a bull. And his armor only made him bulkier. And judging by the eager look in his dashing across his green eyes. It was some good news.
"Johan," Luke greeted, a little breathless from possibly running. Johan gave a moment to let him catch himself before getting to it. And when he did, he was short and to the point.
"Updates?"
Luke smiled a little, revealing his missing incisor. "She has fallen asleep again after feeding."
"I expected that," Johan remarked unsurprised.
Though this would be his first handling of a 'first blood', it wasn't like he was in the dark about things. He was well-learned enough, knew how her empress needed to quarantine. How she needed to drink so much blood. How she'd fall back asleep between feedings.
He read much on the topic when Empress Parsul was alive.
In preparation for their future children, Johan had once excused. But never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that would be his only source. That Empress Parsul wouldn't be here to…
Johan shifted his jaw pushing the dark memory aside. He turned back to Luke, noting the slight sweat shining his wide forehead. He was sweating to. It seemed hotter on this side of the castle.
He leaned closer to whisper. "And what of the 'letter'?"
"Ah, the letter…." To this the royal captain lowered his lips to a thinner line before furrowing his brows.
"I heard something."
"Something?" Johan repeated to have the captain nod. But again, he seemed conflicted.
"Her majesty was rumored to be very good in her calligraphy."
"Yes, I know." Johan returned, but the captain shook his head.
"She could copy any script. Any script."
And the captain lifted his eyes to meet Johan's. A silent message flashed across his green eyes. The old man nodded with understanding, however, had to hiss out a sigh of frustration.
"That doesn't necessarily mean she wrote it." Johan went before hearing the sound of someone coming over. Both turned up quizical brow. The area was under lockdown.
Only another guard or the very king could come here. But Johan knew Alexander had business to attend to. And they had more than enough guards here.
So that only left the question of who else would dare come.
As Johan heard the feet shuffle closer, Luke pivoted on his heel. His hand hovering over the hilt of his sword. He was alert, but still waiting on orders. Johan clenched his jaw a moment, mulling over the information. At last, making a decision.
"Eliminate any other possibility. If there are no other suspects, we will move from there." Johan whispered, eyes still focused on the coming footsteps. The captain nodded.
"Aye, sir." Luke now looked up at the sound of wood creaking. The steps were coming up faster now. Almost as if they were running.
Who would run here? Johan thought before seeing the said person bound up the hall. The boy was still in his blue suit from this morning. And he was holding something. A string dangled behind him as he rushed in.
"Is that his-" The captain choked as Johan saw the boy dig in his heels to a complete stop. Eager blue eyes jittered across the crowd of guards, who looked back at him with confusion. But before anyone could speak, Nicoli darted his gaze to the left. And found them.
Nicoli immediately smiled and changed course. Sprinting over. "Johan!"
"Prince Nicoli? What are you- you can't be here." Johan moved to meet him halfway. Already stretching out both hands to stop him from darting past.
"Return at once."
"No, see, I have to see if this works, first." Nicoli bounced on his toes, lifting the paper and strings. "See?"
"Your Royal Highness, I don't care what you have. You need to-" But Johan stopped as his eyes flicked up to see it. And then his jaw fell a little. He recognized it almost instantly. But how in the world did the prince learn of such a thing?
But just as quickly as he was impressed by the boy's ingenuity, he had to backtrack. Nicoli couldn't be here. That was a fact.
"If the queen were to find you, she'd have a fit," Johan repeated, crossing his arms. But sure enough, the boy grinned back. It was that smile he saw the boy use on the maids. The one that got him what he wanted.
"Then don't tell her." Nicoli applied sweetly with a wink.
"Prince Nicoli," Johan rolled his eyes. Nicoli was just like his father- no, they were the same. Two incorrigible and insufferable die-hards, only to serve to add more work on his hands.
"I'm sorry. But no." And Johan moved to take his hand.
"But Johan!" Nicoli began to pull back, ready to protest, but Johan was lifting his gaze again at a new set of footsteps. Thomas was turning the corner with a golden tray of cups and a teapot. The wafting smell of ground coffee, rich and fresh, wafted over to them.
Thomas almost stopped dead in his step, nearly knocking over the tray as he blinked after them.
"Your Highness? Why are you here?"
"Thomas." Nicoli greeted mildly before noting the tray with a quizzical brow. Something which made the thin man slouch almost instantly, embarrassed.
"What's with the tray?"
Thomas bulked again.
"Ah, this-" He averted his eyes to the floor before biting his lip.
"He's here to deliver coffee to the empress," Johan answered flatly.
Thomas pinched his lips but nodded. "Uh, yes." He answered, but not before throwing an indignant look back to Johan. Johan just smirked at that. Nicoli's manservant was surprisingly arrogant.
"You are, then, " Nicoli blinked, mulling something before lightening up. As if struck by an idea, he jutted the cups out toward him.
"Can you give them this?"
"What is that?" Thomas leaned back wearily, staring after the cups and string. He stared at it as if wary it could bite.
The young boy scuffed and rolled his eyes before pushing them out again.
"It's cups."
"A…cup?" Thomas tilted his head. Still not getting it.
Nicoli sucked in his lower lip to give a little huff before looking back to Johan. His expression was annoyed as if to say 'can you believe this guy'. And Johan had to pinch back a laugh.
Nicoli, meanwhile, turned back, his lip stiff by the edges. Straining to stay pleasant.
"Tell them it's for Ana. And I'll be on the other end." Nicoli relayed slowly, tossing the cup onto the golden tray.
"The other…" Thomas blinked before looking up at both of them. He looked thoroughly lost. Nicoli shook his head once more to bounce his shaggy mop of hair.
"Yes, I'll have the other so-"
"Your Highness, that won't work." Johan had to step in.
"It won't?" Nicoli dropped his jaw. He looked at the cup and string before going back to him.
"Why not?"
"The string won't be long enough to go around the halls." Johan noted with a point.
"The halls are two bending. The sound won't carry, you see."
"It…won't?" Nicoli's face fell as the thought didn't occur to him.
For a moment, his face darkened, his lower lip pushing out as his brows pressed up. Lost. "But then how am I going to…"
Johan could feel something tug in his chest at the sight. And he gave a weary sigh. Both of them were too much sometimes. But still, he found himself having to grin.
"Might I suggest something?" Johan looked to one of the open windows. "I think you could use her window. Have one cup tossed out so you can use it."
"The- yes! Good idea!" Nicoli's eyes flashed with renewed energy. He pulled on his hand as if to do so.
"Let's test it then!" He yanked on him to force him forward, Johan had to break into a laugh.
"Yes, yes, I'm coming." The boy's enthusiasm was infectious. Again, reminding him of his father.
And if this worked, Johan was already planning to tell the king. No doubt he would get just as wound up.
These two, honestly. Johan shook his head. Any mention of her empress, and they go running. Johan laughed again as he felt Nicoli pull on.
"Come on- let's go!" Nicoli urged, ready to start. But not before Thomas shifted to block the way.
"Wait a minute, what am I supposed to do with this?" Thomas started, his beady black eyes looking between them both.
"Just do what you're supposed to do, Thomas." Johan kept his smile only to see the younger man grimace.
"And what the hell is that?" Thomas seemed to puff up his chest. Again getting prideful where he shouldn't be.
"Coffee and cup. Should be simple, enough for you. I think,"
Thomas huffed as his face flushed. "You…"
But Johan just waved before feeling Nicoli yank him again.. The nine-year-old was surprisingly strong. Or was that because he was that driven? His blue eyes blazed with determination.
They have so much energy still at this age. Johan had almost forgotten. He used to chase after his majesty at this age, too. And now he was doing it again.
At least some things were predictable like that. Johan mused as Nicoli threw up his fist. He shouted out with a great smile as they rounded the corner.
"Let's away! To the outside!"
*Naska*
Naska peeled back her lips to sneer at the sound at the door. The knob was turning. Someone else was coming to bother them. Again.
"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Naska cursed, stomping a foot.
These damn guards- I swear I'll be the one to lash out and bite someone. She yanked the door back hard enough to reveal the gangly-looking manservant with a tray. He looked startled to find her suddenly there.
"Well?" Naska tapped her foot to see the servant slightly jump again. It took him a moment to steady himself.
"Uh, coffee?" He lifted the tray.
"Coffee, in Dawny?" Mykhol blinked before smirking curiously. The servant gave a stiff nod, a slight sheen of sweat working up his receding hairline.
"From the King. He thought you'd like some." The servant swallowed. He motioned for her to take the tray. She did, but not without narrowing her eyes at him before noticing the strings and paper cups.
"What's that?"
The thin human shrugged. "I don't know. I was told to give it to you." The servant went, leaning in. His eyes went to the bed to spy on Ana. Still asleep.
Humans. Naska narrowed her eyes. The servant was not even hiding his dirty curiosity. She moved to step in front of him. Blocking his view.
"Ah, hello?"
The servant rolled his eyes and leaned back.
"They said throw one of them out the window."
"What?" Naska reeled back. "Why?"
The servant shrugged again and turned.
"Who knows? This isn't my job." And he was leaving—seemingly, done with his job and had no wish to stay.
"Hey- wait- I'm still talking to you-" Naska was stunned. The human left even as she was talking.
"The nerve of that human,"
Naska growled before slamming the door. It shook on the door frame—no doubt scaring the guards outside. But Naska only found that to be even better for her. She hoped she threatened them because she was disgusted with many of them.
"I hate this damn country. Everyone treats us like second class." Naska turned back to see Mykhol smirk.
"Well, they're not wrong with you."
Naska looked up at him with a start. "My lord?"
But Mykhol didn't explain. His focus was back on the bed. Checking on Ana. She was still dead asleep.
"Set it there." Mykhol referred to the tray. Naska moved to place it down on the small coffee table. Once set, Mykhol strolled over to pull up the strange paper cups and string.
"A cup, huh?" Mykhol looked at it before just setting it back down. "Odd."
"We have three cups. Is one for her Empress?" Naska guessed, moving out the mugs to start pouring. Filling the air with the comforting smell of fresh brewed beans. She relished the familiar scent. It had been days since she had smelt it.
How could anyone survive without coffee? Again, Naska gave a quiet curse to the country. Another reason to miss Nochten a bit more.
"Stupid man."
"My lord?" Naska looked up to see Mykhol sneer after the mug. His fingers lightly touching the white porcelain with a click of his claws.
"Ana can't drink this at all right now."
His claws clicked on the mug a moment longer as his crimson eyes drew darker with some thought.
"Just goes to show why humans don't know anything."
"Then, would you like some-" Naska motioned for Mykhol's cup, but he waved it away.
"Fetch me paper and ink." Mykhol moved to pick up the paper cup to study them before looking out the window.
"Mother and Father need to know Ana has had her blood now." Mykhol went. "Things will start getting into motion."
Then, Mykhol smiled at nothing. It was a soft kind of one that made Naska curious. He rarely produced such a smile at her.
"Motion? You mean Ana being crowned and all?" Naska inquired.
"Yes, there will be much they'll need to prepare. The earlier they know, the better."After a moment, Naska saw his lip curl up on one side, as if in a silent laugh before he moved on.
Mykhol opened the window to toss one of the cups out. The other cup was put on the lone nightstand nearby. He lingered, then, his eyes watching the garden below. The smell of crisp cut grass wafted in by the small breeze.
"I'd like to have things started by the time we return."
"Ah, yes. Then, I'll be right back." Naska promised, eager to leave the room for a moment.
But what did he mean by preparation? She stole a glance back at the tall vampire before opening the door. He was still at the window. A new kind of smile on his face. Not the one he made in court. She'd never seen it before.
This one was…gentler.
Naska frowned a little seeing it. But she let it go as she needed to hurry. The faster she left, the faster she could come back. And the quicker they could be together again.
"I'll be right back." Naska voiced before turning out to the hallway full of human guards. Immediately, prickling her skin with annoyance at the sight of them. She hoped no one would bother talking to her as she moved.
She already had enough on her mind.
*Mykhol*
Once Naska was gone, Mykhol could feel himself unclench his shoulders finally. Relaxing into the quiet.
At last, we are alone. Mykhol turned from the window to regard the pale girl still asleep.
Ana's eyes rolled behind closed lids. Likely dreaming of something. Of what though, Mykhol couldn't say. But it made him curious enough to draw closer. Stepping to the side of her bed to observe the girl.
No, woman. Mykhol corrected, taking up one of the loose curls from the pillow. The scent of Sandalwood flooded his senses as he did. And he closed his eyes to let it overwhelm him before swallowing.
He pressed his lips to tenderly kiss the strand before resting it next to her cheek. His eyes drinking in every inch of her. Marking the moment as the true beginning.
A low possessive growl then rumbled through his throat before he could smile again.
"Soon."