It's You

*Nicoli*

About time! Nicoli nearly shouted finding the decrepit wooden door. 

It had taken him nearly twice as long to get here. What with ducking under spider webs and then having to edge around paths overstuffed with broken chairs and tables once or twice. It was quite the feat, and he was damp around the edges. The humidity in the hall was no joke. 

But if Nicoli wasn't anything else, he was relentless. And the thought of seeing Ana kept him motivated. That, and the idea of showing his ingenious costume, didn't hurt. 

Which she will love, of course. Nicoli had no doubt. Ana would not disappoint. 

She'll say I'm so smart and super clever. He could practically hear her praises already. Ana was smart. She was the smartest person he knew. 

Again, Nicoli couldn't resist a swell of pride feeling in his tiny chest. It was the best idea he's had yet.

Now to show Ana! And he wasted no more time. 

Nicoli pushed open the door with both palms. It was stuck, no surprise, thanks to years of dust caked into the hinges. But he managed with a good couple of pushes, throwing all his weight in until it gave. The door finally opened, and Nicoli immediately found his vision filled with sunlight.

For a moment, he was blind, seeing nothing but the spots over his eyes. It took a minute to adjust. But as his blue eyes acclimated to the light, his confidence grew. He could make out the canopy bed, the vanity, and the trunks with the bat in the crescent seal of Nocthen. He had chosen right. 

This was certainly Ana's room! Nicoli lifted his chest in an excited breath, already turning.

"Ana?" Nicoli popped his head out first from the door, taking a look. Then, stepping out onto the thin rose rug.

"Ana?" 

Nicoli left the door to peer around the room. He looked from the curtained window to the vanity with a crooked mirror, then to the pile of trunks, the bed, the dressers, the armoire, and anywhere else, a petite girl as pale as the moon could slip behind. But as he blinked around. He could see no one. There wasn't a single soul here.

Huh? Nicoli furrowed his brows, stepping around. Surely he was wrong, right? This was Ana's room. She should be here. She should, anyway…

"Ana, are you here?" Nicoli couldn't hide the disappointment creeping into his voice. A feeling of cold water flooded over him as his eyes scanned and found the room, for sure empty.

After the long journey, braving spiders, webs, and all kinds of trash discarded in that hallway. Was he really just gonna be rewarded with an empty room? After everything?

Has Ana already left?

I can't believe it. Did I just walk all this way…Oh crud. Nicoli dropped his arms to dangle at his sides. That swell of pride in his chest popped like a party balloon. A heaving, a weighty sigh escaped his lips.

"She left…didn't she," Yeah, it was clear. Somehow, he missed her. And by the looks of it, a while ago. 

I should have just walked through the halls if she wasn't going to be here. Nicoli pouted, giving his mop of curls a vigorous scratch. But since he was already here, he decided to just go ahead and walk in further. Finding the vanity to check himself.

He had a feeling he should. And, sure enough, he was right. His red button-up and trousers were dusted in white marks and cobwebs. 

"Bleck," Nicoli stuck his tongue at the mirror before patting and swiping at the stains and webs. It didn't help at all. The dirt and dust smeared further into his red, making long, ashy streaks in their wake.

"Oh boy," Mom won't be too happy when she sees this. Nicoli could already imagine. But he shrugged.

Nothing to do about it now.

Instead, he resorted to pulling the last web off his single horn. It flew up weightlessly as he pulled it off. He paused to watch it drop down to the vanities surface before gasping at the sight of something unexpected.

Ana's red shawl with gold stitching was folded on the vanity.

"She didn't wear it?"Nicoli turned again to look around. Expecting to see Ana pop up out of somewhere. But again, he saw no one.

Ana was nowhere. The shawl had been left behind.

"I wonder…" Nicoli moved to touch the linen cloth. But it felt different. Somehow less unique. Perhaps it was just a cloth without Ana?

On a whim, Nicoli pulled the shawl to smell it. He breathed in something that made him pause, trying to place it. Something clean but heavy wafted from the fabric.

It smells like her. Nicoli moved again to take in the smell. Yes, it was there—that strange smell of Ana's- something foreign and dry. 

I wonder what it is. Nicoli thought again before catching his reflection.

"Ha," Nicoli laughed, seeing it. He looked so weird.

I look like Ana when she sniffs me. 

The boy laughed again, putting the shawl down. His amusement came to an end, looking back to the room. It was so quiet if he wasn't talking. 

"I guess I should just get going if she's not here." Nicoli shrugged and turned, setting back for the door. But there he paused, looking back down the dark hallway and the candle just blown out. Would that mean he'd have to traverse back through more webs and dust? Again?

"Nah," There's no point. He'd get dirty again. Well, more than what he already was. 

So Nicoli decided against it. He just closed the door and turned to go through the regular hall.

Walking back out onto the red runner, he noticed something odd. The walls were blank. Yes, they had wallpaper, but even that was peeling at the edges. It was a little surprising to see. It didn't look like any of the other halls. 

Did Mom forget to decorate here or something?

But Nicoli just shrugged. It wasn't in his interest to care what the castle looked like- he wasn't into decorating or anything. So he just put it off as something odd.

But that same off feeling came again. Nicoli would find more oddities about the hall. The biggest one was when he rounded the corner. He was no longer alone. And the other person here, of all places, was the one he least thought to see. 

"It's You!" 

Nicoli pointed as the blond giant stopped dead in her heeled step in front of him. 

"Prince Nicoli?" Hidi blinked in equal surprise. He then looked past her to check. But she was alone.

 Ana wasn't with her. Nicoli gave a sort of sigh of relief at that. At least, wherever Ana was, she was safe. Mostly. Nicoli relaxed his shoulders, moving to pick off another cobweb as Hidi stepped closer.

"What are you doing here?"

"What are YOU doing here?" Nicoli returned, crossing his arms back at her.

"Are you trying to kidnap my sister again?" 

"Oh, no, that's-" Hidi laughed, but it died shortly after. She seemed to press her eyebrows together as if in thought. Then, finally, she spoke after a moment of looking around the hall. 

"I guess I just ended up wandering over here."

"You sure?" Nicoli didn't hide his suspicion. Hidi laughed, but it was weaker than before.

"No, I…don't know why I'm over here."

Uh-huh. Nicoli rolled his eyes. He didn't believe her for a moment. But it was good she came now because he was here to stop her.

"Well, Ana's not here, so you should go." 

Nicoli turned to walk past the giant queen, fully intending to leave her in the empty hall. But he had the worst luck today, it seemed.

 Because as he thought she'd take the hint, the giant didn't. She only turned to follow. And Nicoli frowned, prickling up at the constant click of her heels behind him.

"Oh, well, I guess I missed her." Hidi went with a strange smile. She looked again around the hall before falling to Nicoli.

"Maybe she went to the ballroom?"

"Yeah. She must have." 

"We should go see together?" Hidi volunteered, but Nicoli instantly hated the idea and frowned.

"No, that's-"

But Nicoli felt the giant match his step. Her long legs made it so easy to catch his quick pace. They were now walking together. Nicoli could see how much taller she was to him. She was like a tree.

I can't say no even if I want to. Nicoli was dismayed a little and puffed his cheeks with a grumble. 

"Fine." Nicoli huffed through his nose before looking ahead. If she wanted to walk the same way as him, so be it. He'd just ignore her.

But that was easier said than done, Nicoli was quick to learn as the 9-year-old could feel something off. When he looked up, he could see why. Hidi was following his pace, but her green eyes seemed to be clouded over, staring off at nothing. 

It was such a startling look on the girl that even Nicoli had to bite. 

"Are you okay?"

"Me?" 

Nicoli sighed but nodded begrudgingly as they walked on.

"Yeah. You…don't seem like you. You seem like you're less you." 

Not that I mind, but Nicoli kept that to himself. He didn't dislike the giant THAT much. And he could tell something was off. 

"Something wrong?"

"Oh, no, I-" Hidi furrowed her sunflower brows again. They matched the Sunflowers she stuck in her hair that matched her giant yellow dress. She looked cheerful, on the outside at least.

But again, Nicoli could see some shadow fall over her. Something seemed to be on her mind. But she only moved to twist her long braid around her giant hands.

"Oh, yes. I…I guess I'm just lost in thought." Hidi was back to her smile. 

"You think?" Nicoli couldn't but smirk.

"Ha, such a biter!" Hidi chuckled rolling her eyes. For a moment her mood did seem to lift as she joked back.

"Ja, I can think sometimes."

But just as it seemed she was back to her usual annoying self, Nicoli watched her expression darken yet again. She twisted her braid tighter around her hand.

"I heard something…I was surprised by." Hidi confessed after a moment, her voice soft and reserved. It sounded serious. Nicoli raised his brow, uncrossing his arms to push into his pockets.

"Like what?"

"I-" Hidi sucked in some breath. She then waved her hand as if to shoo it away.

"It's nothing. Something long ago." 

Hidi again smiled down at Nicoli with her eyes big and bright. "But enough about me. Why are you here? Did you come all the way to see Ana?"

"Yup. I wanted to show her my costume." Nicoli extended his arms out to display it. 

"Oh, nice- you are…dirty?"

"I'm a devil!" Nicoli corrected with a snap. But now he was getting worried.

Do I look that bad? Nicoli noted the stains on his red pants once more. 

"At least, I'm supposed to be." Nicoli sighed.

"Geez, I hope Ana will get it." 

At the mention of Ana, Hidi's smile shifted slightly. Her step slowed just a hair.

"You…like your sister very much." 

"No." Nicoli shook his head and beamed the biggest smile at her.

"I love Ana." 

"Love?" Hidi blinked in surprise. Nicoli nodded gravely.

"Yes. Love her. So don't you dare try to take her way again? Because if you do-" Nicoli pointed a finger across his neck to make a wet sound.

 Hidi waved her hands back at him.

"No, no. I won't. I was playing before." The blond went, but not before saying more softly. "But I do like her."

"What does that mean?" Nicoli narrowed his eyes. 

"Nothing. I want to be friends. Just friends."Again, Hidi waved her hands.

"I promise." She moved to cross her heart.

"Uh-huh." Nicoli still wasn't convinced but didn't want to keep playing around.

I need to find Ana before she does. 

"So, you love Ana. Even though she is a vampire?" 

Nicoli made to step faster. But Hidi just walked more quickly to keep up. Unaware of how this made Nicoli irritated.

"She's my sister." Nicoli followed. "Of course, I would. I always will."

"Even after what happened?" Hidi asked.

"Even after what?" Nicoli looked at her, confused.

Hidi opened her mouth but then closed it. 

"Nothing. I am silly talk." She flinched a smile before moving to press a hand to smooth the buttercup dress.

"I like your devil costume. But it has one horn?" 

"I broke the other." Nicoli shrugged. But he then smirked mischievously. "It was the only way to escape my manservant."

"Aha, very smart." Hidi nodded in agreement.

"I like that."

"What are you supposed to be?" Nicoli pointed to the yellow dress before the sunflowers in her hair. "You're really yellow."

"I am the sun. Nice, right?" Hidi leaned closer to Nicoli's face. A bit too close. Nicoli leaned back with a fumbled frown.

"It works."

"You are hard to please." Hidi sighed but seemed to reinvent her interest. She smiled again at Nicoli.

"But I do like your costume."

"Thanks. I chose it so I could match her shawl." But then Nicoli sighed, remembering the shawl was still in the room.

She's not wearing it. Nicoli suddenly felt like his costume was a waste.

I should have snuck out earlier. If he did, he could have found out what Ana was wearing and worked from there.

While Nicoli anguished over his lack of immediacy, Hidi shifted her smile.

"You thought that?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Nicoli looked back at Hidi as if she said something silly.

"I love Ana."

Why wouldn't we match? Nicoli thought it made enough sense to him. But decided not to bother. He didn't want to waste more time talking. 

I want to see Ana. And he moved to step a little faster.

"You love her," Hidi repeated as she lingered a little. Again, her brows furrowed. But Nicoli wasn't going to ask her what was wrong. They still had a long walk ahead.

And he didn't want to waste any more time.