DDR

*Ana*

I flexed my fingers against Mykhol's black sleeve anxiously, as I could already hear the telltale signs of the ball. 

The sweet pull of the violins mixed alongside giggles and gasps. The thick white and gold arched doors could not hold back the sound. It escaped through the seams of the very doors. So did the fresh smell of roses, lilac, and jasmine. It was strong enough to permeate the hallway as we stopped to let the two knights open the door.

The two knights, human men, bowed their heads regarding us before the shorter one reached for the crystal doorknob. It clicked and we were immediately surrounded by the life of the party. The music and talking amplified to the almost deafening roar, as he pushed it wider to allow us through.

Beside me, Mykhol stiffened straighter as we walked in to stop a foot from the threshold. For a moment, neither of us spoke as we both observed the room. Mykhol was quietly regarding the room full of bodies moving, the musicians playing on the small marble platform, and then the statues set in the very middle of the black and white checkered floor.

It's exactly as it was before. I feel my shoulders drop with relief. Not realizing I had been holding my breath till now. But it's true, the room does look exactly like it did 5 years ago.

The chandeliers were hanging from the mural ceiling. The wall of mirrors is still placed between the busts of bare-chested women. Even the statues were the same.

Three beautiful nymphs still encircled the crowned king. Their hair floated in an imaginary breeze. Faces frozen in smiles and laughter. As if merely enjoying their game of ring-around-the-rosy.

The only difference now, I can see, is the king's crown is a ring of poppies. Giving him more of a Pan-like quality than regal.

It reminds me of Nicoli. I can't help but laugh, tasting the smell of roses when I do. The room is decorated with them, alongside the others. It looks like the goddess of spring blessed this room. 

Speaking of blessed, I lift my head in earnest to find Nicoli. Is he already inside? I scan the sea of pretty dressed girls. It looks like everyone is here. But I don't see him, curiously. Was he still on his way?

I wonder if he's still coming-

"So this is a Ball." Mykhol shifts on his feet, his voice stuck in a gray place between curious and judgy. 

I nod breathlessly.

"Yes, isn't it wonderful?" 

Mykhol almost coughs up. "You like it?" He throws me a measured look between his tilted hat for a moment. As if he thinks I were joking. 

He shrugs after.

"Well, I guess someone can." 

"Cousin." 

"I jest. It's nice for what they could do quickly."

"You speak as if you are the expert in balls."

Mykhol laughs, pulling me closer to his arm. 

"Fine, you have me there. This, too, is my first. Are you satisfied, dear cousin? That I, too, am inexperienced in some things."

"I wasn't trying to tease you." 

"You weren't?" 

Mykhol pulls me in closer.

"And here I thought you were trying to make me cry."

"Cousin, why would you-"

"I am only playing, Anastasia." Mykhol winks. 

He is playing with me again. I pout but more at myself. Of course, my cousin was playing. He's always making jokes and remarks. You'd think I'd learn? No, apparently. At least, not now. 

"I know you are a good girl, better than anyone." 

"Cousin?" I look up at the comment, but Mykhol winks.

"Gotcha."

I huff and smack his arm.

"Oh, honestly!" When will he grow tired of it, I wonder? 

Better, when will I stop falling for it? But even then, I don't think it would help. I'm sure he would find something else to do if I did. 

Something that would get under my skin. He likes to do that, oddly enough. Bother or vex me. Ever since I was little. 

And still, I fall for it. 

"I simply meant we must enjoy ourselves then. Since it's a first for us both."

"The first of many things I should expect." 

"Cousin?"

I look up at him, as he pops his head back up to click his gold hoops together. 

His smile is on once again. That same smile that sets the room alite. The 9-year-old girls, steal glances our way, before pulling up fans to giggle behind with pink cheeks. Clearly enjoying it.

But if intentional or not, Mykhol doesn't notice their reactions. Or he doesn't care. His high brow remains neutral. Up until he spies something ahead. 

"Look, I see a table of food." He points to it before looking back at me.

"You said you were hungry, right?

"Yes." I agree, again noting that hollow bite in my stomach. All I've had today was a measly green cookie.

"Then I'll get you a plate." 

Mykhol pulls up his lips again. But it's not the same. This smile has fewer teeth feeling warmer as he nods to me before dropping his arm.

"Wait right here." 

Mykhol leaves to wander over with a skip in his step. He was almost eager to help. But that just pushes my brows together. 

Something is different about him today. I watch him with perplexity. He is acting very odd.

Maybe he's just acting up because we are in Dawny-

"Ow!" I wince a cry just as that mystery pain abruptly hits me below the stomach again. I hiss quietly and rub the spot. Half wondering if the pain isn't from just being hungry.

Perhaps walking in a heavy dress is the problem? It could be. Thanks to all the layers and strings. The corset alone is restricting, pinching me into place. I can't think of a better culprit.

If I'm just walking, how will it be once I start to dance? I can't help but feel another drip of sweat crawl down my back. I'm already getting hot from all the heat of all the girls in the room.

And to be in a strange pain on top of it-

Immediately, I hear a commotion. Girls are clicking their heels against the checkered floor as they jump into a dash towards me. Their eyes eagerly drank up the sight of the doors opening again. Someone is coming in. No, two. It's Nicoli and Hidi. They've come together. And they are not wasting time coming up.

"Nicoli!" A girl in pink shouts, waving her gloved hands.

"It's Prince Nicoli!"

"Oh my, what is his costume-"A girl in maroon pushes in her brow.

"He's with Her Majesty?" A girl speaks near me.

"Are they coming together?"

"Wait, does that mean-" The other girl lowers her tone.

"No, it can't be decided yet."

"What is decided?" I turn in question to the jittering and bopping swarm that circles me. A look of surprise crossed their faces. Almost as if they just noticed I was still standing there. 

I suppose that means my novelty has already faded. But I don't mind it. Instead, I just press on.

"What is it you two are talking about?" I ask again, but just as the short one opens her mouth, the crowd is moving. Like a school of fish, all collecting into one spot, darting around me to where they want to be. Everyone starts to cluster around them.

Nicoli is dressed all in red, with one piece of wood clipped to his shaggy mop of brown curls. Whilst Hidi is as she said. Dressed in yellow, sunflowers weaved in through her thick blond braid to be the sun. 

I must say, I do like the costume. The yellow fits her in some unconscious way as it matches. And it takes to set her peridot eyes to sparkle even brighter. 

Following behind them, with less applause, was her friend. Lady Poole. She moved to side-step the group to take her spot at the giant's side. She was dressed in a plain grey ballgown with feathers.

Odd choice. I raise a brow. What was she supposed to be? A bird of some kind?

"Your Empress," A heavier girl pulls me by the wrists to grab my attention again as if wanting to answer for her distracted friend.

 "it's only a rumor." She says, but I turn fully to look at her. 

"A rumor? Of what?" I ask but the girl suddenly blurts over me.

"He's looking over here!" She says sharply, straightening her dress in a sudden rush of insecurity. She pulled back her shoulders, anticipating his approach. But it wasn't her he was looking at.

"Ana!" Nicoli's voice cracks through the multiple voices. Just as I'm about to turn, he appears. A flash of red moving and maneuvering between the spaces of girls. His hands were already up and waving vigorously. As if I couldn't hear him continue to shout like a seagull.

"Ana!" Nicoli calls again, voice loud enough to drown even the sound of the violins. The poor musicians. Is anyone even hearing them over this cacophony? 

In hast, the girls quickly stepped back, pulling their hooped skirts with them, allowing a path for him to walk through. As he approached, the other girls turned to watch, and some smiles quickly fell when they saw Nicoli headed directly for me.

"It's her, Again?" A covered mouth whispers. But I hear nothing else before Nicoli makes it over. He abruptly steps right in front of me. 

"I was trying to find you, but you weren't in your room!" Nicoli booms. His face lights up with a broad smile that pushes up his cheeks, their copper hue glowing.

"Where'd you go?" 

"I left with Cousin," I utter finding us being studied by the crowd.

No, it's not just them. I realize lifting my gaze.

 On the marble platform next to the musicians, I spy the thrones. Two were set up and occupied by none other than by Father and Stepmother. Both already turning to watch the commotion. Grey and blue eyes peering over. 

When Father catches my glance, he grins with all his teeth before lifting his muscled arm into a big wave. Stepmother snaps up to grab his wrist and pull it down. A sour look quickly crossed her painted features. But then it's gone. Her rouged lips are back up in a smile. 

But her eyes remain cold and calculating, trained solely on me. I swallow before abruptly lurching forward with a sudden pull. Nicoli has my hands.

"Good. Look at my costume. What do you think?" And Nicoli takes a spin around. 

"You are…" I blink, looking over the red, the piece of wood that is more cut like a triangle. Perhaps that was horn? 

"Are you a devil!?"

"Hah! You got it on the first try." Nicoli lifts his chin with a fresh grin. Looking pleased that I did.

But he stops to stare after mine with a puzzled mug.

"And you are-..."

"She's a bride." Hidi stops short of Nicoli. She looks at me with a slight nod while Nicoli whips his head back at her.

"How do you know that?" Nicoli's eyes flickered with suspicion, their sapphire hue glinting in the light. 

"I helped her Empress before." Hidi shrugs. Again, her green eyes turn to me. I smile, but Hidi doesn't seem to return it. She only stares. It's not a warm stare like back in my room. 

Hidi? I swallow not sure what to make of that as Nicoli continues.

"Did you? When was that?" Nicoli looks to Hidi. Again, narrowing his sapphire eyes after her like interrogating a criminal.

Hidi lifted her hand as if it were no big deal.

"Ja, right before I went to see your mother I-"

But Nicoli just rolled his eyes, completely ignoring Hidi, before taking my hands again to pull me away. He was moving with such excitement as he pushed to the very center of the crowd, where the statues were.

"Come on! Let's dance!" 

"Wait, Nicoli." I almost trip. My hoop skirt felt like a deflated bouncy ball on my hips. Shifting and swaying in hard turns. Pulling fabric taunt and immobile. 

Again I regret not packing my Nochten gowns instead. This would be so much easier if I had. 

"Nicoli-" But Nicoli only holds me tighter.

"The next sone is starting!" He doesn't even breathe, just rushing the words out of his mouth. He looks so excited and bright.

"Come on!" Nicoli pulls me into a half spin before moving to rest his hand just above the hoop skirt. Where my hip would be. 

"I've been waiting for this all day!" His grin grows even wider.

"Nicoli?" My heart flutters, as the smell of winter and fire come up. He's so close to me that it makes me a little dizzy. Which only gets worse as he makes to twirl me. 

The world of mirrors starts spinning around, the sounds of the music dragging against my hearing. For a moment I forget to breathe in the spin. But as I stop to rock back on my feet, my eyes lift back to the crowd. The girls start dancing, but I find one to stand off to the side.

It is Hidi. And she has a queer expression on her face. Her green eyes fixated on me. But the usual warmth and friendliness I have grown to expect isn't there. 

Again, I feel a strange pull on my gut. Something is wrong. But I don't know what.

I only know she's watching us. Her green eyes follow as we move in a distant gaze. Now, cold and still as if finding a stranger.

My eyes rest on her's a moment longer before I lose them in the next twirl.