Don't Understand

*Nicoli*

What's happening? I don't understand?! Nicoli blinked furiously as the smell of iron mixed against the roses and jasper to make a noxious scent through the room. 

It's blood. Nicoli looked down stunned as he took in the red drops. Checkered patterns of black and white marble were smeared with splashes of blood, like a twisted art project. There was so much of it. It was in crimson pools. And it trailed out into the hall and beyond.

People were shouting around him. Girls were crying, and the guards were suddenly everywhere. They circled them like a wall shoulder to shoulder. And his Mother was holding him, squeezing him tightly to her. Pulling him deeper into her chest enough that it hurt. 

She was crying and ranting, saying incoherent words through a wave of sobs that washed away her mascara and camouflage. She was completely lost in her panic. Her shrill sobs, cut into his ears, making it even more disruptive. Talking between panic and bitterness to his father. 

"- I told you. I told you this would happen. That that little bastard would hurt our-"

"Quiet!" 

An icy voice snapped through the air like a whip, making the whole ballroom stand still. Even his mother's crying froze her throat at the command in a startled choke. The screams and crying died into silence before she slowly tipped up her tear-stained face to look as Nicoli did. Shocked to find the source to be none other than the giant blond, herself.

At the moment, Hidi's green eyes were dark and cold as ice, matching her voice. She was clenching the sides of her yellow dress, looking anything but cheery like moments before. Like a mask of her own had fallen.

Her gaze stilled on his Mother for a beat, almost chastising her for losing herself. Before falling to Nicoli to soften just slightly. And then they turned to look after the door, concern written on her large brows.

But compared to the others, Hidi didn't tremble with fear. It was rather a cold and distant air around her. As if she wasn't so surprised as much as disappointed. It was a strange reaction to compare to Nicoli. His thoughts only fill back up with concern.

What is happening to Ana? Nicoli felt tears wavering in his eyes. His heart thrashed violently in his chest with panic. Something was wrong- something was happening to Ana, and he couldn't understand what it was.

What is wrong with my sister?

Nicoli darted his eyes around again. But it didn't look like anyone was going to help. Not even his father seemed to be aware. His sapphire eyes were dull and his jaw hung open as if not completely rendering what happened. 

But just as quickly a shadow was over him, and he was climbing down the platform. His father's jaw clenched, his muscles tense with restraint. His eyes were darker like the color of midnight-cold and unmoving, resigned to his task.

"Everyone," His father's voice boomed, setting the girls to flinch but dart nervous eyes at him. He lifted his hand at the attention as he went on, keeping a steady beat in his tone.

"The issue is being taken care of-"

"But there is a vampire who's going to be in a blood lust-" One of the girls whimpered before her friend hushed her. 

But it was too late. Nicoli could even see it. Girls were huddling closer to each other and trembling. They were afraid.

"Everyone," His father cut over again, his voice firm and true, but not before Nicoli could see that shadow cross his eyes again. A look of pain hiding between the wrinkles. Like he was fighting back his own concerns.

"I will have the guards escort you to your rooms and stand by for protection." His father carried on, motioning for more to come in.

Until then, Nicoli watched the girls only huddle closer as they spoke in quiet breaths.

"This is horrifying." A girl in blue was wringing her hands nervously.

"What if she breaks out?" Another gasped with a look around.

"I've heard that once they get into a blood lust they will attack anything-"

"Shh!" One of the girls hushed, noting Nicoli's stare. This seemed to make them all fall quiet again. But Nicoli wasn't falling for it.

Something was wrong and he wanted answers. He wanted them now! And Nicoli suddenly couldn't stand the sensation of his mother's arms. They constricted and hurt, and it was too much heat and he had to break free. 

He pushed away with force before stumbling to his feet. His eyes danced up to find his father with a tremble.

"Dad, what is going on!? What is happening? Why is Ana bleeding?" The words rushed out, jumping over each other. Everything needed to be answered. All at once. 

But as he looked on at his father, desperate to hear some explanation, he didn't register the sound of heels clicking. And then the slap echoed in the room.

There was a quiet gasp amongst the bystanders, Nicoli's blue eyes only widening at the rare sight. But His mother didn't care. A scarlet flush stained her cheeks and her grey eyes flashed with a harsh resentment, unable to make her bitterness. Her careful mask of poise had fallen apart to reveal the primal forces underneath. 

"I've warned you!" Belinda's voice broke as a shudder made her tremble. Her hands were on her face as she began to weep loudly overcome.

"I told you- our son, my son-" 

"Belinda," His father moved to touch her hand but she snatched it away. 

Her scowl was fierce and sharp before she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. It gave her the chance to collect enough to turn back to the room. Her crafted smile pulled up as if that was all a fluke moment, and she was back to herself again. The ever-perfect queen and mother.

"Ladies," Belinda appealed. "As our King has said. The issue is under control. So, let us not let such a small incident make the night go to waste."

She tipped her head to the second platform to cue the musicians. They reluctantly moved to pick up their violins and cellos. Some moved to set back up the music stands that kicked down early in panic, to then sit as if waiting to start.

His mother's smile seemed to settle better at the sight, as if finding comfort in something she knew before looking back at them. 

"We will continue the ball as planned." Her voice carried, and the musicians began to play. Filling the room with a cheery high-pitched melody, to offset the mood. But that only made Nicoli's stomach sink. 

"But what about Ana?" Nicoli looked up to his mother. But the graceful brunette was already distracted. Too busy encouraging the girls to come back to the floor as maids were quickly descending. They began to mop up the blood trail. Leaving the floor clean as if nothing happened.

That only stirred Nicoli to turn to his father upset. 

"Dad, what is-" But the question died on his lips as even he was no help. His father was following a group of guards out of the room. His manservant Johan was at his side, talking in serious whispers.

Nicoli sank to his feet as he could only watch on as they left. His eyes trailed after them before stealing in another shoddy breath and swallowing. He was gone too. 

"Why is no one…" Nicoli shook his head before feeling the floor fill with heat. The girls were rustling their dresses back to the floor to dance. They seemed to blink at each other, unsure what to do. Eventually, though, they began to take up hands, less enthusiastically than before, but they were trying. Their little shoes tapped as they moved against the violins.

"I don't understand, why is-" Nicoli was about to cry before the tap on his shoulder made him turn. A wall of blinding yellow tulle and sunflowers was suddenly blocking his gaze. 

"Dance with me." How Hidi said it was not a question, but like an order. Hidi took Nicoli's hand without hesitation. She stopped by the statues to move his hand to her dress as she took up his other, but her smile had dropped. She leaned in to whisper.

"Are you okay?" Hidi's voice dripped with concern as she looked over him. "She didn't bite you, did she?"

"What, no." Nicoli shook his head in a daze. "No, why would she?" But Hidi didn't answer. 

They were dancing again, among the other girls. The light music played surrounded by the sound of tulle scratching. But Hidi was slower than others like dragging her heeled shoes. As though she didn't actually want to dance, but talk.

"What's happening?" Nicoli whispered his brows furrowed together. "What's wrong with Ana? I want to go see her."

The memory of Ana's pain was still fresh in his mind, her agonizing cries ringing through his thoughts.

"You can't," Hidi answered at last in a heavy tone. Nicoli snapped his head back to her his breath tight in his chest.

"I can't? Why can't I?" 

Nicoli could feel his heart twist at the thought.

"I don't understand."

"You won't be able to for at least a week. Not until her bloodlust settles down." Hidi went on much calmer than Nicoli expected. 

She made him twirl. Spinning him around, making the flash of silver and candle run warp and spin before settling back to her. His stomach lurched again, but it wasn't just because he felt sick.

"But why?" Nicoli shook his head. "And what is this 'blood lust'?" He clenched his teeth wanting to shout at her. But managed to push out a shaky whimper that dripped from his lips.

"Ana's hurt- we should help her."

"She'll be fine."Hidi dipped Nicoli as the song changed. It was something quicker, and bright. And Hidi altered it to match the tempo.

"It's you who needs to be careful."

But Nicoli shoved his feet firmly to the ground to stop moving. He pulled his hand back to his side to glare up at her. His blue eyes crackled with fire. 

"But why!? I want to see her!" Nicoli repeated firmly trembling in his words. He didn't want to be here dancing. Not when Ana could be in pain. 

He needed to go to her. To help her. To do something!

"What's happening to Ana right now?! " Nicoli snapped back, voice nearly shrilling as a well of nervous energy was coming up. 

"Please! Tell me, Hidi. I don't understand what this is?"

Hidi now stopped regarding him cautiously. Her green eyes were oddly still, turning over softly with a sad tilt crinkling at the sides. 

Her voice was even but deep as she asked after a moment. "You don't know what's happening to Ana, do you?" 

"No, I don't. I don't know anything" Nicoli's lips trembled as panic edged on outside of his tone. "No one is explaining this to me." 

Is she in pain? Nicoli felt something drop sharply down his chest just thinking of it. Could Ana be out there somewhere crying- and he was still here?

He didn't want her to be crying by herself. He couldn't stand it. Ana was always crying. But Nicoli promised to be there. He wouldn't have her cry anymore.

Ana…Nicoli clenched his fists.

"Please, I just want to help her." He pleaded softly closing his eyes to breathe before looking back up.

Hidi only smiled back, but it didn't meet her eyes. Her green eyes suddenly seemed so much heavier than he had ever seen. The glint of mischief gone for something more resigned. 

"Nicoli, there is nothing to do. This was going to happen to Ana eventually. To all vampires."

Then Hidi sighed with her shoulders and looked to the door as if looking for Ana too. But of course, she wasn't going to be there. The vampires were gone. 

Hidi looked down at Nicoli again before reaching out. Her great hand cupped his chin, sending a heat up his skin but he didn't pull away. Because she was looking deeply into his eyes. 

Again, Nicoli could find a sad but knowing understanding flick across the peridot green as if pulling down a blind. 

When she spoke, at last, her voice was deep and slow. "Tell me, what do you know about a vampire's first blood?"