Milk

 *Nicoli*

"How long are you going to be here, Thomas?"

Nicoli could see the balding man flinch when he spoke. A frown fumbled over his thin lips before he crossed his arms with a soft scuff. He wasn't going to answer. 

Thomas had been with him ever since Nicoli returned from the party. And hours later, he now sat next to his bedroom door. Looking in equal measures miserable and resigned to the task of keeping watch. Stopping Nicoli from slipping away.

Not that that ever stopped me. Nicoli pressed his lips with a soft sigh. But he could tell the thin man was fervent in his orders. Watching him like a hawk tonight. Seeming to stay put in his chair despite how late it was getting. 

And it was late. Far past Nicoli's bedtime. And both knew it.

Yet here Nicoli was wide awake. Unable to sleep, his mind buzzed with the day's events. Especially the revelations that Hidi gave him.

He knew what a vampire's first blood meant in general terms. It was their kind of puberty of sorts. And after that, they could eat blood or something. 

But apparently, there was much more to it, Nicoli had now learned.

For example, Hidi explained in a vampire's first blood, all their blood from childhood was rejected. Pushed out of the body. Like a great purging. Leaving the said vampire starved and in a feral and primal state. Driven by a need to restock their lost blood, known as blood lust.

A time which was considered dangerous, not for the vampires, but to those around them. The said vampires were not able to resist their cravings for iron. Attacking anyone. Everyone. 

Adults were fine supposedly. And Hidi was not so concerned. She was a giant and in her words "I have plenty to share." But there was a reason why his mother had panicked and his father was now on high alert. Why the girls had bunched and trembled with fear.

A vampire in blood lust could easily drain out a child.

Nicoli swallowed a dry gasp, then, before giving up on sleep. He sat up to hug his knees. His blue eyes cast a look over his room. Taking in the long waving shadows of his bookshelves, the globe, and his thick rugs. Familiar sights in the day, now sinister at night.

Or was that because of what I know? Nicoli rubbed his fingers against the velvet comforter. It felt heavy from the humidity. The room was melting even with the window open. Making it almost as unbearable as it was to have Thomas still in the room.

Almost. 

Thomas grumbled before crossing his legs. It was clear he wasn't thrilled to be here either.

"Her Majesty gave me strict instruction: Under no circumstance can I lose sight of you," 

"Does that mean you're gonna be here the whole night?"

"Yes. And longer"

"Longer?" Nicoli pinched back his lips at that. Thomas mirrored the face. The feeling was mutual.

"The week."

"The whole week?" Now Nicoli had to sit up. Thomas sighed but nodded. 

"It's for your protection, your majesty."

He meant protection from Ana. Nicoli pinched into the velvet blanket, pressing his lips a moment. Something hard and cold fell and spread out over his chest. Filling every corner, making his thoughts blur and mix. Hidi's words circled in his head again. 

They wouldn't stop until he pinched his eyes close. Drowning in a wall of darkness. Before hearing something to open them again. It was the sound of wood creaking.

Thomas was getting up from his chair. Nicoli widened his eyes. The man frowned after him.

"I'm just going to the bathroom." He explained gruffly. But judging by the way he walked, Nicoli guessed it wasn't to pee.

But as if he could hear his thoughts, Thomas narrowed his eyes before both heard another sound of horses out the window. 

"Looks like another one is leaving." 

Nicoli nodded absently. The sound had been going on for the better part of the night. Carriage wheels turning over the gravel. Doors opening and closing from the first floor. The girls were leaving. In droves, by the sound of it. Scared off by Ana.

Was there even going to be anyone left by morning? The thought drifted over him but he let it go. Not caring either way. He never wanted them here in the first place. 

"Just go to sleep, your majesty." Thomas insisted with a crack of his back.

 He went for the door to motion to one of the guards over. A young 20-year-old guard, named Tobi stepped up. When he saw the prince, he made a quick wave. Always excited to see him.

"Evening, Tobi." Nicoli managed a little smile in greeting before fretting a yawn. He then rested his chin on his knees. Blue eyes staring back at his manservant. Waiting.

Thomas scowled at him. Then narrowed his eyes on Tobi severely.

"Keep an eye on him." He hissed, poking the guard's metal chest plate with a good thump. And Thomas turned out, quick to get to the bathroom. 

But as soon as his footsteps rounded out, Nicoli sat up completely in the bed. He'd been waiting for this. And now it was finally here. 

 "Is he gone?" 

"I believe so, Your Royal Highness." Tobi nodded.

 Yes! Nicoli could almost celebrate- but there was no time. He needed to be quick.

It was his luck to have Tobi out of the whole bunch. Tobi was one of the softer-hearted guards. He liked to give Nicoli rocks that looked interesting.

Tobi was also gullible. Thus, Nicoli couldn't have asked for a more perfect candidate. 

"Tobi, I have a confession to make." Nicoli started, crafting his lips into a pout.

 I have to sell it. Nicoli knew. Because his life depended on it now, he had a mission. He threw a little disheartened sigh for effect. It seemed to work as Tobi shifted on his feet. 

 "A confession?"

 "I can't sleep." 

 "Is that right? Should I get some warm milk then?" Tobi motioned for the door. 

 "No, I- actually, yes." Yes, the milk could work. Nicoli looked up to Tobi with a nod. The young blond seemed to beam at his suggestion.

"Then I'll ask for one of the other guards-" He again motioned for the door. But Nicoli was quick to throw up and wave his hands.

 "No, there is something else I need to ask." 

 "My lord?" He leaned forward, forgetting to watch the door. But this was good. Nicoli could see he was falling halfway for it.

Just a little more. 

"I can't sleep because it makes me nervous to have someone in the room." 

Nicoli pouted as if to cry."It scares me."

 "You can't?" Tobi reeled back, pressing his eyebrows with guilt on his face. As if that were the worst offense. 

 Nicoli nodded demurely.

 "If you could just leave-" Nicoli darted his eyes to the door with a melancholy sigh. But here, Tobi seemed to stiffen. 

"But your mother has ordered us-" 

"You can stand outside the door. It's not like there's any other entrance. " And Nicoli made a pointed yawn with his arms over his head. Smacking his lips loudly, as if to say he was just that tired.

"Please, Tobi?"

Tobi seemed to shift back again. His brows flexed and furrowed against a battle of duty versus concern. The sight of Nicoli's tactful pout only added to unbalance the moralistic scale in the man.

"Just out the door." Tobi finally relented, his face half turned into a beaten smile.

 Nicoli nodded his head and threw another yawn for good measure. Really caking it on.

 "If it will help." Tobi relented wearily, bowing his blond shag down before turning back to crack the door open. Meeting his gaze with a steady but sympathetic nod as he stepped out.

"Until Thomas comes back." 

Nicoli nodded and threw himself down to the pillow. He closed his eyes as if ready to sleep. His smile was hidden under the velvet blanket.

 "Good night, Tobi." Nicoli lay still as he heard the final hinges of the door close. And then he counted breathlessly.

 3…2…1! Bam, the door was closed at last. 

With that, Nicoli was up and out of bed. Quickly moving to pull the pillows. He fluffed them to make a shape under the blanket that measured his size: a perfect decoy. He then turned to cross the room. Only pausing at Thomas's chair to give it a good glare.

 It was so aggravating to see him sit there. Thomas was waiting and waiting, while Nicoli was waiting for him to sleep or leave, something.

 But at last, he was gone. And Nicoli had to move.

"I don't care what anyone says." Nicoli stopped on the thick carpet to listen outside the door. He could hear the clink of metal. Guards. The hall was probably full of them. Likely put there to protect him. 

Everyone was so damn worried about Ana. About this stupid blood lust business. Nicoli bit down on his lower lip, wanting to yell. 

But Nicoli knew he should be too. He should have been worried. This was serious. According to Hidi, Ana was dangerous right now. She couldn't control herself. She could hurt anyone and not realize it.

But she's also all alone. The thought echoed to make his jaw tighten. And that was more than he needed. 

Nicoli moved for the secret door. It immediately opened with a wave of heat smacking into his face. It was even hotter inside the hall than in his room. The smell of musty paper and old vinegar filled his nose. This was not going to be a pleasant walk. But it wouldn't stop him.

Nicoli reached for one of the candles. Flick the match to fill his nose with a smell of temporary sulfur before the wick took the flame. The light illuminated the pitch-dark halls in a golden halo. For some reason, Nicoli found himself having to laugh there.

"It's funny how I seem to keep using this at night more than not." Nicoli ducked his brown curls under a string of a broken web. Shifting the candle to one hand, pulling the leather latch closed with the other. Sealing him in. He was in the hall again.

Ana's gonna yell when she finds out I used it again. But if that was all she'd yell at him for, Nicoli would gladly take it. Because he wasn't sure what he was about to find when he would. 

But whatever he did…Nicoli swallowed and lifted his head high, taking in a hard toke of the dusty air.

 It was going to be a long walk ahead. But Nicoli was determined. He would find her this time.

 Nicoli lifted this candle and started to trudge once again into the dark halls.