tJfaJ: Chapter 14

Three days had passed since my encounter with the demon. Three days had passed since the royal wedding. Three days had passed since the Count's plans had begun.

And three days had passed since I had last seen Dimentio.

Neither the charming magician nor the ferocious warrior had returned since setting out to rid the Count of this thorn in his side. Surely the hero could not be this strong. Surely he could never best O'Chunks, and even if he could, he could not possibly defeat Dimentio.

And yet, three days later, here I still sat on my windowsill, exactly as nearly every waking moment of the past three days—leaned on my folded arms, blanket wrapped around my frail body, eyes weary with many a restless night carefully watching the front path. I yawned tiredly. Hours already I had been here. I spent every day out here. Sometimes even nights, when fear of the demon's warnings or horrible nightmares kept me awake. The sleep that had allowed me a conversation with my demon lasted four hours, tops. The next night I slept far less than two, even though I told Nastasia it was five. And this last night, I laid in my bed for endless hours before giving up entirely and taking up my usual post at the window.

Hours more I waited. Still, I saw nothing.

My heart sinking like an enormous weight into the pit of my stomach, I reluctantly shoved myself from the window and went to trudge gloomily through the castle. Every now and again, I would pass a creature, and attempt to ask it my friends' whereabouts, or what they knew of the master they served. At best, I received a blank stare and a chattering noise before said creature would scamper off in another direction. Sometimes, I would go to the kitchen and prepare a full meal before remembering I wasn't hungry and throwing it out. I stumbled into Nastasia's room several times, hoping she could keep me company or lift my spirits. She was never there.

So I chose a spot in the halls—not interested in going back to my room, and what may or may not lay within—and leaned against it, staring blankly at the ground in limbo between asleep and awake. It wore later and later into the night, and I had no idea how long I had been sitting there. The only thing I had to signify the passing of time was the echoing bells that rang throughout the castle, though I couldn't tell how many times now they had rung.

And suddenly, there was a shift in the torturous monotony.

Creatures around me suddenly bolted to attention and quickly scampered off into faraway shadows in hidden corridors. I gave them a puzzled expression, wondering what their trouble could be, and looked about for the cause of it.

Count Bleck was moving swiftly down the halls. He was entirely silent, but something seemed very not right about him. He held onto the brim of his hat much tighter than necessary, pulling it down so the shadows concealed his eyes from my view. He dashed right by me and was nearly down the hall in a matter of seconds. I decided he was upset, and wasn't going to bother him about it, but he suddenly stopped.

He paused in the middle of the hall for quite some time. He glanced quickly about himself, as if detecting a presence, and jumped slightly when he noticed me. "…Mimi." It wasn't a question. "…what are you doing up at this hour, demanded Count Bleck?"

I shrugged slightly, pulling my blanket tighter about myself. "I was waiting for O'Chunks and Dimmy."

He didn't notice the nickname. If he did, he let it slide. The Count stared blankly at me for a few more moments, almost as though he were still wondering who I was, until he finally said, "Go to bed, Mimi." With that, he turned so swiftly his cape flew in all directions and he dashed off again.

"I can't sleep!" I called after him. I wasn't yelling or arguing, only raising my voice to ensure he heard me. I was still very tired, and I would very much like to please the Count and myself with a good rest, but I'm afraid it simply wasn't possible at just that moment.

The Count stopped again, but he didn't turn to face me this time. "…then go lie in bed until you are tired. Goodnight, Mimi."

"Where's O'Chunks?" I asked instead, rising slowly to my wobbly feet and bracing myself on the wall. "And Dimentio?"

I wished he hadn't, but the Count looked me in the eye this time. He seemed very angry. "O'Chunks has returned only hours ago."

My lips twitched slightly, like they wanted to smile. "So that's it, then? They got the hero?"

"No." was the Count's only answer.

I felt my face fall and my heart sink. "…oh…" I said simply. "…what about Dimmy?"
The Count shook his head. "Count Bleck does not know Dimentio's whereabouts. He will return shortly."

He tried to float off again, and I stumbled unsteadily after him. "What if he's hurt?"

"Dimentio is perfectly capable of handling himself." Count Bleck said flatly. "No harm will come to him."

My lower lip stuck up a little of its own accord. "…what if, though?"
The Count glanced at me over his monocle. "Then, he will have to swallow his stubborn pride and drag himself back home so we may help him."

I nodded. He may not enjoy it, but at least Dimentio would be safe. That made me feel a little better.

"You should rest now, Mimi…" The Count said gently. "It's not wise for growing little girls to stay up all night."

I slowly shook my head. "No, its okay. I've been staying up most nights now."

"Really?" The Count asked, in the same tone an adult uses to trick a child into thinking they are interested in the subject of conversation. "And why is that, inquired Count Bleck?"

I shrugged. "I told you. I can't sleep."

"Can't sleep?" He went on in the same manner. "And what might the cause of that be?"

Another shrug on my part. "Well, I saw my demon again the other night… and since then… I've just been worried… and scared—but just a little… cause I'm not a scardy-cat."

"Of course not." He assured me with a nod of his head.

I nodded in agreement. "Right. Well, I was sleeping less and less… and I didn't get any sleep last night…"

As the words just managed to tumble out of my mouth, two silken-gloved hands suddenly grabbed my waist and hoisted me up. I squeaked in surprise, but was quickly over it as the Count snuggled me into his arms. "Well." He said firmly, floating off with me in tow. "We will have to do something about that."

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Some amount of time I forgot how to count passed, and I was being carried into my room. The Count set me down and allowed me to change to a fresh nightgown, and I was almost surprised to see him still there when I returned. He lifted me up into my bed and gently laid me down before tucking the covers snugly around me. I was already feeling more comfortable. There was something different about the way the Count did it.

Once I was in place, the Count rose from his position and tipped his hat before floating away. "Goodnight, Mimi." He called.

"Wait!" I said, bolting upright.

To my surprise, he instantly came back, gently laying me back in place and quieting me with soothing noises. "What is it, Mimi?" He asked in a very soft voice.

I blinked at him. "…I'm scared… I can't sleep… and I don't want to anyway…"

The Count shook his head at me. "You must sleep, Mimi… Don't you want to grow up tall and intelligent and lovely like Nastasia?"

I nodded my head. "Golly, yeah… but I'm scared."

He sighed. Not in an exasperated sort of way, like Nastasia did as she rubbed her forehead after talking to Dimentio for too long. This was more in a quiet way of saying "Okay, let's try something else." He looked all about my room for any source of inspiration, then he looked to me and gently asked, "Would a bedtime story help you?"

I blinked again, wrinkling my nose slightly. "…bedtime story?" I asked. "…what does that mean?"

My heart fluttered. I saw it again, gracing his lips—a lovely smile. Not the one he wore when reading his book or plotting demise or evilly laughing. The one that hinted to something hidden deep within. Something he hadn't felt in far too long. He smiled that wonderful smile and looked at me with a stunning glow in his eyes as he sat down on the side of my bed. "Do you mean to tell Count Bleck that you have never heard a bedtime story?"

I shook my head. "What is it?"

He laughed lightly. "A story one hears to soothe the mind when it is time for bed. They often involve grand adventures, wonderful people, mystical lands, and whatever you please."

I smiled—tiredly, but ecstatically all the same. "Will you tell me one, Count?"
The Count turned his eyes to the ceiling. "Alas, I'm afraid I don't recall any of the stories I was read as a child… Perhaps Nastasia has a storybook in the library…"

"Oh, c'mon, Count… please?" I begged, kicking my feet beneath the covers. "Just make one up! You can do it!"

He looked at me for a while, thinking carefully, then he slowly smiled only the slightest bit wider. "…perhaps… I do know… one tale…"

"Oh, yes! Please tell me, Count, please!" I called out, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Alright, alright!" The Count said, quieting me down. "Only if you are quiet and calm, and you swear to me you will fall asleep immediately after."

I nodded my head vigorously, eager to hear my first bedtime story. I believe I'd heard the demon tell them to me some nights ("Once Upon a Time, there was a peaceful village full of happy people, until a little spider monster named Mimi tore apart the town and everyone died. The End.") but she only did that to frighten me, so I don't believe that really counts.

The Count shifted his eyes to the ceiling, leaning back on his hands. "Let me think… Ahem…" He said as he cleared his throat. "Today, Mimi, I'm going to tell you a tale of love."

I squealed with excitement. "Perfect!" I declared.

He laughed at that, then quickly regained himself and searched for his starting point. "…Once Upon a Time…" he began. "There dwelled many nations in a faraway dimension, long since lost to the worlds. Two of these nations—the Fireflower Kingdom, and the Land of Darkness, hated each other. The humans that lived in the Fireflower villages feared their neighbors that dwelled up in the mountains shrouded in shadows, and those that belonged to the Tribe of Darkness looked down on the lowly, filthy beings that dwelled in the bright valleys below—"

"Well that's stupid." I interrupted.

The Count turned to face me, looking a bit puzzled. "…pardon?"

"That's stupid." I repeated. "What kind of a love story is it if everybody hates each other?"

He flashed me a smile. "Patience, Mimi. You'd be surprised where one can find love. Now, where was I? Ah, yes, yes, yes, I remember…

Among the nobles and the rulers of the Tribe of Darkness, there was a man of high rank and great respect and influence throughout the land. His son was called Lord Blumiere, and all adored him. He was just like his father, but youthful, and full of wonderful ideas to prosper their nation when he took over his father's position. The trouble is… he vanished."

"Vanished?!" I cried.

"Vanished." The Count affirmed with a nod of his head.

I gaped at him some more, waiting for him to continue. When he did not, I said, "…well?! What happened to him?!"

The Count pretended to be confused. "…to whom?"

"Count Bleck!!" I whined.

He waved me off. "Ah, right, of course! Lord Blumiere! Well… what had happened, was that Blumiere—every evening—went for a stroll by his nation's border, which just so happened to be the cliffs that divided their land from that of the filthy humans. And one evening, a cliff crumbled from beneath him, he lost his balance, and he tumbled right down into the valley below."

"He did?!" I gasped in shock. "Did he die?!"

"Very nearly." The Count said with a slight nod. "Anyone else would have, so I don't want to see any of you taking a dive off a cliff."

I scrunched up my face again. "…well… how come he didn't die?"

The Count smiled. "He had help, of course."

"Well, who would help him?" I demanded, growing slightly frustrated.

He winked at me, and without answering my question, continued with his tale. "…Blumiere awoke some time later to the interior of a small cottage. The room that held him was warm, and the whole place seemed to be at perfect peace. He groaned as he fought to regain his senses and move about. And as he did so, he heard a voice. They said it was a voice soft and sweet, that is meant to never cry or moan, but only to whisper loving words and sing light, airy songs."

I smiled. "I want to hear it. It sounds beautiful."

The Count smiled at me. "…I'm sure it was… when Blumiere first heard the voice, it asked him 'You're awake at last?' as he slowly revived. Blumiere glanced about the room as best he could, and his nose wrinkled in disgust. 'Where… am I?' he slowly asked her. 'Is this… a human's home?' he made a horrible noise, as if he were repulsed by even lying in the stranger's bed.

Blumiere would not be caught dead near the humans, so he immediately struggled to free himself. He was stopped, however, by the kind tone giving a sharp command. 'Don't wiggle like that.' She flatly told him as she made him lie back down. Once he was calm, she explained with a soft voice and a bashful blush, 'I found you at the cliff base. You took quite a fall.'

Blumiere watched the strange girl as she worked around him and tended to his wounds, smiling sweetly and humming a foreign melody to herself. 'You're a human, correct?' He inquired curiously. At the gentle nod of her head, Blumiere became quite confused, and questioned her further. 'I don't… repulse you? I am of the Tribe of Darkness…'

Now, of course, humans never mingled with the Tribe of Darkness, and vice versa. They always either feared or despised each other. And yet, this girl gave him the most surprised look when he informed her of his origin, and she only said, 'Why would that matter? Anyone with a heart would not ignore an injured soul!'"

"So, she helped him just to be nice?" I interrupted.

Count Bleck nodded at me. "Precisely. But, you see, Mimi, that was a concept entirely unheard of in Blumiere's world. His kind was a bloodthirsty, violent, spiteful, evil race. He had never known one to be kind for the sake of being kind--especially to one's own enemy.

But, most unfortunately for these two, an act like that does not come without consequence. Everything we do produces some effect. And this fateful day, because of a girl's simple kindness, a great tragedy was set into motion."

"Tragedy?!" I cried. "What happened?!"

The Count laughed lightly, rising from his place by my bed. "That, my dear Mimi… is a story for another night…" He bent over and lightly kissed my forehead, gently stroking my pigtails. "Sweet dreams…" He wished me.

"But, I wanna know what happened to Blumiere and the girl!" I insisted, though I snuggled into my covers anyway.

The Count shook his head, smiling lightly as he floated out of the room. "Another time, Mimi. Goodnight."

I decided I wasn't going to get anywhere, and I was feeling a bit tired now anyway, so I smiled and nodded in return. "G'night, County…"

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I woke with a start from my blissful slumber. The room was still dark with night, and I couldn't see a thing. I felt a presence, and I tried to turn over. "…Count?" I mumbled tiredly into the darkness.

A pair of cold hands rested on my shoulders, gently persuading me to lie back down. "Shh… its alright, Mimi…" A musical voice whispered in my ear. "Go back to sleep…"

I laid back down immediately, helpless to the soothing tones. Several minutes passed, and the figure must have assumed me asleep, because I felt cold lips press to my temple for a fraction of a second, before I heard one final whisper--"Sweet dreams, dearest Mimi…"

And with a gentle whoosh of air, the magician was gone.