Beneath the Surface [ON HOLD]

Chapter Thirteen - You Are My Sunshine

Capter Thirteen – You Are My Sunshine

[Not edited btw x_x]

‘What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.’

- George Bailey, ‘A Wonderful Life.’

I clutch the dark red apple in my lap, its cold surface numbing my hands. The hood of my cloak is firmly pulled over my head, shielding me from the frigid wind. The courtyard is covered in a perfect blanket of pure white snow, beautifully undisturbed – save for the two sets of footprints belonging to Nicholas and me.

The fountain’s basin makes a semi-comfortable seat and I arrange the folds of my deep green dress around me, its ridiculous amount of material pooling around my feet.

“I still don’t know how you managed to find such a ridiculous dress.” I call over to Nicholas, taking a bite out of my apple, “The simple work dresses I had were enough – I feel completely absurd in this thing.”

 “So you keep saying.” Nicholas retorts, his face still buried in the leather-bound book clutched in his gloved hands, “And as I keep telling you – you look fine.”

I glare at him as he paces around the fountain, his eyes scanning the contents of the book absorbedly, “I look ridiculous. Like those vexing ladies of court – always tittering about as if the whole world revolves around dresses and jewellery.”

“You look like a lady.”

“Are you implying that I usually look like a man?!”

Nicholas shakes his head in exasperation, ignoring me pointedly, still engrossed in his book of spells.

I take another bite out of my apple, my eyes still narrowed on Nicholas’ head. The sun has still yet to rise but the sky is already lightening – streaks of light pinks and blues staining the sky and chasing away the darkness of the night.

“Can you at least tell me why you dragged me out here? The sun has yet to rise and it is positively freezing. I can barely feel my fingers, let alone my nose.”

“I thought perhaps you wanted to learn more about what I can do. After all – you go around calling it Dark Magic but what if it’s not alldark?” Nicholas looks up at me and offers me a tentative smile, “Well do you? Want to learn about magic, that is?”

I stare down at the half eaten apple in my hand – the pale white bite marks standing out against the deep red skin. What if it’s not all dark?

“Very well – but if my fingers fall off, I’m holding you sorely responsible.”

Nicholas beams at me, “Excellent! I’ve been wanting to try this new spell I found, but its timing has to be exact if I’m to get it to work.”

Nicholas glances once more at the book in his hands before slamming it shut, nodding in satisfaction, “I’m positive it shall work.”

Pushing the bothersome hood off my head I sigh in contentment as the cool wind stirs my hair, lifting it about my head. Standing up stiffly I brush flakes of falling snow off my dress, my gloved hands numb. My boots sink in the snow as I make my way towards Nicholas, my curiosity spiking as I look at the book in his hands, “What exactly is this spell?”

“You’ll see.” Nicholas says with a wink, “But in the meantime I can show you another trick – a simple one, before you ask.”

I raise an eyebrow at his cryptic demeanour, “You’re not going to turn me into a frog, are you?”