The Nutcracker King (Coming From Darkness #1)

Chapter 2 Part 2: Nutcracker

Days passed, and I had not uncovered any information of use. I was beginning to feel thankful that I had not spoken of my hopes to Marie. She would have been devastated at the lack of progress; I just knew it.

I spent every available hour in the castle library. The only time I spent away from it was when I brought Marie to the Kingdom to dance the night away with her. When morning came I would quietly make my way back into the library, the morning rays coming through the sugar-pane windows overpowering the dimming lights. Chandeliers hung down from ancient spun sugar lamps, each as fragile as the books. Close one with even a little too much strength and it would disintegrate, never to be read again.

My eyes burned from deciphering the scrawling letters written in this particularly boring account of the kingdom's history, yet I couldn't stop. I didn't have much time left. Marie was slowly slipping away from me. Fragments of memories of last night came to mind.

"Oh Nutcracker, it was so wonderful. Herr Heinrich was such a gentleman, and he noticed my new necklace immediately." She hadn't even noticed the hurt in his eyes. All she saw was the surface smile forever plastered on.

"Clara, how kind of you to say so! Herr Heinrich got me this flower while we were out walking today."

"Of course I'll miss you," Marie said as she bent down to talk to a little child lucky enough to gain entrance, "but I must grow up one day. Perhaps the Nutcracker can bring everyone out. I'm sure Herr Heinrich will love to meet everyone."

"No, I haven't told him, but I think he will believe me."

Herr Heinrich. Herr Heinrich. Herr Heinrich. How quickly she had moved from Herr Schmidt to Herr Heinrich.

That... thing was all that was on my dear Marie's mind. She should have been thinking about me, about us. But it wasn't her fault, she had already waited eight years for me, but still the curse wasn't broken.

There was a cracking sound, and the book crumbled into little pieces of spun sugar and liquorice under my hands.

"Nutcracker." I jumped at the sound of Clara's voice.

"What is it, Princess," I said as I turned around to face her. "Have you forgotten your own brother's name?"

My sister flinched. "You know the rules." She hissed. "When you were cursed, we were cursed with you. We can never say your true name, or we will be turned into Nutcrackers along with you."

"And woe be to the Princess if she becomes as ugly as me. Let's face it, you were never a renowned beauty. If you say my name, it may actually improve your looks," I mocked.

While none of my sisters were great beauties, they were all considered to be pretty. Just not as pretty as the princess Pirlipat, who had been given the gifts of beauty, grace and charm. Their inferiority was probably the reason why Pirlipat chose them to be her ladies-in-waiting.

"I come with information and you make fun of me. Fine, I'll leave you to your fruitless search." My sister turned around in a huff.

"Wait." I grabbed her arm as she made to leave. "What information do you have?"

My sister stared at me.

"Fine," I relented. "I apologise for my earlier statement. You are beautiful, and it was selfish of me to wish my curse on you," I said through gritted teeth, the words oozing out like caramel. I certainly had enough practice apologising to her. When I become king, I will never apologise to anyone. Never again.