The Nutcracker King (Coming From Darkness #1)

Chapter 4 Part 2: Nutcracker

If there was ever a time I was grateful for my sisters, it was now. Their incessant chatter distracted Marie and gave me the space I need to think.

Dear, sweet, innocent Marie. I don't think she understood the implications of what she told me. Even when Uncle Drosselmeier held both titles as Court Clockmaker and Master of Arcana, it was clear that his heart was with his clocks. There was no way that he would leave one in mid-repair.

Unless he was a traitor.

But why, and more importantly, how?

"Nutcracker, what's upsetting you? Your smile looks angry." Marie came over with a worried look on her face. I tried to give her a real smile, but something must have gone wrong because Marie took a step back.

"Don't worry, Demoiselle Marie. I was just musing about how you seem to be very attached to this Herr Heinrich. It breaks my heart to think that you may leave," I said.

"What big teeth you have," Marie murmured absently under her breath before coming to her senses. "Don't worry, Nutcracker," she said just a little too cheerfully, with a smile just a little too wide, "Things cannot move very fast with Herr Heinrich. I'll be here a long time yet, and besides, you'll always have a special place in my heart. Oh yes," she added, "Do you mind coming a little later tomorrow? Fritz wants to bring Herr Heinrich and me to see his Hussar regiment march or something like that. It'll end late, and I don't want you to wait."

How did my dear Marie move away from me so fast? Had she forgotten that she was my Maria, mine, my angel fine? I had told her so even before we met. But I mustered up a smile, and nonchalantly told her that of course I wouldn't mind.

*******

After sending Marie home, with a promise to come 'just a little later' the next night, I called a meeting of the royal family.

"Tell me," I started, "what do you know of Uncle Drosselmeier?"

"Not much, I'm afraid," Clara admitted. "Our uncle has been banished to the human world for so long that all news we have is outdated."

"Well, I received some information that he might be a traitor."

I quickly told them of his reaction to Pirlipat's death, leaving them to draw the inevitable conclusion.

"No!" My sisters protested immediately. "He's our uncle! You should know that!"

"Besides," the youngest one added, "It doesn't mean he's a traitor. You know that as Master of Arcana and Court Clockmaker he was always with the royals. He could just be sad that someone he used to know well, and spent so much of his life trying to cure, was killed."

"Stop being fools. Who do you think managed to spirit Pirlipat into the human world? Who has that much knowledge?"

The girls were silent, all of them staring at their feet with their hands behind their backs.

"You know what must be done," I said.

Again, the cacophony of noise.

"No, how can a family member be a traitor?"

"We can't kill our own family!"

"There must be a mistake Nutcracker, check again."

The repeated, useless arguments started to hurt my ears. I slapped the sister standing closest to me, and they all fell silent at the sound. "Are you questioning my judgement? Let me remind you, although I'm the Nutcracker now, I'm still your Prince. And I will be king when I ascend to the throne. You know what I must do, and I expect you to ready the Garden."

"Are you sure that's wise?"

Only Clara still dared to challenge me. "You know our uncle is no longer one of us. He can no longer come back. He is not only banished, he has chosen that world. How do you think the trees will react to him?"

As much as I hated to admit it, my sister spoke sense.

"In that case, your help is not needed. Go ahead and prepare for tomorrow's ball. I want Demoiselle Marie so enchanted that she never wants to leave."

I dismissed them with a wave of my hand.

The three younger girls walked out obediently, but my oldest sister refused to leave.

"Nutcracker, are you really thinking of killing our uncle?" she asked quietly.

As the oldest girl, she and I were the only ones who could clearly remember the time when our uncle lived in the kingdom. He was a wonderful man back then, his inventions making him beloved by the whole kingdom. Only the previous King had not appreciated his talents.

Remembering the good old days made me feel a tinge of hesitation. The uncle I remembered was a good man, it wasn't his fault I was cursed. But I thought of Marie's face when she talked about Herr Heinrich, and I knew that if I did not break the curse soon, I might lose her forever. So I swallowed my doubts and looked my sister directly in the eyes.

"Yes," I said, "I want this curse broken more than anything. As far as I'm concerned, the Uncle I knew died when he left the Kingdom. Besides, he was the Master of Arcana, who knows what secrets his blood holds? I want a change of clothes prepared for my return, Demoiselle Marie doesn't like the stench of blood."

My sister's eyes filled with tears, but she left the room silently.

I saddled my horse and prepared my sword. This time, I would be doing everything by myself. 

I can't believe I almost forgot to post today! But luckily I remembered before I fell asleep :p Hope you enjoyed this and do let me know if you have any feedback(: And if you'd like to help spread the word about the story, please like, comment and/or add it to your lists!