The Nutcracker King (Coming From Darkness #1)

Chapter 6 Part 1: Marie

The next day, Marie woke up to a housemaid wailing, "he's dead, he's dead!" Marie got out of bed, intending to ask the housemaid a few questions, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, everything went black.

When she next woke up, Marie saw the worried face of her mother.

"Did the silly girl scare you, my tender-hearted one?"

"Godfather Drosselmeier," Marie managed to say. Her mother nodded sadly.

"Yes, my dear, he's dead."

Marie burst into tears at her mother's confirmation. This was all her fault. Marie's mother held her tightly, stroking her hair. Marie felt like a little girl again, but she was too glad for the human warmth to care about being grownup.

After a long while, Marie got the strength to pull away. Looking into her mother's eyes, she asked in a hoarse whisper, "How?"

Instead of answering, her mother sighed and moved to the table, where a fresh pot of tea sat, steam rising from the spout. "Don't worry about it, my dear," her mother said with her back to Marie. "Your father will handle everything. Your Godfather had no one but us, so we need you to be strong for his funeral." She handed Marie a cup of tea. "Drink this, my dear, you'll feel much better afterwards."

"Marie, did you hear, Godfather Drosselmeier was murdered!" Fritz burst into the room shouting. "I swear, as a Hussar, I will find the murderer and avenge our Godfather. You should have seen it, it was ghastly, blood everywhere. Poor Godfather Drosselmeier."

"Really, Fritz," their mother admonished him, "your sister is still weak. I thought I told your father to keep you away from the crime scene."

Fritz waved a hand airily, "He can't help it if I followed my Captain in. Although I'm not allowed to handle the case, thanks to you and father. Anyway, Marie," he said, "I need to talk to you. Right now. Don't worry mother, she's fine, stop babying her."

Now it was mother's turn to ignore Fritz.

"Out you go, Fritz," she said, pushing him out of the room. "You can talk to Marie later. She needs her rest." Turning to Marie, she said with a gentle smile, "Rest well, my dear. Don't you worry about this, the Hussars will make sure justice is done."

*******

"Good evening, Demoiselle Marie," the Nutcracker greeted her that night as though nothing had happened. Marie just lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The Nutcracker coughed and spoke again.

"Demoiselle Marie, why are you still in bed? We're going to be late, the ball is already in full swing."

Deliberately, Marie turned to the side and covered her head with her pillow. Not a minute later, she felt someone small hop onto the bed and the pillow was yanked away. Marie shot up, and grabbed the pillow back. At least there would be no bloodstains on her bed tonight.

"How could you," the Nutcracker asked, "how could you try to kill yourself after all I've done for us. Come with me, Marie, and I will make you happy. You don't need to do this."

Marie swatted the Nutcracker off the bed, ignoring the wounded look in his eyes. "I'm not trying to kill myself," she hissed at him, "I don't want to talk to a murderer like you. Go away."

The Nutcracker stared at her for a long time and Marie shuddered. Finally, he said in a low voice, "I will come back for you tomorrow night. Remember, this is all for you."

Marie cried herself to sleep after he left.

*******

"Marie, wake up," her mother bustled in the room, pulling the curtains up. Marie groaned. and mother raised an eyebrow. "Goodness, Marie, your eyes are red. What will Herr Schmidt think?"

"Herr Heinrich is here?" Marie shot up. "Mother!"

Mother softened her gaze. "It was Fritz's idea, and your father agreed that company might be what you need." She came over to give Marie a hug. "We all miss him," she said, "but moping is not the way to go." Mother's voice broke on the last word, and she turned away abruptly. When Mother next turned to face her, her eyes were bright. "Now, I'll be busy organising the funeral. Call for one of the servants if you need anything. Hurry up, Herr Schmidt is due in half an hour."

Half an hour, mother said, but when Marie went into the drawing room twenty minutes later, she found Herr Heinrich already engaged in conversation with Fritz. Fritz was louder than usual, and rim of his eyes were red.

"Let me tell you, Heinrich, when I get my hands on that scoundrel, I'll —"

"You'll hand him straight over to the prison warden."

"What? No. I'll —"

"Fritz, you better stop right here. You don't want anyone to hear what you're thinking now, even though most would sympathise with you," Herr Heinrich warned Fritz.

"Herr Heinrich is right, Fritz," Marie added, as the two men jumped up from their seats. "You're a Hussar now, and you should behave like one."

Then, all three fell silent, for there was nothing more to be said. After a while, the conversation slowly restarted. To his credit, Herr Heinrich did not mutter empty platitudes, but instead, shared about his first encounter with Godfather Drosselmeier. The anecdote about Godfather Drosselmeier made them laugh, and the room felt lighter for it.

By the time he left, twilight was drawing near, and the shadows in the room had lengthened. Marie and Fritz had moved from the drawing room to their back parlour, bringing along a fresh pot of tea from cook.

"Fritz, I have to tell you something." Marie said, her hands twisting her dress. She had thought about this while listening to Herr Heinrich and Fritz talk, and decided that she could not keep silent about the Nutcracker anymore.

"About how you knew Godfather Drosselmeier was dead before anyone else?" Fritz said, "Oh, don't look like that Marie, with your mouth wide open. You may have distracted mother and father, but not me. What is it that you know?"

Marie looked around her nervously. "Help me check that there aren't any toys here." She said. She slowly went around the room, making sure that a doll wasn't 'accidentally' lying around. Fritz sighed loudly, but he helped by lifting the heavier furniture. By the time Marie was satisfied that there were no toys, the pot of tea was already cold.

"What is it, Marie," Fritz asked, "Mother and father will be back soon. If you know something, tell me now."

Marie looked down. "It's the Nutcracker."

"That ugly old doll?"

"He's not ugly," Marie said automatically. "But that's not it," she caught herself. "The Nutcracker did it, Fritz. He's the culprit." 

Hope you enjoyed this and sorry for missing a day!