Memories of Midnight

Part 22 *Vixen*

Everyone sat around the dining table and laughed while we ate. I scanned the room until my eyes landed on Nate who was looking at me with a large smile.

"What are you smiling about Biggs?"

He shook his head and looked around the room.

"Nothing, it's just been so long since this room sounded with so many voices."

I smiled as I took a drink of the wine the cooks had brought out when everyone sat down. This was considered to be a celebration. Guards, maids, cooks, workers, everyone were all sitting around together and enjoying a wonderful meal. We felt like a big happy family. Suddenly Nate stood up tapping on his wine glass with a spoon. Everyone in the room grew quiet to listen to him give an announcement.

"Alright everyone listen up. As you can see, Vixen here has already started making rules for our cozy little family. As you all know Vixen is the reincarnated version of our lovely Princess Midnight, so as of now she is first in command for the Grave Angels. So I want everyone in here to give Princess Midnight Vixen Hyperion their respect."

Nate sat down as everyone clapped and cheered. I smiled sweetly and waved to my new family. After another 30 minutes of talking and laughing dinner ended and everyone helped the cooks and maids clean up. Nate and I were dismissed, saying we had already done enough to help. As I passed by people would bow to me while Nate escorted me to my chambers. We walked in silence until he finally spoke up.

"Midnight."

"Yes Nate?"

"You know you're going to have to fight Novae right?"

"Yes I know."

"Are you going to kill him?"

"It is yet to be decided."

"What do you mean?"

I looked away and tried not to think about my plan too much. There was no way I was going to hurt my love. I know I was hurt and tricked by him, but if the things that Nate told me were true, then everything Novae did wasn't entirely his fault. When push comes to shove and I can't reason with him then I would have to end things to save my life. Other than that I will save Novae from Miracle's spell. I looked back at Nate and gave him a small smile.

"It is yet to be decided."

He gave me a sad smile, as if he understood what I was meaning now. He released my hand and bowed to me as I entered the room and closed the door. I walked toward a book shelf on the far side of the room when I noticed a large strong box sitting on the middle shelf. I placed my hands around the lid and realized it was locked. I looked around to see if there was a key anywhere, but had no luck finding one. I sighed softly and headed toward the changing screen near my mother's closet. Before I could undress a soft knock sounded at the large doors. I walked toward them and heard faint voices.

~"Celeste what are you doing outside Midnight's chambers?"~

~"I know I'm supposed to be getting to bed, but I figured the mistress wouldn't know where her old clothes were being kept."~

Slowly I opened the door to find a young girl in a maid outfit waiting. She didn't have any animal features, which I noticed that most of the maids didn't. Her eyes were a bright blue and she had fine plump lips. She had large curves defining her body. They also made her shortness very noticeable. Once the door was open her and the man she was talking to stood at attention.

I softly giggled to myself and nodded politely to the man. He smiled gently and dismissed himself from the hallway. I looked back toward the maid to see she was bowing.

"Your name is Celeste right?"

"Yes, I'm Celeste Ganbrey, your chamber maid. "

I nodded politely and motioned her to enter the room. She quickly entered and hurried toward one of the book cases near Ophelia's closet.

"I'm so sorry to bother you this late my lady, but I assumed since you didn't have any luggage when you arrived that you'd want to know where Queen Ophelia stored all of your belongings."

I stood beside her to see what the book case had anything to do with my things from my past life. She searched the second shelf until she came across a book called 'Shadow Demons'. She pulled the book out to reveal a small latch behind it. Celeste motioned for me to open it and suddenly the case slid back and to the side.

"A false back?"

Celeste smiled and led me down a long staircase to a hidden chamber. When we finally reached the bottom we had entered a bright room with portraits, instruments, clothing, shoes and books. On the other side of the room there was a large painting of me sitting underneath a large oak tree reading a book. Below the painting was a glass case that held a book. It was 'Shadow Demons'. I looked at the case then at Celeste holding the same book from upstairs.

"Why does she have this copy encased in glass?"

"Because like the bookcase, this copy is a false book."

She held out the book and I then realized that it was completely solid, no pages at all. Inside the case there was writing all over the front cover. Signature of various authors littered the book. I looked around until I spotted a ruby red wardrobe sitting in the corner of the room. I opened the doors to find articles of clothing made of red or black satin, silk and the finest of cottons. I grabbed a black satin nightgown and smiled at Celeste.

"Welcome home my lady."