《THE COUNT》

prologue

The cousins sat next to each other,
feeling the warmth of a small fire
they kept quiet and still,
not bothering to stay a single word,
for they knew it would ruin a night
for they would not risk it
until one of decided to speak

The male cousin sighed,
"We don't have to stay with my godmother, Natasha." he says.
Natasha smiled, ignoring him.

"Maria is fine. She invited us to stay for the winter." Natasha giggled.

Justin laughed,
"Well she didn't give us a choice."

Natasha nodded,
"Your future father in law, is.. let me put it like this-
do take it lightly dear cousin,
he happens to be a crazy old man...
Maybe you shouldn't of have gotten engaged to such an old man."

Justin glared.
"Andrey is not old.
he is 31 years young."
he huffed, crossing his arms.

His cousin giggled again,
"You're too cute dear cousin,
and you're younger than Andrey
he's 31 and you're 19
may I bring up Jason McCann?
the man you'll go crazy-"

"Silence Natasha,
I knew I shouldn't of have spoken...
Jason McCann isn't for me
I love Andrey
I love Andrey with all of my heart!"
he put his hands over his heart.

The younger cousin laughed,
smirking at the obvious lie
"But the Jason McCann is rich,
how come you wouldn't love him?"

"He is the definition of too old for me.
Tell me again how he was present..
at my birth?
Tell me how well he can tell my birth?
It sounds like he can remember it,
just like it happened a hour ago."
Justin snaps, not cold or bitter.

Natasha smirked,
"25 years doesn't seem so bad now.
44 and 20.
Doesn't sound bad when you say it."

Justin sighed at her ignorance.
"That's because you have said it.
I'm 19 for another eight months.
Nine months before I marry Andrey."
He sighed for his love of Andrey,
who wasn't there.

Both cousins stayed silent, watching the clock.
XI.
They glanced at each other for a moment,
they gave each other a nod.

"I suppose we must sleep."
Natasha suggested, glancing at the clock.

Her cousin nodded, agreeing.
"Suppose we will.
Maria is expecting us, quite early.
We've stayed up too late now.
She'll know we scurried around.
Suppose we'll get 3 hours of slumber."

They sighed,
"Why must you bring that up?
I hope we can sleep in the carriage,
with the cold..
Make the last three hours good, dear cousin.
Possibly could be the last good dream, for a while."

Justin chuckled,
not knowing what else to say.
"Dream a little dream, dear cousin."

Natasha walked away,
towards her small room.
"Dream a sweet dream, dear cousin."
She said quietly as she stepped inside.