《THE COUNT》

the charming

The two young cousins stood in front of a mirror.
The room had no light,
except for the candles that Natasha held.
She held them in front of the mirror,
she tried to adjust her head.

Justin held a single candle,
trying to figure out what his cousin was trying to do.
He moved his head in the direction Natasha moved.
It was amusing as Justin did it,
his godmother would of stopped him by now.

“Look into the mirror, Justin.” Natasha spoke,
putting her candles into a perfect angle.
Justin did as told and didn’t know what he would expect.
He just saw himself in the mirror,
candlelight only showed his face.

“I see my face.” Justin spoke, setting his candle down.
Natasha smiled,
giggling a bit.
It confused Justin.
What was he made to see?

“Don’t be silly,” Natasha said,
she pulled her cousin close to her side.
She lifted her hand toward the mirror, adjusting Justin to see.
“They say you can see your future…” Natasha spoke,
bringing Justin into a trance, staring inside of the mirror.
“…in the long row of candles….
stretching back and back into the depths of the mirror.”

Justin stared intensely,
trying to see some sort of sign.
He saw none,
he pouted, looking back at Natasha.
“I don’t understand Natasha..” Justin spoke quietly.
His cousin didn’t seem to notice,
she stared into the mirror.

“In the mirror, in the dim last square
you’ll either see a coffin or a man.” Natasha explained.
She shrugged, “Everyone sees a man.”
Justin stared again.
He wanted to see what lied beneath the mirror.

Justin smiled, staring back at the mirror.
He didn’t focus on anything else,
it seemed like the area of room had disappeared.
“I see the candle.” He spoke, seeing what seemed like an illusion to him.
The candle was stretching back, far away.

Justin saw a shadow in the mirror,
he gasped.
Almost smiling.
He frowned,
it was man he had saw.
The man was lying down.
Justin didn’t know what to think of it.

“Oh! Natasha! I see a man!
He’s lying down!
Oh, Natasha why is he lying down?
I’m so frightened!” Justin squeaked out,
gripping on his dear cousin’s dress.

Natasha did not speak,
she would let Justin think for himself.
Natasha was the older one anyway,
just only by 2 years.

Justin started to assume and guess.
Andrey popped into Justin’s mind and he gasped.
“Andrey!” He yelled,
“Has Andrey arrived?
Has he come yet?
Oh! Andrey will never come!
Or… something will happen to me before he does.”

Natasha frowned,
feeling sorrow for her poor cousin.
Justin was turning into a wreck as they stayed silent.

The cousins heard a loud bang and pounding on the wall beneath them.
It was Marya.
“Sunday morning!” She shouted,
“Time for church!”

Justin sighed, adjusting his cape behind him.
Natasha pushed back her hair.
The cousins stood straight, posture was great.
Natasha had helped with her corset,
Justin wasn’t fit for a corset so he relied on himself.

As they left the mansion.
Justin felt worried,
he felt like crying.
He didn’t want to go anywhere just yet.
Justin wanted to stay, but his godmother was strict about leaving.

Justin thought about Prince Andrey,
what had he done?
He knew he had done no wrong to his fiancé,
but felt like he did.
Zayn, Justin remembered.
He just didn’t understand.

Justin felt like he was suffering more than ever before.
Ever since the theater,
then Zayn.
Who gave so many terrible feelings to Justin.
Justin felt he had broken faith with Andrey.
He didn’t know if he was guilty or not.