The Dresses

The Metallic Smell

   "Hey Eli?" said Alex
   What?" Eli replied rolling his eyes, he was trying to study.
   "Do you smell that?" Alex stuck his tiny nose in the air trying to find the source of the strange scent.
   "Yes, of course I smell it, did you do something?" Eli turned to Alex with anger.
   "No! Did you?!" Alex stood up and so did Eli.
   The two princes wrestled on the floor of their bedroom until they heard footsteps on the marble stairs of their tower. They shot up at the same time and Eli ran back to his desk and pretended to study. Alex rushed to his bed and hid under the covers.
   "Boys..." they heard from outside the door.
   Alex looked at Eli who was peeking out from under the sheets, "yes ma'am?" he replied fearfully.
   The Queen opened the door and walked in. She ran her right hand on the magenta curtains hanging by the window as she walked to Eli's desk. She peeked his work and said, "This ink is dry, you haven't been working for a while."
   Eli looked at his feet, "I know mother, I just got caught up with Alex," he looked at the Queen with hopeful eyes.
   "I've told you two to stop wrestling, how do you ever expect to be king with a violent spirit?" she gave Eli a stern look.
   "I'm sorry mother, I'll get back to work," he looked back at his feet.
   The Queen walked to Alex's bed side and uncovered him. He tried to get up and run away but his mother hugged him as he squirmed.
   "Now what did I tell you, boy," she laughed.
   He tried to crawl away but was caught again, "to stop messing with Eli."
   She let him go, "yes, now, leave your brother alone, he's going to be king in a couple of years."
   "Why can't I be king!" Alex exclaimed.
   His mother laughed and started to walk out the door.
   "Wait! What's that smell, Mother?" Alex called after her.
   The Queen spun around and looked Alex deep in the eyes, "something metallic, don't you think?"
   "Yes! That's what it is! Thanks mother, you're so wise," Alex smiled gleefully and waved his mother goodbye as she walked out of the room.
   Alex smile slowly faded as he looked at Eli in the strange silence that had overcome them. He was no longer looking at his work, he was staring in fear at the door. The footsteps down the stairs had become barely audible and that's when Eli finally spoke.
   "Blood."
  "What?" Alex looked at his brother with confusion.
   "The smell, it's blood."