Once Upon His December

Chapter 14 - Letters of Urgency

Vlad

I tried to let it go.  Tried to forget Theo's assault on Kira. I really did, especially because Kira asked me to never mention that incident again.  It ate at me for several weeks until I just couldn't take it anymore.  I sat down and wrote an urgent letter to Nikolai.

In this letter of urgency, I explained that Theodore had been giving unwanted advances on Kira. She had continued to reject him, but Theodore found it difficult to take no for an answer. 

I also mentioned how Kira had been flourishing in her music, how well our duet went at my birthday ball and how much Kira missed him even though she never fully admitted it.

To conclude, I asked if Nikolai would be able to return home for Christmas this year when his studies had a break.

I only had to wait a couple of weeks for Nikolai's reply.  Once in my room, I tore open the letter eagerly when it arrived and read it quickly.  By the end of it, I was boiling with anger at my own brother.  How could he treat such an incident so lightly?

Light humming alerted me to someone's presence. More specifically to Kira's.  She was humming one of the carols we would be singing in town this year for Christmas.

"Vlad?" she called, knocking on his bedroom door. "Did you forget we have an extra lesson today?"

"Oh! Kira," I smiled in reply, scrunching the letter and tossing it behind me before Kira saw it. "I was just erm...running late."

"Well, come on," she smiled and waved a hand.  "Let's walk together."

****
Nikolai

The day I received my brother's letter, I went ballistic with anger in my room.  I violently shoved my books from my desk, threw a candelabra to smash against the wall and flipped the bed up on its side.

I was furious.  I was livid!  Most of all, I was guilty that I had left Kira.  Theodore was the only one other than my parents who knew of Kira's true status. Of course, that power hungry mongrel would try and have her! Theo could tell Kira everything and help her reclaim her birthright.

She deserved that but Theo stood no chance against my father. They would both die. I planned on telling her everything once my studies were finished and I would take over the throne. Then my father's power would be greatly diminished.

Looking around my now mess of a room, I groaned in frustration. I picked everything up and put it back in its place then sat down to write a reply to Vlad.

This had to be carefully constructed.  No one knew of my gifts to Kira or our secret rendezvous in the library.  I had to remain neutral until the time was right. So, in my reply, I told Vlad that I had been too busy and would not make it home. In fact, I had been trying to push Kira as far from his mind as possible. Which was, partially, the truth. I wanted to finish school quickly so he could return home. 

To her.

****
Kira

After my rehearsal with Vlad and a few other court singers, I was sent to change the bedding on the rooms in the south wing.  I sighed began the task.  It would be a job that would take me most of the remaining day. 

The last room of the day was Vlad's. Carefully I pulled at the comforter then tugged the sheets off and dropped them in a separate pile.  Next was placing the clean sheets on the bed and replacing the comforter. I gave the pillows a good fluff then ambled to the other side to give those pillows the same treatment.

My foot stepped on something that made a crunching sound. Curious, I picked it up and carefully uncrumpled the paper. I scanned the paper to see if I needed to throw it away or place it on Vlad's desk but I froze and kept reading.