Once Upon His December

Chapter 15 - Christmas Fever

Nikolai

I rode up to the gates of the palace mid morning. Everything was coated in several inches of fresh snow and I took in the beautiful sight. The gray clouds looming on the horizon and the bitter cold chill in the strengthening winds promised still more snow. A lot of it and very soon. A servant came to take the reins once I dismounted. I nodded then gave my horse a friendly pat.

"Leave him free for a bit," I told the servant. "It was a long ride.  He deserves some air."

Taking the steps two at a time, I knew no one was expecting me home for this Christmas. Least of all Kira. I wrestled with the idea of staying at school or coming home.  When Vlad wrote and told me that Kira was singing for the Christmas feast, I decided to come home.

A very happy Sasha greeted me in the front hall where the tables of food were already being set up.

"Oh, Your Grace!" she curtsied then hurried over and embraced me.  "It is wonderful you made it home."

I warmly embraced the older woman.  She had always been another mother figure to me. Sasha is who I ran too when hurt, who cared for me when sick and comforted me when sad as a child.

"Yes," I replied, releasing her. "I almost didn't make it. I'd like a warm bath prepared in my room," I called over my shoulder as I strode down the corridor.

I took in the beautiful decorations. The greens draped along the stair railings, the Matryoshka dolls, the dragoons, angels and faberge eggs sparkled around the candles lit everywhere.

I touched each one, admiring its beauty.  The thought occurred to me that Kira assisted in the decorating.  She had quite an eye for beauty.  Even the most decadent greens pale in comparison to a certain pair of green eyes I hadn't seen yet.

The bath was drawn by the time I made it to my room. Still no Kira. Wouldn't she be practicing? I quickly bathed and dressed in a dark green caftan lined with black fur, black trousers and formal boots.  Now I had to find Kira.

I searched everywhere, feigning observing the decorations or checking in on the food preparations in the kitchen. Still no sign of Kira. No one had seen her since early that morning. It was now afternoon. Odd.  Even more odd was a very panicked Vlad scurrying into the kitchen.

"Nik!" he called, eyes wide in surprise. "Glad you made it. Have you seen Kira? We need to practice the carols and I can't find her."

"Did you check her room?" I asked.  Vlad shook his head. We quickly went to her room hoping she wasn't sick.

"She's never missed or been late to a rehearsal," Vlad blabbered, his nervousness came out in his over talking.  It equaled mine.

When we reached the door, I knocked. "Kira?" No answer. I knocked again, louder.  "Kira? Are you alright?" Still no answer. I pounded on the door now.  "Kira! Open this door!"

No answer. 

I gestured for Vlad to stand back.  With one hard kick, Kira's door was open.  We both stormed into the room only to find an unconscious Theodore on the floor surrounded by shattered chunks of glass from the vase.

"Oh no," Vlad mumbled.  "What happened?  Where did she go?"

My fists clenched until they turned white. I turned on my heel and stormed angrily down the hallway. 

"Find her! NOW!"

Vlad ordered several soldiers to scour the inside of the palace before daring the odds against the now heavily falling snow. I had taken that dare, already headed straight outside. The snow was getting close to a blizzard by now. I still searched the places she frequented.