The Oracle

Chapter 52: The Nightmare Princess

AKARI

Nikolai let us inside and invited us to sit in his dining room with his daughter Margaret while he began to make us some tea.

"So, what brings you to visit so early?" Nikolai asks as he stands with his back to us, his front facing the charcoal colored stove as he boils water in the red, tan, and gold colored teapot while we sit at his circular tan dinner table, some of us having to stand due to there not being enough seats.

"About that," Nikita starts, guilt flickering across her face at the notion of her not being around very often, "I need your help...Nikolai. In order for them to reach Valentine, they need protections to shield them from his touch."

"I already guided your companion who came through here a few days ago. When I did so, I ran out of my potion supply. It would take me a few hours to produce more, perhaps an entire day to produce enough for all of you," Nikolai says. "And, what do you mean by them? You make it sound as if you aren't going with them."

"Actually," Nikita clears her throat, gaining knowing glances from all of us, minus Nikolai and also Margaret, who is sitting on Darius's lap, "I'm not."

"Oh?" Nikolai glances over his shoulder in surprise and raises his eyebrows, his eyes inquisitive and gleaming with hidden hope.

"I've decided that I'm not going anywhere else ever again. I'm staying here, with you and my daughter," Nikita says, her expression turning somewhat sheepish. "That is...if you'll have me. I don't quite feel like I'd deserve it."

"Of course," Nikolai smiles softly at his wife. "I told you before you left that I knew you were fulfilling a purpose nobody else could do, and if you didn't do it, nobody else would. We made this sacrifice for the greater good, but...a selfish part of me can't help but be happy that you've chosen to come back instead."

"Mommy's coming back?" Margaret glances off to the right to look at Nikita, who smiles softly and moves to kneel down in front of her daughter.

"Yeah," Nikita smiles and ruffles her daughter's hair. "Mommy's never going anywhere again. I'm sorry I've been gone for so long, Pumpkin."

"What sort of potions did you need to help Merrick?" Miroslava asks.

"He needed one to get passed the barrier just beyond the house," Nikolai says.

"Ah, yes," Miroslava sighs. "The barrier."

"Barrier?" I furrow my eyebrows. "What barrier?"

"My brother has a barrier that guards our home," Miroslava explains. "As a family, Valentine, Mariposa, our parents, and I lived separately from the rest of the world in a place that many weren't allowed to reach, much like a safe haven. Our parents, though, weren't your typical parents. They weren't around most of the time to raise us because they had to help shape the world they helped create. They were an instrumental part in helping us and The Oracle bring the Sins and Virtues to life. So, we had to raise ourselves, together. The barrier that once surrounded our home used to only keep everyone out. The original barrier set by our parents fell when the man who killed Mariposa managed to sneak in. After Mariposa's death, Valentine made a new barrier that let people through if they were worthy, and if they weren't worthy...they would vanish forever."

"How...comforting," Evory shudders.

"Wait, your brother?" Nikolai's eyebrows raise as he glances sharply over at Miroslava. "You're...Miroslava Constance?"

"That would be me," Miroslava muses. "Last time I checked, anyway."

"Right," Nikolai runs a hand through his hair, his eyes flickering across all of our faces before they land back on Nikita's. "Okay. If you help me, I may be able to get the proper amount of potions within six hours. After all, you're the alchemist between the two of us."