Red Roses, Aster, and Peonies

23

It was getting later, Ivan knew. After last night he didn't want Alfred to be by himself for too long. But he was with some of the nations now, just walking around.

"Where does this go?" England asked, looking back on him like he knew. It was a large door, with metal knit into the wood.

"Check," France yawned, "maybe it will be something not inhabited by animals."

The door pushed open slowly, creaking as it did. This was the only door that creaked. Dark red carpets ran over the ground, leading up to small altars with handmade bowls atop them. The only light in the room was from oil lanterns hanging off the wall, with gold holders. The walls were high into the second floor, and the walls had paintings covering them. It was dark and dingy, with rosewood walls, stained purple. Red banners engraved with symbols came from the ceiling, falling between the portraits.

"What the hell is this?" China whispered, looking around.

Russia squinted, looking to the back of the room. His feet moved on their own, going all the way to the back of the room, standing in front of the two largest portraits. Two giant women, one smaller man.

"I think I know what this room is," he stated, his voice echoing off the walls.

"What is it?" England asked, studying a purple-eyed lady carrying a large purple and white gemstone.

"This is America's dead family," he replied, "she... is Winema. His mother."

China gasped, finally seeing the two ladies on the back wall, "I do know them, I've seen them before!"

"Dear God... was she that tall?" France asked, looking up to see her face, the glare in her eyes.

"Yes," both China and Russia said at the same time.

"Who is the one next to her, the girl and the boy," England said, pointing to each.

"The man is... Hania, I believe. The woman is Powaqa," he shook his head, noticing the surrounding portraits were ones he recognized. Well, a few, he didn't know the dark one, or the Viking looking one, or the scarred one.

"Who are these," France said, gesturing around before pointing at a man with two large scars where there should be eyes.

"That is Carib," a voice said from behind them, and they spun around to see Coahoma standing in the doorway. She waved her hand and the doors flew shut, "none of you should be in here, besides Yao and Ivan. I especially do not like the colonizers in here."

"Why?" England challenged.

Coahoma's eyes narrowed, and she pointed at a few select portraits, "You are the reason they died."

"I never-" France tried to start, only to be cut off.

"You still spread illness," Coahoma growled, her fur starting to rise as the claws on her hands seemed to extend.

France's head bowed, while England stared ahead.

Coahoma's eyes followed them as they walked out of the room, her ears pressed back. Her cougar head turned to the two, and Ivan felt his body still on impulse.

"I'll leave too-"

"Why, uncle?" she yawned, before pulling a bag of coins out of her pocket, "Isn't there anyone you want to give these too?"

Yao looked at the coins before taking a few steps forward, grabbing two before turning around and walking to his sister's portraits, planting the gold on their altars before getting down on his knees, whispering to himself in an old dialect of Chinese.