Nik & Ari
FLASHBACK
Location: Edwards Estate Time: Ignis 5 Evening
Nik let out a breath as the Duke left. His gaze glanced to Ariella as he waited for the old man to be further out of earshot. Once he was sure he was, Nikolai relaxed. He leaned back against the seat, let his legs spread out a bit more, and watched the girl carefully. Now that he had a chance to say whatever he wanted, he found himself at a loss for words.
”Look, let me level with you, sweetheart.” He started,
”This is as much a cage for me as it is for you. I think we could potentially come to an agreement to scratch each other’s backs.” Nik shifted a bit, rolling his shoulder blades calmly.
”I’ll keep my distance so you won’t even know I’m there. And I won’t step in unless absolutely necessary. In return…” He explained, his voice low and quiet,
”You tell daddy dearest over there how wonderfully I protect you.” He pointed towards where Gideon had left with a head tilt.
”Do we have a deal?” Ari sat stunned for a moment, her mouth slightly opening as if she meant to say something, but instead she caught herself. Her mind was still foggy as she attempted to form some words.
She sat back in her seat, studying him for a moment.
”Deal.” As those words left her, suddenly she seemed to relax. Her shoulders dropped slightly as a breath of relief left her. She hoped that he really would hold his word.
Looking around awkwardly at the food, she grabbed a few things onto her plate—some bread, cheese, and a few pieces of vegetables. She wasn’t sure how much her stomach could handle after last night.
” Did my father tell you…” Her eyes flicked up at him before looking back at her plate.
”..what happened last night? Or why has he employed you?” Well at least she’d seemed to relax. He hadn’t entirely expected her to agree, if he was being honest with himself, but he was happy she had. That would at least allow him the chance to watch her without her trying to do anything stupid. She seemed stupid, but not rock bottom.
His eyes glanced over her as she grabbed more food. She seemed like she wasn’t entirely all there, like she was up in space somewhere sometimes. It worried him, but he’d just have to pay more attention to her.
Nikolai lifted a hand to scratch at his neck as she spoke.
”Nope. I have been left blissfully in the dark about all of this.” He replied, deciding that he would be honest with her as much as he possibly could. If he hoped to actually protect her, he needed her to trust his judgement.
”Care to share why Hunters would be a problem for you?” He asked, his head tilting ever so slightly.
Poking at her food, she managed to pull some bread from her plate, tearing a piece off as her hand slowly raised to her mouth. The shake in her hand was evident as she ate a piece. Mindful of her stomach, she swallowed it carefully.
” My brother and I were at an event last night when a group of hooligans broke into the tavern. They took all of us hostage…” She took a breath as the smell of her brothers' burning flesh hit her nose. She brought her napkin to her nose as she tried to keep the bread down.
Nik’s brow furrowed. She looked like she was going to be sick from just the memory. His head started a dull throb as familiarity surfaced before fading away. His furrowed brows turned into something of a scowl, though certainly not at her.
” They tied him to a post and burned him with a hot poker over and over, forcing us to drink. I was so drunk already, I don't remember too much. I only remember the smell of his skin burning, the pain…” She paused to take a drink of her water.
Unknowingly, Nik sucked in a breath at her words, cringing at the thought of it. He’d seen rather horrible things, to be sure, but that never made it any easier to hear or deal with. In fact, it made it somewhat worse, knowing the smell she’d described.
” I ran towards him and shielded him from the next branding but…” She paused, glancing to look up at him, her face expression slightly hollow. The words sat at the tip of her tongue.
” I used a powerful dark magic spell that casted a pulse. A large one. I don’t know exactly what happened after because I passed out. I don't remember much else.” He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t shocked, but he liked to think he hid it well. His arms had crossed while she spoke and his eyes narrowed for a moment before he looked down at the table in front of him.
”So, your father wants me to protect you from Hunters because of what you’d shown publicly, then?” He asked, his tone somewhat matter-of-fact. His expression, however, was one of sympathy.
Nodding, she managed to take another small piece of bread.
” Yes…there is more, but for now, that I am sure is his biggest worry. The hunters could have been in the tavern for all I know. The last one paraded a woman on a long iron chain.” She took in a breath, sitting back against her chair as her eyes met his.
” Needless to say, it is a threat that they take seriously. However, when it comes to my brothers, I would rather burn at the stake than watch that again.” She said without remorse.
He’d be lying if he said he understood her sentiment. There wasn’t a soul in this realm that Nik would burn for. Not a single one. But, he understood enough to know that this was a little tidbit that meant something to her and that he could use that. If it came to keeping her out of harms way, keeping her brother out of it was just as important.
He nodded solemnly.
”I’ll keep that in mind and consider him someone to protect as well.” He offered her an honest statement, even if his motives were dubious at best. At least she was opening up to him. Considering how much she’d just protested with her father, he was expecting more of a fight. Though, if he was honest, he’d probably only placated her for a time. Eventually, he would have to step in to actually protect her and he doubted she would like that. Especially if it came to either her or her brother. He could only hope he’d never have to make that choice.
Finishing the roll, she took another sip of water.
” I imagine my father would be very happy to hear that.” She was surprised at his lack of shock or concern with her admission of magic use.
” What is your story?” Her eyes glanced outside the dining room before returning to him.
” How did you get into all of this? In truth, she needed the distraction to keep focus off her twisting stomach as she continued to eat slowly.
He took a moment to think on her question. He wasn’t entirely sure how much he wanted to reveal. While she had been very forthcoming with him, he wasn’t known for opening up to others. He was more laughs and charm than heart-to-hearts. But, he knew that if he didn’t sound sincere right now, she might not trust him. Trust was hard to earn and easily lost. He knew that much.
”I’m not sure there’s much to tell.” He started, his voice low. He shifted again, this time letting one leg stretch out farther to the side. His gaze lowered to his hands as he tried to consider very carefully what to reveal.
”I want to be a force of good.” He finally spoke, his voice much softer than it had been, but clearly determined. He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable and sat up a bit more straight.
”I also have a lot to prove and my own cage to break out of, so.” He continued, his lips pressed together as a way to suppress something akin to anger, but not quite as heated. Disappointment? Disdain? None of the words seemed to fit.
”While this is a cage, it’s my only shot at getting out of it. I have to let him think I’m trapped.” He admitted, his gaze shifting from his hands back up to her to see her reaction.
Ari didn’t speak right away. She let the silence stretch, his words settling between them like something fragile that shouldn’t be handled too roughly. Her gaze lingered on him, thoughtful, unreadable, before drifting down to the table.
Without ceremony, she reached out and nudged one of the plates toward him, the simple gesture carrying more meaning than any reassurance she might have offered.
“You should eat,” She said quietly.
“If you’re going to be staying here, you might as well make yourself at home.” She smiled softly before eating more herself.
“So.” She interrupted the silence, trying to change the subject to something more light-hearted.
“What things do you enjoy?” She let a small laugh out nervously.
“Sorry, I've never had a guard before…I don’t know what I am doing or what might be appropriate…” He felt worry spread over him, thick like tar and he hated it. Hated the feeling of the silence that sat between them after he spoke. He hated the way it made him feel and the anxiety that bubbled up. Nik was a man who was always sure of himself, never let himself feel this way, worried about how others viewed him. But he needed her to trust him so... here he was.
His gaze flickered from the offered plate to her and back again. Well, that was a good sign. He glanced up at her again as she spoke. A smile, that was a great sign, considering what he'd seen earlier.
He let the feeling of that victory relax him, knowing that his discomfort was worth something. He grabbed at a piece of bread and dipped it into some of the food before taking a rather large bite himself. He glanced up again as she spoke, her question not necessarily surprising him. He took a moment to chew and swallow before answering her.
"Just treat me like a friend and we'll be just fine." He started, flashing her a smile,
"Things that shouldn't enter the ears of a pretty little noble lady such as yourself." Nik took another bite and chewed for a moment, watching her reaction.
She blinked, her curiosity piqued.
“Pretty little noble lady?” A brow raised as she held back a laugh.
“If you want me to treat you like a friend, then you can’t treat me like a pretty little noble lady”. She pulled apart another piece of bread.
“So...What is it that you enjoy?” She offered him a grin as she seemed very interested now.
He cleared his throat at her reaction. Not exactly what he was hoping for, but what could he expect? Innocent little noble girl who doesn't want to know all the juicy details? Right. He couldn't even argue her point either. He
had told her to treat him like a friend. Damn smartass bit-
He stopped himself before he let the thought continue. He needed to placate, earn trust, build something with her enough so that she'd trust his calls. He just had to keep telling himself that. Though, he wasn't sure she would enjoy an honest answer. Doesn't mean he wouldn't enjoy teasing her. Nikolai leaned in closer, elbows firmly on the table as he watched her.
"Women, mainly." He replied simply, a stupid smirk on his face and a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
She could feel her cheeks brighten against her already pale complexion.
women. She reached for her glass of water as she felt his intense look from across the table.
"I see... well.." Her eyes glanced over to the side of the parlor while taking a sip of her water.
"I enjoy...the company of men as well." She stated rather matter of factly, but the tone gave her away. She wasn't confident in the way she spoke; her words were hollow and untrue. Though she continued her attempt at lying when in truth she had little experience with men. She really had only ever kissed Callum, but she wasn't going to let him think she was some prudish lady of the court.
"How- many? Women.. that is..have you entertained yourself with?" Her face still rather red.
This time, he didn’t stop the snort that bubbled up at her response. He cleared his throat, a sly smile still on his face. Leaning back, Nik watched her for a moment, amber eyes looking over her features. He wondered how much it would take to get her to crack. Should he be doing this, having this conversation with her at all? No. He shouldn’t be humoring this line of conversation. But at the moment, Nik was having fun and that’s all he cared about.
”Guess.” ”Ten,” She blurted out without much thought. Surely that was a lot.
Nik’s laughter filled the dining room they were in, loud and full of life.
”Ten?!” He laughed some more, his smile widening. He lifted a hand up to her as he tried to stop,
”Sorry, sorry. Just…” ”It’s quite a bit more than ten, sweetheart.” He told her, amusement still clear on his face.
”But, that’s a pretty good guess.” He added with another small laugh. He was even more certain that she hadn’t been with any man, much less the plural ‘men’ she claimed.
Her eyes glanced back towards the hall before looking back at Nik, his laughter caught her off guard but also sent a shock of embarrassment.
”Fifty?” She countered, strangely interested now to know the answer.
He laughed again, shaking his head at her.
”Closer.” ”Closer?” She echoed, surprised.
The word closer landed heavier than she expected, stirring in her a mix of disbelief but also nerves in her chest. She sat back in her seat, just lifting her chin a fraction as if fixing her posture would steady her. Her fingers curled into her gown under the table.
”Closer…” She repeated again as if it would save her from embarrassment.
”Seventy-five?” As the number left her lips she suddenly realized just how different the two were. She had kissed 1…1 man. While he—
She swallowed hard as a nervous smile followed her next guess.
He watched her tousle with the idea, enjoyed the look on her face as she tried to consider just how many people that was. He tapped his finger against the arm of his chair.
”Much closer.” He chuckled. He had to wonder what she would think of that, knowing just how many women he had slept with or that he had actually mostly kept track of them. His number might be a
little fudged, considering there were a few nights with some Alidasht women he didn’t remember very well. He couldn’t be sure how many bodies had been present for those, if he was honest.
”A hundred?” Her jaw was nearly on the table by this point.
Another laugh as he shook his head.
”About 83. I think. I might have lost count and some of the memories are hazy…” He replied, mumbling a bit as he trailed off. He offered her a smile.
”What about you, Pretty Little Noble Lady?” He asked with a smirk.
”A lady never tells” She deflected, attempting to cover her story.
”Not 83 but…I have some.” She cleared her throat before taking a sip of water. Nik raised a brow, clearly not believing her in the slightest.
After a long silence she slumped slightly in her chair.
”I’m lying, I don't even know why I'm trying to pretend.” She sighed heavily at her lack of suitors.
”I hate balls, I hate the courting season…I hate wearing heels, ball gowns, having my hair fussed over…It doesn’t leave much room for…fun.” Suddenly, Ari word-vomited,
”Do you think I'm attractive?” She paused as the color in her face disappeared as she realized she just allowed her thoughts to slip from her mouth.
”I’m not ugly? I don't think? I know I'm a bit weird and now this magic situation I'm sure doesn’t help but…Am I really that hopeless.” The words erupted like a panicked thought.
She glanced up at the man.
”Actually..just forget I even asked.” He listened as she rambled. His eyes went wide as she asked him if she was attractive. He was reaching dangerous territory here. It set his nerves on edge like he was two steps from walking into a trap he wouldn’t be able to easily get himself out of. His mind started racing with ways he could get out of this conversation now.
Nik looked down at the silver rings on his fingers for a moment before he finally looked back up at her.
”Have you had enough to eat?” He asked. He’d pulled the mask back on—the practiced expressions, the measured responses. He needed the distance and he needed it several sentences ago.
”Oh…” She looked down at the plate of half eaten food.
She pushed the plate away from herself.
”Yes, I suppose I have. Have you?” She shifted the conversation, aware that she had clearly embarrassed herself.
He paused for a moment, looking down at her food. She’d barely touched her food and he could hear her father yelling at him now. Or at least firmly scolding him. He took in a breath very slowly, trying not to make it noticeable, and let it out just as slowly. He sat back down just as quickly as he’d stood up.
”Sorry. I should have noticed the state of your plate.” He spoke, his voice a little lower, like he was already kicking himself for what he’d done.
”Does it hurt your stomach?” He asked, a genuine flash of concern crossing his features.
”Yes…I’m not feeling quite myself today. This is all I managed to eat today.” ”And for what’s it worth… If you weren’t the Duke’s daughter, I wouldn’t have thought twice about taking you to bed.” He offered as he twisted one of the rings on his finger,
”So, no. You aren’t ugly and your magic doesn’t scare me. If anything, it would make you more intriguing. The only thing I find hard to swallow is that I am your guard.” She bit back a smile, attempting to hide it. It wasn’t that she wanted to take the man to bed, but the validation from clearly a very sought after and objectively handsome man did put a smile on her face.
”And as my guard…” She said, still biting back her smile.
”These conversations are strictly confidential.” A soft sigh left his lips as Nik got up from his chair and walked over to the other side of the table. He reached for her chair and leaned down just long enough to whisper,
”As you wish.” The hairs on her neck rose, starting to understand why his list was so long.
He tugged her chair out for her, helping her up. He’d have to see if he could get the cooks to make something that would settle on her stomach a bit easier. Maybe some broth? His mother made a mean vegetable broth maybe he could…
She stumbled out of the chair, falling into the table as the sudden rush to her head sent the room spinning. Nik jerked, his hand reaching for her to help her back up.
”Sorry…” She whispered as she straightened herself. After a moment the room seemed to settle, but her legs continued to feel as if she had walked for two days straight.
He thought for a moment, his eyes looking her over as he did. Picking her up felt like the wrong choice, since she seemed to care so much about agency. Asking felt like the move and if she said no, well—he’d just carry her up anyway. At least he tried asking first.
”Come. I’ll carry you back to your room.” He told her. It didn’t sound too much like a question like he’d intended it to be, but at least he didn’t go with his gut which was just pick her up without saying anything.
She wanted to argue, to laugh in his face, but instead just nodded weakly.
”Okay..” She was in no place to argue.
”Or maybe.. the top of the stairs” She tried to compromise. At least then she could show him where he would be staying.
”Of course.” He replied, having every intention of not letting her down until she was in her room. He could probably be convinced to let her down early, but with how she was looking and sounding, he was admittedly worried about her. And himself. Just imagining the angry letter from his grandfather if the girl died on the first day from falling down the stairs gave him enough pause to not want to let her down.
He lifted her with ease, rough hands calloused from hard work scratching against the fabric of her dress. She was light and easy to carry, nothing he hadn’t expected.
”Hold on.” He told her as soft grunts of pain escaped her.
Once he was sure that she wasn’t going anywhere, he started carrying her towards the door.
”You may have to direct me. I don’t really know my way around.” He spoke once he was in the doorway. He spotted a set of stairs nearby.
”Those stairs?” He asked, looking down at her.
She nodded, looking at just how large the stairs were. She felt grateful for his help.
”Yes, then to the right down the hall…I made sure I was on the opposite side of my parents…” He raised a brow at her comment as he walked over to the stairs.
”I’ve wanted to ask. I know a lot of people have issues with their parents for various reasons,” He started, ascending the stairs carefully,
”but what have yours done to you?” He thought back to her father and how thoughtful he had been; nothing he had said had seemed unreasonable to Nikolai. If anything, he’d have killed to have a father like that.
Glancing up at him, she stayed silent.
”I don't think you’re ready for that one.” She laughed slightly.
”Meet my Mother, then perhaps we can have that conversation.” He smiled briefly, nodding at her reply.
”Fair enough,” He returned. He could understand not wanting to talk about it. Though there was a part of him that wished she’d give him more to go on. He didn’t much like surprises and the more he knew, the better equipped he felt.
It didn’t take him terribly long to get to the top of the stairs, where instead of letting her down, he turned to the right. His boots echoed quietly in the dimly lit hallway.
Her mind continued to go in and out; the soft rocking against his warm body made her eyes heavy as her body hung limply in his arms. She hadn’t even noticed until they started approaching her door.
The floors were covered in ornate carpet; vases and expensive paintings hung on the wall. The decorations spared no expense but to some would lack any taste. The door stood out amongst the pristine hallway. At the end of the hallway was a door, handpainted with strokes of white, blues, purples, and greens. As they drew closer the details of the flowers grew clearer—wild vines painted up and along the frame, favoring the right as if it were naturally growing from the ground. Small petals intricately placed into the design as if it were raining petals. The strokes of paint were wild yet measured.
”Hey…I said I would walk.” She said half consciously, swatting the air with her hand as if she were even close to hitting him.
”Did you? My bad.” He returned, as if he hadn’t heard her to begin with. He did, however, move to set her down now that they were at her door. He eyed the art on her door. An artist, huh? He wondered if she’d done that or if they paid someone.
”Go get settled for bed. I’ll be back in a few moments, okay?” He told her, offering her a small smile.
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