Dance of the Damned

Party

"Look at you, young master," Elise said, staring at Micah with pride written all over her face. "You have grown to become such a charming young man."

"You jest, Nanny Elise," Micah said, trying to fix the collar of his royal purple shirt.

From head to toe, Micah is embellished with royal purple, plum, red and gold. His front hair is pulled back, revealing his white eyes, along with his pale skin.

All along the crook of his collar, around his neck, is covered with gold embellishments, following all the way to the palm of his hands.

In his hands is a semi-gold walking stick he used to steady himself while Elise continued to shower him with praises.

"Micah~! Are you ready~?" Briar asked, walking into the room all decked out in a suit as well. Though one not as extravagant as Micah’s.

His suit is a deep blue with some silver embellishments and a face that looked like he wanted to cut open his uniform and throw it into the fire or something.

“You look great, Bradie,” Micah said, grinning at the boy, noticing the discomfort radiating off the boy like a beam of light.

“Don’t say that otherwise, I will want to actually use this sword,” Briar said, pointing to the sword on his side. “Why am I even dressed like this anyway?”

“I asked you to stand by my side yesterday, don’t you remember?” Micah asked, tilting his head at Briar. “You agreed.”

“That was a little last minute.” Elise chuckled. “The only reason I was able to get something for Briar was because the young master had some that fitted him. But, please do not inform me of this the day of the next party.” Elise said, scratching the back of her head.

“I will remember that, Nanny Elise,” Micah said brightly. “But thank you so much for your hard work. Today would not have been possible if it was not for you.”

“I would do anything for you, young master,” Elise said, glaring at Briar fiddling with his collar. “Put your hand down, young man! What are you trying to do?? Put that sword down!!”

Micah stared at the two blankly a laugh escaping his lips as he could make out Elise grabbing the sword from Briar while the boy tried to run away.

Something like this is nice sometimes. He thought, turning to the mirror again. A normal life huh? Would I be able to achieve a normal life like this?

No. That’s impossible. He turned back to them. We are only able to be this carefree because I have been able to prevent those things from happening.

Does that make me a selfish person? For wanting my loved ones to be happy? Maybe. Oh well, you can’t save everyone. Even if you want to.

“Micah!” Briar ran to the boy, hiding behind him. “That witch is going to sew me to the clothes I’m wearing! I told you she is dangerous!”

“Who are you calling a witch?!?” Elise asked, frowning at the boy. “And don’t hide behind the young master! He will not always protect you, right, young master?”

“You will protect me, right Micah?” Briar asked, shaking the boy.

“Huh.” Micah was at a loss for words, standing there blankly, unsure of what he should say. “I-I don’t-“

“Micah! Do I really have to stand with you??” The boy asked, shaking Micah relentlessly.

“You’ll injure him!” Elise shouted, pulling Micah away from Briar. “Are you ok, young master?”

“I’m fine,” Micah said, feeling slightly dizzy because of Briar. “And Bradie. You already said that you would. Do you not like … being by my side?”

“Don’t pull that card.” The boy said, looking at Micah’s pleading eyes. “Fine! Fine! I am not someone to go back on my word. Let’s get going and get this over with as quickly as possible!”

“Yay!” Micah said, clapping his hands together. “Oh, have the invitations been sent out?”

“It has,” Karla said, walking into the room. “Pardon the intrusion. The door was open and I just walked in. Look at you, young master.”

“Don’t cry, Karla,” Briar said, pulling out a handkerchief and handing it to the woman.

Taking the handkerchief, the woman softly dabbed her eyes, smiling, “It’s just … The young master has truly grown so much. I am sure your parents would have been very proud of the man you turned out to be.”

“Perhaps,” Micah said, offering a smile to the woman. “Is everything ready?”

“Yes, it was a bit last minute but we were able to do as you asked,” Karla said, beaming. “The plan was exceptionally brilliant, young master. How did you know that was going to happen?”

“It was just a guess,” Micah said, shrugging. “Now, all we have to do to carry it out. Where are my aunt and uncle?”

All three exchanged looks before Briar quickly said, “They have a surprise planned for you. We don’t want to ruin the surprise, Micah. So you will have to stay in the dark for now.”

“Really?” Micah asked, beaming. “Aunt and uncle never planned a surprise for me before. Is today really that special?”

“It is your birthday. Why wouldn’t it be?” Karla asked, laughing. “Silly boy. Now, shall we get going? The carriage is already here.”

“You will be coming with us, Karla?” Elise asked, turning to the woman.

“Not at all.” She said, waving her hands dismissively. “I will be going ahead to make sure everything is prepared. I shall see you there, young master.”

“Take care, Karla!” Micah shouted as the woman walked out of the room, waving back at him.

“Well, that is that,” Elise said, turning Micah and Briar. “I will check on the carriage. Briar, could you assist the young master to the front?”

“Of course,” Briar said, as the woman walked out of the room in a hurry. “Wow. She seems tense.”

“You think so?” Micah fiddled with his hair, not entirely comfortable with just letting it be like that.

“You seem even more nervous than her.” Briar laughed, poking Micah’s side. “What are you so nervous for?”

“I’m not nervous,” Micah said, still fiddling with his hair. “Why would I be nervous?”

“Right,” Briar said, not believing his friend at all. “Why do you keep playing with your hair then?”

“I don’t know,” Micah said, trying to restrain himself. “It is just bugging me for some reason. Do I look ok?”

“When has how you looked ever bothered you before?” Briar chuckled, looking at Micah. “You don’t like your eyes exposed, right?”

“You could tell?” Micah asked, trying to not pull the bangs over his face again. “I don’t think most people would be comfortable seeing my eyes.”

“And why not?”

“Look at them.”

Briar stared at Micah’s white eyes, a soft smile coming on his face. “I don’t see anything wrong. But if you are not comfortable enough to show them to the public, you don’t have to.”

“But Nanny Elise had been doing my hair for the past three hours. I can’t just ruin it.” Micah said, stuck in a dilemma. “What to do?”

“Why not do this?” Briar said, pulling down thin wisps of hair that fell over Micah’s eyes. “Feel a little better?”

“Yes. Much.” Micah said, beaming. “Thank you, Bradie.”

“It was something so simple.” The boy laughed. “Don’t think too much about it and try to have fun. If anyone says anything insulting to you, tell me. I will put them in their place.”

“I would rather you not resort to violence,” Micah said, taking his cane and walking to the door with Briar.

“Is that the pacifist in you talking?” Briar asked, holding the door open. “You even asked that the man that attacked you not be given the death penalty. I worry about you sometimes, Micah.”

“Why?”

“That you might be too … soft.” He said, furrowing his brows at the boy. “Because of that, you might be taken advantage of in the future.”

“I’ll have you with me, won’t I?” Micah said softly, “Bradie, I want … to help people.”

“Help people? How?”

“I don’t know yet,” Micah said, taking on slow step in front of the other. “But I want to be able to help them. Will you be with me?”

“And why wouldn’t I be?” Briar laughed. “You know that I go where you go. You know, Micah. I have been thinking. And I think you are my soul tie.”

“Soul tie?” Micah paused, eyes widening. “You know what that means, right, Bradie?”

“I know,” Briar said nonchalantly. “I studied up on it. Though there is a test you will have to do to see if it is, indeed, true. Want to see if it is?”

“I don’t think you know what that means, Bradie,” Micah said again. “It is not something simple that you should just declare. Give it some time, before you decide if you wish to check or not.”

“Alright. Alright.” Briar said, exasperated. “I don’t know what you are so scared of but I will give it some time.”

“Good,” Micah said with a smile, but as he passed him, the smile faltered into a thin line.