Chapter Twelve:
Saturday Night Adventure
Dmitri
Saturday morning, Andrew surprised us with a visit from our families as a way to show he was happy with the way our first two weeks had gone. We were told to dress nice and get down to the foyer by eight, and while all of my friends bounced in excitement, I was silent. He had asked me if there was anyone specific I wanted to come, but we both knew it would be impossible. He promised to try and see if he could at least get a phone call with Riley, but I doubted it were possible, and didn’t press the subject much. I still held a smile for The Cavalries, though, because there was no point in ruining their excitement, which is what I told Andrew when he tried to cancel the event. My problems didn’t have to impact what little chances they had to see their families.
The girls burst through our bedroom door at seven o’clock, gleaming like stars and dressed beautifully in a set of pastel summer dresses. Gwen grumbled about how she wished she could wear pants but was still cheerful, while Martha took full advantage of being able to dress up for once. “Good morning, my dashing Calvary!” Martha cried, dancing through the room to kiss each of our cheeks.
“Morning, Martha,” Stefan laughed as she whisked by.
“Don’t you all look so handsome?” Gwen cooed as she watched me fix my tie.
“You look quite ravishing yourself,” I said only for her, which made her punch my side. I laughed at her reaction, though always found it adorable.
“Is everyone excited or what?!” Michael chimed as he emerged from the bathroom.
“Heck yeah! You guys get to meet my brothers and sisters!” Stefan called as he brushed his teeth, trying not to drip toothpaste on his black button up.
“How many do you have?” Martha croaked.
“Seven!” He declared behind the toothbrush, flashing us a foamy grin.
“HOW MANY?!” Martha and I cried, which made him laugh hysterically while Michael and Gwen rolled their eyes and assured us that he wasn’t lying.
As we exited the room Gwen raced to walk beside me, blushing beet red and pulling at her fingertips as she did. “Um, if it’s alright, I’d really like it if you met my mother today…” she whispered just low enough for me to hear.
“Any particular reason?” I asked with a wink.
She smacked my chest playfully, “I’ve been telling her about you is all, since she knows Stefan and Michael already. She wanted to talk with you a bit.”
“Oh no!” I croaked playfully, but assured her I would be delighted to.
“Good morning everyone!” Andrew and Cerelia called, waving from the couch happily, “Should we let everyone in?” He declared with an excited grin.
Atticus opened the door to the dining room, smiling as everyone’s eyes lit up like fireworks. Four families, large and small emerged, squealing as they rushed to greet their children and siblings. I stayed to the side, smiling for my friends, while Andrew and Cerelia sighed to one another. “What happened to pulling some strings!?” Cerelia snapped to Andrew, shoving him in annoyance as if it were his fault.
“I did everything I could?! Atticus assured me he had gotten my letter, but…?” His eyes filled with sorrow as he spoke, which made him trail off.
“This kid doesn’t catch a break, does he?” Cerelia whispered in a broken voice.
“Dmitri! Come here!” Stefan laughed, sporting a set of four-year-old girls who were squealing into their brothers’ neck. I followed him to where his huge family was waiting; his father was disciplining three small boys who were insistent on trying to climb the stairwell rail, but turned with a pleasant smile that matched Stefan’s. “Everyone, this is Dmitri! He’s my new roommate, and way better than Michael. He actually knows how to clean up after himself,” Stefan joked, which made his family laugh as I waved happily.
I took a breath to steady myself, and flashed my best front for them, “Pleasure to meet everyone,” I chirped with a polite nod.
“Likewise; oh you are a doll! My name is Amber, and this is my husband, Lukas,” Stefan’s mother said, both shaking my hand eagerly.
“You guys have a big family?” I chuckled as two to twelve-year olds raced around my legs, entranced by an aggressive game of tag that seemed to be never-ending.
“We sure do, but we love them; do you have a moment to sit with us? Stefan’s told us so much about you…!” I spent fifteen minutes conversing with his parents and siblings before Michael and Martha’s families took their turns passing me around, and finally, Gwen shimmied through the crowd dragging a replica of herself with her.
“And you are our swordsmen…?” Martha’s mother was asking. Gwen screamed in triumph when she spotted me, and trudged forward with pure determination in her eyes as I nodded pleasantly. “How fantastic! Please teach Martha some tricks; she isn’t good with hand to hand combat…”
“Mother!” Martha cried, which made her parents and I laugh.
“You!” Gwen yelled as she grabbed my arm and ripped me off the couch.
“Ow, you jerk?!” I laughed out.
“I'm stealing him briefly; sorry guys!”
“It’s ok, Gwen,” Martha assured as Gwen dragged me away, I waving to Martha’s family as they giggled to one another.
“I was looking everywhere for you, you brat!” Gwen cackled, tossing me onto a chair as she presented her mother like a show host. She had the same hair and eyes as her daughter, though her hair was cut shoulder length and pulled up in a half up half down. She wore a casual button down and fitted pants, just as her daughter liked, and had an endearing energy that pulled me in instantaneously. “Dmitri, this is my mother, Catherine. Mom, this is Dmitri!”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I stammered as we shook hands.
“It’s very nice to meet you as well, Dmitri; my, Gwen, he is handsome!” She teased.
“So that’s what you’ve been telling her?” I accused.
“Cram it,” Gwen sniffed as she sat at my right, her mother on my left, “He’s an excellent swordsman, which is why we get along so well.”
“So I’ve heard! You’ve been the talk of the town, your majesty,” Catherine said lightly, which made Gwen cringe violently and make the cut throat symbol to her mother. Catherine gasped a little and pressed her lips together, flushing pink in embarrassment.
I took a quiet breath to steady myself, “I know I have been, but I can assure you I am not here with ill intent. I am doing my absolute best to help win this war, regardless of what people say about me. My dedication is to Andrew and his army completely.”
Catherine didn’t pause for a second; she set a hand on my knee and patted it twice eagerly, “I hope so! Now, tell me about your training!” She chimed, taking my hand in hers.
It was refreshing to have someone change the subject and actually look to learn about me as Dmitri, not Alexei’s brother. We ended up talking for over an hour, and the whole time Gwen watched, her eyes were full of happiness so bright I thought she would cry. I told her mother anything and everything, maybe even more than I had told Gwen. She had the same hypnotizing personality as Gwen, so I was easily entranced in the conversation. She made me feel very at ease; she was the only other person outside the cavalry I’d met who didn’t automatically pass judgement, or make me feel like a true outcast.
I lost track of time completely, so when the clock rang to signify it was ten, it made me pause mid-sentence and scowl. Everyone’s families began to collect their things so they could go upstairs, which made Catherine sigh and pat my knee, “I must say, you are a very sweet young man, Dmitri. I'm very glad Gwen has you as both a comrade, and a friend.”
“I appreciate the compliment, truly. Your daughter is a remarkable person, with wonderful talent, and an even brighter personality. She’s made my transition to The North much easier.” I said, looking Gwen in the eye as I did.
Catherine gave us the ‘mom’ look before snickering to herself. “Well, I’m sure you have someone waiting for you, so please, do not let us take up your time! I’ve been selfish enough as it is!” She sang as she stood and brushed some lint off her pants.
Gwen saw the look on my face, and the moment she did, her heart shattered into thousands of small, irreplaceable pieces. I cut her a side eye, which made her frown, “Yes, I suppose so; you guys go have fun. I hope to see you again, ma’am.” I sweetly said.
“Likewise,” Catherine replied, giving me a tender hug before she headed to the staircase.
Gwen snatched my arm desperately as soon as Catherine’s back was turned. Before she spoke, I touched the hand she had on me, and brushed my fingers over hers warmly. “Go on; I’ll be fine, I promise. Enjoy being with your mother, ok? I’ll see you later.” I tried to assure her, pressing my lips to her temple once. Begrudgingly she met up with her mother, and turned to give me a broken look as I ghosted into the now empty foyer. I tried to hold a small smile, but my heart ached with pain I would never be able to suppress.
“Oh Dmitri, my darling…” Cerelia cooed, touching my arm as I passed.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine, really. Why don’t you join The Cavalries?” I kindly suggested. Andrew sputtered as he tried to think of what to say, but I turned my back to deter him. “I know you tried, and that’s enough. I am very grateful that you troubled yourself this much. Please, go enjoy yourselves; this is a big moment for them, and I don’t want to ruin it.” I said before I trudged by the two, who sadly went to find the families.
I found a window nook in the west wing that I could hide in for a while, which is where I made my home. The cushion was freezing cold, as if it hadn’t been touched in years, and that cold only made me feel worse. I brought my knees up under my chin and pressed my cheek to the glass, staring out over the ocean that licked the shores of the cliff the castle sat on. Rain began to fall beautifully, where it snaked down the grooves in the window and pooled onto the planter boxes below it, drowning the plants within minutes. It was almost as if the sky was crying for me, letting out the emotions that I crammed down so far that I didn’t think I’d be capable of creating them ever again. To my surprise, though, three tears filled my eyes before they spilled down my cheeks. I touched the water in surprise, and before long, the three had become three hundred.
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I couldn’t stop the weeping, no matter how much I tried. I made no noise, but my lips quivered uncontrollably, and my nose became so stuffed I could barely breathe. I finally gave up, and rested my chin on my knees so I could continue to stare out the window. The loneliness that I was feeling at that present moment was much heavier and deeper than it had ever been before. My heart felt as if it were about to implode, and for hours my eyes betrayed me, feeling as if they were never going to run dry.
╬
By seven everyone’s parents had left, and the boys and Martha had begun getting ready for their dates. After all the commotion I dressed in a much more casual outfit, and lounged on my bed with my face pressed into a book. Stefan rushed back and forth from the bathroom, sighing at himself and yanking at his hair every so often. I had consistently tried to reassure him, but he wasn’t having it, so I felt it best to let him freak out in peace. Michael was cool-headed, per usual, as he put himself together, splashing on some cologne before turning to me. “How do I look?” He offered with a quick spin.
“Handsome as ever,” I laughed as Stefan trudged back into the room and plopped on his bed, wringing his hand uncomfortably. “Stefan, you look great; stop worrying so much?”
“I know, I know. Ugh, ok, let’s go Mike. We’ll be back later, ok?”
“Sure, have fun.” I encouraged, sliding my glasses up better as they left the room, the door shutting loudly behind them.
Once I was sure Martha had left as well, I grabbed my things and headed next door to knock on Gwen’s door. She opened it with a big smile, her hair in a high ponytail and she in a tank top and pajama pants. “Hey, Sweetie! Come on in,” she coaxed as she gestured to the bed, “Make yourself comfortable; I'm just cleaning up.”
“You guys have a lot of lights in here,” I commented as I fingered the drooping fixtures.
“We love fairy lights; I’d like to start taking some pictures of everyone to clip onto them,” she paused, then snatched her camera and threw herself on the bed, ripping me forward and flashing a big smile as she snapped a photo. “How cute! First one is done!” She declared.
“You didn’t have to assault me, you know?” I teased.
“The face you made is priceless!” She clipped the frail photo to a clothespin that hung over her bedside table. I smiled to the admittedly adorable photo as she plopped down, tucking her hair back. “Alright, let’s get this done…” she growled as she popped open her notebook, rapidly flipping past sketches she had made in class to distract herself.
“Which resources do you want to start on?” I asked, scrawling out an outline as she thumped her pencil on her textbook.
“Hmph, I kind of want to take a crack at the documents we were given in class yesterday. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like this is going to suck,” I admitted morosely.
╬
For two hours we worked, or at least tried to work, on our project, but by ten we were so fried out that we gave up and dumped our textbooks to the floor with groans. “I, am, done!” I declared, falling into the bed dramatically.
“I think we have a good start outlined,” Gwen poked my cheek to get my attention, “I just remembered that I forgot my binder in the office. Want to come with to grab it? It has more notes and such we could use. I think we need a break anyway; do you have plans for the night?”
“You’re looking at it,” I popped, gesturing to my awkward position on her bed.
“What a ham!” She snuck over and tickled where my bare skin poked out from my shirt, “Want to watch a movie or something?” She giggled lightly.
“Sure!” I pulled myself up as she grabbed her keys, and waited for her to lock the door before we raced down to the second floor, where she got her things from the office and proceeded down to the first.
“Want to see who can get downstairs faster?” She challenged, cackling like a villain.
“Oh you’re going down, missy…” I taunted.
“Uh oh, here comes trouble,” Andrew chuckled as he, Cerelia, Ramah, and Zachary emerged from the dining room below us.
“On three! One, two, three!” She ran down the steps as fast as she could, laughing like a maniac as I grabbed the railing and jumped. Her jaw slammed into the floor as I backflipped then landed gracefully, bowing to her like an ass. “I'm getting really tired of your shit, Mortimer!” She snapped, storming the steps as I burst into hysterical laughter. “Just because your freakishly tall doesn’t mean you can back flip around the castle!” She barked like an angry puppy.
“And what are you two up to this evening?” Cerelia accused.
“Doing his stupid homework!” Gwen yelled to Atticus, who cackled maniacally as he passed by on the way to his office.
“Looks like your procrastinating to me?” Ramah teased.
“We’ve been working for two hours!” We cried simultaneously.
“And how much did you get done?” Our mouths snapped shut instantly, which made the group burst into laughs at the look on our faces.
“I mean, like, a couple paragraphs?” Gwen whined before cutting him a side eye, “What’s it to you, kitty cat?”
Ramah gasped in fake surprise, “Oh, excuse me for interrupting your date!” He snickered, which made Gwen and I turn purple and break apart to stammer wildly over the accusation.
“Oh, leave them alone, Ramah,” Zachary sighed, shoving him away as he rolled his eyes.
“Let’s get some snacks, then we’ll head back up?” Gwen suggested.
“We’re gonna burn enough calories to have them going back upstairs,” I scoffed as she tugged me along to the kitchen. Ramah and I stuck our tongues out to one another as I passed, which made Andrew explode in laughs we heard from the opposite side of the castle.
After Gwen and I blew up the kitchen attempting to make popcorn and cheese filled breadsticks, we ran back up to the third floor and dumped our treasures onto her side table. She fished out a controller and her movie collection as I grabbed drinks from the fridge in my room, returning to crack them open. She was busy pursing her lips as she flipped through the titles, her mouth curled into a cute side smirk. “What kind of movies do you like?”
“I’ll watch anything, really.”
“Hmm, want to watch a horror?”
“YES!” I yelled obnoxiously.
“Oh lord, what am I going to do with you?” She sighed lovingly, sliding in the tape before hoping onto the bed. As the movie began she and I tossed popcorn back and forth, giggling as we balanced it on our noses or tried to catch it from the other person. We both made sure to scream dramatically at the scares, though I knew we had both seen the film multiple times. After we made sure to cover her belongings in seeds and spilt drinks we ended up lying in a ball, with my cheek pressed to her chest, arm around her waist, and hers around my shoulders. She ran her free hand over my cheek, laying her own into my hair as she concentrated on the film. “You know, this is one of my favorite movies.”
“Mine too…” I mumbled into her side.
She paused, then titled my chin up so that she and I were looking to one another. “Why wasn’t anyone here for you today?” She whispered finally. I knew she would eventually say something, and had been dreading the moment she would.
I turned away as my heart ached again, “Another long story.”
“I have the time.”
“Gwen, this really isn’t something I can talk about right now…?”
“And why not, Dmitri…?”
“Because I just can’t, ok? I’m not… I can’t just… You don’t…?” I couldn’t find an excuse that worked well enough, so I eventually stopped trying.
She tilted me back up, her eyes glossy as if she was about to cry. “Please let me into your world, even if it’s just this one time?” Her voice broke, as did my heart. Slowly I leaned back into her chest, focusing on the warmth of her skin and the sweet smell of the lotion she was wearing.
“I guess I’ve been lying, about my brother. The day I left The West, was the last time I’ve seen him in person. I had a few phone calls with him here and there, but that ended two years ago. I believe Joshua has him locked up to prevent another one of us from escaping.” I carefully explained. She gnawed her lip for a moment, which made me frown, “What is it?”
“Can I ask you a very, personal, question…?”
“I… yes, you can.”
“What happened, that caused this war to begin with?” She breathed hesitantly.
I fell quiet for a moment, then summoned my courage and folded my hands in my lap, “If you can believe it, The West used to be a beautiful place, far before you and I were born. My parents, while firm, took incredible care of their kingdom, and it wasn’t until The Committee required them to choose who would be the heir to their throne that things took a turn for the worse. My mother was adamant that Riley, my second eldest brother, succeeded her and took the throne, which sent Alexei into a fiery rage. My parents were well aware that he was violently disturbed, and because of this, felt he would be an improper match as king. Their attempts to subdue him in the past were never successful, and choosing Riley was the only option they could think of to halt Alexei’s path of destruction.”
“What was his childhood like? I mean… What made him into this, monster…?”
I scoffed with a stiff shrug, “Funny enough, I ask myself that same question every day. There’s a slight age gap between myself and my brothers, and that alone causes a rift between us. Alexei was used to being spoiled rotten, and when Riley was born, he only tolerated him because he had a new playmate, and my mother continued to worship the ground he walked on. With me, though, he was already ten, and had no patience for another sibling, especially when he stopped being the center of attention…” I stuffed my hands into my pockets, as at this point they had begun to tremble, and I didn’t want Gwen to notice. “Alexei is not, by any means, a normal person. There is something, wrong, with him, and this is nothing new to my family. He’s always had quirks and ticks that grew into the unthinkable, and my parents simply did not read the signs well enough to stop him before it was too late.”
“Is that what caused the divorce?” She continued.
Divorce... the word felt bitter as it sat on my tongue, and made memories I prayed I’d never have to relive rush back in an instant. My stare grew glossy as I aimlessly followed patterns in the ceiling, trying to keep myself distracted. “Heh, to say the least. Alexei is a con artist, and made it his life’s mission to drive a wedge so far in between my parents that it drove them to insanity. My father was hit the worst by this, and after years of backpacking the stress of the kingdom and Alexei’s insatiable desires, he simply could not bear it anymore, and walked out the door.”
“That must have been very difficult…” Gwen sighed.
“I suppose. That, in my opinion, is what set things into motion. It was the opportunity Alexei was waiting for, and as soon as Levi was gone, wheels started to turn. Alexei and my mother got into a huge argument about the kingdom. My mother, behind Alexei’s back, made the final agreement for Riley to take the throne, and that snapped something inside my brother. There was no way he hadn’t been planning to take over The West; the army would have never allowed him to overthrow Morgan had he not brainwashed them prior. Joshua convinced Alexei that was what was needed to be done to punish her, and like a good puppet, they accomplished what Joshua had been planning for years. From there… Joshua made it his mission to turn me into… the perfect weapon to use against England. The rest is history after that…”
I closed my eyes, as I could not continue from there, trembling like a leaf as I waited for her reaction. She was quiet so long that I thought I’d truly fucked up. I couldn’t bear to open my eyes and face her, as a reality in which I had blown every ounce of work I’d put into building her trust was one I could not face. “I'm so sorry...!” She whispered finally, burying her face into my hair as she held me tighter, “How could someone so wonderful come from something so evil?!”
I tilted her face up to kiss her cheek softly, “I thought you would hate me?” I admitted.
She smirked, pressing her forehead to mine, “I could never hate you, Dmitri...”
I tilted her chin towards me so she was looking in my eyes as she spoke, “Well, I can promise you this; I will never, ever, follow in my brother’s footsteps. That’s why I'm here, to help reverse the damage he and Joshua have done. I want nothing more than for the citizens of this country and my own to be happy again. I’ve never succumbed to their wickedness, and I don’t ever plan to...”
“I never believed you were capable of it…” She whispered as she slowly pressed her lips to mine. Electricity rocked my body, making my bones jiggle as she passionately held my face to hers. I moved into the kiss, clutching her waist as she cupped my cheek. A moment after she pulled back, smiling breathlessly. “I'm sorry… I just...”
“Don’t apologize, not ever…” I assured in a state of bliss.
She ran her fingers down my cheek as we settled back into one another’s arms. The gesture made my eyelids droop, and slowly, I succumbed to their will. Just as I was teetering on the edge of sleep, I felt her press her lips to my forehead, and a soft sniffle follow the gesture. “I do not think I’ve ever fallen in love with anything as fast as I have you…” I unconsciously hugged her closer as the two of us drifted to sleep, with the two characters kissing on the screen before us.