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After the moon, I scatter some stars across the page, then fold it in two and start again with a fresh paper. Next, I try to sketch Dimitri from memory, but the pencil strokes can’t compare to him. Every time I think of the way his face changed when I told him I was a virgin, lust thrums in me. I meant to use the wholevirginthing to get him to back off, but he smoldered so hotly, making him want me more.
Staring at my sketch, I’m sure it’s my worst work. Maybe Dimitri will be my greatest artisticandromantic challenge, not like that means much on the romantic front.
I’m about to start another sketch when I hear a woman’s voice coming from the darkness below. “Mom? Mommy? Mom? Mommy?”
I narrow my eyes, searching through the darkness. A thin figure moves through the night. I feel uneasy when I see the figure move back and forth. The guards are circling the perimeter, but none of them approach Ania. I’m sure it’s her. Her voice sounds the same, but I can’t properly see her.
“Ania?” I call.
There’s a pause, and then she moans, “Mom?Mom?”
The distress in her voice gets me running through the library. Tying the bathrobe tightly around my waist, I throw open the front door and run barefoot across the grass. Ania is sitting on the ground, her legs splayed out awkwardly, moaningMomorMommyrepeatedly.
“Ania, what’s wrong?” I whisper.
“Mommy…”
“Ania?”
When she moans again, it suddenly hits me. She’s not awake. She’s sleepwalking. Maybe that’s why the guards are ignoring her. Perhaps she does this all the time. I stand close to her, not sure what to do. She doesn’t acknowledge me, just occasionally moans as she sways on the spot.
“Wait here, okay?” I murmur, though she ignores me.
I go to the main house and press the doorbell. This is probably a bitch move since the butler and any other staff members are probably sleeping, but I can’t just leave her out there. A few minutes and more bell ringing later, the door swings open, and Mikhail stares down at me.
He’s so different from his brother, with his longer hair, light beard, and casual style. It makes me want Dimitri’s firm jawline and clean-cut handsomeness even more. The darkness in their eyes is the same, though Mikhail’s seems more hidden.
“Is everything okay?” he says.
“It’s Ania,” I tell him. “I couldn’t sleep, so I was painting on the balcony. She’s sitting in the grass.”
“Mommy?”
“She’s been doing that for at least fifteen minutes.”
Mikhail seems like he might get annoyed for a moment, but then he nods, sighing. “This happens sometimes. I’ll try to bring her inside.”
“The guards are just ignoring her,” I tell him.
“Notice I saidtry?” Mikhail mutters. “Sometimes, if people try to bring her inside, she’ll completely freak. The doctor said it could do more harm to her. It’s better to give her time and let her wander back in, but it’s a cool night. I need to give it a shot, at least. Give me a second to put on some…” He looks down at my feet. “Lia, why aren’tyouwearing shoes?”
“I didn’t think,” I tell him. “It’s fine. I’m not cold. Let’s go get her.”
“Wait here.”
Leaving the door open, he goes to the shoe rack and pulls on some sneakers. Then he brings me a pair of slip-on flats. “These are Mila’s… I think. They should fit.”
I reach out and take them, but putting them on feels weird.
Mikhail laughs similarly to his older brother. “You seriously don’t need to worry about Mila. Dimitri doesn’t want her. Until you, Lia, I never thought my brother would want anyone. Anyway, you better put them on for my sake. Dimitri won’t forgive me if I let you freeze.”
When Ania moans again from the darkness, I get over myself and quickly put the shoes on. Mikhail walks onto the porch, closing the door behind him. Together, we walk into the darkness. Ania is now walking in a slow circle, her fists at her side.
“I’m here,” she murmurs. I’d be lying if I said her tone didn’t creep me out a little, but that’s not fair. “Here, here, here…”
Mikhail walks toward her slowly, his hands outstretched, whispering, “Ania, it’s okay. I’m here, too. I’m right here.”
He’s almost got his hand on her when she suddenly turns and swipes at him, moving like a feral cat. Mikhail ducks smoothly to the side, waits a moment, then reaches out. Again, Ania swings at him.
