On the night that James Westinsenson flew down to the company, and pleaded with them for peace, Nicoleta was exhausted to understand what was happening in front of her, her eyelids were too heavy, moreover she had been too afraid to pay attention to that.
But when things cleared up, when her mind wasn't just sleep, when her limbs weren't weak, she realised how strange it was, she began to think about it more, and even then she didn't quite set her mind on it because she was too busy trying to understand how Crimsonians spoke English.
Only after the Captain had told her the history between humans and Crimsonians, did she begin to think about it once more, but even then she was still too busy adapting to the change in her life to consider it.
Now however, that she had somewhat accepted that there was nothing she could do to change her fate, now that she had begun to drown all her sorrows into art, she decided to put her confusions on the canvas as well.
Adding the finishing touches to an exquisite painting of James Westinsenson hovering just above the grass, as the company of Phoenixes and giants turned to look at him.
A knock was heard from her door, she unconsciously told whoever it was to come inside as she placed the brush down, staring at her painting in earnest.
"Why have you drawn him so?" She snapped her gaze to Leonardo, surprised at his being there, "when did you get here?" He didn't answer as he sat beside her, turning the canvas to see the painting clearer.
"I questioned you first- " she smiled, looking back at the painting, "he flew to us that night" she answered.
"James Westinsenson?" She nodded, "he flew down to us that night, I saw him" Leonardo furrowed his brows. "And you did not inform anyone?" She shrugged, turning the chair to wash the brushes.
"I don't see what it changes if I do" she swished the brush inside the water, about three times before removing it and drying it with a small towel.
"Aren't you curious about how he was flying?" Leonardo, staring at a different painting, of which her mother was burning in her scarlet flame, shook his head.
"You despise her" he muttered, Nicoleta didn't deny it as she placed the brush down gently, she removed the canvas from the wood, and placed it beside the table.
"I want that painting to be real," she said simply, dipping her damp brush into red, "I understand," he said, his voice almost inaudible.
"You want to kill her too?" Nicoleta asked, playfully, sprinkling red on the canvas like snow flakes, she dipped it into yellow, and mixed it with black.
He laughed heartily, looking away from the painting. Leonardo watched Nicoleta paint, she blended colours together on the canvas, not really having an image of what she was painting.
Fifteen minutes in silence, Nicoleta painted a phoenix under siege.
She didn't like it however, so she lifted the small bucket of paint, and splashed black all over the phoenix.
"My father stayed" Leonardo said. After nearly an hour of silence, Nicoleta had painted over the black splash, and splashed it again, the canvas dripping on the floor boards. But neither of them cleaned it.
"You knew you were a Crimsonian then?" She stated more than asking, dragging pink across the black paint in hope to find something.
"He often said he would take me to Flamae- finish raising me there" her hand slacked, the brush held loosely in her hands.
"What happened to him?" She asked, the brushing falling into the black paint that had formed a puddle beneath her.
Leonardo laughed but it held no genuineness. "I killed him" Nicoleta looked at him. "What did he do?"
Leonardo, who was usually composed, seemed as though he would break that moment, his eyes grew glassy, as he stared at the formless void that was Nicoleta's painting.
She wanted to believe that Leonardo was some psychopath that found pleasure in killing his own father, but she knew Leonardo, he might have been strange with his speech, perhaps he dressed weirdly but he was the kindest person she knew.
"He mistreated her" Nicoleta furrowed her brows, bringing her brush to her with her telekinesis, "your sister?"
"My mother- whenever I pleaded with him he told me she made me weak- because she is human" that was exactly what the Queen said, that must have been her motivation to kill Ambrose- Nicoleta trembled with anger.
"Mother found solace in my presence, nevertheless she wasn't pleased in her marriage- it became enthralment" he let out a heavy breath.
"She did not have anyone else, the Manon only has a butler, and the cook- "
"Thus- whenever he told me about our impending departure to Flamae I worried for her- his absence would grant her freedom- however my absence would pledge her into great sorrow." He sighed, rubbing a hand behind his neck.
"I understood- " they locked eyes. "That day in sector 1- I have experienced the horror that is sector 12- I understand" Nicoleta remembered being so angry with herself that day, regretting ever even meeting Leonardo at some point because he now knew her deepest hidden secret.
Leonardo didn't utter another word, as he unzipped the elite uniform. He stripped out of the bodice beneath it and hiding under fabric was scars that trailed from his neck to his torso.
No wonder he wore clothes that covered all parts of his upper body at all times, even the elite uniform had been modified to have a turtle neck for that very purpose.
Nicoleta tried not to look so shocked, she held back her tears, placing her hand gently on her heart. The scars looked fresh, they were deep, butched, red, they seemed to be blistering.
Each movement flexed them, veins popped out alongside them. They had to hurt, even then, they looked too fresh, they stung even her and it wasn't on her skin.
"Oh my gosh Leo" she placed her hand to her mouth, lips trembling, hands shaking.
"What did they do to you?" She reached, looked at him for permission, he nodded, and Nicoleta touched the biggest one, right across his chest.
She expected him to hiss when her fingers made contact with the lash.
She couldn't stand the feel of it beneath her finger tips as she traced the bumpy scar all the way down to his torso.
"I'm sorry- I'm sorry I accused you of no- " she looked up at him, her eyes glassy, "let me heal it for you?" Leo smiled, picking up his uniform to wear once again.
"You can't heal scars Nicoleta" she insisted. "Let me try at least" he didn't protest.
Nicoleta placed her hands on his shoulders, closing her eyes, she reached for the soft lukewarm flame.
The white flame burst out immediately, traveling through his veins, flowing through his blood stream…
Nicoleta's head shot up, her eyes burst wide open, a scream of total agony bursting out of her. Her grip around his shoulders tightened, her nails penetrating skin and drawing blood.
Electricity sent shock waves through her skin, burned her flesh, cut through tissue, heated up her blood stream to a point she felt she was burning.
Her body shook violently. Her mind shut down, and the slow beat of her heart came to a steady stop.
Her grip on Leonardo loosened.
Her limbs weakened.
.
.
.
.
The pounding of her heart sounded once more, and again she held on tightly to Leonardo. Her bedroom door burst open, and inside walked the Captain, worry written on his face, as he moved toward them.
Nicoleta held out a hand to stop him, "Don't" she ordered, through gritted teeth, her head ached terribly, her eyes reddened.
Nicoleta's limbs weakened, and slowly her grip on Leonardo loosened, he caught her arms as she sacked forward, eyes closing.
The white flame died out, Nicoleta's body was too heavy for her to bear, she fell into Leonard's arms, and her eyes flattered open.
Leonard's chest was unblemished, like his face, he looked as he once did at a point in his life, untouched, smooth, skin.
"Princess- we must call for a healer" she held up a weak hand, her arm dropping immediately. "I just need rest" she slurred, lifting herself up with her telekinesis.
She threw the paintings on the bed on the floor, and dropped herself down on the bed, sinking into the soft mattress, and immediately slipping into slumber.
Nicoleta woke up to Leonardo bringing her breakfast, had she slept throughout the entire day yesterday?
She shrugged, before stretching her arms above her head, yawning loudly, as Leo placed the tray of food beside her.
"Good morning" he said, that small pretty smile of his widening ever so slightly, he occupied one of the chairs Nicoleta claimed some time ago to do her art.
She ignored the tangy feeling in her mouth, and bit into a toast, her stomach growling for more.
"Thank you for healing my scar- which I've realised is incredibly strange to even utter" he laughed heartily, Nicoleta only giggled.
Then she frowned, and placed the toast back on the plate, remembering the excruciating pain she had to go through to heal him- he went through that ten times more, he felt it all one by one, he had to watch and couldn't stop it as they destroyed his skin, his mind.. she shivered.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that Leo" she sat up straighter, placing her hands down on the quilt, Leonardo's smile remained, he shook his head, "it is all in the past"
She exhaled heavily, scratching at the quilt a little. Nicoleta shut her eyes, shuddering at the awful memories of sector 12.
"I was strapped down for testing almost every day- they said it was to be sure of what powers I had" she bit her bottom lip, and tried but failed to look at Leonardo.
No one knew this part of her, not even May or Charlotte. She cringed at the reminder of them.
"They once sent some chip through my skin- they thought I was under the nurses made a mistake" she shivered, Leonardo moved to sit by her, his voice was low when he spoke.
"My father injected Crimsonian technology into my system- during inspections the scanner detected it and the scientists dedicated time to locate it by any means though expedient- " he chuckled, but it was dry of humor.
"Did they ever find it?" he cocked his head, nodding yet shaking his head, "I believe it was destroyed during an experiment" but they wanted to remove it, and investigate it, so they didn't stop trying to get it out once it was safely destroyed- "safely"
Nicoleta's flame bubbled in her chest with rage, fighting to burn nonexistent threats, not anymore at least.
Her flame had harmed a regrettable number of people in the past, inside and outside of Westinsenson son.
A heavy silence fell upon them, Nicoleta played around with her fingers out of nervous habit, and Leonardo stayed deadly still beside her.
Eventually Nicoleta willed herself to look at him, and when she did she realised that Leonardo for the first time was wearing a uniform that did not cover his neck.
She felt tempted to touch the smooth skin, but stopped herself. Instead she told herself to paint it later.
"Thank you- I'm truly grateful for this" she hugged him, placing her chin on his shoulder.
"This is what friends are for Leo" she muttered nuzzling him. If he could, Nicoleta knew he would do the same for her. He would erase all her bad memories, perhaps even place her into a world where everywhere was perfect, everyone she loved was okay, and the flower field reminded her of life instead of death.
Leonardo kissed her hair, before pulling away, "you must eat" he said, Nicoleta placed the tray on her lap and dug in.
She finished her meal, and got dressed by her stylist after being bathed, brushed, and scrubbed until red by Josasasa.
When the ladies left her, she asked The Captain to take her outside.
They walked along by the palm trees, enjoying the breeze, admiring the scenery, saying nothing at all to each as they walked through the courtyard.
Nicoleta could easily notice the change in attitude with Leonardo, he held himself up with more confidence that morning, he had that small smile of his stuck on his face, and instead of a turtle neck, he wore a simple black shirt, with his sleeves rolled up, revealing dark sun kissed unblemished skin.
Instead of scars the first thing someone would see now was muscle, or to Nicoleta the best colour shade of brown.
She smiled lightly, allowing herself to be proud of that. She still felt a little weak, her arms were slightly heavy, but seeing Leonardo so happy because of the absence of the scars made the physical effects meaningless to her.
They went to the general lounge later, and all thought disappeared, her eyes immediately landed on Levi's, a shiver ran through her spine, that same strong pull, screaming at her this time to jump to him, to run her hands through his pitch black hair.
And had he gotten shorter or was she just growing taller? Nicoleta didn't quite care as she let go of the two men, rushing towards his table. Her heart almost aching in anticipation.
"Hi" she waved, and immediately regretted it, Levi cocked his head, and smiled a little at the sight of her tiara, "should I call you Princess now?" Nicoleta felt tempted to hide in a hole, "no that's not- " she laughed a little shaking her head.
He took her hand gently in his, and bowed kissing the back of her hand. Nicoleta could have melted right then and there, heat bubbled in the pit of her stomach begging to spring out of her.
"Your highness" he muttered as he lifted himself, Nicoleta's face heated up. Her heart skipped a beat, and she covered her face for a quick second before attempting to compose herself.
Though she failed.
"How have you guys been?" She asked, Issacher responded first hitting Levi's shoulder. Levi only chuckled. "alright everything's been moving slow- good segue by the way"
"Excuse him your highness- remember me and Issacher only when you take over the world" Evan said, his tone so serious Nicoleta couldn't help but laugh.
She spent the entire morning catching up with the boys.
Asking about Laura, Xavier, and Zelen, all of which were okay, up to some tasks, Laura had been recruited for a rescue mission in the east, and Xavier had just come from a full country sweep in Japan.
Negotiations were still happening but they would probably be over soon, that she already knew.
She realised how much time she had wasted when she left the lounge. All the time spent in her room, all the time spent crying, trying to cope, attempting to live life normally without her father, all that time she could have used to be with her friends.
All that time she spent crying alone, she could have spent laughing with her friends, all the time spent mourning Charlotte and May, she could have spent honouring them and hanging out with Xavier or Laura.
All the time she took for granted. She was going to leave soon, she spent her last days on earth wallowing in despair, drowning herself in tears, thinking about what she could have done right, instead of doing them with the ones that were left alive.
She told herself to make the most of the days ahead, make good memories, and farewell her friends properly, as she spoke to the boys. Because they deserved that, and she needed that.