SILVER-HEART

Bartholomew stared at Nicklaus with wide eyes, he couldn’t believe his ears, the Emperor wanted to help a stranger he knew nothing about. With his Dark Grimoire? One off-limits to everything? He wasn’t sure what shocked him the most... the fact the Emperor was willing to help a stranger or the fact he didn’t once question what the little girl’s use might be, it was almost like he trusted her.

"Do you trust her Emperor? A stranger? Enough to help her?"

Nicklaus darted his green eyes to his orbs like the flame itself. "Trust" Nicklaus tasted the word on his lips, ’Trust’ was something he had never accomplished in his youth but only when he met Yelena he understood what it truly meant, she taught him a lot of things, things he wasn’t sure he was capable of, until her. She was a light into his dark world, and she was the world itself, and his children were a mixture of happiness and light. They ARE his light, the only light and the rest was the blackened world.

"Trust is a strong word, Bartholomew. For now, I just want to help a dying little girl" Nicklaus finalized.

☆☆☆

Ava stood before the mirror, unable to recognize herself, she has never worn any cloth aside from her Elven attires, but now seeing herself with an empire waist gown, cream-colored, and a black fur coat on top to keep her away from the cold, she couldn’t help but like this new sight of her.

And she hasn’t stopped smiling at herself, but that particular smile suddenly fades when she observes her features more, she was beyond pale and her eyes had bags under them and she looked thinner than usual, a constant reminder, she didn’t have long for this world.

Sometimes she wondered which it would be... Instant death or forced back to Aldon’s side. She would gladly choose the first.

Pushing the thought aside, she grabbed the journal on the table and shove it into the pocket of her coat, and looked around the room briefly, the maid was yet to be back after saying she needed to get something. Ava was already getting antsy here, and waiting wasn’t something she could do right now.

So having a second thought she stepped out of the room and peeked in the empty hallway before emerging fully. She buttoned the coat until she was certain she was covered properly, but a sudden sound made her jump, and her heart almost leaped out of her chest. Her gaze leveled to a boy suddenly emerging from a tiny door hidden behind the curtains.

He came out with a red apple in his mouth, and she just stood there observing the stranger as he rose to his full length and took a bite, his bored gaze on the floor before shifting to her and then he froze, the apple just hanging close to his mouth and his eating actions ceased.