Snippets and Stories: (WtI) Black Dog (3 of 4)

"Hey?"

He looked up from the clock face, snapping the watch shut and pocketing it, all the while putting up a show of surprise for the small and oddly greying boy that had been with his lady not a couple turns of the hand ago, "May I help you?"

Large mismatched eyes scanned him with earnest curiosity, "Are you Mikhail?"

The surprise became genuine and he forced down a twitch of the mouth. Esti must have mentioned him. More importantly, it was unbecoming of a servant to let himself be so easily read as an open book, "Indeed."

"I don't mean to pry-"

"Then don't, kind sir." he interjected curtly, his tone light but with a note of finality as he turned back to face the shortening line. He was rather fond of rooibos tea, and the cafe happened to have it.

Stepping forth he placed his order, but the boy remained.

He shifted on his feet behind him, as if uncertain, before shoving his hands deep into his pockets, "But it's about Esti."

That he couldn't ignore, and reluctantly answered, "Understood. If you have but a moment I would pick up my drink first."

His Lady's friend nodded and stepped aside, lingering near the exit.

Minutes later he was beside the boy, who smiled and gave a small wave, "We should probably talk outside. By the way the name's Neiro."

Mikhail nodded and opened the door, holding it out for Neiro, "You wished to speak of mi'lady?"

"Mi'lady?"

"Estavia."

Neiro gazed up at him a moment, mouth slack before promptly closing it, "Y-yeah, um, if you want to talk with 'em you might want to drop the 'lady' thing." the boy glanced over his shoulder, "He wont like that."

Neiro had put little emphasis on his words and spoke so lightly. So subtle that he almost missed it, and he chided himself for his inattentiveness as a butler.

The albino watched the bewilderment change to shock as understanding dawned on him. It took the man a moment longer to swallow the thought, "I... see."

Hiding a smile lest he offend the other, Neiro turned back, still leading them farther from the cafe around the back of the greenhouse, "Another thing, I don't know how you two are related or what's going on, but it looks like you two have a lot of things on your chests."

Mikhail opened his mouth and closed it again. The exchange from that afternoon said enough and denying it now was pointless. Doing so now was an affront to the perception and foresight of the one that was still leading him through the convoluted warren and relations both.

There came a soft laugh, and he was almost offended, were it not for the warm eyes and an amiable smile of the like that he found himself unable to find discontent in the other.

"I'm sorry." His company apologized, before looking ahead again, "I just think it's sweet of you to go all this way to stay by his side, the Academy must've been hard to reach."

"Indeed."

"You're a family friend right? Esti said as much, that you guys used to live together."

A family friend wasn't too far off he supposed, and he responded with a curt nod. Though he owed the other something a bit more cordial, information was something that couldn't be taken away once given, and the situation still not one he understood fully.

"Well, here's a couple of things you might want to keep in mind." Neiro glanced around them before pulling back a curtain, gesturing for him to enter. The whole Time the greying boy spoke naturally, as if he hadn't just waved him through a hidden passage, "Esti likes earnest people, people who are honest and speak their mind. If you're too guarded it'll make him guarded in turn."

Mikhail shifted, a waft of gingerbread and hot cocoa reaching him even out in the hallway.

"I could give you a chance to talk with him, would you want that or things too tense for that at the moment?" Neiro pressed his right thumb against a black glass piece, the light flashing green as a lock clicked. This the albino gripped, grunting slightly as he pulled the heavy door open.

"It would serve just fine. When do you intend for this meeting?"

Before them was a small room and he heard inside the sounds of a music playing faintly, accompanied by an unfamiliar voice in soft giggles.

Though he strained his hearing, and keen as his senses were, he could just barely make out the soft tones.

"Well then." Neiro stepped in and motioned for him to do the same, before pressing an unopened lollipop into his hands, "I hope you're good at improv."

"Pardon?" but he was given no Time as the small boy shoved him with surprising force, to stumble through into the living room, tripping over a scattering of trinket and books to land in an ungraceful heap on various cushions.

Mikhail groaned and pushed himself up, to be met with fiery gold flecked embers, now wide in astonishment.

"What--Mik?" she turned to Neiro, amusement clear in her tone, "Quite a flair for the dramatic, eh Neiro?"

"M-mi'lady." he stumbled back into a kneel, and glanced over his shoulder, irate.

But Neiro grinned and gave Esti a shrug before leaving. A brunette girl beside him waved as well before slipping discreetly out.

The shock soon vanished and his Lady was frowning at him, brow furrowed as she spied the lollipop in his hands, "When I told Neiro I would talk I didn't think he'd send you in like this."

She shook her head and sighed, when he stayed frozen in his kneel, "Get up Mik, I'm tired of staring at your growing bald-spot."

Mikhail startled, hand reaching up to feel for such an oversight.

Estavia laughed, "I was just messing with you, you're fine okay?"

"Mi'la-ah, Estavia."

"Mik! It's fine. Just-" she sighed, combing a hand through her hair, "Just call me Esti. It's what everyone calls me here."

"Esti." he spoke carefully, as it trying the way it sounded. He didn't like it.

Neither did the Lady it seemed, but she shrugged and held out a hand, "Gimme the lollipop."

He presented it to her palm up and she had to force herself to keep from rolling her eyes, "Lollipops are meant to be enjoyed, not kept. Here."

She pulled the plastic wrapper off and shoved it into his mouth and he grimaced at the sudden sweetness. When he didn't make to pull it from his mouth, Esti groaned, "Mik, stop it. Seriously, there is no House anymore okay? You're free to do whatever you want. Throw it away if you don't like it."

Mikhail pulled the treat from his mouth, "And if it is my wish to follow you, mi'la--Esti?" at her grimace he quickly corrected himself.  It still sounded strange to him.

"Do as you wish."

"Then, if I may be so bold, I wish to stay by mi'Lady's side."

"Mik."

"Mi'lady?"

"Where were you?" She had moved to stand before him, so that he was looking up at her.

She stared at him and held his gaze, looking more tired than he'd ever seen her, "A whole decade and more Mik. Where were you?"

"I was abroad mi'lady."

"Abroad doing what?!" she nearly screamed the last part, her eyes were blurring and Mikhail jumped.

"I-I had business overseas-"

His Lady snatched the sugary treat from his hands and shoved it into his mouth.

"Esti likes earnest people."

But he couldn't let her know.

"Why are you really here, Mik? What do you want? You just up and vanish, disappear for a decade, and expect me to welcome you back!" her gestures were sharp, and he didn't miss the subtlety that still remained in her gestures.

House Canterbury's own sign language, and in the slight of her upturned hand was a clear message. Briefly he wondered if his Lady was aware of it. A glance in her eyes told him it was very much intentional.

Deceiver. Betrayer.

Indeed it must have seemed so to his Lady.

Mikahil pulled the lolly from his mouth to speak, but at her sharp glare, quickly put it back. The lollipop seemed to appease her.

"Do you have any idea what Ken and I went through? Didn't know where to look or who to turn to--Ken was in a coma, I was all by myself, and there was no one, not one person-" she stopped herself and took a shaky breath, "And now, when I don't need you, when I don't want you, you show up."

Mikhail remained silent, his Lady was furious.

"Mik, Neiro brought you here to talk, if you have nothing to say then leave."

"-people who are honest and speak their mind. If you're too guarded it'll make him guarded in turn."

Mustering up what he could, Mikhail raised his head to meet his Lady's, "Canterbury House has indeed fallen, but my resolve has not. Though my duties deny me the ability to let mi'lady privy to such, know that I was abroad by the command of Lord Canterbury."

She opened her mouth to speak, and he hastened his own tongue, a difficult task considering the size of the treat in his mouth, lest she reject him once more, "Were it not so I would not be here mi'Lady, you yourself acknowledge that the House has fallen. There is nothing left--except you. I cannot express the regret nor anguish when I returned and found the House fallen to ruin."

"Though the House has been dissolved, I would pledge myself once more unto your line."

His lady sighed, "That's the best I'll be getting from you, huh? Will you ever tell me why and for what my Father sent you away?"

No response.

"Fine, whatever. Make your pledge then." she sighed.

Though his Lady no longer cared for traditions, she was being courteous, obliging him and his high regard in upholding the old ways and similar formalities. It was something he appreciated, she had not lost the core of her integrity to hardships. A proud and admirable trait of many in the Canterbury line.

He lowered his head, upturning his hand so that the placement of the heart was above the palm, "Until the day hence in crossing the Styx River, is my oath forever with thee. Mine flesh and blood moves but in accordance of thine will and wish, mine own."

"So be it." was the simple response, and she lay a hand upon his shoulder, "Stand."

And he did. Meeting her dubious eyes.

"If you're so eager for a command, then stop calling me lady. As far as people know I'm an identical twin of Ken."

His brow rose, "Then know of him? Then mi'lord is also here?"

She searched him, the long years had left her with a healthy dose of skepticism. But the surprise seemed genuine this Time.

"We'll talk tomorrow Mik, I tire of this charade. Oh, and tell they they can stop hiding out in the hall on your way out."

"Yes, mi'lord."

She grimaced, but didn't comment on his choice of formal address, opting instead to fall back into the cushions.

He left without further ado, bowing low before turning on his heels.

Once the steward was safely out of sight, he pulled the lollipop from his mouth, distaste evident.

Out in the hall, he nodded to the two, and they looked up from their small talk. The brunette girl slipped past him to a joyful din in the room, Neiro too moved past him, but lingered a moment, "Until you cross the Styx River? That's a pretty paltry vow for you isn't it?"

"If I could but pledge more than my Life until the day that I should visit death, I would gladly do so." Mikhail's eyes narrowed, and he turned to face the boy. It had almost felt like the boy was--but it couldn't be. No mere child could have known.

"Huh--a black dog like you visits death everyday though, don't you?" Neiro shrugged, "I would've thought Esti deserved a better oath than that."

Mikhail's features changed in adulterated shock. There was nothing unusual about him that he could sense, either that or it was a masterful disguise.

And that set him on edge.

"Who are you?" he asked, suddenly wary and cursing his lacking prudence in their earlier encounter.

"Neiro." he answered simply, and flashed the other a grin, "The lollipop suits you!"

And the boy with the odd eyes disappeared into the room.

Neiro, huh?

Something about the name was familiar, and it made his hair stand on end, skin prickling with the cold shudder that passed through him.

There was no way, it wasn't possible.