Nico did feel rested enough by dinner that he could join Prospero’s party at the table, but that didn’t mean he relished the idea of being any sicker than he was already feeling from the mere extravagance of the castle. Dinner passed fairly well, Nico stomaching as much as he could, though most of the dishes were just as sickly extravagant as the decor of the castle. And thankfully, no one really talked to him, allowing him to somewhat enjoy his dinner in peace, especially since Prospero was firm in having Erik sit with the servants for dinner. Nico couldn’t wait for when Erik would come out to perform; he could tell which man Erik was nervous about, for his aura reeked of spoiled brat. Finally, Erik appeared on the scene and, after giving an elegant bow to his audience, began to play a few opera pieces. Nico sat back in his chair, letting the music wash over him, taking him away from the eerie, extravagant castle, at least until Erik finished a couple of hours later.
Prospero rose as he applauded the masked butler. “Bravo, bravo! Magnifico! You really do have the voice of an angel! Amazing! We must have you sing once a night, at least! But if you will excuse me for a minute, there’s some business I must attend to real quick. I shall be back shortly, so proceed with your own entertainment until I return. Thank you.” Prospero gave a slight bow, and with a woman Nico was introduced to as Lady Juliana, left the table. His guests dispersed themselves to finding entertainment; both the spoiled brat and Erik homed in on Nico.
“Excuse me, Lord Di Angelo, I have long desired to make your acquaintance. I am Lord Alfredo; I met your talented butler in the hall earlier today.”
“Ah yes, he informed me,” muttered Nico. “A pleasure to meet you, Lord Alfredo.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” returned Alfredo with a quick bow. “After all, it isn’t every day one meets the extraordinary young lord of the Di Angelos. But, if you will excuse me, I see an acquaintance of mine I wish to catch up with. I hope you will enjoy your stay.”
“Uh, thank you,” blinked Nico. Alfredo took another bow and just about rushed away.
“Guess I shouldn’t have been that worried; I keep forgetting you creep out most of these people,” whispered Erik.
Nico scoffed, “Well, in cases like this, I’m glad of it.”
“Me too.”
The two weaved in and out of the crowd, making light conversation with those they met, all while getting closer to their destination, a dark corner at the far side of the hall. When they finally made it, they took a deep breath, but most people didn’t even notice them, they were so busy drinking alcohol and talking of materialistic gain.
“I’m beginning to see why the Red Death has been unleashed,” Nico said. “These people are so selfish and vain.”
“But Prospero is the main target.”
“I know, though I do wonder why the Red Death should have to be released. It’s not like there aren’t plenty of other rich phonies like this bunch all over the world. Unless . . .” Erik glanced down at Nico as the teen rubbed his chin, “There’s got to be another reason, there has to be. This castle gives off eerie vibes to my father’s messengers, even to us. Prospero clearly delights in both the truly beautiful and extravagant fakes, he’s clearly the wealthiest and most powerful one here in terms of politics. What’s he hiding behind all this?”
“But is it really hidden, my liege, or is it only because we are new here that we do not know yet?”
“Could even be both. Best to do some searching after everyone’s gone to bed.”
Erik sighed. “Very well, I guess you will get your wish.” Nico glanced at him quizzically. “You shall go to bed late and get up late.” Nico smirked. “Just like the rest of these rich fakes.”
Nico grumbled under his breath, but he could tell Erik was smirking under his mask, especially once Erik wiggled his eyebrows with jest.
The voice of Prospero interrupted their little meet. “Terror? What do you know about terror, Alfredo? Your senses are much too blunt. What is terror? Come.”
Nico’s and Erik’s eyes latched onto the prince as they and several other guests followed him to an adjacent room where a pendulum swung from the clock. A woman began to laugh.
“Silence!” Prospero ordered. “Listen.” There was a pause as the only sound was the clock ticking. “Is it to wake up and hear the passing of time? Or is it the failing beat of your own heart? Or the footsteps of someone, who just a moment before, was in your room?”
Nico rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. If that was terrifying to these people, they certainly had very little to worry about.
“But let us not dwell on terror. The knowledge of terror is vouchsafed only to the precious few.”
At that moment the clock bonged the hour and several people in the crowd jumped. Nico rolled his eyes again; these people got jumpy real quick. Their parties were nothing more than a mask to hide their fear of losing everything.
Prospero chuckled. “And now may I present for your entertainment, the dancers Esmeralda and Hop-Toad.”
A group of musicians entered the room with a tiny dancer and a dwarf. The dwarf and the dancer walked to the center of the room and stopped in front of Prospero. They gave a quick bow, and while the dwarf walked away, the band began to play and the dancer began to dance.
“Upon Cerberus, that is one lovely dancer. She’s almost like a fairy,” Erik breathed.
“I hope you’re not thinking about her the way Alfredo is,” muttered Nico, indicating the lord who now approached Prospero’s chair, watching the dancer with an almost mesmerized stare.
“You can be sure I’m not. Now, no more of the matter. Just enjoy her performance, my liege.”
“Right, the only other performance besides yours worth paying attention to.”
“I’m glad my performance pleased you.”
“It’s always pleased me, and compared to everything else here, your performance and hers are the only things I could consider beautiful.”
“Mm-hmm,” muttered Erik as the two went back to watching the performance, just in time to see Esmeralda accidentally hit Alfredo’s goblet and spill his wine all over him. She gasped and was about to apologise when Alfredo hit her, sending her tumbling to the ground.
Erik immediately rushed forward to help the tiny dancer up, along with the dwarf.
“If the wench were full-sized, she would drown us all in wine,” complained Alfredo.
“Then it’s a good thing your goblet wasn’t any bigger or fuller, Lord Alfredo, or we really would have,” blurted Nico.
Alfredo locked eyes with him for a split second before turning away. Nico could win any staring contest easily; not one person outside of his household could stand looking into his eyes for more than ten seconds.
“Well, my first novelty seems to have failed,” Prospero said. “However, on the Sabbath at midnight, for your amusement, there will be a masquerade. The wardrobes of the castle are yours to use. But I beg of you, even for the humor of it, do not wear red.” He then turned and splashed a goblet of wine in Alfredo’s face.
Nico bit down a chuckle, even though he did smirk. Fitting retribution for Alfredo’s conduct toward Esmeralda.
Alfredo gasped, “You go too far. I am not without influence and power!”
“Against the Red Death?” exclaimed Prospero. The hall became dead silent. “Yes, yes, it came to the village. Even now it lays waste to the countryside. So, you can count yourselves fortunate that you are here in this castle under the protection of Prince Prospero.”
Nico’s hand subconsciously went to the rose petal in his pocket and fingered it; he and Erik alone had the protection from the Red Death. Did Prospero really think he could keep the Red Death from entering his castle? Death comes to all, whether they liked it or not.
Prospero walked up the stairs where a girl in white met him. He turned to the crowd. “May I present the Lady Francesca? Meanwhile continue with your merrymaking, act according to your natures.” He walked down the stairs with Francesca, Lady Juliana not far behind them.
“I don’t think he’d want to see our natures,” Erik muttered to Nico under his breath as he gently began to push Nico to the back.
“Senor Veronese, do you little but eat, and swell, and dream of other things? How like a pig you are.” The two paused in their retreat and glanced back at Prospero. What was he getting at? “Be one.”
Veronese chuckled and he handed off his goblet, got on his hands and knees, and began oinking, much to the amusement of the others. Nico could only look on with disgust.
“You, Senor Lampredi, you laugh at this poor pig, huh? While you are small and insignificant, no more than a worm. Can you be a worm, Lampredi?”
Lampredi placed his goblet on the floor and began to squirm around on his belly, resulting in fresh bouts of laughter. Erik practically pulled Nico into the next room as the laughter subsided a bit.
“Well, think it’s too dangerous?” Nico asked.
“Not quite, unless you consider getting run over by this . . . menagerie the worst thing that could happen. But it seems we now have another reason to stay.”
Nico glanced at him. “And what’s that?”
Erik didn’t answer as Prospero shouted, “As for the rest of you, use your imaginations, show me the lives and loves of the animals.”
“This had better not be a nightly ritual,” grumbled Nico.
“In answer to your question,” Eric said, “the Lady Francesca.”
Nico blinked and watched as Prospero and the lady walked towards the other side of the hall, realizing with a start that she had a look of disgust on her face. “She may be the only woman we can save from the Red Death.”
Erik nodded in agreement.
Nico sighed. “Alright, let’s follow them.” But at that moment, Prospero and Lady Francesca walked into a room, and Prospero closed the door.
Erik grabbed Nico’s arm. “Alright then, scratch that. Let’s wait until after the menagerie has gone to bed, shall we?”
“Oh, fine.”
“In the meantime, you should rest, my liege; you will need your wits about you.”
“That sounds better than watching this nonsense,” muttered Nico, indicating the play of animals still going.
Erik scoffed, “Much better.” He led his master up the stairs and into their room, where Nico fell asleep fairly quick.