Dancing on Strings

Inviting Fear

"But it's so much more entertaining when there's an audience."

"Thank you, My Lady, you can insult me later," Reve replied and waved her away.

Angelique, in turn, aimed a kick at his shin, which he avoided, and glided away. Mai stared at the exchange, probably surprised most by the turnabout from Angelique as she changed from poised and calm to... that.

Reve came down the stairs to meet her and smiled at her expression.

"Sorry," he said, "Nightmares, they're... high-maintenance."

"... Ah," Mai said, still staring at where Angelique had vanished.

"Are you alright?" Reve asked, concern in his voice, making her look at him. He tilted his head to the side, worry creasing his brow.

Mai told him about what had happened that day and his expression changed from worry to pity and he stepped forward and slid his arms around her when she finished, hugging her close.

"I'm sorry. Two scares such as that must be so much to take on," he said, squeezing her tightly.

Mai stood there, stunned for a moment, before slowly wrapping her arms around him, tilting her head up to rest her chin on her shoulder, so she was looking upwards.

The Black Rabbit stood on the balcony above, his arms folded on the balustrade as he looked down at them.

She jumped, pushing Reve back, staring upwards.

But between blinks, he was gone, just like the last time she thought's she'd seen him.

Reve looked at her in surprise, his hands still holding hers, before he looked up at the empty balcony.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I... nothing... I thought I saw something," Mai muttered.

"Oh... well this is a palace of dreams, perhaps your mind conjured something," he suggested, then squeezed her hands and smiled brightly at her when she looked at him. "Come; let us purge the fear from your mind. Let us find you a place to dance and some shoes to dance in."

"Oh, actually, it seems my shoes came with me tonight," Mai said, lifting her skirts to show her foot and Reve laughed.

"So prepared," he said, "Then we must not let the preparation go to waste. Come; let us find you a stage set for those lovely shoes."

They climbed the stairs, passed the garden painting, passed three more painting of various beautiful scenes before he stopped beside a large bookshelf.

"Maybe here," he said then took hold of the bookshelf and pushed it inwards.

It swung in and revealed a hall of books.

They lined every single space on the walls, from floor to the ceiling that was so high it was dark.

There were standing lamps, small table and armchairs.

And there were books drifting through the air. Some as small as her fingernails, some a normal size, some so large they made a stage all their own. Some open, some closed and light illuminated from the pages, bathing the towering hall in warm light that battered back the darkness beyond the towering window.

Mai's jaw dropped.

"Oh my," she muttered.

"Not a bad place, I must say," Reve said, smiling as he looked around, clearly proud.

"What Adalicia wouldn't give to visit here."

"Who?"

"My sister."