Katyusha teared down the long corridor, her whole body soaked. Her breaths were ragged and tired as she ran the same way she had been for hours looking for her prince. Of course she was a mess from falling into the still lake in front of the castle she was being held captive in, and been thrown to the ground by a wild deer which completely killed her heels making it hard to walk, let alone sprint.
But she didn't care anymore. She had said some things to her forced fiancée that she didn't completely mean. She couldn't let him go through with whatever radical idea he had planted in his head. She couldn't lose him after the hell they'd been through.
Limp-sprinting, she picked leaves out of her hair with her gloves hands, sighing. She could really be stupid sometimes. Completely messed up in the head. She'd always been that way since her childhood, sensitive and stupid. Not to mention squeaky. The three S's.
Maybe it was that ongoing scar of fear that her brother, Ivan, had permanently etched and every inch of her body. Or even her insecurities about her huge breasts, which most people could not take their eyes off of. Possibly her love of books, being one of the only ones in her family who actually got an education.
But he had accepted her for who she was... Eventually. He wasn't always that caring and accepting. Katyusha remembered that well.
Katyusha frowned as she read the last page of Romeo and Juliet for the eighth time that day. She never liked how it ended. She believed in happy endings and true love. Not death because of love. That was just jacked up. She slowly put down the thick book and started on the next one. Her absolute favourite: The Wizard of Oz.
She'd always enjoyed the vulnerability of Dorothy and felt it portrayed herself nicely. She also enjoyed the mystery and intrigue of it. Sitting on the rim of a fountain under her favourite tree was where Katyusha was everyday, reading and thinking. She was never disturbed. The only person who really did enjoy reading as much as her was her younger sister, Natalya.
Natalya couldn't read, but she loved to listen to Katyusha read. Sometimes, though, Katyusha would teach her the basics of English in secret, because Brother Ivan would not approve. Natalya hoped to learn as much English as she could so she could go to America to get an education.
Katyusha slowly turned the page, and have memorized most of the books she'd read, read the next sentence out loud before her eyes met it. She smiled at the sound of the words rolling off of her tongue. The sentence was quite familiar.
She looked up for a brief moment and her hazel met arrogant red eyes. Despite her strong dislike for the Prussian, she politely greeted,"Oh, hello, Gilbert. I did't see you there. How are you?" Gilbert laughed obnoxiously, throwing his head back. Katyusha rolled her eyes. "I'm fine," Gilbert said, his accent playing with his words. "How about you, gorgeous?"
Kat gathered up her things quietly, and kindly gazed at him. "I'm wonderful, thank you," Katyusha said, taking a few steps away. "I'd love to chat with you, but I've got to go see Mr. Kirkland at the library, sorry. I'll talk to you later, Gilbert." Gilbert nodded and smirked, happily muttering something in German.
Katyusha held her light stack of books to her chest as she made her way to Mr. Kirkland's library. She was very fond of Mr. Kirkland, he was a nice old man who never judged her. He liked the same books as she did. But, most of all, he was like the grandfather she'd never had. Most of her family had been killed in wars, like her parents.
Turning around the corner, she politely waved at Antonio Carriedo who smile back politely at her. She jogged when she reached the sign reading,'Arthur Kirkland's Literature and Oddities', the light catching the spider webs in every crevice of it. Pushing the door open, Katyusha greeted enthusiastically,"Good afternoon, Mr. Kirkland!"
Arthur stirred from his sleep sluggishly, his eyes brightening when they fell on the girl. "Afternoon, love," he said happily. "Looking for anything in particular today?" Arthur always enjoyed having Katyusha around. She was very kind and imaginative, yet slightly timid. She reminded him of his son, Matthew.
"Nothing really today," Katyusha said, scanning the shelves pensively. "Anything new, Papa Kirkland?" Arthur shrugged,"Not yet. There isn't much interest in books anymore, you know?"
Kat sighed. She had been hoping for new books to read for years, though she was perectly happy with reading some books over and over again. "I guess it's the classics then," she said climbing onto the rolling ladder. "Natalya did say that she wanted me to read her something other than Cinderella..." she muttered as an after thought.
"May I suggest 'The Ugly Duckling'?" Arthur said happily, watching the girl gently run her finger down the spine of a light green book. "Yes you can, because that would be perfect," Katyusha said thoughtfully. "You know she's almost there. She'll be on her way to America soon. She'll finally get what she needs.
"That is, if she doesn't get distracted by your charming son over there." Arthur chuckled. "I'm sure Alfred'll find a way to do that." Grinning, Katyusha stepped off of the ladder with two thick books. "I really hope that she'll make it over there. I would go with her but Brother Ivan would disapprove," she said dreamily.
"Well, of course one day you'll have to leave that old house. You've got too much potential not to."
"Thank you Papa Kirkland, I'm flattered, but there's nowhere else for me to go except backward, I'm afraid."
"Hogwash! You're the most educated young lady I know, deary!"
"You really think so, Papa Kirkland?"
"I know so, Katyusha."
"Someday, maybe. But for now, I have to stay here."
Katyusha leaned against the door with a full stack of books and frowned. "Tomorrow, Papa Kirkland?" she asked, her eyes wide opened as she smiled. Arthur sighed tiredly and replied,"I'll be here."