A/N: Well, I had meant this to just be a one-shot but then I started thinking about it and decided to make it a three-part. So, here's part two. Part three might be a little while coming since I'm not sure exactly where I want to take it, but it will arrive eventually. In the meantime, here's Natalya's take on the events of part one.
I don't generally waste my time analyzing things. I prefer to just deal with them as they come. Besides, anything that won't let me get closer to my brother is pretty much useless anyway. Like Toris. He's something getting in between me and Ivan. My brother prefers to play with him over spending time with me, for some stupid reason. I've often thought that while I personally draw the line at permanently removing him myself, it wouldn't displease me if someone or something else did. Especially since he seems to have some kind of romantic fixation on me. That irritates me no end. Not only that, but he totally ignores all my hints that he should go away and leave me alone, no matter how obvious I make them. He's nothing but a pain.
At least, that's the only thought I had about him until recently. I didn't bother thinking of him as anything other than a sort of annoying talking household fixture, because I didn't have any reason to. But ever since the thing that happened a while ago, I'm having different thoughts and they're making me uneasy.
I had gone to my dear brother's house for a surprise visit, except that when I got there I found that he had gone out suddenly and wasn't expected to return for several days. This was a nuisance, especially since I had things to do that week and couldn't stay long enough to wait for him, but I decided to spend the night anyway since it was getting late. Ivan's house is enormous, and when I stay over I like to stay in a bedroom I haven't slept in before, so I was wandering through a wing that I was unfamiliar with, looking in this room and that, hoping to find one to my liking. I didn't think there was anyone but me in that wing, so it was rather a shock when I opened the fifth door and saw Toris. He was lying on the floor without the lights on, which seemed odd to me, so I went in to demand an explanation.
I hadn't gotten very far into the room when I saw that there was blood spattered around the area, and his back was covered with it. He was looking up at me, and although the light was dim I could see that he was crying. Then he put his hand over his eyes, and I realized that it was out of shame that I was seeing him in such a state. All things considered none of this should have mattered to me, but that gesture gave me a strange feeling in my throat, almost a choking sensation. Moving on instinct, without really thinking about what I was doing, I went down on my knees next to him and pulled his hand away from his face, and the look in his eyes went through me like an icicle through a snowbank. All of a sudden I didn't feel particularly comfortable, and I didn't want to stay there, but for some reason I felt like I should do something before I left, so I took my apron and wiped his tears with it. Then I left.
Walking down the hallway back towards the main house, I met Edouard and Raivis, who appeared to be somewhat worried. Edouard hailed me and asked if I had seen Toris.
"He's in a room back that way," I said, pointing over my shoulder. I was startled to hear myself add, "He's in bad shape."
Edouard looked at me for a second, then nodded sharply and headed off down the hall at a rapid pace. Raivis stayed where he was, staring at me in a somewhat accusatory manner. I recalled suddenly that he held Toris very dear for some ineffable reason.
"It wasn't me," I said. I felt compelled to say it; I don't know why. Raivis continued to stare, and I repeated sharply, "I didn't hurt him." Raivis bit his lip, then nodded and followed after Edouard.
I didn't see Toris again for a bit after that, and I wasn't sure how to deal with what I'd done, so when I did see him next I just glared and stalked past him, pretending nothing had happened at all. Except, I can't seem to pretend it to myself, because I can't stop wondering what inspired me to behave so strangely. Not only that, but I've begun to wonder why I hate Toris so much, besides the fact that my brother likes him better, and even to wonder if I've been blaming him for something that's not his fault. These thoughts make me feel as though the floor is sliding under my feet, because I have an awful suspicion that there's something building that's going to come out sometime soon, and I might not like it when it does. But until then, I'm going to put on a face like nothing's changed.
After all, there's no reason why Toris should know any of this.