Snippet #1734195

“No, that isn’t right…”

Impatiently, slender hands brushed strands of raven black hair back. Sparkling brown eyes frowned, a smudge of blue paint across a pink cheek. Kurenai Hitsuya viewed her painting with a faint look of disappointment in her eyes. She stepped away to look at it in a different angle, but the frown only deepened, her eyebrows furrowed. Chewing her pale bottom lip thoughtfully, she glanced to her window. It was ajar, a breeze causing the drape there to blow restlessly. It billowed back and forth. She didn’t need to approach the window to know that darkness shrouded the world from her view. It was late, but she’d woken after a dream and simply had to put it on canvas. She watched the window for a few moments and then as though inspiration had returned to her, Kurenai resumed her painting. Her features softened again as she focused on her artwork. Her strokes were smooth and delicate, but every one as perfect as the last, falling exactly where she wished them to. She dipped her paintbrush in her paints, mixing colours and throwing them together on the canvas.

After a few moments of hard work, she stepped back and her face broke into a bright smile. It was completed. The scene was beautiful and Kurenai knew why. It was the Upperworld that she’d dreamt of last night. It had been happening more and more frequently as of late. She was beginning to worry that it was something to do with her foresight. The scene featured a grassy meadow, grasses tall and swaying the breeze. It was framed by green trees, hanging low and a stream that twinkled and seemed to move on the canvas. And there, in the centre was the silhouette of a girl. Kurenai knew it was herself and she hadn’t painted it as an act of vanity, she just knew she’d been there in that meadow within the dream. Only one thing spoilt the painting. And that was the shadow underneath the trees. In her dreams, it haunted her step, watching her every move as she wandered around the Upperworld. But what did all of this mean? Kurenai honestly didn’t know. She only experienced the dreams; she never saw the meaning behind then. Nor what happened when she reached the edge of the meadow and disappeared into the trees, that was when she woke. One day she hoped to see beyond just that meadow, whether it was in her dreams or in real life.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The tapping at the door startled Kurenai. Quickly she placed her palette of paints upon the table and snatched up the canvas. Turning it so it faced the other way on the easel, she was careful not to smudge any of the paints.
“Come in,” Her voice was like velvet as she wrapped her paint splattered dressing gown around herself. Daintily she perched on the edge of her bed, as the door swung open. It was only her maid and Kurenai released a breath she did not realise she had been holding. The maid looked startled that the Princess should still be awake at this hour, but the girl smiled at her brightly. “Mary, what brings you here at such a late hour?” She asked, getting to her feet once more and casting a wary glance at her easel. The maid would not be able to see the canvas from where she stood, but it still worried Kurenai. No-one could know about her dreams of the Upperworld, nor her paintings of them. Her father would certainly have them destroyed and banish her from painting ever again.

“I…I j-just came to en-ensure the fires w-w-were out m’lady,” Mary stumbled over her words, as she kept her head bowed low, mousy brown hair tied back in a bun, with strands framing her gentle face. Every word she faltered on caused her cheeks to go a deeper red. She was new the castle and still found it humbling to be in the presence of the Hitsuya family. And even though the middle child was more than welcoming when it came to her new maid, Mary still stuttered and struggled to speak in her presence. “A-Are you p-painting?”

The question threw Kurenai. Mary usually just got on with her work without a single word to her. She gave a small nod, a soft smile upon her lips as she once again glanced at her canvas. It pleased her that the maid was interested in her work, but it worried her as well. Suppose she asked to see the painting…What would she do then? She couldn’t hide them forever.

“Your p-paintings are t-truly wonderful.” Her voice had grown stronger and she looked up at Kurenai and actually smiled. It was a pretty smile and the plain young girl looked beautiful for a moment, before it faded. “I should g-get on.” She gave a bow, before turning to the fire to stoke it. Kurenai let out a sigh of relief, wrapping her dressing gown tighter around herself. Her fingers absent-mindedly played with the ruby around her neck. It had been hers since birth and never once had it left her neck. She slept with it on, washed with it on. It was hers and not another soul could touch it. She would never allow another soul to touch it. It sparkled a blood red at the base of her throat, as though threatening those who looked upon it. Both of her brother’s possessed one, her mother and father too. Kurenai had heard stories of how in the Upperworld they had beautiful Sapphires instead of Rubies. She had never laid eyes upon a Sapphire before.

“I think I may go for a walk in the castle,” She announced to Mary, slipping some shoes on before heading to the door. “And Mary,” She stopped in the doorframe and smiled at the maid. “You are dismissed for the evening. Please take the day off tomorrow. You work too hard.” With that, she was gone, leaving the maid staring after her in complete wonder at how a child born in a world of darkness could be so kind and caring.