The Nutcracker and Licorice: Part Two (complete)

I gather my things in the dark, slowly moving around with my palm flat on the floor as I search for my things. I gather them up, placing them quietly into my bag so as not to rouse Bartholomew. I’m not sure where he is, but he could be listening. Fitzwilliam said he wouldn’t return until dawn, but I’m not taking chances.

When I have everything, I feel for the wall so I can make my way upstairs. Step by step, I climb, placing both feet on each step before I go. I take my time. I don’t move faster until I see the light through the cracks of the door. Sighing with relief, I rush quietly up the remaining stairs and push the door. It squeaks faintly, just enough to make the hairs on my neck stand on end. 

I stick my head out, peering around the corner for any sort of danger. The corridor is empty. I let out a sigh of relief and make my way out of the stairwell. I need to find my box, but what would Seraphina have done with it? She wouldn’t have touched it, no, no. She probably had Fitzwilliam take it somewhere, but even if he did just help me, there’s no way he’d reveal that much.

I need to find a place to hide while I search for the box, somewhere I can spend the days without one of the brothers breathing down my neck. This castle is huge - surely there is a room somewhere that no one bothers with. 

I find a door that has dust under the crack. It looks like it hasn’t been opened in ages. I quietly and carefully enter, and find it full of covered paintings. They are all leaned against the wall, shrouded by tarps. The windows are drawn shut so no light can get through, which works wonderfully in my favor. 

I set my bag down in the middle of the floor, going through it to make sure I have everything. The box is no longer there, and Bartholomew took the dolls, so all that’s left is my makeup kit, some cherry bombs, and the walnut that Fitzwilliam gave me.

I open my makeup kit, taking out a cloth to clean the makeup off my face. As I rub away the paint and glitter, I take in a deep breath, feeling much better with my face bare. I look around the room at all the stacked paintings, and wonder why they are here.

I lift a tarp, and the painting underneath is of Seraphina as a young princess. Her purple hair is in a braid, and her eyes are a sparkling magenta. She’s holding a scepter, and her expression is bright and happy. Her cheeks are rosy, her shoulders are raised. She does not match the creature I ran into earlier, with the solid black eyes and regal coiffure. 

The next painting is of Seraphina at a slightly older age, and now her eyes are a dull shade of bluish-purple. On either side of her is a young man, one dressed all in black, the other dressed all in red. The one in black is holding a birdcage, and the one in red is offering a walnut. Seraphina holds nothing except her own hands. Her cheeks are flushed, but her expression is unenthused. 

The young men are both handsome, with strong jaws and slight buck teeth. The one in black looks serene, almost half-asleep. The one in red looks anxious, almost near tears. I sigh to myself as I look at their handsome faces. “I see. So that’s what you used to be.”

I hear a clatter in the hallway, so I duck behind the paintings. Then I lay myself down and fall asleep.

When I wake up, I crawl out from behind the paintings. To my shock, I see Seraphina standing there, staring at the picture of her younger self. I stand up, hugging my bag against my chest.

“You won’t find the box.” Her gaze does not leave the painting. “So you are not a threat to me.” She drops the tarp, covering the artwork again. Her black eyes fall on me - if she even has eyes. They could be voids for all I know.

I frown at her. “I need that box. You know I need it. I won’t stop trying to look for it, and you know that too.”

“But you will never find it. That’s the thing. You will never open it, and so you will never get your way.” Seraphina smiles at me but the expression quickly fades, seeming to hurt her.

“You cannot keep going like this forever! You will crumble and you will bring everyone else down with you. What’s the point of living this way if you know it is only going to end in the misery of so many others?” I approach her with my bag still clasped in my arms. “You can’t possibly want that.”

Seraphina glares down at me and sniffs, turning up her nose. “What was it you called yourself? Phiphi? I had time before you showed up. I still have it, so long as you never touch that box again.” She places her hands on her hips as she turns her body towards me. “And you will never sway those who remain here. They are all loyal to me.”

“Is that what you call it?” I mock her stance, standing in front of her like a mirror. We stare at one another, face to face. “Then they are loyal to me too.”

Seraphina scowls. “You are not me.”

I return the expression. “And you are not me. We are neither, Seraphina. We aren’t anyone without each other.”

“I am somebody!” Her voice comes out a low, hungry snarl. “You are the nobody. You should have stayed in whatever rathole you came from.”

I’m starting to grow angry again. “I was with our father, you know this.”

Seraphina inches closer towards me. “I have no idea who you are or from whence you came. I only care that you go back, so I can continue to know you don’t exist.”

I come just as close to her. “Then you won’t exist.”

Seraphina looks down her nose at me. “I exist, as long as I say I do.” She steps away from me and snaps her fingers. “You are a blink. A speck of dirt in my eye. No more than a figment.”

“I may be just that, but you know who is real?” I point to the door. “You can torture me, but what you have done to those men is horrible.”

“They love me.” Seraphina lays her hands on her chest. “They would do anything for me.”

“That is not love!” I cry at her. “You take it all for your magic!”

“If you were smart, you would do the same.” Seraphina’s lip curls. “Love is useless without power.”

“That’s not-” I stop myself before I grow too angry. Clasping my hands on either side of my face, I give myself a quick, hard slap. As I do, Seraphina’s cheeks grow bright red. She sneers, touching her face lightly. 

“You will not entice me, Seraphina,” I scold her.

“You should have crawled into that box and died, Phiphi. It would have served you better.” Seraphina turns on her heel to open the door. “You have three days to find it. If not, you will go back where the sun doesn’t shine.”

She leaves the door open as she walks away, and Bartholomew drips down from the ceiling. He lands in the doorway, and his teeth click at me as he lowers himself down on all fours. His tail rises up behind him, flicking and twisting as he watches me.

“You can stop posing, you do not frighten me.” I sit down on the floor and open up my makeup kit. “Let me paint before you try to scare me.”

Bartholomew slithers into the room, climbing up along the wall to watch me from the ceiling. His drool splashes down around me, and I have to shield my makeup from getting tainted by it. 

“Why do you do that?” he hisses. “What’s the point of putting on a face like that?”

“It makes me feel special. And it isn’t a face I wear, I already have one.” I tap on my blush. “But sometimes, it is a mask.” I tilt my head up to look at him. “Do you still have my dolls?”

His growl vibrates in his throat, making the muscles ripple. 

“I would like them back, please. If you want to keep them, you’ll have to ask.” I start penciling in my eyebrows. 

Bartholomew hisses. “What do you need them for?” 

“What do YOU need them for?” I look up again and smile. “It’s OK if you want them. I just would like to be asked politely.”

He lets go and falls from the ceiling, landing directly behind me. I can see him in my mirror, but I do not give him the reaction he wants. 

“Who are you?” he growls. “You’ve never given me a straight answer.”

I dab some color onto my lips. “I am Phiphi. I told you.”

Bartholomew yanks the mirror from my hand. “I know that’s not true!” His black, overly saccharine spittle flies against the wires of the cage. 

“Then you know who I am. Or do you just need a reason to really see it?” I stand up and face him. “You know I am who you love most.”

“Liar!” he roars.

“You love your little brother more, I know,” I say with a nod. “But romantically, you love me most.”

“I love Seraphina!”

I nod at him. “I know. If you want that love returned, then help me find my box again.” I reach for his hand, but he yanks it away. “All I want to do is help. So will you help me?”

“No!” he bellows at me, chucking my mirror at the wall so it shatters.

I frown at him. “Apologize.”

Bartholomew flees.

I frown as he scurries away. I walk out into the hallway, and realize I have no idea where to begin. The box could be hidden anywhere. It could even be buried on the grounds. Three days could be all the time in the world, and I still wouldn’t find the box. It seems my fate is to be locked in that place where the sun doesn’t shine.

I search all morning and afternoon. I go through the library first, looking through all the books and the pages within. Then I go to the stables, studying each blade of hay before the horses eat it. This takes me until the following afternoon.

I return to a room where I have been before, or at least, the day before. Fitzwilliam is there, preparing the chessboard. He’s polishing each piece before placing it on the table. Beside him is the tea tray, ready for afternoon tea.

“Still looking?” Fitzwilliam asks.

“What are you doing?” I approach the game board. “Do you play her every day?”

“She plays a game alone.” He sets down a piece, then takes up another. “She’s not played against anyone else in a long time.”

I take a cookie from the tray, smelling the dab of blackberry jam in the center. I gaze longingly at it, then set it back on the tray. “Where has the box been hidden, Fitzwilliam?” I ask. 

He shakes his giant head. “I cannot tell you.”

“I need help!” I insist. “Please, even a little.”

“That would be against the rules,” he reprimands.

“There are no rules!” I sign and shake my head. “Nope. That won’t work. Help me, even a little.”

“I already did.” He sets the last chess piece on the board.

I open my mouth to argue, but I stop myself. “Well, yes, you did.” I pout. “OK, fine.”

Fitzwillaim turns his whole body to look at me. “I did hide the box though. So you’re smart to come to me.”

“Of course she wouldn’t touch it,” I grumble. “Why would she?” I sit down at the chessboard as I look at the white pieces. “How does she play alone?”

“Because she is alone.” Fitzwilliam pours a cup of tea. “She’ll be here soon.”

I look down at my bag, but soon turn my attention as Seraphina walks through the door. She stiffens when she sees me, but a smug smile spreads across her face as she continues into the room. “Give up yet?” She sits down before the placed pieces.

“No,” I scowl. “Have you?” I move a white piece forward, clacking it down hard on the chessboard.

Seraphina recoils in disgust but recovers quickly, moving a pawn of her own. “I have nothing to lose.”

“Nothing to lose, but so much to gain.” I send another pawn forward. “The box isn’t what you’re afraid of, Seraphina. You’re afraid of yourself.”

“Why would I ever be afraid of a pitiful worm like you?” She knocks one of my pawns off the table. “Look at you! A wooden copy!”

I smirk at her. “Better than a soulless husk.” I take my turn quietly.

Seraphina grimaces, gnashing her teeth together. “You won’t have anything without that box.” She snaps another piece down on the board. “And as far as you are concerned, it’s gone!”

“I’ll find it. I still have tomorrow. That’s a lifetime for some.” I make my next move. 

We throw each other’s pieces off the table, eventually coming to a point where we grow silent and still while we plot our moves. Fitzwilliam returns to the room to take away the tea tray. Everything on it has remained untouched. 

“Is that all?” he asks.

“Get out of here!” Seraphina hisses. “Leave me be and just go.”

Fitzwilliam bows and his jaw squeaks. “As you wish.” 

“Stop!” I jump to my feet. “Stay where you are.”

“No, leave! I cannot concentrate!” Seraphina bellows.

I reach into my bag and take out the walnut. “He can go, but he needs to crack this for me first.”

Seraphina sneers at me and laughs. “Fine. Just be quick about it.”

Fitzwilliam takes the walnut into his hand. “Are you sure about this?” he asks. “Is it alright if I crack the nut for her, my lady?”

Seraphina shakes her head. “Get it over with! The longer we spend on this game, the less time she has to find that box!”

Fitzwilliam looks back to me. He places the walnut in his jaw, then crushes the shell between his teeth. The soft chimes of a music box begins to play. I take the box from Fitzwilliam’s jaw and open it as the music rings out.

“No!” Seraphina topples the chessboard over as she lunges at me. “No!”

She does not reach me before I fall. I clatter to the floor, made of wood and nothing else, nothing anymore. Fitzwilliam is left holding the box as the gentle song plays. 

“My lady,” he says softly. 

I rub my eyes and find my palms stained black. “What happened?”

I look down at the wooden doll on the floor. Stooping, I pick her up, seeing my own face painted on the smooth head. I let out a laugh of relief and jump back up to my feet. I clasp my face between my hands, then turn and look at Fitzwilliam. “It worked! You did it!” I throw my arms around his neck, hugging him tight. “You old trickster!”

Fitzwilliam holds me. “I just wanted you back. I didn’t think it would work.”

I bounce on my heels as I look up at him. “Hiding the box in the walnut! What a genius you are, Fitzzy!” I kneel to the floor and pick up the box. “We will really have to hide this now. It would be tragic if someone else got their hands on it.”

“I’ll take care of it again, my lady. No need to worry.”

“But I do,” I sigh. “It’s my fault the box was opened in the first place and cursed me.” I press my hands to my chest. “I forgot what it was to be whole. I was stuck for so long inside that box. Besides, there is much I need to fix.” I place it above the mantle for the time being. I take my staff from the floor and, in my hands, it returns to being a scepter. 

“I’ve caused a lot of pain, haven’t I?” I turn and look up at Fitzwilliam. “I am so sorry for what I did to you and Bartholomew. Can you ever forgive me?”

“There is time to work on forgiveness,” he says with a nod. “I am just happy to have you home.”

Ages ago, when I was young, a witch came to the palace to bestow a gift upon me. It was my birthday, and many had come to do the same in hopes of earning a blessing. When the witch gave me the music box, she told me to open it. Inside were horrors that took over my body, they ripped and tore at me, creating a hollow shell. But not all the horrors escaped. One small one remained trapped inside the box, and it was the one that allowed me to escape - partially. 

My father took that part - who would become Phiphi - and hid me away. The me filled with horrors remained at the palace, slowly cursing everyone and anything within so they would become empty like I was. This included Fitzwilliam and Bartholomew, who loved me and refused to leave my side. Their fates had twisted them, causing the curse to warp and change their appearance, making them monsters. 

Now that I am whole again, I can set things right. 

“Can it be?” Bartholomew stands in the doorway, looking at me. “Is it the same?”

I go to him, tapping my scepter against the spiked collar on his neck. I remove the cage from his head and touch his face, removing the mask to reveal his eyes. Bartholomew always did have beautiful eyes. 

“Can you ever forgive me?” I whisper.

Bartholomew sniffles then clasps me tight in his arms. “I just wanted you.”

It takes a while for the magic to work, but each day when they awake, a little of them is restored. Bartholomew’s face starts to return, along with his smile. He still maintains a sort of black gloss on his form, but he becomes much more man than before. Fitzwilliam’s head shrinks, and slowly but surely the joints seal until his arms are one piece. He can still crush a walnut between his teeth, but that’s the least of our concerns. 

“I say you would be handsome in any form,” I tell them one afternoon. “But I am happy to have the two of you back.”

Bartholomew places a kiss on my cheek. “We are happiest of all. Without you, we would have been doomed forever.”

Fitzwilliam moves a chess piece across the board. “You’re not paying attention, brother.”

“Let it be,” Bartholomew scoffs. He pulls me down into his lap and kisses my face all over. “I want to play another game.”

Fitzwilliam arches a brow at him. “Seriously, now, you should learn to share.”

“Come and take her then,” Bartholomew grins wickedly at him. “But you will have to put up a fight. It has been a long time since I could kiss her, cage and all.” He places a warm kiss on my lips, and he still tastes sweet. 

“I will steal all the kisses I desire tonight,” Fitzwilliam smirks. “Checkmate.”

I open the castle again, removing the locks from the gate, the spikes and briars. I allow the people to return, opening the palace grounds up for the children to play, and the grounds to become a garden for the people to share.

It is a curse that cannot be broken all at once - only bit by bit, step by step, and with a lot of laughter.