123 Painted memories- Part 3 (1/2)

”Are you talking about Rhys' wife?”

”You know about her,” she replied back to see him nod.

”That explains the scarf around your neck. There isn't anything I don't know when it comes to Bonelake. She isn't a black witch therefore there it isn't something to worry about,” he stated, ”The whole universe is faulty. Things you think are good can turn bad and things that are bad can turn good. Hence, it is always best to keep your eyes and ears always open.”

Going up to the piano room, they played the keys both Heidi and Nicholas taking turns. It was one of those moments Heidi cherished and wanted to continue chershing in her mind. Since Nicholas had told her about his past, things had changed. From the arrogant, scheming man she had come to know him as, she now saw him in a different light, perhaps it was not light but darkness that shadowed him. She couldn't fathom the pain he would have gone through when the people killed his mother. No, they didn't just kill her but also tore her into pieces. Who knew that the lord of Bonelake who carried the serene and gentleman like smile had witnessed something so gruesome in his childhood.

She wished she could take away and ease the pain from him but the man had none. Heidi wasn't sure if it had been stubbed and curbed until it was locked down or if it had disappeared in time, replacing the pain with what he had become today.

”Is this a new one,” Heidi asked, picking up the new music sheet he had added in the bundle of notes.

”It is but it isn't mine,” he said continuing to play the keys leisurely.

”Who does it belong to?” taking a closer look she noticed the scribbling was darker and messier compared to the other music sheets which was in the room.

Leaning close to her side, Nicholas whispered, ”I stole it,” before grinning at her.

”I would believe it,” she smiled back to hear him chuckle.

”I must be quite a man in your eyes.”

”There's no doubt in it,” she put the music sheet once he was done playing. When he started playing the sheet he spoke to her,

”It is said that a man who worked in the theater fell for a woman of a high status he wouldn't have imagined of. He was said to be a courageous man, a man who stood by his word and pride, a man who was good. When he met the woman, he fell hard for her. Not realizing the dream he was chasing behind when he had to wake up to reality. Funnily, the woman reciprocated back his feelings. They met in secret, in the garden in the balcony. Behind the theater and at the horse shed but when the secret was spilled out the man was ordered to stay away from the woman. Soon he was falsely accused and executed under law,” Nicholas narrated the story, not lifting his head but playing on the keys like he was well versed with it.

”Was it the girls father that set him up?” Heidi asked him with a frown.

”We don't know. It may or may not have been true,” he shrugged his shoulder, ”It is told that before he was executed, he was granted a wish and the man asked for a piano to play his heart out to the girl whom he couldn't meet as news had reached him that she had killed herself. They say these are the last pieces he created before his death.”

”That is a very depressing story,” she commented to see his hand reach out for her.