Act I

Did you ever had a dream that felt so real, one you wished it would never end. It was those two nights during Christmas I would surely never forget.

***

We were, just like many others since mother had dead, at our grandmother's manor in the country. My younger brother and I spend our holidays there, mainly because our father is always away on business.

My brother Calvert was twelve that year, and like most twelve-year-old boys he would spends his days playing with his toy soldiers, playing general fighting little toy battles and wars. As I prefer to spend mine reading my favorite titles. After mom passing father had spent his days at work, he works in trade so he mostly traveling from country to country always on the move, so we don't get to see him that often.

But it was this, my sixteenth Christmas at grandmother's manor, was the night I will remember always.

***

"Cayleigh, Cayleigh Leduc are you listening," I heard a voice calling out to me as I looked up from my book. It was grandmother, looking at me displeased. "Cayleigh, get your head out of those clouds and get yourself ready. The guest will be arriving shortly," she reminded me, yet again.

"Yes, grandmother," I said closing my book and hid it underneath the cushion of my favorite reading chair.

I straighten my dress nicely flat and ran my fingers through my unkempt hair. When I was done primping I made my way to the dining room.

The room was filled to the brim with cakes and puddings with a turkey the size of a large dog, and a castle made completely out of gingerbread and sweets.

Grandmother would always throw these big elaborate balls like every year, although she doesn't really care about Christmas like mother once did. But grandmother would still get a huge tree and would always try to outdo last year's tree. The tree this year is by far the tallest we had. It's so tall that we couldn't place our angel on top of the tree because there wasn't any room for her on top. So we had to place her in the toy cabinet. I felt a little sorry for her, she has been waiting all year, for her place on top of the tree, but it's to be not, for the tree was too tall for our high ceilings.

"Oh no," I heard grandmother cry out. I turned to look. "The mice had found their way to the gingerbread."

I looked to find that there were holes made in the castle walls. I looked inside the castle, but there doesn't seem to be any mice inside.

"Don't worry grandmother. I'll fix it," I said taking some gingerbread men and the frosting bag that was laying on the table. I carefully frosted them to the wall and made them into gingerbread soldiers. "There, now your castle is well guarded from the mice," I said putting the frosting bag down.

Grandmother laughed. "Cayleigh you silly girl. When are you going to get your head out of those clouds and start acting like an adult? Your eighteen now, and it's about time for us to find you a husband."

"'A husband,'" I said surprisingly shocked. "Grandmother, isn't this my decision if I'm ready to marry someone."

"Oh Cayleigh my child," she rubbed her finger across my cheek. "If you can't keep your nose out of those books you won't be able to find him. No man wants a smart wife." She said coldly as she went back to work. "Now go upstairs and change. The guest will be arriving soon."

I sighed. "Yes grandmother," I said as I went upstairs to get dress for yet another stuffy aristocracy party.

***

The party seems long as I stood in the corner of the dining room as the guest ate, talk, and drank. The table was so crowded I couldn't get any of the food. All I had to eat today was some food I had stolen from the pantry. I didn't want to bother the kitchen staff while they were busy making the feast for the party, so I took some day old bread, a cheese plate, and a red apple when no one was looking, taking them to my room to eat.

But that was a long time ago, and the cakes looked so delicious, all I wanted was just one bite of those chocolate cake.

I sighed turning away from the food table, for I was beginning to feel a sharp pain in my chest from hunger. I just couldn't stand being in the same room with all of those delicious treats calling out to me to eat them.

I looked up at the tree with all its ornaments, all lit up with tiny candles that made the tree glow so brightly in the room.

I turned my head to a clockwork, golden, castle. Grandmother bought it at some antique shop years ago. She mainly bought it as a status symbol, but I love to watch all the little pieces move, dance, and so on, I would always find something new about it every time we bring it out.

I sigh as I turned to the dancers as the musicians played an enchanting melody as some of our guest danced. It seemed like a scene from one of my books, and if so, at any moment, my prince would come over to ask me to dance. I let my mind wonder elsewhere. Eyes closed.

"Excuse me, lady Cayleigh," I opened my eyes to see a young man holding out his hand. "Can I have this dance?"

He was nicely dressed in a dark green outfit. He had shoulder lengthen blond hair with green eyes.

He does stand out compared to my long brown-red hair and light brown eyes.

I was caught a little off guard as he awaited an answer. "Ah, sure," I said taking his hand.

He leads me to the middle of the room as the band began to play a soft melody for a waltz.

He lead me perfectly across the floor as we lead the dance. All eyes on us. "You are quite a dancer," he whispered into my ear. It tickled.

"Thank you," I replied.

"My name is Holter Bouchard. I heard from your grandmother that you had trained in ballet." Holter said as he spun me like a top. "I can see that its true."

'Oh, now I see what's going on here,' I thought to myself. "Yes, I was. Me and mother were, but not anymore." I said as the band began to reach their end.

"You know. I would love to see you perform," Holter said as the waltz ended.

I sighed. "I loved to, but-"

"That's a great idea," grandmother interrupted me before I had the chance to finish. "Here Cayleigh," she handed me a pair of my old ballet slippers. "Quick put them on."

I took the old, well broken-in, slippers from her. They felt stiff and has many small holes meaning they were worn for many years of dancing. But not for quite awhile. "Alright, I'll do it," I agreed, for just this once.

Everyone clapped as I slipped off my shoes and slipped into the ballet slippers. The once soft silk, felt ruff and hard on the souls of my feet as I put them on.

The band began to play a soft melody that I knew to well as I began to dance.

I was finding it hard to keep my steps straight as the slippers began to hurt my feet. My foot work was all a mess and everyone seemed to notice, and as I began my fouetté the slipper broke as I fell into the orchestra, breaking they're instruments.

"Oh I'm so sorry," I cried out over the noise as I saw what I have done.

"That's alright Miss," said the violinist picking up the remains of his violin. "Are you alright Miss?" he asked me.

"Yes, I'm fine," I said embarrassed. "I'm really sorry," I apologize to the violinist, harpist, flutist, everyone.

Everyone started to laughed quietly.

"I'm sorry Lady Clarice," said one of the guest. "But it's getting late and we all need to head back home to our families."

The guest and musicians began to leave one by one till only one or two odd guest were left.

"I'm sorry Lady Clarice," said Holter, our last guest to leave. "I should get going as well. Sorry, but I don't think it's going to work out. Goodnight and Merry Christmas," he said as he left too.

Grandmother chased after him as I took off the slippers, rubbing the red sores on my feet.

"Wait, she just lost her footing. Please give her another chance. She's a very sweet girl," she called out. "Please, come back," but it was too late.

After putting my shoes back on, I followed grandmother to find her standing in the doorway, muttering under her breath. "I was so close. They were hitting it off so well. I could have had beautiful great grandbabies."

"So, that was your plan grandmother," I said to tell her I was there. "How long were you planning this?"

"Who cares, Cayleigh, he was a duke honey, a duke," she said placing her fingers over her temples as she rubbed.

"Sorry grandmother," I began to say. "But I don't care if his a duke, lord, or even if his a prince or a king. I don't need your help. Just let me do this my way. Alright, grandmother," I told her how I felt.

But before she could say anything a carriage, pulled by a chestnut color horse, pulling up to the manor. Coming out of the carriage came a man and a woman.

"Aunt, uncle, you came," I ran out into the cold snowy drive and hugged them both.

"Ah, Cayleigh," said aunt Aletta looking at me at arm's length. "You look enchanting. You look just like my dear late sister-in-law."

"Aletta, your sister-in-law was her mother," said uncle Van carrying colorful wrap boxes.

"Here uncle, let me help you," I said taking the three boxes on top.

"Thanks Cayleigh. You're a big help," said uncle Van pulling out a wickeder carrier.

We went inside, I handed the gifts to grandmother as she took them into the parlor. "So, where's Calvert," aunt Aletta said taking off her coat. "Where's my little nephew?" she asked waiting for her hug.

She looked up the stairs, down the halls, and in the dining room, seeing if he was eating all of the leftover sweets and treats.

"Oh, I know where he is. He's in his secret fort." I said going to the closet under the stairs. I quickly opened the door and inside was Calvert with all his troops. Wearing his soldier hat, holding a bugle.

"Hey, how did you find me? No girls allowed," Calvert said standing up. "Who gave you orders to enter my base camp anyway?"

"Oh, well, if you want to continue playing soldier instead of opening presents then-"

"'Presents!' What presents!" Calvert sounded excided when he noticed aunt Aletta. "Auntie," he pushed me aside to give Aletta a hug. "So, what did you get me?"

"Calvert!" Grandmother said after putting the gifts away. "Don't be rude."

"No mother. It's alright. Your gifts are under the tree," aunt Aletta told Calvert as he went running towards the tree.

I quickly walked towards the tree to find Calvert ripping open his gifts that aunt and uncle had brought.

"Wait," grandmother called out when Calvert was about to open the box that was wrapped with golden paper. "Wait till tomorrow to open them," she said taking the half-open box from him.

"Wait mother," said aunt Aletta. "Just this once. Let them at least open our gifts to them."

Grandmother thought it over for what felt like hours when she finally said. "Alright fine, but just those gifts."

"Thank you grandmother," we said together as grandmother handed Calvert back his gift.

Calvert began to rip open his gift before I had a chance to pick one up. Inside his gift was a wooden box with little toy soldiers with little toy cannons and little round cannonballs. "Oh wow, thanks aunt Aletta, uncle Van."

As he went for another gift I pulled out an ice blue color box tied with a blue ribbon. I carefully open it, tuck the ribbon in my pocket, and inside was a little ballerina figuring on top of a little stand. I pulled it out and found a small key in the stand, I turned it as it began to play music as the ballerina danced. "Oh thank you, I love it," I said placing it on the table. Listening to the music as I picked another present.

Calvert had already opened his last gift that had more soldiers with horses this time. He had already left to play soldier as I went to open the next box.

This time it was a jewelry box with some combs and hair accessories. "Thank you," I said as I looked to see what's next.

I went to reach for a tall-thin box that's tied with a satin red ribbon when aunt Aletta said. "Wait. Open this one first." She handed me the wickeder carrier.

I carefully opened and inside was this small silver-gray fluffy kitten as I pulled its sleepy head out.

"This is my gift to you. Careful, she's young," she told me.

I placed her on my lap as she nipped at my fingers wanting milk. I laughed. "What's her name?" I asked.

"That's for you to choose," she told me.

I held that little kitten for awhile, as names from my books came flooding in my head, till a name came to mind. "Duchess. How about Duchess," I said scratching her behind the ears as she closed her big blue eyes.

"Duchess, that's a good name. Why did you choose that name?" asked aunt Aletta.

"Because grandmother was trying to set me up with a duke earlier. But it didn't work out thou," I added.

"Oh let me play, let me play with the kitten, too," Calvert said grabbing the poor kitten.

As Calvert took Duchess over to his area, as the kitten struggle to escape, I turned to my last gift.

While grandmother and aunt Aletta talked about why they bought me a kitten, I began to carefully untied the red satin ribbon, tucking the ribbons in my pocket as well, as I started to unwrap the box.

Inside the box, covered with paper, was a beautiful, hand crafted, young looking nutcracker.

He looked just like any other nutcracker, but he didn't have a white beard or painted on mustache. His hair was black with a ponytail that's used to open and close his mouth. He was wearing a red uniform with gold buttons, black boots, and a tall black hat.

"Oh aunt Aletta, uncle Van, I love him," I said pressing the nutcracker to my chest.

"We knew you would," said aunt Aletta. "Your mother said that she wanted to give you one."

"Where did you find him?" I asked looking at every fine detail work in the nutcracker, and how life like he looked.

"It was sitting in the attic. Apparently it was made by some old clockmaker who made a lot of these little devises that seemed like they were made with magic," she told me.

I laughed. "Aunt Aletta, please. Quit treating me like a child," I told her.

"Alright, don't believe me, but it was made by the famous clockmaker. See," she pointed to the old grandfather clock that sat in the corner. "This was one of the clocks he made."

The grandfather clock was ten feet tall with a carving of an owl on top. I remember, back when I was younger, I was afraid to go downstairs at night because, the owl looked so real to me, I thought that it would come to life and attack me. Now that I am older I can now appreciate the quality craftsmanship work that was put into it.

"Well, thank you again for my nutcracker." I said holding my dear nutcracker. "I love him."

"Cayleigh dear," grandmother called out to me. "Aren't you a bit too old for dolls?" she asked.

"Yes, but his not a doll," I began to tell her.

"Oh cool," came Calvert voice after Duchess had made her escape. "Let me see, let me see," he said without waiting for an answer as he took the nutcracker out of my hands.

"Calvert give him back," I said going after him as Calvert tried to work the nutcracker like one of his toy soldiers. "Stop, you're going to break him."

"I'm not going to break him," Calvert said as I tried to take him back.

"Cayleigh please. Let Calvert play with the toy," grandmother said to me as I chased after Calvert.

"His not a toy. So give him back," I yelled as I got my hands on the nutcracker.

We tugged and pulled at the nutcracker, "let go," we fought over the nutcracker till he lost his grip and we both fell backwards.

He fell onto the floor and I fell right into grandmother's china cabinet, breaking it.

"Cayleigh, Calvert, look at what you done?!" Grandmother yelled loudly.

My body felt sore as I try to stand. "Shh, sorry… grandmother," I said feeling pain all over.

"Yeah, sorry grandmother," said Calvert getting up.

"Saying 'sorry' won't fix this. Just go upstairs, both of you," she said angrily. I picked up my nutcracker and began to leave. "No, it stays with me." She took the nutcracker out of my hands. "Now go."

We did as she said as we went through the dining room.

"Great, now we're going to bed without dinner. Man I'm starving," I said aloud. "I haven't eaten all day."

"Really. I ate some of the gingerbread castle wall before the party," Calvert accidentally confessed.

"What, that was you!" I said surprised. "We were blaming it on the mice!"

"Ha, oops!" Calvert said and ran straight upstairs.

I sighed and was taking my time heading upstairs when aunt Aletta caught up to me, holding Duchess as she handed her to me.

"Don't worry, Cayleigh. She should calm down by tomorrow. Just be patient," aunt Aletta said to me.

"Yes, I know," I said closing my eyes.

There, I felt aunt Aletta slip something around my neck. I looked to find that it was a pendant necklace in the shape of a snowflake.

"It belong to your mother. I'm now returning it to you," she told me.

"Thank you, aunt Aletta. Goodnight," I said going upstairs.

***

It was growing late at night as I sat in my room awake. I was unable to fall asleep, even thou I felt so tired. As Duchess slept on my bed. Keeping it warm for me.

I held the pendant in my hand, feeling so nostalgic, as memories of mother, and even father, together for Christmas. Us sitting together by the fire, mother singing songs, off key. Us decorating the tree, and father reading Christmas stories. Stories.

That was when I remembered. I had left my book in the parlor. I sighed.

It was a ten minutes before midnight. Grandmother should be fast asleep by now, so I might be able to sneak downstairs to get my book back.

I lit a candle that sat on my table and opened my bedroom door.

The door lead to a dark empty corridor with only the shadows keeping watch over me.

The wood creek beneath my feet as I crept through the silence house. The flame dancing on the end of the wax string that feeds it as I passed grandmother's bedchamber and down the steps.

I slowly made my way through the dark dining room that has been cleared of all its, delectable, confections except for the castle. I headed for the dark parlor robbed of all its light except for a few small embers in the fireplace, as the clock ticked loudly in the room.

I placed the candle on a nearby table as I went to my reading chair, placing my hand under the cushion. But my book was no longer there.

So I went to the bookcase to see if someone had placed it there, but it wasn't there ether. So, the only place left to look was where grandmother would hide our toys and things to punish us for doing something bad.

I went to the table that stood next to the toy cabinet, placing the candle on top. I turned to the cabinet and opened the door, taking the key for the table drawer on the top shelf. It was once impossible to reach back when I was a small child, now I was able to reach easily.

I put the key in the lock and turn it with a loud click. Inside I found my book, laying right on top.

I picked my book up and right underneath the book was, my nutcracker, just carelessly shoved into the drawer.

I placed my book down on the table and picked up the nutcracker, carefully looking him over.

"I'm sorry," I spoke softly to the nutcracker. "They just don't understand. You mean a lot to me." I said placing him on the table and closed the drawer. "So, how do you like your new home, so far. Although, we're only going to be here for only a little while longer. Then we're off back to mine and Calvert home, then I'll be going back to boarding school after winter break.

"Don't worry," I told him. "I'll take care of you. You're going to love England, and its right outside of London, way out in the countryside, away from the noise and smog of the city."

I know that he's an inanimate object and that he can't talk or even able to hear my voice. But I felt comfortable talking to him.

I laughed. "You know, you're a really good listener. Although, it would be nice if you were able to join the conversation as well. I would love to know more about you." I told him.

It was there, I saw it, a small glimmer in his eyes. The thing that made him seem so alive. The thing that made me not call him a it.

I stared into his eyes intently till, the clock began to chime. I looked at the clock as it read midnight, Christmas Day.

"Oh no, I must go," I said picking up my book, and my nutcracker, as I began to head for the door, about ready to leave.

I took my candle holder with my free hand and was ready to head for the door when I heard, what sounded like little squeaks and some rustling that felled the room that caused me to stop. It was there that I have realized, I had forgotten to put the drawer key back and to close the cabinet doors.

I put my book, candle, and the nutcracker back down on the table, grabbing the key as I quickly placing the key back on the top shelf when the squeaking and rustling sounds began to grow louder over each chime.

My heart raced within my chest as I searched through the darkness for the source of the sounds. As the clock began to rang out its twelfth chime, the sound of flapping wings filled the empty room, coming from the direction of the clock.

I looked over to the clock as the owl relief, the one made of wood, began to stretch its wings as it flows across the room, I ducked down as it landed on top of the toy cabinet.

I looked straight ahead of me to find, hundreds upon thousands of mice coming into the light of my tiny candle in, what looked to be, small suits of armor with small swords, shields, and tiny spears in hand that shined on all the tiny mice. There among them was this one mouse, that resembles that of a rat, came into the candle light, its worn a tiny golden crown glowed brightly in tiny flame light.

"Go, go forth and gather supplies, kill whoever stops you," hissed the big one.

"All hale the Mouse King. All hale the Mouse King," the mice cheered out.

"'The Mouse King,' no, this can't be real," I cried out.

Hoping that this is all just a dream and that it would end soon.

*