"Nicholai.. what...?" I began in confusion, but he cut me off with a harsh command. "Get dressed!" and with that he turned and strode from the room. I sat on the bed, completely taken aback by this bizarre new turn of events.
In a hurriied manner, I got dressed and went down to Nicholai's study. Taking several deep breaths and swallowing the lump in my throat, I steeled myself and pushed open the heavy oak door. 
Nicholai was fully dressed now and waiting for me, as soon as he spotted me he began walking out the door, no doubt expecting me to follow him. When I didn't, he turned around, his expression showing clearly his annoyance. 

"Nicholai, aren't you going to explain ..erm.. what exactly you're ..er.. t- talking about.. I - i don't know anything about a true love .. or whatever ". I stammered quietly. He raised an eyebrow, and walked slowly toward me. 
"Don't you dare lie to me Celia.. I saw the note." He said in a dangerously low voice. 
throwing my arms up in the air, I shreiked in exasperation. "What note?!... what are you talking about?!" I was starting to get angry now, his eyes flashed in warning, but I was far too heated to take any notice. "Nicholai.. please stop talking rubbish and explain exactly what you mean by all this ...nonsense!" 
I knew I'd gone too far, I'd never spoken to Nicholai like that before, and he seemed as shocked as me at the words that'd just left my mouth. Once he snapped out of his shock however, he delivered a painful slap as I knew he would. 

I whimpered and clutched my bruise cheek. looking down, I caught sight of the glinting gems on my bony wrist.
with tears in my eyes, I yelled at him desperately, "fine!.. if you won't believe me, then see for yourself!..." and with that, I yanked the delicate bracelet of my wrist. I don't know exactly what I expected to happen, but the last thing I expected was to feel all my energy drain from me, and to suddenly collapse to the floor as everything went black...

When I woke up, it was back in our bed. I craned my neck to the side and saw Nicholai sitting in an armchair beside the bed. he looked wan and thoroughly drained. His normaly glowing skin seemed rather grey and lackluster. He sensed I was awake and lifted his face from where it was buried in his hands, I inhaled sharply when I saw his eyes. They were bloodshot and swollen, almost as though he'd been... crying.

"So, do you believe me, now that you've read my mind, and seen for yourself that I know nothing about any of this." I whispered raspily. 
He remained silent, his face completely passive, and I wondered If he'd even heard me at all. 
"I didn't get a chance to read your mind... that was kinda not my biggest priority considering you were probably about to die." he replied in a monotone. Shocked, I tried to sit up, but he stilled me. So I settled for, whisper-screaming, "Dying?!.. I think that's a bit of an exageration.. I just passed out." 

He uttered a humourless laugh. "you are so foolish sometimes.. but I suppose it's not entirely your fault, I never did warn you of what would happen if you tried to remove the bracelet.. but then again, I never thought you'd see a reason to." 
He spoke slowly and quietly, almost as though talking to himself and not to me. 
"The bracelet.. it's magic comes from you.. your life force, so the longer you wear it, the more it becomes part of you... it becomes your life - force. So when you took it off, it was like you drained all your life - force... so no, Celia, you didn't just pass out." He whispered bitterly. and there was something else i his tone, something I couldn't quite identify.
"Infact, you shouldn't have been able to take off the bracelet at all.. and certainly not with such ease... not - not unless you had such an incredibly strong desire for me to read your thoughts that it over-rode the magic." There was a slight question in his tone, and I nodded slightly, answering. "I - I just needed you to know.. I.. that I wasn't lying to you..... N- nichoali, does this mean you believe me now?" I asked almost inaudibly, barely daring to hope. 

He laughed bitterly, and shook his head slightly. Mistaking this for a reply to me question. I began to weep silently. Wipind my tears away, Nicholai whispered, "no.. no, Celia, don't cry.. I wasn't shaking my head saying no.. I jus.. I can't understand you.. I just told you that you almost died, but all you're worried about is if I believe you or not.... you're incredible!." 
I waited with baited breath, unsure if this was good or bad, then slowly his face split into the biggest grin.. it was the first time I'd seen Nicholai smile properly, with no wickedness or cruelty in his eyes.. I beamed joyfully back at him.. maybe there was hope for us yet...
I mean 'you're incredible'.. isn't  'I love you'... but it's a start.!.. I mused to myself....