How to play piano

The room is dim despite the afternoon sun pressing faintly through tall, narrow windows draped in heavy burgundy curtains. Dust swirls in the muted shafts of light, drifting over the richly patterned wallpaper—deep green, overlaid with swirling gold vines that have dulled with age. The scent of polished mahogany and old coal lingers in the air, mixed with the faint metallic smell from the fireplace grate.

Carved furniture dominates the space. A heavy armoire stands against the wall, its clawed feet gripping the floor like an old guardian. A grandfather clock ticks with slow, deliberate authority, its pendulum cutting the silence with an almost stern rhythm. A large rug—woven with intricate floral motifs—covers most of the floor, though time has worn it thin in patches.

At the center of the room a young boy is trying to play piano.

Jule's POV:

"Ugh I can't do it. I don't even know basic spells sister."

"Julie come on you got a try a little more. Believe me you're gonna do just fine."

"I don't know what got into father. He wants me to play piano at the banquet."

"This is so fucking hard." I groaned under my breath as I stopped playing for the hundredth time, mouth forming an unconscious pout.

Aynacat my favorite sister laughed softly as she nudged me sideways and slid into my vacated spot, dainty fingers already hovering over the colorless piano keys.

"It really isn't. You just need to give into the magic inside of you and let it flow through your fingers seamlessly." She murmured, patient as ever. I let out a huff as I brushed my hair from my face as I spoke.

"Believe me, I've been doing just that but it still isn't working!"

Father had asked me to master this for over two weeks but I never fully devoted myself to learning it, until he suddenly informed me over lunch this that I'd be showcasing my newly acquired skills at the ball he was hosting tonight. Which is why I've been trying to master an art which took every other magical being at least three weeks to master.

I won't ever end the dumb allegations at this rate.

"You need to take in a deep breath and hold it in before you start." Aynacat continued and I forced myself to focus, because my life depended on this lesson.

Father really hated disappointments, and should I embarrass him tonight by messing up in front of his important guests, I knew my punishment wouldn't be something tame.

After practicing for hours until my fingers felt like it was about to fall off, Aynacat forced me to stop, claiming that I had learnt enough and would have to work with all that I had managed to master. I wanted to protest but I knew I needed to get ready for the ball, and so I gave in and hurried through the spacious halls, heading for my bedroom.

I passed one of my five brothers in the hallway, the one who came right before Aynacat. He flicked my forehead as he walked past, and I turned around and cursed him out, but he only laughed. All my siblings loved me as I was the last born child.

As I got ready after taking a quick shower, I sent a quick prayer to the winds, praying that I wouldn't mess up tonight, and also for tonight's ball to flow smoothly and end on a good note.

But, little did I know that the night wasn't gonna end on a good note.

"Jule!" Mother called out frantically, forehead etched with worry as she held out a hand to me, beaconing me over. I closed the distance at once, sinking into her warm embrace.

Her scent filled up my nose at once, the scent of the beach and the scent of rain blended together along with a flowery undertone, and that familiar scent managed to calm my racing heart a little.

"My little boy." She murmured as she carded her fingers through my hair. Even though I was all grown up, my mother still treated me like a baby, and I soaked up every second of it at every chance that I could.

"Mama, I'm nervous... what if I mess something up?" I whispered as I slowly pulled out of her embrace to stare at her flawlessly beautiful face. The large ballroom which I had been practicing in for the most of the day is now filled to the brim with warlocks and witches of various covens who are in good times with my father's reign.

One look at the crowded ballroom made me second guess myself at once, because I was yet to perfect the piano doing art yet, and I was expected to play in front of that kind of crowd tonight.

Mother leaned forward and brushed a kiss against my head, hand cupping my cheek. "Don't think about it too much, okay? I'm sure you'd do well. Your best is all that matters."

I chewed on my bottom lip for a moment as a thought resurfaced in my mind. "But, what about Father? He's gonna kill me if I mess up tonight."

Mother let out a soft laughter. "He won't, don't be silly." She admonished and I nodded slowly, swallowing down the rest of my worries.

Father was a scary man, which was why it still shocked me till date how he had been able to get married to a woman as flawless and pure hearted as my mother.

My father wasn't a passionate man. He almost never shows any emotions.He was cold and sometimes, scary.

"Go on in, dear. Aynacat is in there. Go mingle with a few people and let your mind be settled, before it gets to the time for your performance. It's gonna be alright, okay?" She murmured, a warm smile on her face.

I nodded slowly and she brushed a kiss against my cheek before pushing me in the direction of the ballroom.

I let out a long breath on stopping at the doorway.

Alright, here goes nothing.

On stepping into the ballroom, all eyes were on me at once, and I squirmed under all the attention, feeling extremely uncomfortable under all the peering gazes.

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