I dropped a wild rabbit onto Anastasia's lap.
"You must feed," I said. When the storm had slackened outside, I went out for a quick hunt near the wood.
Anastasia was sitting on the floor. She had properly dressed after I bandaged her wounds. It was a wonder how she could heal and recover so fast, but then again, she wasn't a normal vampire. Although there was still a glint of tiredness in her eyes, she was now in a better state than she had been a while ago.
It still terrified me how I came so close to losing her. And never in my life had I felt this tremendous flood of relief when I saw that face came alive again. The sorrow and grief dispersed like dark clouds breaking away from the sky. Now my beloved princess was glowing in her own immortal radiance again.
We made love again, and I was pleased that I could satisfy Anastasia just as she did me. But the blissful moment didn't last long. As I laying satiated in her arms, Anastasia suddenly pulled away and probed herself on her elbow with searching eyes."Tell me, Valerina..." she said. I felt my body stiffen at the serious tone in her voice."Tell you what?" I asked, tilting my head to stare at her."Is it true that you and Trotsky were planning to assassinate my sister?"I felt cold all over from the guilt."Anastasia...I'm sorry..." I tried to speak but she pressed a finger to my lips."I won't hold you at fault," she said. "Just tell
AlexandraThe winter was harsh this year. The sun was stripped of its light and warmth. Trees sent up crooked, bare branches into the frostbitten air. From the vertex of the palace tower, I stood watching the sky with snow-packed clouds hover over the ghost city.It was the scene that made my heart clench with haunting memories.On this day, three years ago when the weather as cold and bitter as this morning, I lay dying in the midst of betrayal and jealousy. Ever since I was back in Moscow, I hadn't thought of it once.Now, I remembered what had happened so vividly like I was reliving it. I wouldn't have lost just my life but also a chance at love wi
AnastasiaA prolonged silence; though transient and fragile, nobody dared break it. In her imperial cloak, freshly anointed and crowned, my older sister was now a Czarina in her own right. Yet what surprised me was the conflicted look on her face. I could see a flash of memories and relief shining through those golden eyes. There was also a glimpse of guilt there as she stared at me.Then another face appeared into my sight."Ana."Her soft whisper of my name made my heart beat out of rhythm. Hearing her voice again brought back a strong poignant sensation I hadn't experienced for many years.I looke
After the negotiation was over, and everything was more or less settled down, we all returned to the Kremlin Palace. The two generals were offered a base to assemble their army outside the city. The other parliament representatives, though reluctant to the idea of joining our mortal enemy, finally accepted my sister's decree. They had no choice but to act civilized for the sake of peace.Alex and I wanted a private moment just between us, sisters. We went into our father's office. My sister closed the doors and then she came to give me an unabashed long hug. I was a bit surprised by her sisterly affection. It had been so many decades since we'd ever shown it to each other. I felt like a child again, but in a way, I was still the same baby sister in her eyes.Alexandra had changed a lot, too. The older sister, whom I grew up with, had so
Outside the window of the Winter Palace hung a pale crescent moon in the sky. We stood by the fireplace in my chamber. The fire burned away, casting its golden light over our faces. Valerina let me undo the laces of her bodice. Her heart pounded like a moth caught in a flame. I had to remind myself that standing before me was a fearsome assassin on the battlefield, someone who could draw enemy's blood without making a sound, but she was also a human, capable of feeling emotions and untamed desires.I brought my lips to hers, hoping to dissipate her nervousness. She let out a soft moan into my mouth."No need to be nervous," I told her between kisses. "It's not like I haven't seen you before, and obviously it's not like we haven't had sex, is it?"Vale pulled back to glare at me. Her de
The Kremlin needed serious defense against the Kaiser's force. We installed multiple bunkers around the borders. The German Emperor had turned his target towards Russia as predicted. His troop had occupied Poland, our primary ally. Now, he was coming for Belarus, the last of our protection. Soon, our enemy would be at our gates in less than three months.That wasn't a lot of time to get ready. The rise of the Japanese Imperial Army left Alex with no choice but to split half of our force. It was rumored that their gigantic automatons were unstoppable, capable of great destruction and carnage on any scale. My sister had come up with an idea using an autobot called the Mole. It was the size of a warehouse, an enormous subterranean robot that burrowed through the ground and mountains with its sharp driller."The Mole is a new invention from
Inside the warm tearoom, I sat watching the frost frame the glass windows. Everywhere was under a thick sheet of snow. This winter seemed like it would go on forever, freezing the earth to its core.Avery poured some hot chamomile tea into my cup."Sugar?" she said, but I shook my head."I like it as it is, thanks," I said.She stirred the sweet-scented brew, letting hot steam drift into the air and disappeared. Then she put the silver spoon down and held the cup towards me. I accepted the drink with a smile.Her fingers were as cold as mine when I touched them. Although I already expected to find some changes in her, this still overwhelmed me. Avery didn't seem to notice my surprise
ValerinaA few weeks later, after the Czarina left Kremlin with the Cossacks, the Alpha and I were asked to detail our assassin soldiers to help defend against the growing recruit-militia of the Kaiser.I refilled the quicksilver bullets into the pistols and cleaned the retractable double blades before strapping them to my body.My work was interrupted by a messenger from Trotsky, bidding me come to the headquarter as quickly as possible. Sensing trouble and worried about it, I had prayed that we did not face any loophole in our plans and everything was in good order. I packed the remaining weapons I thought I might need into the saddlebag and left.I