Then a soft heart-warming voice called out to me. I turned to find Avery walking down the other corridor. My breath just left my lungs. She was wearing one of my mother's splendid gown. Its golden luster of embroidery looked like tiny sun rays woven into the silk.
She was so dainty and utterly beautiful in it.
As I kept staring at her with a slacked jaw, Avery stopped walking and looked uncomfortable.
"You're making me nervous, Alex," she murmured as her cheeks reddened. "Stop staring, please!"
I grinned wider and walked up to her, tipping her face back to me. Her bright violet eyes gazed into mine with so much sweetness.
"Don't be embarrassed," I said. "Words fail to describe how lovely you are in this dress."
"And you look far too overwhelming to be standing near," she responded and placed a gentle hand over my front coat.
I chuckled and landed a soft kiss on her cheek.
"But I'm still your Alex," I whispered. "And your beauty will always tingle my heart...and down there."
Avery pinched my arm lightly, and we both giggled.
Then we saw a strange man approaching us. My guards moved quickly to block his passage. The man simply bowed at me from a distance. He had golden eyes of the royal, but his well-groomed mustache, his white tuxedo, a gold cane, and this tall hat reminded me of a circus magician.
"Czarina Alexandra," he spoke with a heavy French accent. "My honor to attend your coronation today."
I looked over to Victor who stood not far away from me.
"Who's this?" I asked.
"My apologies, Grand Duchess," he said, "It has slipped my mind to inform you, we have a special guest from the Palace of Versailles. This is —"
"Jean-Phillip of France, Your Majesty," the young man said and placed his hand over his heart. "It has always been my dream to see you in person. You truly are the finest."
He ended it with another low bow. I had gotten used to such pretentious praises that it didn't amuse me.
"If you don't have anything important, I have a busy day ahead of me," I said and turned to leave. But the golden-eyed vampire spoke hurriedly again.
"Wait, Your Majesty! I'm also a good friend of Grand Duchess Anastasia," he said.
My brow arched at the sound of my sister's name and I turned to look back at him again.
"You know my sister?"
"Her highness spent her sojourn in my palace before she came back here," he explained. "Forgive me for my rude interruption earlier. I was just wondering why I haven't seen her with you on such an important day."
Avery touched my arm and wore a concerned look. I knew what she was thinking. I grazed her hand lightly with my thumb to comfort her.
"Get to the point, Jean-Phillip," I said. "I don't have all day."
"Of course, Your Majesty," he said. "In fact, it's about the favor Grand Duchess Anastasia penned to me in her letter."
I looked at Victor. He, too, seemed surprised by this.
“What letter?”
“Since Grand Duchess Anastasia isn’t here, I’m afraid I’ll have to talk to you in person,” he said.
Obviously, the news about Anastasia was highly classified under my order. Hardly anyone knew about the missing Grand Duchess; at least not yet. But the truth would somehow find its way to the surface sooner or later. It was inevitable.
I cleared my throat.
"I'm pleased that you came to honor me today." I said. "After the crowning ceremony, come back to my palace, so we can talk in private."
"Indeed, I will," the Frenchman replied with a smile.
AVERY AND I BOARDED a grandiose carriage accompanied by the troop of imperial guards on horseback. The cavalry squadrons soon began to move through the Red Square. All the while, the city was resonated with the pealing of a thousand bells.
The procession started from the Kremlin Palace towards the Dormition Cathedral.
I was still thinking about the earlier encounter with Jean-Philip, wondering what Anastasia had planned for the war before she was taken away. Avery reached for my hand and rubbed it gently. I turned my face to her and gave her a small smile.
"Are you alright, Alex?" she asked softly. She knew me too well. I shook my head to dismiss the concerns in her eyes.
"I should ask you that," I said. "How do you feel about all this?"
"I just hope I don't fall on my face and embarrass you in front of the people."
I laughed. She was the only one who could make me laugh in any circumstance, but I also knew we both tried to cast the thought of my sister aside and focused on the matter at hand.
"I thought you weren't clumsy anymore," I teased her. "Guess I was wrong. You're still pretty much human."
She nudged me good-naturedly while giggling. I held her in my arms as we drove through the dead capital.
"I didn't know how incredibly huge Moscow is until now," she sighed.
"Well,” I said. “The Moskvichs used to spend too lavishly on theaters and galleries. Over time, the city had earned a variety of nicknames: the Third Rome, the First Throne, or the Whitestone. I think the last one is more fitting now. Seeing all the white frozen places, it's like we're inside a giant snow globe."
Avery's lips carved into a smile as she lifted her head to look at me.
"How delightful it would be if it wasn't so quiet," she said and rested her head on my shoulder again.
"I know."
We passed through squares and fountains. The buildings were all blanketed in a thick veil of frosty whiteness. Then the parade halted in the middle of a cobbled square surrounded by large stone buildings of the cathedral.
From the towers, the bells chimed. Their sounds were purified by the coldness of the winter breeze. We passed through the grand entrance then went towards the central edifice. The windows and doors were decorated with flowers and rich tapestries.
There were two rows of horse troop before the foot soldiers standing in precise formations on both sides. Some of them were from the various regions of Europe. Foreign soldiers also served in the imperial army.
If I wasn't mistaken, I could have sworn there was a motley stirring among the crowd. Although I knew humans were also allowed to attend the event, there was something different about them. They looked tough and strong, not like the way most humans here should be.
I tried to look at the back rows across the sun-drenched square, but the snow burned my eyes with its brightness.
Then more guards riding on horses flooded the area.
Victor, who was sitting at the front of our chariot, turned and said to me. "For more protection, Your Majesty. I sense something unusual."
I nodded back.
"What's wrong?" Avery asked.
I shook my head with a smile.
"It's nothing. Don't worry."
The trumpets blared and all the soldiers made a military salute at my arrival.
Afterward, we got out of the chariot and were escorted by the guards. We walked through the doors into a narrow passage. Other high-ranking officers and invited guests were already waiting. Most of them were diplomats and royalties from other nations.
Inside the cathedral, the gold-painted frescoes gleamed from the numerous chandeliers above us.
"Respected nobles and official guests," the herald made an announcement, "all who come on this day to pay your homage and service to your future Czarina, may you welcome Her Imperial Highness Alexandra Romanov, the rightful heir to the Russian Throne."
Following the tradition of the Byzantine emperors, I had to place the crown on my own head. In the long forgotten days, this left no doubt that, the power came directly from God. I found the notion ridiculous, considering how far I had fallen from grace now.
The attendants on both sides bowed as I walked down the aisle towards the Diamond Throne.
Avery walked a few steps behind me. She was obviously nervous with such a formal ritual. I slowed my pace and reached out to take her hand. Her violet eyes widened even more a
s she looked back at me. I smiled and squeezed her hand gently to comfort her. She smiled back.
We reached the canopied dais in the center of the hall.
I didn't see Jean-Phillip in the crowd. The people stood up to watch me climb the steps towards the seat of power.
Avery tried to move away, but I kept a firm grip of her hand.
"Alex...?" she whispered in panic. But I ignored her plea.
The first of the royal officer was appointed to bear the crown my father had worn. It was also the same one Catherine the Great had worn for her coronation. The bearer knelt and proffered the crown and the royal scepter on the crimson velvet cushion to me.
I went ahead and took the crown, adorning it on my head. It was surprisingly heavier than it looked with all the diamonds and pearls encasing it. Another officer brought out the purple cloak and draped it over my shoulders.
"Hereby we pronounced Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna Romanova, Empress of the whole Russian people, Her Majesty Czarina of all Russias from this day onward!"
Fully adorned with the imperial regalia, I turned around towards the people. It was the time I had to give my speech.
"I solemnly swear to govern our nation and territories, to any of them belonging or pertaining to the Empire, according to the laws and customs. I will in my power make peace and justice, in mercy and in all my judgments."
Everyone bowed once more, acknowledging my oath.
But as soon as the swearing in was done, we heard the sound of canons.
At first, we thought it was the ceremonial canons. But then a cry of struggle echoed outside. Suddenly, a piercing scream of a woman in the hall startled the guests. Another man dropped to his knees with blood gushing out of his mouth. A blade stuck on his back. Terrors struck with the sounds of furniture and vases smashing on the marble floor.
More cries echoed off the high ceiling as people collapsed one by one, all wounded or dead.
The screaming chaos startled the attendants as they were trying to escape.
Out of nowhere, a group of black-masked men appeared. Others got rid of their disguise amongst the guests and royal guards spread out around the hall, attacking the vampire soldiers with surprising ease.
They had blended in among us all along.
Avery gasped beside me. She held onto my arm as we stood motionless on the dais.
"It's the Hunters," I said. "Stay close to me."
Victor commanded the remaining guards to gather around us for our protection. Suddenly, the front doors slammed shut. It seemed the hunters had planned to trap us in and ambush us.
From the upper galleries of the cathedral, more of them dropped to the ground like black spiders. Our soldiers went to counterattack, but they were shot down and fell lifeless instantly. Vampires couldn't be easily killed by mere bullets, but it seemed they were no longer immune to those weapons—a special invention of the hunters, I supposed.
As the bodies of dead vampires piled up, I pulled Avery closer at my side. The rest of the royal guards came to the dais to form a protective shield around me.
"The Cossacks! They're also here!"
The others were wounded and dripping blood.
I could hear the sounds of wailing horses galloping outside. They came by the hundreds, if not thousands. The firing sound of canons was ceaseless around the city.
Suddenly, about a dozen of hunters in sleek leather outfits appeared from both sides of us. They swiftly made their way forward through the fallen guards.
But instead of attacking us, they kept their ground as if to wait for someone's order.
"It won't do you any good," a man's voice spoke from the aisle.
The man had black hair and black beard. He looked too familiar. It wasn't long before I remembered who he was.
"Leon Trotsky?"
"Your memory is well-preserved, Your Majesty," he said, smiling easily back. "It's been over a century since I have heard of you."
"Likewise," I said. "And I believe you're not here to celebrate my coronation, are you?"
The man laughed.
"I'm afraid not," he said. "You have been a thorn in the people's hearts for too long. I wish we didn't have to come to this, but I'm sorry it has to end this way."
I smiled back.
"Too bad then," I said. "I hope you don't blame yourself for such a reckless decision."
As our gazes locked, I could see a spark of puzzlement lit in the man's eyes.
"We have captured you right in your den," he said. "Shouldn't your words be a little nicer to the captors, Empress Alexandra?"
"Oh, I would like to see who captures whom exactly."
Without another word, I waved my hand over my shoulder to Victor. He nodded at my order and spoke a one-word command into his com unit.
The walls of the building slid open and out came the Imperial Army. This time the hunters were outnumbered. By then, they realized what I had waiting for them.
Suddenly, a female hunter jumped down from the ceiling and landed a few feet from me. She drew out a schiavona with a silver hilt. Two soldiers raised their guns, but she disarmed them with a single slash of her blade across their throats.
Victor tried to fend her off with his own sword, but she slipped by him like shadow and stabbed him in the side. Then she kicked him down the steps. The old vampire fell off the dais.
The same huntress walked towards us purposefully. I turned Avery away. My sharp teeth flashed out in a snarl.
But a sharp whistling sound pierced through the sky.
In another heartbeat, a great part of the church's roof and doors were blown away and reduced to rubble in a blink. I wrapped my arms around Avery, covering us both with my cloak.
Trotsky was fast to escape behind a pillar. He was evidently taken aback by the unexpected surprise. The remaining hunters who had dodged the explosion soon recovered to their senses and staggered back on their feet from under the broken debris.
Then we heard a too-familiar voice from across the aisle.
"Stop!"
Everyone froze and turned around. I could hear Avery gasp in utter surprise.
Anastasia was standing in the hall, looking at us. I straightened myself back to have a look at her properly. It was truly her, alive and...different.
After a long suffering moment, she finally spoke.
"Hello, sister."
Chapter 34
Anastasia
A PROLONG 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 looked back at her, locking our gazes with an indescribable feeling. It was both of joy and sadness with a trace of nostalgic pain all at once. Despite every nuance her new life as a vampire had shown me, she was still the same woman who once captured my heart.
I stepped forward as a confirmation, and that was all it took for the former love of my life to dash through the hall towards me. She was heedless of what had happened around us. I guessed that was probably why I fell in love with this girl in the first place. Her raw emotions and pure heart were always her strongest quality. And a huge part of me was relieved that she still remembered me.
Avery threw her arms around me and began to sob.
"Oh Anastasia, you're alive!" Avery cried, tightening her hold around me. "I almost lost all hope of seeing you again. I'm glad you came back!"
My arms slowly enveloped her small frame.
"Avery..." I started to speak but stopped. My voice was strained with buried feelings.
I
t'd been years. However, seeing her again wasn't as hard as I had anticipated. We then pulled away from each other's arms. Avery studied my face with a look of reminiscence in her eyes. I stole a quick glance at my sister. But her face remained unchanged. Suddenly Avery gasped. Her bright violet eyes went me to someone from behind. I turned and found Valerina standing there.
Avery instinctively recoiled from fear of the huntress, but I reassured her.
"Don't worry, she's not going to harm you."
"Who is she?" Avery asked softly.
"That's Valerina. She's..." I began, but at that moment, I seemed to have difficulty telling my former lover about Valerina.
If the huntress had noticed my awkward pause, she didn't show it.
Then we heard another group of people coming in. An unfamiliar troop of guards, and among them was my old acquaintance from the night in Versailles. Jean-Philip looked around the broken place with a visible shock.
His guards promptly raised their rifles, pointing their barrels at the remaining hunters in the room.
"Your Majesty, are you alright? I saw the fighting going everywhere in the city. Just say a word, I will send in my Air Force."
Alex raised her palm up in refusal.
"We've got this, Jean-Philip," she said then turned to the leader of the Hunters. "Tell your people to stop this bloodshed, and I will spare you and everyone you've brought here today."
Trotsky stared at my sister in silence. But Alex wasn't making an empty threat. She always meant what she said. And the General sensed it, too. He turned his face to me. A slight apologetic look crossed like a shadow on his face. But we had far more serious matter to deal with, and I let him know it by averting my eyes back to my sister.
"General, we must never surrender!" the Alpha cried in protest. "We're this close! Let me kill her."
"Malena, shut up!" Vale yelled, "Everyone's life is at stake. Just drop your weapon. There has to be a way out of this, trust me."
"What are you talking about?" her sister cried. "This is what we've been training to do — to kill the Czar's daughters and liberate the humans."
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