"Listen to me, Alpha," I spoke up. "There's a new war brewing. Like it or not, we must put our hatred aside and talk things out. This is not the time to kill anyone."
"You know it's pointless trying to persuade us," the Alpha growled vehemently.
"You can kill me and my sister, but the world is still overrun by the vampires," I said and looked back at the General. "And you wouldn't believe there are worst things than us coming. If you just call off your operation, I will show you a better way out of this. You can have my words."
"This killing thing is unnecessary on both sides," Vale pleaded, looking at Trotsky. "Please, you know Anastasia. She's earned her place among us now. You have to listen to her."
"Do you believe her, Valerina?" Trotsky said at last. The huntress looked at my face. I stared back at her. And without breaking our eye contact, she nodded.
"I do believe her with all my heart," she said.
After a short while, the General finally turned his gaze back at Alexandra.
"We're not surrendered."
"General!" Valerina cried.
He held up a finger to her as if to say he hadn't finished.
"But we will call it a truce."
HAVING DETAILED THE Cossacks of his new plan, he ordered the recruit-militia to withdraw their attack temporarily.
"It's the only way to end this conflict between our people," I said as we all sat inside the parliament hall of Biley Dom. Across the table was Krasnoff, leader of the Cossack, and Trotsky, leader of the Hunters. The Alpha and Valerina were sitting beside each other. I was with my sister, who sat at the head of the table. Avery sat quietly beside me.
"I'm afraid I can't take any chance with you, Your Highness,," Krasnoff said. "We no longer serve the Czar family, and we can't remain silent under your authority anymore. Do you have any idea how much risk we're taking right now just to sit here with you? Humans fighting alongside their predators is unheard of."
I knew Krasnoff wouldn't budge so easily when I first proposed this idea.
"We have a common enemy, Generals," this time, Alex spoke. "Maybe you should know that every minute we spend talking, the Kaiser is spreading terrors everywhere."
"My sister doesn't ask you to serve us," I said in a leveled tone. "You're serving yourselves. The German Emperor is setting out for a world domination. His army is a nightmare not only to us but your people as well. Russia is the only nation to stand up against the Kaiser. Now our home is like a wall between them and their goal, and they would love to break it down any time soon."
Valerina looked across the table at me. Then I turned my face to Trotsky.
"You accepted me among your people, didn’t you?" I said. "You honor strength and leadership. Why don't we join force and stop this invasion?"
He frowned back and then shook his head. "You're different. But I don't think my hunters have the same trust with your sister."
Alexandra's golden eyes darted to mine. I let out a sigh and spoke again.
"Now you're talking about trust with me?" I spat back, feeling irritated. "You all have betrayed me, putting me in a hibernation and plotting to murder my only sister. And yet here I am trying be civilized with you. God knows I tried to understand your choice. But you should be thankful that I didn't die before I got here, otherwise, your suicide mission would be the end of every single one of you."
Silence thickened in the room. I could feel my own heart pumping with anger.
"Anastasia, what happened?" Alex asked me out of concern. That was when I realized Alexandra didn't know about General Konstantin being a traitor or what had happened to me back at camp. I guessed I would have to explain her everything afterward.
"Now is not the time to talk about me," I said and waved it off. Avery's hand quickly reached for mine in empathy. I looked back at her. My chest tightened from the old feelings we used to share. Our eyes lingered for a tiny moment before I gave her a small smile and looked away. But I caught another pair of eyes across the table. Valerina's face seemed a little flustered. It hit me that my interaction with Avery didn't go unnoticed by the huntress.
Then Alex stood up and addressed to our guests again.
"I have ordered our scientists to create a special drug that will sustain the vampires without the need of blood."
It came as a surprise to everyone, including me.
"If 'trust' is what you seek, I will present it to you, and I will use it on every vampire soldiers we have," she went on. "At least, it will ensure your peace of mind and believe that this isn't a trap."
"A drug to curb the need of blood?" the Alpha asked. "How could it be possible?"
"We have been working on this experiment since I was still away from the government," Alex simply said. "It was just a dream at that time. To stop our bloodlust permanently. Now this dream is nothing sort of a reality."
"How does it work?" Trotsky asked, looking genuinely impressed.
"The drug is a concentrated substance that imitated the chemicals within the human blood cells," she answered, "When injected, it will trick the brain to feel no hunger. Nobody knows about this breakthrough yet. You're the first people I told."
"Is it some sort of a cure?" Krasnoff asked.
"No," my sister simply told him. "The flaw of this drug is that, the vampires will grow weak over time and will eventually die from their undetectable thirst. It's a self-sabotage substance. Of course, using it on our kind won't do us any good when the war comes."
"You trust us this much to tell us about this secret?" Krasnoff said. "Aren’t you afraid that we could get a hold of it and then it would be the downfall of your government? Who knows? We could revolt against you again, and it would be too late for you to regret it."
"I have no regrets," Alex said matter-of-factly. "And I highly doubt you would want to do that if you saw what's coming our way."
Then she tapped on a panel screen that was embedded on table and the room went dark. The light projected images of the newly resurrected soldiers of the Kaiser. I remembered the disturbing images when Konstantin first presented them to me. They were an army of cogs and gas steam and rotten flesh. This time, there were even some clips of their military attack as they invaded the smaller nations across Europe. The prisoners whom they had captured would go through the gas and mechanical operation to be one of them.
"The emperor is growing his army. His greed fuels his power," my sister said. "He's fulfilling his long-lost dream of controlling the world. His force is like a storm leaving ruin in its wake. We're not just preparing for the war, we're preparing for a global extinction."
"I see," Trotsky spoke at last. "That's why you want us to fight with you."
"Well, unless you think you can defend yourselves against the Kaiser’s undead army," Alex said, which made the General laugh.
"You have the mind of a competent ruler, Alexandra Romanov — always one step ahead of us," he admitted. "I thought we came here to get rid of you, but now I found myself sitting here admiring your grace. Your diplomatic skills are far better than your father's, I have to say."
Alex's face remained the same, but I knew she didn't like the compliment that much. The General knew that too. He was testing her patience, and he liked what he found in her.
"Do we have an agreement?" Alex asked straightforwardly.
Trotsky stood up, looking between me and my sister in obvious consideration. Then he smiled and gave a small nod of acceptance.
"Yes, we do, Czarina Alexandra."
Chapter 35
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 somehow emerged from the depth of a cold-hearted one once again. Thanks to Avery. It’s amazing how love does to people.
"I'm glad you came back, sister," she said. I nodded with a smile. "We were so worried about you. I tried every which way possible to find you, believe me, I really did."
I shook my head.
"It's alright, Alex," I said. "Now I'm here. Nothing to beat yourself up about."
She looked me over again, and her dark brow knitted with questions.
"What are you wearing, Anastasia?" she asked. "I almost couldn't recognize you at first."
"Vale gave them to me. It's the hunter outfits," I told her.
"Vale?"
"Valerina," I said. "She's the Beta of the Hunter. She saved my life."
"What happened?" Alex asked with a frown. "I thought Konstantin had found you."
"He did," I said grimly. "And he tried to kill me."
"What?" she cried, eyes widened in disbelief.
"He'd been working for the Kaiser in secret."
"He's a turncoat?"
"Probably also a spy."
"Damn it! I knew there was something fishy about him. Where is he now?"
"He's dead. I killed him, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to stop the hunters from killing you."
But Alex had a look of trying to register everything.
"I already knew the Hunters would come," she said after a while. “I just didn’t expect they came with the Cossacks. To be honest, we couldn’t take them down easily if the fight really broke out, so I am in debt to you, sister.”
"Well," I said, smiling. "I’m just glad everyone is fine."
Then we smiled at each other. Alex sighed again.
"Avery misses you, Anastasia," she told me. "We all do."
"I know." I nodded.
"I hope everything is alright with you," Alex said in an apologetic tone. "I don't want to live with the thought of you still resenting us."
"No sister, I have no resentment or regrets," I told her honestly. "Believe me, there's nothing to forgive. I had accepted it and moved on. You both are not at fault."
She stared at me as if searching for something in my mind.
"You seem more like your old self again," Alex noted with her keen look. "I wonder if some hunter girl has been taking a great care of you, Anastasia."
There was a teasing glint in her eyes, and I couldn't help burst laughing.
"I hate to admit that you're right."
IN THE STATE RECEPTION hall, a fine banquet was held for everyone. After the reconciliation from both sides, Alex decided a small celebration was a sign of our mutual agreement with the Hunters and the Cossacks. There were music and dance and fine wine with the delicious feast. The hunters and the Cossacks still huddled together, wide-eyes at their surroundings. But for once, we could be in the same room without hacking each other to pieces. It was a miracle in itself.
Then Trotsky approached me with two wine glasses in his hands.
"Anastaisa," he said, handing me one of the glasses.
"General," I greeted him and accepted the drink.
"I would like to make a sincere apology to you," he began, "People have to do things they're not proud of to survive. I don't expect you to forgive me, but at least, I hope you understand my view."
"Any of us would have made the decision you made," I said. "I'm not one to hold grudges."
"In truth, the operation wasn't intended to assassinate your sister," Trotsky confessed. I arched my brow at him.
"Then what?"
The General took a sip of his wine.
"We wanted to capture her and convert her to our cause like we did with you."
I laughed.
"She can't be easily persuaded," I said.
"I don't have to," he said. "Your sister, the Czarina, is already well on the way."
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone will come around after they no longer see the meaning in all these," he said, gesturing to the happy voices, smiling faces, of a world that was still grandiose.
"You think she will give it all up?" I asked.
"You know her more than I do," he said. "But I could see the trait in the Romanov sisters."
"What is it?"
"Deep down, you both have a good heart," he said. "Let it guide you."
Then he smiled and tipped his glass before strolling away.
Maybe the General was right. I had my doubt with Alex before, but after everything that happened, it was as if she was a different person. No, that’s not right. It was as if she was her again.
My sister seemed to have found something better than power and glory, something more heart-warming than just the memory of those four lovely sisters in happier times, of their many shared joys and sorrows – the laughing faces under the brims of their big flower-trimmed hats.
She had moved on.
I looked around the room until I spotted my sister and Avery. They never left each other's side. Avery's hands kept fussing over my sister’s dress the way she always did when she was shy. I could see the tenderness as they stared at each other. And I felt a wave of happiness I had never known before. It caressed and warmed my heart. It was an insouciant feeling. Seeing my two beloved people in the world being so much in love made me truly happy.
And because of this, the need to find Valerina again seemed unbearably compelling in that moment. I wondered why she hadn't shown up yet. After a moment, I decided to look for her.
The party dragged on, and I finally found Vale at one of the corners among the other hunters. She was dressing in a beautiful lacy red gown. With a smile, I started towards her, but when she saw me, she looked away and quickly looped her gloved hand around Damir's arm. A newly-formed smile slid off my face. I stopped and stood, looking at her in confusion. Anger spread like snake's venom in my chest.
What is she doing with him?
But at the same time, I saw Lyra. She was accompanied by her former master, Jean-Philip. There was a nervous look in her eyes. I decided to go to the French gentleman instead.
"Oh hello, Your Highness," the French royal said in his usual accented voice. "I thought I wouldn't see you again. How have you been?"
"What's Lyra doing here with you?" I asked. "She's not your slave anymore."
Lyra dropped her gaze to the floor.
"I just found her wandering around with no one to take care of her," he replied with an innocent smile. "I thought you no longer enjoyed her company, so I decided to welcome her back."
"You have given her to me, Jean-Philip, she's free now. You can't take her," I said then turned to the human girl. "Lyra, come over here."
The man burst out laughing.
"My goodness, you seem to have caught some angry fever from somewhere!" he said. "Of course, the girl belongs to you indeed. I did not mean to offend you, Grand Duchess."
Then he stepped aside and gestured for Lyra to come to me. She did as she was instructed and floated back to my side. I saw Valerina and Damir watching us from the corner. And it prompted me to put my hand around Lyra's waist, holding her body closer to me. It could have been my sheer annoyance at seeing Vale and Damir together that made me do this.
"Jean-Philip, I'm glad you have decided to join us," I said. "But meanwhile, we're having a political progress here, let's just keep some personal boundaries."
"Sure thing, Your Highness," he said. "And I haven't forgotten about the offer you mentioned in your letter to me yet."
I knew he would bring it up as a reminder that I still owed him a favor.
"Have you talked to my sister yet?"
"Yes, we have," he replied. "A clever bargainer she is."
"What is her say on that matter?"
"She would support me being the Dauphin of France unless the war ends with victory on your side," he said with a rather unsatisfied look. "I have yet decided whether to take the offer."
It had been evident that this young royal blood was always seeking approval from important royalties. I knew it was the reason he had befriended me in the first place. He was trying to gain the favor. To become the Dauphin of France, which was the official title for the royal heir of the throne, Jean-Philip had to control over the majority of the point d'appui from the royal council. My sister was one of the most important figures of the Allied Nations. She could easily make his dream come true.
"Don't waste your time then," I said. "Take it or leave it, that's all you have to do."
"But you said in your letter that you would help me take the throne," he reminded me. "Grand Duchess Anastasia, have you forgotten your words?"
"I did promise you that as the acting head of state," I said. "But now my sister is the Empress. She's the only one who could keep the deal."
"What if I turn my back on you and join your uncle, the Kaiser, instead?" he threatened.
"It's your choice," I said in a deadpan voice. "Who knows? He might be a better companion than us."
Jean-Philip's face twitched. His back stiffened at my words. He knew the Emperor would never throw him a bone. The Kaiser was an insatiable and ambitious ruler. Besides, we all knew that if Russia fell, the world would lose a strong defense against his force.
All would be lost along with Jean-Philip’s biggest dream.
"I hope I won't pick the wrong side then," the French royal finally said and gave me a toast of his wine glass.
I smiled and returned the gesture.
When he left, I looked back to where Valerina was standing, but she was not with Damir anymore.
"Excuse me for a moment, Lyra," I said to the girl and quickly walked up to the young inventor.
"Where's Valerina?" I asked Damir.
He swiped his head around and realized that she wasn't there.
Anastasia Romanov (Sequel) Page 20
