Our Flame

xx

VIKTOR

"We all have the same eyes." I smile down at my baby sister. Mama smiles holding my new baby brother. "They both deserve the world."

I look back to my mother, her smile has now faded, "What's wrong Mama?" My twin asks.

"I don't want them to go through what you two have gone through."

I nod not knowing what to say. I never want to cause my siblings any harm, especially in the ways my father has caused us.

It will be different with Niko and Nadia, we'll be better.

"We'll fight for them, we'll make things right Mama." Vadim comes by my side. "Someday they'll surprise us Mama, they'll be better than us all." I add.

"Pride isn't enough, all your siblings are so lucky to have you both, мои красивые мальчики." (my beautiful boys)

Vadim and I both smile at our mother, we'll make it right for Nikolai and Nadia. We'll give them what we couldn't have.

I'll make the world safe for them.

A small smile etches onto my face as I remember the memory but as quick as it came, it disappears. I miss my mother, I miss when time seemed to be on my side.

I don't know if I failed my mother. I'm trying to fight for them still, all of them- especially Nadia right now. But there's only so much I can do.

I've never felt so helpless.

I stand up when I hear a knock at my door, due to our house being blown apart and Vadim and I not being able to find a house yet.

We rented out a whole hotel, it's nice but it's not a home.

"What?" I look at my identical twin. "Don't be rude." Vadim pushes pass me barging into my room.

"Have you found a house yet?" Vadim asks. I swear my eyes twitch whenever I talk to him. "Have you found a house yet." I mock.

"No, Vadim I have bigger things to worry about." I let out a breath. "Why'd you bring up Nadia faking her death as a way out?"

"I know how much you hate the idea but if this all goes to hell it's the only option. I won't let her be in a loveless and miserable marriage."

I get what he's saying, I hate that I understand. I don't want Nadia getting married but I also don't want to lose my baby sister again.

Most importantly I don't want her to lose herself.

I don't think I can handle it, I can't handle either of those things.

"I hate to say it but I don't think this man is a horrible person." My eyes turn to my brother, wasn't he just saying how our little sister should fake her death.

"I know Ezra, Viktor." Vadim admits. I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh wishing he kept that to himself, "Go on." I tell him.

Please don't hate me Nadia, I'm trying.

NADIA

Faking your death.

A mental set back, a physical set back, but what if it sets you free? Believe me, after seven years of being away from my family, it's the last thing I want.

Yet, it's the only thing on my mind.

Besides the fact that everything will soon change; in a little less than four months I'll meet Ezra, the man I'm supposed to just marry.