Black Widow: Dark House

21. "Broken" Anson Seabra

Bold Italics- Russian

Italics- any language besides English

**- thoughts/ memories

**Ana entered her father's office with Antonia's small hand grasped in her own. Ana had just picked her up from school, which was conveniently only a few floors down. Antonia had her own private tutors in all subjects that came here to the villa or wherever Dreykov happened to be. It kept Antonia close to him.

"Daddy!" Antonia squealed as she ran to Dreykov, who was sitting at the large oak desk on the far end of the room. He looked up and smiled at her.

"My little Ant!" he said with a wide smile, turning in his chair as she rounded his desk to hug him, "oh I have missed you so much. How was your day?"

"It was good, Ana let me have ice cream!" Antonia she reported excitedly. 

Dreykov laughed, "let us hope it did not ruin you for dinner my love" he said, placing his hands on her cheeks and kissing her forehead.

Ana stood like a stone, her hands folded behind her back as she watched the exchange. Emotions broiled within her, but the sharp edges of her life and her training would not dain to let them see the light of day.

"How are her grades?" Dreykov gruffed, his tone dropping as he address Ana without looking at her.

"Exceptional in every course. Her piano master speaks highly of her. She said Antonia is her best student, a prodigy" Ana replied flatly.

"Is this true!?" Dreykov asked her with raised eyebrows and joy in his voice.

Antonia nodded vigorously, "Can I show you papa?" she asked, gesturing to the Casablanca piano in the corner of the room. Dreykov has anonymously bought ti at an auction a few years before Antonia was born.

"Yes, yes of course my love" Dreykov said, and smiled as he watched her run to the piano.

Antonia settled herself on the bench, an air of calm professionalism overcoming the small girl as she gently laid her fingers on the piano.

She started to play, her  expression changing with the music as her delicate fingers pulled the music out from each key stroke.

She played the first section of Schumann's "Scenes from Childhood" perfectly, her body swaying with the music as she focused on the masterpiece. She moved through each section, the music permeating the air like a sweet smelling fog, lulling Dreykov to close his eyes and savor the experience.  

Ana could not take her eyes off her sister as she lost herself in Schumann's masterpiece. Her heart leapt, first with jealousy. She would never admit it to herself, but there is always a apart of her that wants to be Antonia, to be loved and cared for above all else. Ana closed her eyes and let the emotion drift away with the music. No, it was not meant to be.

She knew in her heart it was not real love. Her father used her. Antonia's innocence shielded him from would be assassins and other competitors. Dreykov had made sure to show off Antonia everywhere. Making her beloved wherever she went. If she died, millions would be up in arms. That's too much attention for the world that Dreykov lived in. Too much light for the shadows.

Ana's pride of her sister then overwhelmed her, threatening to bring tears to her eyes. Antonia was a genius, Ana knew it. And she doted on Antonia, because she was the most precious thing in her life, pure, undefiled by the darkness of this world despite being surrounded by it, made by it.