Worlds of Waves and Shadows

Fifty

They landed in a secluded area near the Istra River before driving down to the Red Square, courtesy of Asher, who had somehow made the preparations in advance.

"I thought we were going to St. Petersburg." Sarina said, frowning.

"We are." Her father asserted.

Followed by no explanation whatsoever. Typical.

"Then what are we doing in Moscow?" Kaenisa asked.

"You'll find out soon enough."

If she got a rupee for every time her question was given an infuriatingly vague answer, she would have been wealthier than her mother by now.

Kaenisa felt herself freeze, despite having a jacket on. The chill of the evening air kissed her skin, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She had never noticed how...comfortable Atlantean weather was, well protected under the Crystallium shield.

"We're going to walk there from here on, so try not to draw too much attention to yourselves. Sarina, glamour Zaic and Zaira." The General instructed as they neared their destination.

It made sense since the twins would never blend in, thanks to their strikingly magnificent lilac eyes.

Kaenisa watched, feeling something like pride swell in her chest as the petite blonde changed the twins' eye colour to hazel.

Kaenisa looked down at her feet, smiling to herself.

They'd all come a long way from the barely-adult nitwits that they used to be when Asher had grabbed them.

When she looked back up, Kaenisa found herself staring into Zaic's eyes, now a light hazel tinged with olive.

She had to admit, he looked just as gorgeous, if not more so.

Kaenisa had been to Moscow before for a medical conference with her mother who was currently walking beside her father at the very front of the group.

They seemed to be engaged in what looked like a very private conversation.

"How long till we get to wherever it is that your taking us?" Sarina asked, walking beside her boyfriend, with the twins and Deimos trailing behind, chattering away in Atlantean.

"Just keep walking." Asher ordered, voice cold, just like his icy stare.

The petite blonde grumbled, cobalt eyes narrowing as she blew a raspberry directed at the Lieutenant.

But through all of that, Kaenisa couldn't help but notice the way Rolan kept glancing over his shoulders, jumping out of his skin at the slightest of disturbances.

It was almost as if he was afraid.

At the same time, his viridian eyes seemed to scan every street and the people who trod them.

"Are you looking for someone?" She asked, closing in the distance between her and the couple.

"What? No. Of course not. Wh...why would you think that?" He denied it passionately, going rigid.

She cocked a brow, shooting him a sceptical stare.

"It just...feels weird being here again." Rolan said quietly. Then, gesturing for her to look in the direction he was pointing, the Russian spoke, "That's the Red Square."

Ironically, the Red Square seemed almost rectangular.

"It extends from the northwest to southeast, alongside a part of the wall of the Kremlin which separates the southwest side.