𝐑 𝐄 𝐙 𝐀 𝐑

4

I do not have the slightest idea where we are going. Classical music plays from the radio. The notes slowly walk over my eyelids and weigh them down.

- Don't sleep. We're almost there - I want to ask where, but I have a gut feeling she won't tell me. She makes a weird humming sound as if she's debating something. She purses her lips and moves them from left to right - We have to change the car. This is not good for where we're heading. 

- You think Spain will have...

- Not Spain. We have to pick up someone on the way to Spain and drop them off in Italy. 

- Who? 

- Not important. You'll meet when we're there. 

This feels like our first honest conversation. I know she's using me for something. Girls like Karina, that are stiff and short-worded, aren't really the types to have honest friendships. But I feel a flower bloom in my heart, the flower of hope. Stupid, but it's the human instinct. 

We enter a little town from what I can see. A few cars pass us, but the streets are deserted. 

- I know you think Nikolaj is a little off. He was drunk. 

- I don't think he's off, he seems like a perfectly fine and nice boy. What I think though is that leaving him on the side of the road was a bad idea. Anyone could harm him. 

- I don't worry for him. You shouldn't either. It's not his first or last time on that road. 

- He cried. 

- Because he's a little boy who can't get it together. I'm his sister, I know what's best for him! 

Her knuckles turn white, as she grips the steering wheel. Her breaths become more frequent. 

- Of course perra. He is your brother, you know what's best for him. I didn't mean to question you, I just found it strange - I want to place my hand on her shoulder, but she leans back into her seat. I realize it was a horrible idea to begin with. 

After some turns we stop in front of a car dealership. It looks fairly new and contradicts the towns' Soviet, depressing mood.

I wait for Karina to park and leave the car first, then I get out. The ground finally feels straight underneath my new sneakers, it's a relief like no other. There are tingles creeping up my calves into my thighs, I want to run because I feel free. 

We enter the building. Karina goes straight to the reception desk, and throws her car key to the young woman working. She says something in Russian, and the receptionist nods with a slight smile that screams fear from the way her eyes look. Frozen. 

With a raised brow she motions for me to follow her. There's a staircase leading down into a basement. The wall is covered in forest green tiles, and the railing is gold. The stairs look brand new, made out of some dark wood. I hear chatter, and the first thing that catches my eye is a round table.  

The basement is a restaurant. The theme seems to be emerald green and golden just like the stairs. Every table is round, and dark like the stairs. 

As we enter the talk dies down. I realize every seat is empty, the only people are the waiters. But they shut up as soon as they see Karina. Or rather... they look stunned by my presence. 

- Kalinka! 

A short, fat lady hurries towards us. Her waist is snatched but her hips and breasts are wide. She wears a black flower patterned dress, that almost scrapes the ground. A red veil covers her hair, its thrown over her shoulder. Her smile makes her whole face wrinkle up, her cheeks round and red, her eyes sparkling like the chandelier above us. Her expression tells me she's very happy to see Kalinka. 

She's a kind face, one that makes my arms and body relax, after everything that happened today. 

Karina and the lady start talking in Russian. I catch the name Inessa from the beginning. The rest I don't understand.  

I jut follow the two women as they go to the round table in the middle. I take the chair next to Karina. 

The old lady says something while looking at me.

- She's asking what's your name. 

- Ximena. 

The ladies eyes widen, her eyebrows knit together and her smile looks surprised. Her expression is fond, and happy. They keep on talking, probably about me, but the receptionist woman interrupts them. She gives Karina an envelope. 

The waiter brings us coffee at the same time. We didn't order, but I guess Karina is a regular here. I see my reflection in the black liquid, the expresso. My hair is a mess, I need a hairbrush, but my makeup is flawless. That setting spray really does its job. 

Thinking about it I probably look out of place in white Nikes a full face of cosmetics and a white Chanel dress. No wonder Silvio wanted me to do a turn. 

By the time I step out of my train of thought, Karina already closes the envelope, and starts drinking her cup of energy. 

I look up. The chandelier is straight above us, so I cover it with my left hand. The ceiling is decorated by a mosaic. It depicts a snake. A little down from it's neck there's a blood red heart. It stick's out and catches the naked eyes' attention. It's long tail that is covered in gold details wraps around a hatched egg. There's a baby sitting in it, wide-eyed and curious. The green reptile sticks its tongue out at the little child. The whole picture fits the restaurants style.

There's something cold on my shoulder. It's the old woman's hand. I raise my eyebrows. 

- She's asking if you like the mosaic. 

- Yes. It's breathtaking. Nothing like I've ever seen before.  

- Her son made it. He worked on it for a few years. 

- Who's the baby? 

- It's his child. Inessa's  grandson. It was made in the hope and symbol of the golden haired boy continuing their legendary family bloodline. Making it proud and taking over the family business. The restaurant and car dealership. 

- That's very... peculiar. 

- Just like the man himself. 

Karina looks back at the kind woman and puts on a faint smile. 

We leave after finishing our coffees'. The new car is an old, olive green fiat. All in all discreet. 

I sit into the passenger seat, and hear a click, feel a flashing light on the side of my face. I look to the right. The old lady took a picture of us.