The Last Romanov: Book One

Welcome To Russia

Mom woke me up very early the next morning. The sun was not even up yet. The city lights still glowed dimly through my window as I looked out of it.

"Don't worry about getting dressed," my mother whispered to me as we made our way out of the dark room and into the hallway. Andrei was already waiting for me, standing perfectly still, his hands behind his back. He stood there formally, as a normal navy soldier would do. "Andrei told me that you will have a private jet. No one will see you in your pajamas. And you'll get to Saint Petersburg pretty late in the afternoon, too, since Russia is across the world. And I'm pretty sure that you'll be able to sleep on the airplane, since it'll still be relatively late by the time you reach the airport." I nodded, feeling too tired to speak. Mom smiled softly at me. "I'll walk the two of you to the vehicle."

And my mother did exactly that. The crisp, cold air stung my bare arms, as it's late October, early November. We got to the parking lot, and I was surprised when my mother dropped the two of us at the limo.

"A limo?" I asked, feeling slightly insecure. I've dreamed of riding in a limo. But, now that I'm basically royalty, I felt slightly uncomfortable riding one. Royalties are known to be riding fancy vehicles, right?

"Which other car were we going to chauffeur you in, Your Highness? A Nissan?" he asked in a thick, Russian accent. He smiled slightly, hoping that the joke would lighten me up. But it didn't. I'd honestly rather use a Nissan car than a limo. Just to attract less attention. People would probably wonder what a limo would be doing at the airport early in the morning.

Andrei mumbled to himself before getting into the car, opposite the diver who would be escorting me to the airport. Now it was just me and my mom left. The more I stood there, the colder I got. The temperature seemed to be going lower and lower by the second. I felt a sudden warmth embracing me. I realized that it was my mother, who had her arms wrapped around my hourglass figure. I nuzzled my face into the soft fabric of her night shirt. She smelled faintly of the incense that she usually used during her morning and night time prayers. She also smelled of bergamot and vanilla. God, I was going to miss her!

"Be good for me, won't you?" she whispered once she let go of the hug. "And to your grandmother?"

I tried hard to not get irritated, but I know that I would get my mother worried.

"Of course, Mother," I replied, trying to keep my voice calm and cool. "You know I will."

"And promise that you'll text me, or send me a picture whenever you reach St. Petersburg?"

"Mum, I promise that I'll do all of those things," I reassured.

My mother looked slightly guilty and very apologetic.

"Sorry. I guess that I'm just worried about you. I'm not ready for my baby to be so far away from me." She wiped a stray tear that fell from her cheek. She sighed, looking very saddened. "Twelve hours away. . . . I don't know if I'm ready."

I gave her a reassuring smile before hugging her around the middle again.

"I'll be fine, Mother. And I'll be sure to send some pics and I'll definitely text you to let you know that I'm fine and that I'm alive and well."

"Alright," my mother finally whispered. She sighed. "My little baby is all grown up."

Before I could say anything, Andrei spoke up. He'd gotten out of the car, looking a little panicked and slightly annoyed.

"Can you please hurry?" he asked in his heavy Russian accent. "We're going to be late to the airport if we don't get a move-on." He muttered something to himself, in Russian by the sounds of it, before getting back into the car. He slammed the door shut in the process, causing me and my mom to flinch.