I woke up my head hurting horribly. Breathing even hurt.
"Katya." I was appalled at how my voice sounded. So weak and little.
"Shh it's alright. I'm here." Andrey said sadly. A surge of relief went through me knowing he was alright.
What about Katya though? Or Igorek? Where Alisa and Natya alright?
"What.....what...happened?" I asked trying to sit up.
"Take it easy." He said quietly.
"She's awake!!!!" I heard Alisa yell as she bounded onto my bed.
"Alisa honey." I pulled her into a tight hug thanking God she was alright. I checked her face for cuts,every part of her arms and legs for burns. All I found was a small bruise on her leg.
"I'm okay." She said as she kissed my forehead.
"Da. I know." I hugged her once more then let her go. Then I turned to Andrey. He looked worn out and tired. He had some burns on his arms and some on his legs but that was it.
"Thank you. For saving us." I said looking at him. Begging him to say what he wouldn't.
"I would save you from everything. You know that." His voice was still quiet and I knew he was lying. Not about saving me but about everything being alright. There were two other beds in the sickroom at the doctors...but....no one was in them.
"Andrey can I see my sister? Where's Katya?"
His eyes lowered and he wouldn't look me in the face. It was hard for me to muster up any energy but if I didn't I would never know if my sister was alright!
"Andrey Antonov! Where is she?!" I used everything I had in me to sit up and get off the bed but my knees buckled and I fell right down feeling horrible embarrassed.
"Annika..."
"No! If you won't tell me I will find out!" Oh God I couldn't stand! No! Did that mean something was wrong with my legs?!
"She's dead! Now sit!" I just stared at him tears welling up in my eyes.
"No! I won't believe you!" Alisa came to my side and gave me one of her hugs.
"It's okay Annika I'm here."
"No! He's.....he's lying!" I just sat there on the floor crying like a baby.
"Annika. Come on now. Alisa get my father will you?" She ran off right away doing what he asked. He lifted me up and placed me in bed again.
"No..." That's all I was able to say. All the crying had tired me out beyond my own belief. I fell asleep before the doctor even got here. I didn't get to hear what he said to Andrey. I didn't get to ask the thousand questions I had. I fell into a dark dreamless sleep.
When I awoke HOURS later I did feel weak but not as weak. Breathing didn't hurt as much either. I still wanted questions to my answers though and I was going to get them.
Alisa was gone and so was Andrey. I was all alone. I saw a little note on the bedside table with a little bell on top.
'Dear Annika
I had to take Alisa back to the ballet today. It's best for her to be there right now. I promise we will have all your questions answered when I get back. Please wait though. There is a bell on top of the paper I am sure you found. Father is gone but the nurse and my mother are still here. They will get you whatever you ask for. Oh and I know your wondering how long you were asleep. A whole day! On that note I will leave you rest.
Your forever
Andrey'
I slumped back and sighed. He was right. I would just have to wait. I really had no choice since everyone was basically gone!
I heard my door open and looked towards it hoping to see Andrey. It was the nurse. She was a cherry woman of about 40. She was skinny as a stick but kinder then anyone I knew. She came to Russia from England years ago to work for the Antonov household.
"Hello deary! How are you this morning?" She set a cup of tea next to my bed and sat down smiling.
"Wonderful Martha thank you."
"Oh good! The good doctor and that boy of yours will be home soon. They wanted to see the little miss settled in well."
I took a sip of tea and smiled.
"Martha you make the best tea in all the world!"
"Oh thank you dear. Is there anything I can bring you?"
"Some company perhaps?"
"Of course! Mrs. Antonova is out at the moment so I can spare some time."
I laid down and listened to the stories of England Martha used to tell Andrey and I as children. When I was little I used to pretend I was Grand Duchess of both Russia AND England!(Even though England doesn't have grand duchesses) I know a silly thing but it amused me as a child.
I asked about her family back home and she told me all about her new niece which brought my mind to Natya. I tried to shake the thought away but no matter how I tried it stayed there. Finally Andrey and his father walked in looking grim with Mrs. Antonova behind them dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
Martha patted my knee and smiled gently.
"I will leave you to it then." She walked out casting one sad look at me and left.
"Hello my dear how are you feeling?" Andrey's father asked me giving me a faint smile. Andrey sat on the chair next to me and his mother sat on the bed next to me.
"Fine Doctor. Although I have some questions I want answered."
"Yes my dear we will answer anything you wish to know."
Andrey took my hand and I took a deep breath. "Where is my sister?"
Silence hung in the air and the doctor looked at me sadly.
"She died in the fire my dear. Her,the baby,and Igorek."
I wouldn't cry not yet. Not until I knew what happened to everyone.
"Natya?" I knew if she was dead I surely would die too.
"Andrey got her out about the same time as Alisa. In fact Alisa took good care of her. She is at the ballet with madame Markova.
Now I cried. Tears poured out of me. For Katya and her unborn baby. For Igorek so brave. For Natya now being an orphan,for Papa and my brothers. For Alisa's father and for anyone that died or would die in the blasted revolution.
"This isn't fair! It just isn't fair!' I was taught young that life wasn't fair. Sometime's you would have to do things you didn't want to e.t.c. That day though I didn't WANT life to be unfair. I wanted Katya back with me. I wanted to help with get ready for the new baby. I wanted to watch Natya's face as Igorek threw her in the air making her giggle. I wouldn't though. Ever again.
" I know, I know." Andrey said holding me. I broke free from his grasp and made a vow.
"One day I will kill whoever did this. I swear on my life"
Two sentences was caused by years of pains. Right now that happy moments of our lives were not rolling through my head like they should. All I remembered was the snow. The crimson snow and Russia's true but sad name.
Bloody Russia and that it was.
