Bloodlines

Chapter II: Progeny

Heaven was much different than I thought it would be.

I'd always pictured waking up in a kingdom of clouds, surrounded by singing angels and all the saints I had read about. Papa, mama, my sisters, they would all be there with Dr. Botkin, Anna and the others too. We would be together again, happy and free, forever. But instead, I woke up alone, lying on my back in the middle of a wooded clearing. A bright moon hung in the night sky above me, which was dotted with numerous stars. Warm wind rustled the leaves of the trees and carried the scent of pine needles through the air. Nothing seemed to be different at all.

Where was I? I tried to sit up and look around, but my body felt like it was made of lead. After a few tries, I managed to get myself into a sitting position and immediately noticed a sharp improvement in both my eyesight and hearing. Despite the darkness, I could see everything perfectly clearly, from the texture of the tree barks to the individual blades of grass. In the underbrush, I watched the dark figures of small animals dart wildly amongst the bushes. The usual sounds of a summer night were louder and clearer. Although neither my vision, nor hearing had ever been poor, these new senses were far superior. I reveled in my new keener, eyesight and sharper hearing.

Not only were my senses stronger, my body felt stronger. After years of constant pain and weakness, I finally felt strong. I looked down and touched my legs. They weren't swollen anymore, and didn't painfully throb whenever I tried to move. Slowly, I rose to my feet, steadied myself and took a few cautious steps. I hadn't walked in months! I smiled. I must've been in heaven. Only there could I possibly have such wonderful senses and strength.

However, one question was still weighing on my mind: where was my family?

If I was dead and made it to heaven, surely they would be here too. Papa and mama were the tsar and the tsarina, ordained by God himself to rule over Russia and her people. It was their divine duty to protect and guide the empire and to look after their people, like loving parents. The people often called them Batyushka and Matushka, which meant "little father" and "little mother" respectively. Not only that, but they loved God and the Church deeply, especially mama, who had to convert in order to marry papa.

So why couldn't I see them?

I thought about who else would be in heaven with us. Obviously my sisters would be and the others who died with us. But they wouldn't be the only ones. Father Grigory would be, for sure. He had died last year, before the Revolution which separated us. No one told me how he died. All I know is that they found his body in the Malaya Nevka River and mama was very distraught upon hearing he was dead.

Perhaps this is Purgatory, not heaven, I thought to myself. After all, I didn't receive my last rights.

Behind me, I heard a tree branch snap.

I wasn't alone.

"Hello?" I called out.

No one answered.

A shiver ran down my spine. I felt like someone else was here, watching me. I scanned the forest around me. A few leaves flurried down from some trees nearby. I glanced up at the branches. It was probably just a squirrel. Maybe I was being too paranoid.

"Awake at last, my beautiful abomination."

Startled, I spun around towards the source of the voice and saw a girl in a long, white dress, standing a few feet away from me on the edge of the clearing. She looked to be about my age, maybe a little older, with long, curly, blonde hair stylishly pinned back in a bow and pale skin. A brown satchel was slung across her shoulder and a string of pearls adorned her neck. There was a look of pride on her face. I instinctively took a step back, ready to take off running.