Anastasia: Russia's First Czarina

Chapter Four

What I see before my eyes is astonishing, the Alexander Palace, it's beautiful from the garden design to the colour of the building, I feel like I'm falling in love all over again-wait again. Sofia laughs next to me "amazing isn't it" Sofia says, she laughs at my face it must be priceless because Misha is giggling away. Guards who I suspect are the Bolsheviks come running towards us then getting on one knee bowing their heads, "my lady" one of the guards say, I remember that voice too well General Feliks Yahontov, they stand up and place their right fist over their hearts, respecting the empress.
Feliks sees me and puts a scowl on his face, "what is she doing here" he says curling his hands into fists of anger, "we have come to collect my husband" Misha says, "I thought I told you that you never adopted her" Feliks argues "well, I'll tell you that she's my niece" Misha says in his face. They glare at each other,   I feel like I should tell them to stop but the other part of me is saying don't intrude, I decide to stay behind Sofia. "Feliks, this is poor behaviour, blaming an innocent child" Sofia defends for me, "I am disgusted" she says sternly, "yes, your majesty" he mumbles under his breath.

Feliks walks in front of us with guards on either side and behind, obviously protecting the Czarina not Misha and I, the older men eye me suspiciously and I begin to feel uncomfortable. We walk up the steps that's partly covered in snow, I haven't seen anything more white and glistening in my whole life, I bend down picking up a handful of snow in the palm of my hand and admire it until I hear someone cough in front of me. I look up and see a boy who looks a couple of years older than me, he has dark hair, with green eyes and his uniform, "Pavel" I ask. "I'm Ivan Vasiliev, Pavel was my brother who served Vladimir Lenin when the Romanov were under house arrest, but he ended up dying" Ivan says but mumbles the last part, I'm lost for words "I'm Anya Fedorov" I manage to say without stuttering. "I don't mean to be rude but get back next to the empress unless you want Feliks to dob you in to the Tsar" I run up the rest of the stairs and Ivan pushes some men out of the way allowing me to zip through without being seen.
"Where did you go" Sofia asks "admiring snow" I say, we both laugh for a bit then Feliks turns around with an annoyed expression plastered across his potato-like face, it's kind of funny, "is the peasant irritating you, majesty" now it was Sofia's turn to be annoyed, her face turns from happy to what on earth are you talking about, "Feliks, I have a question for you" Sofia says clearly trying not to explode in anger or whatever bad emotion she is feeling, Feliks nods "why are you against Anya?" She asks with eyes looking for the truth. Feliks takes a deep breath, "I don't have a good feeling about her" he loudly whispers, Sofia looks at him with rage in her eyes and starts panting trying hard not to release her hot temper, "what if she's Anastasia Romanov" Feliks exclaims, "then I would follow her" Sofia says putting her head high. "What" Ivan but's in, "you and I both know Vladimir has put a huge impact on Russia, you both have seen how monstrous our country is becoming" Sofia whispers, "at least Vladimir can rule, unlike Nicholas" Feliks turns around but Sofia grabs his wrist and spins him around so that she's in his face, "Nicholas was under the influence of Rasputin, more importantly him and Alexandra were in love" Sofia suddenly looks depressed and about to cry, "the world needs Anastasia" she says while releasing tears, "I obey my Tsar, and you when I find out who she really is, I won't hesitate to kill her" he says as Sofia gasps "no" and looks at Ivan for support, Ivan opens opens his mouth but Feliks punches him strong on the shoulder blade causing Ivan to rub it and look at the ground, "you have no power compared to the Tsar". Sofia try's to charge at Feliks and Ivan but Misha holds her back "majesty, they're not worth it besides one day we will find Anastasia and bring her home".

We are standing in front of a door, Feliks knocks. The whole walk I couldn't help but look at Sofia, her hands were shaking non stop, her eyes were red and puffy from crying, perhaps finding Anastasia is important for her.
We hear a voice call come in, one of the guards open the doors, Feliks  and Ivan enter followed by us ladies. Once the doors close we hear a voice "Sofia your back" a man says "I.Had.To.My.Lord." she says gritting her teeth, "I don't understand why your upse-who are these people" he asks suddenly, "it's me Misha" she laughs trying to sound happy even though she's forcing it. "Misha, how could I be so forgetful" he says clapping a hand on Misha's back, I can tell she's uncomfortable because she is looking at me saying help, "who's this young woman" he says looking at me, his eyes seem so familiar, actually himself seems familiar, "Anya Fedorov" I say stepping forward then curtsying. "You have amazing respect for your Tsar, I'm Vladimir Lenin, Anya, you look a lot like Anastasia Romanov" Vladimir says pouring himself a glass that looks like rum, I start studdering, oh the gods help me "you have her long brown hair, dazzling blue eyes and the same radiance of beauty" Vladimir says looking at me, "actually I do t know who I am" I say, "what she means is she doesn't remember anything about her past" Misha confirms. There is a silence, then Vladimir looks at Feliks and Ivan  and they draw their rifles, Vladimir looks at me studying my body from head to toe, he moves his finger which I presume is telling Feliks and Ivan to come forward. Boris dashes forward out of nowhere, grabbing my arm pushing me in front of him, he faces the Tsar " I believe my work here is done" Boris gives Vladimir a smile then ushers me out, with Misha and Sofia following along with himself.

"Where are we going" I ask sounding a bit panicked, "taking a walk in the garden" Sofia says comforting but deep down I know that's it the reason, the three of them look at each other and nod, "Anya we believe it's time for you to remember as much from your past as possible" Misha says "why"I ask "because if Vladimir finds out your Anastasia before you do, then he will create chaos all over Russia" Boris says looking at me with an expression I can't read. "We could start with the dream I had this morning" I try to sound confident, "dream" Misha and Boris day and Sofia nods her head at me. I take a deep breath I want to tell them but I stop myself, "I can't do it here" "that's okay we can do it somewhere else" Sofia says.

We exit the gates of the Alexander Palace and walk along the dirt road for a while until we arrive among the busy streets of ST. Petersberg, we speed walk down a couple streets until we are in a dark, damp alleyway, "tell us" Sofia demands gently. I breathe out a shaky breath, wrap my arm around my body, close my eyes and begin to speak. "In my dream, I see a girl, she has long locks of brown hair, incredible blue eyes and looked like a goddess, she was that beautiful. I say her name, Maria, and she says mine, Anastasia, we laugh and walk out of a room and into another, I see an woman with brown hair, wearing a fancy dress with a small diamond tiara and she says my daughter we hug and then I wake up."

I open my eyes and look at the three, they have really happy smiles planted on their faces, "Anya, that's wasn't a dream" Boris grins like an idiot, "but a memory from your past" Misha confirms high fiving Boris laughing. Sofia comes over and takes my hands into hers "Anya, the memory you had was with Alexandra and the grand duchess Maria, this proves to us that you are Anastasia Romanov, you just need to discover it yourself".

Many more days passed since I was told I was Anastasia, but they can't confirm it until I remember, Misha, Boris and I have decided to stay in ST. Petersberg for a few days due to me needing to remember, I have just recurved a letter from Sofia.

Dear Anya,
I know in the pit of my heart, that you are Anastasia Romanov.
I want to let you know I'm with you till the day you become Czarina and forever.
I will go against Vladimir so I can help you.
Whatever information he gives about trying to find you or, well, anything I promise to inform you.

Sofia

I stare at the letter then look up at Boris and Misha.

"We got ourselves a spy".