The Perfect Sin

The blizzard wailes outside, the cold pierces my  skin even through the hazing glass window. Snow piles up to knee level and I  observe as life dispersed outdoors and  imagined families cuddling by the fireplace tonight. But  I  am  stuck in the wrong house at the wrong time; the trees seemed to scowl as they sway. The bitter wind has no mercy which causes the fallen leaves to attack anuthing  in sight. 

Every day passes yet it feels as if the hours never tick by. No longer do emotions come; facts have been revealed and reality has resurfaced. My comforter is gone. Traveling alone has caused me to become a different person. The hurt pierces me deeper than I let on and I am alone in the middle of nowhere. What have I done to deserve this pain?My goal, my motivation, my purpose? I am wandering aimlessly and only the  gods knows why, if the “gods”  actually take notice of humans. This mind game is taking its toll on me yet I know that I can’t give up. I never knew the landscape was so beautiful. Slowing down and looking at the world makes me realize that even though there is a war going on, beauty is everywhere. I do not like wandering in the cold, but I needed to leave. I need to find myself by losing myself. My logic of wandering through the terrain alone will hopefully clear the taunting thoughts that constantly poison my mind. 

 A platoon of men dressed in black and white approach the cabin. Everyone, far and near, know about the Tsar’s Knights. Dressed in Imperial black and white, they never disobey and never miss. If the Tsar desires your death then his wish is their command. The soldiers form a circle around the cabin; one brave, low- ranking soldier steps forth.

 “Tsarevna YeKaterina, by order of  Tsar Vasily of the Ustinov House, we are here to apprehend you for your crimes. From today on, you are a perp and will be treated as such. Any who disobey orders from the Tsar will be decapitated immediately.”

 That one brave soldier steps back into formation. His surrounding  brethren wear   masks of indifference. I suppose I could prove them wrong; I know the lies my father spreads to his soldiers and aristocrats. Monster, Demented, Evil, Murderer. The poisonous words echo throughout my mind, but I shall prove them all wrong.

  I slowly open the door and gracefully exit my log cabin. They will not be expecting a calm arrest, but that is what will happen. As long as I do not play into the Tsar’s game, the rumors will disperse about me. Hopefully, the people will finally see that their Tsarevna is no murderer, but a humble girl who has to live with abuse, emotional and physical. As I open my mouth, I notice the soldiers shy away in caution. Do they really think I can shoot fire out of my mouth? 

 “I, Tsarevna YeKaterina of the Ustinov House, accept the crimes that I have been accused of. I agree to willingly go back to the Palace so that I may receive my judgment. You may bind me.”

  The men were in shock that I would be able to perform such a simple task as forming complete sentences. Hastily, they bind me with ropes and prod me in my back with the hilt of their shashkas.  The ride to the Palace would take about a week, but according to the position of the Sun we are going in an opposite direction. Maybe the soldiers are lacking land navigation skills?

 “Privyet.... Lieutenant. According to the arrangement of the sun and stars we are not going in the correct direction, why is that?”

 “Do not bother me with your petty questions.” 

 “Sir, For clarification purposes only, the Tsar’s palace is toward the west, yet you’re going east. If I am to be punished for my crimes then I should be going home. You are traveling farther into the forest.”

 There is a ghost of a smile on the Lieutenants face. I assume I spoke too well, for a monster. The Lieutenant looks me in the eye before giving his response.