"I don't know." I shook my head.
"Well," Alex said, "Just so you know, there is a reason behind it. How could a small group of people rule over hundreds of millions, not to mention for thousands of years? The secret of the royal lineage is that we had the Council consists of the top thirteen most influential families on Earth. Most people were unaware that the Earth’s population was controlled by an “elite”— the Royal Council. And nobody on Earth could earn this membership. Either you are born into it or you are not.”
“And you’re one of them?”
“As you can see what happened after the war, most of the old royalties are back to rule their former empires. Europe is now ruled by the House of Hanover, the House of Hapsburg, and the House of Bernadotte. Royalties feel entitled to rule the world. It’s been that way since the beginning of time if you haven't noticed. They believe they were the direct descendants of the superior race. Think about it. If they were just normal humans, what gave them the power to control others?"
I had no clue to how to respond to any of that.
"Let's get back to when you woke up," I changed the subject before I got another wave of a headache. "What happened to you after the rescue?"
"I was shot by the communist soldiers, along with my family, but I and Anastasia were not dead yet," she said. "The gunman dug us up from our graves and the priest helped us."
"Helped you— how?"
"I don't know. I'm not a priest!” she said with a shrug. “Maybe he dragged my soul back from hell or something. But when I woke up, I felt different— not quite human."
"Was the priest a vampire who changed you?"
"No, he was just an ordinary old man," she said. "I don't remember what he did, but I'm glad he didn't make Frankenstein's monsters out of us."
I choked on my tea. Alex laughed.
"So that means you just turned all by yourselves?" I said in amazement. "How could it be possible?"
"It's not easy as you think. There are many theories about us being vampires. You can look in the Bible the stuff about improper burial? Or you can find it in biology books about mutated genetics?"
"Oh, I see," I said. "It could be your genes. You're a royal. Your bloodline was so close to the higher power and all that, and those who died a violent death—"
"Enough of that, you're spoiling my picnic." Alex waved her hand off. I took it as a cue to stop talking. We continued having our tea in silence, but I still kept thinking about what she had just told me.
"So you both are the Last Grand Duchesses of Russia?" I couldn't help asking again.
"Aw, someone knows the history," Alex said. “Yes, we are.”
"But I had seen the pictures of the four duchesses in the art gallery before," I said. "They looked different, not like you or Anastasia now. And I remember there wasn't anyone named Alexandra among them."
"You are quite observant." Alex said. "Well, humans grow old and die, but vampires are different. They can't age or die, so they keep changing and evolving. The older we get, the better we look—and stronger, too. Now, you can say, I'm a very hot and sexy a-hundred-and-thirteen-year-old woman. Aren’t you jealous?"
"Very," I said and rolled my eyes at her. "But how about the name?"
"After I was reborn, the priest named me after my mother," Alex said casually. "My former name is Marie Nikolevna Romanova."
Chapter 19
Alexandra
It felt strange finding myself talking so much and so easily with her. It was like the girl had a key to unlock all my past, and she did it without me realizing it. For the first time, my memories didn't feel like as sharp pain in my chest anymore. It was just some distant finished events.
I felt so free and so alive, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.
Avery kept staring at me with her jaw hanging.
"When are you going to close your mouth, Avery?" I said to her. She snapped back to herself again and blinked her eyes.
"Alex, there's something else I want to ask you, too," Avery said in a hesitant voice. She couldn't even look at me.
"About Nikol, right?" I said. Avery looked up with a surprised face and then she nodded sheepishly.
"What do you want to know?" I asked.
"Everything," she whispered, staring straight into my eyes. I looked away. I didn't know why it was so hard to breathe when I knew she still cared about my sister. I wanted her to be with me and only me. Suddenly I found myself terribly afraid of losing her.
But I tried to understand. It would take sometimes. By then I would make her mine, forever.
I exhaled before starting.
"Nikol was the daughter of a Bolshevik general, the communist officer," I said. "She took us in when we had no home."
"And how did she and... Ana...you know...get together?" Avery asked. I tried to ignore a rising twinge in my chest when I knew she still cared about my sister.
"Anastasia was still young back then. She needed someone to comfort her," I said. "Obviously, I wasn't a good sister to do that, so Nikol took care of everything. She would give her blood to Anastasia, and just like everyone else, they fell in love."
Avery winced at the last sentence. This must have hurt her so much, and seeing them back together was a real torment. I knew that feeling. I'd been through it myself.
"So that was when Nikol was still human?"
"Yes, once upon a time," I said. "But after a while, she decided that she wanted to live with my sister forever, so I fulfilled her wish."
"You mean you turned her into a vampire?" Avery cried in surprise.
"What? I was just helping them." I shrugged. "But my silly sister didn't even thank me for that."
"If I were Anastasia, I would get very mad too. No wonder why you and your sister don't get along," she said, frowning at me in accusation.
“Good, now you know.”
"And what happened to them after that? Why didn't I see Nikol earlier?”
"Oh since then that two have always been off and on for decades," I told her and snickered to myself, "I didn't get what the fuss Ana was in. It was like all hell broke loose every time they were together too long. Then Anastasia followed me here because I had to move here to avoid their annoying fighting and love-making. What a pain!"
Avery's big brown eyes glared at me. I knew hearing bad stuff about Anastasia really bothered her, but I didn't even feel sorry in this case.
"Should I continue?" I said later.
"No thank you, I think I've heard enough," she said.
"Alright then." I nodded, I was glad to get off the hook at last. When I took another sip of my tea, Avery turned to me again.
"And how about you?" she said. "Have you ever fallen in love with anyone?"
I almost spurted the drink out of my mouth. I looked at the girl in front of me again. No one had ever asked me that. And no one had ever come so close to my heart like she had. Her humanity irritated me, her stubbornness drove me crazy, but above all, she made me feel. All my emotions came back, and it was annoying, but I almost felt like I was alive again.
"Hmm?" Avery leaned her face forward, waiting for an answer.
"You've got cream on your lip," I said.
"Oh, where?" she said, trying to wipe it off.
"Let me."
I moved closer to her, our shoulders almost touched. I reached my finger to wipe the white cream from her pink lips, and then put it into my mouth. Our eyes met. And as we looked into each other's eyes, I could feel the electric sparks in the air. I put my hand back to her cheek, slipping a finger slowly into her mouth and played with her velvety tongue. She closed her soft moist lips around it and sucked it, which made my heart pump wildly. Then I stroked her face with my hand, tracing the outline of her curved lips with my thumb. She sighed softly.
"You're doing it again, aren't you?" Avery asked.
"Doing what?" I said.
"Seduce me."
"No, I'm not seducing you," I told her. "I'm doing what my heart tells me to
."
Avery's eyes looked up through her long lashes and blushed.
"I don't know what I should think of you Alex," she whispered. "It's so confusing right now."
"Then don't think," I said and brought my lips close to hers, "Just feel."
And I kissed the corner of her mouth lightly and sat back. I could see the effect I had left on her skin. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. I could see her temptation building up. This was a human need.
"Come here," I said.
Avery bit her bottom lip, but then she did move toward me. I welcomed her into my arms and made her straddle on my lap. Our faces were extremely close. I looked into her beautiful brown eyes and smiled. Her cheeks blushed brightly. I stroked her small back under her shirt. She gingerly put her arms around my neck.
Her eyes lingered on my face with hidden emotions.
"Alex, tell me why you were so horrible to me at the beginning," she began in a soft voice, "and all of a sudden, you're doing this with me?"
I sighed and rested my head on her chest. I hugged her delicate body in my arms and didn't want to let go. Her hand smoothed my hair gently as I breathed in her sweet smell. I closed my eyes and listened to her heartbeats.
"Do you know how many years I had stopped smelling the scent of the flowers, and all the trees of the forest had stopped looking green to me? Because the moment I saw you," I said, feeling my throat tightened, "All those years faded away. Finally, I'm able to wake up feeling the anticipation to be with someone. I also knew you could hurt me worse than anyone ever could. And I had to hurt you first, because when I first saw you, I never would have imagined such a strong burning desire. I just didn't know I was already in love. I don't know what you have done to me, but I want you so much, it hurts."
I had no idea where it came from, but all the words just flowed from my mouth like running river. Avery let me hold her like that without saying anything. Then when I looked at her again, she brought her palms to my cheeks and kissed my forehead. When her lips parted, I pulled her down for a kiss on my lips and deepened it. She was a bit hesitated, but I tightened my arms around her body. And slowly, she seemed to let go of the tension.
Her hands run through my hair as I pulled her hips against mine. The heat radiating from her body excited me again.
Slowly I pulled her shirt over her head and unhooked her bra. Avery didn't stop me anymore. I buried my face in her soft round breasts, inhaling the wonderful scent. And as my mouth wrapped around her nipples, I felt them become erect against my tongue. She gasped in my ear even I knew she had tried to hide the sound like she was trying to smother it, but I still heard her. I fell back on the mat, taking her with me. I traced my mouth back to hers again. Her lips moved faster and deeper against mine. I unzipped her shorts and slipped it down, letting her naked body pushed into me.
Avery took a short break to pull my knitted blazer and unbuttoned my shirt. Then I rolled her off and got on top of her. She was breathing hard as I kept kissing her everywhere. Her fingernails dug into my back with her legs wrapped around my waist. I started moving my hips. I was grinding so hard it made her muscles clench, her jaw dropped in ecstasy, and her hands clung tighter. I cupped her firm breasts as I kept moving. She spread her legs wider as if she wanted to suck me in. Then I slipped my hand down. Avery squeezed her eyes shut; devouring the worldly pleasure I was giving her. She bit her lips trying not to moan, but my fingers teased her until she gave up.
"Oh Alex!" she said between gasps and whimpers.
"Much obligated, my rose princess," I whispered, and I licked my way down her breasts and to her flat stomach, and then ended up between her thighs. I felt my fingers slip inside her as my tongue twisted over her sensitive rosebud. I had never wanted to please anyone like this before. Her overwhelming joy was so palpable; I could feel it enveloping me, making me moan along with her.
I slid my fingers slowly into her wet opening. My tongue curled mercilessly on her tiny pink pearl. I started thrusting down her slippery gate. After a short while, when I could tell she was about to come, I stopped the motion, causing her to wince desperately. For some wicked reason, I still enjoyed torturing her with my cruel sense of love. Avery clenched her teeth as I began stroking even deeper, harder, and faster until her muscles shook, her hips raised from the ground. I could hear her pulse beating frantically with screaming joy.
Less than a second, I brought her back to the edge of orgasm, but once again when she was about to reach her climax, I slowed down. The girl almost cursed me. I felt pity for her, but I didn't want to let her off yet. Avery was so hot; her eyes were unfocused with too much sensual pleasure. I was saving the best thing last. Without breaking the rhythm, I lifted one of her legs and hung it over my shoulder. Her eyes widen as I concentrated on the weakest, deepest spot inside her heaven. The juicy nectar dripped through my fingers. Until once again, she couldn't stop herself, the moment had come. Avery gave into a screaming orgasm. Her voice echoed into the wood. Her hands clutched the mat as her body cum and twisted in uncontrollable pleasure.
She panted, trying to catch her breathe. Like always, I slowly slipped my fingers out and licked them. Then I hovered over her body to check if my love was back from the moon yet.
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" I smoothed her hair gently. Avery didn't face me, but she was panting with a dazed look.
"I hate you, Alex," she said in a weak voice, her body was still shuddering under me.
"I know." I smiled and comforted her with light kisses on her cheek.
Chapter 20
Avery
It was already dark when we walked back to the mansion. Alex put her arm around my shoulders all the way. The grass of the garden was damp and slippery from the night dew. I would have fallen on my face if she hadn't held me.
Alex could see far better than me in the dark. Her extraordinary night vision made her eyes glow slightly. And instead of looking scary, I found that very fascinating.
"What?" Alex said when she caught me peering at her for the fourth time.
"Nothing," I replied.
"We'll be there sooner if you just concentrate on walking," she said and shook her head at me. Alex might be a little grumpy at times, but deep down; I knew her meanness was just a mask she put on. When we got out of the garden, she held my hand firmly, still refusing to let go. I looked down at our joined hands. With Anastasia, I was always the one who cared more and worried more. I was worried that she wouldn’t like me as much, which turned out to be true. I was constantly afraid of losing her every second, even when I was with her.
I still felt like I wasn't good enough and didn't deserve her love. Besides Ana belonged to someone else— someone better and more beautiful like Nikol.
I pinched the bright of my nose and winced at the thought.
"What's wrong, Avery? Are you alright?" Alex stopped on her track and turned to look at me in concerns.
"Nothing," I lied. "I'm just a little tired."
"Stop saying that one word already," she scolded. "I can take you there faster if you're not feeling well."
"I think I'll throw up on you if you get me there in your crazy vampire speed," I told her.
Alex thought it over then she shrugged.
"Well, my clothes are too expensive for that," she said at last, and I couldn't help giggling a little.
We came closer to the mansion.
As we walked by the marble fountain, Alex suddenly paced a step ahead and turned around to face me. The scent of her flawless skin brushed against my nose. It was something wonderful than any perfume I had any memory of. But what surprised me was her angelic face close to mine.
But what made me blink in confusion was that Alex just grabbed my face and kissed me. The kiss was long and passionate as if she wanted to engrave some spells on my lips. And then she broke away, leaving me breathless.
"Thanks for today." She smiled. I was about to smile back when I caught a glimpse of someone standing by the main door. The familia
r goddess figure stood motionlessly under the hall light.
Anastasia stared at us. I didn't know how long she had been here, or what she had witnessed, but the look in her eyes was the most painful thing I had ever seen. I was sure my heart dropped somewhere near my ankle as I looked back at her. Anastasia was here. Finally, she wasn't just my beautiful dream that got shuttered. For the past few days, I tried to pretend that I had forgotten about that dream, but now she was back. It made everything seem more surreal and more unbearable again.
Alex turned back around and reached for my hand. She squeezed it gently.
"Oh, you’re back, little sister," she said with a slight smirk on her face.
"So it seems," Anastasia replied in a flat tone.
"Sorry, we didn't welcome you properly. We were busy having a picnic and a little fun time together, right Avery?"
For a moment, I just wanted to crawl into a hole and never get out again. I couldn't look at Ana now. She said nothing, but I could feel her eyes fixed on me. Alex must have seen her sister and knew that she was there watching us.
Then another girl came into sight. I recognized her without a doubt. She came and looped her hand around Ana's arm possessively. The perfect brown hair spiraled down her slender body. Her violet eyes sparkled like dancing stars, but when she turned her face to me, it felt like a stab in my stomach. I almost heaved the picnic food out.
I looked down on my shoes and tried not to let my knees buckle. Then Alex pulled me by the hand. And as we walked toward them, the world seemed to slow down to a crawl. I couldn't tell if Anastasia were having a hard time seeing me again. She didn't glance at my direction or break herself away from Nikol. It didn't take long to know what hurt me the most, losing someone you love or being replaced by someone else. I definitely hated both.
Nikol flashed a poisonous smile at me when we entered the hallway. I lowered my face to avoid her eye contact.
"Nice to see you again, Nikol," Alex said.
"You too."
"How about a dinner together?"
The Romanov Sisters Page 7