The Last Heiress of Oblonsky, Beatrix

The little Beatrix keeps on shouting.

"NO!?!"

"NO!?!?"

"Please NO?!?!"

"Papa... What's wrong?" Papa, who are they? "

And started crying out loud.

" Hush now, My Princess... Always remember, we love you so dearly "

My tears kept falling and called out...

" Mama...

"Maxim...

" Annika...

I reached out my small arms to my mother Duchess.

She's crying... Maxim and Annika too.

"Dimitri?! Beatrix!?! Duchess Anastasia called out while holding Maxim and Annika.

"What's the matter, Dimitri? What is this commotion all about?" Duchess Anastasia stuttered.

I tried to run to reach them but Papa keeps holding me tight.

I feel the fears of my Papa while embracing me.

I am out of breath.

I am suffocating from the terror and the uncertainty.

" Let's go, Papa... We have to go.." I begged him.

But the rebels with guns and torches, overrule all Palace guards.

They are burning and killing mercilessly each lady's servant, housekeeper, valet, and all whom they meet inside the Palace.

We have no more time to run...

We cannot go out...

The Palace is surrounded by the rebels.

My father, Tsar Dimitri hold me tight and covered me with his body for protection.

My mother Duchess Anastasia protected Maxim and Annika to no avail.

The sounds of gun...keep ringing in my ears.

Darkness flooded...

Smoke and fire everywhere...

When...

I heard my Nana saying "My Princess, it's been a long time that your Uncle Charles, the King of Sweden had been searching for you."

"I am happier and at peace being with you Nana and of course Leonid" I replied in sharp response.

" My Princess, your Uncle knows you are alive and I believe it's about time to meet him" she added.

I am full of doubts and anxiety about meeting Uncle Charles.

Instead of accepting Nanas' proposal. I ask her about the past, her heroic act, out of curiosity.

"Nana, how did you managed to save me that night?".

"I am preparing the tub for your bath my Princess when I saw the armed men coming in. I felt terrified and wanted to run but when I saw you shouting and crying, holding thy father Tsar Dimitri while bullets flying, my tears keep on falling. I felt terrible. The smoke and fire everywhere were suffocating, I barely breathe. When the rebels got off the Palace. I crawled from the back of the dividing wall, the entryway to the fireplace hearth, where you are covered with blood, and above you, is your father, his Majesty Dimitri. I checked all of you discreetly...one by one...your brother, Prince Maxim, Princess Annika, and Duchess Anastasia. It was only you, my Princess who's breathing..but unconscious. I wrapped you with the towel that I accidentally brought with me. Then started to slide you while crawling until we are at the back door of the kitchen. I almost fainted with the smell of smoke and fire... "

"Oh our Princess, my beloved. I am thankful to God that we can save you and the future of Oblonsky. And I'm delighted to see you grown as a fine woman with elegance. We have fought our freedom and life, in our endless concealment at the brink of Civil War. We are very lucky. Most of all, we are blessed to have my loving husband, Leonid." She said in narration.

"I thank you Nana and Leonid for keeping me safe, you are both my angel" I smiled with my sweetest response.

"It's time to bed my Princess Beatrix!" she exclaimed. "O we missed the time" she added.

"Thank you, Nana". I hugged her tight.

We clean up the table and helped Nana with the dishes. Then, I started to walk up the stairs and getting into my room, and freshen up with a hot bath in the tub. I prepared my hot bath which is my favorite bath every night with scented oils, dried roses, and lavender.

Then, I lighted my favorite scented candles in front of my vanity mirror and put another inside my shower room.

I undress in front of my vanity mirror that I always do before soaking in my hot bath.

And I'm looking into my whole body, in its reflection.

Oh, I have grown so fast, I missed my kin...

My loving father, my sweet mother, and my siblings.

My body was molded into fine features and almost perfect.

Except...

The scar...

The scar of a horrible past.

I felt numb.

My heart is covered with ice and trauma.

And now...I'm freezing...

I swiftly move and soaked into my hot bath.

Feeling the warmth, the comfort, the ease of my emotions.

Humming the song of my soul.

Singing the favorite lullaby of my Duchess mother.

"All hail the Queen of extravagance and glamour...

"Thy henchman and servants in perpetual ardor...

"Thy words are so immaculate...

"Not even a peasant could vindicate...

"You could be a knight and you could be a villain...

"You could be a follower and you could be a chieftain...

"A warrior, a woman, and a Queen...

"A warrior, a woman, and a Queen...

I drifted off to sleep.

The rolling thunder and lightning flashes caused so many anxieties and tremors in my body.

" Nana... Na-na... " I muttered.

The windows showed grim images of shadows.

I couldn't move. I'm freezing.

I cried out on top of my lungs.

"NO?!?!?"

And I'm awakened.

The water in the tub is already cold.

I quickly took my towel and slipped into my sleeping wear immediately.

Then, blow-dry my hair.

To release the tension that I am feeling from my constant nightmare.

I turned on my portable radio to play some music.

And a famous singer hit song "Lost in your eyes" played in the air.

Humming with the song of love.

Then, I took my journal notebook and started writing a poem.

I'm rowing my paddle when the current starts to shift,

The flow of the water changes in swift,

Fears and sadness succumb me,

When the tune of melody strikes thee.

I try to look back from where I departed,

The nurtured trees, singing birds and flowers started,

I grasp my heart and keep thy fire,

Shaping my masterpiece and a satyr.

The sun is glowing from above,

Brightens my darkness and gives off love,

I hold into the waters of my truth,

And set my sail to harvest my fruit.

Beatrix

My eyes are now weary and my emotions now subside. I closed my journal, put off the candles, and turned off the radio.

I lay down in bed then doze off to sleep.

The morning sun in the wintertime is hardly any.

And today seemed a special day with a little spark of the sun above the horizon.

I felt lucky to be up so early.

After a night of restlessness.

Wearing my acid-washed jeans, emerald green rolled-neck shirt, under my long sheepskin fur coat.

I have braided my soft silver hair and covered it with my floral headscarf with fur.

Lastly, my favorite blue sneakers on.

That's perfect for me.

I am always thankful that Leonid is very generous of me.

He always brings me gifts from his business trips.

Leonid Levidev is a famous merchant and small scale manufacturer of guns and ammunition throughout Europe.

He never failed Nana and our needs.

In our decades of concealment, he used his vast contacts of friends and people to keep us safe.

He may not be that powerful but he is truly kind, a loving husband, a great provider, and a respectable man.

Nana had miscarriages due to stressful travels and changes of locations now and then.

And they never had any child at all.

They are my precious stones, who brings light in my darkness.

Nana Irina and Leonid are my angels who saved me from death.

They give me my second life.

Looking myself at the mirror...

Yes, I am ready!

Today is the day that we have been waiting for, the Music Festival!

We will be with traveling with Lada, the only and truest friend that I have since we moved to Myshkin from Belarus.

She's the same age as me, she's a red-headed girl while I have a soft silver flock.

We are a bit opposite with our bodily structure.

She's a little bit rounded while I have a bottom hourglass body.

She's shorter than me, around 158 cm while I'm 183 cm tall.

She has brown round eyes while I have green emerald prominent eyes with long lashes.

And we have been friends for two years now.

She is also an orphan, living with her Aunt Galina, who's been a friend and confidant of Nana.

We are both excited today.

We will be going to Moscow, for the festival.

It's a bit long travel, around four hours by boat through the river Volga.

Yet, we are so lucky, Leonid makes a reservation of his merchant friend's yacht, named "Freedom".

"Amelia!?!" "Amelia!?!" I heard a voice calling from the outside, of our two-story cabin house.

I opened the doors of our balcony from my room.

Oh, it is cold but not snowy.

And I waved my hands to signal her to come in.

Yes, you heard it right!

People call me "Amelia" in every place we go.

That's the name Nana and Leonid had given me when we first escaped from the time of Revolution and up until now.

Nana opened the door for Lada and she called out "Amelia! Lada is here!"

"Yes, I'm coming Nana".

I went down to the dining area to meet Lada.

While Nana is preparing breakfast of bacon and eggs.

We chatted while I am helping Nana with the table.

And invited Lada for breakfast.

We treated her like family.

"Do you like some tea?" I asked Lada.

She nodded and say "Thanks Amelia!".

We are like sisters, we share the same passion and hobbies.

We love music, we like to paint and play chess.

While we are eating our breakfast and enjoying our teas, Lada announced "Have you heard that there is some rumor that armed men have been around lately?"

I am startled and choked while drinking my tea.

I wiped my lips and take out my dishes.

"Are you done? I asked while checking Ladas plate.

"Yes, thank you...Amelia! I'll just finish my tea.

And she helped me with the dishes.

Then, look at Nana's eyes and it displayed fears and anxieties.

I know Nana well. I could tell what she's thinking.

Then, I asked Lada again "Why is that so? Why would they be armed men roaming around? " while drying off the dishes.

"Aunt Galina said, that one of them asked her the other day if we knew about the last Heiress of Oblonsky".

"Really?!? Did Aunt Galina mentioned, where are they from? and how do they look like?" I asked sternly.

"I think they are from Oblonsky," Lada responds eagerly.

Then she added " How could a Princess live in this small village? Myshkin is a very small remote place. Nothing much to be enjoyable in."

"Do you know where is Oblonsky? Have you been to that place Amelia?" she asked me.

I shake my head saying "NO".

Flashbacks of my past trauma are haunting me again.

The gun fires ringing in my ears.

The smoke is suffocating.

And faces of my father Tsar Dimitri, my mother Duchess Anastasia, Maxim, and Annika.

My body started to tremor.

I am awakened by my reverie when Nana excused herself and started calling Leonid on the telephone.

"Amelia? Are you okay?" Lada asked anxiously.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just I remembered something. I forgot to bring my journal with me. Can I leave you just a minute? I'll be right back" feeling despondency.

She nodded in response while drinking her cup of tea.

I rushed myself into the lavatory.

And washed off my face,

I couldn't stop my body's tremor,

I searched for my journal notebook and found it at the bedside table along with the radio.

I took my journal notebook and the portable radio downstairs with me.

And Nana is still on the phone talking.

Then suddenly she rushed upstairs to my room.

I felt the tension.

"Hey, Amelia! Are you okay? you look so distracted. I felt worried."

"I'm fine Lada! Don't worry about me."

Then, I show her my portable radio.

Lada smiled when she saw the radio.

She loves music as I do, that is why we wanted to the Music Festival, even if her Aunt Galina does not want her to go.

"Are you ready?"

She nodded and grin from ear to ear.

Then, I turned it on.

The music filled the air "All out of Love" by Air Supply.

We stand up and started dancing in waltz and singing out loudly.

I'm lying alone with my head on the phone

Thinking of you till it hurts

I know you hurt too but what else can we do

Tormented and torn apart

I wish I could carry your smile and my heart

For times when my life seems so low

It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring

When today doesn't know, doesn't know

She laughed cheerfully and I felt relieved.

Relieved from the anxieties and tensions in my body.

Then, we were seated on the couch.

The music ended and filled with the rhythm of the song of Bill Withers "Just the two of us".

We are humming with the beat.

Oh, how relaxing.

But Nana is still on the phone, restless.

Nana's telephone calls delayed our departure.

The music is playing in the air from my portable radio.

We are humming the melodies together.

Lada is a little bit confused about the delay but she's calm.

And while we waited for Nana.

Lada and I decided to write our journals in our notebook.

I opened it and wrote.

December 19, 1980

Myshkin

My beloved,

Blessings to you, my sweet and loving present self,

You are tough and stoned, have a relief.

Breath in the air of my shadow and care...

Live each day with calmness, I dare,

Please release those anxieties and fears.

Feel me... I'm holding you,

Don't worry, I will not let you go...

Let's walk together in balance,

Our Oneness will hold the strength of stance.

Be open and receive...

The guidance and blessings you deserve,

Don't look back on that painful past,

But be healed and let it rest.

I know, our journey together will move you forward,

Will meet future self, reaping the reward,

Let us flow in synchronicity...

Like a drop of water tapping into the lake of infinity.



Beatrix

"Amelia...

" Lada...

Nana's voice awakened us from our daydreaming and writing.

We closed our journal notebooks.

"Are we ready?" Nana asked.

We both nodded in response.

Lada and I were shocked seeing the big suitcase, next to her.

I don't even dare to ask Nana why we need such a big suitcase.

It's making me sad and feeling anxious.

Then, Lada asked in a whisper "Is everything alright Nana? Why such a big suitcase?"

Nana replied, "Amelia will have a vacation to Alaska".

Our eyes just widened from the news.

Is this for real?!!? Why so sudden? Is it possible that the armed men are looking for me?

When will I be free from these fears and anxieties? My brain is restless and in total confusion.

She added "Don't worry, we will enjoy the Music Festival. Leonid will meet us there. Before the break of dawn, we will travel to Alaska in a different boat. Leonid will bring Lada back home to Myshkin, I'm sorry Lada if it's quite a rush decision. But we will need to meet a family in Alaska very soon for an important reason. It's an urgent matter.

"That's making me sad but whatever it is, hope everything is going well in your favor. I will surely miss Amelia" while looking at me and holding my hands tight.

"Let's go and hurry! we are out of time, the car is already waiting outside," she said in an order.

We put on our hand gloves, coats, and winter headscarves.

Then, when we opened the door...

A Wartburg 353 car is waiting outside for us.

On the driver's seat is the Levidiv Guns and Ammo company's driver, the personal driver of Leonid.

He opened the door for the ladies to come in.

And he helped us with the suitcase.

"Thank you, Igor!" Nana said.

"You are most welcome Madame Irina!"

We traveled just a few minutes going to the port of Volga River.

And embark immediately and settled ourselves in a warm cabin.

We removed our coats and hang them near the heater.

Then, Lada breaks the silence "I have some cookies here in my handbag."

She offered us the treat.

"Aunt Galina made these cookies, last night," she said cheerfully.

"My sunshine Lada... How could I stopped you at the Music Festival? she asked while mixing the cookie ingredients into the bowl.

"You see my sunshine, I'm very worried. This is the first time that you will be away. If I could only go with you tomorrow. But I have an urgent meeting to attend to." she added while wiping her hands and approached me.

She holds my face and gives me a peck on my cheeks.

"Aunt Galina...don't you worry... I'm fine. I'll be safe with Nana Irina and Amelia. And the boat that we will be traveling on is safe, it's a new Yacht, owned by a rich merchant. Oh, I'm so excited! " I said cheerfully and squeezed her hands.

"Well then, bring some cookies tomorrow for your trip." she conceded and hugged me tightly.

"You are my only family, my sunshine...take good care of yourself always," she added while molding the cookie dough.

Then, she put it inside the oven.

My eyes got weary and I bid goodnight to Aunt Galina.

This morning Aunt Galina was very early. She prepared the cookies into my handbag and given me some pocket money.

Then, she asked "Don't you want to eat breakfast with me, my sunshine? " While looking at me in my outfit, ready to go.

"I'm fine Aunt Galina. I might be late! I'm sure Nana will serve breakfast. I do not want you to be late for work."

She nodded.

"Always remember what I told you... Okay? Take good care of yourself. Do not forget to pray. May God protect you as you travel, my sunshine." Aunt Galina is a bit emotional since this is the first time that I will travel.

Then, she kissed me and bid goodbye.

A crew comes in and I'm cut off from my reverie, he served us some tea to warm us up.

Beatrix and Nana Irina gladly thank me and the boat crew, they have enjoyed the tea and cookies.

We have completed our afternoon tea and snacks.

Then, we rested in a warm cozy bed for a nap.

We are in the middle of our voyage when Nana heard commotion overboard.

A crew shouted and gunfire ringing in the air.

We are all startled.

Nana approached our bed and whispered in each of our ears.

"Do not shout..be brave. Always hold yourselves together and walk discreetly. Just follow my lead." Nana said in an orderly manner.

We took our coats, gloves, and shoes.

And we quietly moved ourselves to the fire exit at the back of the cabin.

"Nana!" Amelia called out in a whisper, sounded anxious.

When we heard footsteps going down to the cabin.

We hold our hands so tight together.

Lada's eyes shown fears and confusion.

"Lada...everything will be alright, I'm here for you, don't worry." I squeeze her hands to comfort her.

Voices of men filled the silence.

Footsteps is getting nearer.

We slowly walked the aisle going to the exit door.

And our bodies started to tremor.

"Amelia.. what's happening? Who are these people? Why are we running? Did we do something wrong? Is everything alright? she asked quickly in a mutter.

" Hushed now Lada... " I whispered in her ears.