7 THE JOURNEY

We are now settled in the private cabin.

There are two single bed, a tub, a shower and lavatory.

Leonid already fallen asleep.

And I am restless and still in trauma.

I made sure to locked the doors before lying in bed.

The ship already started it's voyage at ten in the evening.

I am drained and tired, but I don't want to missed my journalling today.

I wrote...

December 20, 1980

Moscow

My beloved,

My heart died today.

I felt numb and my tears drained.

I loss my truest friend, Lada was abducted by the rebels and I lost my loving Nana, who protects us from danger with her life. Oh I missed her!

Oh dear God... Please help me to heal in this deep grief.

Then, I saw a painting of kids in summer dresses, of which reminded me of our family's last painted portrait in the vineyard of Crimea while passing the banquet hall earlier.

Oh I missed my kin so dearly.

O my dear, dead heart and shattered soul,

Be still and be strong.

We are still in the midst of our battlefield.

We have to win the war from rebels and we need to fight our grief and anxieties.

We will fight, I will fight strongly and collect all that is due for Oblonsky.

For my lost family.

For my father.

For my mother.

For the future of Oblonsky.

For our people.

All rebels will be perished.

By God's grace, I will claim my victory!

Beatrix

I closed my journal and closed my eyes to sleep.

"Nana...Where are you?"

"Nana?!?..

Flowers blooming in the field.

The sky is so bright with the summer sun.

The scent of lavender filled the air.

I keep running and running.

Then, I reached the ocean floor.

It's dark green color seemed terrifying and mysterious.

Then, I saw a beautiful face, paled skin and a bullet wound in the head appeared in front of me.

"Na-na?! I stuttered.

"My Princess...I love you more than my own. Follow your intuition and you will win." then she disappeared in the waves.

"Nana!?!?!?!" I called loudly.

Then, I saw her body floating into the water without any life.

Succumbed by the big waves.

Then, thunder rolling like a big drum, and the lightning flashes its light in the horizon.

Then, darkness...

It's raining hard, I" m wet.

I called out Nana on the top of my lungs.

Then, a bright light shining above, it's blinding me.

"Our Princess.. Be strong, follow your intuition, we are always guiding you." that voice.

"Papa.. "

I'm awakened.

Leonid is already up and manage to approached me in bed.

He shook my right arm to totally awaken me and bring me to the present.

"It's okay our Amelia, it's just a dream."

Then he said, "Hush now.. and be ready Princess, we will have our breakfast in thirty minutes."

I nodded in response.

I rise up and fix my bed.

And washed off my face.

Then, changing into my new set of clothes.

A pair of Mama's jeans, sneakers and colorful folk shirt in long sleeves. a sweater and I covered my head with my winter floral head scarf.

The weather is freezing these days.

Some parts of the ocean, welcomed us with some glacier.

It's crystals spark beautifully in the vast ocean basin.

But we are lucky, our cabin has its own heater from coal. The crew filled it everyday.

When suddenly, somebody's knocking on the door. I'm a bit startled.

Leonid signaled his hands to keep silent and hide.

Then, his actions is very calculated.

He carried his firearm hidden in his waistline.

Leonid opened the door in small portion to check outside for our safety.

And then, he saw the waiter bringing the tray with food.

And so, he opened the entryway for the waiter to come in.

Leonid instructed the waiter to serve the food in the table and leave immediately.

And the waiter followed the instructions and leave the cabin.

As soon as the waiter is outside, Leonid locked the door in a swift manner.

"Amelia... Leonid called out." You can now go out and it's time to eat."

I unhidden myself from the lavatory.

And prepared myself to share the table.

Before we start eating, Leonid checked the food by eating a little, then, the drinks by drinking a little, to avoid possible poisoning of food, he do not want to risk my life.

"You may now eat it, it's safe our Princess."

The food looks sumptuous but I do not have the appetite to eat.

I pushed myself to eating. I really need the energy today for the long travel.

Then, he continued talking while eating...

"Amelia, you knew well...our arrangement right? everytime we need to conceal ourselves, we need to always remember, we need to be discreet to our words and actions."

"Yes, I do, Leonid." I responded.

Then he added in almost a whisper,

"As soon as we arrived at the Port of Anchorage, a chauffeur and two secret military personnel will meet us and will be our guard, he reminds me again. I need for you to be strong and mindful on anything. Accidents could happen, anytime, sooner or later. As Irina told you everyday, just follow your intuition and you can never go wrong." he explained.

"Yes, I understand Leonid" my short response.

Then, I thanked Leonid for all that he do for me.

And he continued talking..

"Your Nana was able to contact your Uncle Charles to notify him about you. And good thing she was able to call me about the arrangements before I departed in the hotel. She said that you will be delivered in urgent to Alaska for safety and identification."

I silently nodded.

"Do you have the velvet pouch?" he asked.

The velvet pouch with the gold necklace and a golden egg lacket pendant.

"Yes, I have it."

"Put it to safety as much as you can, our Princess. That will be your key along with your scar, to gain back the Kingdom of Oblonsky, the power that your family lost in the past. Your Uncle Charles need that for your identification. Your Nana kept everything that you have when she saved you. Oh she's the most kindest heart and soul" he is in teary eyes.

"Yes, I will keep it secure as my life." I responded in almost a murmur.

And we continued eating.

We drink some tea and coffee with some cookies.

Then, I remembered..

The cookies that Lada offered us, baked by Aunt Galina.