5 THE SEPARATION

"Tie them up and bring them all overboard! "

Lada is full of fears and confusion, I am holding Amelia so tight. I'm afraid to let go.

Who is the Heiress of Oblonsky?

All the while I thought.. it is unreal.

I was born in Belarus with my loving parents.

They died when I was five years old.

Because of a big fire in the village.

And Aunt Galina...my dearest Aunt, traveled to Belarus and took care of everything for the burial of my parents. Then, she brought me to Myshkin, in her house. She is sweet and very supportive of all the things I do.

She was always there with me, during the time of my grief and growth.

What will happen to me now? Oh, my Aunt Galina. I should have listened to her. My head is full of questions and very restless.

I felt my body tremor endlessly.

"You!?!" The leader of the armed men pointed the gun towards me.

I felt the horror.

I am shaking, almost fainted with fear.

Amelia's hand is cold and sweating, holding mine.

She gives me strength.

The armed men asked again "Who is the Heiress of Oblonsky?"

I stammered saying "Sir, I truly, do not know..please release us. We do not know the Heiress."

And continued courageously, "Sir, we are not from Oblonsky. I've never been there, all my life."

Lada is a strong girl.

She will fight for the truth.

That's what I love about Lada, she is my strength.

The leader pointed his gun back at Nana.

And roughly pull me to him.

"Now, you tell me, what I need to know!" his voice is booming and sounds impatient.

Irina's eyes are showing no fears.

She is hiding her true emotions to protect the girls.

In the corner of her eyes, she saw the ship next to their yacht.

"Holy Fortress" boldly printed on the starboard.

A lot of armed men walking around in full battle gear.

The ship is full of military equipment.

Irina knows how to use a gun.

Leonid taught her how to use it and to defend herself.

But she knows... it's risky for the girls.

Irina just controlled herself.

Taking in the situation and prayed to God for protection.

"O God, spare us from this wrath." speaking inside her mind.

I managed to respond "Sir, you are frightening my kids. Please release them and I will tell you...What I know."

"Take her and bring them all to the Holy Fortress!" the leader commanded.

Two men grab each of the girls.

The girls silently followed without hesitation.

And two other more snatched me in my arms.

"O God, help us to surpass this tribulation".

Beatrix's eyes wander through the big boat.

All armed men wore military combat gear.

All their faces are hidden with black cloth.

Only eyes were shown.

I'm keeping my tears to fall.

Our situation is very uncertain.

Too many questions in my mind.

Who are they?

Why are they looking for me?

Is this our last sunset?

Lada and I were tied and settled in a cabin.

And two of the men are guarding us.

I couldn't find Nana.

Why it took her long to be with us?

While...

Irina was brought to the office of the commandant for an interview.

She is tied up and settled in a chair.

"Now, you tell me..." started by the commandant.

Irina is calm and carefully chosen her words

"So, you see. Those kids are my children. We are coming from Myshkin. We are supposed to travel to Moscow for the Music Festival."

"That is not what I needed!" and sounded annoyed.

Irina continued.

"Yes, I used to work for the House of Oblonsky. That day of their murder, I was not in the house. I was given a task to travel to find valuable gifts for Christmas. I was with the House Keeper."

Irina remembered that the housekeeper was not around in the Palace on that day, to find valuable gifts.

"How well, do you know the Heiress?" asked the commandant.

"I have known her since she's a baby. My job is as a Nursemaid. But, sometimes ..when the Nanny is around. I have given different tasks and obligations." Irina responded.

The commandant continue...

"Do you know that the Heiress is missing? That there was nobody recovered of her in the Palace?"

"No Sir, I don't know about that. The next day, on our way home. Everything is chaotic and Revolution already started." We escaped through the woods and sailed with my husband to Finland.

"Do you know for any marks in the body of the Heiress? Or color of her eyes and hair?" he continued.

"She has red hair like her father and blue eyes like her mother. She has a big mole at the nape of her neck."

The commandant stand up and took his gun and pull the trigger.

Irina was hit in the forehead and died on the spot.

Beatrix and Lada widened their eyes in horror when they heard the gunfire.

"Nana!?!?" Beatrix shouted at the top of her lungs.

Lada hugged her and cried with Amelia.

They have been crying for hours.

When four armed men, grabbed them.

"Moved!?!" He said.

We are forced to walk to go up the stairs to the overboard, where the office of the commandant is situated.

When we saw Nana on the floor, full of blood and death.

We cried we mourn, we felt tormented.

I hugged Nana for the last time not bothered by the blood smeared on my shirt.

"I'm sorry Nana, I was not here to protect you."

And I bellowed.

Lada hugged me from the back to comfort me.

When...

The commandant entered his office with four armed men.

"Take the body and throw her in the river," he commanded.

"NO!?!?! Beatrix shouted and plead.

"NO!?!?! PLEASE...NO..Nana.." while hugging her.

No strength could stop the armed men to get the body of Nana.

We had witnessed how they have easily thrown my loving Nana into the cold water of the river.

We cried and cried until our last tears.

Farewell Nana...

Your beautiful face and wonderful heart remain in me until I die.

"Amelia, why do you think they killed Nana?" Lada asked while sobbing.

"I do not know Lada".

Then, the commandant speaks again.

"Take that red hair girl!"

Lada felt terrified.

Beatrix pulled Lada to her and shoved the two armed men.

"NO!?!? PLEASE...LADA!!!"

They took Lada.

And another two men took me in my arms and bring me back to the yacht with the crew.

Then left us.

The armed men's ship started their voyage.

I felt terror and anguish.

Left alone.

Nana was killed.

Lada was kidnapped.