THE SHAM EYES

I felt frightened.

Sudden shifts of events rolled like thunder in my eyes.

And the wind of trauma drown into my soul.

How could I swim upstream from this fate of terror?

I was held captive for how many days by the rebels.

My tears dried up and my heartbeats fading.

Confusion and anxieties start killing my hope.

Everyday, I have been praying that the light of divine intervention will shed brightness into this shadow of darkness.

O how I missed Aunt Galina... and Amelia...

My Journal keeps me breathing and striving.

And I opened it to write my daily letter.

I wrote.

My dearest friend Amelia,

I hope you are fine.

May God help us to surpassed this battlefield of our lives.

I will hold you in my heart dearly and cherish our happy moments together.

Hope to see you soon when the sun shines in our horizon.

Lada

A knocked on the cabin door, startled me.

I immediately closed my journal and keep it hidden in my leather hand bag.

Then, the door opened.

The leader of the rebels flashed his annoying grin.

"Hello..My Lady! Your Uncle Charles, the King of Sweden wanted to meet you. We just arrived in the Port of Novorossiysk. Freshen up your self and he is coming to pick you up!"

He holds my chin with his coarse hand.

"You better behaved properly! If the King will not take you with him and won't give the ransom money...you will be dead before the dawn!" then he pushed me.

I stumbled on the floor and felt pity for myself.

O God! I am not the Heiress of Oblonsky but I'm left with no choice. I will hold on to the last string of hope, for me to see the sunshine of tomorrow.

The King looks at me sternly.

"Your Majesty..." I bow down.

"My name is Lada. I lived in Myshkin, Russia with my Nana Irina and cousin Amelia." I pretended.

O God! I'm sorry... Please spare my life.

"Irina is indeed the last maidservant alive during the revolution. I'm sorry....." he said.

My tears fall down.

"I'm so sorry Lada..for what happened to Irina. She's been a loyal maidservant. She had saved you during the massacre of your kin.

"O God, may bring peace to their soul...now that I found you my niece.. I'm happy to see you!" then he hugged me tight.

We left the rebels ship and I feel the great relief!

We are escorted by military personnel and policemen.

And we embarked to another ship, named King of the SEA printed boldly on it.

Uncle Charles announced "We will be sailing to Seward, Alaska! I wanted you to meet the Prince of Dothinghelm, my nephew. You better freshen up.. there are some clothes in your cabin to change. I believe.. you haven't have any clothes with you. Then, take a rest Lada.."

I nodded and said "Thank you, Uncle Charles!".

I am escorted by a maidservant to my cabin.

As soon as I entered the cabin room, I quickly rushed to the en suite bathroom to clean up my self. It's been how many days that I haven't took a bath.

The water flowed from the shower...I felt the warm..It rinse off my fears and I washed the dirt of my soul.

My tears fall as the stream of hope..moved me upstream.

O God... Please guide me and bring forth the gateway of freedom. I really wanted to see Aunt Galina and live peacefully in Myshkin.

After I freshened up.

I go out from the bathroom and saw a beautiful dress, laid in bed with coats, gloves and shoes.

I'm overwhelmed.

This is the first time that I will be wearing such clothes. It's very elegant.

I'm not used to it but I have no choice.

Then, I swiftly changed clothes and I take my nap.

Aunt Galina...

I'm here...

Aunt Galina...

I keep knocking on the door... and nobody is opening.

Then, I opened the door...

I saw the rebels...and Aunt Galina on the floor.

Aunt Galina!??!

I'm awakened panting.

Then the maidservant approached me.

"Your Highness... Are you ok? Please be ready.. dinner will be served in fifteen minutes" she bow down and left the cabin.

We silently eat our dinner.

Uncle Charles broke the silence.

"We will be in Seward in two days. Tomorrow, we will have a Christmas Eve feast here inside the banquet hall. We will be docking to a port near our destination to buy you some clothes, I will escort you to the nearest shopping center, we will invite some musicians and we will have a great feast of bountiful fresh vegetables, fruits, salads, sea shells, fresh tuna and roast beef. I will make sure my niece, you will enjoy our traditional celebration." he said in full of excitement.

"O I thank you..Uncle Charles! That would be wonderful! I said in a strained smile.

How I wish to celebrate it with Aunt Galina! Surely, she will be baking her best cookies and we will share my favorite tea. We only wear our warm pajamas, sharing a simple dinner of fish and chips, salad, boiled potatoes and roasted turkey.

We ended our dinner and rested.

The next day, we docked on the nearest port.

And we indeed shopped some clothes, shoes and accessories..in different colors.

All are busy inside the King of the Sea.

And the banquet is ready.

I'm done freshen up myself and slipped on a red tulle, puffy sleeves, long evening dress, in black lurex tights, then a pair of flat shoes and lacy red gloves.

The Butler waited for me in the doorway of the cabin and he escorted me towards the banquet hall.

While we walked down the banquet hall.

A lovely Christmas music lingers in the air with a singer on the background.

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

From now on

Our troubles will be out of sight

I seated at the banquet table.

My heart melts with the warm song and I'm in teary eyes.

As the song continues..I reminisce my love of my family, my Aunt Galina and Amelia.

Merry Christmas..I muttered.

Uncle Charles is very cheerful and full of joy while we have our dinner party.

The military personnel, the captain of the ship and the crews, shared our table.

Overflowing food and wines on the table are served.

I surveyed the banquet hall while I'm eating.

Gifts?

A table..full of gifts!

I'm totally surprised!

I haven't seen that earlier.

Then the music changed it's melody.

And Uncle Charles approached for a dance.

We danced as the song played.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know

Where the tree tops glisten

And children listen

To hear sleigh bells in the snow, Oh the snow...

My tears start falling down as we danced.

Uncle Charles look at me in solicitude.

"Hush now..my niece! I know how you feel right now. Just enjoy the night will you? Are you ready for the gifts? he said cheerfully.

"This is our family's tradition from generation to generations, opening of gifts!" he signaled the musicians to change music to lively one.

And so the music started to shift.

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let it snow! Let snow! Let it snow!

And Uncle Charles ushered me to the table of gifts.

He let me open the gifts from biggest to smallest gift.

The biggest box contains a pinkish lilac tuffet, puffy sleeves in full skirt.

And a box full of different kind of jeans.

Then, the next is two pairs of cowboy boots, a pair of leather shoes and a pair of leather sandals.

And the smallest one contains a set of pearl earrings and necklace.

I am happy and sad at the same time.

How could I felt this way?

Yes, I am no Heiress.

But I am no way to resist the only doorway of staying alive.

"Thank you..Uncle Charles for these wonderful gifts! I'm delighted! " I hugged him dearly.

And the party ended with colorful fireworks in the darkness of the sky.

Just like my soul half-heartedly joyful.

Everyday is a new day of my life.

I just submerged into it as it unfolds.

We arrived in the Port of Anchorage.

Two men in military uniforms and a chauffeur waited for us.

Uncle Charles introduced me to Master Seargent Jones and his nephew Specialist Mikael Magnusen.

We had two hours of ride to Seward.

It's a very beautiful Mansion!

A big courtyard in front.

It's two storey Victorian style house.

Then, we entered into the house.

A house keeper and a maidservant welcomed us.

The parlour room is big in beautiful light azure with some tables and chairs.

Then, we continued to the hearth room...where two wooden couch facing each other in front of the fireplace hearth..

then next to the room is the biggest dining room ..I've ever seen.. every room has its detailed decors and beautiful chandeliers.

It's totally mesmerizing!

Uncle Charles let me seated beside him the couch.

And called the house keeper.

"Olivia! Please tell Stefan that his Uncle Charles is here! " he said in a very authoritative manner.