Page 14 of Cookie: Part One
“I’m sure if zhis vas your house, Pakhan vould never let you leave. It’s crazy how much he adores you over his own blood.” Alik’s words sting even though I know they’re not meant to, but I can hear the sadness in his voice.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize, and he whips his head to me, eyes wide.
“Alik!” Pyper admonishes him, and he takes my hand.
“Oh nyet… I’m sorry, Connie. I did not mean to make you feel bad… it’s not your fault you’re so lovable. It’s just…” He goes quiet for a bit before continuing. “I also vant to have a close relationship to Pakhan,” he sighs and I pat his hand, cocking my head to the side.
“I’m sure you will. I know he loves you,” I tell him and glance over to Pyper, who purses her lips.
“Love? I don’t know about zhat, Connie. Sometimes it feels like Pakhan is incapable of love… but he deeply respects zhose he believes are strong…”Like Misha?“Like Mikhail,” he finishes and I hold back a flinch because I knew he would say that.
“H-how so?” I ask.
“Vell, you’ve seen it. He’s a hard man and his aura is… a lot. Even vhen vee were rebyonok(children)he vas scary to us…” Pyper answers. “But to Mikhail… vhen he came to ze house and never bowed down, even bared his teezh like an animal… Pakhan… vell…” she trails off and peeks over to Alik, who looks forlorn.
“You don’t have to mince vords, Pyper. Pakhan liked him better. Mikhail vas everyzhing I vasn’t… strong, healzhy, and powerful enough to command ze room. Zhat’s vhy Pakhan gave him ze heir title and not me.” Alik stops walking and I can feel his deep sadness.
“Oh Alik, I love Grandpa Viktor, but he’s a jerk for that. You’re plenty strong and… and I’m s-sure you can beat Mikhail… at something,” I stammer, not knowing what that something is, but I know it’s out there. I hug him and he squeezes me tight, patting my head.
“You are indeed a sveet one, Connie. It’s no vonder Pakhan loves you,” Alik chuckles and Pyper nods.
“Right! Ever since you met him, you run up to him, hug and sit on his lap, smiling like solnyshko(sunshine).I zhink Pakhan likes zhat about you. You make him feel like normal grandparazher zhan ze head of ze Bershovs. Just like you make me feel like normal girl… like friend. And Alik feel like man and fierce like a bear.” She smiles and I take her hand, laughing, not really getting why things are so stiff here, but…
“Well, that’s because Grandpa Viktorisa normal grandpa to me… I mean, he’s just a man and you,” I pause and beam up at her. “You’re my bestest friend in the entire world, so I don’t make youfeellike you’re my best friend, youarethat. And Alik.” I turn to him “You’re the best and sweetest man I know.” I want to add that I know he’ll find someone, but now isn’t the time to say that.
Pyper throws her head back in laughter.
“I’m glad Grandpa finally invited you here… it’s nice making memories vit you in vhat vas a scary place for me for a long time,” she beams.
“Da, you are right. Zhat attitude is vhat vee love about you, Connie. You just make everyzhing better.” Alik runs his thumb over my lips and I don’t want to hurt him by pulling away to instead I look back out over the estate.
“You guys were scared of this place? Why? It feels like a fairytale land to me… almost like Narnia.”
“Narnia, huh?” Pyper giggles. “I can see zhat.”
“Da, vee used to get lost here with Nadya, Dimitri, and Mikhail vhile playing hide and seek as kids. Our mozher’s vould have to call ze guards to come find us,” Alik shudders.
“Oh, speaking of your parents… will I get to see them here?”
“Net zhey aren’t coming zhey are busy vit zhings for Pakhan, but I plan for us to all have brunch soon,” Pyper speaks up.
“Cool, let me know. Oh, and sorry for changing the subject, but seriously, this place is massive,” I tell them. We’ve been walking for hours, and I still don’t think we’ve scratched the surface of this place, but I spot something that makes me stop dead in my tracks, hypnotized.
“Whoa… what’s that?” I point to the emblem above the archway, tucked into the curve of black stone.
It’s gold and silver threads etched into steel, framed in deep crimson with two polar bears, standing on their hind legs back-to-back. One holds an ax in its hand. The other drips blood from its claws. Between them there’s a crown made of antlers. Below them, a phrase in sharp Cyrillic:
“?????? ???? ???????, ????? ???????? ?????.”
“Zhat’s ze Bershov family crest,” Alik answers softly. “Your room probably has it on ze fireplace.”
“I thought that was just a fancy design. Like… a logo.”
“No.” Pyper shakes her head. “It’s our legacy.”Wow… legacy, huh?
“What does it say?” I whisper in awe, going over to touch it, and he follows behind me.
“Lightning vas born to guard ze diamond.” Alik steps up behind me, running his hands over mine.
