Page 66 of Cookie: Part One
“Unfortunately, Pechenye,” Dimitri sighs and squeezes my hand. “But vhen vee get back, vee can have all types of fun.” He winks and my cheeks grow hot.
“You promise?” I tease them and Nadya confirms, giving me a quick, warm hug.
“Vee promise.” She smiles and Dimitri leans over and kisses my cheek.
“Vee von’t be long,Pechenye.”
“Alright, that sounds way better than being the subject of everyone’s silent judgement.”
“Zhat’s ze spirit!” Pyper grabs my hand and yanks me slightly out of the booth. “Go to ze museum zhen relax at spa. You canget to ze museum by going down ze hall on ze East Ving. Vee vill join you vhen vee get back.”
“And you! Vhen I get some time, you, me, and Pakhan vill be having a spade tournament!” Uncle Vlad calls out, pointing his fork at me and I laugh, feeling lighter than I have since the engagement.
“Got it.” I stand, waving at them. “See you guys soon.” I spin on my heel, ignoring the staring family members with newfound purpose, heading for the sanctuary of the East Wing.
As I make my way through the house, I do my best to bypass any lingering family members to the empty East Wing corridor which echoes with my footsteps as I move farther from the bustle. The air cools and thickens, my nerves settling into a curious anticipation because I love history.
I can tell when I start getting close to the museum because the patterns on the walls look different… almost caveman-like drawings, making me slow my pace, drawn in by the carved panels which come into view. Two mighty polar bears locked in a silent battle, this one more intricate than the one I saw outside with Pyper and Alik.
My fingers brush over the intricate design, tracing the history etched in wood, and it’s like I can feel the weight of the importance without even knowing what the hell it even means.
“Wow… they really do have a museum in here. Rich people just be having too much money on their hands,” I murmur tomyself, quickly going over to the lined portraits, brows raising at how similar they all look. “These must be their ancestors or something… this guy looks like Misha, but his hair is much longer, almost if not damn near down his back.
But what’s even more interesting is that his entire body is bathed in a mysterious blue light. Hell even his veins are bright like lightning and his eyes are glowing, white orbs…
“Way to lay it on thick with the lore.”
At the bottom of the portrait are some words that make me lean over and read them, squinting my eyes.
Zakhar Berlov, II- date 1575
Captain of the Crystalline Flower,
Winter Guard for King Kazimir
Birth place 7th Halidome
Current Ruler of 7th hell under
Lord Asmodeus reincarnation 13th
This piece depicts Zakhar Berlov, a figure of legendary renown and one of the royal brothers to King Kazimir. Berlov is most often characterized by his mastery over lightning, a formidable power hinting at the volatile nature of his character and the intensity of his loyalties.
Zakhar is known to his people as a hero who fought for justice for those of the Berlov family, who were tragically banished from the sacred land due to their unique unchanging curse, a detail that speaks to a history of persecution and resilience. He is best known for choosing exile with King Kazimir after the King failed to protect the Crystalline Flower. His whereabouts, along with King Kazimir’s, are unconfirmed.
I read the caption again, blinking hard.Current Ruler of 7th hell, Lord Asmodeus reincarnation 13th.My brain stutters. This isn’t a family history…this is advanced, high-budget psychosis… .
“What kind of history is this?” I mutter and I move to the portrait of the woman who looks like a sorrowful, older Pyper before I scan the notes.
Inessa Bershov date 1687-1762
Sister of King Kazimir
Birth place 5th halidome
Current Ruler of 5th Hell-
Under Lord Beelzebub reincarnation 13th
