Chapter: "Knot In The Throat"
Verónika appears with a pale pink coat, brown leather boots, two more garments that when I surrendered I can see that it is a wool shirt and jeans. There is also a scarf and gloves for the cold. When she connects with me, a smile crosses hers on her lips, I match it with the same sincerity that she transmits the gesture that she has dedicated to me. Something so common that people do such as going out, walking and walking around the world, in my circumstances as well as an incentive for the living evil that is a miracle from heaven.
I can't believe it, surely neither can she.
"Let me comb your hair, will you?" She - she offers herself. Like a little girl, she nodded excitedly. She then she go get you dressed, Luna.
-Thanks a lot.
I go into the bathroom and put everything on, looking at myself dressed like this makes me recall moments of my life in the past. I feel that I recover a part that I thought was lost. I go back to the room, the admiration of the Russian woman inhibits me a little.
"You are beautiful, I assumed it was your size." Come here. "He points to the couch, I move to where he indicates and take a seat. Luna, something is changing in the young Konstantinov ... I see it, I perceive it, at the age of forty I have come across men similar to Aleksander, who seem impenetrable and indestructible, however their armor falls off and you realize that there is a human side to them.
I don't know where you want to go with his words, you can't assume that I have to do with Aleksander and his sudden behavior.
-What does it mean?
"Luna, you are having an impact on him, influencing him in a positive way." Listen, you're still alive, and he keeps putting off taking your life. He won't, he would have already.
"Why are we talking about this?" I question uncomfortably. Immediately my thoughts turn to the cruel outcome that awaits me, that Verónika affirms with such certainty that it will not happen, it creates illusions and I do not want to fall on my face with false hopes.
"In my opinion, you'll save yourself, he's not going to kill you, Luna," she emphasizes with a sigh. I have made you a heart braid, it looks beautiful on you, "she adds.
-Thanks. Do you know where we will go?
"No, surely a not-so-crowded one." Have a good time, "he wishes, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
That she is so demonstrative she throws me off a bit.
"Okay, thanks again."
...
Crossing the threshold of the door is an unknown journey. I want to study my surroundings, scrutinize every inch of the mansion, but I block myself, walking outside is still epic. At all times, Verónika directs me, we advance through the spacious corridor and descend through a spiral staircase, the carpeting that begins at the beginning of the step until the end gleams with elegance and neatness to spare.
I manage to contain myself and not give in to emotional crying. Downstairs, in his tailored black suit and neat hairdo, I am met by the intimidating presence of him. He stares at me from landmark to landmark, in an instant I take my eyes off his orbs, the power is such that it burns me alive.
"I'll leave you alone, with permission."
She leaves. Without escapes, her intense gaze captures me. I seek to translate the eye contact, the meaning of her smile that, unlike other days, today is not charged with cynicism, evil or perverse intentions. I just hope it's what I think and I'm not fooling myself in order to see everything from another perspective. It would be wrong.
"You are beautiful, Luna Miller." He tastes my subtle name, yes, delicate. Let's go.
Aleksander offers me his arm. The day continues to be strange, shy I make the hitch possible. We walk at the same pace, and my heart has already shot through the air, bouncing so hard I fear a heart attack. Everything collides, twists, shouting inside me I finally celebrate the exit.
Snow is everywhere. My eyes open as a result of the beauty of a season that has turned its whiteness and coldness everywhere. The wind that blows is cold, it is an unpleasant winter that without possessing all these clothes, I would freeze to the bone. What I am beginning to experience forms a lump in my throat, I close my eyes, I stop walking, and he stops too.
Zigzagging through my cravings, joy, it is a mixture, it is turbulence and imbalance. I let go of his arm and fall to my knees in the snow.
"Get up, do it now if you don't want me to change my plans," he threatens.
"Just a second," I ask without even looking at him.
"One second and you're back in the room, Luna," he warns.
Go back to the room? No! I obey, I return to my previous position, upright.
I study around me, high walls, the appearance of the mansion and everything they take me to a movie of those that are scary. It is like an enchanted castle. And I have the monster by my side. I wonder where the armed men Alena and Verónika told me about are.
—It's a zima cold, even if you don't see them, they're here watching, always on the alert. "He reports, does he read minds?"
Be quiet. My answer is silence.
"What does zima mean?" He asked, never heard it before.
—Iwinter in Russian. —It is brief, it does not extend, it has not been cutting either.
The word jumps, echoes in my head. I remember it well, I have asked that my last wish be to enjoy a solstice, which shakes me to the core. My day has come, nothing looks pink, everything is fake again. It is not just any walk. It is the last one, Verónika is not right, because nothing has really changed, he is still a wolf and I am easy prey.
"Are you going to tell me what you think so much about?" He asks once I've slipped into the black leather seat and he boarded the passenger seat. It is rare that he asks instead of demanding -. You're shivering, isn't the heating and warm clothes enough?
The second inquisitive, is it hiding concern on his part? The probability coming from him is nil, but this time credible.
-No, is not that.
"Don't be interesting, speak up now, why?"
Couldn't miss his hostility, his lack of tact. By then the gates open clearing the way, I swallow thickly. We drive away from the property. I look in the rear view mirror, everything looks small from a distance. I take a breath, I'm so small next to him that I don't have defenses. On the dashboard of the car there is a gun, I have not noticed it until now, leaving it within my reach confuses me. It may be a ruse. It's remotely possible that it's loaded, I'm not going to fall.
What if the gun contains the bullet that will take my life?
I bite my lip, I'm scared.
"Aleksander, I know I told you that my will ...
"Don't go on, I remember perfectly what you said that day." You won't die today, Luna. And stop the chatter or we'll be back.
Relief fills my chest. I'm not going to die, it won't be today! I try to control my crazed breathing, the austerity with which my nerves eat away at me.
"Welcome to St. Petersburg," he says. Have you ever been to a museum?
Do gangsters frequent those places? I thought they would have to keep a low profile.
On the other hand I am in awe of the beautiful and colorful city. The Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg is located in the heart of the city, between the Neva river embankment and the Palace Square that occupies two buildings, which ranges from the Small Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Winter Palace and the Hermitage Theater. It is one of the most attractive architectural ensembles in Russia.
We enter the museum, holding hands as if we are a couple. I know that it is a way to go unnoticed, to see ourselves as if we are the happy couple who enjoy a stay in the huge city. But having his touch on my palm, even with the fabric of the glove that prevents us from feeling skin against skin directly, has awakened a revolution in my belly.
Then thousands of questions corner me in doubts. Why do I feel this burning? What does the flutter in my stomach mean? Is this what they call attraction?
It is just confusion, I abstruse it for the moment that causes us to feel nonsense. It is incomprehensible that I look at a guy like him. Am I crazy?
It is possible, if we take into account that Aleksander has behaved vilely with me, even adding a few moments of a more flexible treatment, I do not see why the hell an affection has developed for him.
Where has the resentment, anger, hatred and helplessness of being kidnapped gone?
I look at him in profile, advancing among the other people who walk through the immense museum, others evaluate, contemplate and treasure the exhibited pieces, but protected for their conservation. He doesn't notice me, but I do, too much, I'm giving him my full attention, feeling appreciation for the wolf, a beast that could eat me at any moment.
What's up with me
He looks at me furtively and I hide.
-Know? This museum currently houses more than three million objects, which is why it is considered one of the most complete art galleries in the world, isn't it impressive?