Page 33 of Cry of the Firebird

Yvan gave Anya a smile that made it disappear.

"I swear, I was asleep for ten minutes, and the house erupts."

"At least it's not literally this time."

"I did tell you that I had called for backup," Trajan said. "How are you taking this all, Anya?"

"Oh, fine. Just fine. I'm going to need another few of these, though," she replied, holding up her glass of vodka.

"Me too," Yvan said, and he nudged Anya's foot with his. "Come on,shamanitsa, it looks like we are going to get caught up on the world tonight, whether we want it or not."

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

In the kitchen, Izryal devoured what was left of the soup Yvan had cooked, and Cerise was smoking again. Anya sat next to Yvan and offered him what was left of her vodka. Yvan took it and drained it before passing it back. Trajan watched the exchange, his eyes narrowing. He opened a cupboard and placed a bottle of vodka and an additional glass on the table in front of them.

"Okay, you two, where do you want to start?" Izrayl asked.

Both Trajan and Yvan looked at Anya.

"Ladies first," Trajan said, taking a seat on the other side of her.

"I want to know about Eikki and why you were watching over me when he died," Anya replied.

"I wasn't stalking you," Trajan hurried to explain.

"Close enough," Izrayl grunted. "Eikki called on Trajan more than once to keep an eye on you. Hell, even I got dragged into that one time in Moscow."

"What do you mean Moscow?" Anya had always thought it was Eikki who had found her freezing to death in the park. He had taken her home to the farm, and she had never left it again.

"Eikki got a message to Trajan and me. He was freaking out because you had run away, and he had no way of protecting you. And where did we find you? Dying in a park with a group of Darkness operatives closing in on you," Izrayl said. He drained his soup and put his bowl down. "Man, that was a fight."

Anya dimly recalled a fight that night, but she had thought it had been drunks brawling.

"What is the Darkness?" Yvan asked. "I've been asleep a long time, remember? I have questions of my own about what the Powers have been up to. Baba Yaga was too interested in Anya for my liking."

"Wait, you guys have already messed with Baba Yaga?" Izrayl demanded.

Anya wanted more answers but instead found herself updating Cerise and Izrayl as briefly as possible on the past week.

Cerise swore. "This is so much worse than I thought, Trajan dear. You are lucky I owe you such a big favor."

"And I'm calling it in," Trajan replied.

"Back to the Darkness, please?" Yvan prompted.

"The Guardians of the Dark, they used to call themselves. Now, they are just known as The Darkness. They are run by an ancient blood sorcerer called Ladislav. Vasilli is one of his generals," Trajan explained.

"Of course he is," Yvan muttered, running a hand through his hair.

"The Illumination keeps them in check," Izrayl said with a cynical laugh. "Well, sort of. They like to think they are the do-gooder police of the supernatural world. Guardians of the Light and all that silly shit. Really, they are both the same. Both organizations want supernatural creatures and magic users on their side, just like the same crap the Powers pull in Skazki and the Otherworlds. The supernaturals that refuse to join eitherside are called the Neutrals, but it's damn hard to stay that way; trust me."

"And what was Eikki?" Anya couldn't help but ask.

"He was neutral to the core like Ilya. Most gatekeepers are, unless they get indoctrinated young. Why do you think Eikki freaked when you left the farm? You were under his protection there, under the wards that would keep you safe. I always wanted to know why you'd give that up for Moscow of all places."

"I didn't know there were wards keeping me safe. Although, it explains a lot about what happened when I got to Moscow," Anya said, toying with her cup. "I left because I was feeling trapped living in the middle of nowhere. It's as simple as that. The bus I got on was going to Moscow. I was there for maybe a month before all my PTSD symptoms came back. Do you think the wards would have kept them under control?"

"Undoubtedly," Trajan answered. "Eikki wanted you to feel as safe as possible, even if life was boring for a young woman. He was distraught when he realized you were gone."

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