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CHAPTER SEVEN: New Rules

The house felt different the next morning.Even the air felt strange, like something bad had already happened but nobody had said it out loud yet.

Not quiet.

Not calm.

Just different.

Anya noticed it the moment she stepped out of her room. Guards stood straighter. The maids spoke in lower voices. Even the air felt heavier.

Like everyone knew.

Like everyone was waiting.

Dmitri was already in the hallway, dressed ready with arms crossed, like he had been waiting for her.

“You should be resting,” he said.

I’m not weak, Anya replied.

“I didn’t say you were.” He added almost immediately.

She looked at him."You meant it."

He didn’t deny it.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then he sighed. “Come have breakfast,” he said quietly.

She hesitated at first, then followed him.

The dining room felt worse, when she entered.

It was too quiet.

The kind of quiet that didn’t feel normal.

Nikolai sat with a tablet, with his eyes moving quickly like he was reading something urgent. Alexei stood by the window.

They both looked at her as she entered.

Not cold.

Not warm.

Just… watching.

“You’re late,” Nikolai said.

“I wasn’t invited,” she replied.

Dmitri pulled out a chair. “Sit.”

She sat down slowly.

A maid placed food in front of her and left quickly as though she wasn't meant to be there.

Alexei finally spoke. “From today, things change.”

Anya looked up. “How?”

“You don’t move alone,” he said. “Ever.”

"Not even in this house."

She frowned. “I don’t need guards following me.”

“You do now,” Dmitri cut in.

“I can take care of myself.”

“We know,” Nikolai said softly. “That’s not the point.”

Anya’s fingers tightened slightly.

The silence stepped in again, which she didn't like.

Alexei stepped closer. “You are a target now.”

“I was always a target.”

Yes, he said.”You are connected to something now,” he said quietly. “Something we cannot lose.”

The words were clear.

No argument.

Anya looked between them. “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

No one answered clearly again.

That was starting to get on her nerves.

She pushed her chair slightly back.

“I didn’t agree to be controlled,” she said.

Dmitri’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Nobody is controlling you.”

“Feels like it,” she replied.

A short silence followed.

Anya looked down at her plate.

Then back up.

Fine, she said. “But I make my own decisions.”

Dmitri smirked a little. “We’ll see about that.”

Anya pushed her plate slightly away. She wasn’t hungry anymore.

The room stayed quiet, but it didn’t feel empty. It felt like something was about to happen.

Nikolai suddenly looked at his tablet again. His eyes narrowed.

Then he stood up.

“That’s strange,” he said.

Everyone turned to him.

“What is it?” Alexei asked.

Nikolai didn’t answer right away. His fingers moved fast on the screen.

Then he looked up slowly.

“There’s movement outside the city walls,” he said. “A convoy. Coming this way.”

Dmitri’s face changed immediately.

“Whose?” he asked.

Nikolai paused.

“That’s the problem,” he said. “No one’s claiming it.”

Silence dropped hard into the room.

Even the maids outside stopped moving.

Anya’s eyes shifted between them.

“What does that mean?” she asked quietly.

Alexei didn’t take his eyes off Nikolai. “It means they didn’t announce themselves.”

Dmitri stood up. “It means they don’t want to be seen.”

Anya stood up slowly. “So someone is coming here… and you don’t even know who?”

Alexei nodded. “Yes.”

She exhaled slowly. “That sounds like a very bad plan.”

No one responded.

Alexei moved first.

“Lock all entrances,” he ordered the guards outside. “Now.”

The sound of footsteps filled the hallway immediately as guards started running.

The calm morning disappeared completely.

Anya took a step forward too, but Dmitri moved in front of her.

“Stay inside,” he said firmly.

BOOM!

The windows rattled hard.

The lights flickered for a second.

Everything went silent.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Even the guards outside went quiet.

Anya felt her heart beat faster, but she didn’t step back.

Dmitri pulled out his gun.

Alexei followed immediately.

“Report!” Alexei shouted toward the hallway.

Even the guards outside went quiet..

Everyone froze.

Nikolai looked down at his tablet again, his face suddenly pale.

“That wasn’t outside,” he said slowly.

Alexei turned sharply. “What are you talking about?”

Nikolai swallowed.

“That came from inside the estate.”

A heavy silence dropped.

A soft sound echoed from the hallway.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Calm.

Coming closer.

Dmitri pulled out his gun immediately.

Alexei did the same.

Anya didn’t move.

The footsteps stopped right outside the dining room door.

Then a voice spoke from the other side.

Low. Calm.

Familiar.

“I told you,” the voice said. “You should have left when you had the chance.”

Anya’s eyes widened slightly.

Dmitri’s grip tightened, he noticed the change in Anya and looked at her quickly.

"Anya?" He called out.

She didn't answer.

And then the door handle slowly turned.

From the inside.

And the door began to open.