~Anastasia~
A prolonged silence; though transient and fragile, nobody dared break it. In her imperial cloak, freshly anointed and crowned, my older sister was now a Czarina in her own right. Yet what surprised me was the conflicted look on her face. I could see a flash of memories and relief shining through those golden eyes. There was also a glimpse of guilt there as she stared at me.
Then another face appeared into my sight.
"Ana."
Her soft whisper of my name made my heart beat out of rhythm. Hearing her voice again brought back a strong poignant sensation I hadn't experienced for many years.
I looked back at her, locking our gazes with an indescribable feeling. It was both of joy and sadness with a trace of nostalgic pain all at once. Despite every nuance of her new life as a vampi
