Vainglorious: The Ties That Bind

Chapter One

Moscow, Russia

March 12, 1917

Depending on one's social stature and political beliefs, living in Russia in 1917 could be very hazardous to your health, Mikhail thought. He was in his cramped office inside the Kremlin packing what few personal things he wanted and more importantly, taking the documents and files related to his personal smuggling business. He wondered if Rocky had received his latest shipment and pondered how, with the political climate as unstable as it was, he would ever get another shipment let alone his pregnant wife and two small children out of the country safely.

Finished, he poked his head out the door and informed his secretary that he would have to leave for the rest of the day. She stared at him uncomprehendingly with her mouth open before finally stammering, Yes, sir, but what about the Cabinet meeting scheduled for this afternoon? Minister Protopopov is insists that the Ministry present a viable plan for dealing with the Duma to the Tsar upon his arrival from Mogilev, she reminded him.

Mikhail cursed under his breath. Another useless attempt by the Tsar and his Cabinet Ministers- of which he was one- to find an acceptable solution to the escalating crisis in Russia. He couldn't stand the other Ministers and knew all too well that the meetings were a complete waste of time. Only this morning Rodzianko, the president of the Duma, had telegraphed the Tsar urging him to abdicate. The Tsar refused and immediately set out for Petrograd.

The Duma, or State Council, was created during in 1905 to appease the peasants and prevent a revolution. Personally, Mikhail thought it had only forestalled the inevitable. Its officials were elected by electoral colleges chosen from landowners, townsmen and peasants. Its purported purpose was to study and discuss legislative proposals and then, by vote, certain proposals would be submitted to the Tsar and his Ministers for their approval. Of course, like most things, intention was usurped by reality. Please pass on to the Minister my humblest apologies but inform him that my wife is frightened as my youngest son has yet to return home from school, he lied.

Immediately contrite, she nodded her head emphatically and assured him she would explain his absence to Protopopov and the other Ministers. I do hope he is okay, she said sympathetically. It's a shame to have to worry about the safety of our children because of them, she said disapprovingly. By them, he assumed she was referring to the striking workers protesting outside the Kremlin walls. He’d heard that over 200,000 people had marched today protesting everything from the food shortages, to long lines, to the recent loss of soldiers on the front lines. The last skirmish had resulted in over 500,000 Russians dead, with twice that many wounded or dying.

He didn't bother to remind her that she'd probably have been out there marching too if she hadn't possessed such a pretty face, mediocre typing skills and a complete willingness to spread her legs for a majority of the Cabinet, himself included.

Yes, well, it is a shame it has come to this, he proclaimed sadly, shaking his head. Now, you’ll have to excuse me. I need to see to my wife.

He stepped back into his office and closed the door firmly. He grabbed his leather satchel and the box and ducked into the opposite hallway leading to the underground tunnel. When he resurfaced, he was near the rail station and a thousand yards from the Kremlin. Before leaving his office he had changed his shoes and put on a ragged, torn coat. Able to blend in with the poor working masses milling about on the street, he quickly made his way to his private apartment. The doorman attempted to block his entrance until Mikhail lowered his scarf and was recognized.

He jogged up the rickety stairs and used the three sets of keys to open the door, laying his coat, satchel and the box on the small table nearest the door. Hearing the sound of running water, he slipped his pistol out of its holster and crossed the hallway to the bedroom door. It suddenly flew open and he was startled to see Catherine Negyev, who uttered a scream before collapsing into his arms. He had forgotten that he had told her to meet him this early.

Oh, Mikhail, she sobbed, I am so frightened. All those angry people out there!

You will be okay my little one, he murmured. Do you have anything for me? he asked. She smiled up at him and winked before going into the living room. He licked his lips at the sight of her bending over to pick up a bag off the floor. Without a word, she turned around and dumped the entire contents of the bag onto the coffee table. The jewels twinkled and glittered as Mikhail attempted to find his voice. Never had he imagined getting his hands on as many fine jewels as this. He grinned at her.

How the hell did you manage to smuggle that many out at one time? These are amazing! he said, picking up a ruby as big as his eye.

There was another demonstration in front of the palace and some people actually broke in. While the guards were busy with that, I helped myself to the Tsarina’s private vault and loaded up my garment bag. Too bad I didn’t have access to her vault in the Winter Palace in Petrograd; can you imagine the jewels I would have gotten? Anyway, I figured it was okay since you said I’d never have to go back, right?

No, my sweet, you will never have to go back. You will never have to listen to someone tell you what to do, where to clean, when to eat or anything else, I promise, he said, taking her in his arms. Your days as a Royal chambermaid are over, he whispered in her ear. Have you packed everything as I requested? he asked, looking around.

Of course, darling. I have all of your things and mine as well. He said nothing and she stepped back and looked at him with narrowed eyes. You are taking me with you, are you not?

He looked at her and smiled. Stroking her face, he drew her to him. As usual, the feel of her body on his made him grow hard instantly. He began to unbutton her blouse and she eagerly responded by loosening his belt and unzipping his pants. In a passionate frenzy they hurriedly removed each other’s clothes.

He roughly pushed her to her knees, forcing himself into her open mouth. God, he would miss this, he thought. After a moment, he pulled her up to him and carried her to the small bed where he laid her on her back and quickly moved between her legs, thrusting into her. She wrapped her legs around him in an effort to bring him ever deeper into her. She shrieked her pleasure right before he released his own groan of ecstasy.

Still panting, he stood beside the bed, already getting dressed. She went to stand in front of him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He brushed her hair away from her face as she smiled up at him. He softly stroked her long neck, letting his fingers rest lightly around her throat. I cannot wait to go to America, Mikhail, we will be so happy there. I’m glad you are taking me, she whispered softly.

Yes, my love, he whispered. I will take you with me wherever I go, in my heart. She looked up to ask him what he meant when he slowly began to squeeze her throat, tighter and tighter. Her eyes widened in shock and fear and she began to claw at his hands and push him away. Finally, she became still and he released his grip, letting her fall back onto the bed.

Looking at her for a moment longer, he thought it a waste. It really was too bad he couldn't have made some type of arrangement for her to accompany him. She had been so willing to do his bidding and was insatiable in bed. Mikhail didn't regret what he'd had to do though, for he had realized a long time ago that life was too short to have regrets.

Although he would occasionally miss her, she knew too much and was a potential liability. Through the years he had seduced many chambermaids, parlor maids and other servants to wealthy Russians. Within weeks he had convinced the women to begin stealing valuables from their employers with the promise that he was stashing it so they could run away together. The arrangements usually only lasted a couple of months or so before he was forced to kill his latest conquest.

Mikhail had managed to get his hands on everything from jewelry, art and religious icons, to silver and gold pieces. Using his diplomatic contacts, he had been smuggling the items out of Russia to Rocky where they were being kept in storage until his arrival. Pulling his thoughts back to the present, he looked down once again at Catherine. She had been his favorite and, as it turned out, most profitable little mistress. Unfortunately for her, she was a tie to certain clandestine activities that he knew he must sever if he was to make it out of Russia alive and get to the United States.

Russia was his past but America, the land of opportunity, was his future. Looking down at Catherine he smiled bemusedly and thought, out with the old, in with the new.

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Mikhail finished loading the carriage and closed the apartment. He had wrapped Catherine's naked body in a rug and put it in the closet. He knew eventually the smell would lead the other tenants to the apartment and that she would be discovered. It wouldn't take long to trace the apartment to him, but hopefully by that time he would be long gone. And if he weren’t, he thought grimly, it would likely be because he was dead or in the Lubyanka being interrogated.

Then again, if the peasants continued their revolt, there wouldn’t be anyone left to throw him in prison. Only the day before, guards from the Petrograd Garrison, supposedly loyal to the Tsar, had thrown down their arms and marched down Nevsky Prospekt with over 300,000 factory workers shouting ‘Down with autocracy!’ What few police and soldiers still loyal to the Tsar were left were greatly outnumbered. Just this afternoon they were unable to prevent the burning of the Law Courts. Everywhere in Russia it was complete anarchy.

Pulling up in front of his apartment, the excited shouts of his youngest son, André, interrupted his thoughts. Andre came flying down the driveway towards his father. Papa, papa! he shouted. I have been waiting for you. Come see what I did in school today, he said, tugging on Mikhail's sleeve.

All right, my son, I am coming. Help me take these packages into the house first, he said, laughing.

André picked up a small crate and lugged it towards the house, asking, What are all these? Are they presents?

Well, I guess you could call them presents for the future. Now hurry along. The sooner everything is inside, the sooner I can see what your surprise is!

Just then Josef, Mikhail's oldest son, came outside to help as well. I'm glad you're finally home, papa, he said, smiling. He's been driving us crazy!

Mikhail clapped the boy on the back and smiled. Didn't you know that little boys live to drive their parents and older brothers crazy?

I certainly believe it, Josef replied. Mother had to threaten him with the belt just to get him settled down long enough to give him his bath!

At that moment, Mikhail's wife Danica came down the steps, smiling. As he gazed up at her, Mikhail thought again how beautiful she was and how lucky he had been to discover her at the ballet fifteen years ago. Despite her independent streak, she had made him a good wife and had given him two sons. She was quite obviously pregnant yet still moved with the lithe grace of a practiced ballerina.

Good evening, my husband, so good of you to join us, she said, reaching the bottom of the steps and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Your son has been out of control!

My son? Mikhail laughed. I could have sworn, my lovely wife, that at one time he was our son.

Not when he is acting out like this! she retorted. He gets his willfulness from you, she stated, moving into the kitchen.

He followed her, muttering, I think he gets it from you, my dear, but wasn't certain she heard him.

After the family had eaten and the boys had gone to bed, Mikhail asked Danica to bring him a shot of vodka in the family room. She handed him the drink and sat down, frowning. You hardly ever drink at home, Mikhail. What is troubling you? Is it the riots?

He took a quick drink and swallowed, feeling the harsh liquor burning its way down his throat and into his stomach. He looked up and smiled ruefully at his wife. You know me too well. Yes, these riots are a problem, a bigger one than Tsar Nicholas realizes.

What are we supposed to do?

He took a moment before answering her. The Tsar continues to lose power. The war is unpopular and the dissenters’ voices grow louder each day. Lenin is supposedly on his way here from his exiled home in New York City, and he is calling for an end to the autocracy. If he has his way, Russia will essentially become what he refers to as a Soviet or Communist State. However, Aleksandr Kerensky is attempting to form his own Provisional Government, with the backing of many of the Bolsheviks. Either way, I fear the situation is untenable for anyone closely related to the Tsar, and that includes me. The Tsar, the other Cabinet members and those loyal to the Romanov’s will likely be ousted and probably executed.

No! she cried. She looked down at her hands, furiously blinking back tears. In barely a whisper she asked, What will we do? Surely you have a plan, Mikhail, for we cannot stay here. Perhaps we could go to my parents in Smolensk?

That is not an option, he replied, looking at his glass. For one thing, your parents can neither accommodate nor support us. More importantly, Smolensk will not be far enough away for us to be truly safe. He looked up to find her staring at him.

Then where do you plan to take us, and when? she asked.

I have had some idea this was coming and so have made some plans. Unfortunately, we will have to leave Russia. A bit sooner than I had initially anticipated, I might add.

So, where are we going Mikhail?

America, Danica. We are going to America, where we will have more opportunities than you can imagine and we will live like royalty. The United States is a great place to start over and to raise a family.

But the United States is a democracy. Isn't that what you and your own party so vehemently oppose?

It's different over there, Danica. It doesn't matter, he said sternly, shaking his head. All that matters is that we can go there and not worry about anyone looking for us. We will be rich, safe and free.

Is there any reason someone would be looking for us, Mikhail? she asked him suspiciously.

He leaned forward, placing his fingers under her chin and tilting her head up. We are going to the United States, and that's that. Start packing, as we will leave tomorrow night, he said, getting up. I’m going to bed and I strongly suggest you do the same. It's going to be a long, hectic couple of days and we have much to do. Call the school tomorrow and make some excuse for the boys' absence. For now, we will just tell them we are going on an extended holiday.

She opened her mouth to protest when he pointed his finger at her and said, Make sure that you tell no one what we are doing or where we are going. It's better if they don't know. We can contact them after we have safely arrived, if you wish. With that, he turned around and climbed the stairs to go to bed.

She shook her head and murmured, America, what will we do in America?

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God, she couldn’t breathe! Something was on her, a blanket? Where was she? As she slowly regained consciousness, the horrifying events from earlier came back to her. Mikhail had tried to kill her! She frantically tried to remove the heavy material surrounding her. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of the man she loved and of the unborn child within her. A wave of nausea overwhelmed her and the pounding in her head increased before darkness closed in.

Chapter Two

Danica stared listlessly out the train window at the passing countryside. She wasn't feeling well and the boys were restless. Mikhail himself was rather withdrawn and uncommunicative and he alternated between ignoring his family and snapping at them. She’d never seen him so jumpy and nervous.

She turned to face him on the seat across from her. I feel so dirty and I'd like a bath. When are we supposed to arrive? We’ve been traveling for days! she complained.

As I have already told you, we’ll be there sometime in the morning. From there we’ll make our way to Reval, then across the Baltic to Helsinki. Eventually we’ll arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland, where we'll board a ship to America.

I do hope there’s more space on the ship than here, she said morosely. I can't believe that this is considered a deluxe compartment.

Danica, your life of luxury has obviously inured you to the goings on in the rest of the world, which is at war. Ensuring your comfort and catering to your every whim is probably not exactly a high priority! he retorted hotly. Besides, we’ve only been on the train four days. One of those days was spent going to Pskov to avoid the hostile troops guarding the tracks into Petrograd and one of those days was spent in Smolensk visiting your family. A stop, he reminded her, I hadn't planned on taking. It would have been better for them if they didn't know we were leaving or where we were going.

She leaned back against the seat and prayed she had not put her parents' lives in danger. Knowing that she would probably never see them again had nearly broken her heart. Her father had taken her aside and tried to give her some money but she had kissed him through her tears and told him they would need it much more than she would.

You know money has never been a problem since I married Mikhail, she told him. He looked at her with the same eyes she saw reflected in the mirror.

I know that he has money, but you don't. This is just for you and the children, just in case…. his voice trailed off.

Papa, you know I can't leave him, he would find me. Even if he didn't there’s no way I would leave the children.

I know, Dani, he said, using her childhood nickname. But if ever the chance comes, promise me you will try to escape. He cannot blackmail you with threats to us once you leave.

I know that papa, but I am afraid.

He took her small, pale hands in his own big ones. They were as rough as sandpaper, a testament to his years of manual labor. Hope is the only thing that cannot be taken away unless you allow it to leave. Never give up on hope, it's what has kept your mother and me alive so long.

Sobbing, she threw her arms around him. Papa, I love you so! I’ve never even said thank you for all that you and mama did for me, all the sacrifices you made. I will miss you and think of you every day! she promised.

We will miss you, too. There is something I must ask of you, he said, looking at her questioningly.

She took a step back and swallowed, the lump in her throat nearly causing her to gag. You want me to find Maggie, papa?

Please, Dani, it would mean so much to us. He thought she was about to object and rushed on, You don't know what it was like Danica, you were too young when she left. I don't blame her for what she did. She didn't have your talent, your opportunities. There was no chance of a decent life for her here!

But she left you! She just left in the middle of the night with some strange man!

She had to! her father replied. It was her only way out and your mother and I recognized that. Please Dani, just try. Promise me you'll try?

Looking at her father’s haggard face, she realized he had never asked her for anything in her entire life. Her parents had always tried to do their best for all their children. She owed it to them to at least try to locate her sister, Magda. Cupping her hands around her father’s face, she looked at him and said, I will find Maggie, papa, I will. And when I do I'll send you word to you as soon as possible, I promise.

They went back into the kitchen where her mother was making polite conversation with Mikhail while he slowly drank his coffee. The boys were outside playing in the small yard. When he saw her emerge from the shabby bedroom, Mikhail stood up. Danica, we must go. It’s imperative that we get out of Russia as soon as possible.

Yes, Mikhail, she answered dutifully. She turned to her mother and hugged her. I love you so, she whispered.

There, there, Dani, everything will be okay. You are so young and you have your whole life ahead of you. Just think of this as a new chapter in your life, a great adventure! Eva said. Danica squeezed her eyes firmly shut, trying to quell the sudden spring of tears.

Mikhail cleared his throat and turned to Yuri. We must be going. Be careful who you talk to and what you say. Then he turned and went outside to call the boys without so much as a handshake or a good-bye.

Danica studied her parents as they watched their grandchildren. She had inherited her father's dark blue eyes and his height and her mother’s jet-black hair, which was now streaked with gray. Both were slender, although it was so much genetics as the food shortages that caused that.

When she was a child she remembered thinking how handsome her father was, how tall and proud he had been. She looked at him now, more skin and bones than anything else, and thought he looked gaunt and withdrawn. Her mother's once rosy complexion and smooth skin were now heavily lined and had the look of dried leather. The result of so many years outside suffering the blasting heat and sun of the summer and the icy winds and bitter cold of the winters.

She put her arms around both and held them tightly until she heard Mikhail call her impatiently. Come, Danica, it's time to go. Now.

Find Magda, her father said.

We love you, please take care, said her mother, crying softly. Danica nodded her head, not trusting her voice, and backed out of the small cottage where she, her older sister and two older brothers had been born.

Good-bye, I love you, she whispered.

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Danica? Danica! Mikhail said louder. Shaken out of her reverie, she turned to face her husband.

What? I'm sorry, I guess I must have dozed, she stammered.

He frowned at her and said, We are almost to Minsk and we won't have much time to unload our belongings before the train moves on.

Will there be a carriage waiting for us at the station when we arrive?

He shook his head. No, we will have to arrange for a carriage at the station to take us out of town to a small inn where we can all rest for a few hours. In the evening, after everyone has gone to bed, we will depart and make our way north to Reval, on the Baltic coast.

Won't we be close to Petrograd? she asked worriedly. Although things in Moscow were bad, it was in Petrograd that the riots were really escalating. Only a few days ago, the captain of the Russian cruiser Aurora was murdered by his own sailors. Forty more officers had been executed by their own crew just days later at the nearby naval base of Kronstadt.

We will be far enough away, he assured her. Besides, this is the quickest way out of the country. Once we get to Reval I will hire a boat to take us into Finland.

Will Finland allow us to come into their country so easily?

He patted her hand and smiled smugly. You have nothing to worry about; the arrangements have already been made. Haven't I always taken care of you, Danica?

She smiled weakly at him. Yes, of course, Mikhail. I guess I’m just a trifle nervous.

He leaned back against the uncomfortable chair and closed his eyes. He was nervous too but he'd never tell her that. The rumor on the train was that Nicholas had at last abdicated to his brother, who had declined the chance to become the next Tsar. Apparently, the constitutional forces of the Duma had ordered the arrest of all the Tsarist Ministers and had since formed a Provisional Government, led by Prince Lvov. This was supposedly the first step in establishing a democracy in Russia. Mikhail suspected that the democracy would fail, however. It was his experience that peasants needed to be told what to do because they were not able to make decisions on their own.

Right now, though, he was more focused on his own family’s plight. Everything counted on Rocky keeping his end of the deal. Not for the first time he found himself questioning the former ambassador's willingness to help. Was it possible that Rocky would double-cross him?

As soon as the thought occurred to him he dismissed it. Mikhail had come to know the wily politician quite well in his years serving as ambassador and actually rather liked him. He