I recommend reading this in the 1/2 view available over the place where you see the chapters. It makes it prettier. I also recommend listening to the song "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley, while you do so.

And with Vladimir always is Anna, the daughter of Fyodor. Their love is as chaste and pure as that of brother and sister, and many times has she defended him from Strigoi who would seek to destroy him and his holiness. Likewise, it is she who comforts him when the spirit becomes too much to bear, and Satan's darkness tries to smother him and weaken his own health and body. This too she defends against, for they have been bound together ever since he saved her life as a child. It is a sign of God's love that He has sent the blessed Vladimir a guardian such as her, one who is shadow-kissed and always knows what is in his heart and mind.

1365

Anna.

The world is frozen. Everywhere I turn there is ice. I shiver excitedly, though my woolen coat is warm around my body.

I am not supposed to be out here.

Behind me, the Academy looms, dark and threatening. I hurry to step out of its shadow. Nothing can spoil my mood today.

My destination soon comes into view: a pond, neither too small nor too large, surrounded by a thickness of trees. I grin, rushing forward until I am recklessly standing in the middle. A weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I am free as I twirl and jump on the unbreakable surface of the water, shrieking with laughter.

Before I know what is happening, I lose my balance mid-flight and come crashing down. The ice does not hold, and I fall through, icy water swirling around me, my heavy dress dragging me down.

I scream. Bubbles get out. More water gets in. There is no sound down here.

Slowly, everything becomes black.

Vladimir.

She is pretty, as she dances – entrancing enough to tear me away from my book. Her bright golden hair is loose around her shoulders, following her body as she spins merrily, her laughter calling the ghost of a smile into my face.

And then she vanishes. The ice has broken.

There is no time to call for help – we are too far away from the school, they would never get her out in time.

So of course I do the first thing I thought of. I begin taking off my clothes.

It is a struggle, but I finally free myself and jump in after her. My muscles begin to feel numb after less than a second, and I can only imagine her horror at being trapped in this watery darkness.

My searching fingers finally catch hold of wet cloth.

I drag her up as quickly as my legs will go, then push her gently onto the ice. I pull my body up and carry her off this accursed pond. This girl… I do not know who she is, but I must still try to save her. My ear is on her chest, but I can hear no heartbeat.

She must not die because I was not quick enough. This is what I tell myself as I desperately try to do to her what I have been practicing with the withered plants on my windowsill.

I begin to call up my happiest thoughts, and then… a cough.

Thank God.