St Petersburg, 1918
The Romanoff's were a proud and grand family, dating back over 300 years. The Tsar, Dimitri Romanoff married young and in love to the Princess of a neighbouring nation. Together they had 8 children: Anya, Nicholas, Dimitri, Alexander, Elaina, Felix, Isla and the youngest: Natasha.
On a cold winter's night, music and cheer could be heard from the palace of the Romanoff's, meanwhile unrest and anger could be sensed everywhere else in Russia. As the people were angered at the recent decisions of the king, they were working more hours for less money, eating less but paying more and some could barely afford to survive. A revolution was brewing.
Natasha was always the brightest star at parties and balls. She would dance and talk with others, her Uncle Nicholas always tried to be at the Romanoff's parties to spend time with his beloved niece. After a month of staying with them Natasha was heartbroken to hear that Nick was leaving for America again. "Natasha, darling," her father called to her "time for bed, I will get your uncle to walk you to your room."
"Yes Father." Natasha huffed in annoyance.
"Come on Nat," Nick said kindly "I have a present to give you before I leave." Natasha's whole face lit up at hearing this news. Her uncle always gave the best presents: music boxes, ballet shoes and all manner of wonderful things any princess could dream of.
They walked slowly to her room as Natasha tried to convince her uncle that she was not tired. "Nat," Nick said as he crouched down to her level, her soft emerald eyes met his single dark one and the eye patch that he gained whilst fighting in the Great War. He took out a small black box out from his coat pocket and gave it to Natasha. Inside was a small pendant, a ruby cut into an hourglass hanging from a thin silver chain. She put it on and hugged her uncle tightly. That night as she fell asleep she vowed that she would never take it off.
"Do we continue to starve?" someone shouted to the crowd "Or do we fight? Do we take back what is rightfully ours?" Met with the shouts of agreement from the crowd the voice continued "The only way this will happen is with the extinction of the Romanoff's." The mass of people ran towards the palace gates throwing stones at the windows and guards, soon the gates would fall down and the people would have their revenge.
"Princess," the maid shakes Natasha hurriedly "you need to get up."
"Why" Natasha muttered sleepily.
"There are people in the palace with an intent to harm you." She whispered, unless someone heard her and came to hurt the young girl.
Nick suddenly rushed in as his niece put on her dressing gown "The people have stormed the palace, their coming from both sides. We have to find another way out."
"We can go this way." A young kitchen boy said; he lifted up a grand tapestry of embroidered horses to reveal a doorway. Hurriedly they made their way through the door way and ran to the nearest train tracks. The angry mob was not far behind them, obscenities and mentions of treason followed from which ever road they took. A train to the border was travelling next to them, as the urgency to leave the country became more apparent, they were less likely to catch the train, less likely to see each other again, less likely to survive.
"Natasha, quickly." Nick encouraged to his niece. He had made it onto the train safely but he feared for his beloved niece. Natasha ran as fast as her small legs could carry her, her hair a red as a flame soon became lost in the sea of the outraged. Natasha feared for her life, she was surrounded by the very people that wanted to kill her. She was being pushed and shoved until she fell. She felt the cold ground against her in her last moments of conscience; she could hear her uncle calling after her "Natasha… Natasha… Nat." And then there was nothing but darkness.