"Take this." Vera said as she rummaged the cupboard.
Reaching her hand out, Lily felt the white pills drop into her palm. Grabbing the water in front of her, she downed the mix and hoped it would kill the migraine.
"How long did it last this time?"
"Long enough."
Vera was few of the people that knew of her nightmarish life of the screams and voices, she somehow accepted them and tried to help her more than her family ever did. Lily could still feel the cool rooms and itchy clothing.
"When you dream do you see anything? Well, anything knew at least." Vera asked.
"Net. Same as usual. A dark room with a bed and the other is a long corridor." Lily said, rubbing her temples again.
"There has to be some connection with it all."
"What would it be Vera? I've tried my best since I got here. Went to St. Petersburg and all sites of Moscow. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch."
"The voices stopped once you got here?"
"Net. They just repeat. Find him, love him. I want to know who him is? I believe it's the man crying but I want to know more dammit."
Lily looked over at Vera, she knew her friend was concerned for her. "Look love, I know you're trying to help. I just believe I'm far from help."
"If it's continuing, then it's not over. There's reason for you being here, just have to find it."
"I'm hoping it's sooner rather than later."
"I do agree there. On other news, our big boss left a message for you, meeting in the morning. Some kind of new assignment."
Lily moaned in protest, the last thing she wanted was more work to pile up on her. Of course, it was all during her side job as well.
"No backing out for us huh?"
"Not me." Vera corrected, "Just you."
"What?!" Lily shouted.
"Da."
"Bloody bollocks! This is insane, how on earth am I to do all this?" She dropped her head onto the table, making the migraine worse.
"You never know, maybe they cleaned the plate for you, you never know." She said cleaning her bowl.
"If that's the case, I better have nothing on that desk tomorrow."
She was proven right for once. All her cases and meetings were cleared for the month, not a day or week, a month. Whatever the staff wanted her for was big.
"Privet Miss Connelly." The old woman at the desk greeted.
"Privet. Is he in?" Lily asked.
The woman gave a short nod as she began her work once more.
Knocking twice, she opened the door and walked over to the president's desk.
"Hello Lily, how are you?"
"Fine. You sir?"
"Quite well." He said as he rose from his desk. "You are wondering what's going on?"
Lily nodded. She learned it was easy to just accept the sudden changes and such. To argue over things like this lead to more headaches than it was worth.
"Well as of now I have Vera taking on your previous tasks. As for you, I have something more complex." he began. "You are one of the best with diversity and skills of world trade and wars. I'm hoping things do not escalade to the point before me. However, if it does, I want top minds at the front of it all and you are one of them. England, itself, is saying you should be out front with it."
"Thank you sir, but if it is war that is coming to the country, why me? Why not your lead generals or top men of the country like yourself?" she questioned.
"That is due to them watching. They wouldn't expect a woman to be able to handle something like this. It's why I'm relying on you. With it, you will be with another." he stated.
"Another sir?"
"Yes, he is unique to this country. He has been a big part of everything yet no one knows of him."
"That's quite interesting, so a James Bond sort of person then."
The president laughed, "Not like that, too much Hollywood there. Let's just say he is better than that."
Lily looked at the man in wonder, who the hell was she dealing with? Giving a small nod, she understood her position. No talking, no sharing, no anything until everything was complete.
"Oh and if he tells you to do something, follow it." he warned as he handed her the address, "He doesn't take well to people who defy him."
Lily laughed, "You do know who you're talking to right?"
He smiled at her, "Yes, that's why I said it."
Giving him a small nod, she made her way out the door only to bump into someone.
"Oh, izvinite!" She said, glancing up. "Raivis?"
The young man looked at her, "Oh, Lily, right?"
"Da, you're in a rush too huh?"
"Always for my boss."
"He didn't give you issues, did he?" She remembered their encounter and his words to her.
"No, not really. Upset at first but when I explained he seemed to be okay."
Lily nodded at him, he seemed so young to her, barely out of school young. He also seemed afraid of his own shadow.
"I best hurry and meet with the president like Mr. Braginski asked me to do. Goodbye, Miss Lily." He said finally entering the doorway.
Braginski? Why did that name sound familiar? Shaking her head, she grudgingly made her way to the address he gave her, praying hell didn't await.
"Braginski, Ivan Braginski? Are you kidding me?! Lily, what did you get yourself into?" Vera shouted on the other end.
Lily was starting to regret telling her friend what she was doing, not only was government knowing what she was stating but the woman was going nuts on the other end.
"I'm just doing what the president asked me, nothing more. It can't be truly that bad."
"You never have seen the man. Granted, I was told he is fine looking but he is a tank of a man, hear me, TANK!" she shouted once more, making Lily hold the phone out.
"You do exaggerate my dear. That Igor fellow at the pub was 'great looking' even though he has most of his teeth busted out."
"Most people here are that way. Settle issues with a fight, make it known who is who. I'd rather have one with few teeth than one that takes Krokodil." Vera stated.
Lily shuddered at the thought, a couple of news stories with press pictures, and a late-night encounter with an addict was enough to have her skin crawl when the drug was mentioned. Something else she was working on putting an end to.
"Besides, if a man doesn't have teeth, he can't do much damage to your flower when down there."
"Woman, the last thought I need is the image of a toothless man giving me oral pleasure. Disgusting." She said turning her nose up.
Vera laughed, "You say that because you never really had a real man before."
"I've had my encounter and a partner. It was enough to sober me from the great pool of love for a while."
"That's because your first wasn't much of a man. He was too skinny."
"This is why I can't tell you anything."
"You love me."
"That I do." Lily said finally seeing the street she needed. "Alright love, I must be off. I'm almost there. I'll call on my way home. Deal?"
"Deal. I'll have stroganoff ready when you get here."
"Mmm stroganoff. Spasibo."
"Da."
Shutting her phone, Lily glanced down the long road. It seemed so out there and open compared to the city, but this was the other side of Moscow. Nothing seemed ordinary at times. Finally, the numbers came to sight and her jaw dropped.
"How on earth does a single man live in this place?" she stated aloud as she pulled into the home.
People were lucky to own apartments in the country without having multiple families within them. Hell, Vera and herself were just damn lucky with government to get where they were. But this?
The beautiful home sat tucked away into the woods, enough to see the city limits yet be hidden from the world. It was breathtaking. She placed the car in park, killing the engine as she glanced up at the home. It was a mix of traditional and modern, almost like an American cabin in the Appalachians.
"Wow." she sighed aloud once more. Gathering her wits and notebooks, she brought herself out and up the steps.
Giving the door three knocks, she waited for the man to appear. The dripping of the melting snow gave sign that the harsh winters were finally over. Lily sighed in relief. Not that London winters weren't bad on their own, but they couldn't top these. Coming here in January was one of her mistakes, the extreme cold and heavy snow was something she wasn't used to but she adjusted to the harshness quite quick. She patiently waited for a Russian summer.
Light footsteps made their way to the door, finally opening. There stood a young man, dishtowel in hand as he looked down to her.
"Ar galiu tau padėti?" he asked.
"Oh crud, uh, lord. Uh, Ivan Braginski? Yavleze zhe oh demoy. Oh, bloody hell, I butchered that."
The green eyes man stared at her, "You speak English?"
"Oh thank god, yes I do." she exclaimed, "I do apologize if I offended you in anyway."
The man laugh waving his hand, "No not at all. You were very close to Russian. Only two syllables off. It's not my first but I do understand it."
"I'll take a guess you didn't speak Russian when you opened the door?"
"Ne." he said, letting her in, "Lithuanian. I'm Toris. How about this in Russian, kak dela?"
Lily laughed at him, "Easy, harasho. I'm Lily Connelly."
"Nice to meet you Miss Connelly. You are looking for Mr. Braginski?" he asked, seeming to shake at the mention of the man.
"Da, are you ok?"
"What? No really I'm fine. He's right this way." Toris said once again waving his hands around.
Strange. He seemed more frightened that she asked. Like he was going to get thrashed if something was wrong. Walking farther into the vast home, Lily's mind became foggy, distant, cluttered, a warning. Oh, no, they were coming.
"This way. Find him, love him." they chanted back into her head.
Lily tried to drown out the voices as best as possible. She hoped Toris found the man soon before she went farther into the depths of the chants. It seemed to get louder as he guided her to an office door.
"No, this way." they said.
Lily's head snapped to the direction of the voices. There was no way.
"Toris, ketoy eto devotshka?" someone asked behind them.
"Oh Mr. Braginski, it's you. This is Lily Connelly; she is here for you." Toris said swinging around to meet the man.
Lily turned around and her eyes widened in surprise. Vera wasn't kidding. This man wasn't like most. Over six foot, broad in his shoulders and muscles that were visible. Her word for him was right, a tank. His innocent smile was hiding the dark aura she could feel beneath his exterior, which means he meant business. And lucky for Lily, she was the one doing business, yay...not.
"Ah yes, you are the one he spoke of. Come." he said turning on his heels and making his way elsewhere.
"Come?" Lily said aloud, "Do I look like a dog?"
"It'd be wise not to argue." Toris said as the door opened and closed. "Quickly."
Not arguing with the man, she hurried and followed Ivan. The whispered nagged at the back of her head, quieter than usual yet there. She was puzzled yet worried. What had she gotten herself into.
A door was opened as Ivan gestured her inside. She made her way in, seeing the large desk with papers and more upon it. She felt herself groan at the sight of the work.
"Do not worry, that is all mine. Not for you." he said going to the desk.
"Vody?" he asked.
"Net, spasibo." she declined the water as she sat down. "Now, business."
"Straight away I see. Strong woman, both in spirit and mind. I like that. The president gave me a wild card."
"Not in your life." she muttered under her breath.
She watched him shuffle things around on the monstrous wooden desk, waiting to see what he would pull out of it. She took everything she could at that moment. His beige blonde bangs fell as he searched the desk, his thin lips in a small curl, his neck hidden under a large scarf. A scarf in May? He was a mystery and a part of her wanted to crack him open and understand the mystery.
"As of now you know the occurring discussion of a possible war, this is our big target and who we believe is starting it." Ivan said, breaking her thoughts.
"Alright then. This mass group, is there a name?" she questioned.
"Not yet. We are still trying to find their location." handing her the folder. "This is your work as of now. We are also working on another set of terrorist attacks and drug issues as well."
"Krokodil." she said.
"Da. A mess." he said.
"Agreed. One encounter and research is enough to sober me."
"Encounter?"
"Outside a pub in the city. Nothing to fret about." she reassured, the last thing she needed was an over protective partner. "I do have an idea of what that system may be and where it's located. I need a little more evidence with law and-"
"Net."
Lily was shocked, "Net?"
"Da." he said handing her the last folder, "You are to leave the drug case alone. Stay with what I handed you. It's better."
"Excuse me, but as I said I have things that make it worthwhile and without it and my friend's work, you won't have anything to back it." Lily stated.
Ivan glared at her, slowly making his way over to her. Standing over her. A chill ran down her spine, his eyes bored into her being, barking a deaf order.
"You are to stay away from the Krokodil and the rest that are aligned with that, am I clear?" he said with that childlike smile, "If you don't, you will find yourself back in the small office you clawed your way out of."
"Are you threatening me?" her anger rose as he spoke to her.
"Net. I'm just telling you what will come if you defy me. So, you will listen, da?"
Lily glared at him, slowly hating this meeting and the work she now had to deal with. "Bet my ass I'll stay out of it." she thought to herself.
With a halfhearted smile, she nodded at him, "Alright. That will be your doing. I'll work on these. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Oh I do have one thing."
Her stomach dropped, regretting ever opening her mouth, "Yes?"
"In Russia we have tradition of women. I think you know that. Since all business will take place either at the Kremlin or here, I do expect you to be fully presentable." he smiled.
Presentable?! Was he mad? From what she heard it was only women that were dating or married that were supposed to dress up for everything for every day, not the single happy ones. She opened her mouth to speak her mind but his face became uncomfortably close to hers. His eyes, a strange amethyst color, bored into hers.
"You understand me, da?"
"Da," she said through gritted teeth, realizing her defeat with the jobs and her own dignity, "I understand."