Anneka's face burned red as every eye in the cabin swung to her. She wanted nothing more than to bury her face in Velken's chest and let him make up a story, but she sensed that wouldn't satisfy these people. Sighing, she gripped Velken's hand for support and closed her eyes.
"I was born..." She began dramatically, making the most of the situation. "I was born in a small village deep in Russia, near the woods. I grew up with my mother, father, and older brother. We were poor, and my father was abusive toward my brother, but otherwise my life was fine." She opened her eyes to see Skyler looking at her sympathetically, her mother gently stroking her hair. "When I was ten and my brother 13, a strange man was seen emerging from the woods near our house. My mother was spooked, and we moved to another village. Two days later, the man appeared again, this time at the back door. My mother took my brother aside and I overheard her telling him to prepare. I didn't understand anything. The next day, he came into my room early in the morning with suitcases. He told me to pack and once I was ready, we fled to the train station. Once onboard, he explained everything. He said our mother was Carpathian, a special race of people. Our father had been human, and used to belong to a society that hunted Carpathians. He turned against them after meeting my mother, and the society wanted them both dead. Aleksei said he and I were both half Carpathian, and that we were going to live with our aunt and uncle in the Carpathian mountains." Anneka's voice cracked, and Velken squeezed her hand.
"Go on, Ihbim." he said, rubbing her back. Anneka nodded and breathed deep.
"My aunt Magda wasn't in her home when we arrived. Her brother Ivan was, and told us his sister had disappeared mysteriously some weeks ago. He offered her home to us, and checked on us every day. For a time we were fine, but months after our arrival, another man appeared, a different one from before. Aleksei told Ivan and he set safeguards around the house to protect us, but the man still appeared. One day after returning from the town, Aleksei and I found a note on the door telling us that no matter if we were guarded by the Nickolavich bastard, we'd still die." Anneka shuddered. "I was frightened and Aleksei moved us into Ivan's home. Months later, Ivan was gone. Not dead, we knew he wasn't dead, but he just... vanished. We never saw him again. Then one night someone set fire to the house. Aleksei took me by train to Greece, and from there we booked passage on a ship to Egypt. Aleksei thought it was Europe that was the problem. He figured if we left the continent, we'd be safe." Anneka's throat blocked up, and she laid her head on Velken's shoulder, shaking her head. Velken kissed her forehead and held her close, allowing her to grieve openly.
"What happened to you?" Shea asked quietly, not wishing to intrude but needing to know. Anneka raised her head and the group saw her eyes were red from crying. She wiped at them uselessly, and tried to smile.
"The ship sank. No one discovered the cause. Aleksei pushed me into the water and never made it off himself. After that, I lived in America until I was sixteen, at which time I moved back to Russia. I stayed here, secluded, until one day I go for a walk and literally fall onto this fella." She smacked Velken's chest in an effort to lighten the mood, and sighed when no one responded. Shea was looking at Anneka with her heart in her eyes, but everyone else looked away quickly. Anneka sighed again and stood, Velken following suit.
"I need some fresh air. Alone. I'll be right outside." When she opened the door and Velken moved to go with her, she pushed on his chest. "I'll be fine. Please." 'I need this Velken. Please. I'll be right outside. I promise to keep my mind open for you.' Velken kissed her deeply, then reluctantly let her go.
Anneka sat on the porch rail, breathing in the deep mountain air. It had been ages since Anneka had just sat outside and looked at the stars. Every step she took in her homeland reminded her of what she lost, and it was too painful to bear.
"You look like you need company." a voice started her.
