Just to note, I feel stupid saying this but, I don't know if they had fridges back then, so since I'm using one, let's say Roger created it, okay, thanks!

Chapter 5: Ana's Stalker

"What?" she asked him, looking at his searching face, looking to see if she would lie to answer him.

"Who is this Evan?" he asked, removing his arm from hers slowly to stand in front, arms crossed over his chest as he awaited her answer.

"Why do you want to know?" she questioned him back, becoming very defensive as well, copying his gesture.

"Because I heard Demetri say that in your ear. I am your bodyguard, remember?" he asked her, allowing his hands to slip down to his sides, "Please tell me Anastasia. Even if you still are upset with me, I need to know, please."

Anastasia chewed on her lip a bit and he saw her shell collapse softly in front of him. Her true self had re-emerged from under her defense and stood nervous facing Kurando, slowly her hand touched her mouth as if to protect her secrets. Feeling some courage move throughout his worried soul, Kurando moved forward to place a strong hand on her shoulder. Underneath it her skin shuddered softly at the touch before she faced him, eyes once more covered again.

"No," she said, her face stoic stone once more and as she walked past she touched his hand gently. However he didn't notice the touch, just the sudden material that had been pushed into his hands. Slowly he brought the material in front of his stomach and looked into his hand to see a scrap of paper, with 'Yes' written on it. Behind him Anastasia slowly entered her room, but kept the door of her room slightly ajar. Looking around and checking certain areas he entered the room slowly Kurando closed the door.

"Anastasia…" began Kurando, but was interrupted as Ana clasped his mouth close with a soft, child-like hand. Softly she lowered it and smiled as he remained quiet before she gestured him to follow her, which he did. Slowly, she walked to the fireplace in her room and took a duster next to it to brush away the ashes. Underneath the ashes she quieted a grunt in her throat as she snuck her fingers under a latch. Noticing her problems, Kurando leaned down and felt her fingers below his before moving them to push up as well. A loud moan was heard before a screech from the rusting metal, which shifted below their warm fingers. Softly Ana pushed gently on his arm, meaning for him to stop and wait. Shifting across the cold tile she went down the dark square holding onto bars coming from the wall in front of her. Once she stopped feeling bars beneath her feet, and instead the cold, hardness of stone she whispered up to him, "Come, it's only twenty bars down."

So, thus he came down to be yanked at the arm by Anastasia through the darkness, not knowing where they went. After awhile he asked, "Are we almost there?" Anastasia stopped and he almost bumped into her as she opened an invisible, wooden door she had found by touch. Bright, milky light poured over the two as Anastasia smiled. It had been her little hideaway underneath the palace, quite close, but cut off from the dungeon.

Inside it was warm like a little cabin, filled with a bed covered by a hand-knit quilt, a carved wooden table, a small stone fireplace, two rocking chairs near the table, a fridge from Roger in the corner, and a furry rug lay in the center. Leading Kurando into the small room she closed the door behind him. "What is this place?" he asked, standing near her.

"My little place, a home away from home, sorta," she said. Walking past him she started a fire in the fireplace. The ashes splashed amidst the floor before her feet as she stood to look at Kurando.

"You want to know who Evan is, right?" she asked, sitting against one rocking chair, starting the creaking, rhythmic motion. Kurando followed her status and sat in the opposite rocking chair, "Yes, I do, Anastasia."

"Fine, I'll tell you," she said after a few minutes passed between them and she placed her hands on top of her lap, "Evan is that man you saw me dancing with all night at my returning banquet. He looks very pale, thin and tall, with dark eyes like his father's. His hair is blonde and beautiful like his mother though, his only beautifying trait. A year ago he was my first suitor, right when I turned 15. I thought he was quite dull and ugly, but gave him a chance. Then, one night, as we walked over the bridge next to the dungeon, he put his arms around me in an embrace. However, he then placed a dirty, ragged scarf that was moist across my mouth. I tried to scream, but no one was around this late at night, you see I had sunk out to see him. As I squirmed the drug started to take effect and not long after I ceased fighting it and fell unconscious. When I awoke I was in a dank room that smelled of sweat mixed with liquor. I heard nothing, could see nothing, and my throat was too dry from the screaming as well as the drug."

Kurando looked over at Anastasia whose face stayed stoic as it always appeared to nowadays. He wanted to hold her, but knew she would back away at this moment, especially as she told this story. There was nothing he could do to help her right now, but he had to DO something. Standing abruptly as she said the last sentence he brought her the quilt lazily draped across the bed and laid it atop her. Anastasia's eyes widened a bit by the show of compassion and she smiled up at him.

"Thank you Kurando. There's another blanket in a trunk under that bed," she said pointing to the bed. Carefully he felt for the trunk and opened it to find a similar quilt, but darker colors. Comfortably settling in the rocking chair he awaited for her to continue.

"I couldn't open my eyes I thought, but then I realized the room was dark and quiet. Soon, though, I heard these hoarse screams and a sliver of light went through the room. Inching towards that light I realized it was a door slightly ajar. Then I pushed it open and looked…" said Anastasia as the images filled her head…the images she had forgotten…and although they were in a misty shield…she could still hear the screaming.

"Shut her up!" said a thin, pale man standing nude over a familiar looking woman. Nearby stood more men, but only two other women and as she saw the men undress and treat the woman in the most horrific way she realized who she remembered. Of course the pale Evan stood out as she tried to block the faces of pain. However, those faces of pain were her three sisters. (Historically she had sisters.) "Shut that cow up!" screamed Evan again towards what appeared to be Olga although her face was beaten bloody. Marie fought roughly against a burly man but was easily slapped unconscious to Anastasia's fright. Then, underneath the ugly Evan was beautiful and crying Tatiana. Unaware of what to do she looked around as the screams and moans continued…

"ANA!" cried out Kurando, leaping over to Anastasia whose hands began to cover her ears as she cried and shook. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she wasn't listening to him. She had been telling him her story when she started to cry.

"Stop…," she sniffled, "I..sniff…am fine…"

…When she had turned she had knocked into the door. All at once the noises were silenced and she ran to the corner, trying to hide her young body. The door was slammed open to reveal an angry, naked Evan. His face was distorted evilly as he walked forward, and Ana noticed a nearby window quickly. As she opened the curtain she saw the window was celled like a jail.

Turning around she saw him leap at her along with two other men. She screamed loudly as they tore at her clothing and Evan watched gleefully. As they ripped the front of her dress, the corset opened as well to reveal her curves. A shine between her showing cleavage the men didn't notice awoke her quickly. Her sisters and her hid diamonds in their corsets so when moving the jewels went along with the family since the time was so unsafe. Concentrating on her memories, Ana closed her eyes trying to remember a name. Just as the men shoved past her last underskirt she remembered…

"Euthanasia !" she shouted in a hoarse scream. (I'm not sure exactly what it does…I haven't gotten that far…It's an album entry). The photo she ripped from her corset transformed quickly before the attackers' eyes. Breathing hard she heard the echoes of screams as the creature attacked all the men, seeming to know she was threatened, and attacked the remaining men charging forward and outside the door. Rushing as she caught her breath the creature reversed its transformation easily and floated to the ground. All her energy was practically wasted by the summon. Crawling with weak fingers she tried to use her crest with all her being, "Cure. Cure…Cure. CURE!" Her voice became a horrible screeching croak when she tried to speak. Her sisters' bodies were bleeding masses with their clothes ripped. Crying, she realized she had lost…she had lived, but also lost. As she wiped her tears and closed her eyes she heard laughter.

"Ana, did you think it would be THAT easy?" asked Evan. As she turned to face the horrible man she cringed to see him smiling, still nude. "Baby, sorry, it's not," said Evan, touching her cheek. Just as he leaned to kiss the beaten Ana a boom entered the room.

"HALT!" shouted many men dressed in Russian uniform. They aimed and fired at the naked man over their duchess. He somehow escaped, but Ana had long ago fainted when he had bent to kiss her…

"When I woke up it was weeks later. Father refused to tell mother what happened and sent me with Lucia. Lucia knows everything though. When they found me they were sure I died. My doctor Mr. Oramile said my body was void of natural water and blood was coming forth from my mouth while the photo of Euthanasia had burned an emblem of itself on my wrist. I only began to solid food three months ago. And I know who Evan is…," said Anastasia drying her face once more.

"Ana…" said Kurando as he leaned against her rocking chair.

"He's Rasputin and that lady's child," said Ana softly. "Don't worry Kurando, everything will be fine. I think we should go back now. Also, Kurando I want you to leave."

"What?" cried Kurando angrily as she stood.

"Please, I do not want you to be here if you miss Sayori so much. Besides, I could not stand you staying here again to leave," said Ana, standing and leading him through the passage.

"I will not leave," said Kurando, grabbing her arm in a protective way.

"Kurando, don't make it harder," she said pulling away from him.

"Ana! Stop, please!" he echoed trying to follow her by the bars leading up.

"SHHH!" hissed Ana as they climbed up. Kurando followed closely behind her swiftly. He was trying to keep himself and the emotions of his fusions under wraps. Joutendouji (?) was proving especially difficult. When she opened the door of her room that connected to his he suddenly touched her hand over hers and quickly re-shut the door.

Before she could respond he had wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her softly, but before she could tense in fear he showed his intent by holding her gently against his chest. Slowly, she held him back, pressing her face against his strong body.

"Tsar Nicholas Romanov, I am glad to hear you agree to my proposal," said Demetri as he sat across Nicholas's oak desk.

"I believe you will care for my daughter well. I am glad you proposed, she could use love right now, even if she doesn't believe it's you right now," said the Tsar.

" I understand, sir…"

Next Time: Anastasia's wedding? The night? The battle of her freedom from Demetri?