Chapter 14: The Demon In Me

Whoever fights the monster, must make sure not to become a monster. If you look into the abyss, it will look right back at you.

- Friedrich Nietzsche


Marina's Research (part 1): Prussia And The Invasion of Bartia 1238-1240

Many historians who are familiar with the name Prussia, know it as the former German state, which no longer exists on the map. It was formally the most powerful German state, which brought the other German speaking states together, forming one country we know today as Germany.

Historians who are more knowledgable about Prussia, would think of the Hohenzollern Dynasty and their association with other monarchies and duchies around Europe. However, there was an era where the country was inhabited by a race of people, who didn't speak German. They were known as the Old Prussians.

These almost forgotten people were the last pagans in Europe (including other Baltic tribes), before they were dominated and overruled by Christians, and forced to adopt their faith, culture and language. Initially before any conflict from foreign forces, there were missionaries from Poland, who tired to convert the Prussians. Many of these attempts failed, and many of the preachers would be executed, and the Prussians would launch raids against neighboring Polish communities. Then begun the Polish campaigns to overthrow and control the Prussians, which would only bring partial success, but would mostly result in Prussian reprisals.

Eventually, Duke Conrad of Masovia (Poland) would seek help from the Teutonic Knights (German Knighthood) to join in their campaign to fend off the Prussians, which they agreed, and therefore the Treaty of Kruszwica was signed. This treaty would grant the the Teutonic Knights a territory of their own, which would strengthen the borders of the Holy Roman Empire (Germany).

During the Teutonic Knight's campaign in Prussia, they built fortresses to defend against Prussian offenses, and facilitate their invasion. They along with their Polish allies fought together to conquer and convert the pagans to Christianity. The stubborn and resilient pagans did resist, and fought bravely against the crusaders, but lacked the resources and military strength to defend their territories. Inevitably, almost the whole region of Prussia was occupied by Christians under a new rule and religion.

One of the Prussian tribes that proved to be the most difficult to overpower and convert were the Bartians. This particular one Prussian tribe interests me, mainly because there's a connection between all the research I gathered, and the dreams I dreamt about. Maybe the answers I was looking for and my family's legacy lie within. I was determined to learn more about my ancestral roots.


Project Werther: Werther Loves Company

My goal to help Marina fit in with my friends has been achieved, not only that, but she has displayed determination to interact with other people. Even those who didn't give her attention and were preoccupied, she wouldn't be afraid to approach them. The way she communicated with others demonstrated her social skills, where she conveyed confidence, articulation and most of all; courage. The presence of another human and the threat they might pose, no longer bothered her as she was always willing to make a good impression, and present herself the best way she could. Just like me, she became really gregarious and a real extrovert. I believe everyone needs a hero, my father was my hero and I'm Marina's hero.

My friends, who initially feared or ostracized her became really fond of her, and she became fond of them. Together they would hang out and have fun times together, even trade skills and share similar interests that they both have in common.

I was still her number one, the one whom she was committed to, and would stick by my side and support me as I would support her. She understood the value and privilege of privacy, and how healthy it is to have self-esteem and believe in your own potential and capabilities.

As much I am proud to admit for what I have done for Marina, and how far she has come to prove her own self-worth, I knew that she would have to mentally prepare herself; in case she must endure such hardships and other plights. Just because she has it all, and she never wants to stop being this happy, I knew there might come a time where she will suffer from some misfortune. This possibility could be fatal, and will plunge her back into the bitter and insecure person she once was, and that was something I wanted to prevent.

I've had a good life with many blessings, and have been rewarded with all the hard work I've achieved by helping others, and being the best I could be to them. This didn't mean I didn't have my own share of misfortunes and struggles. I lost a father, I lost a relationship and I made many mistakes I wish I could go back and rectify, but that didn't mean the end of the world; or that life was not worth living. Only when I reflect on fortunes, misfortunes or just moments that just happened for some unknown unexplained reason, did I realize that the only direction in life is forward. We don't live in the past or the future, we live in the moment. We must appreciate what we have, because it might not last forever. We will only subject ourselves to more pain, and leave ourselves vulnerable, should the cruel hand of fate takes its hold.

I only pray and hope that Marina will be ready to face a change in circumstance, and the reality of the situation. Even if it could affect her and prove to be a psychological blow, which could overwhelm her and throw her off balance. Without a mother's love and support to guide her through the many dangers and cruelties of life and society, I took on the duty of becoming Marina's mother figure. The way I have stood by Marina and have cared for her was very motherly. I did on occasions feel like Marina was my very own child, or even the sister I never had.

However Marina should succumb to such grief, which would rip her fragile little heart, and cause her eyes to leak to tears. I would hold her in my arms and whisper comforting words into her ear.


Marina's Diary 25th of January

Having a lot of friends sure is fun, but there is however the daunting task of keeping them, and making them feel as if they matter to you. The first friend I made, whom I have a close association with is Tyler, who is Laura's ex. I've helped him recover from heartbreak by being there for him and along the way, he taught me how to play the guitar. We always keep Laura out of our conversations, because I knew that would bring back the emotional pain and take him longer to recover. Maybe the fact he is talking to another female is helping him overcome his romantic feelings for Laura, and her absence. I even suggested to him that maybe he needs to see other girls, but only have platonic relations with them. Tyler seemed keen on the idea, and would from there on, try to interact with female students at med-school; which I'm certain will help him regain his self-esteem and self confidence, and maybe in time, find another relationship.

Gustavo I became close with when I showed him an interest in cooking, which he was more than delighted to share his cooking skills with me. When I told him the reason I wanted to learn cooking was so I could cook for Laura, he laughed, but at the same time was awe-struck. He would wisecrack and quip when he gave me cooking lessons, even share with me his secrets how he surprises his girlfriend Isabel, and keeps the relationship strong and amusing.

Kobe I would hang out with during class, even study with him, we even both help each other with our assignments. He even got me into videogames with how fun and relaxing they could be, they even proved to be a perfect solution to release stress and vent out your emotions.

Isabel was cold, aloof and inhospitable towards me, but in time she begun to smile at me and acknowledge me whenever I walked into her line of sight. She was thrilled to know that I also liked the film „Heavenly Creatures", she even screamed in excitement when I confirmed her it was one of my favorite films too. This was when Isabel would let me into her life and would even have private hangouts with me. One time when her and I parted ways, she hugged me. The way she hugged me was so tight, but also comforting, I loved wrapping my arms around her big body. I was one time inclined to kiss her on the cheek, but I wouldn't know if she would approve of it, so I resisted my venereal temptation.

Last but not least I must mention are my relations with Olivia, and how her perception of me has changed. She still shows signs of enmity and snub towards me, which evidently means she does not trust me, or is still reluctant to accept me as a friend. I know her reasons for this must be relating to envy, loneliness and fear of rejection. Ironically I was like that before. I would envy and scorn at Olivia, never to her face, but behind her back. Unlike her though, I'm trying hard to be her friend, not just for Laura's sake; but because I felt sorry for her. She has every reason to be jealous of my good fortune and becoming close to Laura. It did feel like I stole Laura away from her, and it has lowered her self-esteem ever since. I will never forget the time she tried to seduce me, whether it was for the intention of sabotaging my relationship with Laura, or the intention was because she really was sexually attracted to me. Despite her continuing attitude towards me, and for her little stunt, I will not lose my patience with her or report her to Laura. I just hope in time she will pull herself together and find peace.


Marina's Diary 27th of January 2017

Even though I'm in a happy loving relationship, I do have to address the issues that have been occurring, and how they might doom this relationship.

Not only have I realized that I lust for other women, but that an old demon from the past has come back to haunt me. Before I met Laura, this demon has served as my guide, which I basically embraced and welcomed as my personal adviser; but now I question if I still require this demon.

The wasps that I can summon and command at my will, have always served as my personal bodyguards, who have always protected me from those who threatened or harmed me.

Having both a guide and bodyguards makes it seem that I wasn't lonely after all, but the truth is, I've never had any real social connection with them. Just because you are surrounded by people, and you feel you can communicate to them, doesn't mean you are not lonely. If you have no real bond that you both share in common, then it means you are still lonely and you long to find that one being who you can relate to, and have proper mutual relations with.

The only way I can communicate with this demon is by looking directly into a mirror, when I look at my own reflection for long enough and keep focused, I see the demon smiling at me menacingly. The way she communicated to me was done through telepathy, or face to face interaction when I looked at her in the mirror. She would always try to suborn me with the promise of giving me Laura, and having nothing or nobody take her away from me, not even fate or any force on earth. This would mean I would have to give her my soul, which I could give her by scrying and self-immolating myself at the same time. In exchange, she would manipulate Laura into willingly scrying in the mirror, which would make her vulnerable and susceptible to be taken by the demon. When the demon has both Laura's and my soul, can we live forever in eternity and our bond will never be separated.

This was all part of the revenge scheme I intended to curse Laura with, but I never went ahead with it because Laura did reciprocate and accepted me. When Laura and I got closer and closer and eventually became lovers, I decided to scrap my revenge plan and revel in Laura's love. Thinking back on the revenge plan from time to time, and becoming more acquainted with Laura's friends who were on my hit list, the more I was torn apart by guilt should I ever have carried it out. Caroline I would become very affectionate towards when I got to know her better, as for Laura's friends, I will explain individually.

Tyler became my first male friend, who convinced me that not all males are bad. The same I would say about Kobe and Gustavo, they are both so fun and entertaining to hang out with, and also very charming. Gustavo and I connect through cooking. Kobe and I connect through computer technology. Isabel and I would consult each other on make up and fashion and form a close friendship, which I would almost compare to the one I initially wanted with Laura. Olivia and I might not be friends in a relative aspect, but I do try to get on with her. I will do my best to maintain friendly relations with her and try to help her.

These are the basic reasons why I regret even thinking about my revenge plan, because I've grown an enormous amount of compassion for Laura's friends, despite that they criticized me and tried to keep Laura away from me. I saw the bad in them and they saw the bad in me. After becoming more acquainted with them, that all changed, I saw the good in them and they saw the good in me. There are people that are worth being patient with, and Laura's friends proved to be those people that were worthy of my patience.

As for the demon and my former association with her, I've realized that she represents everything toxic that was eating me away, and turning me into who I never wanted to become. She promoted anger to me, and taught me to be vengeful and hostile into getting what I wanted to satisfy my desires. One of those desires was to be loved, and love was something I want. I don't want anger, I've had enough of anger. Anger has done nothing but smother my soul and has blinded my notion of right and wrong. How I would have been consumed with guilt if I gave into anger, and hurt those that I love and would wish the very best for.

In order for me to try and avoid hurting people psychologically with my possible outbursts and mood swings, I've decided to give Laura space and let her sleep in her bed alone. In the meantime, I must find some way to keep the demon out of my life. I must never let it get to my head, I must never fall under its influence.


On a dark autumn night, when the moon was whole, and air was chilled; the sound of music was heard in the woodlands of Masuria. The birches, larches and even willow trees lay near the thousand lakes that stretch throughout the landscape. The trees obscured the source where the music was coming from, and deep in the woods, a bright orange light emerged and illuminated the trees like torches in the night.

The music originated from a group of people who dwelled in the woods, and danced around a fire, that raged and burned ever so brightly. The people wore rags, tunics, cloaks and some were even half naked, exposing their sweating bodies from the heat and excessive dancing. The women had their hair down and some even had braids, while others wore twig crowns, or decorated their heads with flowers and leaves. The men had long scruffy beards and long dry, stringy hair, and were burly with toned up muscles with patches of body hair.

The instruments that played, toned a loud intimidating sound, which made the whole area vibrate and send shock waves with the intensity of the instruments. There were woodwind instruments, which were stocky and long, and with finger-holes provided to enable different notes. The instrument was glazed and with hieroglyphics painted on the bulk of the instrument. The sound of these instruments resembled that of a bagpipe, which vented a resounding noise. There were drums with a tight pale skin stretched over the round shell, and were pounded with a drum stick with a big round tip.

The participants who gathered round the fire would chant in some unidentifiable Baltic language, which sounded almost like a mixture yodeling, humming and overtoning. This combination of voices and the instruments that played haunted and intensified the whole atmosphere, signifying that something sinister was about to happen.

A distinctive looking figure, who was half naked walked in front of the fire. He wore a rag around his waist, which covered his pelvic region and he wore a goat mask with long horns pointing in the air. Trinkets and ornaments were attached to his naked scrawny looking legs and also his arms, he also wore a necklace made of of tiny bones originating from some unidentifiable animal; some of them could even have been human. As he danced the trinkets and ornaments rattled loudly and he turned to face the audience as they threw grain in the air, which rained on the ground.

The goat-figure spread his arms out to request a moment of silence and the crowd remained silent and motionless. The goat-figure uttered words in an unidentifiable language, spread out his arms and looked up in the air. Then emerged the sound of buzzing along with a swarm of wasps, which appeared in two swarms appearing from left and right. These two swarms collided together and formed a humanoid looking being made of wasps, which moved like a human. The wasps scattered and flew away, and in their place was a dark haired scraggly looking woman, who dressed in shady, shabby and a desolate priestess robe. Her face looked mutilated as if she suffered serious burns. Her skin was hard as leather, and she had that permanent puckered look of scorn on her face. Her pupils were big, round and black, which darted into eyes who she peered into. Her hair was dark, long and greasy, which hung over her shoulders that slumped down with her long arms dangling by her side. Her fingers were long and bony, with long fingernails, which made her hands look like claws.

She approached two of the followers who were constraining what looked like a prisoner, this prisoner was in knight's armor, with a white tunic and a white cape over chainmail; which had a huge black cross. The knight was wearing a blocky helmet with a gold cross stretching over the mass, and in the horizontal part of the cross were two long visors. Below where the mouth and chin was protected, were small holes in a pattern to enable breathing and ventilation. On the top of the helmet were large gold-studded horns, which curved outwards making a round open space in the middle.

The skinny and frightening looking priestess placed her large hands on the helmet and pulled it off, revealing the knight's face, which was covered in sweat and fear. The priestess snarled at the knight in some foreign language, and the knight tried communicating in a different language, which sounded different in tone and was filled with the plead of mercy. The priestess continued to glare at the knight, scrunching up her face with pouted lips, eyebrows together and wide nostrils. After a long pause the priestess flung out her arm as she turned her back and ordered the knight's subduers to hang him upside down, where he was hoisted up into the trees. Once the knight was high in the trees and upside down, the rope that hoisted up the knight was twisted by two followers who were up in the trees. When the twisting of the rope stopped, the goat figure descended down in front of knight, hanging on a rope like a spider. The goat figure had a knife in its hand as it slashed the knight's throat and blood came spurting out. The followers stood in the trees released the rope and the knight spun around with blood squirting out of his neck.

The crowd below cheered and relished in the blood of the knight that rained down on them and sullied their clothes, some would even drink the blood, believing they would absorb the knight's strength and abilities. The priestess stood there with her arms stretched out, and basking in the blood shower feeling refreshed, after the knight had bled dry of its blood. The priestess then proceeded with the next phase, which brought the other prisoners forward, who were also knights. These knights had already had their helmets removed, and looked even more petrified of what fate they were about to be succumbed to. They begged for mercy, which the followers acted indifferent towards as they dragged them and threw them on the fire. The followers that were armed with spears would make sure the knights were kept on the fire, and could not escape once they slowly roasted on the fire, screaming in agony.

Once all the knights have been casted into the fire, and their screams of agony ceased, a loud sound of thunder toned; and the crowd ceased jeering and cheering. The priestess also remained silent as she gazed into the fire, it fanned out and turned blue, then a large head appeared before her and the crowd.

The head was that of a white, long-haired, bearded man, who wore a turban on his head with two tassels that draped at the back. He had a hooked nose with large white whiskers that hung down his long white beard, but his most distinguishing feature was his eyes. His eyes were large, and glowed in his skull like two bright yellow suns. When he looked at the priestess, his eyes would flare up and his lips hung open. The priestess expressed grovel and allegiance to the wraith like figure, who nodded in approval and delight and the priestess awed at the acknowledgement that she had appeased her god, who she piously worshipped and obeyed the duties of serving.

The crowd stood by, gazing at the god with paranoia and fear struck on their faces as the god opened its mouth, and begun to roar. There was a strong wind, which caused suction, drawing all the souls that have been released from their cremated bodies in the god's gaping mouth. The last soul to be consumed by the god's hunger for souls was the leader of the knights, who screamed knowing his god wasn't there to save him, and that oblivion was his destination.


Laura shot herself up from her bed, sweating and panting, knowing she just had a nightmare. The nightmare was so ghastly and disconcerting she could not go back to sleep, worrying that she would experience the same nightmare again or even a worse nightmarish scenario. Looking outside, knowing it was still pitch-black, she then looked at her alarm clock and saw it was barely midnight.

Laura wiped the sweat away from her forehead, and picked up her phone. She scrolled through her contact list and found Marina's number as she dialed it, hoping that Marina was not a heavy sleeper to notice she was receiving a call from her girlfriend.

„Hello," answered Marina sounding tired, even including a yawn after answering.

„Hi Marina, are you okay sweetie?" asked Laura trying to sound brave.

„I'm okay darling. Are you okay? You sound a little shook up," wondered Marina, sounding concerned.

„Marina… I don't know how I should say this, but I had a nightmare," confessed Laura.

„Oh no baby, I'm here for you if you want to talk about it," comforted Marina.

„That's what I was hoping… look, I'm sorry if I disturbed your sleep, but I can't go back to sleep. Do you think you could… you know… come over?" requested Laura, finding it hard not to stutter.

„Of course Laura, I'll come right away. I'll be there in less than 10 minutes," obliged Marina.

„Great, I'll prepare us some snacks. When you arrive, please don't ring the doorbell, just send me a text," instructed Laura.

„Sure, I wouldn't want to wake the others up," complied Marina.

„Okay see you soon, I love you Marina," whispered Laura affectionately.

„I love you too Laura," replied Marina warmly.

Laura put down her phone and with alleviation and anticipation, she launched herself out of bed and went to the kitchen to prepare snacks for Marina's arrival. She assembled an assortment of refreshments, which didn't contain much sugar, fearing it would decrease the chances of falling back asleep. For beverage, she took out two wine coolers, which she had bought and kept in the fridge for a while.


Laura's phone vibrated and a message displayed, which read that Marina was by the door. She scurried to the door and slowly opened it, and there stood Marina smiling and holding her laptop around her arm. She was wearing her wool jacket, which was buttoned over her night clothes and she was wearing trainers.

„Hi Laura," greeted Marina with a warm appeasing smile.

„Hi Marina, please come in," greeted Laura back as she allowed Marina entry and the two kissed. „Just go into my room, I've got us some munchies," commanded Laura as Marina gladly obeyed and walked slowly to Laura's bedroom.

When Laura entered her bedroom, she saw Marina was already on the bed, cross-legged and connecting her laptop to the internet. Laura placed the wine coolers on the bedside table and chucked the snacks onto the bed, before sitting down behind Marina.

After Marina had finished establishing internet connection on her laptop, she closed her laptop and lied on her side facing Laura. „So you want to talk about the nightmare?" reminded Marina as Laura smiled and lay next to Marina.

„Yeah, that's one of the reasons I invited you round," responded Laura.

„Oh, what else am I here for?" asked Marina, curiously stroking Laura's face.

„To help me sleep, but first we need to find out what my nightmare was all about," answered Laura, stroking Marina's naked thigh.

„Of course, so what was your dream about?" asked Marina.

„Well I was in what I think might be Scandinavia, there were these people, which I think might be Vikings. They were performing this sort of ritual in the woods, which was surrounded by lakes. These Viking like people were sacrificing these knights, who they captured and threw them on a fire," disclosed Laura.

„Knights huh, I think it's starting to sound familiar to me, what did these knights look like?" asked Marina.

„Well they wore armor and a helmet like a knight would wear, but these knights had a black cross on a white tunic," explained Laura.

Marina raised her eyebrows, showing how surprised she was to hear the details Laura had given, it was as if Marina knew the knights Laura described. „I think I know the knights you are talking about," suspected Marina. She turned to her laptop and rapidly googled in 'Teutonic Knights' and when she clicked on an article, which bared an image of knights matching Laura's description. „Are these the knights you dreamt about?" asked Marina as Laura moved closer to the computer with a wine cooler in her hand.

„Yeah that's them, but there was something suspicious about one knight that was sacrificed in the ritual. He looked like my dad," revealed Laura.

„Oh baby I'm sorry that you dreamt such horror of seeing your dad getting murdered," comforted Marina placing her hand on Laura's knee.

„No don't worry baby," demurred Laura as she kissed Marina on the head, „It was scary and horrific to see, I just want to know what this all means."

„Well by the sounds of it, your ancestor was a Teutonic Knight," clarified Marina.

„And he got killed by the Vikings?" assumed Laura.

„Those weren't Vikings sweetie, they were Prussians, your ancestor was probably killed in Prussia during the Northern Crusade," clarified Marina.

„Prussia, you did mention that name more than once, now I'm more curious to know more about this Prussia and its former inhabitants," said Laura sounding intrigued.

„Well I do know I have Prussians in my family tree, and that they lived in Masuria, which is now part of Poland," mentioned Marina.

„Masuria, could you google it honey?" requested Laura.

„Sure cutie," complied Marina, as she googled in Masuria while Laura played with her hair. Many images appeared on the screen, displaying the beauty and enchantment of the lake district.

„My god it's so beautiful, that greenery and lush flowers," exclaimed Laura seeing those images, but then she saw an image that resembled what she saw in her dream, „Well I have to admit, that picture there (Laura points out a specific image, which looked desolate and deserted) is the one from my dream."

„That's where many Prussian rebels dwelled, because the Teutonic Knights destroyed their communities, so they had to form new communities," explained Marina.

„There was that dark looking figure in my dreams, he was a white bearded man who wore something which looked like a turban," disclosed Laura.

Marina reacted with familiarity knowing whom Laura was referring to as she googled in its name. „Is this him?" asked Marina, pointing at a white bearded man on the left with two other men on his right side.

„Yeah that's him," confirmed Laura.

„His name is Peckols, he's the Prussian god of the underworld," identified Marina.

„You mean like Hades, Greek god of the underworld?" compared Laura.

„You could say that, his duty was to punish those who weren't true to the faith, and he punished them severely," expounded Marina.

„Now I know more about my dream and what the meaning behind it was," realized Laura, pondering on what her dream was a sign of.

„To be honest with you Laura, I've been having dreams about Prussia too, except it was seeing my people being slaughtered by Teutonic Knights," confessed Marina while she opened up her wine cooler.

„Oh sweetie," lamented Laura sympathetically stroking Marina's face and kissing her head, „You don't think there's a connection to all of this?"

„It's possible our ancestors were involved in the Prussian crusade, your people against my people, both fighting in the name of their faith," pondered Marina taking another swig of her wine cooler.

„I think so too, maybe both our ancestors had a connection, which was what brought us together," assumed Laura.

„Good to know you are thinking superstitiously, because there must be a reason why we are together and what we are destined for," speculated Marina.

Laura squealed with excitement, she could feel her bowels tingling as she proposed, „Well we might not be able to trace our ancestry that far back in history, but any trace of our ancestry is is a start."

„Oh I'm so excited Laura, we are both going to explore something new about each other. Laura I don't think I can handle this excitement," beamed Marina bouncing on the bed and smiling.

„Well, we'll get started tomorrow. Since we have no class in the morning. We'll go to the library and check the archives, but first, we need a good night sleep," suggested Laura.

„I think I'm too excited to go back to sleep," implied Marina.

„Well just try, besides I'm tired, having you here will help me sleep easier," yawned Laura.

„Okay, I'll try," agreed Marina stretching her lips into a smile.

„I know that you always sleep in your arms, but can I sleep in your arms tonight?" requested Laura.

„Yeah sure, it would make a nice change," approved Marina closing her laptop, and putting it under the bed, while Laura cleared the bed of all uneaten edibles.

Marina lay on the bed waiting for Laura to join her, who was still occupied with gathering the snack-food and putting it aside. Laura climbed on the bed, hovered over a smiling anticipated Marina as she rested her head on Marina's pliant shoulder, which caused her to close her eyes.

„Am I too heavy for you Marina?" concerned Laura, knowing that she's taller than her girlfriend, and feeling her head sink into her flesh.

„No baby, you're not," replied Marina, stroking Laura's hair and kiss her on the head.

„Please can you tell me a bedtime story?" asked Laura ardently.

„You're a bit too old for bedtime stories aren't you?" quipped Marina.

„You can never be too old for a bedtime story. I know you'd be very good at it, besides, I want to know more about Prussia and what it was like there," cooed Laura, stroking her girlfriend's arm.

„Okay, but I'm going to leave out the dark pagan ways of the Prussians. I don't want you having another nightmare about any rituals or even conflicts," acquiesced Marina, continuing to stroke Laura's hair.

„That's what I was hoping for, please tell me beautiful things about Prussia, about us living in Prussia. How we met and what we did together," demanded Laura, excited to hear Marina's bedtime story.

„Sure, well first it starts off with you're family moving to Königsberg, which became the capital of Prussia and a front against the Sambians. They were the last Prussian tribe to be conquered by the Teutonic order…" narrated Marina as she continued to tell Laura the bedtime story she requested.

When Marina got to the part of her story when her and Laura swam in the Krutynia river, it seemed that Laura was unresponsive and was no longer stroking Marina's arm. It was quite clear that Laura was fast asleep. Marina abruptly ended her story, raked her fingers in Laura's hair and whispered as softly as she could, „Sweet dreams Laura, I'll be there with you soon." Marina sank her head back into the pillow and closed her eyes with Laura in her arms, and hoped to dream about the story she told Laura and that they would both share the same romantic adventure.

To be continued...