.
This chapter sets up for the plot of the events in the film, and takes place when he's 18-19, somewhere in there. It's not long. It starts off in the middle of yet another "where is the money coming from" conversation, and it touches on a very important posession....
.
.
"Look," Dimitri sighed, getting tired of the discussion fast. "All I know is we can't keep relying on the short game."
"Exactly," Vlad huffed. "At least we're on the same page here. We've got to stop living on the odd ten or twenty rubles a month."
"We need a plan."
"I agree."
"Something with a big payoff."
"Agreed."
Dimitri stopped pacing as he took the law into consideration. "Above board?"
Vlad shook his head. "Ideally, but not neccesary. Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Right." He sat down across from Vlad and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Any ideas?"
"Not so much as a hint."
The two of them sat there in the silence of the drawing room, waiting for that great epiphany to strike at any second. In the meantime, Vlad noticed from the corner of his eye that the fireplace was dying out. "The fire's fading," he said.
"Hand me that paper from yesterday." Vlad passed it to Dimitri, and he began leafing through the pages, throwing the useless ones into the flames.
Then, like a bucket of ice water, a headline hit him with full force.
DOWAGER EMPRESS' REWARD STILL UNCLAIMED.
"Vlad!" He thrust the page at his friend and pointed out the headline, watching as Vlad scanned the article for details.
"'Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna Romanov of the former House of Romanov is still on the search for her missing granddaughter, Anastasia Nicholaievna,'" he read aloud, becoming more excited with every word. "'The Dowager is currently living in Paris, and is offering a reward of ten million rubles to any who ensure her granddaughter's safe return.' Ten million rubles! This is perfect! But---how will we...."
He trailed off, and Dimitri simply let that confident grin work its way once again over his face.
"You still got that music box?"