Weeks went by since Sadiq's departure and we had arranged everything with Mr. Shostakovich to hand over control of the money the General had left me in his testament to my eldest sister Ekaterina. I was beyond excited because I would be joining Sadiq in Istanbul in no time and I was counting the days with my fingers until I could hop on a train and never come back. My sisters knew that my stay in Russia was slowly drawing to an end, and they were very sad about it and I was sad, too, because I would be leaving them behind. I loved my sisters, even if one of them loved me in the way I didn't want her to love me, they were the only family I had while growing up without our parents.

I had prepared myself mentally for adventuring into a territory considered hostile for Russian people, and I had decided to leave all my Russian heritage behind, such as my name. I decided I wanted to be called Menekşe – the stage name chosen for me by Sadiq before my first performance in front of part of the Imperial Court – which I didn't know if it was a real name or just a colour. I was thrilled with my new identity and began telling the servants of the house and my sisters to call me Menekşe. The had thought it was a bit strange, and Ekaterina looked down upon my decision to leave behind my Russian inheritance, something I wouldn't be able to do so easily because of my Russian passport which was obviously going to be seen by the Ottoman customs' officers upon my arrival to Istanbul. Especially after everything that had happened there in the last few months.

I knew that things were tense in Turkey after the war in the Balkans; I had known it since its beginning a couple months ago, and when my sisters had found out that Turkey had come out of a war, as we didn't do much research on other countries' current situations on a daily basis, they had advised me not to go, but I had been firm in my decision to meet Sadiq as planned and spend my life with him there in Istanbul. When I began reading about the defeat of the Ottoman army in the Balkans, I realised that they named a city as its capital, Constantinople. I then discovered that the Empire's capital was not named Istanbul, but Constantinople, a long and difficult name for me to memorize, so I would stick with Istanbul, which was the informal way of calling the city. Luckily the war had ended almost a month before and the situation was slowly beginning to normalise in Istanbul – or Constantinople as the newspapers said – so I would be able to travel safely.

Three days before my departure I decided to write Sadiq a letter in order for him to pick me up at the station and not have to look for his address all alone in a foreign country which had much hostility towards Russians.

My dear Sadiq,

I will be joining you soon in our beloved Istanbul, or Constantinople as I read its name really was. I can't wait to see you again and to be held in your strong arms like I was when you were here, in Russia, with me. My sister Ekaterina sends greetings and hopes we will be very happy together. I am sure we will.

My heart is with you,

Vanya

Soon, I found myself waiting for the train that would take me to Istanbul in the same terminal I had said goodbye to Sadiq barely a couple weeks ago, not nearly a month. My sisters were with me and Ekaterina was crying, whilst Natasha had the same blank face as always but I could tell that she was pretty sad for my departure and had already been crying, as her eyes were red and puffy. I hugged both of my sisters and Natasha whispered in my ear.

"I hope you are happy with him, big brother, but remember that I will always be waiting for you"

It was a little creepy, but it made me a little emotional and I kissed her in the cheek, wiping away a few tears that threatened to spill. My sister Ekaterina gave me another big hug and a kiss in the cheek. It was really sad for me to see my sisters for what I thought it would be the last time, at least until I earned enough money to bring them with me to Turkey.

"I will see you soon... very soon"

I lied as the train approached the terminal and all the passengers started filling in. I grabbed my luggage, and after saying goodbye to my sisters again with a wave of my hand, showed the officer my boarding pass and got in the huge train. From the outside, the big black train was imposing, but from the inside, it was mesmerizing. It was elegantly furnished, especially the lounge, and decorated in red and gold, it looked like something out of a dream, but I had slowly grown accustomed to luxury as I had been living with my sisters in the General's manor for a couple months now. I walked into the train, bumping into a few people in the way to my cabin, which I was sharing with a nun. We talked about her life in the countryside, and how she had received The Call to become a nun and she explained to me everything about her monastic lifestyle, when she asked me what I did for a living, I was afraid to tell her I was a dancer, so I decided to tell her I was a secretary for an old General of the Imperial Court and she seemed surprised.

The trip was long and went by without any setbacks, crossing several countries I hadn't even heard of in the process, when we finally arrived at Sirkeci Terminal – that was the name of Istanbul's train station, as I discovered later – the nun and I grabbed our luggage and detrained. When I stepped out of the train I was greeted by something that filled my mind and my heart instantly: heat. The weather was warm and humid and I walked through the crowd carrying my luggage with a satisfied smile on my face. While I was looking for Sadiq, someone put his heavy hand over my shoulder and I turned around to face the man I was infatuated with my, smirking and his brown eyes sparkling.

"I would recognise that coat anywhere. Welcome to Istanbul, my dear Vanya"

I left my luggage on the floor and hugged him tightly, making him laugh. We separated and he took one of my suitcases as I carried the other one to the exit. I continued to look around. The building was beautiful and the people around me were even more beautiful. There was a mix of Orient and Occident as some men were dressed in impeccable black suits and bowties and some women were dressed in traditional clothing, and vice-versa. I felt like that was my place in the world.

Sadiq opened the door of his carriage and grabbed my other suitcase as I climbed in. I knew Sadiq owned an automobile, but it was safer to wander around the city with a carriage than with an automobile. When the carriage finally began moving, I took off my coat with a little reluctance. Sadiq looked at me and smirked again.

"It's hot, isn't it?"

I smiled and nodded, giving him a peck on the cheek. He kissed me in the lips instead and inched closer to me in the seat until he was flush against me. I could feel his slightly sweaty skin against my own and I began to feel aroused. He noticed, and the tips of his fingers lingered over my arousal, making me gasp in surprise and buck against his hand.

"Oh, Sadiq"

"Mm, I have waiting long enough to hear you make those beautiful sounds again. I can't hold myself any longer"

I was about to say "don't hold back" like I had when we had our first time, but he seemed to understand what my eyes were trying to say and kissed me passionately while rubbing my erected member through my pants, making me moan louder and louder as we advanced through the crowded streets of Constantinople, where everyone could hear Sadiq pleasuring me shamelessly with his hand.

"I can't wait to have you naked in my bed, moaning my name"

I heaved a breathy moan as Sadiq pressed the heel of his hand over my arousal and I released all over my underwear, staining it completely. I was exhausted and I collapsed against Sadiq, who smirked as he caressed my soft beige hair and kissed my head like a mother would kiss her child.

I felt at home then.