Her life had come to revolve around train stations as significant markers in time. Traveling on holiday to the Black Sea beaches with her family. Saying goodbye to Father as the army went to battle once more.
At the far end near the very last platform was a bank of waiting rooms built for ladies to escape the ghastly smoke-soaked air. With the more fashionable platforms located upstairs to attract lady passengers, these waiting rooms appeared to be used more for storage. Finding an empty one, Sergey stuffed Svetlana and her mother inside. A single lamp hung from the low ceiling and rattled with each passing train.
“Find the conductor. Tell him we’re here and give him this.” Snatching off his oversize hat, Sergey tossed the rat man a bag that clinked with coin. “He’ll get the rest when we change trains in London. Should be enough to keep his mouth shut.”
The man shoved the coin bag into his pocket and scampered off, shutting the door behind him.
Nudging a crate out of the way, Svetlana helped her mother sit on a dusty leather bench. Leached of color and droopy, Mama moved like a brittle leaf blown far from its strength of branch and tree. She’d been the same when they fled Petrograd. She wouldn’t survive another trip.
“Bribery and betrayal. How you’ve sunk in the world. The Bolsheviks must be proud,” Svetlana said.
Sergey’s mouth twisted into a cruel line. “I told you never to associate me with them.”
“Then don’t associate yourself! Don’t do this, Sergey. I know you think there is no choice left, but there is still time to find another way. I can help you.” If she could somehow reach the man she’d once known deep inside him, the man too fearful to come out on his own, then she would stop at no length to sway him.
“I understand feeling alone with all burdens weighted on your shoulders and only wanting to keep your loved ones safe. I have lived this horror for a year. Looking back, my actions make me weep for what I was forced to endure, but no matter how dark our circumstances, we cannot allow ourselves to give in to desperation when innocent lives hang in the balance. Please, if it is a Dalsky you require, allow my mother to go free while you take me on.”
“It is too late for negotiation.”
“It is never too late to do the right thing. We can save your family. We can make them safe far from Russia. Wynn has great power as—”
“Do not speak his name to me! This is how it will be. You and your mother will die for my family to live.”
“How do you know your family hasn’t been killed already? How do you know the Bolsheviks will honor their word?”
“Do you not understand? I have no choice but to trust them. If I don’t do this, my family
Seeing nothing small enough to use as a club, she wielded venom as her weapon. “Then you are no different from these murderous Bolsheviks you claim to hate.”
His eyes darkened to the fury of a winter storm thundering across the frozen tundra. He backhanded her across the face. The blow stung, juddering along her cheek bone and jaw.
The door squeaked open and the rat man slipped inside. He spoke in uneducated Russian. A village mongrel begging for scraps at the table of power. “We go in the fourth carriage. Other boxes filled with coal. Wait for the last call.”
On the platform outside a man’s voice carried over the hissing steam and shuffling feet. “Train six forty-two to London. All aboard!”
“If one of you so much as twitches in attempt to escape, I will not hesitate to kill both of you.” Sergey touched the gleaming handle of his gun. “If your own death lacks incentive, know that I will personally return to finish off the last remaining Dalsky princess. Do I make myself clear?”
Svetlana stood erect, not bothering to comfort the pain throbbing the left side of her face. She had to remain strong for Marina’s sake. Svetlana gripped her mother’s hand and nodded. They couldn’t simply jump from the train. They would have to take care of Sergey first. Terror pounded in her heart as her gaze slipped to the gun. She would take care of him, whatever it came to.
“Last call! All aboard!”
Sergey yanked the veil down over Svetlana’s face. “Can’t have someone recognizing you.” Pushing open the door, he swept his hand with grand invitation. “Onward to destiny.”
Chapter 33