Summary: When the Russian Czar's daughter runs away and is rescued by a blader who too is a runaway, things start to unfold- trust, friendship, and romance. Two bladers, both from very different backgrounds, both fighting for their right to be in love. Take a trip back to the days when the Abbey was young and the Czar ruled Russia.
Her name was Anya Nickolai, the daughter of the Russian Czar. She was Princess Anya, a 16-year-old girl with brown hair and blue eyes who was always anxious for a taste of the world beyond the palace walls. Little did she know that the first time she ventured out would change her life forever.
It was late at night as Anya noiselessly slipped outside into the freezing night air. She hit the grass running, undetected by the guards outside. Easy. Since her father had always wanted a son, she had been trained like a soldier in the place of the male heir he didn't have. Now free to roam the nighttime streets of her father's country, she made her way down the first few blocks just walking in silence. Her breath formed small clouds in front of her, but she kept walking, taking in her surroundings. Footsteps, heavier than her own followed her as she passed by a dreary place with high walls topped with barbed wire. She didn't see the figure close by. Anya briskly picked up speed as did the footsteps. Suddenly, she was yanked into an alley and slammed against a wall.
"Where do you think you're going so late?" Said a slurred, drunken male voice.
"Get away from me!" She yelled, slugging the man in the face.
"Feisty one, eh?" The man said before slamming her against the wall again.
Before he could do anything, someone strong rammed him off of her with amazing force.
"Damn you, Boris!"
She looked to her side to see a figure not much taller than her fighting off the drunk until he retreated. The person that had saved her slowly approached.
Anya closed her eyes, unsure of what to expect. To her surprise, someone stroked her cheek with a gentle but hardened hand.
"Are you alright?"
Anya opened her eyes. The voice was deep and masculine, that of a young man's, probably about her age. She couldn't see his features in the dark, but an outline showed a young man with a thin, muscular build and messy hair.
"Yes..." She muttered timidly.
"You shouldn't be here. Balkov Abbey isn't safe."
Before he could say anything else, someone shouted.
"Get out of here."
Without another word, the teen ran off. Anya ducked behind some crates as two men ran after her rescuer and tackled him to the ground, she saw him struggle fiercely before he was struck over the head, rendering him unconscious.
Balkov Abbey...
Anya waited impatiently for the next day to arrive. She knew that her father would be going out that day and for the rest of the week, giving her the chance to try and save the boy that she wanted to return the favor to. Stuffing a large number of Russian roubles into her pocket along with her blade, the teen set off down the block, going in the direction of where she had met the boy.
What are you doing. Mistress? Her phoenix asked.
Hush, be quiet for now Dryxaria.
It didn't take long for her to reach the place, but she needed more information. Turning to a homeless man nearby, she walked up to him.
"Excuse me."
The man looked at her and his eyes widened. He bowed deeply.
"Please don't. I just want to know which building is the Balkov Abbey."
The man looked up.
"There your highness."
"Thank you."
Anya took off again in the direction of the Abbey and came up to the doors.
"Boris, sir, someone wishes to see you."
"Bring them in." A moment passed, and Boris was by far surprised to see the Czar's daughter enter the room.
"Can I help you your highness?"
She looked at him with intent blue eyes.
"I'm looking for a boy."
"There are many here, can you identify him?"
Anya pondered a second.
"The one that escaped last night."
Boris paused a moment, then he seemed to know who she was talking about.
"Go get him." He ordered the guard. He obeyed and returned a moment later with another guard, both dragging in a boy by his arms. When they got to the spot, they threw him down onto the ground. He managed to get up from flat on the ground to on his hands and knees. Anya tried not to wince when she looked over him. He was dressed in a black boys' tank top, dark blue cargoes and a long white scarf. However, the back of his shirt, legs and arms had been torn to shreds, and under the tears were hundreds of bleeding whip marks. He had two-toned hair, slate blue in the front and navy in the back. He kept his face shadowed by his drooping bangs.
"What do you want with this boy?" Boris asked.
"What do you ask for his freedom?"
Boris raised an eyebrow at the question.
"I beg your pardon?"
"What do you ask for his freedom?" She repeated and crossed her arms.
"I'm sorry, but he is property of the Abbey."
Anya put on an amused look and withdrew severalthousand roubles from her pocket and placed them on the desk.
"Are you sure? Because I'm willing to pay you handsomely for his freedom."
Boris eyed the roubles greedily.
"80,000 деньг is my final offer." She said smirking as she placed the rest of her money out.
Boris looked at the boy, then at Anya.
"You have a deal."
Anya turned to the boy, who was still on the floor. She knelt by his side and draped one of his arms around her shoulders, then managed to haul him to his feet. He was heavy, but Anya was strong. It was slow going, and the boy lost consciousness after a few blocks. Anya had carried him the rest of the way on her back, which had been no easy task, but she somehow managed to get him back to her room in the palace, which was practically deserted. Locking her door behind her, Anya walked over to her bed and gently laid the boy down on his stomach and set to tending his wounds. His face remained shadowed by his bangs.
He woke up some time later with an almost inaudible groan, sitting up only to fall back again.
"You're finally awake."
He suddenly moved his arm up to cover his face.
"Don't look at me..."
Anya studied him with curiosity.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to see your face."
He seemed to relax a bit. Anya sat down on the bed beside him and gently moved his arm away. On his face were 4 blue sharkfin marks. She still couldn't see his eyes. Timidly, she reached out a hand. When he didn't stop her, she brushed his bangs away to reveal the most beautiful starling crimson eyes she had ever seen. Gazing into his eyes, she saw painful suffering. Taking her eyes off his, she studied his face. It was one you could easily call handsome. His face was cold, set in an emotionless expression, betraying nothing. His eyes were slightly narrowed in a fierce gaze, and his mouth was set in a straight, rigid line. Something was clenched tightly in his fist.
"What is your name?"
"Kai..."
She smiled. It was a good, strong name and suited him.
Anya directed her gaze to his fist.
"What's that?"
Kai opened his fist to reveal a black and cobalt blade. In the middle was...
"You have a bit beast?"
Kai managed a smirk.
"Dranzer. My phoenix."
Anya dug into her pocket and pulled out her silver and blue blade.
"This is Dryxaria, my phoenix." Kai took her blade and examined it for a moment, then he handed it back to her.
"Why did you help me?"
"I was just returning the favor."
Kai's eyes flickered once, but Anya couldn't read what it was.
The doorknob jiggled, alerting both. Anya leapt to her feet while Kai forced himself to sit up. "Princess?"
Anya sighed in relief. It was only the maid.
"What?"
"Won't you let me in to tidy up?"
"It's fine in here. Thanks anyway."
"As you wish, Miss."
The maid's footsteps faded away.
"You're the Princess?"
Anya turned back to Kai, who was trying to stand.
"I, um..." She started to blush, but was saved from embarrassment when Kai's legs gave out from under him. Anya leapt forward, catching the weakened blader. His weight dragged her down a bit, but she remained upright.
"I guess I forgot to mention that my father is the Czar." She muttered sheepishly.
Kai said nothing as she laid him down on the bed again.
"You should rest, you're still injured."
Kai again said nothing. Anya sat down on the bed beside him and absentmindedly started to stroke the hair away from his face, which still had a few scratches on it. He eased a bit when she started to sing.
Dancing Bears,
Painted Wings,
Things I almost remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December
Someone holds me safe and warm,
Horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
Far away,
Long ago,
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart used to know
Once upon a December
She stopped singing when Kai had fallen asleep.
He looks so peaceful when he sleeps. She thought smiling.
Getting tired herself, Anya walked over to the couch and fell asleep almost the second she hit the cushions.