Pure (Book 1, Pure Series) (32 page)

           
She placed her hands on my cheeks, and her eyes ranged over my face as if she feared that I would disappear.

           
Aleksandr stepped in after her.
 
"I hope you ladies don't mind if we come in."

           
Galina shot an angry glance at him, but she quickly turned her attention back to me.
 
"Ekaterina, you cannot know how my heart rejoices to see you here in Krov.
 
I only pray that we are not too late."

           
GM made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a derisive snort.
 
"Galina, I admit that we have come here to consult you, but I must ask you to keep the theatrics to a minimum."

           
Galina's expression went carefully blank as she turned her gaze to GM and dropped her hands from my face.
 
"Of course, Annushka.
 
I am sure that you know best."

           
"Well, Galina," GM said in a tone of resignation, "I suppose Aleksandr has told you that our house was attacked."

           
Galina nodded.
 
"And you believe it was attacked by Gleb Mstislav."

           
"I dislike saying this," GM said. "but, yes.
 
It was him.
 
I recognized him."

           
I looked at GM, startled.
 
It had never occurred to me that she would recognize him, but of course she had known who he was.
 
Somehow I was not surprised that she hadn't admitted this to me.

           
GM continued.
 
"When I saw him, I thought for a moment that maybe he hadn't died – maybe he'd gone into hiding.
 
But his face – it was bloated and horrible and an unnatural light shone in his eyes."

           
"Like green flame," Galina added quietly.

           
"Yes, that's what it was," GM said.
 
"How did you know?"

           
"I have seen it before," Galina replied.

           
I hadn't seen the green fire myself, but I didn't doubt that GM had seen it.
 
She was not the fanciful type.
 
If she said she'd seen it, then it was a fact.

           
"There was screaming, also," GM said.
 
"Terrible, inhuman cries."

           
"Annushka, I believe you will have to accept that you have seen a kost," Galina said firmly.
 
"An evil spirit animating the body of a dead man – in this case Gleb Mstislav."

           
"Oh, Galina," GM said.
 
"I don't believe in these things, yet I cannot deny what I have seen.
 
What are we to do?"

           
"Ekaterina must come with me," Galina replied firmly.
 
"She's the only one of us who has the power to fight this evil."

           
Anger flashed in GM's eyes.
 
"No.
 
This is not about Katie.
 
You and I will take care of this.
 
Katie's not to be involved at all."

           
Galina threw up her hands.
 
"Then why did you bring her here?"

           
"To get her far away from that creature.
 
This is for us to solve.
 
It's not a job for a child."

           
"Katie really is the only one who can do this," Aleksandr said.

           
"Hush, Aleksandr," Galina snapped.

           
Silence reigned.

           
"GM," I said at last, "I want to go with Galina.
 
I want to hear what she has to say.
 
Gleb has taken people from my school, and even killed one of my teachers."
 
Not to mention I last saw him heading for William
, I thought to myself.
 
"If I can help, I want to."

           
"There, you see?" Galina said.
 
"Ekaterina can feel it in her blood.
 
She knows that she can do this."

           
"Please, GM, let's go with Galina and hear what she has to say," I said.
 
"What harm can it do to listen?"

           
"I suppose it can't hurt for Katie to simply listen," GM said, "but I don't see why you can't talk here.
 
There's no reason to go to your house."

           
Galina took a deep breath.
 
"Annushka, I regret the necessity, but I am going to have to be blunt.
 
Your negative energy will have an adverse effect on Ekaterina's abilities.
 
Despite the fact that you have come to seek my help, you have done so reluctantly.
 
Ekaterina needs to tap into the natural energy around us.
 
That requires a nurturing, accepting environment – my house has that.
 
She can't do that here with you disapproving.
 
She will have to come with me – without you."

           
GM snorted again.

           
"Please, Annushka," Galina said.
 
"Let me take Ekaterina with me.
 
I will talk to her and tell her what to do.
 
And I certainly won't take her to confront any monsters.
 
Besides, it's daylight – Ekaterina is safe enough while the sun shines.
 
When we are done talking, Ekaterina can come home and tell you everything.
 
There will be no secrets."

           
GM glanced at me.
 
"Well, since Katie doesn't seem to mind, I suppose it is all right if she listens to you and then gives me the details – it will probably be better for my temper than if I heard it straight from you myself.
 
But I want it understood clearly that Katie is not to do anything.
 
I am her grandmother.
 
I will do any necessary saving."

           
Galina smiled despite herself.
 
"You always were a mama bear, Annushka.
 
As I said, I will not take Ekaterina to battle any monsters today.
 
I promise you that."

           
"Very well.
 
I expect to see my granddaughter back here in one piece."

           
Galina gave GM an exasperated look, and then she shepherded me out of the house.
 
Aleksandr followed us.

           
The car that Aleksandr had rescued GM and me in last night was parked in front of the house.
 
I climbed into the back seat, and soon we were off.

           
Our route took us through town and past the Mstislav mansion.
 
The big white house looked even more impressive in the day, and its red banners fluttered gaily in a gentle breeze.

           
We continued on past broad, featureless fields.

           
"Once upon a time there were houses where these fields are," Aleksandr said, pointing out the window.

           
His remarks were clearly addressed to me.
 
I glanced at Galina, expecting her to snap at him.
 
But for once she did not rebuke him.

           
He continued.
 
"In fact, this area was once a little village.
 
Centuries ago, the village nestled between the Mstislav mansion on this side and the monastery on the other.
 
The noble family of the great house looked after the physical needs of the villagers, and the monastery looked after their spiritual needs – in theory anyway."

           
I looked out at the vast, empty fields.
 
"What happened to the village?"

           
"The monastery and the mansion failed to protect their people," Galina said quietly.
 
"Now the people are gone."

           
"Was the mansion still the Mstislav mansion back then?" I asked.

           
"Yes," Galina said.
 
"The Mstislavs fell into decline after the village was destroyed.
 
And the family lost the house, their position, and their wealth.
 
It was Gleb who clawed his way back from obscurity – buying up the mansion and many other things besides in this town."

           
We drove on past more empty fields.
 
Eventually, I spied a large stone building, clearly ecclesiastical in nature, and beyond it was a strange white forest that looked like bleached bone.

           
"As you can probably guess, that's the old monastery there," Aleksandr said.
 
"It's been abandoned for many years now.
 
And just behind it is the Pure Woods – it's a petrified forest."

           
"Why is it called the 'Pure Woods'?" I asked.

           
"Simply because of the color – the stark whiteness," Aleksandr replied.
 
"It is also said to be the area of greatest supernatural power in this region – both good and evil."

           
"Forests are some of Russia's most ancient holy sites," Galina said.
 
"The Pure Woods is one of those sites.
 
Your mother knew these woods well.
 
Soon you will know them, too."

           
As we drove past the white forest, we came across a small house sandwiched between the side of the road and the edge of the forest.

           
Aleksandr pulled the car onto the small drive that ran behind the house.

           
"Welcome to our little forest abode," he said as he cut the engine.

           
"Aleksandr!
 
No foolishness.
 
Our work here is serious," Galina snapped.

           
It was clear that her irritation with her son had returned.

           
We went into the house.

           
Galina paused just inside the door.
 
"Aleksandr, your presence will not be necessary.
 
Leave."

           
Aleksandr gave her a formal bow, and to my surprise, he turned and left the house.

           
Galina turned on her heel and marched down the hall.
 
I hesitated, and I was surprised to hear Aleksandr's car start outside.
 
He really was leaving.

           
"Please come with me, Ekaterina," Galina called.

           
I followed her with reluctance – I was beginning to regret my decision to go with Galina.
 
Now that we were at her house, the vibe was definitely very weird.

           
Galina led me to a room that was full of books – so much so that there was barely room for a desk, two chairs, and a lamp.

           
Galina took off her coat and sat down at the chair behind the desk.
 
She waved me to the other one.

           
I took off my coat, draped it over my arms and sat on the edge of the chair.
 
I was suddenly nervous about what Galina was going to say and do.
 
I half expected her to pull out a crystal ball and wave her fingers over it.
 
Something about the cramped room didn't inspire confidence.
 
Maybe GM was right.
 
Maybe Galina was just a well-intentioned, superstitious woman who didn't really know anything.

           
Galina ran her hands over her face.
 
Then she gave me a long, earnest look.

           
"This is difficult," she said at last.
 
"I don't know how much like your grandmother you are.
 
I know you expressed a desire to help when you were back at your house, but I can see skepticism in your eyes now.
 
If your mind is closed, this will not work.
 
If you find in your heart that you do not wish to go on, simply tell me, and I will take you home again.
 
There will be no further pressure from me.
 
Take all the time you need to decide."

           
For reasons I couldn't entirely understand, I felt tears stinging my eyes.
 
"This is all so strange," I said.
 
"I'm feeling really overwhelmed, and I don't know what to think anymore."

           
Galina smiled at me sympathetically.
 
"Yes, I can imagine that this is hard for you.
 
I know your grandmother does not approve of sweets, but would you like some hot cocoa?
 
I find that that always makes me feel better."

           
Oddly enough, hot cocoa sounded really good to me.
 
"Yes, thanks."

           
Galina led me into the kitchen, which was small and overstuffed, but scrupulously clean.
 
As I sat at the table, she got to work with a saucepan, and soon we both had mugs of hot cocoa.
 
Even though the day wasn't terribly cold, I still found the cocoa comforting.

           
Galina looked at me over the top of her mug.
 
"Tell me about what brought you here.
 
How did all the trouble begin?"