Moonflower by Angela J. Townsend

Author:Angela J. Townsend
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Published: 2014-08-21T16:00:00+00:00

I stared at the man in the photograph. Could it really be him? The scar, the tattoos….

“Are you all right?” Anatoly asked.

I bit my lower lip. “Yes, I mean, no.” I didn’t even know what I was saying.

“May I see?” Anatoly asked softly.

I nodded and handed him the book. His eyes skimmed over the page. I tapped my finger on Chuck’s picture. “Do you know this man?”

Anatoly nodded. “Yes, Mila’s father.” He pointed to two men in the background “This is my father.” He pointed to another man with a long beard. “And this is Nickoli’s father.”

My mouth dropped open. Chuck was Mila’s dad? I suddenly felt dizzy, my pulse throbbing in my ears, everything swirling around me.

Anatoly motioned me to a chair near the window. “Come, sit.”

I wilted into my seat. Obviously, Chuck coming into my life hadn’t been by accident. No wonder he paid so much attention to me. All this time I thought I meant something to him. Tears pooled in my eyes. Was this the connection Mila had felt about me? Would she hate me if she found out?

Anatoly knelt in front of me. There was something in his expression that worried me. His eyes were round and filled with desperation. He inhaled a deep breath and released it, slowly, thoughtfully. “What I am about to tell you is impossible to believe—but please listen.”

I sat on the edge of my chair. A muscle pulsed along Anatoly’s jaw, he looked so worried—what could this all be about?

“Have you ever heard of the Bogatyrs?” he asked.

“Bog a what?”

“Bogatyrs,” Anatoly said, low and clear.

I shook my head and frowned.

He took my hand, his fingers warm and strong as he pulled me to my feet. “Come, I must show you.” I followed him into the hallway. He pointed to a massive gothic painting with an ornate gold frame. “These are greatest men that ever lived—ancient Knights called Bogatyrs who defended Russia from all harm.”

My hand still felt warm and tingly from where he had touched me. I stared at the painting, trying to concentrate. Three handsome knights were mounted on horseback. Each wore a heavy suit of armor and carried a weapon.

“These are ancestors of Nickoli, Mila, and me. Great warriors who protected villages of Russia from evil so terrible—that if set free, would destroy world. Each generation of first born children takes over from their fathers before them, and now is time for our generation to take over as Bogatyrs. We each inherited gifts—special abilities used in art of war.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Wow. For real? That sounds…incredible.” I didn’t know who he thought he was kidding. I wasn’t going to buy any of his tall tales. But then I paused. Maybe it was possible. Mila seemed to have special abilities—though it could have been a fluke.

“So…if you all have special powers, what’s yours?”

“I am stronger than any man. I am master at weaponry.” Anatoly studied me for a moment. “I know you are going to ask about Nickoli and Mila so I will tell you.

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