Natalya by Heidi Vanlandingham

Author:Heidi Vanlandingham
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Shadowheart Press
Published: 2019-10-10T04:00:00+00:00

10

Feeling his chest expand as he breathed in, Mikhail eased his grip on Natalya and met her gaze. “I thought I’d lost you…”

“Mikhail.” The children screamed. “The planes!”

Natalya pulled away and turned to see the planes—two of them high in the sky—as they flew toward them. She saw the first bomb drop and prayed she knew what she was doing. Her gaze never left the bombs’ descent. She raised her hand, willing the bombs to defy gravity and rise. She almost succeeded, the missiles actually climbing higher instead of falling until Mikhail broke her concentration and pulled her backward.

“Talya, we’ve got to leave!” he shouted, continuing to drag her back toward the headquarter building’s main entrance.

She glanced at the bombs and breathed a sigh of relief when they exploded two streets away. The slight trajectory change had been enough. Turning around, she let Mikhail pull her down the street. They were met by a staff sergeant who herded them inside.

“There are only a few of us remaining topside,” the sergeant said. “I’ll show you where the entrance to the tunnels are—you can hide there until our planes arrive. Anti-aircraft guns were holding them back, but a regiment of citizens managed to confiscate it. As we speak, they’re turning it on the Luftwaffe.”

Natalya stumbled to a stop behind Mikhail, her eyes wide in amazement. “Citizens? We are fighting the Germans with Stalingrad’s citizens?”

The sergeant nodded, his pale blue eyes filled with amusement. “Indeed, we are. They make very good soldiers. We will teach Hitler and his army that Russians are proud. We will all fight for Mother Russia and protect our families and homes. Nothing will stand in our way, no matter how evil.”

Natalya silently followed the small group as they made their way down a flight of stairs then a long hallway. Her thoughts were worried and chaotic.

You did well, little warrior—for someone so new to their powers. Freyja’s voice in Natalya’s head startled her, but she managed to keep quiet as the group stopped and waited while the sergeant pulled out a ring of keys and searched for the right one.

About that, Natalya said, realizing talking to someone inside her head was easy once she realized all she had to do was think the words and Freyja could hear her. You know, mentioning I would be able to do something as incredible as magic would have been helpful up front. I really have no idea what I’m doing.

I did not know what would happen and was definitely unaware you would be blessed with such abilities, Freyja answered. I believe this will be a good thing. I will now be able to focus my energy on the many other aspects of the war.

Natalya hesitated but had to ask the question in the back of her mind. You mean you’re going to abandon me? Freyja, I really have no clue what I’m doing.

I am not going to abandon you. Your new abilities will only make things better. I promise.

Not watching where she was going, she ran into the back of Mikhail as he stopped just inside the doorway to the tunnel.

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