FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

                "It'll

take us somewhere between thirteen and fourteen hours if we keep the stops to a

minimum."

                Billy

was looking at an old worn map printed sometime in the nineteen seventies. "I

agree. But the Rover is a thirsty girl, so I think you'll need to gas it up at

least twice before we get there."

                 Verona was sitting there at the table, feeling

quite petulant. "Why does Alexei have to go?"

                No one

knew the reason for the trip except for the two Russians, Edward and Maggie. It

was known of course who the Russians were, but any link between them and Maggie

had not been part of any of the discussions. One must recall that the

connection had been made by accident while in Rome. Edward had felt that the

matter had best be kept obfuscated until Anna had been broached and informed of

developments beyond her ability to know. He felt a grandmother such as her had

to have a grave reason to abandon her only family in a time of need.

                "Because

I need him and Maria for this little excursion, that's why. And don't ask me

again what it's all about. Even I'm not sure if this will be a wild goose chase

or not."

                She

continued to sulk until Alexei took her hand and held it to his lips. "Trust us

when we say it will be best if this is handled as he suggests. I hate keeping

secrets from such a wonderful krasavitsa as you, but when we return, you shall

know all."

                Her

cheeks turned red. "If you say so. But you only just got your senses back. Are

you sure you'll be alright?"

                He

turned to Edward, who nodded. "Yes, I think so. I will miss you greatly, but I

have lived long enough to know that when duty calls, it must be answered."

                "Hmph!

Just make your return speedy and maybe I'll forgive you. Some men like to

desert me for months at a time."

                "And if

he had not, we would never have had the chance to meet, now would we?"

                Maggie

rolled her eyes. Her great uncle was quite the smoothie!

                "No, I

suppose not." She tried hard to glare at Edward, but her stance had softened.

"Listen you, keep him safe. I've grown rather fond of him."

                Edward

bowed. "Indeed I shall, for much is riding on his presence."

                "Don't

get cocky with me! I mean it!"

                "And so

do I."

                They

packed the Rover and headed out. The trip was fairly boring. Long stretches of

highway ran by unending fields and through the occasional town. Chicago was a

change of scenery and the Russians both absorbed as much of its tall buildings and

huddled neighborhoods as they could. Billy was riding with them and with

Edward's ring on, he was able to carry on a conversation with Maria, who was

delighted in his own batch of stories.

                It was

hours later, as they rode the turnpike through Ohio, that Maggie startled them

all. "Look!"

                By the

time anyone could see where she was pointing, they had gone by it. "What was it

Mags?"

                "A

sign! A sign for Fangboner Road!"

                Billy

started laughing. "Yeah, that's funny one. I've passed it at least a hundred

times over the years. I still crack up when I see it."

                Edward

nodded. "You mentioned that before. What of it?"

                She

growled out her answer. "No, you mentioned it when you were out of it, back

when we first found Maria. What the hell does it mean?"

                He

shrugged. "I haven't a clue, but if I ever do figure it out, at least we know

where to find it."

                She was

ready with a retort, but decided to drop the matter. Either he really didn't

remember, or he was being coy. Either way she wasn't likely to get an answer.

She let the matter go, but she stored it in her memory. There was something

important about that road and she was going to find out what it was.

                Pennsylvania

was a change from the flatness of the previous state. By the time they got into

Pittsburgh, it was late. Rooms had been reserved at the Omni William Penn

Hotel, and they were shown to the suites immediately. They had three bedrooms;

one for Maggie and Edward, one for Billy, and one for Maria and Alexei. It

seemed the best way of dividing it up.

                In the

morning, Edward called for room service, adding to the food list a few other

items. The voice on the other end of the line went silent for a moment, and

then assured him that all would be procured.

                He went

out to the main sitting room to await breakfast. Maggie padded behind him.

"This place is a little noisier than I expected, especially considering the

price they charge for these rooms."

                He sat

down on the couch and pulled her onto his lap. "Don't blame the hotel."

                "What?

Why not?"

                Just

then Alexei came out, cutting quite the dashing figure in his hotel-provided

robe. "Good morning everyone!"

                "Good

morning uncle. Did you sleep well?"

                "I had

the most excellent sleep imaginable."

                "Where

is Aunt Maria?"

                He made

a face. It was obvious he was containing his amusement. "Really child? How

unaware are you?"

                "Unaware

of what?" She stared at Edward.

                "Why

are you looking at me?"

                "What's

going on father?"

                He

poked her in the ribs. "I'm not in charge of everyone's lives you know, not

that I ever want to be."

                She

still was failing to catch on. He pushed her off of his lap. "Follow me."

                They

walked over to Billy's room and cracked the door. Inside, on the bed, was not

one shape, but two under the sheets. Maggie sucked in a breath and nearly

started giggling. Edward pulled it shut and quietly walked back and sat down.

                "Oh my

god!" Maggie's voice was shrill with incredulity.

                "Old

ain;t dead kid. Your great aunt still has some great curves under her dress.

Billy noticed too. I can't say they'll have anything permanent, but for now I think

it does them both good. She needs to learn to socialize and he needs the

company."

                Maggie

started tittering, which eventually turned into full-blown, hysterical

laughter. She was rolling on the carpet, clutching her sides. When she finally

was able to contain herself, Billy and Maria were standing over her. She

sobered up fast.

                "Good

morning you two."

                Billy

gave her his best evil eye. "And what do you find to be so funny?"

                "Vy

dvoye zanimalis' seksom proshloy noch'yu!"

                Billy

scratched his head. The reason for his inability to comprehend was clear. He

had taken the ring off and set it on the night stand. But Maria understood it

perfectly. She also managed to say what she had to say in English.

                "This,

coming from you? I am old enough to do as I please!"

                Billy

turned red. "Uhhhhhh."

                That's

when Edward stepped in. "No one cares. I for one think it's great. But we still

need to eat, and then change into our respective costumes."

                While

they devoured the food set before them, Edward went over every possible piece

of minutia in his head, trying to make certain this worked out for the best.

Maggie's grandmother seemed to be hiding something, which even his abilities

were unable to fathom. All he knew was that he was going to have to tread very

lightly. And Maggie couldn't show herself at all, not until he knew it was

safe.

                Alexei

had an old fashioned style pair of glasses, with no strength to them, and an

old hat they got from a second hand store back in Wisconsin. He had on a simple

white shirt, a slightly worn tweed jacket, and brown pants. "I hardly look

regal in this you know."

                "Which

is the point. I don't want her to recognize your face right away. She might

not, but you look an awful lot like your father."

                "I do,

don't I?' he agreed, happy with the comparison.

                "Yes,

so that will play into our hand later. Now Maggie, you'll have to wear this,

and I don't want any complaints about it. And no breaking formation until I say

so, do you understand?"

                She

didn't say a word. All she did was scratch at an itch and wag her tail.

                "Good,"

he said as he snapped on her collar.

                They went

to a park he knew she frequented, and the two men set up a game of chess. Maria

was off to one side, sitting on a bench reading a novel.  Maggie was sitting on the ground, her head

resting on her paws. She felt this was an indignity, but she went so far as to

trust him that he knew what he was doing.

                The men

didn't act like they were playing, they actually played a game. Alexei started,

and Edward followed. Both men figured they might as well spend the time doing

something other than just sitting there. Maggie sort of wished someone had

brought a Frisbee with them. She would have run off to play with the other

dogs, but most of the humans were giving her a wide berth. She could only guess

what a bunch of pampered pets would do upon seeing her.

                It was

nearly an hour later that Maggie's nose caught a faded but familiar scent. She

looked up at the various people strolling through the park.  She pinpointed it down to an old woman

wearing a scarf over her head, and walking with an elaborate black cane. Her wagging

tail thumped Edward's leg. He looked up briefly before returning his attention

to the game.

                "I see

her."

                Alexei

looked up for just a second before sinking his interest back into the game.

"She looks old, even more than Maria. I feel like time has left me behind."

                "Don't

complain. It may come to do some good in all this."

                They

ignored her, but she saw them and their game and was drawn in. She said nothing

for a while, and they said nothing to her. She sized them up, and incorrectly

assumed that Edward was from her native country. His clothing was a little

tight in the chest, but it was some of Alexei's that had been custom made for

him. A new overcoat and an old Soviet pin attached to his lapel gave the subtle

hint that he might very well hail from Russia.

                He was

about to make a move when he heard her voice for the first time. "Did you start

you're game with the Queen's Defense?"

                He

looked up and smiled, speaking with an accent indistinguishable from the real

thing. "No. That would have been a foolish move against a skilled opponent."

                She

looked from him to his challenger and jerked back for a moment. Alexei remained

calm and said nothing.

                She

blinked, mumbled something and then went back to examining the chess board. "I

see. Well, I'm sorry for intruding. I'll leave you to your game."

                "No,

no, please stay! I can tell from your voice that you are from my country. We

expatriates must stick together."

                She saw

the dog and backed up. "Is that a wolf?"

                The dog's

head whipped up. It was all it could do to not wag its tail.

                "Oh, do

you mean Masyanya? Yes, she is. I fell in love her not long after I first met

her."

                "Masyanya?"

                "Yes,

that's what I call her. She's a wonderful companion. Would you like to pet

her?"

                The

woman seemed hesitant. She finally stretched out her hand for the dog to sniff.

Maggie remembered that smell all too well, and as the emotions flooded into

her, her tail went into overtime. She licked the hand and put her head down to

be petted. The woman smiled and dug her fingers into the thick fur. She looked

up.

                "She's

very friendly. I didn't expect that in such an animal."

                "Yes

she is. She was abandoned as a pup and I took her in. But what of you? Has it

been long that you have lived here?"

                She

made a pained face. "Longer than I care to claim. But I am fairly new to this

city."

                He

pulled out a bottle of vodka. "Perhaps you will share of glass with us?"

                She

looked around worriedly. "Not here. Don't you know that drinking in public is

against the law?"

                He made

a noncommittal motion with his hands. "Da, eto primitivnaya strana."

                Her

eyes lit up. "It's not that primitive. I barely got here with my skin intact.

That says something about my dear Russia."

                "Ahh.

You must have left during the rule of Stalin."

                She

paused for a moment. "You look too young to remember him."

                "Everyone

remembers him. But Russia is different now."

                She sat

down in an open chair. "So the news has said. But it will never be the way it

was before the communists took over."

                He

moved his knight and looked at her. "Now that

is a long time ago. The old rulers left more behind to enjoy than the

communists ever did."

                Her

eyes lit up. "Yes, I think so too. It would be wonderful to return some day and

see the old sights."

                Alexei

moved his chess piece and coughed. Edward looked at the board and made an

impulse move. He looked back to the woman. "I was just in St Petersburg. I had

some business in the area, and I was able to spend a little time in town. Very

beautiful."

                Her

eyes got that dreamy look. "Yes, St Petersburg was always my favorite."

                Alexei

was hardly containing himself. He barely recognized her for the effects of the

passing years, but he saw through all that to the fact that she was still the

same girl he remembered from so many years ago.  He said nothing, merely made another chess

move and waited.

                "I take

it you haven't been back in a long time." He made a counter move to Alexei's.

                She

rubbed her hands together. "No, I haven't. I have no reason to go back.

Everything that I ever had there is gone. Then again, I have so little here now

too."

                "Check."

This was Edward's slightly belated warning to his opponent. To the woman he

said, "That is so sad. Everyone needs something in their life. Perhaps you know

a better place to enjoy this bit of the homeland?"

                She

looked nervous. "I suppose we could go to my home. I do not often have guests."

                Edward

pulled some shot glasses from his pocket. "We can drink here then. There is

nothing worse than drinking with friends if they are not comfortable doing it."

He poured some into a glass and handed it to her. "Vot dlya vashego zdorov'ya!"

                She

nodded to him and downed it. "I thank you my friend. You have reminded me of

happier days."

                "Da?

Then we must do this again some time."

                Alexei

was still keeping his words to a minimum. "Check."

                "Check?

Why so it is. Then I will concede the game."

                "No,no,"

she cried. "Never give up until you have no more moves!"

                "But I

am done. What more can I do to win? Don't you think I should just give up?"

                "No!

You should never give up, not while there is still hope of succeeding!"

                Edward

stuck his hand into his pocket and fished around for a moment. He pulled

something out and set it on the king. When he pulled his hand away, there was a

shiny metal band setting on it. He poured some more vodka and handed it to her.

She took the glass without thinking, but a moment later it hit the ground,

unbroken but landing on its side. The fluid soaked into the dirt.

                "Where

did you get that?"

                He

picked it up. "This? From my grandparents."

                Hope

sprung to life in her eyes. "Then you know what it is, don't you?"

                "I do."

                "And

you know who I am?"

                "Maybe.

Are you still interested in drinking out here?"

                She

stood. "No, not here. Follow me."

                "May my

friend come? He also has a sister here, patiently waiting for him to finish his

game."

                "Yes,

fine, come." She turned and walked away without looking back.

                She stepped

along with a hurried pace. She dodged the kids on skateboards and the couples

who were walking at a more leisurely pace, her cane tapping the concrete with

an ever increasing regularity. Maggie led the way behind her, that fury tail

wagging so fast it was a mere blur of motion. She was tugging on the leash with

all her might. Alexei and Maria followed up the rear. The excitement was almost

too much for them.

                The

house proved to be nothing special; a small, two story bungalow that was

probably built back in the nineteen twenties. It was clean and neat, but it

also had bars on the windows and doors. Some might call it a wise precaution in

a bigger city. But there had to be something more to it than that. She was

protecting something she considered valuable.

                She

unlocked the door and hurried them inside. With a brief glance up and down the

street, she slammed the door and locked it behind her.

                "Would

you like some tea?"

                "No

thanks, none for me. I have my vodka. But I can't speak for my friends."

                "Oh

yes, your friends."  She turned to look

at the woman for the first time. Her eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry , have we met

before?"

                Maria

wasn't certain how to answer that question. "Maybe. Have you ever been to the

Hermitage?"

                The

woman turned, her hand shaking. "Yes, but not as it is today. Forget that I

asked that question. I doubt you even live around here."

                Edward

held out the ring. "I take it that you have some great use for this Anna?"

                She

turned, fire in her eyes. "Who are you to taunt me with my own name? I have

nothing to give you that can even come close to the value I place on that

ring."

                "But

you have one yourself, don't you?"

                She suddenly

pulled a hidden blade from the confines of her cane. The tip was wavering

menacingly at his throat. "You seem to know more about my life than anyone

should."

                He

leaned into the point until a drop of blood ran down his neck. "Answer the

question."

                She

pointed to a semi-cluttered curio shelf. It held a display of obvious

reproduction Faberge eggs. There was one in the collection that didn't fit. He

stepped back away from the blade and over to the cabinet, pulling out the odd one.

Her cry was immediate.

                "How

did you know?"

                "How

did I know this one is real and not a fake? Because this one is the Royal

Danish, commissioned and then delivered in 1903. It's been missing for a very

long time. Or should I say, it's been out of sight for a very long time."

                Another

voice cried out, "That was the one made for grandmother!"

                Anna

glared at the other woman. A sudden realization seized her. She glanced again

at the man; not this audacious, nosy, interfering stranger, but at the man who had

been playing chess with him. She was struck by an overwhelming sense that she

should know them.

                "Your

grandmother?" she asked shrilly.

                "Yes,

Maria Feodorovna. I'm named after her."

                "That

cannot be. She was my grandmother! We cannot have the same..." She fell to the

floor, the color draining from her face. "Maria?"

                "Anna!"

                Alexei

looked to Edward for permission to speak. He got it. "Hello sister."

                She

turned, her mind in a fog. "Sister? Who calls me sister? Not my little brother?

You aren't old enough!"

                Maggie's

was sitting there whining. Edward petted her head. "Not yet. Any more surprises

right now and she'll have a heart attack."

                The

three siblings met in a clash on the floor, tears of joy streaming down their

faces. Edward sat down and patted his leg. Maggie jumped up on the couch and

draped herself over his lap. She watched the reunion with mixed emotions. She

was glad everyone was together now, but the hurt was even greater now when she

wondered why her grandmother had abandoned her.

                Edward

was petting her head, but knowing her so well, his other hand slid under her

tail and slipped inside her warm hole. She leaned back against him as his

fingers did their magic. It ended up a very pleasant fifteen minutes, and when

the group had cried themselves out, they turned to the man on the couch. Maggie

sighed as his fingers left. It had been a very nice distraction.

                Anna

was on her feet. "Who are you?"

                "I won't

say just yet. Please forgive me for that, but understand that I mean you

absolutely no harm."

                "I

believe you. But- but how did you find my family? How did you find me?"  

                "That will

take some time to make clear. This is not that time." He extended his hand. "You

need this, don't you?"

                She held

the ring in the palm of her hand. "This is not our family's ring." She handed

it back.

                "Like I

said, it's mine. But Maria has one."

                Her sister

held up her hand. The ring sat securely on her finger.

                "That

ring is not ours either. It came to father through dark ways and secret meetings."

                Maria nodded.

"I know that story. But why don't you wear the one that you have?"

                She retrieved

the Faberge egg. She set it down on the coffee table. "If you can figure out

how to open it, then you will forever be in my debt."

                Edward

picked up the elaborate piece of art and turned it in his hand. It was quite showy

in the way all of these eggs were. But this one seemed just a little different

from the rest, though he was by no means an expert on them. But a quick online

search had given him the basic knowledge of them.

                "Did

you father ever mention this egg as being a mistake?"

                All

three siblings nodded. "Not those exact words, but yes, something to that

effect."

                "Did

you know it was made to house the ring?"

                "Yes.

He felt that the ring was worth more than the egg, and therefore would be safe

within something which had more beauty than its contents. No one would think to

look inside."

                "Only?"

                Maria ran

her finger over the egg. "I did not think to see this again." She lingered over

it for a moment. "I'm sorry;  your

question. Yes, Faberge made it so that the egg could only be opened with a

ring."

                Edward

suppressed a smile. "And so the ring was placed inside and the egg closed. That's

like locking your keys in your car."

                Anna

nodded. "Yes it is. To get the ring, we needed a ring. Father was quite angry

over that. The ring wasn't lost, but the egg would have to have been destroyed

to retrieve it."

                Edward

looked properly sympathetic. "And the other ring was procured too late?"

                "Yes.

Gregori had it. He was the go-between for father and the family it was

purchased from. Many tried to kill him for it, and you know how that ultimately

worked out."

                "Actually

no. I know the stories, but not what ultimately happened to him."

                "Oh.

They tried to kill him in many ways and of course he could not die by their

mundane methods. He was impervious to their simple schemes. The fools did not

know with whom they were dealing."

                "But he

is dead, isn't he?"

                "He did

finally die. We all do."

                Anna

reached out and took the egg from Edward. "Finally I can get this open. May I

have your ring, either of you?"

                "I

offered mine first, so here, take it."

                She

took the ring and set it over the top of the little elephant adorning the top.

Nothing happened. Her look wetn from relief to alarm.

                "Why didn't

it open?"

                Edward

leaned over and with the slightest of smiles said, "Because to open your car

door, you still need to turn the key in the lock. He twisted the elephant a

full one hundred and eighty degrees. There was a click. The top separated.

                Anna

finished opening it. Her cry was almost pitiful to hear. She pulled the ring out

with trembling hands. "You are late, but maybe you will still have some use to

you after all."

                She

handed Edward's ring back. "Thank you young man. I don't think I can ever thank

you enough. I lost my family, and you have returned some of them to me. I will

never be able to tell you how much this means to me."

                "Sure

you can. Why do you desire the ring so badly? It cannot be just for yourself."

                Her face

was flowing with tears. "I have a secret which is almost too much to bear. It

has nothing to do with you, and yet I feel that I might speak of it to you."

                "I mean

you only the best, but if this is something that is none of my business, then I

will tell you to not divulge it to me."

                "No, I

think I must. I think that you are Gregori reincarnated. Only he could do as

you do. Follow me."

                Maggie got

down, wagging her tail. Edward looked down and shook his head, indicating that

she was to remain as she was. The other two followed as well. They had no idea

what they were heading for. Even Edward had not seen what it was the woman was hiding;

only that it was something of greater value to her than a multi-million dollar,

bejeweled egg.

                They

came to a bedroom. It was clean and well lit, though even here there were bars

on the windows. Against the wall was a bed, and in the bed was a person. That

person had beautiful flowing hair that rested in a halo around her head. But

the forehead was marred by a scar; a nasty gash that had healed poorly.

                Anna

turned to them. "This is my daughter..." She stopped because of a growl. The wolf

broke form and leaped on the bed.

   "MOTHER!"