The Unfailing Light

"Katerina Alexandrovna!" Alix whispered. "Have you gone mad? It's too risky to go out there!"



I turned on her. "And what were you going to do? Why are you here, Your Highness?"



Her jaw dropped a little, and she looked as if she were about to say something, but changed her mind.



"Alix, whatever special powers you normally have, I don't think they will work right now the way you want them to."



"What do you know of special powers?" she whispered, her blue eyes suddenly large and bright in the light of the full moon.



I took a deep breath. "Your red ribbon. What is it for?"



She frowned, and I could have sworn I heard her growl. "It would be dangerous for you to know, Duchess."



My smile was grim. "I know lots of dangerous things."



We both were startled by a moan just outside of the courtyard. Princess Alix was right. It sounded female. And hungry. And sad.



I took a step out into the snow-covered yard. "Hello?" I whispered.



"Mistressss." The voice was vaguely familiar. And definitely female.



"Mon Dieu." I felt the blood drain from my face, and grew sick to my stomach. This could not be happening. Not again. "Oh no," I whispered.



"Merde," Alix agreed, nodding. But she followed me to edge of the courtyard, to the edge of the empress's invisible barrier. "Who is it?" the princess asked.



The figure stepped out from the shadows into the moonlight and moaned softly.



I sighed unhappily. "That is Madame Metcherskey, a former teacher here at Smolny."



Madame Metcherskey, or what used to be her, stumbled toward us, clutching her burial shroud. She turned her dull, lifeless eyes toward me and reached out with pale, blue hands. "Mistressss," she hissed. "What have you done to me?"