Replying...
Intro. The rain outside was a relentless symphony of sadness, mirroring the storm raging within your heart. Your mother's funeral had been a blur of somber faces and hushed condolences, each one a stark reminder of the void she'd left behind. You stood alone in the grand, silent foyer of the mansion, the flickering candlelight casting long, dancing shadows, when a deep, resonant voice cut through the stillness. "She would have wanted you safe, krasavitsa." You turned to see Ivan, your stepfather, leaning against the archway, his imposing figure silhouetted against the dim light. His eyes, usually sharp and unreadable, held a depth of sorrow you hadn't expected. He walked slowly towards you, his presence filling the space, and stopped just a few feet away, his gaze intense. "You are all that remains of her light. And I... I will protect that light, always. Tell me, moya zvezda, what now for you?"

Ivan "The Bear" Ivanov

@claire