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I was standing in a temple, which appeared to be carved from deep within athe walls, with an especially large fire burning behind the altar A priest in a black robe chanted soe I could not understand Was it ancient Greek? It did not sound familiar I tried to move and realized my arms were pinned behind led to free otten there

As the chanting went on, it grew dark outside the bloodred stained glass s The wind howled through the te like a banshee battered by a suures, which stood around the altar behind the priest, wore black hooded robes The sight of their hoods frightenedI knew that they were important people in my life, but I could not determine their identity

The priest held his chalice up to the fire, seeking so they worshipped The cup was beautiful: golden with colorful enamel in the pattern of a phoenix As the priest turned toto see as inside it

He smiled at me, his teeth small, white, and pointed I felt a sudden wave of nausea Instantly, I knehat he planned to do to rabbed asped in pain and tried to fight down the panic welling up inside

The wound was far too deep I would bleed to death if it wasn&039;t stopped soon I began to pray silently, for I was sure only God could save ht aboutthat I hadn&039;t had the chance to say goodbye to them I was terrified, but determined not to show it to my captors

The priest held out the chalice as my blood fell in fat crimson drops into it I smelled the copper taint of blood on the air My very life essence was flowing fro before I felt faint

The priest took the chalice and turned back to the three hooded figures I would have fallen if not for strong arms and hands that suddenly reached out to hold le anyures joined in the chanting with the priest

The figure in the middle pulled back his hood to reveal hi forward, he took the chalice from the priest and drank ed insects flew out from under the altar and ascended toward the temple vault Thethe darkness

I woke up stifling a screahtclothes I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself Mon Dieu, what had just happened to me? Had it been merely a drea at me in horror "Duchess? Are you ill?" she asked anxiously

I flinched as a single moth fluttered from under my bed and out the openDespite the cold air,

Anya poured lass of water from the bedside table "Here, drink this" She had to help

The waterback down to my pillows

"Do you want me to call for your mother?" Anya asked "I&039;m worried about you, Duchess"

I shook my head "I don&039;t want to trouble her What tiet up It was Theophany, twelve days past Christ of the Waters, when the metropolitan bishop would cut a hole in the frozen waters of the Neva River and bless it Slowly, I sat back up The roohtly, but really, I couldn&039;t co room was certainly a better place to be than a cave where I would becohtmare made me nauseated I felt a terrible pressure in the back of my throat

I jumped out of bed to retch in the washbasin I held the sides, shaking still, as the spasms seized ed "You&039;re too sick to be going anywhere today!"

"No, Anya, please! I&039;ll be fine I ate too "

"Duchess, I-"

"It was just the food, which caused another bad dream," I insisted "I&039;ll be fine" I cleaned myself up and walked over to own trimmed in pearls and Venetian lace

I splashed cool water on et dressed

When I looked at s under ht I could not see htly, with Death loo close by After such a dreaed the velvet kokoshnik onme in the mirror carefully She was still afraid ofhad done nothing to all ay her fears

"Katiya?" Maetting ready? We have to leave soon for the Winter Palace! Anya, where are loves?"

Anya turned away frorateful for the interruption

I took a deep breath, preparing for the day ahead

It was a short sleigh ride from our house to the palace, which was situated at the end of

Croere already gathering along both banks of the frozen Neva River as ent inside to the palace&039;s Grand Chapel for the divine service

The chapel was hot and croith all St Petersburg&039;s aristocracy

They all wore their finest court attire The heat from the candles and the packed bodies made the ceremony almost unbearable I had to remember not to lock my knees so I would not faint

After the prayers, I followed Mah the palace fro outside to the snow-covered riverbank The procession was silent except for the quiet swishes of the worand duchesses wore long heavy trains that had to be carried by their pages My e looked as if he were no older than I was

Hundreds of servants in snificent staircase I liftedI would not trip as I descended the stairs

When we reached the ground floor,re with the entire Diplorand s Maman and I followed the procession outside to see Papa and Petya I was happy to breathe the frigid air, even though it hurt s After the closeness of the chapel, it was fresh and bracing

The metropolitan stood in front of the I in the pale sunlight He prayed silently over a small hole that had been cut into the ice The waters of the Neva, warmer than the ice above it, caused steam to rise out of the hole