Chapter 16

November 16, 2022

Wolfsgarten Lodge, Hessen, Germany

If there was one thing that Olga knew as she woke up, she stayed up too late celebrating her twenty-third birthday. She was not a drinker or smoker at all during her new life. She did play board games with her sisters and cousin Elisabeth for hours. One thing she realized was that she enjoyed Monopoly much like chess. That would be another thing she had to enjoy within the modern world. In some ways, she enjoyed her new life. In some ways, there were traces of the old life she once lived...

She had seen the former royal residence of her life: the Alexander Palace. Now it was a museum in the process of being reinstated as an semi-official residence for the Romanovs. They would not regain their political power except for remaining as figureheads like other modern royalty. She felt safe again.

She had found love with a soldier assigned to protect something of hers... Her former tomb. It felt strange, but she was grateful that she had found love at last with someone. Anton was a responsible "guy", really. He also had a bright mind like hers. Their conversations in person would just go on and on for a couple hours. She felt loved again.

She had finally been reunited with her childhood playmate and very best friend. Poor Elisabeth had died from typhoid fever before her ninth birthday, but she had matured in heaven. Now her best friend was there to guide her and her sisters. No longer would she feel lost again!

Olga got off her bed to check her iPhone again. Her boyfriend had texted her!

She smiled, thinking about how she had last seen him at the U.N center in New York City. It had been a while...

Anton: Olenka, how are you doing? It's been a while, and I miss talking to you... Life has gotten crazy back home. Putin is hated now. Many protests and street fights.

Olga froze still, feeling the familiar coil of dread sinking within her. She lost her smile, thinking about how she missed him. She even felt worried about him.

Olga: I am doing alright. Just turned 23 yesterday... Stay strong, and may God watch over you. I will be back soon, love. <3

Anton: Thank you. I will pray for your safety... See you soon.

She smiled. She turned off the phone screen and stared at the pitch black surface for some time. Her mind was stuck on thinking about Anton, and fears of him getting arrested or harmed by Putin came. She felt unsure of what would be best done about his situation...

Until she glanced at her Bible on her nightstand... She really needed some reassurance from God that even trouble would resolve in the end. He had a plan. Even if she would struggle or stray away, His light would still be there for her. A verse from the Book of Philippians came to mind...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God...

For the first time since her time at the Sandringham House, she prayed for many things. The welfare of her boyfriend. Her future and her faith. Her beloved sisters and Elisabeth. Even those that hated them and did not understand.

She felt closer to God as she spent some time praying, and this brought her a sense of comfort. It was a comfort that she had not felt for a long time since doing so with her late father or mother at the palace. She felt almost closer to her parents in spirit.

The prayer was concluded, and Olga remained on her bed to settle her mind. The door was still closed, and she wondered if her sisters or cousin had gotten up. It would not be wrong to check on them. The day would still go on.

She opened the door to peek out into the hallway. None of the nearby quarters had their doors opened except that of Elisabeth. However, she did not hear anything from there. Did her cousin leave?

Olga went back into her bedroom, closing the door. She changed her clothing into her pink coat and sweatpants...

She would have to check the playhouse then. There was a good chance that Elisabeth was residing there, she knew... The walk outside did not take so long through the cold, foggy air. When she went before the playhouse entrance, she noticed the air was warmer and that a faint light shone through the crack underneath the blue painted door.

Olga knocked on the door. "Ella?"

The light faded away before the door was opened a moment later with a surprised Elisabeth gaping at her.

"Olga, I thought you were asleep! It is ten in the morning, and, well, you slept after midnight."

"Yeah, but I rested well... Sorry for disturbing your, erm, communication with Heaven."

"Oh, no worries. But really, you should come inside since it is getting cold outside."

Olga and Elisabeth went inside the large playhouse. The door was shut, leaving them in the dimly lit room with some rays of sunlight shining through the windows. The same yellow wallpaper remained. Even the chairs and little tables still stayed in their exact same places...

"Everything here still looks the same but feels brand new," Olga whispered while gently touching a table.

"Indeed... Feels strange, doesn't it?"

"Not in the way you may think it is. It does feel strange, however, because I got used to my resurrected life so swiftly..."

Elisabeth and Olga sat beside each other, continuing to chat. Their conversation drifted off into life, their loves, and finally the prophecies of Revelation. Olga still felt unsure of what exactly would be in store for her, her sisters, and Elisabeth to do. It did not help that she could not feel anything akin to her "bestowed" abilities. How come her access to the powers was not yet available? When and how would she get them?

She remained silent, furrowing her eyebrows while deep in thought. Answers were necessary, and she needed to know them so whatever task ahead of her would be done well. Modern life felt more liberating and comfortable than the life she once had in the shadow of a war and revolution. Still, she needed to remember what really mattered: why she and her sisters had risen. The world needed help, and she knew her duty as one with a compassionate heart.

Elisabeth looked at Olga, frowning. "Is something on your mind? I can help..."

"Yeah... I know that I was given certain abilities like you, but they are still latent. I am totally clueless on how I'd tap into them."

"Oh! Silly me, I forgot to tell you one thing... Using the gifts like I do- Well, that requires a certain secret."

"What is it?"

Elisabeth glanced around the playhouse's interior to ensure nobody else was nearby. She whispered into her ear...

"All of this power comes from Ether, and certain people like you and me borrow a sliver of it from it. You cannot see it or measure it, but it is quite potent."

Olga furrowed her eyebrows. "I remember glimpsing an article about dark energy by these modern scientists. Is that..."

"Yes. But they do not know it cannot be measured or used by natural means."

"What of Moses and the other disciples that did miracles?"

"They all used it too. They drew from the ethereal power of God to do those wonderful things. But I ask you, what do you think those times share in common?"

"Faith? Love?"

"Those matter too. The key, Olga, is to let go of yourself first. Let God handle the rest. Only then will your dormant connection to the Ether be sparked."

"But whenever I pray, how come I cannot use the gift?"

"Because your praying might have focused on what you wanted more than what God desires and does. Yet no worries. I know how to help you."

"Wait, what do I do next?"

"Let's sit on the floor and put our hands together."

Olga blushed, doing so. It felt odd, letting her cousin hold her by the hands. They both sat cross-legged on the floor, and they closed their eyes, feeling themselves calm in the silent room. Olga still could not take off her mind from the unsafe Russia that Anton lived in...

"Let go of whatever is bothering you... I know you care about someone very deeply, but try not to worry so much. It may sound strange, but that is how you will approach God and unlock this gift."

"But..."

"I know, Cousin Olga... Sometimes I worry about Bart up in Heaven, but I know he will be alright in the end. Remember that whomever you love will be all well, thanks to Him."

"Just let go, give yourself to God entirely."

Olga felt almost torn in her heart... She truly loved Anton, but now her best friend, guide, and dear cousin Elisabeth had told her to let him go. No, Elisabeth had a point. Worrying was a problem she had struggled with. She worried about the crushes, the First World War, and the Revolution...

"I've always worried, Elisabeth. It was terrible as I got older until we all died."

"Hey, I know how you feel, but please remember... I am with you beyond the end. You have nothing to worry about anymore, and nothing wicked triumphs forever."

"Do you trust me, Olga?"

"I... I do."

"Relax. Let go. He will help you do the rest."

Olga closed her eyes again... She then remembered that no mistake, not even death, was the end. Even if Anton died, she would see him again. Even if her sisters did not always get along, they could always reconcile again. The familiar feeling of peace and warmth filled her, and she spoke softly in Russian...

"Oh Almighty Lord... Help my troubled soul. Help my fear, my doubts... Help my unbelief!"

Elisabeth joined in on the prayer, and the two women murmured their native languages. Olga spoke in her native tongue of Russian while her cousin prayed in German. The worries all began to fade away, as they prayed louder and louder! Then something wonderful happened...

The air grew warmer, and began to swirl around them like a storm despite the closed windows. Olga then looked up to see a flash of light, and something like a white flame descended from it to her. It touched her nose and faded into her...

Then a strange feeling, all sparkling tingles and a certain ease went through her. Elisabeth smiled, opening her eyes to see her cousin looking above with a calm smile, glowing with a soft light around her figure.

"Welcome to the party, Olga."

"I... I got it!"

Olga laughed with joy, feeling her cousin pat her on the back.