By Hannah Carter
Zmey Gorynych stalked through the golden halls of Catherine Palace. Fire burned beneath his skin, and his long fingers curved into talons. He could not tarry in his mission—his true, powerful form yearned to be unleashed. Now that he was no longer tethered to humanity by Alyona’s soft words, her gentle kisses, the feel of her fingers interlaced with his. By love.
Black silk hung over every window, a macabre attempt at mourning. Each swath of fabric, hung on a murderess’s order, patronized him.
He burst into the throne room. The room rattled as the double doors slammed against the walls, and dark curtains danced in the wind.
His prey sat on the throne, her long scarlet mantle wrapped around her, a gilded crown on her head.
“Rasputin.” The tsarina placed a hand over her heart as she addressed him by his human name. “We were so, so saddened to hear of the passing of your wife and son. Anya’s so distraught, she hasn’t left her room for days. Imagine, losing a fiancée in such a tragic attack.”
“Yes.” Zmey ground his teeth. “Although I’m sure you’re rejoicing, considering you didn’t want my bloodline to taint your own.”
She waved her hand. “You are a”—the slightest of hesitations—“capable royal advisor and my son benefits from your magical cures, but I think you would agree with me. Anya and Dmitry were too young, too different. The match was ill-advised.”
“And you decided murder was the solution.” He rounded on her. “Have you no shame?”
The tsarina leaned forward. “My family’s legacy is of utmost importance to me. To have any influence from your kind, Rasputin, would be an abomination. Any offspring would be half-breed mongrels.” Her eyes flashed, bright and green. She reclined again, her voice silky. It slithered through his mind like a snake hissing dangerous, traitorous thoughts of obedience. Surrender. Control. “We will all understand if you wish to retire.”
“Tsarina Alexandra, do not think you can use your dragon compulsion on me. I am not one of your homicidal pets.”
Her eyes shifted to a vibrant emerald. “Rasputin, you cannot deny your true nature. Your kind must succumb to my will. It is futile to resist.”
He grinned, his teeth sharpening and elongating. “But I am not one of those pathetic green dragons”—he spat the words—“that you used to murder my family.” A low growl. “I am Zmey Gorynych, king of the white dragons. And you will rue the day you betrayed me, your grace.”
His voice thundered throughout the hall. As the echoes diminished, his body rippled and expanded. Snow-white wings unfurled from his back, splitting his clothes. His neck lengthened, his arms and legs thickened, and two more heads sprouted from his shoulders. He slammed his long, spike-studded tail behind him, smashing a grand piano.
The instrument’s last dissonant cry rang throughout the halls as the wind picked up.
All three heads watched the tsarina unwaveringly. She responded with a look of utter boredom.
“Guards!” she commanded. Her voice slid along the walls. “Come.”
The windows shattered as two green dragons under her compulsion broke through.
The dragon to Zmey’s left took to the air, claws extended. The one to his right swiped its tail at him. He impaled the tail with a single talon while his left head caught the other unlucky dragon’s neck between powerful jaws. He bit down until he heard the bones of his would-be attacker snap.
He flung the dead dragon toward the tsarina. She gasped and scurried out of the way, dropping her mantle as the carcass crashed into the throne and shattered it. Chunks of gold and marble exploded everywhere. The dragon Zmey gripped by the tail arched its neck back to shield its eyes. Zmey crushed its skull with a stomp.
Tsarina Alexandra hit the ground and rolled. As she picked herself back up, blood ran down her arm and threatened to stain her resplendent scarlet-threaded gown of gold.
“Rasputin, stop this senseless attack,” she purred. “No one need get hurt.”
“No one beyond my wife and child, you mean?” Zmey’s voice was cold. Ice blasted from all six nostrils. “You do not have a limitless supply of dragons. I, on the other hand…”
He grinned. Frost spread out from his claws onto the marble floor. The tsarina slipped and swore as she scrambled to get up. “Help!”
Growls filled the air as eight dragons crashed into the throne room. The building shook, and bits of debris showered over them.
Zmey chuckled. “How fun. All the murderers come out to play.” His left head and claw struck out at one dragon. His right head blew a stream of ice at another as he lowered his middle head down to the queen. “You just made things quite easy for my White Revolution.”
He raised his head and roared. An army of winter dragons—his White Army—flooded the throne room. The blizzard intensified as his two dozen soldiers set upon their enemies with fang and frost.
Tsarina Alexandra’s face went ashen. “Wait! We can work this out. You—you can keep your job as royal advisor. You can have the royal jewels. Anything you want—it’s yours. Please, Rasputin!”
“My name is Zmey Gorynych,” Zmey snarled. “And perhaps you should think twice before you double-cross someone more dangerous than you.”
His middle head struck out. The tsarina screamed until the crashing snap of his maw silenced her.
He slung her body to the side. Her crown rolled to a stop at his feet.
Zmey surveyed the wreckage. Green corpses littered the ground, felled alongside their perfidious monarch, while the white dragons stood victorious. Soon, the whole castle—and the rest of the royal family—would pay for the tsarina’s betrayal. A family for a family, the debt hardly covered by their deaths and the throne.
He raised the one claw and admired the reflection of his draconic sneer. “Long live the queen.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fascinating fantasy twist on history and historical characters. Great detail and action.
Thank you so much, jdoran! I really enjoyed getting to mix history with fantasy in this piece. I’ve always found the Romanovs fascinating and tragic. Glad you enjoyed! :)
Wow! Loved the great descriptions and action! Zmey (however you say it) is a fascinating character!
Thank you so much, Arlan! I really enjoyed putting a lot of description into this piece. It was so much fun to work with! ^_^ And I’m definitely not the person to ask about pronunciations…I learned all my big words from reading, so it’s a well-known fact in my friends/family that I’m not to be trusted when I say a word is pronounced a certain way! xD
Sounds like they had it coming!! 🤣 Love that he responded to Rasputin throughout, up until the end when he fully embraced being known as Zmey instead! Definitely was not the guy you wanna mess with!! Wonderful story as always Hannah!! ☺️
Thank you so much, Andrew!! You know, I feel slightly less sympathetic for this version of the queen than the real life Tsarina Alexandra! xD Glad you enjoyed the subtle transformation of Rasputin to Zmey! :)
That was exciting wow up until the very end my attention was captured I want more
Thank you so much, Brooke!! I love that it captured your attention so thoroughly. That makes me so happy! :) I’m so grateful for all your support!!
This was very creative and highly enjoyable.
Betrayal. Dragons. An historical twist. What more could you want? Great story!
Thank you so much, RJ!! So glad you enjoyed it. :) History and dragons make the perfect pair!
Fantastic!
Thank you so much, Becky!! :)
Lovely and heart-wrenching! 💔
Thank you so much, Beka!! :) I do enjoy writing a good heart-wrenching story. <3
That’s whet my appetite for historical fiction, dragon stories, and revenge tales. Very, VERY cool story! :)
Thank you so much, Rose!! Glad that I checked off all your boxes without even knowing it! ;) I really appreciate your support! <3
I’m an avid researcher into the life and eventual downfall of the last Romanovs so I found this a very interesting and intriguing spin on the story! I was absorbed the entire time! Fantastic job, Hannah!
Thank you so much, Issabelle!! :) Ah, I’d love to pick your brain about information on the Romanovs! They’ve always been some of my favorite historical figures, and it’s fascinating to sort the myths from truth. Glad you enjoyed the story! ^_^
I really enjoy alternate history and fantasy so this was fabulous to read! Can’t wait to read your next story 🥰
Thank you so much, Kayla!! ^_^ I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. You’re such a blessing to me!! <3