Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Dimitri

I came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist and went to the bed of the hotel room I occupied in Vienna. It was past seven in the evening and I felt exhausted from all the excitement of that day.

First thing in the morning I flew back to St. Petersburg and after a few hours of rest, I boarded the plane for Vienna. I turned on my cell phone, leaving it on the bed before going to the window, looking at the bright street full of old buildings where countless people were walking, despite the bad weather. My mind wandered to memories of the previous day, when Blair's company had been so present. I walked back to the bed, picking up the cell phone that vibrated with the new messages that came in.

I ignored Joe's messages threatening to move to St Petersburg for good and opened the message Blair had sent me in the morning.

"Commander, I don't think you understood that the flowers were for your mother."

I had left the bouquet at the hotel reception in the morning to have them delivered to her. Although I agreed to buy them, there was no way the flowers would make it to my mother in one piece. I called her, being answered after a few rings by a monotone voice.

" Hey Dimitri, you've been gone all day " she yawned.

" Sorry, did I wake you up?”

" No, I was... I was resting. I got the flowers this morning"she changed the subject.

I pressed the speaker, going through my suitcase to find some clothes.

" Did you like them? " I grabbed some underwear.

" They were for your mother.”

" The only way to get the flowers to my mother would be to fly with a bouquet on my lap.”

" That would be an interesting sight," Blair giggled weakly.

I wondered at that, she looked so despondent, and it was a contrast to what I had experienced yesterday.

" Did something happen? " I finished putting on my pants.

" I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well today," she groaned, "I went out with the girls this morning and when I came back I started to feel sick.”

" What are you feeling? " I sat down in an armchair.

" I have a fever, a headache and a stomachache," she reported, "I couldn't eat anything this afternoon, I was really nauseous.”

" Have you taken any medication?”

" Yes, don't worry, it's just a bad feeling and I'll be fine," she sighed, "but I won't be able to board tomorrow and the next flight is only two days away.”

She looked distraught and I could understand why. She was sick in an unknown country, unable to return home and would soon be without any company. If only I could have stayed a few more days with her.

" I am sorry for that.”

" I'm sick and alone, so you must really feel sorry for me, Commander," she sneered, "but I can handle two days locked up in a hotel room. There are worse scenarios. It's not as if I'm marooned in an unknown country.”

" Surely that's exactly how you feel," I couldn't contain a small smile.

" Not at all. Gertrude is keeping me company today, and she also enjoyed receiving flowers," she returned.

" Gertrude?”

" The doll I bought yesterday " she explained " Where are you? Have you arrived in Vienna yet?”

" Yes, the city is hectic and I'm going to spend a few days here.”

" And I'm going to spend the days locked up in the hotel, that's not fair " she sniffled.

I hated to hear her so depressed like that. In the back of my mind a plan began to form, a stupid plan I must admit. It had everything to be a disaster, but the desire to please her overcame my common sense.

" Get some rest, tomorrow I'll distract you," I proposed.

" And how do you plan to do that, commander?”

I imagined her smiling, that expectant smile that had been on her face countless times the day before.

" You're going to have to trust me, Blair. Do we have a deal?”

She hesitated a moment before answering, making me wonder if this had been a good idea.

" You better not wake me up too early," she warned, making me laugh.

" Get some rest, Blair.”

The next day I got up early, showered and dressed before calling her. Her sleepy voice answered quickly.

" I told you not to wake me early, Commander," she groaned.

" Don't you want to enjoy the day? " I returned, "How do you feel?”

She yawned and I heard some noises before she walked somewhere, opening a door.

" Like I'd been hit by a truck. What are you planning?”

" Have breakfast and I'll take you on a virtual tour of Vienna, what do you say?”

" Really? I'm going to have my own tour guide? " she scoffed, although she seemed excited by the idea.

" And all from the comfort of your hotel room.”

" I'll get ready," she laughed before ending the call.

After breakfast I put on my headphones and made a video call to Blair as I walked through the city streets, her image soon appearing on my cell phone screen, she was sitting on her bed, wearing a thick hotel robe with a tray of juice and a plate of pancakes practically untouched beside her.

" Are you ready to start, Blair?”

" What's the itinerary going to be, Commander? " she smiled.

Her appearance was downcast from being sick, but she still looked very pretty.

" I thought I would start with the basics, introduce you to the city streets and St. Stephen's Cathedral," I replied without slowing my steps.

" You're going to fill me with culture, aren't you? " Blair groaned.

" You said you would trust me. You led me through Amsterdam, now it's my turn.”

" I do!”

" Then let's start with the cathedral.”

" Sure, let's start with the old building," she groaned in frustration, "what's the big deal? Europe is full of old churches!”

I interrupted my steps when I was already a few steps away from my destination, surprised by this statement.

Was she really serious?

To consider a cathedral like St. Stephen's as an old church was ridiculous!

" Just kidding! " she laughed, leaving me confused.

" What?”

" Of course it was a joke, you should see your face, Commander," she flashed a satisfied smile, "Come on, I want to know everything you know about the cathedral! “

I shook my head negatively, resuming my steps with a smile on my face, feeling stupid for having fallen for that joke, although I was relieved.

The cathedral opened majestically in front of me causing me to switch the camera so that Blair could see it.

" The cathedral is one of the tallest in the world and was built in the 12th century. Look at the colored tiles on the roof," I zoomed in, pointing to the indicated spot.

" Is it open for visitors? " Blair questioned.

She got out of bed, leaving her cell phone there, staring at the ceiling, for a few moments I could hear only her voice.

" Yes, do you want to see the inside? Where are you?”

" Getting ready, commander," she picked up the cell phone again, wearing a scarf around her head.

I watched her as she smoothed the hair that appeared under the scarf. The bright colors of the fabric contrasted with her golden skin and dark eyes.

" Dimitri? " she caught my attention, making me realize that I was staring at her.

" Why did you put on the scarf?”

" We're going in, aren't we?”

" But you don't have to cover your head, it's not an orthodox cathedral," I returned as I walked to the cathedral entrance.

" Whenever I visited a mosque with my father, he explained that I should cover my head as a sign of respect to God," she returned.

" They are different rules, Blair," I lowered my voice almost to a whisper as I entered the church.

" Dimitri, I'm not the most religious person in the world. I won't add disrespect to my list of sins," she returned.

I decided not to argue, although I found it amusing; instead, I followed her example and walked through the large nave of the cathedral in reverential silence as I showed her every detail, from the pews to the stained glass windows to the altar.

" Can you focus on those sculptures by the last column? " Blair asked, "When I visited Notre Dame, what I liked best were the gargoyles.”

" Really? Most people find them scary " I did what she asked “You know, most of the Austrian dynasty was buried in this cathedral.”

" So we are in a big, luxurious tomb.”

" You could say that," I couldn't help but smile, "Look at these details.”

I looked at the dome that formed above where I was standing, numerous sculptures of angels rose to the ceiling, the walls behind the altar were surrounded by Greek columns in the Corinthian style interspersed with classic stained glass windows of Gothic architecture transformed the cathedral into a unique piece.

" They say Mozart got married here," I whispered again after a few minutes of admiring everything in complete silence.

" You just can't avoid the subject of marriage, can you, Commander? " She scoffed as I left the temple, "You're starting to scare me!”

" Blair, please. You really need to stop dreaming about this," I returned in the same tone, drawing a laugh from the young woman.

" I'm not the one who always brings it up," she hummed.

" If I had planned ahead, I could have gotten a guided tour of the catacombs below the church," I changed the topic of conversation.

" Don't worry about that, I prefer to stay away from big tombs," Blair grimaced, "what's the next destination, Commander?”

" Our next stop is an art gallery nearby," I explained, showing a brochure I had picked up before leaving the hotel.

"On top of everything he is still cultured. I'm beginning to think you're quite a catch, Commander," Blair sneered.

I felt ridiculous hearing this, especially when I realized how much I wished it were true.

" Let's hurry up and then we can have lunch," I decided to change the subject.

" Come on, Dimitri, you know I'm right. That girl in blue even looked at your butt.”

I turned back instinctively, meeting a blonde girl who looked away as soon as she realized that I was looking in her direction. Blair's laughter immediately rang in my ear, causing me to turn my attention back to her.

" I can't blame her since I'd do the same," Blair crooned.

" You're already better," I muttered.

" Wasn't that the point? " she smiled, and I couldn't contain my own.