Ghost of you
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
19
Views:
8,331
Reviews:
104
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
19
Views:
8,331
Reviews:
104
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter 2.
A/N:
Sekre, SonataArctica89, madlodger, Dykast, bambi4real, Yblue: Thanks for reviewing, i'm glad that the beginning was satisfying for you :)
Hm.. as for some of the questions... well the N/C warning? yeah keep that in mind, it is quite likely that I'll use it in this, not telling how it's going to come in the story, but anyway.
Either way, if it really bothers someone to read, then I guess that most of my story's aren't for you, lol, and that is why there are those warnings...
And the M/F warning, mainly it's just to play safe, nothing big I promise, not graphic scenes at least, lol
Um, what else... Okay these first chapters progress slow, explaining things, etc. You won't find the smut (or what ever you "kids" are calling it these days, lol,) yet in these first chapters, but be patient and do not worry; it ain't all going to be non-consensual kind of thing. Most of it is going to be the nice stuff, I think, hm... lol
Enough of my blabbering? Yeah, I think you're all bored by it already, most of you are already reading the story, ignoring this, aren't you? Yeah I know you are ;)
Anyway; reviews are welcome, very much so!
BETAD by: Teeta
*****************************************************************************************
Chapter 2.
”Do you have a place to stay?” The woman asked him, sipping her coffee.
“No ma’am, I have just arrived. I left my luggage at the train station.”
“Well, I could rent you a room, take the payment out of you salary and I could also offer you three meals per day.” She offered.
“Thank you for the offer, I accept it gladly. I take it that your husband doesn't mind you hiring me?” He asked then.
“My husband is dead Mr. Volkov.” She said and placed the coffee cup back on the table. “And even if he weren't, I tend to make my own decisions about things concerning myself.”
“I’m sorry about your loss.”
“Dear Matias died a year ago, it was cancer that finally took him. It seems that I cannot keep the men in my life.” There was a sad smile that graced her lips. “Anyway, after he died, I saw no reason to stay in Sweden and so I returned here, I bought this estate with the money that my husband left me … So, do not feel sorry for me, for I am home, I love this place with every inch of my being. I missed home all the years that I was away.” She told him.
“So, Mr. Volkov … May I in return enquire about your reasons for coming here to look for job, instead of trying to find it at home?”
“I think your question is only fair… Things in my home land…well, they are what they are, nothing keeps me there, no family binds me … And as for why here? Well, it is a long story, perhaps I’ll tell you some other time, but for now…”
“A man of mystery, are you? Fine, I accept your answer, though I do find it peculiar that a man of your age and looks has managed to avoid marriage this long. Russian or not, I do believe that there will be many women here throwing themselves at your feet and many men that will look at you in a jealous manner, afraid that you might take their women. So be careful, that is all I’m going to say about the matter.” She smiled and stood up. He followed her example.
“Well then, there are chores to be finished. I’ll have Olavi to show you the room and the estate, let you settle in. I’ll ask him to show you the house, you can start working there tomorrow. I’ll meet you at supper.”
******************
“What happened to your leg?” The boy asked as they were walking straight ahead on the sandy road.
“The war is what happened. I got a grenade splinter in it as we fought against the Germans back in 1944.”
“Oh, does it hurt much?” He looked into the curious blue eyes of the boy, but could not look at him for long.
“At times it does and at times it’s better.” He gave him a lazy smile.
“Did you kill many men in war?” The boy asked.
“I did not count. I survived. The only way for me to survive was not to think of the men I killed on the field."
“I see…” They walked in silence for a while.
“Why do you speak Finnish, where did you learn it?” Olavi asked then looking at the man.
“I taught it myself… I once knew someone, someone who became very dear to me. Back then, we did not speak the same language and then the war took this person’s life. The memory of this one person made me want to learn the language.” He explained.
“A lover, perhaps? I know my sister and Emma would be dying to know the whole story, they are such hopeless romantics.” Olavi laughed, and Alexander couldn’t help but glance at the boy’s laughing face. He smiled, but soon turned his face away as the boy noticed him looking at him.
Soon the house came into view. It was a peaceful, beautiful place and Alexander could imagine how the place had once looked like; he was sure he could help build it back to its former shape. The sun had already begun to go down, painting the sky with soft orange, gold and purple.
“So here it is.” The boy told him.
“It’s beautiful.” Alexander told him and walked closer.
“It was.” The boy said and Alexander looked at him, the thoughtful expression on the boy’s face. He still could not get over the fact of how much the boy looked like him and every time, he seemed to take his breath away. Hypnotize him.
“This was my childhood home, did you know?” The blue eyes met with his. He looked at him in surprise.
“It was?” He asked and took another look at the house.
“Yes… I was forced to leave this place with my sister, when I was four and she was six… It was the January of 1943, such a cold winter… I’ve never been so cold in my life…” He walked forward and Alexander followed, listening carefully. “Our father died back in 1942 and so we lived here by ourselves: me, Aino, our mother and our elder brother Elias.” His heart almost stopped hearing the name again. “Then one night…” The boy now stood at the front door, touched it, before opening it. “…One night they came. They just broke in.” He stepped in and held the door open for him.
“My brother hid us, me and my sister, in there.” He pointed towards what Alexander could only assume to be the kitchen. “But he had no time to hide from them, nor did mother, she was very ill… I do not remember much of it, but anyway, they took my brother with them… My mother, she… She wanted to go after them, she was so ill… But she wanted to save him, her firstborn…we never heard her going out… next morning we found her lying dead in the snow.”
Alexander stared at the boy, who seemed to be deep in thoughts. He knew he should say something, tell him, tell all of them, but how could he say it? How could he voice what still made no sense even to him? He looked around, feeling sudden coldness on his neck. This had been his home, here was where Elias had grown up, here was where it had all started. He could almost feel his presence beside him.
“I’m so sorry…” He said with low voice.
Olavi turned around, the dimness of the room hid the true color of his eyes and he really did look so much like his brother. Did the boy even realize that? Alexander wondered.
“You have yet to meet my sister. She doesn't like Russians much, you will have a hard time being around her, just be aware of it.” He laughed quietly.
*****************
“How could you hire him?” Aino hissed with low voice, looking at the older woman.
“He is a strong man, he was looking for a job, so I gave it to him. I needed one more worker… Why not him?” Emma asked casually while feeding her youngest child.
“You know why. He is one of them… You say you are doing this for us, but I do not want one of their people working there, touching the walls that my father built, touching the things that belonged to my mother, or to my brother.” The girl said, standing in front of her. Emma looked up.
“Being a Russian does not make him one of the men that took Elias from us. He is not the one to have killed your father. What are his sins? Being born in Russia? Does the blood in his veins make him the enemy, Aino? Does it really? He is just like us.” Emma told her.
“You are the fine one to talk, you weren’t here! You do not know what it was like! You did not lose your family in the war like we did! I cannot forget that, I cannot forgive what they did to us.” She sounded outraged.
“There were faults on both sides. You cannot blame one man for the crimes of his countrymen, like he could not blame us for the crimes of our side. We each have our own sins, but his are not the ones you’re accusing him of... I understand your anger, but what good does it do? I loved your brother, I loved him as much as you did. But he is gone, you need to let go.” Emma stood up and cleared the table. Aino followed her.
“You loved him, did you? Well, what would he say if he found out that now you’re lusting after that bastard of a Russian? That is it, isn’t it? You want him for yourself? Forgot your husband so fast? Your bed is cold and you need a fine man like Volkov by your side to warm it up for you?…” Emma slapped her cheek and the young woman cried out, lifting her hand up to the burning skin.
“How dare you?! I can’t believe you Aino, I thought we were friends and you spoke to me like I was a slut, in my home, in front of my child no less. This is the thanks I get of all the help that I’ve given to you?” Emma glared at her in anger. Aino’s eyes began to water. “You speak as though I didn’t know how it’s like to lose someone. Well, for your information, yes, I loved your brother, I still love him. We may have been young, but we made our promises to one another. Not a day goes by that I wouldn’t wish that I could share this with him. This was our dream Aino, this was the place we planned on building our home together. I loved him, I’ve cried for him and I’ve cried for my husband. I do not need your accusations; leave if you please, you owe me nothing. If you do not wish my help with your house then just tell me so.”
“I’m so sorry Emma, I don’t know what has gotten into me, I’m so sorry, please forgive me my horrible words, I did not mean them…” The girl sobbed. Emma softened to her tears and pulled her into a hug.
“It’s this place that has gotten you so emotional… It’s okay, I understand my beloved adopted sister.” She smiled, caressing her hair. Aino gave her a smile through her tears.
“I love you Emma, and I am grateful for everything you’ve done… I know you loved him, and I know that he loved you too, he was always writing letters to you… So, I’m going to just try and deal with a Russian working there, I’ll try Emma, I promise.”
Emma held her, comforted her, wondering whether or not she had made the right decision, hiring the man. It felt right to her, but she knew that there might be trouble, not many in the village would appreciate having a Russian around as the wounds of the war were still fresh in many people’s mind. But the change had to start somewhere.
TBC.
Sekre, SonataArctica89, madlodger, Dykast, bambi4real, Yblue: Thanks for reviewing, i'm glad that the beginning was satisfying for you :)
Hm.. as for some of the questions... well the N/C warning? yeah keep that in mind, it is quite likely that I'll use it in this, not telling how it's going to come in the story, but anyway.
Either way, if it really bothers someone to read, then I guess that most of my story's aren't for you, lol, and that is why there are those warnings...
And the M/F warning, mainly it's just to play safe, nothing big I promise, not graphic scenes at least, lol
Um, what else... Okay these first chapters progress slow, explaining things, etc. You won't find the smut (or what ever you "kids" are calling it these days, lol,) yet in these first chapters, but be patient and do not worry; it ain't all going to be non-consensual kind of thing. Most of it is going to be the nice stuff, I think, hm... lol
Enough of my blabbering? Yeah, I think you're all bored by it already, most of you are already reading the story, ignoring this, aren't you? Yeah I know you are ;)
Anyway; reviews are welcome, very much so!
BETAD by: Teeta
*****************************************************************************************
Chapter 2.
”Do you have a place to stay?” The woman asked him, sipping her coffee.
“No ma’am, I have just arrived. I left my luggage at the train station.”
“Well, I could rent you a room, take the payment out of you salary and I could also offer you three meals per day.” She offered.
“Thank you for the offer, I accept it gladly. I take it that your husband doesn't mind you hiring me?” He asked then.
“My husband is dead Mr. Volkov.” She said and placed the coffee cup back on the table. “And even if he weren't, I tend to make my own decisions about things concerning myself.”
“I’m sorry about your loss.”
“Dear Matias died a year ago, it was cancer that finally took him. It seems that I cannot keep the men in my life.” There was a sad smile that graced her lips. “Anyway, after he died, I saw no reason to stay in Sweden and so I returned here, I bought this estate with the money that my husband left me … So, do not feel sorry for me, for I am home, I love this place with every inch of my being. I missed home all the years that I was away.” She told him.
“So, Mr. Volkov … May I in return enquire about your reasons for coming here to look for job, instead of trying to find it at home?”
“I think your question is only fair… Things in my home land…well, they are what they are, nothing keeps me there, no family binds me … And as for why here? Well, it is a long story, perhaps I’ll tell you some other time, but for now…”
“A man of mystery, are you? Fine, I accept your answer, though I do find it peculiar that a man of your age and looks has managed to avoid marriage this long. Russian or not, I do believe that there will be many women here throwing themselves at your feet and many men that will look at you in a jealous manner, afraid that you might take their women. So be careful, that is all I’m going to say about the matter.” She smiled and stood up. He followed her example.
“Well then, there are chores to be finished. I’ll have Olavi to show you the room and the estate, let you settle in. I’ll ask him to show you the house, you can start working there tomorrow. I’ll meet you at supper.”
******************
“What happened to your leg?” The boy asked as they were walking straight ahead on the sandy road.
“The war is what happened. I got a grenade splinter in it as we fought against the Germans back in 1944.”
“Oh, does it hurt much?” He looked into the curious blue eyes of the boy, but could not look at him for long.
“At times it does and at times it’s better.” He gave him a lazy smile.
“Did you kill many men in war?” The boy asked.
“I did not count. I survived. The only way for me to survive was not to think of the men I killed on the field."
“I see…” They walked in silence for a while.
“Why do you speak Finnish, where did you learn it?” Olavi asked then looking at the man.
“I taught it myself… I once knew someone, someone who became very dear to me. Back then, we did not speak the same language and then the war took this person’s life. The memory of this one person made me want to learn the language.” He explained.
“A lover, perhaps? I know my sister and Emma would be dying to know the whole story, they are such hopeless romantics.” Olavi laughed, and Alexander couldn’t help but glance at the boy’s laughing face. He smiled, but soon turned his face away as the boy noticed him looking at him.
Soon the house came into view. It was a peaceful, beautiful place and Alexander could imagine how the place had once looked like; he was sure he could help build it back to its former shape. The sun had already begun to go down, painting the sky with soft orange, gold and purple.
“So here it is.” The boy told him.
“It’s beautiful.” Alexander told him and walked closer.
“It was.” The boy said and Alexander looked at him, the thoughtful expression on the boy’s face. He still could not get over the fact of how much the boy looked like him and every time, he seemed to take his breath away. Hypnotize him.
“This was my childhood home, did you know?” The blue eyes met with his. He looked at him in surprise.
“It was?” He asked and took another look at the house.
“Yes… I was forced to leave this place with my sister, when I was four and she was six… It was the January of 1943, such a cold winter… I’ve never been so cold in my life…” He walked forward and Alexander followed, listening carefully. “Our father died back in 1942 and so we lived here by ourselves: me, Aino, our mother and our elder brother Elias.” His heart almost stopped hearing the name again. “Then one night…” The boy now stood at the front door, touched it, before opening it. “…One night they came. They just broke in.” He stepped in and held the door open for him.
“My brother hid us, me and my sister, in there.” He pointed towards what Alexander could only assume to be the kitchen. “But he had no time to hide from them, nor did mother, she was very ill… I do not remember much of it, but anyway, they took my brother with them… My mother, she… She wanted to go after them, she was so ill… But she wanted to save him, her firstborn…we never heard her going out… next morning we found her lying dead in the snow.”
Alexander stared at the boy, who seemed to be deep in thoughts. He knew he should say something, tell him, tell all of them, but how could he say it? How could he voice what still made no sense even to him? He looked around, feeling sudden coldness on his neck. This had been his home, here was where Elias had grown up, here was where it had all started. He could almost feel his presence beside him.
“I’m so sorry…” He said with low voice.
Olavi turned around, the dimness of the room hid the true color of his eyes and he really did look so much like his brother. Did the boy even realize that? Alexander wondered.
“You have yet to meet my sister. She doesn't like Russians much, you will have a hard time being around her, just be aware of it.” He laughed quietly.
*****************
“How could you hire him?” Aino hissed with low voice, looking at the older woman.
“He is a strong man, he was looking for a job, so I gave it to him. I needed one more worker… Why not him?” Emma asked casually while feeding her youngest child.
“You know why. He is one of them… You say you are doing this for us, but I do not want one of their people working there, touching the walls that my father built, touching the things that belonged to my mother, or to my brother.” The girl said, standing in front of her. Emma looked up.
“Being a Russian does not make him one of the men that took Elias from us. He is not the one to have killed your father. What are his sins? Being born in Russia? Does the blood in his veins make him the enemy, Aino? Does it really? He is just like us.” Emma told her.
“You are the fine one to talk, you weren’t here! You do not know what it was like! You did not lose your family in the war like we did! I cannot forget that, I cannot forgive what they did to us.” She sounded outraged.
“There were faults on both sides. You cannot blame one man for the crimes of his countrymen, like he could not blame us for the crimes of our side. We each have our own sins, but his are not the ones you’re accusing him of... I understand your anger, but what good does it do? I loved your brother, I loved him as much as you did. But he is gone, you need to let go.” Emma stood up and cleared the table. Aino followed her.
“You loved him, did you? Well, what would he say if he found out that now you’re lusting after that bastard of a Russian? That is it, isn’t it? You want him for yourself? Forgot your husband so fast? Your bed is cold and you need a fine man like Volkov by your side to warm it up for you?…” Emma slapped her cheek and the young woman cried out, lifting her hand up to the burning skin.
“How dare you?! I can’t believe you Aino, I thought we were friends and you spoke to me like I was a slut, in my home, in front of my child no less. This is the thanks I get of all the help that I’ve given to you?” Emma glared at her in anger. Aino’s eyes began to water. “You speak as though I didn’t know how it’s like to lose someone. Well, for your information, yes, I loved your brother, I still love him. We may have been young, but we made our promises to one another. Not a day goes by that I wouldn’t wish that I could share this with him. This was our dream Aino, this was the place we planned on building our home together. I loved him, I’ve cried for him and I’ve cried for my husband. I do not need your accusations; leave if you please, you owe me nothing. If you do not wish my help with your house then just tell me so.”
“I’m so sorry Emma, I don’t know what has gotten into me, I’m so sorry, please forgive me my horrible words, I did not mean them…” The girl sobbed. Emma softened to her tears and pulled her into a hug.
“It’s this place that has gotten you so emotional… It’s okay, I understand my beloved adopted sister.” She smiled, caressing her hair. Aino gave her a smile through her tears.
“I love you Emma, and I am grateful for everything you’ve done… I know you loved him, and I know that he loved you too, he was always writing letters to you… So, I’m going to just try and deal with a Russian working there, I’ll try Emma, I promise.”
Emma held her, comforted her, wondering whether or not she had made the right decision, hiring the man. It felt right to her, but she knew that there might be trouble, not many in the village would appreciate having a Russian around as the wounds of the war were still fresh in many people’s mind. But the change had to start somewhere.
TBC.