Chapter Thirty-Six
Anna walked next to Kurt, their fingers intertwined, across a large courtyard to a huge yellow and white cathedral that sat in the middle of the fortress-island. It felt so right, being with him. Kurt’s care diminished the pain of losing Peter.
The courtyard was filled with people: dignitaries, heads of state and, of course, the Elders and their sons. There were very few women; the Elders did not attend events like these with their wives.
“Anna!” She heard a female voice call to her and turned to see Jackie walking quickly to her.
Anna smiled brightly and stepped forward to greet her. The two women hugged and Jackie looked up at Kurt with narrowed eyes and glanced at Wilhelm.
Anna introduced Jackie to both men and she eyed them suspiciously. “Jackie is Peter’s mother,” Anna explained and Wilhelm nodded. She looked at Jackie. “They are Alex’s father and brother.”
Jackie looked at the two men again and then at Anna. “So, everything between you and Peter was fake?” she asked with a pained expression.
Anna chewed her lip. “He came to keep an eye on me. I...I care for him a great deal, but we went into it knowing it wasn’t real.”
Jackie nodded. “He told me a little bit about what went on. I didn’t even know he’d gotten married until yesterday.” There was hurt in her eyes. “I had hoped....” She smiled grimly. “You’re a good girl, Anna. If you ever need anything....” She gave Kurt a fierce look. “If you ever hurt her....” she began in a firm voice.
Anna stopped her and put her hand on his. “They’ve never hurt me, Jackie. Quite the contrary.” Anna swallowed back tears. “They saved me.”
Jackie hugged her again. “Would you mind if we came to see you dance again sometime? We can’t always get out here to see Peter and we loved watching you.”
Anna nodded and smiled. “I would love that,” she said sincerely.
“Be sure to find Peter, if you can. He’s been looking for you. If I see him, I’ll let him know you’re here, if he hasn’t already found you.”
Anna nodded and then watched her walk away.
Kurt kissed her cheek and they made their way slowly to the cathedral. Wilhelm stopped every so often to speak to someone. Kurt held her hand tightly in the increasingly tighter crowd.
Tommy made his way over to them. “Hey, Anna,” he said kissing her cheek and then glancing up at Kurt. “Sorry.”
Kurt grunted.
“It is good to see you, Tommy,” Wilhelm said, extending his hand.
Tommy smiled and shook it. “It’s good to see you, sir. I understand you’re now able to come to the country again.”
Wilhelm nodded. “I plan on doing so often.”
“I hope you do.” He glanced at Anna. “I haven’t seen her smile like this in a while. It’s nice.”
“Your father is around, I assume?” Wilhelm asked with a strange look on his face.
“He is,” Tommy answered solemnly. “He’s trying to keep Devin’s temper at bay. Devin’s not...happy about yesterday’s dinner.”
“Understandable. But necessary.”
“I agree, sir.”
They exchanged looks again and then Tommy said goodbye and walked away.
It was a strange exchange, Anna thought. “Have you met Tommy before, Wilhelm?” she asked, looking up into his thoughtful eyes.
Wilhelm’s face became impassive. “Briefly, at Alex’s funeral. He came to comfort you, remember?”
Anna vaguely remembered Tommy trying to talk to her and her coldness to him. She was thankful he hadn’t held it against her.
They made their way with the crowd towards the building. She saw Vlad and Peter standing near the doorway, greeting people. Their wives stood next to them, looking sad but composed.
Dariya saw her before Peter did and smirked at her, until she noticed Kurt and Wilhelm. Her eyes widened as she looked at the tall men standing like soldiers on either side of her.
Peter saw her and smiled broadly. “Anna,” he said, walking toward her. He seemed to have changed since yesterday, a new dignity overlying his dancer’s grace. He looked like an Elder-Son now. A nice one, though. He kissed her on the cheek, and then greeted Wilhelm and Kurt.
“How are you doing, Peter?” Wilhelm asked in a friendly manner. They appeared to know each other already.
“I’m doing well, sir. As well as I can.” He glanced at Kurt and then Anna. “You okay?” he asked her softly.
She nodded shyly as Kurt put his arm around her. “You?”
He gave her a sad smile. “I miss you already.”
“I miss you.” She looked up when she saw Dariya approach.
“You certainly do not waste time, do you Anna?” Dariya said her low, thickly accented voice, eying Kurt’s hand on Anna’s shoulder.
“Dariya, Anna was married to Kurt’s brother before he died,” Peter explained softly. “She’s an Elder-Mistress.”
Dariya looked at Anna, then looked around the crowd at the other women. “You do not look like one,” she commented coldly.
“She’s not supposed to be one,” Kurt said shortly. “Her father raised Anna as a normal girl until Devin interfered and forced it upon her.” He paused for effect. “She is also a gertsoginya.”
Dariya started at the last word and curtsied slightly. “I did not know. I am sorry.”
Anna looked up at Kurt, who smiled at her.
“I didn’t know that,” Peter said. “I suppose it makes sense....”
“Didn’t know what?” Anna asked.
“That you were a duchess. You never told me.” He looked hurt.
“I don’t think about it. I—” She looked up at Wilhelm. “It seems just a part of my past that died with Alex. I’m sorry, Wilhelm.”
Wilhelm gave her a sympathetic smile. “It is all right, Anna. I know it is difficult.”
“Wilhelm,” Vlad said, walking over to the group. He extended his hand in greeting, which Wilhelm took and shook. Nina was with him and gave Anna a sad smile.
“Hello, Vlad. I am sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, Wilhelm.” Vlad cleared his throat. “I hope that you will not hold my father’s rudeness against me. We...did not see eye to eye on many things these last few years and I hope I can undo some of the things he did.”
“Thank you, Vlad. I would not—”
Wilhelm was interrupted by Devin’s arrival.
“Hello, Vlad,” Devin said, his voice cold with a hint of warning. “I see you are looking to rekindle past friendships?”
Vlad clenched his jaw at Devin’s words. “My family and Wilhelm’s have been friends for a long time. I hope to undo some of the things my father did.”
Devin’s eyes narrowed and he arched a brow. “That is an interesting idea,” he said slowly. “Your father was a wise man. I hope you can also learn from things he did.” There was an air of a threat in Devin’s tone and the air grew cold around them.
Anna shivered and Kurt put his arm around her. “Are you all right?” he whispered.
“Cold.” She stepped closer to Kurt for his body warmth, but the cold seemed to come from inside her.
Devin looked around the group and stopped his gaze at Anna. His black eyes beckoned her and she tried to step forward, but Kurt held her close and wouldn’t let her go.
Devin looked sharply at Kurt. “You only have her for a few weeks.”
“And I will cherish every moment and strive for more,” Kurt said coldly.
Devin laughed. “So idealistic.” He reached out and stroked Anna’s cheek with long, cold fingers. “I can’t wait to have you home with me, Baby,” he said softly, and ran his fingernail down her neck, stopping where he normally gave her the painful injections. He looked around and then gave Vlad a pointed look. “I will see you all inside.” He strode away with purpose, people stepping out of his way as he walked.
Vlad looked at her with sadness and then inhaled deeply. He glanced around. “We must return to greeting peopl
e.” He gave Wilhelm a sad look before turning and leading Nina back to the side of the building.
Peter bowed his head slightly at Wilhelm and smiled apologetically at Anna. “I’ll see you later?”
Anna smiled and nodded, and he and Dariya walked away.
Wilhelm and Kurt spoke softly in German above her as Kurt held her close. The coldness had not dissipated when Devin walked away and she stepped even closer to Kurt, pressing her body against his for warmth.
“Anna, you look pale. Are you sick?” Kurt ran his hand over her forehead and frowned. He glanced at Wilhelm. “Does she seem feverish to you?”
Wilhelm leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead, and then frowned. “That is not right. Devin is still here. She cannot get sick this quickly.”
“I’m okay,” Anna said softly. “I’m just tired and cold.” She giggled softly. “I was up late last night.”
Wilhelm smiled and looked at his watch. “Let us take her into the sunlight. We have a little bit of time.”
They moved and Kurt stood with his arms around her, her head leaning against his chest and the sun’s warmth on her back. It felt good. She closed her eyes and listened to the rumbling in his chest as he and his father talked softly in German.
*****
Wilhelm sat in the large cathedral contemplating the exchange between Vlad and Devin. The service was in Russian, which he spoke fluently, but his thoughts still strayed. What did Vlad want to undo that Vitaly had done, and why did Devin care? He had seen Vitaly and Devin together several times over the years, but Wilhelm couldn’t imagine the stubborn old Russian doing something for Devin.
Anna shivered next to him, despite being wrapped in Kurt’s jacket and her own. Her face was pale and a sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead.
How could she be sick? It wasn’t supposed to be possible. Was it because of Devin? Should he not have insisted on taking her to Germany? Was it his fault? But Wilhelm loathed the idea of Anna being with Devin any more than she had to. Maybe he and Kurt should take her home to San Francisco and visit with her there. Ilsa was looking forward to seeing Anna, but she would understand if Anna needed to go home.
Maybe he should speak to the other Elders that had Mistresses. Perhaps they could shed some light, though none of the Mistress’s were owned like Anna. As far as Wilhelm knew, the bonding ceremony was not practiced anymore, the general consensus being that it was cruel and unnecessary. Wilhelm agreed with the general consensus, especially after seeing what it did to Anna. Well, to be truthful, it wasn’t as much the actual bonding as it was to whom she was bonded.
Pain twisted his heart at the remembrance of that time. When Alex was still alive. His beloved son. Not that he didn’t love Kurt. He loved all his children with all the fatherly love he could muster. But Alex was to be his heir, the man who followed in his footsteps. Kurt was doing a wonderful job at learning what he needed to know, but it was a struggle for him. Wilhelm admired his tenacity. Tenacity he didn’t know that Kurt had.
Oh, Alex. The pain was no longer raw, but it was still pain. He would never stop missing Alex. He often wondered about the dreams Anna had, wondering if they were perhaps real; that Alex was still alive somewhere. It was painful to hope. The dreams of a half-Immortal could be significant. But Anna was also desperately in love with Alex, and perhaps part of her was just loathe to let him go. Even Wilhelm dreamed of Alex sometimes. Dreams were sometimes just dreams
He had come here after the funeral to see the graves, frozen in the ground. There had been eight graves, not nine. Sebastian wouldn’t have died, but would have had to act as though he had. And he was forbidden from coming back for a long time. Long after he and Kurt, and even Kurt’s children, were gone he could return. But it wouldn’t matter then. Wilhelm had hoped that he would send a message, like Anna’s father had, but none came. The other Immortals didn’t speak of it; it was also forbidden. Times like these made him hate the rules of life. But they were there for a reason. Did he really want to know the details of his son’s death?
The service concluded a while later and Wilhelm inhaled sharply when he saw that Anna’s face had turned almost gray, with dark circles under her eyes. Something was desperately wrong. He looked around as people began to make their way towards the back of the building.
Devin. He caught the man’s eye and motioned for him to come. He hated the man with a passion, but he might know what was going on. Anna was more precious to him than his hatred for Devin.
Kurt held her tightly against his chest as she trembled with half-open, glassy eyes that stared into nothingness.
Devin had that disgusting amused look on his face as he sauntered over, but it disappeared when he saw Anna. “What happened?”
“She complained of being cold and tired when we were outside, and she has grown progressively worse,” Wilhelm said. He stood suddenly, glaring down at the man he detested with all his being. “What the fuck did you do to her?”
Devin’s eyes widened and he backed away slightly. He looked down at Anna with genuine concern on his face, though the true object of his concern was debatable. “I...I haven’t done anything. She’s...she shouldn’t be sick.”
“I know,” Wilhelm growled. “What did you do?”
Devin shook his head. “I didn’t do any—” He looked up suddenly and turned around, searching for someone in the crowd. “I’ll be back.”
Devin strode quickly to Vlad and Wilhelm watched as they had a heated conversation. Vlad repeatedly shook his head and held up his hands. He glanced over at Wilhelm and his face paled when he saw Anna. He turned away and took out his phone to make a phone call.
Devin walked back to where Wilhelm stood glaring at him. “We’ll take her to Vlad’s townhouse. It’s nearby.” He reached for Anna and Kurt pushed his hand away.
“I will carry her,” he growled. Kurt picked her up and she moaned softly, then closed her eyes and trembled.
Wilhelm looked at Devin. “What is wrong with her?”
Devin didn’t answer, but turned and walked toward a side door. Kurt looked at his father, who nodded, and they both followed Devin outside.
*****
Cold. So cold. She couldn’t get warm, no matter how close she pushed herself to the body next to her. She trembled and moaned. She hurt, but not like she usually hurt. The pain came from inside her own body. Her own body was fighting itself. Why? Why did she hurt?
“Go. Go, Anna. Heal.”
Anna tried to open her eyes, but couldn’t. A warm hand touched her forehead and she became dizzy.
“Go.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
She stood in a dimly lit room. It wasn’t the normal room she went to in her dreams. This was more like a cement box. It was cold and damp. This is where the cold inside her originated. This was the source of her hurt. She looked around. Men huddled in blankets while lying on small cots. She couldn't see any faces, but could see them shivering.
A low moan escaped from one man in the corner. She hurried to him. The pain increased as she walked to him, but she knew she had to get to him.
She knelt by the bed and pulled the blanket away from his face. It was gray and damp with sweat. His wet hair was plastered to the side of his head. He trembled and his teeth chattered.
What could she do? If she touched him, she would disappear. But if she didn’t touch him, he would die. The fever was so high. She could feel the heat radiating from his body. And yet he shook with cold.
His eyes opened slightly and vaguely focused on her face. His eyes were dull and glassy. “Y-y-you c-c-came,” he said with chattering teeth. “They s-s-said you w-w-w-wouldn’t, but y-y-you d-d-did.” He attempted a smile and then groaned in pain.
She reached out hesitantly. What little healing she possessed, she had to use. He couldn’t die. She couldn’t let him.
Tentatively, she touched his face and winced, but he didn’t disappear. She cried out in relief and stretched out on the bed next to him to give him her w
armth. She wondered how much her tiny body could do to his large one, but she closed her eyes and concentrated. She embraced him and felt her healing flow into him as she pulled the sickness from his body.
At first, nothing happened. Then slowly he began to relax. His body cooled and he stopped trembling. She smiled faintly. She was so tired and beginning to feel cold again. But he was safe. That was what mattered.
Suddenly her body exploded in pain and she cried out. She trembled and shivered. She felt a large hand on her cheek and opened her eyes to see the concerned look on his face.
“You can’t get sick. You can’t.”
She felt herself fading and she heard him cry out her name as darkness consumed her.
*****
Wilhelm heard Anna cry out in pain and shook the doorknob. “Devin! Let me in!” he shouted.
Devin had locked himself in the bedroom with her, insisting that he needed to be alone with her. He and Kurt had reluctantly gone into the hallway to let him do what he needed to do. They paced and Wilhelm heard Devin speaking softly to her, though he couldn’t understand the words.
Wilhelm banged on the door. “Devin, open the door!”
He continued banging on the door until Devin opened the door.
“You needn’t be so obnoxious,” Devin said coolly.
“Maybe if we could trust you,” Kurt muttered.
Wilhelm looked past Devin into the room. “She looks worse,” he said pushing Devin out of the way. Her face was so pale and damp. “What did you do?” he demanded, turning to face Devin.
Kurt pushed past him and knelt by her bed, stroking her damp hair back from her face.
“She can be healed now,” Devin said. “Do you know the Immortals here?”
Wilhelm glared at Devin. “You are killing her. She should not even be able to get sick.”
The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared Page 21