Anastasia nodded.
“Can you try to reach Carmen now? Or do you need to rest?”
“I’m fine.” Anastasia closed her eyes, excited that she didn’t feel the barrier she had before. When she opened them, she stood face to face with her grandmother.
“Nice to see you, Anastasia.”
“You aren’t surprised?”
“Takes more than a projected visit by my granddaughter to surprise me.” She laughed.
Anastasia looked around the medical cottage. Everything looked just as she had remembered it.
“How is everyone?”
“Everyone is fine. It has been quiet since you four left. How is Dakota?”
“He is fine, healed. We would have come back sooner, but Vincent has blocked magic from there to Terrenia.”
Carmen sighed. “I feared he had. I tried to reach you and couldn’t get through. Where are you now?”
“The Brute world.”
“Smart girl.”
“Carmen, I have to warn you.”
“Warn me? About what?”
“The Trepidos are coming. Vincent is going to unleash them on Terrenia. You have to be prepared.”
The color drained from Carmen’s face. “Trepidos?”
“Yes. He used Terrenia as leverage to get them to do what he wanted. It is payment for their services.”
“Those monsters are the most horrific things in all the worlds. They can make you do things you never would have before.”
“Yes, they can. I’ve seen them, they are awful.”
“Carmen.” Argento’s deep voice sounded as he pushed open the door. “Anastasia, it is good to see you,” he said as he came into the small cottage. “I am seeing you, yes?”
“Yes you are. Hello, Argento.”
“Where are you?”
“In your world.”
“You are in my world?”
“Yes, I had to come here in order to reach Carmen. Vincent is block—”
He put his hand up to stop her. “Anastasia, you must leave.”
“Why?”
“It is not my world anymore. Vincent’s Brutes have killed all those who were loyal to me. They are the only Brutes there. You have to go.”
“You should be able to open a portal here,” Carmen offered.
Anastasia nodded. Why hadn’t she done that in the first place?
“You may only have a small window, though. Vincent will learn what you have done and he will block that as well. You have to hurry.”
“I will.”
“Go now, and we will see you soon.”
Anastasia closed her eyes and opened them to the Brute world.
“About time,” Dakota muttered.
They were surrounded by Brutes.
“Well, isn’t this interesting,” one of them growled.
Anastasia looked around. She counted eight of the enemy.
“We know someone who has been looking for you, girl.” One of the Brutes sneered at her.
“Then you know what I am capable of.” She smiled back. “Leave now, and I won’t harm you.”
The Brute laughed. “You are nothing compared to him.”
“You are foolish,” Tony mocked. “You don’t know the half of what she is capable of. Why don’t you show them?” he asked, directing the question at Anastasia.
“Gladly.” She smiled. Anastasia lifted her fists and opened her hands quickly, sending flames at each of the Brutes. They fell in unison to the ground.
“Shall we?” she asked softly, and opened a portal into Terrenia. The four of them stepped through and into the training cottage.
“Did you kill them?” Elizabeth asked after the portal closed behind them.
“Yes,” Anastasia said simply.
“Good.”
She nodded, but although she would never admit it, the deaths, regardless of whether they were deserved or not, weighed on her. Truth be told, she was afraid of what she was becoming. The line that was drawn between her and Vincent and his level of monstrosity was beginning to blur, in her opinion. How many had she killed with her magic? How many more would she kill? How could she raise a child to be a light in the world when her heart held so much darkness?
“You okay?” Dakota’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Yes, I’m fine. Why?”
“You seem off.”
“Just tired, I suppose.” She smiled at him, not wanting him to know the depth of her thoughts.
“I bet you are. You need some rest.”
“We can get some now.” Or try to, anyway, she added to herself.
“Dakota!” Argento’s loud voice boomed when they came into the clearing. “It is so good to see you, my friend.”
“You as well.” Dakota shook his hand and then smiled at Carmen.
“You look much better than the last time I saw you, Dakota.” She pulled him in for a hug. “I’m so glad for it.”
“Feeling better as well.” He laughed.
“What of my world?” Argento asked cautiously.
“We ran into a handful of Vincent’s Brutes, but Anastasia took care of them.” Tony beamed proudly at her, and Anastasia smiled lightly in return.
“What does it look like?” Argento questioned. Anastasia could see the fear in his eyes, but she wasn’t sure what would have put it there.
“It’s darker than here,” she said, not wanting to sound harsh. “There are lots of mountains, cliffs, and rocks.”
“Any green?”
“Not that we saw.”
Argento shook his head. “They have destroyed it. My world is dying.”
When he looked up at them, Anastasia saw tears in his eyes.
“What do you mean?” Dakota pushed cautiously.
“My world once was more beautiful than anything you could imagine. The mountains were covered with lush, green grass and flowers, and water flowed from those cliffs. My wife,” he paused and cleared his throat, “well, she was once the magic behind it all. Her pure heart was what beat through our lands. Now that she is gone, so is the magic. My world will crumble without it.”
“I’m so sorry, Argento.” Dakota patted him on the shoulder, and Tony walked to his side.
“When I lost my wife and child, I thought myself dead. I didn’t want to survive in a world where they did not exist anymore. You may have lost your wife, Argento, but her love still lives in you and in your daughter as well.”
Argento nodded and cleared his throat again. “Thank you, my friends. I am hoping that once we defeat Vincent, I can return my daughter back to our world where she can restore it to its previous glory.”
Silence filled the room. No one wanted to admit they were worried that day may never come. Vincent was becoming more entwined within the worlds every day, and Anastasia knew that when the time came to unwind him, it was going to come at a great cost.
Later that night Anastasia walked the fence line with Kaley. She had done it so many times over the years, and still it felt so alien to her now. She looked back towards the training cottage where Gregory wouldn’t be waiting for her with a stiff drink to end the day. Dakota would be, and while that was a wonderful thing, her heart longed for her father.
She ran her hand over her stomach. How wonderful would it have been had he been able to meet his grandchild? He would never get to hear the child’s laugh or see them take their first steps, and for what? All because his brother wanted power? She would never understand the allure of it. All she wanted was to be able to lead a normal life where she got to watch her child grow. She wanted to see what Dakota would look like with gray hair. Handsome as ever. She smiled to herself.
“Hi, Anastasia.” A familiar voice sounded through the dark, and Anastasia turned to see Brady’s younger sister, Sarah, standing behind her. She hadn’t spoken to Sarah or Selena since Brady’s death, and the guilt from that alone was heavy.
“Hi, Sarah. Everything okay?” she asked hesitantly. Sarah’s long black hair was braided back, and a
lthough she was just barely thirteen, you could see she was going to be beautiful. Her mother had always reminded Anastasia of a gypsy, and it looked as if Sarah were taking after her as well.
“Yes, it is.” She smiled lightly. “Just out for a walk. I’ve been coming out almost every night since—well, you know.”
Anastasia nodded. “I’m so sorry, Sarah. I didn’t tell you and your mother before, but I am so sorry.” She felt the knife in her heart from the thought of Brady, and the tears threatened to fall. She missed him so much.
“Thank you. You have to know we don’t blame you, Anastasia. You were the big sister we both never had, and we missed you. I miss you.” Sarah wiped the tears from her cheek.
“I’ve missed you too, Sarah.” Anastasia opened her arms and pulled Sarah in for a hug. It was soothing to her soul to know that Sarah and Selena didn’t blame her, but Brady’s death still weighed heavy on her.
“How is your mom?” Anastasia asked when Sarah released her and pulled away.
“She comes and goes. I honestly don’t think she is ready to admit that he’s gone. She keeps talking about him as if he’s going to walk in from another scouting mission any day. She didn’t even go to his funeral.” Sarah’s voice cracked, and Anastasia touched her shoulder.
“Everyone grieves differently.” Or they just bury it, she thought to herself. “This is just how she is working through things. It’ll get easier, I promise.”
Sarah nodded. “How are you doing?”
“I’m dealing,” she lied. “Trying to make it through each day, and if I do that, I consider it a win.”
Sarah smiled slightly, but Anastasia noticed it didn’t reach her eyes.
“I hear you are pregnant, is that true?” Sarah asked her.
Anastasia smiled. “I am. Not sure whether I’m excited about it or not yet, but I know it will be a good thing.”
Sarah nodded. “Life is always a good thing.” She smiled. “Congratulations.”
Kaley growled low in her throat and Anastasia spun, shielding Sarah. “Go, Sarah.”
“What is it?” Fear filled her voice as they frantically looked for what Kaley saw.
“I’m not sure. Get home.”
Sarah turned and ran, and when Anastasia saw her disappear into the village, she turned her attention back to what was around her.
Kaley, still growling, seemed just as confused.
Anastasia opened her senses and felt emptiness. It was as if the world was void of all noise, and that frightened her more than anything else she might have sensed. That fear was what made her realize what Kaley was sensing. Trepidos.
“Go and get Dakota, girl,” she said to Kaley as she sheathed her sword. It would do no good against them and would only allow them to make her a bigger danger than she already was.
Anastasia pulled at her magic and did her best to put up a wall around her people and against the monsters. She wasn’t sure how far away they were, but if Kaley was sensing them, then she knew it wouldn’t be too long until they arrived. She looked down at her hands and saw that her skin was glowing. The light she was throwing off seemed to keep the shadows away, but they were sneaking through her defenses. She could hear the screams from the village and knew she couldn’t protect everyone when they were so spread so far apart.
“Anastasia!” she heard Dakota yell.
“Get everyone gathered in the center of the village!” she yelled, and began to move towards him, still concentrating her magic at putting up a barrier.
“You won’t win.” She heard the hissing voice of one of the Trepidos behind her.
She turned and smiled at it. She threw her hand up and it fell to the ground, its monstrous appearance that was normally hidden by the shadow showing itself.
“Anyone else want to play with me? Or try, anyway,” she taunted back, hoping to buy Dakota more time.
She walked slowly behind him, wanting to get to the center of the village before the Trepidos did. The villagers would be sitting ducks until she arrived.
Dakota passed the message to Tony and Argento, and Anastasia watched as everyone gathered. She saw shadows following a few of the villagers that were being dragged into the center in a panic, and she threw light at them and watched with satisfaction as the shadows crumbled to the ground. These deaths did not bother her—Trepidos were never peaceful; they were pure evil, and had always been.
“That everyone?” Anastasia asked through gritted teeth. The Trepidos were not going down without a fight; they continued pushing at her barrier, and it was wearing on her.
Dakota nodded. “What are we going to do?”
“Make them wish they had never taken Vincent’s deal,” Anastasia responded.
Carmen walked over to Anastasia and nodded. “I’m with you, Anastasia. I will hold the barrier, you handle the monsters.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Ana, you can’t, at least not alone.” Dakota gripped her arm as she headed for the edge of the barrier.
“I have to, Dakota. There are too many of them right now. You can’t block them out of your mind like I can, and I have to be outside of the barrier or I could risk hurting someone.”
“But the baby.”
“Baby?” Carmen asked, confused.
“I’m pregnant,” Anastasia responded without looking at Carmen. She was surprised Sarah had heard about it and not Carmen. Come to think of it, she couldn’t remember telling anyone.
“She will be fine, Dakota. The magic will not harm the baby,” Carmen assured him.
“It’s not the magic I’m worried about,” he muttered back.
“It’s the only way we can get rid of them, Dakota. You promised you would trust me.”
“I do.” He rubbed his hands over his short beard. “Be careful, Ana.”
She nodded, and after reinforcing her own mental barriers, stepped out of Carmen’s light.
“Come and get me, boys,” she said through gritted teeth.
“You are foolish, girl,” she heard them whisper.
“Your death will be so satisfying,” another said.
She felt them pushing at her mind, and she held strong.
“There is no baby, you know.” One laughed at her. “An illusion,” he taunted her.
She did her best to shake him off, but her defenses were beginning to waver. A thought crept into her mind. What if they were right? She hadn’t felt the baby since that night, and she hadn’t been sick at all like most women. What if it had all been a game?
“She is strong, but not strong enough.” The whisper filled her mind, and she threw her blocks back up. They were just messing with her, she told herself.
“That all you got?” she asked. “Drop the shadows, show me your ugly selves.”
“Ugly, she calls us? Maybe you are the ugly one, human.” The distaste in the Trepidos’s voice made her smile.
“Well then show me.” The Trepidos began dropping their shadows, and soon she was surrounded by monsters. Their gangly appearance was nothing compared to their troll-like features.
“Ugly,” she taunted. She needed them further from the villagers, so she kept walking.
“I am tiring of her games.” One sneered at her.
“Then come and get me.”
The annoyed monster began to move towards her, but another threw out its claw.
“She taunts us and you won’t allow me to kill her?”
“She is much too calm,” it said cautiously.
“Come on! Going to let him boss you around?” she taunted him.
“Why are you not afraid, girl? You are mere inches from death and you do not even see it.” The monster’s claw reached out and stopped just before touching her, in demonstration. “These humans you foolishly protect will all die. You have seen it, have you not? I know you have.” He sneered at her. “I can see it in your eyes. Vincent showed you what we are capable of. We will end it all.” It waved its claws around to show her what he meant.
“I’m t
ired of your threats.” She yawned sarcastically.
“I tire of this as well.” The annoyed Trepido from moments before charged her, and she threw her palm out. He crumbled to ash before her, and the other Trepidos began moving angrily, predators stalking their prey.
“Leave her, fools! The old woman is going to give in soon, and then we shall feast!” the leader yelled, but the others did not seem thrilled by the idea of leaving her alone, and in unison over half of them charged her. They met the same fate as their comrade.
“You fools!”
All but the leader and one other Trepido turned back into shadows and disappeared.
“We had much better luck in that Seattle. This world isn’t worth it,” she heard him whisper to the leader while he stared straight at Anastasia.
“Let us go.”
“An illusion,” the Trepido said, and then disappeared like the others. Anastasia opened her senses, searching for the emptiness, but the world had returned to its normal state.
She fell to her knees, clutching her head. The second she dropped the barriers, she felt as if her head had split open.
“Ana!” Dakota yelled, falling to his knees next to her. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” He searched her eyes.
“I’m fine, head hurts.”
“From blocking them out,” Carmen said as she came to where they sat. “Mine does too. Anastasia, may I speak with you for a moment?”
Anastasia stood and followed Carmen. “We lost some people tonight,” Carmen said.
“Who?”
“Two of Robbie’s men, Jake and Ben. They were trying to help gather some villagers up when two rogue Trepidos got them.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“It’s not your fault, Anastasia.”
Anastasia remembered the first time she had met Robbie. Ben and Jake had been with him. They had been neighbors, she remembered. She added them to the long list of Vincent’s victims and tucked away her grief.
“That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about, though.” Carmen looked into Anastasia’s eyes. “You already know, don’t you?”
“Know about what?”
“Your pregnancy.”
Anastasia felt her heart drop. “What about it?”
The Fighter (Prophecy Series Book 2) Page 17
