Chapter Twenty
“Is there anything I can do to help today?” Anna asked as she helped clear the breakfast dishes.
She had one year of Thanksgiving experience behind her; the Thanksgiving she’d spent with Ben’s family. Katherine had taken command of the kitchen the whole day and Anna had helped out where she could. She wasn’t very good in the kitchen, but knew a few things. Plus, maybe she could stay busy enough to keep out of Vlad’s presence, though it would mean being away from Peter as well. But that would also keep Peter from getting into trouble.
“Oh, you’re so sweet Anna,” Jackie said with a smile as Anna brought a stack of dishes to the sink. “Do you have any family traditions from growing up we could try to incorporate?”
“No,” Anna said softly. Thanksgiving had been like any other day with Jack and she didn’t remember much from her parents. She didn’t remember much of a celebration from growing up. Her mother didn’t have any traditions and her father...well, Immortals don't exactly have families.
Jackie gave her a kind look. “Peter said your upbringing was kinda rough.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, I have enough to fill the day.”
Nina and Natalya were in the huge kitchen as well and they laughed.
“Poor Jackie has had to teach all of us about the American traditions,” Nina said. “I am becoming quite fond of them. I like coming out here this time of year. For one, I do not freeze.”
Anna laughed. “I was in Germany in December a few years ago and I remember it was absolutely freezing. But St. Petersburg gets much colder, I understand.”
Nina nodded. “Oh, yes. I would consider a German winter to be very nice.”
“What were you doing in Germany?” Natalya asked.
Anna bit her lip. How did she answer that? She picked up a cloth and began wiping the table down. “I...was visiting someone. It was a few years ago.”
“Is your family German?” Nina asked.
“No, they’re....” Anna chuckled. “They’re Russian, actually. My grandparents settled in the Russian part of San Francisco when they emigrated. But not Russian hill.”
“Really? That would explain why we get along so well,” Nina smiled. She had been very nice to Anna both last night and this morning. “Do you know where they are from?”
Anna shook her head. “No.” She hesitated. “My parents died when I was twelve.” She worked at a sticky spot on the table.
“Oh, that must have been difficult,” Jackie said. “I’m so sorry.”
Anna shrugged.
“Who raised you?” Jackie asked.
“My guardian, Jack. He was a friend of my parents.”
“Are you close to him?”
Anna stared at the table and considered how to answer the question. “I don’t like him,” she said softly, amazed that she could actually say the words aloud. I hate him!! She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.
“I didn’t mean to bring up unsettling memories, Anna,” Jackie said. “Forgive me.”
Anna opened her eyes and stared at the table. “It’s okay,” she said.
She finished wiping the table in silence. Nina changed the subject, talking about one of her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Anna didn’t pay much attention, instead she immersed herself in memories of Alex and his family.
Jackie kept the women busy all day. She had Anna peel potatoes and cut up fruits and vegetables. Jackie and Nina made pies and Natalya helped with both. Anna handed Nina a bowl of cut apples and Nina caught sight of Anna’s wedding band.
“What a pretty ring. May I?” Nina reached for her hand.
Anna nodded timidly and held her hand out for Nina to see.
“Is that a...oh, what is it called in English...poesy ring, I think it is called?”
Anna nodded again.
Nina looked at her thoughtfully. “Are you married, Anna?”
Jackie and Natalya both stopped and looked at her.
“I was,” Anna said, pulling her hand away. “He died.”
“When?” Nina asked softly.
“Two and a half years ago. We were together for less than three months when...it happened.” She looked away to hide her tears.
“What was his name?”
“Alex.”
“Was he German?”
Anna looked at Nina, surprised at her question. “Yes.”
Nina frowned. “Excuse me a moment, will you?” She walked quickly out of the room and Anna looked at Jackie.
“Did I do something?”
Jackie shook her head. “No. I don’t...I don’t know what’s wrong.” She smiled. “Those apples are perfectly cut. Do you cook a lot?”
Anna smiled, thankful for the change of subject. “No. Peter and I eat take out or microwave meals. Though he cooks occasionally.”
“You live together?” Natalya asked with wide eyes. “But I thought—”
“Nati, why don’t you ask Papa to pick out the wine for tonight?”
“But Mama—”
Jackie looked sternly at her daughter and Natalya dutifully turned away and went in search of her father.
“I’m sorry if I said something I shouldn’t have,” Anna said quickly. “I...I’ve been told I’m socially awkward.”
Jackie smiled at her. “Don’t worry about it, Anna. You’re doing fine. I’m sorry if we ask you uncomfortable questions. We just didn’t know you and Peter were so serious. He...just told us you met when he came back here.”
Anna sighed. “Yeah. It’s...complicated.”
Jackie changed the subject and after Natalya returned a few minutes later, the mood in the kitchen lightened quickly.
Vlad strode silently into the kitchen about a half hour later. “Nina apologizes, but she isn’t feeling well and decided to take a nap. She’s hoping to make it for dinner, but we’ll have to see.”
Jackie frowned at Vlad. “She was fine earlier.”
“A sudden headache,” he explained. He glanced at Anna and then left the room as silently as he had entered it.
Jackie stared at the entryway where Vlad had just exited with a puzzled look on her face and then sighed. “Well, Anna. Would you like to learn how to make pie?”
The rest of the afternoon went quickly. Jackie showed Anna how to roll pie dough and prepare it for filling. Anna was amazed at how complicated it was, but enjoyed it all the same. Her apple pie wasn’t as beautiful as Jackie’s other pies, but it smelled good and Anna felt very proud of herself.
When the turkey came out of the oven mid-afternoon, Anna helped set the table and set out the many dishes of food. She grinned, proud of all she had done to help, and felt better than she had in a long time. The men came in a few minutes later, along with a pale Nina, and they all sat down to dinner. Peter was not as boisterous as he had been earlier, but he was affectionate towards Anna.
Dinner was delicious. Peter teased Anna quietly that he would have her start cooking back home.
“Are you feeling better, Nina?” Anna asked as they cleared the dinner plates. Nina looked at her with sad eyes and nodded.
Vlad spoke sharply in Russian and Nina hurried away from her. The rest of the evening, Nina kept quiet and avoided any contact with Anna. Anna wondered what she had done to upset Nina. Or Vlad, as the case might have been. She knew Vlad didn’t like her; maybe he didn’t want Nina liking her either. Or maybe he was concerned that Anna would tell Nina about what happened the night before?
When it was time for dessert, Anna beamed when her apple disappeared before any of the other pies. Jackie praised her and Anna blushed and hid behind Peter.
“You made this?” Vlad asked her with narrowed eyes.
“Yes,” Anna said softly. “With Jackie’s help. I...couldn't have done it without her help.”
Vlad stared at her for a moment and then stalked away without saying another word.
Chapter Twenty-One
Peter snuck Anna upstairs to his room later while the rest of the family was occupied with evening
activities.
“I hate sleeping alone,” Peter remarked, locking the door behind him. He walked quickly across the room to Anna and kissed her soundly. “We have to be quick, but when we get home, I’ll make it up to you.”
They returned downstairs about a half hour later and watched a movie with his family. She sat with Peter on the couch and he held her close. Anna was drifting off to sleep when Peter’s phone rang.
She looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost midnight. “Who is it?” she asked.
Peter looked troubled when he saw the name on the phone. “I have to take this. I’ll be back.” He stood quickly and answered the phone in Russian.
Only Vlad and Mikhail remained in the room, the rest of the family having gone to bed earlier. Anna glanced awkwardly at them and then stared hard at the TV.
“Dariya,” Vlad commented a moment later. He looked at Anna. “You know he has a girlfriend, right? A proper girlfriend?”
Anna flushed and looked at her hands. “Yes,” she answered softly. She hated the reminder and hated the ache in her heart knowing that eventually Peter would return to St. Petersburg and marry Dariya. Why couldn’t she stay aloof from men and not get attached?
“That bothers you?” Vlad asked, sounding surprised.
Anna looked at him with sad eyes. “It shouldn’t, but yes, it does.” She hugged her knees into her chest and rested her chin on top.
“Did it upset you, what I did yesterday?” Vlad asked abruptly.
Anna bit her lip. “In the garden?”
Vlad nodded.
Anna didn’t know how to answer that without offending him. “I didn’t like it,” she admitted in a voice barely above a whisper, and then winced, waiting for his answer.
Vlad leaned back in his chair and studied her. “How does Devin treat you?”
Anna’s eyes widened. “Is that a trick question?” she asked without thinking.
“No.”
She didn’t know how Devin would want her to respond. Would he be upset if she told Vlad about his abuse? Sometimes Devin freely told people how he kept her in line. Other times he made sure he treated her nicely around certain people. “He is my Master. He can treat me as he wants to treat me,” she answered finally. It wasn’t an answer, but she didn’t know what else to say.
Vlad frowned at her. “Does he treat you well? Is he affectionate?”
Anna hugged her knees even tighter. “Sometimes.”
“Does he hurt you?”
“Sometimes.”
Vlad sighed and frowned. “Do you ever give straight answers?”
Anna swallowed. “I try. I don’t know how he would want me to answer you.”
Vlad narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “Can't you answer as you want to?”
“I don’t want to get punished.”
Vlad and Mikhail glanced at each other. “He punishes you?”
Anna nodded. “When I misbehave.”
“Do you misbehave often?”
“I try not to. I try to be good, but....” Anna sighed. “I seem to always manage to anger him.”
“You enjoy angering him?”
Anna shook her head emphatically. “No, not at all. I try to be good.”
“What was Alex like?”
Anna’s chest tightened. “Why do you ask me that?”
Vlad shrugged his shoulders. “Curiosity, I suppose. Why would an Elder-Mistress choose to marry? It would seem...counterproductive to your...natural desires.”
“Natural desires?”
“To be with men. Why tie yourself down with marriage?”
“Tie down?” Anna blinked. “Alex...freed me. He kept Devin from hurting me. Or at least he did until he died.” She took a breath, willing the tears away. “They were the happiest days of my entire life.”
“You seemed rather upset when he died.”
She stared at Vlad. Upset was a complete understatement. “My whole world came crashing down around me the day I found out he was gone. Alex...loved me, unlike anyone had ever loved me before. He protected me. I thought he was invincible.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I thought he couldn’t die.” Her voice cracked.
“Everyone dies, Anna.”
“But with the bonding and everything, I thought....” She sniffed. “I guess I was wrong.” She wanted to run up to the bedroom and go to sleep. These questions made old wounds feel new and raw again.
“That was almost three years ago. You’re still upset about it? You were only married three months.”
Anna shrugged. Was she overdramatic about it? Should she move on from him? But there was nothing to move on to. “Alex was my only hope. He was the only one that Devin couldn’t hurt. And now...there’s nothing left, except Devin. A hell-filled life with him.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Nothing.”
Vlad didn’t respond and Peter returned a few minutes later. He looked like the phone call had not gone well.
Anna stood and looked at him. “If it’s all right with you, I think I’ll go to bed,” she said softly.
Peter nodded. “I’ll walk you up.”
“No, that’s okay,” Anna said quickly. “I...I’m okay.” She turned quickly and fled up the stairs and to the bedroom that she shared with Natalya, who was fast asleep. Anna buried her face in her pillow and cried herself to sleep.
*****
He was looking out the window again, his hair glinting in the sunlight. The window was closed and he had his arms crossed as if he were cold. A fire blazed in the fireplace.
She wondered what he looked at. Why was he always there? Was there anything beyond this room?
“Alex?” she said softly.
He turned and smiled at her. “Schatzi. Oh, my Schatzi.” He walked towards her and stopped a few feet from her and sighed. “I want so badly to hold you,” he said with such longing in his voice she felt a lump forming in her throat.
“Me too,” she admitted softly. “I went to the house and piled your clothes in the middle of the closet and fell asleep.” She smiled. “It smelled like you.”
“Are you living there again?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to live there without you,” she whispered. “I miss you so much. I...Devin...got me pregnant again. I wish you were here,” she added, her entire body burning with grief.
He frowned and clenched his jaw. “Again?”
“He does it every year.”
He ran his hands through his hair. “Anna...I will rescue you. I will get out of here somehow and I will find you.” His face was fierce with determination.
Anna swallowed. “I wish that were true,” she said sadly. “But I’m not afraid to dream about you anymore. At least Devin can’t control my dreams.”
Several emotions flitted over his face and then he smiled gently. “Dream of me. Yes, I like it when you dream of me.”
Anna smiled.
“Have you seen my father recently?”
She shook her head. “Devin told him he couldn’t come back after he tried to take me to Germany. He got...scary and forbade your entire family from even contacting me.”
“Scary? What do you mean?”
“He got...big...tall...and he could make your father do anything he wanted him to do.”
Alex looked thoughtful. “How is that possible?” he asked softly.
“Ian said it was because he took my power for himself.” She stumbled as the room spun around her.
“Anna? Anna, are you all right?”
She held her head and winced. “I don’t feel good.”
“Schatzi, I think you need to wake up. You’ve been here too long.”
Anna looked up and shook her head. “I don’t want to leave.” But the room was starting to fade.
“Dream of me again, Schatzi. I love you. So much.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered and closed her eyes.
Anna opened her eyes to see Peter and Vlad standing over her, watching her with concerned expressions. It was still night,
but a dim light next to her bed lit their faces.
“What were you dreaming of?” Vlad demanded.
Anna couldn’t speak and just stared at him.
“What were you—” Vlad repeated in a harsh voice, but Peter stopped him.
“Please don't scare her. It won’t do any good.” Peter sat next to her. “Gentle touch is more effective.” He brushed her hair back from her face and smiled gently. “Were you dreaming of Alex?”
Anna nodded.
“Have you dreamed of him before?”
“Lots of times. But before I met him, they were real. Now they’re just dreams.”
Peter frowned in confusion and seemed to repeat in his head what she said.
“You dreamed of him before you met him?” Vlad asked in a gentler voice.
Anna nodded.
“Why do you say they were real?”
“Because Alex told me he saw me. That I was really there.” She sighed. “But now they’re not real,” she added softly.
“Tell me what you saw,” Vlad said.
Anna told him about the room that Alex was in and how he looked different than he had when he was alive.
She looked up at Vlad and gasped. “I dreamed of you!” she stared at him, terrified. “No! It couldn’t be...No, why would I...?” She rubbed her eyes and shook her head. “I don’t understand.” She felt panicky and looked wildly around the room. Why did she dream of Vlad?
Vlad mumbled something in Russian, then pulled out his phone and spoke in Russian to someone. Maybe it was just the language, but he sounded irritated. He put the phone down a minute later.
“Anna. Anna, shh.” Vlad put his hand on her forehead and spoke calm, soothing words that she didn’t understand, but did indeed calm her. “Shh. Go back to sleep.”
Anna tried to protest, but her eyes grew heavy and she drifted off.
*****
The rest of the weekend was uneventful, but relaxing and enjoyable. Vlad left Anna alone, though she felt him watching her a lot. Peter took her to the Muse Boutique in downtown Laguna Beach where she bought a few things to let Wilhelm know where she was. She remembered her dream about Alex, but didn’t remember waking to find Peter and Vlad looking at her.
The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared Page 13
