*****
The cellar was freezing as usual. There were blankets and cots, but they did little to abate the cold. I hated being down here in the windowless box. Not to mention I was starting to feel like crap.
As time went on, I started sweating and shivering at the same time. Seth put me down on the bed and did what he could for me, but all I could do was shiver. Tony pounded on the metal door but no one came. God, would I die down there?
No relief came and the room seemed to grow even colder. Even the other men huddled in their beds against the cold. They had done all they could for me. I put my head under my blanket and wondered about death.
I felt you before I could see you. A warmth spread throughout the room before you even came to me. My thoughts were scattered, though I was surprised you were there. Vlad had said this room was sealed against your presence.
You pulled the blanket away from my face and I opened my eyes. My teeth chattered as I mumbled something about your presence and I tried to smile at you but all I could do was groan in pain. I felt your cool hand on my forehead and stared at you in wonder as you sighed in relief and then stretched out in the bed with me. I wanted to reach out to you, to wrap my arms around you and keep you there forever, but I couldn’t move. Instead, you wrapped your arms around me and I felt the fever leaving me. My body relaxed and I moved closer to you, but opened my eyes in alarm when your body became hot with the fever I’d just had.
“No, Anna. No, you can’t get sick.” I put my hand on your head and willed you to give me my sickness back. You cried out and I saw the pain in your eyes before you faded away.
“Anna!” I screamed sitting up. “Anna!”
But you were gone.
I looked around but knew you were gone. I caught Erich’s eye. “Did you see her?” I asked wildly.
Erich nodded. “Felt her first. The room is warmer.”
The other men had sat up.
“You okay?” Greg asked.
“She took my fever,” I rasped, staring at the ground. “She healed me.” I squeezed my eyes shut and fell back into my cot. I could almost feel you still next to me. Your warm body against mine. It was torture.
I didn’t know how long we were down in the box but when Vlad finally appeared, I charged at him. “Is she all right?”
Vlad looked at me, surprised. “Yes, Alex. She’s fine. She’s much better than she was. Your father challenged Devin, and she is with him and your brother now.”
I slumped against the wall in relief. I could feel my men relax as well. But I stiffened again as Vlad’s words sank in. “You think she is better because she is with my family?” I knew that my family had been forbidden to have contact with you and I was thrilled that the ban had been revoked.
Vlad didn’t answer right away. He looked away, emotions flitting across his face. “If I were to answer that in the positive, my family would be in danger.” He looked back at me. “The look of joy on her face when she was allowed to return to your father...was very pleasing.”
I read between the lines. Vlad didn’t approve of how Devin treated you, and maybe even what Devin was doing, period.
“You can return to your rooms,” Vlad said, stepping aside. As I stepped by him, after the others had left, Vlad spoke again. “You should spend some time in the library soon.”
I arched an eyebrow at the new Russian Elder, but nodded my head. “Perhaps I should go now?”
Vlad nodded and walked away.
I made my way to the large library on the second floor of the huge mansion. Vlad was definitely different from Vitaly and I wondered about the changes he had mentioned a few days ago.
One change I did notice as I made my way through the house was the lack of security. Vitaly had kept armed guards throughout the house; I couldn’t go more than a few steps without seeing a guard watching me with a gun ready to shoot me if I or any of the others acted suspiciously.
Now, I couldn’t see any in sight, which made me more nervous. Was Vlad tricking me? I stopped in the hallway and listened. I didn’t hear or sense anyone around me. It was odd. I looked around and didn’t see any new cameras, either. What was going on?
I arrived in the library and looked around to search for what Vlad obviously wanted me to find. Nothing caught my eye as I stood at the double-door entrance of the two-story library. I wandered slowly around the perimeter, looking for any differences. I knew this room almost as well as my own family’s library. My Russian had certainly improved since I’d been here; almost all of the books were in Russian.
Your presence still haunted me as I walked around the room. I missed you now more than ever. I was glad that you were able to see my family again, but a part of me couldn’t help but wonder if something might develop between you and my brother. My heart squeezed at the thought, though Kurt was the logical person to take my place in your life.
I stopped by a floor-to-ceiling window and leaned my head against the cool glass. What if you fell in love with Kurt and married him? Yes, I wanted you happy, but I wanted you happy with me, not my brother. Vlad, by his actions and words, had lit a glimmer of hope in my heart that we might actually get out of here someday. I felt the desire to fight growing inside me again. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I looked around the room with new eyes. What was different? What was it that Vlad wanted me to find? A bookshelf in the corner caught my eye. Something was odd.
I crossed the room in a few short strides and saw that the edges of some books were closer to the edge of the shelf than the surrounding books. I bent down and looked but there wasn’t anything behind them. So what was here?
The dust cover on a large book was slightly bent and ill fitting. I pulled the book out, opened the front cover and was astonished when I saw the elaborate script of an ancient Elder book.
There were three volumes of the Books of the Elders that had been banned centuries ago. I had found the first two when I had searched before we were married. This was the missing third volume! This was the volume that should tell me how to free you from Devin’s grip!
I ran my hands through my hair as my pulse pounded in my head. I was certain that this book had not been here before. Had Vlad put it here? He had to have done so, otherwise why would he have told me to go to the library?
Changes.... You.... Devin.... Freedom?
I closed the book and made sure the dustcover was in place, then turned and carried it out of the room. Vlad came around the corner and I stopped dead in my tracks, blood chilling in fear of what Vlad would say.
“Did you find anything interesting?” Vlad asked conversationally.
“I...uh, yes, I did,” I answered hesitantly.
Although Vlad didn’t smile, I saw his gaze soften. “Good. I hope you find it...educational.” He nodded his head and continued past me down the hallway.
I stood in the middle of the hallway for a split second more and then hurried to the staircase and up to my room. It would take me a while to decipher the book, but it would be easier since I was familiar with the language already. If Vlad had left this book for me to find, would he also provide a means of escape?
One thing at a time, I told myself. I needed to learn what I needed to know before I thought about anything else.
*****
I immersed myself in learning what I needed to know. Seth and the others would drag me out of my room every day to make sure I got exercise.
“Anna won’t like it if you’re skinny,” Seth teased.
I rolled my eyes, though my vanity winced. I had lost a lot of muscle tone over the years. What was the point of working out if I was never going to leave? But finding the book had renewed my desire for life. There was a chance that I would see you again! My heart pounded every time I thought about it.
The mood had lightened significantly since Vitaly had died. We found ourselves joking around and talking about what it would be like to be free again; something we hadn’t dared to even dream about for a very, very long time.
&
nbsp; Winter came and went and I studied diligently. Vlad told me that you were living with Devin after you went home and, from what Vlad had heard, you weren’t doing well. When Vlad would bring your performances for us to watch, I could see you weren’t yourself, though it was subtle. My heart ached for you, and my determination to get free increased.
*****
At the beginning of March, Vlad came to my room early one morning.
“Anna is gone.”
I was still in bed and I sat up straight. “What? What do you mean gone?”
Vlad’s face was inscrutable, as it was most of the time when he came to speak to me. “She ran away from Devin.”
My jaw dropped and I stared at Vlad. I could hardly comprehend his words. “Ran away?” I repeated. “How? Is she safe? Where is she?” Questions shot through my head like a bullet ricocheting off steel plates.
“She had help. Yes she is safe.” Vlad’s eyes softened. “She’s with friends.”
“Do you know where?”
Vlad didn’t answer, but strode to the window and looked out. “Our Gathering is next week in Moscow.” He turned to look at me. “I, of course, must attend and will have to take much of my household with me.”
My heart pounded in my chest. Was this our opportunity to escape? Was it a trick? “Oh?” was all I could come up with.
Vlad nodded. He looked like he wanted to say something, but hesitated. “Have you explored much of the house?”
I shook my head. “Your father kept us on a tight leash.”
“I hope you have noticed I am more...relaxed than he was.”
“I have,” I admitted. “I was used to guns pointed at me wherever I went. It’s...nice.”
Vlad allowed a smile to breach his face. “I can imagine.” He turned back to the window. “My father liked to keep things he thought could be useful. He kept them in a locked storage room under the house.” He paused. “It has a door to a tunnel that leads outside the property.”
My heart pounded even harder. Escape? “Th-that’s interesting,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. Was our gear in there?
“Of course, the room is guarded, but only by one man.” He turned around. “Midnight snacks are tasty, aren’t they?”
I blinked, hardly daring to believe what I was hearing. Vlad was telling me how to escape? “It can be dangerous, wandering a house at night.”
Vlad nodded. “It can be. If you’re not careful. But rewarding as well.” His eyes were pleading. “Sometimes someone else’s safety is worth the risk. Elder protections can only last so long against stronger men.”
I swallowed. I needed to find out where you were.
“We leave on Monday. I know I can trust you to...do the right thing.” He put his hands in his pockets and then drew them out again, and something hit the ground with a soft thud. “You’re a good man, Alex. I’m sorry I distrusted you.”
I nodded, still disbelieving my ears.
Vlad strode out of the room and closed the door behind him.
I sat for a moment, looking at the closed door and reflecting on what I had heard, and then walked over to the cloth bundle that Vlad had dropped. Inside were several keys. Praying this wasn’t a trap, I went to tell my men what I had learned and to make plans for Monday.
*****
“Vlad really did that?” Anna asked, eyes wide. She’d put her fork down and listened intently as Alex told her his story. Vlad really had risked everything to let Alex escape. “Devin doesn’t know?” she whispered.
Alex shook his head. “No, Vlad and Peter only have to hide it for a few more weeks, and with all the funerals, Devin’s a little...well, he’s started to get a little paranoid.” Harsh amusement lit his eyes. “I can’t wait to see him going to Tyler’s funeral.”
Anna bit her lip. She understood Alex’s feelings; hers weren’t much different. But the years of imprisonment had hardened him. She could see it in his eyes. Or maybe this was what he went through when preparing for a job. Then again, this job was personal.
She reached across the table and put her hand on his. He looked down, his eyes softening as he looked at her hand. “Alex, I will respect what the Elders decide about me going along,” she said softly. “But please consider the fact that it’s my fight too. I want to see you stand up to Devin. I want to see the look on his face when he realizes he’s lost.” She paused. “I’m the one who had to live with him, who dealt with him every day.”
Alex pressed his lips together and nodded. “I understand, Schatzi. I will speak to my father tonight.”
Anna smiled. “Thank you.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes and Anna’s curiosity got the better of her. “How did you escape?”
Chapter Forty-Four
Alex took a breath, thankful for Anna’s desire to hear his story. They’d missed so much of each other’s lives. It was a way he felt that he could share of himself.
*****
Monday morning, I watched from my window as Vlad, Peter and an enormous entourage climbed into several SUVs and drove down the road and through the gate that guarded the property. If I counted correctly, there were only a handful of guards left in the house. I inhaled deeply and went to discuss last minute plans with the others.
At midnight, dressed in the darkest clothing we had, I unlocked the door to the stairs and the five of us crept silently downstairs. We carried a few possessions in pillowcases, including the Book of the Elder that I had “found.” Though we were out of practice, we moved as silently as ever, prepared to attack whomever we came across. I was operating without a full team, but it would have to do.
At the bottom of the stairs we paused outside the door to the house. I listened at the crack and heard movement. I motioned to my men that there was someone out there and they moved into position. I pressed myself against the wall to the side of the door and turned the handle and let the door swing open. The guard grunted and poked his head through the doorway and I grabbed his head and twisted his neck, breaking it with a satisfying twist of my hands. Tony and I dragged the guard into the corner of the stairwell and searched his body, coming up with a pistol and several magazines. There was also a wallet and a throwing knife, which I tossed to Erich, who grinned. I stuck the pistol in the back of my waistband and we slowly crept along the side of the dimly lit hallway, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. There were no other guards until we reached the corner that led down to the kitchen.
The man was too far away to sneak up on, so Tony charged the guard and broke his neck, and we dragged the body to a side closet, stripping him of his wallet and weapons.
We crept down the stone staircase silently, unsure if there was another guard in place. The kitchen was dark except for the moonlight streaming through the windows. I listened for a long while and when I was satisfied there was no one in there, we made our way through the narrow doorway and began searching. The only thing I knew was that the storage room was in there. We gathered as much food as we could, dropping bread and fruit into the extra pillowcases. I chuckled as I remembered doing something similar with Kurt when we were children.
A low whistle from Greg told me the door had been found. It was in the back of the pantry. I produced the key and unlocked the door. It wasn’t quiet, but not loud enough to overly concern us. Once the door was closed, Tony found a light switch and the room lit brightly. We had to wait for our eyes to adjust before looking around in amazement. All our gear was in here, plus some.
We took a quick inventory and shrugged into our darker “sneaking” clothes before divvying up the extra gear from our deceased friends. Once we were somewhere relatively safe, we could check our weapons, but the important thing was to get out of there. Quickly. I located the door across the room and opened it. It smelled of wet dirt and something else unpleasant, but I trusted that it went where Vlad said it did. Once our flashlights were on, Greg turned out the light and we filed into the tunnel, closing the door behind us.
It was long and st
raight, with damp stone walls and floor and a wooden ceiling. Our boots made little sound as we quickly jogged through the narrow passageway. After about fifteen minutes we came to a rusted metal doorway. I studied the door. There was no visible keyhole or latch. I poked around a little and found a hidden latch near the bottom and pushed the door open. Fresh, cold air rushed into my face and I took in deep gulps.
“Freedom,” I whispered in a husky voice. I looked back and grinned at my friends. They returned the grin and filed out into the dark forest, closing the door quietly behind us. As much as I wanted to savor our newly found freedom, we had to keep moving.
We were south of the mansion and I knew there was a town a few miles away that had a local train into the main city. We had to get into St. Petersburg to catch the train to Warsaw, and then to Frankfurt. Train was the easiest way to travel. Our ultimate destination was my father’s house. Vati would be able to help me figure out what to do next. Maybe he even knew where you were.
The five of us took off in a southeasterly direction, not talking but concentrating our energy on getting where we needed to go. A few miles into our journey we were huffing more than we ever had in the past; confinement had taken its toll.
By the time we made it into the town, we were exhausted. The plan was to “borrow” a car and take it to the closest train station. Seth and Tony would go find a suitable vehicle while I waited on the edge of town with Greg and Erich. Two men walking around weren’t as noticeable as five.
We didn’t speak much, but ate a snack as we waited for Seth and Tony to return. If there was one thing they knew how to do, it was get places without being noticed. That was never the issue with getting away from Vitaly. The issue had been guards that watched our every move, prepared to shoot to kill if we even looked like we were trying to escape. I closed my eyes at the memory of my friends’ deaths.
After what seemed like an eternity, a dark sedan pulled up next to us and I heard the signal whistle. We shoved our things into the trunk and squeezed into the small car.
The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged Page 35
