CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
As Anastasia and Dakota stood staring at the looming façade of the house she had grown to fear nearly as much as the man who owned it, she couldn’t help but see the irony. She had always wanted to get away from this place, wanted nothing more than to turn back and never have to set foot in its cold rooms again. But it seemed that her trip to Terrenia had only been a temporary stay of her fears. She had always known on some level that she would end up back here again.
They had parked the car inside the garage of Dakota’s family home. She hadn’t known they still owned it, but was glad that it gave them a way of concealing their visit.
Anastasia took a deep breath and stepped towards the door. She reached behind an empty planter on the porch and found the spare key. The plant that had once been in it was long dead. Monica had always hired others to care for them because she couldn’t stand the dirt, but she had always loved her plants. They had surprisingly been the one thing of hers that Mitch never destroyed. He would break her plates, her picture frames and even her bones but the bastard had never touched her plants.
She pushed open the door and stepped back into her teenage years. Other than being dark, everything looked the same. The décor hadn’t been changed and pictures still hung on the walls in the same place they had always been. No pictures of her though, there hadn't ever been any photos of her on the wall. The only pictures Mitch would allow hung were of himself and Monica at the various parties they attended.
“How did she die?” Anastasia asked as she walked into the kitchen. She ran her fingers over the pots and pans that hung on the holder over the island. Monica had spent most of her time in the kitchen, Anastasia remembered.
“It was ruled an accident, though everyone always suspected Mitch had been behind it.” He paused regarding her warily as if she may break at any moment. “She fell down the stairs.”
Anastasia nodded. It had been no accident. Monica had been pushed down those stairs before she remembered, as had she.
“Anastasia.” His voice was soft and she turned to face him. She hadn’t even realized she had tears falling down her face until he gently wiped them away. “We can leave if you want.”
“No, I need to do this.” She continued to walk the house and stopped at the base of the stairs. She took a deep breath and felt his fingers interlock with hers. Here he was again, her strength. Just as he had always been when they had been kids. With him by her side she felt as if she could do anything.
She pushed the door open to her room and stepped inside. Everything looked exactly the same. Other than the dust, she could tell someone had been in there to clean up after she had left. The bed was made where she knew it had been unmade when she had left. Books and papers were stacked neatly on her desk, and all pictures of her and Dakota had been taken down off of her corkboard.
“They came in and cleaned this.” She said aloud.
“I know.” His jaw was tight and she knew this was just as difficult for him as it was for her. “Do you know how hard it was to look out my window every day and see your blinds closed. To know that you were not here and to wonder if I would ever see you again?” She could feel the tension coming off of him in waves and knew that this was just as difficult for him as it was for her.
Dakota was doing the best he could to keep his emotions in check. In his head, they were teenagers again and he was bringing her meatloaf and begging her to leave with him. He knew she had done what she had thought was best for everyone, but he couldn’t help himself from feeling angry.
“I do.” Her voice brought him back to the present and he turned to stare at her. He knew she had been broken, but the Anastasia standing before him had no cracks.
She was stunningly beautiful, and although he knew she carried a weight on her shoulders, she held it as if it were effortless. She had managed to pick up the pieces of her childhood and use them to turn herself into a warrior.
He had always respected her for the way she had held herself when he knew so much was going wrong in her life, but now he found himself wildly attracted to the woman she had become. He closed the distance between them in seconds until she was standing so close to him that he could see each and every emotion that crossed her face.
“Well, isn’t this sweet?” Anastasia felt every ounce of blood drain from her face. His voice it her like a ton of bricks this time, much worse than it had in the hospital. He looked just as she had remembered him. The only sign of aging was the slight greying at his temples.
“I'm having deja-vu all over again. Except this time his father is not here to save him, is he Anastasia?” He sauntered into the room and began looking at the blank walls. “And why is that again I wonder? Oh, that’s right. You had to go and run away like the scared little brat you are. Because of that, the oldest Parker couldn’t keep his nose out of my business.”
“Ana, come back to me.” She could hear Dakota talking but he sounded as if he were a million miles away.
“Still weak.” He scoffed and moved further into the room. “I don’t know why he is wasting time looking for you. You are nothing. You have always been nothing. And you will continue to be nothing until you die, which is going to be soon by the way.” She could feel his breath on her neck and it sent shiver up her spine.
“Ana.” Dakota gripped her hand and the touch had her beginning to focus her brain.
“He’s going to come for you. He will destroy the city and your little boy toy here until he finds you.”
“Ana.” Dakota repeated squeezing her hand.
“There is nothing he is going to be able to do to protect you. He can’t even see me now.” He laughed and stepped towards her. “You are going to die, Anastasia. Just as your birth parents did. Only yours won’t be so humane.” He lunged for her and she fell backwards.
Her body once again shook with fear. Dakota came into focus and she realized she was lying on the floor in the same corner she had used to hide in.
“Ana!” He yelled as he cupped her face with his hands and stared into her eyes.
“He was here.”
“Who was here?”
“Mitch. He was right in here with us.”
“No, baby, he wasn’t. It’s only been us.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m not sure how but he projected himself here.” Could he have magic as well? Or was Vincent projecting him here as a form of bait for her? Believing she would come running to him in order to save those she loved?
She wasn’t sure how long they sat there but eventually her body relaxed into him. When he released her he sat back against her bed and watched her face.
“Would you like to talk now?” He asked. She knew she needed to tell him but she couldn’t stand to be in this house any longer.
“I want to leave first.”
“Then let’s go.” He pulled her to her feet and they walked out together, leaving her past that was as dark as the old house.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“He told me that Vincent would tear apart the city looking for me if I didn’t turn myself over.” She told him later as they drove back out to Dakota’s old family cabin.
“Of course he did, they are baiting you.”
She nodded absently from the passenger seat. She wasn’t stupid, she knew it was a trap, and still it was one she would be willing to fall into if it meant saving lives, especially those of the people she loved.
“Don’t fall into their trap Anastasia.” Elizabeth offered from the backseat as if she had read Anastasia’s mind.
She knew she couldn’t, but she couldn’t deny the fear that was inside of her for Dakota and Elizabeth. She knew she wouldn’t survive it if anything happened to them.
“I need to go back to Terrenia tonight. And I want the two of you to come with me.” She stood facing them as they stepped from the car. “I have enough portals left for one trip there and then one last round trip back.”
Elizabeth stood gaping at her. She could see the excit
ement on her face and hoped that Dakota would feel the same on some level.
“You will be safe there.” She said to Elizabeth. She needed Dakota with her. She wasn’t sure how she knew it, but she couldn’t do what she needed to do without him by her side. He was her light, just as Gregory had said.
“Stupid bitch.” She heard the voice and she spun to face Maximus. He was coming from the tree line, at least a dozen Brutes behind him. “Do you truly believe you will be leaving? Gregory and your little pet aren’t here to save you this time.”
She felt Dakota as he came to stand next to her.
“Oh, this must be your bestie, huh? The one you were always hung up on.” He laughed and looked at Dakota. “Tell me, Anastasia, how would he feel about you knowing you murdered someone.” He sneered and bared his teeth.
“What is he talking about?” Dakota asked her quietly. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
“She deserved to die.” She said to Maximus. “Ophelia was a psychopath. Which, I suppose, is why the two of you got along so well.”
“You will not say her name!” He screamed at her.
“Oh, I’m sorry does that bother you, Maximus?” She taunted him, knowing that was his weakness. Her hand moved towards the gun at her belt.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Anastasia. Would end badly for your boy and his mother.” Maximus pointed behind her and she turned to see that they were completely surrounded with Brutes.
Her heart dropped to her feet and the panic set in. There was no way she could handle this many, and she knew that the dirk wouldn’t give Dakota the protection he needed. She had only one choice, and it wasn’t one she had ever wanted to visit. She moved her hand to the side and stared straight at Maximus.
“You leave now, Maximus, or you are going to regret it.” She only had one choice, she reminded herself, one tool she knew wouldn’t fail her. Only problem was, it could also be the one that would change her forever.
“When will you learn Anastasia? I do not fear you!” He yelled again and took a step towards her.
She closed her eyes and felt the power humming in her veins. She urged it foreword and when she opened her eyes she saw the fear he had denied all over Maximus’s face. He knew she possessed magic, he had seen it the night that he had cornered her, but it seemed that seeing her now was a much needed reminder for him.
“Leave Maximus.” The Brutes next to him started to take a step back but he turned to them.
“You move and I will kill you myself.” He spit it at them and then turned back to her. “You might as well be signing their death warrants yourself, Anastasia. You use that magic and it will consume you.” He bared his teeth at her. “You will kill them yourself before the night is over.”
On some level she feared he was right, but she was too far gone. She lifted her palms and two balls of light floated up into the air.
Maximus laughed. “I’ve seen that trick before. What are you going to do? Try and amaze us to death? You’re just as weak as your father was. I don’t see what my father sees in you.” He saw the surprise and confusion on her face and laughed madly. “That’s right! We’re cousins, you and I! My father came for me shortly after you showed up. He showed me the truth and what our world could be. Such a waste you inherited the magic.” He was disgusted and pulled a gun from his waistband. “I have other means of making things even.” He pointed the gun at Dakota.
“No!” Elizabeth screamed.
“You killed Ophelia, and now I’m going to take your precious Dakota away from you.”
She smiled at him and in it was nothing but the promise of death. The balls exploded and Dakota dove on top of his mother as each tiny shard buried itself into the chests of the Brutes that flanked them.
Maximus stared at her and then looked back to the bodies behind her in shock.
“Ever seen that trick before, Maximus?” She asked her voice dripping with anger.
The Brutes behind him charged her and with each one that came for her she threw her palm out. They fell one by one and soon it was only the two of them standing in the center of the charred bodies.
Just as Maximus raised the gun towards her he froze. Anastasia stood staring at him, waiting for him to move. She bared her teeth when Vincent walked from the trees.
“My dear child. What have we here?”
“You.” She growled at him.
“You are fascinating.”
“I'm going to kill you.”
He laughed. “No, you won’t.”
She conjured up another ball of light and flung it at him. He put up his hand and it fell to the ground leaving nothing but a small scorch mark in the grass. She stared at him in awe.
“My brother trained you well, but not well enough it seems.” He waved his hand and she fell to the ground. She felt the fear set in and with it her magic dissipated. She turned to see Dakota frozen, shielding his mother.
“You are capable of so much, Anastasia, I knew it from the second I laid eyes on you. It’s why I only relocated you.”
“So, I’m supposed to thank you for placing me at the hands of someone who beat me?” She got to her feet and unsheathed her sword.
“It’s unfortunate that Mitch treated you the way he did, but it seems as if it only benefited you in the long run. Wouldn’t you say?”
She stood staring at him.
“If you come with me, I will spare them and I will train you to become so much more than you are.”
“I won’t turn dark.”
He shook his head, annoyed. “There is so much more then light and dark, Anastasia. One day you will see that.”
“My father wouldn’t join you and neither will I.”
“Gregory was weak.” She thought she could almost see a twinge of pain in his eyes. “It’s unfortunate that things ended the way they did with him.”
“You had him killed.” She said angrily, the grief sending a fresh wave of pain over her.
“I did not wish for him to die!” He yelled and Anastasia noted the break in his cool façade, like father like son she supposed, thinking of Maximus. “Had you not killed Ophelia, I would have killed her myself.”
“It was your fault! You sent her to our village. You are the reason he is dead!” She yelled and stepped towards him.
“You brought her back to your village did you not? Trusted her enough to leave her alone there while you went running through the forest. So, tell me Anastasia, who is truly at fault?”
“You are wrong.”
“Am I? Tell me, did my brother teach you about the portals?”
At the look on her face he continued. “I see he didn’t. I'm sure it was just an oversight and not a way to keep you from leaving.” He started to turn and head for the woods.
“Think about my offer, Anastasia.”
“I will never come to you!”
“Then I will tear this city apart and the deaths of its citizens and your friends,” he motioned to Dakota and Elizabeth, “Will be on your hands.”
She lunged for him with her sword but with a laugh he disappeared.
She heard Maximus screaming her name a second too late and turned to see him lunging on her. She heard the gunshot and he stopped in his tracks.
Blood splattered her shirt and as he fell to his knees she saw Dakota standing behind him, his gun pointed. He lowered it and regarded her warily.
“You alright?” He asked cautiously. She nodded and fell to her knees. Her magic had drained her and she was beginning to feel the exhaustion. What had Vincent meant about the portals? Was he talking about the formula needed to open one?
“What happened?” Dakota knelt beside her.
“Not here.” She told him and slowly stood. “We need to leave, more will be coming.”
Dakota ran to Elizabeth and pulled her to her feet. Her face was white with shock and Anastasia was concerned she may pass out. They had to get to Terrenia.
She pulled out one of the vials and threw it to the
ground. Anastasia held her hand out for Dakota’s and when their fingers interlaced she felt the connection again. She nodded to them and together they stepped into the swirling blue light.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Well, that was something, wasn’t it?” Elizabeth said as soon as they stood on the other side.
They had landed right outside of the training cottage. Anastasia looked around fearing that the Brutes might have come back and destroyed the rest of her village but she saw no sign of any issues.
“It’s night here too.” Dakota said sounding surprised.
“Time moves the same here.” She began walking towards the village when she felt herself being tackled from behind.
“Ana!” She heard Dakota yell.
“It’s okay, Dakota.” She laughed as she rolled over to look at Kaley. “This is Kaley.”
“What is she?” Elizabeth asked staring in disbelief.
“My protector.” Anastasia laughed as she got back to her feet. “I missed you, too, girl.” She said as she pet the large cat.
“Hi, Kaley.” Elizabeth said and held out a hand as the cat came over. She rubbed her head against it and within moments Anastasia could see that Elizabeth was in love. “She is just the sweetest!” She exclaimed and knelt to rub the cat’s side. Kaley began to purr and then went to Dakota.
The man and cat stood staring at each other and when he reached his hand out to pet her, she bowed against it in a show of respect. It made Anastasia’s heart warm. Gregory had been the only other person she had offered that too.
“She likes you.” She said to Dakota.
He smiled at her and then followed as she turned to walk towards the village. Moments after they had begun walking Brady came into view.
“Anastasia!” He yelled and ran for her.
“Hey, Brady!” She greeted him and accepted the hug he offered. He spun her around and then set her back on the ground.
The Phoenix (The Prophecy #1) Page 15
