Anna blinked and looked up at Kurt.
“Are you warm enough?”
She didn’t respond for a moment and then gave a slight nod and went back to staring out into nothing.
Kurt glanced at Aaron and shrugged. “That is all I can get out of her. Vati said they made love and she responded to him. But the next morning was like this again.”
Aaron frowned at the idea of Wilhelm being with Anna. “Why did he do that to her?”
“Do what?”
“Have sex?”
Kurt sighed. “He is her Master now. She initiated it, not Vati.”
“That’s wrong on so many levels,” Aaron snapped. “Your dad shouldn’t be fucking his son’s wife.”
Kurt looked at him sadly. “Perhaps for most people.” He motioned to Anna. “What else would you propose? You know what Devin did to her. You know how she responded to Ben’s death.”
Aaron sighed. “I don’t know. She’s just—”
“She is just really fucked up, Aaron. We’re doing the best we can with her. I don’t know what to do. Vati doesn’t know what to do. She has shut down.” Kurt took a deep breath. “Vati is afraid she might not recover. That this was a breaking point that she can’t come back from.”
“That’s nice of you to give up on her.”
“Again...what do you propose, Aaron? She is here. With us. We love on her as best we can, but she just spaces out. She has no idea what is going on around her and does not care. The only way she comes back to life is through sex. But even that is just temporary. She is always worse in the mornings.”
“Maybe because your dad fucked her,” Aaron snapped loudly.
They both looked down at Anna. She didn’t move. She hadn’t moved since they’d stopped walking.
“Vati says that she is talking to someone in her sleep. And when she wakes up, her eyes are wild and then she just breaks down and cries. The rest of the day she is like this.”
“Is it like her dreams before?”
“She does not remember them once she is awake. We have no idea what they are about.”
They started walking again. They went forward a few steps and Kurt went back to guide Anna forward.
Aaron had to admit Kurt had changed. He was very attentive to Anna. When her sweater slipped even the slightest bit, he immediately fixed it. A leaf blew into her hair and Kurt plucked it out. Aaron felt jealousy twist his heart as he watched Kurt with her.
“Where’s Gretchen?” Aaron asked.
“Gone. Back to Berlin to her mother. I will be filing for divorce.”
Aaron couldn’t hide his shock. Was it because of Anna? “Why?”
“She is not a fit wife for an Elder. Did Alex tell you about Otto?”
“Your son that was born in November?”
Kurt nodded. “Except that he is not my son. He is Alex’s.”
Aaron stopped dead in his tracks. Alex hadn’t told him any of that.
“She got pregnant and lied about who the father was. She also admitted...well, several disgusting matters, and also decided that the appropriate day to announce her transgressions was Anna and Alex’s wedding day. We have had problems for years, but this crossed the line. Vati gave me permission to seek a divorce. Otto will be well taken care of, but in Berlin. Not here.”
“Wow,” was all Aaron could say. “Do you... I mean, with Anna, does your dad want you and her to...be together?”
“He mentioned it, but we would never force her into a marriage. It would be a logical match, but she needs to recover first.” Kurt tucked a piece of hair that had blown across her face behind her ear.
Yes, she needed to recover. She had become a shell of her former person. Her face was pale and her eyes were lifeless. It pained Aaron’s heart to see her like this. Especially after being with her the last few months when she was so full of life and joy.
Kurt’s phone buzzed. “Excuse me.” He turned away and spoke in German.
Aaron pulled Anna into his arms and hugged her close. “I’m so sorry, Anna,” he said quietly. She leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes.
Kurt cursed and turned back. “Devin is here.”
“Devin? Why?” Why on earth would he be here? To take Anna home? Aaron knew that as much as he wanted Anna back in San Francisco, she was much safer here. Far away from Devin.
“He is an Elder. He has a right to be at the service. Most of the world Elders will be there. And tonight as well.” Kurt shuddered. “He gives me the creeps.”
Aaron chuckled darkly. “He makes me want to become a murderer.”
Kurt’s smile was grim. “I know the feeling.”
They led Anna back to the house and into the salon where Devin waited.
Chapter Sixty-One
Devin looked up as Anna was brought into the room, flanked by Kurt and Aaron. They both gave him suspicious looks and appeared very defensive of the young woman who stood between them. He sighed inwardly. He was going to have to be careful while he was here. Anna was commanding a great deal of attention, and Devin would have to be on his best behavior to get her back home.
“Hello, Anna,” he said, standing and walking to her.
She didn’t respond and he frowned.
“You have to touch her to get her attention,” Kurt explained and knelt beside her. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Anna. Devin is here.”
She turned her head and it took a moment for her eyes to focus on Kurt. She blinked several times and then looked at Devin. Her face remained impassive.
Devin looked at Kurt. “May I have some time with her?”
Kurt narrowed his eyes. “What are you going to do?”
Impudent son of a bitch! “I just want to talk to her.”
“Good luck with that,” Kurt said, but gently pushed Anna forward. “She only speaks to my father.”
Devin took her hand and led her to the couch. “Maybe I can help,” he said, looking at Anna. He glanced back at the two men who still stood in the doorway and gave them an impatient look.
They both frowned, but turned and walked out of the room.
“Anna,” Devin said.
She looked at him with blank eyes.
Devin sighed. This wasn’t good. She wasn’t even responding to him. She had completely shut down. Well, now he knew her limits.
He trailed his fingers across her forehead and down her temple to her cheekbone. Her eyes closed momentarily and then opened again, this time they were full of grief. Tears welled up and spilled over onto her cheeks.
She began to sob and he put his arms around her. She wouldn’t shut down again. At least not for a while. Her feelings would stay raw until her brain couldn’t take it anymore and she shut down again. But by then she would be home.
He handed her a tissue and she blotted her eyes, though the tears kept spilling.
“Why did you do that?” she asked quietly. “I liked not feeling anything.”
“It’s not healthy to shut down like that, Anna.”
“It hurts!” She rubbed her chest.
“I know, Baby. But avoiding the pain will just prolong it.”
“I don’t want to feel!”
“But if you don’t feel, you won’t feel anything good either.”
“What could possibly feel good?” she spat.
Devin smiled and reached forward to touch her breast. She sucked in a breath and held it while he caressed her in the way he knew she liked. “Does that feel good?” he whispered.
Her eyes closed and her lips parted as she nodded.
“There are good things to feel, even when you’re hurting Anna. If you shut down, you won’t feel like this again.” He slid his hand under her sweater and caressed her breast over her thin cotton bra. Her nipple was taut and he squeezed it, making her gasp.
She moaned softly and then whimpered when he withdrew his hand. She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Please don’t stop,” she begged.
Devin smiled gently. “Baby, as much as I’d
like to, I can’t fuck you here on the couch in Wilhelm’s house.”
She looked around as if she didn’t realize where she was. “Oh.”
“When you come home, I promise I will make you feel really, really good.” He cupped her chin and kissed her on the mouth.
“I don’t know when I’m coming home.”
“Anna, he can’t keep you here if you don’t want to be here. I’m leaving Monday morning. I can get you a ticket to come with me if you’d like, but it’s up to you. If you’d rather stay here....” He shrugged. He couldn’t force her to leave. He could only make it miserable to stay.
She shook her head. “I can’t leave Wilhelm.”
“Baby, Wilhelm has a family to take care of.” He stroked her cheek.
Anna looked confused and then sad.
“I should go. I know I’m not exactly welcome here, but I wanted to check on you.”
Anna looked up at him with sad eyes. “You’re leaving me?”
“Only because I have to, Baby. I’ll see you tonight at the Manor, or whatever the fuck they call it here.”
“Schloss,” Anna said quietly.
Devin rolled his eyes and stood.
Anna stared at her hands as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Devin reached into his pocket and handed Anna a tiny plastic bag. “Here. If things get too...painful, take this. It will help.”
Anna held up the bag and looked at the small white pill. “What is it?”
“Something to help you feel better. It’s only a half dose. You shouldn’t take it without someone being around, but I don’t think Wilhelm would approve. Only take it if you need it.” And she would need it. He was sure of it. He kissed her on the top of her head. “Don’t take it before the Gathering.”
Anna nodded and put the bag in her pocket.
Having accomplished what he came to do, Devin found his way out of the house and drove back to his hotel, confident that Anna would be returning to San Francisco with him on Monday.
*****
Anna sat for a moment in the salon and then stood to find Wilhelm. The pain in her chest was so agonizing, she thought she would die. She missed Alex so much she could hardly breathe.
She went to Wilhelm’s study and knocked on the door.
“Herein.”
She opened the door and found Wilhelm and Kurt inside.
She looked at both of them for a moment. “What time do we need to leave?”
They both stared at her.
“Em,” Wilhelm said slowly. “In about an hour, I think.”
“I’ll be in my room, if that’s all right?”
Wilhelm nodded. “I’ll come get you when it's time.”
She nodded and closed the door and went up to Alex’s room. As soon as the door opened, the pain in her heart increased to incredible levels. The memories flooded into her brain and overwhelmed her.
She huddled in the corner by the door and wept.
*****
“Is it me, or did she look coherent?” Kurt asked, staring at the closed door.
Wilhelm also stared at the door, concerned and relieved at the same time. “Yes, she did.”
“That’s good, right?” Kurt said, looking hopeful.
Wilhelm shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m glad she’s...alert, but I wonder what Devin did.” He sighed. “I don’t trust that man. He’s going to try to manipulate Anna to go back to San Francisco, I just know it.”
“But she can’t stay here for long, can she? I mean, if Alex were here it’d be different...”
It was true. Elder Mistresses were linked to their birthplaces. If Anna stayed here for an extended period of time, she would start to get sick. She had to be in her hometown or with her Master. Only Alex could have kept her here without hurting her. Wilhelm didn’t have enough power to override her need for Devin and San Francisco.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Anna sat at Wilhelm’s feet in the Schloss’s Great Hall. There were almost as many white robes as there were blue and green. Elders, Deacons and Brothers from around the world had come to say goodbye to Alex and his men.
The pain of listening to so many people talk about Alex made Anna want to scream. Wilhelm had done something to her so she couldn’t speak, which was probably a good thing. Otherwise, she would be screaming. As it was, she sat on the pillow and the tears streamed down her face.
The Schloss Dirne were there, as well as the other Elder-Mistresses. She could sense them, though she couldn’t see them.
Men in green robes walked up an aisle carrying black robes, save one who carried a white robe. Alex’s robe. Wilhelm stood and took the robe from the man and then, one after the other, the robes were placed in a large brazier to burn. Alex’s was last. She stared at the fire as it consumed the fabric.
Goodbye my husband. My Master. My love.
Kurt was brought forward and Wilhelm declared him his Elder-Son. He received his double ring piercing and demonstrated his submission to his father.
When the ceremony was over, the gathering became more like a normal gathering. Wilhelm told her that he hoped the men would respect her grief and not approach, but if they did, she would have to attend to them. She was the first Elder-Mistress to be married in a long time, so the men might not think about the fact that Anna would be grieving. Apparently, half-Immortals were not prone to much emotion. Little affected them.
She saw the other Mistresses flirting and attending to the Elders. They were all beautiful and graceful, and Anna could hardly take her eyes off them. If only she were more like them, maybe she wouldn’t be hurting so badly.
*****
Wilhelm saw Devin talking with Vitaly in the back of the room. Something about the two of them together didn’t sit right with him, though Wilhelm couldn’t pinpoint a reason. He would have to keep an eye on them.
He patted Anna’s head. He wished there was something he could do to comfort her.
A tall, blond young man was watching Anna from a few feet away. He looked like he wanted to go to her, but couldn’t make up his mind. Wilhelm frowned. Fathers didn’t teach respect these days. He figured if Anna would be approached, it would probably be one of the Sons.
The young man seemed to make up his mind and nervously approached the platform where Wilhelm sat. He looked at Wilhelm and gave him a timid smile.
“Excuse me, my lord. Could I please speak to Ann-I mean, the Mistress?”
Anna’s head lifted suddenly and she looked at the young man.
“Who are you?” he asked sternly.
“My name is Tommy Pendleton. I-My father is Tom Pendleton, of New York.”
Tommy shifted from foot to foot, which amused Wilhelm. He didn’t seem like the typical cocky Elder-Son. And Anna seemed to know him.
Wilhelm nodded, and Tommy stepped forward and knelt in front of Anna.
“Hey, Anna,” he said softly.
Anna looked at him for a long moment. “Good evening, my lord,” she answered formally. Wilhelm had given back her ability to speak after the rituals were completed.
Tommy frowned. “I hate it when you call me that.”
“It’s proper,” she whispered.
He reached out his hand to stroke Anna’s cheek. The tenderness in his eyes made Wilhelm relax. This young man cared deeply for Anna. He wouldn’t hurt her.
“I’m so sorry about...everything, Anna,” he said softly.
“Thank you, my lord. You are very kind.”
Tommy looked hurt. Anna was being very formal while Tommy was trying to be kind. Was she afraid of Wilhelm scolding her?
Kurt came to sit next to his father. “My ass hurts,” he said in German.
Wilhelm chuckled. “I’m sorry, son. But that is how it’s done.”
“Even Alex?”
“Of course. Did he tell you what happened the night before his wedding?”
Kurt shook his head.
Wilhelm told him how all the German Elders had taken Alex in the ass while not letting h
im orgasm.
“Men can really come from that?” Kurt seemed bewildered.
“You’ve never been with a man?” Wilhelm was surprised. He was fairly certain Kurt had done every sexual act there was.
“Only to share a woman. I’ve never been attracted to men, Vati.”
“Yes, men can come from that. Quite nicely, actually.”
Kurt gave his father a startled look. “I think I’ll stick to women.” He noticed Tommy talking to Anna. “Who’s that?” he asked with a touch of defensiveness.
“Tommy Pendleton, of New York.”
“He likes her.”
“I believe you are right.”
Kurt frowned.
“Kurt, you may pursue her now, if you’d like. But you need to be gentle and patient with her. And if you ever treat her like you treated Gretchen, I’ll tan your hide.”
“I wouldn’t do that, Vati.”
“Good.”
Kurt watched Tommy and Anna for a while. Tommy was trying to make Anna feel better, but she remained cool and aloof. Tommy looked up at Wilhelm and Wilhelm gave him an understanding smile.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll let you be alone, Anna. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Tommy got up and walked away. Wilhelm’s heart went out to him.
“Perhaps you should go to her tonight. When we go home.”
“We’re not staying?”
Wilhelm shook his head. “I’m not in the mood. I want to go home.”
*****
Anna lay huddled on the floor in front of the fireplace. She couldn’t sleep. She stared into the dying flames and thought of Alex. If she could rip her heart of out of her chest she would. Nothing took away the pain.
Suddenly she remembered the pill that Devin had given her. He said it would help her feel better. She jumped up and ran to the bathroom where she had put it in a drawer. She stared at it for a moment and then filled a cup with water and swallowed the pill.
She returned to the fireplace and sat down in the chair. How long would it take? What would it feel like?
After a while, she felt herself relaxing. The ache in her heart dulled. It still hurt, but it was much better than it had been. She might actually be able to get a decent night’s sleep. She glanced at the big bed. It didn’t look so lonely now.
The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced Page 34
