The Life of Anna, Part 4: Ensnared (33 page)

The grief consumed him and Anna wrapped her
arms around him as he sobbed. Anna wanted so desperately to help
him...to heal him of his hurts. She had finally come to some
semblance of acceptance of Alex’s death. The hope that had kept
Wilhelm going had been ripped away and his heart was raw once
again.

She felt something inside her start to grow
warm. She could heal his heart.

“Wilhelm,” she said softly next to his ear.
“Wilhelm, come with me.” She took his hand and led him upstairs and
into the room she had stayed in the night before her wedding. She
closed the door and led him to the bed. “Sit,” she said softly.

He sat and she began to unbutton her sweater.
He stared blankly at her hands as they moved swiftly down her torso
and then pulled the sweater off her shoulders and let it fall to
the ground. His eyes moved to her swollen breasts and he gazed at
them like a hungry man.

“I will heal you, Wilhelm,” she whispered,
reaching behind her and unfastening her bra, letting it fall to the
ground as well. “I will take away your pain.” She quickly removed
her jeans and panties and then moved forward to capture his lips
with hers. He kissed her desperately, running his hands over her
body. Anna continued to whisper to him, telling him everything
would be all right. She felt the warmth inside her radiate out and
spread to him.

She slowly undressed him and he groaned
softly as she lay down and pulled him on top of her. She kissed him
again, trailing her hands down his back to his buttocks and
caressed them, then moved around and stroked his hardening cock
slowly. When he was fully erect, she guided him into her body and
the warmth spread from her body to his. He moaned as he began to
move inside her.

“Oh, Wilhelm!” she cried softly as he filled
her over and over again. He wrapped his arms around her and held
her tightly as he thrust harder and harder into her. Deeper and
deeper he went until they both exploded into a hot fireball, the
heat consuming their flesh and melting their separate souls into
one. Her heart reached out to touch his, the searing heat healing
the wounds gently and making him whole again. They were one body,
one soul. Everything she was, she gave to him.

Anna awoke later, shivering in the cool room.
Wilhelm was sound asleep next to her. The sun had set and the room
was lit by bright moonlight that snuck in through the open
curtains.

She turned on her side and ran her fingers
through his hair, now more white than gold. He had aged these last
years. She could see it in his face. But the grief that had
consumed him earlier was gone and he slept peacefully. She hated to
wake him.

She should tell Ilsa where he was. Ilsa had
been so worried about him the last few days. And Kurt would be
wondering where she was.

Anna slipped out of bed and dressed quietly.
She saw a blanket on a chair near the window, and she covered him
as best as she could. He was a large man and it was a small
blanket. She kissed his cheek and then slipped out of the room
silently and went in search of Ilsa.

In the dimly lit sitting room where Ilsa
normally spent her evenings, the clock over the mantle said it was
after midnight. Ilsa was nowhere to be seen. She glanced at the
double doors that led to their chambers and hesitated. What would
Ilsa think? He was lying naked in a guest room. They couldn’t hide
what they’d done. Anna had just wanted to help.

Anna took a deep breath and walked to the
bedroom doors and knocked. A few minutes later, a sleepy Ilsa
answered the door.

“Anna? Is everything all right?”

Anna bit her lip and nodded. “Wilhelm is....”
She flushed and looked at the ground. “He was in so much pain....”
She looked back up at the woman she thought of as a mother. “I
wanted to help. To heal him.” She spoke, ashamed at what she had to
tell her.

Ilsa looked at her for a long moment without
speaking.

“I’m sorry, Ilsa. I never wanted to violate
your home.”

“I know he loves you, Anna,” she said softly.
“He has never denied that.” She sighed. “Did he tell you what was
troubling him? I have been so worried. He has not acted this way in
so long.”

Anna nodded and told her what Wilhelm had
told her. “He was hurting so badly and I knew I could help
him.”

“Did you help him?” Ilsa’s question was
gentle.

“I think so. He’s sleeping peacefully.”

“That is more than he has done in several
days. Where is he?”

“In the room I was in before Alex and I
married.”

Ilsa nodded slowly. “Thank you for telling
me, Anna. You should go to Kurt. He was worried about you.”

Anna made her way upstairs to Kurt’s room.
She went in as quietly as she could and saw the light by the bed
was still on.

“Anna!” Kurt jumped out of bed and walked
quickly to her. He hugged her. “Where have you been?”

“With your father. He...was very upset.”

Kurt’s face fell. “You helped him feel
better?” he asked in a low voice.

She looked up at him. “He is my Master, Kurt.
It is my duty to aid him where I can.”

“You fucked him?” He backed away a step.

“I healed him,” Anna said softly.

“By fucking him.”

Anna hated how crudely he put it. “Yes.”

Kurt looked at her for a long moment. “I love
you, Anna. More than any other woman I have ever known.” He shook
his head. “But I cannot deal with you fucking my father. It....” He
sighed. “Gretchen wanted him.”

“I love your father. I love you. He is my
Master. I can’t
not
be with him. It’s part of my
duties.”

“Duties,” he snarled and Anna jumped.
“
Mein
Gott
, Alex, why did you have to die!” It
was a wailing question shouted into the night air. He fell to his
knees. “I cannot do this, Anna. I am not my brother.” His eyes were
wild and sad at the same time. “I am not meant to be an Elder. I am
meant to be the irresponsible little brother who drives his family
crazy with his antics.”

Anna’s heart went out to him. She felt the
same way sometimes. “I understand, Kurt,” she said softly, walking
slowly to him and kneeling next to him. She lifted her hand to his
rough cheek. “I’m not meant to be an Elder-Mistress. But I am, and
it’s terrible.” She smiled gently at him. “Wilhelm is so proud of
you,” she said earnestly. “You have done so well. Don’t give
up.”

“He is proud of me?” His voice was
strained.

“Yes. I see it in his eyes when he looks at
you. And he’s told me so. You have made him so happy.”

Kurt pressed his lips together and shook his
head. “I want to make Vati proud. I want to do right. But it is so
against my nature.” He stroked her cheek. “I do not want to share
you with anyone,” he whispered. “It breaks my heart thinking of you
with other men. Even men who love you.”

“I’m sorry, Kurt. I don’t want to hurt you. I
love you.” The warmth began to grow inside her again and she looked
at him. She could help him too. Take away his ache. Make him
strong. Make him...let her go. The thought pained her, but it would
help him. She could never stop being what she was. But she could
make it so he could find a good wife to make him happy. And let her
go. She leaned up to kiss him.

“Let me heal your pain,” she whispered
hypnotically. “Come.” She stood and led him to bed and healed him
as she had healed his father.

She flew back home with only Wilhelm. Kurt
had decided to stay home. Anna could see in his eyes that he had
let her go, and now he would be able to find a suitable wife. One
he didn’t have to share.

Anna stared out the window and ached for
Kurt. But this was for the best. He deserved to be happy. Genuinely
happy. He was a kind, strong man and would make any woman proud to
be his wife. It just wouldn’t be her. It couldn’t be her.

Wilhelm came and sat behind her on the couch
and nuzzled her neck. His grief was gone and he was once again the
strong, confident man she knew. Ilsa had thanked her before she
left.

“We will be landing soon,” he said softly,
running his hand down her thigh. They had made love many times on
the jet. She would miss his gentle touch. He kissed her neck and
she closed her eyes and sighed. “I will miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, Wilhelm,” she said
softly, leaning back against him.

It was Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco
when they landed. Wilhelm would take her to Devin tomorrow and
maybe stay a few more days, depending on what Devin had planned.
They would spend today getting settled back into the house. Anna
was at peace with living there now, content with the memories of
Alex in her heart. He would have wanted her to be there.

Her phone rang Devin’s ring as they were
driving into the city from the airport. Wilhelm frowned but nodded
when Anna told him who was calling.

“Hello, Devin.”

“Hello, Baby. I see you’re back in town.”

Anna frowned. “How did you...?”

“Anna, I know where you are at all times. Did
you enjoy your time with Wilhelm and his family?”

“Yes. I did.”

“Good. I hope you’ve gotten them out of your
system for a while. Where are you heading now?”

“To the house. Alex’s...er, my house. I
didn’t know what had happened to the apartment and thought I might
like to stay at the house for a while.”

“‘You thought you would like?’” Devin
repeated coldly. “Oh, Anna. You have grown far too independent for
your own good. Stay where you’d like tonight, but as of tomorrow,
you are living with me at my house.”

Anna gasped. “At your
house
?”

“Yes, Anna. I don't think I get the full
benefit of our relationship when you live on your own. The kids are
all grown now, Sandy is...gone and I have an empty house to come
home to every night. I don't like it. You will live with me. I
expect to see you at my house tomorrow before lunch.”

“Yes, Devin,” she said softly and he hung up.
She looked up at Wilhelm. “Devin wants me to live with him.”

“With him? What about his wife?”

“He said she’s gone.”

“Gone?”

Anna shrugged. “She’s been having...issues
since she lost a baby a few years ago.” Anna didn’t mention that it
was Devin who took the baby. “She’s been unwell. Maybe she finally
left him.”

Wilhelm frowned. “That is not good. Elders
are supposed to be above reproach and respectable.”

“But what about Chairmen?”

He sighed. “There are reasons that we
outlawed those ways long ago. The Chairman can do as he pleases and
be blunt about it. He is manipulative enough to be cheered on by
the people he is supposed to be serving. But the Chairman does not
serve. He takes and demands.”

That sounded like Devin, all right. “That is
why the old ways were outlawed?”

Wilhelm nodded. “We decided...or rather, our
ancestors decided hundreds of years ago that the way to move
civilization along was to encourage its development rather than
pushing it. People are more easily led if they respect their
leaders, not fear them. We have seen examples of what happens when
Elders strive for more power than is natural. The dictators in the
past who have killed their own countrymen. It was not that they
hated people, but that the people tried to stand up to them and
were punished. We in Germany are very aware of our past and know
not to go down that road again.”

“What will Devin do?”

“He seeks power. That is obvious. I do not
know what he hopes to accomplish with his power grab, but it
inevitably leads to world problems. They have started already
because of him. He put into place poor leaders and your country is
suffering for it.”

“It is?” Anna knew very little of what
happened outside her very limited world.

“Your country is collapsing economically.
Devin puts into place weak leaders that he can control, but they
are also selfish and seek their own gain. As long as they do what
Devin wants, he does not care what else they do. If the economy
collapses...Devin is in a very good position to take total control
of the country. Your democracy may become a thing of the past.”

“Oh.” Anna shivered. “And I...help him, don’t
I?”

Wilhelm took her hand. “
Ja
, Anna.
You do.” He gave her a sad smile. “You cannot help but do so.”

Anna’s eyes welled up. “But...but, I don’t
want that to happen! What can I do? Can you kill me? Would that
help?”

Wilhelm stilled himself at her question, but
he did not do her the disservice of downplaying her willingness to
sacrifice herself. “It is not easy to kill an Elder-Mistress. If I
tried, your Immortals would be here within minutes to stop me.
Devin’s power is still limited. Until he is completely in control
of you, he is limited in what he can do.”

“Until?”

“On your twenty-sixth birthday, there is
another ritual to be performed. A finalizing of the bonding
ceremony, if you will. Alex...will not be there to stop him. He
will take total control of you and then it will be impossible to
stop him. You know what he did to me when he banished me and my
family.”

“Oh, Wilhelm! What can I do? I don’t want
that!” Anna remembered the sight of Devin that night. It was truly
terrifying.

“I do not know, Anna.” Wilhelm looked at her
with such sorrow she could hardly stand it. “I do not know. Perhaps
there is someone else who can step into Alex’s shoes. Perhaps it is
even Kurt.” He shook his head. “Or someone we do not even know. But
there is always a chance to stop it, Anna. Always. We just have to
be on the lookout to seize the opportunity before it is too
late.”

Anna leaned into his arms and wept. She would
be the downfall of her own country. “Tell me what I can do,” she
said earnestly when she had finished crying. “Wilhelm, please.
There must be something.”