The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged (48 page)

Anna tried very hard to be understanding and
supportive of the decisions that had been made, but it seemed that
everyone got to know Alex was alive six months before she had. It
wasn’t fair.

She leaned back in her chair and twisted her
fingers around each other.

“Anna?”

She looked up to see Alex studying her.

“Are you all right?”

Anna grimaced. “I just don’t understand why
you couldn’t come see me. Or have me go see you.”

“It was too risky,
Schatzi
. If Devin
had found out...I couldn’t protect you.”

“But you came to New York earlier than
expected.”

“You were sick. I had to. It was difficult
getting in under Devin’s radar.”

“But you bought this place,” she said,
looking around.

Alex shook his head. “Simon actually
purchased it. I paid for it, but Simon did the purchase.” He
sighed. “And I was stuck in here for a few months.” A smile crossed
his face. “I remember the first time I saw you here....”

I was waiting to hear that you were
better, pacing the floor and driving Seth crazy. I was trying to
figure out how to occupy myself the next few months, besides
studying everything I could so I’d be able to protect you when the
time came.

“You’re going to wear out the floor
before Anna even gets to see it,” Seth said, rolling his
eyes.

“Once I know she’s better, I’ll be able
to calm down.”

Seth snickered. He knew better than that.
I wouldn’t calm down until you were in my arms again.

I glared at him and Seth threw up his
hands and went outside to the terrace.

My temper was short those days, though I
didn’t lose control like I used to. I was just irritable. The guys
were sympathetic, but even they had their limits.

I stared at the wall and then jumped. I
sensed...something....

“Alex!” Seth called urgently from the
terrace. “Come here. I think I see Anna.” Seth had the binoculars
up to his eyes and was looking down at the street.

“What?” Was I feeling your
presence?

“I swear that’s Anna. Every man she
passes by does a double-take.”

My heart swelled as I took the binoculars
and focused in on where Seth was pointing. You were walking across
the street from my building and I could see you walking towards my
corner. Your brown hair hung down your back in a long braid and
glimmered in the morning sunlight. I remembered the silky feel of
those sable strands in my fingers. You wore a pink tank top and
denim shorts. Your legs were just as sexy as they had been when
we’d been together. The muscles in your legs flexed as you walked
away from me. Your shorts weren’t overly short, but most of your
thighs were visible, and your ass....

I groaned as my cock twitched. I
remembered the feel of your soft skin against mine, the way your
nipples puckered at my seductive smile when you entered the room.
The taste of you.... “Schatzi,” I whispered.

My heart skipped when you stopped and
turned around, looking almost as if you had heard me. I willed you
to look up, but you just shook your head and continued walking
slowly down the street.

“Go!” I said suddenly and without
thinking about it. I looked at Seth. “Go, follow her. See where
she’s going.”

“I—” Seth grunted. “All right.
Why?”

“Because I want to know what she’s been
doing. The things she likes to do. She’s been sick, she goes for a
walk. Where does she go?” I glared at my friend. “You still know
how to be stealthy, don’t you?”

Seth frowned and headed quickly to the
stairs that led back into the condo. “I’ll call you when I’m
downstairs,” he called. “Keep an eye on her until I catch
up.”

“With pleasure,” I murmured, turning back
to the beautiful love of my life. I grinned at myself, watching a
girl in secret like a horny teenage boy with his first
crush.

Seth would forgive me. He cared about
you, too. At least he would get to follow you. I couldn't risk
going out yet. My height was too noticeable. Even though Seth was
tall, he was still good at blending into crowds.

You walked across the street and
disappeared into the park. My phone rang moments later. “Where is
she?” Seth asked.

“Still on the same street, I
think.”

Seth was quiet, though I could hear him
breathing. “Okay. I see her. What do you want me to do?”

“Just follow her at a distance. I
just....” I sighed and swallowed over the lump in my throat. “I
just want to know her again.”

Seth was quiet for a moment. “I know,
Alex. I’m sorry I got irritated. I will let you know everything she
does. Do you want pictures?”

I grinned. “Yeah.”

Anna burst out laughing. “You can’t be
serious. You were really thinking that?”

Alex grinned, glad she seemed less upset than
she had a few minutes ago. “Even from twelve stories up, you are an
incredibly sexy woman.”

Her cheeks turned slightly pink. “Simon said
that you’d seen me that day. I....” She chewed her lip for a
moment. “I thought I heard your voice.”

Alex’s heart leapt in his chest. “You
did?”

She smiled shyly and nodded. “If I had only
listened to myself...we could have been saved so much grief.”

“Anna, what happened is in the past. We can’t
change it. We can only change the future.” He reached across and
took her hand. “I know you were upset because I was in Frankfurt
and didn’t come to you right away. But you don’t have to share me
with my family. I had several months with them, and they don’t
resent me being here with you. You and I can just be together,
without me having to be concerned about hurting my mother’s
feelings.”

She chewed her lip for a few minutes and then
nodded. “I suppose I can look at it that way.” She moved to sit on
his lap and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I don’t have to
share you,” she murmured against his neck.

Goose bumps spread from the touch of her
lips. “I don’t want to share you. At least not for a while.”

“I don’t want to be shared. I only want
you.”

Alex wished he could keep her to himself, but
knew the likelihood was slim. Monogamy was not easy to maintain as
an Elder, and impossible as an Elder-Mistress. But he would keep
her to himself as long as possible.

Heavy footsteps sounded and Seth poked his
head around the corner. “Ah, you’re here.”

Alex cocked his brow. “We are.”

“You weren’t downstairs.” Seth shrugged.
“Just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

“I was telling Anna about what we’ve been
through.”

Anna giggled. “He was just telling me about
when he had you follow me.”

Seth grinned. “A very pleasant
assignment....”

“
I was glad I hadn't
shaved my beard,” Seth began. “My tailing skills were rusty, and
the last thing I needed was for you to know we were here. Not yet
anyway. Not until that rat-bastard Devin was weak enough to be
pushed off a cliff. At least that’s what I hope is going to
happen.”

Seth chuckled. “No, to
be honest, I remember thinking I wanted to slice that man apart
piece by piece, starting with that fucking cock of his. Slice it
into deli meat. Maybe a meat grinder...yeah, that
might
make up for the hell he’s put
everyone through....“

I remember smiling at the image of Devin
howling in pain as I shoved his cock through a meat grinder, and
then realized I was getting too close to you. The park wasn’t very
crowded and I needed to be sure to keep my distance.

You meandered down the walkway slowly, as
if you weren’t in a hurry to get anywhere. I couldn’t help but
notice your shapely legs and tiny waist. Your figure had filled out
slightly and you looked more like my idea of a real woman than ever
before. It was wrong to think about it, but I wished you would turn
sideways so I could get a look at your luscious breasts under that
tank top. Alex is a damn lucky man.

You stopped and inhaled deeply, looking
up at the trees and smiling. You gave a little skip and took off
through the park, walking slowly and looking around, skipping every
once in a while.

I chuckled, then. Despite all the shit
you've been through, you could still skip through a park like an
eight-year-old.

I’d expected you to just wander around
the park, but you eventually turned and walked out of the park. You
stopped at the corner next to the Plaza and stared up at it with a
sad look on your face, twisting a ring on your finger as you looked
up, and then hung your head and continued on. The change in your
demeanor was heartbreaking. I realized it was your engagement ring
you were playing with. Kurt really fucked with your head, didn't
he? I could sympathize with Kurt’s feelings, but still....

You walked down Fifth Avenue and I
wondered if you were going shopping. I grinned at the businessmen
who smiled at you and looked you up and down. You ignored most of
them, but when you did see one, you gave them a shy smile and
walked away quickly.

Still shy after all these years. It's an
endearing quality. Most women with your looks would be sauntering
down Fifth Avenue, swaying their hips and making eye contact with
every custom-made suit they passed. But not our Anna.

After a few blocks, you seemed to have
recuperated from whatever had bothered you in front of the Plaza,
but you still didn’t saunter. You headed into Rockefeller center
where I almost lost you in the crowd. I expected to be here a
while, but you just went into a restaurant and emerged a few
minutes later with pink cheeks and a Styrofoam cup. I was wondering
what caused the pink cheeks when I realized you were heading right
towards me.

Shit!
I
turned around quickly to admire the building behind me. I felt you
stop behind me, hesitating, and I prayed you wouldn’t talk to
me.

“Stupid,” I heard you say to yourself,
just loud enough for me to hear. “He’s dead. They’re all dead.” You
walked away and I let out the breath I'd been holding.

I knew you were thinking about Alex.
Maybe you even thought you recognized me, but your logical mind
kept you from going there. I waited a few minutes and then jogged
to catch up.

You kept walking and walking. You looked
in windows as you moved, but never stopped or went into a
shop.

“Where on earth is she going?” I muttered
under my breath. You hadn’t been what I consider a normal woman
when I’d known you before, and I was pleased to see you hadn't
changed. When you finally headed towards the entrance of a
particular building, I laughed out loud. I should have
known!

I reached for my phone. I had to call
Alex.

“Is she okay?” Alex answered, obviously
worried, since his accent was so thick you could cut it with a
knife. He’d insisted on speaking English ever since we got here,
you know, so you would be able to understand him when the time
came. Speaking Russian for several years hasn’t helped him speak
English intelligibly. Not that he ever could, mind you.

I laughed. “She’s fine. I’m pleased to
let you know she has finally reached her destination.”

“It’s been an hour. She’s been walking
the whole time? Where did she go?” The barrage of questions made me
smile.

“The library. The big one on
Fifth.”

There was silence on the other end of the
line. “The library?” He sounded astounded.

“Yup.” I followed her up the stairs
casually, ignoring the flirtatious smiles of the college girls
coming down the steps. Another time maybe....

You stopped at the information desk
briefly and then headed to the stairs.

“Seth?” Alex broke my
concentration.

“Sorry. I’ll follow a while longer and
let you know what she’s doing.” I ended the call and put the phone
in my pocket.

I finally found you on the third floor,
sitting between bookshelves, absorbed in a book. I positioned
myself in between some shelves where I could see you but you
couldn’t see me. An older gentleman went directly to the row you
were sitting in and spoke to you.

Your eyes sparkled as you laughed at
something he said, and you chatted for a few minutes. The man
leaned against the bookshelf as you talked like old friends. I was
contemplating moving closer so I could hear what you were saying,
half wondering if you were having some sort of secret rendezvous
with him.

Suddenly you gave him a big smile and
hopped to your feet and followed him to a back room, eyes sparkling
as he talked to you. I couldn't help feeling suspicious. What was
he going to do with you in there? And how did he have access to a
locked door?

I spotted a librarian putting books away
and approached casually. “Excuse me,” I said with the kind of
charming smile that worked with women. This time was no exception.
Several minutes later, I knew the man’s name was Max and that he
was the head librarian. The woman didn’t know you, but knew that
the closed exhibits could be accessed through that
doorway.

Well, at least the guy wasn’t a
sleezeball who wanted to hurt you. At least it didn't seem like it.
The woman had spoken of Max as if she held him in the utmost
respect. Of course, many “respectable” men take advantage of
younger women. Just look at the Elders. Sorry Alex, but it's
true.