Chapter 28: Chapter 28

ANNA

We walk back toward the castle. Dominique is nowhere to be found; she must have run back to Damitry.

~I wonder if Roland knows about Lev. He is he’s going to be furious.~

I can’t help but feel sorry for Amethyst. They just started their relationship, and the fact that he was brutally killed in front of her, just like her first love, makes it harder.

The battle is still going strong. I’ve noticed the wolves are following Roland. They must know their alpha is gone.

“Amethyst, what will happen to the werewolves now that Collen is dead?”

She scans the battlefield, searching for Dominique.

“Well, his second in command will take over, for now. Collen didn’t have a mate or any kids, so his line stops with him. I think his beta will take over now, unless there are any challengers for the position.”

I can hear her heartache.

“There.” She points across the battlefield

Dominique and Xavier are fighting. He is much faster than she is, and he must have landed a few brutal punches. She is not in good shape.

~He really did a number on her.~

Roland and Damitry are clashing. They really equally match. Every move Damitry makes, Roland counters.

I scan the battlefield for the king. To my surprise, he is nowhere to be found.

~Why hasn’t he put a stop to this already? He said he didn’t want his sons to fight.~

“We need a plan. We can’t just storm down there and challenge her to a duel.” Amethyst snaps me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah, I’m still a little tired. Those bonds drained my powers.”

She looks at me, worried, and nods.

“Okay, so it would seem Xavier is holding his own against her. Maybe we should stay back and just use the magic we have left to shoot her with fireballs. That way, we can stay out of harm’s way and not cause Roland to lose focus.

“I would really love to rip her head off myself, but I know I’m no match for her in close combat.”

I give Amethyst a nod and start to focus my powers.

She mutters a few words and starts raining down lightning bolts.

~Holy shit, her powers are incredible.~

My poor fireballs only make a small mark on my opponents, while her lightning strikes them down.

She manages to land a few hits on Dominique, who seems irritated with us. She looks in our direction, giving Xavier the upper hand. She shoots a few ice blasts our way, but Amethyst manages to block them and returns her attack.

Dominique is strong. She manages to fight off Xavier’s attacks and our magic. It seems almost impossible to best her.

Amethyst manages to land a devastating blow, bringing Dominique to her knees. Xavier seizes the opportunity, but the king appears from the middle of the battle and stops him in his tracks.

“Don’t kill her. We will take her prisoner. She didn’t act of her own accord. Her brother used her.” He binds her with the same magic Damitry used on me.

The king looks at Amethyst, who is trying her best to fight the urge to kill her.

“Please, Amethyst,” he mouths her way, and she nods unwillingly.

“Well, hello, daddy dearest.” Dominique sneers. “Now you want to help me?”

The king shakes his head and pulls Dominique onto his horse, speeding his way back to the castle.

My legs give out and I fall to the ground.

Amethyst keeps on showering the enemy with lightning bolts. “Anna, are you okay?” She gives me a worried look.

“Yeah, just drained.”

She nods. “I think we should try and get back to the castle.”

I struggle to my feet and we sprint in the direction of the castle. We have a few encounters with the enemy as we go, but luckily Amethyst makes quick work of them.

~So many lives are lost. So much bloodshed.~

We make it to the castle. People are everywhere, running around like crazy. Lots of wounded soldiers are lying on the floor, healing.

We hear a loud explosion.

~What was that?~

“Roland,” is the only word I can say.

Amethyst nods and we begin to run to the top of the wall to see what caused that explosion.

We arrive and look down onto the battlefield. We find Damitry standing over Roland with the tip of his sword at his brother’s throat.

“Now tell me, brother, will you die for the crown?”

My heart is racing. Roland is in trouble.

“Oh, Annabeth! Come here, cupcake! You can save his life, you know!” Damitry smirks as he pushes the blade close, piercing Roland’s skin.

I spin around to sprint downstairs.

Amethyst grabs my wrist.

“Anna, don’t. He will only kill you too.”

I feel the warmth in my eyes and know tears are close by. Some of her words have truth to them.

“I can’t let him die.” The worry overwhelms me.

She lets go of my wrist.

“Do what you must. I will help you in any way possible.”

I run downstairs, thinking frantically.

~What can I possibly do to save Roland? My power is no match for Damitry’s.~

I walk onto the battlefield.

“Ah, Annabeth!” Damitry’s gaze falls on me. He clears the path for me and places a shield over us.

“Anna!” Roland shouts.

“Ah-ah, don’t you dare, brother.” Damitry smirks at Roland and pushes the sword deeper.

“Now, Anna, let me tell you a little secret. You see this blade piercing his skin? It’s made especially to kill a Fallen. This will kill him in one swift move, and he knows it, but death is an easy escape for him.”

He twists the blade and blood oozes out of Roland. His jaw is clenched as he bites down in agony.

“Stop! What do you want from me?”

Damitry starts to laugh.

“You must reject him.”

Roland looks up at me. “Don’t, Anna, please.”

I see the heartache in his eyes.

“What do you mean, reject him?” I ask.

“You are his fated mate. If you reject him, you will crush his heart and soul. Some say it’s so bad for the rejected party they end up killing themselves.

“It’s perfect. You reject him and go home, crushing his spirit—and I win the crown and the girl.”

He smiles at me. “Or do you want me to kill this bastard?”

~It will crush me too. I don’t want to let him go, but I have no choice.~

Tears are running down my cheeks.

Roland keeps my gaze and a tear escapes his eye. He knows what I’m about to do.

“Please, Anna, let him kill me,” he whispers.

“Shut up, you useless piece of shit!” Damitry twists the blade angrily.

I can feel Roland’s pain and suffering like it’s my own.

~But if this rejection means saving him, then I need to do this.~

“Okay, Damitry, you win,” I whisper, and wipe the tears away.

“Well, I didn’t think you had it in you. Okay, then. No monkey business, or else this blade will go straight through his heart.”

I nod and he smiles.

“Great. Now, to reject him you need to say ‘Roland Vladivostok, I, Annabeth Pattinson, reject you.’”

He starts to chuckle.

“Come now, we don’t have all day. After you say those words we will go back to New York, and I will erase your memory of all this.”

I clear my throat.

“Anna, please. It will be insufferable. Please don’t. I’d rather face the end of this blade than those words spoken from your lips,” Roland mumbles.

“I said shut up!”

Damitry stares me down.

“I’m sorry, Roland. I can’t lose you.” A tear runs down my cheek.

“Then don’t do this!”

I shake my head. “I have no choice.”

~I wish I still had some power left~.

Roland is powerless at the end of that blade, and with the shield over us, Amethyst can’t help; no one can enter.

~There is no way out of this. Damitry has the upper hand.~

“Anna, I’m waiting. Say the words.”

I let out a sob.

“Please, no,” Roland pleads.

~I wish there was another way~.

“Roland Vladivostok,” I begin.

“No! Flower, please!” he cries. We stare into each other’s eyes. My heart is breaking with every word I utter.

“I, Annabeth Pattinson, reject you.”

Damitry starts to laugh.

I fall to my knees as my heart shatters into pieces. Tears are streaming down my cheeks. It’s not just heart-shattering, but soul-crushing as well. The feeling is indescribable, like nothing I have ever felt before.

Damitry withdraws the sword from Roland, who lies on the ground, not moving a muscle.

Damitry grabs me by the arm

“Look how pathetic he looks.” He cups my chin and makes me look at Roland. “Job well done, Anna. Without you, this would never have been possible. What a great story this will make for our children one day.”

“Never! I will never love you!” I shout through sobs.

“Oh, come now, cupcake. I told you, you will have no memory of this. You will love me like you did before you came here.”

I shake my head. “Nothing you do to me will make me forget.”

He smiles and calls his manticore.

“Brother, I will come back for the crown. For now, wallow in your self-pity.” He pulls me to his chest and jumps on his manticore. We race off to the forest.

~Nothing will ever feel the same again.~

Gremlins are waiting for us.

“Here we are. Now, let me get rid of all these memories, and then we can continue our lives in New York.” He places his hands on my temples and starts to mutter words.

I have no energy to fight him. Dizziness overwhelms me and I crash to the ground.

***

I wake up in a hospital bed.

~What happened? Where am I?~

I feel dizzy, and my whole body is sore.

My mother is sleeping in the armchair next to my bed.

“Mom,” I manage. My throat is dry and my voice is a croak.

“Anna!” She jumps up and rushes to my side, cupping my hand in hers. “My baby.” Tears stream from her eyes as she kisses my fingers.

“What happened?” I ask.

~It feels like I’ve lost a part of me.~

“You were kidnapped. Damitry saved your life.”

~Damitry…why does a part of me feel hate toward him?~

“How are you feeling?” She strokes my hair out of my face and gives me a bright smile.

“Sore and confused. Where are Dad and Damitry?”

She gives me a glass of water. “They went home to get cleaned up. You were out for two days. Damitry didn’t leave your side the whole time. Ray and Jordan were here as well.

“You were gone for seven months. The police called off the search—they thought you were dead. I knew you were alive, I just knew it.”

I smile at my mom and wipe the tear from her cheek.

“The police will be here soon to get your statement. You must be starving.” She looks around the room in search of food.

“I’m definitely starving.”

She jumps up. “I’ll get you something to eat.”

Ray enters the room as my mom hurries out.

“Anna!” She runs to my bed and hugs me.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch,” I mumble.

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry, how are you?” She grabs the chart from my bed and checks everything.

“I’m sore, hungry, and confused.”

She smiles at me. “You’re also alive.”

“Ray, what happened? My mom said I was kidnapped, but for some or other reason I feel there is more to the story than just kidnapping.”

She looks at me and frowns. “What do you mean?”

I shake my head. “I feel like something is missing, like a part of me is gone. I can’t explain it.”

She sits down on my bed and gently places her hand on mine. “You’ve been through hell. I think it’s the trauma talking. You just need some rest.”

I shake my head. “No that’s not it. Every time I hear Damitry’s name, a shiver runs down my spine. I can’t place the feeling.”

She tilts her head to the side.

“He went through hell and back to save you. If it weren’t for him, you would probably be lost to us.” She looks confused.

I know something is off, but I’m not sure what yet.

“Hey, I have no idea how confused and terrified you must be, but if you ask me, just talk to Damitry. He can fill in most of the blanks.”

~She’s right. He is the one that found me. He should know more.~

“He’ll be here soon. Your mother already called him.”

On that note, my mom comes strolling through the door.

“Cheeseburger and fries!” She smiles a bright smile and places the food on my lap.

I feel safe now, but not happy. The spark I once had is gone. I feel empty inside, like there’s a hole where my heart once was.

I smile with no feeling.