Page 233 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Devin went back to his seat near the rest of the Elders as the car pulled off the main road. They would arrive in about ten minutes. He glanced down at Anna, curled up in a ball and still, save the movements of the car as it bumped along the dirt road. She stared at the bottom of the seat in front of her, eyes devoid of emotion.

Chapter 110

Anna lay limp on the floor of the limo after the men exited and sighed in the silence. A welcome moment after the hell of the past hour and a half. Fresh air blew in through the open door and she inhaled the scent of pine.

Younger men seemed more vicious than their fathers. Tommy... Well, he was just like the rest of them. It shouldn’t have surprised her. She was glad for him that the others had stopped taunting him, but now she really was alone. She had thought of Tommy and Tyler as her allies, especially after last night.

But no, Tommy and Tyler were their father’s sons. First and foremost, their duties were to them. They had no use for her aside from her primary purpose: to please men.

Anna closed her eyes. She needed to get moving or Devin would be angry with her. Again. She sighed and pushed herself onto her knees, looking for her clothes. Her shirt was torn but everything else was in decent condition. After dressing, she made her way to the open door, stepped out of the limo, and gasped.

She stood in the middle of a forest. Tall pine trees surrounded her, filling the air with their luscious fresh scent. Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes and enjoyed a moment of peace before what surely would be more days of hell.

She gingerly touched her cheek and winced. The Sons had hit her multiple times on her left cheek and it was swollen. Maybe Maggie would have something to ease the pain. It was the middle of the day. Even if Devin allowed her a nap, there wouldn’t be enough time to fully heal.

Anna limped around the side of the limo to see an enormous clearing down a shallow slope. One side kissed a sun-dappled lake, while a huge semi-circle of cloth pavilions sat near the edge of the forest, the colorful fabrics fluttering in the cool breeze. Emerald-green grass carpeted the ground as far as she could see and a large bronze eagle sat at the edge of the lake with a large half-circle stone dais in front of it. At the corner closest to where she stood was a large, open-sided pavilion with a huge kitchen along the edge. Smoke billowed through several openings in the roof of the tent, sending delicious whiffs of roasting meat and baking bread in Anna’s direction.

Women wearing sheer, short blue or red dresses were scattered across the clearing. Some were attending to the men, others lay in small groups on the grass. A few swam naked in the lake. A few girls, wearing short silky purple dresses, carried trays of food or linens.

“Mistress!”

Anna turned to see Maggie, wearing a purple dress, hurrying to her. She smiled at her friend.

“Mistress, Master sent me to find you. Oh!” She stopped several feet away, eyes wide as she took Anna’s appearance in. “Are you alright?”

Anna put her hand to her swollen cheek and nodded. “I’m okay.” As okay as she ever was.

“Come.” Maggie took her hand. “I’ll get you cleaned up. Then Master wants to see you.”

Anna looked around as Maggie led her toward the lake. “Who are all those girls?” She didn’t recognize any of them.

“They’re slaves from the other Elders’ Manors.”

They stopped in front of a large pavilion with the front walls tied open. A thick curtain divided the tent into two sections, one containing a large bed and the other a small circle of seven low, white-cushioned lounge chairs. The ground was covered in soft, brightly colored rugs.

Maggie stepped through an opening in the back wall behind the couches and returned a moment later with a bag. “Come, Mistress. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Maggie led Anna to the edge of the lake and around a corner to a stone path. The path led away from the lake, through the trees, to a large wooden building. A couple of girls lounged on chairs on the front porch. They looked at Anna curiously as she walked up the steps and inside.

It was a huge dormitory with at least a hundred bunk beds. A large opening in the middle of the back wall led to a similarly sized room, but it was set up as a bathroom, with a huge showering area, several bathtubs, toilet stalls, and sinks with mirrors.

Maggie put some sort of creamy ointment on Anna’s cheeks, then filled a bathtub with hot water and oil scented with the perfume Anna associated with the Gatherings. She stepped into the tub and sighed as she immersed herself in the soothing water.

Anna was prepared as she was for Friday Gatherings. Her hair was washed and her body scrubbed. By the time Maggie finished, Anna felt like the morning had never happened. Mostly. Even the swelling on her face had gone down and there was minimal bruising.

Anna put on a sheer dress like the other girls wore, though hers was white. Maggie left her hair loose, but put a thin circlet on her head. Her bracelets and anklets were fastened in place, then Maggie declared her ready.

She wasn’t given shoes to wear, but the stone path back to the pavilion was smooth and clear of anything that might hurt her feet.

Devin was lounging on one of the white chairs when she returned, and the other Elders filled the rest. He looked up and smiled at her. “Ah, Anna. You look much better.” Devin motioned to the ground next to his chair and she obediently sat at his feet. He petted her hair as he conversed with the other men. She was careful to be still and silent so as not to upset her Master.

The Elders talked about the upcoming Gathering and it wasn’t very interesting so she let her mind drift to her previous dance classes and rehearsals. Her eyes grew heavy and she dug her fingernails into her palms, trying to jerk herself awake, but when the Elders stood suddenly, Anna jumped. She winced, waiting for a blow from Devin, but it didn’t come.

Devin took her hand and led her to the room with the bed in the corner. “Why don’t you take a nap, Baby? The guests will arrive soon and I want you alert.”

Anna gave him a grateful smile. “Yes, Devin.”

Devin frowned. “While we’re here, you need to call me Master, or my lord. Consider yourself at the Manor.”

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