Page 284 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Katherine smiled sadly and shook her head. “We all mourn in different ways. Matt said you were a very talented dancer and told us that Ben loved watching you dance.”

“It helps the pain go away,” Anna whispered. “If only for a few minutes.”

“Then you should dance,” Katherine said gently. “I don’t think badly of you for doing so.”

Anna nodded. “Did you—I mean, would you like to come while you’re in town? I could ask Isaak to see if there are some tickets available.”

Katherine smiled. “That would be nice. To see what Ben saw on his last night.”

“I’ll ask Isaak about it tonight.”

“Don’t feel bad if you can’t. But I would like to see it. Perhaps a few minutes of pain relief for the rest of us?”

Anna smiled sadly, and turned and walked away.

When she returned to her bedroom, she closed the door and pulled the ring out of its gray velvet. She put it on her left ring finger. It fit perfectly. It was so much simpler than the ring Devin had given her. Anna loved it because it was from Ben. She would wear it. In honor of her love. And perhaps to spite Devin.

Chapter 133

Anna and Jenna headed back to the theater early that afternoon to get ready for the evening performance. Anna sat on the floor of her dressing room and worked her pointe shoes until they were soft enough to dance in. She sewed on the ribbons and tried them on. When she was satisfied they were ready, she tossed them aside and lay down on the floor with her feet on the couch, staring at the ceiling and playing with her engagement ring.

A knock made her jump.

“Anna?” It was Travis.

“Come in,” she said without emotion.

Travis entered and closed the door behind him. “Hey, how ya doing?” he asked in a gentle voice.

Anna glanced at him. “I’ve had better days.”

“I can imagine.”

Anna laughed bitterly. “I can actually say that now... I’ve had better days.” She sighed. “I think it was easier when I wasn’t able to say that.”

“It’ll get better.” Travis sat on the couch and rubbed her legs. “It seems like nothing will never be good again, but life will get better.”

Anna snorted. “Right. You don’t have to deal with Devin.”

“That’s true... but there will be other guys to fall in love with.”

Anna shook her head. “There can’t be.”

“Why do you say that?”

Anna looked down at her feet. “Devin killed Ben because he was a distraction. Because I admitted I’d rather be with him than Devin. He won’t allow distractions.” She sighed. “The whole point of falling in love is because you want to be with them. I can’t do that again.”

“I’m sorry, Anna. I really am. What Devin did...” He sighed and shook his head. “It’s unforgivable.”

They were quiet for a few minutes. Anna stared at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts about Ben. She rubbed her chest as the pain grew to unbearable levels, and she wanted to carve her heart out with a knife. Tears rolled down her cheeks and Travis moved down on the floor next to her and hugged her to his chest. The stream of tears became a torrent, and Travis rocked her and kissed her head.

“Can Half-Immortals die?” she asked in a cracked voice. Maybe death would take away the ache in her heart. Devin had killed her... But she’d also tried to kill herself when she was with Jack and it hadn’t worked. Could she die or not?

Travis didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know,” he said finally. “I know Immortals can’t. I don’t know about you.” He pulled away and cupped her chin. “I would be very sad if you died. And so would a lot of other people.”

She frowned and then leaned her head back on his chest. Memories of her time at the Manor flooded her mind. New memories. Stuff she had somehow forgotten. “After Ben was... gone, Devin had me taken up to his room and he had sex with me. Then he tied me to his bed and... he gave me a shot. My body felt like it was on fire.” She looked at Travis with tears in her eyes. “Then Kaveh came and had sex with me.”

“Who’s Kaveh?”

---