Page 390 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

She slowly made her way upstairs to Wilhelm’s study and knocked on the door.

“Herein.”

Wilhelm and Kurt sat near the fireplace and looked up when she walked inside. She looked at both of them for a moment. “What time do we need to leave?”

They both stared at her. “Em...” Wilhelm cleared his throat. “In about an hour, I think.”

“I’ll be in my room if that’s alright?”

Wilhelm nodded. “I will come get you when it is time to leave.”

She nodded and left, making her way up to Alex’s room. The moment she pushed open the door, an overwhelming wave of agony surged through her heart. Memories of their time together inundated her mind, washing over her like a relentless tide, and the weight of the past was almost too much for her to bear.

She fell to her knees and curled into a ball, sobs wracking her entire body.

“Is it me, or did she look coherent?” Kurt hadn’t turned away from the door.

Wilhelm also stared at the door, both concerned and relieved at the same time. “Yes, she did.”

“That’s good, right?” Kurt finally looked at Wilhelm.

Wilhelm slowly shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m glad she’s talking again, but I wonder what Devin did to her.” He sighed. “I don’t trust that man. He’s going to manipulate Anna in to going back to San Francisco with him, I just know it.”

“But she can’t stay here for long, can she? I mean, if Alex were here, it’d be different...”

Kurt was right. Elder-Mistresses were linked to their birthplaces. If Anna stayed here for an extended period of time, she would become ill. She had to be in her hometown or with her Master. Only Alex could have kept her here without hurting her. Wilhelm didn’t have a bond with her to override her need for Devin and San Francisco.

Chapter 184

Anna sat at Wilhelm’s feet on the platform of the Schloss’s Great Hall—or Großer Saal, as he called it—wearing a white silk dress. The room was filled with men wearing their ceremonial robes. Nearly all the Elders from around the world were in attendance, as well as many Deacons and common Brothers. They had all had come to say goodbye to Alex and his men.

Listening to so many people speak wonderful things about Alex made her want to curl into a ball and cover her ears. Wilhelm had done something to her before the Gathering began, to keep her from speaking, which was fine by her. She had no desire to say anything. She stared blankly at the floor, tears streaming down her face.

The Manor slaves sat around the edge of the room and the other Elder-Mistresses were somewhere nearby. She couldn’t see them, but she could feel them. The Elder-Mistress’ presence was softer than the regular Immortals, but it was similar.

Eight men clad in green robes filed up the central aisle, each holding a robe in their arms. Seven robes were black, and one was pristine white—Alex’s robe. Wilhelm stood and accepted the white robe from the Deacon and then, one by one, the robes were gently placed in a large brazier to be consumed by fire. Alex’s robe was the final one to be placed in its fiery embrace.

Anna stared at the flames as they slowly devoured the white fabric. Goodbye, my husband. My Master. My love.

Kurt was brought forward and Wilhelm declared him his heir. He received his double-ring piercing of The Brotherhood and demonstrated his submission to his father.

When the ceremony was over, the Gathering turned into the normal sexual frenzy of the typical Friday night. Wilhelm had assured her that the Brothers would respect her grief and not approach, but if they did, he would remind them of her position. She was the first Elder-Mistress to be married in a very long time, so the men might not think about the fact that Anna would be grieving. Half-Immortals were not prone to much emotion.

A sudden whirl of white fabric drew Anna’s attention from the floor and she caught her first glimpse of another Elder-Mistress. Tall and blonde and beautiful, she stood before an Elder and smiled in an ethereal manner, then kneeled before him. She exuded beauty and grace, leaving Anna entranced. If only Anna were more like her, perhaps she wouldn’t be grieving so badly.

Wilhelm frowned at the sight of Devin and Vitaly speaking together in the back of the room. Something about the two of them together didn’t sit right with him, though Wilhelm couldn’t pinpoint a reason. He would have to keep an eye on them.

He stroked Anna’s silky hair, wishing there was something he could do to comfort her.

A tall, young blond man watched Anna from the edge of the platform. He looked like he wanted to go to her, but couldn’t make up his mind. Wilhelm frowned. Fathers didn’t teach respect these days.

The young man seemed to make a decision and nervously walked up the steps of the platform toward Wilhelm and gave him a timid smile. “Excuse me, my lord. Could I please speak to Ann—I mean, the Mistress?”

Anna’s head lifted suddenly and she looked at the young man, her lips parted.

Wilhelm furrowed his brows. “Who are you?”

“My name is Tommy Pendleton. I—My father is Tom Pendleton, of New York.” The young man shifted from foot to foot, which brought a tiny smile to Wilhelm’s lips. He didn’t seem like the typical cocky Elder-Son. And Anna seemed to know him.

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