Page 103 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“Devin—‍”

“Go, Peter,” Wilhelm said softly from where he sat. “Devin is right.”

Peter didn’t move. “I will not leave if you intend to hurt her.”

“She is no longer yours to worry about,” Devin growled. “You are a Son, not an Elder, and would be wise to listen to your superiors.”

Peter kneeled next to Anna. “I will take you with me. Just tell me and we will leave together.”

Anna shook her head, staring at the floor and fighting everything within her to keep from looking up at him. She wouldn’t let Peter get into trouble because of her. “I’m okay,” she whispered. “Please. Listen to them.”

Peter sighed. He kissed her on the temple, then stood and left. With him left all the warmth in the area. She trembled at the coolness, especially from Wilhelm and Kurt.

Devin pulled her to her feet by her hair and glared at her.

“It is not necessary to be violent, Devin,” Wilhelm snapped, and stood.

“I warned her if she misbehaved or embarrassed me, I would punish her,” Devin said in a low voice.

Anna looked up at him without thinking. “What did I do?” she whispered, desperately trying to figure out why he was angry

“You acted completely inappropriate last night.”

“I did?” Anna stared at him, her mouth dropped open. “What did I do?” She normally didn’t ask questions about her misbehavior, but she honestly didn’t know what she had done to upset him. Or Wilhelm. She tried to look at Kurt. “Was it because of Peter?” she asked softly.

Kurt looked away.

“That and everything else,” Devin spat. “Your behavior the entire time was an embarrassment. You looked and acted like a foolish girl who didn’t belong there.”

Tears came unbidden. “I didn’t know what was going on. I had no idea what to do or how to act.” She sucked in a thick breath and shook her head. “I didn’t know?—‍”

Devin hit her again, but he still held her hair, which prevented her head from moving and deflecting the full impact of the blow. She shrieked and jerked away from him, but he held her tight. “I tried, Devin, I promise I did.”

Devin growled and pulled his hand back to hit her again, but Wilhelm grabbed his arm. “What do you mean you did not know what was going on?”

“I didn’t know,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I was sent up to a room full of Elder-Mistresses and dressed and sent down to a room full of men. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t understand what anyone was saying.” She was blubbering, but she had become so terrified of Devin’s punishments, she would do anything to try to avoid them. “Please don’t punish me, Devin,” she begged.

He frowned. “That’s the second time you’ve called me by name in this place. If nothing else, that deserves punishment.”

“She is terrified, Devin,” Wilhelm said in a calm voice. “Let her go.”

“Of course she’s terrified,” Devin said. “That’s the point.” But Devin released her hair and she fell to the floor. She scrambled to her knees and bowed low.

“Nobody told you what would happen yesterday evening?” Wilhelm asked.

Anna shook her head, her forehead scraping against the stone floor.

“You should have at least known not to sneak out of a Gathering, Anna,” Devin said from above. “Even you’re not that stupid.”

“I wasn’t trying to sneak. Peter said it?—‍”

“Peter isn’t your Master!” Devin shouted, his voice reverberating against the stone walls. She curled tighter into a ball on her knees. “I am! You don’t listen to him. You listen to me!”

Anna curled even tighter and covered her head with her arms. “I’m sorry, Master. I didn’t know.”

“Anna, you should have at least known that leaving during the Gathering was not a good idea,” Wilhelm said. Though his words were soft, his rebuke was ten times more terrifying than Devin’s shouting. He’d never been upset with her before.

She looked up at him with frightened tears on her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Master. I’m so sorry.”

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