Page 104 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“She must be punished,” Devin said firmly.

Wilhelm sighed and Anna dropped her gaze back to the floor, holding her breath as she waited for him to speak. “If one of my Dirne had left a Gathering without permission, she would be disciplined.”

The air rushed out of Anna’s lungs at his words and she gasped for air. Wilhelm was going to give her back to Devin.

“If she is to be disciplined, I will do it,” Wilhelm said.

“You?” Devin scoffed. “You think yourself capable of punishing her?”

“I do not think it takes as much as you think it does, Devin. I will not have her tortured for a mistake in judgment. I will discipline her and then it will be over.” Wilhelm’s voice was firm and Anna bit back a sob.

Devin grunted.

“I will return her to San Francisco on the third Wednesday of the month.”

“That’s almost a month!”

“I have not seen her for a year-and-a-half. I think I deserve much more, but I know she has rehearsals to get back to.”

“You can’t keep her away from me that long,” Devin growled.

“If she becomes unwell, we will return to San Francisco sooner. But I will not relinquish her until that day.” Wilhelm paused. “She should be able to be here a month without becoming ill.” Devin didn’t answer and Wilhelm’s anger increased. “Mein Gott, Devin. Why do you want to hurt her so badly?”

“It’s not a matter of wanting to hurt her. It’s simply a byproduct of what I must do.” He paused. “I expect I’ll see you sooner rather than later.” Footsteps echoed across the room and disappeared.

Anna trembled, tears dripping onto the floor beneath her face, and waited for Wilhelm to drag her to her feet and take her to the dungeon. Surely every Manor had one, right? What would he do to her? What if he decided to give her to Devin for punishment anyway? Would they let the Immortals heal her? Did he even know the Russian Immortals? Would she be able to?—

“Kommen Sie, Anna. Let us go back to the hotel.”

Anna’s eyes snapped open and she stared at the stone beneath her nose. What had he said?

The entryway was silent. She could feel him waiting for her, so she sat up and wiped her tears away before daring to lift her gaze and look up at him. “The... hotel?” She bit her lip and looked over her shoulder at the archway she’d walked through with Peter. “Isn’t this place more conducive to punishment?”

“Ja. But I am going to discipline you, not punish you.”

“What’s the difference?” Anna asked as he helped her to her feet.

“Discipline seeks to correct a behavior. Punishment... well, punishment just hurts.”

She glanced at Kurt, who hadn’t moved and was sitting with his head hung, his elbows on his knees, then back at Wilhelm. She didn’t understand. Devin punished her to change her behaviors.

Wilhelm said something quietly in German to Kurt, who stood and followed them out of the building. The drive to the hotel was long and silent. Anna stared at her hands as chills ran through her body. The waiting was horrible. Why hadn’t he just taken her to the dungeon at the Manor?

When they arrived at the hotel and went up to their suite, Kurt walked to his room without a word and closed the door firmly behind him. Anna hung her head. He hated her and wanted nothing to do with her.

Wilhelm took her into his bedroom and sat her down on the bed. “Anna, do you know why I am disciplining you?”

“Because I embarrassed you and acted stupidly.”

“Nein, Anna. You did not embarrass me. Do you know you are not allowed to leave the Gatherings without permission?”

Anna nodded.

“Then why did you?”

She glanced up at him and then looked back at her hands. “I didn’t want to be there,” she said without thinking, and then realized it was true. She would have done anything to get out of that room. Not because she didn’t want to do her duties, but because she was ashamed. “I felt... I didn’t belong there.”

Wilhelm was quiet. “That was quite selfish of you, Anna. I am disappointed.”

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