~~**~~
Ana's eyes began to flutter open and the first thing she saw was a gold ceiling and grey painted walls. Soft light streamed in through a double door, that lead to the outside situated in front of her. A gentle breeze blew in and she inhaled fresh air as if she'd forgotten how to.
"Dad, she's awake."
She knew that voice, it was her brother's. She tried to get up but felt woozy and drained from all energy. "Wha- What happened? Where am I?" She glanced around her, seeing that she was laid on top of velvet sheets.
Her father's worried face swam into view and he said softly, "Hey there. How do you feel?"
Ana tried raising her upper body again to rest on the headboard, but her arms gave way and she groaned, "I feel like shit."
"Whoa, whoa take it easy there," he cautioned her as he helped her up.
"Thanks."
"At least you're alive. You've been unconscious for three days."
"Wha-What?"
"You fell to the ground and hit your head. Doc says you're lucky you're alive. Oh and uh," Simion continued with a smile, "we're in Zappirenos."
Ana just stared at him wide eyed not knowing how to respond to him. She was finally out. Out of that hell hole, away from the life she so desperately wanted to dismiss. But then, she not only left it behind but...a part of her. At the thought of her mother Ana's heart clenched.
"Ana," her father interrupted as he came to sit at the edge of the bed and held her hand, "what do you remember?"
She looked at him and then drifted off into a trance, "I-I don't...I mean I. I remember Simion being hurt and rushing in to help him but, everything after that seems so...blurry. Why?"
He nodded for a while as his thoughts ran free.
"Dad-" Ana said but he cut her off.
"-Energy force..."
She looked at him puzzled waiting for him to explain.
He sighed, "You used up most of your life and energy source- even the one you borrowed from nature. Now you're suffering the consequences for it. It's a miracle as to how you're even alive." He cupped her left cheek and her eyes fluttered shut as if she were about to go out again. "We should've kept on moving. You are one stubborn girl, just like your mother." A sad smile reflected the emotions held in his eyes, before she felt her heart drop at the mention of her mother.
Before she could speak, tremendous pain coursed through her, causing her to gasp.
"You should rest," was all she heard from her father before her vision became blurry and she knocked out.
She woke up to sounds of laughter and enjoyment as if it were a family dinner taking place. Instead of joining them, she decided to examine her room carefully. She still felt woozy, but she was able to stand and walk perfectly without assistance.
Rooms in Andarios weren't considered to be so fancy. In fact, it would be really surprising to find that the wealthiest people of Andarios agree as well, having only a small closet, bed, dresser and a window, but in Zappirenos, it seemed that they prefer the fancy stuff. Walk-in closet, a huge bathroom, King-sized bed, a dresser and a balcony-you name it.
What was even more puzzling was the fact that there were statues of Angels in her room; four of them in each corner. When she walked up to one of them, she found that there was a tiny red button. 'Hmm,' she thought, 'wonder what it's for.'
That just had her thinking what the other three were for. Before she could find out, something glinted in her peripheral view. She turned to face a full body-length mirror and walked slowly towards it. She looked horrible. Her face was filled with scars, dirt and dried up blood.
Her uniform could no longer be called that, neither could it be called clothes, it looked like rags. Her hair...
"Oh sweet mother of molasses…!"
It looked like a dirty mop that hadn't been rinsed out in ages filled with blood, dirt, twigs and leaves.
For a while she thought she resembled Sméagol. From the corner of her eye, she saw colors of peach, red, and yellow. No doubt about it, that was sunset and it signaled the end of another day. Turning her body, she walked to the balcony as she felt the ocean breeze whip through her stiff hair and caress her face gently. Ana closed her eyes to savor the feeling of peace. The warmth of the sun felt like soft kisses on her face as its colors engulfed her entirely.
For the first time since her mom died and her father was 'supposed' to be dead, she had the best sleep and finally enjoyed the sunset-which she never thought she'd ever do again. Suddenly, the chirping of a bird startled her and she nearly toppled over the balcony. Nervous laughter turned genuine when she realized what it was.
"You love the sunsets too?" Startled, she turned around and punched someone in the nose. It was a man. Before the person could do anything further, she kicked him in the groin and ran past him into the room. Frantically, she searched for something sharp, anything she could find to defend herself. She heard a groan and the faint touch of a hand.
She launched herself unto the bed, grabbed the bed sheet and wrapped it around her intruder's neck. With her now struggling to remove the sheet, she shoved him down and pressed her knee aggressively into his back. Ana lowered her mouth to his ear and whispered, "Who are you and how did you fucking find me?"
When there was no response, she grabbed a hold of his hair and banged it against the floor, "WHO the Hell are you and how did you fucking find me!"
"Damn you look like a girl but you punch like a man! You really are his daughter," he laughed and murmured a few 'ow's' in between.
She tightened the sheets around his neck and growled. Before she could figure out what was happening, he rolled over and was now straddling her. When she was about to scream, he covered her mouth with his bloodied hand. Ana struggled against him and began clawing at him. With his free hand, her grabbed both her hands and pinned them above her head.
"I'm going to take my hand away now," he said as she just stared at him. "Promise me that you won't scream? I won't hurt you."
She stared longer and then nodded breathlessly. When he took his hand away, she poked him in the eye and shoved him off of her. She punched the mirror and picked up a shard of the glass that fell to the floor. With a cry of vengeance, she ran for him.
"Wait, stop-"
When she ignored him, he walked briskly towards her, grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her arm; her back now flushed against his chest. Silence rang in the air accompanied by their uneven breathing.
"I'm not here, to hurt you," he whispered in her ear softly.
"How can I trust you? Every person I've come in contact with for the past two days seems to want to do just that," she retorted lividly.
"My name is Light Yaeger, a soldier of the Zappirenos army. I work for your father and he sent me up here to check on you."
"Prove it."
He spun her around and she looked him dead in the eyes, until they roamed to scan his attire. Sure enough, he had the same design of the sun and moon that Zapphira had embedded on his chest plate. He let go of her arm and she stumbled back.
When she was done assessing him, she looked him in the eyes and he stared back. When he realized she would not say a word, he stepped towards her and she took a step back, making sure to distance herself.
"Stay the hell away from me, I don't know you," the last time a man came close to her...memories of that night surfaced and she felt the air grow cold and still.
He stopped immediately, "Your father asked me to escort you down for dinner."
"Escort me? Why couldn't he come himself?"
"He is busy."
"Too busy to come and check on his daughter- what could be more important than me?"
"I'm just following orders, Ms. Yusagii," he stood in front of her at ease, with one hand on the hilt of
his sword.
"My name is Ana…and go get my father."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
"And why not," she asked infuriated that he was still standing there.
"Because I was asked to escort you to him," Ana was about to argue but he beat her to it. "I'm here to escort you to him and that is all Ms. Yusagii. You have ten minutes to prepare yourself, or would you like me to drag you there myself?" He said with an arrogant smile.
Ana's cheeks burned red as she clenched her fists, when Light moved towards her, she took a step back and growled, "Would you be standing here the entire ten minutes?!"
He looked at her and a half smile slid unto his lips. With a slight bow, he turned around and left. Ana stood there for a minute trying to calm down her nerves before heading towards the shower. When she found it, she made sure to scrub off everything that happened, especially when she was up there alone...with him.
With each memory that flashed, she scrubbed harder and harder until she could no longer keep up her composure. She flung the rag and slid down to the bottom as the water drained out her sobs and tears. How had this become her life? This shit was not supposed to happen...her mom was not supposed to die, her father was supposed to be dead.
"Fuck," Ana screamed as she banged her head twice.
After the shower, she slipped on a midnight dress which she found in the closet. She would have
preferred a shirt and pants but, dresses were the only things found in the closet. It fit her perfectly, showing off the curves she had and complimenting her skin tone and eye color. She dried her hair and pulled it back leaving no hair dangling on her face.
"Need any help?" Ana's eyes focused on the figure which appeared in the mirror with a look of shock and disbelief. A grin spread across the familiar face as she walked out of the glass.
"Mom…?"
"Hi, my love," Claris smiled.
"Mom," Ana walked sorrowfully towards her mother who only laughed and embraced her for a few seconds and then broke apart.
"I can't stay long darling, I only have three minutes. Want me to do your hair?""
Ana wordlessly nodded as her mother rubbed her cheek and wiped her tears away.
When Claris turned to the mirror on top of the desk, she turned to Ana about to ask what happened.
"Long story," and they both chuckled.
"You'll tell me one day?"
Ana laughed and replied wearily, "Yeah. Sure, I will."
Claris had a bobby pin in her mouth as she fixed Ana's wet hair so that none of it fell over her face. "The books that you'll find in the treasure chest Ana, study them. You'll need all the information you can get for what's about to happen in a few weeks and years to come."
A million questions swirled through her mind, but they could not all be answered as her mother only had three minutes. But one thing she knew for sure trumped all of them, one thing she knew she could say at this moment, "I'm scared," Ana said as Claris did her finishing touches.
"I know you are my love, but you must not be. You are with your father and surrounded by people who will protect you and your brother with their lives. Trust them-"
"How can I trust them after what happened to me. How can I, after all the secrets that you and dad kept from us, after what Lacy turned out to be? No one can be trusted..." her voice lowered as she gazed at her hands.
She heard her mother sigh and felt a hand on her shoulder, "I know my love. I know and I am so, so very sorry. We just wanted to protect you two."
Ana's eyes locked onto her mother's as she looked up in the mirror and more tears fell down her face. She sniffed and her hand shot up to hold encase her mother's, squeezing it tightly. "I'm sorry, mom. For all the things I said," her voice broke. "I miss you. I don't know if I can do this...be strong you know? I've never-I don't. I just..." she croaked out in a barely audible voice.
Claris placed her other hand over her daughter's and smiled sadly, "I miss you too hon."
A knock came at the door and Claris' figure started wavering.
"M-Mom?"
"My time is up my love. I have to go."
"Wha-what! No! N-no... you can't...I'm not...No!"
"Ana, this opportunity that you have been given; the opportunity to see the world like you have been begging for... don't take it for granted, learn from it, enjoy it. Become the woman that I know you were born to be. You will do great things...I can feel it in my bones. Be strong my love. You have to be," she smiled as she began to fade away. "I love you, Ana. I love you both."
A tear rolled down her cheek as she disappeared. When Ana glanced at herself in the broken mirror, she found a sun and moon necklace which hung delicately around her neck. The sound was faint but not faint enough to be ignored by her. It was the sound of her heart breaking and with it, more tears fell from her eyes slowly. Another knock came from the other side of the door and she quickly wiped her tears away.