~~**~~
"Come in," Ana replied as she stood up facing the door.
Light entered and they stared at each for five long beats.
"Well?" Ana said breaking the silence as she fixed up her dress and took three steps forward. "Are we going or not?"
A smirk crawled slowly across his lips as he held the door open for her, "I'm impressed Ms. Yusagii."
Ana scrunched her brows in confusion and said, "Am I supposed to take that as a compliment? Your impression of me changes nothing about your first impression. Stay the hell away from me Light."
He stared at her longer and she felt herself itching to shift her weight on either feet, but decided against it. She had to show him that she was not afraid of him and that she meant every word she'd said. After what happened a few days ago, there was no way in hell she'd make a man get this close to her. Who knows what lies beneath their skins?
"Of course, Ms. Yusagii, shall we?"
Ana walked towards the door but kept his gaze. Just before she walked out the door, she whispered heavily, "I mean it," and walked right past him.
She didn't know where her father was, but she sure as hell knew one thing. She didn't trust the guy and she would rather get lost a million times in these halls than be led by him. People can't be trusted these days. If she let her guard down-with everything that she'd learnt in the past few days, then she'd end up dead.
"You're going the wrong way you know?"
She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. She looked at where he stopped to see a narrow hallway. She looked between him and the hallway and raised her right brow.
"You expect me to follow you through there? Nuh uh, I don't think so-"
"Yes, I do."
"You're kidding me right?"
Light sucked his teeth as he looked away from her for a few seconds, "Look girl, I don't know what your problem is, or who popped your bubble but I'm not in the mood for childish behavior. What are you sixteen?"
"Seventeen-"
"Then stop acting like a brat and follow me." He took a step further and his eyes became dark, "Or do I have to drag you there myself?"
As he spoke her eyes widened and then minimized to slits as she clenched her jaw and glared at him. Her blood boiled within her vessel.
"You have no right to speak to me that way!"
"I do when you are acting like a bi-"
"Who do you think you're calling a-"
"I know you've been through shit and you're skeptical about trusting people, but you don't have to
act up like this. At some point in time, you're gonna have to trust someone. You know what...follow me, don't follow, I really don't give a shit."
And with that he disappeared down the hall as his footsteps faded. She gritted her teeth and flexed her fists as she killed him about twenty times in her mind. Suddenly, an eerie wind blew through the cracks in the concrete walls and the sounds of slow sluggish movements were heard.
"Shit!" She cussed and basically ran down the hall to catch up with Light. When she reached the end, she glanced to the far side of her left and saw him disappear down another hall.
When she caught sight of him, the hall opened up to a spacious area with double doors. He didn't have to knock because when he approached, the doors opened and she caught a glimpse of inside.
"Light," Anadron said as he saw one of him enter the dining room, "where is Ana?"
"She's-"
"Right here," Ana said breathlessly and blew a stray strand of her hair out of her face and combed it in place with her fingers. She smiled sheepishly and she ignored Light's gaze. She tore her eyes from her father's and her expression switched to awe.
The room was well furnished with a crystal chandelier illuminating the table and its occupants. Just behind them was a fireplace, which provided the only music in the room amidst what was once, their light chattering.
To the left was a medium sized glass window, which allowed a view of the city miles below. Their lights twinkling like the stars as they shined vividly in the night. This place truly was beautiful but the events which led her here were not. From the moment she entered all eyes were on her but she didn't realize it until she finished admiring the place.
"I'm glad that you could join us, my love. You look beautiful."
She smiled sheepishly at him, "sorry for taking so long."
"That's alright, I'm just glad that you are finally up," Anadron said before he sipped his glass of wine,
and pointed to a sit next to Light. "How are you feeling?" He asked, as she went to sit opposite Light instead.
There was no way in Hell she would sit next to that unmannerly brainless swine. Who enters a ladies room without knocking! And after all those things he said to her just a few moments ago?! Hell no! She'd rather eat her shit in stew rather than sit next to the flea bag. She looked in her brother's direction and he saluted her with his fork that held a piece of chicken captive. Ana chuckled and he laughed in return.
"I'm feeling okay for now," she said finally turning to her father. "There's still a slight feeling of a hammer pounding in my head, but I'll be okay-though I would like to ask..."
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you come to get me?"
"He had important matters to attend to, as I'm sure you were informed by the one who fetched you," Zapphira answered as her heels clicked against the marbled floor. Her lips were dark red in color, as her hair fell in curves on her back. "Isn't that right, Light?" She winked at him before sitting next to Simion.
Zapphira turned to Anadron and then to Ana.
"Just for today," was all he said in response as he drank again.
"I'm sorry but was I referring to you," Ana said as her hands balled into fists beside her. "Last time I checked I was talking to a man...there a cock between your-"
"Ana," her father said sharply as he dropped his cutlery and looked at her. "We have already gone past this, please don't make this any more difficult than it is."
The chattering ceased and all eyes landed on the two of them.
Ana's eyes held Zapphira's for a bit longer before she turned to her father. "Then answer me. Why didn't you come to check up on me? What was more important than my health that you had to send someone else to do it for you?"
"Like Zapphira said important matters."
"Like what?" When he didn't answer, she pressed on, "Like what dad?!"
"I-" He glanced at Zapphira awkwardly and continued after receiving a nod from her so small it was almost invisible, but Ana saw it. "I had to speak with the council to inform them of the events that happened in Andarios."
"Okay...and what did they say?"
"Ana," he sighed.
"What is that confidential?" When he didn't reply a look of disbelief crept up on her face. "Seriously Dad, come on...I was a victim in those incidents, I deserve to know."
"No you don't."
"Yes I do! Are we seriously talking about this right now! They killed mom...they destroyed every single memory made in that house and they drove us away from it. Don't you dare tell me I don't deserve to know because they came after us for a reason and I need to know why, because being hunted and killed without knowing why is bullshit!"
"Language-"
"Fuck the language!"
She looked around the table and everyone glanced away busying themselves with something else, except for Light, Zapphira and Simion who looked at Ana and then Anadron.
"Know your place child!" His voice boomed and all eyes fell on him again. "I am your father and you will respect and listen to me. You will refrain from using such language in my presence. Your mother did not teach you vulgarity!"
"And how do you know that! You've been M.I.A for more than ten years. What you say to me right now means shit, all I want is revenge."
"This is too dangerous Ana. For the both of you," her father said, as his eyes swept over to Simion who gulped. "We barely got away when we were chased by those fiends. Simion nearly lost his leg and you almost died and I lost your mother. There is no way in hell that I am going to lose the two of you. You're all I have left."
"And what is it our fault that we almost died? Is it our fault that we know nothing about this other side to you, to your life? To who and what we are? Are we even human?" She said all this fumingly as she made gestures.
Anadron tried his best to remain calm but the pressure being placed on him by his own daughter, because of the choices he made was unbearable. He had to do what he had to do and he couldn't take any risks. If he hadn't listened to his orders and stayed, he wouldn't wish to know what the hell would have happen.
"Dad, please...at least answer my last question." Silence echoed throughout the entire room until he broke it.
"Neither of you are-no more questions," he said as he saw her open her mouth to say something. "I know you have a lot, but you can't have them all being answered tonight. More information will be given to you in time. I also understand the reason behind your anger and the desire to avenge your mother, but it does not make sense in saying that we'll protect you only to send you out on the battlefield when you can't defend yourselves. In light of this, the council and I have decided on assigning bodyguards to the both of you."
"WHAT!"
"Dad," Simion started to say but was cut off when Zapphira griped his thigh. He winced and turned
his head sharply in her direction. She leaned in to his ear, her eyes never leaving Anadron and Ana.
"Listen to your father, he knows what's best," and with that she let him go and gave him a brief smile before placing all her attention to where it was originally.
"Ana, I know you think that you can take care of yourself, but because of the incident that happened a few days ago, I think you two should have protection. It would make me happier to know that you're being looked after and I agree with the council."
Ana couldn't believe her ears as she looked at her father shocked. What was more surprising was what was about to come out of his mouth next.
"Light..."
"Yes, General," he replied.
"You are to be Ana's personal bodyguard."
Ana glared at her father as Light choked on his drink and setting the cup down steadily, Light glanced from Ana to Anadron and then asked, "Sir, are you sure? There are others far more capable than I."
"You want to earn a place in my region and prove your loyalty to me and to your country boy?"
"Yes sir. But I-"
"Then this is how you will prove it to me. Protect my daughter."
Light hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "Yes sir."
"I don't want a bodyguard," Ana said defiantly and her father looked to her.
"Ana, this isn't up for a debate."
"Dad I'm seventeen not five."
"And you are not capable of defending yourself against these vermin! If the council says you'll have a bodyguard, then you'll have one."
"Fine, can I at least-'
"No."
"You didn't even know what I was going to ask. Why won't you listen to me?"
"I do know what you were going to ask and the answer is no. Light will be your bodyguard and that is final. Whatever issues you two have, bury it. I don't want to hear any complaints."
Ana and Light looked at him in shock. Light hadn't told him of their inability to act civilized with
each other, but he must have picked it up. But
"Simion, will you be fighting me on this subject as well?"
Simion swallowed quickly and replied, "No, father," before looking at Ana with sad eyes. Their father was right in agreeing with the council and giving them bodyguards. He may not have been there when they needed him the most, but he was here now.
"Good. Turk," Anadron said as he looked at the soldier to the dare end of the table.
A look of fear was visibly etched on his features, but he kept them in check a second later, "Yes sire-sir."
Ana scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. Sire?
"You are responsible for Simion."
He cleared his throat and bowed his head in respect, "Yes sir. I'll protect him with my life."
"You'd better, because if harm comes to him you will be paying dearly with it." Some gasps were heard whiles others eyes opened wide. It wasn't Anadron who said it, but Ana.
"Yes, Ms. Yusagii," he replied and bowed to her as well.
For the rest of the night, everyone ate in silence; a silence that could be cut with a knife because it was so thick.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and the guards opened it to reveal someone entering dressed in white, with a silver belt designed in shapes of the sun and moon. He walked over to Anadron and whispered something in his ear and Anadron nodded firmly.
Anadron stood up, "As of now Dinner has ended. You are free to stay and converse or leave, the choice is yours. Zapphira, we need to go," he said and she stood up.
"Excuse me," she bowed her head and followed after Anadron.
For the rest of the night, Ana spent her time conversing with her brother until eleven o'clock. After being escorted to her room by Light, Ana took off the dress and the accessories. She brushed her teeth and put on a navy blue night gown and wrapped herself in a robe. She walked out into the balcony and stared at the star filled sky, wishing that things could have gone back to normal.
Her life had now become a nightmare.