~~***~~
Ana woke up to the light of the sunrise, which slowly crept up on her eyes, down to the rest of her body. It was Tuesday and she seemed to have cried herself to sleep last night. She groaned and grabbed her other pillow covering her face to block out the light.
She didn't want to get out of bed, not today, not yet. She was still tired of all the mishaps that's been occurring one after the other. First was the argument, her encounter with Zapphira, her mother's death and the time she'd killed a mass amount of henchmen she still had no memory of and last night's argument.
A rush of tears threatened to run down her already puffed up face, but she was able to hold it in. Lazily, she sat up in bed and yawned as she squinted at the sunrise. Five seconds later, someone knocked on the door. She inwardly groaned, "What!?"
"Lady Ana, we've come to get you ready for breakfast."
"Uh...um. Th-that's okay, I can do that myself."
"I'm sorry my lady but we must follow our orders."
Intrigued, she faced the closed door with curiosity blazing in them, "who?"
"Light Yaeger's, milady."
'Of course'
Ana pushed the covers off of her in rage and stormed towards the door. She yanked the handle open and was about to give them an order to Light when-
Everyone who seemed to have been at dinner was now surprisingly gathered outside her room with birthday hats on. A maid placed a hat on Ana's head as her face remained the same; shocked.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear An-naaaa! Happy birthday to you!!"
They ally sang, they were off pitch....terribly....especially Simion. When she locked eyes on him, she couldn't help but burst into laughter that led to a snort, as happy tears fell from her eyes as she led them in.
"You guys...sound terrible!" They laughed along with her as she wiped her eyes. "Thank you...but you didn't have to do that."
"It was my idea sis. You left angry yesterday so I thought I'd do something to cheer you up. How convenient that today is your birthday."
"Awe," she sniffed as she wiped her nose and walked toward him, "thanks bro." Ana hugged him and he smiled back. When they broke apart, he kissed her on her cheek and told everyone to set the gifts on the table next to the door.
"Thanks again guys," Ana called out as they left. Simultaneously, Anadron walked in and engulfed her…literally.
Though she was still pissed at him for what he did, she could not ignore the fact that she missed his birthday hugs. Naturally, she relaxed into his embrace and sighed in relief that this was another familiar thing brought back to the present of her now insane life. Familiar things were all that she needed at the moment.
"Ana...about yesterday… I'm very sorry for-"
"It's okay dad. I understand that you were only looking out for me because I'm your lil girl." They broke apart and he held her at arm's length as she continued, "I'm still mad at you for your lack of faith in m-us but, please don't ruin the moment."
He looked at her and nodded solemnly, a sad smile came up for three seconds before he squeezed her arms a bit before he let go. "I'll always be overprotective of you," his thumb caressed her cheek before he kissed her on her forehead, "I'll always make the choices I believe will protect the both of you...whether you hate me for it or not. I love the both of you, Ana. Always remember that."
Before he left, he hugged her one last time and smiled. She sighed and plopped down onto the edge of her bed, whiles running her fingers through her bed hair. The door opened again and she stood up in panic as her father's head came into view.
"Oh and before I forget, we're having a celebration tonight. The entire kingdom is going to be there. Dress to impress." He winked at her and she smiled nervously in response, before he closed the door behind him.
"This is all too much in one day," she sighed.
"Don't tell me you have something against Birthday Parties, Lady Ana."
The son of a...can't he at least learn how to freaking knock?! "Is it your business to know what I'm for and what I'm against?" She turned to face an armored man standing in the doorway and undoubtedly, still manner less. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"
"Is it your business to know what I've heard and not heard?"
"It is if you are my bodyguard," she shot back as he closed the door to walk in.
"Isn't it enough to know that I'm qualified to protect you?"
"No. Not when it's what you have to do to in order to prove something. Makes you look like an irresponsible kid."
He walked towards her slowly with an expressionless face, "It seems like you were taught to become feisty." When Light took a step closer and bent down to whisper in her ear, Ana's eyes grew wide. "That mouth of yours will get you killed one day. Be careful what you say and to whom you say it to." With that he stepped back, bowed and left the room closing the door behind him.
"That may be true, but the lack of manners you have will do the same," she whispered in anger as
she stormed to the bathroom.
~**~
Ana spent the entire day with her brother and their bodyguards taking a tour of Andarios. The people were friendly, offering different fruits and food of their culture. The music and the dances could only be described with one word: exotic. Turns out they had to spend the entire day in the city because the maids and kitchen chefs were busy for tonight's preparations. During that time, Light could not get more irritating as he focused more on everything that wore a dress with an entrance between, rather than protecting her.
When she couldn't take it anymore, she swirled around and stepped in front of his view. He looked into her eyes with a blank expression and she turned to face the woman he was eying. When Ana glared at her, she guiltily picked up her dress and basket and rushed on further into the crowd of shoppers.
"Is that how you plan on keeping me safe? Eying everything that has a skirt and an entrance between their legs?"
"So you'd prefer me to eye everything that wears pants that walks by?"
"Grr, just...do your job."
"Who says I'm not."
She raised a brow in question and he sighed. He reached out for her, but she swatted his hand away. Unnerved, he spoke, "Turn around."
She stood plastered in her spot and folded her arms. He sighed heavily and attempted to turn her himself and when she punched his armor in response, she doubled back in pain.
"Fuck!"
Eyes shot in their direction as she tried to cradle her aching hand.
"You shouldn't have done that; the armor is made up of-"
"I think I know what it's fucking made of!" She whispered in rage.
He sighed and offered his hand, Ana looked at him as if he'd grown another head. "Come on Ana, let me see it."
"No I'm fine."
"No, you're not," he retorted slightly agitated. "Let. Me. See it," he demanded.
She didn't know what to do. The last man she never knew who touched her hurt her real bad and giving someone another chance to do so was a 'No No.' Light saw the battle she was having within her eyes and he decided to offer another ultimatum.
"At least, hold it out for me to see," he said softly.
Ana looked him in the eye, as he did the same and she slowly but surely did as he asked and he observed it.
"Where does it hurt?"
"Here," Ana pointed and he inched closer. She took a step back and he kept his distance.
"All it needs is to be soaked in cold water for two minutes, rubbed in salve and wrapped up. Should be healed in a day or two depending..."
"Depending on what?"
"Come on guys!" Simion shouted ahead of them.
They turned to look at each other for a while. When She was about to say something he beat her to it.
"Look, I understand why you don't want me to be your bodyguard. I don't want to babysit anyone either, but if this is what I have to do to gain your father's trust, then I will. So trust that I won't screw it up, truce?" He held his hand out to shake her hand.
Ana looked at him a bit puzzled. Nothing in his eyes gave away anything behind his motives. One moment he's calling her out on her attitude and now he's trying to become friends.
"What's your deal?"
He lowered his hand and placed it on the hilt of his sword, "I'm saying I don't want to fight about something that we both don't agree to. We can at least try to get along. So...truce?"
She thought about it for a while longer and sighed heavily, "Truce."
Evening came and Ana and Light sat down in the balcony playing monopoly as a means to 'get along'. By that time the sun had already set. Dark blue and purple lit up the sky, accompanied by a constellation of stars. "Light...?"
"Hmm..." he said as he was counting his money.
"Why would my father assign you as my bodyguard? Why would you need to prove yourself?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I-I'm just curious," she said as she rolled her dice and ended up with a six.
"Curiosity killed the cat." She looked up to see him already looking at her, "You, digging into my past, Ana?"
Struck with the question, Ana shifted uncomfortably and her face softened, "N-no of course not I just... I just wanted to know. He could have assigned anyone to me. I just wanted to know why you-"
"Why won't you let me touch you," he cut her off immediately.
"I-sorry," she blinked in confusion.
"A question for a question," he put his money down and sat back in the chair. Tilting his head up a bit, he continued, "If you tell me why you don't let people touch you...then I'll tell you why I was assigned to you."
Ana laughed nervously and leaned forward to whisper, "Is it a crime to know a little about who is protecting me? For all I know, you could be some kind of serial killer, rapist, robber or something. I just want to know who I let into my room."
He looked at her in the eye and clenched his jaw. When Light leaned forward, he did it so quickly, she jumped back. "Did anyone tell you that you're a hypocrite?"
"Excuse me?"
"You ask me about my past. I offer you a deal so that we both know something about each other's past and you have a problem with that. You're a hypocrite."
"What happened to me is none of your business," Ana retorted defensively. "You don't know the shit I've been through these past few days, so I suggest you hold your tongue on making assumptions about me. You barge into my room without knocking, you insult me and then you call me a hypocrite?"
Light laughed and stood up, the chair scraping irritatingly as Ana watched him as he head for the door.
"Where the heck do you think you're going?" She stood up to and walked behind him.
"Out of this room..."
"Is that how you deal with an issue? You just walk away?"
"No! I don't!" He swirled around and backfired. "I usually deal with them, but this one is a special case. I'm walking away because I know if I stay, then I will hurt you and no, that is not a threat. Ana...you talk about pain and suffering as if you're the only person in this world that's had some serious shit go down in their life. So forgive me for calling you out on your bitchy behavior and not wanting to have a conversation that could end up destroying everything I've worked hard to achieve.
"I won't let some girl with a self-centered attitude get in the way of that." He turned to resume walking towards the door but stopped. "And you're right! I don't know anything about what happened to you, but you don't know shit about me either, so I suggest that you hold your tongue."
They stood before each other breathing heavily until there was a knock on the door. Zapphira walked into the room. "Your father wanted me to let you know that it's time to get ready...I-I'm sorry was I interrupting something?"
"Yes."
"No...I was just leaving."
And with that Light turned around and walked out of the room fuming. Zapphira stood there leaning against the door frame with a blank expression assessing Ana. When Ana looked into her eyes, she opened her mouth to speak.
"Just shut the fuck up," Ana cut her off.
"You know-"
"No I don't know-"
"That that mouth of yours...one day," Zapphira said as she leaned off the door frame. "The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree," she squeezed in and walked down the hall becoming consumed by the shadows.
Ana sighed and then seconds later screamed. Rage building up inside her, she punched the wall and the end result was a hole and an aching hand. What if they were right? With all these emotions boiling under her skin...
'I'll never let you drag me down with you. I'll take over your body before it can ever happen.'
~~~
All eyes were glued onto Ana and Light as they walked down the stairs. She wore a beautiful navy blue dress, decorated with stars and two crescent moons on either side of the V-neck. Her hair was pinned up in curls with a navy blue tiara and dangling star-shaped earrings. Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
As she walked to the long staircase, she saw Light coming from the opposite side. He had a black suit with a navy blue shirt. When she saw him, she felt weird tension and was afraid to stand next to him. She may not be as civil with him as she should, but he was the only one right now who could help her walk down those stairs. She felt so nervous she thought she'd trip and fall face front.
"Don't worry, I got ya." Light reassured her as he offered her his hand.
Shocked, she gave a small smile in return and took a shaky breathe, "I thought we weren't on speaking terms. The way we left things...I thought you'd be happy in seeing me fall on my face."
"Don't get me wrong, I would love that but as much as I do, I would love to keep my position and job. I also can't let my emotions get in the way of my work."
As they continued to walk down, all eyes were fixed on them. Some gasped and some gaped. There were thousands of them and that made her heart beat faster. She tried taking deep breathes as she wasn't accustomed to so much attention.
Light squeezed her hand and leaned in slightly to whisper, "Relax, Ana. I won't let you fall and it's only for a little while."
She looked at him and he looked at her, "This is the first time you've called me by my name..."
"Lady Ana Yusagii and her bodyguard Light Yaeger…"
They all clapped and the song Happy Birthday by Matt Houston came on.
As the chatter re-commenced, she looked around the room and sighed heavily, "What do I do now?"
"You socialize."
"Socialize?! I don't want to socialize. A big screen playing a Madagascar movie with popcorn, pizza and sodas would have been better than this."
"A what now?"
She turned to face him and chuckled lightly as he stood there watching her.
"What's so funny?"
"You don't know the movie Madagascar?"
"What's a movie?"
Ana laughed again, a bit louder this time which earned weird glances her way. "Oh-my-God, what do you people do here? I mean even though Andarios is a little retro, we still keep up with the times but you guys?" she 'tsked' and shook her head, "You live like you're in the medieval times. Why?"
"We live like this because of what we know. Not every place in the world is aware of what lurks in the shadows. Especially since I've heard that the movies made up about make us look like myths and favoring vermin."
"Hmm, point taken."
"Hi, dear, my name is Laura and this is my daughter Maze. We are pleased to have finally met you; your father speaks highly of his children."
Ana smiled backed and shook the woman's hand, "Nice to meet you Laura and Maze. I didn't know my father spoke about us..."
"I know you might have felt like you were abandoned after finding out that he's alive, but please believe he did it for a great cause. Without him, there would be no Zappirenos."
Ana smiled back and watched as they walked away into the interlocking crowd.
"Is my father that much of a Hero here?"
"Despite the way you look at him because of his decisions, he is. He saved this entire kingdom and we all owe him our lives."
"Hmm…" Ana said before grabbing a wine glass from a waiter who passed by.
"Ana, why do you hate him so much?"
"You think I hate him?" She said after sipping from the glass.
He gave her a look and she looked down to her shoes and then back up, "I don't hate him...I just wish he'd told us. I wish they'd trained us." Ana turned to him and continued, "We wouldn't be stuck in this mess if they did. Mom would still be alive and my brother and I wouldn't need other people protecting us. I just feel-"
"Useless, I know," he replied and looked at the people occupying the ballroom. He turned to Ana and said, "I know you don't like socializing, but you're going to have to do it. Especially letting people shake your hand and possibly even dancing."
"D-Dancing? B-But I don't like dancing, I don't know how to. And I don't have a problem with people. It's just...how they- "
"Excuse me, Lady Yusagii but I came to find out if Mr. Yaeger wouldn't mind dancing with me?" It happened to be the same maid that Light was staring at during dinner.
"I'm sorry but he's my bodyguard. He cannot."
"Yes, milady, I-I'm sorry."
When she was out of earshot, Light chuckled and turned to Ana, "I thought you didn't want a bodyguard."
"Well, this place is crawling with people I don't know and trust. I'd rather be stuck with you than be stuck with myself or anyone else."
"Is it that Lady Ana has learned to enjoy my company now?"
Ana scoffed, "Please. Don't kid yourself lifeguard."
"Lifeguard!?"
"Never mind. Let's go find my brother."
Whiles her eyes scanned the crows once more, she spotted her brother Simion. He seemed to be leaning next to a girl speaking to her in her ear as she giggled like a lil school girl.
Ana scoffed and shook her head. "Look at that," she pointed to him as Light came to stand next to her, "my brother will never change! Not a few days ago we found out that his girlfriend was a demon and now he's back in the game? He doesn't even know what's crawled up her skirt and between her legs!"
The girl he was talking to had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. 'Wait? Isn't that... but her thoughts were interrupted by a man with brown hair and green eyes.
"My lady, may I have this dance?" He asked as he bowed.
Ana was about to refuse, but he cut her off. "Please Lady Ana. I would be most heartbroken if you refused."
"Yes, she would."
Ana turned to Light sharply, preparing to say something.
"My Lady," she turned to see him bowing slightly and offer his hand. She took half smiled at him and cautiously placed hers in his.
As Ana walked off to the dance floor with the young man, she turned around to see Light smirking at her. "I'll kill you for this," she mouthed and he did nothing but laugh.
Whiles dancing, Ana kept an eye on her brother. If her mouth would be the death of her, then his 'cock' would be his.