SPIRIT BOND: Anna and Vladimir's story

CHAPTER 22: Confusion, Hurt, Understanding And Court

Vladimir's POV

A thousand thoughts filled my mind as I held Anna close to me, examining the cuts and bruises on her face and hand. I closed my eyes and let the spirit flow from me to her as the cuts closed and the bruises fade. I opened my eyes and saw my father looking from me to Anna, but surprisingly he kept silent. Alexandra and Claire conversed in a corner and Rina and Danila silently spoke. The mood in the carriage was sombre and unanswered questions hung in the air. I had checked Anna's eyes a few times after she had fallen asleep, they were their normal blue colour.

Hours passed and the night sky came and went. I was deep in thought when Anna finally stirred and opened her eyes, sitting up she turned to me "Vladimir what happened?" She had a dazed look in her eyes "I was hoping you could tell me" She frowned a look of remembrance passed on her face "The strigoi" I nodded "What happened?" She looked around the carriage seeing all eyes on her then turned to me "I got cornered and I fought them" She eyes alone told me we'd speak of it later, but none of the other royals would let it go "That can't be all, Anna your eyes were silver" Claire said. Surprise flashed across Anna's face "I'm sorry. I don't know what you're talking about" Claire huffed and crossed her arms "Of course you don't". I struggled to hide my amusement.

My gaze fell on my father watching Anna with interest. It seemed like he knew exactly what happened and why Anna was lying to Claire and everyone else that didn't understand or know about our bond. He must have felt my eyes on him, he turned to me with a smug smile plastered on his face. As he turned to the window watching the sunrise. We were still about a day's travel from Moscow. Claire and Alexandra kept questioning Anna as we rode. When she had had enough she asked to go guard again. I let her go since it was safer during the day, no strigoi would attack her.

Once she and Danila left Alexandra started bombarding me with questions. I shut her out staring out the window watching Anna riding. She seemed content with the feeling of the wind through her hair. I looked deeper looking to her aura It shown bright gold and blue, the usual dark halo that surrounded her aura was lighter but still visible. Confirming my suspicion that she had done something with the darkness. I briefly tried to feel the bond and yet I still couldn't. I let my head fall back hitting the soft side of the carriage. Just once I would like to be able to hear her thoughts, feel her emotions and see something through her eyes.
My wishful thinking got cut short when my father spoke "She's dangerous, Vladimir" I looked up at him "Maybe to you, but she'll never be to me" He waved his hand dismissing my words "She'll be the reason you lose your sanity" Anger boiled through my veins "She's the only reason I still have my sanity!" My raised voice startled Alexandra and Claire. "Vladimir calm down" Rina said touching my shoulder. I chose to listen to her, but only out respect for the crown and Anna's weakened state. Her mind needed to belong to her and mine to me until she had recovered.

I was thankful when Anna returned. Her return meant the sun was setting and we only had a few hours to go until we reached the court and I could escape my father. "Why were you angry?" Was the first thing Anna asked as she sat down "It's nothing. I just lost my temper for a few seconds" She seemed sceptical "I'll tell you later" I said through the bond. She nodded in understanding. My father sat forward, eyes focused on Anna "The strigoi you fought Anna, did they say anything to you?" She looked at him "Yes they did" He gaze never wavered from her "What did they say?" Anna swallowed hard "Marina won't like it if we fail". My father's gaze turned cold colder than I'd ever seen it before.

The entire carriage went still as they felt the atmosphere change into a heavy mist like anchor pulling them down. "Who's Marina?" Rina spoke first, breaking the oppressive silence. But no answer came. Not from my father or Anna. Finally Anna spoke, buy her voice seemed hollow and laced with pain and heartache "My mother". Her words sent Claire into another whirlwind of question once again, while everyone else kept silent to afraid to ask Anna anything else. Even I was shocked and surprised. Anna had never mentioned her mother or anyone in her family. Danila reached and took her hand squeezing it. She didn't look at him, but took hold of his hand. He made sure to give me a pointed look.

For a moment I was confused as to why, until it hit me. He wanted me to make Anna talk to me, I met his eyes nodding. This revelation about Anna made me realize that although she knows me better than anyone and I understood her way of thinking, reasoning and behaviour, I didn't really know her. I only knew the part of her I'd met nothing more. I made a point of it to not just get her talking, but to get to know her as Anna and not as my guardian.

Hours passed and finally we rode into Moscow just as the sun started to sink behind the mountains. We rode through the gates of the court and got ushered out of the carriage and into the queen's wing in silence. The gigantic dark hallways and the royals moving through it made me think back to the first time I ever sat foot in them, they still petrified me as much as back then. Alexandra had requested that all of her travel companions, including the guardians stayed in the wing with her. Once the we got settled into our rooms I went to Anna to get the full story of what happened. I found her in front of the fireplace drinking tea.

###Pic is of the second moroi court. This chapter is a little on the uneventful side but it's necessary. More action and revelations in the next chapter. Anna's secrets###