SPIRIT BOND: Anna and Vladimir's story

CHAPTER 27: Embrace

###As promised the second chapter for this week. Enjoy!###

Vladimir's POV

I woke up in silence in a room I knew well, but I couldn't remember why I was there or how I got there. I sat up, but felt my entire body groaned in protest. So instead I laid back against the headboard as I brought my hands up to my face. I took them away when I felt three distinct claw marks over my face. The memories of what happened flooded my mind and panic filled me, because Anna wasn't anywhere to be seen. Just as my panic state reached it's peak, the door opened "Vladimir you're wake" I looked at the person but I didn't really see who it was "Anna where's Anna" The desperation in my tone caught even me off guard "Calm down Vladimir, she's alright. She is just tending to a matter" I relaxed a little seeing for the first time that it was Elena "She's not hurt is she?" Elena smiled "A few bruises and scratches and a stubbornness that'll scare even a strigoi, but other than that she alright." She walked closer feeling my forehead.

"You need to take it easy Vladimir. From what I heard that strigoi threw you around like you were nothing" I felt anger, not at Elena, but at myself for failing to stop the strigoi, for putting Anna in danger, but most of all for not being strong enough. "It seems their back. I'll go tell you father and friends that you're awake" She didn't wait for a response before she left. I let my head sink into the pillow. I close my eyes before I called her name in my head "Anna". It wasn't long before I heard footsteps rushing down the hall towards the door. It flew open as the whirlwind I knew as Anna rapped her arms around me, I hugged her back. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Vladimir I failed...I failed to protect you when you needed me most" I heard the sorrow in her voice. I hugged her tighter "No Anna, you didn't let me down, you didn't fail I failed myself and you because I let pride and confidence cloud my judgement. " My voice was a whisper but I knew she heard every word.

"No Vladimir, I am your guardian that means that I need to protect you no matter what. No matter what means that it doesn't matter the circumstances, your state of mind or anyone else is. It means that I alway have to know when to protect you even if it means dying to achieve that goal" Her voice was soft as she spoke, but it held a lifetime's worth of emotions.  I let go of her cupping her face in my hands "Anna I won't ever allow you to die for me. Our lives might have been woven together by fate, but that doesn't means that my life is worth more than yours. Do you hear me Anna? As your charge I'm ordering you never to give your life for mine. Promise me." She held my hands in hers as I held her face "Only if you promise me the same" I smiled before I did something I knew she was going to kill me for later. I kissed her. Anna pulled back in surprise "Vladimir?!" She whisper yelled at me. I smiled at the sight of her red cheeks "Our promise is sealed now" She scowled at me "People say 'seal the deal with a kiss' Vladimir, that doesn't apply to promises" I hugged her closer to me "I know. I just...needed you to know".

She let go of me when more footsteps approached. "I would say you survived your close encounter with death like a professional, but..." I smiled "But we both know it didn't go so well.". "How are you Prince Romanov?" Nickolas laughed "Oh come now Vladimir you know perfectly good that I haven't had that title for a very long time" I shook my head, but said nothing more. "Son, how are you feeling?" I met my father's tired, worried eyes "I tired and I feel drained of every last drop of energy, but I'll survive" He nodded.  Just then Anna stood up from where she was sitting next to me on the bed all traces of her flushed face had disappeared "Prince Dragomir may I have a word?" He nodded as he followed Anna out of the room, but I had no time to give any thought to it as the others started crowding me. "Alright! That's enough out, you're crowding the poor man" Elena said in an extremely athorative voice. I couldn't help but smile as the crowd dispersed. Elena was a very beautiful woman with many talents, but she could be scarier that hell in a dress when she wanted to be. I smiled when Anna came back into the room. Elena glanced at her, but said nothing as if she knew that Anna wouldn’t move an inch.

Anna stood at the window watching as Elena starting mixing a variety of herb in a bowl. Anna was so absorbed in what Elena was doing that she didn't notice me watching her. It didn't take much for anyone to see that something was bothering her "Anna is something wrong?" Her eyes met mine "I want to know if something's wrong, Anna" She turned away hiding her face as she looked out of the window "It's nothing you need to worry about Vladimir. All you need to be thinking about now is getting better" I put my head back into the pillows "When did you become so secretive?" She turned to me "I'm not being secretive it's just.....not my place to tell you this" I was about to say something when I noticed Elena watching us intently. The moment I noticed Anna did too, I had forgotten all about her. "Anna why are you answering Vladimir if he didn't say anything?" Anna seemed like she had been caught red handed "I...I-". "She heard my thoughts" Both woman looked at me surprised.

"What do you mean Vladimir?" Elena asked watching Anna "Well you know about my ability Elena. I told you and Nickolas about it before anyone else, but I left something out. Something only a few people in my life and Anna's life knows". Elena turned her gaze away from Anna and directed it to me "What would that be?" I sighed "Anna is my shadow kissed. It means that her mind is bound to mine through a bond that allows her to hear my thoughts, feel my emotions, and see through my eyes." Elena frowned in confusion "How is that possible?" This time Anna answered "It was made possible by my death. I died when I was twelve years old, I drowned, but before my soul left my body completely Vladimir touched me and his powers brought me back to life. Since that day we've had this bond." Elena sat down "This power, this Spirit can it really be that powerful?" I nodded "Anna is proof of that" Elena closed her eyes and nodded "And I assume you want this secret of yours to stay just that a secret".

She opened her eyes looking from me to Anna "Yes please Elena" Her eyes were still focused on Anna "Then it'll never leave this room" I thanked her as she continued making her ointment. After a while of silence Elena spoke again "Anna forgive me for sounding blunt but you're a Romanov, aren't you?" Anna watched her carefully "Why would you ask that?" Elena turned to her "Because you remind me of my son Fyodor" Anna didn’t answer her "Nickolas said the same thing. He said your son was just as stubborn and temperamental" Elena smiled "He was". In that one moment I could see hope in Elena's eyes, but Anna didn't answer instead she turned away once more. Elena sighed as the hope dimmed, she whispered a few words over the ointment and rubbed it over my face "That should take care of that. I'm sure your power will take care of the rest" I turned looking at Anna, Elena followed my eyes, but Anna still didn't move. Elena smiled slightly before heading to the door, just as she touched the nob Anna spoke "Stubbornness is what makes him the strongest guardian I know.".

###More secrets will be revealed in the next chapter due next week###