Hero?

23

"Ana," Damon growls warningly, "just what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Testing a theory of mine, is all," Ana says with a smile.

Damon stares at her trying to get a read on what Ana has planned.

They sit in silence after that and Ana fights the pull of sleep as they wait for Calum to return with the prisoner.

Calum knocks once then comes in, "Here you go boss."

Ana smiles brightly at him and both he and Damon flinch. This just makes Ana smile even wider. She may be young, but she's not stupid.

Damon would disagree with her. He has a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he knows what Ana has planned.

Ana gestures for the manacled man to step forward. "Manacles, really Calum?"

Calum shrugs. "Take them off." Now Damon stiffens. Calum doesn't make a move to do as she says. "Calum, take them off. He's not going to hurt me or try to escape. Now!" Ana is starting to get angry. Calum is supposed to be helping her, not undermining her authority. Finally Calum goes to the man and removes the manacles.

"What is your name?" Ana asks gently.

"Jonah," The second replies. He rubs his wrists where the manacles had been, they hadn't been there long but the red marks show skin rubbed raw.

Ana sees this and frowns. "When this interview is over, take him to the doctor to get those wrists looked at. While you're there you can find out how Trinity is doing." Calum nods, his lips press down in anger though.

"Tell me, Jonah, what is your relationship with the late Hawk's widow?" Ana inquires.

Jonah had been expecting something more along the lines of an interrogation or more information about the inner workings of Hawk's group. This question throws him off balance and he answers surprisingly honest.

"We were lovers," Jonah admits sheepishly.

Damon raises an eyebrow in shock. He understands now where Ana is going with this, but he's still not a hundred percent on board with it. 

"You weren't worried about Hawk's getting angry?" Ana pushes the nonplussed Jonah.

"Hawk, he likes, I mean liked, the young girls. He let me be with Trudy as a bonus." Jonah says, he doesn't know why but he starts pleading with the young girl that holds his life in his hands. "Please, she doesn't deserve to be mistreated. Hawk's done that for years to her. Let her have peace now that he's gone."

"So, she means more to you than just a bonus?" Ana pushes, she needs to know if she should even put the offer on the table.

"I love her," Jonah says in a broken voice. He doesn't expect anything good to come from his declaration. He doesn't expect to live long past sunrise truth to be told. After what he saw and heard about the new Hawk. That young girl terrifies him.

Ana smiles once more and looks triumphantly at Damon. "You will do what you want Ana. I'm not sure it's a good idea, in fact I think it's a terrible one, but it's your decision."

"I'm in a quandary, Jonah. Trudy is a loose end. I don't like slavery and think it's a filthy line that aught to be stopped. Hawk will be stopping its participation in it. But that means I'm rather limited in my options in regards to Trudy. Trina, I gave her the option to either marry, Calum here, who will be taking over the position of second, or being sold into slavery or a merciful death. I hope that she chooses the marriage option. 

"Trudy, however, I don't really have any one for her to marry, so that leaves just the two options available."

"Mistress, if you will permit, I would marry Trudy. I will swear loyalty and serve you in whichever way you wish, please allow me to marry her." Jonah looks at Ana pleadingly.