Jaeger's Songbird (Discontinued)

Chapter Six: Degree

Chapter Six: Degree

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Anya woke up the next morning in Levi's arms. They had both crashed on Alena's couch after he scrubbed her raw to get the blood off. She still felt it though, burning her skin.

She killed somebody!

Sitting up, she groaned and poked Levi in the face. "Papa..?"

"Hn."

"Am I in trouble?"

Levi said nothing, his eyes still closed. If only he could feign sleep. In his eyes she was justified, the son of a bitch got what he deserved. Though he knew once the Military Police got word of this, they would forever keep a close eye on her.

"I don't know. We'll figure it out." Was all he said before picking her up and walking towards Alena's room. Anya just squeezed onto the man tighter.

In her grandmother's room, she saw Alena and Armin discussing a book quietly and what they both thought it meant. Alena played with Armin's blonde hair smoothly and the boy leaned against her leg. He smiled brightly when the Corporal came in with his cousin.

"Morning Anya," he greeted gently, voice shaking in waves of emotion. Mostly relief. Blue eyes blinked back tears. Thank goodness she was safe. A few scrapes here and there and a bruise on her cheek, but alive and with them. Anya waved tiredly and slid down out of the Levi's grip and hugged her cousin and grandmother tightly.

"I have news," Alena started after a moment of peace. Alena and Armin looked up and Levi looked out the window, bracing himself for Anya's protests.

"You both are going to Wall Sina to visit Malayna," Alena tried adding excitement in her voice but it was falsely cheery. Everyone heard it. Anya and Armin glanced at each other in worry. The last time Armin saw his aunt was when she decided to say that Anya wasn't her daughter and that she would die as nothing. Woohoo.

"No!" Anya stated firmly, looking away from her grandmother. "I don't want to! She hates me and the feeling's mutual."

Alena flinched but shook her head. "She doesn't hate you, Anya. She simply regrets that she never paid attention to you."

"Pfft. As if," Anya scoffed about to walk out the door, but Levi gave her a look that said 'sit your ass down or else' and she sat back down by Armin. She swore this was the worst week of her life. First kidnapped, then killed a man, and now she has to visit her wicked mother. Just a bucket of daisies this has been.

"For how long?" Anya finally relented after pouting for five minutes straight. Armin smiled sadly at her reluctance. If anything they would at least have each other while they were there.

Alena pulled out a green dress. "A week."

Armin bit his lip. "Is Malayna not a busy woman? She has to be with the king all of the time, right?" He tried to reason, looking for a smart way out. Oh, but Alena knew her grandson very well. He had a convincing way with words that made people instantly reconsider their options. That power was inevitably dangerous; for the tongue is the smallest muscle of the human body, one slip and it can cause wars. Armin had no idea the power he controlled, but his lowered self-esteem blocked his gift from his eyes.

"Malayna is one of the king's best guards, that is true, but she is also an owner of a very popular chain of taverns and stores inside wall Sina. She has days with the king and days with running her buisness. Even so, she expressed great amounts of pleads to see the both of you after all of this time," Alena explained, stumping Armin for a while.