Threatened [W&W Book 2]

Chapter 43

Author's Note:

Greetings on this beautifully alliterative day, Friday, February the fifth. (The only thing that could make this better is if I were posting forty-four or forty-five.  Forty-three hangs its head in shame.)

Thanks for reading!  :)

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Twin heads turned towards the noise of the door opening, and in unison they shouted "Anya!" as they ran towards her. Anya was almost knocked over when her little brother and sister hit her.

"Damani. Kallie," Anya said and she was crying and it felt so good to have such relief. "You're safe." It was a marvelous fact, almost too good to be true.

"Of course," Damani said loudly. "You saw me only the day before yesterday." It felt like years ago to Anya.

Kallie nodded fervently.

Anya hugged them both to her tighter. "A lot can happen in a day," she said.

"Are we finally free?" Kallie asked, with a worried frown between her brows.

"Of course you are," agreed Anya. "But I don't know what will happen next. But you two are safe."

Damani scowled. "Where's that bastard Thorne?" he asked.

Anya said automatically, "Damani, watch your language."

"I already was," Damani said.

Kallie looked worried again. "Where is he now?"

"He's wounded. Maybe dead," Anya said slowly. The twins would see as they came out. There was no avoiding it.

"Good," said Damani with an angry look. Anya did not bother to correct him.

"Let's get out of here," Anya said and the three walked to the door and down the stairs.

"Are they dead?" Kallie asked.

"I don't think so," Anya said. "Maybe we should tie them up."

Damani shook his head. "Just lock them in." He walked over to one of the men. He lifted up a key to show Anya. "They've only got one key. I've been watching."

Anya nodded.

They left the tower and Anya locked the door with the key. Damani looked at Thorne. He spat on the ground. "I hope he's dead," he announced.

"Damani," Anya said slowly, trying to think of how to calm his bloodthirsty words.

Kallie kept her eyes adverted from the broken figure. "I hope he's dead too," she confessed. Then she glanced towards Jim's prone form. "Who is this?" she asked, glancing at Anya.

"His name is Jim. He was my friend at one time," Anya said. The words felt hollow. Once again she had stolen what was not hers to take. She had again proven why wizards were right to be so mistrustful of witches and warlocks for a second time. And once again there had been something absolutely enthralling about the terrible thing she had done. Something so terrible somehow felt so good.

Kallie looked at her wordlessly. "I don't want to stay here."

"We can't leave Jim," Anya said.

With the help of the twins, Anya half carried, half dragged Jim away until the tower was hidden from sight behind the trees. "We'll wait here for him to wake up."

"Then what?" demanded Damani. He began to pace around as if still caged.

Anya sighed. "Then I'll return and take my punishment."