One of the Consequences of Wyndam stopping George, and taking Mitchell, was that Wyndam also collected Annie and took her to Bristol.

So as asked once before: what about Annie?


"Hello, Annie," Wyndam said as Samuel brought Annie into the office. Once she was inside, Samuel left, closing the door behind him. "I hope you haven't been waiting too long." Wyndam was sitting behind a large desk, looking at a computer monitor. He didn't look at her as he spoke. Whatever was on the screen made him smile, that smile she'd seen in the house, and a moment later, he pushed a key on the keyboard and stood up.

Annie didn't answer him. She and Samuel had arrived in Bristol early this morning and she'd been taken to a room and ordered to stay there. No matter what she'd tried, she was unable to leave the room. She had pounded on the door, hollered and screamed, tried to break the door down, shouted and screamed some more, but to no result. No one came, and she couldn't get out. She'd finally sunk to the floor in the corner, refusing to sit in the oversized chair placed in the middle of the room. As much as she'd felt like crying, she didn't. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. She wished repeatedly Mitchell was with her, and she wondered how Nina and George were doing.

She hadn't seen anyone until Samuel came to get her a few minutes ago. She'd demanded to see Mitchell, or to talk to him, but Samuel had not answered her. He didn't say anything other than Wyndam wanted to see her in his office.

As she was ushered into the large office, she looked at the large window panes behind Wyndam's desk. The blue drapes were open and she could see that it was dark outside. She had no idea what time it was, but she'd been locked in that room all day, and her frustration and anger were still growing.

Wyndam finally looked at her, stood up, and came toward her. He was smiling at her. She didn't like it. He put a hand lightly on her back and motioned for her to sit in the chair across from his desk. Annie stepped away from him and didn't sit down. No matter how neat his black suit, he was still a monster.

"You may as well let me go," she said, raising her chin. "I'll never help you."

"Well, why don't we leave that conversation for another day," he smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "Please, sit down." Annie still didn't do so. "Do you really want me to order you to sit? I don't think you'd like that, and we have much to discuss." Wyndam waited, but Annie still didn't answer him. He finally sighed and the smile left his face. "Have it your way. Annie, sit."

Just as in the house, Annie felt herself unable to control her own body and she moved to the chair and sat down. She refused to cry and instead, added the frustration to her anger.

"That's better," his quick smile was condescending. "Now, let's talk about what you're going to do with your powers." He walked around the desk and sat back in the large leather chair.

"That would be nothing."

"We both know that's not the case. So the question for you, Annie, is this: who will pay for your stubbornness?"

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Are you willing to let someone die because you won't use your power?"

"If it's you? Yes. Any other questions?" She sounded braver than she felt. Wyndam laughed and put his hands together, fingers intertwined.

"Oh, you are going to be entertaining! No, not me, regardless of how much you wish it." He chuckled and then suddenly the smile and laughter were gone. "How many humans are you willing to kill because you won't use your power?"

"I'm not killing anyone! Except maybe…" you! she implied with her silence and her glare.

"If you won't use your power," he ignored her unfinished threat, "then humans will die when you could have saved them. That's the same as you killing them."

"What are you talking about?" Annie was getting that sickening knotty feeling in her stomach, the one she used to get when Owen was upset.

"You can control werewolves. If you refuse to do so, then their human victims will die. So that's my question. How many humans are you willing to kill because you refuse to use your power?"

Annie sucked in her breath, horrified at the suggestion.

"The full moon is soon. Shall we test your stubbornness? I do have a werewolf downstairs, although he's not too happy to be here. You know him, so perhaps seeing you will make him feel better." That smile again.

The knot in Annie's stomach tightened and she wrapped her arms around her middle. She knew about the fighting cages, and how the vampires would lock a human in with the werewolf, and bet on who would survive. But if he had a werewolf…that she knew…and George and Nina had gotten away...her eyes widened as the thought came to her, and she shook her head.

"No," she whispered, fear taking hold of her.

"Yes. Did I mention that Tom is still alive?"

oooooooooo

"Tom is alive?" Annie whispered. Wyndam nodded. "Where? Where is he? I want to see him!" she tried to stand up, but couldn't. Wyndam had ordered her to sit down.

"Perhaps next time you'll reconsider when I ask," Wyndam smiled at her. Annie took a deep breath and clenched her teeth, but didn't say anything.

"So, back to my question. What are you willing to do, Annie?"

"I want to see Tom. Now."

"Not yet. Soon. Maybe." That smile again. "What are you willing to do?"

"Until I see Tom? Nothing." Annie pursed her lips and raised her chin, defiance in her eyes.

"Well, then, I think we're finished for today." Wyndam stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. "You may get up. Samuel will return you to your room."

"No!" Annie shouted, jumping up. Wyndam raised his eyebrows at her. She took another breath and her fingers curled into fists at her sides.

"No. I want to see Tom," she said again, lowering her voice. Wyndam didn't answer her, and after a moment, raised his eyebrows at her.

"Please." She said it quietly, hating that she had to ask.

"Why should I allow it?" Wyndam asked her. "You won't even answer a simple question for me." She didn't respond, and again, Wyndam didn't say anything more. She was determined not to answer any questions for him, but she needed to see Tom. Back at the house, Mitchell had bargained with Wyndam. Perhaps she could too.

"Let me see Tom," she countered, "see that he's all right, and I'll think about your question." Even though she was trying to gain something she wanted, it was all she could do to keep from screaming. She wondered if this is how Mitchell felt, bargaining with this monster. Wyndam looked at her for several moments, and she had to use all her self-control not to look away from the ice blue eyes and the penetrating stare.

"Let's do this," he finally said. "You return to your room, and tomorrow, we'll talk again. After that, perhaps you may see Tom." Annie was shaking her head before he finished speaking, but the office door opened and Samuel entered.

"No!" Annie said loudly. "I need to see that Tom is all right!" Wyndam again raised his eyebrows at her, but she wouldn't look away from him.

"Samuel, tell Annie how Tom is," Wyndam finally said.

"He's sedated, still under the doctor's care, but should be recovered in a few days," Samuel reported.

"I still want to see him," Annie remained firm.

"Yes, I'm sure you do, but not tonight," Wyndam was no longer smiling.

"Then I'll find him myself," Annie threatened.

"No, you won't. You still don't know the rules, Annie. There are several for you. Perhaps we should go over them now."

"I don't care about your rules, or what you want." She could no longer control her anger and frustration. "Either I see Tom, or I will tear this building down to find him!" she shouted. So much for negotiating.

"You want to see Tom," Wyndam laughed, "but you threaten me? Oh Annie, you're not very good at this, are you? Tell you what, I'll let you see him, see for yourself that he's being taken care of, and then we'll go over some of the rules for you. How about that?" She didn't answer him, not sure what to do.

"I won't make the offer again," he said it softly but she knew he meant it. She gave him a quick nod, agreeing, and turned toward the door.

"No," he told her, "not that way."

She whirled back to him, ready to rant at his lying to her. Suddenly, Wyndam turned back to his desk and twisted the computer monitor so that it was facing Annie. He leaned over the desk and punched a key on the keyboard, and an image opened on the screen.

"Have a look," he told her, gesturing toward the monitor.

Annie cautiously stepped toward the desk, watching Wyndam, until she was in front of the screen. Looking down at it, she saw the inside of a nearly empty room. It had a table and chair in it, and a bed. She could see there were a few things on the table, but she didn't look at them. She was looking at the bed, and the person lying on it. As she peered closer to the screen, the camera angle zoomed in, and she gasped, her hand covering her mouth. It was Tom. There was a white bandage wrapped around his head and she could see the blood stains seeping through it on the right side of his forehead. His face was bruised and his right eye was very swollen. Bandages were wrapped around his left arm and the arm was held in a sling across his body. His jeans and gray tee shirt were ripped and torn, and his shoes were missing. He was very pale and there was a sheen of sweat on his face, but he was breathing.

"Oh, my God! What did you do to him?" she demanded, straightening and fixing Wyndam with an accusing stare.

"I did nothing to him," Wyndam told her. "He was injured while helping Nina escape. He's lucky Samuel was there, otherwise he'd be dead. But he's on the mend, and should be sufficiently recovered in time for the full moon."

"Take me to him," Annie demanded. Wyndam shook his head.

"You asked to see him. You have."

"That's not what I meant and you know it!"

"But that's what you asked for. And I gave it to you. Now you will give me something." When he didn't continue, she glared at him. "Your attention to the rules," he finished.

Annie looked back at the computer screen, and tried to get a fix on where the cage might be. Wyndam had said downstairs, but they were on the sixth floor so that could be anywhere. She could assume it was in the cellar, or some lower level. If she could get enough of a fix on it, she could rent-a-ghost to Tom.

"Rule number one. No rent-a-ghosting," Wyndam said, "unless I allow it."

Her eyes snapped to him and she wonder how he knew what she was thinking. He smiled again, and walked around the desk and sat down in his chair. He left the monitor turned toward Annie.

"Rule number two," he began, but Annie shook her head.

"Let me talk to him," she said quietly.

"No. Rule number two," Wyndam continued. "You may go anywhere you wish in this building with the following exceptions: that room, that floor or anywhere near Tom," he smiled at her. "This office, and the seventh floor. You will not go to or enter any of these locations without my direct permission, or authorization from Samuel. Do you understand?"

Annie didn't answer him, and instead continued to watch Tom.

"Annie, do you understand?"

She heard the sharp edge to his voice.

"Why? Why not those places?" she asked, stalling for time while she tried to figure out where Tom was. The lift she'd come up in had buttons for seven floors. Her room was on the fifth, and this was on the sixth. So that left one through four, and seven. Plus any cellar or lower floor that wasn't accessed by the lift she came up on. The way Wyndam added the seventh floor to the list made her think Tom was on a lower floor.

"Because I say so," was the soft response.

She looked at him and saw the ice and hardness and threat in his eyes, and the knot in her stomach tightened again. Suddenly it felt as though the floor tilted and she staggered, grabbing onto the desk to keep from falling. She could feel his anger flooding through her, overpowering her and flashing through her entire being. Unable to control it, fear took hold of her and she started to shake. She had no idea how to stop the feelings or how to regain control of her own emotions. It was as though his anger had taken hold of her. She couldn't stand against the onslaught, and sank weakly into the chair. Somehow, he was causing her to feel like this. Mitchell had told her not to make Wyndam angry, and she was starting to understand why. Hands clutching the arms of the chair, she gave him a slight nod that she understood this rule.

"Good," he smiled, and she felt his anger and threat subside as suddenly as it appeared.

How did he do that? Go from so intense to calm in less than a heartbeat? She had no idea, but needed to find out. Or at least find a way to not be thrown by it. She couldn't let these sudden and intense changes in him keep her unnerved. She had to admit, though, it was effective. She also knew that one way or another, he would keep her away from those locations on his list, and she reminded herself to be better at picking and choosing her battles. She knew there would be many to come. Of course, she had no intention of obeying any 'rules' he tried to foist on her. She'd just go along for now, until she could find a way out of here.

"Now, let's continue, shall we?" He said it nicely, but Annie knew it was anything but nice. Taking a deep unnecessary breath, she straightened her shoulders and waited.

"Three," his smile deepened and she could see he was amused. "You will not poltergeist objects, interfere with electronics, or in any way disrupt the activities in this building. Four, you will not attack anyone in this building, at any time. Unless I order it." He smiled at her again, That Smile, and she felt her stomach roil and lurch.

"Five, you will not leave this building unless instructed to do so. Six, if Samuel tells you to do something, or not to do something, you will abide by it. He is the equivalent of my voice and you will follow his instructions."

She glanced at Samuel, still standing by the door, and saw the small, satisfied smile touch the corners of his lips. She was really beginning to hate him.

"Seven," he said softly, and she turned her attention back to him. "Listen carefully, Annie. You will not use any of your powers unless I allow it." He said it slowly, fixing her with his stare. It took her a moment, but then she understood what this meant, and her eyes widened. "Yes," he nodded. "Only when I allow it. Do you understand?"

She didn't answer him, and tried to hold his gaze. She saw the ice blue eyes harden at her silence, and intensity of his gaze increased. She felt the anger start to slowly push toward her again until it was too much and she had to look away. She felt as though he'd physically struck her. Without looking at him again, she nodded ever so slightly.

"Good. While there are other rules for you, I think that's enough for today, don't you?" he was smiling again.

"I ha…." Annie cleared her throat. "I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Where is Rose?"

"She's here."

"I want to…may I see her?" She hated asking, but again knew it was a battle not worth fighting.

"Why?"

"Mitchell said she might be able to explain some of this to me." Her voice was shaking and she did nothing to stop it. "It's...overwhelming," she whispered, intentionally.

"Yes, I know it is." He didn't answer her question for several moments, and continued to stare at her. She tried to keep her expression innocent, and focused on just what she'd told him – that Rose would be able to help her understand all this. Finally, Wyndam nodded.

"Yes. You may see her. Since you asked so nicely," said with that smile again. "Samuel, Annie may see Rose. Tomorrow. Instruct Rose to help Annie with the rules."

At that, he turned the computer monitor back towards him. Picking up a file sitting on the desk, he began flipping through the papers in it. Annie didn't know what to do, so she stayed where she was. Suddenly, he looked up at her and she had the impression that he just remembered she was there.

"That's all, Annie. Run along," he waved a hand at her, dismissing her. She stood up and moved to the door where Samuel was waiting.

"Annie?" Wyndam called after her. She turned to face him, but he was still looking at the file in his hand. "Tomorrow, we'll begin working on your power over werewolves." She started to respond but he spun his chair around to face the window, continuing to read through the file in his hand.

Clamping her lips together, Annie turned and walked past Samuel to the door. She heard Samuel chuckle softly, but ignored him. She focused on to the two things she'd gotten out of this meeting. Tom was alive and in the same building, and she could talk to Rose. Mitchell had told her to find Rose, and now she had. Not only would she see Rose, she'd be able to talk to her. She didn't know what good it would do, but it was more than she had this morning. With a slight satisfied smile, she left Wyndam's office, an idea starting to tickle in her mind.

ooooooooo