Chapter 6
We just finished dessert and started coffee when the doorbell rings. We all jump up and move to the front door. Mother opens the door and there she is. Anastasia looks even more gorgeous then last night, if that is possible.
"Hello." She says with a smirk on her lovely face.
I know we are all gawking at her. She is wearing a black and red vintage dress that hugs all her curves and pumps. Her hair is pinned up at one side and the rest is draped over her back and opposite shoulder.
"Hello." Elliot is the first to come to his senses. "Come in."
Anastasia takes a step, but comes to a halt at the threshold.
"I can't enter a house when I'm not invited in by an owner." She says.
"Oh! Where are my manners? Please, come in." my father says.
She takes a tentative step again and this time she is through the door.
"It would be wise to let you know that if there is need to get me out of the house, all you have to say is: 'I rescind your invitation.' I have perfect control, but you never know." Anastasia explains to us.
"Would you like a True Blood, Anastasia?" My mother, the perfect hostess, asks.
"First of all, please call me Ana. If you call me Anastasia, I always feel like my parents or Maker will jump out of the woodworks." She giggles "Secondly, no thank you. I've fed before I came here."
We move towards the patio, because it is very nice outside. Gretchen comes out with a tray filled with cups of coffee. She lingers near me and still batting her lashes.
"Thank you, Gretchen. That will be all for tonight." Carrick comes to my rescue. I shoot him a grateful look and focus back on Anastasia.
"What is your…" Mia starts to ask, but Ana holds her hand up and points to the patio doors.
"Gretchen is still standing there. She is mumbling about wanting to hear what I have to say and wondering if she can do something with that information." She scowls.
"Gretchen!" my mom barks.
I can truthfully say that I've never heard her like that before, even when she was angry at one of us.
"Yes, Ma'am?" she comes back out looking terrified.
"You will go to your home now! We have no need for you tonight as we already said." Mom says in a stern voice.
"Yes, Ma'am." And she looks truly scared. A minute later we hear the front door slams closed.
"So, what was it you wanted to ask me, Mia?" Ana says in a friendly manner.
"Um… What is your age?" Mia asks.
"I was turned when I was 19. I'm 2536 years old and that includes my physical age." She answers and our jaws drop. "That's why Drake would have loved to point it out to James after his Jesus exclamation."
"Wow!" Elliot says in awe. "What was your family like?"
Ana's expression turns sad and I have the urge to wrap her in my arms to comfort her.
What the fuck, Grey? You know you can't stand that shit. Great now I'm talking to myself again.
"I was married at the age of 14 and had three children. I will leave it at that, because even after all these millennia it's still a sore subject. I recommend not to ask others that question. It is very hard on most of us to think of that. In this time of age it is possible to see your family, but back then it was not done." She tells us in one breath.
My mother and sister have tears running down their faces, we men are trying our hardest to keep them at bay.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Grace sobs. "You were so young to be married and have that many children."
"In that day and age it was normal. I was considered a grown woman at the age of twelve. My father had arranged the marriage when I was born and my husband was one year older. We grew up together and had a close friendship. We loved each other and that's what counts the most. I still miss my children and husband sometimes, but I don't like to dwell on it." Ana says.
"Did or do you hate your Maker?" I ask her.
She turns her attention to me and I feel like she can see straight through me.
"Yes. We all do in the beginning, but I've grown to love him." Ana explains. I get that strange feeling again and can't quite put my finger on what it is.
"Is he still around?" Carrick asks.
"You can say that again. He's the King of Great Britain. Has been for over three millennia." She says. "I'm Lord Constable of Britain."
"Why not Lady? That makes so much more sense." Mia squeaks.
"Yes, you would think that, but Ladies are only good for one thing." Ana says with a laugh.
"What's that?" I ask. Curious about why that is funny.
"Back in the day, Ladies were to be silent and have babies. Lords had all the power. If you would call me or any of the other females who have the position of Lords, it is an insult to us. It would make us seem weaker than we are." She says. "Our hierarchy is very complex and simple at the same time."
"You say you're Lord Constable, Is there a difference in Lords?" I can't fathom why she's not just a Lord.
"I think I've told you before, but I'm second in command. I rank directly beneath King Tyson. I'm traveling around the Kingdom, because my Maker is a lazy arse." Ana laughs. "The traveling is going to visit the other Lords and keep them in line. Tyson calls them once every decade or so to his castle."
"You were talking about the Old World. What was that about?" Elliot asks.
"North and South America and Canada are still very young. The same goes for Australia and New Zealand. This is where we shipped the vampires who outstayed their welcome in the Old World. Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East and Russia are the Old World. With quite an established ranking order. Here they fight over every scrap they can. It's ridiculous really." Ana tells us.
She suddenly sits up straight and tilts her head this way and that way.
"Someone is coming up the drive way." She lets us know.
"I'm not expecting any visitors. Especially at this time." My mother says.
"How good is your hearing?" Mia asks.
"I could hear the car turning into this street. I can hear for over a mile if it's quiet."
Ana is such an interesting woman. I've never felt this kind of interest before. She is exactly the type of woman that I always look for in a sub, but she can and never will be a sub.
"Grace, are you here?" I hear Elena call.
My father has an annoyed grimace on his face and the rest of my family is not far behind. I can honestly say that I'm pissed off. Why does she have to come here?
"Elena, what are you doing here?" my mother huffs out.
"I just came by to see my dear friend. Is there a problem?" she comes closer to us.
Anastasia's expression is one of irritation. I can almost feel the anger rolling off of her. She stands up and wanders closer to us. All this time she sat somewhat apart from us so we could face each other better.
"I have a visitor together with my family. You should have called first." Grace says adamantly.
"Anyone I know?" Elena is fishing for information.
Finally the come into view and Elena stops in her tracks when she sees Anastasia. Her eyes harden and she glares at her. Ana is looking back stone faced. Not a hair is out of place and her stance looks relaxed.
"Good evening. Mrs. Lincoln, isn't it?" Ana asks politely.
"Good evening, Anastasia." Elena says haughtily once again. Trying to push her superiority.
"Who gave you the authority to call me by my first name?" She says coldly.
"Nobody did, but it is your name." Elena smirks.
"Well, little girl, here is how it's going to be. You will not address me as Anastasia. You call me Miss Steele and nothing else." Ana growls. Elena just glares at her. "Am I making myself clear?"
"Little girl? Where do you get off? How dare you treat me this way? I'll have you know that I'm part of the elite of Seattle." She is digging her own grave. The coldness and anger that are coming from Ana is tangible.
"Is this Botox-filled, pumped up twat always like this?" Ana asks no-one in particular.
I start laughing, earning me a glare of the twat, and take my family with me. All the while Elena is spluttering and having trouble to form words.
"Grace, are you really going to stand by and have this hussy talk to me like that?" Elena finally manages to get out.
"Whoever thought that elite came with manners is clearly mistaken. Especially the ones who marry men for their money. It's a shame really humans tend to forgive those women, because of the riches." Ana deadpans.
"Did you just call me a gold-digger?"
"Did I? Not that I'm aware of, but it could be that I'm being senile. Considering my age it can be."
Elena is glaring at me again and trying to let me know something. What it is? I have no idea.
"Why are you looking at him like that?" Ana is shifting her gaze between me and Elena. Her eyes light up as if a comprehending thought has crossed her mind.
"Yes, Elena. Care to explain that?" Carrick asks.
She is getting more and more uncomfortable with each glare that is thrown her way from my family.
"I see I'm not wanted here. I will leave you to it." Elena says and turns on her heels and makes a bee-line to the front door.
"I'll walk you out." Grace says.