Hello loyal readers! And anyone else who's reading this now. This will be the first chapter of my double update, because this is only a filler chapter and not a very good one at that. This is dedicated to my new reviewer Vicky, because, well she reviewed and I couldn't reply because I don't like giving my e-mail address out. So Vicky, this one's for you.
"Hey Anna! Come and sit down!" Velkan was beckoning to her from across the courtyard. Anna shook her head at him.
"Not today Velkan, I'm going to sit with Aleera." Velkan just rolled his eyes and nodded at her. The girls walked arm in arm around the yard chatting merrily about nothing in particular.
"So, what's your brother like to live with then?" Aleera asked Anna. She made a weird face back and answered.
"Not too bad, though I'm not quite sure why you'd want to know that…" She trailed off. Aleera had gone a very deep crimson and was trying to hide it. "You…like him don't you." Anna grinned at her friend's clear embarrassment. Aleera only nodded; making Anna laugh softly. Aleera looked at her defiantly.
"What's so funny?" Anna tried to pull herself together.
"I know quite a few girls who like my brother; I never took you as someone who would…" Her friend just shrugged and they carried on walking.
"So…" Aleera fished. "You killed one of his brides I hear. How did you manage that one?" The girls sat down on a stone wall by the dining area and Anna began to explain.
"I don't really know how I did it, but all I knew was that she was going to kill Velkan if I didn't do something. So I did something. But it worked out in the end because now Mama has made up with me." Aleera nodded.
"I did overhear Velkan saying about you and your mother sorting things out. It's really good news." Smirking, Anna decided to tease her friend some more.
"So now you're spying on my brother are you? You should be ashamed of yourself!" She said, laughing at Aleera's protests.
"I'm not spying! I just happened to be there at the right time that's all…"
"So that's what they're calling it these days. 'Sorry Dracula, I'm not spying, I just happened to be here at the right time to overhear your latest plan'." This statement caused Aleera to collapse into a fit of hysterical laughter. Just then, two girls walked past; whispering to each other, one giving Anna an icy stare as she went.
"What's wrong with them?" Anna asked. Aleera stayed quiet, hoping Anna wouldn't catch onto why. Though of course she would catch on, this is Anna Valerious she's talking about. "Aleera? What are they saying about me?" The girl sighed and prepared to tell her best friend all the rumours about her.
"They're saying that you killed Verona, that you're cursed and you should've just let her do what she came to do." Anna's expression changed from a look of curiosity, to one of anger.
"So they're saying I should've let her kill my brother? Yes of course, just let him die!" She shouted out; probably too loudly. Many of the children in the yard had turned to look at her, some with icy stares and others with curious ones. Taking action, Anna stood on the nearest table. "You think that I killed Verona? I'll tell you. I did kill her. I killed her because she was going to kill my brother, and I wasn't going to stand by and end up like most of my family have. Why didn't I just let her get on with it? You ask. Because I can't. What would you have done in my position, distracted her? You'd only have gotten yourselves killed; and I have no intention of dying now. So, if that's all you were gossiping about; you can stop now." Anna jumped down from the table and walked with Aleera towards her brother. She tried to ignore the critical stares she received as she passed people by.
"I hope I didn't embarrass you." She said, looking him straight in the eye. Velkan put his arms around her, smiling.
"No Anna, you didn't embarrass me. I'm glad you said all that; they needed to know what it's like for us." As he walked away, Ash came up behind Anna and put a hand on her back.
"Well done." He said. It was a simple statement; but it made shivers run up and down her spine. Aleera took note of this and smiled to herself.
"You like him don't you?" She asked Anna as they walked towards their next class.
"What?" Anna asked, turning to face her. "Who are you talking about?" Aleera smiled sweetly.
"Only a certain male by the name of Ash Nistor…" Now it was Anna's turn to go red. "I knew it! Anna has a crush on someone!"
"At least it's not your best friend's brother." Anna shot back.
"No…but it's your brother's best friend…" Anna glared at Aleera, wishing that she'd never brought up the subject.
Three years passed since the 'incident' with Dracula. Anna was in her last year of school, with Velkan being 17; he had stayed on with Ash to help teach combat—as the teacher had passed away. This would've been fine if it had been a peaceful death; but unfortunately, Marishka had finished him off in an attack on the village. He still attended regular lessons, as he was getting a higher education. He was a prince after all. The school pupils had settled down a bit as they got older, so Velkan and Anna weren't given any more trouble. It was about half way through the first term, and things were going quite well—for Anna at least. She should enjoy the peace while she still can because pretty soon, it won't be there any more…
"She's growing up fast Boris…" He nodded solemnly.
"I don't know where my little girl went to…she' so mature." Helena stared directly in front of her, thinking silently.
"That may have something to do with being brought up in a world of fear and death, somewhere where it takes all your will just to survive. I hope she moves on from that." Boris put his hand over his wife's comfortingly.
"I'm glad you made up with her my Dear…" Helena smiled faintly.
"So am I, I suppose nearly loosing them both made me see how much I've missed out on. I just wanted to be close to her again, like I should've done a while ago…Now we're close again, I think there's hope for us now." Boris got up from the table they were seated at and glanced at the map that was on the opposite wall.
"The only thing standing between us and happiness now is Vladislaus Dragulia, and I plan on doing something about it." A brisk knock on the door destroyed the tense atmosphere in Valerious manor. Helena walked over to the door and opened it cautiously. She was handed an official-looking envelope by one of the village people.
"A telegram for you ma'am. From Rome." Helena nodded dismissively to the villager and closed the heavy door behind her. Ripping open the envelope, she began to read. She snapped her head up, her mouth slightly agape.
"Boris, you know I said I wish for Anna to move on from fear and death?" Her husband nodded slowly. "I think we've just been sent a way to do this." Boris walked over to his wife and took the telegram from her. "It's from the gypsy court. There are a few princes that have heard about Anna's coming of age. And they want her hand in marriage."
OO cliffie, well not really considering the next chapter will be up within the week. Yes I did say within the week, I've been a busy bee over these last few weeks. Please review, I'm soo close to 50 reviews, I can almost taste it!!!!