A Light From The Shadows

by lizzydhamp1901

She is remembered as one of the best Guardians of her time. He is glorified as a saint. But no man can be perfect, and even the best Guardians make deadly mistakes. The story of Vladimir and Anna is finally told. Read in the 1/2 view.

14. Dancer

1375

Anna.

I cannot believe I let him do this to me.

Reduced to a trapped, occasionally sobbing mess of a woman, all I can do is look out my window at the night sky – the one constant in my life. Wherever I may be, no matter how awful things are, I can always turn to my stars.

When the sounds of people moving about his mansion have quieted, I open my windows wide to the gorgeous dawn, move the furniture out of my way, and I dance with everything in me.

I will never stop dancing.

And if the world suddenly bursts into flame, or God crushes us all between his fingers, if an army of Strigoi comes and turns me into one of them, if I die, I will never stop loving my Vladimir.

Vladimir.

Stubborn, she spends two more weeks in her room, barely eating. Finally – finally! – one day she appears at the breakfast table, and she even gives me a small smile.

I am flying, then, soaring, I am a bird and she is my endless sky.

My hand slips away to grasp hers tightly – under the table, of course. No need to scandalize the servitude.

"Are you ready to be happy, now?" She nods. "Excellent, then. Wonderful. Marvelous."

I look her over. "Perfect."

She blushes and looks down at her lap, a fifteen-year-old girl again.

I smile. "My Anna. It is so good to have you back."