After receiving a phone call, Blondie swept me up and flew me out of the hotel room. I clung to him, once again, with my eyes squeezed shut. I kept my eyes closed until I felt the ground beneath my feet again. I blinked glaring up at him. "A little warning would be nice," I grumbled, before looking to see that we were back home, standing in front of his house.
He ignored me, instead striding to the front door. I followed, a step behind him as he walked through the door, stopping in the foyer. "Who are you?" he asked, his large frame blocking my view.
"Declan," a smooth voice replied.
I let out a groan. "Seriously?" I asked, peeking my head out from behind Blondie. Godric stood, a scowl on his face, beside the sandy blond vampire. "You had Blondie fly me outta here cause of Declan?"
Godric turned his scowl to me. "You made a deal with him?" he questioned.
I rolled my eyes, ignoring his question to duck around Blondie, walking up to Declan. "Here to cash in your favor?"
Declan nodded, face turning quizzical as he looked me over. "What happened to you?" he asked.
I glanced down, remembering my flaming red skin. "I don't tan well," I deadpanned.
"Pity. You'd look good with a tan."
I flipped him my middle finger.
"What was the deal?" Godric asked, eyes darting between Declan and I.
"It doesn't matter," I said, keeping my attention on Declan. "What is it you want?"
"He's planning on taking you to them, Anna. The people who've been after you for all these years," he said, leveling Declan with a glare.
My heart constricted, throat feeling tight. "The dicks?" I choked out.
Godric nodded. "Whatever the deal was, anna, you have to undo it. Take it back."
I squeezed my eyes shut in a feeble attempt to shut out the panic rising in me. All thoughts seemed to halt, the desire to just run, to never stop, overwhelming me. I didn't want to go with Declan, to them, I couldn't. I felt Blondie's hand on my arm, giving a protective squeeze. I opened my eyes, looking back at him.
His gaze, which had been locked in a death glare on Declan, softened as he looked down at me. My heart seemed to slow, an eerie calm filing me. Because I couldn't run. I had made a deal to save Blondie's life. And going back on that would mean trading in Blondie's life. And as much horror the thought of going to the dicks filled me with, the thought of loosing Blondie scared me even more.
"I'll go," I said, my voice barley above a whisper, eyes still locked on Blondie's.
"What?" Blondie hissed out, twisting me so I faced him, hands gripping my shoulders. "Are you insane?"
"I mean, obviously," I tried to joke, my voice strained.
Blondie shook his head. "No, you're not doing this. We won't let you go."
I shook my head. "You don't have a choice," I said, reaching my hand up to his face, palm cupping his cheek. I don't want to go, I don't want to go.
Blondie turned to Godric. "There has to be something…"
"Unless she wants to take back the deal, she needs to come with me," Declan said.
Blondie let out a growl, fangs popping out. "She's not going fucking anywhere with you."
"Blondie," I said, but his gaze was still set on Declan, daggers in his eyes. "Blondie!" His eyes snapped down to mine. "It's okay," I whispered out, afraid if I spoke any louder my voice would break. Glancing over to Godric, I reached out to take his hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. "It's okay. Just.. just know that I love you." I don't want to go, I don't want to go.
I leaned towards Godric, placing a kiss on his cheek. Pulling back, I moved to do the same to Blondie, but he laced his fingers in my hair, pulling my lips to his, holding me in place. I clung to him as his lips moved over mine. His lips were bruising against my own, desperate.
"Anna… we need to go," Declan said softly.
Blondie pulled back, letting out a snarl. "Hey, it's okay," I said. "I promise, it's okay. It's okay."
"Anna. Please," Blondie said, and my heart broke. I don't want to go, I don't want to go.
"Godric?" I asked, stepping back from Blondie, his arms slipping from me. My heart ached, wanting to fling myself at him once more, to let him wrap me up in his arms and never let me go. I looked to Godric, to my best friend, eyes pleading because I couldn't do this on my own.
He gave a nod, stepping between Blondie and I. He murmured to his progeny in Swedish, Blondie's lip curling in a snarl before he vanished, leaving Godric in front of me. "Stay safe, min dotter. We will find each other again."
I flung my arms around him. "Thank you, for everything," I whispered against the lump in my throat, squeezing my eyes shut to keep the tears at bay. "I love you, always."
His arms wrapped around me, holding me against him. "As I love you," he whispered back, placing a kiss against my forehead.
I let him go, stepping back before I could change my mind. I don't want to go, I don't want to go. I looked to Declan, giving a nod. "I'm ready."
I followed Declan, leaving the house that had become my home. I heard a crash from upstairs, wincing at the noise. I bit my lip, holding in a sob. Declan lead me to a black sedan parked on the street, opening the passenger door for me. I slid into the seat, Declan speeding over to the driver seat. I fought the urge to look at the house, instead staring strait ahead. I felt hollow.
"Do you need a minute?" Declan asked.
I shook my head. "Just drive."
AN: For those of you who don't remember (because I'm horrible and it's been literal years since I posted the chapter), Declan was the person Anna texted back in chapter 29, making a deal with him to stop Eric from being executed by the authority during the Edgington mess.