Chapter two

Ana

I awoke the following morning feeling well-rested despite everything and all I wanted to do was check to make sure everyone was safe before starting our hunt. I felt a thirst for revenge I had never thought I would be capable of.

Until I met Christian and embarked on this insane new life, I had always thought myself to be quite passive and definitely not violent yet lately, I could practically taste the blood we would spill for what had happened.

I know that Christian still believes that I need to be protected and coddled, even hidden from the dark side of our lives sometimes but in this, I wanted to be involved in every part of it. I wanted in on the torture. I wanted in on the revenge, and I wanted in on the punishments.

Shaking myself out of my violent thoughts I quietly left the room and checked on the twins first and when I did, I couldn't help the smile that quickly replaced my thirst for revenge.

The twins were awake and sat on Abigail's bed laughing as they used magic to make their toys dance around them. My attention was taken away from the twins to see Jaime and Ava running over with a handful of toys each as they jumped on the bed and threw the toys down in the middle of the bed.

I watched mesmerized as the twins showed Jaime and Ava how to make their toys dance and when they figured it out their excitement was infectious.

I was lost in the dancing toys and squeals from the children when I felt arms wrap around my waist from behind followed by the familiar scent of my husband. "Wow. They look like they are having fun."

I slowly backed Christian and I away from the door closing it silently so as not to disturb the fun they were having. Once the door was closed I turned in Christian's arms and pulled him toward Huldah and Beal's room wanting to make sure that Huldah was okay and to see if there was anything she needed.

"Yeah, it was nice to see them laughing and having fun after everything that had happened lately. I didn't want to disturb them after all we don't know how long this peace will last." Christian pulled my hand stopping me in my tracks.

"How are you feeling this morning, beautiful?"

"I feel better. I think the need for revenge and to make someone pay has taken over." Christian smiled and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear smiling indulgently.

"I figured as much. I also know that it will do me no good to try and talk you out of it, but for right now can we leave the bloodlust at the door when we check on Huldah?" I smile up at him and gave him a quick kiss.

"I promise I will be on my best behavior." We were about to knock on Huldah and Beal's door when it opened and Beal came out pushing shushing us before we could say anything.

"Sorry. I don't want to keep you from Huldah it's just that last night Hope came to the room she has been really upset and crying on and off all night. She only calms down when she is with Huldah."

I felt my heart drop and tears fill my eyes but before I could once again break down in tears or fly off into a rage… literally, Kate came running down the hall in a panic. "I can't find Hope. I woke up and checked on her but she wasn't there. Someone must have taken her. I thought you said this place was safe. How the fuck has this happened?"

Kate was beginning to change into her other form with each terrified word she spoke as Elliot came running already in his other form. "Hope is fucking gone!" Elliot was about to lunge at Christian but was stopped by me and Beal.

"Hey, calm down. Hope is fine. She is in the room with Huldah. She snuck in last night in tears and the only way she would calm down was sleeping next to Huldah. I slept in the chair. She is still asleep that's why we are out here it took quite a few hours to get her calm enough that she could fall asleep. It was like she was scared that if she closed her eyes she was afraid Huldah would disappear."

I watched as Elliot's human form slowly returned. "Oh, fuck. Christian, man. I'm so fucking sorry. I was so scared when I couldn't find her and I wasn't thinking straight. I should never have tried…" Christian pushed past Beal and I and placed his hand On Elliot's shoulder.

"Elliot, under the circumstances I really don't blame you. Also, now that I have children, I get the anger and fear you must have felt. I am also very aware that had it not been for me and my love for Ana this would not be happening to any of us. You have nothing to be sorry about."

Once again, we were all interrupted by another voice coming down the hall. "Now, Christian, we both know that what you just said is not true." We all turned to see my mom walking toward us. "This has been in motion for a very long time and it was me that started this." I was finally losing my patience with the whole conversation.

"Stop! Everyone one of you just stop! The only people to blame for this are Samyaza and whoever he was working with. None of us asked for this. None of us caused this. So can we all stop blaming ourselves?"

"I agree with Ana." We all spun around to see Huldah standing by the bedroom door holding onto it to keep steady until Beal was by her side holding her up.

"Why are you out of bed?" Beal was checking her as he spoke clearly worried that something was wrong.

"I needed the bathroom and I heard you talking. Stop fussing Beal, I'm fine. Still bruised and sore but I'm fine. I don't know what you were all talking about before you started blaming yourselves but Ana is right. This isn't our fault so stop."

I walked up to Huldah gently taking her in for a gentle hug before my mom took my place. The moment was quickly broken by terrified screams coming from the bedroom and all of us burst through the door to see Hope screaming hysterically until she saw Huldah, and it was like a switch went off and the terror left her followed but a look of relief.

"It's okay, sweetheart. I'm sorry I left you. I just needed the bathroom." Huldah climbed in beside Hope who quickly wrapped her arms around her and buried her head in the crook of Huldah's neck, and from the flinch on Huldah's face Hope must have been clinging onto her pretty tight but when we stepped forward to do something Huldah held her hand up and shook her head stopping us in our tracks.

When I turned to look at Hope, I felt the anger rise seeing tears streaming down her face as she watched the heartbreak and fear her daughter was experiencing. I had to get out of here before I lost it. "I'm going to go check on the other children and get them some breakfast."

I left the room quickly but before I could get far someone grabbed my hand and stopped me. "Ana, talk to me. What's going on?" I turned to see Christian frowning down at me.

"I can't do this, Christian. What's being done to find, Samyaza?"

"We are looking for him. We will find him, I promise. I know this is hard and I know that it's frustrating but I am doing everything to find him."

"I'm not frustrated. I'm angry. I'm so fucking angry. You saw what just happened. Christian, Hope is just a baby and she is terrified. I'm scared."

"Baby, I am going to protect you all. I swear…"

"I'm not scared of that. I'm scared of myself and who I feel I am becoming. I have never been violent but all I want to do is rip these assholes apart, and I want to do it slowly and painfully. What if the magic Zeus gave me is corrupting me? What if I am losing my humanity? What if I become just like Hera? I want revenge. Actually, I don't just want it I crave it. I need it. I'm thirsty for it, and that's what scares me."

I couldn't look at Christian as shame crept in. Don't get me wrong what was happening to my family was a scary situation but this was what had been playing on my mind since I woke up.

Christian stepped close and lifted my chin smiling down at me lovingly. "Ana, the fact that those feelings scare you and that you don't like feeling them shows me how much you are not like Hera and how those powers that Zeus gave you are not corrupting you. What you're feeling is perfectly normal under the circumstances. Trust me, I can promise you that every one of us is feeling just like you. You feel these feelings because you love your family. You are the most loving person I have ever known. That is why Zeus trusted you with those powers. He saw in you someone who has the purest heart and most loving nature. You are wonderful, kitten, in every way."

Tears sprang to my eyes at the beautiful words of my wonderful husband and the sincerity I found in his eyes. "Thank you. Let's go feed our children."

"Not so fast." We both turned to see Abaddon smiling. "We found Samyaza. Leviathan has him. He sounds like he is having a lot of fun with him so I would get there before there are only scraps left."

I turned to Christian and the bloodlust I felt was written all over his face. "Christian take Beal and go I will see to the children but make sure you save some scraps for me."

"Abaddon, stay here. I will send Leviathan back here when we get there." I winked at him as Christian kissed me quickly before shouting for Beal and shimmering out of the apartment.

I would get my turn but for now, the children were more important.