Stolen Heart

chapter 10





Returning to Myridian was tough. Annika had not been back in about a year. Contrary to what Kieran may think, she did try to come back from time to time to visit her Aunt Mary. Mary was her mother’s sister and had quite a bit involvement in helping to raise Annika.

Annika’s mother, Brianna, had been a brief shining star in Annika’s life. She died when Annika was only six years old and Aunt Mary had moved into the royal palace to help care for her. Annika’s father, Renard, was a decent enough man. He didn’t dote on Annika but he didn’t ignore her either. He was a workaholic but at least he made sure he had dinner with Annika and Aunt Mary every night. For the next five years, Annika’s life was stable. Aunt Mary became her surrogate mother and she enjoyed a nice, easy going relationship with her father.

But as is the way of life, things change. Aunt Mary met and fell in love with a traveling businessman. Within a year, they had married and Aunt Mary moved away. Annika still visited her aunt a great deal, but it wasn’t the same as having Aunt Mary in her life every day. And without her aunt, Renard Foss felt that Annika was suffering without a constant female presence in her life.

Renard had not made any attempts to re-marry after Brianna died. She was his one true love and he knew love like that was not possible again. It was easier to have Mary move in and take over the raising of Annika. But now with Mary gone, Renard felt he had no choice but to marry…for Annika’s benefit.

Annika snorted to herself when she thought of that. For her benefit. Ironic. You see, Renard was not picky about who he married, and within three months of Mary’s departure, Annika found herself with a new stepmother and a stepbrother. And at eleven years old, Annika’s life became a living hell.

Not willing to dwell on the past further, Annika did a quick glance around Myridian. They had entered town through the main gates and it was bustling with activity. It had not changed much over the years since Annika had moved away. The streets were paved and the sidewalks were bricked. All of the businesses and houses were built in the traditional Vyronasian style. Slate stone walls, thatched roofs and open windows were all that was needed for the temperate climate.

“Where do we need to go?” Kieran asked.

“My aunt’s house. She lives near the outskirts of town.”

“She has the supplies?”

“Yes, plus I can check in on her and see how she’s doing. That is if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Has she lived here her whole life?”

“Most of her life. She has just recently moved back.”

Annika’s mind drifted as they walked. She was excited to see Mary. She was a mother and a friend, the one bright light in Annika’s dark life. There had been more than one occasion that Annika had lamented Mary’s choice to move back to Myridian. It meant that Annika could not visit as much as she would like to. Her memories here were just too painful to allow her to spend much time in this dimension. Maybe she would talk to Mary again about moving to New York. Then she could leave this hell-hole of an AltVeritas behind forever.

***

Clearly, Annika wasn’t up for much conversation. He suspected it would be like this their entire time together. He’d change that but not now. He had noticed that she was completely on edge, tension radiating off of her. She clearly did not like being here.

Kieran followed as Annika walked quickly through town. People stared at them, given that their clothing was unusual. It wasn’t that they had never seen clothing from The First Dimension, but they didn’t see it often. It usually meant visitors were in town, and that was always interesting.

Annika kept her head down and continued her swift walk. She clearly didn’t want to be recognized. Kieran followed, taking in the city. He had been to Myridian before, on several occasions actually. But places changed all the time and he always kept an alert eye as they moved through town. Military training he assumed.

As Annika made a left turn down a narrow street, she ran straight into a man. He supposed it was because she had been keeping her head down and had not really looked where she was going. Kieran watched as the man brought his arms up to steady Annika and he felt his blood boil. His first thoughts were that no one was to touch Annika…unless it was him. Now where did that come from? Kieran had never been possessive or jealous.

Glaring at the man, he noted he had blond hair that was slightly balding on top. He had made the dreaded fashion mistake of using a comb over to hide it, which of course, made it all the more obvious. He was tall and lanky, and dressed in wealthy attire. His arms held onto Annika’s shoulders, a move that caused Kieran’s fists to clench.

Annika looked up to the man, probably to mutter an apology, but when her eyes made contact with his face, her whole body stiffened. Kieran instantly went on alert but the man’s face split into a huge grin. “Annika? Is it really you?”

Kieran watched Annika. Her face held recognition but was filled with fear and revulsion. She immediately started struggling with the arms that were holding on to her. The man didn’t seem to understand that she wanted to be let go.

“Annika! It’s me…Mason.”

Annika continued struggling but had not spoken a word. Kieran stepped forward. “I think the lady would like you to let her go.”

The man turned his attention to Kieran, giving him a snide look, but then dismissed him just as quickly. Still not letting Annika go, he actually tried to pull her in for a hug. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Kieran’s alert went to alarm as he watched Annika really start to freak out. She started twisting from the man’s grip. Kieran reacted instantly. Drawing his fist back, he let it fly, catching the man right across his cheekbone, knocking him backwards. In the next instant, he grabbed Annika so she would not fall to the ground with her captor. He immediately wrapped his arms around Annika to soothe her. She was trembling violently, her face pressed into his chest, her hands gripping the front of his shirt. Kieran glared down at the man on the ground who was now starting to sit up, rubbing his face. Kieran was satisfied to see it was already swollen and bruised.

“How dare you strike a member of the Royal household,” the man said. “I am Mason Foss of the House of Foss and you will pay dearly for that.” Mason stood up from the ground and threw his shoulders back. He was eyeing Kieran with menace.

“It seems to me that I was rescuing a lady that was being attacked by a member of the Royal House of Foss.”

Mason started sputtering. “No one questions a member of the House of Foss. No one!!! I’ll have you brought up on charges of….”

But before he could finish, Annika pushed out of Kieran’s arms and turned on Mason. Her voice was like ice. “You may live in the House of Foss, Mason, but you do not bear the name. My father never adopted you and you are nothing more than a leech on our family.”

“Annika, surely you don’t mean that?” Mason truly sounded aggrieved.

Annika took a deep, steadying breath and let it out slowly. Kieran watched as she leveled those violet eyes on Mason. She seemed in control now but he stood close to her just in case. “Mason, if you come near me again, I will kill you. And before you ask…yes, that is a threat. Now, I am here to have a short visit with my aunt and then I will be leaving. I suggest you go about your pitiful excuse of a life and leave me alone.”

Kieran stood at the ready to lay Mason out if he so much as made a move toward Annika. He watched Mason’s eyes turn to ice. Gone was the man attempting a warm reunion with who Kieran assumed was his stepsister.

“As you wish.” His voice was cold and brittle. “But remember, there was a time you didn’t spur my hugs.” He gave her creepy grin then walked away.

Annika watched Mason leave and once he was out of sight, she visibly shuddered. Kieran noticed that her hands were shaking but she didn’t say anything. He was not really sure what just happened. He didn’t know what to say to her, seeing as how he was not her favorite person in the world. Just as he was about to reach out and offer a comforting hand on her shoulder, Annika spun away from him and lurched over to the side of the street. She bent over at the waist and vomited.

Kieran automatically stepped over to her and held her shoulders. She kept heaving and heaving, until she finally was spent and nothing else was coming up.

Straightening her spine, Annika looked at Kieran and whispered a quiet thank you. Her cheeks were red and he knew she was embarrassed over the situation.

“Don’t worry about it. That Mason looks like a real creep. Made me want to throw up too. Pompous ass.”

Kieran’s attempt at levity worked and Annika gave a small laugh. Kieran knew there was a disturbing story between those two but he would not ask. It was Annika’s place to explain if she wanted.

“Are you okay?”

Annika nodded. “Yes, let’s get going.”

Annika took off walking again and Kieran followed. Thinking back on the entire exchange, Kieran could not believe the vulnerability that Annika had exhibited. Sure, she may have the face of an innocent angel, but she had quite the tough exterior. But what he had seen a bit ago had been pure terror on her face. It pissed him off that this man would cause her to feel that way. He felt very… protective toward Annika. And that didn’t settle well with him at all.