Monique watched as Carmen and Dakota stepped through the portal. She hadn’t been sure he was going to leave. The guilt he carried with him was suffocating. What could he have possibly had to do with what happened to Gregory’s daughter? According to Carmen, it had been Vincent who had caused the injuries to the young woman lying on her bed.
Vincent. The name brought so much anger to mind that she had to quickly gain control back over her magic. She might make the world crumble around them if she wasn’t careful. She knew the damage he was causing to the worlds, could feel them dying around her. Even if that weren’t the case, she had seen firsthand the type of monster he was, and now the only hope they all had was currently dying. She looked down at her bed and saw the girl’s head twitch slightly.
Should she even save Anastasia? Monique wondered. What would it all be worth if this girl couldn’t defeat Vincent? She knew who this child was destined to be, what the prophecy had said of her. She had been the one to send Carmen the vision in the first place. But seeing her now, sensing the pain and suffering this Phoenix carried with her, made Monique wonder if Anastasia wouldn’t prefer to die instead.
She herself knew that feeling well. She turned away for a moment and then looked back at Gregory Silvan’s only child. She could see Annabelle in her, as well as her father. Were Anastasia’s eyes blue like his? she wondered. Did they hold the same kindness and resolution that had always shone in his? Did Anastasia have her mother’s same moral compass? Her compassion for others?
She had to save Anastasia because it would be a way to finally repay Gregory for what he had done for her all those years ago.
Monique took a step towards her, and knelt next to the bed. She closed her eyes and placed a hand over Anastasia’s forehead and poured magic through her, into the girl’s broken body. Carmen had said that Vincent had stolen Anastasia’s magic, and while Monique knew that to be an impossibility, she searched for a block.
It didn’t take her long to find it, and she was surprised Carmen had missed it. She must have been so focused on losing her only granddaughter that she had overlooked it. Monique pulled at the block and it snapped, allowing Anastasia’s magic to course through her veins again. The girl jolted up in the bed as if she had been shocked, and Monique could feel the magic as it flooded her system and began repairing her injuries.
For a moment, Monique allowed herself to drink in Anastasia’s power. It was incredible. She couldn’t believe the amount of magic that was running through the girl’s veins. The vision that had come to her when Anastasia had been born suddenly made sense. Of course she was the one who would defeat Vincent. Nowhere in any of the worlds was there a greater force of power, not even within herself.
Monique tilted her head. Anastasia was naïve, though; Monique could sense the fear Anastasia felt at her own heritage. Her magic was green, and while the strength was there, the force behind it was not. She felt a push and pulled her mind from Anastasia’s. Even asleep, Gregory’s daughter knew she was being watched. Her brow was furrowed, as if she were fighting off some invisible nightmare.
Monique covered Anastasia’s forehead with her palm and stepped into the girl’s dream.
“Dakota!” Anastasia yelled as she ran into the house. “Dakota, where are you?”
“In here!” He stepped from the kitchen and smiled. “What’s with the excitement?”
“It’s here! It’s finally here!” Anastasia giggled as she jumped up and down holding the small box.
“What are you waiting for?” He walked towards her. “Open it!”
“Okay, okay.” She giggled again and tore the box open. “Oh! It’s gorgeous!” Excitement rushed her as she finally held the book in her hand. “Look, it’s my name!” she exclaimed, and held it up for him to see.
“Its wonderful!” Dakota lifted and spun her around in a circle. “I’m so proud of you, baby.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Yes you could have, but I appreciate the credit.” He kissed her softly and then pulled away. “How are you feeling?” he asked, reaching down to run a hand over her swollen belly.
“Wonderful. She is moving around so much these days, I can hardly sit for longer than a few minutes before I get a foot in my ribs.” She laughed. “I love it.”
“I can’t wait to meet her.”
“She’s going to be so beautiful,” Anastasia said with a smile.
“Just like you.” Dakota grinned. He reached for the book in her hand and she held it out to him. “Check out this cover!” he exclaimed as he ran his fingers over the large firebird. “I’m so damn proud, Ana. Your dad would be too.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Dakota.”
“It’s not real,” Anastasia whispered to herself.
“It can be, Anastasia.” A soft feminine voice filled her head, and Anastasia tried to open her eyes. When nothing happened, she began to panic. Why couldn’t she see?
“Why can’t I see?”
“Easy, Anastasia.” The same voice sounded again, and Anastasia found herself relaxing slightly. “You are safe now, child.”
“What happened?” Anastasia focused on her last memory and tried to bring it to the surface. One name came through clearly. “Sarah.”
“No need to focus on that right now, Anastasia.”
Like a freight train, the memory came crashing into her. “Oh my God, I killed her. I killed Sarah.” She could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks and she tried to sit. She had to get to Selena, had to tell her what happened, and what about Dakota’s mother, was she okay? Had the Brutes gotten her? “Elizabeth, I have to see Elizabeth.”
“Elizabeth is fine, honey.”
She felt a cool cloth dab at her forehead and relaxed some more. Elizabeth was okay, that was all that mattered right now.
“Who are you?”
“There will be time for that. You need to rest now.”
Exhaustion took over and Anastasia felt herself slipping further into the darkness.