The Life of Anna, Part 2: Entwined Read online

  The Life of Anna, Part 2: Entwined

  By Marissa Honeycutt

  Copyright 2014 Marissa Honeycutt

  All rights reserved. All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All portrayals of sexual acts are between adults (aka, over the age of 18).

  ***WARNING***

  This book is for grownups. This book is not for people who are easily offended, get nightmares easily, or have difficulty reading books about tough subjects. I do not glorify bad things, but bad things do happen to my poor characters. This is not your typical love story. My heroine does not fall in love and live happily ever after... at least not like the typical heroine. There is a happily ever after, but it is a long, painful journey to that end.

  This is not a stand-alone novel. The series must be read in order.

  Anna’s story is told in five, novel-length books. There is a subculture within our own world that you’ve only heard whispers of. The conspiracy theorists wish they knew Anna’s story. What the conspiracy theorists think they know is only disinformation, put out there to keep them from the real story.

  This book will likely offend you. This book might make you cry; it might make you throw up. It is a dark book. As my friend, Heidi, said, “It’s dark. It gets darker. It gets even darker, and then it gets even darker. And then, just when you think it can’t get any darker, it does.”

  But, don’t worry. I take you to the deep end gradually. ;)

  There are many sexual situations in this series of books. People die. People get hurt. Things aren’t always truly the way they appear. The antagonist isn’t just a bad guy; he’s EVIL. My heroine’s worldview is skewed; things that may appall you are perfectly normal to her.

  Any violence in this book is non-gratuitous and crucial to the plot and character development.

  Do not read this if you are under the age of consent in your country. Do not get angry if the subject or actual book upsets you. If you're reading this, you've been warned.

  Table of Contents

  ***WARNING***

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  CHAPTER SIXTY

  CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

  CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

  CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

  CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY

  CHAPTER ONE

  Alex sensed Anna the moment he walked into the Great Hall. He didn’t understand why he could sense when she was around, but he was glad nonetheless. Sometimes it was stronger than others, like now. Sometimes it was nearly impossible for him to keep himself from pulling her into his arms and kissing her like there was no tomorrow.

  He caught himself before he started tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. It wouldn’t do to appear bored or uninterested, even though listening to Devin’s moronic speech took him to the edge of his sanity. Devin's arrogance grated Alex, and he was thankful that his hood sheltered his face from view, else he’d have to school his features as well as still his fingers.

  As it was, he relaxed his hand and turned his thoughts to the girl across the room. Anna.

  Anna’s obvious, deep-seated fear confounded Alex. An Elder-Mistress rarely showed any emotion at all; to see one so beat down and frightened struck him at his core. The other Elder-Mistresses he knew were beautiful, confident women that took the breath away of every man they came in contact with.

  Anna was beautiful, yes, and breathtaking; no one would deny that. The innocence mixed with fear in those beautiful green eyes made the protective lion inside his chest want to steal her away and shelter her from all the evil in the world. What had happened to make her that way? What was she so afraid of? Alex had asked himself the questions a million times since he saw her last week, and still had no satisfactory answer for them.

  In the dark, far corner of the room, Alex could just see a figure wrapped in white. His heart pounded as he realized that it was Anna. His Anna. Kurt might think that Anna was a fun toy to have around, but his brother would never be able to care for her the way Alex could. Alex’s heart had been bound to hers long ago by her own father.

  Vati elbowed Alex gently and Alex pulled his hood down and looked away from the corner. It wouldn’t do for his precautions to be undone now. He had to remain aloof or Devin would become suspicious. Neither he nor his father knew exactly what Devin had planned, but Alex’s gut told him it was nothing good; they would be required to intercede before the night was over.

  He composed his features to appear uninterested as Anna walked up the aisle to join Devin on the platform, but when Devin removed her cloak, Alex’s breath caught in his throat. Kurt had spoken of the beauty of Anna’s naked body, but to see it firsthand took his breath away.

  He shifted in his chair as his gaze moved down her body, from the sable-brown hair that hung down her back in waves, to her shapely calves. Her neck was long and slender, her breasts full a
nd round. Her nipples were pink and taut and oh-so tempting. The lines of her torso, the swell of her hips.... Alex gripped the arms of his chair tightly. God, she was beautiful.

  Alex growled slightly as Devin mauled her in front of the men. Devin might think that Anna belonged to him, but before the end of the night, the American Elder would know the truth: Anna belonged to Alex.

  Devin pushed her to her knees and Alex frowned. What was Devin doing? A Deacon handed him...a piercing gun? Her kind weren’t supposed to be marked as....

  Anna looked at Alex suddenly and he saw the panic in her eyes. He resisted the urge to shove Devin out of the way and take her from him now. Marking an Elder-Mistress as a slave had been forbidden for centuries! What the hell was Devin thinking?

  Devin spoke softly to Anna. She looked back at Devin and her eyes glazed over slightly.

  “What did he do to her, Vati?” Alex hissed.

  “I don’t know, Alex,” his father whispered back. “But I can’t believe he would—”

  There was a click and a sharp inhale of breath as Anna’s nipple was pierced.

  “Vati, you can’t let this happen,” Alex pleaded.

  Why didn’t she cry out? Tears glittered in her eyes and she clearly felt pain.

  Vati didn’t reply, but stared at Devin and Anna.

  “Vati?”

  Devin pierced Anna’s belly button.

  “The piercings can be undone, Alex,” Vati said in a calm voice.

  They both winced at the third and final piercing.

  “Let him be, son. He’s not doing anything permanent. You can still take her after.”

  Anna began shaking and Devin spoke quietly to her. Tears filled her eyes and she nodded before standing and walking over to Alex and his father, eyes filled with pain. She bowed and then motioned to the ground between them.

  “Devin told you to come sit between us?” Vati asked, affection in his tone.

  She nodded.

  “Then do so. I would be honored to have you next to me, Anna.”

  Sebastian! Alex’s mental voice was a shout. I can’t sit and watch this!

  The reply from his friend came a moment later. You must, Alex. This is your chance to save her.

  Vati said the piercings could be undone.

  He’s not done, Alex. You must stay.

  She’s in so much pain. I can almost feel it.

  Put your hand on her head and concentrate.

  Alex stroked her silky hair and then rested his hand lightly on top of her head. He felt warmth flowing through his body and into hers. After a few moments, she visibly relaxed.

  Devin gave him a suspicious look, and Alex removed his hand. Her pain had been minimized, though Alex wished he could do more for her. He took a deep breath to calm his heartbeat and regain his patience.

  While new Brothers were being initiated, Alex’s thoughts wandered once more. He wondered what else Devin was going to do tonight. What else could Devin do? Marking Anna as a slave was insulting enough.

  Ian approached, and Anna stood and then followed him across the platform to the table. Alex’s stomach filled with dread as he saw Ian produce a set of manacles.

  “Vati...?”

  Vati’s jaw clenched, but otherwise his face was inscrutable. It was the ‘angry, but under control’ face he used when dealing with arrogant government officials.

  “Alex,” Devin said, stepping smoothly in front of him with a slight smirk on his face. “Would you mind assisting me with something?”

  Alex glanced at Vati who nodded slightly. “Of course, Devin.”

  Alex stood and followed the Elder to the back of the platform where a goat stood tethered to a post. A ceremonial knife and bowl lay on a nearby table. Ian was fastening the manacles around Anna’s wrists, chaining her spread-eagle to the table.

  Alex felt anger bubbling to the surface. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. It would not help anything if he lost his temper. He had to stay calm. He had to.

  Sebastian, what is going on?

  Tell me what you see.

  Alex looked around again. A goat, a knife a bowl.... Oh, God, Sebastian, what the hell is he going to do to her?

  What color is the goat?

  Black.

  There was a pause. Where is Anna?

  On a stone table. I’ve never seen anything like it.

  If the goat hadn’t been there, Alex would have feared for Anna’s life.

  Devin walked to the front of the platform. “My Brothers, tonight you are fortunate to witness something not seen in a very long time. Something that will help us rein in those who think they don’t need us anymore.”

  The men applauded and looked with interest at Anna, compliant and chained to the table.

  What’s going on, Alex?

  He said he’s going to do something that hasn’t been seen in a long time.

  Another pause. I could get into an enormous amount of trouble for helping you.

  Please, Sebastian. I failed her once already.

  Sebastian didn’t answer and Alex grew nervous as Devin walked over to Anna. He trailed his fingers over her body and she grimaced. His mouth latched onto her nipple and Alex suppressed a growl.

  Devin stepped between her legs and stroked her pussy and she gasped in pain. She struggled against the bindings for a moment, but relaxed as Devin walked away.

  Alex gazed down at Anna with concern for a moment before the lights went out. He looked up to see Devin pick up the knife and begin murmuring. Alex resisted the urge to look back at Vati. He also resisted the urge to punch Devin in the face.

  Devin swiped the knife across the goat's neck and it collapsed onto the stone platform, its lifeblood flowing down into the bowl at the lowered edge. Alex swallowed as his mouth filled with hot saliva. He normally wasn’t squeamish, but the whole situation set his stomach on edge.

  Devin glanced at him with an arched brow and amused eyes as he walked to him. “You’ll need to help her drink this,” he lifted the bowl slightly, “and then hold her down if she starts moving. I wouldn’t want her to hurt herself.”

  Alex forced a smile. “Of course, Devin.” Sebastian!

  Tell me what he does as he does it. I will guide you through what you must do. But you must trust me.

  Alex hesitated. What would Sebastian have him do? I trust you. I always have. He’d known Sebastian for eight years and his friend had never led him astray.

  Alex moved to Anna’s left side, his back towards the Brothers sitting on the benches below. Her guardian stood across from him with a smirk on his face, and Devin’s deacon stood at her head.

  Devin stared intently at Anna and she returned the look. He began to murmur again in a language Alex didn’t recognize. Devin lifted the bowl over his head, said something loudly in the unknown language, and then brought the bowl to his lips.

  Devin passed the bowl to Jack, who drank, and then passed it to the Deacon. The Deacon did likewise and passed the bowl to Alex.

  You’re acknowledging that you’re a witness to the ritual. Drink, Alex. It’s the only way you can help her. You must be intimately part of this to save her.

  Alex stared at the bowl and then tipped it towards his mouth. Disgusting. He swallowed and looked at Devin, who nodded towards Anna.

  Why do I have to feed her?

  Devin doesn’t realize it, but he’s giving you the opening you need. By feeding her, you will be able to interfere with the bonding.

  Bonding?

  Feed her, Alex.

  The Deacon lifted her head and Alex lowered the bowl to her. “Drink,” he said gently. As her lips touched the bowl, he felt a surge of warmth run through his body. “Open.”

  Obediently, she parted her lips and Alex poured some of the blood into her mouth. She coughed and shuddered, blood droplets landing on her perfect breasts.

  Alex handed the bowl back to Devin. Devin took another drink and then handed the bowl to Ian, who had been waiting a respectful distance behind him. Anna trem
bled and Alex brushed his fingers over her temple in an attempt to comfort her.

  He is going to take her mind, Alex. You must watch carefully what he does and be prepared to do the same thing. It will weaken his bond with her and hopefully bond you to her at the same time.

  Hopefully?

  It’s never been done before. But I believe it to be true.

  Alex would have to trust his friend.

  Devin moved around Anna, stroking her skin, as Alex and the other men stepped back. Devin stopped at her head and placed his hands on her temple. She looked up at him and terror filled her eyes. Her mouth moved and she shook violently. Alex could see the wild pulse against her strained neck muscles as she stiffened.

  Alex’s heart raced as Devin walked back to the bottom of the table. Anna was shaking so badly that Alex was afraid she’d fall off the table, despite the chains. The Deacon and Jack loosened the manacles and Devin pulled her hips down towards him.

  Anna’s eyes met his, her terror ripping at his heart. What must I do, Sebastian?

  Devin opened his robe and stroked his hard cock a few times before thrusting violently into Anna’s body. She arched off the table and opened her mouth in a silent scream. Why wasn’t she making any sounds?

  The other men pushed her back down and Alex did likewise, if for no other reason than to keep her from falling.

  It took all his strength to hold her down as Devin fucked her. Sweat glistened on Devin’s forehead and his eyes were closed. His mouth dropped open as if in ecstasy. After what seemed like forever, Devin grunted and pulled out. Tears rolled down Anna’s cheeks as she stared at Devin, eyes wide as if she felt betrayed.

  Devin smirked and then walked away. Anna looked up at Alex with such a hopeless look in her eyes, it stabbed at his heart.

  Sebastian!

  Go to her head, I will give you the words to say.

  Anna’s eyes drooped and she shuddered as Alex put his hands on her temples. He repeated the words Sebastian gave him and her eyelids fluttered.

  “Stay with me, Anna,” he whispered, fearing he was losing her.

  You must bond with her, Alex. You must consummate the bonding.

  Alex moved down to between her legs and flinched as he saw her pussy. She was bleeding, and from more than just her new piercing. What the fuck...?