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Chapter 36 - Decaying Adoration

Howie ran down the road as if he were made of lightening. The strange meeting with the old woman – his mother – startled him with great proportions. He never wanted to give up Ana. He feared what might be happening to her as the moments drifted by. He wanted to believe that Ana would never do him wrong, but his heart failed to reassure him. His mind was so cluttered with emotions. Tears continued to streak down his paling face as he leapt over the fence protecting Jamelet and AJ’s home. He found AJ and Jamelet sitting in their porch swing, swaying gently in each other’s embrace. Something within Jamelet’s calming eyes provided Howie with a small amount of comfort.

“Where are the others?” Howie whispered.

“Howie?!” AJ hissed with great surprise.

“Shhh!” Jamelet groaned, clamping her hands over AJ’s mouth. She glared at her boyfriend, knowing that if the others were awoken – Howie was doomed. She ushered AJ away from the swing, taking Howie a few blocks down the road. She glanced back at her home, making sure that all the lights were still off. AJ stood silently as Jamelet reached up to embrace Howie. “We were so worried! Where did you think you were going?”

“I had to clear my thoughts,” Howie whispered, enjoying the embrace. At first, he wanted to believe that Jamelet and AJ were only thankful to have him back. But… There was something within their dark worried eyes. Something had happened. Howie released Jamelet, allowing her to grasp AJ’s hand tightly. He stared at them curiously. “Why’d you lead me away from the house? Did something else happen?”

“Yes, something else did happen,” AJ confirmed quietly.

“What?”

“You have to promise to stay with us and not run off again,” Jamelet murmured with uncertainty. “You have to believe that we’re in this together. I love Ana with all my heart, and I promise to do everything to protect her. Just… Please, don’t run off again.”

“Jamelet, just tell me.”

“AJ, you tell him,” Jamelet urged instead.

“Would someone please tell me?”

“Okay, I will,” AJ relented, running his hands through his tangled dark locks. He looked terribly distraught. “The twins have taken complete control of the group. It’s quite obvious, too. They want to rid themselves of Ana for good. They believe that she will be the utter destruction of the entire world if we don’t stop her with some kind of means. She’s obviously growing faster with her powers than the rest of us...but… What they want to do is so drastic, Howie! And it means your life as well—”

“Excuse me?” Howie choked.

“They want to kill Ana,” Jamelet whispered, turning pale at the mere mention of the murder. Her eyes turned darker as she explained the circumstances. She looked fearful as she took Howie’s hands into her own. “Howie, if they kill Ana – they kill you, too. You two are linked in a special way, like the rest of us. If they kill Ana, you’ll die. You can’t survive without her, and she can’t survive without you.”

“Wait, they want to kill her? Kill my Ana?” Howie repeated in utter shock. The mere suggestion made his heart ache with incomprehensible pain. He reached up and started to massage the skin covering his heart, trying to lessen the pain. It didn’t seem to work. He kept trying to imagine his life without Ana. It seemed trivial and agonizing. He couldn’t live without Ana.

“The twins loathe her presence now,” Jamelet explained.

Anger quickly replaced the fear and agony in his heart. The twins always seemed to interfere with Ana’s life. She never had a moments rest on Venus with the twins constantly nipping at her heels. Howie took a deep breath. “If they even THINK of doing a thing to Ana, I’ll—”

“Howie,” Jamelet gasped with shock.

"They won’t hurt my Ana,” Howie declared quietly.

“We don’t want them to do that either,” AJ assured.

“But they’re planning on going after her!” Jamelet declared with frustration. Her dark eyes sparked like wildfire. Howie and AJ instantly stepped away from Jamelet, watching her eyes glow with dark fires. The grass below them began to spark and smoke. Howie cursed, stomping out the fire. AJ grabbed Jamelet by the shoulders, shaking her softly. Jamelet winced, her eyes glazing over with surprise. AJ offered a small smile, communicating through their souls. Jamelet glanced at the boys apologetically. “I just want Ana to be safe, you know?”

“Then why can’t we go get her?” Howie volunteered suddenly.

AJ’s eyes grew large with surprise. “Get her? As in travel to the mansion and be cut into tiny pieces by the huge guards?” AJ laughed with an ironic musing. “I believe the words: ‘Hell no,’ fit in after that suggestion!”

“Why?” Jamelet asked.

“We could go right in and right out!” Howie enthused.

“Go and get her? The three of us?” AJ repeated as if the idea were absurd.

“Or two,” Howie suggested.

“Which two?” AJ growled, not liking where the road was heading.

Howie smiled softly and whispered, “Jamelet and me.”

*~*~*~*

Ana sighed softly as listened to Jamelet speak of the birthday party tomorrow. She and Jamelet lay within the soft velvet blue grass of Venus, listening to the twins cause a ruckus within the tall grasses of purple wheat. Their mischievous shouts of delight caused Ana to roll her eyes with amusement. She had finally gotten a break from practicing within the dark dungeons of her father’s castle with her uncle. Since her father and mother had passed, her training had been left to Aunt Jane’s husband. Ana would be sixteen tomorrow and Jamelet was excited about the party being planned.

“Sixteen, Ana. Can you imagine?”

“You turned sixteen three months ago,” Ana implored, waving her hand against the soft summer breezes, dismissing the subject through the winds. She heard Jamelet giggle with surprise. Ana raised her light blonde eyebrows in confusion. “I don’t understand why this is such a big deal to you. It doesn’t really matter.”

“Yes it does! You’re princess of these lands!” Jamelet exclaimed, sitting up from the comforts of the velvety soft grass.

“Not the princess that will inherit the lands,” Ana thought gloomily. She would be forever cast within her siblings’ united shadow. The twins were the most important people within Venus. She was forgotten within the shadows of the castle until it came time for the dark art lessons. Everyone insisted that the twins were too venerable and fragile to be taught such excruciating tactics for defeating the enemy. Ana was promised to inherit the command position of the military as if it made up for the neglect she suffered in the twins’ silhouette. Ana brushed away her gloomy thoughts. “I suppose it will be nice to be sixteen,” she thought wistfully.

“Especially now that you’re sharing the birthday with Howie!” Jamelet replied with an enchanted sigh.

Ana blushed faintly, listening to the twins’ giggles growing closer. She thought of Howie, who was off at the beach with Kevin and AJ. He had been offered a place to stay within the castle several years ago as his mother took a tour around the solar system. Howie and Ana seemed linked from the very start. They were good friends, although Jamelet tormented Ana that it might have been something more. “Howie is a sweet boy,” Ana agreed.

“Sweet boy,” Rose mimicked with a giggle as she attacked Jamelet and Ana with little guns of water. Jamelet shrieked with anger as Nick attacked her, too. The twins swarmed like two nasty bees, soaking the older girls. Ana sat there, allowing the water to rain down on her pale skin. She loved the coldness of the water. After several minutes of torture and when the guns had been drained of water, Ana drew Rose and Nick into her arms. Jamelet scowled deeply. Rose smiled affectionately. “Nick and I decided you must come play with us.”

“Come and play with you?” Jamelet asked with complete surprise.

“Yes. Aunt Jane says that you must indulge any fancy that we request. And we want companions to amuse us. You can do a funny dance or something,” Rose answered primly, waving her hand toward Jamelet as if she were a slave. Jamelet didn’t move, infuriating Rose. “Excuse me, I told you to do something! Didn’t I speak, Nick?”

“Yes,” he answered, somewhat quieter than Rose.

“I’m speaking with your sister,” Jamelet answered firmly.

“She’s not important,” Rose raged, her eyes growing icy. “Is she going to be the queen of this planet? I think not. You belong to me, not her. I control you, just like everyone else. I’m the power in this place, got it?! If you don’t do what I say, I’ll send you to Father’s dungeon! You’ll be sorry!”

“Princess Carter—” Jamelet looked about ready to blow.

“Nicky, Rosie, we’re not fun to play with anyway!” Ana chided, placing kisses upon the young teenagers’ cheeks. They smiled, wrapping their arms around Ana’s neck. “We’re talking about gross stuff anyway. Jamelet is thinking about asking AJ to dance with her at my party tomorrow. And then we’re talking about kissing—”

“Ewww!” Nick groaned, covering his ears.

“That’s what I thought,” Ana observed with a laugh. “So, why don’t you two go to the kitchen? I heard there were a fresh plate of cookies waiting for you.”

The twins squealed with delight, always in the mood for something sweet. Everything about the previous conversation seemed to drift away as the twins hugged Ana fiercely. They plopped wet kisses on her cheeks before tearing off for the house. For a moment, then turned around amidst the sea of rolling blue grass. “WE LOVE YOU, ANA!” they screamed triumphantly as they disappeared into the house.

“Little monsters,” Jamelet hissed with anger as two more figures approached. Jamelet and Ana looked to see AJ and Howie plopping down beside them. The boys were bathed with the glow of Venus’s several suns. Jamelet looked delighted as AJ slipped a proper kiss upon her hand. “Have fun at the beach?”

“Of course, but you seem quite plagued. Did you have a run-in with the monsters?” AJ observed, using the nickname the group of older eight had beset upon the twins. Howie smiled ruefully at Jamelet’s groan and whine of disapproval. AJ laughed, “I believe that was a yes.”

“Those children need spanked severely!” Jamelet threatened.

Ana looked slightly annoyed as the three began to speak of the twins. Nothing was good about their comments. She knew that the twins were spoiled, but they did have feelings. Ana had spent her entire life raising the children. To talk of them in such a manner would be talking about Ana as a mother. She finally became fed up with the conversation. “Guys, they are my siblings,” she finally announced.

“They’re just as horrible to you as they are to us,” AJ observed.

“They boss you around like you are their slave, Ana,” Howie agreed.

“If they don’t like what you say, they throw fits and Queen Jane ends up punishing you. Where’s the fairness in that? You should rule this planet because you are the oldest. They shouldn’t have the power because they’re twins. They’re abusing it, and they’re barely teenagers!” Jamelet agreed.

The words tore at Ana’s soul. She could remember the sweeter moments with the twins. When they were babies and Father and Mother were busy with royal visits. She would get them their bottles and make sure they were well taken care of. They had even called her mother in the beginning. “They love me…” Ana whispered in astonishment.

“Ana—”

A voice within the distance screamed Ana’s full birth name. She cringed at the sound of her name being pronounced. She was wanted in the training room for the rest of the evening. She took a deep breath, standing up. No one knew she went to special training programs except Jamelet. The others assumed she was receiving a strenuous school education. “Watch the twins if they come back out. I’ll be in school for the rest of the night. I will see you all tomorrow, correct?”

They nodded, watching her run off down the rolling hills. Howie sighed wistfully, leaning back in the grass. AJ and Jamelet smirked at him with amusement. Howie watched Ana until she was out of sight. He glanced back at them with a knowing smile. “One day, I’m going to marry her,” he told them.

*~*~*

Ana sat straight up in the large king-size bed, gasping for air. The room was flooded with immense darkness. It took her several minutes to acclimate herself to the bedroom. Ashton lay within the bed, his back facing her. He was sleeping peacefully. Ana’s emotions were ragged. Her breathing was shallow and haunting. Sweat clung to her pale skin like a second layer. The dream had been so real: the twins as young children, Howie, Jamelet, everyone, the daily training, the differences between her and the twins, jealousy, and several other emotions had appeared. They all had been so real. The most replayed dream was one of love and adoration shared between Ana and the twins.

She growled at the dreams, “Kimberly, you wretched woman, stop invading my head before I send you an image you’ll never forget!”

Ana turned sour at the mere image of her and the twins. She couldn’t allow her heart to make the decisions any longer – that was Howie’s job and he was gone. She had to face the facts: the twins had betrayed her from the beginning. She slipped out of the bed, dressing in a pair of leather pants and a black tank top. Her long honey curls were tossed into a messy bun, not caring about her appearance. She hooked the large sword to her hip and attached the gun upon the other loop of her holster.

Ana traveled toward regal room with a decision to spend the hours there until Ashton would awaken. She smiled softly as she entered the throne’s threshold. This was all hers. The tall black pillars depicting the entire royal line of Darker-Elitions. The black tiles were shiny and reflected Ana’s features. She smiled, sitting down upon the chair. It was large and set above the room on huge white marble blocks, overlooking the entire throne. The seat was covered with exotic velvet bathed in red coloring. Massive tiger statues set on either side of the chair, protecting the throne.

Ana found herself comfortable with the seat as she adjusted the silver tiara upon her forehead. The charm blazed its emblem through the brilliant Canadian sun. A commotion of epic proportions drew Ana’s attentions as the large red doors slammed open. Her father with his minions rushed forward. Her father looked to be in a panic. “HAVE THEM BRING THOSE TWO IN!” he ordered as Ana jumped off the throne, rushing to her father’s aid. He looked relieved when he saw her. He immediately brought her to his breast, hugging her furiously. “Dear, dear, dear Anastacia. I was fearful that they had seized you! Those wretched beasts! To think they had killed my guards!”

“Who seized me?” she asked in confusion as her father rambled.

“Those… Those… Those weasels from the Carter Court! We got them! You’ll have to destroy the Carter clan quickly. I knew that you would be able to do it. You are the prized soldier of the entire Darker-Elitions fleet. Ashton sees you practice daily. You can defeat them all. All of those lousy creatures!” her father avenged with anger.

“Father, you’re not making—”

“WE’VE GOT THEM!” a minion announced.

Immediately, two figures were thrust into the room onto their stomachs. They groaned with pain as hundreds of guns were pointed in their direction. Ana’s father crossed the threshold toward the two victims, spouting off his native language. He kicked the man hard in the groin, causing him to curl in agony. Ana’s eyes grew large as her father continued to threaten them with their very lives. She slowly made her way to the group, praying that it wasn’t who she thought it was.

“DID THE CARTER’S KNOW THAT YOU WOULD BE HERE?!” her father screamed.

“No,” the woman whispered.

Ana’s heart crumbled into pieces as the two dirty faces glanced up at her with hope. She brought a hand to her mouth, covering her look of utter horror. She couldn’t believe it was them. Her mind zoned out with the emotions that had been overflowing in her heart since the day she was brought to the Darker-Elitions. The man that she had dreamed of for so many nights. The woman who was her dearest friend. They were here…

Howie.

Jamelet.

“THAT’S IT! YOU’LL PAY FOR YOUR SILENCE! ANASTACIA! GET OVER HERE! NOW!” her father bellowed, seizing her by the upper arm. Ana stumbled a few steps before she was standing above Howie and Jamelet. They both looked distressed at her new appearance. Ana hesitantly brought her hands to settle upon her hips. Howie winced when he noted the large weapons seated at either side of her delicate hips. Tears of anguish streaked his bloody face, but only Ana noticed. “Read their minds and punish them, darling! Teach them a lesson for trying to ruin our world!!!”

Ana focused her eyes within the cores of her friends’ souls as her father commanded. She could already see the fear radiating from their souls. She didn’t want to hurt her friends. She loved them. Howie had never done anything to betray her. He only wanted to comfort her, but Ashton would see him as a threat. Ashton would want him dead. Ana’s eyes glowed a brilliant sapphire blue as she read their fears. The images flashed within Ana’s head, making her feel lightheaded. Each image was brilliantly clear and detailed. She stepped backward, breaking the connection.

“What do they fear, child?” her father asked.

Ana looked down at her friends. Howie connected in her mind, sharing his thoughts. She winced, stepping back again. She needed to distance herself. She knew what they feared. They feared her. Howie didn’t want Ana loving Ashton and murdering him for Ashton’s satisfaction. Jamelet feared that Ana would turn evil, even if Jamelet did believe she was good inside. Ana was torn between the two extremes. She took her father by the arm, leading him away. She spoke in a low whisper. “Father, they fear being locked within the cells,” she told her father softly, lying completely.

“You shall kill them,” her father suddenly enthused.

Ana’s heart shattered immediately. The mere idea of hurting Jamelet and Howie ached. She had a debt to pay to the twins, not Howie and Jamelet. They had not been part of the Carter’s plan of genocide to the Darker-Elitions Royalty. Ana held her father’s arm, deciding to use her powers against him. She whispered softly, drawling upon the sweet siren nature of her hypnotic voice. He blinked rapidly as she whispered something foreign into his ear so Howie and Jamelet would not understand.

Her father turned away from her once she had charmed him. He nodded toward his guards, whispering foreign words. Howie and Jamelet had no clue that they would be locked deep within the dungeons. Ana bowed her head as Jamelet and Howie were seized from the floor. Their bodies were bloody and battered from the guards.

“Father? Wife?” Ashton’s voice called. He slipped past the guards to see Howie and Jamelet being subdued with force. His eyes opened with surprise as he drew Ana within his arms. Ana refused to look at the commotion when she settled into Ashton’s arms. “You did well, Darling,” Ashton cooed as he listened to his father-in-law explain the transgressing events.

Ashton placed a tender kiss upon her forehead, causing Howie to loose control of his emotions. Howie immediately tried to resist, threatening to bash Ashton’s head in. His heart ached at the image before him. He struggled to get out of the guards’ strong arms. They screamed, beating him with their fists. Jamelet screamed, but Howie continued to pull. Ana was his – not that foreign man’s desire. Howie screamed out, “ANA! THIS ISN’T RIGHT! YOU DON’T BELONG TO HIM! DON’T DO THIS TO ME! YOU’RE NOT EVIL! THIS ISN’T THE REAL YOU! PLEASE! YOU LOVE ME! YOUR LOVE! I’M YOUR LOVE! PLEASE!”

“Get him out of her sight!” Ashton growled.

“ANA! PLEASE!”

“Oh, Love, don’t,” she whispered softly.

Anger flooded his body as she pressed her head against Ashton’s chest. Howie reached out again, feeling someone grab a fistful of his unruly curls. He yelped as he was slammed to the ground. He felt the chain that Ana had given him burn against the flesh of his neck. He yanked it off, tearing the chain. The charm pricked his hand, drawing blood as he flung it toward Ana.

“YOU AND I WERE CONNECTED, ANA! BUT NOT ANYMORE! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU WOULD BETRAY ME LIKE THIS! YOU AND I ARE ONE, ANA! WE ARE ONE! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO THE MAN WHO PROTECTED YOU? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! YOU'LL BE SORRY FOR WHAT YOU DID!” Howie screamed with rage as he was dragged out of the room.

Ana glanced down at the charm when the room was filled with deadly silence. Her father and husband traveled to another place to find out who the ruffians were. Ana was left alone with the necklace. The few droplets of blood glistened against the silver of the charm. She bent down, picking it up in her hands. The heat of her betrayal almost singed her hands. Tears trickled down her face as she closed her hand around the charm, allowing the sword of the charm to cut into her own flesh. The blood from her new wound mixed with the droplets of blood from Howie’s own hand, linking them together with the anguish and lust of their hearts

“I was sorry, Love,” she whispered before the darkness consumed her spirit.