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Chapter 42 – Reckless Passions

Rose hurried down the corridor with baited breath. She prayed that God would protect her so she could at least find Jamelet and Howie. Tears of fear coursed down her reddened cheeks as she ran from the dark hallways, but she never paused to rub the fearful tears away. She felt safer to express her fears when she was alone rather than expressing them to Brian and Nick. She wanted to appear tough and able to stand on her own, but the truth was that Ana had shaken the boulders beneath Rose’s usually stable footing. Ana had been a monument of vigor in Rose’s life from the time when she was a young child until now. Ana had taken care of everything for the twins, no matter how much the twins berated her. Rose owed Ana her life, yet, Ana was now willing to take away that very breath of life in a single blow. Rose’s fears lay within the complicated balance of Ana’s heart. She wanted to trust the sister who had been her foster-mother, yet she knew the darkness in Ana’s heart could not be left roaming the worlds.

Rose’s thoughts carried her all the way to the chambers where Howie and Jamelet were chained and imprisoned. Somehow – she had made it through the darkness. She sighed with relief to see AJ embracing Jamelet through the bars. He kissed Jamelet several times to let her know that he was there to protect her. Tears of remembrance and relief coursed down Jamelet’s bloody cheeks as he explained that Kevin and Kimberly had passed on. Rose fell to her knees as she saw Howie sniffling in the corner. She bowed her head in shame, only to hear a gasp of surprise from AJ and Jamelet.

“What are you doing here?” Jamelet questioned, glancing at the younger woman in surprise. She wiped the bitter tears of remorse from losing the eldest in the group. She wanted to believe that somewhere in Ana’s heart was something good, but she couldn’t hold onto the thoughts with Rose standing before her. Somehow, Jamelet could only think of the bitter words Rose and Nick continuingly released upon Ana during their lives. Jamelet feared that the twins’ bitterness toward Ana had caused these cataclysmic events of disaster.

“I wanted to come help AJ—”

“I didn’t need help from a child. It was my choice to leave and I will face the consequences. However, I can’t believe you were foolish enough to slip past the bars. The Elitions have a personal vendetta against your blood and you want to try to make things worse for yourself by causing mischief? Your family caused everything that is happening tonight and the Elitions are sure to have you slaughtered on the instant they find you away from the cell. So, leave the rescuing of my loved ones to my own. Shouldn’t you be back cowering in your brother’s arms? That’s what you did when we were sent here in the first place,” AJ spat, unable to block out the same feelings that Jamelet was releasing with her dark eyes. He could still remember the bickering that had caused them to be unprepared for Ana’s powerful attack. Rose had refused to use her skills and helped the loss the war before they had begun the first battle.

“No, I wanted to help,” Rose whispered with defeat.

“Help?” Howie laughed bitterly from the back of the cell, finally making some kind of sound. Jamelet and AJ glanced back into the shadows with surprise. Jamelet had feared that Howie was emotionally broken. He hadn’t been able to compose himself since King Ashton had visited the cell.

“Howie, what are you talking about?” Rose asked.

“You didn’t come here to help AJ free us! You came for the chance to attack Ana in the moment of her only weakness when she comes to retrieve us! You’re just like that bastard of a man who calls himself her husband! How dare you act as if she is purely evil and you aren’t? I know exactly how you treated her when you all were younger. I watched her cry every single day while she swam with her dolphins for refuge from your acidic words! You bratty children thought that she was just a machine to be used for whatever your hearts desired, but she wasn’t! Her feelings were as twisted as yours! I don’t care what you say about your poor little life, she had it worse when she had to raise you two! She had no idea what she was doing in that place and she always knew she didn’t belong. You brats didn’t help her feel any more at home, either! She loved you and always told us to be nice to you monsters. But we all saw the truth in your actions – bigheaded and conceited. Then you made her into some kind of beastly servant for your rich needs when your parents passed! You’re no better than those people who are her true birth family! Damn you and them for what you’ve done to her soul!” Howie hissed from the corner of the cell, jumping up to lunge for Rose. Jamelet untangled herself from AJ’s hold to pull Howie backward before he could harm the young woman. Rose fell back, tingling from Howie’s harsh words.

“We didn’t do those things,” Rose whispered, unable to find a better defense to Howie’s accusations.

“Yes, you did!” Howie growled. “You monsters turned her into whatever she is now! I will never forget what you did to her! I will haunt you if I die tonight! I will make sure that your lives are wretched, because you created this hell that Ana and I live in now!!”

“How dare you accuse me of something that I had no control of!” Rose screamed, finally allowing her queen-like personality to consume the fear hiding in her heart. “Ana was a beast from the beginning of her life! She was crafted as an Elition and born as an Elition. There was no way to change her soul!”

“DAMN YOU!” Howie howled. “I WILL KILL YOU IF IT’S THE LAST THING THAT I DO!”

“You will never be able to kill me, because I hold your life in my hands,” Rose hissed, her blue eyes turning darker than a raging storm. She grabbed the bars of the cell, clenching them tightly in her hands. The poisons of her aching heart began to release the toxins to her brain. “You crumbled just as Ana will crumble within a few hours. I am free and plan to do what I set out to do from the beginning. You have no power or control over this situation, Howard. You do not control Venus like I will and Ana’s fate is sealed. She betrayed the Venus Kingdom when she killed my Aunt and she will pay the price with her blood. Sadly, you are locked in this cell for good and I will be able to destroy Ana once and for all.”

“ROSE!” AJ barked, grabbing her roughly by the arms, breaking the trance of ice that had coiled about her soul. He shook her roughly, causing her to yelp with surprise. “Do you hear yourself?!”

“What?!” Rose snapped, listening to Howie’s bitter sobs from within the cell. She glanced to see Jamelet glaring at her surprise. Rose rolled her eyes, glaring at Howie. “You started this, Prince Howard,” Rose sneered, “You were supposed to keep this team together with your power of love. What happened to the Power of Love?”

“Rose—”

“You broke my heart and left me with bitterness!” Howie sobbed.

“Nick and I didn’t do a thing!”

“LIES! ALL YOUR LIES!” Howie shrieked.

“Howie, shhh, Sweetheart,” Jamelet soothed, wrapping her arms around Howie’s shoulders to protect him. His wailing would only send guards. She shot AJ a pitiful look of help. AJ stood up, trying to concentrate on his powers. The fires in his hands only seemed to sizzle out, jump to the cold brick ground, and die.

“Howie! You know I’m not lying!” Rose shouted with a deep glee.

AJ grew frustrated, ceasing his powers. He leaned down and grabbed Rose tightly by the shoulders. He pulled her up to her feet, glaring at her. “Stop antagonizing him! Don’t you know you’ll alert the guards and send us all to our deaths? You can fight about this later when we’re home!”

“There’s nothing to fight about,” Rose hissed indignantly. “I will kill Ana.”

AJ allowed Rose to take the last word without hesitation. Rose yanked her arms away from AJ and leaned against the wall with triumph. She had taken position as a leader. She blew a large puff of icy air out of her mouth to push away a stray blonde lock. AJ let his shoulders sag as Jamelet continued to try to calm Howie down, but he had turned to hysterics. King Ashton’s latest visit with news of a pregnancy had completely destroyed Howie’s mind.

Jamelet’s efforts were hopeless as her fears were brought to life - several pairs of leather boots trampled down the hallway. No one had time to prepare for the burst of guards through the doorways. AJ’s eyes went wide with surprise as a huge man embraced him and slammed him toward the brick wall. AJ screeched in pain as another man grabbed Rose and pinned her against the opposite wall.

“Good job, boys,” Ashton’s voice echoed through the hallways. Howie glanced around to find the source of his voice, but could find none. He watched as another guard prepared to open the cell. Jamelet screeched for help, but was defenseless. “Anastacia, now!”

“Now?” Ana’s voice echoed with fear.

“Child, do not fail your husband!” her father scorned. “Do as he commands.”

“ANA!” Howie screamed, but to no avail. The final words were echoed through his mind before Ana sent a brilliant white light exploding into his mind – ‘Please protect my Love, God, and let him forgive me.’ Then, four bodies slumped to the floor unconscious.

*~*~*

Ana felt numb as her father led her toward the torturing chambers for the final meeting between her and her father’s enemies. Ana had prayed to God about this night since she was first brought to her father’s hands. Her father and husband had worked out every detail regarding the night’s revolution since they knew that she would be brought into their hands. Ana had only heard bits and pieces from private conversations, but knew that she would be forced to make a life-altering choice that evening. She had tried so hard to mask her emotions behind a somber face, but she found that she couldn’t control her mind’s emotions. Howie had sent disturbing messages to her brain during his capture and those same messages whirled within the complex folds of her brain as she walked down the hallway. She could feel when he was being tortured and woke up with the wounds of his hellish nights. Ana hadn’t slept next to Ashton since Howie’s arrival in the castle. Her husband was growing furious at her peculiar behavior, but Ana simply intoxicated Ashton with her voice to avoid his accusations of her loving another.

“Child, tonight is the night that you will honor your mother’s memory,” her father boasted as he nodded toward a watchful guard. Ana avoided the guard’s lustful stare as her father latched on tightly to her elbow to guide her toward the massacre.

“My mother’s memory?” Ana asked quietly, not understanding.

“The Carters caused your mother’s death, child.”

“How so? I thought she…” Ana couldn’t even remember what her father had told her in the beginning about her mother’s death. There were so many stories behind what she was told.

“Your mother was so grief-stricken when you were taken away that she made herself sick. She died shortly after your abduction because she could not bear loosing her only child. The poor woman died because of the Carters’ hatred of our family. You must avenge her death tonight and prove to the Carters that the Elitions will not be toyed with,” her father seethed.

“Mother,” Ana couldn’t force the final words from her mouth because her father had cut off their conversation as he thrust her into the chambers. Her mind lost complete control as she finally entered the room. The screams of torture and the smell of blood exhilarated her systems, but something inside her snapped as she glanced around. Her friends were being tortured and mutilated right before her eyes and realized that she would have to deliver the death-blow to their pained bodies. The twins were chained to the wall as a large electric whip was snapped at their precious skin. Jamelet and AJ were locked away in a cage as it was slowly lowered into large tanks of water. Brian and Alison were locked being laced into a wooden stretcher.

The predicament of Ana’s loved ones sent her into a spasm of guilt. Her mind grew light as she pressed her hand to her forehead. Sweat broke out along her hairline as her eyes fluttered. She slumped forward into someone’s burly arms. Her name was screamed out in surprise, but sounded like a faint whisper in Ana’s ears. She felt as if she were floating out of her body as a white light enveloped her.

*~*~*

Ana was thrown backward in time from the harsh reality of her current situation. She was stunned as she sat in a beautiful garden amongst beautiful arrays of roses. She smiled thoughtfully as she inhaled the sweet scent of the blue roses. She knew exactly where she was – in Queen Paula’s garden. Ana spent many years as a child curled under the willow trees with Howie while his mother hummed and pruned her favorite roses. Ana inhaled the sweet scent as she noticed Queen Paula wobbling toward her garden furniture. The Queen carefully lowered herself onto the plush chair with a smile as she rubbed her stomach with maternal care. Ana stared in surprise and took a seat in the chair beside Queen Paula. She couldn’t believe it. Queen Paula’s abdomen was swelling into a round ball of pregnancy! It took only a few minutes for Ana to recognize what was happening – she had careened herself back in time again.

“I’m so glad that you invited me, Paula!” a cheery voice called out from the winding path leading to the garden. Ana found her breath caught in her throat as she watched another woman ripe with pregnancy descending upon Queen Paula’s party. The woman was tall and elegant with a slender body. Her golden curls were piled atop her head with the crown of Dark Elition holding the curls in place. A ruby of the crown rested in the middle of the woman’s forehead, providing an eerie glow into her sapphire eyes. Her face glowed with the pregnancy as she offered a cheery smile toward Paula. It took only a few seconds for Ana to make the connection – that woman was her mother – Queen Gabriella Grace Tillano–Lord.

“I’m glad that your husband allowed you to come to visit with me. Hoke has been touring other planets for presidential meetings and whatnot,” Paula laughed, kissing Gabriella affectionately on the cheek. Ana was reminded that Paula and Gabriella had been dear friends before they were betrothed to their husbands. Both had come from profitable Lordship families in Venus.

“Daemon does not know that I came for this visit. He assumes that I went out for the evening to relax. He has Mr. McLean and Mr. Ramos from the Venus Courts visiting. Daemon and Robert are fighting over something again,” Gabriella announced with a look of annoyance toward the silly fued.

“I’m sure everything will be fine, Gabriella,” Paula whispered, trying not to look sympathetic toward Gabriella’s predicament. Paula had always listened to Gabriella’s woes since her betrothal to Daemon Matthew Arthur Lord of Dark Elition. Daemon was a bitter man and Gabriella always seemed receive the brunt of his anger. Paula kept Gabriella’s tortured secrets amongst her soul’s worries. Paula sighed as she poured some tea from a gold kettle. She glanced toward Gabriella with a small smile, knowing it was better to change the subject. “How is the little ray of sunshine?” Paula asked, glancing at Gabriella’s swollen middle.

“I should ask you the same!”

“It was quite fortunate that we became pregnant at the same time and are due on the same date.”

“Have you been told what you will carry?”

“A boy,” Paula explained, causing Ana to smile from her invisible stance beside both women. She knew that Paula had been thrilled when she learned that she would birth a boy. Paula loved Howie so much. Ana watched as Paula’s hands rested against her swollen stomach. “Hoke and I have decided to name him Howard Dwayne Dorough, Prince of this holy land Irelian Land!”

“That is darling,” Gabriella laughed, causing tears to pierce Ana’s tender eyes. Her mother was a mere shadow in Ana’s memory. She hadn’t known her mother, because she never knew where her true linage lied. Paula had always told Ana that she was a princess of Venus to protect Ana. Paula had assumed that Robert and Renette Carter would tell Ana her true heritage when Ana was old enough to understand. Ana brushed away her malice thoughts and focused back upon the two women of the past.

“And you, Gabriella?” Paula asked.

“I will be having a girl. Daemon is upset that he will not have a son-heir to the throne, but I know that my daughter will make her father proud. She kicks at my insides all day long – she will be strong. I’m naming her Anastacia Grace Lord, heiress to the Throne of Elition.”

“I’m sure she’ll have your lovely golden curls.”

“I hope. I’ve always dreamed of having a little girl,” Gabriella whispered, allowing her voice to trail off in the perfumed breezes. Ana leaned forward to see Paula’s eyes grow dark. Something masked upon Gabriella’s face was haunting. Her sapphire eyes were pained with a hidden secret.

“What is the matter, Gabriella?”

“Paula?” Gabriella whispered, suddenly trembling as her mood switched dramatically.

“Darling, what?” Paula cooed softly, leaning forward as she folded her hands primly in her lap. Gabriella reached for an embroidered hanky that she had placed within her purse. She dabbed at her weary eyes, trying to compose herself. It looked as if Gabriella was involved in a long war of emotions. Paula felt sick at whatever was troubling Gabriella. Ana held her breath, waiting for the two mothers to continue speaking. “It is about your child, is it not?”

“How did you know?”

“We are good friends, Gabriella. I should be stricken ill if I didn’t know what you were feeling.”

“I’ve heard Daemon speaking to his advisors when he assumes that I am within our chambers dialing in my pregnancy. Daemon is going to raise my child in the true Elition path, Paula, but he tells me that I will be free to raise Anastacia as I see fit. He lies to me about his true intentions,” Gabriella whispered, glancing to make sure that none of the servants were paying attention. Her eyes grew wide in pain as she reached up to unclasp the necklace dangling against her graceful throat. “Daemon is speaking of training my daughter to be a ruthless killer and ruler. He plans to breed her into some kind of monster. He has days of grueling training and torture in plan for Anastacia once she reaches a mature age. My darling child shall not bear witness to her father’s sinful deeds. He is not the man I want raising my child in her teenage years. She cannot be influenced by his evil mind. I cannot abort my pregnancy, because that would mean death to myself and my lovely child. However, I have prayed long and hard about my situation. My Lord has told me that I can somehow rely on your efforts. Please, can you help me?”

Paula grew quiet, staring at the necklace that Gabriella held in her hands. After a long pause, Paula spoke, “You should never have thought to abort your pregnancy. I won’t allow it. However, I can give your daughter refuge.”

“Refuge?”

“I will allow her to be raised in your home until the proper age of betrothal so Daemon will not become suspicious. We are so close already, Gabriella, why not allow our children to make the same bond? We shall betroth our children to one another in the hopes of uniting our kingdoms. Irelian needs a strong woman to protect the world from harm. Howard will be strong, but not as strong as your child shall be in way of politics. With our love and guidance, our children shall have a splendid and fulfilling future as husband and wife,” Paula announced, reaching to unclasp the bracelet she wore around her right wrist.

“Betrothal?” Gabriella repeated with a firm smile.

“It’s your child’s only chance to escape Dark Elition. However, it is your choice, Gabriella. I offer what I assume is a generous offer of love. I want you to give your child a chance at happiness. Do you accept the offer?”

“I want my child to escape Dark Elitions past, so of course I will accept.”

“Hoke will be pleased at our decision,” Paula answered with a smile.

“I pray that Anastacia does so and escapes her horrid future with her father, because my fate of darkness has already been sealed,” Gabriella announced, handing Paula the necklace as a sign of the agreement. Paula smiled happily as she handed the bracelet to Gabriella. Each woman placed the jewelry onto themselves and kissed each others cheeks. The prayer of Gabriella attacked Ana’s soul as she was snatched away from the past to be reunited with her body.

*~*~*

“Anastacia!” her father cursed, smacking her against the cheek. Ana moaned as a bright light invaded her eyes and quickly realized that she had been thrown forward in time. She glanced around to see herself standing amongst the tortured bodies once again. Ashton was griping her tightly by the arms, holding her up in the corner of the room. All the guards looked to her in shock, hoping that Ana was still well. She shook her head, forcing herself to stand on her own two feet. She glared at her father, refusing to let bitter tears fall. Before she was released from the past, she stood witness to her mother’s execution. Her father, Daemon, had accused Gabriella of betraying her linage to Dark Elition and forced her to commit suicide. He slashed her body and berated her. She had suffered several hours before her last breath. Ana glanced to see her father glaring at her with fury. Ashton remained silent as he released her from his grip. “What is your problem, child?” he hissed.

“Sorry, Father,” Ana spoke softly, submitting to her father.

“Have you sorted your problems?”

“Yes,” Ana lied, finding herself at more faults than before. Her mind ached with confusion. Her father had told her that he truly loved her and was thankful to have her back in his life, but for what purpose? She was foolish to believe that her father wanted her back because she was his daughter and only link to his late wife. Ana took a deep breath to gather her reckless passions, unable to come to a clear decision. This man was full of lies, yet he told her that he could protect her and love her. He had deceived her and killed her mother for trying to protect her only child from the horrors of his life.

“Good, let’s get this over with,” Ashton enthused, breaking into Ana’s thoughts. She watched as Ashton guided her toward the center of the carnage. The twins screamed in agony as whips bit into their tender flesh. AJ and Jamelet pleaded for Ana to come to her senses, but Ana was numb to all of this. The guards quickly stood the Chosen Ten in a perfect line. They had some sort of device around their foreheads of Ana’s siren abilities that kept them from using their gifts. She could only focus on the person that Ashton was dragging out of the holding cell. She watched as Howie stumbled and fell upon the dirty floor at her feet. Ashton snapped at the guards to help him tie Howie to a metal table like a spread eagle. Blood trailed down his temple, alerting Ana to the same trail of blood upon her own forehead. There were bruises layering his weakened body which had been stripped down to a pair of dirty boxers. His eyes never left her own.

“You’re so different,” he whispered as his head was slammed backward onto the metal table. Ana winced at the throbbing pain that invaded her own head. Howie studied Ana’s look, unable to find the words to express how he felt. She was bound within a tight leather skirt that ended at her mid thigh with a slit that raced up her right thigh. Her top was a tightly bound black leather that hugged her chest and ended at the beginning of her toned stomach. Her usually wild honey curls were trapped beneath the tiara of Dark Elition and bundled on the crown of her head. Strapped to her hips were several types of weapons, which frightened Howie terribly. He feared that she might succumb to the pressure of her family. “Ana—”

“Shut your mouth, Bastard!” Ashton snarled, slamming his foot deep into Howie’s ribcage. Ana winced as the pain invaded her own side, she bowed slightly to hide her throbbing side. Howie gasped for air as Ashton wrapped his arms tightly around Ana’s waist. He smirked at Howie as he pressed his salty lips tightly against Ana’s lips. She struggled beneath Ashton’s powerful grip when she felt Howie’s pain of raw emotion. Howie cursed beneath his breath as Ashton released Ana. “Your first job as Queen of the Dark Elitions is to shatter your bonds with those Chosen of Venus. This man was said to be your betrothed husband from your mother and his mother’s agreement. You were raised with this beast to dishonor your true family. Destroy him first to pledge your love to me, Anastacia.”

“Ashton—” Ana’s plea was silenced as he handed her the familiar sword that she carried to capture the Chosen Ten. Kevin’s blood still remained upon the hot blade, releasing a wave of nausea from Ana’s stomach. She hadn’t meant to harm her friends, but she had been left with no choice. She allowed the sword to fall into her hands as Ashton stared at her. Her father stood beside Ashton, waiting. “Father and Husband—”

“It is your decision, but be warned, Anastacia. If you choose to rejoin the Chosen Ten you will die with them as the final pawn. I love you, Darling, and I know that you love me, but you must prove this to our courts. Kill this worthless man and reign as Heiress to Dark Elition,” Ashton threatened with a cold tone.

Ana stared at the sword and made her choice. She stepped toward the metal board with her sword raised. She watched Howie begin to tremble as she stared upon him. The sword was raised to rest neatly beneath Howie’s chin when it came down. She held his life within her hands. She found herself stalling for time as she remembered everything that she had loved about Howie. He had always protected her, no matter what happened to him. He knew her heart and soul. Could she really kill him?

“Anastacia – stop pausing! This man is a traitor to our family! His mother betrayed our family so he shall suffer the consequences!” her father hissed angrily.

“Don’t disrupt our plans, Darling,” Ashton concluded.

Howie struggled to read Ana’s mind as she stood before him. The sword was several feet away from his throat, but Ana held all the power to release the blade. He cleared his mind free of his worries to concentrate on Ana’s mind, but found it cluttered with numerous thoughts, nightmares, truths, lies, and dreams. He took a ragged breath as everything around him seemed to become silent. The tension grew in his body as he prepared for his final breaths. Everyone waited for Ana’s choice. His eyes watered with fresh tears as Ana raised her arms once again. He felt the need to express to Ana what he had felt since the very beginning of his relationship with her. He would not let her feel guilty for something that her father had forced her to do. He let the tears slide down his grimy cheeks as he spoke softly, “Anastacia Grace Lord, no matter what happens today, remember that I will always love you.”

“ANASTACIA!” Daemon roared.

Howie’s words had done tremendous damage. She allowed the sword to fall toward her feet without touching Howie’s flesh. She felt the tears burning beneath her eyelids. She struggled to compose herself as she glanced upon her father and husband. The truth stood out amongst the lies, drowning everything that Ana thought to have been true. She looked up toward the sky in hopes that her mother’s essence would grace her for a moment.

“ANASTACIA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Ashton screamed.

Ana finally allowed her gaze to fall upon him. She felt her mother caressing her heart. Ana raised the sword, glaring at her husband with her stormy emerald-sapphire eyes. “Allow this man to die with some dignity, Ashton. He is royalty – no matter what you do to torture his soul. Allow him to stand to meet his fate.”

Ashton snapped his fingers and the guards immediately pulled Howie away from the chains to make him stand in front of Ana. Ashton growled some sort of profanity beneath his breath as Daemon carefully watched the scene unfold. “Better, Darling?”

“Perfectly,” Ana chirped, staring into Howie’s eyes. She could see him trembling as she quickly cleared her mind from what was troubling her. She knew what Howie’s powers contained. He could read her mind if she abled him to see through the depths of her soul. She closed her eyes for a moment, seeming to prepare for a battle. She silent sent a message toward Howie: ‘I know you can read my mind, Love. You’ve done it since we were kids. So, if you can hear this – Fall to your knees when I swing.’

Howie received the message as soon as Ana let the sword swing with an amazing momentum. Howie immediately fell to his knees as the blade swung above him and connected directly with her father’s chest. Blood spurted from her father’s chest as she wedged the sword deep into him. Her eyes blazed with anger. “You killed my mother because she tried to shield me from your hellish ways. Now you will die by the hands of your own flesh and blood, just like you feared when the Carters stole me away,” Ana hissed into her father’s ear, shoving the sword deeper. Her father screamed in agony as blood poured from his mouth. Ana closed her eyes and imagined roaches exploding from her father’s chest. Millions of angry creatures exploded from his chest cavity as he fell dead within a pool of his own blood.

She quickly recoiled and grabbed another sword attached to her hip. A brilliant flash of energy from her mind snapped the chains away from her friends’ arms, legs, and heads. They were finally free to use their own gifts. Ana reached down to pull Howie up from the ground as the others came running toward her. She could feel Ashton’s presence near. Ana silenced everyone as the guards began to assemble. Her friends began to talk all at once, confusing her. Ana gazed at Howie, then to the twins with a knowing smile. Her voice was strong, “The back way is the safest exit. Go that way to escape and I’ll be along. I have some unfinished business.”

“Ana, can’t you go with us?”

“I’m on their death-list more than you all are. So go. I will catch up,” Ana repeated.

“Ana, please—” Nick couldn’t finish his sentence as Ashton charged toward Ana with a deadly blade raised. His angered voice echoed against the walls, causing Alison to cover her ears as she cringed. Ana pushed everyone out of the way and she rushed toward Ashton at a fiery pace. She swung hard, allowing her blade to crash against Ashton’s blade as sparks flew from the sharp metal.

“You little bitch,” Ashton hissed.

“Likewise you bastard!” she screamed, overthrowing his blade with her own. She swung harder, only to clash again. “I NEVER LOVED YOU!” Ana rallied with a final burst of energy, she pushed Ashton toward the floor causing him to loose sight of his blade. Ana plunged hers toward him, biting into his flesh. He roared with pain, grabbing for a switchblade to deliver a slice across her stomach. Ana screeched in pain, lunging at Ashton with another blade. They clashed again, tussling about in a battle of death.

“ANA!” Howie screamed, preparing to go forth to protect her as his stomach began to bleed.

“No, Howie! You heard her!” AJ yelled, grabbing at his friend and dragging him away from the carnage.

*~*~*

The seven left of the Chosen Ten fell onto the bittersweet blades of Venus’s grass as screams of terror, anger, and evil echoed against the twins’ palace. AJ and Jamelet had quickly set fire to the palace to burn everyone within it alive. Howie sobbed as he hugged his stomach. Blood continued to seep from fresh wounds as he howled in pain. AJ and Jamelet hurried back to Brian, Alison, Nick, Rose, and Howie as the fire began to crackle at the entrance. Howie struggled to get up as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. “AJ, don’t let her die in there! She sacrificed! She’s my link! I’ll die without her!” Howie howled, preparing to enter the castle again.

“She said she would come out,” Jamelet encouraged as AJ pulled Howie back down into the grass.

“What if Ashton is hurting her?” Alison whispered.

“She saved us,” Rose announced in a numb tone.

“She loved us,” Nick agreed.

“DON’T LET HER DIE! HE HAS THE GUARDS ON HIS SIDE!” Howie screamed as a strong wave of terror invaded his soul. Ana was struggling to fight her way out of a pack and Howie could feel it. He felt another piece of metal rip into his side, causing him to fall to the bloody grass. A boot heaved in his gut, causing him to cough out clots of blood. He gasped for air as something lunged on top of him. Ana was struggling to live. Howie was blinded by blood pouring down from his forehead. He screamed for help as a set of seizures took hold. Nick and Rose hollered for Jamelet to help him, but everything was lost. Howie felt Ana take another swing at something solid and then fall toward the smoky floor. Within seconds, Howie lay peacefully upon the grass.

“HOWIE!” Rose shrieked in utter shock. She looked toward her palace to see the flames licking at the sky. Ana had been mortally wounded inside and Howie was the proof. Rose glanced toward Nick, judging her chances. Nick nodded, hurriedly standing up. They broke away from Jamelet and AJ. “We’re going in there to get her! She sacrificed her life to save us and we will do the same. She sacrificed everything to make sure we were raised right! We haven’t been true siblings to her for her entire life and she deserves our allegiance. If we don’t come out, get away from this palace as fast as possible!”

“ROSE!” Brian screamed, but it was too late as the twins disappeared into their smoky doom. Jamelet collapsed beside Howie, focusing on his wounds. He would perish if Ana died within the fire. Alison buried her face deep into Brian’s chest to protect herself from the carnage. Brian trembled beside AJ as Jamelet tended to Howie’s wounds. AJ breathed deeply in shock, not knowing what to do to help.

“Howie, listen to me. You have to hold on so Ana holds on,” Jamelet whispered in Howie’s ear as she supplied pressure to Howie’s bleeding abdomen. “She saved us from that death and she wants you to do the same. She risked her life to save us and you must hold on to keep her holding on. Please, Howie. Tell her to be strong. The twins will find her. Please?”

“Jamelet, is he going to die?” Brian whispered.

“I don’t know.”

*~*~*

The sun began to fall deep into the mountains of Venus. The waves had turned violent as they lashed against the sandy beaches. Howie remained unconscious and holding onto the strings of mortality. The twins had yet to make an appearance as the burning palace hissed with disproval. Jamelet held Howie’s head gingerly in her lap as AJ applied cool compresses. They feared that the twins had died within the castle, but never voice the fears. Jamelet glanced once more into the fiery depths of the castle.

“Should we…” Jamelet couldn’t find her voice to finish the sentence.

“Jamelet, don’t give up hope,” Brian hissed with annoyance.

Before anyone else could make any argument or protest, there was a hiss of steam erupting from the moaning of the burning palace. Brian stood up to see waves of water bursting from within the hissing flames. Jamelet’s eyes went wide in surprise as a tile of ice exploded from beneath Rose’s feet. Smoke billowed about the twins as they carried Ana’s bloody body along the icy surface. Alison stood beside Howie as Brian, AJ, and Jamelet went running for the twins. Rose coughed as AJ picked up Ana’s body into his arms, quickly checking for a pulse – Ana had a pulse, but it was extremely faint.

“She killed Ashton,” Nick wheezed as he wiped the sooty substances away from his dark cheeks. He watched as Brian enveloped Rose in a fierce hug of love. He smiled, running his hands through his locks. “He’s lying on the throne with several swords pierced into his flesh. Her father is dead. We barely got her out alive. She’s dying.”

“We have to find surgical chambers – fast,” AJ agreed, hurrying back to Howie.

“Where can we find them?” Brian asked.

“I don’t know, but Howie and Ana have only a few short moments of life left without the chambers!” AJ barked as Brian hoisted Howie up from the blood-tinged grass. Brian and AJ hurried away from the twins and Jamelet in search of surgical chambers.

“Do you trust her now?” Jamelet asked the twins as they watched the last of their magnificent palace turn into dust. Many years of love and memories lay within the fiery ashes. Nick gazed at his twin, kissing her sweaty forehead. Jamelet gazed at the two who had grown with leaps and bounds within a few short hours of hell. Jamelet grabbed Nick and Rose’s hands, making them follow her toward where AJ and Brian had run. They still have several hours of Hell left in hopes that Ana and Howie would recuperate from the traumatic events. She glanced to see the twins studying each other for a long time in silence. “Nick? Rose?” Jamelet asked.

“We’d give her ours lives in an instant,” the twins agreed, turning away from their past and looking toward Howie and Ana for hopefully a good future.