To Have And To Hold

The Hardest Lessons, Part II

Chapter Nine: The Hardest Lessons, Part II

ANABELLE

I was worried. Maxim left with Alpha Igor hours ago and knowing what one of his brutal strikes felt like, I feared that he planned to deliver a hard lesson to the boy who stopped me from taking my own life...

I was disappointed in myself. I faltered—I allowed Alpha Igor to get inside my head and make me forget who I was—and make me believe my life was no longer worth living...

The daily abuse, both from Alpha Igor and his little harem, had taken its toll on me because I gave up and gave in to fear. I knew better. My parents had taught me better. But that was part of the problem. They had been stolen from my life by him, by Alpha Igor...

I lost everything that mattered to me the day my parents were killed, and then I was brought here—to hell. A prison full of people so vile and cruel, I decided to end my existence last night by hanging myself, unable to face the day to day torture any longer.

I felt guilty about my choice and deep down, it wasn’t what I really wanted, but I felt there was no hope left for me—no escaping from Alpha Igor’s tunnels—and because of that, I faltered...

I desperately wanted my old life back. I wanted the old me back. The girl who was happy and enjoyed helping her mother care for rogue widows and their children. They saw me—the real me. I treated them with respect and love and most of the time, it was returned. It was so fulfilling when I could make them smile. It was truly my happy place. And more than anything, I longed for that feeling again...to be happy and fulfilled...

I could hear my parents yelling at me to fight, but I was tired—completely and utterly exhausted. Their voices were unrelentingly, however, continuing to haunt my mind, forcing me to give them an ultimatum. The only thing that would change my mind about taking my life was if they sent me a sign that I was wrong. That somehow, there was still hope for me. One last silent compromise offered on my way to clean Maxim’s room...

It was unbelievable to me, how kind and compassionate Maxim was. He was nothing like the rest of them here. And when he made the shocking offer to rescue me from my life of misery, I was left completely stunned as I realized—Maxim was my sign.

I can’t even explain how it felt as we confided in one another last night. The more we talked, the more Maxim helped me remember who I am and who I wanted to be. He gave me hope. The only question was—what happens now? While we were facing it together, he and I were still trapped in the tunnels, our every move controlled by Alpha Igor, especially Maxim's...

The door opened, snapping me away from my thoughts, my eyes anxiously darting towards it, expecting to see him—to see Maxim—but it wasn’t him. It was another sign. A sign of trouble. Only this time, I wouldn’t falter and buckle as the vicious game played out. Not this time—and especially not with her...

“Well, well! Look at you! Laid up in Maxim’s bed and wearing his shirt, no less!” Raphaela sarcastically drawled out, “I was on my way to take care of my least favorite warrior, Scarface, and it made me think of you. Thought I would come see how our ugly Bellie was doing.”

I stood up from the bed, holding my head up high as I ardently snapped back, “You’re not supposed to be in here. Get out!”

Raphaela was wearing her favorite slinky outfit—a low-cut and fitted burgundy satin dress with short sleeves that had a high slit up the side to show off her shapely slender legs. Her long, silky blonde hair was curled, cascading across her shoulders and makeup perfect as always. Raphaela’s lips were the same shade of burgundy as her dress. I couldn’t deny she was beautiful—but the only beauty she had was on the outside...

An evil, arrogant grin crossed her face as Raphaela spitefully seethed, “I underestimated you, ugly Bellie. Maxim was mine! Yet, somehow, you stole him from me. A little insignificant, plain, dirty, and scarred maid being put on a pedestal by the hottest guy in here. Tell me—how did you manage to snag the greatest prize in the tunnels?”

“Maxim doesn’t like fake,” I confidently retorted, “That’s why he ran as far away from you as possible. Smart move if you ask me.”

“Listen to you! So bold and brave now!” Raphaela angrily sneered, “You might want to tread carefully, Bellie. It could come back to haunt you. Once he gets the confidence he needs from Alpha Igor, Maxim will want a real woman to take care of his needs, which means I will make Igor’s handsome favorite mine in the end and pay you back for what you’ve done. You will go back to being a nothing with no looks, nowhere to go, and no one.”

Storming forward, Raphaela came within inches of my face to deliver her harsh promise in a threatening murmur, “The only thing that will change is I will make sure you have plenty more of those scars on your back. It will match your face—ugly and repulsive!”

Stepping back, I rushed over to the door, throwing it open as I shouted, “Enough! Get out! Now!”

“Anabelle? Are you alright? What’s wrong?” Maxim rambled out in a panic. I turned to the side to see him hurriedly coming towards me—and he wasn’t alone.

Alpha Igor wasn’t far behind, a familiar tight grimace of fury on his hardened face as he ordered in a deadly tone, “Someone has you quite upset, Anabelle."

For some reason, I felt the need to protect Raphaela from the danger I saw coming, forcing my voice to sound calm as I replied, “I’m not upset, really. I was just anxious for Maxim’s return.”

Alpha Igor’s jaw locked before he coldly ordered, “Whoever is in that room has chosen to ignore my direct orders to leave you undisturbed. Show them to me. Now.”

I reluctantly opened the door fully. Maxim had reached my side then, gently placing his arm around my shoulders when he saw Raphaela, as I turned back to look at her with a sorrowful gaze. Her confidence was gone now that I had fully exposed her to Alpha Igor, replaced by an expression full of justified fear. It didn’t matter that I didn’t like her. I was frightened for Raphaela, instinctively reaching out to wrap my arms around Maxim’s waist as Alpha Igor came to stand in the doorway.

“You are supposed to be with Arturo, Raphaela,” Alpha Igor warningly stated, “Come forward and explain to me why you have instead chosen to defy me by coming here to torment Anabelle.”

Raphaela immediately did as Igor instructed, terrified as she took three shaky steps forward, choking out her false truth, “A-Alpha Igor! I—I only came to congratulate her on my way to see Arturo. But Anabelle was gloating about her victory over me. I was defending myself! You should have heard what she—”

Alpha Igor’s hand flew up so fast, I didn’t even see it, but I heard the loud crack of the savage slap that was thrown across Raphaela’s face—a hit so hard that it knocked her down to the ground as Alpha Igor’s rage loudly echoed against the walls, “You defy me by coming here despite my explicit instructions that NONE OF YOU GIRLS were to talk Anabelle and have the audacity to LIE TO ME NOW? Seems you need to be reminded of your place, Raphaela!”

I was too afraid to speak—to beg for mercy for her—frozen in fear as I watched Alpha Igor bend down to wrap Raphaela’s long, blonde hair around his hand, yanking her back up to her feet as she let out an ear-piercing agonized yelp before bringing his other hand up to the center of her breasts.

Pulling at the fabric of the neckline with all his might, Alpha Igor ripped the burgundy dress completely down the middle before forcibly tearing it off Raphaela’s shaking body, throwing the shredded remains to the ground as she remained in his hold in nothing but a thin slip.

“Paolo!” Alpha Igor roared out, his chest heaving as the large, bulky guard appeared directly behind him, smirking as he heard his leader’s infuriated order, “Throw Raphaela in the pit until I decide exactly what to do with her! No food, no water—she is to have NOTHING! Understood? And send Josie to Arturo. Tell him Raphaela is unfortunately sick and out of commission for the foreseeable future.”

“Yes, Alpha Igor,” Paolo respectfully acknowledged, knowingly shaking his head side to side at a heavily distraught Raphaela.

“Please, Alpha Igor! Please—not the pit! There are rats down there!” Raphaela desperately pleaded, sobbing out, “I’m sorry that I disobeyed you! Please, let me show you how sorry I am! I will do whatever you want—take care of you like I used to! You can be as rough as you want—as rough as you feel you need to be to teach me a lesson. Just please don’t send me down there!”

Yanking hard on her hair again, Alpha Igor pulled Raphaela’s now tear-streaked face directly in front of his, spatting out, “How dare you say that not only to me, knowing I have a full-time companion now, but in front of her son, you disgusting slut! You belong among the rats, Raphaela! And you will say there for quite some time before I come to deliver the consequences for your many betrayals of me now! I promise you—the bites you will suffer from the vermin in that pit will be nothing in comparison to marks that will be left by my hand!”

Throwing her hard towards his dark-haired guard, Alpha Igor satisfyingly grinned, “You’ve always seemed to show interest in Raphaela, Paolo. Feel free to take the rest of the day off to do with her as you wish for as long as you wish before tossing her down into pit—as rough as you like. Let me know if she resists or doesn’t satisfy your every whim. I’ll come give Raphaela a little preview of what is to come.”

“Thank you for your generosity, Alpha,” Paolo eagerly and appreciatively returned, dragging a heavily-resistant Raphaela down the hall, “I’ll take care of her for you.”

“Good man,” Alpha Igor called after him before returning his attention to Maxim, proudly boasting through a pleasured grin, “Another lesson, my young protégé, it is all about control. Allow no one to disrespect your authority and if they do—make sure they pay highly for that choice.”

The maniacal expression remained as Alpha Igor looked over at me, pleasantly stating, “My apologies for what has occurred, but you won’t have to worry about Raphaela—or any of the other girls—ever again, Anabelle. I am a man of my word and once they hear of their friend’s punishment, no one will bother you, much less say any unkind words. Now, you two just put this aside and enjoy one another for the day. Maxim deserves it after our very successful workout. Just make sure you take very good care of him for me, Anabelle.”

Continuing to reel from what I had just witnessed, my eyes were on the ground as I respectfully replied, “Yes, Alpha Igor. I will make sure Maxim is well cared for—always.”

“If it’s alright, I’d like Ursula to come check on Anabelle’s wounds,” Maxim quietly requested, “There are a few that don’t seem to be healing well and are quite painful for her.”

“Again, I’m sorry to hear that you continue to struggle from your lessons, Anabelle,” Igor stoically returned, “I’ll have Ursula sent here shortly to assist with your healing so you and Maxim can enjoy one another’s company as you should.”

“Thank you, Igor,” Maxim appreciatively replied, “I’m quite anxious to be able to hold Anabelle close to me without making it painful for her.”

“I’m sure you are, lad,” Igor knowingly grinned, patting him on the back before turning to take his leave, “I will make sure Ursula takes care of things so you can enjoy the splendors of your paramour.”

Pulling me inside the room, Maxim shut the door, turning back towards me with wild eyes. His hands coming up to my shoulders, Maxim rocked me even further with the urgent words he relayed in a hushed whisper, “That’s the last time you will have to see Igor, Anabelle! I’m leaving this place—today—and I’m taking you with me!”

***********

TATIANA

Horacio and I were eating breakfast with Aruna in the dining room when Raven and Talon appeared. My sweet little Firebird was glowing in her glee as she showed us her exquisite engagement ring.

As Horacio was congratulating a beaming Talon, Raven pulled up a chair between Aruna and I, her normal stoic and calm tone replaced with excited elation as she gave us all the details of Talon’s romantic proposal before happily relaying, “What makes the amethyst even more special to me is that is came from the cave at Prism Moon that you showed Sterling, Auntie. Seems I owe both of you a great deal of thanks. And all Talon’s disappearances during Sterling’s visits with you are now explained. I can’t believe all the work they put into designing this ring specifically for me.”

“There were many revisions,” I softly laughed, “but Aruna and I did have fun watching the whole process and giving our opinions. It is a stunning sparkler, my darling!”

“While our wedding will be down the road a bit,” Raven delicately returned, “I hope you will help me design my dress, Auntie. I know you are currently working with Vivian and Lorelei and are probably worn out with all the upcoming weddings.”

“Nonsense!” I guffawed, “I never tire of tulle, my darling! You and I will design your perfect dream dress together!”

“Thank you, Auntie,” Raven fondly replied, “You know what else made last evening special for me? Jace helped Talon by distracting me. It’s been some time since he and I spent time together like that. It meant a great deal to me.”

“Jace told us about your time together when he returned,” Aruna sweetly returned, “It meant a lot to him too. He loves you so very dearly, Raven.”

“Well, my love,” Talon gently urged, “I’m afraid if you want to see Madeline and the rest of the girls, we should probably go. I have a few house calls to make this morning.”

“Good idea. Madeline and Nicholas will be leaving with us shortly for court,” I sighed out, “It will be nice to get that matter settled finally, so we won’t have to talk about it or think about it anymore.”

“Hopefully, it will be quick and painless, Tati,” Aruna supportively replied, “and without any unexpected surprises.”

“That would be a nice change,” Horacio exhaustively exhaled out, “Based on mine and Tati’s track record, however, I’ve come to expect the unexpected.”

***********

MAXIM

After watching what Igor did to Raphaela, it only solidified further to me that I needed to get Ursula, Anabelle, and myself as far away from the tunnels as possible. I explained everything that happened to Anabelle, who, while fearful of what would happen should my plan fail—especially after she noticed the bruise Igor left on the side of my face—was willing to take the risk with me, both of us unable to bear being here any longer...

Peering at one another with anxious eyes when we heard the knock on my door, Anabelle and I took in deep breaths before I opened it to allow Ursula to enter. Staring at our harrowed expressions and then my face, she murmured under her breath, “Maxim, is everything alright? What happened to your cheek?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about the bruise,” I urgently whispered, “It’s time, Ursula, I’m taking you up on your offer and I want to take Anabelle with me. She’ll die here if leave her. Igor will use my betrayal as an excuse and take it out on her.”

“Agreed,” she knowingly returned, bringing her glowing yellow hands up, “There’s no time to waste. Brace yourselves, I’m taking you both to The Council so you can tell them your stories. Hopefully I can convince them to bring Tatiana there so she can help convince them to show you mercy before Igor finds out about my treachery. If it doesn’t appear you will be treated fairly, however, I will take you to another spot I know, where, unfortunately, you will need to fend for yourselves.”

Whisking her hand in front of us, Ursula’s yellow powers flashed so bright that Anabelle and I had to cover our eyes. I felt her magic consume every fiber of my body, freeing me from the confines of Igor’s tunnels to claim control of my own life—a life to be led on my terms...

**********

TATIANA

Making sure that everything was done properly, Horacio and I stood before The Council, giving our statements regarding Dusan’s actions. As I was unconscious and only able to relay the information about my spiritual visit with her, Horacio had to do most of the talking. I could both see and feel my King of Fury’s irritation and dismay as he recounted everything. He still struggled to drink milk—which had been one of his favorite beverages—but now only carried memories of the potion Dusan had added to it that fateful night that made him believe they were mates once more...

Memories of the past returned for me as I gazed up at the five Council members, who sat very high above us behind the long, thick mahogany desk. I had to strain my neck slightly, my head tilted straight up due to my tiny stature—bringing forth a chuckle from Soren time to time when our gazes locked, leading me to shoot him a mocking unamused glare...

As Horacio was finishing his statement, however, a yellow light appeared to the side of us, my breath stilling as I snapped my head towards it. Slowly, three forms appeared, leading Nicholas to cautiously question, “Auntie? Is this who I think it is?”

“Yes, I believe it is, Nicholas,” I slowly drawled out, a bit surprised that it failed to appear to me, “Maxim must have just now made his decision—and I have no idea who this third person is. As we discussed, I will need to immediately take care of Ursula’s little problem.”

“Of course, Auntie,” Madeline calmly assured me as Ursula and an anxious-looking Maxim and young girl appeared before us. Ursula’s gaze, which was directly on me, was grateful while the two young people looked around with great intimidation and concern reflected on their faces—the intended reaction given that the founding members of The Council had in mind when they designed the room and furnishings...

“Tatiana! Oh, thank goodness you are already here!” Ursula breathed out in great relief.

“Hello, Ursula,” I kindly greeted, “Before we discuss things, I first need to make sure you remain safe. So, please know I am not attacking you. I’m simply removing you from Igor’s clutches.”

“Can you really retrieve my amulet?” Ursula disbelievingly exhaled out, “Igor will no longer be able to threaten or hurt me?”

“Yes, I very much believe that I can,” I cordially replied, “But we must work quickly before your departure is discovered. Based on what I know about Igor, his vengeance can be both dangerous and deadly.”