“I hate this. I never wanted this. This was not the plan when I adopted her,” Loid said to his wife as he buried his face in his hands, frustrated and feeling impotent to do anything about it.
“We both knew what we were doing when we let her become our heir, Loid,” Yor sighed, sitting beside him. She patted him on the back to reassure him. She felt as bad as he did, honestly. She’d so often proclaimed herself better than man like Dumbledore yet here she was, risking a poor girl’s destiny for “the greater good.”
“I know, and that’s the worst part. I told myself I was doing this to help the children, so they would never be in this position and yet here I am, letting my daughter go through this,” Loid cried out.
“Oh Loid, but those children don’t know that they’re being manipulated. Anya knows everything we’re doing and why. She chose to do this,” Yor consoled him just as she tried to convince herself of her own words.
“But we didn’t know she always knew. And she’s still a little girl, Yor. She’s a little girl that craves our approval and would do anything to please us. I did this to my little girl. I’m the worst father there is… I told Silvia I shouldn’t do this, that I didn’t want children involved and yet I met Anya by accident or fate and I couldn’t stop myself and now I’ve hurt her. She’s only fourteen and now she’s bound to that boy. We can’t even dissolve the marriage contract because Yuri and Eamonn have the last say,” Loid replied, feeling grief overcome him.
“Oh Loid, I’m so sorry. I should have refused Yuri’s suggestion of making her my heir,” Yor replied, feeling sorrowful too.
“No, you’ve been nothing but a good mother to her. You didn’t even know she was adopted, we tricked you and yet despite all our lies, you stuck by us,” Loid shook his head, “It’s my own fault my baby girl is stuck with Damian Desmond.”
“Oh, but Loid, you took a lost little girl and loved her. Despite everything, you have been nothing but a good father. You did tell her some of the basics, like why she needed to lie about her birth, and even reading the thoughts in your head, she chose to stay. She loves you dearly and you love her just as much if not more. You even forced them to make the contract so that she would be twenty-one, or in their eyes twenty-two, before she marries him. And we both know she loves Damian. she will at least be happy,” Yor argued back, trying to reassure him.
“She’ll be Donovan’s little puppet!” Loid exclaimed, “That cruel man will use my baby for his nefarious intent. And what if she falls out of love with that boy by then? They’re young and naïve. Oh, she would lead such a miserable life.”
“She may be young, but you know Anya is not naïve. She’s seen more of humanity’s cruelty than we would like and we’ll keep training her, we will make sure she can protect herself and if we can find a way out of this by the time the wedding has to happen, we will,” Yor said fiercely. She wouldn’t, couldn't think of an alternative.
“Mama, papa, what is the matter?” Anya asked as she stepped into her parents' dorms. She had seen the owl her parents had received during lunch and was told by her friends that their classes with them had been cancelled for the day. Worried, she had rushed to her parents' dorm, only to find the rooms dark and cold. She dropped her bag in her hurry, her robe falling with it and she barely remembered to change into her house slippers.
“Oh Anya, we… Would you like to sit with us?” Yor said from her spot on the sofa beside Loid. The only light in the living room area that was connected to the entrance and the small dining table was that of the dying fire.
“We have something to tell you, dearest,” Loid said softly as Anya sat between her parents.
“Ok, so what’s wrong? No one died, right?” Anya asked tensely. Ever since she had told her parents about her abilities, she had agreed to not read their thoughts unless it was necessary for training purposes or in an emergency of sorts.
“We just got back from a meeting with the Desmonds… They want to make a marriage contract between you and Damian," Yor explained hesitantly.
"Really?" Anya asked, intrigued.
"Yes, they wish to have the official proposal ceremony happen this winter break, so you can bothe return engaged," Loid said, barely hiding his worry and disgust at the idea.
"That's great!" Anya remarked, excited. Finally, the hoped for outcome would come true.
"It is?" Loid asked, baffled.
"Of course, papa. The mission is progressing like we wanted. Soon we'll have the support of the Desmond house and more sway," Anya explained slowly, as if it was an obvious fact of life.
"But do you want to even marry Damian?" Yor asked hesitantly.
"Why wouldn't I want to?" Anya asked, as it was just the most natural thing. And maybe it was. They had seen the two grow from enemies to frenemies to best friends to boyfriend and girlfriend in the past few years. But marriage was still a big commitment.
"And you aren't afraid of Demetrius and Donovan?" Loid asked slowly.
Anya snorted, "No. Demetrius is a puppet to his father and Donovan is a fool. He still thinks Damian is on his side and yet he's been playing him like a fiddle since last year."
"But what if they found out the truth, Anya? What if Damian does?" Loid questioned her.
Anya swallowed thickly. She dreaded the very thought every day, certain Damian would never forgive her for her lies. "We just make sure they don't."