Free Guarding the Treasure by J. K. Zimmer

by my words before. I find myself with an illness that will soon take my life, and I have deep sorrow within, not for myself or my husband, but for my children. My son is much like his father, and I fear will increasingly emulate him, possibly to his own destruction. To that, I shed many tears. And diary, my beautiful Anya is my heart’s tear. She is more beautiful than she knows and grows in her beauty each day. I have kept her from the wiles of this age, perhaps to her great loss. Many at her age are married or living loose unrefined lives. I have never wanted either option for her. I have wanted the taste of true romance and the deep love of a man who would care for her and be true to her as long as they both would live. If I have taken anything from her, I hope one day she will forgive me and know it was my love for her that fought to keep her pure.”
    Anya put her face in the fold of the pages, trying to breathe deeply of it, to regain the precious woman now lost to her. “Oh Mother, you have done a great service to me, and I will always thank you for keeping me innocent of what I could have become,” she whispered as if talking face to face with the dead.
    Lifting her head, Anya touched her pen to the empty page. Her trembling hand began to stroke out the mounted feelings welled up in her.
    “My mind is in anguish in the dark of this garden. How can I put into view the dimness that has draped my mind? One day, Mother, I will be redeemed, and others will know what you have done for me.”
    She ceased writing, turning the diary to run her fingers over the name on the back cover. Suddenly, there was an ever darkening gloom forcing its way into her mind, just as Mr. Dubois had forced himself onto her body. She couldn’t shake from it. Anya stood, wanting to start back to the castle, but hesitated. What was holding her back?
    The day was approaching evening, and long shadows had fallen, creating an elusive eeriness and spooking her thoughts.
    “I will gain my strength from your writings, Mother, and I will learn— without the knowledge of my brother—what rests beyond the walls of this fine estate,” Anya declared under her breath.
    She felt deception swell in her chest. It was never the way of her mother, but always the way of her father, and now that of Sean. She, too, could use it as a tool of her choosing, she reasoned. Drawing in a long breath, Anya released a half smile and started up the path toward the castle. “In time, I will receive my victory,” she whispered.
    Sean slouched lazily in the atrium as she entered by the side door. He ran his eyes over her, enjoying what they feasted upon.
    “Well done, little one,” he said, rising from his reclining position on the couch.
    Anya gasped, gripped by the sound of her brother’s voice. She stood frozen just a matter of steps from the door.
    Sean bowed low and then made his way to her. He breathed long of her hair. “You smell of the grasses in the garden, lass,” he said, gently taking her hands. “I must tell you. You have made me a very wealthy man,” he said, kissing her damp skin.
    Anya looked into his eyes and saw nothing but cold, dark stones looking back at her, more sinister than two nights earlier.
    “Mr. Dubois had a most enjoyable time with you. He has requested that I send you to him in France in a short while,” he held her arm firmly, leading her to the couch.
    “I have agreed to do so, Anya, but in time.” Sean motioned for her to sit, pouring himself some black drink and dropping beside her onto the couch. He leaned back and caressed her cheek. “But before I send you off for a moon’s cycle, I have others you are going to meet.”
    Anya felt the sting of hot tears in the corners of her eyes. She sat, not moving as her chest tightened at the unpleasant sound in her brother’s voice. Her inner defiance was not allowed to be expressed, as she knew she was under her brother’s complete control while Father was away. But that