The tower was completely desolate.  She felt disappointment fill her.  She should have known. He would never give her the twins so easily.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Anya would not give him the pleasure of admitting the disappointment of her foolish hopes.  "Nothing.  I had just hoped to have somewhere comfortable to sit."  The bottom room was completely empty.

"Come, we'll go up," Thorne said, as he mounted a staircase.

"Is it safe?" Anya asked.  The wooden staircase looked as if it was about to crumble.  She followed anyway.  Sabin perched on her shoulder, his watchful eyes missing nothing.

When Anya reached the top she found Thorne standing and looking out a large opening in the tower.  It seemed that it had been a window at one time, but had collapsed into a larger space as time had passed by.  It was now large enough for an adult to fall out.  For a moment, Anya felt afraid that Thorne would cast her out.

But, he had hardly gone through such great difficulty to waste her life like that.  She just had to be patient and he would reveal what her next task was when he was ready.

Thorne turned to her.  She hated his face so much.  It was not an unusual face and his appearance was no more than that of an average man, but when Anya looked into his eyes, she felt like there was nothing there.   Her heart raced as it has when he had first approached her.

The eyes were watchful and aware, but there was no conscience operating behind them, just a cold drive to accomplish what he chose at whatever expense it took from other people.

Could anyone be truly that empty?

"You have been useful to me," he commented.

Anya did not answer.

"There is something about you.  I have never met a more useful woman."

Unluckily for her.  She continued to watch him.

"I had originally planned to let you die if it you were caught.  It would be a simple matter and you would have been silenced.  Oddly, though, I found myself reluctant to let you go so easily.  So I have devised a new plan."

Anya schooled her face to remain impassive, no matter how terrible his latest desire might be and no matter whom he set her to kill.  She would react with the greatest concern for her siblings she could muster, and she would agree, for them.  She would not allow Thorne to suspect anything else.  She wanted it finished.

"I've decided you'll be my wife."  He spoke as if he was completely unconcerned by the matter, as if he were commenting on the weather.

Anya's jaw dropped for a moment before she recovered and horror curled in the pit of her stomach. She had to have heard him wrong.  "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"I have decided that you will marry me."  Not a question.  An order.

"I'm just a peasant.  Surely there are great and wealthy beauties that you could find," she protested, all thoughts of agreeing meekly scattered from her mind.  She did not know exactly who he was, but it was clear from everything about him that he was of the noble class.  He was also mad.  She could not do it, but he had all the power so she had to convince him.  "I'm a wanted criminal."

He nodded.  "That is true.  But you will do well enough.  We will change your name and appearance and create a background which is worthy of my wife.  I feel that you will serve me far more than some useless beauty.  Have no need to marry for money.  When the king is disposed I will have enough power to obtain all that I desire."

He seemed to be serious, as unbelievable as it was.  "I can't bring you anything."

He laughed at that.  "You underestimate your power.  I would have that power at my command."

Anya was speechless.

There had to be more to it. He already had her power by keeping her siblings from her.  There was no need to take such a extensive step as to marry her.

He was clearly aware of her inner turmoil.  "Do not forget Damani and Kallie.  They would have fine lives, more opportunity than you could imagine.  They would never want for anything."

"Don't hurt them," Anya said dumbly.

"I would hardly harm the siblings of my obedient wife," he said and smiled without warmth.

The threat in his words made it quite clear how life with Thorne would be.  He would hold Damani's and Kallie's safety hostage.  He would force her to create murderous potions or to destroy innocent people by ripping the very magic from their souls.

He would indeed find her very useful.

And he would continue to garner sick pleasure at her expense by coercing her, twisting her, playing his games with her for the rest of her life.

It was intolerable.

She did not want to acquiesce to his demand, but her agreement might give her an opportunity to save the twins.  She could act the part he wished and when she found the perfect opportunity, she could destroy him.

Then she and the twins and everyone else could finally be safe.

Thorne had forced Anya to learn to lie and lie she would.  Thorne had forced Anya to learn to scheme and scheme she would.

He had found an apt pupil. 

She swallowed and nodded.  "I will marry you," she agreed in a certain voice.  Sabin cawed loudly, clearly unhappy with her choice.  She ignored him.  She could not explain to him for fear that Thorne might discover her real hopes.

"So easy?" he looked amused and perhaps a bit surprised which was an odd expression to see replacing his cold smirks.

"I want a good life for the twins.  I see you're my only hope for that now."  It was the only answer he might believe.

Thorne watched her carefully.  "So you would wed me for the twins?"

"Would you have me lie to you?  Should I pretend to be enthralled with your charms?" she asked innocently.

Thorne laughed at her answer.  She watched him dispassionately.  She hoped he was fool enough to believe that he was safe with her.

Anya would not attempt to kill any man for material gain.  Thorne might force more terrible acts from her, but it would now all be for the end of ultimately destroying him.  Even Gage, no matter what he had become, had originally done what he had to help his family.  It was about loyalty and love for others.

A man like Thorne could not grasp what that meant.  He might understand what love was as a concept in his mind, but he could never truly comprehend the lengths that love would allow someone to go.  Anya's highest goal had always been to protect her family.  She also wanted to protect everyone else who Thorne might victimize in the future.  Being close to him would be the best way to sabotage him.

As Thorne had said when they first met, the uniting trait of wizards everywhere was underestimating the power of witches and warlocks.  She had already become his weapon and she would become even his wife if it came to it and she would wait until he underestimated her.  Even a man like Thorne could not be vigilant all the time.  He would slip.

For the first time since Thorne stepped into Anya's life, she no longer felt divided.  Thorne was her enemy, Thorne was beside her and Thorne would fall.  As master of creating potions, she understood that timing was important.  She would wait for the right time and then she would act.

"Then we have a bargain.  Rest now, I will return in a moment."

Thorne disappeared down the stairs.  Anya sat down on the cold stone in the corner of the room and put her face in her hands while she tried to come to terms with Thorne's latest demands.

After a brief wait, Thorne returned. "Come, Anya.  Would you like to see your brother and sister?"

She could scarcely believe it might be so. Her heart longed to see them, but they would be disappointed with her for agreeing to marry Thorne.  No matter, they would understand when it was all over.

"Don't think of running," he cautioned.

Anya shook her head.  "You would only hunt us down.  Our best chance is with you."

Thorne nodded and looked satisfied with her answer.  He began to loosen the horse.  Anya was glad.  He surely retained his suspicions, but if she could at least see the twins it would put her mind at ease.  And she would cooperate until he lowered his guard.  She would be patient.

Thorne whirled around suddenly.  Anya jumped back in shock.  What had she done?

"How nice you could join us," he said.  Anya whirled around.

Jim was standing there.  He looked utterly calm and serious.  Anya's heart pounded.

"Planning your wedding?" he asked in a very even voice.

Thorne laughed mockingly.  "Were you spying?" he asked.

"Yes.  A very touching scene."

Anya tried not to let Jim's cold tone bother her.  She already knew he would hate her for what she had done, what was one more thing?

Thorne laughed again.  The sound made Anya cringe.  "I suppose even Wildwood's dog might pick up some magic tricks after a time, eh, Jim?"

Anya glanced between the two men.  They knew each other.  Thorne stepped towards the centre of the clearing.  Anya's throat felt heavy with fear.  She could feel Sabin's watchfulness as he sat on her shoulder.

"So how did you find us?" Thorne asked in any eerie conversational tone.

"A simple magic trace on Anya.  You were careless," Jim explained.

"Well, I will remedy that."

"The others aren't far behind," Jim stated calmly.  Thorne laughed uproariously.

Jim did not remove his gaze from Thorne.  He looked defenseless as he waited.  Anya hoped that Thorne would not hurt him.  She wished that she could do something to help.  Then he spoke to her, "Is this the true villain, Anya?"

Thorne laughed.  "Of course not.  I'm merely rescuing a damsel in distress."

"I find that rather out of character," Jim stated coldly.

"My character?  Rather, let us speak of your character.  You aren't here to save her, are you?  You're here to drag her back to her death."

"She should face punishment for her crimes," Jim agreed.  Anya felt the words like a blow, even though they were true.

"So you chased her out here for what?  For revenge?  She did spend some time with you, didn't she?  Are you angry that she lied to you, Jim?  Are you angry that she used you?" He chuckled.  Anya wished that Thorne would shut up.

Jim continued to watch Thorne as if he were no more threat than a passing fly.  "No.  I am not looking for revenge.  I'm simply doing what is right."

Thorne walked closer to Jim casually and spoke in a silky, overly familiar voice.  "Oh, I do remember how you were at the academy.  Always tagging after Keaton, weren't you?  Something like a pet or a servant to run his errands?  I suppose you have not changed."

Jim smiled coldly.  "You clearly have not changed either.  Weren't you kicked out of the academy in shame?"

Thorne's muscles tensed, before he slammed his nonchalant attitude back into place.  He spoke in the same cajoling voice.  "I must say, I always detested Keaton, but he can be rather clever at times.  His foresight is admirable.  Had I known what a loyal dog you would become, I would have befriended you myself."

Jim smiled.  "I would have thought you might have graduated beyond these schoolboy taunts, David.  Oh, but perhaps I should not use the word graduate so lightly, should I?"

"Don't address me so informally, peasant," snapped Thorne.

"I'm not ashamed of who I am, David," Jim said, keeping his gaze on Thorne.  "You disdain lowly birth, but then how does Anya fit into your schemes?  She was born of no higher rank than me."

"That is none of your concern, dog," Thorne snapped and without warning he sent a blast of magic through the air towards Jim.

"Jim!" Anya cried a warning instinctively.

But Jim had needed no warning.  He had clearly been waiting for the attack and the blow was absorbed by the shield that he threw up.

But it was too late.  Thorne looked at Anya with irritation in his eyes.  "I see that my newly affianced witch has a rather faithless streak," he hissed in a voice almost too low for Anya to hear him.

"No, it was mere shock."

Thorne threw another blast at Jim.  "My dear Anya.  I do believe that you will care if I kill this man."

"No," she lied. 

He threw another bolt.  "I would not have you lie to me," he said and laughed the coldest laugh Anya could imagine.

Anya felt her heart pounding.

"I wonder if you would care more if I were to kill a certain pair of children, disobedient witch?"

"No!  I didn't mean to.  I'll obey you.  For my brother and sister.  You know I will," she promised desperately, fearing where he was heading.

Thorne cast another blast at Jim, and rather than simply blocking Jim returned it.  Thorne laughed.

Thorne sent an arced curve of magic towards Jim.  Jim stepped out of the way easily and returned the blast.

Thorne smiled towards Anya and continued slowly, as if savoring every word.  "Since it seems you care about this dog, I shall let him live.  I'll also give your regards to Damani and Kallie.  They'll be disappointed that they will never see you again."

"Thorne!  You promised not to hurt them if I did what you said!"

"So you did, but nevertheless, farewell."

Thorne disappeared into the trees in the blink of an eye.  Anya stumbled after him.  She screamed "Thorne!  Please, come back!  I'll do anything!"

Jim grabbed her arm.  "You'll never catch him.  He's using magic to increase his speed in some manner."

"He's got Kallie and Damani!" she shrieked.  "He's going to kill them!  He's through with tormenting me!  He's going to hurt them, like he's threatened all along."

Jim was right, though.  She would never catch him now, but she could not lose the twins now.  Not when she had been so close!  "Damani!  Kallie!" she said, her voice breaking.

"I'll try to find him," Jim said.  He moved swiftly to a bag at the edge of the clearing that Anya had not noticed.  He pulled out a mirror and concentrated on it deeply.

Jim cursed softly.  "He's heading east, but he's already moving out of my range."

Tears began to well up.  Sabin cawed loudly.

"I know, Sabin.  We've lost them.  I've failed them."

He cawed again, more loudly.  He stared at her, meaningfully, and hopped towards the spot where Thorne had disappeared.  He cawed again insistently.

"Sabin?"  Anya wiped away her tears.

He flew another couple of feet and returned, then issued another cawing order.

"You know where they are?" she asked fearing that she was wrong.

Sabin cawed again.  "We have to go after them," Anya told Jim.

"We won't catch up.  I don't know the spell that he uses.  My horse won't be fast enough in this rough terrain."

Anya slumped down on the ground.  "If only I still my potion...  I would do anything, try anything.  I don't have time to make another."

The tears began to spill out of the corner of her eyes.  In spite of how hard she had strived, she had lost everything.  The twins would suffer for her failure.  She truly should have killed Thorne the moment that she laid eyes upon him.  If only she had known then what she knew now.

"Is this the potion?" Jim asked.

Anya opened her eyes and looked towards Jim through her tears.  He was holding her vial.

"What?  Why?" she stuttered.

"Lord Wildwood gave it to me to study.  I was just beginning to inspect it when I noticed you had disappeared," he explained.

"Please.  Give it to me," she asked.  To her surprise, Jim did.

Anya removed the stopper and drank the potion quickly.  For a moment nothing happened.  Was it too old?  Had she mixed it wrong?

Then numbness swept over her back, and she feared again that she had gotten it wrong.  There was a rush of wind as something sprang from below her shoulder blades.  She glanced back and saw huge wings with feathers the color of her hair protruding from her back.  She flapped them experimentally and could feel the new muscles moving.  Jim looked at her with the surprise and interest that seemed to have driven all worry about the situation from his mind for the moment.

"Amazing," she thought he said under his breath, although she could not be certain.

Then he shook his head quickly.  "Thorne might kill you," he said.

"I don't care.  As long as I save the twins, it doesn't matter," she said and she meant every word.

Jim looked at her.  "I'm worried for you, too," he admitted.

"If I die now, what's the difference?  It would have been my fate regardless."

She could feel the wings and they felt strong and powerful.  Anya began to move them, and it was easy.

Jim moved forward.  "Wait!"

"Jim," she pleaded.

He shook his head.  "Let me remove this."

Anya did not know what he did or how he accomplished it, but the collar that inhibited her magic was in his hand.  All at once Anya's magic began flooding back into her.  It felt painfully wonderful.

She could never repay him for this moment.  "Thank you," she cried and she beat her wings and she lifted off the ground.  Sabin did the same and circled around her.  He cawed loudly.

"Lead the way, as fast as you can," she yelled to Sabin.  She did not know how much time she had exactly before the spell that granted her wings would wear off.  She pumped harder and soon she had attained great height.  The wings seemed to know what to do as they caught the wind and used to increase her speed, alternately flapping and soaring.

Anya had no difficulty keeping up with Sabin and they covered a great distance, although every minute was filled with worry.  They were surely travelling more quickly than Thorne, who had to at least move around trees and rocks, but she could not be sure.  If he beat them there, everything would be for naught.

Anya pumped her wings harder and followed her precious familiar.