his rescue, but they were gaping at him with the same
look of horror and disgust. "You can't hate me. I can't
live through all that again, Annie. Please, forgive me.
I didn't mean . . ."
"Didn't mean? Didn't mean what? To get my
grandmother pregnant? So that's why she left Farthy
and her mother. You drove her away, just as you
drove Mommy away and just as you have driven me
away." My words pounded like nails into a coffin, He
turned white and shook his head. "You wanted to
possess me like. . . like that portrait of Mommy on the
wail," I said, nodding. "That's why you lied when you
told me you had called Luke. You never called him, never mailed the letter. You wanted to imprison me
here!"
"I only did what I did because I love you and
need you. Ybu are the true heir of Farthioggale and all
that goes with it. You belong here. I won't let you go,"
he yelled.
"Oh yes you will," Luke said, stepping between
us. My Luke, my gallant prince coming to my rescue,
fighting off the evil wizard of our fantasies. Fate had
made it all true.
Tony stopped his approach as Luke stared him
down.
"Let's get outta here, Luke honey," Aunt Fanny
said, and Luke took hold of my chair again, turning
me toward the door.
"Annie," Tony called, "please . . ."
Aunt Fanny opened the door and Luke pushed
me out.