A/N: Hi all! This is my first Miss Peregrine FanFic! I have used the Movieverse for the characters. Eva Green is such a fantastic portrayal of the character! The Cross-over element will grow with each chapter. I really hope you like it! Feedback is always appreciated. Rated M for Violence just in case. The likelihood of the two main characters Maura and Alma becoming an item by the end of this is very high, if this offends you please don't get invested – for those of you curious enough to try I promise, it will be very tastefully done.
I do not own any Miss Peregrine's characters OR House of Night Characters!
Chapter 1 – The Phoenix
The breakfast was prepared, the children in bed asleep and Miss Peregrine sat at the kitchen table indulging herself in one of the few pleasures she allows herself, a small glass of red wine. She sat with the record player playing soft classical music quietly in the background thinking of how Jacob and Emma were steadily growing closer and how, soon she would have to have 'the talk' with them. Sometimes, being an Ymbryne was just as awkward as being a biological parent. Usually, living in time loops would stop the children from aging and the conversations she was due to have, would normally be rendered unnecessary.
Having set sail after the battle at Blackpool, Miss Peregrine and her children had settled on a tiny part of the Isle of Man, far away from civilisation and safe from the outside world. She had not yet fully recovered her strength and so they were living outside of a loop whilst the remaining monsters silently grew in numbers and strength far away unbeknown to the world. The children aging day by day and her eldest wards in particular were growing up faster than she had anticipated.
She stood, taking her pipe out of her pocket, lighting it and walking over to the conservatory doors. Her wine glass held firmly in her hand, the stunning Ymbryne looked up at a perfect half crescent moon in the dark sky. The night was crystal clear and her shoulder blades itched ever so slightly with the desire to transform into her flacon form and fly high through the sky. Gazing out onto her garden, the sharp falcon senses of her picked up on a beautiful scent, something otherworldly she did not recognise. With a start, Alma Peregrine looked to her left to find the most peculiar thing had happened.
The Vampyres Goddess Nyx stood at her side, silently looking out at the human world before her. Vampyres had lived alongside humans and peculiars for many, many years. Ymbrynes taking care of the peculiar young in homes such as the one they currently stood, while High Priestesses took care of their fledglings in House of Night Schools until they changed into adult Vampyres. Harmony was not a word used to describe the co-existence of the two species, understanding was probably a more of an accurate term. Both had been persecuted through the ages by Humans, both had darkness brewing in their worlds and both had affinities – or peculiarities – which made them more powerful than your average homo-sapien. This, however, is where the similarities stopped. While Ymbrynes hid their young in loops across the world, Vampyres had established a presence in the human world. Though war had never broken out between the two species, alliances had never been formed either.
The Vampyre community owed their affinities and powers to the goddess currently stood beside Miss Peregrine, they worshiped her and she repaid them by granting them gifts of unique powers to protect themselves from harm. Very few Vampyres ever got to witness Nyx herself, she appeared only when completely necessary and only to people of good heart. Alma Peregrine had never really known if she believed in the religious views of the Vampyre community, now however, looking upon the goddess's beauty and bathed in her light, it was not something she could deny any longer.
The blonde haired beauty turned her face to look directly at Miss Peregrine, eyes connecting with a small smile upon the goddesses face.
"Merry Met Alma Peregrine." She inclined her head slightly.
"Merry Met Goddess" replied Alma in an unsure voice.
"My Daughter, there is another child in need of your help" The goddesses voice sang out in a musical tone.
The dark haired Ymbryne looked dazed and confused but her stern voice did not waver.
"Forgive me, goddess, I am not one of your daughters. I cannot rescue any fledglings, as per the law, it is the duty of your High Priestesses to take care of your young".
Nyx smiled more widely, her eyes warm.
"Not all of my Daughters are marked dear child. I have many sons and daughters living outside of the Vampyre community. The child I need your help with, is neither one of your species or, indeed, one of mine. She is the new Phoenix."
Alma's perfectly arched eyebrows knitted together. The new Phoenix? She hadn't heard of a phoenix living for many years, and never before had a phoenix been a woman.
"The new Phoenix? Please do excuse my frankness, but what on earth would I do with a creature such as that? Phoenix's, especially young ones, are incredibly unpredictable. I would not do anything to endanger my children. Certainly, I would not take in an untrained creature that could very well be used as a weapon by our enemies if discovered."
Nyx turned herself fully towards the Ymbryne, concern and sadness etched into her flawless features.
"The young woman in question has fallen into very dangerous hands. She is being abused and beaten by humans, her powers have been supressed due to her pain. I have no jurisdiction over this wondrous creature. She is born of True Magick, powers unmatched by any other being living or dead. I cannot touch True Magick, it is against the law of my realm. If I could have her marked I would, but it is simply not possible."
The goddess paused and gave the Ymbryne a knowing look that made Alma quirk her delicate eyebrow and narrow her eyes. The goddess smiled at the untrusting look she was being given and returned her focus on the sky outside. Her voice was firm with a hint sorrow.
"There are dark forces in both of our worlds my child, growing in strength. There will come a day, sometime not too far from now, where our enemies align. The phoenix … if cared for properly by the youngest and brightest Ymbryne I know of, I believe she will be the one to forge an alliance and eliminate the darkness."
Despite her stern face and sceptical tone, Miss Peregrine slowly began to understand this is something she must at least consider doing. Horrace's dreams had started to become murkier with every passing night and she had felt the darkness thicken around her with every day. "You can promise me that she will not be a danger to my children or our lives here?"
"My dearest Alma, your life here is in danger already. The forces are growing and we are unprepared and unaligned in our resistance efforts. I am not ignorant to the pain and suffering you went through as a child, nor do I class you as anything less than a High priestess. The Phoenix is suffering at the hands of men. She must overcome the internal demons this causes, much like you had to, in order to take on the momentous fate that awaits her, a process you whole heartedly understand. I cannot promise there will not be any accidents, she has supressed her power for quite some time now. She needs you and we both need her."
Nyx was looking at Alma again, her tone grave and her eyes somewhat dulled with worry.
"What is her name and where do I find her?"
Maura's wrists were blistered and sore from the chains tied around them. Her legs, stomach and breasts were bleeding profusely from the cuts of her abuser's knife. She teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, the stench of her bile on the flaw no longer pushing waves of nausea through her. A slap around her face, pushing her jaw out of place brought Maura back to her senses with a painful start, bright lights bursting in her vision.
He was back. The smell of his whisky breath suffocating her, burning hot against her skin. She watched through blurry eyes as he reached to unbuckled his belt. Maura knew what was coming, having been chained naked to this wall for nearly 3 months, the urge to scream or fight had long since left. No one was coming to help her, the less she struggled, the less it hurt.
He had stripped completely, pacing around her whilst touching himself and muttering words that seemed to please him. The rolls of nausea had returned, she fought to not succumb to the want to empty her stomach's contents all over herself and the floor, as she had done so many times. His hand reached for face but it stopped mid-air at the sound of wings beating the air furiously. Her attacker sneered, shooing away a large bird that had materialized in the room behind him. Picking up the knife he had abandoned hours before from the table he turned his back on the bird and focused on Maura. Ignoring the screeching from the bird behind him, Maura's attacker dragged the knife down her torso, slicing flesh inch by inch, so encompassed was he by the torture he was creating, the drunken man completely missed the transformation happening behind him from bird to woman.
"Put. That. Down."
The raven haired woman spoke with such ice in her voice compared to the fire that burned in her eyes. Maura's captor span on his heel in surprise, dragging the knife further through her skin with unprecise movements.
"How'd you … Who the fuck are you. I suggest you get out right now before I string you up next to our little Maura here." His teeth were bared, stance being that of a predator.
The unknown woman cocked her head to the side in a sharp motion, reminding Maura of the falcon bird that had hovered where she now stood. The blood loss had Maura's sight swimming, she heard loud voices and a crash. The last thing she saw was a pair of dark eyes and a soft voice telling her "everything would be okay" before she lost her focus completely and welcomed unconsciousness.
Maura awoke with to a pounding in her head but comfortable for the first time in what seemed like forever. Her head rested on a soft pillow and her face felt warm from the fire she could hear popping across the room. Opening her eyes her gaze lifted to a woman sat in a rocking chair looking fretfully into the fire. She had a pipe in her mouth and a book on her lap that she was paying absolutely no attention to. Panic started to settle in Maura's belly, racing quickly through her veins until she could sit still no longer, trying to sit up she watched as her new captor's head swung sharply in her direction, dark eyes seeking hers out.
"Don't move too much my dear, you will rip your stiches." Her voice was low, quiet and non-threatening. The somewhat familiar woman moved slowly, ensuring not to make any sharp sudden movements that came so naturally. Sitting on the edge of Maura's bed, the majestic woman gently lifted her hand and tucked a stray curl behind Maura's ear.
The young woman before Alma Peregrine looked terrified, broken and so incredibly lost. The ymbryne's personal experiences with her brothers stirred an anger within her when she looked upon this woman's bruised and battered form. Having personally cleaned, stitched and bandaged each wound, Alma found it hard to swallow her tears of grief for the stranger that had slept in her bed for the last 4 days. The Ymbryne had dutifully watched over Maura, not once leaving her side. She had left Emma and Enoch in charge of the youngest children and living in current times, outside of a loop, there had been no need for a change over.
"Who are you? Are you g-going to hurt me?" Maura's voice broke and tears filled her big green eyes.
"I am Mis- I am Alma Peregrine; I am the headmistress of this establishment. You under my care and protection, I will not hurt you."
Letting her wards know her first name, was not something Alma did, ever. However, Maura was not going to be her ward. She was 24 years old and according to the goddess Nyx, she was the salvation for thousands of Peculiars and Vampyres. It seemed only fair that they start their relationship as equals and not Teacher and Student.
Maura looked suspiciously at the beautiful woman before her. Not knowing who or what to trust.
"You turned into a bird." Was the only sentence Maura could string together, recognition registering in her face.
The Ymbryne smiled kindly.
"Yes, though it rarely comes in as useful as it did that night! I am what's called, an Ymbryne. I can transform into a bird and I can manipulate time."
Maura's eyes widened in surprise, drawing Alma's attention to the gold flecks that sparkled in the depths of the vibrant emerald colour. Her bottom lip was trapped between her teeth in a nervous way and her hands were fidgeting but her eyes, those captivating eyes peering into Alma's very soul seemed to gain half an ounce of trust. Her long eyelashes fluttered and she drew her gaze away from Alma.
"How long have I been here?" The young phoenix enquired.
"You have been unconscious for several days. The amount of blood loss was …. Severe. I have changed your bandages quite a few times" Alma didn't know quite how much to say. The abuse was fresh, the young woman in front of her was still raw with pain, both physically and emotionally.
"I am very sorry for any inconvenience! You didn't have to rescue me, though I certainly do appreciate it. I will be on my way as soon as possible"
The headmistresses heart broke slightly and the downcast look on the creature before her.
"Nonsense! You are under my care and protection Maura. I will not let anything happen to you and you will stay with us here."
Maura looked up allowing a little smile to grace her lips before her forehead crinkled in confusion.
"How do you know my name?"
Alma's mind went racing as to how best explain the peculiar meeting with the Vampyre goddess Nyx. She settled at the moment for a more plausible answer, with the view to explain everything when the young phoenix had regained her strength.
"Your abuser called you by your first name. Do forgive me, I should have been more sensitive with my words and asked for your name."
"Oh … that's Okay. I don't really remember much from that evening." Maura shook her head slightly until the movement made her feel nauseous and she stopped abruptly, turning rather pale.
"I am not surprised my dear." Miss Peregrine said sympathetically, noting the girl's complexion quickly and reaching gently in front of her for a glass of water from the nightstand.
Maura took it gratefully, her throat suddenly as dry as a dessert.
"Sip it. I know you must be thirsty but gulping it down will not aid the nausea you are feeling." The stern tone this headmistress was well known for, gently pushed through on this sentence. Sternness comes hand in hand with feeling protective and worried. Several moments passed with Alma watching Maura intently, until the younger of the two had finished with the glass and Miss Peregrine took it back, placing it gently on the floor by her feet to refill later.
"Thank you." The young phoenix said, smiling gently before asking: "How long am I allowed to stay with you?"
"You will stay as long as you like. You are not a prisoner here Maura, nor will you be one of my wards. You are somewhat, like the rest of us here. This will be your home for as long as you are in need of it and wish to be a part of our family."
Her tone was sincere enough that a little more trust etched its way into the young woman's eyes.
"Oh, thank you. Although, what do you mean I am somewhat like the rest of you?"
"Well –"Miss Peregrine took a breath, scanning the girls face to see if her mental state could take much more information right now. Her ordeal was overwhelming enough. Maura's eyes drooped in the warmth of the room and she yawned delicately, though winced at the shooting pain in her side. The Falcon's eyes narrowed.
"Careful dear, you broke 2 ribs, shallower breaths for a little while whilst you heal." Alma paused, thinking that perhaps tomorrow would be a better day to tell the young woman of her enormous destiny that awaited, the difference between peculiars, a phoenix and a Vampyre and goddess only knows whatever else.
"You look dreadfully tired and you need to heal. We can talk more in the morning."
Maura slid down the bed very slowly and mumbled "Where will you sleep?"
The Ymbryne could see the worry in the younger womans tired eyes, she too knew the real reason for Maura's question. Being a victim of the type of abuse, Alma knew all too well the nightmare that would plague Maura for years to come.
"Go to sleep my dear, you are safe. I will watch over you, tonight. I will be here to wake you if the nightmares return."
There was a knowing look that passed between them, an unspoken understanding. Miss Peregrine smiled gravely, pulling the covers up a little further in a motherly fashion, despite the fact the girl in front of her was a fully grown adult. Maura however, seemed to appreciate the gesture and smiled thankfully as her eyes slid closed and she gave way to sleep.
There was a soft knock at the door and Emma peered her head around the door.
"Miss Peregrine, the children are in bed and asleep. We have made sure the doors are all locked and the breakfast is prepped for the morning, Jacob and I are going to bed now."
The Ymbryne walked to the door, with one last glance at Maura and a deep sigh, she stepped through the door way coming face to face with her two eldest wards.
"Thank you both for your help. You are doing a fine job and I am proud of you all."
Emma blushed and looked down at her thick lead shoes causing Alma to smile softly at her. She noticed that Jacob was smiling in an adoring way to the young blonde, his hand tightly gripping her hand.
"The two of you are becoming very close." She said, really not wanting to have this conversation, especially when she hadn't slept properly in over 4 days.
"We need to talk sometime soon about … well about you two being responsible. If you are going to court each other, there are certain things you need to be aware of and rules I need to put into place". Her face did not show the awkwardness she felt inside, as always she kept her posture straight and her tone stern.
The two young adults however, were not as rehearsed in hiding their embarrassment. Both had turned a deep shade of maroon and refused to look either at each other or their Headmistress.
"Now off to your bedrooms please, have a good night's sleep and I will catch up with you in the morning." She placed a good emphasise on the pluralisation of the bedrooms before they nodded, mumbled their goodnights and went their separate ways to their retrospective rooms.
Popping her head back into her quarters she saw Maura sleeping soundly with a slight frown on her face but otherwise, peaceful. Taking the chance for a quick break Alma went downstairs to the kitchen, pouring herself some tea and stepping out of her stiletto shoes and into her slippers. Moving to the library the Ymbryne took her time whilst browsing the shelves until she had finally decided which book she wanted, the one upstairs was not keeping her interest.
Silently moving through the house she checked in on all of her wards, all were now sleeping soundly in their beds. Enoch, Emma and Jacob had done a brilliant job at keeping the House together over the last few days, there was not a toy, book or item of clothing scattered where it ought not be. Just as she was closing the door to little Claire's room, a blood curdling scream echoed through the house.
Dropping her mug in surprise and pure panic she ran down the corridor towards her quarters as each of her wards came flooding out of their rooms behind her.
"Miss Peregrine what's happening?" Ask Enoch, his strong Scottish accent thickened with sleepiness.
The headmistress looked back to her children, reassuring them "Everything is fine children. Maura is having a nightmare; it Is to be expected. Please go on back to bed, I will soothe her."
The children looked back at her, listening to the newcomer begging a monster, they assumed, in her dreams to leave her alone. None of them would know what type of 'monster' she was really fighting in her sleep.
"Will she be okay?" Asked Fiona, a sweet girl who's worried face peered up at her.
"Can we help?" Asked Emma, her blonde hair messed from sleep.
"All will be well children. Thank you, I will handle this please go back to bed". She gave them a kind but stern look and watched them one by one return to their rooms. When the last door had closed, they Ymbryne rushed into her quarters shutting the door and swooping down to sit on the side of the bed.
"Hush now my dear, everything is fine, you are safe." Miss Peregrine caressed the face of the young woman who was shaking horrifically and sobbing in her sleep.
"Pl-please don't hurt me. Pl-please."
"It's okay sweetheart there is no one here, it's just a dream."
"No, I can't. Please don't. It hurts so much, please stop!"
Miss Peregrine's heart was breaking, tear stinging her eyes.
"You're safe, I won't let him hurt you again" She had started to sound desperate, pleading with the young phoenix. She remembered her nightmares were just as awful as the real events themselves, watching this delicate creature sob, thrash and writhe in pain took all the strength she had.
Leaving Maura's side for a second, the knowledgeable Ymbryne took the bin from by the fire and put it beside the bed before reaching down and gently pulling Maura to her chest, the state of REM sleep so deep that the movement didn't wake her. As soon Alma kissed the top of the younger woman's head to try and soothe her, something terrible happened. A bright purple light flashed and Alma was stood back in that awful basement she found her young phoenix in, watching helplessly as men raped and beat Maura. She couldn't move or speak, she could only watch men thrusting and knives slashing, with tears racing down her face and bile rising in her chest. She had entered Maura's dream. When the realisation hit her, she breathed in sharply, disconnecting her lips from Maura's head and returning to holding the sleeping woman in the safety of her own bedroom.
Confused beyond belief and still silently sobbing Alma rocked the young woman, who in her sleeping state, clung to the Ymbryne for dear life. She noticed that Maura's nightgown was quickly turning red where she had ripped her stiches. Worrying silently that she would need to get these fixed as soon as possible she noted that the thrashing and begging had stopped. Maura slowly pulled away, shame upon her red face and pain clearly readable in her movements.
"I'm so sorry I woke you." Her words came out at a sob, she would not look at the headmistress.
Alma's heart squeezed with pain for the young woman, though and the temptation to pull her back and cradle her again was overridden by her own personal experiences. She had a hunch. Bending down she picked up the bin from the side of the bed and turned to look back to Maura.
The younger woman had turned a violent shade of green. "I think I –"
She stopped speaking. Then lunged forward, took the bin from Miss Peregrines hands and promptly vomited into it.
Hunch correct thought Alma Peregrine.
Alma handed the younger woman a fresh glass water and, on clarification she felt a little better, removed the bin from the room. Sitting back down on the bed Alma was about to place her hand under the younger woman's chin to lift her gaze when she saw Maura flinch away from her.
Too soon, she thought.
"Maura, look at me please." Her voice was gentle but it was not a question.
The sheer look of shame, guilt and disgust on Maura's face reminded Alma of looking into a mirror all those years ago. She swallowed to try and coax her voice into working.
"I'm so sorry Alma, I will go, it's no trouble. I don't want you to see this, you have done more than enough for me."
That shook Miss Peregrine out of her struggle to speak.
"Nonsense my dear. I told you I would be here for the nightmares. It is not something I am unfamiliar with; my children have nightmares too."
She neglected to mention that none of her children had ever drawn her into their dreams with them for fear it may make the already skittish girl flee. Remembering the goddess's words, "Her powers have been supressed by pain". Clearly this was just a part of Maura's powers calling for someone to help with her pain.
"You knew about the vomiting?" Maura asked, confusion on her face.
"Yes. Well, I had a hunch you would require the bin, I used to require it too when I suffered from nightmares. Please lie back so I can re-stitch your wounds, you are bleeding again."
Maura cautiously laid down as Miss peregrine reached for the table containing warm water, bandages and all other equipment she needed to fix her Phoenix.