A/N: Thanks a lot for the reviews, follows and favourites! It keeps me inspired to write more. Of course this is a multi-chapter fic and I will try to get a chapter out at least once a week.
NB – Please try not to get too frustrated with Emily's situation. This is ultimately a Paily fic and though it might be a slow and perilous journey, you will be rewarded for your patience every now and then.
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"Is there any specific reason you use the window rather than the door?" Emily questioned suspiciously as Paige helped her down from the windowsill and into her living room.
"Yes." She answered simply and placed her weapons on a nearby table, then walked over to her fridge to grab a couple of beers. It was routine by now.
"Care to explain?" Emily quirked a brow as she looked around the room, rubbing her arm in discomfort.
"Nope." Paige smirked and handed her one beer, her brows soon furrowing as she studied Emily. The girl's dress was torn and tattered from her ordeal, and so were a few patches of skin scattered over the exposed parts of her body. The wounds looked inflamed and painful, some tiny pieces of gravel still visible.
Paige quickly disappeared through a dark doorway off to one side of the apartment and soon returned with a small bag in one hand and some clothes in the other. "Here, go get changed so that I can see to your wounds. You need to get cleaned up before you contract an infection."
Emily took the articles of clothing from Paige and let the cloth unfurl, confusion taking over her features. "You're joking, right?" She dangled a tiny pair of black shorts from one finger, while the other hand waved a white tank around. "What are you trying to play at here? I'm not wearing this! I don't even know you from Adam!"
Paige sighed and sunk down into her couch, beer bottle coming to rest between her thighs as she eyed Emily with a mix of frustration and amusement. "I don't know Adam either." She snickered and shook her head, "You really are a princess… Must I play the role of your lady in waiting and give you a sponge bath too?" Paige enjoyed watching the anger flash through Emily's eyes at her question, but the one thing that was even more enjoyable to observe was the slight tinge to her cheeks. Paige thought she was incredibly sexy when she got mad.
"In your dreams…" Emily growled and sauntered off into the dimly lit bathroom to get changed.
"Oh you have no idea…" Paige chuckled in return. She had so hoped for a quiet night. In fact, she was merely out for a stroll in the cool night air to clear her head when she stumbled upon the commotion, immediately realising that, without a doubt, it was another confrontation between the Sharks and the Devils. The gang war between the two factions had been spiralling out of control as of late and the best that innocent bystanders could do was to take cover. Paige tried to remain Switzerland, but it was getting increasingly more difficult as she watched the innocent pay the price. Caleb's plea for her to join the Sharks drifted back to mind, and though she wasn't a big fan of the Devils and knew very well what they were capable of, she had no desire to immerse herself in a war where it seemed like there'd be no possible winner. She had killed Devils before this night, and no doubt she probably would again. In her mind, in her soul, however, every Devil dead by her hands was another lifetime in hell. Another sentence weighing in on the eternity of her very essence.
The only good Devil is a dead one…
"Let's just get this over with." Emily sighed as she moved to sit next to Paige on the couch a few minutes later, effectively breaking her reverie, outfitted in her borrowed clothes and tugging at the small pair of shorts uncomfortably. It's not that she was ungrateful, but something about the other woman made her incredibly uncomfortable in the most exciting way possible. Emily wasn't sure how to react, especially considering she was still pumped full of adrenaline.
"Yes, my lady…" Paige breathed a little more raggedly, taking a few seconds to appreciate Emily's appearance once her eyes settled on the exotic beauty. The black and white made her bronze skin seem almost illuminated, while leaving her dark eyes as deep and turbulent as the kind of whirlpool Paige wouldn't mind drowning in. Her legs were lean and muscled and seemed to stretch into infinity and the thought of them wrapped around Paige's waist made her heart skip a beat. This girl was undeniably gorgeous, yet the hint of fear and uncertainty still etched into her features made her so completely disarming that Paige felt a deep fire of desire and possession stir within the pit of her stomach.
There was little doubt in her mind that she'd probably kill thousands of Devils to keep such a celestial creature alive.
Paige used some cotton wool and antiseptic liquid to clean the scrapes on Emily's knees, elbows and one shoulder, attempting to be as gentle as possible, but the stinging made the beauty whimper softly and pull away. "It's not that bad. Look, here…" Paige lifted one hand to gently rest on Emily's cheek and turned her face towards her. "Focus on me." Paige whispered and held Emily's gaze unfalteringly, her hands continuing to work on the wounds. It seemed to help as Emily settled down, still wincing at the pain every now and then, but keeping her eyes on the pair in front of her as her breathing fell into a deep and even rhythm.
The atmosphere around them turned electric and Emily struggled to deny how pleasing the sight of her rescuer was this up close and personal. She tilted her head slightly and studied the scar she had spotted earlier and suppressed the urge to run her finger along the swollen skin, tracing every bump and dip. Even something so unsightly to most people seemed absolutely enchanting to Emily. She knew it was a sign of this girl's courage, or perhaps a sign of recklessness, but either way Emily found it to be magnetic. She wanted to ask about it, but she didn't even know the girl's name and didn't want to be intrusive in any way. Her earlier reservations about this young woman were crumbling away as she breathed in her warmth and serenity.
"There… all done." Paige breathed a little wistfully and dropped her hand to rest on top of Emily's, not willing to move away from her just yet.
"Thanks… So, what do I call my Prince Charming?" Emily smiled a little cheekily, feeling the life coursing back to her face and colouring her cheeks a rosy shade.
"Prince Charming? No…I'm more of a pageboy…" Paige chuckled at her pun, though of course it sailed over Emily's head. Emily didn't mind, her smile stretching anyway.
For a brief second Emily thought about those soft lips again, so close now, twitching in similar anticipation that she was herself experiencing somewhere in her aching chest. Then the old bell tower of a nearby abandoned church rang its chime into the still night, shattering her reverie. She jumped to her feet, leaving Paige dazed down on the couch.
"I have to get back to my escort. They probably think I'm dead by now. Please, do you have a phone I could borrow?" Emily folded her arms around herself, suddenly feeling cold as she glanced about the room in search of a receiver or a mobile. Paige pulled one from the pocket of her black skinnies and held it out to Emily. "Tell them you're with a friend and that you're safe. It's only about two more hours until sunrise, then I'll take you to wherever you need to be."
Emily nodded a little uncertainly, but turned around and went about making her phone call. Paige didn't bother to try and listen to the conversation, but it was clear by Emily's tone of voice that there was a great amount of care between her and the person on the other end, whoever they might be. Paige felt a sad pang hit her stomach, but she quickly swallowed and pushed it away as she moved to her feet and pulled a fluffy blanket from the back of the couch, sky blue in colour, and moved to wrap it around Emily's shoulders as she finished her phone call.
Emily hung up and smiled over her shoulder, "You don't have to go through all this trouble, you know."
"And what if I want to?" Paige quirked one brow, her hands easing down Emily's arms over the surface of the blanket. She wasn't ready to move away. She wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to move away again.
Emily's breath hitched as she turned around to face the other girl, her eyes dipping involuntarily down to the lips so provocatively on display. "Then you should at least tell me your name…"
"My name is whatever you want it to be…" Paige whispered as her arms stretched further around Emily, pulling her even closer as she slowly leaned in, Emily being the sun whose gravitational pull she simply couldn't resist any longer.
It was not to be, however, as Emily strained to force herself to turn her face to the side, tingling as Paige's lips brushed her cheek instead. "I can't… I'm sorry."
Paige sighed and immediately stepped away, though she offered Emily a smile. "You can, but something tells me you won't. One day, princess…" With these final daring words Paige disappeared into the dark bedroom.
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"Zack, no! Stop! Please!" Paige cried, her vision blurry with tears, both shed and welled up in her eyes as they took in the horror before her.
Jamie was already bleeding from her mouth and nose, doubled over in pain after she had been kicked and punched without mercy. Now there was a gun pointed at her head, and when Paige held her breath she swore she could hear the trigger creak under the pressure of Zack's itchy finger.
"Zack, it wasn't her fault! Let her go! Please!" Paige tried again, her pleas guttural and heart wrenching. She grabbed at Zack's arm in an attempt to deter his aim, but he simply swatted her back onto the ground and out of the way.
"The only good Devil is a dead one!"
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Paige bolted upright in her bed, sweat sliding down her neck and chest as she heaved, struggling to breathe. The nightmare slowly dissipated but the feelings never subsided fully, she knew from experience. Sometimes it would take up to a week and a strong liquor binge to numb the anxiety. She hadn't experienced the recurring nightmare for a while, almost allowing herself to feel a sense of peace again. Almost.
Somehow her damsel in distress had reawakened the dark beast residing within her subconscious. Somehow this stranger she found on the street like a lost puppy managed to immerse Paige's head into a most painful past experience, drenching her in hurt and apprehension. This on-going gang war was starting to hit close to home. Again.
For her own sanity's sake, she couldn't allow that to happen. She couldn't allow her attraction to this stranger to draw her into the fold. She couldn't allow herself to acknowledge the allure of her gaze, or map the colour of her hair or decipher the scent of her skin. She couldn't allow her to lure her into the murky waters of a past she's been trying so desperately to swim from. She honestly thought she had managed to.
Apparently she was wrong.
Damnit…
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"Emily! Are you okay?" Toby rushed towards his friend once they neared each other, now in broad daylight and closer to Shark Base where it was safe. Paige had escorted her to a quiet little corner café where she was to meet up with her bodyguard, the Head Shark deciding it was best to keep her whereabouts and movement low-key as to not risk another intervention.
"Oh my god, Toby, I thought…" She nestled her face in the crook of his neck and breathed him in as tears slid down her cheek, clutching close to him and hanging on as if her life depended on it. Paige watched awkwardly from the side, the interaction between the pair making her immensely uncomfortable. It was clear that they cared a great deal for each other and Paige could not help but wonder, even assume that this man was her lover.
"What happened to you? How did you…?" Toby pulled back and shook his head at her, but he was grinning broadly as he checked Emily over for any grievous injuries. He had honestly thought she was lost to them, a vile pain swimming in his gut at the thought that it would have been his fault.
Emily seemed to understand and realise this, quickly moving her hands to his cheeks and steadied his gaze on hers. "I'm fine… I'm okay! I owe my life…" Emily grinned and turned in his arms to motion to her companion and introduce her, but she was gone. Emily frowned darkly and craned her neck to peer down the street in each direction, but there was no sign of her vigilante saviour. Briefly, Emily's chest ached at the sudden loss she felt. It wasn't intense, it wasn't far-reaching, but it was tangible and it lingered.
She didn't even get her name.
"Come on, let's get you to base. Maya won't stop phoning me." Toby grabbed Emily by the hand and dragged her to the car waiting nearby. Emily wrenched her gaze away from the empty street and tried to push all thoughts of the stranger aside. Somehow Emily clung to the image of the woman as some beautiful and nameless fallen angel, sweeping the shadows to keep the simple sinners safe. If sin was what it took to see her again, Emily briefly thought that she'd set the world on fire. But such frivolous fantasies would not keep her or her friends safe, and a lovely fantasy was all this would be.
She quickly closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting those stormy eyes wash away from her memory.
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"Emily!" Spencer, Hanna and Aria called at once as their friend finally appeared in the lavish courtyard of Shark Base, jumping from their seats at a small table in the corner and skipping past the people mulling about in order to reach her and jointly wrap her up in their arms. They were terribly relieved that Emily had been returned safely, having been waiting for her for the better part of the morning after they had made their way over at the news that Toby was collecting her.
"Are you okay?" Aria asked as she took Emily's face in her hands, wiping gently at the tears that rolled slowly down her cheeks. "What happened? How did you survive?" Hanna chimed in and rubbed Emily's arms, while Spencer placed her hand on Emily's shoulder in a comforting motion as she spoke, "Toby and the others tracked down all the Devils involved in the attack. They've been taken care of, Em, don't worry."
Emily felt overwhelmed and exhausted, allowing her friends to guide her down into a seat to offer her food and drink to help stop her body from shaking in the aftermath of the night before. She forced herself to take in some nourishment as she tried to tell her story without getting swept away by the emotions she was embroiled in. She explained everything from the ambush to the alley where she had been saved by a mysterious vigilante and how the woman assisted her and escorted her back to Toby that morning. The girls were in awe, balancing on the edge of their seats as they tried to imagine the events as Emily described them in as much detail as she could, fresh tears springing to her watery brown eyes every few seconds.
"Oh my dear, that's quite the ordeal!" Maya soothed as she approached the girls, her gaze lingering tenderly on Emily. The shaken girl smiled then as she felt relief wash over her, a feeling she hadn't quite expected to flood her when she laid eyes on Maya again for the first time in so long. She moved quickly from her seat and flung her arms around the darker woman's neck, stifling a sob as Maya wrapped her arms tightly around Emily's body. "I'm so sorry for what you have gone through, but I promise…" May paused and pulled back to place one hand gingerly on Emily's cheek, meeting her swollen eyes with a determined look, "Nothing of the nature will ever happen again. You're under my protection now." She smiled and glanced at the other girls, adding, "You all are. I will see to it that no Devil ever sets foot near any of you or your businesses again."
"Maya…I don't know…" Emily started, struggling to put her thoughts into a coherent order to express what she was struggling to understand and feel herself. Maya quickly prevented her from speaking any further, seemingly understanding the struggle she was battling at that moment, and simply gave her a reassuring smile. "Enough for now, my sweet. We have all the time in the world to talk when you are feeling better. First, I want you to get settled in. I'm sure you could use a nice hot bath and some clean clothes, perhaps even some rest. I'm sure your friends will be more than happy to see to it that you are eased into your comfort zone." She looked over to the other girls whom all shared a nod and a smile in agreement, before motioning over to a handsome young dark-haired man with an air of easy sophistication about him that lingered close by. "Ezra here has been assigned to see to the needs and security of our guests. He will show you ladies to your quarters and assist with anything you may need. I will meet with you all again this evening over dinner."
Emily let her gaze travel from her friends, to Ezra, and finally back to Maya before offering her a grateful and most sincere smile. She had honestly missed the girl, now a woman, and felt a sense of warmth at their reunion. Perhaps everything would be okay. Perhaps she had actually made the right decision to turn to Maya. Perhaps she could embrace and live a happy life with her childhood sweetheart. "Thank you, Maya. You have no idea…"
Again Maya silenced her, this time pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of Emily's lips. "Be calm, my sweet. You can say everything you need to in due course." As Maya stepped back from Emily, she let the taller woman's arm glide through her fingers until she clasped onto Emily's hand, lifting it to her lips to place a kiss to the back of it, then let go and stepped away, moving off.
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Emily turned away from the window that offered a beautiful view of the city below and let her fingers softly graze along the row of immaculate dresses and other items of clothing in the cupboard of the room she would be occupying, amazed at how much care Maya had taken to have the place stocked and decorated for Emily specifically in such a short time. It honestly made her a bit uncomfortable as she felt the pressure weighing in on her chest at what was expected of her. She kept reminding herself that she wanted to be here, that this was the path she had chosen and the life that she had wanted to live.
But the nagging feeling in the back of her mind seemed to persist that she was merely resigning herself to it, rather than embracing it.
"Was she hot?" Hanna's voice broke Emily's reverie from where she was seated on the divan off to one side. Emily raised one confused brow at her friend. It was just the two of them now as Spencer had wandered off to have a chat with Toby, while Aria seemed distracted by Ezra's presence outside the door of the room on the balcony that lined the wall.
"Who?" Emily frowned at the most brazen of her three friends before turning back to the cupboard to find something to wear to dinner.
"You know who, Em. Your mystery archer. Was she hot? She sounds hot, all decked out in black leather, kicking ass, fingering that bow of hers with such expertise…" Hanna grinned salaciously and winked at Emily, effectively causing the tan girl to blush a pretty scarlet shade.
"Since when are you interested in women, Han?" Emily deflected, or at least tried to, as she pulled a sleek royal blue dress from the cupboard and held it in front of herself as she observed the item in the mirror.
"Only when they cause such a look of longing in my best friend's eyes." She spoke softly, not much of a teasing tone to her voice, though she tried to keep it light while studying Emily closely for a reaction.
"And what makes you think it was her on my mind and not Maya?" Emily tried to remain casual as she played along, though she felt her stomach do a flip. Was she really, in the nagging part at the back of her head, letting her mysterious saviour influence her emotions?
"When a girl is trying to find a dress to wear for someone who already adores her, she feels excited, and thus smiles at her selection in the mirror. You, on the other hand, have barely stopped looking out the window long enough to make a choice." Hanna snorted with a hint of amusement. "And we both know Maya is not out there."
A firm knock on the door thankfully interrupted the awkward conversation; or rather the awkward position Hanna was forcing Emily's thoughts into. She honestly wasn't sure what to make of neither the situation nor the stranger from that night. There was something incredibly seductive about the look in her eyes as she sat close to Emily on the tattered couch in the silent hours of the early morning. Emily had felt her heart flutter wildly as the woman revealed her desire to kiss Emily, but it was not appropriate, causing Emily to pull back. It was crazy. Emily didn't do crazy too well. Most of her life she had been calculated and organised and it worked well for her. She didn't often indulge in impulses and she prided herself on her self-control. She wouldn't allow a mere stranger to let her unravel.
As hot as they may have been…
A second knock rang through the room, Emily realising that Hanna had been watching her with a smirk, making no effort to ease Emily's discomfort. She was sure Hanna was purposefully letting her squirm just so that she could prove her point.
"Who is it?" Emily approached the door and called out. She was about to reach for the handle when it moved and Aria popped her head through the crack, grinning wildly. "You have a gift!" The next thing Emily knew Aria had popped into the room, a little ball of grey fur and sapphire eyes bundled up in her arms, a big red bow around its neck. "Maya thought that maybe you'd settle in more soundly if you had a companion." Emily melted and reached for the kitten, immediately nuzzling the mewling little creature and holding it close.
"You're wrong." Emily shot over at Hanna before grinning at her little friend, happily distracted.
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"I am honoured to have you all here, gathered at my table. I want to wish you a very warm welcome, ladies, and a pleasant stay as long as you wish. I do hope that when not staying, your visits will be frequent." Maya lifted her glass of white wine to the table and its occupants in an informal toast, offering them her warmest smile. Next to her Emily was seated, radiant and expressively lighter than she had been that morning, feeling herself relax into the setting. She was accompanied by her three friends, they in turn escorted by Maya's most senior officers: Toby, Caleb and Ezra.
"On my own behalf and that of my friends and partners, I give you the most sincere thank you possible. Your generosity has been and continues to be remarkable." Spencer replied and clinked her glass against Maya's from across the table. As much as they were here to discuss business, there was a sense of pleasure infusing the air around them as they settled into chatter amongst one other. Before long they were presented with a meal that could sate even the fussiest of kings and enjoyed their food, some stories and some laughs.
Emily participated but found herself to be a bit more reserved than usual as she observed everyone else around the table. She watched the gents try their best to impress her friends; her friends, in turn, not bothering to play too coy. They seemed happy and relaxed, and Emily was relieved at the sight. She felt a sense of responsibility for their happiness, for their success and for their safety, which was the biggest reason she had decided to seek out Maya.
Maya was gentle and kind, her hand touching Emily's arm or grazing her fingers ever so often to comfort her and draw her attention. Whenever Emily glanced at her companion, Maya's eyes glittered in the low light of the dining room, her smile seemingly speaking a thousand words that needed no utterance. She was beautiful and confident and garnered Emily's admiration. Emily felt a sense of pride at being by her side.
Perhaps that would be enough.
"I will assign a regiment to your establishments on a permanent basis for monitoring and protection. My men are all trained in the use of technology that will predict and prevent an attack before it occurs. Should they fail this phase, I assure you, they are more than skilled enough to keep you and your patrons safe." The conversation had shifted over to business by the time they had finished their meal and Maya was speaking directly to Spencer now, though she was addressing all four women in an attempt at reassurance.
"I'm afraid that eventually they will find a way around the barricade. They will not stop until they achieve their goals – these goals including the acquisition of our business." Spencer swirled the last bit of her wine in her glass before swallowing it in one last gulp. Her face was hard, but not hostile. It was naturally within Spencer's character to be cynical and it served her well as she was always prepared with a plan at hand. She was a shrewd and somewhat intimidating woman, formidable even, and Maya regarded her with a great deal of respect.
"You are quite right, Spencer. Which is why we won't stop there. The Devils need to be disabled from the inside – no easy feat, as you can imagine. But we are working on the finer details of a plan that I believe will set us all free from their tyranny." At these words the gentlemen at the table all nodded or made a sound in agreement, they having been the ones to assist their leader in formulating their plan of action. They were confident and it shone in their eyes and their smiles.
"Leave the grunt work to us, my dears. It is not only our considered duty to assist you and keep you all safe, but also our utmost pleasure." Maya's grin was stunning, though it soon faded into a softer smile as she regarded Emily beside her, Emily looking to the table to find that their hands were clasped tightly with their fingers entwined. "We have more to discuss, but if you will excuse us for just a moment, I'd like to accompany Emily on a walk around the garden while our food settles." With these words Maya moved from her chair and nodded to the others before guiding Emily away.
The garden was a fairy tale. Soft light from low hanging lanterns warmed even the darkest corners of the lush area, while little fairy lights crept up the trees and wrapped around the branches. The sweet scent of flowers in bloom drifted through the warm breeze, which also softly rustled through the leaves and leafy shrubs. It immediately filled Emily with a sense of calm and warmth, a soothing ambience wrapping around her shoulders and caressing her exposed skin. Maya was silent for a while as she simply enjoyed her companion's child-like astonishment as she gazed all about them, slowly leading them to a wicker bench that sat next to a bubbling stream that trickled down an arrangement of rocks to fall into a small fishpond off to the one side.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd swear that you have brought me here to persuade me of some unspoken intentions, my good lady." Emily smiled happily up at Maya as she held her hand and allowed her to sit down on the bench.
"Perhaps I have." Maya breathed and slowly slipped into the seat next to Emily, turning her body to face the other woman while gathering her hands within her own.
"Maya, I…" Emily whispered, but Maya shook her head to let Emily fall silent, then fixed her with a sincere look in dark cocoa eyes. "Emily… The only thing I want to persuade you of right now is my honourable intentions. Even if you do not choose to stay here with me, if you ever feel like you could not let your emotions grow for me, I would still do my utmost to protect you and the girls and all you hold dear. You are by far the most stunning woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting – something I already knew from the age of five…" Emily chuckled and canted her head to the side as she continued to listen intently, captivated by the beautiful soul sitting before her. She had never imagined that Maya would grow into this incredible a person. She felt ashamed that she didn't have faith in her. She never should have abandoned her in their younger years.
Maya continued after a brief moment, her voice lowering, "I would never want to treat you as anything less than the rare treasure that you are, even if that means giving you room or letting you go. However, I must admit, that my fondness for you has no bounds as far as I can tell. You have never been far from my mind, despite all the time and obstacles that have come between us over the last decade and a half." Maya tentatively reached a hand out to Emily's cheek, softly stroking down her immaculate skin. Emily closed her eyes and leaned into the touch with a small smile and a slow sigh. She felt that nothing this woman could possibly say would make her consider turning away from her. Emily felt, for the first time in so long, nothing but happiness.
Emily lifted her hand to cover Maya's where it still rested on her cheek and moved it slightly to her lips, placing a gentle kiss on her palm before she whispered, "I'm exactly where I want to be, Maya… I will stay by your side with great joy in my heart." Letting their hands drop to her lap, Emily leaned in closer, her eyes shutting halfway as she waited for Maya to close the rest of the distance. She did so a mere second later and poured her heart into the sweet kiss, praying that Emily was sure.
A broken heart hurt far more than a bullet wound, after all.
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Paige turned the same corner for what seemed like the hundredth time, kicked at a small stone in her way and sent it jumping down the tar surface. It had been two days since she parted ways with Emily and she felt strangely, but irrevocably, lost.
"Emily…"
She breathed the name out softly, relishing in the way it felt as it slipped past her lips, but soon she was shaking her head to dislodge her thoughts of the beauty. She had promised herself, sworn in solemnity even, that she would not dwell on the memory of her. The situation was too delicate, too intricate, even if she didn't know the details. She had seen enough to know that getting close to Emily would mean nothing but trouble.
Emily
Was she a Shark? Paige grimaced and wondered if she could live with it if that was the case. Caleb had been the only Shark she had kept in contact with and she preferred it that way. At least with him things weren't that complicated or that risky. He was a good old friend that drifted on the periphery of her existence. She didn't need to be pulled into the fray, even if that's what he wanted. Either way, it would not affect their friendship.
But Emily…
Paige shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her jeans, her boots scraping across loose pieces of the road as she kicked at the ground in irritation. She would probably never see Emily again, concluding that her anguished behaviour was nothing but a time waster. She turned on her heel and headed in the opposite direction.
"Learning to swim, Culler?" Paige stopped dead in her tracks a few feet down the block, the hairs on the back of her head standing on end.
"Samara… What are you doing here?" Paige turned slowly to observe the blonde beauty leaning against a lamp post, decked out in black tights and black knee-high boots decorated with silver buckles, a black leather biker jacket wrapped around her petite form. She was as alluring as Paige knew she was dangerous.
"I could ask you the same thing. Don't tell me you didn't even notice that you've been circling the formidable Shark Rock for the past hour. I've been watching you." Samara smirked, though Paige was not sure whether it was in amusement or with a tinge of hostility. The truth is Paige had no plan when she went for her walk. Ending up at the gang's compound was pure coincidence, or – she realised – a subconscious act of longing.
"You'll get yourself killed here…" Paige rasped in a low voice and stepped closer to Samara, her eyes flashing with genuine concern for the blonde.
"What's it to you? Just another dead Devil. I heard you've been dropping my friends. Your arrows are unmistakable." Samara crossed her arms in front of her chest defensively, though she still did not show any clear aggression towards Paige. Her comment, however, caught Paige a bit off guard, her hand coming up to run nervously through her hair.
"I was protecting an innocent woman. You know how I feel about Devils preying on the weak." Paige's tone burst from her lips with vehemence, the thought of Emily in trouble setting her blood to boil.
"Innocent?" Samara's brows raised in disbelief before she let out a mirthless chuckle. "Oh Culler… You really have no idea… But you know who really was innocent?" Samara's face darkened as she stepped away from the lamp post and closer to Paige until she was squared in front of her, unnervingly close. "Jamie was innocent."
The name hit Paige like a punch to the gut, winding her without effort. She clenched her jaws painfully and glanced away, unable to meet Samara's cold stare. "I avenged her." She breathed out softly, hesitantly.
"Yes, indeed. But that was a long time ago, and Shana would like to remind you now that the life of one Shark is not worth the number of Devils you have been racking up. Her patience is running thin. Keep your arrows out of our men." Samara's voice held a dangerous timber as she finished the warning, sparing one final hardened look for Paige, then trotted off.
"One Shark…" Paige shook her head as her eyes watered, the painful memories surfacing once again to haunt her, chipping away at her sanity. "One brother…"
The sun was hanging low over the hill on which Shark Base stood and soon it would be dark, Paige realised. Her encounter with Samara was enough to sicken her to her stomach and she felt the intense desire to put some distance between her and the gang's turf. She skipped down the pavement as she glanced around, remaining aware of her surroundings as she always did. She had to, with Sharks and Devils mulling about, and the knowledge that you couldn't always distinguish between the two by mere appearance.
She didn't get very far down the block when her attention was drawn by a scrawny young man scampering down the pavement towards her. "Misty! Mist, stop!" He was yelling anxiously, giving Paige enough of a fright to reach for the knife she kept stashed in the back of her belt. Before she could unsheathe it, however, she felt painful pins and needles pricking into her one leg and moving swiftly up her thigh. Then, an innocent little mewl, Paige glancing down frantically only to be met with a pair of gorgeous sapphire eyes. She grabbed the kitten by the scruff of its neck and it immediately started purring, pawing playfully at Paige's nose as she held it up to eye level.
"Well hello there, pretty. Are you being naughty?" She folded the bundle off grey fluff into her arms and scratched behind her ears, giving the young man enough time to approach them.
"Oh god, thank you so much for grabbing her. She's rather spirited!" The dark-haired male came to stop next to Paige, reaching out to run his hand over Misty's head.
"Much like her owner, I'd imagine. Sort seeks sort." She grinned and handed the kitten over.
"Well, apparently that's exactly why she was chosen as a gift for Maya's new consort. Though I really shouldn't be speaking about this. I'm Lucas." He rambled on nervously, extending a hand to Paige.
"Don't worry, I'm no stranger." Paige smiled and shook his hand briefly. She knew who Maya was. There were very few people who weren't able to recognise the name as the Head Shark. Any thought of Maya, however, brought a sense of sadness to Paige as she always helplessly recalled the times before Maya had reached the top and what things were like back then. That was the life Paige had left behind, the life she was determined to stay away from. "Paige." She offered her name in return, hoping that not too many of her mixed emotions were visible on her face.
"Hey Paige, we're having a bit of a festival here at the base on Saturday." Lucas smirked and rummaged through his pockets until he came up with a blue flier and held it out to Paige to take. "No weapons, tight security, but lots of fun. Maybe you'd like to stop by and visit Misty." He smiled warmly at her now and gave her one final nod before he turned and walked around the corner. Paige let her eyes scan the leaflet in her hands curiously. 'Carnival of Masks' the heading read.
Folding the piece of paper, Paige slipped it into her pocket and moved off towards her apartment. What silliness, she thought.