AU: Please R&R. That would be extremely nice. I'll even give you cookies (lol jk but do it anyway)
By the way there is no regular update schedule for this story. I update whenever I feel like it, usually once or twice a week
I UPDATED THE COVER IMAGE OF THE STORY TOO. Credits go to a video game called Fairy Fencer F. IT'S HOW I IMAGINE THE CHARACTERS TO BE LIKE (BUT WITH DIFFERENT HAIR/EYE COLORS, OF COURSE)
"No, you're not," came a distinct raspy voice from behind. "You're not even going to be able to experience it."
Maeve groaned, whipping around. She'd been hoping never to hear that voice again. Judging by Canale's expression, he knew who the voice belonged to as well.
"Medusa."
One of the inn's waitresses, dressed in a maid's uniform, stood at the entrance of the inn. Her eyes were covered by a pair of sunglasses. There was a turban over her hair.
"Hello, my dears," Medusa purred. "How kind of you to remember me. Although the last time I saw each of you, you were alone. How in the world did you meet up?" She gave them a look of fake curiosity.
"Hey, if you want to join us so badly, for starters, maybe avoid trying to turn someone into stone next time. Or, at least, trying to," Canale smirked.
Medusa hissed. That was obviously a sore spot of hers.
"I thought you were faking not being able to see. But no matter. There are other ways to die by my hand, you know."
Maeve joined in.
"Ha, well I sure do prefer dying over having to look at you," she pursed her lips. "I take that back, actually. I'm probably going to die from looking at you any longer."
Medusa began to finger her turban, smiling wickedly.
"If I were a defenseless little girl in your position, I wouldn't be saying that," she cackled. "Did you honestly think two children of the Big Three traveling together would go unnoticed by monsters? The smell is enough to be scented from across the globe."
Maeve knew Medusa was trying to get her to drop her guard so she could strike. She wasn't going to let that happen.
"Of course not," Maeve replied, alert as ever. "But I know that you happen to be defeat-able, just like other monsters."
Medusa then angrily whipped off her turban just as Maeve shut her eyes. But she was far from defenseless. In fact, she had a few tricks up her sleeve. Literally.
Whipping out a knife with each hand, she took aim directly in front of her and threw both. Medusa howled in pain, and then all was still. Maeve didn't dare open her eyes, at least not yet. Complete silence greeted her ears for over a minute.
Then, opening one eye, Maeve took in the scene. One of her knives had pierced Medusa in the shoulder, but that wouldn't have been enough to kill. Her other knife, however, had completely sliced Medusa's head off her body.
'Lucky shot,' Maeve thought to herself. 'If only I had been so lucky last time.'
Last time, Medusa had gotten away from Maeve and her satyr best friend, the one who had found her and shown Maeve her true nature as a demigod. But in the process, she had turned that satyr, Basil, into a stone statue. Maeve would never forgive her for that.
'A life in exchange for a life,' she thought. 'Serves her right.'
"So um, I feel completely clear-headed now," Canale broke Maeve's train of thought. "I can take you shadow-traveling, if you'd like."
Maeve nodded. "Sure. I've always wanted to shadow-travel."
"But," Canale added, slightly embarrassed. "I haven't shadow-traveled since, um, you know."
"Don't you have to be able to picture the destination in your head?" Maeve said, comprehension dawning.
"Yeah. But I've visited the Underworld as a kid, and I remember what it looks like. Kind of hard to forget. I was thinking I could get us straight there, right now."
"That's a great idea. Let's do that."
"Okay. But um, if you end up dead, don't blame me."
######
Maeve's sense of balance had been completely distorted. She staggered around, trying to regain her sense of direction, for about five minutes while Canale stood patiently waiting.
After looking around, trying to focus her eyes, Maeve realized that they were at the entrance of a cave.
"Is this the Underworld?" she asked, mind still groggy.
"Nope," Canale replied, "This is just the entrance."
Maeve got up, clutching at her head.
"How are you perfectly fine after all that?"
Canale shrugged.
"Experience."
"Yeah, well, Mr. Experience. Don't ever do that again."
Canale laughed, feeling along the walls of the cave as he moved forward.
"As you wish."
Maeve followed him.
"What are we looking for?"
"There should be a crack in the wall somewhere deeper in the cave. We're going to have to walk a bit though."
"Don't use your hands," Maeve interrupted. "Parts of the wall are really sharp."
"I don't feel like using my cane," he responded innocently.
Maeve laughed, taking his hand.
"Sure."
"That's not what I wanted either," the boy replied, looking away from her.
"Right."
They didn't say anything more until Maeve spotted a large crack splitting the rock. She gently laid Canale's hand on top of it.
"This must be it, right?"
"I don't know, do you spot any other large cracks?" Canale shot back sarcastically.
Maeve decided to ignore him, instead asking, "Now what do we do?"
Canale wrenched his hand out of hers, slowly heading straight into the wall. For a moment, he seemed to meld in, and then disappeared to the other side.
"Ah, I see," Maeve muttered to herself, before following suit.
The other side appeared to be, in all sense of the word, chaotic as hell. Which it kind of was.
Canale stood beside her, leaning back against the wall so he didn't lose his bearings.
Maeve struggled to find something to say, but was interrupted by a voice. Canale also appeared to be yanked out of his thoughts, jerking his head upward slightly.
"Hello, my darlings," Allecto, one of Hades' Furies, greeted. "Master sends his wishes to you. However, he would like you to know that he is very busy and won't be able to have an audience with you for at least another week. Meanwhile, he has booked you two a room at a nearby hotel aboveground. So you two should go."
She smiled viciously.
"Now."
All of a sudden, Maeve and Canale were ripped from the Underworld and thrown into a hotel lobby. Judging by the extraordinarily fancy red carpeting, the lavish paintings of founders and sponsors hanging from the impeccably wallpapered walls, and the expensive crystal chandelier dangling from the ceiling, it had to be one of the best, if not the best, hotel in the area.
"Well. That was a friendly welcome," Canale's voice was stone cold.
"At least we weren't harmed. Besides, a week to ourselves could be fun."
"Oh yeah. Having an encounter with my father's right hand man-er, woman-and living in a hotel with him paying our expenses? Sounds great."
Just then, Maeve noticed a colorful sign displayed in the center of the lobby, which read, "HOTEL BEING RENTED OUT FOR A BALL FRIDAY NIGHT. ALL HOTEL GUESTS MAY ATTEND FREE OF CHARGE."
"Hey," she tugged on Canale's sleeve. "There's going to be a ball here tomorrow night, free to hotel guests..."
"I can't," Canale replied quietly. "I haven't been around so many people in too long. It's quite nerve-wracking."
Maeve nodded.
"Let's check in now," she changed the subject. "It's not too late, after we do that we can explore the city."
######
"Here's the roof," Maeve panted.
"Finally," Canale laughed. "I counted at least fifteen sets of stairs." Maeve had been leading them up flight after flight of stairs, until finally they reached a ladder that led to a roof door. They'd climbed up and sat at the edge, feet dangling, overlooking the city.
"So many lights," Maeve murmured.
"I really wish I could see them. Just once," Canale sighed.
That's when the rain started.
"Let's go back down," Maeve grinned devilishly. "I love walking in the rain."
######
Maeve and Canale strode until they reached a park. By then, both were thoroughly soaked to the bone.
"Doesn't it make you feel so fresh?" Maeve exalted. "So pure?"
"How about 'wet' and 'miserable'?"
Maeve pouted. "You're no fun."
Canale was silent for a while, then said suddenly, "Maeve, can I...tell you something?"
"Of course."
"I...I like you. And I thought this would be a good time to confess, but..." Noticing Maeve's lack of response, he shut his mouth, embarrassed.
For a short moment, Maeve flashed back to that one night. A similar confession. But what she hadn't known back then was that Hecate had been jealous of her witch mother for getting with Zeus and for her ability to charm people in general. Thus, she cast a spell that cursed not Maeve's mom herself (for what was done was done) but her descendants. Any who fell in love with that descendant would meet a pitiful end in exactly two weeks, unless the curse was broken. But the trick was, the confession had to be put into words. Otherwise nothing would happen.
The last time, it had been Basil. And he had met his demise exactly a week later through Medusa. But that time, even though he was her best friend, Maeve hadn't loved Basil back. With Canale though, it was a different story.
Maeve had to get away, to sort all of these thoughts rushing through in her head at a million miles per hour. To be alone.
Canale had a pained expression in his eyes.
"Sorry if that was too sudden."
Maeve didn't respond. Instead, she ran. The rain pounded against her skin, clouded her vision, stimulated her mind.
In a tiny part of her brain, she registered Canale whispering, "Please wait," registered the salty taste in her mouth from tears. But Maeve didn't look back.
######
Waking up and letting go,
To the sound of angels.
Am I alive or just a ghost?
Haunted by my sorrows.
Hope is slipping through my hands,
Gravity is taking hold.
Said I'm not afraid, that I am brave enough.
-"Hold Me Now" by Red
Maeve woke up in the middle of the forest, not remembering what had occurred after the events in the park last night. Upon seeing Canale in her peripheral vision, sitting with his knees pulled to his chest, however, the memories washed back.
She remembered running all the way back to their hotel, then realizing, more clear-headed at that point, that Canale wouldn't be able to get back.
'It's not like anything was his fault,' Maeve remembered chiding herself, over and over.
And with that, she returned to the park, only to find that Canale had found a nearby tree to huddle under. He seemed to be unconscious though, presumably from a fever. Maeve had then taken him deeper into the woods, where she had fallen asleep in exhaustion.
She heard Canale cough.
'I'm so sorry,' Maeve wanted to say. But all she did was roll over to face him.
"Oh, so Sleeping Beauty is finally awake. Would you care to explain to me what happened last night?" he asked coldly. "If you didn't think I was good enough for you, then you should've just said so. No need to run."
Maeve rested her back against his knees. Then she started sobbing. She couldn't help it.
"Okay. Don't tell me. I don't care. But don't leave me here again. You know I can't find my way back, least of all without a cane."
'Oh yeah,' Maeve thought. 'I told him to leave that at the hotel. I said it'd be safe.'
The guilt flooded over her again. She debated telling Canale about the curse, but knew it wasn't a good time. And she was determined to break the curse, possibly before anything bad happened. Before anyone found out.
Maeve took Canale's slender hand and pulled him up.
"Sorry," she whispered.
He didn't say anything in response.
######
Upon arrival at their room, Maeve was somewhat surprised to see two outfits hanging from the door. On one a note reading, "For the Lady," was attached, on the other, a note reading, "For the Gentleman."
Maeve inwardly groaned. There was no way Canale would even consider going to the ball that night, especially after what had happened. She took both from the door, trying to be quiet, but Canale still heard the doorknob's movement.
"What was that?" he asked. His voice was still cold.
Maeve handed the garments to him, then walked away, not wanting to see his reaction. To her surprise, though, Canale walked in after her and held the dress out. He had returned the tuxedo to its place hanging from the doorknob.
"It feels extravagant," Canale said, complete honesty in his expression. "You should wear it. I'd bet everything that you'd look beautiful."
Maeve took it from him, and without waiting for her response, he turned and headed toward the door, feeling along the wall for his cane and taking it. Then, Canale disappeared into the corridor.
Maeve wanted to cry all over again.
######
After trying on the dress, Maeve realized that Canale was right. The electric blue of the feathery fabric of the dress exactly matched her eyes, and the lower part of the gown was long and voluminous. She walked out, down the corridor, down the stairs, and took her place at the ball, just standing near the stairs.
######
The dancing and waltzing music was beginning to make Maeve sick. But her attention soon caught on Canale, who was coming down the stairs with one hand on the railing and his cane in the other. He had managed to dress himself appropriately in the tuxedo and blazer provided, complete with a bowtie and top hat. Maeve moved to intercept him as he reached the bottom of the stairs, counting.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"I'm going to dance with a few girls. Or is that not allowed?"
Maeve had to admit, almost any girl would be willing to dance with Canale based on looks alone, but she could tell that he was bluffing. She saw how tense Canale was. It was obvious. The knuckles on his hand, the one holding the cane especially, were white as paper.
"No," she whispered. "I won't let you."
Before Canale could reply, Maeve slid Canale's cane from his hand with a bit of force and propped it up against the stairs. His face immediately drained of all color.
"Don't do it-"
"Don't worry," Maeve leaned in. "I won't let go, I promise."
She slid her hands into his. Slowly, Maeve felt the tension ease itself from his body.
Just then, an older woman walked by, saying, "Oh hello, it's you again."
"Oh," Canale muttered, embarrassed. "Hi."
"I saw this boy while he was dressing into his suit. He told me he'd spent three hours on it before I offered to help. I knew it was for a girl right away!" the woman smiled.
Canale blushed.
Maeve laughed along, surprised. She decided to fake a little confusion.
"But I thought you said you came to dance with lots of other girls," she said innocently.
The woman gasped, looking between them.
"I was merely kidding," Canale reassured.
"Good," the woman smiled at them. "Well, see you two around. I'll be going."
"Come with me," Maeve ordered as soon as she was gone. She didn't wait for a response, instead heading toward the door of the hotel.
As soon as Maeve let go of his hand to push the door open, Canale immediately said, "We are not going outside."
Maeve ignored him, holding open the door with one heeled shoe while proceeding to drag Canale outside with her.
"I want to talk to you in private."
They strode on in silence for a while. Canale's eyes widened after figuring out where Maeve was taking him.
"Not the park."
"Yes, the park. We're going to have a continuation of our last conversation. Bear with me, please."
Canale sighed, then nodded. Maeve could feel him getting more and more tense, though.
"About what you said."
Canale winced.
"I just wanted to say that I return those feelings."
Canale stopped walking.
"Then why didn't you tell me that?" he asked coldly.
"I felt guilty about not telling you earlier. For waiting for you to tell me," Maeve finished lamely. 'If I had told you first, the curse wouldn't have even been activated. But I was scared. Selfish. Stupid.' But she couldn't bring herself to tell him that part of the reason.
"Okay," she announced after a while. "Let's go back. I intend to spend the rest of the night at this ball."
"At least you didn't run this time," Canale murmured.
"I promised I wouldn't let you go, didn't I?" Maeve squeezed his hand.
At that, Canale smiled for the first time since the part of last night they'd spent on the roof.
######
Once they returned to the ball, Maeve and Canale were greeted with many compliments from people who believed they were newly arriving. Guests would praise Maeve for her beauty, for how stunning she looked in her dress. They would also compliment Canale on his natural, otherworldly perfect features, on the exotic color of his eyes. Once they reached the stairs, Canale located the third step with relative ease, then sat down on it. Maeve seated herself on his lap.
"I would give anything to be able to look at you right now," Canale whispered.
"Speak for yourself," Maeve laughed, taking the ribboned top hat off his head and putting it over her own. "You've always been perfect, with or without fancy garments."
And in that moment, as was her luck, something unspeakable happened. Or rather, someone unspeakable showed up to the ball, barely bothering to disguise herself.
Hecate, Goddess of Magic.
"I'm going to get a drink," Maeve spoke carefully to Canale. "Do you mind if I leave for just a bit?"
Canale nodded, feeling around the staircase for his cane.
Maeve didn't stay to watch, rushing over to Hecate immediately.
"Hecate. Why are you here?"
"To visit you, of course," Hecate sneered, then added, "My dear."
"Well, this is good timing, because I want you to remove my curse."
"And why would I do that?" Hecate asked. Her velvet dress shimmered, showing card tricks and fireworks blazing across the fabric.
"It had nothing to do with me. It was my mother. Please, I beg of you, remove it and I promise that your children will have a place at Camp. You'll have a cabin, a statue, anything you wish for."
Hecate considered the offer.
"As you wish, darling. But you know, the curse isn't placed on you. The curse is placed on the one who falls in love with you. So," her eye glinted. "You're going to have to bring the boy over to me. I'll wait here."
Maeve sighed in defeat, heading back over to the stairs. She didn't want to involve Canale, but this was quite possibly the best, and only, way she could get the curse removed.
"I'm back," Maeve announced as she sat down next to Canale.
"What took you so long? I thought you left again," Canale teased.
"Oh shush," she replied, gently swatting at his hand. "I have something I need to tell you, right now." Maeve was surprised at how serious her voice sounded.
Canale directed his gaze towards her.
"Continue."
Maeve then explained about the curse, and why she didn't want to tell him before.
"But Hecate can remove it. She's here," Maeve added. "Come with me, please?"
"You should've said something before," Canale said, stoic. "I'll come though."
He offered her his hand. She took it, leading him to Hecate, who, true to her word, was standing in the exact spot Maeve had left her.
"Hmm, a son of Hades?" Hecate muttered. "Such pretty eyes."
Maeve nodded.
"And?"
"Oh yes," Hecate replied. She snapped a finger.
"There, curse removed. Wouldn't want Hades getting mad at me for the death of his precious son." Then she strode away.
"Hades wouldn't care," Canale whispered. But even he couldn't stop the glimmer of doubt that flickered accross his face.
"Hey," she told him. "Forget the ball. Let's go to our room, okay? We need to have a talk about your father."
######
"Your father really does love you, you know that," Maeve began as soon as Canale had seated himself on the edge of a bed, with no sign of the confliction he'd displayed just moments ago.
"Is that why he left me? Why he never bothered to visit? Why he never stopped my mother from hating me?"
"Just what could he have done to interfere?"
"He could have let me visit my mother," Canale replied. "I just wanted to tell her that I was sorry. For not being the perfect child she wanted me to be."
'Tell him,' Hades' voice sighed in Maeve's mind. 'I suppose he needs to find out what really happened eventually.'
"The reason your father wouldn't let you visit...is because your mother was the one who took your sight," Maeve blurted. "She was a witch, right? She staged her own death and came back to take away your happiness."
Canale looked away for a minute, but didn't seem too surprised.
"She tried to take it away, you mean," he replied. "You're here, aren't you?"
Maeve blushed. She placed her thumbs on his eyelids, which fluttered shut upon her touch.
"Open or closed, the scene is still the same," Canale chided.
"I know. I was trying you give you a black eye with the makeup on my finger," Maeve lied playfully.
"Thank you. I happen to find black eyes very fashionable," he teased.
Maeve laughed.
"In all seriousness though, I want to apologize to you. For leaving. For lying. For everything," Maeve said sincerely.
"What was that? I don't think I heard you correctly," Canale responded, faking innocence.
She whacked him over the head with his own hat.
Sig:
Pie is good :)
Flour cakes are great :3
I like muffins too :D
