Disclaimer: I don't own the nightworld series. Yet. Mwahaha.
Hannah stepped forward fiercely, a sharp wooden stake in her hand. Poppy's copper curls were shaking as she hissed at the figure smiling mockingly up from the ground. Everyone else had taken at least another step back apart from Hannah. Poppy pulled Phil back along with herself. The figure began to try and stand up but Hannah kicked her in the shin. It looked like it didn't hurt her but it certainately stopped her from getting back up. The figure chuckled softly at first and then gradually the laughter began to grow louder, shaking her body.
This seemed to infuriate Hannah even more, causing her to lunge at the psychotic female with the wooden stake. Ash only just managed to grab hold of Hannah and hold her back. "We need to find out how she found us." He whispered and Hannah took several deep breaths and seemed to physically relax.
"Alright." Hannah said after a while and she nodded to Ash. He nodded back and let go of her slowly. He didn't step back though, wanting to be close in case something went wrong. Hannah put the stake on the floor, stepped closer to the female and knelt down. The woman smiled wider and Phil decided she looked like a cat that just killed the canary (my dad told me that one).
Everyone's eyes were fixed to the two females that were as different as day and night. Hannah with her fair blond hair, clear grey eyes and the curious birthmark. Then there was the mysterious female whose eyes seemed to change colour every time you looked, straight black hair that any female would kill for and pale cream skin that looked like the type you'd find in a moisturiser advertisement.
"Maya." Was all Hannah said.
The female, obviously called Maya smiled wider. "You remember little old me then."
"How could I forget when I was the one who killed you." Hannah said.
Maya didn't seem put out by that instead it produced another chuckle from her and she said, "Well here I am."
"Yes, would you care to shed some light on just how you're here. Back from whichever hell dimension I opened the gates to and that should have closed right after." Hannah asked, rather calmly.
"Let's just say someone brought me back and it's thanks to her that I'm in your delightful company once more. I see you've still got that scar." Maya said, the smug smile never disappearing.
Hannah stiffened slightly at the mention of the scar but then appeared to shrug it off. Phil wondered why only Maya seemed to make Hannah uncomfortable at her scar. When he had seen it Hannah hadn't even seemed to notice him studying it. "Why did you try to kill me and my delightful friends?"
"A little favour for the one that kindly brought me back. She really doesn't like your copper haired friend there." Maya chuckled.
Poppy froze and her hand dropped from Phil's shoulder. She started to shake, Phil grabbed hold of her quickly and a guy came up on the other side to help hold Poppy upright. Maya laughed harder and it got more and more sinister. Hannah grabbed hold of Maya by the front of her clothes. "Tell me, who brought you back." Hannah ordered fiercely.
Maya's laughter died down slightly and she looked Hannah in the eye. "No one you'll find." Hannah shook Maya with more strength than Phil had expected. Ash stepped forward but he didn't pull Hannah back.
Maya softly began to recite a single line underneath her breath; every time she repeated it she got louder. "A witch who isn't a witch."
Hannah let go slightly as she thought about what Maya said. She recalled that the dragon had said the exact same thing to Keller. Thierry needed to know, and soon. Before anyone could react Maya moved at lightning speed and she quickly grabbed Hannah by the arm. She twisted it around and then spun Hannah to face everyone. She held both of Hannah's arms tight and brushed her lips against her neck.
"Hmm, wonder how Thierry would like it if I had a little nibble." Maya mused out loud with a soft, breathy laugh.
Suddenly she let go of Hannah quickly and looked down at where her heart was supposed to be. The tip of the wooden stake could be seen and Maya fell onto her knees and then she seemed to collapse in on herself. Just like in the movies. She died soundlessly but with the smug smile still on her lips and behind her stood the person responsible.
He looked tall behind the knelt, collapsing figure. The soft breeze gently tugged at his hair brandishing him with a certain wildness. His eyes were unforgiving as he looked down at the yellowing bag of bones he said, "Yes, I'm thinking he would mind."
Hannah picked herself up quickly and ran to Thierry. She wrapped her arms around him and he buried his face in her hair. Hannah was gently crying and Thierry made soothing noises while his hands ran up and down her fine fair hair.
Phil was so caught up in their moment of happiness just because they were safely together that Poppy's entire weight on him was sudden. He nearly collapsed under the weight and struggled to hold her up. Luckily the guy on the other side helped pull her up. Together they managed to carry her back to the car. Gillian and Maggie both got back in the car and with a wave to the others they set off.
"Hi. I'm Delos. Maggie's soulmate." The other boy said.
"Phil." Came the reply. They shook hands briskly.
"Hey Delos. Noticed you sneaked out to do a bit of shopping this morning then." Maggie said, with Gillian trying to hide her laughter unsuccessfully.
Delos actually blushed and looked down to avoid eye contact with her in the mirror. She laughed at him and said, "I hope you chose something good at least."
He laughed as well and the mood in the car seemed to lift considerably. No one talked about Maya; instead they talked about trivial things. Things that happened everyday. Phil was worried about his sister at first but then he realised that she had just fainted. He relaxed and found that he was even able to join in on a few of the small conversations.
Once they reached the mansion that Poppy had told him about he almost lost his cool completely. The place was a palace never mind a mansion. Black roses were everywhere, but Phil already knew that black roses were a made vampires 'flower'. Poppy's flower was a black rose. He had laughed hard about that when Poppy had told him.
Inside the mansion was just as impressive as the outside. The place boasted of money, much like the cars had. They carried Poppy for ages until they reached a bedroom. He didn't have to ask to know it was Poppy and James. Techno CD's spilled over every surface. He had thrown a fit when Poppy had told him that she shared a room with James but it had been a while ago and he had grown used to the fact that he can't separate them so it wasn't really worth trying, unless he really wanted a big rant.
They lay Poppy down gently on the bed and Gillian suddenly ran out of the bedroom to the door that led to the corridor. A girl was walking passed and Gillian grabbed hold of her shoulder. The girl turned to Gillian, looking surprised and ready to fend her off but when she realised who it was she smiled. Phil recognised her as a fighter, he wasn't sure how or what she was but he knew it like he knew he had blond hair.
"Keller, have you seen James anywhere?" Gillian asked.
Keller rocked back slightly onto her heels as she thought. "Yeah, I have actually. He was in the common room downstairs. I don't know if he's still there though, it was a while ago I saw him. I've got time to go get him if you want." Keller answered.
Gillian nodded and thanked the girl before turning around and walking back into the bedroom. She nodded to Maggie and Delos who said a kind goodbye before walking out, hand-in-hand.
About five minutes later James walked in saying, "What do you want Gillian? Is Poppy with you." When he walked into the bedroom he froze when he saw Poppy lain on the bed.
"Relax James, she just fainted. Lucky Phil managed to stop her from falling very far." Gillian told him quickly. James's gaze settled on Phil, shock crossed his face first and then confusion but it finally settled on sheer happiness. James crossed the room and slapped Phil on the back.
"Long time no see Rasmussen." Phil said with a straight face.
James chuckled and Phil couldn't keep up the façade any longer. He grinned back at James and punched him on the arm. Phil was happy to see that James hadn't grown as far as Phil could tell and Phil had really hit the gym. Girls went out of their way to even speak to Phil and even more so now that his muscles were even more defined.
Poppy began to stir softly and Gillian quietly slipped out the room.