CH.4: Falling out

It was the annual family hunt and no one was exempt…well except for Auggie who was still human and the things they would do might scar him. Maya was still mad at Riley for going after Lucas so the two of them weren't exactly on speaking terms. The hunt was a two day event first started by Cory's parents who could not be here due to other matters that concerned them. Standing in the crisp cold night of September Maya wore a blue low cut blouse over blue faded jeans fitted for activities that involved running and duration.

Riley wore a purple black corset over a long flowing skirt. Her hair was done up in a slight bun with hair trailing out over her soft features. Maya had taken one look at the outfit and figured she was staring at mirror Riley. Her behavior was hard to pinpoint these days with emotional mood swings and boy stealing. Where was the happy go lucky spunky girl who sang 'I'm walking on sunshine' when she was having a good day? When had they started to fall apart?

"Evening family…and welcome to the annual family hunt. To those still new to this I will explain the rules. Each of you will be given a certain part of town…you are to find your mark…drink their blood and take one possession of theirs off of them. Once you have the possession you must bring it back here…however it is fair game to the other family members so if they confront you and manage to best you…anyway…then that item is theirs and it counts as a point. Whoever has the most possessions wins the award."

Maya didn't really know what the reward was…she had yet to win. Sometimes she wondered if she had the heart for this, oh wait she didn't, so yeah that made sense. Competing with them was Topanga…who normally babysat Auggie. It was just them girls out here…the three of them going toe to toe. Her mother was working late at the blood bank so she couldn't make it. Josh was away as well and Eric was hard to pinpoint these days.

"On your mark…get set…go!" Cory yelled and the three were off. Maya veered to the right as she followed the path she had been assigned. Her outfit allowed her certain liberties she was certain Riley's wouldn't allow. Being the more athletic of the two she bounded over the gate and proceeded to the subway. It was dark and lots of homeless people were about. Creeping along she can smell a heavily intoxicated young woman walking by.

Maya pressed her back up against the wall and as she launched from cover she brought her hand to her throat slowly leading her nails across drawing fresh blood out. The woman whimpered against her touch but she would not relent. Her fangs slowly worked out and she found her vein and sunk down drinking from her. The woman kicked about frantically as the color drained from her face till she lie limp in her arms.

Maya remembered somewhat how she had looked when Riley had drank from her. The difference though here was there was no chance to be reborn…she simply was no more. Lying her body down she moves her fingers over her eyes and then removes a necklace from around her throat and breaks it from her.

"Well done peaches…you did that masterfully and might I add that last part actually had me choking up. No seriously it did…Maya you are a true artist when it comes to the kill. Now hand over the necklace."

"Why…so you can steal this away from me like you did with Lucas?" Maya shouted out at her. Due to the day of night the subway didn't have too many people to worry about seeing them…and if so they were either drunk or keeping to themselves.

"Ooh…still hurting over that huh? Look Maya what we have is special…don't throw it away over some boy who will be mine soon. I will drain him of his blood…as I did you and he will be my special someone…my mate for all eternity-."

"Have you even asked him what he wants? Riles we don't have to drain everyone to fall in love, that is taking their free choice…that is forcing them into something they may not want. I like him, human; if you take that away from him he'll be dead…he'll lose what made him special-."

"Maya…stop fighting for him…it is already decided. True my father thinks I am not ready to sire another, but, I am willing to give it another go to make him into something splendid and unstoppable. We all have our special someone Maya…Lucas is just not for you." Riley then races at her.

Maya wanted no part of this so she turned tail and began to run. Riley of course was already on her dragging her back down and then throwing her into one of the support beams. Her blond hair flew in front of her face and as she lay on the ground she swept her leg and went to drag Riley down with her.

"Riley…I don't want to hurt you…you are my best friend and this is just some stupid contest. Why can't you go back to being the girl who I admired-?"

Riley glowered at her and brought her elbow up and brought it down on her stomach causing her to sit upright. Feeling her cold hands at her throat she began to roll around trying to lose her. The two of them were refusing to give up and Maya kneed her before throwing her over her. Getting to her feet she sees Riley dash at her slamming into her side.

"That girl…she does not exist anymore…I have to think of my future Maya…with or without you by my side." Maya took a moment to consider those words. And then she attacked. The two began to slice at each other's clothes and each of them then gripping the other's head as they spun around; neither refused to break this deadlock.

"Riley this is insane…all this over one boy…can't you see this is tearing us apart?" Maya tugged on Riley's hair but Riley did not respond like she would usually. She felt Riley spinning her faster and then she threw her onto the subway tracks. Maya spat up blood as she hit the tracks and she felt her arm break upon contact. Pain shot through her and she looked up to see Riley standing above her.

"Maya…you have to give up on Lucas…it is not healthy obsessing over him." Riley then picked up the necklace that had been lost by her during their scuffle. Hearing a subway car heading towards her she closes her eyes and in a split second of being hit she bends down absorbing some of the gravity against her before leaping up and grabbing onto one of the lights above. Bending her knees in she hangs there and waits for the vehicle to pass before falling down. Lying there holding her arm she hears the car disappear before rising to her feet. This was not over.


Riley had gotten ahead of her in points but Maya did not sweat it out much. She did her best with a broken arm that was on the mend, vampire healing and all. She came up against Topanga once but the older vampire was too powerful and in her weakened state it didn't take long to render her useless. By the time the night wore on into the wee early hours of morning, yeah she used wee, her body was broken and bruised and she and Riley had to call in sick.

During her recuperation she thought about her fight with Riley and how the two of them had been so intense. Riley had come out of that fight the victor…which surprised her given Riley's stance on violence…at least the old her. Right now Maya's eye was swollen and her arm was in a sling, her lip was swollen and there was bruising on her stomach and chest. Cory was stunned to see both her and Riley beaten up while Topanga, the winner seemed quite healthy and free of much urt.

Maya decided to go out for a walk one night and heard a weapon behind her. "We have go to stop meeting like this." The voice said and Maya bit her bottom lip.

"Ranger Roy…you intending to do something with that weapon or what?" Maya turned around looking through her one good eye and smiled seeing Lucas lower his crossbow.

"Well that depends…why Ranger Roy?" He gave her a playful smile of his own and Maya tried to run her hand through her hair but her hand was in a cast.

"It goes nicely with where you come from…a little friendly banter really," Maya felt a bit ashamed to say this all aloud.

"I like it…tell you what…each time we see each other you can call me whatever you like. I didn't see you in class today…nor did I see your friend. Is everything alright?" He reached forward and she tensed…until he pulled her hair behind her ear.

"It is nothing…just a family outing that got a bit rough," Maya shrugged nonchalantly at it ceasing any conversation on the topic. "What are you doing out?"

"Do you want a lie or the truth?" Lucas slung his crossbow across his back and went to lean up against the wall.

"Tell me a lie…I'll tell you if I believe you," Maya joined him up against the wall and looked out at the empty streets all around them.

"A believable lie huh…ok…how about this I was out for a walk?" He looked at her and she shook her head.

"A guy like you out for a walk…nah…how about the truth this time?" May waited while watching him with hopeful blue eyes.

Lucas reached his hand down below and as she felt his fingers brush along hers she felt her voice caught in her throat. This was unexpected…not that she didn't want this to happen but…how could he feel for her…when she killed his kind?

"I came out hoping I would find you…kind of glad I chose tonight. I know you are a vampire Maya…and that my being a hunter can make things…tricky. I don't care though…you make me happy and that is what should count…right?" He began to lean in and she felt her body moving of its own accord.

"Y-Yeah…of course…happiness…you…" She was just about to kiss him, share her very first kiss when she hears a phone ring.

"I'm sorry about that…my parents don't like me out this late. I'll see you in class tomorrow…assuming your friend doesn't bite me. I enjoyed this little chat of ours."

"Yeah I did too…Lucas…" Maya was about to say something when he leaned in and kissed her cold cheek. Placing her hand on hit she watches as he leaves. It may not have been on the lips…but it was a start.

Authors note: Riley and Maya's problems are just scraping the surface and now that Lucas has shown how he feels for Maya things will only get rockier. And of course add Cory the protective parent and his suspicions of Lucas and drama is bound to happen.