A/N: Whee! Another chapter. I'm on fire. This one is longer than usual, but that's a good thing. No end in sight yet folks. Dontcha hate it when a story decides to take off on its own?
Just another note too, I'm hoping that the timeline of this story won't be confusing to understand. The first part of the first chapter is in April, while the rest of it so far has been in February, showing the events that lead up to April. Maybe I should add dates?
Hope Maya isn't too OOC either. We only ever see chipper/brave Maya so this was kinda hard. Anyhoo thanks again to my readers and reviewers – you guys keep me writing. Enjoy!
Maya plodded down the narrow hallway of Phoenix's small apartment, yawning loudly and rubbing her eyes. It was just before lunch when she had finally dragged herself out of bed, her growling stomach forcing her to get up for something to eat. It had pretty much been the same story for the last week. Her sleeping had become so erratic lately and her body clock was all out of sync with the real world.
She couldn't help it, sleep just didn't happen as easily as it did before. The night time felt completely new to her, like she was facing it for the first time. She felt so alone, so afraid. The darkness led her mind into places that she did not want it to go. It meant remembering. It meant fear. It meant sorrow. Many hours were spent crying tears that never seemed to run out before her tired body fell asleep from sheer exhaustion, causing her to sleep well into the morning. Phoenix hadn't mentioned the distinct change in Maya's personality (and sleeping habits) and to be honest, she was glad. She really wasn't ready to talk about it. She wasn't exactly sure when she would be, either.
Maya wondered idly if Pearl was downstairs already. She shuffled into the kitchen, noticing a chair pulled up to the counter, along with the chaos that consisted of spilled cheerio's and milk.
"Nick is bad, but not that messy..." she thought to herself figuring that Pearl must have already been up for some time. Maya assumed that Pearl would be sitting in front of the small TV in the office downstairs, some unknown cartoon keeping her completely captivated. She headed for the fridge to see if there was anything edible inside. The outside of the fridge was cluttered with all sorts of things stuck down by a strange mixture of magnets. A mess of photos, coupons and bills stared back at her, but a piece of paper in the top left corner caught her attention. She smiled upon recognizing Phoenix's messy scrawl.
The phrase "FREE BURGERS" was written in huge letters across the top of the note. Maya giggled and continued to read.
"Sorry Maya, just wanted to make sure this note got your attention. Your cousin Andre rang early this morning to tell you he'll be picking up Pearls around three and taking her home. I'll probably be down at the detention centre most of the day. If you need anything, call my cell. – Nick."
"Oh, shoot." she thought sadly. She had completely forgotten about Pearl having to go home today. "It's probably for the best..." she sighed to herself, dropping the note on the counter and heading down the stairs that led to the office.
Pearl was indeed exactly where Maya presumed she would be. Lying on the floor in front of the TV, chin in her hands. Her empty cereal bowl sat on the floor to her left, while a number of picture books were spread out across the floor to her right.
"God forbid we actually have a client come in to the office..." Maya thought to herself. "They'll think we're running some sort of day care centre." She padded over to the couch and flopped down, surprising Pearl, who had been far too engrossed in the bear stealing picnic baskets to have heard her approach.
"Mystic Maya!" she cried happily, turning to smile at her cousin. "Good Morning!"
"Morning Pearly." Maya responded. Pearl turned back to the television show she was watching.
"Did you sleep well?" Pearl asked, eyes not moving from the screen.
"Yeah, I guess I did." Maya lied. There wasn't any point telling Pearl otherwise.
"That's good." Pearl said cheerily. "Did you have any good dreams? I bet you dreamed about Mr Nick didn't you, Mystic Maya?" she added cheekily, causing Maya to chuckle.
"No, Pearly. I did not dream about Nick." Maya said, rolling her eyes.
"That's a shame." Pearl said nonchalantly, still engrossed in the cartoon she was watching.
After a few moments, the show ended, and Pearl sat up, turning her back to the TV and facing Maya.
"Where is Mr Nick, anyway?" Pearl asked. "He wasn't here when I got up."
"He's down at the detention centre again." Maya replied.
"With Sister Iris?"
"Yep."
Maya sighed. Pearl eyed her suspiciously.
"Does that bother you, Mystic Maya?"
Maya felt herself get slightly flustered.
"What? No! If course not." She protested. Pearl shrugged.
"Okay." Pearl conceded, raising her eyebrows. "Well, it's just that you said he's at the detention centre "again" as if that bothered you, then you let out that big sigh when I asked about Sister Iris, and then when we were there the other day he was staring at..."
"Okay, Pearly. I get it." Maya interrupted."I'm not jealous, I'm just...tired. I'm tired that's all. And I feel like I haven't seen Nick for days."
Although her claims of being tired were nothing more than a weak excuse, the rest of it was the truth. She really hadn't seen Phoenix for more than a few hours in the last three days. Apparently the appeal on Iris's sentence was going well and it seemed very likely she would be allowed to serve out the rest of her sentence back home at Hazakurain, under the care of Sister Bikini. Phoenix seemed obsessed with getting this done, and okay, maybe she was a little jealous. She would admit that to herself, but definitely not to Pearl.
"But that's not important." Maya said, changing the subject and grinning at the little girl. "We've only got a few hours before you have to go home, so how 'bout we pack a picnic and head down to People Park?"
Pearl clapped her hands together excitedly, a huge smile spreading across her face.
"I'd love that, Mystic Maya!" Her face fell suddenly. "It's a shame Mr Nick can't come too." She said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Doesn't matter." Maya said with a smile, standing up and helping her young cousin to her feet. "We'll have a blast Pearly, just you and me. Go on and get yourself ready."
"Do I really have to go home today, Mystic Maya?" Pearl asked sadly.
"I'm afraid so, Pearly." Maya responded. "The elders want you to continue with your training, so you have to go home."
"What about your training, Mystic Maya?"
Maya cringed. The million dollar question.
"Don't worry about me Pearly, I'll sort it out. Now hurry! Get your shoes!" she said as cheerily as she could. It appeared it was a good enough answer for Pearl, who scurried off with no further questions. Maya sighed. She really didn't want to think about what Kurain held for her right now. She wondered what Phoenix was doing. Pearl was right about one thing.
"It would be better if Nick were coming Pearly. It really would." She thought wistfully before heading back up the stairs to get ready herself.
The trip to the park seemed to be just what Maya needed. The sunshine lifted her spirits considerably and it warmed her heart to see Pearl so genuinely happy. They ate lunch together, fed the baby ducks and Maya had even pushed Pearl on the swing. She giggled and grinned, and Maya couldn't believe that it had only been a week since that case ended. It felt like they were a world away, which made her happy. She was happiest when she could forget.
Satisfied with their day of fun in the sun, the girls began their short walk back to the office. They hadn't got very far when Maya felt Pearl tugging gently on her hand. She looked down at the tiny girl, only to find her yawning and rubbing at her eyes.
"Mystic Maya, can you pick me up?" Pearl asked wearily. Maya smiled and lifted the girl into her arms. It was lucky that Pearl was so small for her age. That and they were only about a block from the office anyway. Maya shifted Pearl's weight so she sat comfortably on her hip, and began walking again. A minute or so passed and Maya noticed that Pearl was fast asleep.
Finally back at the office building, Maya climbed the stairs that led to the Wright & Co Law Offices, only to find her cousin Andre leaning casually against the wall outside the door.
"You're early." She said to him, unlocking the door and heading inside the empty office.
"You're late." He responded, following her inside. Maya carefully positioned Pearl on the couch so as not to wake her.
"Nick told me three. It's half past two."
Andre decided to make himself comfortable by taking a seat on the edge of Phoenix's desk. Maya cringed at her conceited cousin's invasion of Phoenix's space.
"Well, I told Mr Wright two o clock. He must have got it wrong."
Maya rolled her eyes. Of all the people they would send to pick up Pearl, it had to be Andre Fey. Although she referred to Andre as a cousin, she wasn't exactly sure how they were related at all. Second cousin...third cousin maybe? She wasn't sure. But what she did know is that Andre was about as stuck up as they come. His family did have some connection to the Fey head family – she knew that much and Andre was just the type of person to milk it for all it was worth. Also, the fact that he was one of the only males permanently living in Kurain only helped inflate his ego to galactic proportions. Any girl who wasn't a blood relative gushed over him like you wouldn't believe. Maya conceded that while he was conventionally attractive it was his excessive self belief that made him repulsive in her eyes. His dark hair and eyes gave him a rather mysterious air, and the agricultural work that his family looked over in the village ensured he maintained his strong physique, but nonetheless, he was a huge jerk.
"Regardless, we are here now. You can take her." Maya said flatly.
"Actually," he began. "I have a message for you as well."
Maya said nothing, deciding that staring at him impatiently would be more poignant. Andre smirked at her, examining his fingernails before speaking again.
"The Elders have requested that you return to Kurain also."
Maya felt her heart sink in her chest.
"I can't do that right now, Andre." Maya said in the calmest voice she could manage. "I am needed here."
"Don't you think you are needed much more back in Kurain, Mystic Maya?" he said, placing a little too much emphasis on the word 'Mystic'. "You do realise that you are the one responsible to make the arrangements for your mothers burial. Misty Fey is dead, and that makes you the master, which in turn means the duty falls to you."
Maya closed her eyes, her brow furrowing as she registered the full impact of Andre's insensitivity to her mothers passing.
"Get out Andre. Take Pearl and get out." Maya said through gritted teeth.
Andre smirked again, and shook his head.
"Maya Fey." He said incredulously. "I must say I am terribly disappointed in you. After everything you have been given, you still insist on leaving your duty and tradition behind to chase this ridiculous notion of law."
Maya scowled at him, but it didn't seem to faze him.
"Or..." he continued, crossing his arms. "Is it the lawyer that you are chasing?" he finished, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought I asked you to get out, Andre. Now leave." Maya said again, her calm grasp on the situation slowly slipping away.
He glared at her then, his expression changing from one of smug self satisfaction to one of resentment.
"You bring shame to the Fey Family, Maya. Just like your sister. Just like your mother. You don't deserve to be master." He spat, before striding over to the couch and scooping up Pearl into his arms.
"Kurain is better off without the disgrace you bring it. Maybe you shouldn't come back."
Andre picked up the small backpack by the door that contained Pearls belongings and shot Maya one last icy stare before storming out, slamming the door behind him.
Maya remained frozen for a few moments, breathing unevenly. Andre's bluntness had left her in some form of shock. Then it happened. Looking back she could have sworn that she felt herself break in that instant. Slowly, she sank to her knees on the floor. Small sobs began to shake her tiny frame as tear after tear trickled down her cheeks. It was all coming out. All the pain she felt...all the anguish. She sat there for a very long time, body hunched over, her hands balled into fists as the tears kept falling.
As the orange glow of the sunset filtered through the window across the room, loud sobs echoed heartbreakingly through the empty office and a broken woman sat all alone with her head in her hands.