AN: I have finished typing up Answers... But I'm going to spread it out, if only to give me more time to get closer to the end in the next book. Also, I started college Monday... And I'm tired, so updates on anything might be a little slow, but they will get done... even if it takes two years...
Part Three: Hidden
Chapter Seven: Maria
Maria left the studio for the day, kissing her boyfriend good-bye before walking out. She was tired and needed a shower after a hard day.
She just had to find a place to go.
Maria didn't have a home or apartment. She had no family--well, none that she ever wanted to be in touch with. Two years ago, she had run away from that family. Since then, she had been hiding from them. There was no way in hell that she would ever go back.
Her choices of space were limited. If she hurried now, she could make it to the Salvation Army. There, she could get a warm, but itchy, bed and a lukewarm shower with a bar of soap that made her skin feel dry and stretched. But... It was so much better than the streets, just like when she first left.
Dirty, frightening... She hardly slept at all those few months before Charlie came along, toting a younger Torrence behind her. She supposed the two were going to lunch or something. Torrence passed by her, and right before completely leaving her behind, those eyes sought her out. Maria didn't react. Causing a scene now would only frighten a girl who didn't know her destiny. And this young teen, short but beautiful, full of wisdom and cunning she had yet to tap in to, was Maria's fate.
It was an automatic reaction. Maria was dirty, hungry, and completely unsure as to why she would do what she did when she knew not to make a scene. But that little girl...
She lunged at Charlie. The older woman didn't flinch, but Torrence gasped and leaped on Maria, trying to pull her down.
"Let go of Charlie!" Torrence screamed. Boy, was she strong. This girl was a fighter. She wasn't so sheltered, as Maria had quickly learned.
"Torrence Margaret!" Charlie scolded, unafraid and undaunted by a mere girl.
Torrence quit her assault, staring at Charlie strangely. Maria laughed, pulling the girl off of her. She wanted to hug this child.
She was so pefect.
A dream.
The goddess had been right, and the Fates had chosen the right person. Maria breathed a sigh of relief.
"Charlie?"
"Can't you see this girl just needs help, and you attack her? What kind of manners have you been taught?" The woman scolded, her eyes narrowed at the girl. Maria could sense the love the two had for each other, no matter how harsh Charlie sounded. "Now apologize."
"I... I'm sorry," Torrence mumbled.
Maria smiled. "I should have expected it, I suppose."
"What's your name, girl?" Charlie's critical eyes turned to her.
Maria hesitated. Her name? She couldn't reveal her identity. She was already wearing a glamour...
"Maria. My name is Maria." She let go of Torrence, facing Charlie as she did so.
"You look like a dancer. Would you like to dance for me?"
Torrence smiled and looked away. It was just like Charlie to take on strays like that. Like she did with Torrence and a dozen other kids over the years.
"I..." Maria didn't know what to say.
"Yes?"
"Yes..."
Torrence, despite being younger, became her mentor after that. They developed a fondness for one another.
Until Robert, that is. It was necessary. It was a critical decision, made for Torrence. ... And herself. A goddess should be above all crap, as proud and sturdy as Athena herself.
Even though it ruined what bond the two girls had, it focused the goddess on what was important. Now, if she could only figure out how to get rid of that Nikolas kid as well...
Maria sighed as she headed for the shelter for the ngiht.
Hers was a hard life, and soon... And soon, she would have to come out of hiding and face the world once more as herself.
AN: So, what do you think? Curious to know who Maria is and why she would think of Torrence like this? :D
Next Up: Conrad breaks down to Jimena, revealing the truth about the Pandora incident
