-Chapter 9-
She was running.
Her long reddish blond hair waved behind her. Bare feet were covered in mud.
On her long simple brown dress were splatters of mud and strikes of green.
She could feel her lungs burn, her legs almost felt limb from running. She was so tired. But she had to keep going. They were going to kill him. They had only found out about a week ago and now he was dying. It couldn't be a coincidence. It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
It just couldn't be… "Thomas." she whispered out his name as his house came into view. She could see a figure standing in front of the door. A hopeful smile crept upon her face but it crashed like glass when she recognized the person's features. She stopped then, dead in her tracks. Her eyes locked with the evil smirk on his face. "No…please," her voice broke. "No!"
"No!" Maia yelled, shooting up from the bed she had been lying in. Bewildered, she looked around in the dark bedroom. She recognized it as Dante's. He left her there to get some more sleep since she had been pretty tired. Saving so many souls caused her to use up all the energy she had, even in unicorn form. She sighed and brushed her bangs out of her face. They were wet from sweat and as she looked down, she noticed that the blankets were actually wrapped around her bare legs from all the tossing and turning she had been doing. Also her cheeks were wet. Had she been crying?
Maia lowered her head in her hands, trying to recall the dream. It had felt so real. She had felt the emotions from the woman so lively, it was frightening. Who was the girl or woman? And who was this Thomas person?
Maia bit her lip and pushed herself backwards, so that her upper body fell back upon the mattress. The dream had felt to real for it to be just a dream…it had to mean something.
Maia turned her head and faced the window. Curtains had prevented the sunlight from pouring in, so that she would remain human. Dante was very clear about his 'no pet' policy. Maia chuckled at the memory of their little chat a few hours ago. He accused her from holding back on information. She should have told him she only changed 'in' direct sunlight.
At the moment, there was no light seeping through the material of the curtains. Maia checked the clock and noticed that it was already near midnight. She had slept for quite a while.
Pushing herself up from the bed, she walked over to the curtains and pulled one of them aside. She got a good view over the almost abandoned street. The sky was dark and greyish, no stars were seen and neither was the moon. Clouds were probably gathering and by the looks of it, it could start to rain soon. Maia grimaced and wanted to close the curtain, but then her attention got caught by something down the street. She frowned and narrowed her eyes, zooming in on something behind a group of garbage cans. Yet there was nothing there. Had she been seeing things? She could have sworn she saw a shadowy figure standing in the darkness of the narrow street. The image of Nergal appeared in her mind. Her brown orbs scanned the pavement below, but there was nothing. Slowly she closed the curtains again and remained standing there for a while, staring at the black fabric. An eerie feeling crept its way up her spine, but she shook it off together with the urge to run and hide. It lay in her nature to do so, ever since she got used to being a unicorn… She turned her head towards the human length mirror standing in the corner and turned a quarter to check her reflection. Her figure…her human figure. She was not a unicorn anymore…after what seemed like the longest year in her life, she had began to feel more like…her old self.
She frowned again and took a step closer. She was wearing a black long sleeved shirt and a pair of white shorts that Lady bought for her. She had also bought some other smaller pieces of clothes Maia didn't know what to do with. Something about doing Dante a favour…
Maia pursed her lips. With her hands she gathered up her hair and twisted it in a knot, holding it together with one hand and turned herself around on her heel and checking her back. She forgot what she looked like as a human…She probably didn't look much different before she became what she was today…an 'angel' or at least that's what Dante had called it. She wondered if she looked good for a human and if Dante... Wait what was she thinking? Where were these thoughts coming from!? Maia let go of her hair and placed her arms on her sides. Why did she want to know what Dante thought of her...?
By the way, where was Dante...? Her sensitive ears couldn't pick up any sounds coming from downstairs. Was he even in? Maia frowned and paced towards the bedroom door to open it. She trailed through the hallway and stepped on the open staircase that looked down on the dark office. No one was there.
Maia tilted her head slightly, her eyes scanning the floor below for any signs of movement, but there was nothing. She sighed. So she was alone then.
She started walking down the stairs, when a noise like shattering glass caught her attention. Her head shot swiftly towards the sound near the front door, eyes squinting in the darkness. In the light of the lanterns from outside, she could see shimmering pieces of glass lying on the floor next to the front door.
Maia exhaled slowly and continued down the stairs, keeping her cool. When downstairs she stopped, staying near the staircase and with her head turned towards the window to wait for what was to come. Suddenly a blast made the entire window explode. Pieces of glass flying through the office. Maia had to crouch down and cover her face with her arms and long hair to prevent to get hit.
She removed her arms when the sound had died somewhat and stared at the cloaked figure whom hovered in front of the window and floated in. Maia's eyes grew wide as she stared at the demon. Swiftly she stood up. Her hair parted in two over each one of her shoulders.
The demon breathed heavily as it came closer. "I found you." his cracking voice said.
"It appears so." Maia said in a soft but steady voice, although she did become very nervous.
The demon chuckled near her ear when it suddenly appeared behind her. "I see you're not so anxious to run away now. Nergal will be very pleased"
Maia could feel the demons hot breath on her neck and she resisted the urge to shudder.
The demon chuckled again and circled her until he was standing right there in front of her. "Not going to reply?" he asked. A grin formed on his shadowy old face, pure white teeth shimmering dangerously at her. "You know they are looking for you now?"
Maia snapped out of her angst and looked at him frowning. "What do you mean...? Why?"
He started to laugh as he noticed he got her attention now. Apparently she had no idea. "You're demon hunter knows...didn't he tell you? Rhea came to visit you."
"What?" Maia's clear voice didn't hide the surprise. "Rhea? That can't be true."
"Ah..." the demon said, his grin growing wider. "So you do remember her death. Alexander was growing weary of your memory returning. I guess he wasn't overreacting"
Maia frown grew deeper and she tilted her head at the information and the name the demon was giving her. "Of course I remember her death, she was...She..." Maia closed her eyes as her brain began to search for the memory that was tucked away so deep she couldn't reach it. "She was..."
The demon circled her again. "You don't remember everything, do you...But it will come...slowly it will come, and you will become more dangerous to Alexander. That's why he send my brother, Nergal, to find you..They made an agreement."
Maia's eyes shot open again and she stared at the demon. She had absolutely no idea what was happening, but this demon appeared to be the only resource who could explain to her what was going on. So she decided to suck in every inch of information he was going to give to her.
"But you know what Alexander forgot...?" the demon snickered, standing behind her again and placing his bony hands on her shoulders as he brought his lips to her left ear. "You should never trust a demon." This time when his breath touched her skin she failed to remain strong and quivered heavily under his hands. Maia cursed softly.
The demon smirked. His beady eyes staring at her silky long locks, his fingers trailing the light blonde waves ever so gently. "Oh yes, we've got a special surprise in store for Alexander and your family. You see they are looking for you my sweet."
Maia grimaced.
"And we are going to make sure that they will find you. And when they do...we will not only take your soul...but those of your brothers and sisters as well." His voice thrilled with anticipation as he envisioned all those pure souls being trapped in a demonic web, there for the grabbing.
"Why..." Maia turned around, making sure she took a step back as well to create some distance between them. "Why are they looking for me? I'm already being punished. I'm banned from the source, I can't use most of my powers...Why are they looking for me!?" Maia exclaimed, stepping over her fear for the demon.
He snickered and stared at her. "You mean you don't know...? I just told you right...You're beginning to remember."
"Remember what?" Maia asked, demanding an answer. Apparently this demon knew more about her past then she did.
The demon cocked his head to a side. "How did Rhea die?" he asked in a very sweet voice.
She frowned at him, trying to retrieve the memory. "Rhea died...giving her life for a human. The sacrifice, she completed her task."
The demon laughed loudly at her ignorance only confusing her more. "My sweet sweet Maia. Let me ask this again...How did Rhea, or should I say 'Katherine' die?"
Maia gasped as her thoughts shot back to the nightmare she'd had only moments ago."Katherine..." she breathed, some of the pieces falling together in her head.
"Yes..." the demon whispered, appearing right next to her again. She could feel his cloak tickling her arm. "Yes...you remember something don't you...?"
Maia squeezed her eyes shot as she felt a headache come up. Her hand shot up to her temple, to press her palm against it.
"Keep remembering..." the demon's voice sang. "Then Alexander and everybody will come. And they will die die die." His laughter echoed through the building.
The demon took her away from her safehouse. Impatiently he pushed her through the shattered window. Maia winched inwardly, when a piece of glass sticking out of the window frame, cut through the fabric of her shirt and into the skin of her upper left arm. She could feel the blood seeping through the wound, and soaking the sleeve of her shirt, but she ignored it.
"Let's go, my sweet." the demon said and snickered. He pushed her again, down the street.
Yet Maia stopped a few feet later, dead in her tracks when another figure came into view.
The demon, who hadn't noticed this, grew impatient. "Move." he growled into her ear.
Maia just stared at the figure at the end of the street. It came closer.
"Well well..." a female voice said.
"Rhea." Maia stated. Seeing her old friend filled up more gaps in her memory, but the fact that Rhea had died in front of her eyes and that she was now standing in front of her, was something she didn't quite understand yet. What was she even doing here?
Rhea smiled, crossing her arms over her chest. "Hello Maia." She turned her gaze towards the demon. "And who might you be?"
Maia narrowed her eyes. So Rhea claimed not to know this demon...or was it a trick?
The demon snarled. "My brother send me to retrieve her, as 'someone' refused to help." He grabbed Maia roughly by her injured arm, making her hiss softly.
"I see..." Rhea said. "You need to leave though."
The demon laughed. "No." he stated, and walked into the other direction, pulling Maia with him. Yet there Rhea stood, on the other side. The demon frowned, looking back over his shoulder, to see the space where Rhea had just stood to be empty.
"Leave." Rhea repeated. "Nergal will get what he was promised. But not now." Rhea said calmly, yet there was a warning tone to her voice. "Leave."
The demon slowly let go of Maia's arm. "Fine." he whispered, sending shiver's up both the women's spine. "I will be back... You have my word." He retreated, creeping back into the darkness before he disappeared.
Maia kept her eyes locked on Rhea. "What was Nergal promised? Me? Are you working for them now? "
Rhea crossed her arms, ignoring her questions. "Long time no see."
Maia kept her cool. "Yes. Must be at least...400 years."
Rhea showed a cynical smile. "Give or take. Surprised to see me?"
"As a matter of fact..." Maia said, registering her sisters smile. "Yes."
Rhea snorted, her hands balling into fists. "Yes." she repeated angrily. "You want to know why you're surprised? Because you left me to die."
Maia frowned. "Yes I did. And yet here you are."
"That's because our brother had to step in!" Rhea took a few steps closer to Maia, eyes bewildered.
"Alexander? Really? It wasn't a demon?" Maia asked cynically. "And you 'work' for him now, because he brought you back to life? Under what terms Rhea?"
"He saved me from burning to death, 'Maia'..."
The images of that day, 400 years ago, flew through Maia's mind, but she suppressed them. "So now you owe him...?"
"You don't know anything." Rhea spat. "He saved me, and you didn't. You just stood there! And yes I owe Alex...I owe him my life."
Maia bit her lip, trying to comprehend with what Rhea was saying, compared to her still incomplete memory. She knew she had just stood there in the crowd. But there had been something preventing her from saving her sister. And what was Alexander's part in this...? There was something about him...if she could only remember. "I know...Rhea...I know, but don't think I didn't want to safe you, because I did." she said in a sincere voice.
Rhea shook her head slowly, looking at her sister in disappointment. "Then why didn't you..."
Maia sighed, looking down at the ground. "I...I don't remember. Rhea...I don't remember, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry Katherine...I can't let you die."
"Please...I am begging you...let it go Emily. They are waiting for me, I can feel it. I can hear them, please...let me go."
Maia squinted her eyes at this new vision, a new headache coming up. She winched, pressing her palms on each side of her head. "Katherine..." she whispered.
Rhea's face fell. "What...?" she breathed.
Maia groaned, fighting against the stinging pain in her head.
"What did you say?" Rhea demanded. "Kathe..." she tried to repeat the name, but found that she couldn't. A piercing sting went through Rhea's head, making her clutch her own temples. Rhea winched, unfamiliar with the pain of this headache. "Stop it..." she hissed. "Stop it!"
Maia, looked at her through her narrowed eyes. What was happening? "Katherine?" she repeated. It was followed by another sharp pain in her head. Maia squeezed her eyes shut, fighting her headache. She felt herself blacking out as a vision appeared in her head.
"What are you going to call him?"
"Thomas likes the name Dallin. Oh Emily, isn't he the most gorgeous child you have ever seen?"
"He is beautiful, Katherine."
"Em...would you...do you want to become his godmother?"
"I would be honoured!"
After a while the pain was gone and she could notice that something was different within her mind. Maia carefully opened her eyes and sat up, scanning her surroundings. The street was empty, Rhea was gone.
Maia sighed. Her arm throbbed, there was still some blood coming out of the wound, but her thoughts were with Rhea.
R and R
