Don't own AHS.

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CH 14- Truths Be Told

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Maxine glanced down at the tea set in front of her. Her body was rigid and tight and she became too scared to move. The smell in the attic made his stomach whirl and she felt sick. Her eyes were watery and her bottom lip trembled; she glanced over at Spalding who fussed with the infant's body in the crib. Suddenly, Maxine heard the cooing and whining of an infant and when Spalding lifted the body out of the crib, it appeared to be a real live infant, no older than a few days. It squirmed in Spalding's arms.

"That's better." He settled the baby in Maxine's arms against her will. "Sometimes things don't appear as you first see them to be. You have to look closely."

Maxine glanced from the squirming baby up to Spalding. "M—my mom's looking for me…I should go…"

"Don't be silly." Spalding grinned rummaging through a chest for a dress that would fit Maxine. "We're going to have fun."

Maxine's heart sunk in her chest, gripping tightly to the baby.

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Cordelia stood outside of Maxine's bedroom door wondering how to go about things. Maxine had been so upset when she stormed out of her study that Cordelia was at a loss of words. She knew something was wrong with Maxine. She was an odd child and even in a house filled with witches she stood out.

In times like those, Cordelia wondered where Maxine had gotten such a strange personality. It sure wasn't from Cordelia herself and neither from Fiona. Her father was another story however. Cordelia wished she had known more about him and often thought about hiring a personal investigator to find him. Maybe then Cordelia could know more of her own child. Cordelia knew her child's father would be no help, he had only been a donor but she was running out of ideas. There was surely something Maxine had inherited from the man? Something he hadn't let the clinic know when he donated. Cordelia just didn't know.

She felt foolish for being so afraid to talk to her own child so she took in a deep breath and opened the door, stepping inside, "Max?"

The bedroom was empty.

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"Max!" Cordelia called through the halls of Robichaux's, "Max!"

All the girls had been alerted of Maxine's disappearance. They looked in all of the rooms, under all of the beds and inside all of the closets but they couldn't find the little girl. Kyle became extremely alarmed and looked in all of Maxine's favorite hiding places, including the pantry but there was no trace of her.

The ghosts were also alarmed and Misty began to panic. She appeared in the greenhouse and looked for the girl, calling out her name. "Max! Little bird, ya come out here this instant. Ya hear?"

But there was no answer.

Misty almost jumped when the door to the greenhouse opened and Cordelia burst inside calling the child's name. When she didn't find her, Cordelia plunked down at the tall wooden table and buried her face in her hands. Misty could see her hands shaking. Cordelia had never felt so weak before, or at least in a long time. She was the Supreme and yet she couldn't find the child.

Misty walked over to Cordelia and placed a hand gently upon her shoulder, "Oh, my precious Delia. Don't ya cry…" She felt the need to wipe away her tears but she knew it would do no good. Cordelia wouldn't know of her presence.

"I wish ya could hear me." Misty told her. She rested her elbows on the table and leaned her cheek in against her hand, studying Cordelia's beautiful features, "I wish I could stop the sufferin' yer in."

Cordelia wiped away a tear and muttered to herself, "I never thought it be this difficult."

Cordelia placed her hands on the table and closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. She tilted her head slightly back and felt the vibes around her. Her eyes then opened slowly and she realized where they hadn't checked yet.

"The attic…" She whispered and stood from the chair and hurried out of the greenhouse leaving Misty by herself, watching her go.

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Tears streamed down Maxine's flushed cheeks. Her chest heaved up and down feeling the intense fear rattle her bones when she thought about never being able to leave that dirty, stench filled dungeon. Forever playing tea party with a mad ghost and a dead infant. Spalding had laid the baby down in a car seat that was meant for a doll just next to Maxine.

"Isn't this fun?" he asked with a wide smiled that crept up Maxine's neck as he placed the tea pot on the middle of the table, "Would you like to do the honors, Lady Goode?"

Maxine sniffled and shook her head no.

"Come on, don't be shy."

Maxine stopped herself from crying and stood to her feet. With shaking hands she reached to grab the pot and poured some tea into Spalding's tea cup. Her hand shook violently and spilled the tea. Her big brown eyes looked up at Spalding, "Sorry…" She muttered.

Spalding's smile was rigid. "That's alright….go on."

Maxine concentrated on her task when she heard the voice, "And here I thought you had grown out of this silly tea parties of yours. Spalding, I'm almost disappointed."

"Nana!" Maxine dropped the pot and the hot tea splashed on the table. The baby began to cry and Spalding jumped to his feet.

"F—Fiona!" He sounded surprised.

"Tea party's over. I'm here for my granddaughter." She extended her hand out to Maxine, "Come along child, your mother's waiting."

Maxine pushed the chair back and ran to Fiona, burying her face in her clothes, "Nana!" She whimpered.

Spalding became nervous and cleared his throat. "Why—why we were just having some fun."

Fiona raised a brow and looked down to the shaking child. "Fun. Fun is what you call it." Her dark eyes bared down upon him. Now it was Spalding who was shaking. "Spalding. Here me now and hear me good. I want you to stay away from my granddaughter." Her voice was ice cold and filled with strong intent. "Or else I will make the rest of your eternity a living hell."

Spalding lowered his head and remained silent, giving her a single nod.

"Come along, child." Fiona took Maxine's hand and led her out of the attic.

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"Oh, Max." Cordelia brushed a lock of wet hair behind Maxine's ear. She sat in a tub of warm water with big sad eyes and a pouty lip. Cordelia had found the girl running down the upstairs hall dressed in an old, mothy dress. She smelled terrible and had tears streaming down her face.

When Kyle went to investigate the attic he found it to be empty. Not even the smell lingered. Cordelia ordered it to be locked shut anyway and so Kyle obeyed and installed a heavy lock while Cordelia calmed the other girls down and gave Maxine a bath.

Meanwhile in Maxine's bedroom, Misty and Fiona waited. Misty paced back and forth, impatiently. "Calm down, you're making me nervous."

"She coulda been hurt."

"She wasn't."

In the bathroom, Cordelia continued to study her child. "Now, are you going to tell me what happened?"

Maxine avoided her mother's eyes until she couldn't anymore. "The man in the attic came into my room." Were the first words to come out of her mouth.