Disclaimer: I do not own the Fable universe, I am merely borrowing it for the purposes of this tale. Characters you do not recognize are mine however. This story contains scenes of a extremely mature nature, so expect dark and sexual themes.

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A very sincere thank you goes out to every silent reader and kind reviewer that has visited this story! - Fallon.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Maya allowed her maids to assist her in getting prepared for the ball, even though all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and draw the curtains closed.

The dress was lovely, crafted of the finest pale blue silk and ivory lace in Albion and accented with tiny pearls. The petticoat she wore gave volume to the skirt but was not so large as to prevent her from passing through doorways.

Donning the corset was a particularly miserable experience however, as the maids knew gentlemen were going to be swarming around Maya in the hopes of earning her favour and they were compelled to pull the laces as tight as they could. The pressure was so great across her stomach, she doubted she'd be able to consume even a small sip of wine let alone eat.

As the last tug was made, Maya cursed the bastards who declared such torture 'fashionable'.

She brushed past the women and approached her vanity. They encouraged her to allow them to do her hair, but she ordered them out of her room with a cold shoulder and sighed only when she heard the door close behind them.

Brushing out her hair, she decided to add only a diamond barrette that had belonged to her mother. She had admired it when she was a little girl, and her mother had assured her that when she felt Maya was ready, it would be hers. Alas, the Queen had never been able to pass it down to her in the manner she had intended.

Tugging on the lace cuffs of her sleeves, Maya wished she did not have to go through with the ball.

She would be paraded around in front of strange men who all hoped to wed her and while Logan assured her she would never be forced into anything, it still made her feel unclean.

Gathering her courage, and promising herself a bottle of wine at the end of the ordeal, Maya rolled her shoulders back and exited her room.

The guards stood at attention as she passed them, their faces devoid of expression.

Walking down the hall, Maya was hit with a bizarre feeling. It was like she was merely playing a game, doing what was expected of her and living a life not to her liking. She wanted happiness more than anything, a life with Von where she dictated how and when she did things. Angry at the idea of having to play along, Maya was more determined than ever to be cold to the men that approached her, to deflect their false interest with cold glares and curt responses.

Any man that approached her at the ball wanted her for the power and influence being her consort would bring. She knew in her heart that Von was the only one waiting for her that cared for her regardless of her title.

She entered the small room before the actual ballroom and saw her brother, Walter and Jasper waiting for her. Jasper was still in charge of the Sanctuary, but he had insisted on being present to support her during her first real foray into court life.

"You look stunning, Maya." Walter said with a smile as she approached them.

She offered him a small smile, but he could tell she wasn't truly comfortable with anything that was happening. He offered her a sympathetic wink.

Logan folded his hands behind his back, "Remember that you are the Queen, sister. The people in this room must both fear and respect you...do not be afraid to remind them of that."

Maya inhaled sharply and nodded, feeling a bit better having someone give voice to what she knew deep down in her gut. She would entertain them, laugh at their bland jokes, but she would not deviate from what was most important – her people, those that slaved in factories to put food on the table for their families.

For them, her true charges whose lives she hoped to better in the near future, she would grit and bear it.

"Thank you, Logan," she folded her hands delicately across her stomach, "could you please send word to Master Kaiser that I will be unable to visit him tonight."

"Maya," Walter said softly, "Von is attending the ball tonight. He is there right now with Ben and Page."

She tried to contain her surprise, but failed.

"Who...extended the invitation to him?"

Jasper stepped in, "He insisted on being present, Maya. I urged him not to push himself, as he is not yet back to full health, but he is just as stubborn as you are, my dear."

Maya rubbed her temples, "So you permitted that? Even though I am expected to deal with potential suitors tonight and you know my feelings for him? Did you not see how this word hurt me, how it would hurt him?"

Walter touched her shoulder, "I don't like this either, Maya. I know this isn't where you want to be, and yes, neither you or he are going to particularly enjoy tonight, but please try to put on a brave face...at least for him."

Maya brushed his hand off of her, "This is the only part of my life I want control over, Walter. And yet it seems I am expected to buckle to what others want me to do – marry a complete stranger and produce heirs. I'll tell you right now it is never going to happen. I will go in there, suffer through a few dances, then retreat to my chambers and dwell on the harsh truth that while Von is back I may never be able to have him!"

"No one has said that, Maya," Logan said calmly, "I am willing to make inquiries to see how to make a union with him possible...if that is what you truly desire."

Maya took a deep breath to steady herself. She knew her anger had gotten the better of her, but the entire situation was a nightmare. There was much she had, and was expected to give up for the betterment of Albion, but could she not be free to choose who she loved?

"Forgive me...blame does not belong on any of your shoulders."

Jasper shook his head, "Do not apologize, dear. We can all see how greatly this is effecting you, and we all just want you to be happy. Try not to worry about everything tonight, just take it one thing at a time."

Her head was throbbing, "What's first?"

Walter smiled, warmth strong in his eyes, "Step through the door."

Von stood in awe at the sceptical before him.

The aristocrats were ruthless in their gossip, and he was getting an ear full despite the distance he had put between himself and them. Ben Finn stood beside him with an amused look on his face, and Page for her part seemed to be thinking along the same lines of Von.

"This is pathetic," Page hissed, "what they're spending on whiskey could feed a family in Industrial for a month!"

Ben smirked, "Why don't you go and inform them of that, dearest? I'm sure they'd be quite sympathetic to your concerns."

She shot him a glare, "Oh shut up before I make you!"

"I would speak on your behalf should you stand trial for pushing this one off a cliff, Page," Von said with a grin, "I'm sure the court would see that you were acting for the betterment of humanity."

She chuckled and elbowed Ben, "See? I'm not the only one who is getting ideas. Better watch your tongue, Captain Finn."

Ben crossed his arms and pouted, "And to think I helped our dear monarch save your furry arse from that pit..."

Von's expression softened a fraction, "I am grateful for that."

Ben sighed, the sincerity of Von's tone obvious, "I know, just stop making me regret it, wolf. Maya was a wreck without you, we'd all but lost hope that she would bounce back."

"Was she truly suffering so greatly?"

He nodded, "She had Jasper dye all of her clothes black and she hardly left her room let alone visited Page or I."

"It's true," Page added sadly, "she put on a face when having a audience, but as soon as everyone left she retreated to her rooms. The only ones who saw her for more than a split second were Logan and Walter."

"I thank you both for trying to care for her...it means more to me than I think I could ever describe."

Page gave a quick nod as she scanned the ballroom for signs of Maya, "We should have tried harder, Avo knows she deserves our full support for everything she's done."

Maya tried not to cringe as her entrance was announced and everyone turned to face her. Having so many eyes on her made her heart pound violently in her chest, but she managed to hold onto her nerves long enough to give a small bow and thank her guests for coming.

Waiters filtered into the crowd, offering glasses of champagne and wine to the lords and ladies as the pianist began to play.

She had to admit, the room had at least been decorated nicely and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. But just as that thought entered her mind, a tall and thin man wearing an expensive tunic approached her and extended his hand.

Reluctantly, she brought her hand forward and allowed him to place a kiss above her knuckles. After exchanging pleasantries, she followed him out to the floor, her eyes on the ground the entire time.

He was fairly amusing, making comments that at least required thought and insight, but he reeked of cologne and tobacco and his palms were sweaty. As they danced in slow circles, she kept glancing over the man's shoulder in the hopes of spotting Von. It was on her fourth attempt that she finally spotted him, and when she saw the look on his face she had no doubt that he had been watching her from the very beginning.

He was wearing a dark tunic and trousers that played off the colour of his eyes nicely. His hair had been lightly greased back, in a style that reminded her of her brother's, but a few wild pieces had fallen forward.

But what shook her the most was the pained look in his eyes. It was a potent mixture of agony and rage mixed into pools of pale snowy blue. She could see the tension in his body, and noticed when Ben elbowed him and leaned over to whisper something into his ear.

"Are you well, Your Majesty?" Asked the man she was dancing with, whose name she had already forgotten.

She nodded, "Quite fine."

Not long after, another man approached and tapped her current dance partner on the shoulder. As etiquette dictated, they switched places and Maya found herself trying to remember another name that did not matter.

He was considerably duller than the last, with a vile odour she could hardly stand. Breathing through her mouth, she tried to catch glimpses of him out of the corner of her eye every time an opportunity presented itself.

Two other men approached her for dances, which she consented to in the hopes it would pass the time and make the night end sooner.

She hardly spoke to both of them, limiting her responses to their questions and observations of the weather with shrugs and one word answers. If they thought her boring, then so be it, it was to her benefit in the end. If she played her cards right, they would all lose interest in her by the end of the night.

Von could not stand still any longer.

Ignoring Ben's protests, he slipped into the crowd and made his way toward Maya. It took a considerable amount of will power to resist the urge to tear through the crowd, but he somehow managed it. The occasional bump into someone aggravated one of his still sensitive, hidden wounds and he would wince or bite his lip before continuing.

When he tapped her latest dance partner on the shoulder, his anger made it into a solid grasp of the lad's shoulder.

The boy turned, was hit by an ice cold glare and quickly retreated back to the safety of the crowd, allowing Von to step forward to take his place.

Maya sighed heavily in relief as Von took her one hand and placed another on her hip. When she placed her hand on his shoulder, she slipped her fingers toward the neckline of his tunic and lightly grazed his skin. He was tense and silent, so she took a step forward to lessen the distance between them as they danced slowly.

"I am beginning to understand why you hate this," Von whispered abruptly, "many of these nobles would fit in nicely with the creatures in Silverpines."

Maya smiled, "It is worse here, as they'd prove to be less than a fair hunt."

He leaned down so his lips were nearer her ear, "I would gladly hunt the boys who were so bold as to dance with you tonight."

Maya licked her lips, "I did not want you to be witness to that mess tonight. Logan informed me only a night ago that the noble families were intending to use this event to push their sons forward. They were just foolish plans made by families desperate for power, nothing more Von."

Von did not like the surge of jealousy that had coursed through his veins, but he couldn't deny it even as much as it embarrassed him.

He hung his head and moved his hand from her hip to the small of her back, "The thought of another touching you..."

"I want no one else," she whispered in a voice thick with need, "the only one I want is right here with me now."

"Are you sure?" Von asked fearfully, "There is still time for you to back away, Maya. I want only happiness for you."

"You make me happy, Von. My mind has not changed since that night we spent together in Aurora."

He looked her in the eye, "Not even after I..."

Aware others were around, he left the question hanging with the confidence that she knew what he was referring to. The transformation he had made for the battle had been his most painful, as his fear caused resistance in his bones. It ended up taking double the amount of time it usually did, and the ache in his body had remained for most of the battle.

She smiled and shook her head, "I meant it when I said you're beautiful, Von."

Von spun her around in time with the other dancing couples and chuckled as she came back to his chest, "Can a man be beautiful?"

"Ruggedly handsome, then?"

He gave a deep chuckle, "I can settle for that."

The song changed and violins joined in with the piano to create a beautifully hypnotic melody. They could have been alone in the room for all she knew, as her eyes where focused only on him.

"Have you had time to explore the castle yet?" Maya asked in a rushed, nervous voice.

Von's brow furrowed in confusion, "Not yet no...why do you ask?"

She felt her cheeks flush, "I wondered if you had seen the balcony overlooking the large willow tree in the garden. Perhaps if you make your way there tonight, you may find the balcony door unlocked."

He swallowed hard and toyed with the ends of her hair as they bounced lightly against her back, "And what will I find inside?"

"A woman who loves you dearly...and who grows tired of being denied your touch."

Her words sparked desire in him that had to be reined quickly in lest it run wild, "I'll admit my patience is wearing thin too..."

She smiled, "Does that mean I will see you later, Master Kaiser?"

He stopped their dance and brought her hand to his lips. He closed his eyes and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles, "I would not refuse you, Amaythea."

Ezra watched from a distance as his pupil worked feverishly to complete his task. He was not going easy on the boy with his challenges, but it was of no consequence to him. If the boy survived he gained an ally, if he died...well he got some entertainment.

The boy with no name led his victim away from the gates of the village to a spot they had both decided upon earlier. It was far enough away to ensure nothing would be seen or heard, but too far as to arouse suspicion in their prey.

The boy had chosen well, Ezra had to admit that. The young girl he led by the hand was pretty, but not so remarkable as to be missed easily. She was younger than the boy, perhaps ten or eleven years old, and she looked horribly malnourished and filthy. Her disappearance would take time to be noticed, and Ezra did not want his pupil to be rushed.

Perched atop a tree, he watched keenly as the two spoke in hushed voices. His pupil remembered his lines perfectly, and executed them without mistake. Ezra knew he had promise, but the boy was taking to playing with his victim remarkably easily. It was like the stain of Darkness was woven into him tightly.

Ezra knew the boy wasn't going to end up like Malakai.

Malakai had been too old when Ezra had changed him, too full of his own ideas and ambitions, and thus he had had limited control over him. No, with this boy Ezra had a real chance of finding the perfect person to pass his knowledge on to.

Ezra smirked as the boy embraced the girl and used the opportunity to push her to the ground. He saw her eyes open up wide in shock, but the boy acted so quickly she didn't have a chance to scream. He sat on her chest and wrapped his hands around her neck.

The girl began to kick and claw at his hands to get him off, to allow sweet air back into her body, but the boy's anger was without limits.

Eventually the kicking stopped altogether, and the girl went limp under his pupil.

Ezra jumped down and walked over to the boy, eager to admire the scene up close. The girl's eyes were bulged and bloodshot, while her lips were a distinct blue. The leaves and dirt in her hair somehow made her look like she was a part of the earth.

"What was her name?" Ezra asked calmly, a smile on his face.

The boy's eyes were fixed on those of his victim, "Vanessa Locke."

"Why her?"

"Her father was one of my mother's customers," the boy wiped the sweat from his brow, "her father took something from me...I returned the favour."

Ezra nodded, "And how did you get her away from the village?"

"I told her I knew why her father didn't come home the night of her birthday, told her he had a surprise for her waiting just outside the village to make up for his failures."

Ezra clasped the boy on the shoulder. He was proud, more so than he ever had been of Shiloh. In this boy he saw a chance to create something that would live forever.

"My hands hurt." The boy commented in a disconnected manner as he looked at his reddened palms.

"You'll develop callouses with time, boy. Given careful practise, you will be everything you wanted."

Satisfied with his answer, the boy stood and looked down at the body, "How about the old well on the other side of town?"

Ezra was encouraged that the boy was thinking so far ahead, "That will work nicely...tell me, do you feel regret for what you have done?"

The boy shook his head.

"Are you certain? I'm sure her mother will miss her..."

The boy's face contorted in anger, "Her mother is no better than mine, if anything I saved her from the pain life would bring her."

Ezra knelt down and into the dead face of the child. The Darkness in his mind prevented him from seeing it for what it was, the death of a child. He only saw the skillfully completed task of a boy who had the skill to make everything right again in his life. The girl was physically around the same age as Shiloh, but his mind was too darkened to make that correlation.

Something that would live forever...

He looked back at the boy, "Would you like to hear your new name?"

Eyes opened wide, the youth nodded.

"Until you are old enough, only I call you this – am I clear? There will come a time when Erich Fisher dies, but for now you must play both roles."

He nodded again.

Ezra beckoned him closer and leaned in to whisper into his ear.