Disclaimer: So Maria's character was inspired by just about every female protagonist there is. Mostly Korra from Legend of Korra, San from Princess Mononoke, Chihiro from Spirited Away, Katniss from The Hunger Games, Raven from Teen Titans, and Daenerys from Game of Thrones.

The moon sits high up on its throne in the sky, glimmering pastel light through the truck's windows. The worn leather of the passenger seat glistens in the light's glare. I buck up, at last, and pop open the door. My first thoughts about Nayla's property come back to me, the dip I had in my gut telling me to turn back upon seeing the home's thriller-like appearance. A wisp of a laugh escapes through my nostrils just thinking about it.

It's funny how quickly that feeling vanished. In actuality, there was no such thing as fear when I was in this house. Apprehension, anger, confusion, anxiety, yes, but never the one emotion that, at any time, toppled me over with the slightest push. Now the squeaking gate sings a melody. The home's winding shell of vines extend to welcome me back.

I push the key in the lock and open the front door, hesitantly. My head pokes in and I try making out any sounds or signs of life in the dark. Zora or Leo could be here holding down the fort in the meantime, and I had no intention of keeping either of them company. I wanted to be alone. Me, myself, and everything that hides in the shadows of this home.

My hands drag along walls, furniture, and knick-knacks as I round the living room. Then I head for Tatsuo's office. I enter in a similar fashion, eyes peering through the crack in the door and slowly making my way inside.

For a while, I make a place for myself in the dark. I find a couple translated books about the Ancient Egyptians. I press my weight into the desk chair with little pause. I roll the seat to the hind window and squint in the moon's rays.

The corner lamp lights up soon after, the bulb burning bright. I glare at the appliance, slam the book down on the desk, and flick the button on the lamp's base. Repeatedly. The damned thing doesn't go off, not even when I yank its cord out of the wall. I have half the mind to slam the contraption on the floor.

"Would you just turn the fuck off already," I grumble.

The light on the ceiling shines then. I groan. This was as good a sign as any to take my leave, but a distant flicker in the hall sticks the hairs on my neck up in alert. My breath hitches in my throat as I go to the door and ease out of the room. The house is silent.

The light on one of the hallway walls gleams in the empty space. I creep over to it, then looking over my shoulder. The glow in Tatsuo's office is no longer. I return to the room and the lights start up again. I pile books in my arms as fast as I can. The record player scratches to life and out comes Etta James' haunting refrain.

~Sweet dreams, till sunbeams find you~

When I'm bolting out the room, a couple of books slip from my grip and hit the floor. From under the door of Hiro's vacant room, I spot a hint of a growing yellow glow. I pick up the fallen books without peeping inside.

~Gotta keep dreaming leave all worries behind you~

The living room is the worst. Machines in the kitchen still whir and beep in a messy symphony. The ceiling fan spins with a mind of its own. The television can even be heard from all the way up here, a laugh track egging on my panic. The front porchlights brighten the dark enough to be seen from the window.

~But in your dreams whatever they be~

"Stop it!" I squeeze my eyes shut. "Just make it stop!"

~You gotta make me a promise, promise to me~

It doesn't.

I storm out of the house, running for my life. The books are thrown into the passenger seat as I hop in. Pulling up from the curb and accelerating down the street, I glance into the rearview. It was as if I imagined it. The house's face is blank and lifeless once more.

~You'll dream, dream a little of me~

I stare at her all coiled up and comfy on my bed. At least it's being put to use, the savvy realist in me comments.

Annie unwinds and bounds off the mountain of sheets. I notice just how big she is at that second; in more respects than just physical, Annie appeared more akin to a full-grown fox than a house cat. She was more than double the size cats could grow to, probably nearing three times the size of what she was when I found her that day in the forest. The browns and rusts of her fur show bigger, brighter.

And her eyes…

I skirt around her seat at my feet and go to my closet. Snatch clothes from hangers and drawers to be shoved into my tote. A couple of Mom's novels loaded on top of the heap just for keepsake's purpose. After twisting the holographic cover in the sunshine a few times, Tatsuo's book follows in pursuit.

I leave the room without looking back.

Hopping from step to step, I make it to the lowest level of the house. Martha's the first to block my path. It was a bit awkward seeing one another again after such a…ravishing conversation last time, I'm sure we both could admit to that. My anger may have been fiery hot, but no bridges were burnt by its flames. Hell, I have to salvage everything I can right now.

I know by the wrinkles around her pursing lips and slightly narrowed brows that what she'll say isn't meant as a detour, just a pothole along my path. "Did you see her?"

"It was hard to ignore." And somehow you still managed. Old habits die hard, eh? "What do the kids think of it?"

"They don't really care," she laughs wryly. "The ones that do hope she'll grow big enough to ride."

"Good god." I roll my eyes, a smile planting itself on my face. "Well. If it ever does come to that, or even if she starts acting weird, call me ASAP. I'm hoping it never gets to that point, of course, but… I just don't know what else to do with her."

"As of right now, that's for me to worry about. You worry about getting some very overdue rest."

It's like she can smell it one me. Or she can see it, like a normal human being.

"I will. I will," I shrug it off. "Now, can I go talk to the kids or are you gonna force me into naptime right this second?"

My grandmother arches an eyebrow. "I'm thinking 'bout it."

I leave the house to go pack my bag in the truck, which isn't an easy task thanks to the constant stream of running, munchkin-like obstacles I have to weave and bob through. I'm even more exhausted by the time I reach the vehicle.

"Maria Maria Maria!" Maya bounces, tugging on my leg. "Come play tag!"

"Ah, not today you little goober." I ruffle her hair. "Call me when you guys are playing a nice, seated game of Connect-Four."

"Nope!" Maya swings her legs around my ankle, crosses them, and locks her arms in place around my thigh.

I frown immediately, yet the expression is spooked off my face when I feel a similar amount of heat around my other leg. My head whips to the right to find Kaya following in her big sister's footsteps, doe-eyes unblinking and thumb still tucked away in her mouth. A tapping sensation starts on my back and a small squeak escapes my mouth. I twist around, eyeing Aya with twitching suspicion. She pulls her hands behind her and gives me a close-eyed grin. The rest of the kids stare, like predators ready to pounce.

"You're it."

To put it in the most delicate of ways, I feel like I'm going insane.

Dare I call my unending venture into the lore of ancient civilizations an obsession? It feels like I should. My thoughts revolved around it nonstop. I carried at least one of Tatsuo's books with me at all times. I scribbled notes of various gods and cultural practices in my moleskine in the daytime, and roamed the edges of the Web in the night.

It was like a magnetic pull. The urge to string the dots into their proper order knocked on my door constantly and I was too weak to ignore it.

Yet, somehow, I was strong enough to endure a substantial amount of sleepless nights. Or, I guess that's not true. I did sleep, just in thirty minute to one hour intervals.

I know it's not healthy. I know. I just…

I wasn't sure I could take falling down the rabbit hole again anytime soon. As hectic as things were, I felt I was managing…or coping…in a way that's best for me. And that's all I could ask for at the moment.

In the meantime, when the twins were away at school or I was at a dead end in researching, I decided to work on my card tricks. Which, for the lack of a better word, was tricky.

Initially, I didn't want to meet the two newcomers alone, but that proved to be…well, let's just get to it.

HT was no problem. I tried to explain the plan verbally, but that was quick to fail. So, I showed HT Baby Dragon's card first, figuring a one-on-one meet and greet would be the best for the little guy. After pointing from Baby Dragon's picture to HT a few times, the herb spirit seemed to catch on. I could see the worry rising in his/her face instantly, but after motivational words and protective promises, HT agreed so long as the spirit had a safe spot perched on my shoulder and camouflaged in my hair.

Then commenced Tricky Part I: I'd never tried summoning two spirits at the same time before. Even if I could, would it be long enough to form a proper introduction without terrifying the newbie?

I concentrated and breathed rhythmically for minutes, until I felt sure enough to give it a whirl. I directed my thoughts into the Baby Dragon's card just like I had HT's the first time we met. I believed and the card glowed. Slowly, slowly.

A curled up, orange blob appeared on my bedroom floor a moment after. I could hardly tell where it began and ended until the creature sprawled out, stretching its scaly appendages like a starfish. And by appendages, I mean spiked tail and wings included. HT scooted closer to my neck at the sight.

Baby Dragon's jaw slapped together dreamily. I was envious for such a soundless slumber, but not enough to want to disturb the little beast of it. So, with the thought of a better time in mind, I decided to let go of the bond.

But, that didn't quite happen.

The snooze bubble leaking from the dragon's nose popped and the sleeping beast awoke. Immediately, Baby Dragon was in attack mode, eyes roaming the new environment and stance low to the ground. When the spirit's gaze landed on me, I raised my card-holding hands and tried to smile through freaking out.

What a help that was.

Eyes narrowed and wings raised, Baby Dragon sucked in a mighty breath. Fucking hell. My first (rather idiotic) instinct was to block instead of releasing the spirit's card. But I shouldn't be so hard on myself, in retrospect. Everything did turn out fine.

Baby Dragon huffed and puffed and…blew itself into the wall. Some of the gust did hit HT and I, blowing my hair back and leaving the leaflet to hang on for dear life. But the mini dragon took the brunt of the impact and knocked the wall so hard, there was a small crack where the beast landed and the pictures beside the spot fell down.

HT and I shared cringing looks before I decided to let our bond go out of concern for the plant spirit's own safety. I laid HT's card flat and crept toward the injured beast.

Suddenly, an orange blur flew into the air. It latched onto my hair as I screamed and swatted.

Ashamed to admit it, it took some time before I remembered to just let go of the card.

That was when I started thinking I might actually be crazy. Because, with a fly swatter in hand, I was giving it another go five minutes after. And if I'm being honest, that time wasn't so bad. Some minor abrasions and efforts later, I finally convinced the monster to calm down enough to be on defensive. I may have had to sit feet away from the bugger's self-made nest (my bed) and settle for ten-second long glances if I wanted it to stay that way, but a victory is a victory, right?

I garnered Tricky Part II with much more precaution (as in, I carried the fly swatter with me the first time instead of the second). However, summoning Jurrac Tyrannus proved…challenging, more so than a fly swatter could handle. It wasn't until I was holding said fly swatter melted down to the handle that I realized exactly what challenging meant.

And that, my friends, is how I got all the way up to the final installment, Tricky Part III.

"Stop setting things on fire, you scaly arsonist!" I demand behind my makeshift pillow-shield. "I just wanna be your friend, dammit!"

The searing noise of fire quits and I pull back the pillow. Jurrac Tyrannus stares, blinks, then squawks maniacally. I groan and chase after the psychotic reptile. I learned from past attempts to close all the doors in the flat. It limited the dinosaur's escape routes, but did little slow it down.

I release our bond to take a breather and refill the water in the spray bottle. Trial Four: strategically place sheets and towels throughout the house to slow the target down. I spritz some water into my mouth and onto my face, sigh, then head for the laundry room.

—

The terrace door slams behind the fiery raptor. I slide down to the floor in a sore, sweaty heap. Spying out the glass, I watch Jurrac dash around the pool in search of an exit. With a dramatic exhale, I lay down on the cool tile.

I'll rest my eyes for a just a few minutes.

—

I jolt up, fingers instantly pulling the bottle's trigger. Rua stands in front of me, his sour face dripping.

"And to think I was expecting a normal hello," he mutters, wiping his cheeks against his sleeve.

"Maria, what's going on?" prods his sister. Ruka's forehead creases, distressed. "Why do you have pillows duct-taped to your body…and why are they burned?"

Her brother pipes up, "Why are there towels everywhere, too? And some of the furniture missing?"

I rake a hand through the tops of my wild hair and ready myself for the intricate web of truths about to spill from my mouth. When I open my mouth, a high-pitched screech comes out. I slap my hand over it, but find Jurrac's card tucked inside my palm, radiating gold light.

"Maria," whispers Ruka, "why is there a velociraptor on our dining room table?"

The feisty spirit's head tilts sideways and stares back at the three of us, as if awaiting my explanation too.

"Better question," Rua adds. "Why can I see it?"

Waaaaahhh! I can't believe we reached 100 reviews~! I'm so happy yall! And what a turnout for last chapter, too. I'm so glad many of you showed interest in the Egyptian-Mayan revelation. I was a bit worried that the scene wouldn't relay very clearly, so I'm relieved to hear it was understandable to begin with. I wish I could divulge everything to you guys but, alas, you'll just have to keep reading to find out the roles these cultures will play as Maria's story progresses.

Thanks so much for keeping up with the story guys! My heart melts seeing old and new readers gather round for new chapters haha!

Also, I put some new art of Maria up on my deviantart page, tushmonkey. FF is dumb and doesn't let me put links here but I'll put it up on my account page if you can't find it.

Happy Easter and TTFN :)