AN: As promised, here is chapter 9! Enjoy :)
Chapter 9. Felt like Fire
It was a soft kiss, warm and delicate. She could faintly taste the liquor mixed in with Lilith's lipstick, and it made it all the more intoxicating. It had begun to ignite something within Maya, Sanctuary could be burning for all she cared. All that was here was Lilith. Lilith was kissing her. Lilith is kissing me…Oh my God, Lilith is KISSING ME?!
Then came the panic, sharp and unwelcome. The fear of the unknown flooded through her, and she felt her chest seize and her body break out in a cold sweat. She stepped back, placing a hand on Liliths chest and immediately removing it as though she had been burned.
"Lilith, I-I'm so sorry, but I don't…I have no idea-I just- I'm sorry!" she stammered, tears welling in her eyes as she turned away, with every intention to run back to the HQ, up the stairs to the safety of her bedroom and pray to the almighty she would never run into Lilith again-but a strong grip help her back before she could move.
"Maya wait! You don't have to be afraid. Not with me. I would never judge you, nor think any less of you. I want to be with you, I mean, get to know you. You make me better Maya, and I want to spend time with you. I'm sorry if I took this too fast, I should have asked and I will never ever put you in a situation that makes you uncomfortable again. Please, don't go. Let's talk about this, I want to be there for you, in any way you need me." Lilith pleaded. Maya forced herself to look in her eyes and they looked as sincere as her voice had sounded. She bit her lip and broke her gaze. "I-I really liked it. I don't know exactly what those feelings were but I wanted more. I'm just afraid because…this is all so new to me. I've never kissed anyone before, I've never felt…attraction before…I'm probably so bad at all of this. You shouldn't waste your time with me. I have no idea what I'm doing."
This damn near broke Liliths heart. "Hey," she said, tucking a strand of blue hair behind Maya's ear, "You're not bad at anything. At one point in everyone's lives, everyone experiences their first kiss and not know what the hell they're doing. Their first kiss, their first feelings, being intimate and being in love. All these things were new to all of us before. You're just a little later, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. If anything…I kind of admire it. It's a beautiful thing, getting to experience these things for the first time. And you haven't just given yourself away like some of us do, you have a chance to make it count. To make it really special."
Lilith's words really struck a chord with Maya, and she actually felt a little better. Lilith really did make her feel safe, and unjudged. "I think you're really special," she said, surprising herself.
Lilith just smiled. "it's pretty late killer, can I walk you home?"
Maya smiled at the kind gesture, she really is something special. "I'd like that."
"let's just go and let the guys know-*CRASH!*-where we're going," said Lilith, palming her face. As she spoke Axton came crashing through the front door of the bar.
"MAYA! LILITH! You see that shit!?" he said laughing, clearly quite drunk. Moxxi stuck her head through the now doorless entrance, "You're paying for that Vault Hunter! You may be cute but you can't just be busting down my doors now. I swear you crimson raiders are all wild, God it gets me hot," she tsked as she ducked back inside.
"SORRY MOX! I'll get it tomorrow I swear!" Axton boomed, before turning toward the two Sirens. "You guys heading home?" he said, swaying slightly.
"Yeah it's been a long day with a hell of a lot of alcohol, I gotta try and minimize the inevitable hangover that's coming tomorrow," said Maya.
Axton hiccupped, "okay, im-*hic*-gonna stay here a bit longer, gonna see if-*hic*-I can pay Moxxi back another way!" he winked, laughing like a hyena. Maya couldn't help but laugh as well.
"What about Roland?" Lilith asked, hoping to avoid awkward encounters with him back at the HQ.
"He said he's staying-*hic*-here. Said smthin' about uhhhh…'needing more alcohol to -*hic*- get through this night,'" he said holding up quotation marks.
Lilith let out a sigh of relief. "Okay, make sure you get home safe will ya?"
Axton raised his glass in affirmation before stepping back through the destroyed door into the bar. Lilith turned to Maya, "let's go killer."
Maya started walking alongside Lilith through the streets of Sanctuary back to the HQ. She felt a little unsteady on her feet, and Lilith must have noticed. She looped her arm through Maya's, and Maya felt that rush of heat to her face once again. Lilith was so very kind to her, and she found herself not wanting the night to end.
They walked in comfortable silence, before Maya spoke, "Lilith?"
Lilith looked to Maya, a smile dawning on her, "yes?"
Maya bit her bottom lip, averting her gaze for a second. "Do you want to maybe…do this again? Go out somewhere, and uh…talk? Get to know each other?"
A light brush dusted Lilith's beautiful face, "I would love to," she said quietly.
Maya smiled, though inside she was screaming. She wouldn't let Lilith know that though. She cleared her throat, "so, what's next with Handsome Jack, do we have a plan?"
"I believe Roland is going to brief us tomorrow night on what the next step is, but so far the plan is to go to Tundra Express and find our friends Mordecai and Tiny Tina. Tina is an explosive genius but she's stark raving mad. She's been through some shit as a child before she joined up with us. She is a good person to have on your team, but definitely not good for Jack and his army. Once we link up with her, she can help us destroy the train tracks. If all goes to plan it can derail the Hyperion Train and hopefully it will contain the Vault Key. Roland thinks that it's in one of the armored cars."
"How can we be sure it's there?"
"We can't," Lilith admitted, "but we don't have a choice. It's the only lead we have, we have to try."
Maya pondered for a moment, "whose gonna go?"
"Unfortunately that's yet another thing that will probably be decided by Roland. But I'd like to go together to be honest, see what our Siren powers can do together," she winked.
Was there another meaning behind that!? Poor Maya's face was heating up once again, thankfully it was hidden by the nights darkness.
To her dismay, they had reached the HQ. This was where they would depart. Maya turned to Lilith, "thank you for walking me home. I had a really good time with you tonight," she said shyly.
Lilith smiled and took her hands, "if you need anything tonight, or anytime, don't hesitate to Echo me or come to my place, alright?"
Maya was slightly taken aback by the offer, but she felt warmth spread through her at the kind gesture. "thank you, I will keep that in mind."
Lilith slowly wrapped her arms around Maya, and Maya's body responded in kind. She breathed in Liliths scent, almost getting lost in her. She felt Liliths warm lips press to her temple and she nearly swooned. She's definitely gonna see my red face now.
Lilith pulled back, "Goodnight killer," she stepped back letting their hands fall, before turning and walking across the street towards Dr. Zed's. Maya felt her grin grow larger, "Goodnight," she whispered, watching the red head go.
"NO! Please, no!"
Maya approached the temple of the Order, she could hear the anguished screams from outside the door. She burst through the large oak doors to see what was happening on the other side. She saw down the aisles of the pews a man was down on his knees at the front, his face red and streaked with tears, as brother Sophis and other members of The Order gathered around the trembling man.
"What is going on? What is this?!" Maya demanded.
Brother Sophis clapped his hands together at her arrival. "Ah, Maya! Today is a great day. Today, your training is finally put to use."
Maya looked once again to the broken man still kneeling on the old stone floor. "Who is this man?"
Brother Sophis spat at the man. "He is a terrorist, a criminal! He is as evil as they come. You must destroy him, it is your duty. This is what you have trained for!"
"What, to execute unarmed men!?"
Brother Sophis' face twisted into anger, "do not question me, child! This man is dangerous! Brother Harker, bring this sinner forward."
"Yes, Brother Sophis."
Brother Harker grabbed the man roughly under his arms, before throwing him down at Maya's feet.
"OH GOD NOT HER! PLEASE MAYA PLEASE! THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT WHO YOU THINK THEY ARE!"
"BE QUIET, HEATHEN!"
Maya's eyes narrowed in confusion. She turned to Brother Sophis, "Brother Sophis, who is this man? What is he talking about?"
"He is merely a sinner and a LIAR my child! Do not listen to this nonsense, he is not in the right state of mind!"
Maya looked to the prisoner. "Speak, what is this you're talking about?" she demanded.
"Maya, please, it was them-"
*WHACK!*
The man doubled over after Brother Sophis' scepter made contact with his back, hard.
"YOU WILL NOT SPEAK!" Brother Sophis spat, winding up to deliver another blow.
"Ah, to hell with it."
She phaselocked Brother Sophis high into the air, enjoying the look of shock and horror as she hoisted him up.
"What are you doing to me, child!? PUT ME DOWN!" Brother Sophis shouted frantically.
"I want to hear him speak!" replied Maya. She looked to the man still cowering on the ground, along with all the other people in the temple. "Now, tell me what you're talking about."
The man gulped, "it-it was them, Maya. Don't you see? They did it to guarantee you came with them, to use your powers-"
"Who? Did what!?" Maya demanded.
"T-The Order," he sputtered. "They organized the assassination of your mother Maya!"
There was an eerie silence that fell upon the temple, except there was a buzzing in Maya's ears that was steadily growing louder. Her mouth hung open, and she looked up to Brother Sophis.
"HE LIES MY CHILD!"
"I SPEAK THE TRUTH!" the prisoner bellowed. "Maya, you MUST hear me! Word spread that a powerful being had been born, but was hidden from the world. The Order believed you to be their prophecy. They knew of the Siren tattoos, and you were spotted by The Order when you were very young. I was there Maya, but I had no idea they were going to kill her, I SWEAR! It was Brother Sophis who ordered the whole thing!"
Maya suddenly felt very sick, whirling around and placing her hands on her trembling knees, the ground turned blurry and she began to dry heave.
"Maya, PLEASE!" Brother Sophis pleaded. "He doesn't know what he's saying, p-please just let me down, let me explain!"
She took a few deep breaths, her eyes shining with unshed tears, and looked up at him slowly. "It makes so much sense…"
She pointed a trembling finger at him, "my mother warned me of people just like you! And I fucking TRUSTED YOU! Not only did you murder my mother, but you've used me as a weapon to murder innocent people myself! God I'm going to be sick," she cried, turning away and placing her head in her hands, the rage reaching a boiling point.
"M-Maya, please…" Brother Sophis choked out. Maya's phaselock was growing tighter around him as the rage inside her grew. He began to cough out blood, his eyes bulging and red out of his head.
The tears started to fall, and she took one last look at him, the man who caused her a life of pain, the man who took away the only love she had ever known.
"Fuck you."
She exploded the monk into a million little pieces of flesh, splattering him all over the walls and everyone else inside. It felt good.
Chaos ensued. People ran screaming left and right, many slipping in the pools of blood littering the floor. Maya couldn't hear anything though. She simply stood as people rushed out of the temple, monks and citizens alike. No one dared reach out for her. The buzzing was loud in her ears, making her dizzy, and she let herself fall to her knees.
She had no idea how long she had been there, the temple had filled with a silence but for the occasional drop of blood falling from the ceiling. She looked around breathing heavily, and willed herself to stand. She observed all of the blood and gore that she had caused, but she couldn't find the will to care. She turned and slowly walked out of the temple, her feet squelching in the puddles of flesh and blood.
Outside it was deathly quiet. Everyone had ran into the safety of their homes, safe from the mad Siren who just exploded a man in the sacred temple of The Order. Safe from the monster.
She walked in a daze through the streets, but her body knew where it was taking her. She found herself out of the town and into the countryside, up the windy path leading to the top of a small rocky mountain. At the top was the cemetery, where the tombs of the many high prophets of The Order could be found.
She walked through the rows upon rows, staring at the graves but not registering any names. She felt nothing for those of The Order who lay here now. She stopped upon a large stone tomb, overgrown with vine and moss. She had not been here in awhile. She phaselocked the green door, pulling it free of the thick weeds that entangled it, moving it to the side and making her way down the steps.
It was here where The Order had laid her mother's body to rest. She sank to her knees, Mother, I am so sorry. I've failed you. All of this was my fault, and now I don't know where to go. I don't know who to trust. I need you back here, I cant do this on my own!
Tears had started to fall once again, which turned into sobs, so hard they wracked her entire body. She gasped for air, she felt as though her lungs were about to tear their way out of her chest. She placed a bloodied hand on her mother's coffin and began to scream.
Maya shot up in her bed screaming. Her head was filled with gruesome images, sharp and painful. She made sense of where she was and went silent, her throat raw from the fear ridden cries that tore out of her. Her sweaty clothes clung to her frame, and she shivered as the night air swept over her, giving her goosebumps. She pulled the covers up to her chin as she sat up, embarrassed for the way she had screamed. Dear God please no one come up here, I hope to hell no one heard me.
She felt a sting in her forearm and looked down, seeing bloody cuts peppering her arms and hands. She must've lashed out during her nightmare and ended up clawing at herself. It wasn't the first time.
She put her head in her knees and sobbed quietly, her tears slowly soaking the blanket. What is wrong with me? She wondered, I came here to be a vault hunter. I have a purpose now. Why can't I leave my past behind me where it belongs? This is going to kill me one day, I don't want to feel this pain anymore.
And it was true. She was absolutely exhausted from the nightmares, the flashbacks, the constant nagging guilt that consumed her as soon as the sun went down. How could she possibly go on like this forever?
*Meanwhile*
Lilith was up in her room, polishing off one of her sniper rifles. She knew she should sleep, but she felt restless. As amazing as the night has been, she knew tomorrow was another day. They had to think about their next move to strike at Handsome Jack and recover the vault key, and she had to be ready.
She eyed the rifle carefully, scrubbing at a slight smear on the scope. She blew on it and leaned back, satisfied with her work.
She placed the rifle back in its case, and placed it with the other weapons she planned on taking with her on the next mission. She glanced to the clock, shortly after 3. Still got plenty of time for sleep. She knew they didn't have any briefings till tomorrow evening, no doubt Roland would be using the day to go over the plan himself a hundred times before presenting it to the group. She stood up, cracking her back with a satisfied groan. She began to shrug off her clothes when she heard the blood curdling scream.
"What the fuck!?"
She ran to the window, and looked to the HQ. She had a bad feeling that she knew where that scream came from.
"Maya? MAYA!" She grabbed an SMG, throwing it on her back before bolting out the door.
*Back at HQ*
Maya took in a shuddering breath, rubbing her eyes angrily. I am so fucking stupid. I need to get my head in the game. There's more important things at stake, and besides, I cant change the past.
This thought just made her lip tremble and tears form anew. I'm so damn weak…
She suddenly heard rapid footsteps pounding up the stairs. Fuck, I did wake someone up. She was fully prepared to see Axton burst through her door, but what she wasn't prepared for was Lilith.
Lilith had come bursting through the door, her weapon at the ready as she darted her eyes around the room. "Maya? Are you okay, are you hurt?!" She lowered her gun upon noticing the state Maya was in, sniffling with her knees drawn to her chest, her hair in a beautiful mess.
"Maya…" she whispered, slowly approaching the trembling woman. She sat next to her on the bed and touched her shoulder gingerly. She took note of the scratches up Maya's arms. "What happened to you?"
Maya shied away from Lilith's touch. She felt ashamed and humiliated to be seen like this. "I'm sorry, it was just a bad dream. Don't worry about it…it happens sometimes," she said meekly.
Lilith said nothing, instead she stood from the bed and began to leave. Maya thought she was turning to leave through the front door, but instead she went for the bathroom, and soon the sound of running water and the opening of cabinets could be heard.
She returned soon after with a towel, rubbing alcohol, and a roll of gauze. She sat back down next to Maya, opening the rubbing alcohol and pouring some onto the cloth. She gently took Maya's right arm and began dabbing at her wounds, cleaning them. It stung but Maya wouldn't show it.
Lilith worked quietly and carefully, once she had cleaned the blood from her arm she tenderly wrapped the gauze around her forearm. She went to work on the other arm, again without saying a word.
This was one of the things Maya adored about Lilith. She didn't question or scold her, she didn't make her feel small or self conscious. She just let Maya be in her anguish, unquestioning and without judgement. Maya couldn't help but feel more sorry for herself, though. Lilith deserved better than this, she was probably exhausted yet here she was dealing with Maya's trauma. I'm sorry…
"Don't be sorry Maya. It's going to be okay. I'm here for you, and I'm not going anywhere."
She hadn't realized she had spoken aloud. She let her head hang as Lilith finished bandaging her other arm.
She felt herself gently being pushed down, the soft bed was welcoming to her skin as the warmth protected her from the chill in the air. What was even more welcoming was the feeling of the warm body pressing against her, pulling her into a protective embrace, shielding her from all that was dark and dangerous. Every frightening thought that plagued Maya's mind that night, chased away so easily by the hero that was her Siren. The blankets were pulled up over them, and Liliths arm wrapped around Maya's middle, pulling her towards the red head until her back was pressed to her. The heat was delicious and addictive, it felt like everything Maya had missed in her life. It felt like the safe haven she never had, the protection she thought she didn't need. It felt like fire, and she was happy to burn.