Chapter 11
Tuesday May 8th : Morning
England
Davis Manor
Continuation…
"Briar..." Naru's mother whispered. She broke free from the group and came forward. Her hands were warm to the touch as she cupped Mai's face, her green eyes brimmed red and a few tears fell slowly down her perfect cheeks.
"I-I'm sorry?" Mai, a little confused as a stranger touched her
"Mother, this is Mai Taniyama. My assistant" Naru gently grabbed his mothers hands and pulled them away. His father walked up, eyeing Mai.
"We are very sorry. You look exactly like a former friend of ours." He wrapped his wife in an embrace "My wife, Luella and you may call me Martin." He and Mai shook hands, he then moved on to Ayako and Monk behind. "Welcome to our home"
"Please, make it yours. Any friends of my darling son are friends of ours." Luella said with a bright smile. Tears finally dried. "Amy here" She gestured for a young maid to step forward "She'll show you all to your rooms. Freshen up, breakfast will be served shortly"
Ayako and Monk followed Amy up the grand staircase, Naru picked up his bag and Mai's suitcase "I'll show you to your room Mai" he said, walking away from the crowd. Mai bowed to Naru's parents in thanks before she followed her boss.
Naru showed her to her room a few minutes ago. Told her that he was right down the hall if she needed anything. She sat on the guest bed and looked out the open balcony she had, a warm breeze swept in, ruffling the sheer white curtains. She had this sickening feeling that she had been here before….in this room. Looking out at the same view of the gardens. They had known her mother. Had too, they said her name. She fisted the white comforter in her tiny hands, the sun cast a warm glow upon her body, her silent tears shining in the light. Why can't she remember? It feels like those memories are right there, but her mind cant form the images. Luella had called her Briar. The same name that little girl in her dream was called. Was she that little girl? Nothing made sense anymore.
A knock came to the guest door. She had no time to dry her cascading cries before the door opened, relieving Madoka
"Hey..." she said. Madoka walked over to her, knelt in front "You alright?" she asked whipping away her tears with her hand. Mai never answered, just looked away from the pink hair women in front "Everyone is downstairs at breakfast. You must be hungry"
"No. Thank you." Mai pushed away "I just want to be alone for the moment"
"Come" Madoka grabbed Mai's hands and pulled her from the best. "I think you should see something"
This can't be right" Mai crunched her face in rage "Why is this here?!" In front of Mai, sitting on a polished wooden shelf in a simple black frame was a family photo. The happy husband with a smile big and wide pulled his pink-clad wife close, and a little brunette girl dressed in white lace sat at their feet eyes bright as the sun shinning off the fountain in the lush garden. Her family. Her last family photo of all three of them, the same exact one that sat back at her home in Japan.
"That photo was taken here in the estate garden's…the ones that your room over looks." Madoka said faintly. Mai was right, tears pilled over in anger. No wonder she felt oddly familiar here. Mai snatched the photo off the shelf and stormed out the doors of Martins private home office.
An unlucky maid rounded the corner as Mai stumped out "Where are they!" she barked rudely at her, the maid set off in the direction, red hair flowing behind her in understanding who she was looking for
"Mai, please. Calm down! There must be a reason" Madoka ran after her
"You knew!"
"I swear I didn't know until recently!" Madoka pleaded "Please, stop. Lets talk before you do something stupid!"
"There isn't anything to talk about!" Mai felt her body ache and heat up as her anger boiled inside her. She felt the movement of those mysterious markings come from her back. They crept over her shoulders and slithered down her arms. Madoka gasped in awe or worry
"Mai, your arms!" She tried to reach for Mai's wrist. Mai jerked away
"Do not touch me" she quickened her pace as she neared the grand open white doors the maid lead her too. She could smell the cooked eggs and hear the chatter from the filled room. The maid looked behind, eyes wide as she jogged the rest of the way into the room
she bowed quickly "M-miss. Taniya-" Mai pushed past the poor girl. Naru bolted out his chair once he looked at the emotion written across his assistant face or he saw the black markings covering the girls arms
"Mai-" he started
"What the hell is this!" Mai reached the end of the long table, threw down the photo, glass breaking "Who are you really" the guest at the table were shocked. Looking at Mai in horror. Martin and Luella looked between the photo and Mai and gracefully stood. Madoka rushed in moments after, she looked to the heads of the house
"I'm sorry" she panted "I-I had to show her"
Naru rushed to her, grabbed her arm and forced her to look at him
"Learn your place Mai." he scolded her coldly. Mai looked at him straight in the eyes, yanked her arm free and backed up
"You tell me where my place actually is" Fury swam in her eyes. "Did you know? Have you been lying to me this entire time!"
Naru looked puzzled for a few short seconds "You need to calm down. You're getting out of control"
"Tell me the truth Oliver!" Mai screamed in his face "Tell me the damn truth for once!" she pointed at the broken photo on the table.
"Bri – Mai" Luella spoke, Mai and Naru looked towards the elegant woman "Take a seat. We'll explain everything" Martin rubbed her back as he nodded towards her. They both took their seats once more, contemplation crossed Mai's face for a brief period of time before she sat at the nearest empty chair. Naru taking the one next. To her demise…
The room was quite, not even the SPR team dared to speak, or touch the food on their plates. Mai glared at the couple who where trying to gather their thoughts. Madoka walked to Lin, sadness and regret written on her face. One of the butlers came over and poured Mai and Naru a glass of water and scurried away.
Luella twiddled her thumbs, nervously looking between Mai and Martin "Mother" Naru droned. She looked at her son and smiled sweetly at him, Mai's heart ached at the small unnoticeable action. Her body slowly calming down, replaced with anxious nerves. Mai watched as the marking faded to gray then to her normal complexion. Luella sighed and grabbed her husbands hand,
"We knew your mother...Mira" Martin finally spoke, looking directly at Mai. Luella smiled, as if remembering memories
"She was my best friend – a sister" she started. "We meant in Scotland, we attended the same university. Basically flat mates" she laughed "Gosh, your mother was the most outgoing free spirited woman I had ever known. Your father just the same"
"You meant at university?" Mai questioned. Luella nodded "She told me she went to the University of Tokyo"
"She did, to finish her masters in History. She – we started off at the University of Edinburgh. Mira was enrolled in the Paranormal Studies program, she specifically majored in Parapsychology. I on the other hand wanted to get far away from my family, so Scotland was the destination. I had no idea what I wanted for my life. My parents wanted me to do business. I was completely unhappy. Then Mira came. There was never a dull moment with her. She told me all about wanting to find her birth parents, how she wanted to travel the world" her eyes where bright with happy memories
"I thought your mother was cray, believing in the paranormal. I never believed in any of that folklore. Neither did Martin" she looked at him, squeezed his hand.
"Then how did you become involved," Naru asked his parents.
"Mira," His father said. "Mira was the one who started the family business. At first, it was just her and your mother going on cases. Mira wanted to prove to Luella that the paranormal existed. Every case they took was a dead end. Just stories people made up or pranks"
"Mira was going crazy. It over came her, her life evolved around her research. We almost stopped being friends. Then one day, we had a huge fight. She showed me her true self" Luella look at Mai "She showed me she was a Carpe" Mai's eyes widened at what she had just heard "Mira could produce fire from her hands, made the air move. She mustered up a storm. Lighting and thunder roared in the skies. Rain fell heavily on us"
"I thought Carpe's were myths" Naru spoke. His mother shook her head and continued
"When I finally came to my senses, Mira explained everything to me. And that's when I was captivated. I couldn't tell my family, it wouldn't have looked good in out social standards at the time. So I studied in secret. Did everything to help Mira. We eventually moved back to England. We opened up a secret business under false names; Cinder – Valor Paranormal Research" Gasps filled the silent room
"But that's were we took Mai!" Ayako yipped
"We founded a healing facility for those who were hurt by the paranormal. Mira and I witnessed first hand that the police never believed anything that dealt with the supernatural. I had no idea there was one in Japan…." Luella trailed off
"That's when I meant your mother. I was out doing and came across this strange building. I had walked in and there they where, Luella and Mira. Littered across the floor with opened books and candles placed in a neat circle, Mira was chanting and I remember the flames of the candles were almost touching the ceiling. I was scared out of my mind, I tried to run but Mira locked the door without even moving an inch" Martin pitched in
"We begged him to stay quite. He left promising and the next day he came back, and the next. He was as captivated as I was"
"Mira and Luella taught me everything they knew. And when I wasn't with them I did my own research outside. Then one day Mira was so excited since they booked our first appointment. And our very first case of a three man team started."
"And a few months after that, we meant Madoka's parents. They then joined the team. But the joy didn't last long. Mira had told us she was being watched. She told us that there was this old clan that called themselves Hunters. She believed they were out to kill her, ending the bloodline for good. Mira was desperate and scared" Luella stated
"The next day we came into work and Mira wasn't there. Just a note" Martin continued
"She left and went to the States. She didn't want to put us in danger" Luella chimed
"And that's when she met my father" Mai was shaken by her mothers untold past. Trying to figure out what was lies from the truth
"Yeah. It was about a year after she left that she came back. With James in tow. They had gotten married shortly after. And to her surprise, Martin and I were together as well. Mira had told us that James had killed the Hunter that was after her. Only thinking there was one. Life continued on as normal. We continued to take on cases since Martin and I had kept open C.V.P.R. And a year later, Brair ...Mai was born" Luella looked at me
"You were the light in everyone's eyes" Martin smiled
"My real name. You know it" Mai questioned. Luella giggled
"Of course, Brair Rose Richardson" Naru looked to Mai in complete surprise, along with everyone else. Tears escaped her eyes
"I don't even know who I really am" she cried into her hands.
"You're the daughter to one of the greatest people I have ever known" Luella came over and hugged Mai. She cupped Mai's face, wet with tears "I am so happy to finally see you again Brair" Luella cried as well
"Then how did Mai's name change?" Father Brown finally spoke. Martin looked to the Australian priest
"About five years later, while we were all out on a case, James was killed. The house we were at was a trap, one to lore Mira in and kill her. James told Mira to set fire to the house and that he would be right behind her. We all made it out...James didn't..." Martin said sadly. Mai cried in the chest of Luella
"It was the hardest thing your mother ever had to do. She was going to stay to let us run. James reminded her of their son she was carrying and their beautiful daughter who was waiting at home. Begged her to leave. I was the one to pull her out. She lost control, she couldn't set the fire out." Luella held the trembling Mai as her own tears fell in remembrance of that horrible night.
"There wasn't any remains left besides ashes. We buried an empty casket to help your mother with the closer. Soon after she lost the baby. Then she feared everything and everyone. She picked up and left for Japan with you and your grandfather. I tried to find her but I could not. I guess now I know why. She had changed yours and her names." Mai hiccuped and pulled away slowly, she looked to Naru who was is utter disbelief.
"My brother. Did they have a name," Mai asked, barely even hear-able. Martin looked to Luella, who then looked to his son.
"Oliver Eugene Richardson" he spoke.
"You named your sons after Mai's brother?" Yasu added, amazed at all this new found information
"It was Mira who brought the boys to us. About a year after she moved to japan, we received a letter from her. She told us two little boys where abandoned, she said they had unique abilities. Martin and I struggled for years to have children and out of the blue two little miracles happened. The letter didn't have a return address on it, but we both knew it was from her. So we set off to Japan. Adopted the twins, we only saw it fitting to name them after the baby boy who was lost. It was your mother who gave them to us." Luella walked to her son and placed a hand on his shoulder
"Oliver James and Eugene Richard Davis"
"And what amazing young men they have become" all heads whipped to the doors of the grand hall. Standing there was Mira, Gene and Katerlina