Chapter 17

Sunday May 13th : Monrning

The ding of her phone awakened her from her dreamless sleep. Rolling over Mai grabbed her phone. Turning the brightness down allowing her eyes to properly adjust to the screen in front of her

MESSAGES

Naru

Breakfast on the patio

Groaning as she looked at the time; eight in the morning. Just needing another hour of sleep. Trying to figure out if she could get out of the family Sunday breakfast. All outcomes include Naru coming up here and dragging her ass out of bed. She sighed. It's not like she didn't want to join the rest, she was still a little embarrassed from last night. Knowing that they all saw more of her then they wanted too. Especially Naru's parents, who she had just met earlier in the week.

"Ughhhh!" Mai groaned covering her face with a pillow. Then her mind went straight to her boss. And what he did to her body. He surprised her. Naru doesn't seem like the type of guy to be lascivious, or even know how to go about sexual contact. But oh God, he did. He's her first to have in this situation. She even surprised herself on how in just a few simple touches he flips the switch to her animalistic side. Mai never even thought about sex, never cared for it. Even when all her friends from school were participating in the bedroom act. But being with him she's wanted it more than ever. She didn't consider herself to be kinky however the only thoughts consuming her mind was everything she wanted to try, wanted to do, the outfits she wanted to wear just for him. Naru made her feel so hot, making her want to scream from even thinking about him on her...in her...loving her. She was so frustrated at all the teasing. It wasn't fair on her end. Thinking of a sly idea she picked her phone back up

Mai

Red or Emerald?

Getting up from the bed, making a quick run to the bathroom. Added volume to her bed head, covered her under eye bags from lack of sleep with some concealer, and a quick swipe of some tinted lip gloss. Her phone dinged with his response

MESSAGES

Naru

Red.

Smiling and rolling her eyes at the same time. She read in a fashion magazine that men are attracted to women in the color red. Luckily for him, she brought a matching red panty and bra set. It's a little more risque then she usually wears. But it was on sale and she really likes it. It added to her confidence as a young woman. Mai jumped on the bed and took her first sexy photo. Actually taking a few, showing different areas of her wearing it. Each photo never showed it fully, just a little taste. Something to tease him with throughout the day. Happy with the number of photos she slipped on a white off the shoulder crop top. Allowing for some of the red lace to peek through. And a clearly visible red strap. Jumping into jean high waisted shorts. Mai made her way down to the patio for breakfast.

"Good morning everyone!" She said cheerfully. Taking a seat next to John who looked at her with a light blush on his cheeks

"Morning sweetie," Luella said "Did you sleep alright" tossing her a knowing smile

"I did actually. Though I could have used another hour or two" Mai said, thanking the butler who filled her glass with fresh orange juice

"Something kept you up" Yasu snickered. Masako slowly killing him with her stare. Monk's face reddened just remembering what he accidentally saw hours ago. Martin cleared his throat and flipped through the paper, sporting a red tint. Naru watched her, staring at her chest, seeing the red strap of her bra, and a peek of the color through the white fabric. Mai, knowing it was a perfect time, looked at her phone under the table, so John wouldn't witness the photos. She selected the first photo to start the process. Sending it. A few seconds later, a ding was heard at the table. Naru who was busy reading a case file opened his phone without looking at who sent it. His eyes did a quick dart to the message then back at the file. Realization flashed across his eyes before he fully stared at the raunchy photo on his screen.

Mai felt his intense stare, biting her lower lip she pretended to ignore him. One of the butlers came out with another plate of toast.

"Yes! More" Mai stood, leaning over the table. Her shirt dipped just enough to give her boss across from her the slightest of peek. She sat back, a little hard to make her chest move faintly. Bit the toast, looked straight into his eyes, running her tongue seductively slow across her lips removing any crumbs stuck to the gloss she wore. Naru's eyes followed the movement of her mouths muscle. Lip twitching up.

"So Mai, your birthday" Luella spoke, not noticing the silent moment between her son and Goddaughter. Breaking Mai away from her seducer.

"What?" clearly not hearing her

"Your birthday is coming up. July third right?" Luella asked, trying to remember correctly

"Yeah, but it's still a little ways off"

"Well I know, but I've missed all of your birthdays since you were five. I would love to throw you a birthday party" she said excitedly

"Oh – um. My birthday isn't a big deal. I wouldn't want you to plan a whole thing" Mai said, trying to talk her out of it

"Mai, you're turning eight-teen. That's a big milestone" Monk joined in

"I think a party would be great!" Ayako exclaimed. Luella smiled at the redhead.

"See your guardians think its a wonderful idea." Luella, trying really hard to persuade her

"Just say yes Mai. Mother loves to plan parties. Plus she's secretly always wanted a daughter" Naru said, not taking his eyes off the folder

"That doesn't mean I loved you or your brother any less Oliver" She scolded him. Mai sighed and looked to the blonde

"Okay. But please nothing big. I like small and simple." Luella's face lit up. Standing up she jogged happily to Mai hugging her tightly

"Thank you! Thank you!" she cheered. Masako, plainly jealous stood from the table without a word and walked back into the manor. Yasu following after the girl. Naru sighed, closing the folder placing it down on the table. Sipping his tea.

"I would like the discus the case that we will be leaving for tomorrow" He simply said. Groans escaped the mouths of his employees

"Do you know the meaning of a vacation?" Monk whimpered

"And here I thought you liked your paychecks" Naru shot back, sipping his tea. Monk straightened

"What's it about" was all Monk replied. John chuckling to the side of her.

"It's at an academy in the county side, about two hours. Atman Academy for Gentlemen and Ladies -"

"I heard of this school" John spoke, his blue eyes widening a bit "It's known to be Dracula's Castle"

"What!" Mai was stunned. Looked to Naru "You're taking us on a case that has a connection to Dracula!?" he looked to her with his classic cold gaze

"Relax Mai. Vampires are not real" was all he said

"Yeah well that goes out the window since I'm a freaking witch!" she exclaimed

"Mai has a point. Everything I believed to be fake growing up is now coming to be false" Ayako said, putting jam on her toast

"A human can not survive drinking human blood." Naru throwing facts out

"And I can make a lightning storm appear with a flick of a wrist but drinking blood is considered un-natural" Mai sarcastically said, crossing her arms

"Anyway. A friend of my father approached him at the wedding asking for assistance with the reoccurring problem they seem to be having."

"In the past twenty-three years a total of eight boys have gone missing and never turned up" Martin took over for his son "The board never considered it to be related to paranormal activity, until a few students came forward with the same story of a seeing the same boy in the old school uniform around campus the last few months. The description each student gave was very accurate on of a missing boy. We don't know much about this case. We are going to conduct a few experiments to see if this is paranormal related. If not the case will be closed, but if the chance that it is related, well we will stay until we can solve it."

"So is this a combination of Cinder-Valor Paranormal Research and Shibuya Psychic Research?" Monk asked

"SPR is owned by Cinder-Valor" Naru answered "We will just be going under the head company name. Mother and Father will not be joining us due to their own case they must attend to in the south"

"Wow, why isn't SPR called Cinder-Valor?" Ayako asked

"The Davis's are well known in the paranormal research world, as well in normal every day since Luella and I are Marquess. When Oliver went to search for Gene in Japan, we thought it is best to go under a secret name. Protecting his identity" Martin answered

"So is it just these two you own?" John asked

"No. We have a base of operations in Scotland as well. My sister Lexi and her husband Logan run that one" Luella answered the priest question.

"So what time are we leaving?" Mai finished her orange juice

"Six in the morning. The cooks have been prepped to serve breakfast at five. So please be on time" Naru said. Standing, he gathered his things. "I have busy to attend to" While he had his eyes off her, Mai sneaked and sent a second photo. Mai stood,

"I think I want to go for a swim" Naru's phone dinged, he looked at another one of her teasing photo's. She winked at him while she passed.

Late Morning/Afternoon

Each hour that had passed Mai would send another photo. Knowing its frustrating her boss to no end. How she secretly loved to have control over him.

"Mai!" water hit her face "Stop zoning out!"

"Sorry" Mai wiped the water from her eyes. And looked back at her teacher. Kat and she have been practicing for the last three hours on how to control the flow of energy, again on how to disconnect emotions from the flow. And Mai's favorite part, moving the water from the pool. Mai sat on a float in the middle of the pool, Kat stood above her on the concrete surrounding the body of water

"Again" Mai sighed, closed her eyes and focused on the particles of the water beneath her. Feeling the movement of the ripples, the softness of the surface. Mai had to learn to respect the water itself. To make it known that he doesn't fully control it, that she only asks to lend its own flow of energy to her. Each element has its own flow. One we do control. Once we learn to respect the power it has, we can harness what it offers.

"Now. Create a single ball" Kat spoke, "Think about focusing the flow up, separating the amount allowed from the rest." Mai did as was told "Perfect!" a bead of sweat dripped down Mai's forehead

"Okay, now separate the ball into two equal parts" Mai tried to imagine breaking them apart equally "Open your eyes, Mai. You have to see what you are doing" Mai opened her eyes. The small ball of floating water was stretched long ways, Mai continued to concentrate in the separation. Not long after two balls of equal size floated in front of the young Carpe

"Awesome. You're getting faster in the controlling process"

"Its just taking a lot out of me" Mai collapsed back on to her float, waves of water splashed at her sudden flop. Kat sighed

"It's going to for a time. You have to integrate your flow into your daily life. That's how it was intended. We just have to keep practicing"

"I know. Let me just take a break." Mai closed her eyes, basking in the English sun. It was nothing but gorgeous weather all week. Naru had said that the English weather was mostly rainy. But it hasn't rained since she caused it too on Tuesday

"So where is the boy toy?" Kat asked drawing Mai from her thoughts

"Somewhere" she waved her hand in the air "Okay, let's start again" Mai sat up, bobbing in the ripples on the float. Not really back to full energy but she wanted to focus on something besides how her boss would look naked in her bed.

"Okay. Start with another water ball. This time quicker than last." Kat said "Remember to keep your eyes opened. You have to learn to multitask." Mai mumbled to her self. Focusing on the flow of the water in front of her.

Another few hours passed, Kat ordered more and more water balls to form. Mai dripped in sweat all pruned from the half a day spent in the Davis's pool. Panting out of breath

"Kat I can't make anymore" Mai sat with hundreds of equal sized balls surrounding her, floating above the pool "Please"

"I'm surprised you lasted this long for a beginner" Kay was very amazed at the raw talent Mai had, and the stamina. "Now, drop the ball farthest in the back"

"W-what!" the balls in the air began to shake

"Don't lose focus!" Kat yelled "You must remain in control. Feel the flow coming from each one, they share the same energy but each has their own unique flow connected to you by an invisible thread"

"How on earth am I suppose to feel that!" Mai swayed, becoming lightheaded the longer she kept the few hundred balls in the air.

"Have you ever had a loose hair on you. You feel it but you can't seem to find it"

"Everyone has"

"Imagine each ball is a hair. Feel that hair tickle and annoy you. Focus on where you feel it most" Mai closed her eyes. Trying to imagine hundreds of hairs lose and attached to her.

"O-okay" she cried out in desperation to take a break

"Now, slowly pulse out your own energy from each ball. Not a lot. Just a droplet on each hair." What Kat said was a lot easier said than done. Already focusing her flow in equal parts in a couple hundred, she had to take a single droplet from each at the same time to allow it to flow down the invisible hair. Her body started to quiver,

"K-Kat I can't" Mai started

"Yes you can!" she can hear the annoyance in her voice "Are you going to quit when a Hunter comes for you?"

"N-no" tears of frustration and exhaustion ran down her face

"Then stop the crying and focus on your drop of energy on the strings" Mai dried her eyes and nodded. Mai closed her eyes once more, blocking out all the sounds around her, the birds, the sound of the light breeze rustling the left of the trees and bushes. The soft buzzing of the bees. Blocked out the touch of the spring breeze on her skin, and how the sun warmed her. The motion of the water moving below. Mai turned the world around her black. She saw the balls and the energy they shared. She saw each string that was attached to her. And she could feel the droplet from each coming forth. Ones closest to her had already returned

Mai shot her eyes opened "Found it!" and a splash could be heard in the far back of Mai. Then another and another until only one ball was floating. The one right in front of Kat. Mai smiled at her teacher as she released her own energy and allowed gravity to take effect.

"Good job" was all Kat said with a smile. "I can sense you're getting stronger. See what happens when you get out of your own way?"

"Honestly I feel that I've gained more control." Mai played with a tiny ball of water, moving it between her fingers "I still have a long ways to go"

"You do. But you got the understanding down of borrowing the waters flow and respecting it. Water is the hardest to fully master. That's why I started with it."

"Why is it the hardest"

"Because water is in everything. Nothing on the earth can live without water. You will never be without power if you have a plant or air around you. Even a person."

"Excuse me?" Did she just say a person

"You can draw the water out of a plant, even the moister in the air. You just have to feel its flow-"

"No, no" Mai cut her off "I already understood that. What I'm questioning is a person" Kat's eyes bulged out her identical face

"No I didn't" she tried to pass off

"Yes, you did" Kat was ignoring Mai's stare "Kat. Just tell me" She rolled her eyes

"It's not dark magic...nor is it light. But its something that shouldn't have been practiced." Kat started out "Humans and animals are mostly made from water. It's harder to take control. It takes a lot of your personal energy to gain allowance over that human's waters flow. But if mastered, you can control their movements...not even their will of their mind can break free of it. It's called Blood Magic."

"How did something that awful come about"

"Elders from the clans wanted to try to control Hunters. But Hunters are not fully human. They are like a dark apparition. They can appear in a blink of an eye and in the next they could be gone."

"I thought they were human's" Kat shook her head

"They can take on the appearance of a human. But they are far from it." she looked to the sky "they are children of the Other World"

"W-what?" A breeze came by, her body shook from the air cooling the water on her

"Legend says that Nature had fallen in love with death himself. But they couldn't be together. She was life, he was death. Her creations are gifts to him. Made of pure love. They live their lives and when they die, Death can see the world Nature had created in the gift the Gods had given her. Carpe's guard the portal to the other side. To help spirits pass on."

"Then why do Hunter's want to kill the Carpe clan?"

"Because they feel as if the God's had turned on them. They praise Nature, created her in the image of them. They didn't allow their father, Death to give anything to Nature. They feel like Nature doesn't deserve the gift they gave her. Doesn't deserve us. So they hunt to kill her precious creations. They believe if they kill us all off, that they can finally be released from their enclosed hell on the other side and live here in the living."

"They want to drop the vile of the spirit realm so they can experience that earth is like"

"Correct. They are the children of Death. They rule over the afterlife. They never once felt the sun, or the of the touched the grass."

"I feel kinda bad," Mai said

"Don't. Hunters are just the lapdogs of the Thirsts."

"Thirsts?"

"They drain you of all your power and life source. When they do that, they can take control of your body. And live outside the Other World. As you."

"What?" Mai was astonished by this new found information

"Hunters come to kill us, leave out bodies ready for Thirsts to come and take control. And when they do, Thirsts will basically become you. Their markings will be stripped since the Carpe has died. But the Thirst's can finally live on Earth."

"So how do you kill a Hunter?"

"When a Hunter is in human form you can kill them like any other human. I have never killed on when it's in its original form. Actually, I've only killed one, who was already on its death bed."

"And how do you protect yourself from becoming a Thirst?"

"If a Carpe is killed by a Hunter then a Thirst can take control. You have a window to save their body. You must burn the body. But if a Carpe were to die of natural causes, a Thirst cannot gain control."

"So only if a Hunter kills me. If not I'll be okay?"

"Yes. Your soul will be able to move on to the heavens. But if a Hunter killed you, your soul is trapped. And when the Thirst takes over, they absorb your soul to become part of them." Mai trembled in slight fear of her future

"But don't they become like basic humans?" Mai questioned "You said when a Carpe dies, their markings disappear"

"They have their own demonic power that they wield. They can't take control of a normal human. Their bodies can't be equipped with magic. Carpe's can. That's why they hunt"

"I guess I have no choice to fight for my life," Mai said. And played with the water between her fingers

Evening

Dinner had come and Mai was mentally exhausted after her training session with Katerlina. Though she continued to send Naru photo's every few hours. She was the last to walk into the room, having to take a shower after her training. Mai just wore another white oversized sweater as a loose but very short dress. And some black over the knee socks. She could feel his intense gaze on her, following her every moment. She took her seat across from him.

"So how was everyone's?" Mai asked, looking around

"Luella took Masako and me out to the city for some shopping" Ayako said, sipping some wine

"I got you some stuff too Mai," Luella told her "I always loved shopping for you when you were small. It's even better now that your older" she laughed

"Thank you, you really didn't have too," Mai told her godmother

"Please" she waved a hand at Mai "I like to spoil my future daughter in law" Naru and I both chocked and spit our our drinks

"Oh my!" she proclaimed "Did I say something wrong?" the whole table laughed at the reactions of the teens besides Masako who did not want to be there

"Mother" Naru took a napkin and began to clean up around him

"Naru and I are not dating," I said very quickly. Masako's eyes lit up

"B-but last night?" she was muddled

"That's how Naru treats all his assistant's" Yasu bellied laughed, Mai and Naru shot deadly glares

"Oliver!" Luella shouted laughter broke out alongside him. Even the servants giggled

"Relax Luella. It was a joke." Martin laughed along "You are still very gullible" he patted her hand

"Moving on from this conversation" Naru dismissed it,

"What did you do today sweetie?" Luella asked Mai, dropping the previous topic.

"Oh, I trained today with Kat" Mai buttered her bread for her pasta

"Anything interesting?" John asked. She smiled and continued with her bread. A few gasps could be heard. She without much thought lifted little balls of their liquid they drink from their glasses

"That's amazing!" Yasu said running his hand under the floating ball. Masako rolled her eyes in annoyance. Not impressed. Then they started to rotate around the table. Then she controlled them into a single line and weaved them in and out between each of them. Satisfied, she returned their drinks to their glasses.

"That is incredible Mai!" Monk rubbed her hair, she swatted him away

"Its nothing much. I still need a lot more training"

"Well it's better then anyone else can do at this table" Ayako joined, praising the girl

"I agree, Mai. Mira always said water was the most difficult to control. Her main element was fire. Looks like your adapting to water" Martin said

"Fire sounds like her. She was always so memorized by it. But I didn't know you could have a main"

"It's a gray area. Carpe's can control all elements. Some better than others. But if you are drawn to a certain one it becomes the mainly used element" He explained

"Oh. I guess I am drawn to water more than the others I practiced with." She shrugged her shoulders

"Once you get back from the case I want to have you and Oliver practice grounding. Its hard to find a grounder, you should be very lucky Noll is a match for you." he said

"Who would have thought," Luella said in a dreamy state. Mai looked to Naru who was looking back. They continued with dinner as normal. Small talk was shared among the table. Naru never let his eyes off Mai, eyes trailing all over her body. Mai flirted back secretly. Loving the tease, and the way he made her weak in the knees just looking at her. She had to keep pulling at the top of her sweater to hide her arousal. She wanted dinner to end. Mai had no clue how much longer she could hold out for under his piercing gaze.

What has he done to her. It was never like this. They never flirted or touched like the way they had done in the past week. Was it because he admitted he cared for her? Was it just because they were in England? Everything confused her. So much as happened all at once. Her secret past life, her true identity of being a Carpe. But she accepted all of that, still processing it every day but she came to fully accept her past and her future. But she just couldn't wrap her head around the man she loved...caring for her back. Cause that's not crazy at all. Coming to terms with magic and Hunters who want to kill you. But not her crush crushing on her back. Mai sighed to herself. The longer she was at this table the lewder she got. Her mind wondering to what she wanted him to do to her. Just imagine him touching her like he did last night.

"Oh god" Mai moan softly aloud, breath hitching.

"Excited for the chocolate cake?" Ayako asked, giggling at the girl reaction to the desert. Mai realizing she basically moan to her imagination a lot loud. Blushed extremely hard. Naru gave a his signature cocky grin. A slice of devils food cake was placed in front of her.

"Yes." she laughed covering up her dirty mind outburst. She looked at the cake. Even the cake turned her on. She wanted to cover herself in the silky chocolate cream and have him lick it off. She dipped her finger in the chocolate icing and sucked it off her finger, lavishly. Making damn sure he saw her do it.

Night

Mai was just outside her bedroom door when she was spun and shoved against the wall. Naru leaned over her, his arm trapping her between him and the wall. His other trailed up her thigh. Melting to his touch she wanted to do nothing besides have him here in the hallway. But she wanted to tease him as he did her last night. Not finishing the job.

"You never said how your day way" she whimpered under him. His hand rose to the hem of the sweater, pushing past it, he stopped at her hip. His eyes went hard and lustful

"Frustrating" he came closer "You sat in front of me with nothing on" he ran his fingers over her bare hip. Moving them dangerously close to her womanhood, which was begging for his touch "Do you know how much I wanted to throw you on that table" Mai blushed. Rubbing her tiny fingers across his lips

"You should have" looking into his smoldering blue eyes "Do you like chocolate icing?" Naru raised an eyebrow, a little confused by the girls question. Mai snickered. Pushing him off her, just enough to get to her door.

"Wonder what it would taste like licking it off my chest?" she questioned, looking at him threw seductive eyes. Oh, how his body went rigid at the thought.

"Good night Naru" she closed the door to her room. Locked the door, knowing fully well he had the ability to unlock it himself. But she also knew he was a gentlemen. She stripped off her sweater, keeping her socks on. Took one last picture in the nude and sent it to him. Oh, how she loved the game they played. Coming to terms with her young hormonal dirty mind.