AN Hey, kiddies! Sorry its taken sooooo long for me to update; I've been rather busy these past few weeks and te internet kept stuffing up. Thank you sooo much to my lovely reviewers, and to my personal editor :)
By the way, I am having a little bit of trouble with finding inspiration lately. It wouldn't be too much if I asked you guys if you coul give me ideas, would it? Pwease? 8D
Anyway, on with the story! Mwahahahahahahahahahaha!
Chapter 3: Summer Storms
Date: 7/4/1980
Time: 8.01pm
Location: London, England
"You little brat!"
WHAM.
"Papa, please, don't!"
WHAM.
Tears fell, wetting the snow-white cheeks.
WHAM.
"Papa, I'm sorry! I'll do better!"
WHAM.
"Please, papa!"
The arm lowered, and she relaxed fractionally.
"You know I only do this so you're better, don't you, Mari?"
"Why didn't mama do it, then?"
The arm rose again.
WHAM.
--
Date: 5/5/1993
Time: 4.01am
Location: 5 Ryear Avenue, London, England
Arms were holding her tightly, soothing her, comforting her. "It's all right, Miss Paige" a familiar voice said. "Just a nightmare"
"A-Azia?" the woman stuttered, gripping onto the older woman for dear life.
"Yes, miss. Never fear, Azia's here. You go on back to sleep, miss. I'll wake you up if you have another one"
"Thank you" she whispered, before sleep overcame her once more…
Time: 7.31am
Once again, Marisa sat on her bed in the pale pink robe, Azia in front of her. Both of them were brisk, both being able to clearly remember the events that had transpired in the early hours of the morning.
"I think you would look lovely in this, Miss Paige" Azia decided, holding out a deep blue silk top, and a matching skirt.
Marisa went to walk into the bathroom, but paused.
"Azia"
"Miss Paige?"
The younger woman swallowed her pride and quickly said, "Thank you"
"You're quite welcome, miss" Azia replied softly.
When she came back out from the bathroom, the woman was gone.
--
Time: 3.30pm
Location: Oxford, England
Dark clouds ruled the skies, the heavens threatening to burst.
She stepped off of the ferry, making her way through the streets, to Jordan College.
"Hello, Grane" she greeted the manservant softly.
"Hello, Miss –" the man's eyes widened. "Marisa? Marisa Paige?"
Her smile widened, and she nodded slightly. "It's nice to see you too. I wanted to ask someone I know, instead of a stranger; how do you get to Belacqua Manor?"
He grinned slightly. "Well, you ask your dear friend Freddie Grane to get a carriage and a driver for you. And you don't see the Master; the poor man might have a stroke if he sees you"
She nodded sadly, thinking of times when she had no worries.
"Marisa Paige!"
The girl ran, laughing, through the halls, covered from head to toe in mud.
"Marisa, you get back here! Keiji, that means you too!" the old man shouted, as the golden (at the moment brown) monkey streaked through the halls, covering the walls with mud and grime.
"Marisa!"
Finally she stopped, letting the man pick her up and drag her to the kitchen to get cleaned up…
"Marisa?"
She blinked, before smiling at Grane. "Sorry" she murmured.
Keiji nudged her, warning her not to think about it.
--
Time: 4.15pm
Location: Belacqua Manor, outskirts of Oxford, England
She knocked on the door, and a servant opened it. "Yes?" the woman said. "May I help you, miss?"
"Is Lord Belacqua here?" Marisa asked carefully. "I wish to speak to him"
The woman ushered her inside, to a large entrance hall where she left her. Marisa looked around curiously, taking in the marble fireplace, the large windows, the servants hurrying around.
"I've just moved back" a voice called out, and she looked up to see Lord Asriel up at the top of the stairs. "So everyone is in a hurry to restore this dilapidated wreck back to its former glory"
Marisa nodded as he came down, Keiji moving forwards to greet the snow leopard. "You live here?"
He looked at her, amusement in his eyes. "Yes. I was happy to leave, not so happy to return to this decrepit city"
"I'll bet" she murmured, still looking around.
A hand gently grabbed her chin, pulling her head to face him. "You seem…restless" he said, leading her to up the stairs and to a door on their left; the lounge room, which had candles burning, and wine and glasses on a small table.
Marisa wrinkled her nose. "I'm fine" she replied.
He chuckled as he poured them both glasses of red wine. "No, you're lying"
Marisa smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant one. It was a bitter smile that twisted the edge of her mouth in an almost angry expression. "Just a lot on my mind these days" she finally replied quietly. "Old ghosts come back to haunt me"
"I thought the saying was 'old demons come back to haunt'?" he raised an eyebrow, and she smirked in a flirtatious manner. "No, they're ghosts. I'm the demon" she batted her eyelashes at him coyly, and he laughed.
"And you're the devil" she added under her breath.
Stelmaria heard her, and smirked.
He handed her the glass, and she took it with a small smile, taking a sip.
"I'm surprised you did come" he said, as they sat down on the lounge. "If my memory serves me correctly, and it always does, I left you in quite a temper on Sunday"
Marisa smiled slightly. "You did" she replied. "But, to be honest, I was glad for a chance to see Oxford again, no matter how 'decrepit' it may be"
He grinned, but it faded as his face took on a thoughtful look. "Sunday…" she heard him murmur, before his face cleared and he looked at her piercingly. "Unless the times have changed in the six years that I haven't been, doesn't the closest church to your house go from 9.00am-10.30am every Sunday?"
"You would be correct" she replied, a light blush covering her cheeks.
He frowned. "Did you shirk your proper Christian duties, Marisa?" he now had a smirk on his face, as Stelmaria circled Keiji, purring.
"Oh, shut up, Asriel" Marisa muttered, bringing her feet up onto the couch as she leaned her head back, closing her eyes. "You're one to talk; what was that about not going to a church since you were eighteen?"
He frowned. "How did you know I was eighteen when I stopped going to church?" he asked, and she smirked. "Last Saturday you said that you were eighteen in 1986. You've just told me that you stopped going to church six years ago. As shocking as it is, a woman can do basic mathematics, you know"
He shrugged, the same infuriating smirk on his face. "Actually, I'm more surprised you paid attention" he replied, grinning.
"And what's that meant to mean?" she demanded, frowning.
He looked at her with raised eyebrows and an amused expression on his face. "My, my, we're touchy today, aren't we? I could just be referring to my inability to keep people like Jeremiah Verone awake when I speak"
"Or you could be referring to my inability to pay attention to idiots" she replied, smiling sweetly.
"Well, you pay attention to Boreal and Coulter, so it can't be that" he countered, both of them thoroughly enjoying the verbal sparring.
She smiled slightly. "And Rachelle Brown pays attention to you, so your theory isn't sound, either"
"Rachelle Brown only pays attention to me because most of the women in all of England think I'm a god in human form" he said in disgust.
She laughed out loud, setting her half-empty glass on the coffee table as Keiji bent over in mirth. "No, just a god. Many of the people here are in a frenzy because Lord Asriel Belacqua has come to England!" she smiled. "You truly don't know how much you stir up this country, do you?"
"Obviously not" he shook his head, grinning. "You're a riot, Marisa"
"And you're not?" her eyes widened in mock surprise. "Dear me, Asriel, you really should listen to what other people say"
He snorted. "While, I admit, it is useful for mockery and some knowledge, it is also a royal pain in the ass. You get affected by what they say"
"And if you ignore them than you're not upset" she continued knowingly.
"AKA, I couldn't care less what they say because they're all mindless idiots who let their lives be ruled by a corrupt system" he finished.
"Dear me, why do you put up with us?" she asked laughingly.
"I don't" he smirked.
"You put up with me" she pointed out, and he let his eyes roam over her. "You're too unusual to be classified as 'us', Marisa" he said quietly.
"So I'm a freak" she murmured in amusement, and he shook his head. "There's a difference between being classed 'unusual' and 'freakish'" he grinned.
"Which is?"
"If you're a freak, no one would have anything to do with you" he jerked a chin in the direction of outside. "People flock to you like wolves, therefore you're just unusual"
"And flattered, of course" she added sarcastically, and he chuckled.
Suddenly, there was a low rumble from outside, and they both looked at each other in surprise.
"I'm assuming that wasn't you" Marisa grinned wryly, and he smiled back at her. "No"
They both made their way to the large windows that showed the almost-black clouds outside.
"Talk about summer storms" Asriel muttered, dark eyes surveying the sky.
Stelmaria purred her agreement as Keiji jumped onto Marisa's shoulder. "If it starts pouring, Marisa, we won't be able to get out" he hissed in her ear, unaware that Stelmaria could hear, and had told her human as the monkey spoke.
"We have to go now if we have any chance to –"
"Bit late for that" the man beside them interrupted, just as there was a thunderous crack.
Lightning flashed, the rain bucketed down, and the thunder was almost too loud to be heard over.
"My lord" a man appeared at the door, and they both turned. "May I assume that you will be postponing your visit to Jordan College?"
"You would be correct, Thorold" Asriel replied, as Marisa stared at him in surprise. "Send a messenger to inform them of this, would you?"
"Of course, my lord" the manservant replied respectfully. "Is there anything else you might require?"
"Yes" he replied shortly. "Prepare a room for Miss Paige. This is no weather for a lady to be in; she is to stay the night"
If possible, Marisa looked even more shocked, Keiji almost falling off her shoulder.
Lord Asriel caught this, and smirked triumphantly as Thorold hurried from the room. "I take it I've finally managed to shock the usually indifferent Miss Paige?" he inquired, Stelmaria's green eyes glowing in mirth.
Marisa quickly composed herself. "As appreciative as I am, Asriel, I assure you, I can make my own way to staying quarters, thank you"
His eyebrows rose. "Marisa, you can't be serious. No one's going to let someone resembling a drowned rat into their motel, no matter how much money you throw at them. We both know of your love for the rain, but be rational" he suddenly gave her a mocking grin. "Or are you rejecting my generous offer because you're afraid of little old me?"
She narrowed her eyes at the taunting tone in his voice. "Darling, I can handle anything" she snarled, eyes sparkling. "Do your worst"
He grinned, visibly undressing her with his eyes, enjoying the slight widening of her eyes, the light flush on her cheeks, the way her black eyes glared at him in barely suppressed anger…
"Wouldn't you like to see my worst" he murmured, tone husky.
She hissed, "Bastard"
"And to think, you haven't seen me at my 'worst' yet, Marisa" he shot back, smirking. "And for the record, you're staying, even if I have to lock you in a room myself. I may be a bastard, but I'm not nasty enough to send you on your way in this weather. Live with it"
Keiji growled at him, and the snow leopard laughed in amusement.
"God, I can see why Boreal hates you" she muttered, angrily pushing a black curl behind her ear.
"God, I don't know why people refuse to see you angry" he retorted, smiling. "You're lovelier than ever, if I may be so bold to say"
"Which of course you are" Marisa muttered under her breath, before raising her voice. "Flattery won't get you anywhere, you know, so you can stop there"
She stalked over to the open door, but before she could walk through, it snapped closed, and she was spun around, his palms flat on either side of her as he invaded her personal space.
"That wasn't flattery, Marisa" he whispered fiercely. "Flattery would mean lying; I don't lie. You, on the other hand…"
He trailed off, looking at her contemplatively, and she rolled her eyes.
Keiji growled at Stelmaria, who snarled back, although hers was a lot more playful.
"I do what I do to survive" she stared him straight in the eyes, completely serious. "Something you would never understand, as you have everything you could possibly ever want, and more, at your feet. And you never even care about it! Never use it, never see how bloody lucky you even are!"
He frowned faintly at the slight venomous undertone in her voice, and tilted his head to the side. "I never had anyone but my brother" he told her quietly. "My parents were never there"
Why was he telling her this? He'd never told anyone; why was he even trying to compete with her for the 'Who's Had the Worst Life' Award?
"Yeah, well I never had anyone!" she told him fiercely, thinking along the same lines as he. "My mother was dead, my father was usually as drunk as a pirate, I had no brothers or sisters, and no one gave a damn about little Mari Patterso –" she cut herself off, eyes wide. What was it about him that set her off so?
Curiosity burned inside of him, but he could see the look in her eyes, desperate for his silence and…frightened?
He sighed, pushing off of the wall and giving her space.
There was a sudden thunderous boom, and a crack of lightening, and Keiji gave a small shriek as Marisa sucked in a breath.
"My apologies, Marisa" he murmured, voice low, but still audible. "It wasn't my intention to start an argument"
Marisa shook her head. "It's all right" she muttered. "You just seem to possess the annoying habit of being able to set me off at the tiniest things"
"What can I say?" he smirked. "It's a talent"
"One you could do without, if you want my opinion" she mumbled, rolling her eyes.
"Well, it's a good thing I didn't then, isn't it?" he replied.
She rolled her eyes and sighed, a gesture of defeat. "All right" she muttered. "I give up"
"Good girl" he grinned, moving back over to the couch.
But her eyes had caught something else in the room, and he followed her gaze.
"You can if you want" he said, and her gaze snapped back to him.
Asriel inclined his head at the piano in the corner. "You can play it if you want" he told her. "It's not like I ever use it"
"Do you know how to play?" she raised an eyebrow, and he nodded.
"Of course" he murmured. "My mother would've had a heart attack if Rafael and I didn't learn"
"And Rafael is your brother that you visited in Moscow?" she guessed as she sat down. He nodded again, leaning against the wall next to her, watching her as her fingers skimmed over the keys, unsure where to begin.
"He and Amelia live in Darlington" Asriel continued. "They're trying for a child"
Marisa looked at him closely. "You'd make a good uncle, I think" she replied, and he looked at her, surprised.
She just smiled slightly at him, and began to play. "Where did you learn to play?" he asked curiously, and watched in something akin to amazement as her face became lighter, not from the feigned charm she layered on for the public, but because she was genuinely happy.
"At Jordan College" she replied softly, and laughed at the surprise on his face. "I met the Master of Jordan when I was twelve" she explained. "He was, and I quote 'in awe of my photographic memory and my considerable amount of intelligence'. I was rather flattered, to be honest"
"Of course you were" he grinned. "The Master doesn't usually dish out compliments"
"Oh, don't I know it" she muttered, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, he allowed me to stay in the College until I was thirteen, and he introduced me to Dame Hannah, who immediately took me under her wing"
"And you went to school at St Sophia's" he guessed and she nodded before continuing.
"But my home was in London, so the Master allowed me to stay in Jordan College until I had finished school. And while I was there, he took advantage of my profound curiosity, and taught me more than I can care to remember at the present time" she finished with a small laugh, shaking her head slightly as her fingers drifted away from the keys.
"What were you doing in Oxford, if you lived in London?" he frowned slightly.
She smiled slightly, Keiji grinning at the snow leopard. "That's my business" she teased lightly, and he laughed.
They spent the rest of the evening speaking about anything and everything, having a quiet dinner in between.
Finally, with the rain still pouring, Marisa made her way up to one of the guest rooms, her host following her.
She paused before going in, a small blush lighting her cheeks. "Thank you for this, Asriel" she murmured. "It is definitely better than spending the night in a motel"
"You're quite welcome, Marisa" he replied. "At least it proves that I can be well-mannered when I want to be"
She laughed quietly. "Of course you can" she murmured in amusement, as her dæmon touched Stelmaria's paw in something resembling affection. "You just need an excuse"
He smirked at her. "I think I had a pretty good one tonight"
He felt wariness creep up as her eyes started sparkling in mischief, the monkey baring his teeth in an impish grin, one he hadn't seen in a while, but immediately felt suspicious of.
"What?" he asked apprehensively, and the small smile on her face widened. "Well, if you were to be this polite around others, I'm sure they'd give you a reward"
"If they don't die of shock, probably. Why?"
"Then it's only fair that I give you a small reward of my own, isn't it? For being such a good little host"
At the word 'little' his eyes narrowed, but he still nodded guardedly.
She stepped closer, taking in his wariness. "You really don't trust me, do you?" she asked in amusement.
"Not when you've got that look in your eyes, no. If I were anyone else, I'd be running away with my tail tucked between my legs"
She laughed. "Well, it's a good thing you're not anyone else then, isn't it?"
She reached up, grabbing the back of his neck gently and pulling him down, brushing her lips against his teasingly, coaxing him to relax.
An arm snaked around her waist, pulling her flush against him as his other hand crept up, pulling her hair from its bun.
She sighed exasperatedly against his mouth as her hair came down like an ebony waterfall made of silk.
Finally, she pulled back, hair mussed, lips redder than usual, a lovely blush on her face. "There you go" she said, trying to catch her breath. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
Keiji pulled away from the snow leopard slowly, making a noise that sounded suspiciously like a purr.
"Can I have another one?" he asked hopefully, and she laughed breathlessly, shaking her head. "Sorry, tiger" she teased. "Maybe another time"
He sighed, but gave her another grin, bowing mockingly to her before he spun on his heel, walking down the hall. "Have a good sleep" he called over his shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow"
She shook her head slightly, smiling. "Good night, Asriel" she replied. "Pleasant dreams"
She closed the door behind her, smiling.
Keiji danced around the room, and she laughed. "Where have they been all our life?" the monkey whispered, and raised her eyebrows. "Right here" she murmured.
While she was getting ready to sink into her luxurious bed, Lord Asriel was in his study, a bemused look on his face and a tumbler of whisky in his hand as Stelmaria lay at his feet, wearing the same mystified gaze on her face as her human.
"Who is she?" he muttered to himself.
"Well, at least we have a name" the snow leopard pointed out.
"Mari" he murmured thoughtfully. "I'm assuming she was going to say 'Patterson', but stopped in time. Well, she's right about one thing"
"What's that?"
"I'm definitely able to set her off at the tiniest things" he frowned. "That, or it's being here in Oxford that's making her so edgy" He noticed his dæmon fidgeting, and raised an eyebrow. "What's bugging you, Stelmaria?"
"Why do we care?" the snow leopard burst out. "Why do we care who she is, why she's charming one moment, and malicious the next?"
"Why she reacts to certain things one way, and then tries to laugh them off" he sighed. "I don't know, Stelmaria. She's an enigma, and…"
"We're both determined to find out what makes her tick" groaned his dæmon, and he chuckled quietly. "Yes, I suppose you're right, Stelmaria" he murmured. "She certainly keeps her secrets well"
"Why do I have a feeling that it was even harder trying to pry secrets from her before we came back?" the snow leopard muttered, standing up and stretching as her human yawned.
"Come on" he smiled slightly, standing up. "Let's get some shuteye. With Marisa in the house, I think we'll need it"
Stelmaria laughed quietly, and followed him as they walked through the dark halls.
AN Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Now, remember to review, they make me feel all warm and cuddly inside. And if you have any ideas to share, please do!