AN Hey, everyone! This is more of an interlude than a chapter, but I thought you guys deserved it. I hope you enjoy it, and please review! They make me feel happy, and then I write more (hint, hint, nudge, nudge). Thank you for the eviews on my past chapter's, and I hope you like this one!
Chapter 4: Stirring Up Old Memories
Date: 10/7/1984
Time: 10.02pm
Location: London, England
"GET OUT!" he roared, and she let out a quiet shriek, running out of the small, run-down shack they'd lived in.
Tears blinding her, she ran through the dirty roads, the other slums staring at her in hidden consternation.
Finally, the streets became cleaner, lighter, and the sun shone happily.
She stared around her in surprise and envy, before a heavy hand landed on her shoulder, and she spun around, another shriek leaving her lips.
"Hello" the elderly man said carefully. "What's your name, child?"
His dæmon was a crow, who stared at the monkey with intelligent eyes.
The man himself had greying hair, and wore robes over his suit.
She raised her chin defiantly, all-too aware of her dirty dress, shoeless feet, and grimy dæmon, in rat form at the moment. "None of your business" she spat angrily, glaring at him with stormy black eyes.
He raised his eyebrows. "Very well, then" he said, nodding slightly. "If you really feel that way, I'll let the authorities deal with you. Good day, child"
He had barely taken two steps when she yelled out, "WAIT!"
"Good grief, child" he said, turning. "There's no need to shriek like a chimpanzee"
To mock him, the child's dæmon turned into a golden monkey, poking his tongue out at the crow.
"Now, child" the man said, holding his hand out. "What's your name? And your dæmon's?"
"My name's…" she trailed off, biting her lip before smiling brightly. "My name's Marisa. Marisa…"
Paige, the monkey whispered into her mind. After Angel. "Marisa Paige" she replied promptly, before her face fell. "But…"
The monkey jumped into her arms, holding her tightly. "He doesn't have a name" she whispered. "No one ever named him"
To her surprise, the man showed no disgust, just gentle compassion for the small girl. "That's not such a bad thing, Marisa" he replied softly. "After all, that means if you so wish, you can name him yourself…you can choose the name, instead of someone else doing it"
The little girl's face lit up in joy, before she frowned slightly. "Wait; who are you?" she asked. "And where are we going?"
"I am the Master of Jordan College, in Oxford, Marisa" he replied. "And we're going to get you something to eat"
Date: 6/5/1993
Time: 6.01am
Location: Belacqua Manor, outskirts of Oxford, England
Marisa blinked, sitting up slowly and yawning, while Keiji remained fast asleep beside her, curled into a small, golden ball.
Marisa yawned once more, before falling softly back down to the pillows, closing her eyes and hoping for some more sleep.
Almost immediately, though, she sensed a presence entering her room quietly, and Keiji snarled warningly in his sleep, confirming her thoughts.
She opened one eye, and watched the young girl pick up the clothes she'd left on the ground when she went to bed.
"I still need those" Marisa spoke, and the girl squeaked in surprise, turning around as her terrier-dæmon yelped.
The girl held a hand to her chest, trying to calm her breathing down. "Pardon, miss?" she gasped, as Marisa watched in sardonic amusement. "I still need those" she repeated slowly, as if speaking to a four-year-old. "I wasn't planning on staying the night; I have nothing else to wear"
"There are some clothes that you can borrow, miss" the girl replied. "They belong to the Countess Amelia"
"I see" Marisa raised an eyebrow. "And are you this…uneasy when someone wakes up to find you in their room, or is it just me?"
"It's just you, miss" the girl replied, a quirky grin on her face now. "I'm not used to people hearing me come in. Would you like me to pour you a bath?"
"Yes, please" replied the dark-eyed beauty. "What's your name, child?"
"Ivy, miss" she replied easily, walking into the adjoining bathroom. "And this is Dekel" she added, pointing at the terrier, who bowed slightly to Keiji. "And I'm not a child; I'm sixteen"
"You look like you're 12" remarked Marisa as she, too, stepped into the spacious bathroom.
Ivy wrinkled her nose at the woman. "That's what Lord Asriel said when he first saw me, too" the girl pouted. "I can't help it if I'm small. How old are you?"
Marisa raised an eyebrow, and the girl blushed a vibrant red. "Er…sorry miss, I sometimes forget my place"
"You're new?" Marisa guessed, and Ivy nodded. "I thought as much. I'm twenty-two. Do you happen to have a last name, Ivy?"
"Grate" she replied. "Ivy Dysis Grate"
"A pleasure to meet you, Ivy Dysis Grate" replied Marisa, and for once, she meant it.
Ivy left, and Marisa sank into the bath, sighing. "Damn" she muttered. "I might have to try and hire that girl off of Asriel if I stay here any longer"
Keiji smiled, but it was a rather sad smile. "Look" he said, and she looked out the window, noting with a twinge of resignedness, that there was a slowly rising sun in the sky.
After her bath, she made her way back into the room, to see the curtains open, the bed made, and a shirt and skirt on a hard-backed chair.
She slipped into the clothes and brushed her long hair, deciding (with a wry smile) to leave it down.
There was a quiet knock on the door.
"Come in" Marisa called, and Ivy came in, blushing lightly and holding…a baby brush?
"For your dæmon" she explained. "I thought that maybe he'd like his fur to be brushed"
Marisa blinked in surprise, and the young redhead took it the wrong way, stuttering out an apology.
Marisa laughed quietly, startling her. "It's all right, child" she said gently. "I was merely surprised that you had taken the thought to get a brush for Keiji. Most people don't"
Ivy gave her the brush, and walked quickly into the bathroom to clean up, as Marisa ran the soft-bristled brush through her dæmon's silky fur.
The monkey let out a noise that sounded a lot like purring, and she chuckled.
"She's nice" Keiji said. "Maybe we should hire her off of him"
Marisa laughed again, and her head snapped up when she heard a familiar chuckle.
Lord Asriel stood in the doorway, an amused smirk on his face. "Only one night here, and already you're thinking about stealing my servants from me. Out of curiosity, who were you talking about?"
"Ivy" replied Marisa, still brushing Keiji's fur, while Asriel nodded. "I thought you didn't like servants?" he asked mockingly.
Marisa shrugged. "She's new"
"Was it that obvious?"
"Only to me"
She placed the brush on a bedside table, and Asriel helped her up as Keiji went over to Stelmaria.
"Good morning" he smirked lightly.
"Good morning" she replied, before adding, "So, how much do you want for Ivy?"
He laughed, leading her gently out of the room. "Sorry, Marisa but, new or not, she's too good to let go. Come on; let me feed you before you have to go"
Time: 11.51am
Location: London, England
Ah, London.
Old, dreary, dreadful London.
She stepped out of the ferry, making her way to one of the coaches (AN I say that carriages are private ones, like the Belacqua's carriage that Asriel owns, and coaches are basically taxis, which I'll also probably (if I haven't already) call 'public carriages').
She gave the address to the driver, and then sat back, Keiji on her lap, making sounds of contentment as she ran her fingers through his golden fur.
Finally, the coach arrived at her house, and she stepped out, paying the driver before making her way up the path to the front door.
Azia opened the door for her, smiling. "Hello, Miss Paige" she welcomed. "We were a bit worried when you didn't come back. I hope you found suitable staying quarters?"
"I did" replied Marisa. "Did anything happen while I was gone?"
"Lady Harine sent an invitation for her annual summer ball, Mrs Newman came over with an invitation for tea on Saturday, Lady Verone wants to speak to you as soon as possible – she seemed rather excited – and Lord Boreal also came over – more like stormed over, but I wasn't the one to clean up the mess he made, thank goodness – and demanded to speak to you the moment you got back, something about 'that foolish, ungrateful brat who won't learn'"
"I see" Marisa replied carefully. "Well, there's no reason he can't wait for a little while longer"
Azia smiled, nodding her head slightly as her wolf-dæmon bowed his head to the golden monkey.
Marisa walked up into her study, finding the two invitations, and she replied to them both, sending an affirmative.
That was when she saw the small slip of paper tucked neatly into one of her books.
She took it out, reading it with a small frown.
Marisa,
I don't know why you're doing this, but whatever the reason, cease, immediately. I come back from a trip to St Sophia to find a letter from Lord Boreal informing me you've been near the college, when I expressly forbade you to do so! What is so important that you came to Oxford once more, Marisa, please tell me that. Actually, don't; after the way you treated myself and Dame Hannah – all because you wanted fame, money and power – I'd rather not speak to you again. Marisa, please, I'll ask you only one more time; don't come to the College again. You had promised me long ago that you wouldn't; but I think it's quite obvious that, of all the talents you possess, keeping promises isn't one of them. I truly hope you are happy with what you've achieved, Marisa, but due to past events, I cannot bring myself to speak to you, face-to-face. You hurt myself and Dame Hannah a lot, all those years ago, Marisa. Please try to refrain from causing us any more pain.
Sincerely,
The Master of Jordan College
Crumbling the letter up in a ball, Marisa shut her eyes tightly, fighting back angry, sad tears…tears she'd kept back all her life; she wasn't about to let her emotions run amok now.
Keiji snarled at the letter in her hand, sitting down dejectedly.
--
Time: 2.36pm
Azia walked around the large house, surveying the servants doing their work.
Idly, she wondered what had made the brisk Miss Paige take so long in her study; normally, the woman hated to be in there, preferring to be in the public library or at parties, galas and the like.
Speak of the devil and she shall appear, Azia thought in amusement as the woman in question came down the stairs, face blank, but eyes furious.
"Azia" she said, and the woman stopped. "Yes, Miss Paige?" she asked.
"Azia, were you away at any time while I was in Oxford?"
"Yes, miss, I was at my sisters this morning, before you came back; my niece is teething, and someone had to look after her while Marina was working. Is there a problem?"
Marisa shook her head, forcing a quick smile to appear on her face. "No, Azia. Nothing's wrong. I'll see you later"
With that, she stalked out, leaving Azia to stare at her in confusion.
--
Date: 8/5/1993
Time: 3.33pm
Location: London, England
Marisa started to walk in the direction of her house, after the tea party hosted by Angela Newman, when an unwelcome voice made it's presence.
"Carlo" she plastered on a pleasant smile, while Keiji sat himself on her shoulder, unable to pretend when he was as angry as he was.
"Marisa" he smiled, but frowned when he saw the monkey's stance. "Oh come now, my dear, surely you aren't mad at me for letting the Master know you might come to call?"
"Perhaps I am" she replied coolly. "As far as I knew, it was absolutely none of your business what I did in my free time – which I have plenty of, mind you – or where I happened to be during it. You knew the Master would be furious"
"And as far as I knew, you told anyone and everyone that you would never step foot in Oxford again. Lying, Marisa? It isn't very becoming"
"Neither does tattling on me like a five-year-old" she snapped. "What, exactly, gives you the right to go and doing something as idiotic as 'letting the Master know I would come to call'?"
"Perhaps the fact that I'm worried about you, Marisa"
"HAH! That's a laugh!" she pushed past him, but the elderly man grabbed her elbow, his snake-dæmon hissing at the furious monkey.
"Get your hand off me" she growled, but he wouldn't listen.
"Marisa, you've become reckless. Chasing after that Belacqua like some lovesick stowaway; it isn't like you. You used to think before you acted, now he's got you wrapped around his little finger, following him into Oxford, where we both knew you'd get into trouble. He's bad for you, Marisa. Yes, he has money, power, fame – or infamy, really with the boorish way he acts – I know he has everything you've ever dreamed of, but I also know him better than you. He'll just pick you up and then throw you down; I know you think you can put a ring around his finger and keep him in your spider's web, but really, everyone can see that it's he who is playing you, not the other way around. If you keep digging yourself a deeper hole, he's going to bury you in it. If you married our Mr Coulter, however, you'd have everything you'd have if you married Belacqua, albeit on a lesser scale, but you'd be able to keep you dignity and pride, and not be played like a harp"
The woman waited patiently, until she finally said, in a dead, monotone voice, "Are you quite finished, Carlo? You are? Good. Now, listen very closely, so that, hopefully, I can get the message through your thick skull. I am my own person. If I make a mistake, then it is my own to make, quite like me making the mistake of following you out of Jordan College, which is, if I remember correctly, the reason why we're here in the first place. Don't try to come near me with Edward Coulter, or with anymore of your schemes. I don't want to hear it, and I'm sick to death of putting up with your manipulations. Now, I am going home, and you are not going to follow me. Good day"
With that she stalked off, leaving a gaping Carlo Boreal behind her, and a satisfied smirk tugging at both hers' and Keiji's mouths.
--
Time: 6.35pm
Location: London, England
"Dessert was delicious, Julie" Marisa smiled at her old friend. "And it was an old family recipe, too, was it not?"
"Indeed it was" Juliana smiled widely. "I'll give you the recipe for it after we talk; right now I have something so exciting to tell you!"
"Oh boy" Marisa smiled as they sat in the lounge room. "Do I want to know?"
"Of course!" Juliana gasped. "After all, wouldn't my baby's future godmother want to know he was coming?"
"Of course I would, but…"
Then it sank in.
"W-what?" Marisa stuttered. "Godmother? B-baby? Julie, you're pregnant?!"
"Glad you caught on, darling" the Spanish woman laughed. "I don't think you've ever stuttered in your life. Yes, Marisa, I'm pregnant" she giggled. "You were better than Jeremiah, at least. He almost tripped over his dæmon, before running around the house with me over his shoulder. He's ecstatic, Marisa. We both are. It's a shame he's at work and can't be here to tell you with me. But please; can you be my baby's godmother?"
"Of course, Julie!" Marisa laughed, hugging her friend tightly. "He'll be the most spoiled child in England. Hey, how do you know he's going to be a boy?"
Juliana smiled gently. "Just a feeling I have" she replied, rubbing her stomach. "I'm six weeks along so far"
Marisa gave her friend a genuine smile, hugging her again. "I'm so happy for you Julie" she smiled. "And Jeremiah. I know you'll be great parents"
"I hope so" Juliana smiled. Then her gentleness became wicked. "And what's this I hear? My own Marisa Paige, fraternising with the enemy?"
"Pardon?" Marisa made a confused face, and Juliana snorted. "That's what you'd think, listening to Carlo Boreal. He said you had a sleepover party with our favourite and oh-so devilishly handsome Lord Asriel Belacqua. Tell me, Marisa: are you going to be the next one pregnant?"
"No" Marisa sighed in exasperation. "The summer storms are coming in, in Oxford. I had forgotten about them, and went to visit him, on his invitation. You know as well as I do, Juliana Verone, that when there is a storm in Oxford, you can't go anywhere. Your best bet is to take shelter. Asriel offered to let me stay in his guest room for the night, and I accepted. I woke up the next morning, we had breakfast, and I came back"
Juliana frowned, taking Marisa's hand. "Sorry, Marisa. I didn't mean to sound accusing; I was just…"
"Nosy" Marisa supplied, and Juliana giggled quietly. "Yes, something like that. Are you all right? You're not usually as irritated about the rumours as you are today. What's wrong?"
With a small sigh, Marisa told Juliana about her conversation with Boreal, and her letter from the Master. "I'm sorry, Julie" she smiled slightly. "I didn't mean to rain on your parade"
"Nonsense" Juliana smiled. "It's the least I could do. Anyway, you didn't rain on my parade. Just the house next door"
Marisa laughed quietly, and Juliana continued, slightly more serious now. "Don't worry about it, Marisa" she smiled. "Lord Boreal is all talk and no action; although you'd already know that, wouldn't you? Also, if he does try anything to rain on your parade, you've got a more-than-slightly-interested-in-you Lord Asriel to save the day. And I reckon the Master should get off his high horse and listen to you, for once, instead of chastising you in a letter. Hey! I've just had a thought"
"Oh no" Marisa smiled. "What is it?"
"I should invite lover boy to the baby shower"
"Asriel?"
"Of course"
Marisa couldn't help it; it started out with quiet giggles, but quickly escalated into carefree laughter, while Juliana looked politely confused.
Finally Marisa stopped, and looked at Juliana. "Er…Julie?"
"Yes?" the other woman said.
"Just, think about who you're inviting to what, Julie. Lord Asriel Belacqua…" she trailed off, hoping Juliana would get the hint.
"Yes…"
Marisa sighed. "At a baby shower…"
"Yes…"
"With giggling women going 'ooh', aw' and 'that's so precious!'…"
"Yes…"
"And lots of bright, happy colours and smiling faces…"
"Yes…"
"You don't see any possible complications with that?"
"No…" Juliana grinned, knowing exactly what Marisa was talking about, but refusing to vocalise her thoughts.
Another sigh. "You're hopeless, Julie"
"That's why you love me, darling"
--
Time: 11.01pm
Location: 5 Ryear Avenue, London, England
Marisa finally lay down in her own bed, eyes closed as Keiji curled up next to her.
"Night, Kei" she murmured, already half-asleep.
"Night, Mari" he replied, drifting off into peaceful slumber, both of them hoping that they wouldn't have the dreams of their past tonight.
--
AN So, ditcha like it? Huh? Ditcha, ditcha, ditcha? Now, you see that button down there? The one that's calling out to you, saying 'Review....Review....Review....'
Come on. You know you want to.