Chapter 3

1940 (New York): Maiza

Firo is really besting me every time we spar lately. Maybe he's getting a lot of practice with Ennis. I'm happy for them, to be able to find someone to spend the rest of eternity with. This area is pretty quiet now. No one is really trying to take over our turf anymore after hearing about our supernatural abilities to stand back up after being shot hundreds of times. But that's not why I'm walking towards the café now. Someone reported back to us that some girl has been causing a disturbance; she even attacked one of our men. I see her now. This girl is fighting with the swift reflexes of having fought for many years, more years than should have been possible for her youth.

"Miss, perhaps you'd want to stop what you're doing at the moment. I don't think you understand whose area this is." I try to put my hand on her shoulder, but she instantly tries to punch my face. As I grab her fist and take a good look at her face, both of us freeze. This cannot be the same girl. She has the same honey-brown eyes and pearl-white skin, but her hair is chopped to right below her ears. The Kayla I know wouldn't have done that.

"Maiza?" Her voice, it's the same.

"Yes, yes. I'm so happy to see you, Kayla. I've been searching for so long for the others from the ship, but it's all been in vain. And here you are popping out of nowhere."

"That's all fine and dandy, but would you mind letting go of my fist before I try to kick out your knee cap?" I can't tell if she's joking until I see her crack her smile. I find myself smiling back. Her smile is the same, beautiful and heart-warming as ever, but I can tell she's different. The last time I saw her was on the ship all those years ago. After she drank the elixir, she quickly disappeared from sight. I want to ask her what happened, but that'll take time. It's been bothering me for a while why she was in so much agony that day. I let go of her, and she tips her head at me and proceeds to walk away.

"Wait. Kayla, where are you going? We need to talk. I came here to find you for a reason. Now I'm glad it was I who came and not someone who wouldn't have recognized you. Why are you causing trouble here?"

"I'm here to find someone. I'm sure one of these people is bound to have answers. Actually, you might have some answers, Maiza. I hope I won't have to beat it out of you though." My eyes widen again, and then I chuckle. I'm sure she's kidding this time. I suggest that we go sit down in the café and talk. After getting over her aggressive image, you can tell that she's the same. She stood in front of the café door waiting for me to open it. The memories that all of this brings back is so wonderfully nostalgic. After pulling out her chair for her to sit, we settle down and she looks at the menu. She has the same old habits I see. She still blinks several times when she comes across something she likes.

"I bet you're looking at the cakes. Want to try the double-fudge cake? That's my favorite. There is a puddle of strawberry syrup at the bottom of it." She smiles at my comment and my wink; I knew she would. She'd always had a thing for strawberries. I order one for the both of us, and then our light interrogations begin.

"Maiza, have you seen Warren?"

"Warren? I would think that he's with Fiore. Those two are inseparable. Shouldn't you know better than I would?" I'm not sure what it was, but she started clenching her jaw at that comment. I hope that the cake comes soon.

"No, no one knows where he is. He left Fiore three years ago. Honestly, I haven't seen her in a long time. Lalette told me about it. Fiore's just coping now, somewhere in Michigan. Frankly, I think it's best that he's left her." There is silence for a while. I'm afraid to ask more because she looks so angry. Finally, the cake comes. I aptly stick my fork into it and hold the cake piece out.

"Why don't you take the first bite, princess?" She smiles again. She was infamously known as someone who likes being pampered, but we both knew that this was all for fun. She snaps her teeth over the fork and takes the cake. How monstrous and cute at the same time. She's practically finished the cake on her own. I want to tell her that she has syrup on the corner of her mouth, but I hold back. It's cute watching her like that.

"That was delicious, Maiza. If I didn't know any better I would think you're trying to keep me in town with this luscious cake as bait." Suddenly she shakes her head, closes her eyes, and licks the syrup from the corner of her mouth. She caught me staring it seems. In an attempt to escape this embarrassing situation, I start conversation again.

"Well, uh. How's Lalette?"

"She's coming here in about three weeks. She'll be excited to hear that you're here. We're both searching for Warren."

"Why? Did he do something to Fiore?"

"No. Even up until their breakup, he never hurt her. But we need to end him. He's been hurting a lot of other people. People like him shouldn't exist. People like him who prey on people who can't fight back." I nod. It shouldn't be like this. Knowing that he's had so long to hurt people because of what I summoned makes my chest heavy. Kayla sees this and puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Oh, Maiza. Stop that already. I'm glad that you got the elixir for us. It gives many of us a second chance….a chance to right wrongs."

"Right, right. Alright, Kayla. I want to help you. I definitely feel responsible for all of this. Why don't you go back to my place with me. I will ask my family to help out. We'll find him." We both nod at the same time and get up. She's right. We need to go right this wrong that I helped to create.

1711 (aboard Advenna Avis): Fiore

What is wrong with Kayla? Did should just push me off? She's never been that violent before. I don't see how she could have broken through the crowd so quickly; I can't reach her. I can only wait for her to walk over.

"Warren, will you please go over to Kayla and ask her to come back?" He looks at me pleading and there's some emotion that I can't quite read in his eyes. He's so compassionate. He probably feels what I'm feeling at the moment. Warren has always been protective of me, so it makes sense that he'd feel the same way for Kayla. Fury must be boiling through his bones right now seeing her tattered like that. There's so much rage inside. Who could have done that to her? Lalette is still trying to push through the crowd to get to her. Finally Kayla is stalking towards us; Warren instinctively puts his arm around my shoulders. I don't see why he'd worry that Kayla would hurt me. She'd never hurt me.

"Kayla! What has happened to you?" cries Lalette as she tries to put her arms around Kayla. Kayla doesn't answer for a long time. She just stares at me and Warren.

"Did someone hurt you? You have to tell us so that I can protect Fiore." I hug Warren back after he says this. "No matter what, I will stop that person from hurting her." His sincerity makes even Kayla's eyes water. I try to stroke Kayla's cheek, but she takes a step back. She shakes her head for a long time.

"I don't even need to ask. I guess this is the way it has to be." She is definitely looking at me when she says this. Before I can ask her what in the world she is talking about, I catch her throw a bone-chilling glance at Warren.

"Kayla…where are you going?" Lalette's voice stirs me; I had been frozen. I start to follow Kayla as she stalks off, but Lalette stops me.

"I don't think she wants to talk to you right now, Fiore. I'll go talk to her, don't worry about it." With that and a reassuring pat on my shoulder, Lalette scurries after Kayla with one hand on her skirt. None of this is logical.

"Fiore, don't worry about it. I think Kayla may be a little jealous of all the attention that you're giving me. Just let her be. I get the feeling that we won't be seeing her very much anymore." Warren is so logical, so reasonable. I always thought that maybe Kayla would leave me one day because of the increasing affection that I give to Warren. I should have been prepared for this. But why does it have to hurt so much? Why are these tears rolling over my quivering cheeks?