Disclaimer: I do not own the Fable universe. Characters you do not recognize were created by me for the purposes of this story – they are mine. Rated M for a reason, dear readers, do not continue if adult topics (sex, violence, etc) could upset you. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated! Thank you for all the absolutely lovely reviews, faves and alerts – they spur me on! - Fallon.
Chapter Ten
"However cold the wind and rain, I'll be there to ease up your pain, However cruel the mirrors of sin, Remember, beauty is found within, Forever shall the wolf in me, desire the sheep in you..." - "Beauty and the Beast" by Nightwish
Maya walked slowly down the subterranean passage to the resistance headquarters. She had done what Page requested of her, had earned the support of the people of Bowerstone, and now she was eager to hear what the leader of the underground resistance would ask of her. She knew she would have to make some promise to earn their support, nothing was ever free.
She only hoped she would be able to follow through on them.
Von walked a few steps behind her, quietly watching her. The new clothes she had bought for him off the barkeeper were a few sizes too big and he had to tuck in much of the shirt to keep the trousers up. Still, he was surprised when she spent her own gold on them.
As a balverine, he had never had much use for gold and he had none on him when they entered the tavern in Industrial. He had heard the princess had bought many properties and was fairly well off for a rebel. But for someone who hated balverines, buying one anything had to be difficult for her.
But of course, she hadn't really have much of a choice - his clothes were ruined and she wasn't about to let him be around her stark naked.
After what she had told him, he didn't doubt her reasons for hating balverines. But if they were going to work together, he had to start breaking down her barriers and establish some trust. In his experience, those who didn't trust their comrade, often died for it. Right now he knew she trusted him with little to nothing, and was probably regretting telling him what she did at the docks - which was about all he knew about her.
They were almost at the headquarters and he had yet to speak up. If he was going to have a chance of her listening, he knew he had better do it while they were alone.
"May I have a word with you before we join the others, Princess?" He asked just before they rounded the last corner.
She stopped, startled by his tone and request, "Alright, wolf-boy, what would you like to talk about?"
"That for one," he began, "I have a name, I would ask that you use it from now on."
"I don't owe you that." She said coldly.
Von swallowed his anger, knowing it wouldn't help anything, "Perhaps not, but I am asking that you do it for me."
She stared at him, trying to figure out what game he was playing, "W-What does it matter?"
"Please," he said evenly, "I may be a balverine but it does not define me, please just use my name."
She twisted her lips, "Fine...Von...is that all?"
"I am sorry for walking in on you at the tavern." He brushed back his hair, "I want you to know I will keep it to myself."
Maya blushed at the memory, looking away from him in an attempt to hide it, "Hope you got a good look, you won't be getting another one again."
"Could we simply speak like adults? I tire of this game we play."
"You're only tired of it because you're losing."
He wanted to wipe the cocky grin from her face, "How much blood will I have to spill for you to consider me equal with the others?" She had just met the Swift Brigade and was already fast friends with the Major and Finn, yet she still spat venom at him!
His question startled her and, though she wanted to smack him for it, she knew it was a valid one. Regardless of what he was, he and his people were helping her. And yet befriending him went against everything she believed in. "Y-You need to give me time..."
Von sighed and walked past her.
"Wait," She said before she had a chance to stop herself.
He did, but didn't look back.
"You're right," she admitted, "just...give me some time."
Von said nothing, not trusting himself to remain civil, and continued on to Page's map room.
Maya quickly changed into the masquerade outfit Page had given her. The skirt was long, but there was a slit up the front that revealed her long, pale legs. The corset was far too tight and it revealed too much cleavage for her comfort, but she had to fit in at Reaver`s party.
Returning to Reaver`s manor was not something she truly wanted to do, but it was what she had to do to earn Page's support. She had sent a group of men inside the manor to try to learn the deviant's weakness, but they had yet to return and she was beginning to worry. Maya didn't blame her in the slightest, she had been there once before and knew how Reaver was.
Unpredictable.
Maya piled her hair high on her head, slipping numerous pins in to hold it up. She let a few pieces fall free for good measure and put on her mask, which was a rich ivory with gemstones dancing around the eyes. She examined herself in the mirror and, satisfied, stepped out of Page's room.
The map room was empty except for Ben and Von. The captain was examining the map, a rare moment of maturity on his part, and the balverine was leaning against the wall, eyes closed and arms crossed.
"Where is Page?"
Ben looked up from the table and his mouth opened wide, "Blessed Avo..."
Von opened his eyes and struggled to hide his shock at her outfit.
"I feel like a tavern wench." Maya complained, trying to pull up the low neckline of her dress.
"You look like one..." Von muttered under his breath. Her dress was rather...revealing, and he was unnerved by the idea of her waltzing into Reaver`s manor again. He did not care that the man would be eyeing her, or so he told himself, but rather that he would not be able to do as Ezra commanded him - protect the princess at all times. But Page insisted he would stand out too much, as no mask could hide his white-blue eyes.
Ben shook his head, "Nah, you're just...inviting."
She frowned, the neckline of her dress no higher, "Just Reaver`s type I suppose...do you think he will know who I am?" She was worried he would recognize her, and was planning on leaving her Dragonstomper behind with Walter just in case.
"Believe me, love," Ben said as he looked her up and down, "he won't be looking at your face!"
The thought made her sick to her stomach, "You're not making me feel any better about this, Ben..."
Page entered, closing the door firmly behind her. She wore an outfit similar to Maya`s, though it was difficult for either man to tell who filled it out better.
She frowned at Ben, "I see that look, Finn, keep your hands to yourself! She's the princess after all, have some decency!"
His playful smirk grew, "Never said I was decent..."
Maya punched him and he winced, feigning injury.
"You'd better be planning on kissing it better -"
He was cut off by another punch to the shoulder, right on top of the bruise already forming.
Page smiled, envious of the princess, "I'll wait outside for you, Finn, get out!"
"Where am I supposed to go? Can't I go with you lovely ladies, surely you require a gentleman escort?" He struggled to maintain his cocky smile as he rubbed his throbbing shoulder.
She punched him in the other shoulder as they both left, pushing him in the direction of the bar, "Go wallow in your sorrows, we've got work to do!"
Maya chuckled at the two as they left, "To think our little revolution brought them together..."
Von cleared his throat, "Your revolution, not mine."
"You are part of it, therefore it is yours too." She explained, shrugging slightly.
He said nothing, though there was much he wanted to say. Finn's banter clearly amused her, but how could it? He was an utter buffoon, motivated solely on the desire to conquer woman – the princess proved to be an even greater mountain to ascend. Von may not have been a Captain in the Albion army, but at least he was not constantly ogling her.
He frowned, distressed that he was even thinking such things.
"What's on your mind?" The bizarre pout on his lips confused her.
"And you care?" He spat, still frustrated by his previous thoughts.
"I thought we were trying to behave like adults," she said as calmly as she could manage, "so...what is it? You look like something is bothering you."
He looked away from her to avoid the temptation of glancing down, "Ezra told me to keep you safe, I can not rightly do that if I can not follow you. He would be cross with me for not going with you."
"Ezra doesn't have to know." It seemed like an easy enough solution, she wondered why he was worried about it at all.
"Hmm, he will find out though...he has a knack for knowing everything the moment it happens." It had made his youth rather difficult.
"Well," she crossed her arms, "I can put in a good word for you -"
His eyes shot up at her, "I am not a child."
"Then stop acting like one!" She smiled at how his face contorted in anger.
Von stood up from the wall and clenched his fists. He wanted to strike and caress her at the same time, and it, along with everything else, was becoming too much.
"You," he began, his voice strained, "are a petulant child, accustomed to having men bow to your will and crumble as you bat your lashes at them. I am not one of those men, and it scares you! I weep for any man who is foolish enough to take you as his mate! Such a man would be better off dead!"
Maya clenched her teeth until it hurt and hurried across the room, striking him hard across the cheek. Her gauntlet sparkled to life as it made contact with his face, sending bolts of lightning over his skin.
Von fell back, hissing and clutching his face as the heat soared to unbearable levels.
The door burst open and Ben, Page and Walter rushed inside, pushing to pass each other.
Maya glared at the wounded balverine, "Never...speak to me again, you m-monster!" She stomped from the room, pushing past Walter.
Ben hurried after her and Walter tentatively approached Von.
The balverine pulled his hand away from his face and Walter gasped.
Maya stormed into the resistance bar and the men inside quickly hurried out, her angry eyes telling them all to bugger off. She tore off her mask and slammed it down on the table.
Ben followed her, but kept a safe distance. "Maya -"
"He deserved it!" She said, spinning around to face him, "He spoke of things he had no right to!"
"I understand that, love, but we need him." He took a slow step forward, wary of her backhand.
"And stop calling me "love"!" She was on the verge of tears, "You don't love me."
He raised his hands, "Alright, I'm sorry."
She saw the worried look on his pretty face and brushed aside her tears, "No...I am."
Ben smiled sadly, "You look cute when you cry..."
Maya chuckled, "Only you would flirt with a woman who just socked a guy in the face."
"I like a little danger in a woman." He winked, hoping to cheer her up.
"There is more than a little in me, I'm afraid." She hung her head, not liking what she did to Von once she thought about it. "I suppose I should apologize..."
"You'll need to do a lot better than that," Walter said, interrupting them, "you're strike could have ruined our deal with the Family!"
"It was just a slap," she reasoned, "he's received harder ones I'm sure..."
Walter was red with anger, "You shot lightning into his skin! He's got a bloody blue scar up his cheek - you could have killed him!"
"What?" She hadn't realized her gauntlet had been active when she hit him, but she was so angry she knew she shouldn't have been surprised.
"I'd tell you to go look at your handiwork," he boomed, "but he's left! Probably to report to his brother!"
She pushed past Ben, ignoring the fact Walter was her mentor, "I told you how I felt about balverines! And still you demanded that I ally myself to them! Do you know what he said about Elliot -"
"I don't care!" He said through clenched teeth, "Some things are more important than childhood flames!"
Maya choked on a sob and ran past them, unable to strike him as she had Von.
Walter sighed and collapsed into a chair. He held his head in his hands and cursed himself. Maya could be difficult at times, but he knew she had reason for her hatred. He had tried not to push her until now, but striking the brother of an important ally...
He simply had to say something...didn't he?
Ben ordered them a round and the startled barkeep poured the ale with shaking hands.
Maya walked alongside Page, her mask hiding her damp cheeks but her teary red eyes were visible to all.
"You alright, Princess?" She asked, the tension thick between them.
Maya nodded curtly, "Yes, lets just get this over with." The sooner she got done with Page at Reaver`s manor the sooner she could try to fix things with Von, if only to earn back the respect she feared Walter had lost for her. Their exchange at the rebel headquarters was troubling her, they had never so much as raised their voices at each other.
"We should go through the plan before we get too close," she turned to Maya, "Reaver hosts a masquerade ball at his manor every week, it is the perfect time to sneak in and rescue my men. Either of us needs to catch Reaver`s attention, allowing the other ample time to find and free the rebels."
Maya already knew the way out of Reaver`s dungeon, and told Page as much. Thankfully she did not ask how Maya knew such things.
"Tell me what you remember, just in case it is you in takes an interest in."
She did, but hoped Page was given the honor of distracting the lecherous fool.
On a high branch of an old tree, Von stood and watched the two women make their way to Reaver`s manor. He knew neither of them could see him, his movements through the trees were too quiet, too cat-like.
The bizarre blue "scar" her smack had left on his cheek was pulsing in time with his heartbeat, and it was greatly unnerving.
He had left soon after Maya, dodging Walter and hurrying into the woods. It hurt like nothing he had ever experienced before and he wanted to throttle the pompous child. But more than that he wanted to know what she had done to him.
Von thought hard, going back over what he had said to her that triggered her strike.
"...I weep for any man who is foolish enough to take you as his mate! Such a man would be better off dead!"
The "scar" throbbed and he tentatively touched it. It ran across his left cheek, from just below the corner of his lips to the apple of his cheek, and had smooth edges, making it more like a slice then a tear.
Von had seen the strange blue lines appearing on Maya`s face and arms, and his new "scar" looked a lot like those.
He watched her through the leaves, "What have you done to me, Princess?"