Disclaimer: I do not own the Fable universe, I am merely borrowing it for the purposes of this tale. Characters you do not recognize are mine however. This story contains scenes of a extremely mature nature, so expect dark and sexual themes.

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A very sincere thank you goes out to every silent reader and kind reviewer that has visited this story! - Fallon.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Ezra retreated to the back of the cave and pulled the tattered blanket tighter around him. He had lost track of how long he had been in hiding, but he was already growing tired of it.

Everything he once had was lost to him...including his extensive reserve of fine red wine, arguably the most traumatic loss he had suffered of late.

He kicked aside the carcases of the vermin he had been feasting upon, and collapsed into his crudely made nest. Still in agony from the extensive burns that covered his body, he hadn't been able to search long and far for a suitable hiding place.

The cave he now resided in was dangerously close to the village, the silver nitrate ever so faint upon the wind, but he had few options. It was dry, and it shielded him from the wind so he deemed it sufficient.

He heard a muffled shuffling at the mouth of the cave and grinned wickedly.

A young boy, no more than fifteen, had been coming around his nest. Ezra was not the least bit concerned, as he felt something of promise in the youth. Once the shuffling ended, he knew there would be another freshly killed animal waiting for him at the opening of the cave, a gift from his little helper.

Ezra licked his lips in anticipation, hoping that this time the boy had left him a goat. It was his favourite, and the boy seemed to leave that animal more often than others.

He wondered why the boy did not report him to the village guard. Surely he had an inkling of what he was, and yet the boy remained.

Curious...most curious...

Von awoke abruptly and discovered that he was alone in the bed. Her warmth lingered on the sheets beside him, as did her scent, and he was certain she had not been gone long.

The sound of running water caught his attention and he glanced across the room to find light slipping past a cracked door.

Moving slowly, he slipped his legs off the edge of the bed. The plush carpet was a welcomed relief to his rough feet, so used to the abrasive stone of a prison. He took a deep breath before standing, not entirely certain his legs would support his weight.

After a few wobbly moments, he wrapped a sheet around his waist and stumbled toward the door. With every step, her scent grew stronger which in turn made his pace quicken.

By the time the door knob was within his grasp, he was holding on to the wall for support.

Maya had her back to him as she tested the temperature of the water in a large washing basin. The bath had been built into the ground, and one actually had to step down a few steps to enter it. The entire room, bath included, was covered in polished limestone tile. Lit candles were placed sporadically around the room, giving off a soft glow that made Maya's light hair shine.

"Maya?"

She spun around quickly and nearly tumbled into the bath, "By Avo, you scared me!"

"Forgive me," Von grasped the frame of the door, "I awoke to find you gone from my side...I was concerned."

She smiled, "And where did you think I'd go?"

Von watched her approach through the curtain of hair that obscured his eyes. She looked considerably more relaxed than the day before, but he suspected it was because she was exhausted. The subtle bags under her eyes did not go unnoticed by him.

"You should be resting..."

"Not until I take care of you," Maya rested her hands on his hips, "come...sit on the edge of the bath."

A bath sounded like a superb idea. Von could not recall the last time a bath meant more than a guard dumping a bucket of ice cold water over him.

"I can do this myself, Maya. Return to the bed and rest before you collapse from exhaustion."

She frowned, "There is nothing you can say that will sway me, Von."

He sighed, but not out of frustration, "As stubborn as ever..."

Maya rested her forehead against his chest and smiled, "Would you want me to change?"

The tickle of her breath rolling down his stomach made him quiver with desire, "Never. I enjoy you as you are, very much actually."

"Hmm, I can imagine," Maya grabbed his hand, "now come here, wolf-boy."

Von obeyed and allowed her to guide him to the bath. He still felt unsteady on his feet, but thankfully Maya seemed to understand and kept a slow pace, even going so far as to allow him to use her for support when he stumbled.

Moving slowly, Von somehow managed to sit on the edge of the bath. He placed his hands on his knees and sighed. The sheet, still wrapped tightly around him, dangled into the water as he eased his feet in. He wanted to jump in and relish in the feel of it all over his body, but he knew with the extent of his wounds that it would be unwise.

Maya knelt beside him, submerging a soft cloth in the water and wringing it out before pressing it to his uninjured shoulder. Layers of dirt and sweat came off in every swipe of the cloth, revealing bruises that had been concealed.

Von saw the pout on her lips, "Is...is it that bad?"

She kept her gaze focused on her task, "No part of you has been spared the touch of cruelty..."

"They are but cuts and bruises," Von reassured her, "they will all heal with time."

She pressed the cloth to his chest and began scrubbing as gently as she could. Though she knew he was right, the sight of his injuries wounded her. She could not fathom the pain he had endured since being stolen away, and could not help but feel she was partly to blame.

If she had not believed so easily the charade Ezra had orchestrated, if she had looked into the circumstances sooner or approached Scarlet...then maybe he would have been freed sooner.

"This is not your fault, Maya."

She grinned. He always could read her so easily...

She kissed his shoulder, "Then why does it feel that way?"

He brushed his fingers over her hand, "Because you are an loving, empathetic woman who is good enough to accept and love me despite my curse and my scars."

Maya thought of her self-inflicted wounds hidden under long sleeves and leggings. She felt even more the fool for harming herself as she had. Von had been tortured, but had been strong enough to fight through it all. She had been weak and nearly overwhelmed with a desire to end her life just so the sadness would end too.

Von was worried by her silence, "Maya?"

She smiled and tried to brush it off, "It's nothing...you just think too highly of me."

He searched her eyes, hoping to find an answer but saw nothing but sadness. He snatched the cloth from her and cast it aside before cupping her face in his hands. When he had first been in Reaver`s care, the deviant had taunted him with lies, telling him Maya had found solace with another. He had dismissed it as a ploy to break him then, but could not think of another answer for the strange look she was giving him.

"If you...found comfort with another while I was missing, I'll not love you less, Maya." Von whispered softly as she ran his thumbs over the apples of her cheeks.

Maya's eyes opened wide and she quickly shook her head, "Von, I've cried myself to sleep every night since you were taken. I barely left my room, hardly ate...I wished for death."

His gaze fell and his chest tightened, "Forgive me...it was cruel of me to assume..."

Her lips on his neck silenced him.

"M-Maya?"

She shushed him and continued to press kisses down his neck, pausing periodically to nip at his bruised skin.

Von gasped and grabbed her hands to halt her exploration. He cursed his wounded body and exhaustion. They had been parted for so long, and it appeared she was as eager as he was to get reacquainted. It only made his want for her grow.

She quickly pulled back, "Did I hurt you?"

"No, but I'm not well enough to continue, my dear."

He hated himself for having to say that, but it was the truth. While he could feel his wounds healing, urged on by his balverine blood, he still felt like death and with his numerous stitches he looked like it too. She deserved something grander than a quick lay on the tiled floor of a bath with a man who closely resembled a corpse. No, he wanted things to be perfect for her, and in his current condition he was unable to do that for her.

"I'll be poor company in this state, love." He added with a smirk.

Maya tucked her hair behind her ears, "You...still want me then?"

Von chuckled and gestured for her to move closer to him. Once she was within reaching distance, he pulled her to his side.

She rested her head on his shoulder and her hand to his stomach, "I had to ask."

"I understand," he kissed her forehead, "but you must understand that it is only injuries that prevent me from taking you here and now, not lack of desire."

Maya blushed under the intensity of his gaze, "I expect you to live up to the promises you've made, Von Kaiser. Pretty words are not going to satisfy me for much longer."

Ezra waited patiently for the boy, knowing he wasn't going to be late – he never was.

Not two seconds later, he saw the boy sneaking around the wall that protected the village, a basket in his hand that contained a dead chicken.

Remaining in the shadows, Ezra called out to the boy.

"You're brave for a child," he teased, "or are you merely foolish? Sometimes I confuse the two."

The boy stopped in his tracks and peered into the darkness in search of him, "So you do have a voice..."

"I do, and I have a name, but I'll know yours first."

"Erich Fisher."

Ezra chuckled, "That is a poor name for one like you."

The boy did not seem daunted or frightened in the least, "And what would you call me?"

"A good name takes time to formulate, something your parents obviously weren't aware of, until I find some inspiration I shall simply call you...boy."

"That's not creative." He whined.

"Neither is Erich, but you liked it until a moment ago." Ezra stepped forward, "I am Ezra, why do you visit me here, boy?"

He swallowed hard at the sight of Ezra, "You're different...not human."

"That is correct, but why the fascination?"

The boy placed the basket on the ground and stood tall, "I want to be strong like you, I don't want to be like everyone else in this boring pit of a town."

"A good enough reason I suppose...do you know what I am?"

The boy thought for a moment, then shrugged, "A demon?"

Amused, Ezra laughed, "I am a balverine...but I guess you were close enough. Are your parents not worried about you? Sneaking out here every night as you do?"

"No, sir, my father is dead and my mother...works at night."

Ezra smirked, "Night, you say? And what does she do, pray tell?"

The boy's face soured, "She...goes to bed with men for coin. When I tell her it isn't right, she tells me she is doing it for me. But that is a lie."

Ezra could feel the hate radiating off the child, "What is the truth?"

"She just does it because she likes what they do to her. All the coin she makes doesn't help me. My friends...their fathers visit her. Everyone hates me...and all because she is a whore. Sometimes I wish she wouldn't come home at all..."

"A bold confession considering we just met," Ezra prodded, wanting to get a rise from his little helper.

But the boy merely shrugged, "Can't fight the truth, and I can't change the fact I'm the only one who says what everyone else is thinking."

"You come here because you want something of me, don't you?"

Nodding, the boy continued, "You're strong, and I want to be too."

"And I can do that for you," Ezra said with a sinister grin, "but you have to show me it is worth the effort...and that you aren't going to let me down or do something foolish like betray me."

The boy with no name looked confused, "Why would I betray you?"

"Because," Ezra said coldly and without hesitation, "people are weak...they all break in the end."

"Must we do this, Logan?" Maya asked with an exasperated sigh.

Tired of her complaints, Logan crossed his arms over his chest and walked around the platform to stand before her. She had been gone for two weeks on and off caring for Von, and while he and Walter had kept things running smoothly, the people wanted to see their Queen.

"Yes, Maya, you must. You have yet to entertain your court since taking the throne, the nobles have to be humoured...even if most of them are quacks with nothing of value to say."

She jumped as the seamstress's needle poked her skin, "But why the dramatics?"

A new gown was being tailored for her, one that promised to be quite elaborate, and for a simple night of dancing and wine it was arguably too much.

"I'll be honest with you, sister," Logan proceeded with caution, "many gentlemen have expressed their interest in marrying you."

Her eyes opened wide, though from shock or revulsion Logan couldn't tell.

"Excuse me!" She demanded in fury, startling the elderly woman who was pinning the hem of her skirt.

"Did you really think you'd go unnoticed by the noble families? Every lord and lady in the city is in a panic to present their son to you. Truthfully, I've not seen them this motivated in some time..."

Maya clenched her fists, "I'll not meet any of them!"

"You'll have to meet them," Logan said delicately, "but meeting them and indulging them with a few dances isn't a pact of marriage. Sister, do you really believe I'd push you into an unwanted marriage? I ask only that you humour these...boys."

Maya rubbed her temples. She knew it wasn't Logan's fault, that something like this was going to creep up on her eventually. But the news blindsided her, as her focus had been on making Von well.

Royals were expected to marry, simple as that, and the sooner the better in most cases. That Logan seemed sympathetic to her situation was encouraging, but the very idea of having a man other than Von touch her was revolting. She felt her chest tighten as she tried to think of a solution, of a way to avoid the disgusting possibility.

Logan stepped forward and took her hands, "Nothing would happen until after the Darkness is dealt with, sister. You are still young, and new to the throne, marriage can be put off until more pressing matters are dealt with."

Maya sighed and tried to tell herself he was right, "Thank you brother, I'm not sure where I'd be without your guidance. This is all so...frustrating and foreign to me."

He offered her one of his rare, small smirks, "You will grow accustomed to court life, sister, though I wouldn't wish that on anyone...you least of all."

Von walked slowly around the chambers Maya had given him.

He never thought he would be living in a castle, least of all with the loving blessing of a monarch, and yet here he was.

There was nothing left for him in Silverpines, and he was glad for it. Ezra was suspected to be dead, though no one could locate a body, and Shiloh had been seen disappearing into thin air with Maya's mysterious and reclusive guide. Malakai was dead, Walter confirmed that, but Scarlet was missing and more than likely among the ashes of the manor. Von knew if there was anyone he owed a drink to, it would have been her. He bid good riddance to the manor and his brother, but he wished Maya hadn't been forced to use her resources as Queen to deal with the problem.

Darkness was coming, and every bullet would be needed if they had a chance of surviving the conflict.

They had essentially swapped one evil for another, but he knew he should just be thankful to be alive and to have found Maya again.

He heard footsteps approaching his door and was not surprised when it opened without so much as a warning. He turned around to greet his beautiful intruder but his smile faded at the sight of her.

Clearly distressed, Maya took a few heavy breaths before closing the distance between them with a desperate embrace.

He tried to look at her, but she buried her face in his chest, "Maya?"

"Are these quarters to your satisfaction, Von?" Maya asked in a hurried whisper.

"Yes, but what's the matter, what is troubling you?"

I could lose you again...and that would surely kill me...

She shook her head, "Don't ask, just let us stay like this for a moment..."

Concerned, but eager to comfort her, Von kissed the top of her head, "Of course, Your Majesty."