Ch.2 Angel

Chapter 2

Maya watched the couple dance in the rain like a pair going around and around in a snow globe. Her ear filled with their laughter as she took a step forward. Her eyelashes heavied with water droplets and one rebellious drop slipped into her eyes.

Maya blinked in irritation. She opened her eyes only to find herself back in her room.

"No, no, no," she said as she looked around. Her eyes landed on the clock beside her bed.

Thirty minutes. She had been gone for thirty minutes. But it had all felt like just a few short moments.

Desperately, Maya grabbed the book off her bed and recited the spell once more. She needed to know what happened to Nick. She needed to know more about him. Where would she find him?

With trembling hands, Maya chanted the words on the page. She spoke them with each breath as if they were the only words she knew. Until Maya felt the little sharp poke on her back, she did not stop. Maya's heart leaped up into the air as she blinked and transported.

Instead of the slippery rain and booming thunder, Maya was greeted by warm air and the scent of roses. She opened her eyes and found herself standing in the middle of a dimly lit room. She looked around and found a girl, dressed in a lavish red long shirt and a matching top laying on the bed. She was surrounded by trays of gold jewelry, flowers, sweets, and beautiful garments. Maya carefully took a step forward.

"Excuse me," she called out in a small voice.

The girl did not move from the bed.

"Hello!" Maya tried again. "Can you hear me?"

Still no response.

Maya looked around the room at the many many many trays of treasure. The small room was carpeted with silk rugs and colorful pillows. The only light came from the large fireplace. The bed on which the girl laid upon was draped in long white curtains. Maya walked over and peaked through the curtains.

An unfamiliar feeling ran down Maya's back as she locked eyes with the girl. It was strange to have those brown eyes stare at her without seeing her. Maya swallowed her nerves and sat beside the girl on the plush bed.

"You're me," Maya whispered as her eyes ran over the girl's waist long wavy black hair. "You've changed."

The girl on the bed continued to stare at the ceiling. Her long fingers ran through her hair as she daydreamed and smiled. A raging snow storm blew through the valleys outside as the wind howled. Maya looked over her shoulder to the window. Her eyes spotted nothing but tall snow covered mountains.

"Where the heck am I?" She wondered aloud as she got off the bed and walked around the room. She was about to attempt going outside and exploring the rest of the house when suddenly there was a light tap on the window. Maya gasped just as the girl sat up on the bed.

With excitement, she ran from the bed and threw her window open. The bells and her many jewelries jingled as she moved across the floor past Maya. The wild wind blew the snow into the room as a pair of hands gripped the railing.

"A little help, my darling?" A voice asked over the wind.

The older Maya laughed as she took the hand at the window and pulled a man inside. Maya frowned as the figure dusted off the snow in his black hair and laughed softly.

"You're not Nick," she frowned.

"You will be caught," the old Maya said as she ran into the man's arms.

"And what will they do?" The man asked.

Maya took a few steps forward as she watched herself melt against the man's body. She searched the man's face before a gasp escaped her lips.

"Nick...." she whispered.

Yes, it was Nick....except it wasn't..... Maya couldn't explain how she knew, but the man standing before her was definitely her mate. She would never forget those piercing dark eyes.

Nick hardly looked the same as he had just a few minutes ago. His black hair was longer. It was pushed out of his face but a strand or two still hung over his eyes. His sharp jawline was covered by a slight stubble, making him look rugged and oh so dreamy.

"You shouldn't be here," the older Maya said as she looked up at her mate. Her brown eyes shimmered from the glow of the fireplace as Nick slowly lifted her chin.

"I wanted to be the very first to see my bride," he said. "By the gods, look how beautiful you are. Even heaven is envious of you."

Maya backed away slowly feeling as if she was intruding a private moment. She felt her cheeks heat up from the way Nick was staring at his Maya. he really was so handsome. And his voice......he would haunt Maya forever until she found him.

"How much longer until you take me away with you?" the older Maya asked as she pushed back the strands of hair on the man's face.

"If you want I will take you away right now,"

"No," the girl laughed. "What will my family think?"

"Who cares what they think?"

"Emir..... No," the older maya said, shaking her head as she pushed away from her mate.

"Emir," Maya whispered from the back of the room where she spied on the couple.

For a split second, Emir's head began to turn towards the direction in which Maya stood. She still, thinking he had heard her. But there was no way. She had been standing right beside her older self when he had climbed into the room. Sully, he would have seen her.

"Emir," the older Maya turned his face away back to her. "Don't be late in the morning. I won't forgive you if you make me wait at the altar for you."

"If you want, then I will sleep there tonight," Emir smiled as he kissed his bride's hands.

"What will people think when they find the groom sleeping on the steps of the mosque?"

"That the groom has been bewitched by his beloved."

"Such a flirt,"

Emir laughed but Maya quickly covered his face.

"Speak softly," she whispered. "My mother will hear you."

"And what is the same in that? You are my wife," Emir lowered his voice as he moved Maya's hand away from his lips.

"Not yet," Maya blushed. "Not until the morning."

"Just a few more hours," Emir sighed. He leaned forward and ran his nose along the edge of the girl's face "And then you and I will forever be together, Fiza."

"Forever," the girl in Emir's arms said.

"Fiza...." Maya whispered the name. She felt her heart begin to pound as she watched the couple. She felt their happiness seep into her skin like dew. Fiza swirled in her red wedding dress as Emir held her hand and admired her. His eyes swam with love as he listened to his bride talk.

The couple had settled onto the bed and Maya shamelessly perched on the edge as she watched Emir play with Fiza's hair and the flowers in it. She was mesmerized by them. She couldn't look away. Fiza picked up a gold hand mirror and checked her face, tucking away unruly strands of hair that framed her face. Emir leaned over to the tray of jewelry and picked up a heavy necklace. He moved back to his bride and held it against her long neck.

"Beautiful," he whispered into her ear.

Both Fiza and Maya blushed.

"Should I wear it tomorrow?" Fiza asked.

"Yes," Emir nodded his head smiling.

"Wait until you see my other wedding dress."

"Hmm," Emir leaned back against the pillow. "I'm afraid I won't be able to lift your veil."

"Why not?" Fiza asked as she sat her mirror down. She turned to face her soon to be husband leaning back on her bed.

"I hear the moon gets easily jealous," he said.

"So?"

"How will I hide my moon from the one in the sky?"

Fiza covered her lips as she laughed softly. She leaned forward and placed her chin on Emir's chest as her long hair fell over her shoulder like a black drape. Maya hopped off the bed and moved away to the window. She couldn't stop blushing from Emir's words. Her heart fluttered like the wings of a hummingbird as she turned her back to the bed and looked out the window at the tiny mountain side village.

"Fiza," Emir spoke after a while.

"Hmm?"

"Do you believe in angels?"

"Of course,"

"I've seen angels,"

"Oh have you now?" Fiza smiled as she looked up. Maya slowly turned around to hear what Emir had to say.

"Yes," Emir whispered as he locked eyes with Fiza. "Yet their beauty pales in comparison to yours."

"You will anger them," Fiza teased. "We need their blessings."

"You're the peace my soul seeks,"

Fiza slowly sat up in bed as she picked up Emir's hand. Maya watched her as her eyes watered and she brought his hand to her lips. Her mouth opened but before Maya could hear what she had to say her eyes shut and she was flung back into her room.

Maya groaned as she felt the hardwood floor disappear from under her feet and be replaced by her soft rugs. She opened her eyes and a scream erupted from her lips.

"Ahhhhh!" Clare screamed back in fright as she jumped off the bed.

"What are you doing here?" Maya demanded as she placed her hand over her beating heart and stared down at the little five year old girl.

"Eggs told me to call you for dinner," Clare said. "Why were you screaming?"

"You scared me," Maya said. "That's why.....why did you scream?"

"Because you screamed!"

Maya let out a heavy breath as she ran a hand through her tangled damp hair. She was still dressed in her bathrobe.

"What did you see?' She asked Clare as she collected the books off her bed. "When you came into the room? What did you see?"

"I saw you," Clare said.

"I was here?"

"Yes...."

"What was I doing?"

"Just kneeling by the bed," Clare pointed. "I thought you were praying. So I was waiting for you. But then you started screaming."

"Well yeah, I was praying to satan. That's the only way to do it."

"Is that the devil?"

"Yes."

"But I thought Tobias was the devil."

"Clare," Maya turned to face her cousin. "Stop talking. Go sit on my bed while I get ready."

"Why are you nervous?"

"I'm not nervous,"

"I feel it," Clare took a step closer. "And you're kind of happy too."

Maya couldn't help the smile that came over her lips. She blushed thinking about Emir and Nick. her heart started to hum as she walked into her closet and pulled on a dress. Clare followed her instructions and went over to Maya's bed. She sat down with her hands neatly folded on her lap as she watched Maya get dressed and brush out her hair.

"You're acting like the girls from those movies my mom and dad watch," she commented as Maya sprayed a little perfume on her wrist.

"And how do they act?" she asked.

"Dad says they act like they are in love," Clare blinked in shock. "Are you in love?"

"Shhhhhh," Maya rushed over to the little girl and covered her little lips. "You can't tell anyone. Promise?"

Clare nodded as she held up her pinky, "Cross my heart."

"I met the most wonderful man, Clare bear," Maya pulled the little girl off the bed and spun her around the room. Clare giggled as she let the older girl dance her around.

"Who is he? Is he a prince like the ones Adeline tells us about?" she asked.

"Nope," Maya shook her head. "Even better."

"Even better?" Clare jumped with excitement. "I want to meet him."

"Soon," Maya pulled the little girl to her side and smiled. "Very soon he will be here."

"Are you sure?" Clare scrunched up her nose. "I think he's already here."

"What?" Maya's feet stopped. She looked down at Clare and sank to her knees. "What did you say?"

"I think he's already here," Clare shrugged.

"How..." Maya gave a short laugh. "Who is he?"

"I don't know," Clare said.

"Hmm," Maya giggled as she kissed her cousin's cheek. "Well this will be our little secret, okay?"

"Okay," Clare nodded.

"And if you ever start thinking about me and this boy you will come straight to me and tell me what you thought up, promise?"

"I promise," Clare held up her pinky again.

"Good," Maya smiled. "Now let's go try that lemonade you made."

When Maya and Clare arrived at the family room, everyone was already seated. Clare ran to her father as Owen helped her onto the seat beside him.

"What took you so long, princess?" he asked as he placed the white napkin over her lap.

"Maya and I were praying to satan," she said as she wiggled in her chair and got comfortable.

"Excuse me?" Exton raised a brow from across the table. He looked at his daughter as she settled into the seat next to Maksim.

"San-ta," Maya annunciated. "We were writing letters to Santa, not satan."

"In July?"

"Yes," Maya nodded. "It's good to be early."

"Aren't you too old to still believe in santa?" Maksim snickered.

"Aren't you too young to have a girlfriend?"

"I don't have a girlfriend."

"Oh yeah?" Maya laughed. "Who's the blonde you hang out at the stable with after classes?"

"That's just Ella," Maksim waved his hand. "She's not my girlfriend."

"You could never get a girl like her anyways,"

"Hey!"

"Maksim, don't listen to her," Adeline said from across the table. "You will make a wonderful boyfriend."

When Maksim didn't answer, Maya kicked his leg under the table.

"Ow!" Maksim complained, grabbing his knee.

"Say thank you to Mother Teresa," Maya pointed to Adeline. "Learn your manners."

"You're a nasty witch," Maksim said in anger.

"Mackey," Mavi ruffled his hair as she passed by his chair. "That's not nice."

"But she hit me!"

"So hit me back, whimp." Maya said.

"I can't hit girls," Maksim grumbled.

"Why are you hell bent on beating everyone up?" Exton sighed, shaking his head. "Maya, watching you gets my blood pressure high."

"Imagine what I went through," Xavier said under his breath.

"Say sorry to Mackey," Exton looked at his daughter sternly. "And no more hitting for the rest of dinner."

"What about after?"

"Maya,"

Maya sighed as she turned to her cousin, "I'm sorry....I'm sorry you are so weak that you can't take a hit from a girl. I won't do it again and I regret my actions."

Maksim looked at Exton in confusion, "I think that hurt more than the kick."

Exton bit down on his lips to keep himself from laughing. He knew he needed to keep a straight face and discipline Maya before Gemma came in and got wind of what their wild child had been up to.

"Maya," Adeline whispered to her twin. "Not like that. Say your sorry."

Maya groaned as she turned to Maksim once more, "I'm sorry."

"Are you going to beat me up tomorrow at training for this?" Maksim asked.

"Probably," Maya nodded.

Just then, Rye and Gemma walked into the room together. Everyone grew silent as the two ladies joined their mates and looked around.

"The silence is suspicious," Rye said, narrowing her eyes. "Who did what?"

"I prayed to Satan," Clare chirped up from her seat.

"Good job, kid," Rue gave her a nod. "I raised you right."

Mavi shook her head as the plates of food began being passed around the table. Everyone moved them around like a busy interstate as they filled their plates. Maya helped Maksim scoop up some mash potato as he grabbed two dinner rolls, one for her and one for himself. When he placed Maya's bread on her plate, she looked over at his slice and switched them.

"I'm older, so I get the bigger one," she said.

Maksim laughed as he dug into his food. As they all began to eat, one by one they shared how their day had gone. Maya's heart fluttered as she thought about the adventures she had just come back from. She wondered how her family would react if they found out she went back in time. She knew her dad would be proud. He would tell her she was just like him.

But Maya also knew her mother would be mad. She wasn't supposed to be using the Fay books. And Gemma would not allow her to hold on to them if she found out Maya was using them. The thought of giving up the books and never seeing Nick or Emir again, made Maya's heart shrink in her chest. She looked around at her family and decided to keep her little adventure to herself. When it was her turn to speak, she talked about her training with her mother and gardening with Xavier.

As Maya spoke, she felt Clare's little stormy gray eyes watch her from Owen's side. When their eyes met, Maya held her finger to her lips and winked. Clare zipped her lips in response and flung the keys over her shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Adelien asked curiously.

"Nothing," Maya said looking away from the little girl.

Adeline's identical blue eyes narrowed as she peered at her devious sister. Maya rolled her eyes before she looked at her father.

"Dad," she said. "What cultures wear red at their wedding?"

"We do," Exton said as he looked up. "Traditional wolves wear red to their wedding. Also people in South Asian countries. I believe traditional Chinese weddings have red too. Why, babe?"

"Just wondering," Maya said as she stabbed the meatballs on her plate. "Where does it snow in India?"

"Kashmir and some other places,"

"Have you ever been there?"

"No," Exton shook his head.

"I want to go,"

"We can go together," Exton smiled. "Would you like to come, Adeline?"

"Yes, please," Adeline nodded.

"We'll make it a father daughter trip," Exton laughed. "No mom."

"You? Alone with the girls?" Gemma raised her brow. "What will you do when they start fighting over the last piece of pancake or the bigger room?"

"Fight to the death," Exton shrugged laughing. "Winner takes all."

"She can have it," Adeline's face soured as she pointed to Maya. "I don't want to fight her. She bites."

"Whatever," Maya laughed.

"Why the sudden interest in red wedding dresses?" Gemma asked as she handed Maya the pasta bowl.

"I just think it looks pretty," Maya kept her eyes on the table and avoided looking at her mother.

"It is a beautiful color," Gemma agreed.

"Did you wear red to your wedding?"

"No," Gemma shook her head. "I wore white but I wore red to our first Par ceremony."

"You looked beautiful that day," Exton smiled at his mate. Gemma blushed as she leaned forward and placed a kiss on his lips.

"Thank you," she said.

"Anytime, angel," Exton beamed.

Angel....

Maya's heart skipped a beat as she thought of Emir.

Their beauty pales in comparison to yours.....

"Dad..." Maya looked up slowly.

"Yes, my love?"

"How did you know you were in love with mom?"

A wide smile spread across Exton's face. His green eyes began to sparkle as he took a deep breath and took Gemma's hand. Maya watched them as he placed a kiss poun Gemma's hand.

"I don't think there was ever a moment when it hot me," Exton explained slowly. "I think I fell in love with her everyday. A bit more and more with time until I couldn't live without her anymore."

"That's beautiful," Adeline sighed.

Maya's heart fluttered but she pretended to gag, "Ew."

"Hey, you asked," Exton said in his defense.

"Do you believe in reincarnation?" Maya suddenly asked.

"What?" Exton blinked in surprise.

"She asked me about that earlier," Xavier said from down the table.

"Reincarnation?" Exton raised a brow. "I don't know. I never thought about it."

"Don't any of you ever think about it?" Maya looked around the table. "I mean don't you ever wonder if you were always paired with the same person in all your lives."

"How do you feel about it?" Mavi asked.

"I don't know," Maya shrugged as she leaned back against her chair.

"Do you think we end up with the same people in every life?"

"I hope so," Maya said.

"I hope so too," Xavier smiled.

For the rest of dinner, Maya didn't bring up the topic of reincarnation anymore. She felt her body fidget to get everything over with and run back up to her room. She was eager to go back in time again. It was like watching a movie. And Maya was hooked. She suffered through dinner and helped Adeline and Maksim clean the table before she zoomed past the doors.

"Where are you going?" Gemam stopped her as Maya began to run up the stairs.

"To my room,"

"We're all going to watch a movie, Rye made cookies."

"No thank you," Maya shook her head. "I'm tired and pretty sleepy."

"Want me to come upstairs with you?"

"No!" Maya whirled around. "No, it's okay. Go enjoy the movie."

She didn't wait around for her mother to answer as she ran up the remaining stairs. Once in her room, she quickly changed into her pajamas and dug in under her covers. By then, she had the spell memorized and she no longer needed the book to recite the words.

With great excitement, Maya pulled the covers to her chin and moved her lips to the words of the spell. Within seconds, she felt her eyelids grow heavy. Maya blinked and was instantly flown through time.

Maya opened her eyes to the ceiling of Fiza's bed. She felt a thrill run down her spine at the thought of getting to see Emir again when her ears suddenly picked up the weeps of a woman. Maya's brows furrowed in confusion and concern. She turned her head to find Fiza asleep next to her. Perfectly still, dressed in her new red wedding dress.

Beside the bed, Emir knelt as he held Fiza's hand with tears in his beautiful brown eyes. Maya slowly sat up, wondering what had happened. Morning sunlight was creeping in through the window. They were supposed to be married today. Why was Emir crying?

Slowly, Maya looked around the room. Women and men lingered around the little space all dressed in white. Their eyes were all wet as they stood with their heads lowered. Maya's heart began to pound in her chest as she slowly turned back to Fiza on the bed.

"Fiza...." Emir called to her as his voice broke. "Don't leave me.....wake up."

"No...." Maya said as she looked down at the sleeping bride. "No, no."

Emir began to kiss Fiza's cold hand as his eyes spilled the perfectly shaped tears. They glistened in the sunlight as they slid down his face.

"Come back to me...." he sobbed quietly as he moved closer to her face.

Maya watched in horror as the girl with her face laid still as ice. Her body began to tremble as Emir's sobs reached her ears.

"What happened?" Maya suddenly demanded. "What happened to her? You were supposed to get married!"

No one heard a sound.

Maya sat on the bed beside Fiza as she demanded over and over to know what happened but no one could hear her. When she watched the women move forward and begin to remove the bride's jewelries one by one, Maya no longer wished to be in the room. She shut her eyes tightly and opened them. But she was still sitting beside the dead bride.

"No!" Maya said as she tried again.

Still no change.

"No, no, no...." Maya kept saying as she opened and shut her eyes forcefully. Nothing helped.

Maya remained on the bed until Emir was pulled away from his bride. Together, they both watched in horror as Fiza's body was lifted off the bed and carried away.

"No!" Maya finally screamed. She threw her hands over her ears and fell forward in bed.

"Maya!" Gemma's voice suddenly broke through the thundering pain in Maya's heart.

"Mom!" She said with relief as she looked up. "Mom."

"What's wrong?" Gemma asked as she rushed into the room.

Maya looked around in a panic at her familiar surroundings. She quickly wiped her eyes as her mother pulled her into her arms.

"What's wrong?" Gemma asked again.

"I...." Maya pushed down the sob in her chest. "I had a bad dream."

What are you thinking?