So this is what I came up with after listening to all your advice. Thank you for that. I hope this is a better version but feel free to tell me otherwise. I prefer the cold, hard truth to sugar coated answers.
Thanks, Tanya
Possessing Maya
Maya ran, branches slapping at her face, bushes snagging the soft cotton of her long white dress, heartbeat echoing the sound of her bare feet slapping the ground.
As she felt blood trickling down her cheek and mixing with the sweat pouring down her face, Maya realised in a panic that her magic was nearly depleted. She needed to stop and rest, but the hunter was close on her heels.
She suddenly felt a stitch to her side and she stumbled to her knees, curling her fists into the dead pine needles scattered on the ground. Her long blonde hair formed a protective curtain around her head as she leaned her whole body weight on her trembling arms.
She was hungry and thirsty and tired but most of all, she was scared. No hunter had ever caught her scent before. No hunter had ever made it this close to her.
When she was able to take a deep, painless breath, she rose shakily, flipping the heavy length of her hair over her shoulder. She looked up and was met with the bright blue stillness of the ocean. The view would have been breathtaking, if she’d had any breath to spare.
For a full precious moment, she inhaled the salty smell of the ocean, tilted her head back and let the breeze cool her clammy skin. She watched the ebb and flow of the gentle tide and realised that if she walked in water, her footsteps would immediately be erased.
Partially rested, Maya strode forward, her eyes on the shoreline. A step before reaching it, she dropped to the sandy beach, screaming.
* * *
Finally, the hunter thought, Maya had made a mistake!
He stared at the knife protruding from the partial footstep in the ground. Until now, Maya had kept to hard surfaces, bodies of water and thick grass, effectively covering her tracks. This time, she’d left a partial footprint, more than enough to track her down.
The hunter crouched beside the print, touched it with his index and brought the finger to his mouth for a taste. A jolt of power surged through him and he rose, elated.
Finally, he was reaching his goal. He would capture her before the end of the day. An image of his father flashed before his eyes. His father had spent his lifetime searching for the elusive Maya, until he was too old and weak. And now, it was within the hunter’s grasp to bring Maya to him. To show him what he was worth.
After glancing one more time at the silver-coloured handle protruding from the dirt, the hunter strode forward, his mind entirely set on his prey.
* * *
Maya twisted her ankle when she landed on it and cried out involuntarily. She tried rising but couldn’t move; her foot was caught in the sand. She tugged on her leg while trying to maintain her weight on her left foot. A feeling of horror crept up and encircled her heart. Her fingers were numb as she tried to pry her foot free while her heart beat like a stampede of wild horses.
She looked frantically around, searching for an escape, feeling cornered even with the wide expanse of the ocean behind her. Not bothering to wipe the tears coursing down her face, Maya struggled to free herself while battling with the impossible truth; the hunter had somehow caught her. Had she left her trace anywhere? She silently cursed her bare feet but knew she didn’t have a choice; she needed direct contact with the earth to sustain her magic.
Her weak legs gave out and she fell hard to the ground, a sob escaping her parched lips. Her vision blurred and a fog entered her mind, preventing her from imagining what the hunter would do to her when he caught up.
A sudden voice rang out, over the buzzing in her ears, “Miss? Do you need help?”
Her pain forgotten as she reacted instinctively, Maya rose to a half-crouch, a silent snarl on her lips. A man, who looked barely older than she, stood before her. She eyed him warily, pushing away the feeling of desperation that she’d already been found.
The man’s dark blue eyes studied her with interest as the wind blew a lock of jet-black hair across his forehead. His voice was deep and carried easily over the sound of the surf, “May I be of some assistance?”
Maya wanted to throw caution to the wind and say yes, but it wasn’t in her to trust anyone she just met. But maybe he could yank her free. Maybe he could find something to use as a lever. Maybe . . .
Something sagged inside her and she knew it to be ‘hope’. The stranger could do nothing for her. Better he leave before the hunter arrived and harmed him in the process.
“I don’t need help, I’m simply resting.”
“With your foot stuck in the sand?” A dark brow rose incredulously.
“I- Yes. Now go, thanks for stopping by.” Maya felt like slapping her forehead at her choice of words but she was desperate to be rid of him.
The stranger made to leave, then turned back to her. Her eyes were drawn to his serious gaze and she wondered why he looked so sombre.
“He’s coming for you, you know.”
“Wh- Who?” Maya stammered, her breath short.
“My brother, Parker.”
Hating herself for showing weakness but no longer able to support weight on her leg, Maya fell on her good knee and tilted her head back to stare at the man before her. “Your brother?”
“The hunter on your trail.”
Questions bounced off the wall of her mind. How did he know she was being hunted? Did he know who she was? Was he friend or foe? With a husky voice, she asked, “Who are you?”
“My name is Joshua,” he said, tipping an imaginary hat to her. “And Parker is my twin brother.”
“What is this? A race between the two of you? Well, you won,” Maya said. She did her best to appear lost and hurt, hoping he would believe she was weak. When he least expected it, she would attack.
Without a word, Joshua dug in his right pocket, pulled out a switchblade and walked toward her. Maya watched him with wide fearful eyes that didn’t need to be faked. He was quicker than she’d expected. She tensed, awaiting the moment where she would strike with all her fear and fury. She’d have to pack one hell of a punch, because she couldn’t dance around avoiding his blows; she was locked in place.
Joshua flipped the blade open and she cast her eyes to the sand where the sun’s reflection wouldn’t blind her. A second later, she looked up to find Joshua cut through his open left palm. Blood immediately began to seep from the wound. His hand sure, his expression determined, Joshua reached for her and wrapped his bloody hand around her ankle.
She was so shocked that the only move she made was to flinch at the unexpected pressure on her swollen ankle. She was frozen in complete confusion and could not for the life of her sock him for touching her.
Maya heard a popping sound as her foot suddenly shifted in the sand, free of its invisible constraint.
Joshua had freed her!
“How?” Was all she asked.
“Surely you must know it takes blood from the hunter who caught you, to release you.” His eyes held amusement in them. Maya nodded. “My brother and I share the same bloodline.”
“So you’ve won.” Maya’s light blue eyes flashed. Until he spoke the words that would bind her to him, her free will was her own to command.
Reacting swiftly, she rose, using the pain in her ankle to drive her forward; she lashed out with her nails and raked her fingers across his cheeks, causing deep red welts to form. Instinctively, Joshua slashed his knife at her, but she’d jumped back, out of harm’s way, her fists clenched.
“Do it,” Maya thought almost eagerly, eyeing the blade. If he tried to harm her, she would be out of his grasp forever. Humans could not harm beings of light.
His expression incredulous, Joshua lifted a hand to his cheek. It came away bloody and his eyes met Maya’s. “I am sorry for my reaction; I was simply not expecting you to attack me.” He snapped shut his blade. “Maybe you’ve misunderstood my intent, Maya, but you are free to go.”
“Why? If you are here, you know what it means to possess me, don’t you?”
A strange light flared in his gaze but he said softly, “Do I know that once possessed of you, we gain complete control of what you are, both white and black magic? Yes, I know. But if I hadn’t known, you’d just given yourself away.”
Maya accepted the rebuke. After all, she knew better but this man was unsettling to her. She couldn’t anticipate his next move, couldn’t guess what he was thinking. “Then, why?”
Joshua took a deep breath. “My family and I are time walkers.”
Maya nodded. “I’ve heard of you.”
“My father has searched for you his whole life; he’d heard that you could remove the curse that we live with.”
Maya frowned. “Why?”
Joshua laughed drily. “We walk through time without aging but once we return home, our age catches up frightfully fast. It’s taken a toll on my father and he lies on his deathbed. I would like to take you to heal him. But I will not coerce you.”
“Is that why your brother is on my trail?” Maya asked.
“I don’t think Parker’s reasons are quite so . . . altruistic.”
“What do you mean?”
“Time is pressing, Maya. I need to know if you’ll help me and I’ll explain everything on the way.”
Maya thought over his question as quickly and thoroughly as possible but in the end, she knew she’d go. After all, he had
helped her, and asked only a favour in return. When she nodded, he reached for her, as if to lift her in his arms, and she jumped back, startled. Pain shot through her ankle, but she bit down on her scream.
Joshua’s voice was gentle as the warm breeze when he said, “If you haven’t healed yourself already, it is that your magic is depleted. I could carry you while you rest.”
And put herself at his mercy? Maya thought. No way.
“I’ll manage,” Maya said stiffly. “Let’s time walk.”
* * *
Parker cursed when he arrived on the sandy beach. Not only was Maya gone, but so was her print, either erased by herself or the ebbing tide. His mind flashed to the dagger imbedded in the ground. How had she escaped? He had been so close!
Parker frowned and studied the footprints on the ground. Some prints were indented in the sand, as if the person had stood there for a long period. Frowning deeper, he crouched and pressed his fingertips to the print. Joshua. His twin’s familiar essence shot through him.
Had Joshua released Maya? White-hot fury burned through Parker, but suddenly, he was ice-cold.
Had his twin discovered what he’d done?
Nausea leapt up his throat and he broke into a run through time.
* * *
“Now, tell me why Parker is chasing me,” Maya said as they made their way to the mansion where the twins lived.
“My brother is older by a few minutes and that is the only thing he’s done right of his life. I’ve always been better, fast and stronger than Parker and my father obviously favours me.” Joshua opened the door to let Maya in. “That never sat well with Parker who outdid himself trying to gain our father’s attention. As the years have gone by, my brother has become more violent and volatile.” Joshua paused and Maya could see he was clearly upset over his brother’s rage. “A few weeks ago, Parker got into a fight with our father and he struck him.” His voice had gone quiet, flat. “Father was so shocked and scared that something happened to his heart and he’s been unable to move. My mother is inconsolable and terrified that Parker will go even further next time.”
Maya felt her heart soar as she realised Joshua had saved her from being Parker’s next victim. She let her gratitude shine in her eyes as she turned to him. “Enough said; let’s go see what I can do for your father.”
As Joshua led the way to the second floor, Maya noticed how quiet the manor was, which surprised her. It was early eighteenth-hundreds and Joshua’s home was furnished lavishly. It was obvious they were wealthy, but where were all the servants? The maids? Guards? Where was everyone?
Joshua lead her to a thick wooden door and inhaled deeply. Her heart thudded as she braced herself to meet the man who’d searched years for her. She wasn’t paying attention to Joshua but Maya hissed when she felt a sting on her arm. Before she could react, he covered her arm with his wounded hand and said, “Maya, you who are a being of pure magic, I claim you for myself.” Utterly shocked, she looked up and met Joshua’s eyes. His face was etched in deep shadows and suddenly, he was foreign to her, his face no longer recognisable. “You will do my bidding whenever I command it, whichever way I command it.”
“No,” Maya whispered, “no!” She’d been fooled by this soft-spoken man.
“Joshua!” a man’s voice thundered.
Maya’s head whipped to the sound and met a familiar pair of blue eyes. Parker, she thought, and her fear escalated. If Joshua, whom she had tentatively trusted could betray her, what would the hunter do?
She froze. What if Joshua had been the hunter all along? Her mind recoiled at the thought but part of her knew it made sense. It was easier to bring her here on her own two feet than drag her unwilling body along.
Parker pulled a knife from his belt and held it to his side. His stance was menacing and his eyes were fierce as he glared at his brother. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”
“Honestly? Yes. I was hoping you’d stay away for awhile and let me work my magic.”
“You mean her magic,” he gestured toward Maya. “You almost killed him,” Parker said quietly, his tone belying the look in his eye.
“Almost, is the key word, brother,” Joshua said, a sneer on his lips. “Now, I’m going to show him the present I’ve brought.” He reached behind him, twisted the doorknob, grabbed Maya by the arm and pulled her into the room. His grip was painful and she flinched, her gaze on Parker. Could she depend on him to help her?
She felt Joshua freeze and she looked around the empty bedroom. “Where are they?” Joshua roared.
“In a safe place. I know you Joshua. You wouldn’t have healed him, you would have taunted him with the visions of a time-walk free future, of a normal existence. Then, you would have either killed him or killed her before him.”
Joshua threw Maya to the side and lunged for his brother, swinging his arm and punching Parker in the face. Parker’s head jerked back at the hit but he reacted swiftly, bringing his arm up slashing Joshua across his chest. Joshua jumped back with a yelp, his hand covering his bleeding wound. “Maya!” he snapped, “heal me!”
His words brought a compulsion within her to obey and she rose swiftly but tried to fight it. She didn’t want to heal him, didn’t want to obey. She pushed back the compulsion with every ounce of her will power, yet she stepped forward, slowly, sluggishly.
“Maya, now!”
She jerked forward at his command, raised her hands and set them on his chest, either side of the wound. She heard Parker’s furious battle cry and out of the corner of her eye, she saw him raise his knife and charge. Joshua realised it too, and he grabbed her arms and whipped them both around so that her back was to Parker’s attack. “Stay!” Joshua cried out.
Everything happened so fast. Maya felt Parker’s knife rip into her shoulder and knew she’d just saved Joshua from a fatal wound to the heart. Simultaneously, a weight was lifted from her shoulders and she knew that with his command, Joshua had relinquished power over her.
She cried out and fell to her knees, her hand cupping her shoulder. She heard Parker’s sharp intake of breath but as she looked up, she found a smirk on Joshua’s lips; he was proud of what he’d done. Her anger fuelling her energy, she rose, brought the heel of her hand up and struck Joshua on the nose. She heard a satisfying crunch as he jerked back and screamed.
“You bitch! You’re under my command, you can’t touch me!”
Blood flowed freely out his nose which made his face gruesome. His limbs were trembling from his fury as he pulled out his switchblade and flipped it open. He charged and in one swift gesture, he brought his knife down, intent on killing her but slipping between them, Parker pushed her away and caught the blow in his back. Parker immediately crumpled to the floor, his spine severed, the knife still protruding.
Maya felt a dark pulsing rage bubbling from the very pit of her stomach as she felt Joshua’s feelings of horror mingling with deep satisfaction. He had just killed his proud and he was proud! Maya’s thoughts swirled angrily and her rage rose swiftly, clawing to the surface and was finally released in a deep, primal cry. She called forth the dark energy emanating from within Joshua, cradle it inside her palms and set it free against its previous owner. It hit Joshua with the full force of both her rage and his darkness and he slammed into the stone wall behind him, snapping his head, before falling to the ground like a broken rag doll.
Maya breathed heavily, choking on the dark energy she could still feel inside her, like a bad taste on her tongue. She noticed Parker lying disarticulated at her feet and immediately her anger evaporated. She opened herself up to all that was good and pure within Parker. She felt his light rise to the surface and enter her soul. She dropped to her knees, and using her own light, created a protective bubble around them both. She cradled Parker’s dark head in her arms as she watched the breath of life slowly seep back into him as she healed herself in the process.
She remained that way for hours, not feeling the pain in her back or the tension in her neck. When his eyes finally fluttered open, she sighed deeply, thankful for her gift. “Thank you,” she said softly. “You saved my life.”
Parker struggled into a sitting position before cradling his neck with his hand. “I think we’re even.” He met her eyes. “Thank you.” He turned his head and his gaze fell upon his brother. “Is he . . .”
“Dead? Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He was deeply disturbed.”
Maya got to her feet, then crouched beside Parker and helped him rise. “Where are your servants?” she asked, thinking she could use their help.
“I sent them away with my parents. I didn’t want Joshua to use them against me or my parents. I didn’t think he’d get to you before I did. I’m sorry I underestimated him.” His gaze was sombre but sincere.
Maya simply nodded. “Can you lead me to them? I could cure you all but I will need to rest between healings.”
Parker looked shocked. “You would help us?”
“If I can, yes. You had a genuine reason to be looking for me; it isn’t your fault that your brother didn’t share that quality.”
Parker cleared his throat. His voice was caught with emotion as he said, “They aren’t very far from here. It shouldn’t take very long to have us all healed.” He looked down, met her gaze. “Thank you, Maya.”
Again, she simply nodded. She helped him out of the room and down the stairs. Maya thought of the price Parker had paid to save his parents; he had lost his twin brother. She felt her throat tighten at the thought that she had no such friend or family in her life. She shook her head. She was a being of light and there was nothing she could do about it. She would help Parker and his family and take a little time to heal herself.
Then, once again, she would be on the run. Maybe one day she could stop and have a family and friends of her own.
Maybe.
Anyways, great job! Keep writing!
