REWRITE OF CHAPTER TWO

Chapter 2 Rewrite

I felt something soft brush against my cheek, and startled into wakefulness. I opened my eyes and glanced around, by pure habit to make sure nothing was threatening me. As I turned I saw something black perched, precariously on the shortest and weakest branch of the tree above me. Focusing on it I saw that it was a black phoenix, on its back was a symbol that was so eerily familiar. Its blue eyes were staring in my own with concern and amazement.

He flew to me and I cringed, not meaning to. I watched as his eyes turned concerned as I whispered, fearfully, hesitantly, "Who are you?"

He looked at me and I gave a light startled movement as he said into my mind, ""I do not have a name as of yet, Drakoyan. My familiar names me."

I glanced at him, uncertain, hesitant, asking, "Am I your familiar?" Some place deep inside me made me say yes, but I wanted to ask. He was watching me silently, and I felt oddly comfortable around him, enough to lower my guard just the slightest. When he gave a weird type of thrill I took it as a yes and pondered, carefully, for a name. Not wanting to name him something that was completely childish and had nothing to do with how he looked. Glancing at his black figure, with the silver markings, and his blue eyes he reminded me so strongly of the night lit by the moon and stars I exclaimed, "How about Moonlight?"

He thrilled happily and I saw Ravena's ears twitch as I could faintly hear the sound of my mother's footsteps. I winced as she appeared, her eyes flashing with rage. She stormed up to me and grabbed my arm roughly, snarling, "You should never run away!! You keep doing it!! Whether you learned your lesson or not!! I guess I'll have to teach you what happens when you keep disobeying us, Maya Drakoyan!!!"

I cringed unable to stop the images that came into my head. A dark room, the walls soundproof so my screams couldn't be heard by anyone on the outside. The cold brown eyes of the Master, as he glared down at my broken body, as red ribbons flowed down my skin and soaking the ground a dark red. My eyes were hollow, dark, and vacant, empty of life as I pulled myself into a tight ball, my hands covering my head, protecting it from whatever was yet to come. I flinched as I heard him rage with fury, "How dare you play with my daughter as if you were of her status!"

I cringed as the pain hit my back once again, the large switch he wielded was no longer brown, it was soaking red, my eyes flickered shut as I could clearly hear Holly's kind voice, calling me to play, her friendly smile. Oh how I wished our secret hadn't been discovered, I could remember her look of terror and grief, the guilt in her eyes. I could distantly hearing her crying out for her father to let me go, that it was her fault, that she had asked me too. Oh how desperate she was to hide our friendship, how innocent she was, how clueless she was to what her father did. Shame burned deep within me as I guiltily wished that we hadn't been friends, but then as he hit me again, that thought was quickly vanished as I held on to seeing her wonderful smile again, once I was free. I welcomed the darkness, my savior to the pain, and thought no more.

Ravena roared with fury and tried to make the Lady let go of me, but she was swiftly kicked away and I could feel tears fill my eyes as I heard her yelp of pain. With a small sob, I let a terrified scream of terror, as I could only think of what the Master would do if he found out I had displeased the Lady once again. I could feel the barely healed wounds on my back almost open back up as she dragged me back to the castle, raging on how it was Holly's birthday and I still hadn't made her cake, that she had requested me to make a few days ago. Her grip was so tight on my wrist, it was turning dark red, I knew it was most likely broken, as overwhelming pain shot up my arm. I cringed, squirming wanting nothing more than to get as far away from the Lady as I could to save myself the pain that would inevitably come. As we entered the castle we passed the guard standing watch, another close friend of mine.

He looked at me and moved forward, bowing to the Lady saying, respectfully, "My Lady, allow me to discipline this wrench. One of such high power such as yourself and the Master, must not have to sully your hands with such filth. With your lead I wish to deal with the matter personally, as your humble servant."

I could scarcely blink before finding myself in his hold as the Lady said, her voice rich and elegant as she told Raiven, "Thank you for your consideration Raiven. Make sure she is disciplined extra hard while I set up the kitchen for her to make Princess Holly's cake."

Raiven's eyes flashed as he bowed, "Yes My Lady. As you wish."

She turned and went inside, as the mighty doors closed with a loud thud he turned to me saying, "Now Maya what a mess you get yourself into. You know better than that to go running into the caves on such an important day for the Drakoyans."

I scowled darkly snapping defiantly, "I was with Malak. I do not care for such a family, they do not need me for anything other than a puppet they can beat up."

Raiven gave me a sharp look saying, his voice dripping with disappointment and tight anger, "You know better than to speak like that young lady! What would Darksilver say if he knew his true heir was speaking in such a way of others? Do you not know not to let the anger and hate consume you?!"

I looked at the ground, my face flushed with shame and guilt as I whispered, "I'm sorry Raiven."

He cupped my chin and forced me to look him in the eyes as he said, his voice soothing, "You're only eight young one, its not your fault you speak in such a way. You have suffered so much but be better than that. Remember Maya your heart is too pure for such evil, never let it consume you."

I nodded as he said to fake being in pain as I headed back inside. I almost froze in fear when I saw the Master's cold eyes on my back. Steeling myself I went into the kitchen and began the daunting task of making the cake. As I worked, Holly snuck into the kitchen and laughed saying, "Maya you've got flour all over you!"

I smiled at her saying, "I know. You must leave, young princess before they enter." My hands carefully placed the cake in the ancient oven allowing the heat to comfort my cold body for a few seconds before closing it and stood back to allow it to rise. I saw from the corners of my eyes Holly quietly looking at me, her eyes sad and hollow as she quickly snuck back out.

As I frosted the cake I heard Holly's scream of fear and rage. I hastily put the frosting aside and ran to see what was going on. She was in the library, holding a letter, her face ash white her hands trembling, almost tearing the letter. I gripped her wrists, forcing her eyes to tear away from the letter and stare into my eyes.

She managed to stutter out, "Y-y-your m-my sis-sister!?"

The Lady roughly snatched the paper from her snarling, "What were you doing looking through my stuff?!"

Her voice was dark, cold, and burning with rage. Her hand was digging into Holly's wrist, causing her to cry in pain. I hissed in anger, a wave of protectiveness swept over me, as I forcefully shoved the Lady and watched as Holly turned to her mother shouting, "HOW COULD YOU SELL HER OFF?! SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER!"

I went deadly still, somehow I knew she was talking about me. My mind ran almost a hundred miles an hour, so many thoughts and conclusions tumbled through my head that I was scared. Scared to find out what she meant, what that woman had done. Fleeing I ran, ran as fast and far as my legs could take me, collapsing in a heap by a lake, tears streaming down my face, as I cried.

I felt a soft paw brush against my cheek, a flutter of wings as something landed on my shoulder. I sniveled as I looked at my familiars. They stood there with me, comforting me, as I heard the faint murmur of a mysterious young boy's voice, 'I will find you sister. The Realms haven't forgotten your birthright.'

Sniffling I looked up to see Holly walking up, her eyes red and puffy. She was carrying two packs. I could now see that she was very much elegant and strong. A great leader. Her silver eyes were hard and stormy. Her long black hair was tied in an elegant bun, with a strand of her bangs allowed to be free, framing the left side of her face, made her look older, maturer. She handed me a pack saying, "You were my sister. My twin. I always knew I could trust you. I hid it from my parent's as well as I could."

I nodded whispering, "Why me? Why is it always me?" My voice was tinged with sadness, of despair.

She sighed sitting beside me, resting her head against my shoulder whispering softly, comfortingly, "You're the Soulkana, Maya. They didn't want equality with creatures, they wanted to break you and when they couldn't they were going to send you to the only other option, Vengeance Elves."

I let out a small cry of fear as she wrapped me in her arms tightly, offering comfort and shelter whispering, "This time I will protect you. I won't let them take you! You're the only hope left for the us. You're my twin, my other half. I will not let them have my sister!!"

I cried softly, both of fear and joy, I had a family! I felt her tense as I felt, distantly, the presence of Malak, getting nearer. I felt him lay his hand on my back. Holly hissed, not knowing he was not an enemy. I dried my hands on my tattered sleeve, and stood saying to Malak, "You should've told her who you were before touching me, sir."

He smiled, his emerald eyes sparkling, as he turned to Holly saying, "My dearest apologizes Madam, my name is Malak Ålin Drakoyan, Maya's figurative father figure."

Holly went still and was silent muttering softly, "Is he speaking the truth, sister?"

I nodded, allowing my arms to wrap around him, giving him a short hug before grasping Holly's hand and saying, "Yes he is. He saved me."

She nodded and Malak, grabbed our hands and lead us to the caves, saying, "I think it's time we all had a nice talk about what's to come."