Free Web NovelChapter 174: Chapter 173: Maya’s Quarry
Maya studied her face with the particular intensity that came from years of friendship. "The brothers," she said slowly. "It has something to do with them, doesn’t it? With whatever this relationship is that you’re not fully explaining."
"Yes," Eve said. Because that, at least, was safe to acknowledge.
"And you’re okay? They’re not....they’re treating you well? This isn’t some kind of...." Maya seemed to struggle with the phrasing. "....some kind of situation you need help getting out of?"
The concern in her voice was so genuine, so purely about Eve’s wellbeing rather than curiosity or judgment, that Eve felt warmth bloom in her chest.
"Maya." Eve took her friend’s hands. "I promise you....I swear on everything we’ve been through together....they treat me better than I’ve ever been treated by anyone. This isn’t a situation I need rescuing from. It’s...." She smiled. "....it’s home. Complicated, bizarre, occasionally overwhelming home. But home."
Maya looked at her for a long moment, clearly assessing whether she believed this. Then she nodded slowly. "Okay. But if that ever changes...."
"You’ll be the first person I call," Eve promised.
They sat on the bench, and for a while they just existed together in the comfortable silence of old friends who didn’t need to fill every moment with words. The fountain burbled pleasantly. Birds moved through the trees. The afternoon sun was warm without being oppressive.
"So," Maya said eventually. "Tell me about the parts you can tell me about. How are you doing? Really doing, underneath all the...." She gestured vaguely at the estate, at everything. "....all of this."
Eve considered the question honestly. "I’m....I’m different than I was when I left the Eclipse. Stronger, I think. More confident. More...." She paused. "....more myself, if that makes sense. Like I was always trying to be smaller before, to fit into spaces that weren’t quite right. And now I’m in a space where I can be....full sized."
"I can see that," Maya said. "You look different. Not just physically, though you do look amazing. But you carry yourself differently. Like you know exactly who you are and you’re comfortable being her."
"I’m getting there," Eve said. "It’s still....it’s a process. There are moments where I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. But then there are moments where everything just....clicks. Where I feel like this is exactly what I was supposed to become."
Maya was quiet for a moment. "I’m happy for you," she said finally. "Genuinely happy. Even if I don’t understand half of what’s happening, even if this whole situation is the weirdest thing I’ve ever witnessed....you’re happy. And that’s what matters."
She bumped Eve’s shoulder with her own. "Though I reserve the right to interrogate you properly once you’re able to explain things more completely. Because there are some seriously weird things happening around here that ’advanced training exercises’ do not explain."
"Deal," Eve said, laughing.
They talked for another hour....about Maya’s life back in the city, about the club and the other dancers, about the guy Maya had been seeing who turned out to be exactly as much of an asshole as Eve had predicted. Normal conversation about normal things, and it grounded Eve in a way she hadn’t realized she needed.
"I should let you rest," Maya said eventually, noticing the way Eve had started to droop slightly against the bench. "You look exhausted, and I’m keeping you from sleeping."
"I’m glad you kept me," Eve said. "I needed this. Needed to just....be normal for a bit."
"Any time," Maya said, standing and pulling Eve up with her. "That’s what friends are for. Providing normal when everything else is insane."
****
They were walking back toward the main house when they encountered Elena coming from the opposite direction, carrying what looked like a basket of fresh herbs from the kitchen garden.
Elena stopped when she saw them, and something crossed her face....uncertainty, perhaps, about whether she should acknowledge Eve or give her privacy with her friend.
"Elena," Eve called out warmly. "Join us?" freēwēbnovel.com
Elena’s expression brightened immediately, and she changed direction to meet them near the fountain. Up close, Eve could see that she looked....content. Thoroughly, deeply content in a way that went beyond simple happiness.
Raphael’s work, clearly.
"Luna," Elena said, then caught herself. "Sorry....Eve. I’m still getting used to the informal address."
"It’s fine," Eve said. "Elena, you’ve met Maya?"
"We’ve spent quite a bit of time together actually," Maya said, smiling at Elena. "She’s been keeping me sane while Eve has been busy with mysterious estate business."
"It’s been my pleasure," Elena said. "Though I apologize if I’ve been a inadequate substitute for actual time with your friend."
"You’ve been wonderful," Maya said firmly. Then, with the particular observation skills that made her a good friend, "You look happy. Really happy. Did something good happen?"
Elena’s face colored slightly....a flush that spoke of very specific recent activities. "I’ve just....things have been good lately. That’s all."
Eve and Maya exchanged glances, and Eve could see her friend piecing things together....the way Elena glowed, the satisfied quality of her energy, the timing of her happiness coinciding with Raphael’s arrival at the estate.
"Sit with us?" Eve suggested, gesturing to the bench. "Unless you need to get those herbs to the kitchen immediately?"
"They can wait," Elena said, setting the basket down and joining them.
The three women sat together in the garden.....Luna, human, and omega.....an unlikely trio brought together by the strange circumstances of the Blackwood estate.
"Can I ask you something?" Maya said, looking at Elena. "And you can tell me to mind my own business if I’m overstepping."
"Ask," Elena said.
"This estate," Maya said carefully. "The people here. They’re all...." She searched for words. ".....there’s something different about them. About all of you, really, including Eve now. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but there’s a quality....an energy.....that’s not quite normal."
Eve felt her breath catch. This was dangerous territory....too close to revelations that couldn’t be made, to truths that Maya wasn’t ready for.
But Elena, bless her, handled it with perfect diplomacy.
"The Blackwood family is.....unique," she said carefully. "They have a presence, an authority, that goes beyond typical wealthy families. People respond to them instinctively. And those of us who work for them, who are part of their household....we’re affected by that presence. Changed by it, in some ways."
It was masterfully done....absolutely true while revealing nothing specific about the supernatural nature of anything.
"That makes sense," Maya said slowly. "Though it doesn’t fully explain....." She stopped. "You know what, never mind. I’m being nosy. If there are things I’m not supposed to understand yet, I can accept that."
"Yet?" Elena repeated, catching the word.
Maya looked at Eve. "Eventually she’s going to explain all of this to me, right? Once she’s able to? Because we’re friends, and friends don’t keep massive secrets forever."
"Eventually," Eve agreed. "When it’s safe. When I can."
"Okay," Maya said, apparently satisfied with that promise. "I can work with eventually."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, then Maya’s stomach growled audibly, making all three of them laugh.
"I missed lunch," Maya admitted. "I was too worried about Eve to eat."
"The kitchen always has food available," Elena said, standing. "Why don’t we go raid it? I was headed there anyway with these herbs, and I happen to know that Mrs. Chen made fresh cookies this morning."
"Fresh cookies sound amazing," Maya said, standing eagerly.
Eve started to stand as well, but Elena put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You rest," she said firmly. "Maya and I can handle cookie acquisition. You look like you’re about to fall asleep on this bench."
"I’m fine," Eve protested, even as she felt her eyes trying to close.
"You’re exhausted," Elena corrected. "And you’ve had a very...." She paused delicately. "....eventful twenty-four hours. Rest. We’ll bring you cookies if you’re still here when we get back."
