Ch.23 My Fiza

Chapter 23

With a desperate gasp for air, Maya sat up straight. Every part of her body shivered as the cool grass beneath her poked at her bare legs and arms. Her hair was soaking wet, sticking to her like tentacles.

With panicked breaths, Maya looked around and realized she was sitting on the back lawn of the palace. Her knees buckled as she dragged herself up and looked around. The taste of salt water still lingers in her mouth and all the water she had swallowed was starting to burn her throat. For a few seconds, Maya wondered if maybe she was dead when she suddenly heard Mavi's laugh.

"Don't tell me you're allergic to pollen."

Maya whirled around with wide eyes. She spotted Mavi walking towards her as Heyder sneezed behind her on the path.

"Mother nature has never been kind to me," Heyder said as he rubbed his nose.

Maya's jaw dropped to the floor as she stood in the middle of the lawn in her black bikini watching Heyder run to Mavi with a carefree smile that made her heart to flips. She had never seen that smile.

"Oh this is rich. The great, all mighty Heyder is weakened by pollen?" Mavi teased as she reached up and adjusted the flower crown on her head.

"You think I'm great?" Heyder tilted his head and laughed.

Unaware of her actions, Maya began to follow the pair down the pebble path of the rose garden. The small smooth rocks were uneven and slippery beneath her feet as she stumbled.

"I didn't say that," Maya heard Mavi say.

"Yes, you did, princess," Heyder laughed.

"I meant your powers."

"My powers and I are one," Heyder argued. "So therefore I am great."

Maya watched as Mavi turned around and began to walk backward. She had a gleam in her eyes as she held her head up and looked down at the jinn.

"Take all that magic away and what are you?" She asked.

In front of Maya Heyder stopped walking. He pushed his hands into his pockets and shrugged.

"Crazy about you."

"Smooth," Mavi smirked just as Maya rolled her eyes. "You are such a flirt."

"I can't lie to you, remember?" Heyder said.

"I'm engaged," Mavi held up her hand with her ring. "Remember?"

"Dang it," Heyder laughed. Maya looked at him and her heart began to ache.

His sorrow filled brown eyes were so evident to her. He was standing there thinking Mavi was Maya. and he was watching her become someone else's.

"Does he really make you happy?" He asked, frowning.

"Of course," Mavi said.

"What is he doing right now?"

"He.....He's just a little upset," Mavi hesitated.

Maya pushed her wet hair out of her face as her chest began to burn. She stayed close to Heyder in hopes that he might be able to sense her. They walked along the rose garden for a while before Heyder spoke again.

"I wish he knew how much he meant to you."

"He does." Mavi looked away.

"You were willing to give up everything for him," Heyder said. "You went against the council and made him your Beta.....and then he just.....left?"

"Heyder...." Maya whispered, knowing he wouldn't be able to hear her. "What are you doing?"

"My dad made him leave. He didn't leave by choice," The irritation was clear in Mavi's voice.

Maya stepped around the jinn to walk closer to her aunt when Heyder's voice suddenly stopped her.

"Love is worth fighting for," he said.

Maya whirled around and looked into his eyes. Of course, he was staring at Mavi, but Maya swore she could feel him sensing her. Her heart began to race from his words.

Love is worth fighting for......

There was nothing in this world Maya wouldn't do for her love. So simply Heyder had worded all the emotions that had been running through Maya's heart and soul for years and years.

Love is worth fighting for.

Maya was left speechless as Heyder and Mavi moved away down the path. She turned and watched them for sometime before they got too far ahead. She hurried down the path and stopped when the wind around her started to pick up.

Suddenly, a large ball of water leaped up from the pond beside Maya and began to float through the air like a bubble. Maya gasped as she watched the bubble stt to swirl around the air and move around Mavi. Pretty soon, more bubbles started rising from the pond. Maya watched in amazement as the orange and red coy fish lifted out of the pond and into the bubbles.

"Are you doing this?" Mavi asked Heyder.

"Of course, he is," Maya said with her head leaned back and her eyes watching the flying fish.

After a few seconds, Heyder put the fish back just as the rose petals beneath Maya's feet began to move. She stared in amazement as they arranged themselves into a floating figure. Maya took a step forward and brushed her finger over the figure made completely out of floating petals.

"Should I?" Mavi asked Heyder behind Maya.

"Of course," Heyder said.

Maya jumped out of the way as Mavi and the flower figure began to waltz down the path. Heyder followed along with his hands in his pocket, completely unaware that Maya was right beside him.

"You don't do flowers, huh?" She asked as her eyes stayed on Mavi dancing.

Unwillingly, Maya felt her lips drop down into a frown. Mavi's laughter was starting to pierce her ears and annoy her as she twirled with her dark locks and brilliant gray eyes. The feeling intensified as the flower figure disappeared and Heyder pulled Mavi into his arms. Maya stood still as a rock and watched the jinn pick up the dance from where Mavi had left off and carry on without a hitch. He swirled her out and then back into his embrace before dipping her over his arm.

Having seen enough, Maya turned away. She covered her ears with her hands and started to run back towards the palace. She didn't stop until she had passed all the floors and arrived at the door that would one day be her room. With great ease, Maya turned the doorknob and stepped into the empty guest room. She pulled off the covers from the bed and wrapped it around her shivering body as she laid her head down. Everything was starting to spin. Maya felt her heart beat with a speed she feared will one day end her life. Her throat started to close up and her eyes began to sting. Suddenly, from outside the door, Maya heard her mother's voice.

Feeling desperate and in need for some comfort, Maya jumped out of the bed and rushed out into the hall. She spotted her mother slowly walking towards the stairs as a young girl followed her.

"The most important thing for any kind of magic is to have control over it," Gemma said as she placed her hand over her swollen belly.

With trembling legs, Maya timidly began to walk up to her mother. She inhaled her familiar scent and felt her body grow a tad bit relax.

"Without control, even the simplest of spells will be impossible," Gemma said.

"How do I control my magic?" The young witch asked.

"It takes time. When you train at the Armory or with me, the first thing I teach is control. It's through meditation and practice that you will be able to have a better mind and hold on your powers."

Maya knew exactly what her mother was talking about. She remembered the first several months of training in the lab. All Gemma had Maya do was mediate. And once she was satisfied, she had her daughter fine tune her concentration on lifting grains of sand out of a large sandbox.

Maya had found the time excessively boring. But as she stood stuck in time, staring at her mother's swollen belly, she found herself being extremely grateful for such valuable skills. With one last look at her mother's blue eyes, Maya walked back into her room and sat down on the bench by the foot of the bed. She closed her eyes and took several long deep breaths.

The most beautiful things about magic was that it was never the same for two people. As Maya sat concentration on cleaning her mind, she pictured a long hallway. At the end was a door. And with all her might, Maya made herself believe that if she made it to the end of the hall and walked through the door, she would travel back to her time.

"All you have to do is believe," Gemma's voice whispered in Maya's ears. "Believe in your mind, your magic, and your will."

For the first several minutes, maya found herself just standing at the opposite end of the hallway. She wanted her body to move, but it was as if she was stuck in a horrifying state of sleep paralysis. When she felt her heartbeat spike, she quickly gave up trying to push herself and relaxed her shoulders.

The cool air moved in and out of Maya's lungs slowly as she felt her muscles unwind and relax. She looked around the empty hall and then at the floor. With extreme slowness and patience, Maya lifted her right feet.

As if she was floating on air, Maya took a step forward. She felt herself smile as she took a second step forward. The tattoo around her left ankle caught her eyes.

Light as a feather, it read. And that was exactly how Maya felt.

She floated down the hall with small tiny baby steps. She didn't try to rush or panic whenever she felt her control slipping. She took all the time she needed and made her journey to the door as peaceful as it needed to be.

Finally, as she arrived at the door. Maya reached out and turned the gold doorknob. A warm gust of wind blew against her face as bright light greeted her.

"Heyder!" Ali yelled somewhere as Maya felt his warm embrace. She blinked against the light as the jinn's face became visible.

"Forgive me, darling," Ali chuckled with relief. "I had to kiss you without your permission."

"What?" Maya tried to say but as soon as she opened her mouth, she started to cough.

"Maya!" Heyder sank into the san beside her and let go of the vial of blood he was holding. He pulled her out of Ali's arms and clutched her against his chest. Maya couldn't stop coughing as Heyder pulled her face up and placed his hands on either side.

"You okay? Is anything broken?" Heyder asked, his warm ragged breath hitting Maya's skin and making her feel warm and fuzzy.

Maya shook her head. As much as she wanted to remain in his embrace and enjoy being the center of his attention, Maya had to pull away. She turned her face sideways and coughed up some salt water.

"Don't fight it," Margo said as she rubbed Maya's back. "Get it all out."

"What happened?" Maya asked as she remained hunched over on the sand. She lifted her hand and searched for the necklace around her neck.

"Where is the aphros?" Maya lifted her red eyes to her Heyder.

"Don't worry about it, I have it safe," Heyder reached for her again. Maya didn't fight him as he pulled her back to his side. "Did he hurt you?"

"No," Maya shook her head. "What were those things in the water?"

"Stins," Heyder said. He put his arm around Maya's shoulders and tucked her under. "Shadows from dark magic. Mirza keeps them around to do his work."

"How did he know we would be here for the aphros?" Ali asked. His words made Maya's heart sink into a dark hole. The heartbreaking thought that popped into her head made her stomach turn.

"Heyder...." Maya looked up. "Fiza...."

Heyder looked down at the witch with a deep frown on his lips. His brows furrowed and he shook his head.

"No," He said. "Fiza wouldn't do that."

"She's the only other one that knows we're here," Ali pointed out. "All the books and papers are at the house."

"Stop it," Heyder snapped. "Fiza is not a snitch. She wouldn't give away information to Mirza."

"She let him into the house before," Maya said.

"She didn't know what Mirza could do!" Heyder jumped to his feet. "She knows now and there's no way my Fiza would betray me like that. I know her."

My Fiza.....

Maya felt her heart shiver as she looked away from Heyder's face. She felt Margo and Ali's eyes on her and she didn't know what hurt the most. The fact that even after her almost dying didn't stop Heyder from saying my Fiza or the look of sympathy in the new couple's eyes for her.

"Always so quick to save her, aren't you?" Maya climbed to her feet. Her muscles ached and she wobbled slightly. Heyder tried to reach out and steady her, but Maya stepped away and took Margo's hand instead. The quick flash of hurt that appeared in the jinn's eyes made Maya angrier.

"She didn't tell you she even met Mirza when she first got here," Maya said. "What else do you think she's hiding?"

"Maya, stop it." Heyder's jaw flexed.

"How do we even know how long she was with him until he dropped her off at our doorstep? And why did he even do that?"

"Maya's got a point," Ali said.

"You really think Fiza would be working against me?" Heyder turned to his best friend.

"Not against you," Maya said. "Against me."

"Oh for god's sake!" Heyder threw his arms up. "You're just upset that she's here. And now you are trying to pin something on her."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Maya matched his anger. "You think I need to scheme to get her out of my way?"

"That's what it looks like from over here," Heyder said.

"You so delusional," Maya yelled. "You're so in love with that girl that you can't even see how she's making a fool of you!"

"Let's solve this right now," Heyder snapped his fingers and a portal appeared. Maya stomped through as Margo and Ali followed her.

"Maya!" Fiza gasped on the other side. "What are you wearing?"

"Oh give it a rest!" Maya snapped as she willed a dress to fly down to her from her room. She pulled it over her black bikini as Heyder walked through the portal.

"Ali," Margo whispered to her mate as Fiza eyed her. Ali turned to his girl and immediately started to swoon. Margo pointed to her breasts and then to Fiza.

"Oh!" Ali snapped back. He twirled his fingers and a long red dress materialized over Margo's slim figure. The silk fell over her lean body like water down a waterfall. Ali looked her up and down in approval before pulling her in for a kiss. Over his shoulder, Maya's eyes met Heyder's briefly before Fiza's voice cut through.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"No," Maya turned to look at the girl sitting on the sofa. "How long were you with Mirza when you first arrived here?"

"A few hours...." Fiza said, looking from Maya to Heyder.

"Hours?" Maya laughed. She looked over at Heyder and narrowed her eyes. "How long do you think it takes to brainwash?"

"Fiza," Heyder ignored Maya and moved forward. He kneeled in front of the girl and took her hands. With a great sigh, he lifted his gaze, "Have you spoken to Mirza?"

"Did you tell him where we were?" Maya asked.

"N-no," Fiza frowned. "Emir, what's going on?"

"We were attacked today," Heyder said slowly.

"Are you okay?" Fiza's eyes watered as she pulled their intertwined hands to her chest. "Are you hurt?"

"We're fine," Heyder said, touching the side of her face. "We need to know how Mirza found out where we were."

"Did you tell him?" Maya asked again. "When you first came here, where did he keep you for hours?"

"I- I don't know," Fiza's lip trembled. "I don't remember it."

"Of course you don't," Maya groaned.

"Emir, I didn't tell Mirza anything."

Maya looked at Ali and Margo standing by the entrance of the room. The jinn looked at her and shook his head. He knew what Maya was thinking and he agreed.

"She's lying," Maya said to Heyder.

"No! I'm not," Fiza jumped up.

"Just because you can't lie doesn't mean she's not lying," Maya didn't take her eyes off of Heyder. "Look at all the signs, damn it. Everything points to her."

Heyder rose to his feet and turned to look at the two girls in front of him. Fiza shook her head as fat tears rolled down her face. Maya stood with her arms folded over her chest and a deep scowl on her face. She glared at Fiza with the heat of a thousand suns. They were like day and night.

"Fiza...." Heyder kept his voice calm and gentle. "Please tell me what happened. Are you working with my brother?"

"No!" Fiza shook her head. "She's blaming me. I would never do that to you."

"What about to me?" Maya asked.

"Heyder," Ali spoke from the back of the room. "The hypnos spell."

"No!" Fiza jumped back.

"If you're telling the truth, then why are you afraid?" Maya narrowed her eyes.

"Emir," Fiza sobbed. "You promised me you would never use magic on me."

"How convenient," Maya rolled her eyes.

"Maya, stop it," Heyder looked at the witch.

"Do the spell," Maya said with determination. "It's the only way I'll trust her. The only way any of us will trust her."

"No, Emir," Fiza shook her head as she took another frightful step back.

A look of sorrow and hurt filled Heyder's eyes. Reluctantly he took a step forward and took Fiza's hand. The girl sobbed and shook her head, begging him to believe her. Maya watched as every muscle in Heyder's body locked and he snapped his fingers.

At once, Fiza stopped crying. Her eyes took on a dream like state as she stared at Heyder blankly.

"Fiza...." Heyder let go of a breath. "Did you tell Mirza where we were?"

"No," Fiza said.

"Are you in any kind of communication with him?"

"No."

Ali and Maya looked at each other. Heyder snapped his finger and Fiza hunched forward gasping for air. She scurried back as Heyder tried to catch her and screamed.

"No!"

Everyone in the room froze and looked at the crying girl.

"Are you happy now?" Fiza demanded. "You didn't believe me! I would never hurt you! But you didn't believe me!"

"Fiza," Heyder tried to reach for her hand again.

"No," Fiza cried. "You promised you wouldn't use magic on me. I- I can't......"

Fiza didn't finish. She ran out of the room and up the stairs. Her bedroom door slammed shut as the whole house shook from the sound. Heyder stood frozen as he stared at the spot where Fiza had been standing just momentarily.

"Heyder," Ali began. "At least now we know."

"I already knew," the jinn said as he ran a hand through his messy hair.

"I'll go apologize to her," Maya said. But before she could take a step, Heyder's angry eyes snapped up to her. The heat in them made Maya freeze over like the frozen entrance of hell.

"You've done enough," Heyder snared.

Maya blinked in shock, "Excuse me?"

"You're so goddamn insecure about her, aren't you?" Heyder said through his teeth. "This is what you wanted. I broke my promise to her. She hates me. Does this make you happy, Maya?"

"Heyder, that's not fair," Ali tried to take a step forward.

"Stay out of it!" Heyder pointed to his friend before he turned his attention back to Maya. "I'm trying so hard to break his fuckin' curse but you keep letting your silly childish rivalry get in the way."

"Are you kidding me right now?" Maya was speechless. "You brother just tried to drown me. I was pulled out of the bottom of the ocean but you're worried about her?"

"Here we go again!" Heyder threw his hands up.

"Fuck you, you fuckin' fuck!" Maya yelled. "You know, it's just my luck to be stuck with you! Why couldn't it be Ali?"

"I'm flattered, but...." Ali tried to speak, but Margo pulled him back behind her.

"You would have taken anyone," Heyder spit. "You're delusional if you think you're in love with me. You're in love with the idea of being in love, you stupid girl. It never mattered who Nick, Emir or Roy was. You just wanted someone. Hell, I'm pretty sure you would be sleeping with Mirza right now if you couldn't get me out of the necklace."

Maya gasped along with Margo. She narrowed her eyes and took a step forward.

"What did you just say?" Maya's voice dropped.

"You are so despra-"

Before Heyder could finish, Maya felt her hands rise up and blast the jinn across the room. Heyder flew back against the wall and slammed into it. He fell to the floor along with the picture frames and broken pieces of wood. Stunned, Heyder shook his head and looked up at Maya.

"Real mature, birdie," he said.

Before he could get up, Maya blasted him with another hit, "Don't ever call me that!"

"Maya," Ali threw his arms around the girl. He snapped his fingers and a portal appeared to Caspian's hotel. "Margo, darling. Let's go."

Maya tried to struggle out of the jinn's grip, but Ali didn't let her go until he walked her out of the house and into the evening sunset at the white sand beach.

What would you do in Maya's shoes?