The Book of Willow- Princess of the West

20.

"Maia!" Amber shouted bursting through the back door, running in earnest through the kitchen. Reaching the girl, she anxiously grasped her oval face between cupped hands. 

"Gods! I was so worried!" She cried, throwing her arms around Maia's shoulders.

Irked at her mother's overbearing nature, Maia sighed and rolled her eyes. It was embarrassing enough to deal with this on a regular basis but with an audience this was excruciating. 

Amber was overly dramatic. Chance stood in the kitchen watching them. An amused smile playing upon his lips. He took some sick delight in her suffering. She made a mental note to get him back for that later.

 And although she hated to admit it. He looked amazing in her father's black hoodie and matching sweats. His smile fell and he stood erect as Brom stalked through the door. 

"Mr. Cromwell," Chance tensed extending his hand to Brom.

"Chance," Brom answered with a firm yet brief shake of Chance's hand. 

Maia's brows pulled together in a grimace. Something was wrong. Her father's demeanor was very different today.  He seemed anxious and more on edge than she'd ever seen. Worst of all, his usual carefree smile was missing. 

"Mom, I'm ok," Filled with unease, Maia gently pushed Amber out of the stifling embrace. 

"Maia, Honey, what happened? Why did you do that?" Aghast, Amber pressed a delicate hand to her lips. 

Confused Maia responded, "Why did I do what, Mom?" 

Amber gasped, "Honey, you put out a surge of power so strong that it reached across the universe."

Chance and Maia turned to each other. A similar look of dismay playing across their features seemingly in unison. 

"Maia were you in danger?" Brom interjected. His stoic expression sending a chill down Maia's spine.

"Why would I be in danger, Dad?" Maia asked, her confusion deepening. 

"Honey, then why else would you use your powers in front of Chance? You know the risks." Amber's face tightened with tension.

"I...I...didn't mean to," Maia's voice lowered timidly. How on earth would she explain to her parents that she and Chance were getting busy when it happened. 

Maia's gaze fell to the floor, her embarrassment was immense. As a child, at times like this, she would run and hide. Maia understood that this awkwardness was only transitory. She wanted to own up to what she'd done. But, it wouldn't let her speak. It held her words hostage and suffocated her with shame. 

A familiar black pair of J's filtered into her line of sight, "Ma'am. Sir. Please don't blame Maia. I'm the one who should probably take credit for this." 

Maia looked up, just in time to meet his gaze. It was like he was trying to make it worse. 

"I think you mean blame," Brom grumbled, folding his arms over his broad chest.

Chance began, "Maia only told me about her abilities because each time we kissed something... really weird happened." 

Brom's blue eyes nearly bulged out of his head, 'Legolas is going to fucking kill me.' "Maia! You kissed him!"

"It's a perfectly natural thing to do Dad!" She retorted. "It's not like I showed him my power on purpose. It just sort of happened." She shrugged. 

"Maia! You know he's a Fain. I warned you about him and his brother! Why didn't you listen?" Brom's face stained red. She'd never seen her father this angry. 

"I'm sorry, Daddy," Maia's wide eyes welled with tears. "I didn't mean to do it." 

Amber swiveled on her heel, turning to face Brom. "Brom, what do you mean he's a Fain? And why didn't you tell me?"

The wind in Brom's sail died instantly under Amber's perceptive gaze. "It was only a theory. I wasn't certain. That's the reason I didn't tell you. When Maia told me she was having trouble controlling her abilities around Chance and his brother, I chalked it up to teenage hormones. At worst, they could be Fains." 

Chance's turbulent emotions muddled Maia's thoughts. Whatever bond they were sharing was becoming stronger and she wasn't sure why. 

"What are Fains?" He asked bewildered. 

Amber turned a pair of brilliant glowing eyes on him. A strange sensation passed through him as if someone was rifling through his very essence. Then suddenly the sensation stopped and so did the glowing. 

"He is a Fain." She said bluntly "Chance's influence increased Maia's power." 

"We haven't had the time to teach her." Brom stepped closer placing his hand at Amber's waist. 

Amber kept her eyes focused on Maia as she said, "Her little display of strength would not be missed by Mordor. Whatever time we thought we had is over. Her training begins now before it's too late." 

"By who..." Maia asked for some reason the name was familiar and hearing it only made her angry. 

"It's not for you to be concerned about. For now, just stay away from Chance." Amber demanded.

"Why? Why should I do that?" Maia's fist clenched at her sides. She felt Chance's emotions welling up at her defense of their relationship.

"Maia, stop! Look at what you're doing!" Brom shouted. Maia looked down to see her fist glowing brightly. Her power accumulating at the top of her fist, flowing up toward her shoulders like a white-hot flame. 

"I'm-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to," Appalled at her behavior Maia ran from the kitchen out to the backyard. 

Chance watched as Maia fled everything in him wanting to chase after her. 

'Don't Chance.' A ghostly voice burst through his thoughts. "You'll only make it worse," The voice finished saying aloud. 

A strange sense that his privacy had been violated haunted Chance. He'd have to be more mindful of his thoughts around Amber Erinti.

"Not just your thoughts, Slick," She added. "Maia does not have complete control of her power. Having you around inflaming her emotions only makes her more volatile, more dangerous. There will be a time you will be needed. When you'll be called upon to aid Maia. Can we count on you for that?"

"Fine," Chance answered with firm resolution, "I'll stay away but if she needs me nothing will keep me away." 

"That's exactly what we were counting on," Brom stated standing behind Amber. 

"Then you should go home Chance. She'll be alright for now." The somber look on her face defeated any argument he could have protested with. 

"I'm sorry for any trouble I caused but I won't be sorry for how I feel about Maia. Good night, Mrs. Erinti, Mr. Cromwell." Chance said before turning for the front door. 

Brom followed behind Chance till he heard the front door click shut. He turned to Amber to ask, "What's going to happen to them?"

With heartache in her voice, Amber responded, "Nothing you and I can change."