Grim Echoes

Chapter 41 - Maeve

Maeve stood in the bathroom. Her reflection gazed back at her. She'd wanted a different job, a different life for as long as she could remember, but... traveling around with Will and Ander, who she'd only known for days, was - crazy. She'd finally said it. Tears burned her eyes as she sat on the edge of the tub. Demons wanted to kill her. If it hadn't been for Will and Ander arriving when they did, Maeve wasn't certain what would've happened to her, but she positive it would've been bad. If they hadn't intervened, she might've not reacted at all. Surrounded by many strange people, especially in the last two years, she might have mistaken them for a group of disturbed individuals and tried to use her psychological skills to calm the situation.

Then they'd saved her again with Kevin. Perhaps Kevin hadn't been an evil werewolf, but when he realized she was with them, he would've killed her. She hated how that ended, but she couldn't deny they'd once again saved her and helped to save others. Unlike the demons, she'd known Kevin was a werewolf, but somehow she still couldn't react. He'd asked what was she because she didn't smell like them. No idea what that'd meant. She hadn't mentioned it to Ander or Will.

She wiped tears away and focused on breathing. Not crazy. Maybe she had known demons were real. She balled her hand into a fist and hit her thigh. And you know them, both of them. You know their souls. She hit her thigh again. If a person had been brought into the behavioral center and told her that exact statement she would've marked, they were delusional. She cast her eyes to the ceiling. Too hard to accept. Things like this didn't happen in real life.

Every time she'd glimpsed into someone's soul, Maeve understood she had a purpose in that person's life. Confusing because what she saw rarely made sense but always given just enough to know the individual. It was her job to help, teach, or guide them to their path. Seemed simple enough, but rarely was. People were complicated and unpredictable.

Each time it'd happened, there'd been a cost to her own soul. Sequentially the cost became more and more. The last time she was sure she couldn't do it again. She couldn't pay the cost of her own well being and soul to help a stranger. She was done. But there she was in a motel, in a state she'd never been to with two, almost strangers. Two people who she barely knew that lived a dangerous lifestyle. Two people who went on secret missions to kill things. Sure they were monsters, but they still made a living by killing things. She was staying with two people that were the equivalent of hit-men with an honor code. Demons hunted her. She was safer with them, but they still murdered creatures.

Nothing they'd told her seemed wrong or exaggerated. It felt true even before the proof was shown to her. She'd been directly responsible for another's death, but understood it was the way it had to be. Difficult to admit, even to herself, knowing all that she did and experiencing the violence of their world she had chosen to stay with them. Maeve knew if she'd seriously objected, they'd have passed her off to other Soldiers of Night as they initially intended to do. Had she been wrong, did they want her to stay with them?

The door closed loud. Maeve bolted up and put her clothes on. She picked up Ander's flannel and layered it on top of her clothing. Because you know them and the truth. The truth? She glanced at the mirror to make sure her eyes weren't puffy or red. These thoughts didn't bother her when she was around them. They only crept into her mind when she was alone. With them, she felt secure and confident. Her insecurities about her perception and abilities disappeared. She'd made the right choice to stay with them, needed to help them, even if Will didn't accept it yet. Maeve straightened her back, her head held high as she opened the door.