A massive span of grass stood out in front of us as I looked up at the massive structure and tilted my head curiously, Sai’s arms securely around my waist. “It’s big,” I noted and narrowed my eyes, “but I expected it to be larger, I mean your dragon is sort of my point of reference. Also Atlas because both of you are huge.”
His chuckle was sexy and dark as he rested his chin on top of my head, “If we ever go to the Dreki realm, you will see just how big the structures are, quite literally made to fit several dragons comfortably.”
I turned into him tilting my head back. “Do you think that’s a possibility?”
His ears turned pink. “I mean I know I would like it, I am the youngest out of seven siblings so I don’t get to see my parents very much anyway. I think it would be cool for you to meet them.”
“Seven siblings?” My eyes went wide. “Sai that’s insane, I am so jealous. That must have been so cool.”
He shrugged and looked over my shoulder as a flash had me squinting. I watched as a man with a camera scuttled off but it was too late, people were noticing us which was never good. Intertwining our hands Sai shook his head and led me down the path we were already taking.
“Why are they taking pictures?” I asked curiously.
“Because your story is resonating with far more people than we expected,” he spoke quietly and then flashed me a smile, “plus your fucking perfect so they can’t help themselves.”
Before I could answer, we crossed the street and my eyes focused on the small shop we were heading towards. “Cartier?” I asked curiously.
“Yep!” He winked and I inhaled the soft perfume surrounding the place as we stepped through the glass door. My mouth popped open slightly becauseholy shiny, sparkly, and glittery.Oh, this was bad.
“Sai,” I whispered, “there are a lot of sparkly items in here, this is totally a bad place for me.” It was. I had found working in the craft shop that I loved anything shiny or that had glitter. It was why glitter was my second favorite color.
“That means it's the perfect place,” Sai explained, clearly elated.
A woman with elegant blonde hair and soft eyes walked up to us, shaking both our hands. She spoke in a beautiful language that must have been French. When Sai answered back in the same fluid language, I was in awe. Something he said made her look at me with a soft smile. After that, the experience was somewhat of a blur.
There were moments when I still felt like this was a dream. Like I was going to wake up and still be in that basement. Still be alone. There was no waythatMaya, the one that had grown up in a basement, was in Paris shopping for jewelry with her mate. There was no waythatMaya would be trying on earrings that cost more than anything I’d ever owned until a week ago.
I spent about two minutes trying to tell Sai that we didn’t need to be doing this, but he seemed so excited...I didn’t want to ruin his smile. This was the happiest and most light hearted I’d ever seen him. I was laughing at something Sai said, after being in the shop for far over an hour and beginning to accumulate quite the collection of purchases, as a diamond cross caught my eye and a pulse of pain hit me straight in the chest.
“Maya, are you paying attention?” my father chimed as I nodded, trying to refocus on the section about World War II. Was it just me or did this Hitler guy he loved seem like a total jerk? I didn’t know a lot but the rest of the history I read told me it wasn’t normal to commit mass murder. My eyes blinked as tears welled at thinking about the little biography I’d read on the side notes about a woman that had lost her entire family. I couldn’t imagine having someone that important to me that I would be so heartbroken. If my mother and father disappeared... I wouldn’t be upset. I could escape.
Was that proof I had the devil inside of me?
“Are you crying?” My mother’s sharp voice had me freezing as I shook my head.
My father closed my book, tugging it away as my mother crouched down in front of me, grabbing my chin so hard I let out a small cry. Stepping away, my father sighed as if disappointed and I shook as the door sounded, leaving me alone with her.
“Why are you crying?” she hissed. “Are you not thankful?’
“I am,” I whispered. “I just thought of something sad, it wasn’t about me. It was about something I read.”
Fury flashed in her eyes, something dark, as she spat, making it hit my face before she left. Except, I think I knew it wasn’t going to be done. When she came back only a moment later, I didn’t even look up from where I was staring at the stone. I whimpered as she tugged me around.
“This will teach you to not be unthankful, remember all of the pain you could be in.” She growled as I cried out, my voice going hoarse as she did something she’d done several times. Her large cross she brought in was pressed against my hand, the searing metal making me sob. She moved it and did it on my cheek as I tried to pull away, my fight or flight instinct kicking in. Still she wouldn’t let me go. Soon my tears stung the fresh burn on my face. I wanted to be stronger but I was so weak and hadn’t eaten in what felt like forever.
I was littered with brands. When she finally left I stared at the door, trying to not sob too loudly. I lifted my hand to my face and I knew that there would be no blood. She’d done this before, so I crawled towards the back of the basement. There was a pile of shattered glass. I lifted a small piece and cut the top of my hand, shaking. My vision went blurry from the pain. When crimson blood began to seep out of my hand I let out a breath, falling to the floor completely.
At least I would wake up healed.
“Maya,” Sai whispered, I inhaled sharply, looking at his burning eyes that were concerned from where he was kneeling in front of me. The shop attendant was a few feet away trying to give us a polite distance and I swallowed trying to shake my head.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, “just a bad memory.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I considered what he was saying and thought about what Jordan said. About how she said it sometimes felt good to talk to someone about what you’ve been through instead of keeping it bottled up. I spoke quietly, “Are you sure you want to know?”
Sai’s eyes widened as he nodded and I leaned forward so my head was resting against his shoulder. “The cross over there just sort of reminded me of something my mother used to do to punish me. She used to brand me with one...and I would have to cut myself on broken glass left in the basement to make sure I healed fully.”