48 Glimpse of Gold (1/2)

As the last strands of Bianca's long hair waved through the doorway, the light flickered and in moments Will and Maya were alone.

Will could only stand motionless at the door while it shut. His hand reached out at nothing as his eyes chased after his now ex girlfriend.

Knowing how hollow he had to be feeling, Maya put her arms around him and held him close, cutting off the view of where the archway stood just seconds before.

”I know you're hurting, but we need to leave. A flight should do your mind some good.” her feet left the ground, yet she held onto Will's jacket as his feet remained firmly on the ground. ”We have a moment for a breather before we kick some sense into your father, I think we have enough time to show you the kingdom you'll be ruling one day.”

Will looked up at the floating girl who he saved not even a year ago and gave her a half hearted smile. Her black dress was in tatters from when she dropped from the sky by Jake's blow. Her long brown hair waved gently in the breeze. What was once a permanent scowl on her face had changed back to the smile she gave him when he first met her.

Will put a hand in his pocket and felt a familiar shape. Even though the jacket went through a change during the crusader's pact, the contents within remained the same. Within the pocket rested the lineage ring he had been saving for Jake.

With the cross that was thrusted into his chest by Jake, it was safe to say Will didn't need to hold onto it for him anymore. He looked up at the weaponless Maya for only an instant before closing his hand over the ring and bringing it from his pocket.

”Maya, come back down for a moment, this won't take long.” she hovered in confusion for only a second before putting both feet back on the ground.

”What's up?” Maya raised an eyebrow, curiosity flowing in her eyes.

”What happened to your sword?” he thought back to the rusted iron blade. The one in which pierced her chest a few months back. Jake had made her hold onto it in order to portray a message upon her. He wanted her to know she was as helpless as she was that day.

Maya looked down at her hands and realized she was no longer holding the weapon. Her eyes lit up in fear momentarily before she took a deep breath. ”I don't have it anymore!” she looked up at Will in surprise.

”You must have dropped it in the battle when you were struck down.” Will said as he looked around the field. So many bodies littered the ground, it was impossible to find a single sword, let alone any other weapon. Most of the weapons were half melted with the blown apart corpses that surrounded them.

”You don't get it Will, I wasn't allowed to let go of that sword. It was proof that I was a slave to the darkness. When I set it down even for five minutes, it would appear back in my hand as a reminder. If I no longer have it, then I am no longer bound by darkness!”

Her excitement was intoxicating to Will. He couldn't stop himself from smiling. All of the drama from only moments before was lost. Bianca had made her choice to leave him, there wasn't anything that could be done to sway her, and he didn't think it was his job to do so.

Will opened up his clenched fist and presented the ring to Maya. ”I have a replacement weapon. Where your last one was of darkness and despair, this one will be an actual extension of your soul. It will bring out the aura from within you.”

Maya looked at the ring within Will's hand and smiled. ”I always thought you would give me a ring, I just didn't think it would be this soon.” her playful demeanor forced a smirk from Will.

”You know it's not that kind of ring right?”

Maya nodded playfully while taking the ring from his hand. ”I do.” she gave him a knowing smile as she eyed the ring now in her hand. It was an ordinary silver ring, just like the ones she had seen on Bianca and Leo, along with the other two hundred and fifty they had saved from her rampage.

The two words she had said held more meaning than simple understanding and turned Will's face a scarlett that rivaled his own aura. Maya laughed as he stared down at the ground in embarrassment.

Maya only reveled in the awesomeness of her ability to make Will lose all seriousness for only a few moments before slipping the ring on her left ring finger.

The moment the ring touched her finger, Will lost all playfulness and was dawned by his golden aura which was absent its usual crimson.

”Kneel.” Will said in a voice that did not sound much like his own.

Maya did as she was told. On one knee she looked down at the soft grass beneath Will's feet. There was a humid feeling within the air, not even a breeze went through the fields. It reminded her a lot of what her father would call that kind of calm, it usually happened before a storm.

As she looked down to the ground, she felt her hand raised by Will. He placed his hand over the ring and she could feel the power of his aura being absorbed by the plain silver ring.

”What I'm doing now is not considered the traditional initiation Maya, but bare with me.” Maya was sure of it now, it may have been coming from Will's mouth, but the words were not his own.

More power seeped into the ring while Will's other hand moved to Maya's chin, lifting her head to gaze into his eyes. She would normally enjoy looking into his deep hazel eyes, but at that moment they were blue.

”You aren't Will.” She saw a look of experience within the alien eyes that stared from above her.