Chapter 22: He Begged?

Going down the familiar path to Sarah's restaurant, Maaike couldn't help but hesitate. She wasn't sure if she was willing to leave, she had formed a special bond with the family. When she arrived, she sat on the doorstep, reminiscing about the time spent helping Sarah with the cooking, sparring with Horace and Alyssa.

"Alyssa!" she shot to her feet, ready to leave when the door creaked open, "Hey sweetheart…You have a guest." Sarah peeked through, looking at her with concern, "You okay honey?" Maaike nodded her head with a weak smile, she wasn't sure where Alyssa had been the past week. Pushing away her worry, she walked in.

Illyan was inside, standing pensively, while looking at his compass. Frowning, Maaike walked over to his side, "What do you want?" frostily staring forward, refusing to look at him.

He smiled slightly at her stubbornness, then pulled out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to her, "I apologize…I should have told you about this first."

She snatched it from his fingers, opening it, she peered inside. It was her acceptance letter, she was accepted into a college of music and arts in Germany. She closed it, throwing a glance at him, she folded it until it looked like a strip of paper and shoved it into her pocket.

"What made you think I would do well in a music school?" she inquired softly.

He turned to her, his boots clicking on the tiled floor, "What makes you think you can't?" It was an answer she wasn't expecting. Her mind flashed back to her mother playing on her violin as she danced to the tune.

Blinking back tears, she inhaled, "I…I'm leaving with Lothar, tomorrow." He took a step back, trying to be sure she wasn't lying.

"Why? Did he threaten you?" she turned away from his worried stare, 'How does he know that?', tucking in one of the chairs, she walked round the tables, quietly rearranging the already arranged chairs.

"He'll pay me for my services." Her answer only made Illyan shake his head with a serious look on his face.

"Lothar would never do that…Whatever he promised you, you would have to get yourself, that's how he works." He answered with an assurance that made her question why she had trusted Lothar despite his vague words.

"But I…" she stopped herself, "I need to go." She finished firmly.

"Is this because of the witch?" he stepped into her line of sight, "I told you to leave her to me!"

"Don't you think that's a little impossible? Aren't you servient to her?" she winced internally as she said this, 'Why did I even say that…It's not like he wants to, not from where I'm standing.'

"I am not! I don't know what made you think that I'd go against her if I was unable to." His voice echoed in the silent room, and Mya leaned back shocked at his outburst. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Did he tell you where he's going?" sheepishly shaking her head, she moved to sit on one of the bar stools.

Illyan gritted his teeth, "Did you seriously not learn anything from me?" he watched her fiddle around with the straws.

"I learned how to keep vital secrets…And trust the wrong people."

Ignoring her spiteful words, he waited for her to stop spinning on her seat and focus before levelling her a glare. "Lothar is heading to the land of the gods, otherwise known as the Chaos realm, named for it's constant state of war."

"How do you even know this?" she grumbled as she thought back to her encounter with Isis and Tayet, 'There has to be an explanation for where I'm drawing my power from…Tayet wouldn't tell me, but if I find Isis, she might know.'

Illyan frowned as he watched her, his eyes flashed red as he probed at her thoughts. Horror flooded into his eyes as he realized what she was thinking. "Maaike you can't be serious about doing this!"

She slammed her fist on the table, "I thought you said you couldn't read minds!"

"And I thought I said to leave everything to me! I'm your mentor…you're my first disciple." His hands trembled slightly as he clenched them into fists, trying to cool his raging emotions.

Mya flinched as his answer hit her, she had completely forgotten that the only reason Illyan had promised to deal with her problems was because she was going to be his student. But she couldn't bring herself to leave her problems to someone else.

Merrick had already defeated Alpha Varick before she got the chance, how could she let another person fight for her. Illyan walked quickly to her, trying to meet her gaze, but she let her hair fall forward covering her eyes.

He went down on his knees and held her hands hoping to get her attention. "There is nothing good about the gods Maaike... there is no hope with them." He whispered, leaning in closer to her.

"They do not care for anyone but themselves, they will take your heart, take your everything and they will crush it to pieces. They will destroy you... they crave nothing but destruction...Please! Just listen..." his breaths were ragged, he was focused intensely on her, as though his gaze would automatically change her decision, however it did the opposite.

Her heart thudded with fear, she could see the resolve in his eyes, to protect her. The chilly air of the restaurant made her shiver as she stared down at him. 'Illyan is begging?' she had never thought there would be a time when her proud teacher would ever lower himself for someone.

It sent her mind spinning, if the gods had the answers she sought, she would be sending Illyan off to die if she listened to him. She shook her head to push out the silver magic, gently covering his eyes that had started to glow with golden light as he tried to invade her mind.

"Teacher…Thank you for everything you've thought me, I remember that one thing you made sure to teach me was to go beyond the extra mile, so that I would be stronger."

He shook his head, "No!" he was sure, that if Maaike decided to leave, he couldn't stop her. She was a Heorte, as long as they wanted something, they would die for it.

"I hope I see you again, but I'm leaving…I want to know everything that I don't and deal with anything that will harm me myself." She gently sent tendrils of her powers into his mind, while he was distracted, and lulled him into a deep slumber. She watched calmly, as he fell to the floor.