Nicholas and Maisie stood for a while, silent. Half expecting and half hoping Harper would come back. But deep down they both understood why she wouldn't.
''Did you know she could fly?'' Maisie asked, finally breaking the silence.
''No…'' Nicholas replied. '' I suspected.''
''Can you?''
He shook his head.
More silence.
''Do you think she'll come back?'' She asked again, softer this time.
''I don't know,'' Nicholas said.
''Do you have any idea where she might have gone?'' Maisie asked.
''I'm not sure. Likely to just blow off some steam, or… I don't know.''
Maisie nodded, permitting herself to feel the sting of abandonment. She tried to reason through Harper's departure, tried to frame it as circumstantial—maybe even necessary—but she kept circling back to the same bitter emotion: anger. Harper had left without a word. No explanation.
She thought about what she should do. Leaving seemed logical, Harper was her friend, the one who called her for help and she'd just flown away, literally. But it didn't seem right to leave Nicholas alone to deal with all of this. He was still new to their world, at least compared to her and Harper, who had known what they were since they could talk. They'd always had the guidance; the companionship of people like them.
Nicholas had none of that
She knew he could handle himself—physically, emotionally, mentally. He was capable. But it just didn't seem right to leave him. She figured the least she could do was offer to stay, for as long as he needed. She meant it. Even if she wasn't sure Harper would want her to.
Harper was a grieving mother, caught in the cruelest limbo—unsure if her daughter was alive, unsure what was happening to her, and worse, powerless to stop it. Maisie couldn't begin to imagine the torment. And Nicholas was going through the same thing.
''I could stay, till she comes back, or as long as you need me to.'' Maisie said, managing a forced smile.
She thought she saw mist forming in his eyes. His daughter was gone, and his lover had vanished to God knows where—all in under three days. Jesus. She hoped he wouldn't cry, but she also sort of hoped he would. Maybe he needed to. Either way, she was glad to be there—for comfort, or just to remind him he wasn't alone.
Nicholas drew in a long breath and exhaled slowly, holding it together with visible effort. She found herself admiring him.
''You don't have to,'' he said ''I can manage.''
''I want to,'' Maisie said ''we can call ourselves The Abandoned.''
Nicholas smiled weakly. ''Well… I sure could use your wisecracks.''
''So that's all you think I'm good for?'' she scoffed. ''Need I remind you, I can see the future Mister, there's no cooler power than that.''
''Oh. Of course…of course… and you're very brilliant. A brilliant… diviner'' Nicholas said playfully.
"Ouuu, diviner," she said, eyes gleaming. "You make it sound so cool, when really, I just get random and often useless visions, mostly about people I already know. But hey—your praise is noted and appreciated."
"I'd give an arm and a leg to have your gift right now," Nicholas said quietly. "Anything that might help me find my Emily."
He fought back more tears. He didn't want to break down in front of her. They weren't close enough for that—not yet. He didn't want to make her responsible for his pain.
Still, he was grateful for her offer to stay till Harper returned. He wasn't so proud as to turn it down. He needed her, and he knew it.
''We'll find her,'' Maisie said, placing a gentle hand on his arm. ''Your daughter, Emily, you gotta believe that.''
''I have to ask, though… do you remember anything that happened? After Fair Nezzar did whatever it is she did.''
Nicholas shook his head. ''No idea.''
''You don't feel… different? You don't remember seeing anything?''
"Nothing," he said. "At least, not right now."
Maisie hesitated. "I don't know if I should bring this up, or if it even matters, but... just before you came to, she said something stupid to Harper. Felt like she just wanted to get under her skin."
Maisie looked at him, reluctant to continue.
''What did she say?''
"Well... Obviously Fair Nezzar woke up before you. Harper asked what she did to you. And she said—and I quote— 'I made love to him in a realm of our own creation.' ''
Nicholas blinked, baffled. He stared at her, waiting for more. ''What?''
"That's it," Maisie said. "Then Harper lost it. Flared green, levitated, demanded the prophecy and anything else Nezzar was hiding. Seconds later, you woke up. Nezzar did some trick, the house vanished, and we were standing in empty space."
Nicholas frowned, trying to recall something—anything—from after Fair Nezzar pricked his finger. He looked down at the same finger. The blood had dried, but the wound had completely healed. He searched his body, his mind. He tested his thoughts, his feelings, even his long-held beliefs... but nothing felt different.
He picked up a sharp rock and cut himself. The skin mended immediately.
"Okay," Maisie said. "So... what do you actually remember? Play by play".
"She pricked both our fingers. Dropped something into the cut. Pressed our fingers together. Next thing I know... I'm on the floor. Then outside."
"So we've got a gap," Maisie confirmed.
''She said we made love in a realm of our own creation?'' Nicholas asked, still confused.
''Those were her words.''
Nicholas sighed, shook his head and rubbed his temples. ''I feel completely normal and I remember nothing.''
''Well,'' Maisie said, we need to find somewhere to crash then come up with a plan, a motel or something, we'll have a clearer head after some food and rest.'' stuttering, ''Separate rooms… of course.'' She cleared her throat.
Nicholas looked at her amused. ''one room, double beds'' He said. ''Don't worry I don't snore, and I'm not leaving you in a room all on your own, The Glades know you're helping us now, rest assured you're a target.''
Maisie exhaled. "Being hunted by the most powerful secret organization on Earth isn't exactly something I can be 'restfully assured' of, Nic—but yeah, I get it."
He chuckled.
''And what if I snore?'' she asked, widening her eyes.
''I'll put a pillow over your head.'' He said, straight-faced.
''heyyy…''
He laughed. ''I'll manage, and I promise not to tell you about it in the morning.''
''Oh, there you go, a proper gentleman.''
''Okay I'm gonna teleport us to civilization now.''
"Oh—I've never..."
''Don't worry, it's like getting dunked in warm water for a second, it'll be over in a blink.''
He looked at her.
She hesitated.
''Okay,'' she nodded.
''You ready?''
''I'm ready.''
Nicholas placed a hand on her shoulder. A second later, they stood behind the Alpine Inn in Shandaken.
''You alright?'' He asked.
Maisie looked around; her eyes sparkling. "I'm alright."
Nicholas lay in bed, replaying the day's events, as he always did. But tonight, his thoughts were consumed by his daughter. He wondered where she was, whether she was smiling or crying, whether she was hungry. Whether she was safe. The thoughts led him toward a sharp, gnawing sense of helplessness.
And this time, he didn't fight the tears.
They slid down his cheeks as quietly as his breath. He needed the release.
His thoughts wandered to Fair Nezzar. To her cryptic words—"space for a new mind to keep in trust." What the hell did that mean?
Then it hit him.
The demons.
The ones he'd trapped in a corner of his mind back in Queens.
He reached for them.
But they were gone.