Chapter 2: One Touch: One Kiss

“Maya…Maya…”

She tried searching for the person calling her. The mist stayed heavy and the night dark. She wanted to move forward but she felt her body being held down. It took considerable effort before she managed to calm her body. Now she just stayed motionless. She slowly closed her eyes.

“Maya…look,” said the voice softly in her ear. She slowly opened her eyes. Fragmented images of blood appeared on the white wall in front of her. She felt a kind of cloying wetness on her skin. Her breathing sounds labored; the throbbing of her heart beat loud in her ears.

“Maya…feel the fear,” whispered the voice.

“I am not afraid,” she admits her truth settled in the depths of her heart.

Suddenly it felt like her head was shaking from side to side…memories clouded in mistiness. An awaited touch…electrified…possibility of an intended kiss; senses passionate protection….

“Gia…” the name slipped from her lips. She tried to open her eyes but something stayed dark in front of her vision. Another notion appeared in her misty mind...

Who was in the coffin with me? Her mind burned with the question. Trying to catch her breathe her eyes still tightly shut. A slow deep-seated sense settled around her heart she wasn’t alone.

The powerful knowledge flattered her eyes opened. She looked directly at the white wall watching the imaginary of blood spatters against the wall hypnotizing her. “Who is doing this?” she asked in a whispered tone.

The sudden flattering of bird wings quickly made her sit upright in search of the…thing. She frowned finding the bedroom empty but the window opened. The curtain blows gently in the cool breeze.

“Is someone there?” she asked nervously as she dropped her legs onto the floor. She carefully moved towards the window finding it partly opened. Looking outside but as always just seeing the constant mistiness.

“Is someone spying on me?” she let the question softly echoed around her in the bedroom. It never occurs to her that she would receive an answer.

“My apologizes,” Thomas answered softly.

Maya jumped deeper into the bedroom. Then quickly forward to look outside in search of the person.

“Who said that?” she asked with a mixture of anger and annoyance.

“I…” he answered again with a teasing note in his voice.

“Huh…” she felt the goose bumps rushed over her whole body in anticipation for something just out of her reach. “Why do you talk so strangely?” she asked with a now growing feeling of being snappish. She felt the start of a kind of waiting anticipation building inside her.

Thomas laughed softly. He had watched her from her birthday always staying just out of her reality allowing her to live her human life. Things shifted since she was trapped within the coffin with him. He can’t get that electrified memory of her skin out of his head.

“I hate it when people take me for a joke.” She suddenly exploded. Her facial expression shows her fury mingled with confusion. She carefully looked behind but the wall looks normal. She shook her head...imagination too active.

He quickly focusses on the immediate presence. “Again; my apologizes. I am here up in the tree.” He said soothingly. "It's not my intention too aggravate you."

Maya stood looking towards the tree with a creased frown between her eyes. She saw the legs slowly appeared in her sight. She can only see him up to his waist the rest of his upper torso was still out of sight.

“Why are you hiding your face?” she asked still annoyed.

“I feel uncertain.” He said in a clear tone conveying his truth.

“About what?” She asked openly puzzled.

“It has been ages since I was amongst civil company.” He sounds thoughtful to her.

Maya felt her heart start to beat very slowly as she starts to recall a conversation from yesterday while briefly trapped in that coffin. Her mind still shies away what her heart wants to acknowledge.

“Are you…a recluse?” she questioned slowly.

“You can say that. In regard to who I am…my kind find my behavior …let’s just say curious.

“Why?” Maya looked at the legs again. She can see the strength in them. It starts to dawn on her she was having an active conversation with a stranger through her window.

“I enjoy my own company. I am not truly acceptable in company. He said thoughtful.

“I understand in a way…yet have the strange sense I am missing a crucial point.” She wiped the hair from her face.

“Maya…” he said her name softly in a caressing tone.

“You know my name?” she was instantly shocked.

“I do…” he admits quickly.

“I should be afraid; shouldn’t I?”

“No harm will come from me, Maya. To put your confused mind and thundering heart at ease; may I invite myself for breakfast? In truth I have been waiting twenty-three to introduce myself officially.”

“You have been spying on me?” she asked softly; puzzled.

“Maya…” he said softly.

“Yes…” She was at a loss what to think.

“I never invaded your privacy. I sometimes watch over you but from a distance. Do me the honor of a favor.” He requests.

“What?” she asked suspiciously but very puzzled by his manner of phrasing words unexpectedly.

“Don’t be afraid. Before meeting me; look at yourself. I want you to really see yourself.”

Thomas watch the various expressions flashing over her face.

“Why?” she asked openly puzzled. Since the moment she woke this morning all kinds of emotions has been flashing through her body.

“I plan to introduce myself but before that I want you to own who you are.” He lifted his legs and disappeared between the thickness of the branches.

Maya stepped from the shower freshly washed but still wore that puzzled expression. She slowly approached the mirror. She avoids looking at herself her mind trying to figure out who that guy was and what his intensions were.

She looked at her barren feet for a long time. She was raised by her grandfather but since the moment she realized she could take care of herself; she did just that. She loved the memories of her childhood.

A brief tear streaked down her check when she suddenly remembered her fourteenth’s birthday…” Olivia Stone…” she said the name with a twist around her mouth. Her beloved grandfather employed by her family…this apparently had given that girl the right to be cruel. As a birthday gift she was tricked; trapped; to eat garbage in the company of stray dogs. She never forgotten the kindness she saw in the dogs’ eyes when she was knock over the head and left in the alley. They stayed by her side.

Another single tear streaked down her face. This time in remembrance of the longing of a mother she never knew. She slowly wipes the tears away finally looking at herself.

“Owner of this face…self-love.” She whispered to the reflection cast back to her. “Okay, let me look at who I am going to introduce to the stranger.”

Slowly she starts to admire the contours of her face; the faded scars she received as a child in her happiest moments.

This very expressions and little scar lines on her face; she certainly was the owner of this face. This now characterization is her very expression of self-love. She was looking at her self-portrait… loving and owning every definition.

Maya slowly start to brush her hair away from her face. The moment she dropped the towel the wealth of her hair comes tumbling down across her face and down her back.

Hmm…various reflections showcase the shades of brown within her eyes. The unexpected casting of emotions influences her expressions casting back at her.

“Who was that stranger who wants to meet me?” she questioned herself with a crease between her eyes.

Thomas Roman stood in front of the cottage door. He can hear movement inside. He can hear her thoughts filled with questions but he decides to tune her out. He looked at the rugged door in front of him. Only once did he enter here.

William Asher stood looking at the breakfast table. Absently he had prepared three place-settings. “Now why would I do that?” he questions himself.

He lifts his head looking towards the front door. He slowly starts to move in that direction. He reached for the door and slowly opened it. He turned pale with sudden shock staying motionless while looking into the bleak blue eyes; he only looked into them once twenty-three years ago...

Maya Asher stood in front of the mirror fully dressed in black jeans and blood-red shirt. Her long hair coiled in the base of her neck. She only briefly touched her lips creating a shade of light red. She turned and went towards the kitchen.

“Papa…where are you?” she called softly. She had been doing this since she can remember.

“Maya…”

William turned away from the opened door looking at his granddaughter. He remembers in clarity the day this pale man brought him the most precious gift. He also knew this day was scheduled twenty three-year years ago. It's time he step aside...

“Papa, who is at the door?” Maya asked curiously.

“We have a morning guest. Do we accept?”

“How do you feel about the visit papa?” she asked with a puzzled smile.

“The choice is yours my beloved Maya.”

William stood aside looking at the silently motionless man…creature…if he silently admits to himself. “You may enter by invitation.” He said.

Thomas Roman stepped inside before slowly looking towards Maya Asher watching as her mouth slowly opened in surprise. The depths of darkness in her eyes pulled him forward. He reached for her hand…that touch as electrified as he remembers. He felt the physical sparks between them. He wasn't even manipulating her feelings...

“Who are you?” Maya asked in a whispered voice.

“My name is Thomas Roman.” He bends his head and softly placed his lips on the back of her hand.

“I am Maya…age twenty-three.”

“I was reborn in 1919…my age hundred and four.” He said looking into her eyes.

“I live with my grandfather…in this cottage.” Her dark eyes focused on his bleak blue eyes.

“I currently live in a tomb sleeping in a coffin; however, I own mansions around the world; even here in Doom.”

“Why are you so familiar to me; Thomas Roman?”

“Since your birth; I am your guardian. From this moment you choose who I am to be…”

Maya stepped into his personal space wrapping her arms wordlessly around his neck. She felt the continuous sparks between them. The rising of desire like she never felt. This simple action; a life changing reaction. The strength of anticipation leaves her breathless. She found herself falling into a whirlpool of emotions…hot treacherous desire…