Persona (44 page)

“That is actually a good idea. He wants to talk to you too.” He tells her quietly, and not really looking directly at her.

She gives him a wary grin, and takes a step forward before coming to a stop. He watches her questioningly, and notices that she exchanges a look with Raven, who has been watching them this whole time.

She is still beside William, who doesn’t seem to mind at all, and keeps looking between Moira and himself. She finally smiles at Moira and waves her away, with a shooing motion.

“Go on, I think I can find something to keep me entertained while you’re busy.” The other girl tells Moira while smiling up at William.

He notices then that his friend is really into Raven, since he hadn’t taken his eyes off of her for more than a minute, and all he can think is; about freaking time. That boy has been the most annoying about finding a decent girl outside of the ones here at the ranch. Looks like he finally got his wish, and maybe even a little more than that, he knows Raven can be a little intense.

Speaking of which, said girl leads his friend away almost if he was attached to a leash in her hands. They are heading for one of the many barns on the property, and has the feeling Will might actually put her to work. That is just how Will is though, if all else fails and he gets nervous, old habits of constant chores come into play.

Alone with Moira, he gets a little nervous himself, which is completely ridiculous he knows. He gestures for her to follow him back into the house, for the longest most uncomfortable walk of their lives. She is like a ball of tension beside him, and he can literally taste apple pie in the air around her. It’s a little surprising that she doesn’t lose control, but then neither does he.

He wonders if their persona’s play off of each other, and if they are both in control, then nothing will happen; only one way to find out.

He just keeps his feet moving, and prays that they get inside quickly.

“Sorry I slapped you.” Moira whispers from beside him.

***

Liam jerks to a stop, and faces her with wide eyes. He can’t believe what he just heard, and would think he’s finally lost his mind, if it wasn’t for the way she comes to a stop beside him.

Her entire body screams tension, and she has her head bowed as she makes it obvious to avoid his eyes.

“Not your fault, I pretty much deserved it.”

He keeps his voice steady, and just as soft as she spoke. Or at least he tried, it’s hard to tell with his pulse wanting to jump right out of him.

Moira raises her head and when their eyes meet, he can’t help but to see her hazel eyes shift to a deep emerald color. Chill play across his bare arms and down his back, as her persona reaches out to him. Liam tries not to tense, but he prepares for her persona to rush through him; but then she smiles slightly before glancing away.

“Oh you did, but I’m still sorry.”

He wants in the worst way to ask if she is alright, but it contradicts everything that he feels; so he doesn’t. She seems like she wants to say something to him too, as she fidgets in place kicking at the grass at their feet, but again he is afraid of what she’d say and he doubts if it’s about his well-being. Besides, he is sure he’d end up getting a smack for it anyway.

With a sigh and a nod of his head, Liam starts for his house and doesn’t look back when he hears her follow close behind. When they are reaching the enclosed porch and stepping inside, he can almost see the tension ease out of her shoulders through her hoody, and when she glances his way, it’s a comforting feeling to see her let out a real smile.

It doesn’t last long though, like she just remembered who she was walking with or something. But that doesn’t matter, because they are zeroing in on his father’s study.

As he is reaching for the closed door’s handle, apple spice fills the hall around him, making him pause and turn to Moira. Her eyes are a little too wide, and he can see a tremor shaking through her tiny frame.

Dropping his hand all together, he is about to ask what is wrong, but she beats him to it.

“It’s alright that I’m here right? I don’t want to intrude.” Moira says in a rushing voice that sounds like a startled mouse who is being interrogated by the cat that caught it. “I mean, I know I was invited in all, but am I being too pushy? Your dad is the boss right, should I like make an appointment or something?”

Not able to hold it back, Liam laughs as he grabs her shoulders making the ranting stop. She goes still as her eyes remain a little large, but he has her attention.

“Moira, its fine, trust me. He did mention you before; you both are overly curious about the other.”

When she relaxes slightly and her eyes go back to their normal size as well as color, Liam relinquishes his hold on her arms. He literally has to force himself to step away from her, but still tries to play it cool.

It’s never a good thing to let the girl that turned you down to see how much she can still affect you.

“That’s not really that reassuring you know.”

He notices that she stands up a little straighter though. He knows it must have helped her in some ways, because she lets out a deep breath.

“It was supposed to be, don’t be so paranoid Mo.”

She is firmly glaring at him, when he pushes the door open without knocking, and he can’t help glancing away to smirk. Before he can walk into the room, Moira actually steps closer to him and peers inside. The apple scent overwhelms his senses, and he wants nothing more than in the moment is to reach out and touch her; instead, he takes a step into the room and moves away from her. His dad is where he left him at his desk, and he looks up when they enter automatically zeroing in on Moira. Her scent rises, and along with it her persona.

It’s like a living bee hive under her skin, that he can feel along his own even though they aren’t’ even touching. He can feel his own thriving beneath his skin, and this time his control is gone.

His eyes sharpen, and when he sees her hair rise into tight auburn curls, he is sure her eyes are gone too.

He doesn’t know this for a fact, because somehow she had walked in front of him, and for the life of him; he can’t remember her moving. His father’s familiar cinnamon scent laced with herbs fills the room, and Liam watches as his father’s eyes turn into deeper lavender like his own. And when his hair goes a startling shade of chestnut with a little grey mixed, Liam realizes that he isn’t the only one to react to Moira.

He gets a sudden burst of protectiveness for her, and moves in a blurring speed to get in front of her and block his father’s view.

He didn’t have anything to worry about, he knows, but it’s confirmed when his father grins and begins to laugh around now pointed teeth. He wonders if maybe he does have something to worry about.

***

Holding her breath for a moment, Moira tries to catch her bearings, and figure out what the heck is happening. Against her better judgment she took the plunge to talk to Liam, and even got the courage to ask about his dad; all things leading up about her search plan for Marty.

And no sooner does she get in the place where Marshall is, and her persona decides to come out and play; even though she doesn’t want it too. She actually forgot what it was like when she first met Marshall the night before.

They seem to have the same connection, that she and Liam share, but it appears to be stronger somehow. And just like last night, both of their persona’s play off each other, like an instrument striking the perfect note in harmony. It was like this but stronger the night before, and then she had used her entire persona in a flash before she could even stop it. His had answered hers too, almost like he couldn’t stop it either.

Unlike last time though, she has a little more control and can keep it reigned in to just her hair and eyes; she can feel it wanting to rise though. Liam is like a cinnamon flavored lightning bolt beside her, she can sense his now too and much stronger than a moment before outside. He keeps in under control though, to her surprise. Marshall, for his history, doesn’t bother to stop his nail and teeth from coming forward.

It’s enough to give her chills down her spin, and not from the affects her persona gives her either. She knows he’s not dangerous, or she wouldn’t have come here in the first place, but that doesn’t stop her from feeling afraid.

Apparently Liam has the same thought, because he is in front of her before she can even think to move away. This causes her to gasp in surprise, and she realizes for the first time that she was already moving forward; she doesn’t even remember doing it.

Then in the next heartbeat, Marshall starts to laugh full out shaking his head; like her and Liam’s nervousness is hilarious to him. She wonders if maybe Liam’s dad isn’t completely sane, but dismisses it quickly, when his persona fades like a bad dream right before her eyes. As he does this, Liam takes a step back so that he is beside her now, and not directly in front. She doesn’t miss the clenching of his fists at his side though.

She gets the sense that he’s trying to keep himself under control, and it’s not his persona she means either; more like his anger.

It is all directed at Marshall, even though the man is now sitting behind his desk with a bright smile on his face. She wonders if maybe this was all just a test for her or something. But if it was, they should really give her a clue; because she is all kinds of confused at the moment.

While father and son share an intense look, Moira tries to get herself under control or less like she wants to run away.

“It’s so great to see you again Moira.” Marshall’s voice startles her.

She quite literally refrains from leaping onto the air like a spooked cat.

He is currently smiling at her now and is no longer sharing a look with Liam, who by the way is looking anywhere but at her and his father. This makes her curious to what is going on now; and she is tired of games. Taking a step slightly forward, Moira narrows her sharpened at the man before her that is making her uncomfortable by the minute.

“Did I miss something here?” She says as she indicated to the three of them. “Because this is all making the kind of sense that’s, you know, not.”

She can feel Liam’s eyes on her now, like a heat that is coursing through her persona and is scented with spices. But she is too busy staring down his father, to pay him too much attention.

Her own persona flares through her body, and she has the intense need to flex her nails and launch her body across the desk; and to imbed them into his flesh. His grin is the only thing that makes her focus enough, to not attempt assault and battery.

“So sorry Moira, it’s a force of habit; to test new comers, to see if their strong willed enough to keep up with us. But you passed, obviously, so it won’t happen again.”

Liam snorts quietly beside her, and she finds herself narrowing her eyes down into a full out serious glare.

“Yeah well, your habits suck, no offense. And I’m not a fan of tests, it’s one of the reasons I didn’t stick around the facility with all of their hospitality.”

She can feel her body shaking with rage now, and really wants to hit something with all of her strength. At this very moment, she knows she could do some real damage if she wanted, and she so wants. Marshall smirks at her now, like he knows what she is feeling, but he doesn’t seem all that fazed.

“Of course, and I swear it won’t happen again. I want you to feel at home here, Moira.”

She honestly has no idea what to say to that, so she doesn’t say anything. This gives Marshall an opening to think she is placated, and goes back to staring down his son. Liam, to his credit, doesn’t light into his father even though she can actually feel that he wants too.

“Why don’t you excuse yourself Li, and give Moira and me the chance to talk in private.”

Liam jerks then, like he was hit, and instantly turns to face her with a worried expression. She gets the feeling for some reason that he doesn’t want to leave her alone. He lifts his eyebrows at her, indicating a question that she isn’t sure off.

His lavender eyes are a little distracting, so she only half guesses that he is asking for her permission to leave. Why he would need it, she doesn’t know, so she just shrugs at him. If he wants to go, then he can go, or stay for all she cares; which she doesn’t, just for the record.

Glancing away from him, she watches Marshall watch his son, watching her; it’s enough to make her want to gag from all the posturing.

She keeps her eyes on Marshall, and only when the familiar cinnamon scent of Liam fades from her senses, does she realizes that he left. She ignores the irrational hurt feeling she gets from him doing so. And instead, puts her hands on her hips and gives the man before a bored expression.

This makes him chuckle, and he simply indicates for her to have a seat in one of the chairs before his desk. It seems like a safe enough things to do, so she calmly walks over to it. As she does, she feels her persona fade from her body like a flower blooming in reverse, and it leaves her skin humming with it.

Once seated, she can clearly pick up on Marshall’s own cinnamon scent laced with herbs, and she is finally genuinely interested in their connection. Before she can change her mind and can regret it, she opens her mouth and lets her instincts take over.

“Why does that happen to us? The recognizing thing we do. You do feel it right?” Moira asks in a rush.

Chapter Twenty Three

But he simply smiles, and leans across the desk. His very aura radiates ease now, and any nervousness she once felt flees from her.

“I have to be honest with you Moira, I don’t really know as much as you were probably hoping. I left the facility before they started giving out mutant 101 lessons.”

This makes her return his smile, and has the feeling suddenly, that Liam’s father can’t be all that bad. If he can joke about his time in the facility, then they have something in common. She knows all too well what that place can do to you.

“That’s alright, really, whatever you can tell me is fine.”