Maddalena nodded as she listened to the girl’s side of that story. “Your mother didn't go into that much detail with me. But she did tell me that they held a gun to her head. Perhaps that is why they didn't push her in after you.” she explained gently, still holding Daisy comfortingly.
"It was a lot worse for her," Daisy sighed. "I mean, I don't think I ever really liked Nikhail. My mom was the one who kept inviting him over to the house and convincing me to give him a chance. Try and get to know him. Go to the park with him. Whatever. And… yeah. They did. Mine too. But she kept twisting and pulling away from them. She fought every step of the way. And when they finally got us in the chair, there was another guy who had his hand around her neck and his gun aimed at her head. I didn't do anything because I was too afraid he would actually pull the trigger."
She shivered in Maddalena's arms. "I shouldn't have said what I did. I still have nightmares about it, but that day was a lot harder on my mom than on me. I think she was in love with him or something."
Maddalena nodded as Daisy continued, not saying how close she had gotten to her mother’s secret. “You did nothing wrong at that time. It was very likely that he would have.” she agreed before casting a glance up at the ceiling. “Whether you said the wrong thing or not is between you and your mother. But… you know, she still has nightmares about it too.”
(Hey sorry I’ve been lacking with responses, I’ve been trying to find motivation and also I have been doing a lot of character stuff 😅)
Daisy shook her head and shivered at the goddess’s words. If anything that day had gone differently… she didn’t even want to think about it. But as Maddalena continued, Daisy’s blue eyes spilled over with tears.
“I did,” she whispered. “I definitely did. It wasn’t her fault. We were tricked. Both of us. As much as I never really liked him, he tricked me too. Either one of us could have seen the signs.” Her eyes widened with worry. “She does?” Daisy asked quietly. “Did she tell you that?”
(It's ok, I understand struggling with motivation. Good luck with the character stuff.)
Maddalena nodded at the questions. “Yes. She told me last night. Though she may have been hoping I would forget but I didn't drink that much.” she added with a slight chuckle before meeting Daisy’s gaze more somberly. “I know that he tricked… practically everyone, from my understanding but, obviously, this betrayal was worse. I do not blame either of you for what you said or did just now.” she assured, gently drying the girl's tears. “Or what happened then.”
(Thanks 😅 I have Anna and Farah done along with another character, so progress! :))
Daisy blinked quickly, trying to force herself to stop crying. How pitiful she must look. A sad excuse for a daughter as she blamed her mother for something neither of them could have seen until it was too late. They’d been like sweet, innocent mice in the cat’s claws.
As much as she tried to stop it, more tears welled up in her eyes at Maddalena’s words. She hadn’t meant to betray her mother. But she had. They’d made a promise not to purposefully remind each other about Nikhail or what he’d done to them. And she’d broken it. “I wish I could say sorry,” she whispered. “But she’d probably furious at me.”
(Yay! Progress!)
“Let me talk to her first.” Maddalena suggested. “I’m sure she regrets what she said as well but I might be able to get her to calm down. She may need as much assurance as you did.” she smiled softly.
Daisy nodded at the suggestion. “That might be best,” she agreed, wiping at her face to dry up her tears. “Thanks. But… can you tell her that I’m really sorry? And I didn’t mean what I said. And I love her.”
The girl’s blue eyes looked at Maddalena with earnestness. She had never wanted to make Anna angry. She’d only wanted her mother to see what good the training would do for them.
“I will tell her.” she nodded, smiling assuringly as she met the young girl’s eyes. “I should probably go now. The sooner I talk to her, the less likely she will pretend that everything is alright.” Maddalena sighed at the thought of Anna trying to brush the problem aside instead of facing it and talking things through.
Daisy nodded. "You're right," she agreed. "She… She does that a lot." After the conversation she'd just had with Maddalena, it was far more than even Daisy realized.
Upstairs, Anna was still in the master bedroom, quiet sobs racking her body. She had been thrown back into a vicious cycle of memories that each made her panic and ripped her apart. Finally, she calmed down enough to sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall across from her. She felt weak.
Maddalena nodded and slowly let go of the girl, stroking her hair gently. “You finish your breakfast.” she smiled softly before turning to head up the stairs.
“Anna?” she called, knocking on the door. “May I come in? We need to talk.” she announced firmly but not unkindly.
Daisy nodded and watched as Maddalena walked up the stairs. She hoped that whatever conversation her mother had with the goddess would go well.
Anna jumped at the knock. She hadn’t even heard footsteps coming. Curbing her panic, she brushed stray hair behind her ears and replied, “Yes.” Time to face the music.
Maddalena was relieved that Anna didn't turn her away and let out a breath before entering. “I won't ask if you are alright but I think you should talk to me. You’ll feel better if you get these feelings out in the open. But before you start, Daisy asked me to tell you that she is sorry for upsetting you, she didn't mean what she said, and that she loves you.”
Anna didn’t look over as Maddalena entered. Her gaze remained fixed and focused on the wall. She obviously wasn’t alright, but she didn’t want to talk to Maddalena right now. There were too many details swarming in her mind. Though the second the goddess brought up Daisy, she gained Anna’s attention. Her head turned, and her brown eyes studied Maddalena’s face as she spoke.
It took a few seconds, but Anna’s resolve and expression crumbled. She looked back at the wall. “I wouldn’t blame her if she were to be angry with me,” Anna half-spoke, half-whispered. “I deserve it for what I allowed to happen to her.”
Maddalena sighed and walked over to Anna’s side. “You didn't allow anything to happen. You were taken by surprise by a terrible man.” she assured. “The fact that he tricked you does not reflect on you. And for what it may be worth, I am sorry for what you both went through.”
Anna looked over at Maddalena. The emotion behind her eyes was raw and painful. She had been betrayed, yes… but she couldn't help but feel responsible for allowing it to happen. The words Nikhail had spoken to her that day would forever be imprinted on her mind. In the living room, right before he'd seized control of Anna and Daisy, then again when it had been him and Anna alone afterward. Her face warmed as she shivered.
"It's worth a great deal," she replied quietly.
Maddalena gently placed a hand on Anna’s shoulder. “I wish I could ease your pain but all I can do right now is teach you and your daughter how to defend yourselves and fight back so you won't find yourself in that kind of situation again.” she assured. “If you will let me. I don't know either of you very well but Daisy has grown on me. I want to protect her as if she was one of the children I used to look after. I imagine that is almost as much as you want to protect her.”
Anna jumped slightly at the touch, but she settled herself at least enough to listen to Maddalena's words. "I understand," she whispered. "I've only ever wanted to protect her." She swallowed heavily and nodded. "The lessons… I'll do them."
The memories of Nikhail were in the forefront of her mind, and everything spilled out of her at once. "I still remember," Anna stated. The emotion played on her face as she spoke. "Every word he said to me, and every place he touched me. How the interior of his house looked, and the look on his face as he told me that he was exactly the person I was seeking to find. The cause of all the corruption at Whitecross. It's humiliating that I can't go near it again. It's part of my job. He's gone, and I know it, but I can't go inside. And everyone knows. The whole of the police force and my entire firm. I can see it in their eyes when they look at me. And I still can't be near swimming pools." A choking sob escaped her. "It's like everything I see reminds me of that day. Of him."
Maddalena noted that way Anna flinched but did not pull away. The mortal woman needed firm reassurance. “You will not regret this decision. I will help you and your daughter and protect you both.” she promised.
The former goddess listened calmly to her story, nodding to show that she was hearing her. “Trauma can create the strongest memories and if those you work with had any sense, they would understand why those places bother you so much.” she pointed out. It may not have been her strongest suit but she remembered quite a few young thieves who suffered from their own traumas. “But I would hope you don't see him when you look at me.” she added with a soft smirk in an attempt to cheer her a little.
Anna swallowed heavily and nodded. “Thank you,” she whispered. God only knew Anna and Daisy needed someone to protect them. Nikhail’s voice whispered in her ear, his hand ghosting her arm, ”You're a very smart woman, Anna. Did Harry ever really appreciate you?” She visibly shuddered and tensed her body. No… she couldn’t let the memory seize control of her again. She had to fight it.
The woman inhaled shakily. “They do. Some do, at least. But sometimes they forget.” She shook her head vigorously. “Damn him,” she whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut. “He’s everywhere!”
Maddalena’s words pierced through her scattered mind. Anna opened her eyes and looked over at the goddess sitting beside her. “No,” she answered quietly. “I don’t.”
“Of course.” she nodded, gently squeezing Anna’s hand wanting to comfort her. In the brief time of knowing the woman, she believed that she didn't need to be suffering like this anymore.
It was fairly easy to see when her mind switched to… clearly unpleasant things and Maddalena started rubbing her back in circles. “No. He’s not here.” she assured softly. “If he is in your head, then we can work on that too.”
But she smiled softly at the answer and nodded. “I’m glad of that. If it helps you, you can think of me.” she offered.
Anna accepted the comfort and the squeeze. It helped ground her, at least for a moment. She breathed slowly, steadily. There it was. She was coming back into herself. Until…
“I thought it was a wonderful romance.” Anna jerked her head to the side as if jerking away from someone touching her face. A whimper escaped her. “I know,” she whispered. “But it feels so real…” Her body trembled. “It was real.”
She blinked at the goddess and smiled. “Alright,” she agreed meekly. “I’ll try, I suppose.”
Maddalena frowned slightly when Anna jolted away from her mental phantom before gently pulling the shorter woman into her arms. “I know it was. But you have to let it go. It was not your fault. The only way you will move on from this is if you stop giving those memories power over you.” she pointed out.
Though she returned the smile warmly and nodded. “If it will help, when I get my powers back, I will be able to search the dead for him and make sure that he is suffering as he deserves. As well as giving you and your daughter the gift to see if someone intends to do either of you harm.” she offered, reaffirming her decision to give Anna a gift of protection.
Anna immediately relaxed as Maddalena held her. It was obvious that physical touch was her biggest love language. She enjoyed being held in someone else’s arms for however long it lasted. The illusion existed, if only for a moment, that there was someone protecting her from the painful world around her. It grounded her, and she listened more intently to the goddess’ words.
“I know,” she whispered. “But I can’t help it.” Anna shook her head and admitted the next words with a new kind of pain. “I was so deeply in love with him that I wanted things it was wrong to want.”
Anna’s brown eyes widened. “You can do that?” she asked incredulously. The reminder of the gift made Anna visibly relax. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That means the world to me. Though, I’m not sure how it works, promise me that if only one of us may receive the gift… let it be Daisy.”
Maddalena wasn't familiar with love languages, partly because she was out of touch with mortals but even she could tell how much Anna needed to be held. And she did want to protect her as long as she was here.
“I understand that.” she nodded. “Love easily can do all kinds of things to people. For better or worse. I doubt anyone would really blame you for falling to his ploy.” she tried to encourage.
She nodded confidentiality at the question. “I can do that. Hades is actually a… fairly reasonable fellow. It's his wife you don't want to anger.” she admitted with a light giggle. “I should have no trouble giving it to both of you once I have my power and title back. But if it will assure you, I will give it to Daisy if I can only give it to one.” she nodded.
Anna nearly went limp in Maddalena’s arms. It had been so long since someone had held her and let her be relaxed in their arms. She closed her eyes and let herself fall entirely into Maddalena’s embrace.
“I blame myself,” she whispered. “At least for Daisy’s involvement. I so wanted her to like him, but she knew. She knew there was something about him that didn’t seem right.”
Her eyes opened and widened. “Oh,” she breathed softly. A shiver rushed through her at the thought of Hades being real. Existing. She shivered again, though she knew Nikhail was dead. But she nodded at the promise Maddalena made. “Thank you,” she repeated. “Though it would be helpful to have aid like that tonight,” she added without thinking. She forgot she hadn’t told Daisy and Maddalena about Ethan and her date.
Maddalena was content to hold the woman as long as she needed to be held. She remembered a few single mother's she had come across in the past who had not received enough support, in one form or another, and unfortunately it was seeming as though Anna was in a similar state.
She nodded in understanding, unable to immediately think of anyway to refute her statement. "Children do tend to be more observant than they are given credit for. And are often right when others dismiss them." she answered. Which was one of the reasons why she had taken many children under her wing, especially when they showed certain skills or were rejected. "But… I fear, even if you had not purposely tried to encourage a relationship between them, he may have still targeted Daisy just because she is your daughter." she pointed out gently.
"Oh? Why tonight especially?" she asked, raising a brow as she looked at Anna.
Anna appreciated the embrace more than she could really say. Harry hadn’t been too “touchy feely” with her aside from intimate moments. And physical touch was something Anna craved deep down. It was at the top of her list of love languages, but she rarely received it nowadays. Maddalena’s arms were incredibly comforting.
“Well, he targeted both of us for my husband,” Anna muttered quietly. “He would have gotten us one way or another, and that’s what terrifies me the most. But… he’s gone. So I need to stop thinking about it.”
Her entire face turned pink as she blushed. “Oh… I… I met someone at the coffee shop,” she admitted shyly. “We’re going on a date tonight.”
Maddalena hummed in agreement at Anna’s clarification. “I see. But I do not blame you for having a hard time putting those memories behind you.” she assured.
“Oh? Is that why you were gone so long?” she couldn't help chuckling. “Daisy told me of your usual habit but… I have to admit I am curious about your date tonight.” she grinned.
Anna sighed quietly. “Where were you five months ago?” she asked wryly. “I wish I could be over all of this by now and move on with my life. Harry certainly has.” Her blush lingered as she remembered the comment Daisy had made when she assumed Maddalena was Harry’s newest girlfriend.
The pink across her face deepened to red at the goddess’ chuckle. “Perhaps,” she replied. “I don’t often keep track of how long I’m gone. It’s not for lack of trying. I loose track of time. But yes, sometimes I need to clear my head.”
Anna grinned excitedly, trying not to act too childish. “Oh, he’s marvelously handsome. And he’s taking me to The King’s Arms at eight. Well, we’re meeting there.”