Chapter 4: Maria

Alfred's mind was simple, not one that twisted and turned with each and every thought. He was a man focused on just two goals. To see his lands ruled well and his daughter's killer found. It was not in her mind that Maria had to be careful not to rush through in case she would perhaps miss something. 'This will be easy.' Maria thought, a bit disappointed. She was hoping for a challenge to prove what she could really do.

"Where do you want me to go?" Asked Maria.

In the Earl's mind, she saw a hallway with each of his memories, recent ones close by and ones that had felt the touch of time further away. She drifted by each of them within his mind, out of her own body and into his.

"Are you already doing the thing? The magic? You're in my mind?" Asked Alfred, eyebrows raised and nose scrunched together. "You work fast. I want you to go a month ago. To the last time I saw my dearest daughter Lucia. Before she ran off to see those miscreants."

"As you wish," said Maria.

Maria could feel herself tiptoeing through the memories; she could see everything. She could see the world as the Earl Lincoln saw it.

Memories of him speaking to world leaders, late-night dinners, and a life of luxury in places she had never been, but with Alfred's memories on her side, these places felt familiar. She saw his most intimate moments and things that magazines and news outlets would offer more money than there was in the entire world to report on. Despite some curiosity on her part, she did not linger on any of these memories; she had a mission to do and knew better than to waste time invading the Earl's thoughts.

With a few steps forward, she found a visage of a young woman, no older and no younger than herself. A woman for whom if beauty was an aliment she had been suffering from it for her whole life. The late Crown Princess Lucia Lincoln. When Maria had her eyes, it was no rare sight to see the popular Ms. Lincoln on the front page of gossip columns and magazine pages; she was a celebrity in the truest sense of the word.

"I see a good memory. You and your daughter." Said Maria. "I don't want to go any further without your permission. This feels almost like an invasion of privacy." She added the last bit carefully, just to be careful. People had a tendency of being freaked on when she recited their own memories back to them.

"Do not hesitate. We argued like all fathers and daughters do. It is nothing I want to hide." Said Alfred.

"Then I will proceed." Said Maria.

Entering the memory proper felt like entering a pool face first; a cold wave of energy washed over Maria, and she could feel herself completely leaving her own being and entering the mind and body of Alfred as he was in the past. She felt what he felt and knew what he knew. No longer she had the knees of a healthy young woman; instead, she had the weak, creaky knees of a man who was so old he could've remembered Earth before it fell.

From the eyes of the Earl, Maria could see a room from within his noble palace. A sight few would be privy to, especially someone of common birth as herself. This room was elegant yet modern. A nice teal blue paint covered the walls of the room, and artwork of pink cherubs surrounded by hearts dotted the ceiling. There were developed film photos of none other than Lucia Lincoln herself showcasing the young Asian woman, especially her white hair and strong features that she was so known for.

"Dad, I'll be fine. You don't have to be so worried." Said Lucia. "I promise."

"I know, I know, but I need you to be careful. There are people on this planet, on every planet, who see monarchy as a disgrace. You are in danger just because of who you are, Lucia. When you travel, keep your head on a swivel. Do not trust anyone." Alfred's voice was coarse; he had the tone of a man who was deathly serious and a raspiness that could only come from age.

"Dad. I'll be fine. You worry too much about me." Replied Lucia.

"I say I don't worry enough. You are my only daughter, and you travel alone. I have a right to be worried, Lucia." Said Alfred with a cough.

"I won't be alone; Jasmine and Virgil will be with me. We'll have each other's back." Said Lucia.

"Do not trust even them. Adam trusted Eve, and look where that got him. Even Jasmine has to be watched; you see her family? They are upstarts, opportunists." Said Alfred.

Lucia's face grew red, and even Maria could feel the anger as she saw the princess glare at her father.

"She's a good friend. I have known her since childhood, and she has never done me wrong." Said Lucia. "I will not let you disrespect her."

"A friend will smile in your face and plot behind your back. An Earl doesn't truly ever have friends; at best they have allies, servants. That's why Virgil is coming with you. He is paid well to protect us, all of us, and he will be armed. I trust him, Jasmine, on the other hand.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

By now Lucia's face had contorted with rage, and her jaw was clenched with fury. "I'm an adult. You may be too paranoid to step foot outside your palace without your retainer, but I am not. I will leave tomorrow with Jasmine and Virgil."

"Jasmine," said Alfred, crossing his arms.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore."

With that said, Lucia stomped out of her room and slammed the door behind her.

Alfred cried, and Maria could feel the tears running down his face.

Maria replayed the memory over and over. 'Why doesn't he trust Jasmine?' Wondered Maria. 'There must be more. Something I'm not seeing.'

After replaying the memory more times than she could count, Maria had seen enough. She wasn't going to waste time going through the memories to no end; it was a fruitless endeavor. 'Surely the Earl has evidence,' she thought.

"Okay, I am finished." Said Maria.

"Already?" asked Alfred. "What did you see?"

"You did not want Lucia traveling with Jasmine. Two of you argued about it, and she stormed out."

"That is true," said Alfred.

"But, why? Why don't you trust Jasmine?" Said Maria, raising her eyebrow at the old Earl.

"An Earl cannot trust anyone. There are those who seek to use my family and those who work in the shadows even among our friends." Said Alfred.

Maria frowned and shook her head. "That's rather vague, don't you think?"

"I will be able to give you more information once we're in a place where I can be sure there are no peeping eyes and hidden ears. If you let me hire you, I can give you everything you need." Said Alfred.

"I accept this case." Said Maria. "When do you want me to start?"

"Tomorrow, let's get down to brass tacks." Said Alfred.

"Brass tacks?" Maria cocked her head sideways.

"Brass tacks! You are to come with me to New Paris immediately for this case; pack your things and prepare your leave, for I need your powers to aid me in this investigation. In just a few days, I will reveal the suspects and my new heir to the public. I wish I could stay here longer, but I cannot." Said Alfred.

"And whatever about an investigation for Virgil?" Asked Maria.

"His body has not been found; we are holding out hope someone finds him before we investigate his condition." Said Alfred.

"In that case, I will be ready for tomorrow." Said Maria.

Maria smiled. A case that moved quickly and an employer who could be trusted to pay his dues was always a source of glee.

"Splendid! I'll meet you here tomorrow at 9 in the morning. Do not be late; I cannot leave without you." Replied Alfred. "Do not worry about making arrangements. I have that all covered. Just be here tomorrow. I wish I could stay here longer, but you have me the knowledge that I desired. You are the one who will find my daughter's killer, and you will be the one to make sure justice is carried out. I don't say that lightly."

The Earl peered at Maria with a stinging look, one that lasted until a smile crept onto the Earl's face. "The world is lawless. Fix that, and the world is yours."

The Earl pushed open the door and retreated outside. The door closed behind him, and Judge Martin and Maria sat together in silence for what must've felt like an eternity to the both of them. Martin was the first to break the silence with a scoff and a shake of his head.

"I have never been a fan of royalty." The judge said with a grumble. "He comes in here, all high and mighty, making demands of the both of us."

"Surely he's just stressed about his daughter, Judge Martin. It pains me to hear someone so young was murdered. Really, it gave me no choice but to take this case."

The judge took a breath and murmured quietly. "Stressed or otherwise, the judge has always been that way, even since he was a child."

Up until this point, the daemon had been oddly quiet, choosing to watch over the room as their wings flapped furiously and their eyes darted around erratically. "It's all coming together; the flames never lie." Said the demon, looking up at the ceiling of the room and faintly chanting as they did so. The chanting was English but so distorted it was difficult to pick up on what was being said.

"What was that?" Said Maria.

"I said he's been that way since he was a child." Said the judge.

"No, not you, the demon." Maria clarified.

"I spoke into the fire, and it spoke truth back to me." The chanting grew in volume the longer the demon spoke.

"Truth?" Asked Maria.

The demon smiled. "The truth is, I had seen this before. Once again, Maria, I thank you for your eyes."

"What is the demon saying?" Judge Martin asked.

"Nonsense that I'm not going to dwell on." Maria said. "Let's focus on what's present now."

The demon scoffed and clawed at its own skin at this response; it hissed fiercely at Maria and shook its head. "Damnation will come for you."

With that statement, the chanting stopped, and Maria tried to roll the eyes she didn't even have.

'You always say that.' Thought Maria.

"It's good to not dwell on the words of higher powers. What is present now is important." Judge Martin said.

"Agreed. Let's focus on this investigation and do what the Earl asks. I want to start immediately." Said Maria, whose voice carried a confidence beyond her years, yet from the way her hand twitched, it was clear there was something behind the veil.

"Have you ever been to New Paris?" Asked Martin.

"I have not; honestly, I haven't spent much time outside of Bethel." She admitted, wringing her hands together at this point.

"In that case, if it's alright with you, I would like to come with you. I know this case will likely be your biggest one yet, and I do not want you to have to go through it alone." Said Martin, who cast a glance at Maria's hands curiously. "I would be a familiar face in an unknown place."

"I would be delighted if you came with me. I could benefit greatly from your experience, judge Martin." Said Maria.

"And I think I could benefit from being around someone young for a change, Detective Smith."

Martin gave a bright, warm smile and stood up from his seat.

"I have work to do today, but I will be there with you tomorrow. Is there anything you need, Detective?"

"No, I'm fine; thank you, Judge." Replied Maria.

The judge then left the room, leaving only Maria and her demon alone.

"I think the old man has taken a liking to you." Said the demon.

"He reminds me of my grandpa," said Maria.

"Well, grandpa can guide you tomorrow. I have to go and handle the business of a demon."

"You have to guide me; it's in our contract." Said Maria, crossing her arms.

"Contract states I get days to watch the flames and handle the demonic business that fuels both our powers. I'll make sure you get home; after that, it's toodleoo for now, as you humans say." Said the demon.

"No one says that." Said Maria, standing to her feet and sighing. "Alright fine, take me home, demon."

As they did in the forest before the demon and Maria locked hands, Maria, with the new mission she had been given, prepared herself for her last day in Bethel and the opportunity to enter a new world.