Forged in the Maze: Book one of the Forged series, #1

Forged in the Maze

By

Patricia M. Bryce

Dedicated to Syd and AnnMarie

Without whose help this wouldn’t be possible.

Chapter 1.

Friday, the final bell of the school day sounded like freedom to Faith.  She stuffed her books into her backpack and practically flew to a small pavilion at Austin Gardens Park halfway between the very private St. Andrew’s High and home sweet home. Faith had passed on a shopping trip with her friends Anne and Pam, to read.

Aw, come on Faith, Anne grabbed her hand and pulled her the direction of the downtown shopping area not far from St. Andrew’s. Bootjack's has the new summer line in!

You promised, Pam pouted.

I can’t, guys, Faith said. I just want to read before I go home and babysit.

Anne shook her head, rolled her eyes and said, You old bookworm.

What are you reading? Pam asked.

A book my mother sent for my birthday. Faith didn’t want to commit to the title knowing that Anne would tease her.

But Anne was already ahead of her. Oh, let me guess, She teased. Something with elves; am I close?

Faith laughed. Guilty.

Pam frowned, Haven’t you read that already?

Okay, bookworm, Anne teased. But you owe us a shopping date! Anne hooked arms with Pam and turned the opposite direction that Faith took.

Faith laughed and ran to the park to curl up in the quaint gingerbread clad gazebo with her back to one of the load bearing posts, eager to continue with her book. This old band stand had been abandoned for the most part when they had built the newer, modern pavilion closer to the village green. Faith knew she wouldn’t be disturbed by anyone. She had been coming here since she'd discovered it when Derek had been born a year ago.

She stopped here because it was quiet, and green and peaceful. Getting lost in a book was nothing new for her; her ability to fall into a story had caused her to miss her bus stop, be late for class, and even dinner.

At school Faith liked to keep her mind on her classes, doing so had earned her some excellent grade points. During the school year she had taken part in Speech Club and in the Fine Arts Guild, and the usual school social activities. Now with the school year drawing to an end she had more free time to herself. Faith loved her social circle, but valued her private time. Faith had noticed some of her gal pals had begun to think more about dating than academia. She didn’t fault them; she just found them a bit silly at times. She sometimes worried that she too often chose her books over a girl time with Anne who now had a boyfriend. They seemed to be spending less and less time together.

Where other girls had boyfriends Faith would get book crushes on characters in the books, the real boys in her circle of friends and acquaintances always seem so... lacking by comparison. Anne and Pam had been her friends since kindergarten, and she really didn’t want to drift away from them. So she promised herself that she’d make an extra effort to spend time with them during the summer. Maybe she would have a gaming night, or a sleepover, or a back yard karaoke party. Whatever it was Faith wanted to make the most of this summer. Faith planned to read all day, game all night, party all weekend; and there was the trip to New York for her stay with her mother to look forward to. Summer was looking to be exciting and very different from her school year. But for now there was the peace and quiet of the gazebo and her book full of magic and adventure.

At home was Karen, her step-mother, who always asked how her day was. Faith didn't know if Karen really wanted to know, answers like fine or boring didn't seem to satisfy her. There were days she wondered if she should make something up. She would have loved to able to consider Karen a Wicked Stepmother, like in the stories she'd loved her entire life, but it was impossible. Karen wasn't wicked or evil or soul consuming.  In fact, though Faith hated to admit it, Karen could even be kind of fun when she wasn't trying too hard to be Faith's mother. Faith had a mother, absentee, but she existed. Lana was far more flamboyant than Karen, Faith couldn’t imagine her mother sitting down and playing video games with her. Or giving her tips so that she could score better, no one out did Lana. But as far as step mommies went Karen wasn’t the worst that could have happened.

Home also had a one year old baby boy which sometimes made it hard to concentrate on reading, and Faith had only read the latest book her mother had sent twice. This time she was digesting it more fully. Faith always read a book three or four times before she felt satisfied with it. Then later, after a year or two she’d visit her books for yet another go round, and see what she’d get out of them.

The Elvin Lord of Gendawyn by Robyn Zaker had been a belated birthday gift from her absentee mother. Lana had started Faith’s interest in Robyn Zaker last year, with a copy of Madder’s Queen, followed by a script for a failed play of the same name. This book was the most recent addition to her Zaker collection, and she hoped he'd written lots more. While Zaker wasn't a well-known writer - she'd been unable to find out hardly anything about him on the internet - she had fun reading his stories.  The books had come to her with worn covers and second hand bookstore stamps inside, so it wasn't like her rare books had cost her mother a lot. Still, she reveled in the fact that none of her friends seemed to have any of his books.

Just as the action was picking up, the cell phone in her pocket began to vibrate maddeningly. Faith wondered how many times it had rung.  When she answered it, she heard her stepmother say, Do you know what time it is? The cell phone had proven to be both a blessing and a curse for Faith. She looked up at the clock tower across the green guiltily; the bell in the tower struck the hour. She was late, having lost track of time once again.

Muttering to herself, Faith closed the book, and shoved it in her shoulder bag. Sorry, I’m on my way.

When she arrived home, she wasn’t surprised to find Karen dressed in her pink Chanel suit, pacing on the porch and checking her watch. Sorry, Faith said breathlessly before Karen could scold. If the woman hadn't looked so serious, Faith would have laughed - Karen wore jeans and button down blouses almost like a uniform; the Barbie doll pink looked incongruous. It only came out when she had to appear business like.

Karen was as different in personality from her mother Lana as possible; practical and straightforward as opposed to Lana's dreamy flair for the dramatic.  Even her hair, cut in a short sassy bob, was made for ease of care, compared to the hours Lana spent on her own luxuriously long tresses. Faith had been flabbergasted when her father started seeing Karen, and was even more bewildered when he married her. Seeing how happy her father was with his new wife made her want to like Karen. Being friendly towards her without feeling like she was betraying her mother took some doing.

Lana was a free spirit and creative, while Karen was down to earth and seemed downright nerdy at times. Lana had always wanted bright lights and fame, she had dreamed of her name on a Marquee somewhere and adoring fans since she had been a young girl. Lana had scrapbooks of her successes, and her glowing reviews dating back to when she first started. Whenever Lana spoke of that time, she glowed.

When Faith was six Lana had skipped merrily out of town with a troop of visiting actors and had headed for the bright lights of the New York stage. Her famous costar Jeremy Eden had suggested she ditch the small town, the husband and kid and come and live the life. Robert, her father, had been devastated, but Lana went anyway, leaving a very confused Faith in her wake.

Lana’s good looks had served to get her a lot of notice and she landed like a cat on her feet in the hustle and bustle of the entertainment industry. With a very successful run of a major Broadway hit under her belt, Lana had been courted by a popular soap and became a semi-regular on The Coming Storm. From the world of soaps, it was easy to get an introduction to some up and coming independent filmmakers working out of New York. The camera loved Lana nearly as much as Lana did.

One positive that had come from divorce was Lana’s overcompensating in regard to Faith. Lana had missed the school winter show and when Faith had pouted Lana sent an out of print fairy tale book that she’d found in some obscure second hand store in the City. Each missed function came with a note of apology and a book or trinket. As Lana’s star rose, so did the quality of the ‘bribes’, moving on to trinkets and small unimportant props. There had even been a few fantasy costumes from productions she was in. Faith now had quite a library of fantasy and fairytale titles to boast about, and a wardrobe in the attic holding a wonderful assortment of costume parts and accessories. Even when a movie like Celtic Magic bombed, Faith made out like a bandit. Lana wasn’t one to miss an opportunity to scrounge about and grab up anything that might prove a valuable bribe in the future.

Karen on the other hand, was a video game beta specializing in role play games, including the Conquest of Zander. Karen might have seemed dull and boring to Faith at first, but that all changed when Karen asked Faith to help her test a game long before it was offered to the public. Karen even listened to suggestions that Faith had made, even gave her credit when the game was released. When her classmates found out that Faith’s  new stepmother could get early issues of games in popular titles or pass on ‘cheats’ Faith had a surge in her popularity. Being popular because of someone else wasn’t something Faith was comfortable with, and the novelty wore thin quickly. She quickly learned to sort out who was and wasn’t real.

Karen worked at being the perfect wife for her up and coming lawyer husband and a good stepmom. There had only been a few times that Faith had blurted out, You are not my mother! And then Derek was born. Faith had to deal with not being the apple of Daddy's eye anymore, but on the upside, the kid took all Karen's mothering. So once Faith got used to sharing her father's attention, she was actually able to like Karen a little more.

Faith hadn't expected to like the baby, having heard horror stories of step siblings, but he was adorable and babysitting him wasn't a chore at all.  Derek made her think, for the first time in her life, about her own future.  She hadn't thought she'd want marriage or kids, but now she thought - with the right guy - she could see herself as a mother.  And a good one; someday; she smiled at the thought.

You’re late. Karen pointed out with exasperation. What's the point of having a phone if you never answer it? I called you at least four times before you finally answered.

I know. Faith didn’t argue as there was no point. I stopped in the park and got lost in the book my mother sent for my birthday, I’m sorry.

Karen was looking again at her watch. Your father is feeding your brother, she said distractedly. The taxi will be here in a little bit; the numbers where to reach us are by the phone in the kitchen.

I know. Faith said. She moved to the porch and past her stepmother into the foyer of the old Victorian at the older end of town. It’s not like I haven’t baby sat Derek on a Friday night before, Karen. The words had come out a bit more sharp than intended, quickly Faith changed the subject. What’s tonight’s dinner?

The junior partners, Karen said, are being looked at again. There’s going to be an opening in six months for a full partner. Old man Morris is retiring, so the process of eliminations begins. There are a number of qualified people being looked at, Karen added quietly.

Dad’s a shoe in, boasted the teen. He’s the best litigator they have.

Robert entered as if cued; he was carrying Derek already in pajamas and ready for bed. Faith, take your brother, he handed the boy off. It was irritating that he hadn’t bothered to say hello.  Faith wondered if her father even knew if she was there or not. However, she’d learned that the guilt tactics used on mommy dearest didn’t work for her father. She didn’t bother to pout or complain. Robert Lothain was gearing into business mode and a pouting teenage girl wasn’t something he’d notice. Faith knew he was thinking only of tonight’s dinner and impressing the big wigs. A full partnership in the firm would be a feather in his cap, and she didn’t blame him for wanting it.

Derek, a towhead with very blue eyes, looked more like Karen than he did Robert. Faith took smug satisfaction in that fact. She had the dark hair and deep brown eyes common to both her parents. Derek was wiggling as he was handed to his sister.

Hello Changeling, she said, grabbing the squirming boy.

He’s been running a slight temperature, Karen informed her. He’s teething again, so he might fuss a bit. 

I can handle it, Faith said a bit too sharply, and her father looked at her with a furrowed brow. Go, have a good time, she said in a more cheerful tone. Knock the socks off the senior partners. We’ll be fine.

Karen nodded. The dog is in the garage, it looks like it might rain. She continued with her instructions and Faith knew Karen was on autopilot. Check that window in the nursery when you put him down, I don’t trust that lock. The cab arrived. Karen kissed Derek and gave Faith a quick hug.

No boys, her father warned as he escorted his wife down the walkway. Faith could see Karen give him the ‘You didn’t really say that’ look. She had a feeling dear old dad was in for an earful in that taxi!

"No boys, Faith muttered darkly as the taxi departed. She made a face at the boy in her arms. Like I ever have boys over. Derek wiggled and she huffed. You think he would notice... Derek giggled and so did Faith. You’re the only boy I keep company with." She teased.

Faith looked up at the sky before reentering the house. Storm clouds were gathering and rather quickly. What had been a clear sky was now darkening and there were rumblings of thunder off in the distance. Looks like your mom’s right, it’s going to pour. She murmured to the little boy. Hope that doesn’t make your teeth hurt more.

Teething had not been easy for Derek or his mother or anyone else in the house, including poor old Mercury, the dog.  It was one of the reasons that Faith had spent so much time of late in the park. Faith knew that Karen would rather have stayed home with the little boy tonight. She might have made a comment about over protective parents if she herself had not been concerned about Derek. He seemed a bit paler than usual with deep shadows under his eyes. While he was still happy, he kept rubbing his jaws until he’d rubbed it raw.

Hurts? Faith asked. The boy looked at her with those beautiful sea blue eyes and she melted. Your mom’s got a gel up in the nursery to numb them up, she assured him as she locked the door. In the distance, she could hear the first close rumbles of the storm. We’ll take care of that after I change, and then have a nice bedtime story. 

Faith carried him up the stairs and down the hall to her room first. She placed him on her bed so she could take off her uniform and get comfy. She slipped into a pair of well worn very comfortable jeans. Topped it with a loose fitted old shirt belted at her waist, giving it a peasant look. Faith slipped her feet into old loafers that were well broken in and comfy.  Once changed, she picked up her brother and her shoulder bag and moved across the hall to the nursery.

Derek’s room had taken over what Lana had once dubbed the ‘good guest room’. It was one of the few rooms Karen hadn’t made major changes in since moving in. This room had once been a sore point for Faith. At first Faith didn’t really feel that Karen had a right to change anything in what had been her mother’s house. In so many ways in Faith’s mind Karen had been the interloper, even though Lana had been gone for years. Now Faith saw what Karen had done was make the house more a home. Lana hadn’t finished any of the rooms except this one, having spent her time on her career.

For as long as she could remember, Faith had believed that the large room with its own dressing area and private bath with a double walk-in closet was to be hers when she outgrew the childish room she was in. Watching the crib and baby furnishings go in had galled her. Having Karen sleep in what she thought was her bed by rights had been the last straw, and she had intended on pitching the tantrum to end all tantrums. She might have too, but something about her father’s behavior toward his convalescing wife had broken through her irritation. Karen hadn’t been well; the birth had been more difficult than they were letting on. Now a year later, Karen wasn’t in the room, but the baby still was, and Faith had begun to give up the idea of ever having that room.

Faith dropped the books on the bed before she put Derek down in his crib and handed him the love worn teddy bear that had been Karen’s years before. How about a chapter from the book my mom sent? She asked. She kept her voice soothing, but added a touch of excitement.

A rumble of thunder from the approaching storm vibrated the old house down to its foundations. Derek rubbed his jaw, leaving a red mark, and Faith moved to get the numbing gel. She applied it carefully, but the encroaching storm’s shift in the barometric level had already irritated the sensitive gums. The second thunder bolt rattled the windows with the faulty lock as rain began to pelt the window with a sideways assault. The first flash of lightening was too close for comfort. Derek moaned and rubbed his jaw even harder.

Faith pulled his fist away from his face. Don’t. She said. He fussed at her and went right on rubbing. Come on Derek, she coaxed. Be reasonable; let the gel do its job. Faith pitied the poor boy, obviously in a great deal of pain, swollen gums, and tears in his eyes. How about a story? Faith tucked the gel into her pocket so it would be handy if needed soon again.

The boy settled down while Faith brushed his hair back and tucked him in once more with the hand me down teddy-bear. Outside the exquisite French doors to the small balcony, lightening flashed again, this time closer than ever. When the thunder stuck moments later, the entire building shook to its foundations and set all the dogs in the neighborhood howling, including Mercury in the garage. If the howling were a competition, Mercury would have won. Faith kept a hand on Derek to keep him from startling.

Faith loved a good storm, with lots of thunder and lightning. She found them exhilarating, and this one was working up to be a real humdinger. The hairs on her arms were already beginning to stand as the electricity filled the air. Yet, as exciting as this storm was for Faith