Yesterdays
Title: Yesterdays
Author:Honor_reid
Fandom: Magnificent Seven(ATF Verse)/Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rating: Mature
Word Count:11,823
Warnings: Deals with slavery and human trafficking of children and abuse of children. Mental abuse of a child.
Summary: A tell in poker is a change in a player's behavior or demeanor that is claimed by some to give clues to that player's assessment of their hand.
Ezra was eight when he first figured out Maude had one.
Notes: A big thank you to my beta daniomalley22 they made this fic readable! hc_bingo prompt: On The Run table here. Also for the comm Stories_a_z letter Y, table here.
BTVS: Flashbacks: Takes place before the start of the series. Present: Canon through the end of the series, but the gang still ends up in Cleveland and have their base of operations there rather then Scotland. AU after that I have not kept up with the comics so none of that is included.
M7: This is the ATF Verse.
This is a sequel to my story Scars. Please read that story first in order for this one to make sense.
-M7/BTVS-
Ezra hung up the phone and leaned back against the kitchen counter. He absentmindedly picked up his coffee and took a sip, grimacing as the cold liquid slid down his throat. His conversation with Nathan must have taken longer then he thought. Tossing the rest down the drain he rinsed out his cup and placed it on the side board. Drying his hands he thought back to the night before which had necessitated the early morning call. It had taken all his self-control to not call even earlier. As it was he had only managed to wait until 7:30 under the pretext of inviting his fellow ATF agent to breakfast. It wasn’t unusual for Ezra or Nathan to invite one another over for a meal. When a very groggy Nathan had answered, Ezra felt a slight tinge of guilt over waking the man. It had been a rough couple of months and they could all use some extra sleep.
Nathan had been half-asleep but apparently okay; he had declined Ezra’s offer to go to breakfast and had been very evasive about his plans for the next couple of days although Ezra did manage to find out Nathan’s friend would be spending the weekend. Nathan was usually a very gregarious and open individual, he was upfront and truthful. Actually Ezra liked that about his friend. You could rely on Nathan to be sincere. The people that Ezra grew up around weren’t like that. He learned from an early age that people lie, they evade, and they tell untruths. He learned to look for the con behind the words, the agenda not spoken, and the inevitable betrayal. He never had to worry about that with Nathan, that’s what made the conversation so troubling. Not that Nathan lied to him but that he evaded so many of Ezra’s questions and then cut the phone call short.
Ezra was half-tempted to swing by Nathan’s place on some sort of pretense. Normally he wouldn’t be this worried about his friend. Nathan was an ATF agent with a military background and had demonstrated many times that he could take care of himself. But this mysterious friend of Nathan’s had Ezra worried. He closed his eyes and tried to recall the exact feeling he had gotten from the one-eyed man. It had been otherworldly in a way but not. Ezra was pretty sure the man was human. Ezra could usually recognize when someone was part of the “community.” If he had to venture a guess he would say that although the dark-haired man was human he was involved with those who weren’t on a regular basis. Whether that was with them or against them was yet to be seen.
Lost in thought, Ezra was startled when the doorbell pierced the early morning silence. Eyebrows furrowed in confusion as to who could be visiting at such an ungodly hour Ezra peered through the peephole before opening the door and staring dumbfounded at who was at his doorstep.
“Maude,” Ezra sputtered, shock running through him at the sight of his erstwhile mother and a virtual mountain of suitcases stacked behind her.
He watched in shock as Maude swept past him, speaking as she headed to the living room, “Please bring my luggage, sweetheart.”
Glancing back at the colossal of suitcases Ezra felt his backache already; reaching for the first one he heard two long honks. Then a faint, “Can you pay the taxi driver for me dearest?”
Ezra gritted his teeth. He heard two more impatient honks; grabbing his wallet he went to appease the very demanding taxi driver.
-M7/BTVS-
Placing the tea tray on the coffee table in the living room, Ezra surreptitiously watched as his mother strolled around the room with a faint disdainful expression on her face. This was Maude’s first visit to the townhouse and from the look on her face she wasn’t impressed. Of course Maude was used to only the finest things in life and disapproved of his chosen profession which could ill afford such luxuries. For example, Ezra could tell her lavender outfit was a one of a kind from an up and coming designer that Maude supported. Finally she finished her inspection and took a seat on the couch and Ezra took a seat in opposite as he poured the tea.
“So, Mother, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company this fine morning?” Ezra asked as he handed her the cup and saucer. It had been over a year since they had visited face to face, although Ezra, being the dutiful son he was, would call for most major holidays. Maude, being the distant mother she was would send postcards from the various exotic locales she was visiting.
Maude’s blue eyes met his as she took a sip of tea before slowly setting down the cup. If Ezra didn’t know any better he would think she was stalling, but that would be very out of character for his mother. Maude always had a story prepared and at the ready. Whether it was true or not was another matter but she was always on point, which made her current signs of nervousness all the more out of character.
Maude’s smile had a sharp edge to it as she answered, “Can’t a mother come and visit her only son when the mood strikes her?”
Ezra opened his mouth to answer when he saw his mother smooth her already creaseless skirt. Closing his mouth he sat back and smiled slightly and sipped his tea.
-M7/BTVS-
Ezra was eight years old when he figured out Maude had a tell, that she gave a slight clue that what she was saying or doing was lie. The first time he had noticed it was on a Sunday when he had been presented with a brand new suit by his mother and told to go put it on and make himself presentable. They had been living in Los Angeles at the time in a mansion in a very exclusive hilltop community; it was the home of ex husband number three. He had come back downstairs, suit on, hair slicked back within an inch of its life. His mother was in a modest black business suit her honey blonde hair pulled back into a very strict bun. She wore minimal makeup and no jewelry. Maude usually looked elegant and refined. She preferred rich fabrics and intense colors, but today she looked very severe. Maude was wearing her clothes like she was going into battle. As a limo pulled up the driveway Ezra had sent a questioning glance at his mother. They didn’t own a limo, nor did they belong to a service. The arch look she sent had him mentally buttoning up his lip; Ezra was a good son. He knew the game by now, when to talk and when to keep silent.
Once seated, in the long black car, Maude put up the privacy screen and turned towards him. “Do you remember me speaking of my father’s family?”
Ezra started to nervously tug at his tie before Maude sent him a baleful look. He remembered that to show nervousness unless intentional was a sign of weakness and quickly placed his hand back in his lap. You gave up power to someone else when you showed them that they were disturbing you. But the thought was disturbing, because he did remember her mother speaking of her father’s family - they were Greyou demons. She didn’t do it often, usually an offhand comment. Oh, he had known that his great-grandfather wasn’t human, she had always been upfront about that fact. Maude’s grandmother had been human, and so had Maude’s mother. So that made his mother ¼ Greyou. His mother had always spoken despairingly of her father’s family when it was just the two of them and in company she spoke of them not at all.
“Yes,” Ezra breathed, proud that his voice did not tremble. “I thought you didn’t wish to see them ever again.”
“I do not ever want to see my grandfather or my father’s family for that matter but when the head of the family calls you in for a visit you go or they track you down. If they have to track you down you will be very sorry they had to put forth such effort,” Maude said with rancor and hatred in her voice.
Looking at the pinched expression on his mother’s face, Ezra had a feeling that Maude knew that via first hand experience. Ezra remembered last time his mother had visited her family; she had come back two days later almost a ghost of her former self. She had looked the same, not a hair out of place but she couldn’t hold still. She flittered from room to room, never able to settle in one place. She could barely even look at him she was so scattered, until one day when he had come down for breakfast and there had been luggage sitting in the foyer. With a kiss to the cheek and a whispered ‘be good’ he was soon on his way to a summer long camp. Apparently his mother was to marry again and it was best if he was out of the way.
“Grandfather has requested to see you,” Maude explained in a monotone voice, her hands folded in her lap, and her ankles crossed and tucked just under the seat, the picture of grace.
Ezra stuttered out a “Why?” He felt fear course through him. Now he had never met his grandfather, had never met any of his mother’s family, but his mother who was afraid of no one was afraid of her grandfather. Not just afraid but terrified. That made Ezra wring his hands together; anyone who terrified his mother must be truly frightening.
“The Greyou’s have the ability to read people,” Maude stated in a flat voice as she reached out and placed a finger on one of his hands to still their movements, “a mere look is all that’s needed to read the marks left on the soul from their past and what they want in the here and now.” Ezra’s confusion must have shown on his face because with a sigh and a slight flailing of her hands as she grappled with the right words to explain, she continued, “I can tell just by looking at someone if they are fully human or one of the community. Upon further time in their presence I can sense the emotional scars that the past has left on their souls. Those scars are the key to what they want and desire in the here and now and I use that information to my advantage. My grandfather who is full Greyou and over a millennium old is a master of this gift. With a brush of his fingers against your skin he can read thoughts and search memories - ones you remember and those you have forgotten. There is nothing that can be hidden from him so never try.”
The longer his mother spoke of the Greyou’s abilities the more nervous he got and the tighter he clinched his hands together, cutting off the circulation to his fingers. He felt a warm hand encompass his and was surprised to see his mother’s hand covering his own. His mother was not an overtly affectionate person even with him; she would rarely show physical affection. Looking up he saw her looking at him in sympathy and understanding, that and seeing her hand over his in comfort settled him in a way words wouldn’t have.
The limo made a sharp turn and then Ezra heard the crunch of gravel and Maude removed her hand. Her face went blank and her spine straightened as she said in a matter of fact voice, “He wants to see you because at eight years old any abilities you may have inherited from your mixed heritage he would be able to sense.”
She looked directly into his eyes and he could see something like regret within them as she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm and bitterness, “If you have a strong ability you will be of some use and you will be welcomed into our happy little family. But don’t worry, everything will be fine.” Maude looked away and smoothed her skirt before her hands settled in her lap once again.
She was lying. Ezra was certain of it but he knew better then to call her on it.
He watched as they drove through the gates of a large estate, as tendril of disquiet wove its way through his mind.
-M7/BTVS-
Ezra gripped his mother’s hand as they walked through the double doors. The butler was human in appearance until he shut the door behind them and ushered them into the foyer. Then Ezra watched with eyes that widened in shock as the butler’s torso lengthened, his skin turned a sickly grey color, his pointed teeth briefly showed through a widened mouth and his eyes sunk back into his head, giving the servant an overall deathly appearance. The Greyou like all successful demons had, the ability to blend in with humans. The ability to pass as one at least on the surface was a valuable tool, although underneath is another matter all together. They could hold their humanoid shape for extended periods of time, but eventually they morphed into their true forms.
A maid who was also a Greyou gathered their cloaks. Ezra tried to smile at her but her blank expression never wavered until she got to Maude, then Ezra could have sworn both women gave each other a slight smile. Maude opened her mouth as though she would speak to her but the butler gave a slight cough and the maid took their coats and rapidly walked away. The butler then bowed slightly to his mother and ushered them into a sitting room off to the right.
The room was richly colored in vibrant purples and deep browns. Ezra tightened his hand around his mother’s as he saw that the room was full of people mostly Greyou demons who were sitting in a semi-circle facing an empty high back chair. There were also one or two servants that moved around the room refreshing drinks and gathering empty glasses. All heads turned towards them as they stepped into the room Ezra glanced at his mother; her head was held high, her spine ramrod straight, a blank expression on her face. Ezra, wanting to make his mother proud, straightened up his posture and tried to stow the fear running through him deep down inside.
Maude turned slightly until she was facing the demon on the right of the high back chair and bowed slightly.
The man nodded back before saying darkly, “Daughter of Saul, has thou forgotten who you stand before?”
“No, of course not, Uncle Jedadiah. I ask forgiveness for my thoughtlessness,” Maude spit out her voice just this side of disrespectful.
Ezra watched with wide eyes as Jedadiah’s hands tightened around the arms of the chair but he stayed silent as Maude transformed into her true form.
This wasn’t the first time he had seen his mother’s true face, and since she was only part Greyou the change was only slight; she looked more sickly then truly inhuman. It didn’t bother him it was who his mother was.
There was a strained silence only broken by the ticking of the wall clock as they waited for the head of the family. Ezra could feel sweat starting to bead along his hairline. There were no empty chairs and they were not invited any further into the room. He wanted to squirm under the gaze of his relatives but he also didn’t want to give them the satisfaction.
Finally Ezra heard a dull clumping sound coming down the hallway. He wanted to turn around but taking a peek at his mother he saw that she continued to stare straight ahead so he took his cue from her and stared straight forward as well. The others stood and waited. Soon a tall, skeletally thin man with a cane slowly walked into view. Ezra had never met his great-grandfather but he was sure this was him. He watched as the elderly Greyou sat down and conferred with his mother’s uncle. Finally he held up his hand and Jedediah grew silent. A snap of his fingers brought a servant to his side with a tumbler of amber liquid in her hands. The demon swallowed down the liquid in one drink, handed the back the cup and growled out, “Leave us.” The servant curtseyed quickly and then left the room, leaving only family behind.
“Welcome, daughter of Saul.”
Ezra blinked in surprise at the booming voice that came from so slight a body. His mother bowed deeply at the waist and replied, “Thank you, Grandfather; you have honored me with your request to see my son.”
“Indeed,” the elderly demon drawled out sarcastically. A slight quirk to his lips denoted his lack of belief in Maude’s statement. He nodded his head slightly and Ezra’s mother let go of his hand.
“I’d like to present Ezra Standish.” The words were clipped and abrupt.
Ezra bowed just as deeply as his mother had and when he raised his head he made eye contact with his great-grandfather for the first time. It was like looking into two black holes; they seemed to bore into him. Terror coursed through him and the longer he looked, the stronger the fear became. Ezra quickly averted his eyes and then felt humiliated that he wasn’t stronger.
His great-grandfather chuckled cruelly, seeming to enjoy his discomfort, “It is good to meet you, Ezra.”
At the greeting Ezra once again looked up at his grandfather, although he avoided eye contact and instead focused on a spot just over his right shoulder. “It is good…to meet you as well…Great-Grandfather,” Ezra stuttered out, unable to stop his voice from trembling.
He heard his relatives laughing at him; he felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment and shame.
His great-grandfather seemed amused at first but then turned solemn. He rapped the end of his cane once against the tile floor sharply and ground out, “Enough!”
Abruptly all laughter ceased. His great-grandfather crooked a finger at him and growled, “Come here.” Ezra wanted to look towards his mother for reassurance or maybe for help but then thought better of it. If he looked towards Maude it might be considered an act of defiance, so instead he forced his petrified limbs to move towards the high back chair.
Once he stood in front of his great-grandfather, the old demon held out his hand and waited. Ezra remembered what his mother had said about his grandfather’s abilities and wanted nothing to do with that proffered hand. He raised a trembling hand and placed it flat against his great-grandfather’s.
At first all he could feel was how cold and clammy his great-grandfather’s palm was. But then Ezra’s hand felt warm…no, his skin felt like it was burning. Ezra sucked in a sudden breath; his palm felt like it was on fire, like he was touching a hot stove. Then he felt the burning sensation in his hand crawl up his arm. He looked down, expecting to be able to see its progress, but saw nothing. The burning continued up to his bicep and into his shoulder. When the pain spread into his chest Ezra felt his lungs seize up and starting to panic he tried to jerk his hand away only to find he couldn’t move. Alarmed at his inability to breathe Ezra tried to speak but couldn’t he looked at his grandfather and watched as the man smiled in a way that was almost hungry in appearance.
Finally he felt the pain move into his neck and move upwards. There was a pain unlike any he had ever felt; it encompassed his entire body. Soon his vision became narrowed and sounds seemed to be coming from a long way off. In the distance Ezra heard someone screaming and it was only when his legs gave out and he hit the marble floor that he realized it was him.
-M7/BTVS-
Ezra awoke slowly; he rolled over on his back and tried to figure out why he would fall asleep on the floor. He attempted to sit up but his muscles wouldn’t fully cooperate, they felt overworked and achy like he had been running all day. Slumping back down Ezra placed a hand on his head and moaned softly as a severe headache made itself known.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and a whispered, “Ezra, baby I need you to get up.”
Ezra heard his mother’s voice and the memory of where he was and what had happened burst through his brain in a way that made it pulsate with pain. His mind felt jumbled, his thoughts were sluggish and mixed-up. Looking up he could see Maude bent over him, her face was still blank but her eyes showed her concern. Off to the side he could see his great-grandfather once again drinking a tumbler of liquor and talking to his great-uncle.
Maude’s eyes were darting back and forth between him and his grandfather. Worried that he would get Maude in trouble the longer he laid there, Ezra once again tried to push himself to his feet. With the help of his mother he managed to get his feet under him. He swayed slightly as dizziness rushed through him. Standing side by side with his mother, Ezra tried to ignore how every part of his body ached and reigned in his scattered thoughts as they waited for his grandfather to once again acknowledge them.
He watched as the old man sipped his drink and talked in whispers to his uncle Ezra knew this was all a game to show who held real power and who didn’t. Finally, his Great-Grandfather turned towards them. He briefly looked at Ezra but then seemed to dismiss him with a cut of his eyes as he addressed Maude, “He is deficient. He has little power within him, certainly not enough to be of any use. It is truly pathetic that you chose to breed with a human and then thought to present THIS to me.”
Ezra looked towards his mother to see her reaction; for a brief second Ezra thought he could see relief but then it was gone and Maude’s face returned to its placid expression. Maude bowed her head and said, “I apologize. I would ask to take leave of your presence as to not upset you any further.”
His great-grandfather returned with, “Of course, but first here is the file on your next target.” With a snap of his fingers a servant presented Maude with a manila envelope.
Ezra saw his mother hesitate for a brief second before taking it and placing it under her arm.
“Is there a problem?” his grandfather ground out, irritation clear in his voice.
“Of course not,” Maude stated, her voice monotone as she straightened her jacket, and with that small tug on her coat Ezra realized Maude was lying, that she had a tell that she would straighten her clothing when lying. A woozy Ezra had enough wherewithal to question how such an accomplished con artist could have one. But when Maude reached out her hand Ezra forgot his wayward thoughts and grasped it in relief that this nightmare of a day would finally be over. His muscles protested every step he took towards the door but he forced them to do his bidding.
When they were almost to the doorway his great-grandfathers voice rang out, “Daughter of Saul” Maude and Ezra paused and turned back towards the circle of chairs, “By the way, the woman who birthed you died yesterday.”
Maude seemed to be in shock, her mouth dropped open as though to speak but no words came out. Ezra saw tears form in his mother’s eyes. It brought tears to his own; he had never seen his mother cry. For a brief moment her face crumbled before she tried to regain control. Ezra glanced back at his great-grandfather and saw him smile widely, showing off his pointed teeth. Ezra felt sick when he realized the old demon was enjoying his mother’s suffering. Gritting his teeth to stop from screaming at this foul creature he was related to, Ezra retook his mother’s hand and pulled her towards the door.
By time they reached the foyer, they could hear laughter coming from the room they had just left. The butler brought them their coats and ushered them out the door. Once in the limo, Ezra saw that his mother was once again in control; only a shocked look in her eyes showed that she had received a devastating blow.
The light from the windows was making his headache worse. Placing a hand over his eyes seemed to help a bit, so Ezra leaned his head back and tried not to think about what just happened. He felt a tap on his hand looking over at Maude; he was surprised to see a water bottle in her hand. Taking it, he gulped down half of it not realizing how thirsty he was.
Night had fallen by time they were dropped off at their home. Once inside, Ezra stood just inside the door, unsure of what to do. He was still in pain; he was also exhausted and only wanted to sleep for a million years but he was worried about his mother. Maude seemed to be moving in slow motion; she removed her coat and placed it in the closet seemingly lost in thought. He watched as she brought the manila envelope up to her face and her grip tightened, halfway crumpling it. Ezra thought she would throw it away but he was surprised when she carefully straightened the creases and placed it on the side table.
“If you’re hungry, go into the kitchen and grab a sandwich. Then go to bed, it has been a long day,” Maude called out, never turning round as she made her way to the living room.
Ezra wasn’t hungry. If anything he was nauseous, so he tiredly trudged up the steps to his room. He removed his shoes and fell face down on the bed, too tired to even undress or get under the covers. He was soon fast asleep.
-M7/BTVS-
Screaming, Ezra shot straight up, the cruel laughter from his dream fading as he realized he was no longer in a mansion on a hill but in his own bed in his own room. Laying back down, his heart attempting to beat out of his chest, Ezra took a deep breath and blew it out, trying to calm down. He tried to forget the feeling of his Great-Grandfather digging around in his brain searching through his thoughts and memories. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was 2:00 am. He had only been asleep for a little over four hours. He was surprised that he hadn’t slept through the night, as exhausted as he was. A rumbling noise from his stomach made him aware of how hungry he was. He hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning.
Making his way into the kitchen, he made himself a sandwich and ate it quickly. He was tempted to make another one when he heard music in the distance. Following the sound, he soon found himself in the living room. The room was dark, only lit by a solitary lamp. The music was being pumped out of an old record player that up until now Ezra had thought was only for looks, as he had never seen it played. He didn’t recognize the tune, but the melody was mournful, and somber. Once his eyes had adjusted to the dim lighting he could see his mother sitting on the floor next to the coffee table. Spread out on the table were photographs, next to them was a 1/2 empty bottle of vodka with an abandoned tumbler lying on its side.
“Maude?” Ezra questioned with a wry tone to his voice. He had never seen Maude drunk before, she had always drilled it into him that drinking to the point of intoxication was an unacceptable loss of control. It left you vulnerable and people would take advantage of that fact.
“Sweetheart…” Maude slurred out as she rose up a hand and gestured for him to sit next to her. “Come here I want to show you something.”
He was still pretty stiff and sore so he sat down gingerly. She patted his head kindly but clumsily before pointing the photos on the coffee table. “This was my 8th birthday party…”
Ezra took his first real look at the photos spread out on the coffee table and saw they were mostly black and white photos of people at parties. The style of clothes they wore denoted their age. Looking closer at one his mother was pointing to, he saw both his Great-Grandfather and his Great-Uncle in their human forms, along with a little blonde girl who was dressed in a very frilly dress and knee high socks standing next to a birthday cake. Looking up at his mother, Ezra took in the blood shot eyes and dried tear stained cheeks and felt his heart breaking.
He opened his mouth to ask about the photo when Maude pointed at one of the servants in the background, and in a voice that broke and warbled, “This is…was my mother. Her name was Violet.”
Looking closer at the woman, Ezra saw that she was probably blonde and even with as out of focus as her features were due to the graininess of the photo he could tell she was pretty.
Moving the photos around Maude brought another one forward; this one was in color and seemed to be at a formal party of some sort. He instantly recognized his mother in the forefront of the picture. She looked to be around 16 or 17, she was wearing a deep blue evening gown and talking to Violet who was dressed as a maid and was holding a tray that held hors d’oeuvres. “I was sixteen here…” Maude started before stopping to wipe the tears away that started to fall again, “I forget exactly what the dinner was for, more than likely it was a business party for the family to make some contacts with the human world and figure out who they would fleece next.”
Ezra saw Maude tenderly brush a finger across the face of Violet before continuing, “My mother was a slave who belonged to my Great-Grandfather. He used to own many slaves hundreds of years ago but as time has worn on he has grown more and more distrustful of humans and has weeded them out of his organization. My mother was the last.”
“She was not allowed to raise me. That was left up to the pre-approved nannies who were Greyou and would raise me with the correct values and outlook on life.”
Shuffling the photos once again, she brought forth a wedding picture Ezra recognized his Mother as the bride and the groom was her first husband whom he has never met. Pointing to a man standing in the background, “This was my father, Saul; he had two weaknesses my mother and gambling. He knew how much Violet missed me and would allow her to spend time with me whenever we could escape the notice of the family. Don’t get me wrong, although my father could show kindness, he was also selfish and cowardly. If he had truly loved my mother he would have found a way to free her…” Maude’s voice had taken on a bitter angry tone at the end of her speech. Clenching her hand, she seemed to strive for control over herself.
Clearing her throat, she gave him a quick broken smile and continued, “My father was an idiot who believed that his father, my Grandfather, loved him more then he actually did. Saul started to gamble with the family’s money and believed that being one of the family would save him from my grandfather’s wrath. It did not; one day he disappeared and no-one speaks of him anymore. We all know what happened. You do not steal from the head of the family and live.”
She pushed the photo away almost violently and it fell off the other side of the table. She drew another paper forward, placing her hand over the bottom half. Ezra saw it was actually a colored pencil drawing of Violet. It was a side profile. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a bun with a slight smile on her lips. She was wearing a 50’s style green sleeveless sundress.
“My father had this made up, and gave it to me as a wedding gift. At first I was thrilled but then,” Maude bit out as she uncovered the rest of the picture revealing an arm that was disfigured just below the shoulder, “I saw her arm, and he had included her brand as though to remind me about her status. More than likely it was Grandfather’s idea as a way to keep me in line to remind me of who I was leaving behind and to not get any ideas now that I was out on my own.”
Ezra eyes were drawn to the brand on his Grandmothers arm. It was a circle with a symbol inside. He remembered his mother telling him that brands not only designated who the slave belonged to but also would allow their owner to track them.
He watched as Maude took another swig of the vodka straight out of the bottle before she continued in a alcohol soaked voice that was rough against his ears, “After my second marriage I approached my Grandfather about buying my mother’s freedom. He purposely set a price that was beyond anything I could probably ever amass, but I was determined to do so.”
Maude’s voice took on a faraway look as she continued, “I started to take more and more risks in order to bring in richer and richer marks, I would fleece them of all I could all so I could someday rescue my mother.”
Ezra watched as his mother slowly caressed Violets face and spoke so quietly it seemed as though she was talking to herself. “I was so close…so very close; I think I would have had enough by the end of the year.”
Ezra spoke up for the first time since sitting down, “I’m sorry.”
Maude down at him and smiled sadly before patting him on the head once again, “You should go back to bed, I’m okay.”
Ezra reluctantly stood up and started to move off towards his bedroom. He looked back once and saw his mother slowly shuffling the pictures back and forth, singing softly to the music. He turned away and quickly ran up the stairs, unable to handle the overwhelming grief that was in that room. Lying back on his bed he turned on the bedside lamp, unable to stand the darkness any longer. Ignoring the tears that slid from his eyes and into his hair as he stared at the ceiling, Ezra came to the realization that although his mother was no slave (he had seen her shoulder; she had no brand) she wasn’t free either. He made plans in his mind as to how he could help, some with merit, others bordering on the fanciful. As sleep pulled him under one thought cemented in his mind. Ezra vowed he would find a way to bring down his great-grandfather and save his mother.
Part Two
Author:Honor_reid
Fandom: Magnificent Seven(ATF Verse)/Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rating: Mature
Word Count:11,823
Warnings: Deals with slavery and human trafficking of children and abuse of children. Mental abuse of a child.
Summary: A tell in poker is a change in a player's behavior or demeanor that is claimed by some to give clues to that player's assessment of their hand.
Ezra was eight when he first figured out Maude had one.
Notes: A big thank you to my beta daniomalley22 they made this fic readable! hc_bingo prompt: On The Run table here. Also for the comm Stories_a_z letter Y, table here.
BTVS: Flashbacks: Takes place before the start of the series. Present: Canon through the end of the series, but the gang still ends up in Cleveland and have their base of operations there rather then Scotland. AU after that I have not kept up with the comics so none of that is included.
M7: This is the ATF Verse.
This is a sequel to my story Scars. Please read that story first in order for this one to make sense.
-M7/BTVS-
Ezra hung up the phone and leaned back against the kitchen counter. He absentmindedly picked up his coffee and took a sip, grimacing as the cold liquid slid down his throat. His conversation with Nathan must have taken longer then he thought. Tossing the rest down the drain he rinsed out his cup and placed it on the side board. Drying his hands he thought back to the night before which had necessitated the early morning call. It had taken all his self-control to not call even earlier. As it was he had only managed to wait until 7:30 under the pretext of inviting his fellow ATF agent to breakfast. It wasn’t unusual for Ezra or Nathan to invite one another over for a meal. When a very groggy Nathan had answered, Ezra felt a slight tinge of guilt over waking the man. It had been a rough couple of months and they could all use some extra sleep.
Nathan had been half-asleep but apparently okay; he had declined Ezra’s offer to go to breakfast and had been very evasive about his plans for the next couple of days although Ezra did manage to find out Nathan’s friend would be spending the weekend. Nathan was usually a very gregarious and open individual, he was upfront and truthful. Actually Ezra liked that about his friend. You could rely on Nathan to be sincere. The people that Ezra grew up around weren’t like that. He learned from an early age that people lie, they evade, and they tell untruths. He learned to look for the con behind the words, the agenda not spoken, and the inevitable betrayal. He never had to worry about that with Nathan, that’s what made the conversation so troubling. Not that Nathan lied to him but that he evaded so many of Ezra’s questions and then cut the phone call short.
Ezra was half-tempted to swing by Nathan’s place on some sort of pretense. Normally he wouldn’t be this worried about his friend. Nathan was an ATF agent with a military background and had demonstrated many times that he could take care of himself. But this mysterious friend of Nathan’s had Ezra worried. He closed his eyes and tried to recall the exact feeling he had gotten from the one-eyed man. It had been otherworldly in a way but not. Ezra was pretty sure the man was human. Ezra could usually recognize when someone was part of the “community.” If he had to venture a guess he would say that although the dark-haired man was human he was involved with those who weren’t on a regular basis. Whether that was with them or against them was yet to be seen.
Lost in thought, Ezra was startled when the doorbell pierced the early morning silence. Eyebrows furrowed in confusion as to who could be visiting at such an ungodly hour Ezra peered through the peephole before opening the door and staring dumbfounded at who was at his doorstep.
“Maude,” Ezra sputtered, shock running through him at the sight of his erstwhile mother and a virtual mountain of suitcases stacked behind her.
He watched in shock as Maude swept past him, speaking as she headed to the living room, “Please bring my luggage, sweetheart.”
Glancing back at the colossal of suitcases Ezra felt his backache already; reaching for the first one he heard two long honks. Then a faint, “Can you pay the taxi driver for me dearest?”
Ezra gritted his teeth. He heard two more impatient honks; grabbing his wallet he went to appease the very demanding taxi driver.
-M7/BTVS-
Placing the tea tray on the coffee table in the living room, Ezra surreptitiously watched as his mother strolled around the room with a faint disdainful expression on her face. This was Maude’s first visit to the townhouse and from the look on her face she wasn’t impressed. Of course Maude was used to only the finest things in life and disapproved of his chosen profession which could ill afford such luxuries. For example, Ezra could tell her lavender outfit was a one of a kind from an up and coming designer that Maude supported. Finally she finished her inspection and took a seat on the couch and Ezra took a seat in opposite as he poured the tea.
“So, Mother, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company this fine morning?” Ezra asked as he handed her the cup and saucer. It had been over a year since they had visited face to face, although Ezra, being the dutiful son he was, would call for most major holidays. Maude, being the distant mother she was would send postcards from the various exotic locales she was visiting.
Maude’s blue eyes met his as she took a sip of tea before slowly setting down the cup. If Ezra didn’t know any better he would think she was stalling, but that would be very out of character for his mother. Maude always had a story prepared and at the ready. Whether it was true or not was another matter but she was always on point, which made her current signs of nervousness all the more out of character.
Maude’s smile had a sharp edge to it as she answered, “Can’t a mother come and visit her only son when the mood strikes her?”
Ezra opened his mouth to answer when he saw his mother smooth her already creaseless skirt. Closing his mouth he sat back and smiled slightly and sipped his tea.
-M7/BTVS-
Ezra was eight years old when he figured out Maude had a tell, that she gave a slight clue that what she was saying or doing was lie. The first time he had noticed it was on a Sunday when he had been presented with a brand new suit by his mother and told to go put it on and make himself presentable. They had been living in Los Angeles at the time in a mansion in a very exclusive hilltop community; it was the home of ex husband number three. He had come back downstairs, suit on, hair slicked back within an inch of its life. His mother was in a modest black business suit her honey blonde hair pulled back into a very strict bun. She wore minimal makeup and no jewelry. Maude usually looked elegant and refined. She preferred rich fabrics and intense colors, but today she looked very severe. Maude was wearing her clothes like she was going into battle. As a limo pulled up the driveway Ezra had sent a questioning glance at his mother. They didn’t own a limo, nor did they belong to a service. The arch look she sent had him mentally buttoning up his lip; Ezra was a good son. He knew the game by now, when to talk and when to keep silent.
Once seated, in the long black car, Maude put up the privacy screen and turned towards him. “Do you remember me speaking of my father’s family?”
Ezra started to nervously tug at his tie before Maude sent him a baleful look. He remembered that to show nervousness unless intentional was a sign of weakness and quickly placed his hand back in his lap. You gave up power to someone else when you showed them that they were disturbing you. But the thought was disturbing, because he did remember her mother speaking of her father’s family - they were Greyou demons. She didn’t do it often, usually an offhand comment. Oh, he had known that his great-grandfather wasn’t human, she had always been upfront about that fact. Maude’s grandmother had been human, and so had Maude’s mother. So that made his mother ¼ Greyou. His mother had always spoken despairingly of her father’s family when it was just the two of them and in company she spoke of them not at all.
“Yes,” Ezra breathed, proud that his voice did not tremble. “I thought you didn’t wish to see them ever again.”
“I do not ever want to see my grandfather or my father’s family for that matter but when the head of the family calls you in for a visit you go or they track you down. If they have to track you down you will be very sorry they had to put forth such effort,” Maude said with rancor and hatred in her voice.
Looking at the pinched expression on his mother’s face, Ezra had a feeling that Maude knew that via first hand experience. Ezra remembered last time his mother had visited her family; she had come back two days later almost a ghost of her former self. She had looked the same, not a hair out of place but she couldn’t hold still. She flittered from room to room, never able to settle in one place. She could barely even look at him she was so scattered, until one day when he had come down for breakfast and there had been luggage sitting in the foyer. With a kiss to the cheek and a whispered ‘be good’ he was soon on his way to a summer long camp. Apparently his mother was to marry again and it was best if he was out of the way.
“Grandfather has requested to see you,” Maude explained in a monotone voice, her hands folded in her lap, and her ankles crossed and tucked just under the seat, the picture of grace.
Ezra stuttered out a “Why?” He felt fear course through him. Now he had never met his grandfather, had never met any of his mother’s family, but his mother who was afraid of no one was afraid of her grandfather. Not just afraid but terrified. That made Ezra wring his hands together; anyone who terrified his mother must be truly frightening.
“The Greyou’s have the ability to read people,” Maude stated in a flat voice as she reached out and placed a finger on one of his hands to still their movements, “a mere look is all that’s needed to read the marks left on the soul from their past and what they want in the here and now.” Ezra’s confusion must have shown on his face because with a sigh and a slight flailing of her hands as she grappled with the right words to explain, she continued, “I can tell just by looking at someone if they are fully human or one of the community. Upon further time in their presence I can sense the emotional scars that the past has left on their souls. Those scars are the key to what they want and desire in the here and now and I use that information to my advantage. My grandfather who is full Greyou and over a millennium old is a master of this gift. With a brush of his fingers against your skin he can read thoughts and search memories - ones you remember and those you have forgotten. There is nothing that can be hidden from him so never try.”
The longer his mother spoke of the Greyou’s abilities the more nervous he got and the tighter he clinched his hands together, cutting off the circulation to his fingers. He felt a warm hand encompass his and was surprised to see his mother’s hand covering his own. His mother was not an overtly affectionate person even with him; she would rarely show physical affection. Looking up he saw her looking at him in sympathy and understanding, that and seeing her hand over his in comfort settled him in a way words wouldn’t have.
The limo made a sharp turn and then Ezra heard the crunch of gravel and Maude removed her hand. Her face went blank and her spine straightened as she said in a matter of fact voice, “He wants to see you because at eight years old any abilities you may have inherited from your mixed heritage he would be able to sense.”
She looked directly into his eyes and he could see something like regret within them as she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm and bitterness, “If you have a strong ability you will be of some use and you will be welcomed into our happy little family. But don’t worry, everything will be fine.” Maude looked away and smoothed her skirt before her hands settled in her lap once again.
She was lying. Ezra was certain of it but he knew better then to call her on it.
He watched as they drove through the gates of a large estate, as tendril of disquiet wove its way through his mind.
-M7/BTVS-
Ezra gripped his mother’s hand as they walked through the double doors. The butler was human in appearance until he shut the door behind them and ushered them into the foyer. Then Ezra watched with eyes that widened in shock as the butler’s torso lengthened, his skin turned a sickly grey color, his pointed teeth briefly showed through a widened mouth and his eyes sunk back into his head, giving the servant an overall deathly appearance. The Greyou like all successful demons had, the ability to blend in with humans. The ability to pass as one at least on the surface was a valuable tool, although underneath is another matter all together. They could hold their humanoid shape for extended periods of time, but eventually they morphed into their true forms.
A maid who was also a Greyou gathered their cloaks. Ezra tried to smile at her but her blank expression never wavered until she got to Maude, then Ezra could have sworn both women gave each other a slight smile. Maude opened her mouth as though she would speak to her but the butler gave a slight cough and the maid took their coats and rapidly walked away. The butler then bowed slightly to his mother and ushered them into a sitting room off to the right.
The room was richly colored in vibrant purples and deep browns. Ezra tightened his hand around his mother’s as he saw that the room was full of people mostly Greyou demons who were sitting in a semi-circle facing an empty high back chair. There were also one or two servants that moved around the room refreshing drinks and gathering empty glasses. All heads turned towards them as they stepped into the room Ezra glanced at his mother; her head was held high, her spine ramrod straight, a blank expression on her face. Ezra, wanting to make his mother proud, straightened up his posture and tried to stow the fear running through him deep down inside.
Maude turned slightly until she was facing the demon on the right of the high back chair and bowed slightly.
The man nodded back before saying darkly, “Daughter of Saul, has thou forgotten who you stand before?”
“No, of course not, Uncle Jedadiah. I ask forgiveness for my thoughtlessness,” Maude spit out her voice just this side of disrespectful.
Ezra watched with wide eyes as Jedadiah’s hands tightened around the arms of the chair but he stayed silent as Maude transformed into her true form.
This wasn’t the first time he had seen his mother’s true face, and since she was only part Greyou the change was only slight; she looked more sickly then truly inhuman. It didn’t bother him it was who his mother was.
There was a strained silence only broken by the ticking of the wall clock as they waited for the head of the family. Ezra could feel sweat starting to bead along his hairline. There were no empty chairs and they were not invited any further into the room. He wanted to squirm under the gaze of his relatives but he also didn’t want to give them the satisfaction.
Finally Ezra heard a dull clumping sound coming down the hallway. He wanted to turn around but taking a peek at his mother he saw that she continued to stare straight ahead so he took his cue from her and stared straight forward as well. The others stood and waited. Soon a tall, skeletally thin man with a cane slowly walked into view. Ezra had never met his great-grandfather but he was sure this was him. He watched as the elderly Greyou sat down and conferred with his mother’s uncle. Finally he held up his hand and Jedediah grew silent. A snap of his fingers brought a servant to his side with a tumbler of amber liquid in her hands. The demon swallowed down the liquid in one drink, handed the back the cup and growled out, “Leave us.” The servant curtseyed quickly and then left the room, leaving only family behind.
“Welcome, daughter of Saul.”
Ezra blinked in surprise at the booming voice that came from so slight a body. His mother bowed deeply at the waist and replied, “Thank you, Grandfather; you have honored me with your request to see my son.”
“Indeed,” the elderly demon drawled out sarcastically. A slight quirk to his lips denoted his lack of belief in Maude’s statement. He nodded his head slightly and Ezra’s mother let go of his hand.
“I’d like to present Ezra Standish.” The words were clipped and abrupt.
Ezra bowed just as deeply as his mother had and when he raised his head he made eye contact with his great-grandfather for the first time. It was like looking into two black holes; they seemed to bore into him. Terror coursed through him and the longer he looked, the stronger the fear became. Ezra quickly averted his eyes and then felt humiliated that he wasn’t stronger.
His great-grandfather chuckled cruelly, seeming to enjoy his discomfort, “It is good to meet you, Ezra.”
At the greeting Ezra once again looked up at his grandfather, although he avoided eye contact and instead focused on a spot just over his right shoulder. “It is good…to meet you as well…Great-Grandfather,” Ezra stuttered out, unable to stop his voice from trembling.
He heard his relatives laughing at him; he felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment and shame.
His great-grandfather seemed amused at first but then turned solemn. He rapped the end of his cane once against the tile floor sharply and ground out, “Enough!”
Abruptly all laughter ceased. His great-grandfather crooked a finger at him and growled, “Come here.” Ezra wanted to look towards his mother for reassurance or maybe for help but then thought better of it. If he looked towards Maude it might be considered an act of defiance, so instead he forced his petrified limbs to move towards the high back chair.
Once he stood in front of his great-grandfather, the old demon held out his hand and waited. Ezra remembered what his mother had said about his grandfather’s abilities and wanted nothing to do with that proffered hand. He raised a trembling hand and placed it flat against his great-grandfather’s.
At first all he could feel was how cold and clammy his great-grandfather’s palm was. But then Ezra’s hand felt warm…no, his skin felt like it was burning. Ezra sucked in a sudden breath; his palm felt like it was on fire, like he was touching a hot stove. Then he felt the burning sensation in his hand crawl up his arm. He looked down, expecting to be able to see its progress, but saw nothing. The burning continued up to his bicep and into his shoulder. When the pain spread into his chest Ezra felt his lungs seize up and starting to panic he tried to jerk his hand away only to find he couldn’t move. Alarmed at his inability to breathe Ezra tried to speak but couldn’t he looked at his grandfather and watched as the man smiled in a way that was almost hungry in appearance.
Finally he felt the pain move into his neck and move upwards. There was a pain unlike any he had ever felt; it encompassed his entire body. Soon his vision became narrowed and sounds seemed to be coming from a long way off. In the distance Ezra heard someone screaming and it was only when his legs gave out and he hit the marble floor that he realized it was him.
-M7/BTVS-
Ezra awoke slowly; he rolled over on his back and tried to figure out why he would fall asleep on the floor. He attempted to sit up but his muscles wouldn’t fully cooperate, they felt overworked and achy like he had been running all day. Slumping back down Ezra placed a hand on his head and moaned softly as a severe headache made itself known.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and a whispered, “Ezra, baby I need you to get up.”
Ezra heard his mother’s voice and the memory of where he was and what had happened burst through his brain in a way that made it pulsate with pain. His mind felt jumbled, his thoughts were sluggish and mixed-up. Looking up he could see Maude bent over him, her face was still blank but her eyes showed her concern. Off to the side he could see his great-grandfather once again drinking a tumbler of liquor and talking to his great-uncle.
Maude’s eyes were darting back and forth between him and his grandfather. Worried that he would get Maude in trouble the longer he laid there, Ezra once again tried to push himself to his feet. With the help of his mother he managed to get his feet under him. He swayed slightly as dizziness rushed through him. Standing side by side with his mother, Ezra tried to ignore how every part of his body ached and reigned in his scattered thoughts as they waited for his grandfather to once again acknowledge them.
He watched as the old man sipped his drink and talked in whispers to his uncle Ezra knew this was all a game to show who held real power and who didn’t. Finally, his Great-Grandfather turned towards them. He briefly looked at Ezra but then seemed to dismiss him with a cut of his eyes as he addressed Maude, “He is deficient. He has little power within him, certainly not enough to be of any use. It is truly pathetic that you chose to breed with a human and then thought to present THIS to me.”
Ezra looked towards his mother to see her reaction; for a brief second Ezra thought he could see relief but then it was gone and Maude’s face returned to its placid expression. Maude bowed her head and said, “I apologize. I would ask to take leave of your presence as to not upset you any further.”
His great-grandfather returned with, “Of course, but first here is the file on your next target.” With a snap of his fingers a servant presented Maude with a manila envelope.
Ezra saw his mother hesitate for a brief second before taking it and placing it under her arm.
“Is there a problem?” his grandfather ground out, irritation clear in his voice.
“Of course not,” Maude stated, her voice monotone as she straightened her jacket, and with that small tug on her coat Ezra realized Maude was lying, that she had a tell that she would straighten her clothing when lying. A woozy Ezra had enough wherewithal to question how such an accomplished con artist could have one. But when Maude reached out her hand Ezra forgot his wayward thoughts and grasped it in relief that this nightmare of a day would finally be over. His muscles protested every step he took towards the door but he forced them to do his bidding.
When they were almost to the doorway his great-grandfathers voice rang out, “Daughter of Saul” Maude and Ezra paused and turned back towards the circle of chairs, “By the way, the woman who birthed you died yesterday.”
Maude seemed to be in shock, her mouth dropped open as though to speak but no words came out. Ezra saw tears form in his mother’s eyes. It brought tears to his own; he had never seen his mother cry. For a brief moment her face crumbled before she tried to regain control. Ezra glanced back at his great-grandfather and saw him smile widely, showing off his pointed teeth. Ezra felt sick when he realized the old demon was enjoying his mother’s suffering. Gritting his teeth to stop from screaming at this foul creature he was related to, Ezra retook his mother’s hand and pulled her towards the door.
By time they reached the foyer, they could hear laughter coming from the room they had just left. The butler brought them their coats and ushered them out the door. Once in the limo, Ezra saw that his mother was once again in control; only a shocked look in her eyes showed that she had received a devastating blow.
The light from the windows was making his headache worse. Placing a hand over his eyes seemed to help a bit, so Ezra leaned his head back and tried not to think about what just happened. He felt a tap on his hand looking over at Maude; he was surprised to see a water bottle in her hand. Taking it, he gulped down half of it not realizing how thirsty he was.
Night had fallen by time they were dropped off at their home. Once inside, Ezra stood just inside the door, unsure of what to do. He was still in pain; he was also exhausted and only wanted to sleep for a million years but he was worried about his mother. Maude seemed to be moving in slow motion; she removed her coat and placed it in the closet seemingly lost in thought. He watched as she brought the manila envelope up to her face and her grip tightened, halfway crumpling it. Ezra thought she would throw it away but he was surprised when she carefully straightened the creases and placed it on the side table.
“If you’re hungry, go into the kitchen and grab a sandwich. Then go to bed, it has been a long day,” Maude called out, never turning round as she made her way to the living room.
Ezra wasn’t hungry. If anything he was nauseous, so he tiredly trudged up the steps to his room. He removed his shoes and fell face down on the bed, too tired to even undress or get under the covers. He was soon fast asleep.
-M7/BTVS-
Screaming, Ezra shot straight up, the cruel laughter from his dream fading as he realized he was no longer in a mansion on a hill but in his own bed in his own room. Laying back down, his heart attempting to beat out of his chest, Ezra took a deep breath and blew it out, trying to calm down. He tried to forget the feeling of his Great-Grandfather digging around in his brain searching through his thoughts and memories. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was 2:00 am. He had only been asleep for a little over four hours. He was surprised that he hadn’t slept through the night, as exhausted as he was. A rumbling noise from his stomach made him aware of how hungry he was. He hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning.
Making his way into the kitchen, he made himself a sandwich and ate it quickly. He was tempted to make another one when he heard music in the distance. Following the sound, he soon found himself in the living room. The room was dark, only lit by a solitary lamp. The music was being pumped out of an old record player that up until now Ezra had thought was only for looks, as he had never seen it played. He didn’t recognize the tune, but the melody was mournful, and somber. Once his eyes had adjusted to the dim lighting he could see his mother sitting on the floor next to the coffee table. Spread out on the table were photographs, next to them was a 1/2 empty bottle of vodka with an abandoned tumbler lying on its side.
“Maude?” Ezra questioned with a wry tone to his voice. He had never seen Maude drunk before, she had always drilled it into him that drinking to the point of intoxication was an unacceptable loss of control. It left you vulnerable and people would take advantage of that fact.
“Sweetheart…” Maude slurred out as she rose up a hand and gestured for him to sit next to her. “Come here I want to show you something.”
He was still pretty stiff and sore so he sat down gingerly. She patted his head kindly but clumsily before pointing the photos on the coffee table. “This was my 8th birthday party…”
Ezra took his first real look at the photos spread out on the coffee table and saw they were mostly black and white photos of people at parties. The style of clothes they wore denoted their age. Looking closer at one his mother was pointing to, he saw both his Great-Grandfather and his Great-Uncle in their human forms, along with a little blonde girl who was dressed in a very frilly dress and knee high socks standing next to a birthday cake. Looking up at his mother, Ezra took in the blood shot eyes and dried tear stained cheeks and felt his heart breaking.
He opened his mouth to ask about the photo when Maude pointed at one of the servants in the background, and in a voice that broke and warbled, “This is…was my mother. Her name was Violet.”
Looking closer at the woman, Ezra saw that she was probably blonde and even with as out of focus as her features were due to the graininess of the photo he could tell she was pretty.
Moving the photos around Maude brought another one forward; this one was in color and seemed to be at a formal party of some sort. He instantly recognized his mother in the forefront of the picture. She looked to be around 16 or 17, she was wearing a deep blue evening gown and talking to Violet who was dressed as a maid and was holding a tray that held hors d’oeuvres. “I was sixteen here…” Maude started before stopping to wipe the tears away that started to fall again, “I forget exactly what the dinner was for, more than likely it was a business party for the family to make some contacts with the human world and figure out who they would fleece next.”
Ezra saw Maude tenderly brush a finger across the face of Violet before continuing, “My mother was a slave who belonged to my Great-Grandfather. He used to own many slaves hundreds of years ago but as time has worn on he has grown more and more distrustful of humans and has weeded them out of his organization. My mother was the last.”
“She was not allowed to raise me. That was left up to the pre-approved nannies who were Greyou and would raise me with the correct values and outlook on life.”
Shuffling the photos once again, she brought forth a wedding picture Ezra recognized his Mother as the bride and the groom was her first husband whom he has never met. Pointing to a man standing in the background, “This was my father, Saul; he had two weaknesses my mother and gambling. He knew how much Violet missed me and would allow her to spend time with me whenever we could escape the notice of the family. Don’t get me wrong, although my father could show kindness, he was also selfish and cowardly. If he had truly loved my mother he would have found a way to free her…” Maude’s voice had taken on a bitter angry tone at the end of her speech. Clenching her hand, she seemed to strive for control over herself.
Clearing her throat, she gave him a quick broken smile and continued, “My father was an idiot who believed that his father, my Grandfather, loved him more then he actually did. Saul started to gamble with the family’s money and believed that being one of the family would save him from my grandfather’s wrath. It did not; one day he disappeared and no-one speaks of him anymore. We all know what happened. You do not steal from the head of the family and live.”
She pushed the photo away almost violently and it fell off the other side of the table. She drew another paper forward, placing her hand over the bottom half. Ezra saw it was actually a colored pencil drawing of Violet. It was a side profile. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a bun with a slight smile on her lips. She was wearing a 50’s style green sleeveless sundress.
“My father had this made up, and gave it to me as a wedding gift. At first I was thrilled but then,” Maude bit out as she uncovered the rest of the picture revealing an arm that was disfigured just below the shoulder, “I saw her arm, and he had included her brand as though to remind me about her status. More than likely it was Grandfather’s idea as a way to keep me in line to remind me of who I was leaving behind and to not get any ideas now that I was out on my own.”
Ezra eyes were drawn to the brand on his Grandmothers arm. It was a circle with a symbol inside. He remembered his mother telling him that brands not only designated who the slave belonged to but also would allow their owner to track them.
He watched as Maude took another swig of the vodka straight out of the bottle before she continued in a alcohol soaked voice that was rough against his ears, “After my second marriage I approached my Grandfather about buying my mother’s freedom. He purposely set a price that was beyond anything I could probably ever amass, but I was determined to do so.”
Maude’s voice took on a faraway look as she continued, “I started to take more and more risks in order to bring in richer and richer marks, I would fleece them of all I could all so I could someday rescue my mother.”
Ezra watched as his mother slowly caressed Violets face and spoke so quietly it seemed as though she was talking to herself. “I was so close…so very close; I think I would have had enough by the end of the year.”
Ezra spoke up for the first time since sitting down, “I’m sorry.”
Maude down at him and smiled sadly before patting him on the head once again, “You should go back to bed, I’m okay.”
Ezra reluctantly stood up and started to move off towards his bedroom. He looked back once and saw his mother slowly shuffling the pictures back and forth, singing softly to the music. He turned away and quickly ran up the stairs, unable to handle the overwhelming grief that was in that room. Lying back on his bed he turned on the bedside lamp, unable to stand the darkness any longer. Ignoring the tears that slid from his eyes and into his hair as he stared at the ceiling, Ezra came to the realization that although his mother was no slave (he had seen her shoulder; she had no brand) she wasn’t free either. He made plans in his mind as to how he could help, some with merit, others bordering on the fanciful. As sleep pulled him under one thought cemented in his mind. Ezra vowed he would find a way to bring down his great-grandfather and save his mother.
Part Two