A big thanks to AsylumSeeker and PennLady for helping me edit this chapter. You're legends!
CHAPTER TWO
It was the night of Maria's birthday. She hadn't expected any presents but a large boutique of white lilies arrived with a card sighed, 'Your benefactor'. There were more presents from people all over. She had more art supplies than she knew what to do with, along with being accepted into the art college in the city she wanted, so there was more to celebrate.
She couldn't wait to tell Richard and Dee about the acceptance. All she had been doing over the past six months was either, complaining about not getting the wolf correct or fretting over the wait for the response from the college. She sighed and looked back at the painting of the girl and space for the wolf.
The other paintings she had been working on presented no problems. It was just this one that had her stumped. She supposed that, with the money the man was willing to pay, she was anxious and wanted to make it perfect. Nothing but the right wolf would work.
Ulisi called out and broke into her thoughts. "Maria, they're on their way to pick us up, honey".
Maria jumped into action. She fixed her hair and smiled at her new hair style. She had placed a silver streak at the front, so at the natural part in her hair, she'd have a silver down both sides of her face. She didn't know why she did it, but had followed the impulse and not regretted it.
She wore a dark silvery dress, another impulse that she hadn't quested. As she skipped downstairs, there was a knock at the door. She called out, "I've got it". When she opened the door, there was a body behind a large boutique of wild flowers in a crystal vase which made her squeal in delight.
From behind the flowers, Richard and Dee chorused, "Happy birthday!".
Maria took the flowers from him. "They're beautiful! Thank you so much!". She took them over to the dining room table and placed them in the center and ran back to give them both a hug.
Ulisi came down from her room and smelt the wild flowers and smiled. "They brought your favorites, Maria".
Maria grinned. "Second favorites. The snow lilies my benefactor gave me are my favorites now".
Richard grumbled, "He had to out do us, doesn't he".
Maria spun at the words. "You know who he is?". The look on their faces spoke a thousand words and her eyes went wide. "You have to tell me who he is! I need to know, I want to thank him for them".
Richard looked at Dee and she shrugged. Richard sighed, "You can thank him later. Eric is meeting us at the restaurant and he gets impatient if we're late".
Maria started to quiz them as they left the house, then her eyes went wide. "A limo!", she squealed and ran over to it and slipped in the back seat.
Dee couldn't help but laugh. It was just like having White Deer back with them. White Deer might not have been as talkative as Maria, but they shared the same passion and joy in life.
On the way to the restaurant, Maria started to press the different buttons in the back of the limo. She felt like a kid in a toy store again. By the time they reached their destination, she had calmed down and stepped out of the limo with Richard's help. Dee and Richard entered the restaurant arm-in-arm, and Maria followed, holding Ulisi's hand.
The maitre'd came up and bowed. "Your table is ready, Dr. Campbell, and your brother is already waiting". He turned and led them over to the private booth.
When Eric felt their presence, he stiffened a little. He slipped out of his chair and stood with his back to them. It felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest so once it was under-control, he turned around and tried to hide his emotions but it wasn't working to well. As soon as he saw Maria, his heart started to race again.
Maria studied the art on the walls, even the wallpaper seemed like pieces of art. As the waiter led them to their table, she saw a man standing up and couldn't help but stare at him. He wore a black suit with a dark blue shirt. His features were rugged, with a scar under his right eye. His long-ish hair was pulled back with a strip of leather. She had recognized him straight away. It was the man from her dreams; her muse.
She squeezed her grandmother's hand and the woman turned back to her. "What's wrong, dear?"
Maria whispered, "Wa'ya..".
Her grandmother smiled and tugged her hand. "Come on, dear, you can't leave him standing there all day waiting for you".
Once they got to the table, Eric smiled. "It's good to see you again, Ulisi". He took her and brought it to his lips, adding under his breath, "It's good to see you, A-wa-ni-ta".
She touched his cheek. "It's good to be in your presence again, Eric". Richard took her around to her seat.
Maria's heart pounded as she stood close to her Wa'ya. She blinked at what she just thought; it was Eric, he was the muse for the paintings. She was sure he had plenty of women his own age that were lining up, and she shouldn't think of him as hers.
When he touched her hand, electricity shot up her arm and made her blush. When he took her hand, he didn't kiss the back of her hand, she looked at him, puzzled. He kissed her palm and she flushed all the more.
"It's good to see you after all these years, Maria". His eyes were fixed on hers and he couldn't help but let her see his desire for her.
She swallowed hard and thought she had lost her voice before she said, "Why did you leave me, Wa'ya?". She realized what she had called him, "I'm sorry. Eric".
His breath caught when she called him Wa'ya. He smiled and said, "I had to". As he lead her, pulling out her chair next to Ulisi.
It wasn't until the second course meal when Ulisi spoke up and broke into Maria's thoughts. "Maria, don't you have something exciting to tell everyone?"
Maria looked a bit blankly at Ulisi. "I do?"
Ulisi laughed. "Your plans for next year..". she prompted.
"Oh". Maria looked at Richard and Dee, knowing she couldn't look at Eric or she'd be lost. "I got into that art school I've been freaking out about". She pulled the acceptance letter out of her purse and passed it over to them.
They leaned close to each other and read the letter. "That's great news. Congratulations, Maria!". Richard and Dee beamed at her.
From across the table, she heard. "Congratulations".
She smiled at Dee and Richard then looked at Eric and said, "Thank you".
When dinner was finished, they left the restaurant. As Maria was about to get back into the limo, Ulisi stopped her. "There's not enough room, my dear". She turned towards Eric. "Eric, could you be a dear and take Maria home?".
Eric looked at Ulisi and nodded. "Of course, I'll take good care of her". He came over to help Ulisi into her seat.
Eric peered inside to see his brother and sister-in-law smirking and looked at Ulisi as she said, "I want her back before dusk tomorrow. Take good care of her". She patted his hand before shooing him away.
He stepped back as the window started to come back up and walked back over to Maria who was confused. Eric held out his arm to her, she took it and walked with him to his car.
"What was that about?", she asked, keeping her eyes averted.
He shook his head a little. "She has a theory that we're meant to be together".
Maria stopped for a moment. "What do you mean?".
He considered. "She feels we are soulmates, returning to each other after years of separation. If you trust me, I'd like to show you something".
She nodded as she got into the car. "I trust you".
He slipped inside the silver Mustang and were entering the private elevators within twenty minutes of leaving the restaurant.
While the elevator ascended, Eric asked, "Has Ulisi spoken much about our people's history?"
Making half-and-half motion with her hand she said, "Some but not everything".
When the elevator stopped, he led her over to his apartment and motioned her inside. She stepped inside, feeling cautious, and was surprised at the mix of decor she found. Even though everything looked modern, there was a touch of the past inside with wall decorations, furs and woven mats on the ground.
He kicked off his shoes and took off his socks and then his jacket as soon as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"Both of our blood lines go back to the same tribe before white men arrived in America," he began. "Our people were linked with the spirit of the wolf. For a lucky few, brother wolf chose to bond with us. Like wolves, we partner for life. If one of us loses a mate, we either go insane and kill ourselves or, we accept what happened and find peace within ourselves till the day comes that our mate is reborn".
She slipped her hand into his and he led her around the corner. On the wall, there were two paintings and a space for a third.
He stopped in front of her painting of the couple and moved her in front of him with his hands resting around her tiny waist.
"U-ne-ga E-u-s-ti Wa'ya and U-ne-ga A-wi". He couldn't help but to inhale her scent. "Gray Wolf and White Deer. They had been together for about a year before the white man came. When they did come, they killed White Deer, which sent Gray Wolf into a rage. Brother Wolf had bonded with Gray Wolf and he ended up killing every one of the white man that came into the village that night. During his rage, his brother was taken away from the village and was nearly killed before he got to him". He paused for a moment as Maria stiffened in his arms.
"His brother was weakened, so Gray Wolf had to mourn the loss of his love but he had to stay sane for the sake of his brother. His brother's wife joined them as Gray Wolf waited to get his White Deer back in his arms again so they could complete the bond and be together until their last breath".
He stood back up straight when she turned around. "This is your story?".
He nodded.
"You think I'm the reborn White Deer?". Her voice steady but quiet.
He nodded again. "The night you were born, Richard caught your scent and called me to come to the hospital. As soon as I was in there, I felt a pull towards you. It ate away at me for the first three years of your life, and so I left. After I told you good bye, you called me
