42. Finding Naim

{Naya}

The next morning wasn't as strange as I feared it would be. Uri and I woke up and greeted each other without too much awkwardness. He teased me for kicking him in my sleep and I reprimanded him for stealing all of the covers.

We showered and got dressed in separate bathrooms. Before meeting back with Uri, I wanted to find my mom. The night before we had scheduled to leave for the museum around ten, but I had overslept. I went in search of her to apologize and let her know that I would be ready to go soon.

There was no answer after I knocked several times on the Mom's guest room. I poked my head in, called her name, and received no answer. In fact, her bed wasn't even unmade. Mom wasn't the type to make up the bed so immaculately. Still, there was a chance that she was already waiting for me somewhere in the estate.

I backtracked to Uri's room to ask if he had seen her. He shook his head. "Not since last night. Let's see if Zayn is awake. He may know where to find her."

Zayn was not in his study, which Uri thought was strange.

"That's odd," he said when we found the study empty, "he's usually the first one up."

On the way out, we crossed paths with Sinbad. Ritsu was balancing on his shoulder. The monkey squeaked when he saw me and immediately hitched a ride with me.

When Uri asked if Sinbad had seen Zayn anywhere, he replied, "It is unlike him to be sleeping in so late, but I'm fairly certain that he hasn't left his room."

I asked, "Have you seen my mom around?"

He shook his head.

I felt my shoulders drop. Did Mom just leave without saying goodbye?

Uri's hand found mine. He thanked Sinbad for the update and tugged me in the opposite direction.

"Relax," he said. "I'm sure she's still here. Let's go to Zayn's room and ask him. He probably moved her to a bigger guest room or something."

Uri's hand didn't let go of mine even after we reached the door to Zayn's room. I tried not to keep imagining what I would do if Mom had actually left. Memories of her leaving me the first time began to surface. Back then I was too young to know about the divorce. When I had asked the reverend where Mommy was, he told me that she had abandoned us and it was my fault. It wasn't until several years later that I learned the truth.

Even though Mom was forced to leave me without saying goodbye, that memory still hurt. And I did not want to relive it again.

"Kahl!" Uri barked when Zayn did not respond to the heavy knocking. Still there was no answer. When Uri went for the doorknob, I put my hand over his. "Hold on. What if he's not wearing clothes or something?"

He scoffed. "Then he better have a good reason for standing around naked in his room ignoring my shouts."

I narrowed my eyes. "You know what I mean."

Uri gave my hand a tender pat. "I'll go first just in case."

He opened the door and led me through a short hallway before entering a well lit master bedroom. When the four poster double king sized bed came into view, it simply appeared that Zayn was asleep.

Uri went ahead of me. "Kahl, wake up."

We both froze in our steps when we realized that someone else was sharing the bed with Mr. Naim. And that someone was . . . .

"Mom?"

+++

{Uriel}

When Uriel realized that it was Nadine with her head resting on Zayn's chest, he wanted to steer Naya clear of the bed. But it was too late.

Naya's eyes were wider than he had ever seen them. "They slept together?"

Uriel wasn't quite sure if she was embarrassed, ashamed, angry, or purely astonished.

The moment stretched on in awkwardness when Nadine and Zayn did not stir. Ritsu sprung from Naya's shoulder onto the foot of the bed. He let out a very monkey-like screech and scurried back to Naya when the adults yelped in surprise.

It was clear that both of them were at least half naked under the sheets. They sat up in unison with their dark hair sticking out in all directions. Nadine instinctively gathered up the sheets to cover her chest.

"Oh no," she groaned when she saw her daughter gaping at her.

Zayn merely hid his face in his palms.

Nadine was already transforming the sheets into a makeshift toga so she could approach her daughter.

"Naomi, sweetie. Please understand that I am not that kind of woman. I would never come here to just . . ." She sighed. "It's been quite a while since I've been with anyone and Mr. Naim is a very genuine, very caring person. Last night we had a glass of wine before bed and we were talking about you and raising children and . . . we got carried away."

Naya turned away from her mother. "This can't be happening."

By now Zayn too, had transformed his sheets into a modest skirt. He came to Nadine's rescue and said, "Miss Naya, don't take this out on your –"

Naya ignored him and threw her hands up. "My mom got more action than I did last night!"

Uriel did his best to stifle a chuckle. The tension immediately evaporated from the room. Naya faced the two of them again. This time wearing a smile.

"I'm going to finish getting ready. Meet me in the driveway in an hour, Mom?"

Relieved and beaming, Nadine simply nodded. Naya looked at her benefactor. "The four of us are still meeting downtown for lunch before we take Mom to the airport, right?"

Zayn inclined his head. "Of course, Miss Naya."

"Good." Naya picked Ritsu off the floor and extended a hand to Uriel. They left the room in silence. Once they were descending the stairs, he noticed that Naya's eyes looked damp, but she was still smiling.

"Is everything okay?"

Naya sniffed. "That's the first time I've ever seen her so happy."

***

While Naya and Nadine were touring the art museum, Uriel stayed behind with Zayn and Ritsu to discuss how to proceed in regards to the collector.

Uriel met with Zayn out by one of the bistro tables in the maze garden. The magus pointedly ignored the half sly, half accusing look the djinni had fixated on him. He made an effort to sip his tea as if nothing were amiss.

"I already know what you are going to say, Uriel."

Uriel sat down in the empty bistro chair. Ritsu perched on the edge of the table. The djinni proceeded to pour himself some tea. "It's none of my business." Despite Uriel's words, his expression did not change.

Zayn sighed. "It's for the best that Nadine is leaving tonight. If she stayed, her life could very well be at risk."

The smirk faded from Uriel's face. "So this wasn't just a one night stand? You truly do care for her?"

"I'm aware that it's hardly been twenty-four hours, but all I can say is that she is a remarkable woman. With time, I could easily see Nadine becoming more than that to me."

Uriel stared down at the contents of his cup. "What you speak of – Naya has already become that for me. That's why we have to stop this collector."

Ritsu raised his hand. "I have a suggestion." Then he pointed to Zayn. "He is a magus, correct? He could break my seal and I can kill the sorcerer."

Zayn lifted an eyebrow.

The monkey huffed. "Didn't he tell you that I'm a lord of death?"