"No,” he agreed, sharing in her laughter. He pulled the useless piece of fabric back off and flung it into the chair.
She pushed herself up and snatched his plate of food off the floor. “Here, eat this before it gets cold. You're just going to have to go shirtless until I can figure out how to modify some clothing for you."
He took the plate with a smile and lowered his head to press a tender kiss to her jaw. “Thank you for your kindness,” he whispered.
Autumn closed her eyes, feeling dizzy, and hot prickles broke out all over her skin. Her stomach clenched at the unexpected contact and she leaned into him, the desire to be closer to his warmth almost overwhelming. She felt bereft when he pulled back.
He smiled at her and seated himself back in front of the fire, digging into his plate of food with enthusiasm. He'd eaten everything in a matter of minutes and Autumn raised her eyebrows. “Did you want something else?” she queried. She imagined he probably was pretty ravenous.
He gave her a thoughtful frown. “Do you have any honey wine?"
She blinked. “Honey wine? Like mead? Uh, no, I can't say I have that on hand."
Disappointment crossed his features. “I remember I rather enjoyed that."
"All I have to drink is soda, water, beer, tequila, and whiskey."
He shook his head. “It's all right. You have done more than enough for me already. Please, come sit.” He patted the floor next to him. “Talk with me."
She obeyed, anxious to be near him again and share some of the wonderful warmth he emanated.
"Tell me of humans,” he said. “I have heard of you, have met a couple in my travels, but have never been to your world before. Crossing over into your realm is forbidden to my people."
She frowned. “But not to all the people in your world?"
He shook his head. “No, there are others who will sometimes travel between the two realms. And at times, humans have ventured into Algoria, as well. Some prefer it to their own world. But, as you can see, it is dangerous for an Elemental to be here."
Autumn couldn't believe what she was hearing. So, Uncle Sal hadn't been insane, after all. There really were paranormal creatures wandering around in the shadows. A thought struck her suddenly and she had to ask. “So, are vampires real, then?"
"Of course,” he stated matter-of-factly.
Her eyebrows shot up. “And shape-shifters?"
"Yes."
"Unicorns? Dragons? Wookies?"
"Yes, yes, and what is a Wookie?"
She blew out a breath of relief. Well, at least Chewbacca was still fictional. “That's so bizarre."
He grinned down at her. “Why? Because those kinds of things do not exist to humans?"
She snorted. “No, definitely not. We're raised to think that things like that are imaginary. Probably because most humans don't have the ability to process the idea that anything exists other than themselves. Humans are self centered creatures, and they like to fool themselves into thinking they are the superior race."
"You say ‘they’ when you speak of humans. But you are human."
She shrugged. “I am, but I don't like to lump myself into the same narrow-minded category. My uncle was obsessed with the things that are from your world. He taught me to believe in the impossible and to respect all creatures, even the ones I thought didn't exist.” She smiled as a memory of Uncle Sal's laughing face flashed through her mind. “I'm thankful for that."
He chuckled. “So am I. Otherwise you might have done much worse than punch me in the eye."
She laughed aloud and doing so made her feel light and free for the first time in over a month. She shook her head with a sigh. “Man, he would have loved to see you, Gabriel. He would have been asking you all sorts of questions, I'm sure."
"None of which I have the answers to, apparently. What happened to this uncle of yours? If you don't mind my asking.” His voice was kind and warm, not invasive, just curious.
She toyed with her fingers in her lap, her throat constricting as it always did when she let herself think of her uncle's death. “He was killed,” she murmured. “A month ago. He was on an expedition, and there was an accident. I am his only family. I came here to go through his belongings."
He was quiet for awhile before he said, “I'm very sorry."
A chill went through her due to the seriousness of the conversation and she leaned closer to him. “At least it was me who found you, Gabriel. Otherwise, you might be stuck in an antique store or an art gallery somewhere."
"I am extremely grateful,” he said, his voice full of soft sincerity.
"Do you remember anything about your people at all? Do you know why you turned to stone?"
He shook his head with a frown. “I was just a boy when the war happened. A tribe of wolf shape-shifters had a dispute with the Elementals, and they attacked. I was separated before I could learn many things about my own people."
"How many years did you wander?"
"Fifteen, at least, before the unbearable cold happened. I was seven and twenty when I fell into my deep sleep. I do wonder what caused the strange transformation you speak of, and I wonder how long I remained in that state."
"You've been a statue for five hundred years."
Curtis's voice came suddenly. Autumn glanced over to the door as Curtis, carrying a thick, leather file folder stuffed full of papers, let himself in. He looked bedraggled and exhausted.
Gabriel stood. “How long did you say?"
"Five hundred years,” Curtis repeated.
Autumn's eyes widened and she stood as well. “Five hundred?” she squeaked. She glanced at Gabriel, who looked kind of ill. She reached out to touch his arm in reassurance.
Curtis sighed. “And you turned to stone because you were lonely, Gabriel. Elementals can't be isolated for an extended period of time, or else they turn into statues.” He turned to face Autumn. “Apparently Professor Jasper did tons of research on Elementals.” He waved the leather folder. “And he acquired Gabriel here from some kind of weird black-market trader who came from Algoria."
Autumn blinked in bewilderment. “Wait, the trader was from Gabriel's world?"
Curtis nodded. “There is a portal that allows humans access into Algoria and people from Algoria into our world. But it changes location constantly due to the planet's rotation. It's like a moon cycle, or the seasons. It moves while we do. Somehow, Professor Jasper found this trader from Algoria, and managed to get his hands on Gabriel. He was keeping him safe in his office until he found out where the portal was. He knew Gabriel couldn't exist in our world without causing chaos, so he was going to transport him back to Algoria and wake him up there, hoping that Gabriel could then show him all of the fantastic creatures in his world that he'd always wanted to see. It's all in here. There's even a chart showing the course the portal travels on."
"Five hundred years...” Gabriel whispered. He took a step away and turned, wandering back over to the fireplace. “I've been a statue for five hundred years. My family ... my people. I don't even know where to find them, if they even exist. Everyone who would have known me is ... gone.” His coloring gradually changed from fire back to the somber blue of water and he hung his head.
Autumn and Curtis exchanged a concerned glance and she crossed back over to Gabriel. “If my uncle knew the course the portal traveled on, there is a way to get Gabriel back home, right?” she queried, reaching out to take Gabriel's hands in hers. She looked up into his eyes, now full of sorrow, and her heart twisted.
"Yes, and luck would have it, that the portal is going to be right outside of the castle tomorrow."
She stared at him. “This castle?"
Curtis nodded. “Down on the cliffs. I think that may have been the major reason as to why Professor Jasper moved to this place from London. According to his notes, he acquired Gabriel a year ago. He figured out the track the portal followed and this was the closest available spot. His plan was to use the portal tomorrow."
"So, then
we can send Gabriel home tomorrow.” A stabbing ache shot through her heart at the thought of sending him away, but he didn't belong in her world. He was dangerous to the humans, and she knew that the humans were dangerous for him. She couldn't keep him caged up in the castle. He needed to be back in his own world, with his own people. Besides, she had no claim on him.
Sadly, she ran her thumbs across the back of his hands. He responded by tightening his fingers on hers.
"It ... isn't really all that simple,” Curtis said.
Autumn frowned at him. “What do you mean?"
"As I said before, Elementals thrive on companionship. Gabriel came to life because you cared for him. You pulled him out the corner, dusted him off. We can't send him back through the portal by himself. He hasn't been awake long enough. It's like charging a battery. He needs constant companionship for at least two days before he can even exist by himself. The loneliness that caused him to turn to stone was extremely intense. It doesn't just vanish. If we send him back through by himself and he gets lost before he finds civilization, he's done for. Even if he does find civilization, that doesn't necessarily matter. He needs a companion, not a bunch of random strangers."
"Gone...” Gabriel continued to whisper. “All of them."
Autumn looked up at him and drew in a sharp breath. He hunched his shoulders and put one hand over his heart as if he was feeling tremendous pain. His face contorted in grief, and she shivered as a wave of icy air blew off him. His skin began to turn that same shade of white that it had been before Autumn had gone to sleep.
"That's not good,” Curtis remarked.
She glanced at him, saw the genuine worry in his eyes, and turned her attention full force to Gabriel. She placed her hands on his chest, which was ice cold. “Gabriel,” she said softly. “Look at me."
He did so and she almost recoiled at the sadness reflected in his eyes. She ignored how cold his skin was and reached up to take his face in her hands. “Listen to me, I know you're in shock, and I know you're sad, but you aren't alone, remember?"
She brushed back a fallen lock of his blue hair. “I'm here. And you told me I wasn't alone either so you can't go back to that place where you felt nothing. I know you want to, but you can't. You need to stay with me, Gabriel. I don't have the luxury of turning into a statue to avoid my grief so if you disappear, I'll be all alone with it. At least if we stay together, we can be there for one another."
He stared into her eyes for several breaths, obviously fighting with his own emotions.
She forced a smiled and gently rubbed her palm over his heart. “We'll find your people. I-I'll go with you.” She swallowed, and her heart skipped a beat. What was she talking about? Was she insane? She was going to voluntarily go through some sort of portal to another world where vampires, shape-shifters, dragons, and unicorns existed? She shot a frantic expression over at Curtis.
"We'll both go,” he volunteered, taking a step forward. “I would be an idiot if I didn't take this opportunity."
Relief flooded Autumn at the thought of Curtis going along to be their guide. He had studied with her uncle. He would be the next best person to have along. And she...?
She was apparently going to go on the wildest adventure of her life. Even larger than any crazy thing her uncle had ever done. For some reason, the thought warmed her heart and made her smile. It seemed like a fitting way to honor Uncle Sal's memory.
Curtis nodded. “All right, if we're going to do this, we need to get some sleep. It's going to be dawn in about two hours and we need to be at the portal at exactly nine o'clock or we'll miss it. It'll only be open for about thirty seconds."
Autumn rolled her eyes. “Not a lot of time."
"Which is why we need to be prompt. I'm taking the luxury of sleeping in the guest room if that's all right."
She nodded. “Of course. Is there anything we need?"
He broke into a wide grin. “Everything we need would be right here. This place is a mythical world arsenal.” He pointed at both of them. “You two need to get some rest also."
Autumn smirked at the way Curtis suddenly seemed to take charge of the situation. No doubt this was like a dream come true for him, no matter how disgruntled he had been in the beginning. “All right, Curtis. Let me see that folder, though. I'd like to look through it."
He handed it to her and looked at Gabriel. For the first time since meeting him, Curtis smiled at the other man. “Hey, don't worry about it, all right, Gabe? Everything will be fine. We'll get you home.” He grasped his shoulder in a gesture of friendship before he left the room.
"I don't know where home is,” Gabriel said when the door clicked shut. “I don't even know if I have one anymore."
Autumn couldn't stand how dejected he looked. She grasped his hand and pulled him over to the bed. “Here, sit down,” she commanded. When he did so, she set the folder down and stood in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders. “Now, listen to me, Gabriel—"
He looked up at her with a quizzical frown. “Why did you do this?"
She frowned. “What?"
"Why did you bring me to life? Care for me? What made you do such a thing? You didn't know I was real. You thought I was a statue. Why would I even matter to you at all? I was apparently in that state for five hundred years and not one person cared the slightest bit. What made you different?"
"Well, I liked you. I thought you...” She cleared her throat and averted her eyes, feeling foolish. “I found you in my uncle's office and I thought you were beautiful.” She stole a glance at him and found him regarding her intently. She sighed and gave a helpless shrug. “All I did was bring you in here and dust you off, Gabriel. It wasn't much, really."
He shook his head and took her hands in his, standing back up so that he loomed over her. His coloring gradually began to change back to fire. “You set me free,” he murmured. “Thank you.” He pulled her gently into his arms and buried his face against her neck.
Autumn drew in a shaky breath and her arms went around his waist. His breath on her neck caused her skin to flame, and she closed her eyes. She relaxed against him and allowed him to tighten his grip on her ever so slightly. They held one another for several minutes of silence before he finally eased away, pressing the softest of kisses to her forehead. When she looked back up at him, he was smiling again.
"Curtis said we should get some rest,” he said, “but I have apparently been asleep for a very long time and have no desire to sleep any more. If I may, can I read that information on my race that he had?"
Autumn nodded. “Of course.” She picked up the folder and handed it to him.
"I will look this over while you sleep,” he stated, heading for the chair by the fire place.
"Uh, wait a second,” she protested, the words flying out of their own volition. He glanced up at her, and she felt her face flame again. She sighed and decided to just continue with her line of thought. No sense in trying to deny the attraction she so obviously felt. “Curtis said you needed constant companionship right now,” she said, trying to reason it out. “I don't exactly know what that entails, but maybe it would be best if you sat next to me on my bed.” She pointed toward the queen-sized bed. “It's big enough. You sit and read. I'll lie down and try to sleep. At least we'll be next to one another. I don't need to wake up and find you made of granite again."
A slow, flirtatious, almost wicked grin blossomed across his lips, and he chuckled. “If you insist."
She bit down on her lip and turned toward her bed, wondering if she'd taken leave of every single one of her senses. She scooted under the covers and tried to remember how to breathe normally as he climbed up next to her.
He reached out and smoothed back some of her hair. “Sleep well,” he whispered. “I'll be here if you need me."
Her heart somersaulted and she glanced up at him. “Likewise."
His eyes filled with a tender light and he smiled softly. She curled on her side, and heard him begin to turn pages. She e
njoyed the feeling of having someone next to her. She'd been on her own for a long time. Contentment at his mere presence washed over her and she sighed.
She was asleep within minutes.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Four
Gabriel read three-fourths of the notes in the folder Autumn's uncle had kept, and he was thankful for the influx of information. Being a statue for so long had made his memories vague and his thoughts muddled. Her uncle had done an amazing amount of research on Elementals and reading it had enabled him to get back in touch with his race.
He read for a good two hours before heaving a sigh and resting his head back against the headboard. He gazed at the dying embers in the fireplace and listened to the relentless, howling wind outside. His chest ached with the realization that he had been locked in stone for so long. He wondered if his world had changed, if Algoria was different, if Elementals even existed anymore. He felt so lost and so alone.
He closed his eyes and fought back the overwhelming wave of cold that washed over him. He glanced down at Autumn's sleeping form and sighed. Her dark hair fanned across the pillow, and he marveled over the soft lines of her face. Strong, striking, but feminine. Her eyelashes were long and thick, and her lips were the most tantalizing things he had ever laid eyes on. He had never known a human but had never imagined one to be as kind as she had been in the last few hours. He had invaded her life, frightened the wits out of her, and blown every theory on the world she'd been taught to believe. Still, she accepted him. She cared for him. She wanted to help him. Even amid the peoples he had encountered and could remember, he had never come across someone so selfless and giving.
Very slowly, so as not to wake her, he reached his hand out and traced just the tips of his fingers along her jaw line. Her skin was so soft, so delicate. She chased away the gnawing pain in his heart. Her presence thawed the threatening ice. And regardless of what he'd read and what Curtis claimed, he did not believe that it was just because of his need for companionship. He had a difficult time believing he would have the same reaction to Curtis or to someone who was cold and aloof. No, he didn't crave the mere presence of a person. He craved her presence, her warmth and blind acceptance of who he was, what he was. And her beautiful smile was arousing on the highest level.
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