by Alice Sweet
She put on a brave face and even managed a small smile as she headed for the door. As she reached for the handle, a thought popped into her head. An image of Ivan’s eyes just before he jumped over the table flashed again. They were the best hunters in the world that she was sure of. Then she thought to herself, I hope I do not get eaten this time. She tightened up her smile and headed back out to the table.
New Eyes
As Autumn sat down at the table, this time with a new look was in her eyes. One of apprehension, a skin crawling clarity that could be felt in the air around them, one that Ivan now found entirely unsettling. Her posture, her skin, even her eyes were now different, dark and clouded. Instinctively he looked back at the bathroom door searching for any other bodies, nothing. He did not speak; he just stared at her with suspicious eyes instead. Autumn broke the silence still not looking at Ivan announcing, “Well thank you for the cup of coffee.”
Before she could even make a move to collect her things though Ivan spoke, “I was wondering, what are you doing tomorrow?”
She had a look of startled bewilderment when she replied, “What? Why?” He smiled with wistfulness that was unmistakable and probably well rehearsed she thought sourly. She suddenly found herself wondering how many women had fallen for him, only to be devoured.
“I would like to see you again.” She looked at him her eyes searching him, as if she were now analyzing him. Was he toying with her? Had he planned to get her alone so that he could kill her? Her posture changed, slouched then ridged, then slouched and back again. She was confused now. Her eyes roamed the coffee shop searching, what was the change?
She did not see anyone new in the room. Not even his cold cup of coffee or the spilt saltshaker on the table next to them, the same five bodies as before. No glass riddling the floor. Had he intended on killing her anyways? He had not minded before, jumping over the table to rip her throat out. The others in the room had run in fear. No, no one here would stop to help her, not here. She glowered at that thought. That was right, even the muscle bound Neanderthal looking tool at the front table had screamed like a girl and ran from the coffee shop before.
Maybe he thought that they would, No...What had she missed? She looked at him finally and put on a tight smile again, the words spilled out before she had time to think them through. She replied with extra sweetness that she did not feel, “I am busy tomorrow night but I have no plans for tomorrow morning.” She said these words in hopes that the stories were true about the sunlight bit.
Nevertheless, to her surprise he jumped at the words with a smile that sent her mind racing, “Good idea, my thoughts exactly.” He watched her carefully and she smiled emptily thinking, was he planning to kill her tonight anyways? She huffed thinking; I am not trying to be eaten no matter how crazy I have become or how good his mouth felt on my neck. Her mind raced franticly trying to come up with another excuse.
Her smile faded when the idea hit her. She would simply treat him the same way that she would any other man who was wrong for her. Especially the really good-looking ones, they seemed to be more trouble than they were worth for the most part. At least this would seem least like a lie, and should increase her chance of parting ways with him without causing alarm. Unexpectedly, she felt her heart turn sad, as her life of disappointments suddenly felt heavy. Somehow this, she realized, felt strangely like one more of those moments. She reached over, collected her things gathering them all up into her arms, and held them tight for a moment. Trying to think of the nicest way to let him down, taking a deep breath, a fresh bit of tiredness in her voice.
“I am sorry, this is going to sound crazy but I have to...” She sighed continuing, “Look, you’re just too beautiful and I am far too strange for this to be anything of real substance. You will soon tire of my weird eccentricities and I have had enough heartache in my lifetime already to fill millions of pages. So I am going to have to change that yes to a no.” He listened as her words, as they sunk in he went numb.
His spirit sank as the weight on his chest hit him, hard. He could not fail; he had seduced hundreds of women in his lifetime and never even really had to try. Why was this one being so difficult? She added sincerely, “But thank you, I will not soon forget this... almost moment.”
As she stood, the chair scraped the floor sending a grating sound into the air that instantly set him on edge. She watched him flinch and her arms tightened on the items in them protectively. He stood in a flash and closed the distance between them. He slid his hands out and helped her to put her coat on, like a gentleman, watching as her hands began to shake, as he did.
Ivan took this as evidence that it was just a show, hoping then that her tough front was just that. Was she attempting to flee to relieve the stress of the situation? Perhaps she was a little clairvoyant. It became evident to him that he was going to have to push her to get to the core of her alarm, “May I have a kiss for our almost moment?”
She stopped in her tracks, pushing a few strands of hair behind her ears looking up at him, and replied awkwardly, “What?” She said it in a tone that indicated that she had not heard him correctly. Her stomach lurched at the thought of his mouth on hers, and Ivan seemed to respond to it. He knew that she had heard him but he also guessed that from her tone that she was still very nervous in his presence.
So he asked again, this time his voice soft, and gentle, as he asked, “May I have a kiss goodnight?” He looked at her unwavering and reached for her hand, intending to touch it tenderly. To his surprise, she flinched and pulled her hand away before it even made contact. His eyes flashed with a pain that he had not expected to let show. To his surprise her next reaction of apologetic filler, in response to his, actually stroked his bruised ego, slightly.
Autumn explained, “I am so sorry. I just don’t like to touch people that I don’t know very well, it makes me... uncomfortable.” She added as her brain caught up with her heartbeat, “It is nothing personal.” She smiled and pleaded with her eyes asking him to take pity on her. Inside her head was screaming at her, run...run....run!
He smiled and stepped even closer replying, “Well then, I am sorry I pawed you,” with those words, he poked her in the ribs playfully.
She replied, “No it was me. You didn’t know,” she said these words with a wave of her hand attempting to make light of the situation and smiled brightly again.
Meanwhile her head was rolling a single memory around, over and over, why had he asked for a kiss? Suddenly an avalanche triggered by his playful gesture clicked everything into place, and sent her mind colliding with her heart. The kiss and the burning man, this could be him? She needed to kiss his lips, was this that guy from her dream? It was so long ago, only a few days after the accident. What had he said, kiss me but only if you want to. Her heart skipped a beat and she swallowed hard at the thought. Damn it! Now she had Déjà vú? What was it?
She was blushing brightly as her blood rush to her head and then back to her heart; this was the turn that he was looking for. He smiled another large grin that caused her blush to deepen. Her mind even commented on that smile, so handsome. It caught her breath as the impulse to touch his beautiful face came on, strong. She slowly turned towards the door, trying as hard as she could not to look at him again. Then she chastised herself, she was not normally so shallow, but no one could deny a face so pure, no one with a heart.
Ivan dropped a large bill on the table and caught up to her, as she made her way out. He opened the door for her and caught another whiff of her scent, and smiled deciding that he liked her aroma. Time slowed suddenly and a chill released into the air so violent that even he noticed, and he quickly commented, “Its cold out here.” She nodded as the breeze hit her and rubbed her hands together nervously a chill running down her spine. He smiled as her face was struck by the moonlight in a way that he could only describe as sheer beauty. She stole a glance at him, over her shoulder, as she brushed past him. He grinned even wider, a faint smile lingering in her eyes, entic
ed by his charms it appeared once more welcoming him to her company, in spite of herself.
Her heart sank, as she thought to herself hopefully, this was easier than she thought, talking with death. No wonder it felt so peaceful before. Maybe that was their way; they lulled you in and then killed you softly. She smiled sweetly, as the image of her vision before in the coffee shop, flashed into her eyes. She cringed inside and corrected herself; no, it would not be gently.
She eyed him for a moment, looking out at the passing cars for a taxi, though not trying to alarm him in the process. He jumped at the brief opportunity to speak to her again. “Can I walk you home?”
She shook her head, saying with the worry that was beginning to surface again, “I live halfway across town.”
He smiled and replied, “I am up for it if you are.”
She smiled and opened her mouth in incredulity, “You don’t know how to give up do you?”
He smiled replying, “So is that a yes?” She smiled and looked down at her feet studying them while she thought the proposal through. He will find you and you will not be able to stop him. You will not even see him coming, he is too fast. If you are unlucky a few hours, if you’re lucky and you can get away from him, then maybe a week. Be realistic Autumn, your super power, or what ever it is, is completely useless in his presence. He is your freaking’ kryptonite and you are diner and a show; you do not have a chance.
She donned another fake smile trying her hardest not to reveal her inner turmoil to the killer at her side, “Alright we will walk half of the way there and then I am taking a taxi the rest of the way home, deal?”
He smiled with renewed joy, and replied, “Deal.” He slid his hand out gesturing for her to lead the way. She shook her head, starting down the road, as she thought to herself, nope, not a chance.
She decided when he seemed the most comfortable or distracted, which ever came first, she would try to run for it. A small voice whispered in her ear, kiss him first and then run. She turned around and looked down the walkway. All that she saw was a pair of African men waiting for the bus on a nearby bench, no escape.
Ivan began the conversation not seeming to notice her distracted state, while her mind began running possible escape scenarios. “What do you do for fun?”
Her mind answered first, listen to voices in my head. Her mouth said, “I read mostly, though the movies are nice too.” He smiled again, in his practiced charming grin that she was already becoming accustomed to admiring.
“What kinds.”
She tried to keep a calm face while her mind flashed to the image of his eyes just before he had eaten her before. Then her mouth answered, “It used to be horror but now it’s usually just feel goods.” She crinkled her nose at the words that had escaped.
He picked it up instantly, “Used to like Horror?”
She smiled slightly embarrassed and explained truthfully, “I have had a lot of nightmares as of late.”
He replied, “So your job as a lab tech is stressful?” He had a genuine look of concern on his face.
She answered, “No I enjoy it, and I work for a small doctor’s office, usually at night so it’s quiet. Peaceful even, I work alone for the most part.” Her mind began chastising her smart tell him you work alone at night.
Ivan asked, “So why the dreams then?”
She replied and tried to sound nonchalant, “I don’t know. They are mostly just chase dreams anyways.”
He replied, with worry now evident, “Who chases you?”
She winced again knowing that she had to tell him the truth or risk agitating him. She replied cautiously, “Mostly creatures though I can’t see them very well most of the time.”
He interjected, “Invisible?” As a thought began to form in his mind, she nodded her head yes, and her inner voice interjected, no, they look just like you.
She continued, “It becomes especially difficult to kill them when I stop to fight.”
He seemed surprised and a little disbelieving by her choice of words, “Stop to fight?”
“Yes…well normally…” she frowned remembering her strange dream from the night before where her reactions were less than stellar. “I can hear them. When I finally get the nerve to stop and fight them. I can usually only get in a few blows or cuts in before I wake up. It’s the strangest feeling; it’s so vivid that my eyes hurt when I wake up, weird, huh?”
Ivan slowed his pace considerably shaking his head no, asking, “When did you start having these dreams?”
He watched her closely, and she replied a little more slowly, “A couple of years ago.” He shook his head again and Autumn interjected, “I told you I was too strange for you but you didn’t believe me. I told you. I knew this would happen!” She had an edge to her voice that even she was not familiar with, as her combined anxieties began to spill over.
Ivan had a look of total horror, which she took her strength from, unexpected impromptu diversion, and she went with it. She stepped out to the edge of the sidewalk and instantly haled a passing taxicab. To her dismay, it passed her though, and to his obvious delight since he was smiling anew at her now. His previous mood completely erased now. He spoke quickly and apologetic, “I do not think you are strange, the complete opposite in fact.”
He looked at her and realized that she needed more convincing, so he added a little wearily, “I know someone who has dreams similar to the ones that you spoke of.” She stopped her attempts to search for another taxi then looking him dead in the eyes. Her head began scream, no do not listen to him he is lying to you, but his face seemed so sincere. She asked intrigued, stepping closer in spite of herself, “How similar are your friend’s dreams?”
He stared back at her and replied seriously, “Very similar.” Then he broke eye contact and changed the subject, “So you cannot watch horror films now because of them?”
She looked up at him her mind lost in thought, “No, I simply don’t want to encourage them.”
He retorted, “Do you think that it is connected?”
She shook her head and replied honestly, “I don’t think so. I even began keeping track of what I ate each night, but no correlation. They seem to come when they want to.”
Ivan asked, “So the films?”
Autumn replied, slightly ashamed, “I think it’s mostly the way that the movie reminds me of them. They are excellent hunters though those creatures, dark and raw.” He winced at those words, she had hit a nerve and she knew it. She changed the subject this time, attempting to keep him calm.
Her mind pulling her away while, her words closed in on the only connection that she had ever had with another regarding her dreams. “So what’s your friend’s name?”
He swallowed and replied, “Serena.” Autumn’s eyes widened as her shock gave way he asked, in alarm, “What is it?”
She lied, her heart rate tripling, “Nothing.”
He caught it and asked again a bit more slowly, “What is it?” She shook her head and did not answer. He asked again, sounding concerned now, “Autumn what is it?” She looked at him slowing her pace now, her defenses beginning to drop.
“I think I might have...your going to think... It’s hard to explain...forget it.” Her head drooped in defeat, and she did not meet his eyes, this was a mounting pressure that she was not prepared to share with anyone, not even a creature of the night.
He did not let it drop though picking up the clues easily, “Have you dreamt about someone named Serena?”
She looked around announcing, as her head finally snapped, “Alright I am going to tell you something that will probably freak you out. So I want you to take a deep breath or whatever it is that you do to calm yourself down.” He stopped walking and so did she looking around as if she was thinking of bolting.
His intensity was startling; this was especially worrisome for her, since his reaction to her first confession in her vision had been so severe. She would not be able to out run him, no mater how fast she was. She needed another vision;
if she just knew how he would react, she could tell him without fearing the outcome. Right now, his look alone was sending her into a panic.
Her mind raced thinking of how she could get comfortable while still standing there with him. Proximity that is what she needed, if she was close enough then maybe she could feel the feeling of excitement again. Perhaps she could go back to the opposite state to have a vision, since she obviously would not be calming down.
Immediately she put her hand up, then hesitated in mid air, and asked, “Can I touch you?” His eyebrow shot up but he nodded hesitantly. She stepped closer placed her hand on his chest and listened closely to his heart, beating quickly in his chest. Nevertheless, as she expected he was not breathing, and she commanded softly, “Breath.” He complied without hesitation, his eyes never leaving her face.
As she waited, listening to his heartbeat and felt the rise of his breastbone as he breathed in and out. She looked up towards his face finally. He stared back at her with a new hunger in his eyes. Her hand stiffened at the change in his face. Then she relaxed it again, when she realized that his pupil dilation was completely harmless. Well, as harmless as a Vampire could be. Lust she was sure of it, strong and potent. It was a little unnerving though to have someone or something so beautiful and powerful looking at her in such a way.
She added trying to keep her voice steady, “It may take me a few moments so I will need you to be patient ok?” She closed her eyes trying to work herself up without waiting for a response from him. He waited patiently without a sound, watching her completely relaxed on the outside. His mind on the other hand, raging with the passion that his body was struggling to hold back, while the fire in his chest increased three fold with the proximity to his prize.
He had been so close to missing her before. If she had not fallen on him, if she had not touched his skin, he would have walked right past her. He stared at her beautiful ivory skin, bent his head down, and took another whiff of her hair. He listened closely to her pulse slowing down, and thought to himself, What was she doing? Truthfully, he did not care, just standing here so close to her was reward enough for the discomfort. Perhaps she was trying to convince herself to kiss him. He smiled to himself at that thought, though he already knew that she was not likely planning on any such treat.