by Alice Sweet
Autumn looked back at them, the woman was utterly breath taking. She had the same pale skin as Ivan with beautiful long luxurious curls that settled perfectly around her heart shaped face. Serena, she guessed had large cow brown eyes and beautiful thick lashes that commanded all of the attention from the rest of her face, though it was lovely, just the same. It was sealed by plump lips that were stretched out a bit too far giving her an exotic feel.
The man on the other hand had to be Grayton though he was much younger looking than Autumn had expected. His hair was brown shaggily cut with perfect pale skin, like the other two, only he had eyes like nothing she had ever seen before. They were grayish blue and deep like an old soul, those were exactly as she had expected. That was not how she had pictured him at all; he was supposed to be an old man, not this. He had a strong jaw like Ivan’s but he had a roman nose and lower cheek bones. He looked as if he were from a foreign country as well; one that she suddenly wished that she had managed to visit.
She swallowed hard and continued to stare at him, trying to memorize his face, almost afraid to blink for fear that he would disappear, just like her dreams. A feeling hit her, she had remembered trying to do this many times before now and she smiled to herself, she was finally meeting Grayton. She was not crazy; a feeling came over her that she could only describe as sheer joy.
Ivan cleared his throat uncomfortably and looked at Autumn, causing her to switch modes instantly as she said, “You must be Serena and Grayton.” As she said these words she slid her hand out to greet them. They both flinched involuntarily, and Autumn reacted by pulling her hand back quickly. Then she shot Ivan an angry look, causing him to close the distance between the two of them instantly.
He looked at her seriously explaining, “They can’t touch you.”
She looked confused now and asked a little hurt, “Why can’t they touch me?”
Ivan opened his mouth to explain and Serena cut him off, “He hasn’t told you?” her hands were now on her hips and she looked angrily at Ivan.
Ivan scowled adding, “It’s complicated.”
Grayton snapped at him, “So she is not refusing you. You just have not asked her?”
Ivan growled back, “I did ask her but it was too soon after she had a vision of me jumping a crossed the table and killing her.”
Grayton snapped close to rage, “What?”
Ivan snapped back, “When there is danger they come to her.”
“You were the danger. No correction, you are the danger.”
Autumn winced as they spoke and slowly backed away. Both men’s eyes were now jet black and Serena watched Autumn’s reaction like a hawk. Her eyes dilated then and she put her hand up and snapped, “Stop fighting!” Grayton and Ivan both looked at her and gasped again. Autumn’s eyes were fully dilated and her skin had turned as cold and lifeless as their own. Serena pushed past them with her eyes still black and moved in closer her posture primal, her hands rose protectively.
Autumn’s body took it as a sign of aggression and involuntarily she hissed. Serena stopped and stepped back. She shot back over her shoulder, “Are you sure you didn’t kiss her?”
Autumn tweaked her head unnaturally and rasped, “Ivan.” Her voice was different again foreign sounding and Ivan stepped closer, he looked different, some how almost apprehensive now. Autumn slid her hand out and he slid his hand into hers and she pulled him close to her. She looked up at him and asked her voice cracking, “Why are you frightened?” His eyes looked up at Serena and he raised his hand and gestured for her to back up.
Grayton interjected then smiling, “She is going to need a keeper.” Ivan and Serena both nodded in agreement. Autumn raised her and waved it at them to be quiet.
She ask again, “Ivan what’s wrong?” She slid her hand up and stroked his cheek and he closed his eyes in pleasure. When Ivan opened his eyes again though they were still filled with worry, as Autumn twitched her head trying to understand his words, “Why are you worried?”
He swallowed and said his eyes wide now, “Because your changing earlier than you should.”
She replied, “What?” He pointed at a mirror on the mantel of the fireplace. She dropped his hand and walked to the mirror her legs suddenly feeling extra light. She reached out and took the mirror from the mantel and looked into it seeing that her eyes were jet black. Her pupils were fully dilated in spite of the brightly lit room and she asked confused, “What is wrong with my eyes? What do you mean I am changing early?”
Grayton spoke unexpectedly, “You are supposed to kiss your mate in order to start the process.”
Autumn twisted her head and looked at Grayton, “But I haven’t kissed anyone.”
Serena looked to Ivan and he replied tightly, “She’s telling the truth.”
“Well then it must have been started by contact just like yours.” Serena offered.
Grayton looked at Serena and said, “Can that be true?”
Serena responded, “Maybe, she is she meant to be a council member or the eye?”
The two men sucked in the air around them as Ivan shook his head no, “She might be talented enough to be a council member but the eye? That is unlikely.”
Grayton agreed with him nodding and adding, “Highly unlikely.”
Serena did not look convinced, as she added, “The last eye drank from the cup of her mate and her change began in a matter of days.”
Ivan looked at his watch and then at Serena and blinked, “We have only been together twelve hours.”
Grayton’s eyes never left Autumn’s face, as Serena added shrugging, “Perhaps it was all of the touching” Ivan growled a warning and Autumn startled, dropped the mirror that she had been holding and watched it move in slow motion. Then she easily swooped down and caught it just before it hit the ground.
They all watched her perform the action just as they would have, and Grayton added smiling again, “Definitely the touching.”
Ivan snapped back then, “Then why am I still burning?”
Serena seemed startled by this turn of events and said, “Perhaps if you just asked her to do it?”
Autumn interjected this time looking at Ivan with hurt in her eyes, “Ivan, I am your kiss girl?” Ivan looked at her coyly then and nodded. Autumn looked down obviously in pain asking, “Why didn’t you tell me? I was so worried and my dreams... Why didn’t you tell me?” She continued to look away afraid to hear the answer. Muttering, “All this time I thought I was supposed to avoid the creatures in the darkness, not become one of them.”
Ivan stared back at her helpless, explaining the reason for his hesitation feebly, “We need to help Grayton first. I did not want to risk it.”
She continued her thought process, “So that means,” she swallowed, a pained look on her face, “So that is why I heard all of that…mess.” God, those awful dreams…. Unexpectedly, she changed gears as a thought struck her, and she looked to Ivan, asking, “So does that mean that I am your mate?” Ivan didn’t look at her as he looked at Serena instead pleading with his eyes.
Serena looked at Autumn and smiled almost warmly and then shot Ivan a stern look, answering, “We have the time, unless you have changed your mind about helping Grayton.” Ivan shook his head no, as Serena turned and answered Autumn’s question, “We are not sure yet, it is not really up to the two of you.”
Autumn asked a little impatiently then, “Why not?”
Serena smiled politely then, “It is complicated.”
Autumn huffed and replied, “I can handle complicated. Let’s hear it.” Serena smiled genuinely now, eyeing Ivan who continued to watch Autumn tensely.
“Each person has a soul mate. Once the transformation takes place each soul is able to feel their soul mates soul calling out to them.”
Autumn jumped upon Serena’s words, everything seeming much easier to keep up with now, “So why did Grayton say that I had to kiss my mate to start the change then?”
Serena replied shooting Grayton a dirty look, �
��He said you are supposed to, but it is not necessary for you to kiss your mate in order to change.”
“Does it work the same for Ivan?”
Serena shook her head then, “No, he has to seal a willing kiss in order to stop his body’s destruction.”
Autumn asked, “The fire?”
Serena smiled then, “The fire is his bodies reaction to the touch, all geared towards his goal of sealing the kiss, in order to create a new vessel.”
Autumn summed it up, “Ok so I touched Ivan and it starts some chain reaction that will destroy his body and the antidote is …a kiss. In return I turn into one of you?” Serena nodded then and Autumn continued, “How long does he have before it kills him? And once I kiss him how long will it take to change me?”
Serena fired back, “He has a twenty four hour window to seal a willing kiss.” Then Autumn shot a glance at Ivan who was staring at the floor. Serena continued, “The transformation could take up to two weeks for you however.”
“And the touching comment?” Autumn snapped this time looking to Grayton.
Serena looked mystified, “It is not a perfect science. It could be that you were sweating or have an open wound somewhere ....” Autumn began searching for any cuts or abrasion on her hands. “Or you could just be....”
Autumn answered for her still looking for an entry point, “A freak.”
“I was going to say special.”
Autumn asked undeterred, “And once I change, then I will find my soul mate?”
Serena nodded watching her closely, “Yes, it will call to you. That is a benefit of being a female.”
Autumn asked, “So does this happen a lot?”
Grayton huffed, answering for her, “Not like you.”
Serena scowled at him turning back to Autumn and answered, “Usually only one or two a year.” Then she added, “But this month we will see three new vessels.”
“Yes, I remember you telling Grayton.” Serena winced then and Autumn apologized, “I am sorry I don’t know how to stop the voices yet.”
Serena replied nodding, and then added softly, “They may never go away Autumn…”
She rolled her eyes, “Great, so you hear them then too?”
Serena shook her head no, “I am slightly different in the way that I see the world.”
“How,” Autumn asked curiously stepping closer.
“I only see definite, the slow moving unchanging parts like earth quakes and vessel births.”
Autumn did not smile then, “So then you saw me?”
Serena shrugged, “No. I have never seen you before, well not exactly. I knew that there would be three but I only saw two of them.”
Autumn looked confused, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
Serena shook her head and said, “I am not certain, I have never seen any of the members of the council or the eye. So I imagine that you are simply meant to be one of them.”
Autumn asked avoiding all eye contact now, “Can they have mates who are not... special?”
Serena shrugged and said, “Yes I had a non-council mate.”
“You are a council member then?”
She smiled and said, “Yes and Grayton and Ivan are members of the council.”
Autumn smiled and said, “Oh,” eyeing Ivan who was still staring at the floor.
Innocently she asked without thinking, “Why don’t you have another mate now?” Grayton choked on his saliva and Ivan shot her a look, as Autumn apologized instantly.
Serena waved her hand and said, “It’s alright. He died a very long time ago.”
Autumn winced, “Will there ever be another?”
She shook her head, “I could but it would not be right for me.”
Autumn nodded in understanding, and replied, “Forever.”
Serena smiled and said, “Yes, forever,” deciding then that she liked Autumn
The girl was probably going to be a council member, as would her mate hopefully. Especially since the child had already seen so many of the council’s conversations. Perhaps they would get lucky, and Grayton would be her mate, two birds with one stone. She already seemed taken by him, and the fact that she had continued to choose to listen to his voice versus the others was promising news. They could not have all of that information fall into the wrong hands.
Autumn asked matter-of-factly, aiming her question at Grayton, “So Grayton meets Sophia then.” Grayton’s brow furrowed and Serena turned with Ivan to look at her.
Serena replied cautiously, “Well we’ll have to see about that. Besides you cannot see her with the way that you look now.”
Autumn turned her gaze from Ivan to Serena and said, “I just have to calm down that’s all.”
Grayton grumbled and Serena replied a little more gently almost parental in nature, “Oh dear it doesn’t work that way.”
Autumn squinted her eyes defiantly, walked over, and grabbed Ivan’s hand, “I did it last night in the alley. I’d like to try again at least. We still have a few hours until she even wakes up.” Ivan looked at her doubtfully and she added, “Sophia is like me Ivan,” his hand tightened at her words, “She does not like to be troubled by strangers if she is not comfortable. He will not get his kiss for a month.”
Serena’s jaw dropped, and Grayton swore, and Ivan tugged her arm and asked, “Are you sure?”
Autumn replied, “Yes, it is in her eyes, you know what I mean?” He shook his head no and Autumn replied more certain of herself now, “Well I do.”
Then she turned to Grayton who continued to stare at Autumn in awe, “Grayton, she is a good woman, and very pretty.” She smiled brightly and said, “Then we will be two down and one left to go.” Then she looked at Serena knowingly and she nodded almost tearing at her words.
Autumn smiled at Ivan and said, “Have a seat.” Ivan sat and looked up at Autumn and her dilated irises. She smiled a little embarrassed and said, “Are you ready?” Ivan nodded, and she swallowed placing her hands on his chest thinking about his calm deep breaths. He shook his head no, his eyes looking at her body instead of her face and Autumn clarified, “Good fire?”
He shook his head yes, and he huskily repeated, “Good fire.”
She closed her eyes, feeling the tension completely empty from her body. Then she looked up at the mirror and saw that her eyes and skin had changed back to normal. She stopped instantly and stood brushing her clothes straight. Then she smiled triumphantly looking at the others, “See all better.” Then she reached her hand out to help him up he was still trying to calm himself as he reached for her outstretched hand, she asked concerned, “Are you alright love?”
Ivan’s eyes shot up to Autumn and he nodded wordlessly and then replied, “You were right.”
She shrugged, “It’s a curse, I know.”
Serena appeared from around the edge of the couch to get a closer look. Then she smiled incredulously raising her hand to touch her face, and then stopping herself remembering the danger, “I think you might actually be a council member.” Grayton nodded agreeing with her statement watching from a safer distance.
Ivan mumbled, “Sophia.” Serena and Autumn nodded in unison. Then Autumn walked around the back of the couch and picked up the letter from off of her desk.
“Ok, so the story is that you are both visiting from out of town, and we’ll say a double date for tonight is the goal?”
Serena smiled brightly and answered, “Excellent.”
“I will call her tonight and tell her that I am not feeling well and Ivan is staying with me. Serena has been called into work and she can go out with Grayton by herself.” Autumn smiled and ended with, “Then it will all be on you Romeo.” She pointed her finger at Grayton then who winced, and looked to Ivan.
Ivan nodded and said raising his head, “You could be wrong about this Autumn...”
Serena chimed in a little more hopeful, “She could be right though with three in one month it is very likely that this could be why.”
Autumn added,
ignoring Ivan’s comments, “Oh and she speaks her native language with her parents. Russian, seems more comfortable speaking it than English, so if things seem to be turning south, I would use it.”
Grayton nodded with a stony look in his eyes. Serena said, “You speak Russian Grayton?”
Autumn answered for him, “Yeah.” Grayton nodded in agreement and continued to stare at Autumn unflinching. Serena became quiet as the air suddenly grew thick with an unspoken emotion. Autumn added then, seeming unaware of Grayton’s feelings, “She is a musician, the cello in some famous Orchestra, since you play the violin perhaps that will be useful. It would be a perfect opportunity to be alone and still keep her comfortable.” Grayton looked a bit worried now, but he nodded.
Autumn smiled at Grayton warmly and said then, “No worries Grayton, I am right about this I promise, she is definitely a kiss girl, so just be your brilliant self. She will fall all over herself, I mean look at you, you’re gorgeous.” He continued to stare at her and smiled faintly, his eyes showing that he wanted to believe her.
She smiled back even more confidently now and Grayton involuntarily stepped forward. Ivan instantly stepped in his path with a stony look upon his face now; his back to Autumn. She missed the exchange though as Jack began meowing for his breakfast. She followed him into the kitchen to feed him. As soon as she turned the corner, Ivan spoke though clenched teeth barely above a whisper, “I am not dead yet Grayton.” Reactively Serena stepped forward and slid her hand on to Ivan’s shoulder. He flinched at her touch and she dropped her hand away.
Grayton replied hissing, “You are the one who suggested that she might be intended for me.”
Ivan replied, “Do not ruin my chance. If she is yours, then I will hand her over willingly, after I have my kiss. Until then you stay away.”
Grayton replied in a deadly tone then, “I find that hard to believe Ivan.” Then he added with a new look in his eyes, “If she is the eye... then she chooses. All come when called.”
Ivan snapped back, “She is not the eye, and if she is then... then she will be free to choose whom she wishes.”