The First Touch

by Alice Sweet

  Flanagan smiled widely and replied, “I see.”

  Then he slid his hand across her now warm cheek, “You are warm too.” Autumn nodded in response and flinched as the door next to them swung open, slamming hard against the wall.

  Autumn nearly gasped at Ivan, who stood scowling at Flanagan and growled, “She is supposed to be in her room resting.”

  Flanagan did not seem to be phased by Ivan, “She wasn’t tired. I was going to take her out for a walk.”

  Ivan’s anger intensified, “She needs to rest.”

  Flanagan smiled and replied, “Very well then I will take her back to her room.” As he said that he slid his hand into Autumn’s and gave her a tug. Autumn stutter stepped, looking at Ivan who still refused to look at her again. Instead he was glowering at Flanagan’s hand which was gripping Autumn’s, although she did not catch that, she was too caught up in her own confusion at his lack of eye contact. Ivan seeing her sudden distress, took a step forward and Flanagan stopped short remarking, “You are not even supposed to be here Ivan.”

  Ivan stopped his advance cutting his eyes at him, “Take her to her room.” Flanagan nodded, then he gave her another pull and they were off making their way back down the main hallway.

  After they made a few twists and turns, leaving Ivan safely behind them, Flanagan shook his head and commented, “He is definitely taken by you.”

  Autumn jerked her hand back sharply and continued walking next to him replying, “You could have fooled me, he is acting so strange.”

  Flanagan frowned, asking cautiously, “He has been visiting you?”

  Autumn pouted sounding hurt, “No, and he left me with Gregory and now he won’t even look at me.”

  Flanagan stopped and said seriously, “I am guessing no one has explained what happened while you slept.”

  Autumn slowed her pace, “No, no one has told me anything.” Flanagan winced at her words. Then she continued, “I don’t understand any of this. Ivan said that it should take a couple of weeks not a couple of months. Then he left me. He left when he promised that he would stay with me until I awoke. Then when I awoke I was almost raped! The only reason I didn’t was because I left my body and asked Drake for help. And don’t ask me how I did that because I thought astral projection was complete crap until last night, and if he had not come....” She shivered at that thought.

  Then Flanagan opened his mouth as if he were going to speak but then he hesitated looking confused, and Autumn jumped at the pause continuing, “Now I am being tested, in a castle!” She gestured at the building around them before stopping altogether now, sounding frantic, “And why won’t anyone tell me what’s going on? And why can I change from normal to, well whatever? And why does everyone keep talking about my eyes? And why does my chest burn? And why have I not had a vision since my change? I am broken and scared and Ivan won’t even look at me!”

  Flanagan looked flabbergasted before pausing, and smiling reassuringly, “Did you get it all out?”

  Autumn puffed in response and then mumbled to herself rubbing her temples, “My head hurts now, and I’m freaking starving. I haven’t eaten in two months. How long do you guys wait to eat anyways?”

  Flanagan stopped his first train of thought, “What do you mean you haven’t eaten?” She looked at him angrily and he stopped asking her softer, “You haven’t eaten anything since you awoke?”

  She nodded, “No, nothing. Not even a drink of water, and I am so thirsty.”

  Flanagan repeated himself, “So nothing since you awoke yesterday with Drake?”

  She nodded looking puzzled, “Yes that is what I said.”

  Flanagan swore looking at the ground beginning to pace nervously, “Ivan is going to be furious.”

  She waited for a moment watching Flanagan closely and then asked, “Why will he be angry?”

  Flanagan snapped unthinking, “You are not finished with your transformation yet.”

  Autumn replied, “What?”

  He stared at the ground deep in thought, “You are only at stage two you haven’t even fed yet! God! How could we have missed that? No wonder you are weak!” He grabbed her hand and began to pull her back the opposite direction. Then he stopped suddenly, stuck by a revelation, and said in awe, “God! Imagine what you will be like when you’re finished!” Then he smiled at her eyeing her up and down and looking pleased with himself, “You could just be the next eye after all love!”

  Autumn snatched her hand back snapping unexpectedly, “I don’t want to sleep again Flanagan. I don’t care what you or anyone else says. I am not sleeping again.”

  Flanagan looked concerned then and he replied, “No you will not sleep,” then he added more to himself, “Well at least I don’t think you will sleep.”

  Autumn snapped back again, “I am not going to sleep; I am not going to end up in another wretched room... with some... snake again.”

  Flanagan raised his hands in defense, “No I would not let that happen. I promise Autumn”

  She spat back anger flaring, “I have heard that before. I trusted him too and he left me! No I will not make that mistake again. I will not sleep. And you cannot make me.” Her final words turned deadly calm.

  Flanagan kept his hands raised, and replied seriously, “No one will force your hand now.”

  Autumn hissed her eyes turning black, “I want to see Ivan.”

  Flanagan nodded his head in agreement, his eyes wide in alarm again, “I will take you to him and then I will go and speak to the others at once.”

  “No wait, I changed my mind, I don’t want to see him right now. Just take me to my room.”

  Flanagan seemed surprised by his words, “He will want to see that your safe, especially now.”

  Autumn snorted back, “He doesn’t care.”

  Flanagan looked stunned now and whispered, “You don’t know.”

  Autumn looked annoyed, “Know what?”

  Flanagan took a breath and shook his head saying, “He killed trying to protect you from us. If Grayton and Serena had not come in time…I fear that he would have killed many more, maybe even one of us trying to protect you.” Autumn looked startled then and Flanagan continued, “They hid you away, and Gregory was assigned to watch over you until you awoke and that was only because Galen caught Ivan visiting you after being forbidden to do so. He was told that you were to be killed if he did not stay away and allow for the transformation to finish. And only then after the threat of his own death proved not to be enough to keep him away.” He watched as her annoyance turned to incredulity.

  Then he added more sweetly, “And I imagine that he does not look you in the eye to prevent himself from doing the one thing that could get you killed right now.” Then he added smiling, “Once the transformation and testing is completed, he will be permitted to be near you again. Though I don’t think they will mind if I take you to see him right now. Under the circumstances, having you there might save my life.”

  Autumn nodded then and said, “So he isn’t angry then?”

  Flanagan frowned, “I wouldn’t go that far.” Autumn looked at him wide-eyed and Flanagan replied smiling, “No love, I don’t think he could be mad at you. He is simply frustrated at his predicament. He will be especially angry at the rest of us now though, testing you too early.” Then he smiled deviously, “Though I imagine he is probably especially mad at me right now. I should probably take you to see him before he kills me.” Autumn nodded as her head swam with fear and anxiety, and she followed him towards Ivan’s rooms.

  The Next Step

  Flanagan knocked on a large wooden door and Autumn asked sniffing the air, “Why are we here? Ivan isn’t here.”

  Flanagan looked at her confused and the door opened, Helen stood there half-dressed looking annoyed and snapping rudely, “What?”

  Flanagan snapped back, “I need to see Ivan.”

  Helen looked even more peeved, “He left, what do you want Flanagan?” Autumn placed her hand on her hip and cocked her
head looking at Helen as if she were going to smack her. Flanagan noticed the change in Autumn and stepped between the two women. Helen did not miss the implication and pushed Flanagan aside and asked Autumn directly, “What?”

  Autumn asked Flanagan, her anger rising, “Is this Ivan’s room?” Her eyes dilated as she sniffed the air, “It smells like it.” Then she pushed past the two of them easily and looked at Helen’s clothing strewn about the floor.

  Flanagan started to intercede but Helen stopped him, “Hold still and be quiet.” Flanagan’s eyes glazed over and he stiffened zombie like as the smell of lilies flooded the room again.

  Autumn twisted unnaturally and asked, “Why are you dressed like that?”

  Helen smiled and sneered back, “It is none of your business who I sleep with.”

  Autumn snapped back her skin growing cold, “You’re sleeping with him!”

  Helen snapped back, her eyes narrowing viciously, “You think because he kissed you once that you matter?”

  She hissed and breathed, “It was more than just a kiss.”

  Helen laughed at Autumn’s words, “I have known him for far too long. He had to kiss you, or he would have died! Don’t fool yourself into thinking it was more, girl.” As she said the last words she looked Autumn up and down with disgust again.

  In a snap, Autumn threw herself at Helen pulling a huge chunk of her hair from her scalp. Helen screamed as Autumn felt the cold seeping from her pores and frosting her skin like perspiration. Helen tried feebly to defend herself but she was too strong. Wild with fury, Autumn lost herself, snarling and ripping at Helen while she screamed. The next thing she knew warm comforting arms grabbed her around her middle and pulled her off of Helen. As she was being pulled away another set of hands, cooler, grabbed her legs.

  She writhed with anger, feeling it sear though her veins and she was blind with it. Helen continued screaming in pain and then she heard Flanagan’s voice. “Autumn stop…! Drake stop her…!”

  Then Drake spoke sounding winded, “I cannot, it is not working.”

  Then Flanagan replied panicking, “Knock her out!”

  Drake replied angrily, “I tried!”

  Then Flanagan screamed his voice cracking in terror, “She is killing her!”

  Suddenly, Autumn opened her eyes, sounding small, “I am so sorry.”

  Drake’s arms seemed to be squeezing her extra hard all of a sudden as Helen stopped screaming instantly and began to sob. Autumn finally registered the look of fear on Flanagan’s face, and his cold arms tightly wrapped around her legs. Then she looked up at Drake, “I am in control now. You can set me down now.” Neither made a move, they just stared at her as she explained, “I didn’t mean to let the darkness out. She just kept pushing and I let it slip. I am sorry. I am fine now. Please put me down.”

  They both looked at her carefully considering her words, then Drake asked, “What do you mean the darkness slipped out?”

  Autumn huffed again, explaining, “I blackout when my anger becomes too great. I always have, even before the change.” Drake turned her slightly so she could see Helen’s bloody charred body.

  Then he asked skeptically, “Did this happen when you blacked out before?”

  Autumn replied, “God no,” she gasped, “I broke a man’s arm once but nothing like that. Oh god... I am so sorry.”

  Flanagan asked, “You broke a man’s arm?”

  Autumn shot back absentmindedly, “He was trying to kill me. It was self defense.”

  Drake added dryly bring her back to the present, “That does not look like self defense.”

  Autumn winced and asked, “Please put me down.” This time they complied, and she stood for a moment taking it all in before walking towards Helen slowly. The two men grabbed her shoulders, halting her advance, and she struggled suddenly desperate, “I have to help her.” Flanagan let her go seeing the pain in her eyes.

  Drake did not seem as convinced, “There is nothing you can do for her.”

  Autumn snapped back, “Yes there is. Let me try.” He tightened his grip but when she pulled free he didn’t stop her.

  Helen was sitting with her back against the wall, crying silently, sounding a bit mad now, “It is not healing, why is not it healing?” She looked up at Autumn and feebly pulled her feet up to her chest, “No please.”

  She swallowed hard, before apologizing just as feebly, “I am so sorry. I let it get away from me. I....” Her voice faded away. Helen’s beautiful face was gone; Autumn began to weep, “I am so sorry.” Then it struck her, touch her.

  Helen continued crying, as Autumn asked, “May I touch you?” Helen looked at her disbelieving, and she continued, “Please, I think I can help.” Helen looked at the two men standing there, Flanagan who nodded in approval and Drake who shrugged though his eyes were filled with pain for her.

  Helen nodded yes, and then closed her eyes as Autumn reached her hand out to touch her burnt flesh. She twitched when her hand made contact and she squeezed her eyes tight in anticipation of the pain. Autumn closed her eyes and visualized the wounds healing in her mind, one at a time. She heard the gasps and felt Helen trembling under her hand but no one seemed frightened this time or tried to stop her, so she continued. After a few moments, she felt a hand on her shoulder and she let go of Helen’s arm before she finally opened her eyes to inspect her work.

  Her body was entirely restored and Autumn sunk to her knees, smiling brightly looking at her perfect pale arms and body again. “Are you alright?” She asked Helen, who nodded and giggled deliriously rubbing her skin. Autumn leaned backwards, loosing her balance, and fell against Drake who had knelt behind her.

  She closed her eyes and smiled sleepily, “I knew I could do it.” Then she puffed happily, “I rock.” Drake stared down at her in awe and Flanagan stood slack jawed in wonder. Not a sound could be heard, until heavy foot steps came running down the hallway.

  Ivan rounded the corner and pushed open the door demanding at once, “What happened.” Both men looked at Ivan and then at each other. Then finally they both looked at Autumn sleeping soundly in Drake’s arms.

  She began snore softly, and Ivan looked at Helen for some explanation. Then at the burn marks outlining a body left behind on the wall behind Helen. He sounded concerned now, “What happened in here.”

  Flanagan spoke first, simply and truthfully, “She is the eye.”

  Ivan looked confused then, “Yes I know that. But what happened here?”

  Flanagan repeated himself, still amazed, “She is the eye.”

  Ivan began to get frustrated at the lack of input and snapped, “Explain.”

  Drake tore his eyes from Autumn’s sleeping face adding, “Well she might not be the eye, but she is definitely council member material.”

  Flanagan was flabbergasted, “What? Did you see what she just did?”

  “Yes I saw it.” Drake replied dryly.

  Flanagan replied, “Well then how are you bloody hell going to sit there and tell me that she isn’t the eye?”

  “She has talent, no doubt. I don’t think it is enough for her to be the eye though.” Drake replied skeptically.

  Flanagan snapped back, “She is still only in the first stage, and she did all this!” He gestured around the room wildly, “Wait until she feeds, then you will see the real change. I would bet my left leg that she is the next eye.”

  “What do you mean she has not eaten?” Ivan snapped.

  Drake’s eyes narrowed, as he spat out, “Flanagan.”

  Flanagan looked at Autumn and deflated, “She just told me. We came here looking for Ivan, so that I could go and inform everyone else.”

  Ivan snapped, “Then what?”

  Flanagan continued, “But when we got here you were not here but she was….” Then he gestured at Helen who put her hands up. Flanagan continued, shooting her a dirty look, “Helen was here half dressed and froze me. Then when I woke up Autumn was already on top of her.” As he said the last part he shivered.
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  Ivan looked at Helen and stepped forward, when Drake cut in, “When I arrived Helen was already screaming.”

  Ivan looked confused, “Screaming?”

  Helen nodded in agreement, and then said in a small voice, “She nearly killed me.”

  Ivan looked at her in disbelief, as Drake added, “She is telling the truth. If we had not pulled her off, I do not doubt that she would have killed her.” Ivan eyed Helen and then the burn mark in the wall.

  Then he asked the group, “What did she do?”

  Flanagan started, “She tore her up and then began burning her. But even after we pulled her off she still kept slicing her and burning her.” Ivan cocked his head and Flanagan continued explaining, astonished, “I think that she was using her mind to do it.”

  Ivan nodded and then turned to Helen, but Flanagan continued anyways, “That was not even the best part though,” Drake nodded and Ivan arched his eye brow, as Flanagan continued, “After she calmed herself down, the wounds would not heal.”

  “So she touched her,” Ivan repeated, and Flanagan nodded, “Yes, she touched her arm and then closed her eyes and….”

  Drake finished his sentence, “And healed her entirely.”

  Flanagan replied still awestruck, “Yes, Helen was glowing from head to toes and the wounds just healed.”

  Ivan blinked and said nothing, then he looked at the wall and then at Helen. Then at the wall again and then at Autumn then he said sharply, “What did you do Helen?”

  Drake chimed in then, “Yes Helen what did you do?” Helen slid her hand over to the bed and pulled the blanket off and covered herself unspeaking.

  Ivan stepped forward and yanked her up by her arm, seething, “What did you do?” Helen shook her head no and would not answer.

  Then Drake added sharply, “She said that you pushed her too far. What did you say?”

  Flanagan was standing next to Ivan now, “It must have been pretty bad to set her off like that.”

  Helen shook her head and said, “All I said was that the kiss...” her voice faded off and Ivan grabbed her face roughly, “What kiss?”