by Alice Sweet
Grayton nodded, and said softly, “Your eyes love.”
She slid a small hand mirror from her pocket and looked at her blackened eyes and smiled her toothy grin. Then she blinked a few times and they changed back. When she looked up from the mirror, back at Grayton, he smiled looking relieved. Then feeling an opportunity she said, “I also think in order to seal the deal you should pretend to be in love with me.”
Grayton nearly choked, “What?”
Autumn replied still smiling innocently, “They might want proof that the bond is part of an allure like Helen’s gift. So when that time comes I want you to be the one that I kiss. Then you can pretend to be in love with me.”
Grayton breathed, “Ivan will kill me.”
She replied still smiling, “No he won’t, I can stop him. Then he will think that I have the gift. That along with Travis’s story and we should be golden.”
He replied shaking his head, “So many lies.”
She replied seriously, “To protect so many lives. Including your own I might add.”
Grayton huffed and then shot her a look. “Do you really think that I care about my own skin?”
She smiled sympathetically then, “No I have been listening to you over these past years Grayton, I think I know you well enough. I just wanted to see the look that you gave Serena yesterday when she told you that she saw you holding a woman’s hand.”
He scowled, “That is cruel.”
Autumn’s smile faded, “I am sorry love; truly, it was just a morbid curiosity that’s all. I just hear your voice night after night, and I wish well...I wish that I could see your face sometimes that’s all.”
He seemed to melt then, “You still listen to me.”
Autumn smiled brightly, “Of course. I am sorry that I was wrong about Sophia, she was so lovely, and you have been alone for so long.” Her eyes teared up, “I just wanted so badly for Sophia to be your one, you deserve it. It is a horrible, how much pain you must feel.” The tears began streaming down her face now, “I know because I have felt the same as well for so long. And that is nothing compared to the years of torturous, loveless eternity that you have had. I am so sorry, that I was wrong.” Her eyes were blurred by the tears but she welcomed his arms around her as she whispered, “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you more pain. I am so sorry I was wrong.”
Grayton squeezed her tightly, murmuring, “Shhh, don’t cry love, it is alright.”
Autumn pushed her head into his chest then and breathed deeply. She did this trying to calm herself down, but received a different reaction from her body. She jerked away sharply wiping her tears away and saw the surprise on his face. She avoided his gaze, guiltily trying hard to calm herself down and murmured, “You smell good.” Grayton looked at her confused watching her closely.
Autumn cursed, “You smell good.” Then she took a few more steps back, “I have to go I don’t think I will be able to stop this one.” He stepped forward and she raised her hand stopping him. “In my vision Drake smelled good too.”
Grayton seemed to understand then and replied remembering, “You said that you just ate.”
She nodded and hissed and then cursed, “I did. I have to go. I will stop by your home tonight, alright.” He nodded. As she fled she called over her shoulder, “Be alone tonight Grayton.”
He replied sounding concerned, “See you tonight love.” Then after she had gone he mumbled to himself, “She is going to need a keeper, a strong keeper.”
Practice
“Is it normal for newborns to need a keeper?” Grayton jumped startled, and looked over at Autumn sitting in his window seal.
He asked, “You feeling better now?”
She nodded though her eyes were black, “I went on a bit of a frenzy. You do not smell as unnerving as before.”
Grayton replied, “Frenzy?”
“Yes nearly ten.” She admitted.
Grayton sniffed the air commenting, “Fire.”
Autumn nodded, “It seemed the easiest way.” He nodded and she returned, “You didn’t answer my question.”
He frowned, “Just the stronger ones.”
She nodded, “What do keepers do?”
“They keep you safe and out of trouble.”
She replied then, “How long do they stay with you?”
“As long as needed, usually the first decade or so, until they have everything under control.”
She asked cautiously, “Under control?”
“Yes until you are able to stop yourself from feeding on every human that you meet.”
She huffed, “Well I have to force myself to eat them when it begins.”
Grayton stopped moving then slightly alarmed, “You have to force yourself to eat them?” She nodded and then saw Grayton’s look of worry and then fear enter his eyes.
Autumn asked worried now, “What did I say?”
“There are some that feed on others, but they are all members of Mirth’s clan, as far as I know.”
She swallowed, “That’s bad then, isn’t it?”
He replied then, “The hunting preferences of Mirth’s clan members are frowned upon by many. But them feeding off of other vessel is not seen as one of their problems. As I understand it, the givers are willing participants. It is supposed to be an enjoyable experience for both members involved.”
Autumn nodded remembering, “So Ivan will be angry then. Better that I stay clear of you and Drake, when I am hungry then, got it.” She asked then, “What is it about you and Drake, I wonder? Do you and Drake have anything in common?”
He shook his head, “Aside from the council, no nothing.”
Autumn frowned, “Eating habits, energy distribution, awakening newborns?”
Grayton frowned again, “No Drake was originally a member of Mirth’s clan so he has similar eating habits as them. His energy comes from internally where as I pull from the external. And Drake has never awakened a new born.”
“Why is he no longer a member of Mirth’s clan?”
He explained looking quiet pained now, “Mirth’s clan used Drake to kill his creator. They saw her as a threat, and they were unable to get close enough to kill her themselves.”
She nodded and replied absentmindedly, “Yes they were in love even though she was not his match. Why did Drake not kill Mirth after he realized the deception?”
Grayton replied eyeing her suspiciously, “Mirth is Isisa’s brother and she made Drake promise not to kill Mirth in exchange for protection and life in the council.”
“Drake must hate Mirth.”
“How do you know about their love?”
Autumn replied, shrugging, “In my dream when I drank from Drake.”
Grayton looked at her for a moment, “Did you see something?”
“Yes. A flood of images, but they came so fast. They were fragmented and out of order. It was hard to put it all together.”
“Only mates are supposed to see those things.”
Autumn replied without thinking, “All souls come when she calls.”
Grayton gasped, “What?”
Her eyes were glazed and then she refocused, “I am sorry sometimes the words just flow out and I can’t stop them.”
Grayton watched her closely and then she stepped down from the ledge and walked closer, “I am right though aren’t I. You said it I think.” He nodded mesmerized, as she slid her hands upon his chest, “I do not want this responsibility Grayton. It hurts my head just to think about it. Forever holding in the darkness will hurt. I may be strong, but it seems a bit unfair to make me do it. Maybe it is best that I just die now before it gets any further.” She slid her head on to Grayton’s chest and listened to the emptiness inside. “Then Ivan will never know and I can get rid of the burden before anyone else gets hurt.”
Grayton replied skeptically, “Once you see Ivan again, you will change your mind.”
“You don’t know the dangers of that jungle Grayton.”
He winced at those words, �
��But I would gladly face them if I had someone like you waiting for me there.”
Autumn lifted her head and smiled, “Thank you Grayton.” Then she hugged him tightly and walked to the sink and drank from the tap, asking, “Now tell me about the other clans.”
Grayton asked, distracted, “You drink water?”
She seemed slightly annoyed, “Yes, don’t you?”
She grabbed a towel and wiped her face and looked at him curiously, he replied looking at the ground pushing his fingers together, “No. I do not drink water, and neither does anyone else.”
She ignored his tone, “Well I do.” Then she looked at her hand for a moment in the candle light, it pulsed along with the flame in her chest. “So tell me about the other clans.” He huffed and watched her lay out a pad of paper and a pencil, which she pulled from her pocket.
“There are seven clans, each one has a leader and two, sometimes three abilities under their command. All but two are friendly with other clans. All honor the code set forth by Isisa though and support discipline carried out by us.”
She nodded, “Will I face any of the clans during my test?”
He shook his head, “No that is not likely, it will most likely be only the council.”
Autumn smiled brightly, “Good then I should be alright. Wait what about the last three?”
Grayton frowned, “What three?”
“You, Henry and Serena,” She added.
Grayton replied, “Serena will only ask you questions about future events, her test will not be violent.”
She nodded relieved, “And you and Henry?”
Grayton nodded, “Henry is stronger than most vessels but his greatest strength is his near indestructibility.”
She asked, “If he is beheaded will he fall?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, “But he won’t die right?”
Grayton replied eyeing her carefully, “Yes as long as it is reattached.”
“And he won’t have any permanent damage then right?”
Grayton replied frowning, “You will no be able to decapitate him, many have tried and failed.”
She nodded disbelieving him, “How strongly is it connected?” He looked at her skeptically, and she continued, “I have tried cutting my own limbs off since I have fed and I haven’t been successful. But if I am the eye then that would explain that part.”
Grayton stared at he wide eyed again, and she continued, “So what are we talking here, like car or a semi?”
“More like a seven forty seven,” he warned.
Autumn gawked at him, “What about fire, if I cut and burn it at that point, will it still be able to reattach it?”
“It will take longer to heal.”
She replied, “But it will not kill him right? Cause I just want to win, not kill him.”
Grayton nodded and then redirected her, “You have cut your own limbs off?”
“No I tried, even burning it, gun shots jumping from great heights, I get nothing, it’s kind of crazy,” she explained with a frown.
Grayton smiled then, seeming suddenly much happier by her announcement, “Nothing?”
“I can impale myself but it heals around it so quickly that the pain is like a pin prick.” Then she shook her head clearing the image and smiled again, “How about you?”
He smiled, “Would you like to see a demonstration?”
Autumn smiled back sounding relieved, “Yes please.”
Grayton pulled the air from the room and blew it at her throwing her across the room denting the wall behind her. As she stood, she smiled exclaiming, “That was awesome!” Grayton smiled and pulled the flame from the candles and threw them at her in large fire balls. She dodged them easily and her eyes dilated, “More.” He smiled and threw nearly every item in the room at her all at once. She jumped, but quite a few items in the room were imbedded into her chest and skull. Grayton rushed to her side as she pulled the kitchen knife from her forehead unphased.
Then she looked at him smiling, while she pulled the chair leg from her chest and a candle stick was being pushed from her thigh by her own body, “Impressive, anymore?”
Grayton looked at her and replied, “Yes but I do not want to draw too much attention.”
She smiled, “Then lets go some place else.”
Grayton looked worried, “Are you sure?”
Autumn smiled widely, “It will be fun.” Then she slid her hand into Grayton’s hand and he looked at her skeptically as she pulled him to the window.
Hours later, Grayton lay on the ground next to her with almost an entire forest devastated around them. Autumn smiled at him as he breathed heavily, “You have a remarkable amount of talent Grayton.” He smiled at her and she reached her hand out and helped him up.
Grayton looked at her with renewed interest, “Your body is like Henry’s. You should live through the tests at least.” She nodded unsmiling then, he continued a sour look creeping back in, “Flora will attack you if you kill her mate and the others will follow.”
Autumn nodded, “Then I will have to reattach his head quickly.”
“I will let them know that I found you?”
She nodded, “Yes, tell them to expect me in a few days I just have one more thing to handle.”
He frowned, “They will not be happy.”
Autumn smiled, “Yes I know but I will feel much better about dying if I handle this last thing.”
Grayton asked hopefully, “Anything I can help with?”
She shook her head frowning, “I need to handle this one by myself.” Grayton nodded, and she continued sounding serious, “Stick to the plan Grayton; no one knows that Ivan might be my mate. If you have to ensure that, get Helen to work her magic. Just keep him in his seat until the test is finished so that I can concentrate. Then once it is done. I will take him away for a bit and explain and apologize.”
He replied, “And if you fail?”
Autumn nodded, “Then he will never know and you will comfort him until he heals.”
Grayton turned grey, “Yes of course.”
She smiled and hugged him, breathing in his sent again, “You know I think it may be the power that I smell.”
Then she turned and walked away and Grayton called after her, “Three days Autumn” She nodded as she walked from the clearing. Grayton plopped down, and pulled a phone from his pocket.
He dialed, “Henry, she said she will be ready to test in three days time.” Then he hung up abruptly and lay back in the fresh hole in the ground.
Back Again
Three days later, Autumn washed up on the shore her eyes normal looking and grumbling to herself. The search had not been fruitful; Gregory had managed to evade her though she did not know how. His scent had been quiet strong in several places that she had visited. Perhaps he had ability, a danger meter like herself. Either that or he had someone taking care of him. She looked up to find a roving guard staring at her slack jawed.
She approached him cautiously and said, “I am here for the test.” He nodded scanning the beach for a boat and saw none. The beach was completely deserted, then he turned back to look at the woman only to see her disappearing behind a large tree some fifty yards away. He called it in, and followed after her on foot. Ivan heard the call first and headed toward the court yard to greet her.
To his surprise she never appeared in the court yard, though several guards and clan members from other clans appeared looking for her as well. Even Henry and Flora came out, looking at Ivan, who shrugged in response. Shuffling coming from up stairs sent all of their eyes back towards the castle and the front doors opened and a few men bowed at Henry and Flora and said sounding confused, “She is up stairs my lord changing in her room.”
They all headed up, including the visiting clan members, who whispered to their staff, who in turn, scurried off to tell others. She was brushing her hair when Grayton burst into the room, slowly trailed by a few others from the clans. Autumn smiled warmly sitting on the ledge of t
he fireplace drying her hair. Her clothing was dry and her feet bare, her eyes normal and clear.
Grayton looked worried, “They are not pleased. They have asked that you be taken to the dungeons to ensure that you do not escape again.” As he said this he gestured towards two guards.
Autumn nodded, “Fair enough.”
Grayton looked angry, “Mirth’s Idea.” She looked at a young veiny woman who hissed at his words, and he shrugged, “It’s true.” She slid on a pair of black slippers and pulled a blanket from the bed along with her pillow heading towards them.
Then she caught a whiff of a familiar smell and stopped and impulsively threw them into the fireplace. They all watched her in surprise, then she said without looking at anyone else, “He’s been sleeping in here.”
Grayton nodded, “I will see to it that more are sent down to you.”
She smiled at him and said, “Thank you Grayton,” as she slid a pack of cards into her pocket, to ward off boredom. The two guards lead her down a winding stair case while Grayton and the other clan’s vessels followed close behind.
The light became less and less growing colder and stagnant as they moved further down. It took nearly ten minutes to get her to the small metal room in the east corner of the castle. The room had no windows and only one door. As she walked inside she felt him before she saw him. A large lanky man with bluish veins that sent chills through her. The guards on the other hand did not acknowledge him, closing the door behind her.
He did not greet her; he only eyed her for a while until she spoke, “So are you going to be in here with me until tomorrow morning?” He squinted his eyes and then nodded slowly and slid back into the corner. She mumbled to herself, “Well they must be really worried that I am going to escape.” She stopped staring feeling his discomfort, and sniffed the air instead. A familiar scent of dried blood and tears, one that she had smelled the night she had first awoken, came rushing back. She closed her eyes trying to block it out and began to feel his eyes on her again. She finally turned towards him again looking at him more closely trying to distract herself.