The First Touch

by Alice Sweet

  It made him uneasy when she was around other males now. He was fearful that some day that she would feel the call of another and leave his side. The thought of losing all of that power made his head hurt. He slid his hand over her back and the white paint which had finally dried brushed off exposing the hollowness inside.

  She stirred under his touch, and lifted her head, exposing the empty space there as well. She smiled darkly and he smiled back then he let it drop as swiftly, instructing swiftly, “Go clean up we have work to do.” She jumped up at the instructions, and quickly slipped into the bath that he had drawn for her. The water was cold; he must have let it sit too long. He had let her sleep in; she smiled as she washed away the paint.

  He did not watch her as she washed, though she wished that he would. Her lover, her only friend, and her master all in one, the only man that could see her. She washed faster as she observed his eyes shifting faster than normal. She did not want to make him angry, as he was obviously agitated today. With all of the stress of this new female, the one who was testing for an important position in the clan, though not theirs.

  One that she figured Mirth was not happy about, he could not hold the position, even though his sister had before him. She knew his power and that he desired more, and this was the position that he deserved. He was a great man, but it was not his time yet. Though she suspected that today might be that day and she felt excitement bubbling in her chest at the possibility.

  There was also another edge to his voice now, a longing of sorts, when he spoke of her. Her excitement swiftly turned into anger, as she thought about that woman, she had the power that he desired. If he had that, she had no doubt that he would drop her in an instant. She was not stupid and she knew that the bond was weak, but it was still there and she would kill that woman if she had to do it. If she had been the female that he had thought that she might have been, all along, then she would not be having this problem right now. But she was her, and she had no problem fighting for her piece. She had thought about it for a long time and knew she would have to be quick, but she felt strong. She felt that she could do it.

  Especially now, training session after painful training session later, when he had finally determined that she was not the one. She had felt completely defeated that day. He had been merciful though sparing her life and welcoming her to his bed instead. He had shown her how to kill man and vessel alike and it appeared in the end that that was her saving grace. She had become, his right hand of sorts, acting out his every whisper, training her with secret hand gestures, so that she could decimating all who dared to stand in his path.

  He was a hard man to please though, but she felt it was worth the challenge. When he was pleased, she felt such joy, and when he was displeased, she shuddered and looked up at him glad that he could not see her now. His fast temper and subtle changes were sometimes difficult to predict, even for her and mistakes were punished, severely.

  She dressed quickly and pulled her hair up standing by his side. He was about to motion for her when he stopped her with a twitch of his fingers, and someone knocked on the door. A guard gestured for him to follow and he did with his Lyla close at his side. The guard slumped to the ground instantly, gripping his neck, while the other one backed away, raising his hands defensively.

  He let out a small noise before he too was gripping his throat and went flying across the hallway. Seconds later, he quivered as an unseen enemy drank from his neck. Small indents appeared on his chest, and a chunk of his hair and scalp were pulled off and flew across the room. Mirth began walking down the hallway again, patting his side. The assault stopped as soon as it had begun she smiled a bloodied toothy grin and followed obediently.

  He felt her wet fingers touching his hand and he pulled away sharply, then slapped her with his other, across her cheek, as he had done so many times before, hissing, “Go clean up, and meet me in the main hall.” He heard her pitter pattering of feet as she ran off to do as she was told. Then he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from his fingers in disgust.

  ***

  Autumn woke with a soft whisper, “They are coming Autumn.” She shot out of bed wiping the sweat from her brow as she stepped back. Her body was running a temperature, she could feel it immediately. The candle had gone out and the room was now pitch-black. Autumn reached for the wall and felt Utvic’s cold hand instead. She grabbed it and placed it to her brow and felt him yank away as the door opened, slowly.

  The dim light flooded the small room and Autumn saw that the bed was soaking wet, and the blanket still sat at the end of the bed with the pillow on top. Autumn felt shaky then as she pointed at the blanket and said, “Burn it it’s infected.” The man at the door began to reach for it and Autumn said, “Stop!” He looked at her in surprise, “Not with your bare hands, what ever is on it, it will likely kill you.” He nodded his eyes wide.

  Then he gestured for her to exit and she walked one shaky step after another. As she came closer to the door she felt Utvic’s breath on her neck, “Do you want me to carry you.” She nodded, and then felt his arms under her back and then on the backs of her knees. The guard looked at her his eyes ever wider, then she smiled, “I would rather carry myself then walk.” He nodded and then gestured for the other guard to move out of the way.

  Autumn rested her head on Utvic’s chest, and said, “Can you see to it that I get something to eat before I test please.” Her voice was weaker than he thought that it should be. She also felt her head sweating on Utvic’s chest and she lifted it feeling dizzy.

  Utvic whispered, “Rest.” Autumn closed her eyes and awoke to a glass being held to her lips. He had set her in the side hall that she remembered from before, and had covered her with a blanket. She smelt the same strong blood smell from her past and said, “Where do they get this crap from.” She took the glass from Utvic and chugged it as quickly as she could holding her nose.

  Then she finally opened her eyes and felt her stomach growl and she asked sounding stronger already, “More please.”

  Utvic answered her, “There isn’t time.” Autumn grunted in disapproval, and then Utvic slid his hand over to her glass and then looked over at the guard who watched her talking to herself. He seemed terribly uncomfortable and stepped away when she looked at him with her new eyes.

  His eyes were the key then, “No never mind it will be better this way.”

  Utvic asked, “Are you sure?”

  Autumn nodded, “They will expect less.” He shrugged uncaringly but his eyes seemed clouded with emotion. Autumn replied sweetly then, “I hope you will stay to watch.” He looked as if he were appalled by the idea but her pleading silenced him, “I think I will feel stronger if I know that you’re watching over me.” He nodded and stepped back as she stood still slightly wobbly as her eyes changed back to their original color. Then she whispered as she walked towards the door, “Thank you.”

  As she walked out on to the stage again, slowly but steadily, she saw out of the corner of her eyes that all of the stadium seating was now filled with bodies. The room went an eerily quiet as she entered center stage. Then instead of looking at the council she turned and looked at the audience. Not a single kind eye was returned as she searched the crowd for Mirth.

  She found him quickly in the back corner. He was smiling innocently at her, and then Autumn smiled back, cutting the connection rudely by turning her back to him. She could feel the eyes on her back then as she looked at the defeated looking council. Grayton looked near tears as surprisingly did Flora, while Drake turned the rock in his hand with total concentration upon it. Helen gave her the same scrutinizing look as before and she found herself smiling at her.

  Helen quickly snapped, “What are you smiling about.” Autumn nearly burst out laughing then, and placed her hand over her mouth and then looked and Flanagan who watched her with suspicious eyes then, a grin tugging gently on his lips. She looked at Galen who shifted in his seat, feeling uncomfortable, and left out of the lo
op suddenly.

  Helen continued to glare and Henry finally snapped, “Hush Helen.”

  Autumn felt the excitement build in her chest as she looked up at Henry who spoke to her now looking very suspicious, “What is wrong with your eyes and why are you having trouble walking?”

  Autumn shrugged, “That isn’t important.”

  Then she turned and looked at Flanagan and said, “So are you ready to begin Flanagan?”

  He looked momentarily surprised but he tapped his chest and said, “Yes, if you’re ready.”

  “As ready as I will ever be.”

  Test Two

  Autumn saw something move out of the corner of her eye and recognized Utvic standing next to the door that she had entered through. She smiled then feeling instantly better at her chances of surviving today. Then she watched as Flanagan began building his wall O’ power and her smile grew wider. She held up her hand and pointed to Drake, “Drake can you flame on for a moment I need some inspiration.” He stopped twirling and looked up at her for the first time.

  All eyes were on her now as she watched him with a steady gaze. His eyebrow raised and Autumn began walking forward towards him, reluctantly, “I guess I can make you.” He jumped to his feet as did everyone else in the council save Ivan who sat in his chair unmoving, unblinking staring at the ground. Autumn frowned then, Helen probably zombied him, she thought.

  “I am simply asking you to start the game with a ceremonious lighting of the torch.”

  He looked at Henry who nodded, and then Drake flamed for a moment and let it slide through his fingers slowly. Autumn blinked and smiled watching as the group flinched. Next, she felt the cold cover her skin and then her eyes. She looked over her shoulder at Flanagan, and asked, “Are you ready?” He nodded then, looking at her newly changed face, and smiled back a hint darker than before.

  She felt the serge of energy shoot through her and she jumped high into the air. Sounds erupted from the audience as she flipped gracefully and landed on her feet in front of Flanagan. He did not step back he simply raised his hand and flicked the first energy ball. Autumn dodged it easily and then he threw another and she picked it up and threw back at him narrowly missing.

  She smiled wider, “Watch it Flanagan, you are making it look too easy. He growled at her, and threw three more, faster than she had ever seen before. The last hitting her square in the chest and she flew back as she had before hitting the wall. She dusted it off taunting him, “That’s all you got?” He growled again and even Helen hissed at her that time. Then Autumn watched as he moved to a semi automatic mode and threw nearly twenty in less than a moment. She dodged them all and even caught the very last one in mid air.

  The crowd oh and awed until some of the last shots bounced off of the wall and almost hit bystanders. Hisses came up from that section as did a few bodies moving from the now open flames. She leaned down and picked up a few more as she watched Flanagan building a very sizable energy ball. Then she held hers in between her fingers waiting for his next move.

  He sent this one at a speed that nearly hit her and then watched as the cinder block wall behind her burst into flames. Autumn tweaked her head and smiled again, then she tossed five of the balls that she had. They landed in a pattern that even she had not planned. The last caught his hair and he patted it out with a few swats. She smiled broadly, feeling braver and kissed the last energy ball.

  Then she winked at him and threw the final one controlling the spin and curve perfectly. Flanagan saw it coming and moved just in time and the energy ball slammed into the wall. She flinched as she felt her finger tips grow colder and then held her hand out and twisting it slightly. Then the ball reversed and reformed back out of the wall. Then she flicked her fingers at Flanagan and the ball chased him down and hit him in the back of the head.

  It sent him flying forward and up fifty feet into the wall behind the council. The sound of crunching bone sent her running towards his fallen body. Henry was there first as Autumn stood a few feet away. “Is he alright?”

  Henry nodded, “He will be fine in a few hours.”

  Autumn nodded and Drake walked out to the stage beckoning her to follow. She began to feel a little uneasy once she saw the look on Drake’s face. He was not pleased with the outcome of the last challenge, and obviously determined to rectify the wrong done to Flanagan. He flamed on, and it occurred to her then that the best route with Drake might be to become a pacifist. Drake threw a fire ball that hit her square in the chest; it pushed her back against the wall just as Flanagan’s had.

  Autumn walked back to center stage brushing the ash from her shirt. She widened her stance to get a firmer footing, and then beckoned him to hit her again. He complied and hit her again and she didn’t even rock back this time. Then he hit her with a third and forth near simultaneously. She watched him pull and form his next two and then throw them at her head. She absorbed the flames and impact this time and opened her eyes smiling. He seemed angry by this turn of evens.

  She cursed at herself, she shouldn’t have smiled, it just provoked him. She realized then that she should finish it quickly; otherwise he would probably end up hurting someone else. She let another hit her and she finally allowed her body to react. The flame shot out like a flame thrower and saturated his entire body. Then she bent her knees preparing for the attack that she had almost experienced before. Drake charged screaming and slicing madly and threw her onto her back. Some of crowds were standing now to get a better look at the damage, and admittedly to see if she was still alive.

  She held her hands up defensively, while her legs snaked around his, then she grabbed his wrists and pulled her hands back above her head forcing him to press himself against her. He was still struggling to tear her throat out, when she whispered, “Drake,” and he looked up at her face for the first time. Then she blinked smiling and felt him struggle to pull free then and was unable to, and for the first time realizing that he was in danger.

  He was about to begin thrashing about again but she said his name again with a little more sing song in her voice, “Drake,” he looked at her then the cloud beginning to clear from his eyes. She said then, “There you are.” Then she leaned forward kissing him full on the mouth. His eyes widened in surprise and he tried to pull away but she wouldn’t let him. He unexpectedly groaned and let himself follow his tongue inside of her.

  When she was sure that she had him completely enticed she began to pull his fire up from his belly. Slowly at first to ensure that he wouldn’t become alarmed but eventually his body began to notice that something was wrong. He began rolling around then trying desperately to pull himself free, though his mouth did not even so much as twist away from her. In order to prevent him from coming fully to his senses she sliced her tongue against his teeth. It began to bleed slowly.

  He groaned and let the blood trickle down his throat as he felt a surge of heat flow through his body. Then she finished pulling the fire completely from his chest and felt his body go slack on top of her. Then she rolled him off and sat up wiping her mouth. As she stood she watched as the audience looked at Drake’s lifeless body. The whispers began then; Helen was the first to realize why they were whispering.

  Then she ran to kneel next to Drake’s body, and instantly began sobbing loudly. The others rushed to her side still looking confused. Flora asked disbelieving, “What’s wrong Helen?”

  Helen burst out, “He’s dead. Don’t you see? Look at him.” Flora and the others began checking him instantly; even Grayton began shaking him roughly. They called out his name, and received no response. Then Helen stood and began screaming hysterically, “What have you done!”

  Autumn raised her hands defensively speaking calmly, “Wait, Helen I can fix him.”

  She came charging at her, rage in her eyes, and Autumn felt a snap inside of her. She raised her hand and Helen went flying across the room and pinned her to the wall. Then Autumn said angrily, “Stay there and be quiet.” She stayed and her screaming contin
ued but no noise escaped her throat. Autumn walked towards the group surrounding Drake. Henry and flora stepped forward protectively though Grayton tried to explain, but it fell on deaf ears.

  The pain that hit her then was nearly overwhelming; all of them save Grayton, Serena, and Ivan were planning to kill her. She slid her hand up and said, “Move!” A cold voice came out of her mouth darker than she ever remembered before and they all went flying in opposite directions landing on their backs. By the time that they were able to regroup, she was already kneeling next to Drake. Grayton interrupted them defensively, “She can heal with her touch.”

  Her three alleys surrounded her, as she closed her eyes, and placed her hands over Drake’s closed lids. She pictured the flames traveling through her arms and out through her fingers to fill his body with the fire that it needed to begin its reanimation. Autumn felt Drake sitting up and she uncovered his eyes.

  As soon as he opened them she hugged him tightly and then she pulled back quickly asking with genuine concern, “Are you alright? How do you feel?”

  He blinked at her confused, replying breathlessly, “I am fine.” She fell back on her backside as his friends crowded in patting him on the back and shoulders. He seemed completely bewildered by the enthusiasm, “What happened?”

  Flora replied exasperated, “You died!” Drake pushed Flora out of the way to get a conformation from the source.

  Autumn replied, “I didn’t mean to I just thought you would pass out.” He did not seem to like what she was saying though, and she added hopefully, “I healed you as soon as I realized what I had done.”

  Flora chimed in, “Yes, she saved you.”

  Drake shot her a look that said, I will look at the tapes later.

  Flanagan finally spoke then breaking the tension in the room, his mouth newly formed and his voice clear, “One hell of a way to die though,” he smiled at Autumn, “you can practice that one on me anytime.”