The First Touch

by Alice Sweet

Next she felt the cleansing burn of the flame coming up from her belly. It burned her throat as she closed her eye’s feeling Mirth approaching her as the flames screamed inside of her head, Let it out! She felt the flames bubbling her skin from the inside, and sending pain down her spine. She kept thinking, I don’t want my people to burn, everyone else but those fighting for me, not my people. Then she felt Mirth’s weight on the boards in front of her. The pain stopped suddenly and she felt it release. Her back bowed and then arch hard and she opened her mouth and let the flames out.

  The flames shot from her like a volcano spewing lava hot and coving Mirth who shot straight into the air. The flames multiplied once they hit their targets and the stage cleared at once. Mirth’s men ran all clearly on fire, while Mirth watched from high up above. Autumn let out a growl that gurgled with fire. Shooting power through her face as the flames licked her skin, warming her entirely. She felt like a dragon and as she looked down at her hands that curled into claws below her, she could feel the vibrations under her from the bodies that still fought on top of the collapsed rooftop.

  Then she saw the massive claw shadow that stuck to the outer layer of her hands. She turned left and saw that her shadow was huge. Massive and horned with wings… and it was on top of her. Autumn opened her mouth testing it and more fire spewed out, beasts of myth. She blinked, her eyes felt new too, if it were possible she could see even more, sharper. Autumn smiled and looked around at the burning stage and saw Galen lying on the floor. He had wings and there was also a glow coming from Grayton’s skin. He was slowly putting himself together on the other side of the stage. She smiled and felt Mirth’s eyes on her from up above again, then heard a step come from behind her.

  Autumn twisted snake like towards the sound, and saw another Mirth, standing in a corner. His eyes were closed and his heart raced in his chest, like that of a human’s. Autumn looked up at him confused, there were two Mirth’s? Except that Mirth did not have a heart beat, none of them did save Ivan and her as far as she knew, but this other Mirth had a distinct, thump, thump, thump.

  Then she found herself distracted, as she saw Utvic appear, still invisible to the others, he was uninjured, and glowing brightly. He walked swiftly towards Autumn his expression pained, “Are you alright?” Autumn nodded though she was not sure if she really was or not. Utvic stopped short eyeing her closely, sensing the change, the creature within was not within anymore, but out and frightening.

  Autumn felt his gaze and smiled, and he stepped back cautiously when she did that. She felt her stomach growl and it rumbled all the way up to her throat and ripped free. Utvic stepped back again, putting his hands into the air protectively. Autumn nodded waving him away squeezing her eyes shut and then whispered, “Take Ivan with you.” He nodded and pulled Ivan’s body away with him as he left the great hall. Autumn felt a rush as she heard Ivan’s beating heart, alive but still unconscious.

  Autumn watched as Mirth signaled for two of his men to follow Ivan only to have Autumn raise her hand and stop them. They watched her still kneeling on all four griping her stomach and shaking, and they slowly crept forward testing her resolve. She hissed and as they grew closer to her. Then she growled low and let it rumble in her chest as her last warning sounded. The taller of the two pushed the smaller man forward testing her mistakenly for the last time.

  Autumn stood as he approached and felt the fire burning to come out of her again. So she parted her lips and sprayed him in the face and then walked after the other. She followed him through the crowd and after nearly a minute she stopped and snapped her fingers. Then she raised her hand and lifted him off the ground and slammed him back down. Autumn then grabbed his head and tore it from his body quickly and without hesitation, coving the remains in flames. Then she jumped back to the stage in one magnanimous leap.

  She headed straight to the second Mirth on the stage and sliced its head from its body. The Mirth in the air fell to the floor his head rolling away from his shoulders as well. Then she covered the bodies with fire from her chest.

  The mayhem that followed could not get any worse. Autumn let the blood rage finally take over as she pounced on each of Mirth’s remaining clan members, draining each one dry. Then lit them on fire with her mouth, and then threw them into a large pile in the center of the stage. All save one female that made it obvious that she was not intending to continue fighting now that Mirth was dead.

  Autumn forced the girl to slice her finger so that she could confirm the girl’s story while others watched. Afterwards the female fled from the castle knocking into several others in her hasty departure, alerting another clan to a shift in power. They ceased fighting with Autumn’s supporters and moved to the rear of the dilapidated hall at once, signaling to the others that the fighting was finally over, and Mirth had lost.

  Autumn jumped up and called out in her mind, “If you are with me then you should be on the left side of the stadium. If you are not then you should be on the right hand side. If you are unsure simply stay to the back please.” Minutes later, they were split into three groups, as Autumn hummed a sweet tune encouraging compliance. When she turned from the groups, she looked at her slowly recovering clan.

  They were all pretty damaged, many burnt and some missing limbs even Drake was still decapitated awaiting revival. Autumn headed for him first, placing his head back and alighting him. He sat up quickly and she stretched out and hugged him. He looked around at the burning stage and disheveling audience, then at Autumn’s changed face and twisted his head, “Autumn?” She nodded, and then she stood helping him to his feet. As she did her fingers glowed, much like Utvic, and a thought occurred to her, he might simply have an abundance of darkness in that glow.

  Distracted she walked to the center of her clan as a thought occurred to her then placing her hands together and radiated heat from her palms. She thought about each of them one at a time healing each one of them completely. When she opened her eyes again they were all whole again, and only a few seconds had passed. Then she walked to the edge of the stage and did the same for the left side of the auditorium.

  When she opened her eyes the left side was all staring at her in devotion and the right side watched her in horror. Autumn smirked as many of the bodies near the back moved closer to the left side then, asking politely, “So will there be anymore challengers for me or my clan today?”

  All eyes watched her and silence followed. Autumn nodded and turned to Henry, “This meeting is finished then?” Henry nodded, and Autumn said, “If you would like a private audience with me I will be available the day after tomorrow as soon as the sun rises.”

  Then Autumn stepped to the right side and said, “I am extending this invitation to all, regardless if they are for and against my leadership, so if you have any lingering questions or concerns then please feel free to come and see me.” Then she stepped back to center stage while the pile of dead bodies behind her hissed and popped, “Oh and thank you all for coming, I hope you all have a safe trip home.” The looks on the faces of many were near comical and she suppressed a giggle. The surreal feeling that followed sent a smile to her face as she turned towards the council.

  That was when she noticed it, a waving of grey figures behind each of the council members. They moved as if they were separate but still grounded, connected at their feet to each of their bodies. But unlike the dragon figure that she had seen before, their bodies were colorless, save Serena’s whose eyes glowed with golden globes that rested in her sockets. Autumn was surprised to see that Galen’s wings which were also connected to his wavering shadow as well. She had so many questions; she hoped that Utvic was able to find something for her.

  Autumn cleared her throat and turned towards Grayton and smiled unusually brightly, “Grayton will you please come with me?” He nodded and followed her out of the room and then as soon as the door closed, she slumped towards the ground.

  Grayton caught her waist and pulled her back up to him. Then Autumn mumbled eyes closed, “I n
eed to see Ivan.”

  He nodded and picked her up carrying her in his arms, “I will take you to him.”

  Autumn whispered, “Thank you,” and she rested her head on his shoulder rubbing her eyes allowing them to close, “Did I do ok?”

  He grinned, “You were perfect.”

  She smiled her eyes still closed and her voice strained, “Yay me.”

  She nodded off and then came to almost immediately blinking the sleep from her eyes, “Wake me when you find him.” Grayton grunted his disapproval, and Autumn asked sleepily, “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes, but you obviously need to rest.”

  Autumn nodded, “I will, just take me to him please.”

  Grayton replied, “As you wish.” She grinned, nuzzled his neck and went to sleep.

  New Eyes

  Ivan came to and sat up. He was in the basement cell, covered in blankets. He pushed them off and a pad of paper fell on to the floor. Ivan tried the door, but it was locked. Then he turned and picked up the pad of paper and saw a note written upon it. Autumn asked me to take you from the stage and keep you safe. Ivan huffed and dropped the note pad on the bed and tried the door again.

  Then he heard scratching behind him and he turned around, looking at the note pad. A floating pencil was scratching a message on to the paper. Ivan walked over and read Autumn is alive, Mirth is dead.

  Ivan asked the space above the pencil, “Then why am I here?”

  The pencil scribbled, “She was hungry I do not think that she will come and retrieve you until she has eaten her fill. She seemed...”

  The pencil stopped and Ivan asked seeming frustrated, “She seemed what?”

  The pencil scribbled, “She seemed different, changed, and darker. She is the eye.”

  Ivan nodded, “But?”

  The pencil scribbled quickly, “She looks different, Isisa, only darker. Her eyes are unlike anything I have ever seen before. It was quite disturbing, when I saw them, perhaps better once she eats.”

  Ivan said seeming worried then, “Describe them to me.”

  The pencil wrote slowly stopping and starting jerkily, “They were solid metallic blue... with a pearl sheen... that moved...inside of them as if they were trying to escape.”

  Ivan nodded, “Her face, veiny like Mirth’s as well?”

  The pencil wrote, “Yes. There were more of them though and other changes. Her features were sharper somehow and she moved differently.”

  “She may need me.”

  The pencil shook back and forth chastising him then and wrote, “She wanted you away from her so she would not hurt you, her beast was strong and she was barely able to contain it long enough for me to take you from the stage.”

  Ivan asked, “Me?”

  The pencil hesitated and then wrote, “My name is Utvic, I am a sort of a personal guard for the eye.”

  “Why have I never known this before?”

  The pencil scribbled, “Isisa requested that I stay hidden. Autumn seems to have another agenda for me.”

  Ivan soured, “Baby sitter.”

  Utvic scribbled, “I do what I am told...” Then the pencil tapped and continued, “I consider it an honor to protect the mate of the eye.”

  Ivan shot the pencil a look, “She is not my mate.”

  Utvic laughed silently, then scribbled, “She seems to think otherwise.”

  “When did she say this?”

  Utvic scribbled, “Last night while she waited for her sleep to come. She sleeps a great deal for a vessel. Isisa would go months without sleep.”

  “I feared that she was holding back her powers, since her first mentioning of the darkness inside her.”

  He replied writing quickly, “I fear you may be right.”

  Ivan asked then turning from the pencil, “Did she say why she did not come to me and tell me herself?”

  Utvic nodded though he realized that Ivan was still awaiting an answer, “She said that she wanted to keep you out of danger for as long as possible. She made me promise, she said when she was finished today that she would tell you then.”

  Ivan asked, “If she told you not to tell then why are you doing it now?”

  Utvic shrugged invisibly again and replied, “The test is finished, there is no point in you not knowing, besides, I needed to stall for more time.”

  Ivan asked narrowing his eyes, “Stall.”

  “This cell will not hold you if you are determined to get out.” Ivan nodded seeming satisfied, then Utvic scribbled, “Someone is coming.”

  ***

  Grayton slid his hand up and unlocked the door to the cell and walked inside carrying Autumn safely in his arms. Ivan was standing next to the bed his eyes on Autumn instantly, “What is wrong with her?”

  Grayton snapped back, “Nothing she is just tired, she killed Mirth and his clan.”

  Autumn turned opening her eyes sleepily frowning confused, “Mirth?”

  Grayton hushed her, “No go back to sleep.”

  Autumn frowned and nuzzled him again; about to drift back off to sleep then she stopped herself. She began sniffing his neck and then bit him and he hissed in pain and she lifted her head her brow furrowed, “I told you to wake me when you found him.” Grayton handed her off to Ivan who pulled her tightly to him, she watched Grayton out of the corner of her eye, “Don’t be so over dramatic, I didn’t even break the skin.”

  Grayton smiled and winced, “I will leave you two alone.”

  Autumn smiled and nuzzled Ivan and said, “Thank you Utvic and thank you Grayton.”

  Grayton seemed confused by her words but did not stop to ask his comfort level being met at seeing her smiling in Ivan’s arms. Utvic slipped out as Grayton closed the door behind him saying, “You are welcome.” Ivan lay Autumn down on the bed and stood next to it watching her. She finally looked up at Ivan then, her brows furrowing, patting the bed next to her. He stood stiffly and watched her unmoving. Autumn rolled over facing away from him and said, “Hold me love.”

  Ivan lay next to her and slid his arm around her though he did not pull her closely. Autumn huffed and then scooted back, grabbing his arm, pulling him closer to her body. When she released his arm he loosened his grip again, and Autumn snapped turning towards Ivan in annoyance, “What’s wrong?” Ivan cringed at her words, but he didn’t speak, so she huffed, “Should I just call for Drake then?”

  Ivan seemed confused, “Drake?”

  Autumn snapped back, “Yes Drake, he owes me and I will sleep better if I am being held by someone who makes me feel safe.”

  Ivan huffed, “Do you want me to go and get him?”

  “No I want you to tell me why your acting so strangely so I can go back to sleep.”

  Ivan’s eyes widened, “You look different.”

  “Yes I guessed that. Is that why you’re uncomfortable?” Ivan did not answer, and she took it as a yes, and she cursed under her breath.

  Ivan twitched slightly when she cursed, Autumn asked seeming alarmed now, “How different could it be? What do I look like?” Ivan still did not answer and Autumn felt the anger beginning to build, “Am I that different? Am I hideous? Am I zombie all puss and oozing?” She began frantically touching her face but it felt the same to her. Then she saw his look of fear and she jumped from the bed, “Am I like demon scary?” Then she cursed again and then touched her face again the anxiety building in her chest.

  Autumn recognized that something was wrong then, “You should go now Ivan.” When she felt pain shoot through her then, Ivan stepped closer to her and her cold voice snapped, “Get out.” Autumn felt the fire building in her chest and she cursed again grabbing her chest. Ivan still stood there watching, and she hissed weakly, “The fire is coming. Run and take the guards with you.” Ivan finally backed away slowly and banged on the door, reluctantly. It opened and he slipped out and told the guards to clear the basement.

  Then to Autumn’s disappointment Ivan stepped back into the room leaving the door ajar. She dropped to her knees a
nd closed her eyes and whispered, “I am scared Ivan, please leave.” Autumn saw him walk over and open the door, then Autumn heard Galen’s wings flapping and heavy thudding coming from a parade of feet. Serena was the first to the door and Autumn dropped her head to the ground as her skin began to bubble, as she screamed, “Away!”

  Serena already had her arms around Ivan pulling him from the room. Ivan struggled against her in the hallway, their feet shuffling. When a thud followed and Serena hissed, “She will kill you if you stay.”

  Ivan growled, “She needs help.”

  Serena hissed, “I saw you die!” Sending a look of disbelief from Ivan, while distracted Galen bit into his neck while Henry held him and more growling followed, Ivan continued grunting and snarling as they drug him away.

  Seconds later, they opened the final heavy door leading from the cellar to the main floor. As they finally yanked Ivan through it, flames shot from the door way covering them all in it. They scattered, Henry dragging Ivan with him as he crashed thru several walls to escape the flames that followed him. When they were all safe enough that the flames could no longer reach them Henry finally put Ivan down.

  Ivan lay stiff, watching the flames flowing in waves from the door to the cellar. The air dried but Ivan’s cheeks remained wet, tears flowed down his face as the rest of his body remained immobile. His frustration and sorrow over the loss of his love sent waves in the air and Henry felt it. Henry turned and said, “Serena said she walked up the stairs in her vision.” Ivan’s eyes did not move, and Henry continued, “She said that she was holding a pile of ash and that she could not bring you back.”

  Ivan stopped crying then and Flora appeared smiling and wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Don’t cry, it will be over soon.” Then Flora touched his arm and asked Henry, “How long will it last?”

  Henry replied solemnly, “I do not know, when Autumn returns I am sure she can revive him.”

  Flora nodded, “How long do you think she can flame?”

  Henry grunted, “As long as she wants to.”