by Alice Sweet
Flora huffed as well, “I wonder what set her off.”
Grayton appeared next, “When I left her alone with Ivan she was fine, just tired.”
Flora turned and asked, “What did you do to make her angry Ivan?” Ivan continued to sit unblinking staring at the flames, she huffed, “Where is Serena I have questions.”
“Here I am.” Serena called out as she came running thru the flames. “So what set it off this time?” Serena asked wiping the ash from her newly forming curls.
Flora spat out, “Ivan did.”
Henry defended him then, “We do not know for sure.”
Flora huffed, “They were the only two in the room.”
Henry replied, “Perhaps it was just another part of her transformation process.”
Grayton huffed then along with the two females, “I think Ivan did it.” Just then the waves stopped and smoke filled the air as the remaining charred items released their last breaths. Autumn walked up the stairs, slowly and pushed open the little chunk of charred door that remained.
She saw Ivan propped against the wall and asked concerned, “What’s wrong with him?”
Serena replied, “Galen bit him.”
Autumn scowled and replied, “Where is he?”
Serena added defensively, “It was the only way to get Ivan away from you before you burned him to nothing but ashes.”
Autumn’s eyes widened with horror as she aimed her question at the other vessel, “Did you see that?”
Serena nodded solemnly, “Yes, what set it off?”
Autumn looked at Ivan and frowned then back at Serena and shrugged, “Ivan was uncomfortable with my changed appearance. I tried not to get upset but I couldn’t stop after I saw the look on his face.” Serena and Flora both nodded understanding Autumn’s actions, the males did not seem as understand.
Henry spoke first, “You will need to learn to control your emotions my dear.”
Autumn snapped back, “So if Flora looked at you with fear and repulsion in her eyes would you be able to control yourself?”
Henry looked at her surprised and then matter-of-factly, “But Flora is my mate it is different she is a part of me now.”
Autumn snapped back as she touched Ivan’s chest sending a glow into the room, “Well Ivan is my match as well.”
All eyes were on her now, Flora asked smiling “Ivan is your mate?” Autumn nodded without looking at Ivan, and Flora asked, “How do you know?”
Autumn looked at her confused, “Because I chose him.”
Flora asked, “But you did not sleep together?”
Autumn smiled, “I called him to me in a dream before I even changed and then I bonded him to me when we had our first kiss.”
Flora looked astonished, “So you knew all this time?” Autumn nodded, and Flora asked, “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
Autumn smiled at Helen and Grayton who walked towards them then, “I made him promise not to tell.”
Grayton smiled, “It made sense,” then he walked over and patted Ivan, “Sorry, but it was the only way that we could figure out how to prevent male challenges for the position of her mate, on top of the other tests.”
Helen replied smugly, “That does not prevent them from coming for him it only postpones it.”
Henry nodded, “Yes but the challenges will only come once she announces that he is her mate.”
Autumn nodded smiling, “So then no one should know then?”
Ivan finally stood next to her then clearing his throat, so everyone would look at him, “I do not want to hide it.” Autumn hissed and everyone bent their knees reading to run for a second time.
When Flanagan appeared next to them all and said, “Ivan, stop pissing the lass off. I am still growing skin from your last lovers quarrel.”
“Sorry, I will try to keep calm.” She replied, turning to Ivan her hands on her hips, “Why do you want to endanger yourself unnecessarily?”
Ivan looked at her, “I am not afraid.”
Autumn huffed, “So it will hurt your ego not to tell anyone?” Ivan did not answer, so she assumed the worse as usual. She snapped sliding her hand up to Ivan, holding him weightlessly in the air without touching him, “Fine do what ever you want. I am sorry that I forced you to be stuck with me. If I knew how to sever the bond then I would.”
Then she turned and stormed off, when they tried to stop her she waved her hand sending them all flying, cursing all the way out of the building.
She headed west, the building beginning to shake as she walked through it so she leapt from the first open window and took flight. When she spotted the cave from before, she landed, her agitation still bubbling in her chest. When she reached it she released Ivan from her grip and a pain shot through her chest. She cursed as she plopped on the familiar ledge from before, placing her hands over her face, asking after a few moments, “Do you have a mirror by any chance?”
Drake stepped out of the darkness and lit his hand brighter seeming surprised that she knew that he was there, “No but I can get one from Helen’s room if you would like.”
“Yes I think I would like that.” Drake nodded, and turned to leave, then she added, “I just need to be away for a while.” Drake nodded and left, and moments later he appeared again, this time carrying a large full sized mirror as well as some clean clothes.
Autumn smiled looking relieved, sniffing the air, “Is there water in here?”
Drake nodded, “A waterfall.”
Then she reached for the mirror, “I want to see the damage first,” Drake nodded and set the clothes down on the ledge. Autumn propped the mirror up and looked at herself for the first time since the boat’s bathroom, and she jumped back hissing. He did not even flinch, as she asked him flabbergasted, “Is that real? Is that me….”
Drake stepped closer putting himself into the frame with her reflection, “Yes that is you.” He seemed a bit different than she thought he would be, perhaps that was why she came here, some how she knew that he would understand her change. She had seen his life and his was the only one that was the truly like her own. A life filled with sorrow and disappointment, brought on by fate. As a mortal, she had thought that Grayton would be the one, since he too had never truly been in love before.
But Drake had shown her how pain twists you in a different way. Love has the power of at least providing strength in the hope of its rapture. Autumn’s life filled with pain only had the power to toughen the skin in preparation for more pain. Sadly, Autumn saw that it also twisted the mind. Additionally, she imagined, as she looked at the dark shadow that swayed behind Drake that it also twisted the soul.
Autumn declared then, looking at the creature in the window, “No wonder Ivan was frightened.” Then another truth hit her and she began to weep, “God, I don’t even have a soul now.”
Drake twisted then looking at her blinking, “You don’t?”
She blustered, “No I don’t.”
He asked still unemotional, “How do you know?”
She wept unabashedly, “I can see them. They are freaking everywhere, and I don’t have one.”
He nodded solemnly, “Perhaps it is there but you just do not see it.”
“I wish. I am soulless; perhaps that is why Ivan was repulsed by me. Maybe he can feel it too.”
Drake sniffed her hair jerking back before smiling devilishly, “It was probably because you smell like death.”
Autumn smiled and smacked him, fresh tears still in her eyes, “Where is the water?”
Twin Waterfalls
Drake flamed brighter and led her further into the cave. After a few minutes, the passage way opened into a large central room. In there, a two hundred foot sheer cliff stood, so enormous that she pinched herself thinking it a dream.
There were three different smaller waterfalls that all spilled over its side. They all pooled together into a larger waterfall in the center. It was dark water and steam rose up from it. Long ago formed stalactites and stalagmites lined the e
dges giving it an enclosed feeling. She smiled as she began taking her tattered clothing off absentmindedly completely absorbed in the view, “It is beautiful.” Drake nodded watching her undress, not saying a word.
As soon as she was naked, she jumped into the water, and sent water splashing onto Drake. He smiled and jumped into the water only pausing long enough to take his boots off before jumping in. Autumn began scrubbing her skin in the water and revealed her beautiful pale skin again. As she did she had a flash of her earlier vision of her and Drake’s first kiss together. Then she eyed him closely watching as he did the same. She watched as he sunk under the water scrubbing his face and notice then that his soul was not in the warm water with them. Instead it was on the shore line watching them stretched thinly across its surface. It was connected at the flame in his chest. The flame had a light red glow, in the chest of the shadow as well.
Then she smiled still scrubbing, and watched him continuing to scrub himself, while she did the same absentmindedly. When he turned to look at her prying eyes, she let herself sink to the bottom. Then she scrubbed her face and hair until it felt clean. The warm water felt good on her skin and her body hummed in pleasure. Then her mind wondered back to Drake’s fiery soul again and thought sadly, I wish I couldn’t see that. It hurt her heart to see his core so much like her own.
Then she pushed off the ground and shot up waist high exposing her bare breasts now only an arms length from Drake. As she sunk back to her shoulders, she began treading water. He froze instantly, watching her now, which caused her to freeze as well. Then she asked nervously, “What is it?”
He hesitated still looking at her dazed and then cut her off abruptly before she could speak again, “You look fine.”
She frowned then, “Then why are you looking at me so strangely?”
Drake snapped defensively, “I am not looking at you strangely.” Autumn watched the flames in Drake’s chest surge as she spoke, and she knew that he was lying. Autumn jumped from the water and walked back down the tunnel to the spot where her clothes and the mirror were waiting.
Autumn looked at her refection as she put her undergarments on, then she too paused gasping. She stepped closer and touched the mirror, then began examining her body more closely. There were veins every where now but they were flattering. Just like the highlights that appeared in her hair, the veins were the most prominent in places that accentuated her curves. There were concentrations under her breasts and under her butt cheeks. Under her chin framing her face nicely, air brushed perfection; she smiled delighted at her new reason for vanity.
Autumn turned to see Drake standing in the tunnel behind her. His eyes were dilated and he did not meet her gaze. She noticed that his mouth was slightly ajar, as if he were trying to breathe through his mouth as well, something that she had used before, to keep scents from invading her body. When she realized what his look had been about, and she smiled, “So I am not repulsive then?”
He nodded, still not meeting her gaze, “Not repulsive,” Autumn began dressing continuing to admire herself as she did.
Then she beckoned him to come to her and he walked to stand next to her without hesitation. She smiled and grabbed his damp shirt and pulled him closer looking at the two of them in the mirror. Then she smiled brightly, “We match.” He could not help but let a small grin escape his lips then, which caused her to smile even wider, “You know you are quite charming when you smile Drake?”
He smiled wider and she kissed him on his cheek, then she said, “Thank you Drake. I knew you would make me feel better.” He seemed confused by her words, as she continued, cursing Ivan, “If he doesn’t like me the way that I am now, then I will just have to find another mate.” She said that last part as she walked from the cave adding, “Thanks Drake.”
He nodded, finally breathing and replied, “No problem,” though he did not look happy as he watched her slipping out of the caves opening.
Autumn growled and let the dragon out then, feeling empowered and lifted off of the ground. She felt his eyes on her until she passed the clouds high above. She soared circling far above the castle for a moment or so and headed towards the main land. She made a promise to herself then that she would practice her skills, over the next two days. Just as Henry had told her to do before, he was right she thought, as she pushed herself higher into the air, suppressing her emotions did make things easier.
She was going to have to find a way to master that one some how. Then an image of Ivan’s smiling face, from her first encounter with him flashed into her mind. And she hissed shooting a bit of fire from her mouth then. Then she hissed at her lack of control, and felt the pressure build in her chest. She pushed harder until it hurt her chest then she moved the pain to another part of her body. It pushed up and out of her back then and her invisible wings grew larger and stronger.
Autumn smiled and pushed again and she reached the main land seconds later. As she landed she smiled and felt a tug in her head. It was a danger tug and she felt compelled to follow it along the shoreline to find the source. Minutes later, she saw Galen cornered by three females in a small alley. She landed behind them and listened as they hissed curses at him. Lashing out from time to time and taking chunks from his forearms and hands.
Two of the females were twins and it hit her as to what was happening then. Autumn placed her hands on her hips and smiled shaking her head. “This is what you called me for?”
Galen saw her and relief washed over his face then, “Autumn so nice to see you.”
The females all turned together looking at her with wide eyes, Autumn curtsied and said, “Good evening ladies.”
They curtsied as well and Autumn asked, already knowing the problem, “What seems to be the problem here ladies.”
One of the twins snapped, “Galen is a liar, he tricked us so that he could sleep with us and then went back on his word.”
Autumn nodded and said, “Galen is that true?” He nodded, and she agreed with the women, “Your right ladies. So what is your plan for him?”
The other twin seemed surprised, “We are right?” Autumn nodded her face hard and her eyes closing in on Galen, “Yes Galen has been nothing but a thorn in my side since I took him in, he should be punished.”
The third woman’s eyes went wide, “We can do it.”
Autumn turned her gaze on the woman and asked, “Are you sure? I can make it much worse than you all ever could.” Autumn smiled a toothy grin and then stared back at Galen who grew pale watching the discussion. The girls seemed conflicted now that they were faced with a real decision. She concentrated and said to Galen alone in his head, “Close your eyes and look as if you are in agony as soon as I put my hand out. You got it?” His eyes widened and he nodded.
“How about I start and when I am done you all can give it a try?” They looked at each other but only the first twin nodded still looking unsure. Autumn slid her hand out and Galen dropped to his knees wailing in pain. Then she twisted her wrist and so did Galen’s body. The women watched horrified as Autumn let a small seed take hold in her mind, as she said inside, “Galen, I am going to put you in a little pain but only for just a moment. That way we can get the really genuine deep sounds to make them believe. So do not hold back, alright.”
Galen nodded and Autumn pushed a knife of pain into his chest, and the sound she was looking for happened then. Autumn pulled the pain back and watched as one of the girls began to cry. Then Autumn hit him again and another woman gasped, as Galen screamed in writhing pain. As she pulled the pain back Galen began begging Autumn to stop, thrashing about. She felt her chest tighten at his words as the third finally covered her mouth and watched him shocked. Then for good measure she hit one last time, and Galen strangled out a surprised gasp of pain.
Then the first to tear asked, “Stop please,” Autumn stopped and lowered her breath then looked at Galen who was gasping for breath.
Autumn looked at the girls hers eyes dark, “You girls want to have a go at him now?�
�� They shook their heads no and Autumn shrugged and said, “Well you are all letting him off easier than I would have.” Then she looked down at Galen and said, “The next time Galen I will not be so merciful.” Galen nodded and the three women helped him up looking worried.
Autumn stepped back and then stopped, “Galen a word please,” and then she shot up into the air and he followed behind her. As soon as they were out of ear shot Autumn placed her hand on his cheek and asked, “Are you alright? I tried not to hurt you too much.”
Galen smiled though his eyes did not follow his lips lead, “Thank you for saving me.”
Autumn frowned, “I really did not mean to go that far, but I wanted to ensure that they did not burn my favorite birdman.” He smiled genuinely then, and she smiled back thoughtfully, “Perhaps that was why I felt the danger pulling me towards you.” Galen nodded, and Autumn offered, “You want to go get a drink? It has been a long day and I think I could use one.”
Galen smiled appreciatively, “I would love to but I need to apologies to them first,” as he said it he pointed down.
Autumn nodded, “Yes that is a good idea, and you should probably keep the empathy level up. Do you want me to yank your arm off for you or something?”
Galen winced, “No I think I have been tortured enough for one day.”
Autumn smiled, “Alright suit yourself, see you later.”
Galen stopped her with his hand, “Flanagan was headed to the pub in the next town about an hour ago you can probably catch up with him if you hurry.”
Autumn frowned, “I don’t want to bother him.”
Galen twitched his head, “He went looking for you after you stormed off earlier.”
Autumn smiled, “He did?”
Galen nodded, Autumn smiled brightly “Alright I’ll see if I can track him down.” Galen nodded and then headed back down to the three women below, a pained look on his face, as the three women surrounded him their anger all but forgotten. “Oh, look at him.” The other chirped in, “The poor dear, I think he needs a little tender care.”