The First Touch

by Alice Sweet

  Henry burst in looking distraught, “Serena, there is something wrong with Serena.”

  They jumped from the bed, and Autumn asked, while she dressed, “Where is she?”

  Henry had already turned around politely, and answered, “She is in the great hall.” Autumn turned and jumped from her window and Ivan growled and then followed after as Galen. They landed in the dilapidated great hall, Autumn dropping next to Serena’s convulsing body.

  She put her hands on Serena and cried out in pain. Ivan reached out and touched her and then he cried out as well. Then everything went black and Autumn felt Ivan let go. She squeezed her eyes tightly together and felt a hot breath on her face again. She gasped and rolled off of the ledge and hit the floor hard. The floor was dusty and she was disoriented by the fall, as ruff hands pulled her to her feet.

  Test Three

  Then Autumn heard two voices talking, one of which was familiar, Gregory, no doubt. “She is awake, finally.”

  Autumn looked around groggily as she was dragged by her arms though a familiar looking area, then she called out, “Utvic.”

  The two men did not even slow, “Utvic where are you? I need you. What is going on? Where are they taking me? Utvic?” One of the guards hit her in the face with the butt of his rifle.

  Autumn nearly passed out, but a whisper in her ear caused her to hold on, “Wait…”

  Minutes later, they set her down on the floor outside the main hall.

  A voice whispered then, “How do you know my name.”

  Autumn smiled and whispered, “You told me your name.” He did not speak again and then she asked, “Why am I here?”

  Utvic answered, “You are to be tested.”

  Autumn made a face, “Again?” Utvic did not answer her and Autumn asked, “I have been asleep for what a month?”

  He answered, “Yes.”

  Then she cursed, and cursed again, “God I hope this is a dream.”

  “Not likely,” replied Utvic.

  “I have not had a drink yet. I have not finished the transformation yet.”

  Utvic commented, “Mirth will not care.”

  She nodded and then replied, “Wait Mirth? Why will him not caring have any bearing on the test?” The door opened and the men yanked her up and she cursed, then the men dropped her in the center of the stage. Autumn lifted her head slowly her hair hanging in front of her eyes. In the very center, Mirth was sitting were Henry had been sitting before. Autumn’s eyes darted around immediately, and then spotted Galen, Drake and Ivan sitting in chairs along with the rest of Mirth’s clan, including Jessup and Ann.

  Her mind raced, why was Mirth in charge?

  Mirth spoke coldly, “You awoke this Ivan?”

  Ivan shrugged and then sneered, “I had to, she touched me.” Autumn felt a tear in her heart when he spoke those words.

  Then Mirth waved and a guard rushed from the room, and he continued, “She’s quite ugly and she smells atrocious. You have the worst luck my friend.” Ivan shrugged again, and he looked uninterested at Autumn, her heart breaking given the bliss that they had just shared the night before.

  Ivan returned his attention to the guard who was dragging Serena in chains across the floor to sit next her. Autumn looked at Serena and then up at the ceiling that she thought that she had destroyed days earlier. It was perfect like it had never happened, and she swallowed hard, feeling her new painful reality.

  Mirth called out to Serena, “Well Serena, is this the female that you spoke of?” Serena nodded and a slice shot across her face and she twisted her head back down towards the assault. Serena called out in pain and dropped to her knees as it slowly healed. Autumn dropped her head again and closed her eyes felling Serena’s pain coming off in waves. Then she cursed under her breath, and Mirth eyed Autumn again. Then she felt the boards shift and she squeezed her eyes tighter concentrating on Lyla’s energy angry and raw.

  She felt her getting closer, waiting to attack on command. Autumn began to pull herself away from the rage and towards Mirth and his council. He watched seeming interested and watched as he flicked his wrist and Autumn put her arm up defensively towards her unseen attacker. Lyla sliced at her and she hissed and called out in pain. Mirth flicked his wrist again and Autumn let it slip, “Lyla stop it.”

  The attack stopped and Mirth patted his side and Autumn dragged herself next to Serena again. Then she looked at Serena’s face and saw how emaciated she looked under her straggly locks. Then Mirth said, “Where is she now?”

  She shrugged, “Next to you.”

  Mirth seemed disinterested and then asked skeptically, “You see many imaginary people.” Autumn cursed again and then looked at Serena once more, and then at Mirth and said, “I see a shadow it is beckoning me to come to him.”

  He grinned, “Just one?” She nodded looking at Serena who quivered at her motions.

  Then she squinted, and one by one they all appeared in front of her eyes. There were twelve waving shadows by the end and she squinted extra hard at Ivan who continued to stare at the floor. Then she realized, I can call anyone that I want. But her heart called Ivan’s and he sat up and glanced down at her suddenly nervous. She cursed again, twelve waving shadows and still all her mind focused on Ivan. Mirth asked seeming annoyed by her slowness, demanding, “Whose shadow is calling to you?”

  Autumn cursed again as all of the shadows began to move in on her and then she called out, “I don’t think you will like it.”

  Mirth’s eyes narrowed, “I will be the judge of that.”

  Autumn hissed, “If I tell you, Lyla will attack me again.”

  Mirth raised his eyebrow and said, “You will not be attacked unless I command it.”

  Autumn frowned, “She will not listen to you this time.” Mirth gestured to Lyla and she left.

  Mirth twisted his head waiting for the words and Autumn said, “It is you.” Mirth narrowed his eyes and she shrugged, “I am not thrilled either.” Then Autumn gave the performance of her life, looking totally bewildered then, “Wait. What does that mean? It doesn’t mean I have to face you for this test thing does it?”

  Mirth asked mesmerized now, “What does the shadow look like?”

  She squinted, “It is dark almost black and it is connected to your feet.” Then she added, “And it keeps hissing at me, and trying to reach out and touch me.” She slid back dragging her legs behind her as his soul continued to step forward, then Autumn whispered, “It is like a ghost. It is quiet disturbing.”

  He did not like her choice of words, and he almost frowned, then she corrected herself, “I mean I thought only dead people could see ghosts and I don’t feel dead.”

  Mirth agreed with her, smiling now, “You are not dead.”

  She looked at him and then at his shadows and said, “Then what is it? Is that your power or something? Scaring others to death?”

  Autumn heard a few giggles at her remark and Mirth snapped, “You are here to be tested….”

  “Because Serena said that I was special?”

  Mirth smiled darkly, “Yes.”

  “But I should see more shadows if I were the special one you were testing for.”

  Mirth nearly growled now, “Unless you are lying.” Then he flicked his finger at Drake.

  Drake stood and walked to the edge of the stage slowly twirling his pebble. Autumn cursed again and then beckoned for a guard to come to her. He did not seem willing so Autumn said to Mirth matter-of-factly, “I need help to stand.”

  Mirth looked at her with an indescribable look in his eyes now, “You cannot stand?” Autumn nodded and Mirth gestured for the guard, who walked over to help her up. Autumn struggled so he stepped in closer, then Autumn bit him hard on the forearm. He hit her on the back of her head and then threw her violently across the stage.

  Autumn smiled, blood dripping from her lips and on all fours she turned back and leapt on to his back as he ran for his life. She clamped down on his shoulder and he fell like a rock. Mirth nearly s
miled as she lifted her head and twisted her neck cracking it and watched as Lyla shimmered to life next Mirth. Autumn smiled darkly and felt the first fire ball land inches from her head.

  Autumn began to sway as the power began to pulse through her. She caught the next fire ball as she searched desperately for the hidden Mirth who she guessed would be close to the other on the podium. She was unable to locate him in the room, as she threw the ball back at Drake hitting him square in the chest. Then Mirth gestured for two other males from his clan to help Drake. Autumn looked at Serena and felt the anger build in her chest. Autumn looked up at Ivan who still looked down at the ground seemingly uninterested, and murmured to herself, “No help.”

  Autumn hissed not taking her eyes off Ivan, “Serena do you know who I am?” Serena stared at the ground unresponsive and Autumn kicked her lightly with her foot repeating her question, “Serena do you know who I am?” Serena nodded and Autumn reached down and broke the chains that kept her prisoner, though she did not move once they were broken. Autumn watched now as guards began to slowly close in on them as well, “No, Serena do you really know who I am?”

  Serena nodded quivering, “Yes you are the next eye.”

  Autumn cursed, “Yes but do you know me? I mean really know me?” Serena seemed confused, and Autumn held her hand up to the men closing in on them, “Back off.”

  The bodies went flying and the remaining sitting bodies all stood up, watching Autumn in alarm, except Mirth who suddenly seemed pleased. Then Autumn said in her cold voice, “Drake, why are you sitting on Mirth’s council?” Drake narrowed his eyes, his chest fully healed now, she snapped repeating her question, “Mirth killed your first, why are you serving on his council?” Drake seemed concerned for a moment and then threw another fire ball at Autumn nearly hitting her, she snapped, “He had you kill her because no one else could get close enough. But she loved you and you loved her, yet you killed her. So what has changed to make you serve the man who ordered that death?” Drake growled then and threw another ball this one widely missing her, Autumn smiled then she had hit a nerve.

  A few more of Mirth’s men stood and joined in on Drake’s attack. Then Autumn said, “Serena, I need you to listen to me carefully, when did Mirth take control of the council?”

  Serena seemed confused, “The council?”

  Autumn snapped her fingers and sent Lyla flying, then cursed, “What is going on here? Why is everything inside out? Why does no one know who I am? Where is the rest of the freaking council?” Serena cowered shaking violently her mind obviously not there or unable to connect to reality anymore, Autumn snapped her head back towards her current problem. The men that had been brave enough to close in on her again went flying with another wave of her hand as Autumn headed for the head chair, “And why are you in charge?”

  Mirth stood as she approached and his entire original clan came for Autumn now. She swept her hand across the scene in front of her and they all went flying this time with surprised screams escaping their lips. She cut several of them as they flew backwards and found herself covered in blood. The taste was invigorating, and Autumn felt an echoing growl escape from her lips. Autumn also noticed that the two other men that she was concerned about sat in their seats watching her closely though unmoving.

  Even Drake had returned to staring at his pebble twirling it in his hand mulling her words over in his head she guessed. Autumn felt pleased then, none of her men seemed the least bit aggressive, and most importantly none looked as if they were going stop her. Mirth also growled noticing that none of them moved as Autumn closed in on him. Autumn smiled speaking sarcastically, “I don’t like this possibility, I hope I wake up soon.”

  As Autumn closed the last steps to Mirth, she heard Serena screaming and Autumn looked back to see Lyla slicing her to death. Autumn snapped her fingers and Lyla went flying across the stage her chest gushing blood. Next Autumn picked Serena up and landed her body safely in the chair next to her and closest to Ivan. While Mirth lifted his hand to strike and she caught it easily breaking every bone in his hand. He hissed and another wave of previously defeated men sprung up behind her in response. Autumn twisted her waist and sliced through fifteen or so vessels and guards disemboweling all of them. Then Autumn sliced Mirth’s head clean off.

  The other Mirth stood perfectly still and watched as Autumn moved pawns around easily announcing check mate. Then she heard him whisper, “You said that I would win.”

  Then another voice whispered, “I made a mistake, she remembers. I will fix the next one.”

  Mirth hissed, “The next one?” Autumn crossed the room quickly and sliced his head off and set the bodies on fire with her hands. Then she turned to look behind the large wall hangings, only to be stopped by the sound of Ivan being beheaded by an invisible Lyla. Autumn turned to watch as Drake threw fire balls setting Lyla on fire and war broke out on stage.

  Autumn headed strait for Ivan only to be side tracked by three males trying to steal the weakened Serena, who had passed out in her chair. Autumn fought through the crowd until she landed a hand on the largest of the three and pulled his hood off. Autumn gasped, “It’s you.”

  A dirty faced Henry looked at her, obviously not aware of whom she was, “We do not want any trouble.”

  Autumn nodded understanding immediately, “I will come to check on her later.”

  Henry seemed frighten now and taken aback by her words, “How will you know where to find her?”

  Autumn smiled tilting her head to the side, “Henry I wish I could explain right now but I can’t.” Henry seemed even more concerned, and Autumn noticed something then, Henry seemed younger somehow, and inexperienced, “Tell Flora I said hello. Wait never mind, she won’t know me yet either will she? Ah well.” Then she turned and left, throwing men left and right as she made her way back up the stage. Henry looked at Autumn as if she were insane, watching her walk away his eyes wide, before he turned and left with Serena. As she grew closer to the stage she saw Drake being cornered by several of Mirth’s clan. Autumn slid her hand across the group and sent them flying. Drake looked up at her smiling face and found himself smiling as well.

  Autumn slid her hand out and helped his burning hand up. He seemed particularly interested in her lack of a burnt flesh and turned it over to examine it. She smiled at his curiosity, and then confided, “Mirth was not my match.”

  Drake smirked, “I figured that when you cut his head off and then set his body on fire.”

  Autumn nodded smiling brightly, “Yes, today was a good day.”

  Then Drake nodded in agreement though his face soured, “I was not able to save Ivan.” She suddenly remembered her mate and rushed to where she had left the body.

  It was gone, and Autumn closed her eyes and tried to find the body then was hit by a large male who had been aiming for another of Mirth’s men. Autumn pushed him back to his feet and then pressed her hand to Ivan’s chair. Then she felt Gregory’s breathe again and she awoke in her bed at home.

  The Beginning …Again

  She sat up and cursed and then said to herself, “I should own a gun.” Autumn watched as Jack jumped up on the edge of the bed and Autumn smiled and brushed his fur. Then she fished under the pillow next to her and wrote in her journal, every last detail that she could remember from her last life. Then she flipped through the book slowly, and began reading the journal entries. ‘Today was three weeks from the first time she met and kissed Ivan. Why so early?’

  It had only been a week since she had her first dream about Ivan according to the journal. He told her that he had begun walking that street each evening searching for his kiss girl since he had the dream. Autumn was not going to make any more mistakes this time. Her mind cycled through the dream sequence over and over then it accrued to her what she was going to have to do. She packed every one of her files into two large duffle bags, and placed them next to the door.

  Then she showered and dressed examined her self closely in a mirror completely diss
atisfied with her appearance, taking great care at applying her make-up and creams. Knowing that Ivan’s eye sight was going to be so much better than her own. She even felt a bit nervous, thinking about meeting Ivan again for the first time. She smiled; well at least she didn’t need to be scared of him now. Then she paused, and huffed, not for the same reasons as before anyways.

  She fed Jack an inordinate amount of cat food and said, “I am going to send someone to get you. I want you to be nice to him until he can bring you to me. Ok?” Jack meowed looking concerned. Then Autumn smiled, “I promise as soon as I can I will come and get you.” she petted Jack until he was purring loudly. Then Autumn tucked her small red book, her last note pad and her journal in her bag full of clothes. She had to move around her grooming supplies and a passport to fit it all but she was finally able to fit it all, and then she headed for the door. She dragged her bags to the elevator and left them with her favorite door man, for safe keeping until she was ready to go. Then she retrieved her mail and headed back up to her floor. Next, she put on a brave smile as she knocked on Sophia’s door. Autumn handed Sophia her mail and stepped inside after a short greeting.

  Then she proceeded to tell her that she knew this really gorgeous guy from work who was going to be in town on Saturday night. Then Autumn asked if she could give him her phone number. Sophia hymned and hawed for a while, as Autumn expected that she would. That was until Autumn explained that he was a lover of classical music, and his ability to play several instruments. Sophia finally agreed to give her number, to pass along.

  Then Autumn made an excuse that she also had a first date planned for that night. Sophia showed an appropriate amount of enthusiasm and commented pleasantly on Autumn’s appearance, she left smiling brightly. On her way out she brushed past two thick men in the hall way, as she was leaving Sophia’s apartment. Autumn headed for the foyer where her door man was waiting for her to let her out and loaded her bags into the taxi. Autumn smiled brightly at him and waved as she drove away.