The First Touch (19 page)

“I don’t know.” She looked deflated.
He slid is hand over to touch her and she stood suddenly. Then she spit out
,
walking away from him, to go and stand by Grayton, who seemed alarmed by her sudden closeness, “You were going to die soon and I knew I couldn’t stop it.”

Ivan almost choked, “Why could
you
not
stop it?”

Autumn stared at Grayton now and said, “I had changed then and I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to change back. I was no longer human and I couldn’t change back.”

Grayton looked at her with a new look in his eyes; it was a mixture of shock, awe and empathy. I
van stared at her back
feebly
,
as if he wasn’t able to accept or understand the words, “You could not change back?”

Autumn answered then, “My change was complete then at least I think
it was
,
I didn’t feel like I could pull back from the darkness anymore.”

Grayton looked at Serena and reiterated, “Her
skin was cold.”

Autumn seemed slightly alarmed now, “What is it?”

Serena looked at
Autumn
now in awe and spoke slowly and clearly. “You did not kill yourself; you simply took some of the fire from him.”

Autumn asked in return, “But he was going to die?”

Serena nodded, “Yes he was, and he will most likely
,
if you change before the kiss.” Autumn nodded yes and then walked towards Ivan and said over her shoulder, “Sorry Grayton.”

Grayton slid his hand
up in an attempt to stop her, but instead he let it drop understanding
. Ivan looked at her with fear in his eyes agai
n, and she frowned in response,
“Am I already changing?”

Ivan shook his head no and asked
,
“Do you feel alright?”

Autumn smiled genuinely admitting
, “I am a little bit nervous.” Ivan broke into a strained smile, and then
Autumn
leaned in closer wrapping her hands around his waist.

Then she leaned in,
slid
ing her hand up his neck, and into
his thick hair. He closed his eyes
and she paused for a moment stan
d
ing on her tippy toes to pull
his ear down to her mouth as she whispered, “I think I could love you.”

He jerked his head back and smiled genuinely at her for a moment, and then he replied suddenly tense
, admitting
, “As do I.” She smiled brightly and leaned in for the kiss.

Meanwhile
,
Sophi
a cleare
d her throat,
stopping her
inches from Ivan’s moist lips. She dropped her head in defeat and looked at Sophia who was blushing slightly, “You two are so cute together.”

Autumn smiled and then trying not to show her
disappointment
,
asked,
“You ready to head out?”

Serena smiled brightly and said, “
Autumn
, Sophia can ride with Grayton and
I in our car since Ivan has a
two
seater
.” Autumn and Ivan bot
h nodded and Grayton tossed him
a set of keys.

Autumn asked politely, “You don’t mind do you Sophia?”

Sophia smiled at Serena and then at Grayton who smiled back slightly flirtatiously and she blushed brighter and replied coyly, “No I don’t mind at all.” They all heade
d to the elevators, Ivan looked
particularly pale now. Autumn slid her hand into his and squeezed it
,
slowing her pace to be alone together.

Ivan complied understanding while
Autumn
whispered
, “If I don’t think I can make it. The bathroom will just have to do.” Then she stopped him, “Wait, if I can’t make it to the bathroom will there be a problem kissing in front of others?” As she said this she looked at the group ahead of them, “I mean will I pass out or anything?”

Ivan shook his head no and repli
ed, “No it should appear as
any other kiss
would
. It usually takes a few days to begin. Although your change might be different, so it would probably be best without an audience.”

Autumn blushed a little
thankful that she had decided not to do it in front of Sophia
after all
and Ivan squeezed her hand and
reassured her with a grin
, “No worries.” Autumn rolled her eyes and stepped onto the elevator with the rest of the group.

***

The ride down the elevator was uneventful, all th
ree of
Autumn’s
new friends
stood on one side of the elevator while Autumn stood in between Sophia and them. Sophia
seemed
uncomfortable
still
and
Autumn
felt as though she should say something
,
but her heart was in her
head. All she could think
of
now, was how close Ivan was to her and how much she wanted
to pull him close and kiss him
, before it was too late
.
She was t
hankful
for the first time,
that
all of this craziness in her
life,
was going to make sense, full circle, finally. Now once he was out of danger, she could remain close to him
, forever, more than likely,
assuming that she did not
turn first
and ruin everything
.

Ivan continued to hold her hand
,
even though the warmth turned t
o stic
ky perspiration in their
palm
s, finally capturing
Autumn’s
attention.
She
was surprised to find, as they walked through the lobby that Ivan was no longer pale but quickly turning pink. She snatched her hand back and w
iped it off
attempting to ignore Ivan’s steady gaze. He opened the door for them all and as soon as they passed Ivan was quickly by her side again. Autumn smiled as Ivan
smoothly slid his hand back in
to hers and squeezed. She looked at him
,
watching him closely and suspected that he squeezed to feel the rush again
as the rosiness returned once more
.

He led her to a black sports car and swept in front of her
, opening her door, watching
the other vehicle
all the while
. Autumn in turn watc
hed as the three of them slipped
into
a large
silver suburban wi
th darkly tinted windows
. Serena drove and Grayton jumped into the passenger seat while Sophia sat in the back.

“No worries, if you are correct
,
then Grayton will happily see to her comfort, even if she
is
not as beautiful as you,” Ivan offered.
Autumn blushed again and looked out the window at the rain that began to fall, not wanting for him to see her eyes.

Ivan spoke again, “Did I say something wrong?”

Autumn smiled and her blush darkened, then she replied trying to keep the smile from her voice and failing miserably, “No it’s nothing.”

Ivan smiled charmingly eyeing her, “What did I say that brought this on?” He slid his perfectly formed hands over to brush her crimson cheek.

She continued to darken in shades
and she closed her eyes asking
, “Will you think I am still beautiful after we kiss?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment and replied, “I think that I will.”

Autumn shot back instantly, “You think?”

He smiled and shrugged
, admitting
, “The fire has a way of warping your mind.”

Autumn snapped back, “So then you might think that Sophia is more attractive than I am?”

Ivan smiled then goading her a bit, “That is one possibility.”

Autum
n smacked him then
, “You
jerk
you could at least have the decency to lie, I am saving your life today!”

Ivan smiled and replied with a little more seriousness, “Yes, thank you.”

“It’s all right I can’t really complain I learned that I am not crazy today because of you…I need
ed
you
today
too
.”

Ivan corrected her then, “Actually you do not need me.”

Autumn looke
d at him puzzled and replied, “
Huh?”

“You would have be
en
changed one way or another, if I was unsuccessful, Serena would see to it that someone else came to claim you.”

She
made a face,
repeating his last
words,
“Claim me?”

Ivan replied a little more gravely, “Serena would send someone else to start the fire.”

Autumn asked then, “And I would have to kiss him then?” Ivan nodded, and
Autumn
asked slightly repulsed, “A stranger?” Ivan smiled
though he knew that he should no
t be happy at her reaction. He knew that she would undoubtedly forget all about him once she had a choice of whom she wanted as a mat
e. There were many
more desirable mat
es in the council
than him.
He wondered
if she
too
would be the same, woul
d she still blush when he compli
mented her then. Or would she like so many others become cold once she changed?

Autumn asked seeing his scowl, “What is it
love
?” Ivan turned his eyes toward her and the look faded.

“I was just thinking about the future.”

She smiled, “Well I don’t think it will be that terrible” Then her face changed to mirror his earlier scowl, “Unless you know something I don’t.”

Ivan carefully kept his eyes
on the wet road now
, “Things are going to change drastically for you very soon
Autumn
”

Autumn smiled then, “I think I can handle this change as long as you are there.”

Ivan looked
at her and shook his head
, “You might feel differently once you have changed as well.”

Autumn shrugged, “I still felt the same about you in my vision.” Ivan jerked the wheel into the parking spot bes
ide the suburban in front of the
restaurant.

Then he looked at her while he put in park, “What did it feel like?”

Autumn
smiled and said matter-of-factly, “Like we were one.”

Then he nodded and stared blankly at the steering wheel for a moment as the rain b
egan to pelt the window outside now
. Wordlessly, he opened his door and walked around and opened hers for he
r. She looked at him as she slid
out and waited for him to speak. When he didn’t, she huffed, “Is something wrong?”

Ivan shook his head no and replied, “I will need to speak with Serena,
she
knows more about the calling than I do.” Autumn nodded then grabbed his hand
, as she was led
into the diner and out of the pouring rain.

Second V
essel

Sophia was already sitting at a large booth in the back
,
with her two new friends. T
he diner was one of those
fifties
themed
things
. Shinny chrome and bright red everywhere, and even the staff wore generic teal fifties garb. The moment seemed a bit surreal until the electricity went out silencing the glowing noisy jute box
just as they entered
. The wa
itresses opened the window
shades one at a time bringing what little light that was outside
,
into the diner.

Sophia saved a spot for
Autumn
next to her
,
and patted it as she saw them approaching. Ivan sat next to Serena
,
on the opposite side of the table.
While
Autumn
immediately asked Sophia, “So do you have any plans for today?”

Sophia shook her head no and began browsing the menu
,
replying, “Nothing really.” Then
Autumn
asked Serena how long they were
planning on staying in town
during their visit
.