The First Touch (53 page)

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 da
zed 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 he
r 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 breas
ts and under her butt cheeks. Under her chin framing her face nicely,
a
ir 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 h
is mouth as well, s
omething that she had used before, to keep scen
ts 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 m
eeting her gaze, “Not repulsive,
”
Autumn
began
dres
sing 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 no
t help but let a small grin escap
e 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 b
y 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 sai
d that last part
as she walked from the cave adding
, “Thanks
Drake
.”

He nodded
,
finally breath
ing and replied, “No problem,” t
hough 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 he
r 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 c
ornered 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.”

A
utumn
nodded and s
aid, “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 fi
rst 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 e
nsure 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 y
ourself,
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.”

He feigned a pain in his side as one of them began care
ssing his neck and
another
his
side, cooing and coddling him as they left
the alley. The last one offering
, “I still have that
nurse’s
outfit….”

***

Autumn
landed in front of
the only pub in the next town, closing
her eyes and felt Fl
anagan
,
though she could not hear
his voice. She smiled and calmed herself looking at her reflection in the shiny metal placard bolted to the side of the
building. It took her nearly two
minutes
. Then she pushed open the door and saw Flanagan drinking at the bar alone looking miserable.

Autumn
sat down next to him asking, “Why do you look so glum
?”

Flanagan turned towards her instantly overjoyed, “Where did you go off to love?”

She
smiled warmly, “I had to go get cleaned up and relieve some stress by torturing Galen a bit first.” Flanagan raised his eye brow and
Autumn
waved it off instructing
, “Buy me a drink. I
still need to blow off some
steam. I am in desperate need of some fun in my life.”

Flanagan grinned
, “Fun I can do
lass
.”
Autumn
smiled bri
ghtly and giggled. Then he
ordered for
her
, “
A
bottle of rum for the
wee darlin’
.”
Autumn
smiled brightly, while Flanagan
began by filling her head with stories of challenges in the past. Then they bar hopped following the night until they looped back
to the island
around two
a.m. the following day
.