The First Touch (62 page)

Autumn
furrowed her brows thoughtfully, “I never even considered that.” Ivan almost smiled at her then, and
she
added thoughtfully, “If I am the one moving us then I will need you to remind
me
of that possibility once I have replaced Mirth.”

Ivan looked thoughtful now, “How will you find that answer?”

Autumn
blinked, “I will have to have Grayton hold Gregory until I can get there.”

Ivan offered
, “
I can do that.”

Autumn
raised an eyebrow at him, “I do not want you to do anything that will make you uncomfortable. I am going to kill Gregory after I get the information that I need from him.”

Ivan shrugged, “I have no loyalties to him.”

Autumn
nodded, and continued, “They have already had all but four of my allies kill
ed and of those remaining,
well
they
a
r
e a part of their clan.”

Ivan watched her
closely, “Galen will not turn
.”

She
nodded, “Yes I suppose you are right but it will not stop me from trying to turn him.”

Ivan looked at her skeptically, “You are being naive.”

Autumn
smiled, “I am the eye, Ivan. No one can kill me or stop me except for another eye.”

“Yes and Mirth is another eye.”

Autumn
huff
ed, “His power is not limitless. H
e will fall.”

Ivan huffed
back
, “He is an eye. I have seen his powers.”

“Yes exactly you have seen what he wanted you to see. He carries vials of his dead sister’s blood. You could do the same if you had that advantage.”

Ivan cut his eyes at her, “You have not slept yet.”

She beamed
, “That was why I have you love. You can protect me while I sleep.”

Ivan nodded confirming her statement, “I do not think you should face Mirth.”

Autumn
replied sadly, “He will not give me that choice, love. Once I awake he will challenge me and attempt to kill me.”

Ivan hissed confirming her
suspicions
this time, “Yes he will.”

She
repeated, “Yes he will.”
Autumn
smiled devilishly, “Unless you allow him to kill me before I have slept or during it.” Ivan eyed her suspiciously, and
Autumn
smiled wider and then poked his side playfully, “Does no one ever tease you?”

He
fro
wned, “This is a serious matter
Autumn
.”

She
smiled, “I know but this may be my last night with you. Can you blame me for trying to keep it light?”

Treachery

Ivan frowned, “If Mirth comes for you I will not be able to stop him.”

Autumn
frowned, “But you will give your life trying to
won’t
you.”

“Yes I will.”

Autumn
smiled brightly, “Yes you would wouldn’t you?” Ivan eyed her again and
she
replied more seriously rolling her eyes, “I will be leaving you with a stack of vials to
aid
you before I nod off for my month or so of slumber.”

He
paused then, “Why would you do that?”

Autumn
frowned, “To keep you safe while I sleep silly.”

He
seemed even more confused, “Are you sure?”

She
eyed him now, “Why is there something wrong with my plan?”

Ivan snorted and replied, “No, but you are leaving your life in the hands of virtual strangers.”

Autumn
frowned deeper, “What strangers? No, I am leaving my life in the hands of the two men that I trust most in this world.”

He
hissed, “I do not think you should trust Grayton.”

She
smiled, “Why not?”

Ivan replied flatly, “He could betray you.”

Autumn
smiled wider, “He could say the same for you.”

“Yes but I will not.”

“I know that. You are unhappy about our circumstances as am I but this is the only thing that I could think of.”

“This plan would be better without Grayton.”

Autumn
frowned, “No you are wrong. What we really need
are
more people. The problem is that aside from
Drake
, and Sophia, I know no one else that I could trust.
”

Ivan nodded, “I could speak to
Drake
”

“Yes and if I knew where to find Sophia then I could bring her in as well.”

“You may be able to find her now.”

Autumn
frowned, “Yeah, How?”

“You just need to call her and she will come.”

Autumn
frowned, “I do not have her phone number.”

“
No call her with your mind.”

She
frowned, “But she could be half way across town, or even in another city, if she saw her apartment.”

“If you are the eye, then when you call she will come.”

Autumn
frowned, “But I haven’t slept yet.”

“
Isisa
could call others even before her change.”

Autumn
nodded, “Will it only call her or will others be able to hear as well?”

Ivan replied, “No one will hear that you do not want to hear.”

She
smiled brightly, “Well then let’s try.”
Autumn
closed her eyes and called out into the night with her mind. Then she opened her eyes expectantly and looked at Ivan. He was watching her closely though he did not seem to hear her.

Autumn
frowned and Ivan seemed concerned, “What’s wrong?”

Autumn
put her hand up and said, “Wait.” Then she closed her eyes and called out again. When she opened her eyes, Ivan was watching her
,
his eyes dilated, and
Autumn
frowned
, “
It’s not working.”

He
nodded unfaltering
, “
Try calling Grayton.”

She
nodded and did
so;
Grayton was by her side in a flash on his
haunches
his body
cackling
violently. “What is wrong?”

Autumn
smiled, “I am sorry love,
I
was just testing it.” Grayton nodded
and tried to move but he could no
t. He looked at
Autumn
for help, and
Autumn
frowned
, “
I am sorry next time I will whisper it when you are that close. I just wanted to make sure it would work.”

Ivan watched Grayton cautiously his body relaxed but his eyes cut him sharply. Grayton frowned then and offered, “Perhaps if you tell me to go.”

She
nodded blushing slightly, “Yes, please go back to what ever you were doing before.”

Grayton turned mechanically back towards the building and stomped off.
Autumn
frowned after him and then closed her eyes and called out every friend and
ally
that she had ever had. The echo was strong and she dropped to her knees as th
e wave of words left her mind.
Flanagan, Flanagan’
s
friend, Henry, Flora,
Drake
, Helen, Utvic, Sophia, Serena,
Lyla
, Ann, Jessup, and Galen
, then for good measure to fill in the new cracks in her mind, she called out one final time to
Ivan
.

Then
Autumn
opened her eyes, watching the waves leaving her body. Golden mist pulsed from her with each beat of her heart. As they left her the pulse moved through everything, buildings, and people, even through Grayton who
peaked
his head out and watched them.
Autumn
smiled wildly, seeing Grayton’s body lit up with golden tones, she looked at Ivan and frowned just as quickly, his body was not glowing.

Grayton smiled at her frown and Ivan asked, “What is wrong?”

Autumn
frowned deeper, “I fee
l so strange now,
my
head hurts.”

Ivan stepped closer and put his hand on her head, “You are warm.”

She
stepped away and replied, “I think maybe we should have just gone ourselves to get them.” Ivan nodded though he did not seem to be nodding at her words but at Grayton who also watched her closely.
She
frowned deeper then and looked at Grayton who seemed even more uncomfortable, so
she
closed the distance between them.
Autumn
watched as Grayton gripped the door frame squeezing the metal and bending his fingers into the metal.

Autumn
stepped forward then and slid her hand over to his cheek and then watched his eyes. He seemed to be in a great deal of pain all of a sudden.
Autumn
smiled watching him, “Grayton, you and I are going to need to talk about these feelings that you are having once this is all over.” Ivan shifted his weight and
Autumn
turned to Ivan and smiled, then she closed the distance between him and kissed him on the mouth.

Ivan deepened it instantly and
Autumn
closed her eyes and complied eagerly. Then she called out loudly beckoning Ivan to her,
Autumn
heard the frame behind her snap and Grayton shaking violently.
Autumn
broke the kiss and watched Grayton’s glowing body shaking violently as he squeezed his eyes shut.
Autumn
stepped over to Grayton and slid her hand on to his cheek and the shaking ceased like magic.
Autumn
frowned, “I am sorry love. If you think this might be too much for you to deal with then just say so. I am sure Ivan can protect me
on his own
.”

When Grayton opened his blurry eyes he snapped, “I will be fine, it is just a power surge.”

Autumn
nodded solemnly, “I am sorry I did not mean to send it your way,
its
still difficult to control it all.”

Grayton nodded and
Autumn
smiled him and then turned to Ivan, “So no more kisses for a while love, it’s literally hurting Grayton.”

Ivan frowned and replied, “Or you could send him away.”

Autumn
frowned replying sharply, “No I will never send Grayton away.”

Ivan took the words in stride
, “
It would be easy for you to send him away.”

“Yes I know, but I won’t.” Grayton pushed his hand through his hair and squinted at her for a moment.
Autumn
smiled at him sweetly then, turned back to Ivan, “So the Calvary should be coming soon, I wa
nt to move to better quarters.”

Ivan grabbed her hand and re
plied, “We should stay here. Y
ou need to rest.”

Autumn
smiled up at him, “Fat chance, you
’
r
e
not getting me to bed until we have reinforcements, I don’t care how good looking you are.”

Ivan’s eyes lit up and he replied
eagerly
, “Where do you want to go?”

Autumn
smiled, “I don’t know yet let’s all go for a ride and see where it takes us.” Both men looked at each other and then back at
Autumn
who smiled back at Grayton and said, “No worries.” Grayton’s expression changed then to a look of surprise, if only for a split second. Then
she
looked at Ivan whose eyes never left
Autumn
’s
face.
Autumn
slid her hand out to Ivan’s and pulled him towards the car and called out in her mind,
come Ivan
. Grayton’s legs jerked towards her robotically and she winced at his struggle, touching her temple again.

Ivan instantly touched her shoulder and asked
, “
Are you sure that you are alright?”

Autumn
smiled weakly and replied
, “
Yes it’s been a long day, and my head is starting to thump.” Ivan opened the passenger door and
Autumn
hesitated, “No I think I will drive, it will be easier for me to follow my mind.” Ivan nodded and Grayton jumped into the back while
she
made her way around the car. Ivan sat stiffly and watched her closely.