Aon

Chapter Sixteen

I yanked on my jacket and stuffed my pistol into the holster as I watched Sam lace her boots. I wanted to go on this errand alone. It would be the first time I would be let out of the Manor since Eli put me on ‘house arrest’. I wanted to get out more than ever, I felt the need to go out and do something. I just didn’t know what yet. But I wasn’t allowed to go alone, I either had to stay here or take Sam with me. I had no other options, Emma was on guard duty and most of the other Aons were out recruiting. All the while, Eli was off with Garrett and Kaden on the other side of town. They were searching out a lead on a sighting of Paul, which is another reason why I couldn’t go out alone.

I was already half tempted to ditch her as soon as I could, but she’s as smart as a whip. It’s hard to fool her. I was already hating the idea of having her tag along. Not only would I be stuck alone with her, but she would deliberately do things just to annoy the hell out of me.

I shook my head and stuffed the Pendant beneath my shirt as I pulled up my hood. She finished fastening her boots and stood up as she fixed the collar of her sleeveless jacket.

“Ready?”

“I was fifteen minutes ago.”

She made a snorting sound in the back of her throat, then ran her fingers through her two-inch length hair to spike it again. I pulled open the front door and ducked out into the dark streets of New York City. It was August and a chill was already beginning to set it. I suppose there will be an early winter this year. It wouldn’t be warm out until noon, when the sun is at its peak –right now, it was only five a.m.

She stuffed her hands into her jacket and looked around placidly as she lifted her brows.

“Where to, Foster?”

“Down town.” I responded.

“Why? Just because Elijah said we can’t go up town, doesn’t mean we have to listen.” She said, waving me off as she reluctantly followed me.

“Not all things are about taking risks, Sam.”

She looked to me puzzled before smacking her forehead.

“Ah, that’s what’s wrong with you!”

“What?” I snapped.

“You’re a purple soul.”

“What?” I repeated as I came to a stop.

“A purple soul, it means you’re more of a mix than a solid blue and red.”

“A purple soul? A mix? What are you talking about?”

“Exactly, mine’s red and Kaden’s blue… oddly, he doesn’t seem like the mellow type. And you’re just… both. It’s usually one or the other, whatever shade you are, your Soul Twin will be the opposite, no matter what race or gender.”

“What does that mean?”

She grunted. “Listen Macklemore, you say ‘what’ one more time, I’ll give you a reason.”

I glowered at her. “I just asked a question. Besides, how do you know what I am?”

“I haven’t had coffee yet, everything you say and do will be an insult to all nature.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or be insulted, so I did both. She sent me a curious glance as she lifted her brows.

“I saw it flash in your eyes just now, that’s how. People born with a blue soul are more mellow and down to earth, or to me, depressed. Than people like me, a red soul, are fierier and more intense; we tend to make rash decisions and get fired up quickly. A red and blue soul are more compatible; the level-headed blue soul will cool down the red soul’s fire, and the red soul will ignite the blue soul’s flame.” She shot me a glance and when I didn’t respond, she continued. “Anyway, then there’s odd folks like you, somehow born a mix of red and blue. They tend to get along with any soul, whether it be a fiery red spirit or a depressed blue. By the way, what sign are you born under?”

“October, a Libra…” I said confused.

“Ah, that’s it, too.” She shook her head. “You’re all about love this and love that.” She almost gagged.

“I am not.”

“Well you’re a balance, no wonder you want ‘world peace’.”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“No shit.”

I breathed in a calming breath and looked ahead. I’m most definitely ditching her.

“Have I annoyed you yet?”

“Is that even a question, Sam?”

“Oh, good.” She grinned widely. “Now, ready to ditch?”

I stopped in my tracks. “Pardon me?”

“I hate you, you hate me. Don’t make me sing this like Barney. Do I have to get into any more detail? If you don’t say anything, I won’t. I’ll go my way, you go your way, and we’ll meet up right here.” She pointed at a single bench on Charleston Street.

I didn’t even think it over. I was just happy to do my mission alone.

“Got it. Thanks, Sam.”

She saluted me and turned. “Good luck, kid. See you in an hour?”

“Sure.”

I turned down the street and stuffed my hands into my pockets, gearing myself towards down town. I was sure she was heading for up town, avoiding the search party of course. But I assume she didn’t want to miss any of the action, if there is to be any that is.

I avoided the streetlights and slunk into the shadows in precaution, keeping towards the alleys and the shadows at cross-sections. I followed an invisible line, crossing streets I’ve been on a million times before and heading in different directions I’ve never touched in my time here. I twisted and wound myself around buildings and onto new streets, until I realized I was in places I’ve never seen or knew existed. I crossed onto Edward Street, then Welsh Street, and stopped on a street called Allen Street.

At first, I was stunned to find that I wondered so far in such a short time period. But it all soon washed away once I felt the hum. Something vibrated beneath my feet, turning my direction drastically and drawing me deeper into the shadows. My heart leapt, and my mouth suddenly went dry as my eyes flickered towards the right. One side of my body was cold, the other warm. For some reason, I felt as if I were following a thin cord that tightened instantly as soon as I crossed it.

Just as I crossed the invisible pull, a warmth lit on my chest and I felt the energy pulse from the Pendant. I touched it and slumped back into the crevasse of a building to pull it out from hiding. It glowed golden, glistening and shinning like a beam of light guiding across the abyss of darkness. It formed a narrow line, tracing against the ground and showing the invisible force to the mortal eye. The beam shot across the alley and curved, vibrating and humming to the destination set by the Pendant.

What do you know? My Pendant is a GPS too. Huh?

I didn’t know whether to trust it and stuffed it beneath my jacket so it would remain unseen. I pulled the zipper of the hood up to my chin and bowed my head as I scoped the area. Should I follow?

Even though I tried to think this over. Even though I tried to think rationally. I found my feet moving without me. I had to know, I had to follow this or else I think I should go mad. It was as if having an uncontrollable urge, pulling and humming until it felt uncomfortable to feel. The closer I grew, the more relief I felt. Yet, I couldn’t understand why. What was on the other end of this invisible line? Although I couldn’t see it once the Pendant was hidden, I could still feel it. I knew when I stepped the wrong way and instantly corrected it, it was as if I were tracking, searching and trotting along until it grew stronger and unbearable.

It was like a magnetic force, pulling and drawing me deeper until I felt as if it was suffocating me. Whatever was at the end of this tightening pull, it was like the North Pole and I was the South Pole, it drew me closer and closer until it seemed to lure me deeper and deeper.

I drew out my pistol on instinct and my pace quickened as my heart picked up a beat. I felt the urge to run now, as if this meant life or death. I had to –needed to get to the other end of this force. Something wasn’t right, and I felt it in my gut. I felt the urge to protect something or someone.

I picked up pace until I was galloping down the alleyways and stumbling around the bends. I no longer cared if I was seen or not. I had to hurry or else I’d be too late. I now knew why I awoke with the feeling to get out and search, it was for this very moment. It felt like a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode, and if I didn’t make it on time to defuse it, my life would crumble around me.

The hum grew louder and louder as the end of it came, something was about to happen, but I didn’t know what. I was panicking, and my heart raced and pumped with adrenaline as a fear crawled through my soul and choked it.

Hurry! Hurry! Time’s almost out! Something whispered into my ear.

A horror gripped at my chest as I flung myself forward. It wasn’t my own voice, I didn’t know who’s it was, but it pushed me harder.

It was coming, the end of the last alley on Maple Drive would come and there would be the end of the line. I just knew this was it. My heart thumped inside my chest as I c****d the gun and fisted the dagger in my hand. I lunged into the alley and thrusted the dagger away from me on instinct as something lunged at me. I heard the body hit the dirt, but I barely noticed as I retrieved my weapon and flew down the alley. A young man was on his knees, his hands behind his head as a middle-aged man stood behind him, a gun aimed for the back of victim’s head.

I threw my dagger and it hit the man right between the shoulder blades. He jolted forward with a gasp and turned to look at me in horror with his bright blue eyes. I quickly lifted the pistol and fired. Practice with Sam paid off. The bullet hit right between his eyes and he collapsed to the ground from the impact. He almost fell on top of the hostage and the man grunted as he tried to turn his head to see.

Suddenly I was off my feet and something had a tight grip on my ankles. I gasped, scrambling to turn around and kicked at it. I yelped in horror to find the man I had stabbed moments ago had a death lock on my leg. I drew another dagger into the back of his hand and he howled in pain and recoiled. I yanked my ankle away and left out a round into his chest as I backed away from his trembling form.

I panted in both shock and horror as I retrieved my dagger from his hand and whirled around on my knees towards the other man. I quickly crawled over and pulled the dagger from his back. I tried to overlook the blood on my blades or the fact I felt like vomiting. I can no longer say I haven’t taken a man’s life. I shoved the man’s body off the hostage as my eyes swept the alley in anxiety of being caught.

“Come on, hurry.” I muttered as I cut the restraints that bound his ankles and wrists. “I don’t know how much time we have left. There might be more of them.”

He hunched forward and rubbed his wrist as I crouched down in front of him and looked around in wary. I didn’t know how much time I had. If they were going to kill this man, then they’re might be more on the lookout.

A hand suddenly grabbed my wrist, an electric current sparking and making me jerk away from it in shock. His hold didn’t break as his head swayed back and forth in exhaustion. What’s wrong with him?

“Come on, get up!” I growled as I tried to jerk him to get to his feet. But he wouldn’t budge.

I heard feet beating against the ground behind me. A growl erupting.

“You little-”

I turned quickly, the daggers leaving my hand before I even thought about it. The brute crumbled as soon as the daggers hit his forehead. I quickly looked around myself in wary and grabbed the man’s elbow to get him to stand. I ignored the sting of the electric current as I tried to gain back the energy he was draining from me. He was weak, that was my only explanation for the draining of the energy.

“Come on, hurry.” I barked.

He stumbled to his feet as he finally released me. I quickly reclaimed my daggers from the brute’s head, trying my best to avoid looking at his bloody face. I didn’t want to see my victims face. I wiped the blades clean on my jeans and stuffed them back into their holsters as I reloaded my pistol.

“Come on, we need to get back to base.” I said hastily. “We can’t be spotted, they will for sure come after us now.” I said warily as I swept my gaze across the three dead bodies.

I turned to him and found him rummaging through the man’s jacket and pulling a black handgun from his jacket. He tucked it into his back pocket and wiped back his damp bangs as he gazed upon the bodies.

“Thanks.” He mumbled as he met my gaze.

I couldn’t help but gasp. It was as if something hit my chest when his eyes caught mine. I froze in horror at who stood before me, I had not saved a regular Aon, but someone that has haunted me night and day without end. I didn’t know whether to cry out in horror of it being another nightmare, or if I should be happy and allow myself to think this is true.

“You.” I gasped in panic. “It can’t be –you’re. –It’s not possible –are you…?”

His confused dark eyes seemed to register me finally and he stepped closer as if he was afraid of me.

“I can’t believe it.” He murmured in awe. “Eleanor?”

His face was caught by the street lamp at the end of the alleyway, revealing his features to me. It was just as I have seen him every night; his rounded square face, with high cheekbones that were prominent beneath his dark olive toned skin. But he wasn’t clean shaven like in my dream, a light scruff had begun on his rounded chin, where a cut was made from his lip to his left ear. His nose was slightly wide, with two narrow almond shaped eyes that peered at me from beneath his thick brows. He had thick rich brown curls that hung to his chin in loose waves and matted disarray. It appeared as if he hasn’t bathed in a few days. He stood only a few inches taller than me, with broad shoulders, and a slender form that curved the light behind him. His black T-shirt was almost baggy and his dark denim jeans hung off his hips loosely; he looked as if he lost weight over time.

He seemed to not know what to do with himself and rubbed his jaw as if it ached.

“It’s you.” He repeated in almost shocked horror.

I was still frozen, trying to decipher everything that just happened. His eyes scanned me quickly, his brows puckering and his features smoothing as he met my gaze again.

“God, you’re just as beautiful as I remember.” He breathed. “The only thing that has changed is your way with people.” He added as he shot a glance to the dead body at his feet.

I found my mouth and was about to ask the pressing question. “Who-”

“Eleanor!” Someone snarled.

I almost leaped out of my skin as I drew my dagger and turned, ready to impale another if I had to. I immediately withdrew the weapon in horror at the advancing form. I looked to Sam accusingly, who tagged behind him with her head bowed.

 “Eli, I-” I began to explain.

“What the hell, kid? Do you know what could have happened to you? I asked you to listen to me and stay with Sam. And what do you do?” He threw his hands up into the air.

“She’s a loaded gun.” Kaden whistled as he scanned the bodies. “Missed one, though.”

I turned and looked at him, his calm eyes were suddenly wild as he scanned the growing group before him. Garrett suddenly barged through everyone and laid eyes upon the man behind me, it was as if a gun was fired. He threw himself towards him and they both fell to the ground in a heap. Garrett began to deliver punches to his face and I felt something snap inside of me. I drew out my blade and jumped onto Garrett’s back with the blade tight against his throat. He tried to shake me off, but I grabbed the mop of hair on his head and jerked his head back.

“Let. Go. Of. Him.” I growled.

The possession I felt suddenly wasn’t like anything else I’ve ever felt before. His eyes flashed to me and he seemed to flinch as he suddenly withdrew. I didn’t know what he saw in my eyes, but it was as if he were under command and slunk away as I quickly moved to stand between him and Garrett. I crouched in front of his body, baring my teeth and holding out my dagger.

“Don’t touch him.” I snarled. “Nobody, he didn’t do anything.”

“Are you mad?” Eli roared with rage. “Don’t you see who that is? Don’t you care?”

“Should I?” I snarled. “What’s that matter?”

“You should.” He spat. “That man is Michael Killian.”