Aon

Chapter Five

I couldn't sleep after that. I sat awake with my nightmares haunting me in my wake. When April came tiredly in at seven, I almost hugged her in relief of a fresh face. She was a bit mystified with my attitude change but pleased to have good company while she drowsily tidied herself. I tuned most of our conversation out from the very beginning as she began to braid her own hair. I mostly sat on the bed and nodded or shook my head on cue. I was just happy for company, I didn’t really care for the conversation. I didn’t know what she was talking about, nor did I wish to, it was mostly of politics and her thoughts of it. I was thankful for her company, but I was in no mood to talk of such matters.

After, she insisted we get a move on and we rejoined the rest of the party in a small living room. Alexander sat in a corner staring into space, his brows knit in agitation and annoyance as Jacob did almost the same from the sofa. Marcus sat at a small table, with a knife twirling between his fingers; he seemed almost as absent as everyone else appeared. I shuddered at the sight of him and tried to keep my wandering eyes from him when he looked up. The dream still gripped my chest and it allowed the nightmare to leak into my reality.

“Good, you’re awake.” Jacob grinned and stood once he caught a glimpse of me.

Alexander frowned as Jacob approached me, and his eyes filled with a glint of rage and irritation. He stood quickly and dusted himself off before joining Marcus at the table to look through a catalog left there. I didn’t know what that was about, but it appeared they had been arguing before I came out.

“We have one more stop to make before we reach Pennsylvania’s boundary.”

I didn’t know what to say and simply nodded as he fished his keys from his pocket. My stomach churned as I glanced around the room, trying and failing to estimate where we are now.

“We’ll stop for breakfast on our way, don’t worry.”

“I’m not really-”

“You’re eating anyway, sweetie.” Marcus sent me a sharp glance with a sneer on his lips, then added quickly. “I don’t want to hear you complain all the way to our next stop.”

I couldn’t look at him right, it felt as if his gaze were poisonous and one glance would kill me. My skin crawled as I turned my head away and buttoned my mouth shut. My eyes kept wanting to search around his throat for the Pendant, but every time I looked. It wasn’t there.

“Let’s just go.” Alexander muttered as he slipped out from the table and flung open the front door with a bang.

I was surprised by his action; the argument must have been an intense one. April quickly followed after him and I followed suite, so I wouldn’t be alone with the two. I flinched as soon as the sunlight hit me and inhaled the fresh air as if it were honey. It was different in a way, maybe it was because I was capable of stopping to look for a second. The sun was still rising, and the clouds were thick and pink as horns blared in the distance. A cool summer breeze brushed through the parking lot, carrying with it the scent of cigarette smoke and the worn rubble from tires. We were at an apartment building complex, with multiple cars around and people walking about casually. I looked at each face slowly as I walked behind April. Everyone wore a different expression, from thoughtfulness to depression, carelessness to agitation, and from relief to admiration of the morning. I was staring at an elderly man, when a young couple –maybe only the age of twenty to twenty-six years of age –walked passed me. It caught my attention for some reason that was peculiar to me. I was used to the sight, but this time it felt different. They were in an in-depth conversation, speaking in soft murmurs as they walked towards the complex.

Suddenly they stopped, with him grabbing her elbow and surprising her by sealing the conversation with a kiss to end her babble. It startled me for some reason and I had to look over my shoulder to watch in amazement as if I fell arrested to the sight.

Oddly, I felt my heart leap and a tingle in my body as I looked at the woman. Her cheeks were flushed scarlet startled and she seemed to glance around in embarrassment. My heart raced, and I felt this overwhelming feeling of passion and affection. It was as if many emotions enveloped me, from hope and fear, to joy and pleasure. Was this what she felt? My curiosity caused me to almost stop and tilt my head in admiration. Her arms circled his neck, while his arms wrapped around her waist. Her blond thick mane created a curtain to shield their faces, but anyone could have known what they were doing.

Fingertips touched my back, sending an electric pulse through my spine and making me jump. I began walking again as if I hadn’t stopped. It was as if I were snapped back into myself, as if I hadn’t gone through all those overwhelming emotions that vibrated off that woman.

My head lifted to see who touched my back as my mind swam with confusion and fascination. At first, I was rather startled by who calmly walked beside me, then fear struck me as I looked ahead and quickened my pace.

“It isn’t polite to stare.” Marcus mumbled.

“I-I wasn’t…” I stammered as I shot a glance back at the couple.

They were walking again, her arm looped above his hips and his over her shoulders. She had her head against his shoulder and he walked with a proud smile upon his lips.

“Then what was that?” He snorted. “Gaping like some isolated, sheltered child isn’t really appealing.”

I half ignored his comment and eyed the couple as I almost stopped again. I had to once more stop and snap myself from it and quickly started walking forward again. April was already slipping into the back of the SUV and I was startled by this. How long was I watching?

“Did you hear me?”

“Huh?” I yelped as I looked up puzzled.

He seemed bewildered and eyed me curiously. “I asked what that was about.”

I had forgotten my dream by then and only faintly felt a fear crawl into my chest. My mouth fell open to answer, but I didn’t know myself.

“I don’t know.” I admitted at length as I started walking.

“You act as if you haven’t seen publicly displayed affection before.” He grumbled.

“I’ve seen it…” I hesitated, not really knowing how to word it. “But never felt what someone else feels…” I mumbled to myself. “It was… strange. Was that what she really felt? Why was she afraid? Why was she hopeful of him? What thoughts rolled through her mind when he just…” I was perplexed and kneaded my forehead.

“You are strange.” He mumbled to himself. “You are actually amazed by a kiss. You act as if you haven’t ever been smooched.”

My brows knit as I looked up at him in thought. Was that why it was strange for me? Was that why I couldn’t understand? His eyes flashed to me and he seemed to stumble as his brows shot up in bewilderment.

“I mean, haven’t you?”

“No, have you?” My response was quick, and I shocked myself causing both of us to stop.

His mouth fell open and shut. “Yes.” He said simply. “I have a Soul Twin.” He said stiffly.

“Soul Twin?” I said intrigued. “What’s a Soul Twin?”

He hesitated and glanced over his shoulder, wary for his brother it appeared.

“The Soul Twin is someone born with a unique soul just like your own. It is said that two Aons are born with only half of their soul. When they find their mate, the pieces fit and make are whole. But I believe that’s a load of s**t…” He glanced to me quickly. “Excuse the expression, but it is. No one only has half a soul; an Aon’s mate is simply someone born with the same soul as you. Like puzzle pieces, you match.”

“I see…” I murmured in thought. “But if you think about it, puzzle pieces only match because they are different. To connect, they have to be shaped differently to attach to each other.”

We said not a word more as we approached the SUV and I fell into my thoughts. I climbed into the backseat and found Alexander and April staring at each other solemnly. I was thrown off by the sight and peered at them in confusion.

“Is everything okay?”

Alexander turned his head away as April flashed me a sheepish smile.

“Yes, we are merely disappointed we are not going with you to New York.”

It was a lie. I could tell by how her eyes darted away and her head shook.

“What do you mean? Of course, you’re coming.” I played along

She shook her head. “At the last stop, it will be our last stop. We will stay behind. Jacob and Marcus will continue with you.” This part was the truth.

“No, you have to come!” I squeaked in panic.

I can’t be alone with them! Is she insane? I don’t want to be alone with them. I don’t know them. I would feel much more comfortable with the presence of the Young’s around.

She smiled halfheartedly. “We’d love to, but…”

“Oh, just tell her, April.” Alexander snapped.

April frowned and paled as she looked to her lover.

“We are to stay behind because we can’t leave Pennsylvania.”

Again, it was a lie, well partially a lie. He glowered at her and turned his head away in disappointment.

“What are you talking about?”

She looked to me with a sad smile. “We can’t leave, Eleanor. There is an invisible boundary between every state, and I and Alexander can’t cross out of it. We are stuck here…”

“Why?” I half shouted. “This is ridiculous! Who’s making up these rules?”

“It’s not a rule, dear. If we cross the boundary, we die.”

Horror filled me as I stared at her, but I couldn’t ask why, Jacob and Marcus were suddenly getting in. She gave a shake of her head and patted my knee to sooth me as she looked to her lover. His eyes flexed up front and a frown tugged on his mouth as he sighed in distress. He stood from his seat and waved for his lover to scoot over and sat next to me. He dropped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me down to his height.

“Be careful, honey.” He mumbled through unmoving lips. “I don’t trust those Freewood Twins. If you get a chance, get away from them and get with a fellow Aon.”

I stiffened and cast a glance up front just as Marcus glanced away in irritation. What’s going on? What does he mean to get away? Who am I supposed to trust? If they don’t trust them, then why are they leaving me with them?

The engine started, and we were once more on the road. Alexander stared ahead, his brows knit, his mouth pinched shut as he rubbed my arm gingerly. April leaned into his other side, whispering softly into his ear as he peered ahead unseeingly. It was as if he stared into another time, another place, somewhere that troubled him and made him shudder. When he looked down at me to meet my stare, he only nodded, almost to say goodbye.

After an hour we went through a drive-thru, but I wasn’t hungry when Marcus came back with a bag of food and a tray of drinks. I accepted once Alexander nudged me and nodded for me to eat. It was a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich, with a cup of orange juice as the beverage. But I could hardly settle my stomach, I forced it down. It was a chore getting the sandwich down, but I couldn’t finish the orange juice and sat it between my knees. Marcus sat in one of the bucket seats, where Jacob soon joined him in the other. We were parked in the restaurants parking lot as cars zoomed by on the highway and jostled the car with its force. It was a little passed eight and everyone was in a hurry to get moving.

“Alright,” Jacob began after taking a swig of his orange juice from his straw. “What do you want to know?”

All eyes turned to me as I stopped and looked to him with as much surprise as Alexander did. I knew what he was implying, but I feared the answers to my questions. I began with a simple question:

“Am I really Eleanor Foster?”

“Yes.”

“Who were my parents?”

“Nigel and Marie Foster.”

I remained still a moment as I digested this.

“Who were they? Why wasn’t I with them? What happened to them?”

He swept his eyes across every eye that peered at him before looking to me.

“They were Aon’s, Eleanor. You aren’t with them because they were killed when you were only three years old.”

“Who killed them? Why? What did they do?”

“We are at war with the Legions, Eleanor. They are in this world with the intent of destruction and domination. They only care about feeding off fear and anger, they prey on the weak. The Legions are not Aons. They are another being like us, but the Legions only wield their power for evil. We deal with energy, we deal with the soul, the emotion, the capturing of and the transportation of emotions, souls, and thoughts. The Legions, they are menacing creatures, shapeshifters. They can make you believe anything you want and appear in any manner that appeals to the victim. They latch onto mortals and drain them of life mentally and physically. We are a threat to them, because of this, they can disguise themselves as Aon’s. Paul and Penny are Legions, and they are out to get you.”

“Why? You still haven’t answered why my parents were killed. Yes, I know. I get the fact a war is going on, but why my parents?”

He deliberately took a bite of his sandwich to prolong the silence until both April and Alexander grunted. I waited impatiently, holding his gaze as he took slow drawls from his straw before answering.

“You are the daughter of Nigel Foster and Marie Wallace. You, Eleanor Adela Foster, you are the new generation of the Aon’s. You are the new Monarch of the Aon Clan. We have waited for you to grow, and now that you have, we wish for you to take your rightful place as ruler. You are a powerful Aon, Eleanor, even more powerful than all of us combined. You have gifts yet unexplored. Your parents, King Nigel and Queen Marie, were killed because the Legions were looking to wipe-out the Aon Clan. To be fair, the Aons were looking to wipe out the Legions as well. What they didn’t know, until the day your assigned brother died, was that they had a daughter waiting to take the throne.”

I didn’t know what to do with myself, whether to be happy or furious. I can’t be a ruler! I can’t even keep a goldfish alive longer than a week! If I were made ruler, I would run my own kind into the ground and into extinction.

“I-I can’t…” I stammered as I met each of their anxious gazes. “I can’t be what you want. I’m not ruler material. Can’t I just pass it down onto someone else?”

“No, it has to be born into the bloodline.”

“Can’t my parents come back from the dead and wipe them out. You said we don’t truly die.”

“Yes, I did say that. But I also said that we wake somewhere else. Just not here.”

I wasn’t good at making decisions, let alone ruling or managing anything. How was I supposed to lead a group of Aons into battle? I can hardly get my thoughts together, for god sake! What says I won’t end up worthless and dead, too?

“We’ll let you think it over and digest it.” Jacob gave a curt nod. “We have to stay on schedule.”

Marcus stayed in one of the bucket seats as Jacob stood and slipped into the driver’s seat. My heart was hammering in my chest and my stomach churned until it cramped as the engine started. What was I supposed to do? What did they expect from me? I can’t lead anything, I’ve never done anything remotely close to it. The only job I ever had was at Benny’s Grub, and the only thing I’ve ever led was my 5th Grade Spelling Bee.

Either Alexander or April, I don’t know which one; tried to touch my arm in sympathy, but I shrugged it off sharply. I didn’t want to be bothered or touched. I wanted to be anywhere but here. Why couldn’t they see I didn’t want to be talked to, touched, looked at, or even thought of?

Again, someone touched my arm and I yanked my arm away roughly. I shot them both daggers and leaned away from them.

“Just leave me alone.” I muttered through clenched teeth.

“Honey, we’re only trying to-”

“I don’t care what you are trying to do. I don’t want to talk or think about it. And I don’t want touched! Do you know how irritating it is for someone to touch you while you’re agitated? I don’t want any of your soothing or comforting words. I am in no mood to even be nice right now. If you want me to be, then leave me alone.”

“Eleanor-”

“Just stop.” I snapped as I stood.

I quickly walked between the two bucket seats and took a seat in the other beside Marcus. He wouldn’t bother me and that was a guarantee. I shoved down the arm rest and leaned against it as I pulled my legs up. My temple pressed to the glass as we pulled out of the parking lot and onto the highway.

I would rather be home clueless, than to be here knowing I am some sort of immortal being, with these odd creepy abilities, parents that were actually royalty, and monarchy that is being held over my head. If I could, I’d go back to yesterday and request a do-over. But it appears that I won’t be living a normal life anytime soon…