Aon

Chapter Twelve

I sat in the study reviewing old text books my father left behind. Thumbing through them for the time being until the candle should burn out. It was a little passed eight. I had a headache forming and my stomach was already churning. I was worried about tomorrow and I feared he wouldn’t show up.

“Ms. Foster!” I heard Thomas call.

I looked up startled and stood from the desk as he wobbled into the room.

“Yes?”

“Someone’s at the door.”

“At the door?” I said shocked as I made my way to his side.

“Would it be him?”

“I don’t think so…”

I hurried to the lobby without him and had just entered the foyer when the front door slammed open. I stopped short as three figures stalked through the door with their shining eyes searching the area casually. Two women and a man came stalking through, maybe in their mid to late twenties, with their eyes sweeping the lobby in approval. Their eyes immediately landed on me, and the man bowed his head in respect as the two women eyed me curiously.

“We came as wished, Foster.” The man said. “We set out as soon as Eli gave us word that the Fosters were back.”

He approached me and grasped my numb, limp hands in his callused grip.

“It’s nice to finally be back here. It’s been too long.”

He kissed my cheek and greeted Thomas as he entered, embracing the poor old man like an old friend. One of the two women approached me with a kind smile on her thin mouth as she stuck a blade back into the holster at her hip. She was just like the man, wearing a holster that contained only one pistol and clothes that seemed almost military uniformed.

“Foster.” She greeted with a nod.

She had short brown hair she pulled into a plait at the nape of her neck, with small beady green eyes that peered at me from beneath her thin brows. She was tall and lanky, with movements that seemed predatory as she passed me and clapped the man on the back.

The other woman stood back from me, her sharp blue eyes peering at me as she turned her nose up. Her short blond hair was spiked in the front and her thick brow lifted in almost sarcasm. Her hollow cheeks deepened as she pinched her mouth shut and crossed her arms over her chest. She was a hair taller than me, with a thinner waist and slender shoulders that were ridged.

“That’s it?” She remarked bitterly. “This is our new ‘ruler’?”

“Cool it, Sam.” The other woman snapped. “Don’t start this again. You don’t want Eli hearing you when he comes tomorrow. And if Garrett comes tonight, you don’t want him hearing you talk like that, either.”

“Bite me.” She hissed. “I will not be controlled by this weakling. I doubt she can even hold a knife without cutting herself.”

“Sam.” The man warned.

“It’s alright.” I sent them each a glance. “I am not here to be liked. I’m here to set everything straight.”

“Good,” Sam smirked. “Because I don’t need some hotheaded b***h thinking they can control me. You aren’t and never will be my leader.”

She jutted out her chin and stalked for the staircase. The other woman rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“Excuse her, I believe she’s on her period.”

“Don’t make me kill you.” Sam called over her shoulder casually.

“She won’t.” The woman smiled and outstretched her hand to me. “By the way, the names Emma.”

I accepted the offer and shook her hand firmly.

“Blake.” The man shrugged. “I’m not into handshakes.”

Instead he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into a tight hug. I stiffened and wiggled to get free until he released me with an apologetic smile.

“Eli sent you?” I questioned as I straightened my jacket.

“Yeah, just saw him about a half hour ago. There should be about five more Aons coming tonight, not including Garrett.” Emma nodded to the door. “Don’t lock it. Garrett will only break it down when he gets here.”

Thomas fidgeted and wiped his forehead with his handkerchief. “I’ll go make coffee… tea? Whichever you all prefer.” He stammered as he wobbled away towards the kitchen.

“Is he okay?” Blake said with lifted brows.

“I think it’s the thought of that many people in one house.” I answered truthfully. “Make yourself comfortable in the study. I’m sure you’ll know where it is. I’ll see that there’s rooms prepared for you both.”

“Thank you.” Emma bowed at the waist.

As they left towards the hall, there was a short knock before the door flung open. Emma and Blake looked back and nodded before continuing down the hall. I turned to greet the new guests and found a small boy walking through the door with eyes wild as they scanned the lobby.

“Welcome to Foster Manor.” I greeted warily.

His eyes flashed to me and his head jerked back as he eyed me between his narrowed eyes. He had a round face, with large green eyes and bright golden locks that appeared almost white in the light. He was tall for his age, with broad shoulders and a stalky build that made him appear much older.

“Who are you?” He slammed the door shut after him.

“Eleanor Foster.”

His face smoothed and his mouth curled up into a crooked grin as he lifted a brow.

“Heya, I’m Christian.”

He strolled up to me and shook my hand firmly.

“Exactly how old are you, kid?” I mumbled puzzled.

His brows shot up in dismay. “Kid? Excuse me, but I’m twenty-three years old.”

“You look fifteen.”

“Thanks?” He chuckled confused.

“Emma and Blake are in the study. Would you mind joining them while I alert Thomas of another arrival?”

He nodded. “Of course, see ya then, Captain.” He saluted.

I sighed in relief as he followed directions to the study. It allowed me time to go find Thomas. When I told him of another arrival, he only wiped his throat and shook his head as he hurried along. I promised to help him as soon as I could, but he told me not to fret and to entertain the guests.

I thanked him and promised I’d get him help before hurrying towards the study. As I passed the front door, I heard another small knock and once again someone left themselves in. I turned shocked to find an elderly woman waltz in, with frizzy white hair frothing out from the root like white flames. Her grey foggy eyes flickered to me and her toothless lips pulled into a huge grin.

“Ah, there you are!” She said delightfully, with a slur from her missing teeth.

She hurried to me, cupped my cheeks with trembling hands, and kissed my cheeks the best she could. She was hunched over, with thin joints and fingers that made me think of her as a skeletal remain of her former self. Her cheeks were hollow, and her skin hung off the bone from what appears to be weight loss. She smiled at me as she held onto my cheeks and combed back my bangs.

“Beautiful, just beautiful. Your parents would be proud.” Her mouth pursed slightly after and she tilted her head.

I gingerly removed her hands from my face and smiled gently at her, then looped our arms to keep a steady hold on her.

“How are you?”

“Fine, you?” She chuckled. “You must not remember me. I was the friend of your mother’s mother.”

“My grandmother?”

“Yep, that’s the one.” She winked as she hobbled beside me towards the study. “I didn’t think the place would still be standing though. Speaking of standing –is that old pile of bones still around here? What was his name? Timmy? Tommy? Robby?”

“Thomas?”

“Ah, that’s the one!” She nodded. “Hasn’t quit, yet, hmm?”

“Not yet.”

As we entered the study, I found them all gathered in the middle of the room murmuring quietly. At our arrival, they lifted their heads and quickly rushed towards the elderly woman to kiss each hand twice.

“Ah, hush, my pets…” She stroked Emma’s cheek gently. “It is not me who you should greet in this manner.” She sent me a glance.

“It’s quite alright. They have greeted me fairly.” I didn’t want any more attention than I was receiving.

“Come sit, Rosy.” Emma looped her arm with the elder woman’s.

“Ah, such a good girl!”

After Rosy was seated and comfortable, they all seated themselves and peered between each other quietly. I stood completely still behind one of the sofas and peered at the grandfather clock across the room. It was a little passed eight-thirty at the moment, and I began to wonder how many more guests I would have to accommodate tonight.

“Won’t you sit, Foster?” Blake inquired. “It is your home.”

I looked to him and shook my head. “I’m fine…”

Thomas entered then, fumbling with the tray and complaining until he stopped short and made eye contact with Rosy. He froze, his eyes widening as his mouth popped open. But not in horror, it was in surprise and excitement. The tray slipped from his grasp, though he almost didn’t realize it until the boiling liquid splashed against his legs. All the glass shattered at his feet, but even then, he remained in the same position he had been seconds ago. I quickly hurried to his side and began picking up the broken pieces as he shakily attempted to bend down.

“Hello, Thomas.” Rosy said amused.

“R-Rosy.” He stammered. “What a… pleasant surprise.”

“I see.” She chuckled.

I picked up the plater and placed it on a stand, then helped him to stand up straight again.

“Are you okay, Thomas?”

“Just fine. –I’ll go fix up another batch.” He fidgeted as he hurriedly made an escape.

She smiled at his retreating form. “He hasn’t aged well.”

“He’s a nice man.” I defended lightly.

“Nice man?” She mused as she tucked a pillow beneath her arm. “We’ve been bickering for the last seventy years.”

“Why?” I said surprised.

Christian chuckled and kicked up his feet onto the coffee table. “Their Soul Twins defying each other.”

“Soul Twins?” I said baffled as I looked to her. “But he’s human…”

“Yes, and I’m an Aon.” Rosy lifted her chin.

“Is that possible? To have a Soul Twin of a different race?”

“Oh, of course. Did you know your great grandfather was a Legion?” She chuckled. “My oh my, did it cause a lot of argument between the Clans. But they loved each other.” She sighed.

I touched the hidden Pendant at my throat. “A Legion? But how?”

She smiled. “It’s possible, it happens more often than you think.”

I was puzzled and gestured to where Thomas was a few seconds ago.

“What about Thomas?”

She waved me off. “Oh, I have too much fun denying him. It is a little game we have…” Her eyes softened as she looked in his direction. “He is the love of my life, I wouldn’t choose anyone else.”

I smiled at her words and Thomas returned shortly later with another tray of tea. He placed it before everyone and pushed Christian’s feet off the coffee table.

“How have you been, Thomas?” Rosy inquired as she sat up and took the cup he offered.

His grey eyes softened, he peered at her with an expression I’ve never seen him give anyone before. It was as if he were a blind man seeing his first sight of beauty after so many years. Her eyes flashed up and she smiled as she popped in her dentures to disturb him, but instead of disgust, a glint of mischief filled his eyes and he stood again.

“Fine, Rosy. And you?”

“Good, I’ve had a wonderful time.” She flashed him a grin as she sipped her tea.

“Then I am whole.” He murmured, placing a bony hand to her hollow cheek.

Everyone fell still and held their breath as they stared at them, mixed between awe and surprise as he smiled at her gently. She pulled from his hand and smiled as she continued to nurse her tea. He frowned and stood up straight as she looked away in her own amusement.

“Good day, Rosy.” He whispered as he picked up his cane.

His eyes cast to me before he turned and wobbled his way out of the study. As soon as he was out of sight, Rosy glanced up with shinning eyes.

“Why do you look so happy, Rosy?” Christian chuckled. “You act like you like his pain.”

She shook her head and put her tea on her lap. “I don’t like it. –I love it! It lets me know, after all this time, he still loves me.”

I glanced towards the studies doors and back to her. How did she discover her Soul Twin? Was there something that just told her, ‘he was the one’?

“How did you know when you found your Soul Twin?” I whispered absentmindedly.

Every eye turned to me, but I concentrated on her as she looked to me with shining eyes.

“You just know…” She whispered. “As I’m sure you already know.”

I pulled from her gaze and furrowed my brows in thought. Would haunting dreams count? Or the fact every face I see somehow reminds me of that stranger?

“Have you found him?” She whispered as she stood. “Tell me you have…”

I looked to her quickly as I pulled from my reverie.

“Of course not.” I lied surprisingly with ease, causing her to frown. “Not yet…”

“Let me know when you do.” She said as she approached me and patted my cheek. “I want to be the first to know…”

I watched her leave and touched the Pendant in habit.

“Such an odd couple.” Blake pointed out. “What a pity, I almost feel bad for the old man.”

I looked to them and without a word, I turned and left the room. It was pitiful and such a hurtful thing for her to do to him. He was a sweet old man, the kindest person I have come to know. What more does she want from him? How much longer will she deny him?

As I passed through the hall, I saw a door half open and stopped when I heard murmuring. I listened quietly in confusion until I recognized the voices. I peeked through the crack and spotted their figures from the flicker of the lantern inside.

His bony hands held onto her hollow cheeks as she clutched his frail wrists. He murmured softly to her as she leaned into his thin form, peering up at him with tender grey eyes. His head was bowed towards her and his eyes were half-mast as he rubbed her cheeks with his thumbs.

“Stay?” He murmured.

“You know I won’t.” She smiled tenderly.

He chuckled as pain filled his smile. “I know, but I can dream. Just stay, for now?”

“I will –for now.”

He pulled her into his arms and placed kisses onto her frail cheeks with quivering lips. Her thin arms wrapped around his torso as tightly as her arms allowed. He stroked her hair and ran his trembling fingers across the wrinkled skin by her eyes.

“I love you, Rosy.” He whispered. “God, you must know. Don’t you? It has been too long, such torture you put me through. Yet, I cannot seem to ever hate you for it. Oh! My dear, I love you more than my heart has beat in my chest. And I love you with more years than this body and soul has seen.”

“I love you, too.” She said simply.

His eyes shut as he placed his forehead against hers and held onto her frail form as tightly as he could manage. A single silver tear slipped down his hollowing cheek as he swallowed harshly and pressed his lips to hers for a short kiss. He could not compose himself and broke away as a sob broke from his chest. His head bowed and fell into the crook of her neck as he clutched her to himself in vain.

“Don’t leave me again, Rosy. –Please, do not do this to me again. I will not be able to bear it again. I swear! I will die before you come back. I can feel these are my last years, and I only wish for you to be here in my last hours. Please, let me be selfish and stay.” He cried quietly.

She remained silent and petted his white hair as her eyes watered. She looked upward towards the heavens to keep her tears at bay.

“We’ll see…” She murmured.

His shoulders slumped. It wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. He slowly coiled his frail arms around her thin waist as he inhaled sharply. He pulled her to himself, aligning their bodies like puzzle pieces as he left short kisses on her throat.

“I will take what you give me, like the fool I am.” He whispered unevenly. “Just… stay here until dawn at least. If I die tonight, I want you to be my last sight, my last thought, my last sound, my last scent, my last breath, and my last touch. –Just please, stay for now…”

“I will.” She wrapped an arm around his torso and the other over his shoulder. “But you will not die tonight. I will stay until all this is over.”

I shut the door. My mouth dry and my throat constricted. I couldn’t watch any longer. It was such a beautiful sight, yet so appalling and sorrowful. Something cold tickled my cheek and I quickly scratched it away. I looked down to find my fingers wet with tears. I don’t even know when or why I started to cry. I left the hall and stopped in the lobby as those dark orbs stared back at me from the walls. My heart didn’t thud, nor did to slow, but flutter as I glanced to the lobby doors.

“Where are you? Why do you haunt me?” I murmured to myself in agitation.

Two hours later two more people showed up, a man named Robert and a woman named Tina. They were a couple it appeared, her in her early thirties and he in his late thirties. She was a nice woman, a bubbly spirit that greeted me warmly with soft brown eyes. She was short and curvy, much like myself in some ways. Her short brown locks had a blond streak and frothed out like a lion’s mane, and her wide youthful eyes shined in a bizarre way. Her partner, Robert, was a tall fellow, with round cheeks and shinning blue eyes. His brown hairline was receding, and he had a light scruff on his chin and cheekbones. He was a pleasant man to talk to and kept his arm hooked around his partner’s waist.

They joined the rest in the study and were soon assigned bedrooms before midnight. The house fell silent once all was calm and it seemed no more guests were showing up. I was left alone in the study at last. Yet, for some reason I didn’t want to be alone. I set up the cot just before one a.m., yet I didn’t know if I could sleep soundly. I was drained after all the greeting and lighthearted chats. It was the most communications I’ve had in the past nine days alone.

I could still see Thomas and Rosy standing in the darkened room, whispering and embracing each other as if it were forbidden. It made my heart sink and my stomach churn as I laid down to be tormented by him once again. Was it possible to feel hollow in the absence of someone I had come to know only from my dreams? It felt as if a piece of me was misplaced and I wander these halls and streets in search of it. Did he feel what I felt? Or was I mad?

I tossed and turned until my body soon gave in. My dreams, they never ended. I was no longer just haunted by the deaths of those around me, but now of this man with no name. I had to know his name at least and I was tempted to look in the tunnel…

But I couldn’t. I promised.