Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze [2]

Kayla

"K-kayla," I stuttered and put my hand over my mouth. Get a hold of yourself!

"What brings you here?"

"Just passing through." Good girl!

"ON your way anywhere?"

"Hopefully h-home, but I-I don't really know where home is."

Caspan-

I frowned at Kayla's words.

"What do you mean you don't know where home is?"

Kayla

I felt a lump growing in my throat, "I-I do-on't remember anything f-f-from before I wa-was I-I thin-k-k fourteen." Oh God I couldn't stop stuttering! "They s-s-said I h-hit my head a-and I-I didn-t k-k-know anyth-th-hing a-a-about my l-l-l-ife."

I knew I was crying now. Stupid Kayla! I dug my nails into my palm so hard I almost broke the skin.

Caspan-

I could not stop myself from reaching out and grasping the girl's hand. I squeezed it gently, trying to offer her my silent apologies.

"I'm sorry..." i murmured quietly.

Then a thought struck me. I smiled.

"Maybe i can help. My..."

I pursed my lips, trying to think.

"My great-great-uncle...i think...well, anyway, a relative of mine is a mage. Actually, quite a few of my relatives are mages. Perhaps they can help you."

Kayla

He was sweet.

I shook my head, "p-people have t-t-tried to help me. T-t-the people wh-ho f-f-fo-o-und m-m-m-me s-s-said t-t-t-tha-t-t-t I-I-I wouldn't remember."

I whiped my eyes with my hand and groaned, "I'm sorry," I said, "You must think I'm so stupid, I-I keep stuttering and b-b-blubbering like an idiot."

Caspan-

I laughed softly. "No, not at all. And i wouldn't be so quick to assume things. You haven't been to see my family. You never know, then may be able to help you, and if not then at least you can say it was better trying than doing nothing at all. Right?"

I smiled at her reassuringly.

Kayla

I smiled back and nodded. "Yeah, I-I suppose so."

I noticed that he hadn't let go of my hand yet and it didn't help my stuttering. Why did I always behave so stupid around new people? Maybe because I [i]was[i] stupid.

Caspan-

I chuckled, feeling her unease. I pulled my hands from hers.

"Sorry."


Ramere-

We were nearing my house. I turned my head again to look at Arabella.

"So where do you live? I've seen you around the town a few times before, i think."

Arabella--

I looked at the ground, formulating my answer carefully.

"I....I....don't have a home," I answered slowly, emphasizing each word. I didn't like the taste of the sentence -- it was bitter.

"What do you mean?" Ramere asked, looking at me curiously.

"I mean i've been in this town for a while now, but I don't actually have a home. I sleep where I can, eat what I can, never staying in sight for too long..." I didn't point out that half the reason I stayed in this town for so long was because of him. Nor that his scent had brought me here to begin with.

Kayla

I flushed and started walking along with him again, hoping to stick to a happier subject.

"So why do you have wings?"

"I'm an Avain."

My eyes widened in wonder, "r-really?"

He seemed amused as he nodded.

"I've never met an Avian before, what does flying feel like?"

Ramere-

I stared at Arabella with a look of confusion and curiosity. I couldn't understand how someone could live out here in the open like this for that long...especially during the winter.

As if the thought had conjured it up, a cold breeze tickled my cheek, making me shiver. I bared my teeth slightly in disgust, forgetting for a moment about my two teeth that were incredibly sharp...

I heard a gasp to my side and remembered myself. I closed my mouth and mentally cursed myself.

Stupid! Nice going! Now she's going to think you're a vampire, no matter what you say!


Caspan-

I couldn't help grinning. I raised an eyebrow.

"It's great. Would you like to find out?"

Kayla

My expression widened, "yes." Finally I hadn't stuttered! Yes! I was going to find a hotel when I was finished here and take a five hour long bath, keeping the water nice and hot. And I'd defiently eat something.

"You'll have to hang on to me."

I walked foward and gripped his shoulders tightly. He lifted me up and caught my legs over his arm.

"Ready?" He breathed by my ear.

"yes," I nodded.

Woosh we were off.

Caspan-

I grinned as we launched into the air. I glanced back over my shoulder to see Ramere looking up at us. I couldn't be sure from this high up, but i could've sworn he had been smiling smugly...

I lifted us high above the town so we were able to see all of it. The market plaza, the small park, the house that i lived in...everything.

Arabella--

I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the fact that Ramere had...fangs...

He wasn't a vampire, of that I was certain. He didn't smell of it.

"How do you come to have fangs?" I asked after a moment, watching his face. He seemed somewhat nervous, or upset.

"What do you mean?" he asked, watching me. Not remembering whether or not my fangs were sheathed, and not fully thinking of it, I smiled at him reassuringly.

"I doubt you're a vampire, so how do you come to have fangs?"

Ramere-

I cast my eyes to the side. I had not wanted to reveal my heritage to a girl I just met...

I sighed. Ah well, what the hell.

"My mother was a vampire. My father wasn't. I got the fangs, but not the need or lust for blood." i said quietly. I could not help my eyes going to the little girl still clinging to my leg. She showed no signs of fangs or the need for blood, of which we were all thankful.

Carlie looked up at me, sensing i was looking at her. She smiled slightly before running to the house, now that she was sure she knew the way.

I waited to hear her reaction, her response.