Chapter Seven: Rapture

Falcon's eyes turn gold, and I've noticed they change colour when there is danger or when he is angry. But this time, there is no threat. He doesn't look angry. His facial expression features awe more than anything.

But he is staring right at me.

Like he's just seen me for the first time.

He is shaking, and I realize I am too. We're both just as affected by each other.

Our hands still touch, and small little shimmers ripple at the contact of our skin. It's pleasant, but also frightening. It's not a sexual connection, but more of a spiritual intimacy.

I can feel the tingles flow throughout my body, from our connecting hands up to the base of my neck. I can feel it on my scalp, twitching at the hair follicles. But it also runs along my spine, travelling to my hips like a caress. It twirls over them and slides down my legs, embracing my calves. My toes wiggle in my shoes, and I'm left feeling breathless. We are only touching hands, but it feels like we are completely enraptured in each other. As if we are tightly hugging, trying to absorb the other.

I've never felt this way about anyone before.

"Wow," I breathe out, watching him intensely. Falcon nods but does not say anything.

"I did not expect that" I say.

"I've heard things. But I never thought it was this…" Falcon raises our hands and stares at them, his eyebrows narrowing as if in deep thought.

"Yeah," I nod, jolting a little when he moves our hands. It is different for every movement it seems. I feel safe with his hand in mine, but also immensely nervous. It is now a primal need for me to care for him. I just know it. My main worry right now is not about Blanche anymore, but Falcon's safety. The bond totally switched my perspective on the world, and my wants and needs included.

I'm scared.

I don't like not knowing what is to come. I gulp, and Falcon notices.

"Don't be frightened."

I look at him wide eyed, and within a second, I nod. I must listen to him—which is probably another trait of the new bond.

"Stop that," Falcon stops touching my hand and I feel as if I've had ice cold water thrown on me. I gasp, shivering at the loss of skin contact. But warmth immediately spreads over my face when his hand cups my chin.

"Stop what?" I say, gazing up at him innocently. I honestly don't know what he's talking about.

"I can feel your emotions. It might take time for you to feel mine, but for me it is immediate. I am taking in everything you are feeling right now."

"And what's that?"

"Anxiety, fear, confusion…adoration and respect," his finger slides underneath my jaw and up to my cheek. He taps my nose and smiles down at me. I frown. But before I can respond, Caius finally makes his presence known. Well, he was always there, we just forgot he was. Which is surprising, because he's extremely annoying to stand next to.

"Sorry to burst your little love bubble, but there's other matters to discuss," Caius looks at us in disgust. He seems very bothered by the exchange between Falcon and me.

"The deal is off," Falcon tells him, grabbing me and gently shoving me behind him.

"What? No!" I yell, moving away from him.

"We are bonded now. I can't trust myself. I may be strong, but events happen. I won't be able to protect you all the time."

"How about I offer a solution?" Caius walks over to a desk and pulls out a necklace chain. It is silver and rather plain.

"This is very strong material. It will never break unless I want it to. I will give you something, a gift, in return for what you're about to do for me."

"And what else am I going to do for you? I've already done enough" I glare.

"No thank you? Ungrateful much? Maybe I won't help you then," Caius turns to put the necklace back in the drawer.

"Thank you for what you've done, but what else would you have me do?"

Caius stops and turns back to me with a wide knowing smile. "You'll just have to take a detour on your little trip. No big deal. I think my sister is rather lonely and could use a friend to visit. That's all you'll have to do for me, and the deal will be sealed."

"Your sister? You're talking about the woman who condemned us all to Hell?" Falcon shakes his head in anger. "That will never happen. She can continue to rot in misery, it is the least of what she deserves."

"I need to find Blanche, Falcon." I can feel my body react from going against Falcon's needs. My muscles ache and clench, and my head starts to pulse painfully. I am struggling to breathe, panting. It is as if my lungs won't cooperate with my brain. It is like swimming into the depths of the ocean, going further and further away from the surface. My mind says to go back and breathe, but my body says something else. I try to calm myself, taking slow breaths. Falcon notices and places his hand on my shoulder.

One look at Falcon and I understand why.

He stares back at me, and I'm guessing we share similar expressions. But for him, it is possibly even worse. His face turns bright crimson and his nostrils flare. He has mentioned that he feels my emotions, and that my ability to read his is rather low. He has objected to do something I want, which is making his body reject this behaviour. I felt it as well, but Falcon's feelings must go beyond mine. He is a shifter, and I take it they experience stronger emotions than humans.

The more I watch him in pain, the stronger my urge to help him. The thought of him hurting at all causes my heart to clench painfully.

Caius does not bother to comment on our new behaviour, and instead continues the conversation from before "my sister only did what she thought was best. If anything, you should blame humans for your punishment. Soteria wanted to protect humans," he holds up his hand and a blue light quickly zaps from one of his fingers. Falcon sputters and tries to speak, but nothing comes out. When I try to do the same, my voice is gone. We look at Caius in anger, but he shakes the same finger in warning.

"You will not interrupt me!" Caius hisses. "You've stated humans are weak. Shifters were a threat to them, even if they promised to stay away. Our mother died to protect humans. Soteria is a good person. She never hated any of you. She only acted on instinct. We were created with that purpose in mind—to always take care of humans. Of course, my mother loved you all. She created you with her magic. But humans came first for us."

Caius looks genuine now, like he has some humanity within him. He truly cares for his sister. If it were Blanche, I would want others to visit her and see if she was doing alright. Wait—that is exactly what is happening here. But he wanted to get something out of it. I would have done it for nothing if he just returned the favour.

Caius lifts his finger up again and we can speak this time.

Falcon stays quiet, so I ask instead "why can't you go visit her?"

"Well, human, I can't," Caius responds agitatedly. The same old Caius is back.

"Care to explain then?" I wait for his answer, using the same tone he did.

"When I defended my sister, I was punished for it. My siblings did not like that I sided with her. They are very protective of our mother's creations and felt like we were betraying the memory of her," Caius looks at us sadly, as if his mind is off far away.

"At first, my sister and I were sent in exile together. And we were fine with it. But the punishment was not enough. They saw how we were happy, so they separated us. She's been alone for hundreds of years. I can only imagine how that's taken a toll on her."

"And she can't just leave?" I ask.

"No. They made it so she had to protect this world. She is meant to guard her own prison cell. And she accepted that fact, for she still is trying to protect humans," Caius closes his eyes and turns away for a moment. I think I see tears slip from the corners of his eyes, but it is gone before I can look further.

"Why don't you ask someone else to go see her then? Why me?"

"Because those bastards wanted to make sure she was alone. Completely alone."

"What do you mean?" Falcon asks, watching Caius with interest.

"They placed a blood spell on the land. A blood spell that only allows humans to walk through the portal, or even see it."

"So, in other words…" I say but Caius finishes my sentence for me.

"You're the only one who can find my sister."

Well, shit.