Draven Hawke

CHAPTER FIVE

PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT

As Draven rounded the corner of Atlantic Street, his senses were on high alert. He heard a familiar voice before he saw the face of his long lost friend.

"It has been along time, Draven," Isaac spoke.

"Yes, it has been a long time since you stole my daughter from me," Draven growled.

"I stole nothing. You were a monster, void of emotion. You were not in any condition to care for a child," Isaac said, stepping under the street lamp. He looked the same as he had in the 1800s. His thick white hair glowed from under his fedora. The only perceptible difference was his clothing, which was modern and sleek.

"That wasn't your choice to make, Isaac..."

"You're right. It was Emily's choice. She was scared of you." Draven waved Isaac off, dismissing the claim, before doubling over in pain.

"I have come to help you, Draven. I have been watching you. I have wanted to reunite for some time now, but I could see that you were still in an unbalanced state. Until recently, that is. Something changed in the last week, I'm not positive, but I believe it's the girl. She is making you feel..."

"What do you know of the girl?" Draven pushed forward, taking Isaac by his long, black coat. "You stay away from her."

"I only wish to help, Draven. Your crystal is rejecting your molecules, repelling your consciousness. You are not capable of feeling in this state."

"I do not want anything from you. Leave me be, Isaac, and stay away from my friend." Draven turned to leave, and Isaac's black, leather glove brushed his shoulder.

"There's something you need to know, Draven," he called, but Draven was out of sight.

When Draven arrived at his loft, he opened the door and Autumn was waiting. She was in one of his shirts and a pair of his pajama bottoms. Her hair dripped down her back, still wet from her shower.

"Come, eat," he instructed, setting some Chinese food he had picked up on the long, marble counter. The smell of garlic fanned the room.

"You look terrible." Autumn rushed to his side.

"I am fine."

"You're not fine, Draven, there is something wrong. You look pale."

"Autumn, please eat," he requested, again. He worried that she had not eaten for some time. He remembered how hungry she had been at the restaurant. Now it occurred to him why that was. She most likely did not get to eat often.

Autumn could not argue; she was starved. She stood at the counter, hesitating. She did not think that Draven should be the one worrying when he looked so ill.

"If you eat, then I will tell you what happened," Draven offered, seeing that she was resistant. Autumn pursed her lips, smiling. She opened the white container and groaned in delight. "I met an old friend," Draven started, amused with the enthusiasm Autumn showed for her food, "he is the one who implanted the crystal. He is also the one who took my daughter."

"What did he say?" Autumn asked between bites of food. She was eating too fast.

"He hoped to reunite," Draven evaded, "he said he has been watching me."

"How is he alive?" Autumn's thoughts were spinning. There was so much to take in.

"I didn't ask. I assume he used the same technique for himself that he used for me."

"Doesn't that mean that your daughter could be alive?" Autumn asked, covering her food, and pushing the container aside. She'd already eaten half of the contents. She finished a glass of water before moving to the couch. Draven followed behind her.

"I hadn't thought of that," he admitted, "I don't believe she would want to see me, regardless."

"I don't understand."

"She was terrified of me, Autumn. She knew of my pastimes."

"Oh." Autumn looked down, not knowing what to say to that. "Maybe he can help you," she realized, "if he is the one who inserted the crystal, maybe he will know..."

"I will not accept his help." Draven cut her off.

"What will happen to you then?" Draven clenched his jaw, not speaking. A long silence grew more perceptible with each passing second.

"I should go," Autumn whispered, not knowing what to say and realizing how late it was. She hated to leave things the way they were but did not know if Draven wanted her there.

"Where would you go?"

"I'm not sure, wherever I feel safe, I guess."

"Do you feel safe here?"

"I do." She nodded, glancing sideways, trying to decipher Draven's intention.

"Will you stay with me?" He closed his eyes. There was a tightening in his abdomen as he waited for Autumn's answer. He wondered if she would be afraid to stay in his home.

"Of course, I will." Autumn's smile lit the small room.

"Will you tell me more about yourself?" Draven asked, eager to hear her voice.

"There is not much to tell. I think your story is much more interesting than mine," she said.

"Tell me everything. Your favorite color, food, book...I want to know all about you."

"Will you do the same for me?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest ant lifting her chin.

"I will," he promised, exasperated.

Autumn lowered herself to Draven's side, curling up on his chest. She hesitated a moment, wondering if he would want her to be so close. When he did not stop her, she began talking. They talked for hours, going back and forth, learning each other likes and dislikes. They were surprised to find that they had a few things in common. Their favorite color was blue, they enjoyed the works of William Blake, and, they were both alone. After hours had gone by, Autumn started to drift off.

"Would you like me to read to you?" Draven offered. Autumn nodded her head and closed her eyes. Draven picked up the first book he could reach and started reading in a soft whisper near her ear. She fell asleep with words from Dante's Inferno weaving their way into her mind. Something about the path to paradise being in hell. The words made little sense to her.

Sound asleep, her lips parted, letting out gentle sighs of exhaustion. Draven placed his lips to her hair, trying to feel something. His heart did not respond the way he thought it should, but there was a surge of pleasure that pulsed through him.

Hi, again. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Unfortunately, every time I update words are sticking together. If there are any mistakes I miss, I apologize. I try to go through and fix all of them, but I noticed on the last chapter that I missed a couple. Anywho...I hope you all had a lovely weekend, and I hope you're enjoying Draven and Autumn.

The picture above is meant to be Autumn in her orange cardigan.