Draven Hawke

BOOK III CHAPTER EIGHT

I still press your letters to my lips 

And cherish them in parts of me that savor every kiss

I couldn't face a life without your lights

But all of that was ripped apart when you refused to fight

~Slipknot-Snuff-Lyrics~

DRAVEN

Draven arrived at Callen's address, his only intention, to get Autumn out. He did not care if she did not want to go. He would carry her all the way home if he had to. It was okay if she hated him for doing so. He could live with that. What he could not live with, was her giving herself to a man, and it being his fault. Knowing that Autumn was distressed, and this was not her rational behavior, left a pit in his chest. He could only hope he did not get there too late.

Contemplating how to get inside, he stood in a corner shadow, blending into the darkness. Just as he decided to go to the front desk, he watched Alannah storm out of the building. Moving from the wall, he approached her.

"Alannah," he called her attention. "I don't believe we've met. I'm a friend of Autumn's. She called me to pick her up. Can you let her know I'm here." He intended to follow Alannah into the building, but she just stared at him, shaking her head. "Can we get her, please?" he asked again, trying to conceal his anguish.

"I'm sorry," Alannah stammered, "she's not here. She left."

Draven noticed that Alannah seemed on edge, glancing around her surroundings, as if worried someone would find them there.

"Where did she go?" he asked. The pit in his chest dug deeper down, gripping his stomach, and tearing it from the inside out. I'm too late. 

"Home, I think." Alannah looked over her shoulder, then back at Draven. "Look, I have to go. Sorry you missed her..."

"What of Callen? Is he here?" Draven ignored her. "I'd like to speak with him." What he really wanted to do, was kill him. Hiding his rage became increasingly difficult the longer he stood there.

"Callen went after her. I don't know what happened. She seemed upset..."

Not waiting for Alannah to finish, he walked away, in the direction he thought Autumn would have gone.

A million scenarios ran through his head, of why Autumn would have left at four in the morning. None of them good. Especially knowing Callen had gone after her. I am too late. Those words echoed in his mind, beating against his sanity. Too late. Too late.

Draven's wrath told him to find Callen. His vexation told him to find Autumn. Those two desires battled inside of him, until he could no longer take the pressure. He leaned down, placing his hands on his knees. Struggling for oxygen, he inhaled slow, deliberate breaths. Too late. Too late. "Ahhh," he yelled out, gripping his hair with both hands. Several people stopped what they were doing, looking in his direction, wearing various expressions. He straightened up and began walking at a faster pace.

Find Autumn first, he told himself. Make sure she is safe. Then you can find Callen. Find Autumn first. He had to keep repeating this in his mind the entire walk home, with his body fighting against him, trying to pull him in the opposite direction.

Arriving at Emily and Autumn's apartment, walking up the steps, Draven began to make out Isaac's voice. Then Emily's. Then, the one he wanted to hear, Autumn's. She was home safe, but could he face her? Could he look at her knowing, that because of him, she had done something... But he could not even think it. If he did, if he allowed the words to play out in his head, he would erupt, hurting Autumn further than he already had. He had no right to be angry with her. He should only feel responsible. However, emotions are unruly, and he could not help the sting of betrayal swelling within him.