Fairy Bond

Chapter Twenty-Four: Then nothing

Jade's P.O.V.

"Autumn left to get some breakfast. Told me to keep a watchful eye on you," Crystal says as soon as my eyes open.

Still a little groggy I sit up and she hands me a cup of coffee.

"I wasn't sure if you had a caffeine addiction like myself, so I made you a cup anyway."

"I do enjoy a cup every now and then," I say with a hoarse voice and take a sip.

The warm liquid trickles down my throat and for a second I forget that just yesterday someone tried to kill me. My guess is that it is Orin, but apparently, he and Autumn have an understanding. So that rules out my number one suspect. I take another sip of my coffee and notice that Crystal's eyes haven't left me yet. Awkwardly I put the cup down, "I don't think Autumn meant it this way when she asked you to look out for me."

"I know, I'm trying to figure out why she has this fascination with you."

Ouch.

"Don't get me wrong, I think you're a pretty girl and all and I understand that you're her Kindred, so that obviously plays a part, but from what she told me last night, she fell in love with you even before that."

"I'm guessing you guys stayed up all night?"

Crystal nods, "we talked and talked and before we knew it, the sun was rising," there is a soft smile on her face.

"The way she talks about you"- Crystal pauses, "I only wish to understand her."

I don't how to respond so I stay silent. Crystal is looking at me like I'm abstract, squinting every so often as if to see me differently. I rub at the hem of my shirt and wait it out.

"You're taking this particularly well."

"I'm used to people staring, got a whole year of it at Greenwich."

The corners of Crystal's mouth twitch, "I was actually referring to Autumn accepting to become the Sovereign."

"Oh, I thought she still had a week to decide," I mentally wanna slap myself for making an ass of myself. But then, then the realisation kicks in; Autumn never planned to run away with me. She was only entertaining my fantasies.

"Try three hours."

I scrunch my face together, "I thought you said she has until her birthday to decide?"

"Yes, she officially turns 18 in three hours."

"Did being away from Autumn make you forget when her birthday is?" I look at Crystal like she has a marble or four loose.

"I gave birth to her. I can give you the exact time she was born, down to the second."

The growing confusion takes a hold of my mind and for a moment I forget how to function.

"Jake and I falsified her birth certificate to a week later than her real birthday in case someone from the bloodline wanted to steal her abilities."

How is it possible for someone to answer a silent question only to make you have more?

"I thought you said only the human parent can steal their powers?"

"Ah," Crystal points to me, "I can see why you're confused."

I hold my breath in anticipation, hoping she is going to provide some clarity.

"The human parent stealing the abilities of the Lutin, is the most common scenario. But there are legends of Fairies stealing the abilities from other Fairies. The same rules apply: they must be from the same bloodline and it has to happen on the 18th birthday. Obviously it can be a few hours later or a day before, but the closer you are to the exact time of birth, the better."

Crystal's eyes widen to the same width that I'm assuming mine is right now.

But mine is from shock and hers look like a realisation.

"We have to find Autumn, is your bond still strong enough?"

I don't think I've had a straight thought in the last five minutes. Confusion is an understatement. My face has been scrunched up for so long now that I'm afraid it might stay this way if the wind changes.

"I think Orin was trying to kill her and you were just in the way."

I do as Crystal says and picture Autumn in my mind. I think of her cleft chin and her messy bun. Her swollen lips as if we had just kissed. It doesn't work. There is a nagging thought in my head that keeps distracting me.

I sigh deeply.

"If Orin tried to kill Autumn, why would he warn her?" I voice my thought.

"Like I said, you were probably in the way and he knew if he killed you and Autumn survived, she'd have nothing left to lose. She would never become Sovereign then."

"Isn't she losing me either way?"

Crystal's eyebrows try to frown and rise at the same time, forcing her eyebrows into a straight line, "she's only becoming the Sovereign to protect you from him. He is not allowed to harm you or kill you. She loves you so much that she'd live a life without you if it meant you get grow old, fall in love again. She wants you to have the life she dreamed you'd have together but with someone else." Crystal's tone evens out near the end.

I want to cry. Autumn chose to put my happiness above hers and although I think is beautifully poetic; I also think it is equally as daft. How can she expect me to feel even a fraction for someone else, what I feel for her? I may end up being happy like she wants, but there will always be this hole inside that only she can fill. It won't be true happiness, only a delusion.

I try again. I think of Autumn. Only this time I try to think of what she is feeling instead of focusing on her features.

Autumn's face comes into view in my mind's eye.

"Autumn is in danger." I say to Crystal, squeezing my eyes shut, afraid that if I open them, I will lose concentration. Autumn has a single tear stain on her check. I can see all of this from the mirror she is staring into. "Her arms are tied behind a chair and behind her is a counter."

I can feel Autumn's sadness but it's not just sadness. There is some kind of disbelief mixed in.

"Focus on her surroundings. We need to find out where she is." Crystal whispers.

I look around, in the hopes of finding a clue, but my attention is drawn back to the heartbroken look on her face. Then nothing.

My eyes shoot open out of fear.

"I can't see her anymore!" I shout, "I can't feel her anymore."

I draw the worst conclusion: she's dead.