Page 4 of Touched

I cannot walk away.

“Are you okay? Are you in trouble? Are you running from someone? Maybe I can help.” The words leave my throat without me even realizing I’m about to say them.

She shakes her head, causing her hair to fan out around her. The silky strands cover my hands as I continue to lightly hold onto her shoulders. I shiver in response, as she once again tries to pull away from my gentle touch and currents race up my arms. Her eyes are wide, luminous, the peculiar golden color almost flashing in the sunlight. Though, I can see just how frightened she is within their depths.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. Let me help you. I’m a detective. Why are you so afraid? Is someone trying to harm you?” My hands loosen on her shoulders. I’m barely touching her, but I’m afraid that if I release her completely, she’ll race off into unknown danger. My eyes meet hers, though I’m also watching our surroundings for any hint of danger. “I’m Callum. What’s your name?”

Her eyes flit over mine for what seems like an eternity, before a resigned sigh escapes her. Her shoulders are still tense beneath my palms, the strange feeling of electricity still present, as she practically whispers, “Aeris… My name is Aeris.”

Iblink disbelieving eyes up at this man…

This… Callum.

How can he see me? This isn’t right.

He looks human.

He’s human, right? Humans can’t see me. Maybe he’s something else? I mean, he looks human with his purposely disheveled hair, a faint line of dark stubble on his chin, and his towering height over me.

But it’s his eyes… I’ve never seen that shade of blue before. It’s like the sky, on the clearest day, inside the wards.

The wards I was supposed to stay inside… Cyrus.

Oh, hells! I’m in so much trouble.

He’s going to whip my…

“Hello? Are you okay?”

I blink again and nod. “Sorry, uh. I didn’t mean to… uh… bump into you,” I murmur.

Gently disentangling myself from his grip, I try to get away again, but Callum doesn’t let go of my shoulder. “I can’t let you go until I know you’re all right.”

Forcing a smile, I reply, “I’m fine. Just fine. I… I’d better go.”

“Is someone after you?” he repeats, his hand still curving around my shoulder. Shivers race down my spine, and my stomach feels as though I’m rolling down a hill end over end, as Cy and I often did as fledglings. I feel… chemistry.

Why is he affecting me so?

Callum looks past me, then quickly around, his concern evident.

Why does he keep asking me that?

I shake my head. “No, nobody. I’m… I… I’m late for something. Thank you for your concern.” This time, I manage to yank my arm from his grip. As much as I hate to admit it, I was quite enjoying his touch… and scurry down the street without looking back. I need to put as much space as I can between the man who can see me and myself. There are so many humans and I just want to get into someplace quieter so I can think.

Steeling my resolve to keep my wings hidden and not bolt into the sky, since apparently at least one human can see me, I rush through the crowds. After taking a quick glance behind me and seeing he’s not following me, I duck into an alleyway between the old brick buildings of the city. There are people everywhere and fear enshrouds me.

What do I do?

Normally I’m ignored since they can’t see me, but I can’t take that chance now.

“Something is off, can’t you feel it?”I push aside my brother’s words from earlier as they echo over and over in my head.He was right.Still, I need to hide. Peering around, I see there’s no one here but a lone, dirty panhandler who’s sleeping by the dumpster behind one of the seafood restaurants in the Quarter. He doesn’t look like he’s going to give me much trouble, on the off-chance Callum seeing me wasn’t a fluke, and if the amount of alcohol wafting from him is any indication.

Not that any human has been able to see me before, but I seem to be having an off day.

I gasp. Inhaling deeply as the realization that a human actually saw me fills me with even more dread. I cough as pungent air fills my lungs.

Gah… the smells from humans.

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