Chapter 11

By the time I was in fit condition, it was friday, and I was trying to decide what to wear. I was having a hard time choosing because my thoughts kept going back to Will and his kisses. During the last couple of days, he has made polite advances, which has both irked and pleased me. I tried to focus back onto what to wear tonight, and failed. I nearly growled out loud in frustration. I jumped at a knock on the door.

"Everything okay in there?" Will asked, through the door.

"Everything's fine." I reply reassuringly. I listened to the retreating footfall, and sighed a breath of relief. Considering the newest development of our relationship, my hormones seemed to be going into overdrive. Every time he was close to me, I could blood pounding through my ears. The only other time that happened, was whenever I was about to be attacked. In a sense you are. You are being attacked by emotions you often suppress. You're falling in love. Shut up brain. I scowled to myself and picked a dress Adam had gotten me for my birthday. It was tight, short with spaghetti straps, and made of sequins. I zipped it up, put on some shoes, grabbed a clutch and left the room. I quickly shook out my hair as I went down the stairs. When I reached the bottom, I looked up and stared at Will.

"Wow! You look- you look." I watched him go through several shades of pink, before turning back to normal. I regarded how his colours looked liked it was blended like the aurora borealis. I was so enthralled with his aura, that I didn't realize that I was approaching him until I wrapped my arms around him. I could feel anxiety and desire roll off him.

"Why are you anxious?" The question was redundant, but I wanted to know how he would answer.

"Um, well, I'm trying to control myself. I also don't know how to respond to this, since you have intimacy issues." I stood still, closed my eyes, and inhaled his scent.

"Can I try something? It requires you to be very still." I asked, nervously.

"Sure." He replied hesitantly. I took a step back, and began to feel Will's entire body. I traced his hips, and found them to be narrow. My fingers trailed up his lean stomach, straight to his slightly expand chest. I lightly felt both of his taut arms, down to his hands. My fingers brushed his palms, and I felt slight callouses. I went back up, all the way to his face. His face felt smooth, and slightly warm. I traced every part of his face and found full lips, a strong nose, light laugh lines around his eyes. My fingers went past his ears to his hair. It was soft, sticking out randomly, and almost reached the nape of his neck. I rested my hands on the nape of his neck, and very slowly brushed his lips with my own. When I pulled back, I slowly opened my eyes, and winced a little at Will's glow. Thankfully, grey wasn't an intense colour.

"Why, did you do that?" Will asked quietly. Because I love you. Like I would ever say that in real life, not that I was.

"I wanted to know what you looked like." I replied. Cruel as it was to leave him hanging, I couldn't think of an excuse to satisfy both of us. I quickly grabbed his hand, and lead the way to the gallery.


When we arrived, Adam pulled me away to a private spot for the interview. Promising to watch out for Will, he left quickly after disposing me. I sighed, berating myself for kissing Will back at the house. Why did I do it? What was the point of doing it? I was so busy arguing, that I barely noticed the familiar azure blue and gold blanketed in black. It was visible for a second before hiding in the stream of colours. I was looking intensely for Rand, until a touch brought me back. I jumped, and startled the person next to me. An orange and turquoise female.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's alright, I wasn't paying attention."

"My name is Saskia Jansen. I'm the reporter Adam told you about." She said, grabbing my hand.

"Yes, how are you?" She let go of my hand. I then heard shuffling paper.

"I'm glad you decided to show up. Truth be told, I've been wanting to talk to you since the first time I saw one of your paintings." I heard her clear her throat. "So, Miss Graham, how long have you been able to paint?"

"I started taking lessons when I was five years old."

"A young age to start. Was it your dream to become an artist?"

"No, I don't believe art was ever a goal for me. It just seemed to be something that was part of my identity."

"Interesting." She murmured. "Where do you get the inspiration for your paintings?" I sighed.

"It's different for each painting. Sometimes it's a reflection of what I hear of today's society. Sometimes I get it from my music, and on rare occasions, a person or moment in my life."

"Could you give me an example?"

"'Independence', the painting with the turquoise angel, shows the importance of an open mind with the downsides of society. Stereotypes and prejudices tend to block out other opinions"

"How do you choose which colours to use?"

"When I was learning art, I was taught about the various representations of colours, and how they go together."

"Do you find your blindness to be a handicap?"

"No, not at all. In fact, I sometimes think that I can move around better than someone who can see." I heard a small chuckle in response.

"What is your family's opinion on your occupation and fame?"

"They're fine with it, although it is a bit hard to say considering that they are busy with school and work to show interest."

"Why did you decide to be an artist?" I sighed.

"It was convenient, and like I said before, it's a part of who I am. I don't think I could be more content doing something else." There was silence, followed by shuffling paper.

"Can I ask you something? Off the record." I cocked an eyebrow at the question.

"Sure." I replied warily.

"That guy you came in with . . . Is he your boyfriend?" My eyes widened in surprise.

"No-sort of- maybe, why?" I could feel heat rise to my cheeks in embarrassment.

"Just curious. Well I'm finished here, it was nice meeting you." She left, and I went back to searching for Rand. I caught a flash of him across the room, and quickly went towards him. Moving past the groups of people, I finally managed to get to the spot where I saw Rand, but instead came face to face with.

"Will?"

"Aries, is something wrong?" I looked around to find Rand.

"Has anyone suspicious come around?" I asked, looking back at him.

"No, and I haven't sensed anything dangerous, why?"

"I thought I saw someone I knew." I answered, looking away. We stayed that way for a minute.

"So, I've been meaning to ask. Did you dedicate a painting to me?" I looked up with curiosity.

"Would it matter if I did?" I studied his colours, intensely. I just then noticed weird indigo fluctuations.

"Not sure." I was unnerved by his reaction, or lack there-of. Aside from the fluctuations, Will's colours weren't changing at all. "Is there something wrong?"

"No." I reply. "I just have a lot on my mind."

"Well, do you want to go home?" I nodded. I watched him come towards me, then felt an arm wrap around my shoulders. We made a bee-line to the door, and strolled down the street for home. I was starting to get uncomfortable about Will's arm, until I felt it subtly tighten and shake. Something's wrong here.

"Will, are you alright?" I asked, sounding concerned.

"Mmm-hmm." My anxiety shot up, as I began to worry. Will was getting more tense the closer we got to the house, his arm gradually getting tighter. When we arrived, and Will dropped his arm, I felt relieved. When we went inside however, and closed the door, my anxiety come back. Will securely wrapped both his arms around my waist, then kissed me passionately when I turned to face him. My eyes widened in surprise, and I quickly shoved him away.

"What is wrong with you? Why did you-" Before I could finish, he pinned me to the wall with my back to him. I gasped when I felt him suck on my neck. He brought my wrists together to be pinned by one hand. His other hand then slowly went down my arm to my chest, where it gently squeezed. I moaned in response, and began to pant. He then began to kiss and nip down my neck, while his fingers pulled down a strap, all the to my shoulders. My entire body was screaming at me to make this stop, and to beg Will to do more. Closing my eyes, I grabbed what little control I had left, and shoved Will back. Still panting, I wrapped my arms around myself and watched Will. The fluctuations were gone, replaced with a flood of grey confusion, then yellow shame.

"What was I-." He stopped. I froze in fear as I saw magenta slowly cover all of Will. He quickly went to the door and left, before I could stop him. Sighing, I went the kitchen, made a cup of tea, and and sat down at the table, waiting for Will to come back.


Seven cups of tea later, I decided it was time to get out of my clothes and into my pajama's. When I came back downstairs, I played my iPod, made a pot of tea, and sat back down. I couldn't laugh at the jokes though, my mind was completely focused on Will. After another pot of tea, the phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked after picking up the phone.

"You know, good girls shouldn't be up this late." I froze at the recognition of the voice.

"Rand."

"Aries. It's been a awhile." I felt my anger rise.

"How did you get this number?" I demanded.

"Your beau was kind enough to put it into 'contacts'." Beau? Does he mean Will? "I'm calling because I would like for you to come this evening for a little get together with the others. It's time for you to come back into the fold Aries."

"What have you done to Will?" I heard Rand sigh, and my free hand closed into a tight fist.

"Mr. Benedict was very large obstacle in our plans. First, he was a Benedict, and they're known for believing that savants should remain hidden from humans. Second, so long as he was with you, there wouldn't be any certainty that you would come back. Therefore he had to be taken care of." I stopped breathing. No. "I look forward to seeing you tonight Aries. Goodnight." I heard him hang up, but I still stood there. Will was gone, and it was my fault. I slowly sank to the floor and began to sob.