Thanks to Ligya Ford-Northman ; Simonisthecuttestmentalist ; Mosie; Steph-Schell and inane reality for their reviews! Here comes chapter 2
Warning 1: you don't like AU and Mentalist together? well give it a try, you never know ;)
Warning 2: my English grammar isn't the best. I voice it better than I write it. Hope you'll still enjoy (won't blame you if you don't lol)
Wanderers
The morning came faster than expected. The low sunrise greeted his tired eyes and once again; he stood in complete silence at the sight of the awakening nature around him. Grass and plants glowed in the growing sunlight; trees seemed to strengthen and sounds of animals passing nearby were more audible. The call of the early birds, slow motions in the bushes…the man couldn't help but admire how fast Mother Nature had claimed back her rights. The leftovers of burned wood were completely cold now. He put down his latest empty cup of tea on the ground and rubbed his hands altogether, trying to heat up a little the cold members.
"'Morning father!"
The man looked down and grinned at the eleven years old boy.
"Good morning Connor. Is Grace still sleeping?"
Connor nodded vigorously. His green eyes were still a little bit drowsy, but the man knew the boy was ready to start a new day.
"The last farmer told us the river was down the road, right?" the boy nodded, and the man continued: "We'll make a quick clean up and head to the next town. Show-time is upcoming, little one."
Connor's grin widened, eyes sparkling in anticipation. Each time they were running low on money, they would stop in a village, make tours and tricks to entertain their audience, and gather enough to buy new clothes or food. The man didn't mind demonstrating his talents, for he knew people needed innocent entertainment these days, and that was the quickest way to attract attention. Maybe he could spot her, this woman, his beautiful soul, in the faces of the crowd.
"Can we do the disappearing tour?" Connor asked eagerly. "When you wrap me in the cover and make me disappear?"
"I'll do whatever the audience wants me to" the man answered patiently. "We'll do the disappearing trick if all the elements required are around, little one."
Connor pouted a second before yarning and sitting on a round stone not too humid. For a few moments, they stood in silence. The man was waiting. He knew the boy didn't walk out of the cave without a purpose.
"I dreamt about someone" Connor said suddenly. "She had eyes like me, and soft hands."
"Someone of your past?" the man asked, paying more attention.
The boy sealed his lips in a thin line and nodded. He rarely talked about his amnesia, and the man knew the reason. It was still upsetting him, just being able to catch glimpses of people with no name, or names with no faces.
The man sighed. Children of the Dark Night had to grow up faster. He had seen with his own eyes the pile of young corpses, a single parent, or both, grieving their loss; and on the opposite, children weeping over their family. Connor, despite losing his, has been incredibly lucky to survive the event. Even luckier being find by Grace and him. The village was almost completely destroyed when they had arrived, and the few other survivors had succumbed to their injuries. His weren't too serious and they were able to tend him. He was the only one they had managed to save.
"I love you, father, and Grace too" he said with a shaky voice. "But…I wanna remember. Can't you hi…hipozise me? Maybe…just a light trance; like you do sometimes with people?"
The man kneed next to him and looked at him in the eye.
"I already told you Connor, you're too young to be hypnotized. Your memory is starting to come back slowly. I told you it will take time, and you have to be patient. You've been making amazing progresses, believe me."
The boy nodded reluctantly. Inside the cave, they heard a few groans and a voice calling their name. Their third companion was awake. The man looked back at the boy and tousled his hair.
"Go back to Grace, and take both something for breakfast in the bag. It's going to be a long day."
--Someplace in the country--
"Hey Teresa wake up!"
The dark-haired woman opened her eyes painfully as her younger brother shook her shoulder gently. She straightened up, realising she had spent the night arms crossed on the table. Again.
"I'm good Ray" she growled, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Any news of the boss?"
Ray shook his head, disappointingly.
"Sheriff Minelli doesn't seem to need us today. Things seem to be calm around the village. Mr Bosco knocked this morning though. I told him you were still sleeping."
Teresa groaned and let her head fall on the table with a loud 'thump'.
"Not him again"
Ray chuckled, amused by his older sister's reaction.
"He is so into you, sis! He keeps coming back even though you push him away every time."
"The man doesn't know when to take a hint" she growled, shaking her head childishly, face still directed to the table.
"Hey, he claims to everyone he's your soul mate! Maybe you haven't warmed up to him yet."
Teresa sighed and closed her lids.
I'll come back for you, my beautiful soul.
The blue pool of blue eyes was still hunting her, no matter how hard she had tried to forget them. One-night stands, a few boyfriends, but nothing shook the image away.
I already have a soul mate, she thought; and blushed at the memories of their first and last meeting.
"I'm not interested in him" she replied. Her mind was already set. It was stupid, she knew. She didn't know if the man had survived the Dark Night –heck she didn't even know his name! And it was more than five years ago! Yet, she still remembered every detail, every touch, every sigh, every purr, the heat and the smell of his body, their sweat, their breath panting, the tiredness in her body…She felt the arousal coming back, and had to get a grip before a moan escape her throat in front of her clueless brother.
"Oh come on, give the man a chance. I like him, he's pretty cool; and he is the village's mayor."
Teresa shook her head. Of course his brother was intently oblivious to her feelings on the subject. She already had who she wanted, already gave herself to him before he left. He had promised to come back. She still believed him. She knew Ray was only trying to protect her by pushing her to get with Bosco. He was a good man, who loved her and could guarantee her safety. But he wasn't the one for her.
"I'm going out" she announced, getting out of her chair. "Cho talked about a clean waterfall not far from here; I promised I'd go with him today if I wasn't busy."
Ray looked like he was going to protest, but she silenced him with a glare.
"I'm starting to get tired of you trying to play matchmaker, Ray. I know you mean well, but I think I'm old enough to know what I want. Start wondering about yourself before wondering about me" she added on a softer tone.
When he didn't answer, she walked out of the room, not wanting to face the hurt she was expecting on his features.
So, what do you think? Please press the green button below and I swear I'll be grinning like an idiot all day ;D