London was a vibrant city – full of life and colour. It was stark in contrast to the countryside of some areas of Britain. Although, I much preferred the city. My gift was on high alert – sensing all sorts of short pitches of danger around me. This was usual, seeing as I was in a fairground surrounded by large crowds. Just aswell, I had no idea where I was supposed her.
"See you later, Will." Sky calls, wishing me good luck before she and Zed disappear. Both of them had come along with me, for "moral support" as Zed had put it. I knew they were just here to spy. However, I didn't let this stop me. I immediately began walking around, observing the surroundings and trying to look at as many people as possible. The only thing I knew about her was that she was small, had a cute face and short hair. I didn't think I'd be able to find her. After nearly twenty minutes, I began to grow agitated; why couldn't it be easy?. Why couldn't she pull a Diamond and practically fall into my arms? Life wasn't always easy from a family of seven brothers. Especially as savants; we would always compare between us. Whether we liked it or not we were all insanely jealous of eachother over stuff from as stupid as grades to how they found their soulfinders. For me, it was full blown. Being in a room filled with what felt like a hundred pairs of soulfinders was pure torture when I practically knew 0 about her until a few days ago. How could anyone remain sane in that situation?
I knew I had been slipping lately. Little things like snapping at Xav when his constant joking around was hard to stomach early in the morning. Or finding it more difficult to get out of bed knowing I'd walk out the door only to be slapped in the face by the constant giggling, touching and kissing of all my brothers and their soulfinders.
Frustration was ruining my excitement, replacing it with a sick kind of feeling of anticipation that not even the loud music and bright lights of the fair could mask.
Crystal told me that she knew she was a savant so surely she would be just as eager as me? Although she didn't have the faintest idea I was here so she wouldn't be looking.
Sighing, I run my hand through my hair and spot a line of people queueing for food. I decide to join, fishing in my pocket for a ten pound note. The woman hands me a large looking candyfloss and I smile, saying my thanks. After taking my change, I turn and begin to walk again; reaching for a bite. However, the sound of small voice crying out abruptly stops me in my tracks. I look down, seeing a small girl with long, winding dark hair dressed in a cute little summer-dress and tights. She was crouched on the floor, holding the remains of a crushed candy-floss stick. She looked close to tears, small hands covered in the pink treat. Immediately, a girl is bending beside her; her back to me. She whispers soothing words to the little girl and takes a tissue from her black bag; beginning to wipe the child's hand. Over the girl's shoulder, she looks at me with wide brown eyes and a pang of guilt hits. Oh hell – what was I doing, a fully grown man, with candy-floss anyway?
I advance towards the little girl and outstretch my hand.
"Here," I smile, urging her to take it. She looks up at me in shock for a moment, hazel eyes wide in surprise. Then she begins to smile, taking the candy-floss.
"Thank you," She chimes, clearly happy again. I smile before going to turn away. However, the sight of the girl's eyes on mine stops me moving any further from her.
She was beautiful.
Flawless.
Her dark brown hair was short and cropped to just below her ear; the wavy strands framing her delicate face. With large cheeks and thick eyebrows, she looked straight off the front of magazine. Her nose was small and rounded; brown eyes glowing in the faint light. Her lips were a natural deep rouge that only certain people seemed to possess.
I swallow the lump in my throat.
It was her, I knew it.
Suddenly, my gift flares up.
A threat? From who?
As the girl, my soulfinder, raises to her feet, it becomes clear to me that she is the threat. She pushes the girl behind her and looks me up and down with daunting eyes. Just then, rain begins to fall.
"And you are?" She demands, voice coated in an accent that only makes me want to squirm.
"Will Benedict." I confirm, not able to help the smile that spreads across my face.
"Well, Will," She almost spits my name, clearly in distaste at me.
"If you give my sister any food in the future, please make sure you check with me first." She shoots me an innocent yet testing smile before turning on her heels; taking her sister with her. I stand, shocked. Did she just turn away from me?
You know, you really should be more polite to strangers. I send telepathically, hoping she'll feel the connection and stop; turn around and run into my arms. But, she doesn't stop.
I'm paralysed to my spot. The world feels a little duller, despite the bright lights surrounding me. I furrow my eyebrows, completely and utterly confused. Sky appears before me, quick as lightning and with her small body looking panicked and confused.
"Will?" She frowns deeply, eyes assessing my aura; invisible to the naked eye of everyone but Sky.
"Your colours are grey, almost invisible." Her eyes trail up to mine.
"I've not seen anything like that before," I tear my eyes from where my soulfinder disappeared into the crowd to look down at her, completely motionless.
"I don't…"
"Did you use telepathy?" Sky asks, standing on her tip-toes to assess the crowds before us.
"Yeah, but she didn't reply." I answer, running my hands over my eyes. The disappointment was crushing my ribcage – I felt suffocated and torn apart all at once. Yet somehow, the undeniable powerful strength of my immediate attraction.. no, love… for her was pulsating from me like I'd never felt before.
"Maybe she didn't feel it," Sky reasons, voice sympathetic. She looked as confused as I felt.
"How could she not feel it? All I've ever heard from all of you is how monumental a feeling it is so why wouldn't she!" I was shouting now, feeling the heat to my cheeks. My gift flared again but I knew it was me – a danger to everyone around me in my angered state. That's why I tried to remain level-headed at all opportunities so I didn't have to feel this sense that I was the threat; I despised feeling it. I close my eyes, taking a few deep breaths. My gift flattens a little and I feel a small hand placed on my shoulder.
"Will, it's ok. But you need to go after her," Sky meets my eyes as I open them again, her irises searching my own. She had grown a lot since she first met Zed.
"Sky?" Speaking of my little brother, Zed appeared with two cans of coke and a puzzled expression; his eyes darting between me and his soulfinder.
"Leave it," I mumble, already sensing how Zed was going to try and make light of the situation. I head off quickly, attempting to roughly follow the direction in which she left.