Clairvoyants 8 & 9

CHAPTER 8:

Firon and Tsugumi sat together through the journey while Emerald and Clair sat together. The two girls hadn’t met Emerald. He had stubbornly refused to get out of the car. Once they had screeched out of the facility in those extravagant vehicles, the two cars stopped after three hours by a huge hotel. Tsugumi stepped out cautiously, forgetting that it was one year since Firon had stepped into the real world. Clair was waiting by the door to help her out. Firon hesitantly opened the door but stayed in.
Clair extended a hand when he saw she wasn’t ready to step out. Pity slashed at his heart as she held out a shaking hand.
"Please Firon, trust me."
Firon nodded and then stepped out. There was no one on the road. It seemed a bit lonely. Tsugumi quietly waited for the man who had seen her sister last.
Emerald, a very tall man in a loose white shirt and dark blue jeans stepped out. His face was shadowed by a large brim hat. What? He was extraordinarily well built. Tsugumi was blushing at his sight. Beautiful... vampires are enchantingly beautiful, she thought. She had never worked with anyone outside the facility and here she was exposed, open to the world to all the species she had ever read about.
Emerald bowed slightly and said in his lyrically sweet voice, "Welcome to our headquarters."

A swift turn and he stood with his back towards them. Tsugumi adjusted her handbag and glanced at Clair and Firon. They stood looking at the magnificent structure in front of them.
Emerald’s lyrical voice floated through the air softly, "This way."
He held the crook of his arm and called, "Ms. Tsuguma...."
Tsugumi took his arm and corrected him softly, "its Tsugumi. And why are we walking like this?"
Of course Emerald understood that ‘this’ was pointed to their style of walking. He bent his hat to shield his eyes and started walking, leading Tsugumi forwards.
"We’re to look like two couples who have been recently married. Did Shade tell you nothing of the plan?"
Tsugumi shook her head and opened her mouth to ask the question that would or would not make her alone in the whole wide world.
"Sir, is..." She began in her small voice.
"It’s Emerald.... That’s my Calendar name."
"Uh ok, Mr. Emerald, is she alive?"
Emerald seemed to pause but his next graceful move made one forget that he had even paused. He said in a strained voice, "Let’s have some dinner shall we? You all must be hungry."
"Alright... what about you dinner... I meant, you should also get some rest."
The ‘blood’ part made people aware what they were walking with. A vampire. A royal one at that.

A huge drunk gentleman with a skewed tie made his way directly towards Tsugumi. Clair repulsed knowing what was in the drunkards mind. Firon made a face and stopped his footsteps there while Emerald sensing Tsugumi’s insecurity pulled her to the other side and glared at the man who seemed stuck in his place. Only after they had crossed the road leading to the reception did Firon release him from his trance.
"Wasn’t that a meanderer?" asked Firon, Clair tightened his grip on Firon’s arm and said in her ear, "His intentions with regard to Tsugumi are wrong. He caught her as the weak link in our group. She’s human... best to guard her. Keep her in your mind."
Emerald’s thoughts interrupted theirs, "May I join?"
Clair replied in their telepathic conference, "Good, now all of us can stay connected."
Emerald said again, "Why is this young human walking beside me experiencing such a sad and heavy feeling? She’s depressed. What am I to do?"
Firon said slowly, "She’s afraid Shade has passed away. Because you didn’t answer her. Is Shade alive?"
Emerald pulled Tsugumi away from an approaching van and dipped his head to whisper a sorry for bumping into her.
He joined the conversation and continued, "I believe she perished along with my elder brother."
Clair piped in thoughtfully, "How could your brother die? I mean... vampires do not technically die do they?"

Emerald said, a heaviness surrounded his voice, "Vampires don’t die they’re killed. He died after her. Because he said he had a good life and wanted a better death by dying with the reason of his existence. She said he had to move on and help us but he said that he had lived his life for himself and that he wanted to die for someone else. Someone he loved. Someone he couldn’t live without."
Emerald’s presence in the conference vanished and the Clair and Firon promptly turned to look at the receptionist. He seemed to be overwhelmed with honour to be serving Emerald.
"My greetings to the prince and his friends. Please, this way...."
Clair raised an eyebrow and asked mentally, Prince?
Emerald gave a glint of his extraordinarily white teeth (no fangs?) and moved on with Tsugumi. Firon latched on to Clair as soon as she realised that the place was teeming with species. Clair put an arm around her as she tried to locate her yuver gun in her bag. Yes... there it was at the safest and most easily accessible portion of her bag. Emerald’s coat whipped behind him as he hurried to the elevator where their belongings were waiting. A young porter shoved the luggage into the luggage trolley and into the elevator. Firon stood in between the porter and Clair and casually read the man’s mind- "a thousand bucks just for telling the way around... will Jane like it?... what are these weird people like, all richness no sadness. Wish they’d see a bit of what our lives are like...." So much hatred, such negativity but a part of the heart yet occupied by love....
Clair warned her against speaking out her thoughts in front of anyone. She nodded and took out a fifty from her purse. Before leaving the elevator she smiled and said politely, "Thank you, have a nice evening." The man nodded his face stunned. Firon sighed and joined the others. Clair was helping the floor porter with their things. Their own flat. No more two apartments separated by walls. They could live together. Even if it was to protect their identities. Somehow everything would be alright.

CHAPTER 9:

Clair and Firon were given a suite opposite the one allotted to Tsugumi and Emerald. It was beautiful. a huge drawing room decorated in scarlet and gold with as beautiful furnishings as one could imagine. A bedroom tucked in a corner with a vast bed and soft covers and pillows. It was almost as if they had reached paradise. It was the finest suite. A small dining room for the couple and a large bathroom equipped with silver and gold fittings. The whole place seemed scented, magical yet there was a darkness to it. In the hollows behind the curtains, in the spaces remaining empty under the shelves.
Clair laid a hand on Firon’s arm and shook his head, "No... everything is alright. We’re just staying here till we find a better place to live. Where we can live permanently. You understand me don’t you?"
Firon looked at him with tired eyes. Clair’s eyebrows furrowed as he shook her gently, "Baby... are you upset about something?" She nodded negatively and said something. It was incoherent. Clair’s heart raced, what was wrong? What was happening to her?
"Clair... tired... burning badly...."
He shook her again and asked, "What is burning, my sweet angel.... where is it burning? Are you in pain?"
Firon’s eyes held tears as her body went limp against him. He caught her arms and hoisted her up. Catching hold of her waist he laid her on the sofa. Tsugumi came knocking at the door seconds later. Emerald who had Tsugumi’s medical box in had stood behind her. Of course he had sensed Clair’s feelings and Firon’s absence. Tsugumi hovered over Firon and sorted out some tablets from the box. Clair stood silently cursing himself for Firon’s condition. Her breathing became a regular after Tsugumi gave her the medications she needed.

Emerald asked Clair trying to keep his voice low, "What happened to her? Is she not comfortable in this place?"
Clair shook his head and replied, "She’s an acquired cause and the transformation from a human to a cause requires a lot of stamina. That leaves her weak if she’s mentally disturbed. The load of being a reaper is too much. Though she had taken it very well considering it has been just a year...."
Emerald nodded and motioned to Tsugumi to leave the place with him so that Clair could fuss over his love. Tsugumi smiled and patted Clair’s shoulder, "The usual. Keep her happy...."
Clair spoke cutting her off, "How many days do you have here?"
"A week, not less," Emerald said as he held the door open for Tsugumi. Clair thanked him and closed the door behind them.
He arranged all of their belongings checking on Firon every now and then. She slept restlessly, obviously thinking of her worst times. Her painful transformation. After arranging all the clothes and other stuff he stacked the empty luggage in the corner of the tiny store room.
Picking out a scented soap and a fresh towel he left for the bathroom. The bathroom would have seemed beautiful to him but not at this moment when every second his heart craved for the lost girl sleeping a few feet away.

FIRON’S POV:
I had never known such pain. It all began when I sensed the meanderer’s presence appeared on our floor. He somehow caught my thought wave and distorted it, shifting it to the past. And pain and burning pain. And I tried to warn Clair about the meanderer. But it was too late. I was already losing my consciousness. His helplessness hurts me just as my weakness hurts him. My Clair, my caring baby. And the pain sweeps me in... I see a few riddles every now and then as if transmissions from a lost cause. Who is this lost cause.... pain... piercing pain.... numbness never comes, the pain numbs you. Desensitizes you to it but does not make you immune. And again, pain... pain; I can’t take it anymore. As if I was letting go of my hold on life. Slipping away. This was not pain from the transformation it was different. It was burning pain. Hurting. The darkness engulfed me.... I wanted to sleep. Let go. But my heart broke to even think of letting go. Someone was waiting for me. And I heard someone calling me, Firon come back... tears and sadness.... Clair he was waiting for me.
I tried to lift the heavy blanket of darkness around me. I didn’t want him to give up on me. I wanted to live.
What my soul would do for this man. A few minutes ago I wanted to die and here I was dying to live. The pain reduced. Sensations returned, but the burning was not less. I couldn’t breathe. It was suffocating.
And all of a sudden all life filled me when I started gasping and coughing. My eyes fluttered open as Clair’s bare shoulders dripping with water came into view. I understood what precisely woke me up.... my first kiss.
It was on the floor where I was thrashing and flailing trying to wake up. But I couldn’t breathe. And Clair had tried to resuscitate me, ending up in a kiss.
It had the smell of lemon, lemon because of the scented soap Clair had just used for his bath.
It made my face wet, because of the water dripping from Clair’s hair and body.
Clair ended the kiss with a soft stroke of his lips over mine. Velvet, bliss, pleasure all rolled into one. Clair held me for a while till I had calmed down and then carried me to my bed (his bed was on the sofa). I lay awake in his arms for sometime after which we went to sleep there, under the stream of moonlight entering the room from the window.
Clair held me close to him for the first time. This was what was being held by someone. It was nice. In my sleep I put my arm around him and kissed the place just over his heart and felt it consequently quicken. Bliss.

CLAIR’S POV:
Firon was lying in my arms. How I had dreamt of this moment. And yet it was nothing compared to what it truly was. She kissed me back when I kissed her. She loves me the way I love her. And I say this not from my powers but from simple human gestures. I thought I’d lose her when I saw her like that. I was in the bathroom, just started drying off when I heard her fall off the sofa. When I peeked to check she was convulsing, out of breath and hyperventilating. No air. No air. No air. Her arms and legs were thrashing about as if someone was strangulating her. I tried to slap her awake and then I went for trying to fill air in her lungs. Her heart flutter and returned to its fast pace. But it was normalizing and I heard her gasp and then she was coughing. Maybe I had gone insane, maybe I would lose her but the joy of knowing she was still alive egged me on. And without any further inhibitions I kissed her. She was kissing me back equally hungry at first then slowly. Before I ended our first kiss, I knew she loved me. My heart felt ready to burst. Thudding wildly in my chest. She opened her sea deep eyes and there were tears in her eyes from the strain of trying to breathe but a smile on her lips. She looked exhausted. I slid my arm under her legs and around her shoulders. All the while looking into her eyes. Slowly I laid her on the luxurious bed. Without words, we spoke. Our minds were numb. Just a sense of peace. And she let me hug her and sleep. And she kissed my heart and smiled at me with her arm around me. I too put my arm around her and interlocked we fell asleep....

I think we slept like that for a maximum of twenty minutes. Just when she fell asleep, Emerald and Tsugumi came knocking. (How unfortunate). I was still in just my pyjamas and Firon in her travelling clothes. I opened the door slightly revealing only my uncovered shoulder.
Emerald chuckled inside my head, "What else is uncovered show us show us...."
I glared at him mockingly as Tsugumi stared wide eyed at me. She said in a choked voice, "Is Firon alright? Did you two...."
I yelled but reigned in my voice when the bell boy glanced our way, "No! WE DID NOT. Ahem, so what brings you to our place at this unearthly time?"
Emerald said in a croak, "It is you who has been doing earthly things at an unearthly time. We’re going down for dinner, would you like to join us?"
Clair’s eyes widened as he read Tsugumi’s mind. She had said yes to a dinner date which Emerald had asked her for. She was looking good.
"I think I’ll leave you guys for some earthly things while I continue with my unearthly ones... we’ll have dinner here, will ask the room service."
Emerald gave a lop sided smile and again offered Tsugumi his arm which she took graciously. Just before closing the door Clair said mischievously, "Nice dress Doc."
Tsugumi blushed turned around and walked off with her very handsome date – Emerald Toravia; the vampire prince.