They had landed in a field. A strong smell of cow dung hung against their heads, the misty air solidifying the smell like a curtain of fog. Autumn had managed to build a campfire out of some damp branches which were crackling weakly, threatening to go out any minute. Even if it didn't, it would start raining soon and then they would be drenched in water and chilled to the bone in the empty field.
He couldn't for the life of him understand why Autumn had insisted on staying put here longer, the wait so unneeded when he knew they weren't being followed anymore. Now she sat opposite him, the flames reflecting in her eyes, burning her pupils a deep orange.
She looked up at him and the orange flickered. In the dark of the night, Falcon saw her skin was very pale, her short hair curling around her earlobes, that one strand still dangling in front of her. Her gear was muddy, the knees and elbows caked with a layer of deep brown, which could also be cow dung, he reminded himself, as a cow lazily munching grass nearby lifted its head and sent him a sleepy 'mooo.'
Autumn sighed deeply when their eyes met. 'You have questions, don't you? So ask.' She snapped a twig grumpily and threw it into the fire.
'You will answer?' he said, surprised. The only thing he expected to come out of her mouth were more insults.
'No.' She said, rummaging in the grass for another branch, but she seemed to have run out of them. An annoyed line appeared on her forehead as she eyed the ground angrily, like it was the grass's fault she was out of twigs.
Falcon made an exasperated sound at the back of his throat and looked away. Of course, she would act like a conceited know-it-all, enjoying the superior feeling. Strangely, Falcon understood.
'I was kidding.' She giggled slightly at his reaction. In the tension Falcon was currently feeling, he found the subtle laugh quite soothing. 'I bet you want to know what the stone is.' She continued.
'Of course.' He looked back at her and found her staring at him. The sudden attention was nerve-racking and he cleared his throat loudly before turning his gaze to the fire. There was an itch in his hands for just sitting there and doing nothing, so he might as well get some answers. 'If I am to help you in this…mission…I have to know about it.' He said.
Not to mention I am incredibly curious about this stone and the demon slayer. He thought.
'Well…' She began slowly and Falcon knew the catch for the answers was coming, 'you have to tell me the reason you were collecting all that money for. It's not like you are starving or something.' She shrugged, playing with the blades of grass.
Ah. So she wanted to know what Falcon had only once said out loud to another human, lest the dream disappeared and he was left clutching at thin air. 'I AM starving.' He said, as a way of changing the topic.
'That doesn't answer my question.' She said. 'And it's entirely your fault your stomach is grumbling loud enough to scare all the cattle in this field.'
'You can hear it?' he said, surprised, staring down at his t-shirt that was fluttering in the breeze.
'Yes.' She sighed tiredly. 'So can the underworld. Now, are you answering my question or not?'
Falcon debated silently. He could always lie, but he had a feeling Autumn would know. She would see in his eyes all he was hiding and never trust him again.
The truth also seems like a lie. Something inside him spoke up. Tell her.
'Architecture.' Falcon said. 'The money is for college.'
An absolute silence fell over the field as Autumn processed his words dumbfounded, her mouth slightly open. He saw the transition of expressions, from surprise to shock, then disbelief, and finally, what was that, fondness? He couldn't tell, but suddenly she wasn't looking at him in that judging way she used to, and Falcon was grateful.
'Ar…architect?' she repeated slowly. 'You want to be an architect?'
Falcon nodded, the corner of his lips turning into a frown. Instant regret had taken place of the sudden determination he had found, and he wished he could reverse the last minute and take back the words he had uttered.
'You are not lying.' It was a statement, to which he agreed slightly with a nod of his head.
'Oh, Falcon…that's…surprising, I must say.' She said warmly and he felt a little smile tug at his lips before they straightened back into a firm line. Why was he smiling?
'Cyan's room is mesmerizing. That is why I was entranced by his house the first time I went in there. Did you know he designed his room himself? He is a gifted artist.' Falcon said.
'He is.' Autumn agreed, finally finding a branch and snapping it in half.
Falcon felt his stomach churn. He had just spilled a secret only one other person knew, who was currently buried deep underground, blissfully unaware of whatever was befalling her son. He was grateful she wasn't here, he didn't want her to be in more pain than she could bear.
'You would make it. If you forge the documents just right—' Autumn began.
'So, what's the stone?' he interrupted, not wanting any more discussion on this topic.
Autumn grumbled incoherently before throwing the twig to join the others in the merry flame. 'I suppose I should tell you now. But you might not believe me.' She met his eyes, an earnest look in the depths of the flickering pupils.
Falcon remained quiet. Silence can make the other person speak more involuntarily, he had learned and he let his silence push her to reveal more information. Sure enough, she rolled her eyes and continued, 'Mr. and Mrs. Yarrow did not die in an ice skating incident, Falcon. Their bodies had washed up in the river, brutally tortured, and all of Mrs. Yarrow's hair had been cut. There were possible signs of ….r*pe. But the press covered it on Cyan's orders. Gosh, he must have had to pay them heavily.'
Falcon nodded. He had understood that much from Kirstun's questions at Teal's engagement party. But they had been tortured? That did not make sense, what might the murderer want? It sure as hell wasn't ransom. 'And, the murderer was my client?'
'Possibly.' She nodded. 'The man who has Cyan now.'
'Oh no.' Dread pooled into his stomach instantly, a cold shiver traveling up his spine and he recoiled against it. What if Cyan was already dead? It would all be his fault.
'I don't think he's dead yet.' Autumn said gently, but Falcon just stared at the fire, his heart burning as the bile in his stomach churned like poison.
'How can you say that?' his voice was so low, even his own ears barely picked up the slight whisper.
'Because the murderer was after the location of the package, but Dahlia had already passed it on to her son….on my Grandfather's orders. So, now Cyan has the stone, and, be honest, do you think Cyan would give in to that man?'
'He's being tortured right now.' Falcon said.
Autumn hummed sadly. Her eyes were downcast and she had stopped playing with the grass, instead wringing her fingers in a nervous rhythm.
'What are we waiting for?' he got up rapidly. 'Let's go.'
'Where?' She said quietly.
'Anywhere. Just…save Cyan.' He zipped up his jacket, patting the pockets for the weight of the gun and turning towards the base of the hill they had rolled down on.
'No, Falcon, wait.' Before he knew it, her hand had wrapped around his wrist and she was pulling him down. 'We can't leave like that.'
Falcon recoiled at the touch, jerking his hand away and she let go. 'Why the fuck not?' he snapped.
'We have to make sure–'
'There's nobody here, Autumn.' He shouted. 'We are just wasting time.'
'Don't you act like I don't care at all.' She had also raised her voice, eyes full of anger, and hair standing on end. 'It's all your damn fault, in case you have forgotten.'
She grew quiet just as she realized what she had said and an apologetic look came onto her face. 'Look, I—'
'You think this realization is not fucking killing me inside?' He whispered.
'I am sorry.' She breathed. 'Please sit back down.' She raised a hand carefully, hovering it beside his arm to see if he would pull away, but Falcon let her grip his sleeve and pull him down on the grass.
There was silence as they both breathed quietly, chests heaving and anger dissipating. Autumn glanced at him twice but he did not meet her eyes, staring determinedly at the ground.
'You said Cyan's mother gave the package to Cyan on your grandfather's orders? Do you know why?'
She nodded. 'Because Cyan is the next person to inherit the power of the stone.'