Charcoal Pt. 12

The next part of Soul and Scott's adventures! 

I am still editorless so there will still be mistakes, but I am working on it :) I hope you enjoy!

Charcoal pt. 12:

Soul looked around the dining room with new eyes.  It was truly beautiful.  He leaned into Sylvia and laughed lightly.  How could he have ever disliked her?  She was so nice.  Sylvia pulled a chair next to her own at the head of the table and pushed Soul gently into it, and sat in her own.

She spoke as she piled food onto Soul’s plate.

“I know you are upset at my son.  And you should be.  But I would ask that you do work with him today.  It is very important that we figure out what is happening.”  Soul nodded.  Here away from Scott and in Sylvia’s soothing presence he could imagine working with Scott and the thought wasn’t too bad. 

“Okay.”  He smiled at her again and began picking through the fruit on his plate.  

After lunch was finished Soul was lead to a library and settled in a chair to wait for Scott.  He hummed as he waited.  Struck by the room’s beauty.  He ached to get his hands on some of the books, but Sylvia had told him to sit, so that was what he was going to do. 

Scott entered after indeterminable amount of time.  He looked properly contrite.  Soul considered being angry, but figured it wasn’t worth the energy.  After all it wasn’t all Scott’s fault. 

“Hello.”  Soul said pleasantly. 

“I am so, so sorry.”  Scott said, refusing to meet Soul’s eyes.

“Don’t be.”  Soul smiled at him.  “We have work to do.  I know that I have to trust you.  So I choose to forget this morning.”  Scott looked stricken.

“Forget it?  You would do that?”  Scott sounded incredulous, and not as happy as Soul would have imagined him to.

“You hurt me, and I am forgetting.  Why are you not happy?”  Soul didn’t quite feel himself, but he didn’t think Scott was acting rationally either. 

“What did she do to you?”  Scott asked.  Soul frowned. 

“Who did what?” 

Scott shook his head and walked closer.

“We should begin.  She will be coming to check soon enough.”  Soul didn’t know why Scott would say such a thing in such a way.  Why would he be so worried about someone checking in?  They were only doing what they were supposed to be doing.  But he ignored the thought.

“Okay.”  He said and they began.

**

Soul sat at a table in the library.  There was a piece of paper in front of him and a pencil in his hand, he couldn’t draw a thing.  As the day had gone on Soul had begun to feel more himself, and his anger and hurt toward Scott were growing. 

“Just draw something!”  Said Scott, his hands tightening in Soul’s hair where they had rested for the past hours.

“I can’t just draw something!  And you have no right to demand anything from me!”  Soul’s restraint crumpled.  He pushed his chair back and whirled to face Scott.  He could feel the color rising in his cheeks.  He was humiliated, frustrated, and hurt.  It was not a good combination.

“You said you had forgotten.”  Scott said, backing up slowly, his hands held awkwardly away from him, as if he didn’t know what to do with them.

“How could I forget such a thing?  Such a violation.  I said no.  Clearly and several times.  I can’t just forget that.  Now you keep telling me to do things and demanding my trust.  What have you done to deserve it?”  Soul had to keep talking, talking or crying seemed to be his only options at the moment.

“You didn’t feel that way earlier.”  Scott let his hands drop.  One of his eyebrows rose and Soul was reminded of the expression Scott had worn when he first met him all those months ago.  The loathing that he had experienced then returned.

“I want myself then.  Your bitch mother did something when I was in shock.  In shock that my supposed beloved assaulted me.”

“I asked you, and you said you had forgotten.  Things might have been different if you hadn’t assured me-“

“I hate you.”  Soul felt calmer now.  His anger and desperation had faded.  “I hate you and I hate this house.  I hate that you turned art into something that it isn’t.  That you manipulated my feelings.  That you are too stupid to realize that you will never hold me and know that I am yours.  I wont do this for you.  I wont stay in this house and pretend that I don’t realize that there are things no one will tell me.”  Soul finished his speech with a sigh.  All this time he had been used.  Well that time was over.  He walked from the library leaving a stunned Scott behind him.  He trailed one hand down the wall as he walked down the hall.  He hoped he could find his way out.

“Hello”

“We missed you.”

Soul froze.  He looked up slowly at the familiar voices.  Michelle and David smiled at him. 

“Hi.”  He said softly.  He should have known that they were somehow involved.  With all this mess he would have been surprised if they hadn’t been.

“We came because we knew you were feeling a bit torn.  We want to tell you walking away is a very good idea.”

“Because then we get to convince you to stay.”  David and Michelle had never been this- unified when Soul had known them. 

“What if I decide to stay on my own?”  Soul didn’t think he would like the twins’ persuasion.

“Then we won’t bother you.” 

Soul turned slowly and went back the way he came.  Maybe there was another way out of the house.  Maybe there was someone else that would help him.  He thought of the different people in the house.  There was Josie; she had said that the others were on his side, if his side was the same as theirs.  Soul still didn’t know how many sides there were.  But even if she was, she was in no condition to help. 

Soul tiptoed past the library, and found himself without any idea of where to go next.  Past the library there was a perpendicular hallway, closed doors lined both sides.  Soul frowned and went right.  Each of the doors were locked.  He continued, and at the very end he found that the hall curved to the right.  He followed it again, only to find the twins.

“Where are you going?”

“Do you need help finding something?”

Soul shook his head and turned again, he walked slowly.  Something gave him the impression sudden movements would invite pouncing.  Feeling he had no choice Soul made his way back to the library.  He found Scott where he left him, only now there were tears tracing down his cheeks.

“Tell me who in this house doesn’t want to destroy my life.”  Soul spoke quietly and deliberately.  Scott didn’t move.

“I don’t think anyone wants to destroy your life.”  Scott spoke almost too softly to hear.

“Well tell me then, who wants to help me?”  At this Scott slowly raised his head.

“I want to help you.  I just need one more chance.  One more chance and I’ll help you.”  There was so much hope in Scott’s voice Soul couldn’t help but believe him.

“I don’t want to give you any more chances.  I have nothing to tell me that you have tried with any of the others.  I know nothing of your motives-“

“That is a lie!”  Scott interjected.  “You do know what I want.  I want to be with you.  I want to love you, I want you to love me.”  Scott began walking toward Soul as he spoke.  Soul flinched but didn’t back away. 

“That’s not enough.”  Soul whispered.  Scott ignored Soul’s body language and cupped his face in his hands. 

“Look at me, really look, and tell me that I don’t want what is best for you.”  Soul looked.  He really looked, and hoped that the talent his mother had seen in him wasn’t wrong.  Soul looked deep into Scott’s blue eyes and thought.  Did he believe him?  Did he have any choice not to?

“One more chance.”  Soul whispered.  Scott’s face lit up. 

“You wont regret it!”  Scott ran his fingers the rest of the way through Soul’s hair and took his hand. 

“We do need to get out of here though.  Mom will know her mojo didn’t quite work, and if the twins are here that means that the others are coming too…”

Just then the door to the library opened.  Sylvia was in front of the crowd, and with here were the twins and several others Soul had never seen.

“What is going on in here?  This doesn’t look like progress.”  Sylvia had dropped her overly kind demeanor and looked every bit the evil villainess.  Soul couldn’t stifle a nervous giggle.  Sylvia glared and it was obvious she wanted an answer.

“I umm, umm.”  Soul took advantage of the blush that he could feel building.  “I felt restless.  I cant think with Scott so near, I umm just-“

“Wanted a quickie.”  Finished Scott.  Soul’s face flamed. 

“Why don’t I believe you?”  Sylvia eyes were like daggers.  Soul imagined them cutting into their excuse.

“I’m sorry mother.”  Scott spoke in a defeated tone.  Soul shot him a look.  It seemed the last chance would be short lived.  “I couldn’t bear my guilt.  I have to make it up to Soul.  I’m sure you can understand.”

Soul didn’t think that Sylvia would, or could understand a thing like guilt but she did soften slightly.

“You may have today.  Tomorrow I expect results.”  And with that Sylvia and her posse departed.

“Tomorrow isn’t going to be any better.”  Soul began as the door closed behind the pack.

“I know.  But we wont be here.”  Scott’s face lit up once more.  “We must talk to my siblings.

**

Soul held his duffel bag handles loosely. 

“Scott, there is no way this is going to work.”  Soul said.  Josie was too weak; Nova was too concerned about Josie.  Soul had no idea where they were and didn’t have any experience on his own.  Melissa was okay, and Thomas seemed okay if a bit demanding, but the others hadn’t wanted to come, or hadn’t been around.  Soul was concerned that a group of six being too conspicuous. 

“Soul, we have been waiting to do this for ages.”  Said Melissa.  “You have just given us an excuse.”

“Is the plan to just leave?  Or do we have some kind of distraction?”   The group was silent in response to Josie’s question.

“Well,” Melissa began after a long pause.  “When we first planned this we had planned for Scott and Soul to finish the bond, the backlash of power would have put Sylvia out of commission and would have made her think everything was going with her plan.”  Scott looked stunned, and more than a little guilty.

“Is that still the plan?”  Soul asked quietly.  It was a good plan, but one he wasn’t really fond of.

“We couldn’t ask that of you, of course not!”  Josie answered at once.  The others remained silent.  “Really?  You would ask that?  I cannot believe such a thing would even be suggested-” Josie would have gone on if her husband hadn’t brushed a hand over her lips.

“We hadn’t thought of an alternative.”  Nova spoke quietly, almost apologetically.  Soul stood silently.  He couldn’t think.  Just when he thought things were getting better.

“There is a way to fake it, it would wear off quickly and most likely have other side effects, but I read about it earlier.  If Soul and Scott were to exchange blood it would cause a similar rush of power, but leave the bond unfinished.  If we were to act quickly enough-” Melissa trailed off slowly

“That is rather dangerous isn’t it, especially because- well the trust isn’t quite there yet, and neither have done something so powerful.”  Nova also spoke quietly.  The mood in the room was decidedly low.

“Can we try it?”  Soul broke the silence.  “What does it entail?” 

Charcoal Pt. 11

And just before midnight, here it is! A bit short and a lot delayed.  And mostly unedited.  I will do better!  I have been super distracted (an excuse I know) and have gotten out of the habit of writing everyday.  Which is rather bad.   But I will do my best to get back on the ball.  I have also started posting on Literotica.com (oh my goodness so much stress, well the first time)  and I like it.  I also edit before posting so you might want to check there if typos bother you too much.  Anyway enough rambling.  As always comments are wonderful and I love them with all my heart!

Charcoal Pt. 11

With similar promises of secrecy Soul told Scott about all the things he had been holding back.  He told about the voice and the drawings, how sick he felt when he was trying to tell about him.  The dark feelings he had when he was drawing for the first portfolio and how Jon’s eyes had been full of fear.  The only different thing he didn’t share was the fear he felt for the future, and especially for his relationship with Scott.

Scott sat silently though it all and thought.

“You probably have a block.  Like Melissa said.  Your mom probably gave it to you, to keep you away from my mom.”  Scott began when Soul was silent. 

“I guess that would make sense.”  Soul thought back, trying to remember a time when his mother had been anything but perfectly, infuriatingly normal.  “But she never did anything-“

“That you remember.  She was very good with memories.”  Soul sat back against the pillows and thought about that. 

“And is your mom?  What is her specialty?”  Scott sat silently and played with the edge of his pajamas. 

“She does a little of everything.  No one has ever been able to put her in a box.  Even my dad.  He looks like he is in charge, but that is only because she wants him to look like he is in charge.  He does everything she tells him, he always has.” 

Soul thought this over, and what Melissa had said.  If they weren’t all with their mother, would they be with him, was his mom still on his side- any side?

“You are thinking too hard, it’s late.  We don’t have to fix this all now.”  Soul looked at Scott. 

“You look ridiculous just wearing jammies.”  He smiled and ran a hand down the soft cloth.  He felt calmer now.  There was no overwhelming attraction or instant disgust.  He felt himself, neutral.

“Well, one of us has to wear clothes.”  Scott looked pointedly at Soul’s still bared chest.  He seemed to pick up on the calm mood and smiled back.

Soul was glad he was feeling more himself but he couldn’t let it go.

“Why do I sometimes hate you, and sometimes being away from you feels like it would be the worst thing in the world?”  Scott’s smile faded. 

“Well you might naturally hate me, and the bond, even one sided as it is influences you to like me.  But what I hope, and the most likely answer is that the block is trying to keep you away, and the bond wants you closer.”

“So now, I don’t really feel either?”  Scott shrugged.

“Well how do you feel?”

“I feel like-“ Soul had to pause to think.  “I feel like I don’t know you well enough to really know.  I think you look silly in that outfit but not so bad otherwise.”  Soul’s smile returned, and in turn, so did Scott’s.

“Well I could take them off?”  Scott suggested.  Soul shook his head with a smile, then sobered.

“But why?  I mean we are here, where you say it started and that it should be worse here.  Your mom is just down the hall.  Why don’t I feel like-“

“Ripping my clothes off?”  Scott nodded.  “I don’t know.  Maybe because the bond and block aren’t fighting so hard.  You let me in, just a bit.”  Scott couldn’t help smirking at the last bit.  Soul sighed and yawned. 

“Lets sleep.”

**

The next morning Soul woke panicked, thinking he would miss his writing class.  He sat up in bed before his eyes were truly open and was assaulted by the deep red of the walls.  Slowly his heartbeat slowed.  He remembered where he was and why.  Scott was still sound asleep.  Soul looked down at him and felt little.  Soul was beyond excited that the progress of the night before seemed to stick.  He sat quietly, listening to the sounds of the house waking up. 

Scott began to stir about 10 minutes after Soul.  Soul smiled optimistic about what the day would bring.  Now that he could think and was alone in his own mind, maybe he could begin to look into the possible meanings of his pictures.  But as Scott opened his eyes, Soul knew something was not right. 

Scot sat up in one boneless movement and stared at Soul.  His eyes were bloodshot and his pupils were huge, even for the shadowed room.  Soul stared into his eyes, frozen.  The intense look from the night before was back, threefold. 

“Scott?”  He asked.  There was no answer.  They sat for what felt like ages.  Finally something broke the tension, Soul didn’t know what it was but suddenly Scott was above him.  Soul pushed at his shoulders, but Scott wouldn’t be moved.  Scott leaned in for a kiss, Soul turned his head, but Scott merely went for his neck, licking and biting.  Soul knew there would be a mark.  It felt amazing, but it wasn’t what Soul wanted.  He couldn’t find his words, and his arms weren’t in a position to push effectively. 

Satisfied with the mark on Soul’s neck, Scott moved on to Soul’s bare chest.  He licked at his nipples, then bit the left, harder than anything Soul would ever want.  Finally he found his voice.

“Scott no!  I don’t want this.  Stop please, let me up.”  Scott took no notice, if anything the pleas urged him on.  He continued in a leisurely path down Soul’s sternum to his bellybutton, leaving his marks everywhere he stopped.  Soul was breathless.  It felt too good to continue to say no, but he felt dirty.  He didn’t want this.  But his words turned to breathless moans, sighs, and whimpers.

When Scott reached his pants Soul regained some of his strength.  He pulled at Scott’s hair and pushed at his shoulders, but still his pants came down.  With Scott’s first gentle lick Soul went still. 

Each gentle lick brought Soul higher; when Scott took him in all the way he thought his heart would burst.  Every thought was gone.  His hands clutched Scott’s hair, but no longer to push him away.  Soul wrapped his legs around Scotts shoulders and shuddered, trying to hold back the pleasure.  But it was only a matter of time.

One last time Scott hummed around Soul’s length and it was the end.  Soul flinched hard, as if to pull away from the overwhelming feeling.  The room blurred into a sea of red, the light from the window splintered.  He could hear his own voice calling out, but could not understand the words.  Finally when the world came back into focus Soul looked down at Scott.  He was still licking at Soul, rubbing the smooth skin of his inner thighs.  Soul pulled away, feeling violated and like his skin was being rubbed with sandpaper.  Scott looked up at him, and just as he met Soul’s eyes he convulsed, shooting into his pants and onto the bed.  Soul pulled away with all his strength.  He couldn’t quite believe what had just happened.  When he was finally free he shoved himself from the bed, falling in a heap on the floor.  He scrambled away when Scott looked down at him. 

“What- how could you, I said no!  I don’t I cant-” Soul couldn’t find his feet, he found his back against a wall, he couldn’t pick himself up, couldn’t bring himself to look back at the bed.

“Soul- Soul I am so sorry!”  Soul couldn’t even hear the words.  He breathed too quickly and the world swam before his eyes.  Scott climbed to sit before him.  He took Soul’s face in his hands and forced him to look in his eyes.  They were calm now, normal.  Finally Soul calmed enough to push himself and rush to the bathroom.  Scott heard the water turn on and another figure entered the room.

“Oh my sweet son, I think you have just pushed your little rabbit away.”  Sylvia smiled her fake smile and looked around the room.  “Sweetie, you might want to clean all this up before he returns.”  Scott was at a loss. 

“Don’t just stand there!  Clean!”  Sylvia pointed at the stained sheets, then to Scott’s own pants.  His cheeks flushed as red as the walls.  But mutely he changed his pants and began to strip the bed.

“So, today you will begin your studies with Soul, get him to draw something at this point I don’t care what.  Figure out what makes him tick.  Find his mother and most of all finish the damn bond!”  Sylvia took a moment to compose herself.  She forced her face into another false smile.  “I could still be proud of you, so could your father.  Don’t you want that?”  And in spite of himself, that was what Scott wanted.

Soul stood in the doorway, his hair dripping down his back and his skin scalded red from the shower.  He looked unsure, and Sylvia was happy to take advantage.

“My sweetie!”  She gushed.  “I can’t believe what my son did to you!  It is unforgiveable, but I hope you will be able to.  You know, he just can’t help himself.  He has told you hasn’t he.  It is just too much pressure for someone like him.  You know that isn’t really an excuse, there is no excuse for this kind of behavior.  But it is a bit my fault.  You see when you were a baby I did a little- well.  I might have made it a bit stronger last night.  See Scott has never really been the best with relationships.  I didn’t know he would do something so terrible.  Just come with me darling and I’ll get you all fixed up.”  She swept from the room and took Soul with her, an arm around his toweled waist.

Sylvia dressed Soul, much to his embarrassment.  She picked black soft pants like the night before with a midnight blue long sleeve shirt.  Again it was tailored to show his every dip and curve.  She even brushed and styled his hair, pinning it behind his ears, and lined his eyes in black.  When she turned him to the mirror Soul felt even sicker.  He looked nothing like himself.  He looked vulnerable he looked like an easy target, a victim. 

“Sylvia?”  He spoke for the first time.

“Don’t worry darling, sweetie, everything will be alright.  Just don’t fight so hard.”  She brushed her hand down Soul’s head and he felt calmer.  Maybe he shouldn’t fight so hard.  It was all he had done all his life, and where had it gotten him?  Sighing he nodded.  He let a small smile grace his features and he and Sylvia entered the dining room arm in arm.

Charcoal Pt. 10

It's been so long since I have written, I missed it! So I will post this right now.  Charcoal Pt. 10

Soul fixed his pants and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry.”  Scott shrugged

“It’s okay.”  Soul frowned, Scott hadn’t sounded like it was okay.

“I just don’t know you that well.  Just a few weeks ago you were the annoying guy with an easel next to mine.  Now I am supposed to be ‘bonded’ to you.  I don’t even know what that means.  I know nothing about you, yet you seem to know everything about me, and you won’t even tell me that, or what is going on.”  Soul had been planning to stay cool and collected, but he could feel the red of a frustrated blush seeping into his cheeks.  He ran his hands through his hair and tried to calm down.

“Well, I’m not allowed to tell you-“

“Not allowed to?  Really Scott that’s all you can say to me right now?  You aren’t allowed to tell me anything.  Well you also weren’t allowed to know me before taking me here.  Why do you care anyway, it’s not like your family even likes you!”  Soul was panting for breath, again he felt out of control of himself, but in a much worse way than when he was kissing Scott.  He felt angry, hot.  He wanted Scott to feel the confusion and turmoil he felt. 

“Why would you even come back, you obviously left.  You came back to the failure you left.  You can’t even teach me anything and it’s not cause I can’t learn.  I’m waiting here to do my part, even if it will ruin my life, my mother’s life and you can’t even-“

“Shut up.”  Soul was ready to keep on yelling but Scott laid a gentle hand on his thigh.  Soul stared at him, he couldn’t read the expression on Scott’s face, but it wasn’t a good one.

“You are right when you say you don’t know anything about me.  You don’t know hard it was for me to grow up without you, knowing you were out there somewhere.  That you didn’t need me like I needed you and never would.  How difficult it was when I first meeting not to just- take you.  You have no idea how hard it was to not tell you what you are the first time we met.  You don’t know what it is like to grow up surrounded by Talent without it.  You have no idea what it is like to have parents who think of you as their biggest embarrassment and failure.  You were always supposed to be my chance at redemption, but here we are and all you have done is run away.  And now I know I am just as useless as I was always told.  You don’t have to tell me.”  Soul continued to stare.  Scott had no emotion in his voice.

Soul reached out to touch Scott’s cheek; Scott grabbed his hand before he could make contact.

“I don’t want your pity.”

“I’m not-” Soul stopped talking and settled back on the pillows, then sat up straight again.  He felt horrible.  He slid from the bed and went to the door and walked to the lavender room.  He had planned on sitting and thinking, but he was too restless.  He was exhausted, but couldn’t settle.  He went to look around the house.

The furniture was all old and heavy, the hallways filled with art and decorations.  Soul ran his hands down tapestries that were probably hundreds of years old.  All of them told stories Soul couldn’t begin to guess at. 

“My great grandfather did those.  He had a Talent similar to yours.”  Soul jumped, but it was Josie behind him.  Her eyes were red rimmed and her hair looked limp and sad.  She looked nothing like she had when they first met, or even as she had at dinner. 

“Please don’t stare, I know I look horrible.”  She looked away as Soul studied her face.

“You don’t-“

“You don’t have to lie, I know how terrible I look.  I was wearing a lot of makeup.  It is hard for me to sleep.  I try to be excited about having a baby, but honestly- I’m not ready.  I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to be a mother.  But well, things happen.”  Josie smiled a bit and stepped closer to Soul.  “But you know that don’t you.  Things have been happening for you too.  Why are you here walking around?”

“I thought you could read minds.”  Soul ran his fingers along the tapestry again.  The fabric was rough against his fingers.  It helped cement the dreamlike world of the moonlit hall.

“Only emotions.  You feel lost, I can relate.  But I don’t know why.”  Soul studied Josie’s small form and sighed.  He had to talk to someone.

“Everything is different than I thought.  I can’t make up my mind about what I am supposed to do.  Everything I am told makes me think I am on the wrong side, but I don’t even know why there are sides.  I don’t know what to do about Scott.  He’s too pushy, but he has reasons.  Nothing is simple.  Everything was simple until now.  I used to draw when I felt lost, but now I can’t even do that.”  Josie petted Scotts arm and sighed. 

“I know how you feel.”  She laughed then.  “Of course I do.”  Soul smiled at her.  It seemed, as unlikely as it was, he had found a kindred spirit. 

“I will tell you my story if you will share with me later?”  Soul nodded.

“I have always been the baby in my family.  The sweet one, the one that wooed all the adults.  I never got in trouble.  I was bonded on my 18^th birthday.  Everything I did was to please my family, then to please them and Nova- no don’t make that face, I love Nova.  At least I think I do.  Well then we got married and everything started happening.  My Talent suddenly wasn’t enough.  I couldn’t See so I was useless.  No matter what I did it wasn’t good enough.  Scott went away to school and I was left here.  Everything I felt toward me was disappointment.  From mom and dad, all the visitors we were having.  Only Nova seemed to still like me.  But then I started to feel resentment from him.  I asked what it was about.  He knows what I do of course.  He comes from a small family, and well mine, dysfunctional as it is made him want a big family of his own.  I wanted someone to love me; I wanted to be a success to someone.  It sounds weak.  But you have to remember until two years ago I was the perfect golden child.”

Soul shook his head. 

“I know what you mean.  Well not exactly, but you aren’t weak.”  Josie shook her head and began to walk down the hall.  She rubbed her hands firmly down her sides and sighed before continuing.

“I told Nova I wanted a baby.  He knew I was lying.  Or knew my motives, but he pretended not to, I pretended I didn’t know I knew.  So here I am.”  She petted her softly protruding stomach. 

“It didn’t work.  I still am not back in mom’s good graces.  She thinks I should want more.  She thinks I am not enthusiastic enough.  She wants the baby now.  I don’t know.  Even Nova, he resents that I don’t really want a baby.”  Josie sniffed and rubbed her eyes.  “Sorry, I don’t usually have someone to talk to.”  Soul wrapped his arms around himself.  How could someone be so mean to a sweet person?

“I don’t want your pity.”  Josie’s words brought Soul out of his thoughts. 

“You know, that’s what Scott said right before I left.  I don’t know what to do.  He knows everything about me and I know nothing about him, but we don’t know each other.  He says he knows all about me but we’ve never really talked.”  Josie smirked at him; Soul felt a giggle coming on.

“Not like that.  Really, I just ignored him for about a month.  I have no idea what is even going on.  People tiptoe around it, but I have always been out of the loop, I’ve never known anything.  I can’t pull the pieces together.”  Josie stopped walking and grimaced.

“I feel sick.”  She whispered, then dry heaved.  Soul jumped back from here.  “This is why I can’t sleep.  I do need to rest but this damn baby doesn’t seem to like it when I rest, or eat, or drink, or do anything that isn’t Lamaze or yoga.”  Soul was at a loss.

“I don’t know-“

“Keep talking” Soul nodded than began again.

“Scott says he is supposed to be teaching me something.  I am supposed to be drawing something important but I don’t want anyone to see it.”  Soul felt his own bout of nausea when he considered telling Josie about his forest picture.  “ I don’t know what to do, who to trust.  Why I have to worry about any of it.  I just want to go back to the way things were.”

Josie slid down a nearby wall and rubbed her stomach. 

“I know how you feel.  I wish I could help you more.  I haven’t been kept in the loop either but I can tell you some things.”

“Why are you helping me so much?  Can’t you get in trouble?”  Soul knew her even less than he knew Scott and here she was offering to tell more than anyone had ever revealed.

“Don’t be so suspicious.  I have nothing to lose.  I am as lost as you, I just know a bit more.”  Soul slid down beside her as Josie fell into a story about battles and angels, light and dark, shadows and fire. 

**

“What do shadows have to do with my pictures?”

“Think about what you draw and I think the answers will come to you.”  Josie was looking decidedly pale but she seemed calmer than Soul had seen her. 

“Well what do the shadows have to do with anything else?”

“You need light to cast shadows.  Have you ever read the Allegory of the Cave?  It is a bit like that.  Think of Scott as the light.  Mom and dad have forgotten all about the story, I only remember pieces, but it’s like this.  The problem is in the cave, or on earth, the shadows don’t tell the whole truth.  The fire is deceptive.  The only way to really know the truth is to travel into the light.  But the light hurts, it burns and pushes you away.” 

“But it doesn’t make sense.  The angels-“

“Soul, I just told you, not all the story is true, and everything is a symbol.  Some are easier to see than others.  I’m just telling you the story as well as I remember it.”

“Where do you come in?”  Soul asked but Josie wasn’t listening.  Her focus was inward.  Finally she spoke.

“I think something is wrong.”  She pushed to her feet and looked down at her feet.  She swayed dangerously.  Soul stood to help her stand when with a soft gasp blood began to drip from between her legs and she began to scream.

Nova was the first to come onto the scene. 

“What have you done to her?”  He yelled and hit Soul in the head.  Soul tasted blood then saw no more. 

**

Pain woke Soul.  He touched a finger to his jaw.  It hurt. 

“Oh, he’s awake.”  The voice was unfamiliar.  Soul opened his eyes.  The room was softly lit, he smelled lavender.  Soul turned his head slowly to see who had spoken.  It was one of the women from the dinner table. 

“Hello, I’m Melissa.  I am Scott’s oldest sister.”  Soul frowned how had he missed this introduction.

“Hi.”  He whispered.  Something had happened, something bad, but he couldn’t quite remember. 

“Josie is going to be okay, don’t get up.”  But he hadn’t even thought.

“Don’t worry, my Talent if precognition.  You were going to get up and hurt your head.  It would make my mom happy, this Talent, but it only works a few minutes in the future, Unless Michael helps me.”  She smiled dreamily, Soul had trouble following her thoughts.  He supposed being caught up in the future and past would be confusing, even if it were just a few minutes.  “Don’t worry, it usually takes time to find the- technique- that will help you the most.  Scott will figure it out sometime.”  It was also disconcerting to have his questions answered before he thought them.  It was like mind reading but worse.

“How-”

“We have 5 siblings.  There is Scott, he is the second youngest.  Josie is younger than him, just by a year.  Yes, Scott took a gap year before college.  Or more like he waited to mom and dad to loosen their claws around him.  Then there is Marcus, he’s third then Thomas and May, they are twins.  Then Cal, then me.  Six all together.”

Soul nodded, he wondered where the others were.  He even considered asking looking at Melissa expectantly.

“You haven’t decided to ask out loud, if you are wanting me to answer one of your questions.”  Soul opened his mouth to speak- “They are busy working, well most of them, the others are here, you saw them at dinner...  I would tell you what on but mom told me that you have to figure it out yourself…  I don’t know why, you might have some sort of spy on you, or a block.”  Soul thought of the voice that stopped him from telling about the forest picture.  A spy?  For who?  How would he tell, who should he tell?

“We should probably check on Josie.  She really is too young to have a baby if you ask me.  Not that her body can’t handle it- it’s that her mind can’t and that girl is stubborn enough to make herself sick, I’m sure she could think her way out of having a baby.”  Soul thought of the implications of such a phrase and gulped.  He hoped she was okay.

**

Josie was sitting up in bed when Soul and Melissa arrived, propped on pillows and sipping slowly though a straw.  Nova sat by her side and clutched her hand.  Sylvia sat on the other side of the bed and glared at everything. 

“You, what did you do to my daughter?  She is supposed to go directly to bed after dinner, and you- I would have thought you would be with Scott.  I understand that he can be useless and a boor, but you seemed friendly enough when you first got back from dinner.”  Soul blushed, his whole body flushing.  She had heard, she had known.

“You silly boy, it is nothing to be ashamed of, in fact you should be more ashamed you stopped.  Everything would be so much easier if you just finished the bond.”  Soul couldn’t answer that.

“Josie needs to rest, to be still and not fret.  So you need to stay away from her.”  This time Nova spoke.  Josie raised her eyes to Soul’s but didn’t speak.

“Will someone help me understand what is going on?”  Soul asked when the silence became too heavy to bear. 

“You truly must be stupid boy.”  Sylvia’s sickly sweet demeanor had completely disappeared.  Soul could see how she was really on the bad side, but how could he switch teams this late in the game, when he didn’t know what was being played.  “Everything is happening.  Everything your cheating mother started.  The cracks between things are opening.  Nothing is black in white, the color is coming and we are still seeing in shades of grey.  You are our chance to see in color and you are seeing nothing.  Our painter is blind!”  She ended screaming.  Soul wanted nothing more than to cry, to run from this place and hide, he wanted to draw and lose himself in the smell of graphite and new paper.  He didn’t know what to do about evil and seeing the future.  He couldn’t and didn’t know where to start.

“Take this useless thing back to Scott.”  Sylvia flicked her hand at the door and Melissa gently nudged him toward the door.  When they arrived back at the French doors Melissa stopped Soul and leaned toward his ear.

“I can’t tell you what is going to happen, but I can tell you we aren’t on her side.  We just aren’t strong enough to lead.  I think you are.  But only if you make yourself.  Talent is just like a muscle.  You have to find it to flex it, and flex to become stronger.  Your mind is stronger than any muscle.  Figure out how to use it.”  She paused as if to say more then left. 

“Goodnight little brother.”  She called as she disappeared around a corner.  Soul wondered why she called him that when he felt arms wrap around him.

“I’m sorry for yelling so much.  I couldn’t bear for you to think of me as they do.”  Soul frowned.  Why did Scott have such mood swings?  He seemed like he wanted to tell Soul everything he was, but then he acted like he hated everything, and Soul most of all, then claimed he was his greatest love, then refused to answer any questions.

“I don’t understand you.”  Soul whispered as Scott pulled him into their rooms.

“You won’t until later.”  Soul was about to ask when later was when Scott kissed him again.  Softly this time, without any unnatural need.  It was almost comforting and Soul leaned into him.

Gently Scott petted Soul’s bare skin, Soul slipped his hands under Scotts own shirt.  He had changed into a soft charcoal grey pajama suit.  Soul nuzzled his face into Scott’s chest when his lips were freed. 

“Why can’t things be simple?”  He asked in a soft voice.  Scott shrugged.

“Because then they would be boring.”  Soul chucked and sniffed.  He wished for something boring. 

“I am bound to you, and I still can’t comfort you.  Do you know how much that hurts?”  Soul shook his head.  “Of course not, but you do know pain.  I have lived all my life waiting for you, and now I am forbidden to tell you anything.  It goes against everything I have, but I can’t.”  Soul suddenly had an idea.  Even if the sides had been drawn in ink he couldn’t see, Soul could make some boundaries of his own.

“Scott, if I told you something and you promised to not tell anyone, would you tell?” 

“I wouldn’t be able to, even if I wanted- if I promised.”  Scott sounded excited.  Soul was as well.  He had an idea.

“Scott, don’t tell anyone.”  Soul waited to see if the voice would stop him from speaking, it was quiet.  “But I think the important picture is the one of the forests of hands.  I don’t know why it is, and I have no idea what it means.  But it is important somehow.”  Immediately a weight seemed to lift off Soul’s chest.  He had made a good decision.  In the depths of his heart he knew he had made the right decision.

Charcoal Pt. 9

Back to Charcoal :) Sorry this bit is a little short, I have to really think about how what is going to happen next happens.  Anyway, enjoy!  Also I have posted Picking Up the Pieces on Literotica.com, it is a bit more edited if you want to read it there- or comment! But I digress- Charcoal Pt. 9:

Soul stepped back when he saw the intensity in Scott’s eyes. 

“Hi?”  He whispered.  Scott couldn’t bring himself to say a word.  He simple stared.  “Umm, do I need shoes, cause there weren’t any that I could see.”  There was a long pause before Scott answered.

“Oh no, not in the house.”  The spell had been broken, but Scott’s eyes retained their intensity and Soul’s their wariness.

**

The dining room was just as intimidating as the bedroom.  The chairs had backs high enough to hide their occupants and the place settings.  There were several more forks and spoons than Soul knew what to do with, and covered platters promised many courses.

“You are a bit late.”  Sylvia stood from a chair at the head.  “But I will excuse you this time.”  She smiled, and it looked scarier than if she had frowned.  “You will sit here, and you here.”  She pointed at Soul and Scott and where she wished for them to sit, on either side of her.  Soul stood next to his chair, waiting for some sign to sit.  There were still several seats at the table that were set, but unoccupied. 

“Sit.”  Scott mouthed from across the table.  Soul did, just then Josie and a man Soul assumed was Nova entered the room.  Josie was wearing a soft black gown that hid her belly.  Nova a plain black suit.  Josie sat next to Soul, Nova next to Scott.  Soon after 2 more couples entered the room and sat the doors on the other side of the room entered.  The man that came through them carried an aura of power.  He looked a bit like Scott, but mostly he looked like someone you shouldn’t cross.

“So the prodigal son has returned.”  Scott bowed his head.  “Son, keep your head up.  I may have raised a useless boy- but I will not let you be pathetic as well.”  Scott raised his head, but would not meet Soul’s eyes, or anyone else’s at the table. 

“Well dear, he may just have some purpose now.  Somehow he convinced this one to visit.”  Sylvia gestured to Soul like he was some sort of trophy.  He considered, to them that was exactly what he was.

“Yes, I see that.  But the bond isn’t completed is it?  The little one still doesn’t know what is happening, and cannot channel or understand what he Sees.  One step in the right direction cannot make up for a lifetime dallying with paints.”

Soul looked at Scott, his face was blank. 

“I didn’t mean to cause such trouble.  I never knew about any of this until a couple months-“

“So it speaks.”  Soul was taken aback.  He hadn’t meant to cause any offense.  He opened his mouth to say as much, but was again interrupted.

“Sweetie, no one asked you to say anything.”  Sylvia placed her napkin on her lap.  “No question was asked of you, so don’t say anything.”  Soul was stricken.  He couldn’t think of anything he could have said.  He looked down at his plate and played with his napkin.  He was beginning to see why his mother had left. 

After several moments of careful silence Sylvia picked up one of the platters and began serving tiny bowls of salad.

“So Josie, is that a new dress?”  Sylvia’s voice suggested that clothing wasn’t the main point of her question.  Josie visibly swallowed and seemed to gather herself before speaking.

“I wasn’t feeling well last week, so I ordered it.  I thought you would like it.”  Her whole demeanor had completely changed, gone was the sweet bubbly girl from earlier.  In her place was a shy, scared young woman.

“I understand.  But that doesn’t make it right.”  Josie lowered her head and began to pick at her salad, Sylvia moved on to her next victim.

“Stacey, I heard you went to the doctor yesterday?”  A woman to Josie’s side nodded and paled. 

“Yes ma’am.” 

“Call me Sylvia.”  Again the woman nodded, then looked up into Sylvia’s piercing eyes and false smile.

“Yes Sylvia.”  The woman looked close to tears.  Soul couldn’t imagine going through this each day.  Did none of these people stand up for themselves?  Then he remembered how difficult it was to even think of something to say.

“And what did he say?”  Sylvia asked still glaring into Stacey’s eyes.

“She said these things take time.  She said that I should try not to worry, that that could make things worse.”

“She?  You didn’t go to the doctor I suggested?  And you should be worried.  Stacey, you aren’t getting any younger, these things do take time and every month you fail your chances get smaller.  Go to Doctor Beauregard.  He will have something better to say.  Else…”  A tear slid down Stacey’s cheek, but she stayed at the table, and Sylvia moved on to her next victim.  When she had moved through all the people sitting on Soul’s side of the table a cloud seemed to lift from the group.  Moments later two men dressed in simple white suits came and cleared the table.  This time Scott’s father served.

“You all know there have been developments?”  Everyone but Soul nodded.  “We need to discuss what will happen next, but first let’s eat.”  The rest of the dinner passed in silence.  And though the food was impeccably prepared Soul couldn’t make himself eat more than a few bites.  The feeling in the house was beyond hostile.  Not only toward him but toward everyone.  He couldn’t imagine living here, he wanted out as quickly as possible.

Back in the scarlet room Soul paced.  Everyone had retired to the deeper recesses of the house and he had been sent back here.  After throwing the green shirt into a corner Soul paced.  How was he going to escape now he had come here on his own?  What was expected of him?  Did he have any say in anything that happened from here on out?  He paced and wondered.  By the time Scott reentered the room Soul’s stomach was rolling in acid, and he felt more trapped than he ever had before. 

“How can you stand it here?”  Soul flopped on the bed when Scott entered the room.  “How did you live here for so long?  How are your parents-“

“Don’t talk about them.”  Soul looked up suddenly.  He was so caught up in his own feelings he hadn’t really considered Scott’s. 

“Why not?  They aren’t in here.”  Scott shook his head. 

“This is their house.  You don’t talk about them.”  Soul huffed and lay against the soft pillows and watched Scott take off the cufflinks and carefully put them in a box.  Then begin to unbutton his jacket, than shirt.

“What am I expected to do, other than keep my mouth closed?”  Soul ran his hands through his hair, wishing for a brush.  It wouldn’t fix his messy hair, but it would feel good.  He scratched his scalp with his fingernails but it wasn’t the same. 

“You are expected to learn how to use your Talent, if you could figure out how to have a baby, I’m sure my mom would be thrilled.” 

“What?”  Soul froze.  “That’s not possible.  It can’t be.”  Scott laughed.

“Of course it is.  But you heard Stacey, even though she looks younger, she is 37.  Mom is worried she won’t have kids- ever.  Stacey doesn’t have the talent, but her family is known to skip a generation every now and again, then the next child has a very strong gift.  Mom thinks Stacey is not getting pregnant on purpose.”

“But, shouldn’t it be her choice?”  Scott laughed and gave Soul a look that clearly said the answer, no. 

Finishing undressing Scott crawled onto the bed and flopped next to Soul. 

“I don’t suppose I can have a kiss?”  It was Soul’s turn to laugh. 

“No, I can’t think when you kiss me.  My whole mind falls apart.  I think I need to think for a while.”

“You’ve thought for weeks!”  Scott reached over to tickle Soul.  After resisting for a moment Soul let out a peal of laughter. 

“Stop, stop, stop!”  He laughed as he tried to tickle Scott back, but he was laughing too hard to get a good grip.  When Scott finally let him up to breathe he couldn’t help but kiss him.  The break in the tension of the day was too sweet.  Now that he had gotten himself into this he couldn’t let this silly moment go.  Scott returned the kiss, nibbling on Soul’s bottom lip. 

“You are jus too sweet.”  Scott whispered as he brushed kisses from Soul’s mouth to his cheek, then to his eyelids.  Soul sighed before seeing his opportunity.  He reached out and tickled Scott’s unprotected sides.  Laughing Scott wrapped his arms around Soul and rolled so Soul lay under him.

“Maybe I spoke too soon.”  Soul giggled until Scott bit his neck, right where his neck met his shoulder, his laugh turned to a moan.  Scott sucked on the spot, ignoring Soul’s whimpers.  Scott could feel the skin heating under his touch, flesh thickening, hardening.  He kissed down Soul’s bare chest to the soft waistband of his pants; here he stopped, nibbling, kissing, and licking until Soul begged for him to continue.  Scott slowly pulled down the pants and the black briefs underneath, kissing each bit of skin he revealed.  Soul’s breath caught in his throat as he watched, pushed up on his elbows.  In his silence he heard footsteps and voices elsewhere in the house.  In that moment everything came back to him.  It was why he hadn’t wanted to start this.  He always forgot himself with Scott, but now he remembered.

“No stop.”  For a moment Scott didn’t hear, or ignored Soul’s plea.  “Scott really, stop.  Not here.”  Scott looked up and saw the fear in Soul’s eyes.  Sighing he flopped, aching onto the pillows. 

“No one would interrupt.”  Soul pulled up his pants and scooted to the edge of the bed. 

“That’s not the point.”  Scott rubbed his temples and tried to breathe.  Again Soul was pulling away.  He didn’t know how much longer he could go without doing something he would regret.