After the Calling

Just one drink. Then I’ll leave… Hadrian Faye had thought to himself when he walked into the empty club. But that had been an hour ago, and he was now on his fourth drink. Everything in him was begging to get up and just leave. To ignore the unnerving, yet all too familiar, sensation of lust that was creepy down from the base of his skull into his spine. To block out the ever-enticing slithers of energy that were radiating from the bartender’s psyche. But even as he nursed these thoughts, promising to obey them, he knew how everything would end.

He’d wait til the end of her shift. It would be all too simple to lure the pretty, pink-headed lady out from behind the bar. She wouldn’t even know what was happening. Her will power would disintegrate. Her aura would –

“Hey, this drink is on the house.” The bartender placed the drink down on the bar in front of him. “You look like you’re having a rough day.”

“Oh. Um… thanks,” Hadrian said distractedly. “Rough day. Right.”

He couldn’t help but stare as she walked back down the bar and began wiping down the counter tops. It was her aura, the identifying force containing the life energy and emotive essence of a person, that had reeled him in from the shadows of this small town that he had arbitrarily chosen to spend the night. He had caught a whiff of it as he passed the uninhabited hole in the wall that was calling itself a night club. It was tangy and warm, strong and chaotic. Absolutely irresistible.

Every human had an aura. Most people called it a spirit. Some were bright and frenzied, some were chilled and tranquil, and a small few, like Hadrian’s, were permeable to the auras of others. It was this auroric permeability that allowed Hadrian was to feel, read, and manipulate the emotional state of those around him. In some cases, he could even hear their thoughts, or predict the possible actions someone might take.

But, unfortunately, while he could use this capacity to his advantage much of the time, he had moments where he was unable to control how much emotional information exited and entered his own psyche, which left him at near-constant risk of being overwhelmed by the thoughts of others. He had to take pains to maintain a continuous mental shield, barring out the external auras. But he was finding that the effort, overtime, was weakening his own auroric energy, and making it more difficult for him to control the boundaries of his own mind.

To replenish his psychic stability, he had begun “borrowing” energy from the auras of others. And he was finding that he had developed a taste for certain auras, particularly those that were warm, deep, and frenetic. Particularly those like the one right in front of him.

Hadrian was so immersed in the bartender’s psyche, that he almost didn’t noticed when she stopped wiping down the bar and began rubbing her temple, as if she had suddenly developed a headache. Hadrian immediately pulled back. He had been drawing energy from her without even realizing it.

As soon as he broke his focus on her, she appeared to recover immediately. Overwhelmed with guilt he turned away from her, scolding himself. There we’re better ways to do it. Painless ways. Pleasant even. He had to control his cravings lest he hurt someone. He waited for her to fully recover before he straightened up, vowing to ignore her aura to the best of his ability.

“It looks like everyone is in need of a drink today!” Hadrian heard the bartender say enthusiastically. Surprised that he sensed no one enter the club, he glanced over at his new bar mate. He immediately realized that he could not sense her aura. But that was not startling. There were many individuals, even without overt psychic ability, that had natural mental blocks. What was startling was how gorgeous she was.

He was immediately appreciative for something else to focus on.

“Excuse me. Don’t assume you know what I need,” the woman responded, giving the bartender an unfriendly look. “What you can do is make me a margarita, patron, rocks, no salt.”

Beautiful, but not very nice, Hadrian chuckled to himself. “You can put her drink on my tab,” he said to the bartender, who had begun testily composing the margarita.

The bartender glanced over at him with a confused expression, obviously wondering how the man who, only 3 seconds ago, had been staring at her as if she were edible could switch alliances so easily. “Sure, whatever you want, babe,” she said, and went back to the margarita.

Actually, I can pay for that myself,” the woman said turning her back to Hadrian and putting her hand up to block her face. “Can’t even get a drink without being harassed.”

“Wow, just thought I’d be nice,” Hadrian said, his lips forming a barely visible smile. “Chivalry must really be dead.”

“Well, no one asked you to be nice or chivalrous,” she responded.

“Pardon me for trying.”

“Pardon you? Oh please, you were just looking to get laid tonight,” she said as her drink was placed in front of her. She grabbed it and took a swing.

Hadrian scoffed and dramatically turned his stool to face her. “Excuse me,” he said mockingly, imitating her tone, “but don’t assume you know what I’m looking to do tonight.”

The woman paused before taking another big sip of her margarita. “Well, aren’t you a prat.”

“I think in this case, sweetheart,” Hadrian started, “it absolutely takes one to know one.”

The woman grinned and turned towards the bartender. “Actually,” she said, “this guy can pay for my drink.”

“Oh, why thank you. What an honor,” Hadrian replied. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the bartender rolling her eyes. He was stunned to realize that the urge to drain her aura had practically disappeared. In fact, he felt that he could go days, weeks even before having to take energy from another aura. He was relieved, but also confused, being that his original need for auroric energy had seemingly been replaced with a completely human desire for his bar mate. Yes, she was stunning, but… really?

Hadrian’s attention was brought back to the bar when the gorgeous woman took her last swing of her margarita and slammed the glass down loudly on the counter top.

“Hey, hey, hey!” the bartender said, rushing to the cup’s aid. “Relax! That’s glass!”
Ignoring her, the woman turned to Hadrian, the tequila obviously having gone straight to her head, and said, “Well, fine! I won’t assume anything. So, why don’t you tell me? What are you looking to do tonight?”

The suggestion in her voice was heavy, and Hadrian couldn’t help but laugh. “A lightweight are we? One drink in, and you’ve completely changed your tune. Maybe you should have paced yourself.”

“Fine suit yourself,” she said, narrowing her eyes. She appeared to study him for a moment, but then abruptly hopped off the stool. “I’m off then.” And without another glance, she walked out of the club.

Hadrian allowed his eyes to follow her out the door, feeling a slight urge to follow her, and then turned back around to face the bar. “Well, she was an oddball,” he said lowly, stirring his untouched drink with his finger.

“Eh,” the bartender sniffed. “Not too much of an oddball for you, I suppose.”

Hadrian grinned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, even though he knew exactly what she meant.

“Oh, whatever man! You know how you were looking at her,” the bartender said, smiling back. “Yeah, but I don’t blame you. She was hot. A little bitchy, but hot all the same.”

Hadrian laughed out loud. “Yeah, I guess so.”

 

“Okay, well then, wouldn’t that be your cue?” the bartender said, looking at him expectantly

“My cue to do what?”

“Uhhhh… run after her.” The bartender pointed toward the door.

“Nah, no way. I don’t even know her name,” Hadrian said. But even as he said it, he was reminded of the drastic wave of stability that had overcome his psyche when that woman had walked in the door. And his coincidental magnetic draw to her. Looking up at the bartender, he thought of what may have happened if this woman had not sat down next to him.

“Don’t be a pansy, man.”

“Hey, no name-calling,” he responded playfully, but Hadrian’s curiosity had peaked. He paid the tab, leaving an obscenely large tip and rushed out the door in pursuit of the mystery woman.

 

He was surprised to find her walking slowly down the street, not to far away from the bar entrance.

“Hey! Hey you! Wait up!” he called out, rushing to catch up to her. She didn’t appear to hear him and continued walking at a snail’s pace down the street. As he got closer to her, Hadrian once again felt as if his own aura was building in strength, and an even stronger sensation to want to kiss this woman.

“Hey, hold on,” Hadrian said as he came up behind her. “Do you want to find a place to get some coffee or something?”

“Not really, Hadrian,” the woman said serenely, in a much different tone than she had in the bar.

“No, no of course not,” Hadrian said awkwardly. “Tea? Maybe?” He was beginning to feel so infatuated with this goddess of a woman, that he only blinked at the mention of his name. It seemed completely normal that she would know it, despite him not having told her.

 

“Hadrian, why would I want coffee or tea when I have you? You’re all I could ever want.”

A mental warning began blaring somewhere in the back of Hadrian’s head, but he was ignored it completely. He knew something was wrong. Oh yeah, something was definitely not right, but… geez this woman was beautiful. He’d follow her to the edge of the earth. And… was she getting more beautiful as he looked at her? Was she…? Was she glowing?

 

“And what do you know, Hadrian! My apartment is right here. Why don’t you come up… for coffee or tea? Hmmm?” she giggled.

“Beautiful and centrally located…wow. You’re just….yeah, yeah, of course. This is a really nice building. Co-op? Condo? Yeah, really nice,” Hadrian babbled. He was slowly realizing that he was feeling oddly disconnected from… himself. His psyche seemed to be… leaving him. But that wasn’t very high on his current list of priorities. This woman was inviting him upstairs to her apartment. And that was all he ever wanted in the world. He was born to go upstairs to her apartment.

Hadrian followed the woman into the building’s lobby and leaned up against a wall, watching as she called the elevator. Even the movement of her finger as she pressed the “up” button was exhilarating.

“You okay, Hadrian?” she said, giving him a brilliant smile.

“I’m more than okay. I’m, you know, I’m perfect. No, you’re perfect. You’re more than perfect. You’re perfection,” Hadrian said. The feelings of alarm were subsiding to the back of his head, as if something were pushing them out of his mind.

She giggled again as the elevator door opened. “You’re sweet.”

As the last of his will power subsided, Hadrian’s brain gave one last cry for rationality, begging him to exit the building at his earliest convenience. He glanced over his shoulder considering it, but then the glorious melody of the lovely lady’s voice wafted into his ears.

“You coming, Hadrian?” she asked.

Of course,” he said, and turned to walk into the elevator.

With that, whatever worries he had completely vanished. He was in heaven. All he wanted to do was be in that elevator with her. He was no longer aware of his connection to his own aura, he was no longer sure where he was, and his limbs seemed to be moving on their on volition, but no matter.

This must be love, he thought. I mean… I guess.

 Bliss: Part II>>