Creatures

The following morning, Talon took a deep breath and stepped into the kitchen. “Good morning.”

Karen and the others were just finishing up when he came in.

“You are up early today,” Lily commented as she continued clean up the breakfast dishes. Talon had not been present for the past month during breakfast and she had to wonder what was up.

“I am surprised,” Eric commented. “We were up late last night. I would not have been able to get up either if it had not been for you, dear.” He placed a kiss on Lily’s cheek as he walked by.

“We need to spar again soon Talon.” He patted his shoulder as he went by.

“Have a good day everyone. Supper will be ready when you return.” Karen called over her shoulder as she snuck out of the kitchen. She did not want to deal with Talon yet.

Talon grabbed her arm to stop her. “I suggest you cut your morning practice short today and do whatever it is that you normally do in the evenings at that time.”

Karen glanced down at his hand and then pulled her arm away, tingling from his touch.

“Why would I need to do that?”

“Because you will need to have some strength and stamina left for our training session and I am only available after supper.” Talon moved away from her to get his breakfast. Karen just looked at him.

There was something different about... She got it, other than the fact that he was up and he had even decided to speak with her that was. He was in a suit. She had only seen him in jeans and t-shirts. He looked good in a suit and her mouth started to water as she took in his appearance. The suit fit his body snuggly and she could already see all the girls drooling over him in his classroom.

“Hey, you know what?” Evan spoke up in the silence that had fallen in the kitchen as everyone watched the byplay between Talon and Karen. “I think that is the first time I have seen you two touch.”

“I think you are right,” Emerald stated thoughtfully. “I do not remember seeing you touch during training yesterday either, you just used your voice or your weapon.”

“Do not be ridiculous. Of course, we have touched you ninny. We had to in order to complete the initial bonding.” Talon commented dryly as he prepared his breakfast.

“Oh. I had forgotten that, but other than that... how are you two going to physically bond if you do not touch?” Talon stopped. Damn, he had forgotten about that minor hiccup.

“We will not be physically bonding.” He commented roughly.

“What! You have to. It is not an option.” Emerald scolded him.

The occupants in the room all turned to stare at her.

“I am not touching this one,” Eric commented and turned towards Lily. “Go for it.”

“Oh no, not me. I am a firm believer that this should be discussed between partners.”

“But...” Evan stepped in, “What if they...”

Lily interjected. “Enough. It is none of your business Evan. They will cross that bridge when they get there. They still have to get through the emotional bond before they need to worry about the physical bond. Though come to think on it...”

She turned to Talon and Karen. “You are not very far on that one either. You will need to do something about that one soon as well.”

Carrie stabbed a finger at Talon’s chest. “As for you, do not think that you will get out of having a physical bond. You will not be able to stop it from happening so stop hiding your head in the sand and get her prepared. You are already behind on the emotional bond because of your stubbornness.” Carrie pulled her finger away. “The only other thing I have to say is that you better explain it to her properly so that she does not get hurt.”

Lily placed her hand on Carrie’s shoulder and drew her away from Talon.

“I said enough Carrie. That includes you. We are going to be late. Let it go. He will do what is right in the end.”

Carrie sent one more glare at Talon and turned to Karen. “Answer me this right now. Have you touch other than just now and the initial bond?”

“Carrie!”

Carrie ignored Lily’s protest and everyone waited silently for Karen’s answer.

“Ummm... Well, yes. We have had contact before. I mean he did help me after my first experience in the combat room.”

“Good. It is a start.” Carrie turned on her heel and left the room, Eric following meekly behind.

“We have to go now, hon. Take care of the house and listen to Talon. You need to be in fighting form for this evening.” Lily nodded to Talon as she left the room.

Talon rubbed his chest where Carrie had stabbed him. If this was how it was going to be from now on, maybe he should go back into hiding. That woman was scary, though he would never tell her that.

“All right.” Karen nodded as the others left as well. She turned to see Talon staring at her.

“Ignore them. They just worry about you. All they could talk about this morning was how much they enjoyed spending time with you yesterday. I am sure they are just trying to make sure that you do not pull away from them again.” Karen told him awkwardly. “Talon?”

Talon looked up from the sink where he had turned and started to rinse his dishes, his appetite gone.

“Are they right? Will it happen whether or not you wish for it?”

He could not deny her words. She had already started to crowd his thoughts and last night, he had had a dream with her in it. His dream had been nothing erotic, but he had woken to a feeling of loss at the knowledge that she was not by his side. The emotional bonding was coming and it was coming soon, whether he wants it to or not.

Talon gave himself the leisure of a mental sigh, What would he do then? How would he be able to stop the physical bonding? How could he explain the process of physical bonding? Damn...

He had already found that he needed to be near her daily and that he was aware of her presence at all times. They seemed to have a stronger bond then the others had had at the beginning. Worst of all, there was no one that he trusted to speak with about his thoughts. He was in new territory and was not sure he was going to make it out alive.

He turned to the woman looking at him with troubled eyes.

“No one has told you about the emotional or physical bonding yet have they?”

“No. All I know is what Mr. Taki told me the first day here. I figured that you would tell me when I was ready for them.”

Talon stepped up next to her. On impulse, he reached out his hand and placed it on her cheek. It was warm and smooth and soft. He watched her eyes widen and then grow confused, making her brown eyes grow darker with an emotion he could not decipher.

“I have to go. Be ready for training tonight. We will need to find time to speak about your power core as well. I heard that it has not been found, but you seem to know something about that.” He turned and left the room, not sure what to think about touching her like that.

Karen stood in the kitchen long after he had left. She placed her own hand on the spot his had been. She could still feel the warmth of his hand. His eyes had seemed to glow at that moment and she had felt the desire, for an instant, to step in close and wrap her arms around him. She pulled herself out of her thoughts with a shake and put all of her energy into the day ahead of her.

“Again.”

Talon and Karen had been sparring for the past hour and Talon showed no signs of easing up on her. He had not been rude to her like the day before, but he was still quick to point out her mistakes and make her correct them over and over again.

In the middle of the next series of attacks, he suddenly asked her the question that everyone wanted to know.

“Where is your power core?”

“Why did he ask her that?” Emerald and the others had once again gathered to watch the two practice. It was fascinating to see how quickly Karen picked everything up. She was like a sponge and of course, Talon was always a pleasure to watch.

“Because she knows where it is and she is not sharing,” Carrie informed her.

“Are you sure?” Michael asked.

Carrie nodded. “I am sure.”

Shorty smiled when Carrie turned to him and spoke,

“Her power today?”

“Quite strong, but not nearly as controlled.” Came the answer.

Carrie nodded. “She knows.”

“Where is yours?” Karen retaliated.

Talon pulled back for a moment. “You have not figured it out yet?”

Karen looked him straight in eyes. “Your eyes.”

“Very good.” Talon attacked again.

“I wonder where the other’s are located.”

Karen commented through deep breaths, ignoring his question.

He was pushing hard now and she needed to conserve her breath, but at the same time, she wanted to speak with him while he was willing to converse. Decision, decisions.

Talon shrugged and pulled back for an instant before coming at her again.

“Mine is obvious to others if they know what to look for, but as for the rest, I do not know. However, watch the interaction between partners and you will get an idea.”

“Why is that?”

“Because they tend to touch their power cores together when they meet.”

Karen jumped back and looked at him.

“How can we do that, if yours are your eyes?”

“Tell me your power core and I will tell you how we do it.” It was his turn to retaliate.

He stepped back. “Put away your weapons.”

“Huh?” Karen just looked at him. After pressing her for so long, he was suddenly stopping? What gives?

“It is time we figure out your abilities. It will be harder without the knowledge of where your power core lies, but I have a feeling you already know where it is, so I can only assume that you are ready for this.”

“Huh?” For some reason, Karen’s mind did not want to compute what he was saying to her.

Talon rolled his eyes. She could be so dense.

“Your power core activates an ability that only you can produce. You have discovered several of your abilities that we all share. Your barrier, speed, reflex, and healing. However, you have an ability that is all your own and we should find it.”

Talon rolled his eyes at her blank look. It was obvious she was still not getting it.

“It is easier to show you then explain to you. Watch.”

Karen watched as a bolt of fire came out of Talon’s hand and destroyed the boulder across the room.

“Hey stop destroy my work,” Shorty called over the system. “I do not have the right system up for you to destroy things like that.”

“Then get it up. She needs to learn.”

“Are you sure she is ready for this?” Shorty replied.

“Yeah I am sure, now get the damn program up!” Talon hollered back.

“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. It is going to take a few. Take a break and come back in five.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Talon headed for the door with Karen following.

“You can shoot fire,” Karen commented.

“Fire is my specialty. I can control any fire and I can create it from my body.”

“Go figure. It suits you.” Karen walked into the other room where everyone was waiting for them.

“So,” she commented dryly at the audience before her. “What are your specialties?”

“Water,” Lily spoke.

“Air.” Eric chimed in.

“You would think it would be water and fire,” Karen replied.

“We do not want to cancel each other, we want to help each other,” Lily replied.

“I control the energy that you find in everything and Micheal controls ice.” Carrie went next.

“Ice is a good conductor for energy,” Michael explained

“Emerald controls sound and Evan has earth,” Eric told her.

“I can see it,” Karen commented as each was pointed out. Each ability seemed to fit the personality of each person. It would be interesting to see what hers would say about her.

“I do not suppose you would tell me where your power cores are at?” She asked casually.

Michael let out a laugh. “All you had to do was ask. Usually, the power cores are located in roughly the same place as your partner. For example, mine and Carrie have ours located in our fingers. Though which ones, we shall not tell.”

Karen could respect that.

“Eric’s and mine are located in our shoulders,” Lily explained.

“Evan and I have ours located in our legs.” Emerald finished the show and tell session.

“Now that you know where ours are, how about telling us your secret. It is obviously not your eyes like mine.” Talon commented before continuing. “We have already figured out that you know where it is, but we have yet to figure it out ourselves. It seems that you have been experimenting with the level of power. We have never seen anyone have that kind of control over their power core. It is highly unusual.” Talon finished, looking at Karen pointedly.

“Shouldn’t eyes be a bit unusual as well?” Karen countered, still avoiding the question.

“Which is why we would expect nothing less from you.” Michael gave Karen a pointed look, “Now spill.”

“Well... I am not for sure, but I am pretty certain that it is my hair.”

Everyone started with the hair that she had left down in a loose ponytail. The hair was long, past her waist and straight, and although she had left it loose, she never left it down completely.

“Makes sense,” Carrie commented finally. “Your hair was in a tight braid yesterday and your power was less. Today you have it loose and although there is more power, you struggle to control it. Have you tried it with your hair completely down?”

“No. I am afraid that I will have no control and destroy something.”

“That is a very unusual place for your power core. Your hair continually grows, so it would seem that there is no limit to your powers. However, just like Talon’s power core, easily destroyed once it is discovered.” Lily commented.

“Are you sure that it is there?”

Karen nodded. “I am pretty sure that I am right. I am just unsure how I am going to control it if my hair is not tightly bound and trust me, I do not look good in short hair.”

“Plus it would greatly diminish your power if you cut it off,” Evan told her.

“I wonder, is it all the hair on your body or just your head?” Emerald asked to no one in particular.

“Why would you want to know that?”

“Well, if it is over her entire body, if she shaves her legs, she will lose power.” Only Emerald would think like that.

Everyone froze and looked at Karen.

“I do not care if it is all over my body. I will not go without shaving my legs. No way, no how.”

Everyone burst out laughing at the thought of Karen with hair coming out her skirts and pants. It was some time before they could get back to the conversation at hand with any seriousness.

“Shall we confirm it?” Talon asked quietly when all had calmed down.

“How do we do that?” Karen asked.

“I told you. When you touch the power cores together, they react to each other.”

“Oh, but how do we do that?”

Talon reached out and slowly drew Karen towards him and then pulled her up against his body.

The rest watched the scene in fascination, feeling the tension in the air between them go up several notches. There would be sparks flying between them someday.

They continued to watch as he tucked her up against his chest and placed his closed eyes against the crown of her hair. Though the others saw nothing at first, Talon and Karen immediately felt a small jolt of electricity shoot through their bodies and everyone else watched as Talon’s eyes opened and started to glow and Karen’s hair started to rise up around her for a second before Talon stepped back and the connection was separated.

Talon and Karen stared at each other, unaware of their audience.

Talon had felt his body start to react in the last instant before he had pulled away and he could not have that.

“It seems you were right.” He commented before turning to Shorty. “Is the program ready?”

Everyone else could feel something in the air between the two and smiled. They were starting to sync up quite nicely, it would not be long before the emotional bond happened.