And so They Meet
Vi hadn’t expected to have a whole therapy session with Powder, but by the time she left the basement it was dark. Her little sister had argued for her soulmate, confidently pronouncing that life with them would be infinitely better. The problem with that was Vi didn’t even know what they looked like. Most likely from Topside, with dark blue hair. That sure helped a lot.
Powder had also insisted that Vi tell Vander, solely for the purpose that if someone matching that pathetic description came to The Last Drop, she’d know. Another glaring issue was Vi really didn’t see the big deal. Again, she didn’t need someone to lose. Again, she didn’t need another person to love.
And Vi did not want Mylo or Claggor to find out. Powder’s acceptance was fickle and would surely devolve into teasing. How could someone who kept her heart so guarded have a perfect match? Mylo and Claggor wouldn’t hesitate in making her life insufferable as well. It would all be pointless if Vi never even found her soulmate, too. Why would the universe ever make a promise so easily broken?
Finally climbing out of her head, Vi scanned todays customers. The Last Drop was crowded, as usual. People loved a good bar with decent alcohol, and many who drank here once couldn’t help returning. A comforting atmosphere lacking any danger was a siren’s call to the drunkards. Chatter filled the area, laughter clear and hardy. Some enjoyed their drinks in silence, some shared with a mate, and some cheered as a chosen one chugged a barrelful of beer.
The energy was chaotic, and Vi relished it. Focus turning to Vander by the counter, she decided to help her old man with any overflow orders. Before Vi could even take a step forward, her eyes caught on a woman sitting on one of the stools. Her posture was oddly stiff, facing towards a suited man. She herself wore a light blue bodycon dress, doing wonders with the way it hugged her body in all the right ways.
She looked fantastic. Yet the thing that drew Vi’s attention the most was her deep navy hair. It was embarrassing to admit, but Vi had forced herself to remember the first colour she’d ever seen. And that blue, it was exactly the same. The situation was laughable. Losing her soulmate only for them to appear in her home.
In no time at all Vi was behind the counter, giving the two Topsiders a grin and a wink. “Care for a refill?”
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Caitlyn stared at the woman. Red hair. red hair. Maybe Caitlyn had fallen asleep, and her brain was broken for actually showing her colours. Or maybe this was real, her soulmate right in front of her acting like nothing had changed, like she couldn’t see colour, or somehow already had. Or she was way drunker than she thought and was hallucinating this whole thing.
Realising the silence was stretching and Caitlyn was staring not-so-respectfully, Jayce came to the rescue. “No, thanks. I think we’re done for the day. Right Caitlyn?”
Nodding dumbly in reply, Caitlyn just couldn’t bring herself to look away from the red-head. She was short, but her arms were so muscular it was unbelievable. Caitlyn couldn’t fathom how hot she looked, a scar on her upper-lip making the woman all the more tantalizing. Tattoos peaked out from under her collar, bandages made make-shift gloves on her hands, and god, her red hair.
It was like Caitlyn was looking at her desire incarnate. Everything about this red-headed woman in front of her was perfect. A little tattoo under her eye read the number VI, and Caitlyn briefly thought about the possibility that it was her name. Suddenly the only thing she wanted was to taste Zaun. Every part of her burned with desire, craving just a little sample, just a tiny morsel.
Jayce’s touch on Caitlyn’s arm finally snapped her out of her reverie, saving barely a bit of her dignity. There was no doubt about the fact that she had been staring way too long. She just couldn’t help it. This strange feeling, it was the first time she’d ever felt something like it. The intense need. It was inconceivably addicting.
Caitlyn was irrefutably drawn to the red-head. Fate had done wonders in playing cupid. The universe had read Caitlyn like a book and given her exactly what she wanted. She had never been so damn grateful about her partner being chosen for her.
Again Caitlyn was lost in her thoughts. Again Caitlyn was staring. Again Jayce came to her rescue, yet it was obvious her dignity was long since gone. But Caitlyn couldn’t care less.
“We’ll be going now.” Jayce’s voice forced itself into her stupor, and his touch extinguished her flaming nerves. All Caitlyn gave was another nod before she allowed the man to guide her outside. Committing The Last Drop to memory, Caitlyn wasn’t too disheartened by the dull quiet now surrounding them. She hadn’t noticed, but her head had started to pound from the noise. Breathing in the fresh night air helped.
The pair walked in silence, and Caitlyn’s revelation about her soulmate made her feel sober. It was as if she hadn’t drunk a drop of alcohol. Wonder began overtaking her now, at the array of vibrant colours even with darkness as a blanket. Zaun was still bright, the industrious area lit with neon signs and tinted glows.
As they made their way back to Caitlyn’s manor, she couldn’t help letting her mind drift right back to the red-head. Her soulmate. From Zaun. A girl. And somehow everything she’d ever unknowingly wanted. “Jayce, my soulmate was back there. I can actually see colour.”
“I believe you. Was it that girl you couldn’t keep your eyes off?”
Caitlyn flushed red. She knew it was obvious, but it was still embarrassing spoken out loud. She’d rather just forget about losing her composure like that. The red-head didn’t seem to mind. All she’d done was smirk, as if goading Caitlyn on, relishing the attention. Just thinking of that sent a spark kindling low in her gut.
God, she was wild for that girl. Every part of her craved her soulmate. It was insane how finally seeing colour, finally finding her soulmate, had changed so much in such a short time. Caitlyn had never thought like this before; never imagined anything to feel like this. And truly it was addicting. It was fantastic, and new, and exciting. It was just the splash of colour she had needed.
"Yes."