Chapter 4

Vienna knocked on her son’s door, carrying a tray of soup, but there was no response. She knew her son was not asleep, although the lights were off. She always had a sixth sense about such things, although sometimes she felt it was better to ignore her hunch and deal with it when the time came. She knocked again, calling, “Sky..”. She heard a faint, “hmm” from the room and so he pushed open the door and switched on the lights. Her son was sitting, slumped against the headboard with a deep look of sadness on his face. She sighed and placed the soup on the bedside table and then sat beside Schuyler. She stroked Schuyler’s hair and was glad to see her son lean on her shoulder softly. They sat there like that for some time and then Vienna could not hold it any longer.

“You gonna tell me what happened? Sky, you have to talk to me, you know?”

Schuyler sighed and mumbled something. It was so soft and unintelligible that Vienna missed it. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

Schuyler only sighed and pulled his collar away, showing his mother the right side of his neck where his soulmate mark was glowing deep black. Vienna gasped in shock. She had completely forgotten that her son might meet his soulmate anytime, but she just hoped it would be when he was in his 30s rather than in his teens! She couldn’t overreact right now, though. Her baby was distressed, something was definitely not as it should be. She hugged her son, caressing his hair and back, trying to comfort him as best as she could.

“Are you okay, Sky?” She felt her son nod slightly but felt tears running down his face. “Schuyler you have to talk to me baby. Who is it? Was your first meeting not good? It is not a girl, is it?” Vienna knew her son was inclined towards his own gender and so it would be painful if his soulmate was of the fairer sex.

“No ma. He is so beautiful, you know? At the first touch, it was electrifying.”

Schuyler continued to sniffle as he talked, so it was obvious that he was not happy about the meeting.

“What is it Schuyler? Please, tell me baby..”

Schuyler sniffed harder, “Oh mummy! HE Is Five Years old! He’s a baby! A soft, innocent little boy, with deepest eyes I have ever seen and bouncy ebony curls..”

Vienna gasped in shock once again. Her eyes widened and mouth fell open. She was truly scared now, especially listening to her son describing this child like that. She knew her son’s feelings must be in turmoil. She was at a loss of what to do. She knew her son was sexually aware so having a soulmate so young was definitely going to be very difficult. Then something else her son said registered in her mind. She lifted Sky’s chin so that their eyes met and asked, “Sky, you touched this child?”

Schuyler lowered his eyes, “He was playing in a park I was passing by, but then suddenly I couldn’t help myself. I felt this pull that hurt so bad and I was involuntarily moving towards him. He too must have felt something because he turned around to meet my eyes.”

As the teenage recounted the events a small smile appeared on his face. It did not please his mother at all. “We were standing there, me crouched on the ground to be on level with him, for a long while. It was mesmerizing and then he did something amazing. He extended one of his plump little hands towards me and when I touched it I saw stars. My mark started to burn and so then I realized what was happening. But then I didn’t care at all about my pain as he screamed and started to cry loudly, most probably not being able to bear the burn of his mark. All I wanted to do was hug him and comfort him and take his pain away. I couldn’t bear to see him crying like that. It was discomfiting for me to experience caring so much about a stranger. I just stood there though, without doing anything and ran back home when his mother came rushing to the scene.”

Vienna listened to everything, not liking the situation one bit. Her son was a sexual being, a teenager with healthy raging hormones. And his soulmate was a toddler who did not understand anything at all. It was not a good mix. Either of them or both of them could be hurt seriously. What does one do in this situation? How will the two souls take it? Should they meet again? Or should she demand that her son never seek out the little boy again? How will the forced separation affect her son and what about the baby boy? Will the kid be okay? It was known that if soulmates are forcefully separated for any reason the effects on the two people are emotionally and physically devastating.

“Schuyler, this is not right. I mean, he is just a child, Sky. And I understand, but I don’t like the way you are talking about him. It is not easing my doubts and questions at all..”

Schuyler looked at his mother, his eyes shining fiercely, anger pouring out of them like Vienna had never seen before, “What did you expect, mom? Huh? Did you expect that I will talk about him like I was indifferent to him or the effect he has had on me? Or did you expect me to talk about him like he is my son or something? That’s not how it is, and you know it better than anyone else. What am I supposed to do? Remember, you are the one who told me about how felt the first time you met dad?”

“Sky! I know what you are saying. It is a magical moment when you first meet your soulmate. But the situation is not the same! When your mark appeared you were almost twelve, but I was not worried as age-difference between two mates is hardly ever more than five years. But Sky your mark appeared the moment this kid was born! Sky, when this kid was born you were already twelve years old! This is not easy to get over or to understand. And we have to think about how to approach the subject and what the right course of action will be.”

Schuyler stood up abruptly and started pacing the room. “You don’t think I know all of that!? But ma, the moment I got home today, I wanted to go back. I wanted to see him again, I have had this ache all day. You think I have been cooped up in my room because I am upset? I was afraid I might go searching for him if I left the room. You have no idea.. I am going insane mom!”

Vienna saw the distress in her son’s face. It was clear that he was having a really hard time dealing with all his emotions and the situation on the whole. She hoped what she was about to suggest wouldn’t make it worse.

“Sky, come here, please,” Vienna patted the spot next to her. Schuyler looked at the one woman who had never let him down, but he was unsure today. He had a strong feeling of what his mother was going to say next. It was something he feared and he did not like that. However, he had no choice but to seek advice from the people he trusteed as he, who always had all the answers, was clueless for the first time. He reluctantly sat next to the lady of the Raverton manor and laid his head on her shoulder. Vienna sighed and stroked his hair slowly.

“Sky, listen to me baby. Look, maybe it’s best to let things lie..,” Schuyler once again stood up suddenly and was about to express his anger at his mom’s words. Vienna understood and immediately waved both her hands in front of her, stood up and held her son’s shoulders. She said, “No no, I mean, just for a while. Just maybe a few days..”

Schuyler turned away from her anyway, “Watch what you say next Mummy. You know I can’t help but seek him out.”

“Sky, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant, it was only today that you met him. Your feelings, your emotions are still overwhelming. I think you should first calm yourself so you can think rationally. Acting on impulse isn’t going to help here at all, right? You always take time to manage your thoughts and understand them, so why not do the same now, huh?”

Schuyler looked at his mother. A small smile appeared on his face. His mother never ceased to amaze, always giving solutions to appease everyone involved. As his mother looked at him expectantly, he nodded his head and sat down beside her, half hugging her. Vienna smiled, she knew she could not hold back her son forever but at least whatever happened now, it would be thought out properly.

The mother and son duo stayed like that for a long time feeling the peace and calm wash over them as they decided to let time guide them. The two fell asleep together, unaware that at the other end of the town a five-year old had been affected much worse.