A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

Madeline’s standards for friendship aren’t as high as mine. To me, Erin faltered. I can’t abide by someone who hovers in the middle ground.” Eden shifted in her seat, Az’s face drifting into her head. “We’d already found a few other Siders by then. We were determined they’d be taught, kept in a group, not alone like we were. Without rules, discipline, everything falls apart. When we split, we let the new Siders choose who to go with. Sebastian left with me to the Bronx. Madeline to Queens. Erin to Manhattan,” Kristen finished.
    Eden studied Kristen for a moment, gauging her mood before she asked her question. Finally, she dared. “You said there were five originals. What did you three do to the others?”
    “Nothing.” Kristen looked confused. “They formed their groups on their own. The boroughs are natural territory lines to which we’ve all agreed. They’d moved into the empty spots in Brooklyn and Staten Island. They’re no threat, so I don’t bother with them.” Kristen let out a laugh. “What, did you think we locked them up or something? Siders are immortal, Eden. Sure, there’storture, but without a purpose, it gets tiring rather quickly.”
    Screamers , Eden thought. “But you said ‘they’re no threat,’ which implies Madeline and Erin are.”
    “Brilliant deduction.” Kristen smacked the table with her hand, amusement dancing across her eyes as she pointed at Eden. “Madeline and Erin know my secrets,” she said with a smile. “Fortunately, I know theirs.” Kristen stood. “That’s enough for today.”
    Eden shadowed her back to the stairs and down to the subway platform, lost in her thoughts. Her existence would be spent gloved up, every morning spent trailing a mortal, her Touch changing their life.
    She hadn’t been paying attention, startled as she tripped over the last stair. The smell of urine-soaked clothes retched a gag from her, hands clawing at her while she tried to catch her balance, pull away. Her fingers hit skin.
    “You killed my baby!”
    Eden jerked out of the woman’s grasp as the release hit, her brain fighting the pleasure with horror. She heard Kristen’s gasp. Managed to pull away. I spread Touch to a baby! her brain screamed. I killed a baby? The crowd pushed around the scene, a few eyes straying in their direction. She stepped back, her foot catching on something hard on the ground, sliding as it rolled beneathher shoe. She fell, her tailbone striking the stained floor, a pang shooting up her spine. Tears sprung to her eyes. What have I done?
    She ignored the pain, getting to her feet, her twisted ankle throbbing as she took off up the stairs. Behind her, Kristen’s fading voice called her back. The woman’s scream kept her running.
    I’m not going to kill people. This can’t be my life. Panic froze her at the top of the stairs. Just run , she thought. Get back to the hotel. Gabe could still be there. He’ll fix this. She whipped her head back and forth, trying to decide on a direction.
    Before she could, Kristen grabbed her wrist. “Gloves, Eden! Did I not tell you to wear your fucking gloves?”
    Eden yanked away. “I kill a baby and you yell at me about gloves?”
    Kristen stared at her. “Baby? What baby?”
    Eden faltered. “She said I killed her baby. I felt the Touch pass, Kristen.”
    “Eden,” Kristen said gently. “Touch takes time to have any effect. How could you have killed anyone yet? Did you forget?”
    “But.” She paused. “The baby…”
    “You didn’t see?” Eden shook her head. “It was a doll, Eden. The arm broke off when she dropped it. That’s what you tripped over.” Kristen’s jaw went hard at therelief in Eden’s face. “Oh, so her life is worth less because she’s unwell?”
    “No,” Eden argued, the rage in Kristen’s eyes catching her off guard.
    “Nice to know your standards, Eden,” Kristen snarled. “You passed her Touch, as if her mind weren’t tortured enough! You’ve doomed her,