by Jade White
“Sure thing,” Missy said with a smile.
I looked at my phone as It beeped with the information I asked for. “Perfect. I’ll check it out later,” I said.
“Or now would be good,” Missy suggested.
“Not now, I have a mission to complete in Canada,” I said.
“Ah, shoot!” Missy exclaimed, “I forgot about that. Let me send you the coordinates for that too.”
“That would be useful,” I joked.
“Ha ha, very funny,” muttered Missy.
I smiled at her. She was like a younger sister to me. I cared for her, and above all else wanted her to be happy. I knew her job here as a secretary wasn’t making her happy, which is why I was pushing her into starting her assassin training again. Plus, it would be a load off my mind if I didn’t have to worry about her physical well-being if she’s able to kill people for a living.
***
For most of my missions I’m given very little information as a security precaution. It’d be bad if I knew too much and could possibly defect to another faction of shifters that work for another government. The FBI keeps their eyes on us at all times to make sure there’s no “funny business” as they like to call it.
Today was a simple in and out job. I was to kill the mayor of a small city. Why? I did not know and it wasn’t my place to ask. I flew over the ocean in order to get out of the States and into Canada. I then flew over the town above the clouds and found the given coordinates of the target’s house. There I skydived down to the roof of the house and transformed at the very last second, landing without a single sound.
The night was cold, especially since I was naked, but I’d have to do my best to grin and bear it until I could fly back. I went into the man’s house through a second floor window that I unlatched with my claws. I crawled into the warmth of the house and shut the window quietly behind me.
Silence met my ears like a hard crash. It was almost too quiet; there wasn’t even the sound of a ticking clock. I made my way out into the hallway of the house. The lights were off but by shifting just my eyes, I could see perfectly fine. My claws were at the ready in case of any surprises since this seemed just too perfect.
I quietly moved towards another room, hoping it was the bedroom. The mayor should be sleeping soundly with her husband if this were a normal job, but when I opened the door all I found was an empty queen sized bed.
A shiver ran up my spine. Something was wrong and completely out of place, and it wasn’t just the fact that my target wasn’t to be found, but that everything in the house seemed untouched… as if it was just for show. I smelled the air, there were no human smells, only shifters. This was a trap. By whom or what, I did not know, but I got the feeling that I should leave immediately.
“Fancy seeing you here,” a familiar voice cooed.
I turned around and saw her, the phoenix shifter. We had only met once at a shifter peace treaty signing but it was hard to forget the sight of a mythical shifter’s face. She had straight auburn hair to her shoulders and dark brown eyes. She was well trained, as I could tell from her stance. She was fit and built, muscles coiling underneath her skin ready to soar like a bird.
“You’re Robyn,” I said.
“I’m glad you remember me,” Robyn answered with a smile.
“Where’s the mayor?” I asked.
Robyn laughed. “What mayor?” Robyn said, “there is no mayor.”
“What?” I asked in confusion.
“Did it never occur to you that a shifter might be born with the ability to shift into other humans?” Robyn said. “My, you are stupid and unimaginative.”
I stood there in awe as she shifted in front of me into my target, an elderly woman with kind eyes and a sharp nose. I had never seen such shifting before; it was weird… and disgusting. It didn’t seem right, especially in this situation.
“You look surprised,” Robyn noted in an elderly voice.
She began to shift back. “I’ve always wanted to show someone,” she admitted.
My mind raced. What was my mission then? Was it to kill her? It must be, but why the secrecy, it would have been better had I been prepared for this.
“I’m sorry but I have to kill you,” I said.
It would be a waste to kill a mythical but if I was told to do it, I had to. Robyn began to laugh full-heartedly, she grasped at her stomach as if she was unable to stop. “That’s funny,” she said, “because they told me to kill you.”
Robyn shifted, much faster than I, and I felt her feathers scorch my skin. A bird of fire filled the room and brought heat to everything around it. When I finally did shift, I broke through the house, flying out of the roof. There was no way this was going to be stealthy at all.
Robyn chased after me but unlike her, I had built my speed in my dragon form so I was able to outfly her. I saw her fiery figure in the distance as I began to fly over the ocean. I needed to retreat and if I went back over land, Robyn would find me, but maybe if I crossed the ocean I would lose her.
I took that chance and began to fly over the large body of water. I might as well check that dragon sighting in London, if I was going to have to make the trip anyway. It was probably only a small storm that a shifter mistook for a dragon’s power. It’s happened before.
Robyn followed me about three miles out before turning around. I needed to take this up with the boss as soon as I returned. I could’ve died if I was trained less properly. I sighed and flied in earnest towards my destination.
London contained a special memory for me. It’s where I met that beautiful blonde, blue-eyed Rachel. I can still remember our night together clearly. She must be a big time model by now with how her career was going. She was definitely on the rise and she had luck on her side. Plus, it seemed like she wasn’t only talented at what she did but she was also smart. I felt my chest grow warm as I thought of her. Imagination was a powerful thing and I imagined so many things with that woman that I have become so attached to the idea of her. The fact that she existed somewhere in the world makes me immensely happy.
***
Arriving in London was harder than usual since day had come and I was buck naked atop a building. Luckily, a man came up to the roof to have a smoke so I was able to wear his suit. It was ill-fitting but it would have to do.
I went down the stairwell of the building and exited out to the busy street. It was day and the sun was out, which I am told is rare for London. I grabbed at my phone that was strapped to my ankle and looked at the screen. The sighting was down this street and to the left… I put my phone away in my pocket.
I walked down the street as nonchalant as I could manage. Some people looked at me funny, most likely because of the terrible suit I had on. It might be worth it to buy some new clothes while I’m here. Once I got to the end of the street, I turned right instead of left so I could go to a clothing store. Luckily, there was a store down the way, it was casual clothing, t-shirts and jeans, but it would have to do for now. I entered and grabbed the first shirt and pants that caught my eye.
“May I try these on?” I asked the clerk.
“Sure thing,” they replied.
I finally changed out of that terrible suit and into a fit black t-shirt and jeans. No underwear but I can’t have everything. I snipped off the tags with my claws and climbed up out of the change room. I snuck around the store and exited from the back room. I wasn’t an assassin for nothing. I had to use my skills for other things like stealing when it came down to it… I walked back the way I came and past the street that I had turned on. I went towards where the coordinates Missy gave me were. It led me to an apartment building.
“Fuck,” I cursed.
There were so many people living there, so how was I to figure out if one of them was a shifter? I sighed and ruffled my hair. Two women exited the building and were chattering excitedly about something. I was surprised so I hid in the bushes out of habit.
“I heard she moved out,” one of the women spoke.
“Well I heard she was having an argument with some man during that weird storm,” the other women said.
“Maybe it was her boyfriend?” the first woman suggested.
“Maybe it was the father of her kid!” the second woman said.
An argument during the storm? That probably meant that either the man or woman was the dragon shifter, after all when our emotions are heightened it’s hard to control the storm powers.
“Excuse me,” I said as I exited the bushes, “what apartment number was this woman’s?” I asked.
They both looked at me, surprised, but after a look up and down my figure, one of them smiled.
“It’s number 403, darling,” the smiling woman answered.
“Helen!” said the other woman.
“Thank you!” I exclaimed as I went into the apartment building.
The building’s insides weren’t much to look at; it was old and a little musty. I took the stairs up to the fourth floor and searched for the number 403. The golden numbers decorated a brown door to my left.
I shifted my hands into claws and began to pick at the lock. It only took a few minutes of fiddling before a satisfying click sounded. I laughed a little to myself, I was still good. I opened the brown door into the apartment and took in my surroundings.
It looked as if someone lived here. All their belongings were still intact and it seemed very lived in… but there was dust on the counters and tables. I closed the door behind me as I walked into the room. The hardwood floor clicked underneath the dress shoes I stole from the man on the roof. There was a coffee table and a couch across from a television. Behind the couch was the kitchen, which overlooked the entire room. There was a hallway, so I walked down it. There were three doors, two bedrooms and a bathroom.
Maybe the man and woman lived together? The women had also mentioned a child… I went into the first bedroom. It was a child’s, a boy’s. Toys were scattered across the floor and there was a small single bed and a crib inside of the room. Wooden letters decorated the wall that spelled out the name Michael.
I exited the room and went into the next bedroom. This one was a woman’s, not a man and a woman’s. The smell was the first thing that greeted me, it was something familiar but I couldn’t place it. There was a twin bed with blue covers that had lace patterns on it. The room had mismatching furniture but was well kept; there were no clothes on the floor or random makeup on the dresser.
I walked inside and opened a random dresser drawer. Inside it was various kinds of underwear, panties, and bras. There was no instance of a man in this woman’s life from the looks of it. Somehow my stomach churned at the smell of the room again, something was worrying me.
I exited the woman’s bedroom and went into the final door. Inside was a bathroom with a tub, a sink, and a toilet. There was dust build up on all three fixtures, which meant that they hadn’t been used in a long time. I had a terrible feeling in my gut, like something or someone important was in trouble. I needed to get to the bottom of this.
A violent knock at the door took me out of my thoughts.
“RACHEL!? GET OUT OF THERE YOU BITCH,” a low voice yelled.
The door clicked open, I had forgotten to lock it.
“Ha ha, stupid whore,” the man said.
Why was he being so rude? What had this Rachel ever done to him? Rachel… Rachel? Was it the Rachel from that night 5 years ago?!
“Hey!” I called as I exited the bathroom. “This Rachel, is she blonde?” I asked.
“Who the fuck are you?” the man said surprised.
“Answer the question!” I threatened as I looked as menacing as I could.
If this man was the dragon shifter then I needed to be prepared for a battle.
“Y-yeah she’s blonde, alright?” he answered.
I pushed the man out of the room, closed the door and locked it. This man wasn’t a shifter, if he was he would’ve shown it by now considering how impulsive he seemed.
“HEY! LET ME IN!” the man yelled.
I had to figure out what my next move was. Rachel was definitely in danger and so was this boy Michael. I wasn’t going to be the only one searching after the cause of the storm, and I was late in the game now. I exited onto the balcony and closed the door behind me. I climbed onto the other side of the railing and began to climb down via other people’s balconies.
I reached the ground finally and I took out my cell phone. I called Missy, I was going to need back up Intel wise.
“Hello?” Missy answered.
“Hey, I found the cause of the storm,” I said, not completely lying.
“Is there a dragon shifter?” Missy asked in excitement.
“That is yet to be seen, but I need a favor from you,” I said.
“What is it?” she asked.
I recalled that there was mail on the coffee table addressed to Rachel Angelo.
“I need to know where all of Rachel Angelo’s friends and family live,” I said.
“Rachel? Is she the shifter?” Missy asked.
“That or her kid, Michael,” I said.
“Michael… Angelo!? Oh my god she’s a genius for naming her kid that,” Missy laughed.
“Don’t laugh! This is serious Missy!” I yelled.
“Sorry, sorry, it’s just such a lucky name,” Missy explained. “I’ll get you what you need, just sit tight for a while.”
“Call me alright?”
“You got it, Shawn,” said Missy.
I hung up the phone and sighed. That feeling in my stomach was only getting stronger, that worry…
I wonder what Rachel has done with her life since we met. She has a kid so she might not be a model anymore… unless he’s adopted. The question was who was the dragon shifter? Had Rachel been a shifter all along and I just hadn’t known? Or was the kid…? There’s no way that it’s my kid right? She said she was on the pill! There’s always a chance for failure though, there’s always a small percentage that she did get pregnant with my seed. If so, then I have a son? I have a son. A son named Michael.
I felt something in my chest bloom, and perhaps it was some sort of pride. It felt warm and nostalgic, like the time I made my mother a flower crown and wanted to show it off to her. It felt like happiness and melancholy. I hadn’t been there for my kid. He had grown up for four years with a single mother and I could have been there for him but I wasn’t.
Thoughts of my romanticized fantasies with Rachel came rushing back, thoughts of getting married, of settling down, of just being together. Perhaps it was something I could do now? Now there was a kid in the picture and I felt an obligation, no, a need to be with them. I needed to teach this child how to control his powers and to use them to his advantage.
He needed to learn before he accidentally hurts the people that surround him. People like his mother, Rachel, who doesn’t yet understand the dangers of a shifter at a young age when they can’t control themselves yet. He could accidentally breathe fire, or touch someone and burn their flesh. Someone needs to be there for that kid before he does something he will regret for the rest of his life. Not to mention he was at the right age to shift for the very first time…
My phone began to ring.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey, it’s Missy, I’ve got a list of addresses for you,” Missy said.
“Thanks, just send it via text,” I said.
“Shawn?” Missy called.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Don’t come back,” Missy said.
“Pardon?”
“They’ll kill you,” Missy explained.
This was most likely because I failed the last mission. They thought I knew too much.
“I got it, thanks,” I said.
I didn’t really care that much since right now, my mind was only on one thing: making sure Rachel and Michael were okay. I hung up the phone.
“Shawn?” a voice called.
I looked towards a stranger.
“Who�
�re you?” I asked.
The stranger was a man in his 20’s. He was balding and wore cargo shorts and a t-shirt. He was immensely tall, towering over me.
“Let’s talk in private,” the balding man said.
“I’d rather not,” I said.
“You don’t really have a choice,” the stranger said.
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” I said.
“Oh, I don’t think so, dragon,” said the man.
I made a break for it. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me away from this man. He followed behind me. I ran down a busy street and did my best not to bump into anyone, failing terribly.
“Sorry, excuse me, sorry!” I called out as I made my way through the crowd.
“Shawn!” the stranger called out, “run all you want, we’ll find you!”
I kept running and paid the bald stranger’s words no heed. I needed to get out of there as fast as I could. I turned around the corner and hid in a bush. I held my breath as the stranger ran past me towards the direction he assumed I had gone. After he turned down a different street, I let my breath go.
I sighed and sat in the bush for a moment while checking my phone. I needed to start checking the addresses Missy sent. I could probably rule out any outside of London for now, since I should finish up here before moving on elsewhere. I scrolled through the London addresses and whistled. There were only three in the vicinity of where I was. I should be checking those first.
I got up and dusted off my jeans. I began to walk towards where the first address should be, according my map. It was in a suburban area with houses and belonged to Rachel’s aunt. I jogged down the street taking in the sights of such wonderfully kept houses.
I imagined what it’d be like to live in one of these with Rachel and Michael as a family. I imagined it’d be exciting to learn her habits; maybe she snores? Maybe she likes to do dishes but not cook. It would be nice to go back to a normal life like I had with my parents before they… well it’s all over now.
I arrived at the first address Missy had sent. It was a nice bungalow with a beautiful garden in the front. I walked up and went around to the back. There, I fiddled with the lock before it clicked open.
