by Tee Ayer
Greer’s panther was still in half form, her face a subtle blend of human and feline. She actually looked quite beautiful and I had to wonder if perhaps Pariah was simply a different form of being a walker.
That maybe some of us were not meant to shift all that way and that maybe if you could complete full change it didn’t mean you were any less of a walker. Maybe we put too much pressure on our people to fully shift and we forget that not all of us were built the same, nor meant to be the same.
I stood stiffly as Greer continued to writhe wildly on the altar and my vision shifted as I imagined her conscious and rabid and fighting off our family as they tried to help her.
What a silly thing to think? I shook the thought away and admonished myself for having such strange imagination. Taking a step closer, I laid a hand on Greer’s shoulder, hoping that somehow a sisterly touch would help calm her down.
But it didn’t help.
She continued with her inexplicably wild struggle until the priestess hurried inside and placed a hand on Greer’s forehead. “She seems to be caught somewhere, mind and body. I’d suggest for your peace of mind that you call a DeathTalker over just in case.”
I let out choked cry. “Is she dying?” Beneath my palm, my sister’s skin was still warm, and I could feel the blood pulsing through her, hear the rapid beating of her heart.
“No dear. DeathTalkers also communicate with the living who are trapped within their own minds. Greer is trapped and we can’t know if she’s deliberately refusing to come back or if she’s lost somewhere without a way out. A DeathTalker will be able to help guide her through. Or even a MindMelder. Either mage will have the ability to calm her enough for her to find her own way out, or to pluck her out if need be.”
I fell silent as Dad took a step away, his phone to his ear.
Watching Greer struggle within her shift was so far the most awful thing I’d ever seen. My sister had never been friend or confidante to me but never would I have wished such torture on her. I felt helpless and angry, needing for this craziness to stop.
I gripped her shoulder tighter, the action involuntary, probably my desperation to help her mixed with my frustration knowing I couldn’t.
And by some miracle Greer stilled, her body falling to the table like a stuffed doll. She was still breathing but thank Ailuros the seizures had stopped.
The priestess let out a relieved sigh then rushed to her table where she spent a few moments selecting and mixing another vial of liquid, this time a coral pink sludge. She returned quickly and Grams moved aside to give the priestess access to Greer. She dripped the concoction into Greer’s mouth and I sent up a million prayers to the sound of Niko snorting in the background.
Dad stiffened and so did Grams although the priestess appeared to have not noticed my uncle’s rudeness. She close Greer’s mouth and made the sign of Ailuros on her forehead using the leftover drops of the coral liquid. The marking glimmered in the torchlight, and for some strange reason the shimmers and the pale shade seemed to offer me some calm.
The priestess smile at me then returned to her table for a few moments before leaving after patting Grams on the shoulder, a silent support that Grams looked very grateful for.
“What is your problem,” Dad asked Niko when the priestess finally left.
He waved a hand at the doorway. “You really think those potions of hers work? All she’s doing is prolonging the inevitable. If any of her mumbo jumbo actually works. She’s just bluffing you all in the hopes of keeping everyone calm until something actually changes with Greer’s condition. How many of these nitwits really know what the Hel they are doing in the first place, I won’t hazard a guess.”
“Niko!” Grams admonished in a loud whisper. Her eyes shone with anger though I could see she was also frustrated because she couldn’t do much else other than scold.
Niko was a grown man. Which was something that gave me pause. If Greer did go off the rails and run to him, what would happen to my sister? I couldn’t be sure he’d truly take care of her.
Before he could respond, Greer began to cough.
10
Denial & Tantrums
The hacking sound quickly changed to choking and Dad and Grams rushed to help sit her upright. She coughed again and wiped her hair away from her face as she stared around at the gathered members of our family.
“What—?” Her voice held a low rumble to it and she stopped speaking as her fingers slowed to stroke her fur-covered skin. Her feline eyes widened. “What’s going on?” she asked, fear filling her eyes. Her voice was still guttural, the sounds coming from a half-formed panther throat making her hoarse and almost baritone.
Panic was now filling her eyes and she got to her knees on the altar, head snapping left to right to scan the cave. She’d been conscious when they’d brought her here, but most people barely recalled how they got to the cave. Most of us had awakened from the shift, partly aware of what was happening as we saw everything from fully transformed panther eyes.
The second part—the whole shifting back to human form while the gathered elders got a nice eyeful of ass and boobs—was the next most memorable portion of the Sacrament.
“Don’t you remember being brought here?” asked Grams softly as she stroked Greer’s hair away from her face.
Greer shook her head, then pulled away from Grams’ touch. “What happened?” she asked louder now and her growl filled the cave, startling us all.
Niko snickered. “At least she has something.” I wanted to go over and stamp his foot as hard as I could. Maybe I still could do it, but then Greer let out a soft cry.
“What’s happening to me? Why am I like this?”
If it had been me answering I may have said that she should already know, that she’d had three sacraments already in which she hadn’t managed a full shift, that we’d all learned what a Pariah was and she should suck it up and move on and stop being a drama queen.
But it wasn’t me speaking, and maybe I wouldn’t have said those things to her even if I had been confident enough.
Instead, I listened to Dad say, “Greer, listen to me. The Sacrament didn’t conclude with a full Change.”
“What do you mean it didn’t conclude?’ She stared up at him her feline eyes large and wide and glistening with tears. She knew but she just wanted him to say it to her.
“Honey, you didn’t reach full shift. And from the looks of it, you probably won’t even if you have another sacrament.”
Greer let out a choked sob and then ran her hands over her face again. “You mean I can’t Change? But that would mean…. No it can’t be.” Her hands stopped moving as her fingers skimmed over her ears. Then she shook her head. “What’s happening? Why am I like this?”
Here we go again.
Grams bent to Greer and said, “You’re in partial transformation. You’ll revert to your human form once your adrenalin drops and you are calm enough for your panther to relinquish her hold on you. I’m sorry, dear. I know this is hard for you, but you must remain calm until the shift reverts.”
She shoved Grams away and glared at her. “I must remain calm? Do you have any idea what this feels like? How I must look?”
Anger filled me and I wished I’d had a compact on me so I could shove it in her face so she could see how stunning she was—even in half shift. Even when people around her were showering her with kindness and love she still threw it back in their faces. All she was concerned with was her damn looks.
Ailuros give me strength.
Just then Uncle Niko walked to the altar. “You’re going to be fine, Greer.”
Her eyes snapped to his face, a look of disgust flickering across her face. “What is he doing here?’
Grams sighed. “He came to support you, Greer. That’s what we’re all here to do.”
“Support me for what?” She thrust a hand out in Niko’s direction. “What’s he doing here? Aren’t Pariah not allowed to attend a Sacrament?”
Niko laughed. �
��No Greer, they aren’t. The only time they are allowed is to help a new Pariah through their transition.”
She let out a cold laugh. “Then what are you doing here?’ She shook her head at him, scoffing at his presence as though he were an underling, or something caught under her shoe. I almost felt sorry for Uncle Niko but he appeared to be enjoying the whole conversation.
Niko smiled. “I’m here for you.”
Greer let out a high-pitched shriek which sounded odd coming from the mouth of such a beautiful panther. Her feline was a solid black which contrasted so much with her pale hair. Her eyes though, were the same shimmering green, and filled with cold fire.
She glared at Dad. “What does he mean? What’s going on?”
She stared around at us, her eyes pausing on my face for a second longer, a frown creasing her brow. “What are you looking at, brat? Maybe you need to leave and let the adults talk.”
Dad cleared his throat. “Greer, I won’t tolerate that kind of behavior. Speak to your siblings with respect. It’s not much to ask.” He paused and then sighed. “Niko is here to help you through this if you need it. He’ll leave for now but you can speak to him if you ever feel you need his perspective on things.”
“His perspective? What does his perspective have to do with me? He’s a Par—”
I’d wondered how long she’d remain deliberately obtuse and honestly I was relieved when she finally got it. This whole exercise was wearing me thin and I couldn’t imagine what Dad and Grams were going through. For the first time, I was glad Mom wasn’t around to see this debacle fold out before her eyes.
Greer let out a low growl. “Get out!” she screamed at the top of her voice, making me flinch. She was on her knees now, staring around at her family who were all looking at her in shock, except for Niko who was taking it all as one big joke. “Get the hell out, all of you!”
“Greer, there is no need to be disrespectful. We’re all here for you.”
“I don’t need support,” she shrieked, shoving off the altar and spinning on her bare feet, her hand outstretched, one finger pointed at the entrance to the cave. “Leave me alone. All of you.”
When nobody moved, she screamed again, a growl edging her words and slithering around the room. I felt the temperature in the room drop but I knew the cause. Dad, Ian and Grams were all furious.
And so was I.
But none of us were going to fight Greer on her decision. If she wanted to throw us, out so be it.
Dad took a step in the direction of the door then paused to meet Greer’s eyes. “I know this is hard for you but you need to remember that we are all here for you. We care about you. You need to be careful the way you treat those who will readily give their lives for you.”
She laughed coldly. “I asked you all to leave. I’m not some sort of circus mutant for you all to stand around and stare at.”
Dad shook his head. “We’re going home. Call when you are ready and someone will come to fetch you.”
She snorted. “I’ll walk, thanks.”
I found it significant that she didn’t say that she would not be coming home. She’d pushed it as far as she knew was forgivable. And Greer knew full well which side her bread was buttered.
Her display of anger and disrespect was one thing, something she could beg for forgiveness later and simply claim loss of control through grief or shock. But a statement that she won’t be coming home would have crossed the line.
We left her there, all walking out into the cool moonlight. I waited as the stone door of the cave system grunted closed. Uncle Niko strode ahead then called over his shoulder, “I’m going home. If Greer needs me, tell her to call.” Without another word, he disappeared into the trees leaving us standing within the pool of light cast down by the entrance motion-sensor lights.
Grams was looking at the trees where her son had disappeared. “I really wish he’d taken his own words to heart and done something good with his affliction.”
Grams’ words made me blurt out my question. “What if it’s not an affliction?”
Both Dad and Grams turned to me. “What do you mean, dear?” asked Grams.
I shrugged one shoulder and stared beyond them at the cave door. “What if Pariah is just a natural alternative form of a walker. There’s the human form which we all have, and we have the feline form which most of us have and then we have those who can only go part way who are the Pariah. Who is to say that being Pariah is essentially wrong? Who is coming up with the rules?”
Dad chuckled and patted my shoulder. “That’s a very astute question. From a biological standpoint, Pariah is not a natural state of being for a walker. And believe me, I’m not at all happy to find fault with your theory. I’ve studied the gene structure and compare Pariah to non-Pariah walkers and sadly their gene sequences show full malformation.”
I blinked. “You guys have research on Pariah?”
He nodded. “The last thing we would ever want is for anyone to suffer unnecessarily.”
I shook my head. “I still think it would be easier for everyone if we just accept Pariah as normal and then they won’t feel ostracized as if they are broken or outsiders or less than those walkers who can shift fully.”
Dad’s expression was one I’d never seen before. Something between pride and tongue-tied.
11
Doppelganger
When I ended the call with the stab of my finger, I paused for a long moment, the silence echoing back at me as though just as unsure of what had happened as I was.
True to her word, Grams had left the local newspaper on the coffee table, and after a hot shower, cup of tea and plateful of choc-almond cookies, I'd spent an hour scanning the Want Ads for anything that would suit, drawing impatient rings around possible options.
I'd been a little worried as I circled more waitressing and barista jobs than anything else. I’d have been happy with admin, data entry, even dog-walking, all of which would have been easier than waiting tables in an overcrowded human eatery. Having never worked a real job before, the prospect was a little daunting, especially when I would have to be mingling with humans while doing said job. It was a recipe for disaster.
I’d been about to toss the newspaper out the window when I spotted the ad.
Teen Services Liaison
Sandhurst Center for Rehabilitation
Training & Certification Provided
No experience necessary.
Must have references. College students will be considered.
I'd circled it five times with the red pen Grams had conveniently left lying beside the newspaper. The woman was nothing if not persistent.
Teen Services Liaison; basically a junior counselor. The role seemed too good to be true, and when the woman on the other end of the line asked me to come in for an interview this afternoon…well, let's just say I was glad I was sitting down.
Maybe it was kismet, fate, luck, or whatever, but the job was perfect. I'd toyed with idea of becoming a therapist, one with a specialization in supernatural minds and paranormal powers. And here was my chance, handed to me on a figurative silver platter.
I took a breath and picked up the paper again, feeling as though I needed to reassure myself that I hadn't just imagine the whole conversation. Clancy McBride. She’d sounded nice enough. I just hoped she’d be the same kind of nice when we met considering I’d be reporting directly to her.
Then I shook my head. I had an interview lined up for a role I knew I would love. I really shouldn't be looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Before leaving, Grams had also left me a grocery list with a few dollar bills tucked inside an envelope. I snorted. So this was what she meant by chores.
But I didn't mind it at all.
I strode along the sidewalk then hurried across the busy street, my stomach in a knot of nerves. Why I was nervous I had no idea. Or maybe it was because I wanted this role too much? I shook my head, forcing myself to stop thinking about it in case I jinxed it.
The entrance to the Rehab Centre was up a short flight of stairs, an old building remodeled to suit a more modern population. As I stared up at the tarnished bronze lettering that spelled out Sandhurst Rehabilitation Center, I considered for a moment if I'd have been better off working for a supernatural employer. A way to give back to my own community perhaps?
I knew all too well how important it was that paranormals worked as a community in order to combat the effects of the Conflagration. Even in this part of the city, the lights flickered every so often and here and there an entire block would be left without power for no particular reason.
A decade ago, something terrible happened within the DarkWorld Universe. Even today few people could explain how or why it happened, but the short version of it was something had caused the Veil to rip apart and spill dark magic out into the EarthWorld.
The strangest and most puzzling part of the entire disaster was that it had only damaged the Veil to this particular plane. As far as we all knew, none of the other planes had been impacted in any way.
Whatever the cause, the resulting devastation had had a far-reaching effect, rendering acres of land devastated, entire cities and towns in ruin, devoid of the ability to grow crops or use technology. Hundreds of crop-farmers and vineyards went out of business where the land had turned barren, blackened, poisoned by dark magic, and with little hope of ever returning to normal.
The magic also interfered with technology and mobile phones, televisions, satellites all suffered from frequent unexplained outages. We lived in a world where tech existed, but where very few bothered with it, not for the cost, but because of the unreliability.
Had it not been for the Great Ash Trees, who knew how many people would have lost all hope. I straightened as I entered the building, pushing aside the morbid thoughts of lost hope and focusing on a chance at a new beginning.
I knocked on the door to what appeared to be a classroom without desks where all the chairs had been arranged in a circle. A sturdy wooden desk sat at the far end behind which an enormous blackboard covered the wall.
