“I saw June’s memory of it.”
Anna leaned forward, not sure if she had heard properly. “What?”
“June was so upset by what happened that she showed me.”
“How can you see someone’s memory?”
“With a mind-touch.”
Anna sat perfectly still. “Can you show me?”
“I can try.”
“Now?” No one was left in their part of the café, although she could hear people in the back room.
“If you don’t mind holding my hands.”
Anna put her hands out. “What do I do?”
“Close your eyes and let your mind go blank. It might be more like emotions than images.” Lysa’s hands hovered over Anna’s. “Shapeshifters feel things, they don’t really see them.”
Anna nodded and Lysa took her hands. At first nothing happened. She heard the clanking of dishes from the other room and felt the warmth of the sun on her face as the mountain rushed below. She was about to fly into the air and melt into the mountain all at once. “Whoa.” Anna pulled back, surprised by the feeling of power and speed. “What was that?”
“June’s memory. They were racing up the mountain. They go pretty fast. I should have warned you.” Lysa looked apologetic. “Do you want to try again?”
Anna held out her hands and braced herself for the rush. The feeling came back, but this time she also felt June’s thrill of racing, her happiness to be able to let go and be free. Pemba pulled in front in a blur of orange. He was there and not there at the same time. The vision changed. It became multiple, like a kaleidoscope, and she was tumbling over Pemba, victorious. Pemba shimmered as thousands of coral-colored sparks flashed around him. Anna felt June’s panic. The vision shifted again and Anna saw Pemba twisting in agony. June tried to help, but he wouldn’t let her. Anna felt June’s anger and then her confusion as Pemba went limp, the pain gone. Suddenly, she saw herself and felt June’s surprise and then anguish as she felt her own pain projected back at her through June’s memory.
“Are you okay?” asked Lysa nervously, pulling Anna out of the memory.
“No. Maybe. I don’t know.” The images were still flashing around her mind, the rush of the mountain, the speed, the need to win, the feeling of helplessness as Pemba went wild. “Did you ask June if you could show me?” asked Anna, feeling a pang of guilt.
“Yes. She thought it would be better if you saw it.”
Anna nodded. She felt even more confused than she had before.
“Most people can’t accept others who are different from themselves,” continued Lysa. “And so those who are, hide it.” Lysa paused. “From what I understand, Pemba tried to show his true nature to humans before. And it went badly. Some of them became violent.”
Anna felt sick. Had he killed them?
Lysa put a hand on Anna’s arm. “I think he cared too much about you to take that risk. That’s all.”
Chapter 21
Intrigues
ANNA STOOD ALONE IN THE MIDDLE of the court after practice, tossing a ball up and down.
“What are you doing?” Ulf asked, walking towards her. His hair was uncharacteristically slicked back. “Why hasn’t anyone picked up the balls?”
“They did.” Anna made a face at his overpowering aftershave.
Ulf stopped picking up the balls. “Are you trying to get me angry? Because it’s working.”
“No. I was just waiting for you.”
Ulf walked around Anna, like a wolf sizing up its prey. “Well, here I am.”
Anna waited for Ulf to finish his idiotic preening. “I wanted to warn you about Kariaksuq. She’s not who she seems to be.”
“Who?” said Ulf. “Don’t know her. Maybe you should introduce me.”
Anna threw the ball at Ulf’s chest. “The girl I saw you with the other day. In the weight room.”
“Oh, Kari. Don’t worry. I haven’t met a girl yet who could tame me. But I’m touched you care.” He reached out to caress Anna’s cheek.
“Don’t even think about it,” she said, slapping it away
Ulf caught her by the wrist and twisted her arm behind her, pulling her firmly against his chest. Anna struggled, but Ulf was stronger than she was. “Let go,” she hissed.
“So much wasted passion,” said Ulf, transferring both of her wrists to one hand so that his other hand was free to wander firmly down her buttocks. “It’s such a shame that Kari is waiting for me or I’d show you a better way of using it than trying to hit me.” Anna twisted furiously, but Ulf’s grip just tightened. “Consider yourself lucky this time,” said Ulf in her ear. “But don’t ever do that again.”
Panic exploded inside Anna. She felt a ripple of energy come up from deep within. She yanked one of her hands free and pushed the heel of her palm into his chest. It didn’t knock him over but it surprised him enough for her to get free.
Ulf snickered and came closer. “You like it rough, don’t you, little tiger? If that’s what you want, I’m sure I can oblige.” Ulf dangled the storage room key in front of her. “You can put the balls away, since you’re the one who wanted this.” He dropped the key on the ground and walked away. She picked up the balls with trembling hands. Maybe she was getting herself into more trouble than it was worth.
* * *
Saturday afternoon Anna sat on her bed, looking at the drawing Pemba had given her. She traced the dragon with a finger. “Is it you?” The doorbell rang and she jumped. She glanced at the clock. Two o’clock. Red was right on time.
“Ready?” he asked, gently punching her in the shoulder when she opened the door.
“Maybe,” Anna answered, surprised to see Ea too. “I didn’t realize you were both coming.” Although she should have. They were always together. But she didn’t want to learn to fight in front of Ea.
“She’s a better teacher than I am,” said Red, catching her look.
“You know how to fight?” Anna asked Ea as they took off their coats and boots in the entryway. “In a dress?” Ea always wore dresses, even in a snowstorm. She’d just put a pair of snow pants on underneath it.
“It’s easier to kick someone in the head with a dress than with jeans,” said Ea as if it should have been obvious.
Anna glanced back at Ea as she led them through the kitchen and to the living room. She had never thought about kicking anyone in the head. And she was surprised that Ea, with her perfectly styled hair and light brown eyes that reminded Anna of a doe, had. Ea was the kind of girl who always wore makeup and had a year-round tan.
“Looks can be deceptive,” said Red in Anna’s ear. He grinned at Ea. “She’s always been a better hand-to-hand fighter than me.”
“That’s not true,” Ea answered. “You’ve won. Once.”
“That’s only because you wanted me to,” said Red, wrapping his arms around Ea’s slender waist. “And I’m glad you did.”
Anna sat down on the couch with a thump. “You guys aren’t any better at teaching me to fight than you are at teaching me to salsa.”
Red burst out laughing and released Ea. “Okay,” he said, pulling Anna to her feet. “Let’s fight. Come on, hit me with all you’ve got.”
Anna smelled a familiar scent of autumn leaves and leaned closer to Red, inhaling deeply. Anna felt Ea looking at her and pulled away from her cousin. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
“Can you smell him?” asked Ea. An eerie quietness settled around them that made Anna wish she hadn’t.
“Uh, well, a little. But he smells normal. I mean, he’s fine.”
Red looked at her curiously. “What do you smell?”
“Leaves. Wet autumn leaves. Uh, do you guys want something to drink?”
“And me? Can you smell me?” Ea stood in front of Anna and arched her neck.
Anna backed up. “Look I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. I’ll go make some coffee.”
Red caught her by the arm. “Stop worrying. Just tell us if you can smell her.”
Anna felt trapp
ed. “Okay.” She closed her eyes and leaned towards Ea. “You smell like…” Anna pulled away. “What does it matter?”
“I need to know,” said Ea, her voice nearly a growl.
“Leave it,” said Red to Ea, releasing Anna. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does. We need to know if it’s her or if…” Ea’s voice trailed off as she and Red faced each other. The room suddenly felt small. Anna backed out towards the kitchen. Things were getting way out of proportion.
“No.” Red’s attention snapped back to Anna and she froze. “Tell us what you smell.”
Anna felt her skin begin to tingle, like a warning of danger. “She smells like burnt rubber,” she said quickly. “Alright? Can we change the subject now?”
Red burst out laughing.
“Knock it off.” Ea punched Red so hard in the chest that Anna staggered in pain for him.
“Okay, okay,” said Red, holding up a hand. “I just never thought of it like that.”
“It’s not funny. If she can smell us, maybe others can too.”
“You’re right,” said Red, becoming suddenly serious. “Have you smelled either one of us before?”
“I don’t think so. Maybe you, Red. Because it smells familiar.” Anna looked from one to the other. “Can you tell me why that bothers you so much? Or is that another secret?”
“It’s part of the same secret.”
Anna felt a flicker of fear. Would they call Liv and get her to erase her memory?
“I think we should spar. Not talk.” Ea’s voice was as crisp as her fist.
“I’ll go make coffee,” said Anna, slipping into the kitchen. She stood by the coffee maker, listening to the reassuring sound of it percolating. But there was no sound coming from the living room. Curious, Anna peered out of the kitchen. They were arguing. Silently.
Ea turned, catching Anna watching them. “I have to go now,” said Ea, striding towards the kitchen. “Red can take you through the basics.” Anna scuttled out of Ea’s way.
“Ea wants to go shopping,” said Red.
“What? Oh, right. I forgot. I love to go shopping,” said Ea, giving Red a chilling smile. “With Liv.” She spun on her heel and twirled out of the kitchen. The air sparkled in her wake, and tension floated in the air like hundreds of charged particles.
The front door slammed downstairs. “Ready?” asked Red. He reached out and tapped Anna on the side of the head. “Block,” he said. He reached out with the other hand. Anna blocked, but he pushed past her hand. “You have to mean it.” He tapped her again. She swatted his arm away as hard as she could, venting her pent up anger.
“Better, except you have to keep your center of gravity lower down.” He swept her off her feet. “You’re too easy to knock over.”
“Hey,” she said, getting up. “That’s not fair.” And it hurt.
“Who said it had to be fair? How do you throw a ball when you need to score?”
“What?” Anna dropped her arms and Red pushed her in the shoulder.
“Never drop your guard. Always be ready.”
Anna bit back a sarcastic comment. This wasn’t how she had imagined learning to fight would be. And she wasn’t sure she wanted him to teach her anymore. Not after the scene with Ea.
“Think about the way you concentrate when you play handball. Fighting needs the same concentration. It’s just a dance between two people instead of two teams. Try again. Just block for now. There, like that. No, not too fast – just respond to my movement. Better.”
Anna searched for the same feeling of mental clarity as when she was in the mad rush of a game and pressure was on to score. To find that opening, to see where to attack. Red moved slowly, giving her time to block. She started to feel the dance. The give and take, the attack that needed a response. Red moved faster and at first she followed. But then she began blocking after the blow and he was touching her every time.
“You’re too stiff. Stop thinking and feel it.”
Anna dropped her arms and backed out of Red’s reach. “I was.”
“No, you weren’t.” He backed her up to the wall. “Hit me.”
“No.” She tried to turn away, but there was no where to go.
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Red exploded in laughter and Anna reached out to slap him, but he caught her wrist and twisted it painfully. “Ouch,” she said. A rush of anger accompanied by sparks of tingling energy welled up inside her.
“Slapping won’t do anything.” Red dropped her hand. “Try punching me. No, hit with your first two knuckles. Harder. Here,” he said, taking the pillow from the window nook. “Hit this instead.”
She focused on the pillow and punched. She wanted him to feel it through the pillow. But he didn’t react. So she tried again. And again.
“Keep going,” he said whenever she slowed down. “Better, but use the floor.”
“What?” she said dropping her arms and earning herself another tap on her cheek. “Would you stop that?” It was driving her crazy. But Red only laughed, annoying her even more.
“Keep your guard up,” he said. “And put your weight behind it. Imagine the punch starting from the floor, twisting up through your hip and out your arm. Punch through to my back, not just the pillow.”
Anna glowered at him. She had been trying to punch him through the pillow.
“You’ll get it,” he said, misunderstanding her reaction. “Keep trying.”
She clenched her fist and slammed into him. This time the pillow flattened.
“Ah, finally.” He dropped the pillow. “Now hit me.”
“No.”
“Why not? You can’t hurt me.”
Anger finally flared out of control and Anna threw a punch at her cousin, wanting to blast him out of the kitchen and wipe the knowing smile off his face. But the punch never connected. One moment he was there, and the next he wasn’t. Her anger died as quickly as it had come. “Red?” Her skin prickled as the minute sparks of energy disappeared, leaving her feeling cold. And alone. “Red?”
“Behind you,” he said in her ear, making her jump halfway across the kitchen.
“Don’t ever do that again,” she said, spinning around with her hand on her chest.
“Pemba’s shield was about to blast me.”
Anna gripped the back of a chair. “How do you know about the shield?”
“What do you think happened the other night? That I fell into your shelves?”
“But it doesn’t do it every time.” It hadn’t worked on Ulf.
“It only works if the person has… the same kind of energy that I do.”
“Oh,” Anna said, examining Red more closely. Was he a shapeshifter too?
“I can’t teach you to fight, Anna. You get too angry.”
“I can control it.”
“No. Ea was right. It’s too much of a risk.”
“Can’t you change the shield so that it doesn’t react to you?”
Red turned away. “If I did, he’d know I existed. And I can’t take that risk. As it is, every time the shield is activated and I’m here—”
“What?” asked Anna, a sinking feeling in her gut.
“There’s a risk that Pemba will show up and realize that I’m one of the ones he’s looking for.” Red faced her, his face dead serious. “And then I’d have to kill him.”
* * *
Rakan crossed his arms over his oiled chest. Yarlung had placed him as a guard to her inner lair carved out of the rock beneath her lake. An honor he would rather have done without. Just like the oil that male dragons wore for formal occasions. He fingered the metal armbands that allowed him to mind-speak with Yuli, his mother’s third in command. He had begun to fill out in the past few weeks and it felt good. Even if he wasn’t as bulky as an Old Dragon, he was no longer as slender as a puppy.
The gentle hum of elegantly coifed females and seductively oiled males didn’t hide the tension that gnawed under the surface.
Rakan blocked it out. He didn’t need to know what they were saying. Other dragons were taking care of that. All he needed to do was make sure that no weapons were brought into his mother’s inner chamber. He had nearly shifted out of his mother’s lair twice when he felt Anna’s shield begin to react. But it had quieted down since.
Yuli, dressed in a simple lime-green sheath that matched her eyes, led Kairök Yttresken from one of the niches that surrounded the domed area. She motioned for Yttresken to stay a few feet behind and approached Rakan. “I see the Arctic agrees with you, Rakan’dzor.”
Rakan bowed slightly, not sure what she meant. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” She ran her eyes over his chest. “We should fly together.” Yuli turned slightly to the side, undulating just enough to be suggestive.
“I’ve always enjoyed flying with you,” he answered slowly, confused by her behavior.
“My dear Rakan, when will you unleash the fire of your name?” A smile played on her lips. “Yarlung would like you to distract Yttresken while she prepares for their meeting.” Her mental voice filled him with warmth, stirring a response that her flirting hadn’t.
Rakan nodded curtly and broke the contact. “May her will be done,” he said formally.
Yuli’s lime green eyes danced with flecks of gold. “May your will be done,” she whispered. She turned and motioned for Yttresken to come forward.
“Greetings, Rakan,” said Yttresken.
“Yttresken,” Rakan responded with the minimum of nods, returning the insult of familiarity in a formal setting.
“I see you’ve been brought back in order,” said the Kairök, his beady pink eyes flicking to Rakan’s thick metal armbands. “Although perhaps not far enough.” Yttresken’s voice oozed insult, but Rakan ignored it.
The bands were pre-molded to turn into daggers if needed. “My mother will see you shortly.” He would be Yarlung’s guard, but he wouldn’t play her political games.
“Good,” said Yttresken. He moved closer and spoke in a confidential tone. “I know that this… new… situation with T’eng Sten must be very trying for you.”
Rakan’s nostrils flared. Yttresken’s cloying floral scent repulsed Rakan as much as the Kairök himself, but Rakan forced himself not to react. The Kairök couldn’t possibly know about his agreement with T’eng Sten.
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