by A. M. Hodges
I run the water all the way on cold and start to undress her as the tub fills. Lucah rounds the corner with a bucket full of ice from the freezer.
"More. Get me more. NOW." He disappears instantly.
"What is happening to her," Miles pleads from the doorway.
"Den Skiftende"
"In English, I wasn't raised in Malatia remember."
"The Changing," I snap, "She is settling into her immortal form. I didn't think it would happen this soon. We still had time I was sure of it."
Lucah arrives and shoves Miles out of the way, carrying six large bags of ice. I snatch one from him and begin dumping it into the tub before Miles and Lucah join in to help. When we finish, I lean back against the sink and rest my head on my knees.
"What do we do?" Miles whispers.
"We keep her cool," Lucah instructs softly, "and we wait."
I spend three days on the floor of that bathroom. Miles and Lucah would come occasionally to make sure that I ate or to force me into the bed to sleep. I would only rest for a few hours before returning to my spot against the sink.
Miles has come up with some story involving a severe migraine caused by a high fever to tell Reyna's friend. He told her that she would be okay and that she just needed some rest. She'd call when she felt better.
On the morning of the fourth day, I hear the water stir. I rush into the bathroom just in time for bright golden eyes to look up at me.
"What happened?" she rasps.
"Here, drink." I softly command holding a bottle of water to her lips.
She takes a few long, slow sips before leaning her head back against the tub.
"Thank you."
I nod and place the cap back on the bottle before setting it on the floor.
"You went through what we call Den Skiftende. It means The Changing. It is what happens when you settle into your immortal body. Only, it happened centuries too early. Lucah and Rune haven't even gone through theirs yet. That is why you were in so much pain. Changes that were supposed to occur slowly over time happened all at once."
"Changes? What changes?" her forehead wrinkles.
"Well for one, notice how you aren't cold right now?" "Should I be?" she asks in confusion.
I nod towards the bathtub full of ice water.
When she finally realizes what she is sitting in her eyes widen in shock.
"You will also notice changes in your senses. Your vision, hearing, and smell are all heightened now. Along with your abilities. Your powers are now at the level that they would be if you had lived for centuries. There are also some differences to your appearances."
At that, she jumps out of the bathtub, dripping all the way to her mirror in her bedroom.
When I walk in, she is standing completely naked staring in disbelief at her reflection. I can see why she is so startled. If I hadn't been watching her features change for days I would have been too. Her once rounded; human ears now came to a delicate point like mine.
Her hair has grown immensely, now falling to her lower back. Where she once had only a few markings, they now covered both of her arms and reached all the way up to her collar bone. The markings have also darkened to the same navy-blue as mine, courtesy of the mating bond.
Every flaw and scar she had had been smoothed out and her face, while still young, has been aged and hardened. The only things I hadn't seen until now, were her eyes. They used to be bright gold but now, it looked like molten liquid gold is moving inside of her irises. I also know that inside, her bones have hardened to near steel. It is part of what makes the Fae immortal. We are not easily broken.
She is exquisite.
Reyna
I can't believe what I’m seeing as I look in the mirror. I can still recognize myself, but every feature has been slightly aged and hardened. I feel my power humming through my veins. Jeb was right, everything is heightened. I can hear Lucah turning pages of a book downstairs.
I hear the children laughing down the street at they play tag and the old couple arguing in the house across the street. I can smell Lucah and Miles as if they were standing right next to me. I can also smell the lavender growing outside Mrs. Prescott's window down the street, and the coffee from the café that I stop by every morning.
Jeb helps me get dressed before leading me downstairs. My strength is extremely enhanced too, considering I accidentally crush the doorknob when I try to open my bedroom door. Guess I'm just not going to touch anything.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, everyone is staring at me.
"So," I let out a sigh, "change of plans. For obvious reasons, graduation isn't going to be happening."
Chapter 25
For the next week, we work out a plan and craft the details of my cover story. Lucah has forged a very legitimate looking letter from a college in California. It explains my early acceptance on the condition that I enroll in a program that starts before graduation. I already know that I have more than enough credits to graduate. This semester is made up of mostly AP classes that I am taking to earn college credits.
Today, I am going into school to hand in the letter and hopefully leaving with my diploma. The challenge that I am facing now, however, is how to mask all my new features and enhancements so that I can go out in public. My eyes are easy, I just have to wear my contacts as usual.
I use makeup to soften my features as much as possible. It isn't exactly how I used to look, but it is close enough. Then, I wrap a bandana around my head like a headband, covering the tips of my newly pointed ears before tying my hair into a bun. There is nothing I can do to hide the elongated canines though. My only solutions are close-lipped smiles and as little talking as possible.
I spent all last night practicing handshaking so that I don't crush my poor principal's hand. Other than that, I am refusing to touch anything except doors, chairs, my letter, and my diploma.
Everything glass is officially off limits for now.
When I arrive, I wait patiently outside the principal's office. His eyes widen slightly as I approach his desk. He can tell that something is different about me. I can see his brain turning and trying to pinpoint the details that have changed. He doesn't comment on it though.
As planned, he accepts my letter and showers me with praises and congratulations before handing me my diploma. I offer him the most genuine smile I can while keeping my lips closed. Standing up, I move to shake his hand lightly before exiting his office.
When I reach the parking lot, I climb into Jeb's rental car and head to do some shopping before returning home.
The guys take the day to plan for our trip while I collect snacks and booze for this evening's festivities. I called Paisley to tell her about the letter. I have never had anyone but Jackson be so excited for me before. Her excited squeals and babbling almost make me wish that it were true. So tonight, we celebrate. We celebrate my life and my supposed accomplishments, but also mourn the death of the girl I was and the world that I love but will never see again.
Now comes the hard part.
I never thought I would have a friend to say good-bye to except Miles. When I found out he was my brother and I wouldn't have to leave him I was relieved. But then Paisley came along. Her friendship was unexpected to say the least, but I will cherish it for the rest of my long, immortal life.
I will have one last night in this world. One last memory to hold on to.
"Okay. I've got music, I've got snacks, and I've got booze. All things needed for a killer going away party," I plaster a big fake smile on my face. It was forced, but I think it's convincing.
Jeb comes up and wraps his arms around me from behind as I look down at the kitchen table covered in various forms of alcohol and food while gnawing on my bottom lip. He's the one who recommended the party as a way for me to say my final goodbye to everything.
"It's okay to be sad, my love. You don't have to put on a show. Not for me," he whispers into my ear while resting his chin on my shoulder. Dammit.
&nbs
p; A sigh is all that I can muster in response.
I break free of his hold and try to find something to busy myself with. I would be packing but Jeb insists that it's futile. He promises that I will have everything that I could possibly need once we get to Malatia and that luggage would only make the trip harder for me. So, I leave tomorrow with nothing but my weapons and my armor.
"Hey y’all," Paisley walks through the front door.
"P! What's up girl!" Lucah pulls her into a bear hug before leading her to the kitchen.
We make small talk and I try to act excited as she grills me about the enrollment program. I break out the booze after the third question. She helps me make dips, jalapeno poppers and wings while the guys hang out in the living room. We are a little passed tipsy by the time we finish cooking.
We do our best, on drunken legs, to bring all the food into the living room without spilling it onto the floor. I am proud to say everything makes it safely with no mishaps. Well. With only one mishap.
Lucah decided to make a comment about our current state. I threw the tray of jalapeno poppers at him. Not that it phased him at all, he just started picking them out of his lap and eating them with a smirk on his face.
A couple hours into the night, the guys are finally on our level and Paisley brings in a small karaoke machine from her car. Her and Lucah sing a duet and so do Jeb and me. Then, the guys decide that they were going to sing "Bye, Bye, Bye" together. They do the dance and everything after Miles shows the music video to
Jeb and Lucah on his phone. Tears are pouring down mine and Paisley's faces by the end of it.
We also play a game of truth or dare which results in each of us running around the backyard naked at least once. Jeb lets out a warning growl as Miles and Lucah try to watch when it’s my turn. That only makes everyone laugh harder.
After everyone is fully clothed and Jeb calms his territorial bullshit, the guys go out back to relax in the fresh air leaving me and Paisley inside. I lounge on my chaise as she curls up in Jackson's chair staring at me serenely.
"I always knew you were different than the rest of us," she smiles and lets her head fall back against the recliner.
"What do you mean?" I scrunch my brows and shift to rest my head on my arm.
"You become a lot less...umm... guarded when you are drinking. You stopped trying to hide your changes hours ago."
It was then that I realized that my hair was now in a bun, putting my ears on display for everyone to see. The night comes through in flashes. Me running naked with my new markings on display. The countless wide smiles and boisterous laughter that no doubt exposed my elongated canines. She knows.
"Why didn't you say something," I quickly sat up in a panic, "and why don't you look freaked out?"
"Because I'm not," she grins, "if anything I feel honored. I'm honored that you trust me enough that you could let your guard down, even if you didn't mean to. Like I said, I've always known you were different. You are extraordinary Rey, and I am blessed to have had the chance to be your friend."
Tears pool in my eyes.
"Now, I'm guessing that the early acceptance is some wonky story you've concocted to cover for where you are really going. I accept that, just as I accept that you can't really tell me everything.
Just know that you will always have people who love you here too. And call or write as much as you want. I will always be here for you."
I launch myself across the room and climb into her lap to give her a crushing hug, both of us laughing hysterically when the recliner almost flips over. We hear someone whistle at us.
"Oh man! Do I sense a love triangle starting?" Lucah props himself up against the wall in the entryway with a devilish smirk.
We both shoot him a glare and our middle fingers before Miles and Jeb join us.
“Krasivaya, is there something I should know?” Jeb picks up Lucah’s teasing, “I’m always open to trying new things,” he winks at me.
I try to climb off the recliner too fast, resulting in in flipping and dumping Paisley on top of me in the floor. More cheers and whistles sound around the room.
“Oh, fuck off! All of you!” Paisley picks up a pillow from the floor and throws is at them, laughing.
By the early hours of the next morning, we are all too drunk to do anything but slouch in our seats or sprawl out on the floor and tell stupid stories. I start to doze, and Jeb pats my leg to signal that it is time to go upstairs to bed. As we head up to bed, I linger at the bottom of the stairs to watch my friends. I just want to commit this night, these simple moments, to memory.
It won't be like this after tonight. When we leave tomorrow, we travel towards war. There won't be much laughter and bliss, only loss, bloodshed, and mourning.
We all say our goodbyes before bed. As far as Paisley knows, even if she doesn't believe it, the guys are accompanying me to school and then going back to Europe to their make-believe family. Miles is, of course, invited to join Jeb and Lucah.
Jeb leads me up the stairs as I take one last look at my friends.
When we wake the next morning, Paisley is already gone, and the house has been cleaned. We have our last breakfast at the kitchen table together in silence, savoring the final moments of peace. Miles does the dishes while I go upstairs to shower and change. After undressing, I take out my contacts and then drop them into the toilet, flushing them away forever. I won’t be needing them anymore.
When I get out of the shower, I walk around my room wrapped in my towel, soaking in every little detail and committing it to memory. I unplug every electronic in the room and make my bed. I put my dirty clothes in the hamper and arrange everything throughout the room neatly, as if I will be coming back after a long vacation.
I don't want to acknowledge that I will never be coming back. I can't.
Jeb caters to my fantasy. He paid off the house so that I wouldn't have to sell it. He didn't try to make me pack away a single thing. I think he understands that I need this. I need the reminder that I still have a home here. The illusion that I will return some day. The evidence that this was my life and that it was real.
It's easier this way.
Finally, I slip into my new armor and boots before strapping my daggers to my thighs. It is a lot lighter than I thought it would be. Looking at it on Jeb, I assumed it would be heavy, tight, and uncomfortable. Instead, it feels like a second skin. Almost like I'm wearing nothing at all.
The black scales hug every curve and cover everything but my hands, feet, and the top half of my neck. I pull my wet hair into twin French braids before securing my locket around my neck. It lays hidden beneath my armor and close to my heart. Then I retrieve a photo from my dresser of Jackson and me posing outside of the house when I was about ten years old and fold it neatly before slipping it beneath my bra strap and zipping up the armor.
I grab my last piece of home, my final memory, and pull it over my head. The bullets rest just below my breasts. This necklace I leave out for everyone to see.
I saunter down the stairs to find Miles, Jeb, and Lucah waiting by the door, all dressed in Malatian armor. Jeb makes eye contact with me first and nods his head at me.
"We'll be outside when you're ready," he turns and follows
Miles and Lucah out the front door.
I meander around the house for a while, unplugging electronics and turning out lights as I go. I make sure all the blinds and curtains are closed. I check the back door and all the windows, ensuring that they are locked. I even make sure every water source in the house is turned off.
I sit on my chaise, one last time, staring at Jackson's recliner.
"I miss you, Old Man. We will meet again one day. I promise," I choke out before getting up and walking to the front door.
Standing there holding onto the doorknob, I try to regain my composure and dry my eyes. When I start to feel like my world isn't crumbling again, I turn the knob and exit my home.
Pulling it shut behind me, I turn and lock the front
door for the last time.
∞∞∞
We drive nonstop for three days, Jeb and Lucah taking turns behind the wheel. I run out of car games to play after the first day. Not that anyone was playing with me, considering Jeb despises my car games. I spend the last two days in and out of sleep or reading eBooks on my phone.
At some point Lucah had procured passports for all of us because on the third night, we cross over the Canadian border.
"Are we there yet? I hate this stupid car. Can we please get a hotel?" I whine from the backseat.
"Just a few more hours Rey. Then I bet you'll be loving this car and wish you could stay in it forever," Lucah mumbles flippantly.
I roll my eyes and go back to reading.
Four hours later, we pull into a motel.
"We'll stay here for the night and continue in the morning. You guys go and check in. I have to go turn in the car," Jeb calls over his shoulder from the driver's seat.
"Wha- turn in the car? Why?"
Lucah cuts his eyes at me and gets out to help Miles with the bags. I take that as a "don't question him" signal and walk to the lobby to collect our room keys.
Chapter 26
We've been walking for four days. I'm cranky, I'm hungry, and I smell. Being Fae does not in any way affect the amount that I sweat or smell. Oh, damn I miss bubble baths.
