Shift - 02

by M. R. Merrick

  I grabbed a napkin and wiped the spit and soda that now dripped from my face. “It’s a soda,” I said through gritted teeth.

  “How can you enjoy drinking this?” He pushed the glass away and Rayna laughed.

  “Yeah, this is hilarious,” I said.

  Tiki looked between a giggling Rayna and me, but he didn’t seem the least bit phased by anything that had just happened.

  “It’s strange here. At home, I was nothing. I didn’t belong among the purebloods, and I had nowhere to go. I’ve rarely met any others like me, but here, I am an equal. And these women…they are everywhere, and they won’t stop touching me.” Tiki was practically glowing, his caramel skin flashing under the club lights.

  “Hey, you didn’t think you could hide from us, did you?” The two girls who had claimed him were back, licking the tips of their fangs.

  I shuddered at the imagery, and if it was possible, I think Tiki’s smile grew wider. Rayna rolled her eyes as more girls started to crowd around, all of them trying to touch him.

  “It looks like you’re doing just fine on your own, Tiki,” I said. “I’m going to head home. I want to keep an eye on Willy.”

  “Me too,” Rayna said.

  “You don’t want to stay? Come dance,” Tiki said.

  Rayna's smile faded and her eyes met mine.

  I laughed. “No, I’m good. Are you going to be okay on your own?”

  Rayna’s eyes fell to the floor and then back to Tiki.

  “Oh, yes,” he said.

  The women pawed at him and before I could say goodbye, he was being dragged back to the dance floor.

  Rayna left some cash on the table and led the way out. We stepped outside and I slipped my daggers back into their sheaths. The air was brisk and the scent of fall was thick.

  “It’s nice out tonight, want to walk?” Rayna asked.

  I took in a breath of fresh October air and nodded.

  Things were quiet at first, only the sound of Rayna’s boots tapping along the sidewalk. The awkward tension from Revelations was gone, but I felt like there was something else. Just as I was about to break the silence, Rayna spoke.

  “My mother was a good person you know. The Circle made her sound…dirty. She wasn’t like that.”

  I turned to Rayna, but her eyes were staring at the pavement.

  “The Circle has a way of making even the smallest thing seem terrible. I’m sure she was really great.”

  Rayna half-laughed and shook her head. “You don’t have to say that. We both know you don’t believe it. She was a demon after all.”

  The comment forced me to do a double take. “You don’t really think that do you? Maybe a few weeks ago you would’ve been right, but I don’t look at the Underworld like that anymore. You of all people should know that.”

  Rayna shrugged.

  “You have to understand where I grew up. The Circle isn’t a warm and fuzzy group of people doing magic tricks. It’s a boot camp. What the elders say goes. There is no difference of opinion. You do what you’re told to do, and you believe what you’re taught to believe.”

  “If it’s that bad, I’d think you would’ve been happy to get away.”

  “Until I was exiled, it was all I knew. I was angry. I’d never be a hunter, never have my father’s approval, and never have an elemental power. But once the Underworld got wind of what happened, I became a trophy waiting to be claimed.”

  “I guess you weren’t given much of a chance to decide things for yourself.”

  “Not until I met you and Marcus. I never thought a half-demon would punch me in the face and turn around to save my life, that’s for sure.”

  Rayna laughed. “You were being an ass that night.”

  “I think we've established that.” I laughed.

  The laughter faded and Rayna looked up at me. “Do you ever miss being part of the Circle?”

  “Not since I realized what I missed didn’t truly exist. Everything I thought the Circle stood for was a lie. The only thing I miss now is Mom and the life we had. At the time it seemed hard and I was angry about everything. But I’d give anything to have that back.”

  “I’m sorry…Tessa was really great.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “I know, but…I know how much it hurts to lose a mother.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t believe I was talking about my mother, but I realized then that Rayna really did know how I was feeling.

  “They didn’t let up, you know? They tortured her for hours, but she wouldn’t tell them where I was,” Rayna said.

  “You watched the whole thing?”

  “I didn’t have a choice. When the hunters came, we didn’t have time to escape. She shoved me into a cubby in the wall and masked it with a spell. I couldn’t get out, and no one could get in. I watched them peel her skin off, one strip at a time, until there was nothing left. They tore…” Rayna stopped and covered her mouth. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and looked up at me. Tears built up on the edge of her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

  “You don't have to…”

  “They tore her hair out by the handful. When she couldn’t scream anymore, they set her on fire.”

  “That's…horrific.” I dropped my gaze. I couldn’t put into words how terrible that must have been.

  Rayna sniffed and wiped the tears off her cheeks. “My mom was a powerful witch. After she died, the spell didn't fade right away. Even Marcus couldn’t find me at first. I sat there, screaming, forced to stare at her lifeless body for an eternity.”

  Rayna’s tears fell in streams and she lost her breath in a rush of sobs. Streaks of dark makeup slid down her white cheeks, and the reflecting moonlight made them paler than I knew they were. I stepped towards her and did the only thing I thought mattered in that moment. I wrapped my arms around her.

  When I pulled her against me, her sobs became heavier. Her nails dug into my shoulders as she pulled herself into me. I winced at the strength in her grip, having forgotten in that moment that she was more than just a girl.

  “Sometimes I hate her. I hate what she did. If she'd just given me to them...” She gasped through trembling breaths.

  “Then you'd be dead too.”

  “But it might've gone quicker for her.” Rayna sniffled and tried to draw back the tears.

  “Your mother spent her last moments alive, keeping you safe. She left this world a hero.”

  “And now yours is gone because of me too.”

  “No,” I said. I grabbed Rayna’s shoulders and pulled her back from me, forcing her to look me in the eyes. “Don’t think that for a second.”

  “She did, Chase, and you know it. I'm surprised you don't hate me.” Rayna pulled away from my grip and turned her back to me.

  “If it wasn't for our mothers, we wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn't have you right now,” I said. The words surprised me and I wanted to backtrack, but I couldn't.

  We were outside the condo, and the building was a silent tower of dark glass. Rayna’s tears stopped. She sniffled and glossy green cat eyes stared up at me. Streaks of makeup ran down her face, black drops of liquid hanging along her jaw.

  “They're heroes, Rayna. We owe it to them to remember that.”

  Rayna was silent for a long moment. “You’re right, it’s just sometimes…”

  “I know,” I said. “It’s easier to think about if you blame yourself.”

  Rayna nodded. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being here.” She brought both her hands up and tried to wipe the smears of black from her face. “I’ve never talked to anyone about this before. Not even Marcus.”

  “I'm honored you would share that with me.”

  “I needed to. You need to know you’re not alone.” Rayna stepped into me and wrapped her arms around my neck. She squeezed her body against mine and I held her tight in my arms. The embrace lasted longer than I expected, and I felt Rayna’s head tilt up tow
ards me. I looked down into her eyes and I felt a closeness with her I’d never had before. I couldn’t pull my gaze away from hers, and a smile came over her lips.

  She pulled back slightly so her body was barely touching mine and only pushing against it with each breath. My stomach tightened as her warm breath rolled over my skin and a chill ran through me. Her lips parted the slightest bit and she tilted her chin up. My pulse exploded and adrenaline surged as she rose on her tiptoes, her lips coming closer to mine. I brought my hands up to rest on her arms, and the urge to pull her against me tore through my body. I resisted the impulse and leaned towards her.

  When a sound crashed above us, we both jumped back. I gripped Rayna's arms, pulled her down, and covered her body. As shards of glass shattered around us, I could feel them raining over me, small pieces biting at the exposed skin on my neck.

  As the last few bits of glass littered the sidewalk, a light flashed from the top floor, followed by a crash of thunder. It was coming from our condo.

  I tore through the lobby, Rayna running at my heels. I smashed my fingers into the button on the elevator, hitting it repeatedly.

  I couldn’t wait and we moved for the stairwell. We put floor after floor beneath us in supernatural speed and broke through the stairwell door, slamming it against the wall. I drew both my blades and pushed the condo door open, taking caution with each step. Shards of glass crunched beneath my feet and I squeezed the blades in my hands.

  Thick claw marks had been torn into the walls, decorating the floor with bits of drywall dust. Bursts of blood speckled the walls, and clear fluid ran down in fresh, thick streams. The hardwood was scarred with scratches, and the leather couch was ripped to pieces, clumps of white fluff covering the floor.

  A body lay motionless in the center of the living room. Smoke billowed up from it and brought the smell of burnt hair and charred flesh, giving me an instant headache.

  Amongst the fluff were white and gold feathers, some still floating down from the ceiling. Rai’s four wings were extended, flapping about in one corner of the room. Her feathers were ruffled and falling to the floor. Loud, rapid squawking echoed through the condo, sounding fiercer than the small creature it came from.

  Once Rai saw me, she dove from the ceiling, landing hard on my shoulder. Her small claws gripped me and pierced my skin. I could feel bubbles of blood from the punctures seeping through and clinging to my t-shirt.

  “Easy, girl.” I brought a hand up to pet her. She calmed as my fingers sifted through soft, white feathers. The squawking became a quiet tweet, and the grip of her claws lightened.

  I stepped down into the living room, watching the creature lying face down on the floor. The stench was thick as we neared, and most of its skin was dark, charred, and still smoldering. I lifted my foot and used it to turn the limp body, but as soon as my sneaker touched it, the clean pieces of skin flashed and changed, matching the dark blue of my shoe.

  “Willy?” I gasped.

  His chest smoked, revealing a black burn that covered most of his torso. Long claws drooped from paw-like hands, and a strange snout took over most of his face. Vicious teeth hung from the jowls of his half-snout, and colorless, white wolf eyes stared lifelessly towards the ceiling.

  His body twitched and began to shift. Bones cracked and the hair that covered the paw-like hands disappeared. Long black claws retreated into his fingertips and his face shifted and reformed. As the human counterpart came through, the dirty brown came back to color his eyes. His body took in a deep breath and I jumped back. The burns covering his flesh started to fade and the wounds closed.

  “Okay, this night just took a very strange turn.”

  Chapter 8

  Willy coughed and pushed himself up with his hands. Thick red mucus shot out of his mouth and he gasped for air.

  “Ch–, Chase?” he asked.

  “What the hell happened?”

  Willy groaned as he propped himself up on his elbows. “I ha–, had an accident.” His eyes shot around the room, confusion on his face.

  “Yeah, I’ll say.”

  Willy shook his head and looked down at himself. “My sh–, shoulder…it’s healed.” The bloody bandage lay on the floor by a torn shirt, his wound healed, not leaving a scar.

  “But he’s a demon. I didn’t think he could contract the virus,” Rayna said.

  “I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s not even a full moon,” I said.

  “What happened to your chest?” Rayna asked, watching new skin crawl over and cover the burn.

  “When the beast took over and I st–, started to shift, I wa–, was starving…” His eyes flickered to Rai who squawked and started flapping her wings.

  “You tried to eat my bird?”

  Willy’s eyes quickly pulled away from me and diverted to the floor.

  I reached up and petted Rai, soothing her with my touch. She chirped and nuzzled her head against my cheek.

  We all jumped when the condo's buzzer rang and the movement made Willy wince in pain.

  “Hello?” I asked, my thumb on the button.

  “Let me in.” The hoarse and elder voice of Grams crackled through the speaker.

  The voice sent a chill down my spine. I hesitated for a minute with my finger over the button before pushing it.

  “I cal–, called her,” Willy said. “I didn’t want her to kn–, know, but then the pain was too much. I didn’t know wh–, what else to do.” Willy tried to stand up and fell back to the ground.

  “I know it hurts,” Rayna said. “Just try to relax.”

  “What the hell is going on?” Grams stormed into the room, leaving the door open behind her. A long cream dress that looked more like a nightgown covered her to her knees, but revealed frail, veiny legs. Her features were gray, making her look decrepit, but they contrasted with her bright blue eyes in an odd way. Her white hair was frayed, as though it hadn’t been brushed in days. Bright purple high heels tapped along the floor towards us, and over her shoulder was a giant purse. A smoking cigarette hung from her lips and she took a long pull, letting the smoke seep out of her thin nostrils.

  “Gr–, Grams,” Willy gasped.

  “What’d he do to you?” Grams turned and exhaled the smoke in my face.

  “No–, nothing. It was the bi–, bite,” Willy said, touching his healed shoulder.

  Grams eyed me from head to toe and sighed. “Dammit.” She waddled towards Willy, pushing past me with her shoulder. “When’d it happen?”

  “A couple da–, days ago.”

  Grams dropped her purse to the floor and kneeled with surprising ease. She put a hand against Willy’s face and pulled his lids up, examining his eyes. She reached an ancient hand into her bag and removed a small dagger. “Give me your hand.”

  Willy lifted his hand up and winced, turning away before she’d even touched him. Grams dragged the blade across his hand violently and Willy cried out.

  “Don’t be such a baby; it’s just a scratch.” Grams put the bloody blade back into her purse and dug around until she retrieved a small bottle of yellow powder. She yanked the cork out with her teeth and sprinkled the dust onto his hand.

  Willy bit back a cry of pain as the powder bubbled and steamed in his palm. Grams used her long fingernail to stir the blood and powder together. Her lips moved quickly, but her voice was below a whisper. The dark red blood lightened as it mixed with the powder and began to swirl on its own.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  Grams looked up at me and licked the blood off her fingernail. A chill ran straight through me.

  “This will tell me how soon we can expect a full shift.”

  “Why does that matter?” Rayna asked.

  “Because the shift can be deadly. I need to know how much time I have to get him help.”

  “You can cure him?” Rayna sounded hopeful.

  “Of course not,” Grams said. “He can’t very well do this on his own, now can he?”

  Grams mumb
led a few more words and the mixture bubbled before turning a bright purple. She grunted and pushed herself back to her feet. “Well, that didn’t take long now did it?”

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “It’ll only be a day or two now before he’ll be a full werewolf.”

  “How is this possible?”

  “He got bit, didn’t he? What’d you expect to happen, puppies?”

  “I just…I thought demons couldn’t get turned.”

  “Well you thought wrong. It’s rare, but it happens.”

  Willy looked up at her with fear in his eyes, and Grams reached down and ruffled his hair. “Ah, don’t worry, William, we’ll get you some help. Besides, I always wanted a puppy.” She laughed and snorted, patting him on the head.

  Willy's face paled and sadness pulled at his eyes.

  “Oh, relax boy, I’m just messing with you,” she said. “You’re going to be fine.”

  “Fi–, fine? I’m a werewolf! How is that fine?” Willy yawned, and it stole his anger. He lay back down on the floor and closed his eyes. “I’m so tired.”

  “It takes a lot out of you,” Rayna said. “You need to rest.”

  Before Willy could reply, his jaw fell open and a loud snore escaped. He was instantly in a deep sleep, enough so that he was the only one who didn’t startle when foreign voices came into the room.

  “We’ll take it from here.” A voice came from behind us, and it sounded far too deep for the man it belonged to.

  The man was shorter but more muscular than me. His eyes were nearly black, and brown stubble littered his shaved head. Camouflage pants were tucked into black combat boots, and a tight brown shirt hugged his dark olive-colored frame. He stood at attention with his hands crossed behind his back and a blank determination on his face.

  “Who the hell are you?” I demanded.

  “I’m Jax Turner, beta-alpha to Radek Lawson, of the Shadowpack. That, there, is our pup,” he said.

  “I don’t know what makes you think you can just walk in here and–”

  “That pup is part of our pack now. It’s our duty to train him, with, or without, your permission.”