“It recognized you. You are the descendant of one of its creators.”
“What’s with the salty taste in my mouth?” Jasmira asked.
Jousenne gave a short laugh. “There is a lot of salt in the Dasht-e Kavir desert.”
“Oh. Was it like that for Mom too?”
“Yes, that’s what she told me once.”
“How does Dasht-e Kavir work?”
“Nobody knows for sure, since the Amulet has never been misused. But Dasht-e Kavir is our only hope to block the powers of the Universe interlaced in the Amulet, especially when those powers double at the ten-thousand-year mark. And if they are then abused, Amber will gain the complete authority over both Races, and maybe even over Crystal. This can only mean trouble. Big trouble.”
“But for that to happen, Jatred and I would have to be together at the time of the winter solstice, right?” Jasmira asked quietly.
“Yes. This is the only thing that could set the wheels in motion. Those powers of the Universe that are normally channeled through the King and Queen of each Race would open up the opportunity for Amber to tilt the scale of power to her side.” Jousenne looked away.
“And because the Summer Race has the female monarch. Me. Is that right?”
“Yes. That’s correct. If the Winter Race had a Queen, and we, the Summer Race, had a King, only Crystal would have the opportunity to grab those Universal powers and rule over Amber and her Race.”
Jasmira’s eyes filled with hope. “So if Jatred and I stay away from each other, at least until the winter solstice is over, nothing bad is going to happen, right?”
Jousenne was silent. Her jaw was set and her brows drawn together. She looked at Jasmira slow and hard. “You’ve already developed the Shifter’s bond. It may get weaker, but it will never go away. The bond is what will always bring you and Jatred together. Do you really think you two can stay away from each other?”
Jasmira took a deep breath, held it in her lungs, and exhaled slowly. “I think so. Now everything has changed. I understand the danger.”
Jousenne saw a flicker of doubt in Jasmira’s eyes and pressed on. “The bond between two Shifters, especially of the opposite Races, can be very strong and hard to overcome. You and Jatred are the Queen and the King-to-be. This only adds to the strength of the bond.”
“Then why has nobody ever stopped us? Nobody said anything about the Amulet, the ten-thousand-year mark, or about the powers of the Universe before it was too late.” Jasmira stood, her voice reverberating in the small chamber.
“Because nobody knew you and Jatred were together at first. You kept it from me and everyone else for a long time, remember? And then you wouldn’t leave him anyway. There was no talking to you. And it was too late anyway. The bond had been established.”
Jasmira sat down slowly, Dasht-e Kavir clenched in her fist. The red light leaked from between her fingers, outlining them in a bloody glow. “I know.” Her head hung low, and she didn’t sound as if she wanted to elaborate.
Jousenne lifted the velvet box off the floor and opened the domed lid. She nodded at Jasmira to return the jewel to its case. Jasmira gently deposited Dasht-e Kavir inside the box, watching as the running wolves came to a sudden halt and, turning their heads, looked at her with their bright-red eyes. She gasped and quickly closed the lid.
CHAPTER 40
Human World, November 18, late morning and afternoon.
“Jasmira’s grandma returned this morning from Hawaii. It was a surprise, since she came back a few days early. I don’t think we can meet up there like we’d planned. Besides, I have a feeling she had something super urgent to discuss with Jasmira.” Penelope talked into her cell phone. She walked briskly to her car parked in front of the mansion.
“Meet me up at that new bakery in Fremont for lunch in a couple of hours. I have a lot to tell you. But first I’m gonna go for a walk to clear my mind. And then I want to check out some of those funky stores there.”
Penelope got in the car, turned the key in the ignition, and flipped the windshield wiper switch on. A mist of tiny droplets covered the windshield. The wipers moved across it in an arc, pushing aside two red-and-yellow leaves that were stuck to the glass. Penelope pressed the CD player button, and loud music filled the car, its deep bass emphasizing the rhythm. She bobbed her head, stretching her neck to look in the rear view mirror.
“I look like crap,” she muttered, frowning. She reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a large hair clip. Twisting her hair at the back of her head, she secured it with the clip, pulling a few thin strands around her ears. “Much better,” Penelope smiled. She turned her head from side to side to get a better look in the mirror.
Fifteen minutes later she parked her Audi in front of a small bakery. She got out, shuddered, and looked around. Late Sunday morning was a perfect time for Seattle residents to walk their dogs, to jog, or stroll with friends and family members, coffee cups in hand. Penelope put her jacket on and zipped it all the way to her chin. She stuffed her hands in the pockets and felt the furry gloves with her fingers. She set out in a slow stride, peering in the stores’ windows.
Almost two hours later Penelope walked inside the small bakery, where she parked her car earlier on. She sat at the table closest to the door. Her cell phone rang, and she pulled it out of her purse. She looked at the screen, tapped it with her fingernail, and pressed the phone to her ear.
“Hi, Mom. I’m fine, in case that’s what you’re going to ask,” she huffed, rolling her eyes. “No, I just left Jasmira’s house. I’m gonna have lunch at a bakery.”
The door opened, and Erik walked in, his blond surfer-style hair tousled. Penelope smiled at him and mouthed silently, “Mom,” pointing to the phone. He nodded and kissed the top of Penelope’s head.
“Mom, why are you so upset?” Penelope said in a hushed voice. “I’ll be home soon. That earthquake yesterday really got to you. Don’t worry. We aren’t due another one for a long time.”
Erik took a few steps to the counter and bent over to look in the pastry case. A young heavy-set woman smiled broadly at him. She nodded her head toward the scones. “I just got those out of the oven. They are my favorite.”
“Pumpkin scones? Awesome. I love pumpkin pastries. I’ll have four plus three blueberry muffins for my girl. And two large hot chocolates with whipped cream. Oh, give me a few slices of that cranberry coffee cake. It looks really good.”
“Should I pack it in one bag?”
“No, it’s all for here.” Erik grinned.
The woman opened her mouth and shot a quick look toward Penelope, assessing her slim figure.
Erik realized what she was thinking and said in a hurry, “On the other hand, give me a bag. We won’t eat it all at once. That would be insane, right?”
Penelope, who was listening to the conversation after ending her call, turned her head away. “Careful, wolf. We don’t want the human to realize how much we can eat.” She chuckled, as she talked to him with her mind.
“Screw this,” Erik answered her in the same mind-communicating way. He said out loud to the woman behind the counter, pointing at the strawberry jam Danish pastries, “I will also take four of these.”
Penelope grinned, hiding her face behind her hand.
“I like your attitude.” She laughed when Erik joined her at the table, a huge brown bag resting between them. She peeked inside, whistled, and took a muffin out.
A few people walked in, rushing to the counter. Some of them made pleasant comments about the sweet smell of the pastries mixed with the spicy coffee aroma. The harsh sound of the industrial espresso machine momentarily drowned out their voices. The door opened again, and a tall young couple entered, each carrying a small child. The children looked identical, their light-blond hair curling in tight coils around their heads.
Penelope smiled, motioning to Erik to turn around and look. “Twins. They’re so adorable. I wonder why Shifter twins are so rare.”
“I don�
��t know anybody with twins. Most of us don’t even have siblings,” Erik spoke through a mouthful of pastries. He sampled several of them, clearly enjoying the mixture of flavors.
“Like me?”
“And me. Georgeta was adopted from Romania.” He took a gulp of hot chocolate.
“You eat like a pig. Slow down.” Penelope swatted him on the arm.
Their table vibrated, and they both instinctively pushed their chairs back, staring at each other in alarm.
Everyone in the bakery noticed the tremor. Most people were already on their feet, looking around in confusion. The young couple with small children had already headed for the door, the woman shouting, “Out! Get out, it’s another earthquake.”
Penelope and Erik abandoned their food and followed them outside. A small crowd has already formed on the sidewalk, people rushing out of the buildings. Many cars stopped in the middle of the street, and the drivers were getting out of the vehicles.
The ground under their feet rolled violently as if a giant snake was pushing through. Penelope steadied herself, grabbing onto Erik’s arm. She squealed and ducked when a piece of the building behind them fell right by her feet.
“Quick. Away from the buildings.” Erik pulled her toward the street, now blocked by several cars.
They maneuvered between the swaying vehicles, trying to keep their balance. Penelope clutched onto his arm with both hands, her face a mask of fear. “Oh, Goddess, what’s happening? This is horrible.”
An old man staggered right past them, his white hair stained with blood above his temple. A plump old woman followed closely behind him, carrying a small girl on her back. Both woman and the child were crying. More people sought refuge away from the buildings, but some tried to squeeze into the doorways, pushing and shouting.
“Shift! Now.” Erik yelled, pulling Penelope away from a sliding car.
“What? Are you crazy? Here, in front of all these people?” she shouted back over the rumbling noise.
“We have a better chance to escape this in our animal forms than like this.” He waived his hand between the both of them.
“Erik, I don’t think this is a good—”
“Now!” The urgency in his voice was frightening. With a snarl he shifted into his huge wolf form and leaped forward.
Penelope looked around, uncertain, her arms outstretched to the sides for balance. People around them were running amok, screaming. They are so scared they might not even notice. Oh, Goddess. Where are you when I need you?
She looked at the wolf, impatiently waiting for her a few yards ahead, his canines flashing. He was almost as big as the gray Ford Taurus sliding toward him. Penelope made up her mind and shifted into her red leopard shape. She jumped forward and over another car slipping sideways. Erik turned and ran, stealing quick glances to the sides and back at Penelope. She caught up with him, her slick fur unruffled by the wind that tossed Erik’s long, thick mane.
People who saw them shrieked in fear, pointing in disbelief. But the Shifters paid them no attention, leaping swiftly over the cracked asphalt, fragments broken off the buildings, and all the other debris littering the street. Dodging between the cars and people, they turned a corner, their paws scrambling over the pavement.
“Faster, we need to get out of here. Away from those old buildings.” Penelope heard Erik’s voice in her mind. “Look!”
Broken glass showered from the windows. Chunks of the walls bounced off the pavement and the cars parked along the curb, shattering into smaller pieces. The asphalt on the street split in places into long ribbon-like slashes. The ground continued to roll like the deck of a ship. The noise of the destruction, the screams of terrified people, and the car alarms mixed into a concerto of horror.
In front of them, and on the sides of the street, water gushed up in broad, powerful sprays from the wide cracks that opened in the pavement and sidewalks. Smoke rose in multiple spots where the gas pipes had ruptured and fuel spilled from vehicles. They kept running, evading the rubble and bodies scattered on the street.
“Erik, we’re gonna die. Goddess. We are gonna die!” Penelope shrieked.
They raced in blurred motion through the streets of the chaotic city.
“Erik. Watch out!”
An electric pole crashed across the street a few yards in front of them. It bounced a couple of times on two abandoned cars. More poles fell further ahead and behind them, the wires snapping and violently thrashing in the air. The wolf and the leopard managed to dodge each of the obstacles. The tall Aurora Bridge in the distance was swaying as in a trance. The bridge was collapsing, and sections were breaking off. Dozens of cars were flying down and hitting the ground.
The roar of the destruction was as frightening as the scenery around them. Erik leaped over an upturned tree. Penelope followed close behind. The ground kept rocking, and the two Shifters had a hard time keeping their balance. Unsteady on her paws, Penelope rammed into Erik, making him slide sideways. He fell with a thud, the leopard tumbling on top of him. They scrambled up quickly, growling and yelping by turns.
A chunk of building fell down onto the pavement a few feet from them and smashed into smaller pieces. Erik dodged to the left, and Penelope swerved to the right of the obstacle. She realized she was too close to the crumbling building. She turned fast to run away from it, her muscles burning. Another fragment of the structure came down. It hit her on the head.
The leopard yapped and collapsed, pain surging through her. Still running, Erik turned his head to see if she was behind him. He stopped, his claws scraping the pavement.
“Pen!” he yelled with his mind, racing toward her.
The wolf jumped over an overturned shopping cart, old rags and filthy boxes spilled from it. A bloodied body of a man in a tattered, grimy coat lay next to the cart. His wispy hair was matted with blood and mud. His lifeless eyes were open in a frozen expression of horror. Several other victims of the earthquake lay sprawled around, unmoving. Erik didn’t slow down to check on anyone. His only thought was to get to Penelope.
She tried to get up, but she collapsed on the ground again. “Erik, get me out of here!” she screamed with her mind.
He came to a halt in front of her and planted his massive paws on the swaying ground, determined to stay upright. “Where are you hurt?”
“My head.” She felt sharp stubbing jolts by her left ear.
“I need to pull you away from this wall. The whole building might collapse at any moment.”
Dust showered down on them from the damaged structure. Erik shifted into his human form and knelt next to Penelope. He touched her head, trying to assess the wound. She had a small cut by her ear. It left a smear of blood on Erik’s palm.
“It’s not too bad. I will live.” Penelope growled.
The ground ceased shaking as soon as Erik slid his hands under her. He lifted her up without an effort. He took a few vigilant steps away from the wall, carrying the huge Shifter in his arms. Penelope’s head sagged down off his left arm, her tail swishing in short snaps.
“It stopped. The earthquake stopped,” Erik murmured, looking around. “Can you shift?”
Erik put Penelope on the ground. The air around her quivered, and she changed into her human form. The top of her head was stained with blood.
“Oh, I’m dizzy,” she moaned and closed her eyes. “I can’t believe it. We just had an earthquake a few days ago.”
“You might have a concussion.” Erik sat down and put his arm around her. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
“My cell phone is vibrating. Can you pull it out from my pocket?” Penelope pointed to her left hip. A small rectangular shape bulged out in her jeans pocket. “I wouldn’t think the cell towers are still operational after this crazy shake. It’s been like, what, five minutes?”
Erik retrieved the phone and looked at the screen. “It’s your mom.”
“Good.” She nodded. “Ouch. That hurts too.” She put her hand on top of her head. “Answer an
d put the phone to my ear. Please.”
Erik did as she asked, his eyes filled with concern.
Before Penelope could say anything, they both heard a frantic voice coming loudly from the cell phone, “Penelope. Are you okay? Penelope. It’s Mom.”
“Mom, I’m fine,” she croaked. “Where are you? Where is Dad?”
“We are home. I mean, outside, on the street with the neighbors. Dad’s fine. I’m fine. My friend, Estelle, you know, Mrs. Navarro, she’s badly hurt. So is Mrs. Robinson, Savannah’s mother. Where are you?”
“We are… I’m with a friend. I’ll try to get back home. Mom, don’t worry, erm… Mom, listen. There might be aftershocks. Stay away from anything that can fall on you guys.”
“Oh, Penny. If anything happened to you… where are you?” Kaliope sounded hysterical, her voice high-pitched and frantic.
“Mom. I’m fine. Stay put and… Mom? Mom? Are you there? Hello?”
“Did the call drop?” He took the cell phone away from Penelope’s ear, pressed one of the buttons on the screen, and returned the phone to her.
“Nothing,” she said weakly.
Erik redialed once more, but there was no connection. He sighed. “Pen, I need to get you to a hospital.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m a Shifter. I’m fine,” she said stubbornly.
“No, if you have a concussion even your healing abilities might not be enough,” he said and lifted her up again.
CHAPTER 41
Human World, November 18, early afternoon.
Jasmira took a gulp of air and disappeared under the water. Jousenne followed her close behind. They swam the last few yards of the sloping-down, dark passage toward the wall, where the square block of stone jutted out, indistinct in the deep water. Jasmira got to it first and pressed the stone with both hands. The door, which appeared in the wall as before, slowly swung open and revealed the swimming pool behind.
They rushed through the opening. Jousenne closed it with a push on the pool wall tile. They hurried to the surface, gasping for air, and then swam toward the opposite edge of the pool. In the middle Jasmira stopped and, treading water, she turned her head to look at her grandmother.
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