Sere from the Green (The Shape Shifter Chronicles Book 1)

by Lauren Jankowski

  “Before you leave, Grandmother,” she said and turned around. “I do have a question.”

  Adonia paused and waited for Passion’s question. The younger guardian studied her for a moment, chewing on her lower lip as she thought over how to ask it. Sometimes she had to pick her words carefully to get a clear answer. Unlike her mother and grandmother, Passion didn’t have much experience in politics and preferred to be straightforward.

  “I was told that an attempt was made on Isis’ life, the night she was brought to the protector mansion. Now I was under the distinct impression that as a daughter of the Meadows, whether she knew it or not, she was entitled to protection. Was I misled in that belief?” Passion asked. Adonia crossed her arms over her chest.

  “You were not. Isis did have protection throughout her life, both in the form of protectors and through guardian magic.”

  “Ah, guardian magic,” Passion repeated. “I assume that means some kind of spell meant to alert the guards of any menace or threat.”

  “Yes, you’re correct,” Adonia affirmed.

  “Then perhaps you can explain to me, Grandmother, how no one was aware of the assassin who made an attempt on Isis’ life.”

  Adonia opened her mouth to respond, but closed it again. Her brow creased and Passion could tell her grandmother was thinking over her question. After a moment, Adonia shook her head, an apologetic expression crossing her features.

  “I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for you, Passion. We should have been aware of that and I do not know why we were not,” she said, dropping her arms again. “I shall bring it up the next time the High Council convenes. If you desire an answer, I shall try and find one.”

  Passion let out an angry laugh. “Yes, because they have always been so forthright and honest with their answers. The damage has already been done. See that it doesn’t happen again.”

  She stepped past her grandmother and retrieved her towel from where she had laid it on a bench, dabbing at her face and chest. Passion then moved to leave the workout room. She reached the door, put her hand on the door handle and was about to leave when Adonia’s voice stopped her.

  “Jet misses you too.”

  Passion paused but didn’t turn around.

  “Trying times are coming, Passion. I’ve seen it and so has Sibyl. Do not be so quick to discard so meaningful and powerful a bond as the one you share with Jet and Lilly.”

  Passion opened the door and walked out of the room, letting the heavy wooden door shut behind her.

  As she walked down the long hallway to the main stairway, Passion smiled politely in greeting at the few guardians who passed her by. The gym was located on the second floor in the castle. Guardians only came down to train and workout when they had a spare moment, which was rarely ever. Passion loved the room because it was almost guaranteed that she would get some much needed peace and quiet if she went at the right time.

  Passion stopped when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she was surprised to see Electra standing in the middle of the hall a few feet away. She turned her eyes to the side, then back to Electra. She doesn’t look angry. Hopefully she’s not looking for a fight, Passion thought, suddenly feeling weary. There were no guardians in the hall anymore, but the sounds of rushing feet could be heard from the busier halls and floors. The lifeless eyes of the portraits on the walls stared down at them. The sunlight from the lands of day danced about their bodies, highlighting the guardian glisten in Passion’s skin.

  “Haven’t seen you in a while,” Passion began, studying her daughter. “Where have you been?”

  “The mansion, where else?” Electra replied with a casual shrug. “Following in your footsteps, I guess.”

  Passion smiled, glancing down to her feet. “If you’ve come for a fight, I’ll have to take a rain check. I just came from working out and I’m tired.”

  “I haven’t come to argue,” Electra said, her tone somewhat defensive. “Though I feel I would be justified if that were my purpose, seeing as how I was the one who was lied to my entire life.”

  “What did you come for then?”

  Electra hesitated and Passion recognized the thoughtful look on her face. Her daughter was carefully considering her words.

  “I have been helping Isis tap into her abilities, but I haven’t taught her how to Appear yet. I wanted to ask your advice on whether or not I should,” Electra answered after a moment, flipping her hair over her shoulder with a shake of her head.

  “That’s good for your sister. You’re an excellent teacher,” Passion said. While she wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of her daughter being a protector, Passion was at least glad that her daughters had met each other and perhaps would now have the opportunity to be sisters.

  Electra shrugged. “Jade helped a lot, but she’s a good student and very clever. You haven’t answered my question.”

  Passion was quiet for a moment, watching her daughter. “Is she as angry with me as you are?”

  “I’m not angry at you, Mother.”

  “You are. But you have every right to be,” Passion replied.

  “I’m not dwelling on it. There are bigger things in life. Besides, Roan is dead.”

  Passion frowned at Electra’s uncharacteristically hesitant behavior. “You know you aren’t evil. Who your father was is no reflection on you.”

  Electra looked down at the floor. Passion walked up to Electra and held her in her arms, swallowing back tears.

  “You are your own person, sweetheart. Blood is not everything,” she whispered.

  “I am the daughter of an assassin. That is a legacy of pain and death and a heavy burden to bear,” Electra murmured, slumping a little in her mother’s arms. Passion held her daughter tighter, wishing she could somehow shield her from all the cruelty in the world.

  “It doesn’t work that way. We forge our own path in life,” Passion said with a shake of her head, a crafty smile dancing on her lips. “And give your mother some credit. I think my genes are a little stronger than any of the Deverells, and I know they are much stronger than Roan’s.”

  Electra laughed softly. Passion held her at arm’s length and looked into Electra’s eyes.

  “You teach your sister to Appear if you think it is the right time. I trust your judgement.”

  Electra went quiet for a moment, thinking it over. “I’ll teach her to Appear when you talk to Jet again.”

  Passion dropped her arms, turned around, and continued down the hall, disappearing from her daughter’s view. Electra shook her head and rolled her eyes, already feeling at home again.

  “Impossible, she is just impossible,” Electra muttered in frustration as she walked in the opposite direction toward the stairs that were closest to her bedroom.

  *~*~*~*~*

  At seven o’clock, Shae led the way to the garage. She walked over to the security system and played around with the wires until the buttons turned from red to green, a little trick she had learned from the youngest Monroe, Hunter. She walked into the garage and flipped on the light. The florescent glow brought out the color in the vast selection of cars and motorcycles.

  Shae reached into her pocket and produced a set of keys as the other three entered the brightly lit garage. She jingled the keys.

  “I hope no one objects to a black BMW,” she said with a wide grin.

  “Dare I ask how you got those?” Alex asked in a dry tone that sounded frighteningly like Remington without the accent.

  “Alex, you are sucking all the fun right out of this,” Shae responded as she bounced down the two steps. She was wearing a short grayish blue dress. It tied behind her neck and, like everything else Shae owned, it made her look spectacular.

  Alex followed Shae down the rows of cars toward the BMW. She had chosen to wear blue jeans and an almost see-through black tank top that revealed a hint of her toned stomach. Jade wore a simple spaghetti-strapped top that left her shoulders and arms completely bare. She had on tight dark blue jeans th
at had just a hint of glitter and a belt of small gold discs wound around her waist. Isis had chosen to go with a backless black halter-top and dark slacks — which was as fancy and dressed up as she got.

  They reached the car and Shae ducked into the driver’s seat. Alex and Jade climbed into the backseat, while Isis sat in the empty passenger seat, running a hand through her soft wispy hair.

  “Aw, Ice Queen, don’t look so troubled,” Shae said as she started the car. “It’s a chance for you to work on those people skills we talked about.”

  Isis gave her cousin a withering look, not amused by the joke. Shae smiled devilishly and shifted into gear, easing out of the parking space and heading toward the open garage door.

  *~*~*~*~*

  Jet stood outside and watched the large amber sun sink into a deep purple sky. He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh air. The air carried a scent of jasmine with the faint hint of other flowers and pine from the nearby trees. The soft grass tickled his bare feet and the cool temperatures of the vanishing day pierced his cerulean shirt.

  Whenever Jet had something on his mind, he would stand outside and let the fresh air relax him. It was a habit from his youth. Usually Passion or Lilly would be there to help him sort out his thoughts, but he wanted solitude at the moment. His mind was flooded with memories of Passion. He remembered playing in the Meadows with her when he was only a child, smiling as he thought about the races in crystal clear lakes in the water lands. She always beat him, mainly because Jet hated swimming and tended to avoid water at all costs. He had first met Passion when she had saved him from drowning while he was visiting the Meadows.

  “I’m still the faster swimmer,” a soft voice came from behind him. Jet’s eyes snapped open and he twisted around. Passion stood there, gazing at the sunset. She glanced at him and then looked back to the horizon, not speaking further.

  “You’re not going to hurl me into the sun, are you?” Jet asked, only half-kidding. Passion raised an eyebrow, not responding right away.

  “Maybe another day,” Passion finally answered with a thin smile. For a moment, they stood and watched the setting sun, neither speaking a word. Jet debated whether or not he should apologize. He wasn’t sure it was what his friend wanted to hear.

  “I’ve missed you,” Jet said, turning his eyes back to the sunset.

  “I know,” Passion sighed and walked over to his side. “I asked Adonia about the protection Isis should have had. My grandmother had no answers, but she will ask about it the next time the High Council meets.”

  Passion frowned and turned her eyes to her feet for a moment. “I . . . Jet, my daughter was left vulnerable and it nearly resulted in her losing her life. I know it probably sounds incredibly paranoid, but what if someone purposely weakened the protection spells?”

  Jet shook his head. “I don’t think that sounds paranoid. It is something Lilly and I spoke about briefly. But there is not much we can do, especially since we have no evidence. We must tread very carefully, Passion.”

  Passion nodded, meeting his gaze again. “I can’t ever forgive you for what you did. But I can’t lose our friendship either.”

  “I understand,” Jet said with a sad smile. They stood together in a comfortable silence for a moment, enjoying the pleasant night.

  “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure no harm comes to Isis,” Jet vowed. “I mean it, Passion. Lilly and I will make sure she can defend herself against any threat, no matter where it might come from.”

  Passion raised an elegant eyebrow. “Are you implying you’ll teach her how to kill a corrupt guardian?”

  “Maybe just incapacitate them,” Jet replied with a wink, smiling when his friend laughed.

  Screeching tires and a slamming gate interrupted the moment between the two friends. Passion’s face froze; she was either annoyed or worried or both. Jet closed his eyes and put his hands behind his head, already knowing without looking what had just happened. It was just his luck. Right after I swear to protect her, that’s just wonderful, he thought. Dusk’s gray light settled about them as stars began to twinkle in the sky and the moon began to glow.

  “They stole a car, didn’t they?” he asked Passion. Passion nodded as she continued watching the direction of the road. Jet groaned in exasperation, rubbing his eyes.

  “I’ll send out Hunter and Cassidy to make sure nothing happens to them,” Jet reassured her. Or my car, he thought, deciding not to try and joke with Passion at the moment.

  Passion nodded and smiled, her eyes telling Jet that she trusted him. Jet turned toward the house and when he looked back, she was gone.

  *~*~*~*~*

  Shae pulled up to the club’s entrance, glancing at the long line outside the door. She smiled, obviously happy to be back in her kind of environment. She opened the driver’s side door, not bothering to look back and check if the others were following, and tossed the keys to the valet who moved to do his job.

  “Here she is,” she declared, gesturing at the large building in front of them. Isis glanced up to the neon purple sign.

  “Dionysia? Really, Shae?”

  “Hey, you’re the one who’s half-god. I thought you’d appreciate it,” Shae replied.

  “They’re not gods,” Jade and Alex corrected simultaneously and Shae responded with a carefree wave of her hand. She approached the large bouncer who stood at the door. His stone-like face split into a very large grin when he saw Shae and he immediately pushed the door open, waving them in with one large meaty hand. Shae grinned and trailed her slender fingers across his broad chest as she passed him by.

  “Friend of yours?” Isis asked as she followed Shae through the door. Her cousin just winked in reply and they entered the club.

  House music blasted over the speakers, making the floor shake a bit. Tables and chairs were strewn about the edges, some occupied and some not. Most of the club patrons blended together in their nicely colored clothing. The people who worked in the club walked around wearing glow sticks about their necks, heads, and wrists. Some of the people on the dance floor held glow sticks in their hands. A strange neon blue glow seemed to light up the entire club.

  Isis’ attention was drawn to the side, to a man about her age who was sitting in the shadows. As she studied him, the club seemed to become deathly quiet. His long legs were resting on an empty chair sitting in front of him and his eyes were hidden behind a pair of designer sunglasses, which was quite odd since the club was so dark. A tan baseball cap covered his head but Isis could tell that he had dark hair. He was wearing a plain dark-colored t-shirt and jeans. There were a number of people sitting around him, including a woman in a pink dress who leaned against him, but he still stood out. His attention was focused on the people dancing on the floor, but he immediately looked in her direction when he felt her eyes on him. The two stared at each other, as though they were each surprised that they had been seen by the other.

  “Isis!” Shae called. The pounding music was suddenly blasting again as Isis looked over at her cousin, blinking a few times. For a split second, she felt disoriented and a little dizzy.

  “Bar’s this way,” Shae yelled over the noise. Isis glanced back to where the man was sitting, but he was gone. The sudden feeling of someone touching her arm caused her to start violently. She twisted toward the grasp, raising a hand to fend off an attack, and almost sighed in relief when she saw it was only Jade.

  “You okay?” Jade shouted. “You look a little pale. Well, paler than usual.”

  Isis nodded, but the troubled feeling didn’t leave her. She didn’t know what was more disturbing: feeling uneasy or not knowing why. Isis followed Jade toward the bar where Shae was already flirting with the bartender. Isis noticed a man attempting to hit on Alex and smiled when her teammate rolled her eyes.

  “Phil, I want you to meet some of my good friends,” Isis could hear Shae say. “That’s Alex and Jade and the one on the end there is my cousin, Isis. This here is my wonderful bartender who recently ma
nned up and proposed to his lovely partner.”

  Isis stared at Shae, wondering if she knew everybody in the city on a first name basis. It never ceased to amaze her how sociable and extroverted Shae was.

  “Well, the night is young and we have plenty of dancing to do,” Shae said as she hopped off her seat. “Shall we?”

  “God yes,” Alex said, moving away from the would-be pickup artist, who seemed rather disappointed as he slunk away to try his luck with another woman.

  “You three go ahead,” Isis said. “I’m just going to hang out here for a bit.”

  Shae looked a little disappointed, but shrugged. “All right. Phil, be a dear and take good care of Isis here.”

  “Will do, Ms. Miller,” Phil replied warmly, smiling as he watched her go off into the crowd. He turned his eyes to Isis.

  “Can I get you anything?”

  She shook her head and he turned back to his other customers. Isis stared at the dance floor, thinking about how much she hated clubs. The people and the noise — it was just too much. She preferred a quiet library or an arboretum, somewhere as far removed from large crowds as possible. Her next thought was whether or not that was the guardian in her.

  “I always love to see a woman lost in thought,” a gentle voice came over the noise of the club. “To me, that’s when they’re most beautiful.”

  Isis rolled her eyes and looked over toward the voice. An attractive man stood in front of her. He had short dark brown hair and a cleanly shaven face. His eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, much like the man Isis had seen when they first walked in. Dark clothing covered his fit body and he stood confidently but not arrogantly.

  “Not interested, buddy,” Isis said as she turned her attention back to the dance floor.

  “Was that too aggressive or was the delivery wrong?” the man asked. The question didn’t sound like flirtation but rather a genuine inquiry, as if he didn’t know what he had done wrong.

  “I’m just not interested,” she repeated. The mystery man shrugged and put his hands behind his back, clearing his throat.