The Change (Unbounded)

by Teyla Branton

  “You didn’t tell them I was hurt, did you?”

  “Of course not.”

  “So everyone’s okay?”

  “Yes.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief and made myself sit up. Not even sitting up hurt. In fact, I felt wonderful.

  Ava saw me studying the unbroken flesh on my shoulder. “No more curequick for you, especially drinking it.”

  “I know,” I said regretfully. “So what’s on the agenda today?”

  “After Wednesday’s attack and with all the record tampering at the burn center, we’ve decided to move the group to Oregon now instead of next week.”

  “What about New York?”

  “Still on. Our appointment isn’t until midnight tomorrow, so there’s plenty of time to get our operation heading to Oregon before we leave on our plane tonight.”

  “Isn’t midnight a little late for a business meeting, even for New York?”

  Ava laughed. “John Halden’s rather eccentric. I’m surprised you haven’t read about him in the tabloids. Rumor has it he’s a vampire. Completely unfounded, of course, since there are no such things as vampires, though Unbounded are the basis of that particular folklore. Anyway, tomorrow Stella, Ritter, and I will spend the day preparing for the meeting and introducing you to our counterparts in New York. Meanwhile, Dimitri and Laurence will head to Oregon to set up camp.”

  She gave a little sigh as she arose. “Well, I’ll leave you to shower and dress. Dimitri’s trying to get up, so I think I’ll go use some muscle on him. I put a few of your outfits in the closet here. They’ll have to do until we get to Oregon.”

  I was pulling on a T-shirt in preparation to find the bathroom when a knock came on the door. “Come in,” I called.

  Stella entered, carrying a tray. “Good to see you vertical. Ava told me you were up, so I brought you some breakfast. Hope you like bacon and eggs. And don’t give me any mortal nonsense about calories. Your training will burn more than you could ever eat.”

  I groaned. “Do you train with Ritter, too?”

  “We all do. It’s not a matter of choice. It’s survival.” She set the tray on the bed.

  “What’s this?” Besides the promised bacon and eggs, the tray also held official-looking documents.

  “Your new identity. An Oregon driver’s license, California birth certificate, social security number, passport, concealed carry permits from several different states, debit card—everything you’ll need. Oh, and under all that somewhere is your new cell phone.”

  “Debit card?” I wasn’t even going to think about the concealed weapons permits.

  She laughed. “We’ve had centuries to amass wealth. We have royalties on everything from books to patents, not to mention dividends on stocks. The card gives you access to a monthly allotment from a trust. Enough for anything you need as long as your requirements aren’t too lavish. Anything beyond that is up to you. Or you could ask your grandmother for funds.”

  I knew she meant Ava, not the woman I’d called Grandmother all my life. I picked up the card. “What if I took it and left?”

  “Do you feel ready to be on your own?”

  Good point.

  She shrugged. “The money is a gift from your Unbounded family, even if you decide to disappear. You may not feel the way we do, yet, but I hope you’ll give us a chance.”

  I sat down on the bed. The aroma of the bacon swirled deliciously around me, though I didn’t feel hungry despite not having physically eaten for more than a day. “She’s so . . . businesslike,” I said, for lack of a better word.

  Stella pushed the tray toward the wall and sat beside me. “She’s waited a long time for an Unbounded descendant. Many of us have.”

  “Maybe your sister’s descendants in Oregon will Change.”

  “That’s my greatest hope.”

  “There’ve been no Unbounded in her line yet?”

  She nodded. “A few. But we lost them a long time ago.”

  “What about having your own children?” I realized as the words left my mouth that she might have already raised a dozen for all I knew.

  “When I married Bronson, he had two grown children and a vasectomy.” She looked at her fingers lying in her lap and then back at me again. “At the time I was glad. I watched my little sister grow old and die, and her children do the same. Putting off childbearing seemed to make sense. There was no rush.”

  “You wish you’d had Bronson’s child, don’t you?”

  She gave a slight nod. “He’s ill—dying.”

  “Cancer?”

  “I wish.” She saw my confusion and added. “We found a cure for most cancers years ago, but sick people make the medical community rich, so scientists are forced to sweep their research under the couch to save their grants. We’ll get the cure out there eventually, but right now the people opposing us have more weight and money behind them.”

  I was stunned. My grandpa had died of cancer. “You mean the Emporium, don’t you?”

  “They’re always involved wherever there’s a huge amount of money at stake. Anyway, Bronson has a rare autoimmune disease that affects his heart and several other major organs. Medication isn’t working well, so he’s sick quite a bit of the time now, though this week’s been pretty good.” She was silent for a moment before adding, “If we’d had a child, I’d have something of his after he’s gone.”

  Until the child grew old and died. The words hung between us, unspoken, but I heard them as clearly as if she said them aloud.

  “Your child could be Unbounded.”

  “Twenty percent chance with an Unbounded and a mortal.” She hesitated before continuing. “About children—there’s something else you should know. Shortly after the Change, birth control methods no longer work for Unbounded.”

  I blinked at her. “What are you saying?”

  “Barrier methods have a high failure rate. Implantation happens despite an IUD, often with frightening results. Keeping careful track of your cycle can help avoid pregnancy a percentage of the time, but the only sure method is sterilization—if your partner is mortal, that is, because an Unbounded’s organs simply regenerate.”

  “Then why don’t you all have more children?”

  “Partly because it’s hard watching those you love grow old and die—again and again. Also, we come from a different age, an age where family was all-important, where people married and stayed together. Most Renegades have watched the world change, families falling apart, and the resulting weakening of society. We reject that. To us duty to family is everything. We feel a deep responsibility to track our descendants for at least six generations, which is generally how long it takes before the gene is too diluted to create an Unbounded. We refuse to allow our Unbounded posterity to be killed or recruited by the Emporium. Or left alone to discover their nature.”

  “Like Cort.”

  “Exactly. So we’re very careful. Laurence is already on his second marriage and has eight children that will probably result in more posterity than he’ll ever be able to look after by himself. His current wife is only thirty and they have one child together. She had her uterus removed two years ago. The next time he marries, he’ll look for someone who’s finished bearing children.”

  The next time. How could she be so casual?

  My thoughts must have shown in my face because she nodded. “It’s a paradox. We desperately want more Unbounded to stand with us against the Emporium so we keep marrying and trying, but many of our children aren’t Unbounded and as the generations go on, there aren’t enough of us to keep watch over our posterity.” She patted my leg and stood. “Enough seriousness for now. You should eat. When you’re finished getting ready, come meet my husband. He’s quite pleased with himself for getting all the lead out of Dimitri. Ritter’s in a mood, though. He’s insisting everyone double up on defense training for the next few weeks—especially Dimitri.”

  “And me, I suppose.” I was the weak link, no doubt about that. Perhaps the family tal
ent had skipped me altogether.

  Stella smiled. “Don’t mind Ritter. He takes it personally when any of us get hurt.” She grabbed my hand, squeezing it briefly. “I’m glad you’re here, Erin. I’ve missed having a sister, and while I love Ava dearly, she can never be that for me.”

  I’d always wanted a sister. I’d almost had one in Justine.

  After Stella left, I stared for a long minute at the phone she’d given me. It was thin and black and very much like the one I’d stolen from the office at the warehouse. At least I’d moved up in their estimation if they trusted me this much. Then again, after hearing about Ritter’s family and getting up close and personal with the Hunters, I wouldn’t likely be running to my family again anytime soon.

  I dialed and waited until a familiar female voice spoke. “Sorry, no one’s home right now. Leave a message and someone will call you back. Tom probably.” A laugh that made me smile. Justine.

  “Hi, Tom,” I said when the beep signaled. “It’s me. I wanted to see how it went yesterday. If you’re okay. Call me later on this number if you want to talk.”

  I hung up feeling pretty pathetic. He’d made his point quite clear, and hoping that he’d been unbalanced because of Justine wasn’t doing me any favors. Even if he begged on his knees, I didn’t know that I’d ever be able to trust him again. Not really. I told myself the only reason I was calling was because of Justine. She’d want someone to check up on her little brother. But in the end, I failed her because I’d called the home phone Justine had insisted on, which Tom never picked up, instead of his cell. I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk to him at all.

  MY SHORT HAIR WAS STILL wet from my shower when I emerged into the hallway and ran into an extremely large man with the thickest, brightest, most beautiful curly red hair I’d ever seen in a natural color. His red shirt contrasted unfavorably with his hair and his pale skin. I knew he must be Laurence, for he moved his impressive bulk with the same casual confidence as the others.

  He held out his big hand, which completely enveloped my own. “You won’t remember me, but I’ve seen you several times. I’m Laurence Green, and Dimitri’s my fifth great-grandfather from his tenth wife’s line. Our family tree is rather lengthy and wide. Takes a computer program to track everyone for even six generations these days.”

  “I can imagine, with him being so old.”

  Laurence had Dimitri’s brown eyes, though not nearly as dark. He was also taller and a good deal rounder. “Old?” He laughed, leaning up against the wall, folding his arms over his ample stomach. “Dimitri hasn’t even had his mid-life crisis yet.”

  “Are you a doctor like he is?”

  “No way.” He lifted a hand as though to wave away a pesky fly. “I’m not giving in to that for at least another century. I’m a hundred and ten already, you know. Right now I’m amassing a huge fortune so that when I do give in I can spend the rest of my life throwing unheard of amounts of money at my research.” His voice lowered. “Although, I do own, in one form or another, every relevant medical text in the world. They’re fascinating. Only don’t tell anyone, okay? It’s our little secret.”

  I liked him. I liked him a lot. There was no tension, no hidden agenda, no sexual desire emanating from him. He was a lot like my brothers, despite the fact that they looked nothing alike. My eyes felt suspiciously moist. “I’m pleased to meet you, Laurence. I really am.”

  He took my hand again and leaned forward, his face nearly touching mine. “I know. They’re all a little too intense, but you and I will get along just fine. As soon as we’re settled in Oregon, I’ll set you up in business. There’s nothing better than being in control of your own destiny, and as long as they hold the purse strings, you won’t feel that way.”

  Impulsively, I hugged him. “Thank you.”

  He smiled and winked at me, the fat on his face jiggling slightly. “Enough of that. I’m a married man. You’re going to love my wife, by the way. She’s a sweetheart.”

  Something about the way he said it made an impression on me. “She doesn’t know, does she?”

  “I’ll have to tell her soon.” He smiled, but this time his expression was infinitely sad. “I’ll introduce you as one of my many cousins. Won’t be far from the truth, I’m sure.” He patted my shoulder. “You’re a lot more like your grandmother than I thought. But I like you anyway. Come on, let’s go find the others. Take my advice, though, and don’t back down. Fight for what you want. Even if it’s not important.”

  He was a curious man. Affable and friendly one minute, sad and serious the next, and definitely not afraid to show his emotions. Maybe he was too young to have developed the habit of hiding them.

  Too young. When did I start thinking of a hundred and ten as being young?

  In a sitting room adjoining the kitchen, we found Ava and Dimitri together on a couch, Cort in an easy chair, and Ritter pacing along the shuttered window. Stella was on the loveseat next to an arresting white-haired man, who was older than I’d expected but much more handsome. In his younger years, he would have been a heartthrob; now he was the epitome of old-fashioned stateliness and grace. Stella snuggled in the crook of his arm, one of her smooth hands lying atop his wrinkled, age-spotted one in casual intimacy.

  “Ah, this must be the famous Erin,” Bronson said, coming to his feet and extending a hand.

  “You mean infamous,” I said with a smile.

  He chuckled. “Or soon to be. Goes with the territory.”

  My stomach lurched as our hands made contact. On the outside he appeared at rest, but touching him showed me his pain, as though it were my own. I drew my hand away, trying not to yank it. My imagination must be working overtime.

  “Well, I have to be off,” Laurence said.

  Ritter opened his mouth, but Laurence beat him to it. “Don’t worry. I’m armed, and I’m taking two of the guys. They know the score.” He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Bye, dear cousin. We’ll talk later.”

  I watched his bulk amble from the room, wishing I could go with him.

  “When are we leaving?” I addressed no one in particular. Ava was talking to Dimitri, and Ritter gazed sullenly out the half-open blinds on the window, so my gaze settled on Cort who at least appeared happy to see me. “I want to call my family before we go. See how they’re doing.” What I really wanted to do was tell them about the Hunters and about Ritter’s family so they would be more careful, but I couldn’t say those things over the phone, and that meant some kind of a visit.

  “We won’t leave until late tonight,” Cort said.

  Ritter picked up his machine gun from the windowsill and turned in my direction. “Time for your lesson.”

  “Can’t that wait until Oregon?” I asked.

  “No.”

  I was going to argue the point, but Ava nodded. “I have to agree with Ritter. You never know when you’ll need to protect yourself. Our encounter with the Hunters has proven that. We have things well enough in hand that we can spare Ritter for a while. You might even be able to arrange a quick visit with your family, if you really must.”

  At first I was startled that she had guessed my true intentions, but then she’d spent a good deal of time studying me. “Okay. Let’s train,” I capitulated with bad grace. “I’ll go change, but you have to remember I was shot a day and a half ago, and burned nearly to death before that. I’m not exactly feeling my best.” This was a lie. I actually felt quite well.

  Ava smirked at me. “Don’t worry. Ritter will go easy on you.”

  I sighed. I’d seen what his “easy” entailed.

  “You know,” Stella mused aloud. “Eventually your family may want to consider moving. That way, you would be able to visit them more readily.”

  At once I felt lighter. It would take time, but maybe my life could be put back together.

  Five minutes later, Ritter led me down to Stella’s walkout basement. The whole floor was one open room, with a long line of windows and glass doors along the far wall. Anot
her wall was lined with combat instruments, and still another sported a wooden mannequin with knife cuts marring both its body and the cork wall behind. There was a punching bag, a wrestling mat, and in the corner, looking very out of place, a pool table.

  Ritter gave me a flat smile. “Everything but a shooting range. But you know how to shoot, don’t you?”

  “A little.”

  “More than a little.” He strode to a black duffel near the rear wall by a drinking fountain, reaching inside to pull out a pistol. “This is yours. When we get to Oregon, I’ll train you on the other guns as well, and show you how to take care of them, but this will do for now. It’s a nine mil, but it’s compact, so you can carry it at all times. Use your purse, a shoulder holster. Whatever. We have a bunch to choose from in that bin over there. Next time a Hunter attacks, you’ll be ready.”

  I scowled. I didn’t feel comfortable enough with a weapon to carry it around, but more importantly I didn’t like him telling me what to do. “And if I don’t want to?”

  “Please, Erin.”

  I hadn’t expected that. Though the expression on his face hadn’t changed, there was a sudden shift in the way he held his body, and I knew the attack had shaken him. Not because there had been so many Hunters or the manner of the attack, but because he hadn’t expected it. He hated surprises. I was beginning to suspect Ava had made me train today only to assuage his conscience, to give him something to focus on.

  My anger died, and I decided not to remind him of how many gun owners had their own weapons turned on them. “About the other night, after the shooting,” I said, checking the chamber of the gun to make sure it didn’t have a bullet inside. Some people carried guns loaded, but I preferred to be two steps away from firing. That meant I’d have to rack before pulling the trigger. “Thanks for staying with me.”

  “It was my pleasure.” He looked at me through half-lidded eyes that sent an involuntary heat surging through me as I remembered the heaviness and warmth of his hand on my bare stomach, the relaxation in his face. His smell.