by K J Carr
“Let’s just touch a little more on the last two types of Tennin,” Malak stated as he came into the room, wiping his hands on the sides of his hips. Okay, if he was going to practically point at them, I was going to look. And look I did. He smirked and sat down across from me in the living room.
I pushed my computer off my lap and onto the couch next to me. “Okay, go.”
“Jyrd-Tennin are like the generals of an army. Both the Hyrs and the Kri’s report to a Jyrd. Enoch is the Jyrd I report to. If you decide to transition, then you will meet him. The only ones higher than that are the Ave-Tennin. I have not met one, but they are like your kings or presidents.”
I thought about that for a moment. Not much there to work with, so I asked a question that I had been wondering for a while.
“What exactly is Transitioning?”
“You mean besides becoming a Tennin?” Malak leaned back and steepled his fingers in front of his face. “Tennins are immortal, Nica. We don’t die.” He paused. “That doesn’t mean we can’t be killed, but we don’t die a natural death. When you ‘die’”, he used his fingers to emphasize the quotes around the word. “When you, as human, ‘die’, you will have been prepared mentally for the transition from human to immortal Tennin. We will make sure you are not cremated, either by having you buried in a special casket or by switching your body with another. You will be in a comatose-like state, your body changing before you wake up. At that time, and not before, we will find out if you are Kri, Hyrs or Jyrd. Or even something more.”
I chortled. “Sounds almost vampiric.”
Malak just shrugged. “Myths generally are built on truths of some sort. This is an old one.”
“Do you also have fangs and need blood to survive?” I was trying hard not to laugh, but then again, I was hoping that it wasn’t true. Humor instead of utter panic was how I was going to tackle this.
Malak just stared at me. “Seriously, Nica? Have you seen fangs?” He opened his mouth wide. “Didn’t you just have breakfast with me? Did I drink blood?”
I practically could hear his eyes rolling up into his head and I fell over on my side laughing. When I finally got myself under control, I sat up and rubbed the tears from my eyes.
“Sorry. I’m good now.”
“One would think that for as long as you have lived, that you would have some sort of maturity.”
“Nope.” My smile was wide. “Go on. How long does it generally take to change from human to Tennin?”
“That depends on what type you end up. My transition, so I have been told, was about two weeks. Hyrs, because of the complexity of the bonds, can last up to two months. Jyrds, though, are in the five to six month range.”
“And Ave’s?”
“Again, strictly rumor. I have never met an Ave, that I know, and we haven’t had anyone transition into one for quite a while.”
“What’s the rumor say?” I was curious.
“Up to a year. Perhaps longer. Often, we are not even sure if they will complete the transition. Some do not.”
I glared at him. “You didn’t mention that I might not get through this!”
“Well, it is rare.” He rubbed the back of his neck, flushing.
“Huh. How many don’t transition at all?”
“It used to be one out of every ten or so. Lately, it has been a few more than that, say around five out of ten.” Malak made a point of not meeting my eyes now.
“Fifty percent?” My voice had gained a few octaves in my outrage.
“That is only lately, Nica. We think that someone is interfering with the transitions.” He looked at me, worried.
“You think? Why aren’t you protecting them while they are in that state?” I got up and started pacing, having to burn off my anxiety.
Malak watched me, his eyes hooded. “We are. Sometimes the watchers are killed as well.”
I stopped and gawked at him. “You got to be shitting me.”
“I wish. The plan is to hide you and to have not only myself but also a Hyrs pair guard you. We may even have a Jyrd to come in occasionally to make sure there isn’t any danger since Jyrds have more powers than we do. Well, different powers, at least.”
“Well, that just makes me feel warm and fuzzy.” I spat out at him.
Malak stood up and came over to me, putting his hands on my shoulder. “Nica, we will protect you. I promise.”
“And yet, this is another piece of information that I need to take into consideration.”
He nodded. “Do you want to die and possibly wake up immortal, or do you want to die and actually die? I mean, if you decide not to transition, what will happen?”
Well, duh. When you put it that way… I grimaced. “Yeah, you are right. It is a stupid thing to get mad about.”
He grinned and pulled me into a hug. He did smell good. Sinful. Young. My mind interjected. Immortal. I retorted silently.
I pulled away slightly. “Exactly how old are you again, Malak?”
He let me go and stepped back. “How old do you think I look?”
“About thirty, perhaps thirty-five.” I frowned. “But you already said you had lived a couple of centuries.”
“I am two hundred thirteen years old. Fairly young for a Tennin.”
I choked. As in literally could not take a breath.
He patted me on my back, softly at first. When I still didn’t take a breath, he slapped me once, hard on my upper back. That caused me to gasp.
“Breathe, young Jedi.” That was said with a straight face.
“Said no one ever.” I gasped out.
“Perhaps not, but they should have.”
I bent over, trying not to laugh and choke again. “Stop making me laugh!”
He chuckled and moved into the kitchen.
I finished almost choking. I finally was able to breathe again when he appeared, holding a glass of water.
I took it, taking a sip and then looked at him. “Two hundred and thirteen years?” How had I forgotten he had told me this?
“What do you want me to say? Or would you want me to lie to you?”
“No, no. I just have to get used to this. I have been thinking of you as the young kid, and that I was crushing on a baby and here you are, way older than me!” Realizing what I said, I instantly blushed.
Malak chuckled. “Indeed.”
He obviously decided that he was going to be a good guy because he didn’t proceed down that path.
“Any other questions?” He waited until I put down the glass of water.
“Yes.” I frowned. “Why sixty? Explain again what is so special about humans when they turn sixty.”
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He knew I was really asking why this particular age was chosen. “I wondered when you would ask that.” He walked over to a window and stared out it for a moment before turning. The sun was to his back, shielding his face from light so I couldn’t read his expression.
“Sixty is considered an age of wisdom. Some see it as an age of Transition. The transition from younger to middle age. The transition from working to retirement. Most people have finished or almost finished raising their children by the time they are sixty. Most know who they are and who they think they are meant to be.”
He paused for a minute. “And it is easier to determine their moral compass by then. If they are going to change, they generally would have done so by then. Wildness in youth should have been burnt out of them and a steadiness would have appeared. Or they may stay unreliable and wild in their sixties. It helps us decide if the person might even be ready for a Transition. Sometimes they are judged as not being ready, so we don’t ask. We let them live another life. Sometimes we think they might be ready and they decide no. It could be because of who they know they are is someone who cannot deal with Transitioning. Or it could be because they are not ready. Or there is someone still alive they want to stay around for. But generally, by sixty, you are well-baked, as the saying goes.”
I thought
about that. He was right. Except…
“What about Marcus? He has always known who he is. Why hasn’t he transitioned?”
Malak stood up and walked towards me. “How do you know he hasn’t decided yet? Has he told you? If not, he could have been approached, decided yes, and now is in his Transitioner stage. Or perhaps he said no because he felt he needed to be here for you or for Kaitie.”
Malak’s dark eyes bore into me. I had a hard time meeting them. I wondered how I could approach my brother to find out what he had decided.
“Remember, Nica, if he said no, he wouldn’t even know if he had been approached.” Malak’s voice was soft. “And if he said yes, he might just tell you that you were crazy, and he didn’t know what you were talking about. Because you cannot tell anyone. Not while in the Transitioner state.”
Damn. Catch-22 for sure.
“Some decisions are only for you. You alone must decide what is right for you, Nica. No one else can do that for you.” His voice was so soft now that it felt like a thought in my own head.
He was right. I stared down at the floor and thought about it. After a few minutes, I exhaled, relaxing back in my seat.
“So, I take it you want to visit Kaitie today.” Malak’s voice was light. I was glad he decided to change the subject. I gave him a weak smile.
“Mmmmm…yes. And I have to give a statement to the police, I guess.” I reached over to pick up my phone, checking my texts. “Marcus says that they would like me to do that today. I guess they visited Kaitie this morning and got her statement, even though she hadn’t seen much.”
“Wasn’t there something else?”
I froze, thinking hard.
“Shit! My doctor’s appointment!” I leapt up, checking the time. “I have to go right now.”
I ran around my living room, picking up my wallet and making sure I had a credit card and my insurance card before heading towards the door. Which was suddenly blocked by a large male body.
“Malak!”
“I am going with you.” There was no arguing with that tone of voice, but of course, I was going to try.
“I am just going to the doctor’s office about twenty minutes away. What could happen?”
He rolled his eyes. “Nica. So much could happen in twenty minutes. Not to say, you would then continue to the hospital after your appointment, and perhaps other places.”
Yep. He was beginning to know me.
“Ugh! Okay, let’s go or I’ll be late.”
Malak stepped out of the way and opened the door for me. I ran out it and then stopped, taking a couple of steps backward so that I could look at my door. A new shiny door knob and deadbolt were staring at me.
“You changed my locks?” Incredulous couldn’t even describe how I was feeling.
“I told you I was going to.” Malak stepped out, locking the door.
“I don’t have the keys to my own house?” I watched him walk down the path to the driveway and the passenger side of the car.
“On your key ring.” He slid into the car, closing the door.
I closed my mouth. “Dirty bastard!” I mumbled. I swiftly walked to my car, sliding into the driver’s seat.
Before I could buckle my seat belt, he mildly interjected. “You do know my hearing is exceptional, even through the glass.” Yes, he was amused.
“Fuck.” There really wasn’t anything more to say about it.
Chapter 9
I had stopped to talk to the nurses before walking towards Kaitie’s room. They had mentioned that she had had a restless night. Malak listened, frowning, but didn’t say anything.
Marcus was hovering nearby and intercepted me, dragging me down to the waiting area. He smiled, the effort not quite reaching his eyes, before pulling me into a hug. I think I have had more hugs in the last couple of days than in most my life.
“Nica. I had a talk with the doctor. They think they know what is wrong with Kaitie.”
“Yeah?” I looked at him expectantly.
“Let’s sit down, Nica.” Marcus tried to pull me over to a chair, but I resisted.
“Just tell me, bro.”
“They think she…” Marcus paused, his face grim. “They think she has a brain tumor. They are scheduling exploratory surgery to see exactly where it is in her brain, and if it is possible for them to get it out.”
I suddenly felt the need for that chair, moving over and sitting down heavily.
“They are not sure of her prognosis until they get in there and see how big it really is and exactly how it is situated in her brain. Right now, the MRI shows it may be in a difficult place for them to operate, but they are bringing in a specialist to take care of it.”
Marcus had sat beside me, taking my hands.
Tears sprang to my eyes, but I blinked them away. “Does she know?”
He nodded.
I looked at the floor for a moment, thinking. This is Kaitie. She will get through it. She must get through it.
Taking a deep breath, I looked Marcus in the eyes. “Okay. I am going to go talk to her. And if she is asleep, I am going to just sit with her for a while.”
Ignoring Malak, I got up and walked down the hall. Walking into her room, I saw the doctor leaning over her. I started to stop when I realized that she was not conscious. The room was freezing, which was weird because it had been so warm in the hallway. And Kaitie’s face was pale, almost as if she was…
“No!” I rushed in, Malak following right behind me. The doctor turned and looked at me. It wasn’t the same one from last night. In fact, this one had red eyes! His hair was a reddish black and his face was lean, almost gaunt. He was almost as tall as Malak, but the evil that seemed to come off him filled me with fear, and then anger.
Malak reached for me, but I twisted out of his grip and rushed forward. I pushed the man away from her, my hand almost freezing on contact with his chest.
“Get away from her!” I stood protectively between Kaitie and him.
Malak’s face was furious. He came running towards the man and hit him, the force of the punch knocking the guy into the wall next to the bed. Malak then started to glow.
I shielded Kaitie, noticing that her skin was almost icy. Ignoring the two men, I pushed the blankets around her, bundling her, and almost laid on top of her to warm her up. I put my head on her chest to hold her tightly. The light in the room got painfully bright behind me, so I closed my eyes, but I could still hear.
“How did you get in here, daemon?” Malak growled.
The man laughed. It was like nails on a chalkboard. I shivered.
“I want your new toy, Tennin. She is ours. We have foreseen her coming. But in the meantime, her friend? Her friend was so delicious.”
I started to get up, so angry that the man had gone after my family, but I heard a swishing sound as the room got even brighter. I couldn’t see anything but spots in front of my eyes. After a moment, the light died down.
“Damn it.” Malak spat out.
I turned and squinted at him. “Where is he?” It was hard to see since my eyes were still recovering from that bright light, but I could make out Malak’s form and most of the items in the room.
“Gone.”
I was upset that he had gotten away, but there was something more important right now that needed to be taken care of. “Please, help me with Kaitie!” I pleaded urgently.
Malak came over and looked at her. “He was trying to drain her life force.”
“Thanks for the explanation but I don’t need that right now, Malak! I need her to live!” I snarled at him.
He stood for another moment, hesitating, and then reached out and put one large hand on her forehead.
Nothing happened for a moment. I was about to panic when suddenly, I could feel her body temperature rise. Color came back into her cheeks, her skin felt normal again, and her breathing became slower and deeper.
“Thank you,” I whispered to him, watching my best friend.
Malak stumbled
back.
“You okay?” I glanced up, worried.
“Yes, I will be in an hour or so. I gave her some of my own energy. I need…” He turned and stumbled towards the door. “I need to get some food. And rest. I will be back.” He lurched out the door.
I didn’t really notice. Kaitie was looking better, but she still hadn’t woken up.
I sat down next to her, taking her hand. Finally, the shock of what had happened hit me. My best friend, my sister in heart, had almost died because of some stupid daemon. I leaned over and put my head on her shoulder and cried, my tears wetting her hospital gown. I wasn’t crying because she was dying. No, this was because she might have died because of me and this damn decision I had to make. It was so senseless.
The area where I had my head got warmer, but I didn’t notice. Her heartbeat got a little stronger. But all I could feel was my love for her and my fear that she was going to die. Another part of me observed me and this fear, but the inner me was recognizing this was Kaitie.
I felt a hand on my head and lifted it, confused. Kaitie looked at me and smiled.
“Hey, Nica.”
“Oh!” I rubbed my eyes. “Are you okay?” Stupid question, but I wasn’t really thinking straight right now.
“Tired.” She did a slow blink, so slow, I thought she was going back to sleep. “Did they tell you?”
I nodded, too choked up to say anything.
“It will be okay, Nica.” Her hand touched my cheek, cradling it. “Tell Mary to mind the store and that I will be back as soon as I can. She can always call me on my cell if she needs to reach me.”
I nodded, even though I was pretty sure that Mary, who had been working for Kaitie for the last four years, was able to handle the store perfectly well while Kaitie concentrated on healing.
Kaitie continued, her speech slow and slightly slurred. “Marcus was here earlier. Tell him to come back and tell me stories when he can. When the diner is closed. I heard him, and they helped the night pass faster.”
