Steven did not know what to say.
The girls at the table broke out into a series of giggles, amused at his apparent ineptitude.
‘I guess the cat got your tongue. Be careful to air your views so willingly. You have a lot to learn. We’ll catch up some other time I’m sure. It was nice to finally meet the grandson I didn’t know existed.’ With that Jeff took his leave.
Jensen gave a whistle of admiration, ‘He never, ever comes in here anymore. You must have made him think it worthwhile.’
‘Yeah, but I didn’t exactly impress him, did I?’ Steven was embarrassed. Something about his grandfather exuded importance.
‘Nah, if anyone had asked Jeff before he was bitten, I’m sure he would have said the same thing. We know enough to realise that the reason we live like we do is because we are different and unusual. I wouldn’t call myself ridiculous, though.’
The girl who had first spoken to him smiled, ‘Anyway, my turn. I’m Susanna Abel. My parents are Benjamin Abel & Lina Santos. My grandmother, Catherine, is your aunt so we are second cousins. I have never left the community, and am happy to be oblivious about the outside world. I like living here.’
Susanna gave Jensen a sideways glance, and blushed. If his suspicions were right, Susanna was the girl who made Jensen want to stay.
‘I’m Kayla Clausen,’ the other girl started, ‘I am Susanna’s first cousin, but I am not related to you at all. It gets quite complicated here when you look at the web that the families have created. My mother is called Beatrice Santos and my dad is called Jan Clausen. Jensen’s father, Dr Johannes Clausen, is my uncle. So, are you keeping up yet?’
‘No, I’m totally lost,’ Steven admitted, apologetic.
‘I’ll have to draw you a map of who’s who then, but I have to say it’s hard for the rest of us at times,’ Kayla laughed. She flicked her hair to the side and gave him a flirtatious smile, ‘The thing is, we are against cross breeding.’
‘What do you mean cross breeding?’ Steven was now completely baffled. Genetics had never been his strong suit.
‘Well,’ the younger boy sitting quietly opposite spoke for the first time, ‘It’s a bit like this. No-one wants parents, siblings, or first cousins getting together in your world, right?’
‘I guess it’s not acceptable practice.’
‘So the same applies here. It’s important that we know what our parentage is and that anyone we consider dating has no family connection whatsoever. At first, it was easier to maintain. Recently, it has become a problem.’ He paused, and checked around for anyone listening. Once satisfied, he whispered, ‘It’s hard to keep all the lines clear which is why you have made a lot of people think about things differently.’
‘Me? What have I done?’ Steven was at a loss.
‘Think about it,’ Jensen said, as he leaned in.
Steven had no idea what they were on about now.
Chapter 32
Lessons
An uncomfortable expression came over the faces around him. None of them wanted to say aloud what they were thinking. Something about Steven in particular was taboo, something was unknown. When it hit him, he felt like a fool. In a loud voice, he exclaimed, ‘Of course, anyone here can mate with a human!’
‘Shush…,’ Kayla said, she looked all around her, and got closer. In a voice barely above a whisper, she continued, ‘We’re not supposed to even contemplate it as a possibility. What Emily did broke all the rules they implemented in setting up this place. You should not exist, let alone live here with us.’
‘We’re all a bit nervous about what you are,’ Susanna added, keeping her eyes down.
Steven sat back and folded his arms. ‘Great, so is that why no-one around us is daring to acknowledge I exist.’
‘Exactly, you’re an anomaly,’ the boy added, with a superior expression. ‘Anyway, I have not introduced myself. I am Susanna’s brother, Gideon. I guess it’s too late to ignore you now.’
‘I guess so,’ Steven looked around the table. It struck him they were just as clueless as he was. They had no idea what was to become of them either. The conversation had got far too serious, too soon. ‘So, where do we have to go now?’
Jensen, Susanna, and Kayla looked smug. Simultaneously, they said, ‘Maths.’
Gideon laughed and got up, ‘I have a different class, so have fun! Steven, this might be a bit above you. Don’t let it get to you, okay.’ He winked as he walked away.
Whatever was going on, it was not funny. Steven hated maths.
***
Catherine Abel could not believe it. After forty years of teaching she had developed nerves. Under normal circumstances she would not be fazed over a lesson, especially not to adolescents. Of course, today was not like any other lesson. Today, she was going to meet her nephew. She had discussed the problem at length with her husband, Isaac, and they had come to the same conclusion. There was no question on whether to accept Steven. She would treat him like anyone else. It was not in their nature to reject anyone, especially when you took into account Isaac’s background. It would be two-faced to turn their backs on someone different, because of who they were. Isaac had seen enough discrimination in his youth. He would never reject anyone for being different, and neither would she.
There were whispers that called Steven a dangerous hybrid, an unknown, a threat to their existence. She wondered if he could be a new possibility. There was so much to consider. It was hard to come to terms with the fact her sister, Emily, had conceived a son with a human. Yet, the problem remained. No-one on the council wanted anyone in the community to even consider living amongst humans as a viable option. It just couldn’t be. Everyone was unanimous. The only one who had ever objected had been Emily. However, since Emily had stopped attending council meetings after her disappearance, the issue had not raised its weary head in years. Now, it was back with a vengeance. These were not good times. Steven’s presence had opened a can of worms.
Catherine had never had any issue with taking human life for survival, but taking human life for pleasure was another matter. It was unacceptable. This was the keystone of their beliefs. The only exception they allowed was when members of the community left on a reconnaissance trip. The compromise was necessary to ensure they kept up-to date with new developments. It also gave a renewed vigour to those that left.
That was the only occasion where the rule was broken. Emily had gone against everything they had worked towards when she conceived Steven.
In retrospect, it should have been so easy to spot. No-one had ever been good enough for Emily. She had always been the rebel, wanting what was forbidden. With that last thought in mind, Catherine heard the pupils enter her class. As she looked up and smiled, a barely audible gasp escaped as she stared into her sister’s eyes. She would have known he was Emily’s son anywhere.
She kept her emotions in check. She wondered how Emily could have left her child for the sake of the community. The sacrifice must have been great. It was time for Catherine to set things right. She would accept Steven and cast her doubts aside. Maybe then, Emily would learn to trust her again.
***
Steven was taken aback by the woman standing authoritatively in the middle of the room. She was about his height, wore a serious expression, and had blazing red hair – it was even brighter than Caitlin’s. There was something familiar about her stance, but he could not put his finger on what it was.
As he got closer she welcomed him, hand outstretched, ‘Steven, I am your Aunt Catherine. Your mother, Emily, is my sister. Welcome home.’
‘Thanks,’ he muttered, surprised at the formal introduction. At least it explained the familiarity.
‘Please, sit anywhere,’ she said, as she walked back to the centre of the room.
Steven sat on the closest seat. It was one of several wooden benches, arranged in a circular fashion around the teacher’s central round table. There was nowhere to write, which he thought unconventional. He liked the idea of no writing being involved. In
total, there were six pupils in the room, including Steven. They all looked similar in age. He wondered when the others would undergo their change.
‘For the sake of our latest addition, can you all introduce yourselves, please?’ Catherine held out her arms in an open gesture.
Jensen, Kayla and Susanna introduced themselves, before a girl of a similar complexion to Susanna, said, ‘I’m Lisbeth Santos.’
‘Lisbeth is a very gifted mathematician. I’m sure you’ll get to know her more in time,’ Catherine added. She attempted to break the moment. It was obvious to Steven that Lisbeth was not keen to be acquainted.
The last student stood up, ‘I’m Tobias Abel; I’m your second cousin. I don’t need another cousin. I have enough cousins already.’ He sat down and folded his arms.
Steven had to suppress a smile. Another relative. Overnight, he had gone from being an only child with limited family, to having an enormous family. He was not sure how he felt about that. Catherine looked uncomfortable, yet she did not reprimand Tobias for being rude. Steven thought she should have done. Manners were always welcome where he came from.
Catherine gave a beaming smile, ‘Introductions aside, let’s begin. Steven, this lesson will help you stretch your mental agility. You have probably never thought to test your mind in this way, but it is something we realised we could all do after the change. Therefore, we try and prepare you to use this ability before the change. You have to be aware of the different facets you will be able to explore. Jensen, Susanna, can you stand up please, and give our guest a demonstration?’
Steven rolled his eyes, now he was a guest.
Jensen and Susanna stood up and faced each other. They grinned, as if they shared an inside joke.
‘Jensen you start,’ Catherine instructed.
‘Okay then, 1356 times 467; that shouldn’t be too complicated,’ Jensen said, smug.
Almost immediately, Susanna smiled, ‘633,252. My turn! 1,722,000 divided by 56.’
‘30,750 back at you. And I started out playing nice,’ Jensen remarked, wiping his fingers casually on his shirt.
They made it look so easy.
‘Okay, thank you for the demonstration,’ Catherine said, as she motioned them to sit down. ‘Steven, it’s your turn.’
‘Sorry I can’t do that,’ Steven said. He shook his head. This was not funny.
‘Yes, you can. It’s inbuilt. Let your instinct take over. Go on, stand up and give it a go.’
Steven did not want to get up, but he did not think he had a lot of choice in the matter. Reticent, he stood up and slouched.
‘Don’t think about the answer, just know it.’
That was funny. She had no idea how bad at maths Steven actually was. With a huge sigh, he looked at her and pouted, ‘How do I do that?’
‘Don’t think.’
Steven shrugged his shoulders, ‘Fine, whatever.’
‘Lisbeth, can you give him an easy one, please?’ Catherine encouraged.
Lisbeth stood up, and raised her chin. Steven doubted she would give him an easy one. Lisbeth avoided eye contact and said, ‘162 times 12.’
Steven felt his palms get sweaty. He had no idea what the answer was. All he could think of was that everyone was waiting and watching. He had never felt so inadequate. The more he thought, the worse it got, until eventually his mind went blank.
After an eternity of silence, Catherine interrupted. ‘You’re trying to work out the answer with your head. You are not allowing your instinct to take over. Close your eyes this time, pretend none of us are here.’
As much as he tried, Steven could not see the answer. He felt stupid. In desperation, his mind scrambled through the numbers trying to come up with the solution. It failed to materialise. Silence ensued. It seemed like the harder he thought, the more elusive the answer got. Finally, he opened his eyes and shrugged his shoulders, ‘I don’t know.’
Catherine could not hide her disappointment. She tried to cover it up with an encouraging smile. ‘That’s fine you can observe for today, practice with the others and try again next time.’
For the next hour Steven watched, perplexed, as they all tested themselves on a variety of mathematical questions that were not restricted to number. Most of it went over his head. He had never been good at mathematics, just average. He had passed his GCSE and been glad to see the back of it. What they were expecting of him was impossible.
After an hour of mental calculations, Steven needed caffeine. He had never felt so lost or confused by anything academic in his life. This took things to a different level.
‘That’s enough for today, see you all tomorrow.’ Catherine said, as she turned to her desk and sat down. She looked up as he was leaving, ‘Don’t be downhearted. You’ll get there in the end.’
Steven gave a half-smile. In his head, he screamed at her, ‘Are you out of your mind?’
He followed Jensen out of the room, deep in thought. He could not help but consider what other skills they had been hiding. The issue was, would he be able to do what they could? He had definitely flunked that class.
‘That was intense,’ Steven admitted, once he was sure he was out of Catherine’s earshot.
‘That was quite a mild one actually,’ Jensen added.
‘That was mild?’ Steven grimaced. This was not fun, not at all.
‘Afraid so,’ Kayla sighed.
‘I don’t stand a chance,’ he pouted.
‘We’ve all been there. It takes a long time to learn to trust your instincts. We’ve been preparing for this a long time. It’s only recently that we’ve understood what they’ve been saying. The change is drawing near and our instincts are sharpening. But, it’s a two-way process, nothing happens unless you let it,’ Susanna explained. She sounded like the teacher now.
‘I’ll take your word for it,’ he scoffed.
Steven wondered what was next.
Lisbeth and Tobias had scarpered at the end of the lesson, not hanging around to get acquainted. Even though he had been selective about his friends over the years, he had never had people actively avoid him. The whole situation would take some getting used to. For now, it seemed most people within the community saw him as an alien, a different entity. Maybe when the change happened he would be accepted.
It dawned on him that it mattered whether he was accepted. He had never wanted to be one of the crowd. Even so, he could not deny the pull of the family bond. Like it or not, the fact they were all in this together made him want to belong. For the first time ever, he knew there was something about him that linked him to everyone else. It was unnerving, but enticing. He had a family now, whether he wanted one or not.
Chapter 33
Gifted
After a lesson on Amazonian animals that had nearly sent him to sleep, Steven relished the thought of freedom. According to Jensen, this was the best one. It involved a trip to an underground cave.
Once inside the gigantic cavern, he noticed an older man waiting inside.
‘He is one of the originals,’ Jensen commented.
‘What do you mean originals?’ Steven asked.
‘One of the first to be bitten, first generation.’
‘Right,’ Steven nodded. He considered the point. It made his mum an original and him second generation.
He noticed Kayla easing up alongside him. She leant in and whispered, ‘That’s Franco, my grandfather.’
This time Steven was not singled out as a new arrival. He kept to the background and hoped to go unnoticed. There was a mixture of ages in the group. He guessed they ranged from about fifteen years to his age.
‘So, do we have a volunteer?’ Franco asked.
Gideon stepped forward and nodded.
‘Good, right go to the far end of the room. You know how this works. No-one will be able to see you, but you should be able to see us. Do not move or make a sound. Silencio.’
Steven was confused. He stayed at the back and watched as a girl went first.
She lo
oked towards the direction Gideon had gone in and started to walk.
‘Close your eyes, let your senses take over,’ Franco commanded.
The girl disappeared.
After a few minutes, they heard a thump. ‘Ouch,’ the girl cried out.
Coming back into the light, she rubbed her nose.
‘I bumped into the wall,’ she said, her nose crimson.
‘Good try,’ Franco added. He searched the crowd for another victim. ‘You at the back,’ he motioned, and then pointed right in Steven’s direction.
Steven rolled his eyes, so much for not being singled out. ‘Me?’ Steven asked. He felt like a small child intimidated by a burly schoolteacher.
‘Yes, show us what you can do. Remember just follow your instincts.’
Steven walked to the front and faced the direction in which Gideon had gone. He might as well give it a go, he had nothing to lose. He decided to go the whole hog, closed his eyes, and made his way forward. The darkness of the cave enveloped him. He was slow to start. Gradually, he gained confidence and increased his pace. Instinctively, he whispered Gideon’s name and listened. An echo ahead gave away the direction. He focused on the miniscule sound. On a mission, he walked on and held out his hand in anticipation. When it landed on Gideon’s shoulder he could not suppress a smirk. He had done it.
‘You’re a natural, that was amazing,’ Gideon said, his voice gushing with admiration.
Steven could not help but wonder how he had done it. It was mystifying. Back in the open Steven received his first rapturous applause.
‘That’s how it’s done,’ Franco beamed, as he approached, ‘Tell me, since when have you been able to locate things from a distance so easily?’
‘It’s been coming for a while, but, in the past year or so I seemed to be able to hit targets in games easily,’ Steven replied, just as bewildered.
‘Your skills were naturally homing in on the targets.’
Franco turned to face the rest of the group, and announced, ‘Everyone, Steven has the gift of echolocation. Just like his mother. Some of you will develop the skill quickly, others will have to practice. As most of you know, this is a skill that has been passed on to us by bats. They have used it to track down their prey for millions of years and now we are lucky enough to have inherited the same trait. Right, enough show, time for you all to partner up and practice.’
Hybrid (The Evolution Trilogy) Page 21
