I tapped on the table, my eyes narrowing. “Figures Zarda is still trying for the most bloodthirsty weapon.”
“Rumor has it, your little escape act made him go insane,” Argus said.
I laughed dryly. “That man, if you can call him that, was already insane. He pitted fifty soldiers against each other to the death for his own amusement one day.”
His brow knitted. “You saw that happen?”
“I was part of it.”
The room was silent. Even though it wasn’t part of my initial design, the type of damage I was capable of, given the right motivation, wasn’t to be messed with. Ryoko and Rylan knew this the best out of everyone.
“Anyway,” Zane continued, “although we haven’t had the opportunity to take out a lot of their numbers, we’ve managed to keep their supplies low in the city, forcing them to have to retreat back to the castle walls more often. New fighters on our side have trickled down to nearly none. No one has made any escape attempts from the fortress, and our efforts to recruit civilians have been a waste. It’s also been hard to get any new intel. Zarda has locked the city down pretty tight. On the bright side, we’ve only lost one on our team, and that was due to his own stupidity. I don’t think I have to tell you who it is.”
“Drake?” I asked.
Zane nodded. Of course it was him. He had never been the brightest out of the bunch and was always too quick to react to situations. It was only a matter of time before he’d get himself killed.
“Azriel still owns Twilight, in case you were wondering, and I think that’s about it,” Zane finished.
“So basically, in the years I’ve been gone, we’re no closer than we were before,” I summed up.
He nodded. “Yeah, pretty much.”
I sighed. Of course it wasn’t any better for them. Why would my disappearance make it better? I was just one person, and it was only a matter of time before Zarda stopped putting any effort into my recapture. Then a thought occurred to me. “Hey, Ryoko, I never asked earlier. Aside from the fact that this cloth can change on a whim, what’s the real use for it?”
“It’s bulletproof,” she said. “It uses a newer technology that lessens the impact of the bullet, too. We tested it earlier. Works great.”
I nodded “Good to know. Do you know if it can handle shapeshifting?”
She shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t. Will it be a problem if it can’t?”
“No, I can fix that if needed. I’ll just have Raikidan test it out later.”
“We should head home, then,” Ryoko suggested. “You two can get situated in the house, and then you can stress-test the cloth some more.”
I nodded. “Good idea.”
I grabbed my bag from the office and then headed for the door with Ryoko while the others went back to work.
“We all piled into one car today, so we’ll have to walk, if that’s okay,” Ryoko said.
I nodded. “I’ve been walking for weeks. I can walk a few more miles back home.”
As we walked, I paid attention to Raikidan instead of soaking up our surroundings myself. It was quite amusing, really. I had never seen someone so interested in a city.
Then I thought about his possible reaction to Genesis when he saw her. “Raikidan, you’ll end up meeting Genesis when we reach the house. She looks young, but don’t be deceived by her looks. Genesis is the first nu-human I told you about before, hence her name. Since she isn’t a war experiment, you’ll never see her in battle. You’ll also meet Seda. The two work closely with each other, so they are almost always together. Seda is psychic, so be aware of that when you think to yourself.”
“Okay, sure,” Raikidan said absentmindedly.
I knew he had heard only a quarter of what I said, if that, but no one could say I didn’t warn him, although my warning wouldn’t be much help anyway. Seda wasn’t one to invade your mind, but sometimes even she couldn’t control her power, and if you didn’t lock memories or thoughts up, she would see them. Genesis, on the other hand, was a very strange case for an experiment, and overall would be perfect if it weren’t for one small problem…
Ryoko unlocked the front door as we arrived, and we all walked up the long staircase. Originally, there was a staircase leading down to the basement as well, but we renovated the front so anyone coming into the house would have to make themselves known first.
Reaching the top, I looked around. We were in the living room, and aside from the new furniture and renovated kitchen, everything looked the same. My room, if it was still mine, was right in front of us, with the small kitchen and bar next to it. Between the two was a door that led to the roof.
If everything was the same, down the hall would be Ryoko’s room, with the large bath across the hall. Between the kitchen and Ryoko’s room would be a door that led down to the basement, and next to her room, on the other side would be a spare bedroom. Genesis and Seda’s room was next to that.
Next to the bath, across the hall from Ryoko’s room would be another spare bedroom, and then Rylan’s room. The rest of the rooms down the hall and around the corner were a part of the addition that was added some time ago. They were either empty or claimed by the boys, one of them being the music room Rylan wouldn’t stop talking about until we had gotten around to making it.
Before I had a chance to put down my bag, a door out of sight opened. I watched a girl, no older than seven, with light skin and long raven hair pulled into pigtails, and a woman around my age, with creamy white skin and long blonde hair, come around the corner of the hallway. The woman was dressed in a strange two-piece outfit. It was a dark-violet leotard with a tight collar. Seamlessly attached were two tight sleeves of the same material that were fastened to a small golden ring fitted around her middle finger. In her hands she carried a silver chain with a purple amethyst pendant with a hexagram engraved in the center.
In the center of the leotard, near her breast, was a large cutout that was attached at the top and bottom by two gold rings with a leather strap holding them together. The same material as the leotard covered her legs. It stretched down to her feet until it reached her toes, leaving them and her heels exposed. Around her thighs, the material gapped in places as if it had ripped cleanly, and a loose white sash was wrapped around her.
Three black rings pierced her lips, one on each side and the last in the middle; and a dark veil with a golden hexagram hung over her eyes, obstructing a good view of her face. The little girl, on the other hand, appeared normal, wearing a yellow sundress and red ribbons that held back her pigtails, but I knew better.
“Eira!” the girl exclaimed, running over to me.
Kneeling, I took her into my embrace. “Hey, Genesis.”
Raikidan stiffened. “This is Genesis?”
I looked up at him. “I told you not to be surprised.”
“She’s just a child!”
“She may look like a child, but she isn’t. Her years well surpass seven hundred, and her wisdom and knowledge are unlike that of anyone I’ve met.”
“Things may be confusing now, Raikidan, but you’ll understand soon enough.” Genesis smiled at him. “Just give it time.”
Raikidan looked at her in awe. “How did you—”
“Thanks to Seda, I know all about you.”
I stood up and looked at Seda, giving her a respectful bow with my head.
Her voice penetrated my mind. “Do not worry, Eira. We will not say anything to anyone. It will be his choice to tell if he wishes them to know.”
I suppressed a shiver. Her voice was hollow and devoid of emotion. It was something you had to get used to, and my time away made it hard to do so. “Thank you.”
“It is nice to see you back. It has not been the same here without you.”
Ryoko noticed our private conversation as she made her way to the kitchen. “Hey, you two, secrets don’t make friends.”
“It’s nothing important,” I replied with a shrug. I walked to my room and opened the door. Peering in I fou
nd it exactly how I left it. It was a bit strange to see, but I was grateful.
She grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the bar. “Where you going?”
“Bed. Today has been a little more eventful than I’m used to. Raikidan, your room is the second door on the right of this main hall.”
“What about you guys testing those clothes?”
“It can wait ‘til tomorrow.”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
I entered my room, but as I closed the door, it was stopped. I looked back just as Raikidan forced his way in.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked. “I told you, your room is down the hall.”
“I’m staying here,” he stated in an authoritative tone.
“No, you are not,” I said. There was no way I was giving my room up to him or sharing it for that matter.
“I am.” With that, he closed the door.
“Get out! This is my room, and I don’t share.”
He averted his gaze and his voice quieted. “I don’t trust them.”
At first, I didn’t know what to say. Not only had he admitted something that was a sort of weakness, but he had insinuated he trusted me. I had to ask. “And you trust me?”
“More than them.” With that, he sat down under the windowsill, with his arms hanging over his knees, and closed his eyes.
There was no arguing with him at this point. He wasn’t going to leave, and I doubted I had the strength to force him. I may be strong, but I knew my limits.
Shaking my head, I walked over to my closet and put both shaman disguises away. Turning, I opened the drawer to my dresser and stored the material Shva’sika had put in my hair. I then made my way to my bed, and I took out the two books and note Shva’sika had given me. Opening the top drawer of the nightstand, I took out a handful of photographs and placed the books neatly inside, tucking the note into the blank book. Without looking at the photographs, I placed them back in the drawer and shut it.
I stored away my daggers in the lower drawer and then pulled one of the last meals out of my bag. I tossed the bag at Raikidan’s feet. “Make sure you eat.”
He looked at the bag, and then after a moment, reached in and took out some meat. As I ate my meal, I thought of something light and comfortable to wear. The clothing changed, its response time impressing me.
“I already know these clothes won’t change with my form like those shaman clothes,” Raikidan said, his mouth full.
Geeze, manners much? “What makes you say that?”
“It has the same feeling as the other clothes I wore before it.”
I nodded, my mind running this through. The first morning after Raikidan wore the clothes, he told me his experience with them. From his account, when he shifted to his natural shape, it felt as if the clothes disappeared, and when he shifted to his nu-human form, it suddenly reappeared. He couldn’t see the clothes changing or see where they went in the non-humanoid form.
“I suspected it wouldn’t be the same as your Guard clothes. That spell is strange and not something we could recreate with our technology. Though, there are uniforms with a technology that was made with shifters in mind. It causes the clothes to reform to the individual’s new body, but doesn’t disappear. I don’t know how it works of course, but I do know it’s not magic based.” I shook my head. “Back on track, I’d like to know if this new cloth with do the same as the technology we have at hand, or not work at all.”
He put his food down. “Then we’ll test it now.”
Standing, he closed his eyes and took the shape of a wolf. I watched, unable to look away from the sight. I’d seen him take his dragon shape many times, but only one form other than something human. It wasn’t an instant process, nor did it involve a bright light that made the transformation look beautiful. Instead the process was slow and his body became warped.
I crawled to the edge of the bed on my hands and knees and leaned over the footboard to get a better look. When his transformation was complete, he shook his head to remove the shirt that draped over it and then looked at me.
“Well, I guess we know it doesn’t work for shapeshifters,” I said with a small giggle. I couldn’t help it. The way he shook his head was slightly cute, although I’d never admit it to anyone.
The material, unable to discern the original body it was connected to, reverted back into its original cloth form on the floor.
“Can you bring me the cloth?” I asked, moving from my spot to grab the access book from the nightstand. Turning back, my face was met with his, but it wasn’t a wolf’s face. I did my best to not physically react. “Why do you insist on being so indecent?”
I was glad the wooden footboard was covering his lower half, but it didn’t change the fact he was naked and leaning onto my bed.
“Why do you have such a problem with me like this?”
“I’ve already told you. It’s indecent and not a human thing to do.”
His brow rose. “And I’m not human.”
I sighed, my aggravation clear, and went about searching for the druid spell using the Library access book. “That doesn’t mean you can’t learn to be decent in the presence of one.”
From my peripheral I could see him watching me, though I couldn’t exactly tell the expression he had.
I finally found the druid spell and the book read out how to apply the reagents. “Hey, I need that bag for the ingredients Shva’sika gave me.”
He pulled away, and I was sure to keep my eyes firmly planted on the book. The bag dropped on the bed and I snatched it up, still not looking at him.
“I don’t get you,” Raikidan said. “Two of your friends have vocally indicated how they find this body attractive. One even compared it to a god. Yet you actively avoid it. Do you just not see it the way they do?”
I couldn’t deny he had looks in this form. Actually, he really was the best-looking guy I’d seen in some time, but it didn’t mean I was attracted to him or wanted to see him naked. “No, I don’t. I don’t see that in anyone.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t, so leave me alone about it.”
I found the part of the spell that showed how to use spiritual magic in place of natural magic, and went about enchanting the spell on the cloth. When done, I tossed it to the edge of the bed for him. “Try it out.”
Raikidan watched me put the book away and drop my bag on the floor beside my bed before trying on the clothes. Testing them with the same wolf form, we found it working just as it should. Pleased, I went back to finishing my meal.
“Do you not see the same way as your friends because of your emotional design issue?” Raikidan asked.
My hand clenched and I ground my teeth together. “I said we’re not talking about this, so drop it.”
My meal done, I wrapped the plate up and stored it in my bag. I’d have to do a lot of dishes tomorrow.
Raikidan shifted to his natural dragon shape as I lay down. He watched me with great intensity as I got myself comfortable. I don’t get him…
Choosing not to dwell on something so trivial, I curled up and closed my eyes. But as I did, something twinged in my heart, and his questions replayed in my mind before unconsciousness took me.
Stupid, you know better than to dwell on this topic… You know what happened last time…
Chapter Thirteen
I groggily opened my eyes when the light from the skylight I both hated and loved became too much for me to ignore.
Shifting, I noticed my bed didn’t move right, as if there was another body on it. Slowly I sat up, and my eyes were met with Raikidan lying across the width of my bed on his back, thankfully clothed in standard denim pants and a tight men’s tank. Over his head my bell earring dangled from his hand.
My brow rose, a part of me irritated with him for being on my bed, while the other was just glad he wasn’t lying next to me. “What are you doing on my bed?”
“I was bored waiting on the sill for you to wake up. Not mu
ch going on in that alley,” he explained.
“Why not go out into the living room?” I didn’t question how he knew what an alley was. That answer didn’t really matter.
He looked at me. “And do what?”
Right, first time in a home with modern technology to entertain. “What are you doing with my earring?”
“I’m trying to figure out how you got it to work. It doesn’t ring on its own, but you made it emit that sound that put me on the floor.”
I chuckled, unable to forget that sight. “You have to hit it a certain way, with a specific amount of force, and either natural or spiritual magic.”
He looked at me. “But how could you use this before your shaman training?”
I crawled over to him. “Those gifted with spiritual magic always have access to it. It radiates off them, making them identifiable by the most experienced shamans. So, because it seeped out of me all the time, when I hit the bell, it’d always ring, where someone else wouldn’t be able to make it work.” I poked the bell with my finger and it tinged like a normal bell would when lightly touched, emphasizing my point.
Raikidan looked at the bell and then flicked it with a finger, the object swinging from the action but making no sound. He huffed and I couldn’t stop the entertained giggle from slipping off my lips.
To add insult to injury, I reached out and flicked the bell, choosing a particular frequency I knew worked wonders. It rang with a lovely tune, and then the sound of something heavy dropping in another room caught our ears.
“Laz!” Ryoko shouted.
I bit my lips and stifled a laugh, but Raikidan was less considerate and let out a boisterous laugh. “That was an awful thing for you to do.”
I continued to keep my laughter at bay. “I never said I was… a nice person.”
“Laz, I hate you, undo this right now!” Ryoko shouted. When I didn’t listen, she yelled out again. “Stop being a jerkface and fix this!”
I couldn’t hold it back anymore and rolled on my back as I laughed.
“Stop laughing!”
Destiny (Experimental Heart Book 1) Page 19