Perigord

by Marc Lindsay

  “Seems the boy ain’t human,” Onyx stated.

  “What is he then?” Strix asked.

  “Not sure, but he’s a tough one. Kid hurt my fists,” Onyx said.

  “For real?” Strix said surprised.

  “Yeah, that’s not easy for me to admit either,” Onyx said.

  “Good thing I was here then,” Strix replied.

  “I would have finished him. Just would have taken me a bit longer is all,” Onyx elaborated. This made Strix laugh as she walked over to inert figure of Selene.

  “I’m sure you would of,” Strix said casually.

  “Don’t make fun of me girl,” Onyx growled.

  “Relax Onyx, I wouldn’t dream of pissing you off. Do you think the girl’s special too?”

  Onyx glanced over at Strix and then the still figure of Selene at her feet.

  “Nah, she smells human. We’ll have to kill her though,” he commented.

  “Of course, wouldn’t have it any other way,” Strix smiled.

  “I’ll handle the boy,” Onyx stated.

  The black giant placed both hands on Jason‘s neck and was about to wring them when a figure bounded out of the tree line and into the back of Onyx.

  Onyx cried out, dropping Jason as they both fell to the ground. A startled Strix whirled to face her unknown assailant but was too slow, as the figure struck her with blinding speed, sending the female assassin crashing into the trunk of a tree, then falling face first onto the grass. She remained still. The figure stepped into the light. It was Ulysses, dressed only in sweat pants. The cold was apparently having no effect on him. Ulysses quickly checked the vitals on Selene, then turned to face Onyx who was slowly getting to his feet.

  “Ulysses, I should have guessed,” Onyx growled.

  “You should of, but you’ve never been terribly bright, Onyx,” Ulysses replied.

  “This is none of your business changeling,” Onyx stated.

  “You come to my town, attack its citizens and expect me to do nothing? I ought to slay you and your partner as a warning to others, however I’m turning over a new leaf. A kinder, gentler me,” Ulysses said. Onyx smiled, displaying his black glistening teeth.

  “The rumours are true then, you have gotten weak over the past millennia,” Onyx said.

  “Some say rumours, I say wishful thinking. I’ll give you the chance to take Strix and get the hell out of Perigord though,” Ulysses said.

  “Not leaving without that bag,” Onyx stated, pointing to Selene’s back pack.

  “These two are under my protection, so no, you can’t have the bag,” Ulysses said.

  “It’s not a request,” Onyx roared and charged the librarian. Ulysses stood his ground calmly and cocked his fist as Onyx bore down on him like a rampaging rhino. Ulysses smiled and transformed, his limbs seemed to lengthen and his muscles thickened into solid slabs. The colour and texture of his skin changed becoming rougher and turning a deep blue. His face stretched, becoming slightly elongated. Feet and hands grew becoming blunt and powerful in proportion to his new muscularity. Veins popped and throbbed and ran along the muscles of his arms and legs. Thick black horns grew from the top of his head curving back and following the contours of his skull under his ears, finally pointing out from his cheeks like a ram. The transformation took mere seconds and with Onyx nearly upon him, Ulysses released his cocked fist into a wrecking-ball powered punch that sounded like an explosion when it connected with Onyx’s jaw. The punch stopped the giant black thug in his tracks.

  “Tag you’re it,” Ulysses grunted and followed up his attack on Onyx with a series of punishing blows to his neck and head. Onyx tried desperately to ward Ulysses off, but it was obvious his battle with Jason had weakened him, something which the transformed librarian was taking full advantage of. Ulysses grabbed Onyx around the back of his head and proceeded to fire knees into his sides. The giant groaned under each blow. Finally Ulysses grabbed the sagging form of Onyx and delivered a crushing head butt to his face, sending Onyx back to the ground where he laid still.

  Jason had watched the entire fight through groggy eyes, not certain of what he was seeing. Attempting to get to his feet he slipped face first to the ground. He was barely aware of powerful arms scooping him up from the ground. The last thing Jason remembered was the still figure of Selene on the ground before the darkness took him.

  Chapter 23

  Jason gasped and tried to sit up, but his body felt like one giant bruise. He was lying atop a leather chase lounge with a blanket draped over him. The room was dimly lit and his eyes were blurry. He was having trouble making out where he was. Every movement he made sent waves of pain throughout his body. He was so caught up in his own misery that he didn’t even sense the figure as it entered the room.

  “Ah, you’re awake.” The voice sounded familiar, but it took him a moment to place it. Before he could respond, the figure stepped closer, bearing a tray of china. It was Ms Jax.

  “Where am I?” Jason rasped.

  “The library of course,” Ms Jax replied with a toothy grin.

  “What am I?” Jason asked, but before Ms Jax could respond, another voice chimed in.

  “The same as me,” Ulysses stated, walking casually into the room. He was now dressed as he usually was, in a tweed three-piece suit. Jason‘s face was a map of confusion.

  “And what’s that?” Jason asked.

  “Not human,” Ulysses replied casually as he sat down opposite Jason and poured himself a cup of hot tea.

  “Are you being funny, because the last thing I remember were two freaks pounding the shit out of me, and Selene,” Jason’s eyes went wide. “Shit, Selene, where is she?” he yelled as he attempted to climb off the lounge. Ulysses waved him down.

  “Relax slugger, she’s asleep in the next room,” Ulysses said.

  “I don’t understand Mr Walker, or is that a fake name too?” Jason said, slumping back.

  “Ulysses is a name I’ve acquired since my time here,”

  “Here? What does that mean?” Jason demanded.

  “It means that the people from planet earth aren’t alone in the universe,” Ulysses replied.

  “What?” All three of them turned to see Selene standing in the doorway.

  “Selene, I’m so pleased you could join us. Take a seat, this concerns you as well,” Ulysses invited.

  “Have you lost your mind? Jason, tell me you’re not buying what he’s selling,” Selene replied with frank disbelief.

  “You didn’t see what I saw,” Jason shot back.

  “I don’t know what you think you saw, but,” Selene didn’t finish her sentence as Ulysses’ face changed before her eyes, in both colour and shape. Reptilian scales pushed forth from his skin, which changed a pale green. His mouth widened and eyes sunk into his head and blinked a yellow caste. Ulysses’ frame seemed to shrink within his suit and long slender arms grew forth from the cuffs of his sleeves. The hands were talons with small nodules protruding from the palms.

  The process took mere seconds and the metamorphosis had the desired reaction on Selene who, with the guiding hand of Ms Jax, slumped into the seat placed behind her. Selene’s eyes never left Ulysses who, despite his new form, continued to sip his tea. A sharp blue tongue darted out from his mouth every few seconds. Ulysses even appeared to be smiling.

  “Ms Jax please pour Selene a tea. I do believe she’s still feeling a little faint”.

  After filling Selene in on the events that had transpired after her blackout, the room fell quiet. Letting the information sink in, Selene seemed to take it rather well.

  “Who are they and what did they want?” Selene asked Ulysses, who had changed back into his human form.

  “They, the two you refer to are hired goons. The large one is Onyx, a nasty Runine, his race are mineral composites. Strix is a Syrin, her biology is similar to earth’s avian wild life. They nearly always work together. As for the why, I’m sure it has something to do with Perigord,” Ulysses said.

&n
bsp; “Heinrich, that’s who you’re talking about, right? Heinrich Perigord?” Jason asked.

  “That’s correct,” Ulysses said.

  “But he’s been dead for centuries,” Selene replied.

  “Did you see him die? No. And as for age, I’m well over a thousand years myself, give or take a decade. Ms Jax is older still,” Ulysses said off hand.

  “So what about you, Mr Walker, are you from a planet of lizard men?” Selene asked haughtily. Ulysses burst out laughing and Ms Jax issued a chuckle as well.

  “That reptilian transformation I performed earlier for your benefit is just a teaser. I’m a Therian, we can pretty much change into whatever we want. This is limited to size and imagination,” Ulysses said. Selene nodded, then pointed to Ms Jax.

  “What about her?” Selene questioned.

  “Ms Jax is from a planet with a heavy gravity and atmospheric pressure, like what you’d find at the bottom of the Ocean. Her people have an amazing body density and strength. You mentioned the Hulk the other day. Well Ms Jax would destroy him,” Ulysses said with a grin. Selene and Jason looked highly impressed by this revelation. Jason suddenly went quiet. Selene seemed to sense the change in his demeanour.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  “What am I, and how did this happen to me? Does that mean my mum’s an Alien too?” Jason said to Selene. Although the question was aimed at Ulysses.

  “Your mum’s human. I wasn’t sure about you at first, but after watching you the past week and seeing your actions against Onyx and Strix, I’m positive that you’re part Therian too,” Ulysses said.

  “Like you.”

  “Like me.”

  “How is that possible? Who’s my father?” Jason demanded.

  “I don’t know the answer to that, but I think that’s a conversation for another day,” Ulysses said solemnly, Jason sighed then nodded.

  “I agree, but we will continue this discussion,” Jason said.

  “Fair enough,” Ulysses replied.

  “How can there be aliens running around, yet no one knows?” Selene interjected.

  “Humanity has known for most of its history,” Ms Jax said.

  “She’s correct you know. In every civilisation there are tales of beings with great powers. Gods, Demons, myths, legends, creatures that could fly and swim, boogiemen and monsters,” Ulysses said.

  “You’re telling me our religions, fairy tales and myths are based on alien beings living on earth?” Selene replied incredulously.

  “In a nutshell, yes,” Ulysses nodded.

  “How many?” Selene asked. Ulysses thought for a second before answering.

  “A few thousand at a guess and that’s not including half breeds,” Ulysses replied. Both Selene and Jason looked at him quizzically.

  “Those like Jason that are half human,” Ulysses added.

  “How many half breeds?” Jason asked.

  “How long is a piece of string? You’re asking how many thousand alien beings have mated with humans over a few thousand years,” Ulysses let the question remain open.

  “How come there aren’t more super powered people running around? Nothing on the news, or internet?” Selene asked.

  “We are all very careful not to expose ourselves. None of us want to end up on a steel gurney being dissected by the military, and not every alien has special abilities. Sometimes traits aren’t passed on to children; just like the child of a great musician doesn’t necessarily have their parent’s musical talent. Sometimes over generations, abilities are lessoned or lost. You might find certain people with extra sensory perceptions.”

  “You mean like telekinesis or telepathy?” Jason cut in.

  “To name but a few.”

  “What about my abilities and how did you sense them?” Jason asked.

  “Believe it or not, it was when you first came in. Do you remember?” Ulysses prompted. Jason mulled it over.

  “When I first met you?”

  “No, before that. What was your first impression on arrival?” Ulysses asked.

  “I came in walked down the stairs, touched one of the gargoyles, then met you,” Jason recalled.

  “That was the reason I approached you.”

  “I don’t understand, because I touched the gargoyle?” Jason said, confused.

  “No, because you saw the gargoyle,”

  “You’ve lost me,” Jason said, puzzled.

  “Too nearly everyone the library looks like, well a regular run of the mill library, boring, plain, ordinary. The fact that you could see it in its true form means you are different. Humans see what they want to see. Only those with special attributes tend to see the library as something truly special,” Ulysses said.

  “Then why can Selene see it as well?” Jason asked.

  “I don’t know, maybe it’s because of you, Jason. Maybe she was able to see because you opened it up to her.”

  “How can you control who sees and who doesn’t?” Selene questioned.

  “I can’t, she does,” Ulysses said.

  “Ms Jax? How?” Jason asked.

  “Ha, no, no, not I,” Ms Jax replied.

  “I don’t understand,” Selene said.

  “I think I do. This place is alive, isn’t it?” Jason asked. Ulysses touched his finger to his nose. “Very clever. How did you guess?”

  “The place gives off a vibe, it kinda makes sense. The library is always changing isn’t it, moving,” Jason said.

  “I thought Perigord built it,” Selene said.

  “That’s hard to explain. Jason, do you remember me telling you, don’t believe everything you read or hear concerning Heinrich? This is one of those times. Heinrich discovered her, added to and enslaved her for a time. But times change,” Ulysses said, a hardness to his tone. Ms Jax interrupted them with a polite clearing of her throat as she pointed to the clock on the wall. Ulysses checked his wrist watch and nodded.

  “You’re right, it’s getting late and we have to get you home. Jason, do you mind leaving the information you liberated with us tonight? I would like to look through it. I promise we’ll share anything we find,” Ulysses said.

  “No problem,” Jason replied.

  “What about us? What if they attack us at home?” Selene interrupted.

  “Trust me, tonight you’ll be safe. That pair are off licking their wounds and tomorrow I’ll set up something a little more permanent,” Ulysses replied. Both Jason and Selene looked slightly comforted by his words.

  “Selene, your Grandmother is aware of where you currently are, so you don’t have to try and sneak in. However Jason, I believe you can climb back in through your window without assistance,” Ulysses said. The two teenagers looked taken aback, but before either one could answer, Ulysses cut them off.

  “Save your questions for later. Ms Jax will drive you home and I’ll see you both tomorrow,” Ulysses replied.

  After ensuring Selene arrived home safely, Jason thanked Ms Jax and quietly let himself back into the house. Checking on his mum who was sleeping soundly, Jason decided to have a quick shower and hit the sheets. Despite the late hour and the exhausting events of the night, it took him awhile to close his eyes. Thoughts of Gods and monsters ran through his head. Jason wondered if anything would ever be the same again.

  Chapter 24

  Jason awoke and his first thought was, ‘What bloody day is it?’ Then it dawned on him. “Shit, school!” He glanced at his watch and cursed. Jumping from his bed, Jason changed quickly and raced downstairs. Stopping briefly in the kitchen for a piece of fruit, he flew out the door and ran toward school.

  “I’m gonna be late,” he mumbled, picking up his pace as he weaved through the streets. Letting his mind drift Jason’s subconscious took over and his body began to change subtlety. Limbs lengthened, his feet spread within the confines of his footwear and muscle fibres grew. Jason’s gait widened, strengthened tendons and ligaments worked alongside powerful muscles propelling him along at a breakneck speed. Not eve
n aware it was happening at first, Jason leapt over a fire hydrant, clearing it easily and landing a couple of metres past it. He smiled with a joyful exuberance and thought to himself how fantastic this felt. His efforts were putting him under no strain, it was if he were taking a leisurely stroll.

  Jason passed a young boy playing in his front yard. The boy stopped and stared, his mouth hung open as Jason whistled past. Jason caught the boy’s reaction, then he saw his reflection in the window of a parked car. His physical form had changed dramatically. An elongated face with sharp teeth lined his mouth, black eyes stared back unblinking. Long pointed ears and a light tan skin finished his wild appearance. Without breaking his stride, Jason focused his will and attempted to force his change back. Slowing his breathing, he concentrated and imagined himself transforming back. It took a bit of his will but Jason was able to morph back to his original form by the time he reached the school gates, which luckily, were empty of witnesses. However from across the street a hooded figure watched as Jason entered the school grounds.

  Sprinting the length of the corridor, Jason checked his watch.

  “Thank God, I still have a few minutes,” he muttered as he burst through the class room door, just as Mr Rosenberg was calling roll.

  “Ah Mr Page, thank you for gracing us with your presence. Please take a seat,” Mr Rosenberg said wearily. Jason scanned the room and found Selene nestled up the back. She was patting the empty seat next to her. He made his way to her as Mr Rosenberg finished calling the roll.

  “Hey, how are you feeling this morning? I kind of half expected you to stay home,” Jason whispered.

  “I’m a little sore, but otherwise I’ll live,” Selene replied.

  “I’m feeling great, there was no way I was staying home today,” Jason said.

  “Me too, I would of gone stir crazy,” Selene said. A book was slammed down hard on Jason’s desk, making them both jump in their seats. Mr Rosenberg was looking down at them with a look of disdain on his face.