by JJ Krzemien
He raised granite eyebrows. “How would you like me to tell it?”
“I don’t know.” I waived my free hand. “Just get to the part you actually know about.”
“All right. There are two organizations right now vying to shape our modern world. The one your gunman is associated with is called the Amigis—meaning unmingled. They want to purify the human race. For as long as I’ve been alive they’ve been hunting and killing all half-breeds, or hybrids, and anyone associated with them. They killed Sarah because she was your friend.” His grotesque features twisted in sympathy.
Sarah was human. What hypocrites. I clenched my empty fist. They would all pay for what they’d done.
Oscar continued, “On the other side is a group created to protect almost all children of mythic and human parentage. They are probably seeking you too at this point.”
“Almost all?” I opened the bar and took a small bite.
“Yes, no one will touch cambion—a half demon. But everyone else they’ll protect. They’re an elusive group because of it. Just call themselves The Tribe.”
I swallowed. “And are you part of that group?”
“No. Not me. I’m one of the many rogues. Fending for ourselves.”
I took another bite and chewed. These Amigis people had ruined my life all because I was different. Heard that story before, over and over throughout history. What’s wrong with people?
“Why doesn’t The Tribe get rid of the other group?” I asked.
Oscar considered that for a moment. “They’ve been trying for hundreds of years. It’s not that easy. And with technological advancements, both sides have gained more power, but no real advantage over the other.”
“Even with all the powers of the hybrids, or whatever, they can’t kill a group of humans?” I asked, disbelieving.
Oscar bared his fangs—smiled? “Ah, you assume that the Amigis are all humans. They’re plenty of hybrids playing for that side, too.”
“You’re kidding. Half-humans with magical powers are fighting on the side that wants them all dead? What the F.” That made no sense.
He nodded. “Ya see, some hybrids hate what they are. From their perspective, if the Amigis put a stop to supernaturals…mixing with humans, then they spare future hybrids the same grief and self-loathing that they feel. They probably have other motives, too.”
I finished breakfast. The Amigis sounded purely evil. Hateful, narrow-minded people who didn’t care how much they hurt others. Pressure filled my sinuses and tears formed in my eyes. I didn’t want to cry. I wanted to stay angry. Some day, somehow I’d find the Amigis and make them pay for what they’d done.
Wrenching me from my vengeful thoughts, Oscar said, “I have something for you, Lili.”
I raised my eyebrows at him. “Yeah?”
“Look in that side pocket of your pack.”
Unzipping the compartment, I pulled out a small black box.
“Happy early Christmas or late Birthday—whichever you like,” Oscar said.
The gift was so unexpected that for a moment I just turned the box over in my hands. Finally I took the top off, inside was a triangular gold locket on a fine chain. I met Oscar’s eyes. “It’s pretty.”
He waved a massive hand at me. “Yeah, yeah, I’m sure you’ve had lots of pretty things already in your life. Inside is a piece of my protection power. This way you can wear it and have some protection even when I’m not around.”
I studied the locket again, more closely. “Can I open it?”
Oscar rumbled a chuckled. “It’s not going to fly away or anything. Open it if ya want.”
Within the two halves was what appeared to be a piece of grey marble. No swirling, glowing magical whatever that I’d expected. I closed it, slightly disappointed.
“Not much to look at, but it should do the trick.” He stood up and stretched to his full height.
“How does it work?” I stood, too.
“Wear it and it will warn ya when danger is near. It’s only a little piece, so it won’t generate a shield or anything. Seems like you could use a bit of advance notice of danger, though.”
“Thank you, Oscar. It means a lot.” I slipped the chain over my head and the locket under my shirt. The cold metal warmed from my body heat.
∞ ∞ ∞
Our hike took us deeper into the forest. Oscar seemed to know the place well and assured me we wouldn’t get lost. Plus, worse case he’d just fly us out of here.
We weren’t headed anywhere in particular. Oscar wanted fresh air and a day to stretch his legs before returning to the city. He also insisted that it was safer for me to be as far away as possible. Let the Amigis assume I’d disappeared.
My mind wandered to Oscar’s warning to not trust other hybrids. It was about time I started taking what he said to heart. If I had stayed with him after his first garanth reveal, I wouldn’t have run into Sarah and…
I shook myself. “Wh-where are the pure gargoyles—not the hybrids?”
Oscar seemed to consider my question carefully. “Most of our mythic parents live on a different…plane of reality than we do. Every once in a while they cross over to our side. Generally, though, they don’t live here. The world is bizarre enough with us in it.”
“Uh-huh.” I agreed. “Before, under the bridge, you said that my mom should have been the one to tell me about what I’m becoming. Was she an angel?”
“I don’t think so, no.”
“Then my dad was an angel?” My brows drew together. “I’m confused.”
Oscar stopped and stared at me. “It’s really hard to kill an angel. If either of your parents had been, they’d be alive right now.”
I nodded, taking that information in. If neither of my parents were angels, and my mom was definitely…well, my mom. Then—my dad.
My eyebrows shot up. “My dad. He wasn’t my real dad?” The idea made my head swim. Had he known? Why hadn’t he or my mom told me?
Oscar looked grim. “Like I said. Your mom should have been the one to tell you.”
My real father was an angel, and presumably alive. Had he ever visited? Did he even know I existed?
As if hearing my thoughts, Oscar said, “Don’t dwell on it too much. Few hybrids ever meet their supernatural parent. We’re like their bastard children.”
For the first time I really wondered at Oscar’s childhood. Growing up nearly a century ago must have been very different—and hard.
I decided to change the subject and started walking again. “So, what’s the cool part of being half angel?”
Oscar’s small, pointy ears perked up. “Firstly, you’re called a nephilim. Healing is the most common gift. As you’ve already found out in the form of self healing. Once you’ve matured you should be able to regenerate others.”
I glanced sharply at him. “What?”
“You’ll eventually be able to heal other people.”
Clasping both palms over my mouth, I stood still for a long moment.
I let my hands drop to my sides. “You mean I could have saved Sarah’s life?” My heart quickened. I’d really messed up. Why hadn’t I known that? I should have known before, when it would have counted.
“Not then, no.” Oscar gave me a sympathetic grin. “Someday you’ll be able to use that power though.”
“But what if I could have saved her?” I covered my face with my hands. “How can I forgive myself for not trying?”
“You didn’t know, Lili.” He reached one clawed hand toward me.
We stood in silence. I pulled at the back of my neck with both hands and started pacing.
“Come along. I’ll prove it to you either one way or another.” Oscar gathered me in one arm and took flight. We flew low through the trees. His head turning from side, scanning the ground below us.
“What are you looking for?” I rose my voice over the sound of wind in my ears.
“Something almost dead.”
Apparently he also had heightened senses. At leas
t sight and maybe smell. Because after a couple of minutes, we landed next to a dying rabbit.
Its grey and white fur blended with the landscape, except the bits of dark red stain. A hawk had probably gotten it and then lost it. The poor little thing lay motionless in the open, hardly breathing.
I turned to face Oscar. “What exactly am I supposed to do?”
“Heal the bunny. If you can.” He folded muscular grey arms over his broad chest.
I knelt beside the rabbit. It didn’t seem to register my presence. Like in the movies, I hovered my palms over it and closed my eyes.
“Good,” Oscar said, “now you have to find your gift inside. Search within yourself, with the intention to heal the rabbit and you’ll find the right feeling. Then let it fill you up until you want to burst.”
Searching within myself I felt for anything that seemed like a healing gift. I let the desire to heal the rabbit rise up in my chest. But if I did heal the bunny then I knew I’d never forgive myself for not bringing back Sarah. Self-loathing would follow me through my life.
Oscar’s voice intruded. “Think of the rabbit as Sarah, if it helps, then feel for your power.”
I opened my eyes and peered down at the bleeding animal. The last image I had of Sarah filled my mind. White, drenched in blood, falling away from me to the ground. A powerful feeling rose up in me, but it wasn’t one to heal. Anger. So red and hot it felt like flames licked my palms.
Closing my eyes to gain control, the anger only seemed to expand. It made me feel vibrant. Invincibility. My hands tingled and shook.
Behind me, Oscar roared in pain.
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. A tangible red power burst from my palms.
And the bunny exploded into a thousand little pieces.
CHAPTER NINE
After the fresh mountain air, being back under I-405 was a drag. The constant traffic roar made it hard to hear anything else. Oscar, back in human form, sat in his chair at the fire pit, directly across from me. The single log fire warmed my face and hands. It was one of those quick-light logs they sell at grocery stores on the camping aisle.
I’d apologized to Oscar about the bunny. And asked him what had caused him to roar like that. Had I somehow hurt him, too? He brushed it off as nothing. But, since we’d gotten back this morning, he seemed standoffish.
I tried again to engage him in conversation. “I’m still really sorry about the bunny. I don’t know what happened. Is there something wrong with me?”
Oscar continued to stare into the fire. Was he thinking or ignoring me?
“Oscar? Are you all right?”
He glanced up at me, then back to the fire. “Sorry, Lili-girl. I’m just lost in thought. What did you ask?”
I wanted to ask him what was on his mind, instead I restated my original question. “Is there something wrong with me?”
After a moment he sighed. “No, nothing’s wrong with ya. You’re true to your nature, is all.”
Relief flooded through me. This was more important to me than I’d realized. “So other nephilim,” the word still sounded odd to me, “they mess up like that sometimes, too.”
“You seem to think I know everything,” he let out a soft chuckle. “I don’t know any other young nephilim, so I couldn’t tell ya one way or the other.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but it would have to be good enough for now. If I ever met any other half angels I’d ask them about it.
I stretched back in the camp chair. It was Christmas eve. Normally I’d be—I shook my head. It was pointless to think about where I’d be if my life was normal. All of that was gone, and I was turning into a nephilim. Was I even myself anymore if what had made me who I was, had gone? It’s like that whole tree falling in the woods thing. If no one who knows me is alive, does that mean I don’t exist? Oscar didn’t count, he didn’t know me before. He didn’t know the real me.
“Oscar, can we be killed?” I stared into the warm flame, thinking of the two times I’d been shot.
He considered the question. “Technically yes we can, but it takes a lot. A bullet to the heart will render us unconscious for a period of time. It takes more than that to kill us though.”
I swallowed. “Decapitation?”
“Most of the time, but not always. The funny thing about hybrids is that they can be more resilient than their mythical parent. Strange, I know.”
“How do the Amigis kill us then?”
He seemed to shift uncomfortably in his wheelchair. “They prefer to terminate half-breeds before the onset of their mythical change.” He paused. “After that, it becomes much more difficult as most of us are stronger, faster, and heal quicker than any human. I’m sure they have their creative ways to get the job done.”
Stronger and faster. I hadn’t had a chance to test either of those abilities. Self healing, yes. Healing others…not so much. I felt like the most destructive half angel on the planet. I grimaced.
“Who’s in charge of the Amigis?” I asked.
He rested his chin in his palm. “They call her Mitera.”
“A woman?” At first I didn’t know why I was so surprised. It’s just that women were nurturers, not killers.
“Yeah, a woman. In fact, it’s a matriarchy—always has a woman leader.”
An entire line of evil, murderous women. How could they do that? How could they have no feelings?
I wanted to understand more. “So Mitera is the leader right now?”
“Mitera is always the leader,” Oscar shifted his chin to the other palm. “It’s a title, meaning Mother. Every new leader takes on that title as their name.”
Wow. That was just vulgar. It furthered their already deep hypocrisy. Mother of what? Death?
“In fact,” Oscar continued, “the Amigis have lots of titles. Mitera is the leader, pure humans are called Politis, and the hybrids who are Amigis members are doulos. All other hybrids are called akathartos.”
“What do all of those mean? What language is that?”
Finally, his lips lifted in a small grin. “I’m a bit rusty on that, but it’s either Greek or Latin. Akathartos is a dirty word to hybrids, I don’t know what its literal translation is. Doulos means slave.” His face fell.
I gasped. “Not only are these hybrids working for their enemy, they are being called slave while they do it? I don’t get it. Why would they put up with that?”
He sighed. “Best answer I can come up with is they hate themselves for what they are. Hate is a strong emotion.”
“They hate themselves for being something amazing?”
“You may see it that way now,” Oscar looked up at me, “but when you’ve lived for a century or more you may have a different perspective. And not all hybrids are as pretty as nephilim.”
I took a moment to think about that. He had a point. Besides sprouting wings, my appearance was the same as always. Oscar only looked scary once he transformed. Maybe there were other hybrids who were less fortunate, who could never fit in with normal society.
“How do you know all of this stuff about the Amigis anyway?” I asked.
“Most hybrids that have been around as long as I have know the basic history. The Amigis make sure that we don’t forget them.” He stared at the fire again.
“How’s that?”
“Their best recruitment pool is rogues. They leave propaganda for us to find. Sometimes even put one of their hybrids on the streets to spread their message.”
Of course they’d need hybrids to kill other hybrids. A bunch of humans, even up against one garanth like Oscar, wouldn’t stand a chance.
Hybrids were on the streets to spread word of the Amigis. They could be anywhere, everywhere. Then I remembered the crazy woman and creepy homeless guy.
I told Oscar about them. “Were they Amigis? What were they doing?”
He nodded. “Sounds like Amigis. They have a vast network of spies nearly everywhere. Those two were taking your picture and letting their higher-ups know where
you were at. That’s how they track and hunt hybrids.”
Both times, I’d been so much closer to danger than I’d realized. I needed to start being more careful. “If there are that many of them, why haven’t they found me here?”
He stared at his lap. “Because of my shield. They can’t penetrate it.”
I looked around the campsite, for something that resembled a powerful protection shield. “I don’t see anything.”
Oscar chuckled. “That’s because I’m old. The best shields are completely invisible. Younger garanths generate shields you can see, but once they’ve mastered it,” he waved a hand in the air, “this is how it appears. Invisible. Not very exciting, I know.”
My stomach growled loud enough for Oscar to glance up. “You should do something about that,” he said.
There were so many more questions I had about the Amigis. We hadn’t even begun talking about the Tribe yet.
A frigid wind swept through our camp and I shivered. “I’m going to get something hot to eat. You want anything?”
“How about one of those big burritos from En Fuego.” Finally a real smile. “Carne Asada.”
“You got it. I’ll be right back,” I said and got up.
“Ya have that locket on, yeah? You gonna be okay out there on your own?”
“I can take better care of myself than a man in a wheel chair can.” I grinned at him as I swung the backpack over my shoulder, clutching the locket through my shirt.
“You just keep telling yourself that, Lili-girl.”
I walked out of camp feeling much better. Oscar was back to teasing me, which was a good sign. Whatever had been bothering him seemed to finally go away.
The food cart pod closest to us was seven blocks away. Not a big one, it had five carts in a row. I was worried that before too long they’d start to know me by name. But I was too hungry to go to the next one, which was another eight blocks further on.
I ordered two burritos from En Fuego, the smell of Mexican spices and warm tortillas made my stomach grumble while I waited. The streets were still packed with people doing last minute holiday shopping. Very last minute at this point. On the corner a small group of carolers sang We Wish You A Merry Christmas.