Forlorn: A Young Adult Dark Urban Fantasy (Mythic Blood Series Book 1)

by JJ Krzemien

  She smiled. “Hello, I’m Parisa.” Her wings were tucked away under a flowy poncho. The glow radiating from her had dimmed to a slight shimmer on her dusky skin. Her long silver hair hung to her waist.

  “Uh, Lili.” I shook the hand she offered.

  Parisa took the seat next to mine. “I’m here to go through the intake steps with you.” She handed me a clipboard. “First, fill out this form.”

  The form was nothing special. Kind of like one you’d fill out at the doctor’s office. I filled in personal information, health history, previous education, and more boring stuff. On the fourth page it asked about hybrid type. I wrote: Nephilim. Once finished, I handed the clipboard back to Parisa.

  She flipped to page four. “Okay, I just need to confirm your hybrid type.”

  Proteus suddenly stood up and left the room. I stared after him, feeling fear well up in me. Then, I turned to Parisa. Was this some kind of test? What did she want me to do?

  She leaned forward. “All you have to do is show me your wings. They are forming, yes?”

  “Oh, uh, yeah.” I sighed in relief.

  “Wonderful. Slip your top down and show me your back. I’ll turn around now, let me know when you’re ready.” She left the chair and turned away.

  I undid the top of the nightgown and slid it down to my waist. Covering my breasts with my arms, I turned so she could see my back. My wings felt stiff as I unfurled them.

  “Ready,” I said.

  Parisa moved to stand behind me. “Oh, they’re growing out nicely. White feathered wings. I’ll confirm you’re a nephilim.” She scribbled on the intake form. “You can pull your dress up.”

  “How long does it take? Until my wings are fully grown?” I slid my arms into the gown and pulled it up over my wings.

  “The entire process takes about two years. Most hybrids begin their transformation at sixteen and are mature at eighteen.” She gave me a reassuring smile. “You’re right on track.”

  Two years? That seemed like a long time to grow a pair of wings. I better get used to being like a peacock—have wings, can’t fly.

  She set the clipboard on Proteus’s desk. “You’ll be going through your transformation surrounded my other nephilim. And as your counselor, I encourage you to come to me with any question you may have.”

  I nodded. That at least made me feel a little better. I wouldn’t have to be on my own anymore. Parisa seemed genuinely nice. Hopefully the rest of the nephilim were, too.

  “To monitor your growth, I’d like to schedule monthly check-ins with you. How does the last Saturday of every month sound to you?“ she asked.

  “Sounds great, sure.“ A schedule, normal life, at least sort of normal.

  “Wonderful.“ She made for the door and let Proteus back into his office. He resumed his seat and pushed the button at his desk again.

  “Welcome to the Tribe, Ms. Ross,” he said. “Oh, one more thing...we have certain rules: No fighting, no boys in your dorm room, and no using your unique abilities to influence others. Is that clear?”

  I nodded. Only three rules. Wow.

  “Good. I hope you find a home here with us.”

  The office door opened and in stepped a short girl about my age. She had long red hair and pale freckled skin. She looked so normal.

  “Nixie,” Proteus said, “this is Lilianna Ross. Please show her to her room, and get her whatever she needs—new clothes would be a good start. Food? Give her the tour, too.”

  “Sure thing, boss.” Nixie turned her green eyes on me. “Hi, I’m Nixie Lewis.” She held her hand out and I shook it. “Come with me.”

  Following her, I made my way back down the stairs and out the front door. Down the porch steps and onto the cobbled pathway. The sun poked through the grey clouds and shone down on me.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  As soon as we were out of the building, I turned my face up and closed my eyes, letting the sunshine soak into my skin. Inhaling pine and sea salt air, I let out a huge sigh. Out of the city. Away from the Amigis. I took that few seconds to let it all go. I wasn’t fooled, I knew it would come back to haunt me someday, but for a moment I felt peace. The feeling quickly faded as my chest tightened with anxiety. I was trapped on an island with people that I didn’t know. What if it wasn’t safe? What if they found out who I was? What if the Amigis found me?

  I tried to shake off my worries, at least for right now. If this island wasn’t safe, then there was no place on earth I could go to escape the Amigis.

  “Sunshine,” said Nixie, “rare stuff around here.”

  I opened my eyes to gaze at her. “And where exactly is here?”

  “We’re just off the coast of Bellingham Washington.” She crossed her arms and studied me. “If you don’t mind my being honest…you do look like you crawled out from under a rock.”

  “I kind of did.” My arms were still covered in grim. The nightgown torn and so filthy it no longer appeared blue. Blood stained the back of my hands. I could only imagine what my hair and face looked like. “Is there someplace I could shower and get clean clothes?”

  Nixie nodded. “Yeah, let’s do that first.” She led the way along a winding path to a two story building. “This is one of the girl’s dorms.”

  Girls only, which meant that Edgar couldn’t live there. Thank God.

  Brick on the outside and creaking wood on the inside. All of the buildings must have been built at the same time. They were hard to tell apart.

  “This is the common room, where everyone hangs out.“ Nixie gestured to the large room full of couches, side tables, and cushions. On one wall was a sink, cabinets, and refrigerator. “Plus, there’re snacks for between meals.“

  On the second floor, Nixie opened a solid wood door into a small room. It had a twin bed, dresser, desk, and closet. At the far wall a large window looked out over the back of the building and into the woods.

  “This one is yours. I’m next door in case you need anything.” She pointed to the left “Come on, the bathroom is across the hall.”

  The bathroom was actually six individual private bathrooms with a shower, toilet, and sink. Some had tubs and others only showers. They were like a time capsule with vintage white porcelain fixtures and tiled walls. Towels and toiletries were kept in the built-in cabinets in the bathroom’s entry hall.

  “Here.” Nixie held out a folded washcloth and towel. White, fluffy, and so clean I was afraid to touch them. She seemed to have the same thought, because she turned and set them down on a side table in one of the stalls. “I’ll go find you some clothes. And food. Go ahead and shower.”

  My stomach rumbled. I locked the door and peeled off the deteriorating nightgown. Turning to look in the mirror, I stopped, averting my eyes. It was just too much. I decided to shower first and then see what marks remained from my ordeal.

  The water was hot. Dirt, sweat, and blood pooled at my feet before swirling down the drain. I let the water pressure beat the tension from my muscles. Spread my wings and washed the grime from them. I must have spent an hour in there.

  Wrapped in the towel, which felt like spa heaven, I opened the door. My backpack, which must have been leaning on the outside, fell into the bathroom. How had they gotten my backpack? I’d left it at the apartment when we went to rescue Oscar. That horrible night seemed like years ago. I shook off the thought. I was happy to have my own things again.

  I pulled out clean underwear, jeans, and the hoodie that Sarah had bought for me. The black T-shirt wasn’t mine, I’d borrowed it from Rushi. My hands shook as I set the folded clothes on the side table.

  In the mirror, I finally studied myself. A couple of bruises that were already fading, nothing more. Except for my eyes. They looked back at me with sadness and an edginess that hadn’t been there before. They warned everyone not to push me too far—I might snap.

  Turning around, I noticed my wings had grown. They each spread out about two feet. The white fluff had turned into mature feathers. I flapped them
to dispel the water.

  I dressed, taking my time. Combed my hair and got it mostly dry under the hand dryer. When I was finally ready, I returned to the room that would be mine, number 223.

  Nixie stood by the window, apparently waiting for me. I dumped my backpack on the bed and hung the wet towel on a hook.

  “You sure look a lot better.” Nixie leaned against the window frame.

  I grinned at her. “Yeah, I finally feel human again—well, half human anyway.”

  She pointed at the desk. A turkey sandwich, chips, and a Coke sat on a tray. I didn’t even bother to sit down. In three bites I’d devoured half of the sandwich. I tried to slow down by taking a gulp of cola.

  “I normally don’t eat like this,” I apologized.

  “Hey, it’s all cool with me.” She casually watched me.

  Nixie waited until there were only a few chips left on the plate, then she said, “So, what is your…you know.” She looked down. “I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”

  I eyed her. At the risk of sounding rude, I said, “So you didn’t eavesdrop on that entire conversation with Proteus?”

  Her mouth dropped open. “I’d never!” Then she smiled. “Parisa interrupted me. How’d you know?”

  “Just a guess.” I popped the last chip in my mouth. This was the most satisfying meal I’d ever had.

  “Hm, good one.” She sucked on her cheek. “So, do you mind me asking?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t care. Why? Is it impolite to ask around here?”

  “Some people get kind of touchy about it.” She caught my gaze. “It’s best not to ask unless someone volunteers the information. But you’re new, and I’m dying to know what you are.”

  She was so sincere and enthusiastic that it made me laugh. “I’m half angel. Nephilim.”

  Her green eyes widened. “Really? We only have a few nephilim on the island. They’re—you’re—kind of rare. Did you know that?”

  “I really don’t know much about any of this.” I sat on the edge of the bed.

  “You’re damn lucky, too.” Her grin was impish.

  I took the bait. “Why’s that?”

  “I’m gonna to go out on a limb here and say, that the hottest guy on this entire island is a nephilim.”

  Uh, boy talk. I really wasn’t up for that right now.

  “You look normal. What are you?” I asked.

  She seemed slightly disappointed in the subject change, but answered anyway, “Demi-mer.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Half mermaid. I don’t like saying demi-mermaid though. Demi-mer is so much more gender neutral. Besides if Proteus can be a demi-titan, I can be a demi-mer.”

  My eyebrows rose. “Proteus is half titan? That explains a lot.”

  “Doesn’t it though. He can be a little touchy about it though, so don’t tell him I told you.”

  “I promise I won’t. So, what’s it like to be a demi-mer?” I asked, pulling my legs up and resting my chin on my knees.

  “Well, did you ever see that 1980s movie Splash?”

  I nodded.

  “It’s kind of like that. If water gets on me then my legs turn into a tail. It’s actually really annoying. Of course every school year some idiot has to accidentally spill water on me.” She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

  “Can you breathe under water?”

  “Oh yeah, that’s the upside.” Nixie glanced back at me and rubbed her smooth throat. “Gills, they’re awesome. I’m the best swimmer on the island. Even among the other demi-mers.”

  “How many others are there?” The idea of different kinds of hybrids and whole groups of them fascinated me.

  “Including me there’s twelve of us.”

  “Wow. So how many hybrids are there?” I thought about all of the different mythical beings. There could be dozens of different kinds of hybrids. Were all mythical beings real or did some only live in legends?

  Nixie pushed off from the window frame. “Let me give you the official tour. It’s much easier to point and tell.”

  “Okay.” I stood to follower her out the door.

  “One more thing.” She turned back to me. “It’s been a few months since someone new has arrived, so everyone will be staring at you. Just a heads up.”

  “Great. Thanks for the warning.” This was going to be like those movies about the new girl in town. The first day of school should be…interesting? Growing up in the same neighborhood, I’d gone to school with the same kids since pre-school. How did people start all over at sixteen?

  We started down the stairs and I halted. “I don’t have any shoes.”

  Nixie kept walking. “I got some for you. They’re by the front door.”

  When I got to the bottom of the stairs, Nixie held out a pair of white tennis shoes. Nothing fancy, but they were the right size.

  We emerged onto the porch as the late afternoon sun shot orange rays through the evergreens. The compound was quiet, and a cool breeze rustled the pine needles.

  “Good,” Nixie said, glancing around. “Everyone’s still in town.”

  I looked around, too. “There’s another town?”

  “Yeah. At the north end of the island. It’s a few miles away. That’s why it’s so quiet right now.” She stood on the cobblestone pathway and turned toward the dorm building. “This whole line of buildings is girl’s dorms. The boys are on the other side of the grounds.” She pointed west.

  In tour guide mode she continued. “At the southern most part of the grounds is the school. All grade levels. Current school population is two hundred and forty-six—let’s make that two hundred and forty-seven, with you here. Total island hybrid population is one thousand, two hundred and nineteen.”

  I was stunned. “That’s a lot of hybrids.” We followed a pathway toward the school.

  “It is. We’re the largest hybrid refuge in the world.” She cleared her throat. “There are over one hundred and seventy-five different hybrid types living together on this island. Hybrid types are taught together in what we call cohorts. You can live in any dorm, but you’ll go to special classes with your own cohort.”

  That was confusing. I took a stab at it. “So, I’ll be living next to you in the dorm? But we might not be in the same cohort?”

  “Yes, and you’ll be in the Aeras cohort with the other nephilim. Parisa’s your teacher, she lives in the teacher’s dorm.”

  “And which cohort are you in?” We crossed over a mini bridge with a trickling creek below.

  “I’m in Nero, with the other water hybrids.”

  I nodded, waiting for her to continue.

  “Lummi Island was given to the hybrids over three hundred years ago by the Native American tribe of this region, the Lhaq’temish, or Lummi People. Hybrids were fleeing the East Coast and were happy to find a home here.

  “Proteus is our founding father. He and the original six members built this refuge and have been housing and educating hybrids ever since. From the outside this island looks like a dull, farming and fishing community that offers a few tourist attractions. But everyone from the restaurant waiters to the farmers are hybrids.”

  This place was a great cover, allowing them to interact with the outside world as humans, genius really. No wonder the Amigis hadn’t found them.

  “Wait. Proteus is over three hundred years old?” That seemed impossible to me.

  “That’s right.”

  “Why were people running away from the East Coast?” I asked.

  “For some reason in the sixteen and seventeen hundreds there was a lot of oppression of hybrids.” Nixie shrugged. “Not so different than now, I guess.”

  We walked past the cluster of school buildings, then started north, taking a different route, toward the center buildings. Further north, Nixie pointed out the library, laundry, mini mart, and coffee house. If I wanted anything more I’d have to go into the actual town several miles away. Everyone was self-sufficient and received what they needed to live on. It actua
lly sounded quite a lot like communism, but for this relatively small group of people it worked. Probably partly because nobody seemed to die, so the leaders were always the leaders. Everyone knew their place and not much ever changed.

  “What happens when you graduate high school?” I asked Nixie.

  “You get to choose where you want to work. Of course your adviser will have suggestions. Mine thinks I should be a fisherman—big surprise there.” Nixie rolled her eyes. “She has no imagination.”

  “What do you want to do?” I kicked a pebble and it rolled into the trimmed grass.

  “I want to join the Squad and kick some Amigis ass, duh. But everyone wants to do that and not many get to.” She sighed.

  I glanced up at her. So they did have a fighting group. The Squad.

  “I thought the Tribe were pacifists.”

  She threw me a funny look. “Who told you that? We’d be totally slaughtered if we were pacifists.”

  They fought the Amigis. They could help me get back at Rose. I should have felt thrilled by the idea, instead I was tired of even thinking about it.

  Nixie turned toward me. “Any way, there’s your intro to hybrid-land 101 tour.”

  I did my best to smile. “Thanks. I really appreciate it. I’m still trying to get my head around this place, and that it’s real. And that I’m here.”

  We stopped on the path between the library, coffee house, and mini-mart. “Yeah,” Nixie said, “well, just remember that people are still people. Even here we have the bullies and bitches. So keep an eye out. Or you can stick with me and I’ll keep you out of trouble. If you want.”

  “Since I’ll be your dorm neighbor, I may as well stick with you.” She seemed nice enough. I’d have to keep my family lineage a secret from her though. No one could ever know of my connection to the Amigis, or the consequences...I didn’t want to think about it.

  “Great! I’m so excited.” She took my arm, beaming up at me. “Let me introduce you to some good people.”

  “Don’t you think she’s had enough for one day, Nixie?” A teenage guy stepped around the side of the library. He had dreadlocks that just grazed his chin and dark skin. As he approached he smiled at me. His eyes met mine—blue eyes, like Oscar. He reminded me so much of Oscar, a much younger Oscar who had use of his legs.