"But we aren't his parents. I don't mean to sound insensitive but..." Evan glanced around before continuing. "But he's old enough to either take care of himself, or go back to his parents' house."
"Yeah, but we're his friends. We should help him."
"Do you like him?"
"No. I mean... How do you mean that?"
He shrugged. "Oliver thinks you guys like each other. I'm starting to, as well."
"Why? Because I don't want to kick him to the curve?"
"Because you two are spending a lot of time together. Like last night? After all that walking we did? I really doubt you guys went for a walk."
"Well, shows how paranoid you are, because we did. Really, you and Oliver spend a lot of time together! Like you can talk!"
"Yeah, but not alone at night, or running off for a little rendezvous at an old abandoned house."
"Rendezvous? Oh, you mean that time... He followed me out there! I didn't know he was going to do that!"
"Sure." Evan was just about to say more when suddenly something whizzed through the air. Light flickered across it as it zoomed past the twins. It stuck firmly in a tree.
It was a knife.
As Evan and Samantha both jumped together, a voice came from the darkness.
"What the hell kinda aim was that?"
"You told me to do it!" said a second voice.
"I told you we should 'a done it when they were walking, dipshit!"
"Always mumbling, never doing anything! Eurgh!"
Evan noticed the wind suddenly picking up.
"Who's there?" Samantha demanded.
Two tall figures came from around a tree. Tranludes.
"Why'd you throw that knife?" Evan asked.
"Why else?" One of the two took a step forward. "To kill you."
"This forest doesn't belong to you," Samantha said.
"And neither does that moonstone you're holding."
At the same time, the twins both let out a heavy heave of a sigh.
"What?" one of the Tranludes asked. "Do we bore you that much?"
"Why are you doing this?" Samantha asked. "For power?"
"Power? No!" He put his arm around the other Tranlude's shoulder. "Me and my brother here just want our own place. Tired of living with our mom."
"Lord Visero will toss us a palace if we help him," the second said.
"And so... Here we are, reporting to duty!"
The two Tranludes struck a dramatic pose, jabbing their extended fingers into the air.
Evan raised an eyebrow. "This has to be a joke."
"Keep on doubting, human! We'll set you straight! C'mon!" The first motioned at Samantha. "She's got the stone! Might be a rare one!"
Evan stood in front of Samantha.
"I'm warning you two," she said.
"Ooh, big words!" one laughed.
"From such a little lady!" the second added.
But as the two Tranludes took a step, the wind greatly picked up, bending first the bushes, then even the smaller trees.
Evan still had a hard time believing moonstones allowed a person to control so much, but the fact that the wind started in front of him, excluding him from the stronger gales, was something he couldn't overlook. It was amazing, and almost a bit freaky at the same time.
Soon the Tranludes were walled by the force, struggling to even keep their footing.
"Last chance," Samantha said. "Go home and get a job, and buy a house like everyone else does."
"You underestimate us, Miss Breezy!" One of the Tranludes twitched in place. "Once my brother and I break through this and get a hold of you, we'll...uh..."
"Make you regret this!" the second said.
"Yeah! We'll make you regret this!"
With a sigh, Samantha sent them hurling up into a tree. Screaming, the two brothers were sent spiraling straight through branches. The wind conveniently ebbed off just near the top, leaving them both free to drop down onto the uppermost branches, from where they were snagged.
"Ow... Damn..."
There was a scream. "How do we get down, how do we get down!"
"Shut up. You and your yapping."
"You know I don't like heights! This isn't funny! Heeeelp! Someone!"
"Shut up! You're making my head hurt!"
"Wow," Evan said. "And I thought I was the only one afraid of heights at times." He turned to his sister. "You sure showed them!"
"Yeah!" She giggled over the screaming from above.
Evan couldn't help but laugh some, which in turn made her burst out into full laughter herself.
Then Evan and Samantha turned to head back, still fighting back snickers.
Chapter 22
When Samantha and Evan found Professor Lemmings, he was inside the lakeside cabin with a female Tranlude. This would make their message a bit harder to say, but it needed to be said regardless. More hostile Tranludes could be in the vicinity. Maybe even Lord Visero himself.
"Oh, hello, you two." The professor beamed. Scattered all over the table were rocks of all types. "I'm still chipping away at this. The researcher I told you about before ― Doctor Gemia ― came to help. She's one of the top researchers on moonstones!"
The Tranlude smiled, looking up from her glasses. "Hello. You must be the twins?"
"Yes, ma'am," Samantha said.
"I could tell from your coppery hair. The professor has told me a great deal about the two of you. It's nice to hear young people are still interested in the tales of old."
"Yeah, I really love cryptozoology. And paleontology too."
Evan nudged her. "Later..."
"Oh, right!" Samantha turned to Professor Lemmings. "Sir, we were just attacked by two Tranludes."
"They mentioned Visero too," Evan said.
Dr. Gemia's face fell. "Oh no..."
"You were?" Lemmings lowered the moonstone he'd been holding. "Why did they attack you?"
"They wanted my moonstone. They said Lord Visero would pay them for it."
Dr. Gemia sighed. "I had no idea they were here. This is terrible..."
"Why are they so obsessed with those stones?" Evan crossed his arms. "This really is getting ridiculous."
"I can answer that," Dr. Gemia said. "You see, Lord Visero's been interested in moonstones for awhile now. He's been in the news a lot lately, claiming how they could be used as a means to an end. He sees the potential in their power."
"But Tranludes can't use moonstones, right?" Samantha asked. "That's why they were enslaving people to be their weapons."
"Oh, there are ways. Unnatural...but possible. You need to keep in mind, Tranludes are the leading pioneers in self-mutilation studies. Through all kinds of cruel, unethical research, they were able to learn a lot about our genetic structure and how to scientifically advance our race." Dr. Gemia looked both twins in the eyes. "You do know our shared past?"
"Not really," Evan said.
"We're related?" Samantha asked.
"More than that. We're all the same species. Or, at least, we were..." Dr. Gemia glanced to the side, then down at a moonstone. "Now so many of our kind is so intent on controlling the world as they see fit, they don't care about the safety of our people. It's all about physical strength. Even the children undergo things you could never imagine... Just so they can shape-shift, just so they can read minds, and have their venomous fangs..." She closed her eyes. "Some can't survive the process. It's...terrible."
Silence.
Samantha never was one for children. But the pain in the Tranlude's voice pierced her to the very soul.
Some were nearly military in their lust for power.
But then the rest were just ordinary people. Ordinary people trapped in a culture of artificial, self-cruelty. To say no was to allow yourself to be weak.
It could mean life and death. But life came with its own risks and burdens.
Finally Professor Lemmings broke the silence. "This is why we all need to get along. So the pacifist Tranludes have freedom in their own l
ives. So they can live with us if they want. No more trying to outdo each other. Killing isn't important. Instead we need to all focus on living together, in the best way possible."
"Exactly," Dr. Gemia said. "Think of the type of world we could have if we all worked together. If human technology and Tranlude technology could work hand-in-hand."
"That sounds great," Samantha said. "Hopefully it happens someday."
"It's getting there. But as long as Lord Visero continues to make the Superiorist movement popular, it won't be easy. He despises humans."
"Every Caesar has his fall." The professor turned to Samantha and Evan. "Can I ask you two to round up Isis and Joby? I think it's time for a group meeting."
"Yes, sir," Evan said.
Samantha was just about to follow her brother out the door when Dr. Gemia said, "Wait." The Tranlude came from around the table. "I just want to see something for a minute." She took Samantha's right hand and lifted it.
Her ugly broken finger sat there, as purple and unnaturally stiff as ever. She knew repeatedly putting off a doctor visit wasn't wise, but she was also afraid of what might be done to fix it. It was insanely tender.
As Dr. Gemia lightly ran a finger over it, Samantha cringed. "Don't touch it, please. It's broken."
"Thought so." The Tranlude smiled, of all things. "Bear with me for a minute, my dear. I think I can help." From her pocket, she pulled out a pink moonstone that got darker at the edges. Closing her eyes, Dr. Gemia held Samantha's finger in one hand, and the stone in her other.
Samantha felt the hot throbbing ease off.
"There." The researcher let go. "How is it now?"
Hesitant, Samantha allowed her finger a tiny little jerk. To her surprise, it didn't hurt at all. Gently rubbing it, she flexed it some more. "You fixed it! That's so neat!"
Dr. Gemia laughed. "The color will return to normal in awhile. Heal Stones are great to have."
"Yeah, they sure are. Thank you so much!" Tilting her head, Samantha studied the stone. "So, that's your moonstone?"
"Right. So now you see, Tranludes can use moonstones too."
"I think that's the best one of them all." She hesitated. "Do they work on animals too?"
"Anything living. But it can't bring anyone back from the dead."
She really could've used that at one point.
Stepping back out into the darkness, Samantha stopped outside the door.
She could still remember that day.
And that cat.
A long time ago, back when she must've been around five, it'd been a beautiful spring day. She had wanted to play outside with Evan. Play scientists; it was always her favorite game. But that day, Evan was more interested in watching a movie with their father. So she had to play alone.
As usual, she had deliberately chose to defy her overbearing mother by wandering from the yard and into a grassy area not far from home. She liked to search for animals here, and pretend to research them. Most common were the grasshoppers, beetles, and butterflies, but she sometimes spotted a bird or mouse too.
But this day, she had heard voices. Human voices.
Curious, she had headed to them, only to find two teenage boys abusing a cat.
It was disgusting.
They had left at her appearance, but it was too late by this point.
The cat had died in her arms.
Bloodied, crippled.
She'd never told anyone about it. The whole experience had left her an emotional disaster. She'd spent days locked away in her room, crying from the cold, wet guilt that would not leave her chest.
To this day, she still had nightmares about it. It was why she couldn't stand to see animals suffering, especially at the hands of humans. She felt she owed the animal kingdom for failing to save that one, innocent cat.
Thinking back to all this now, she sighed. Something like a heal stone could've saved it.
But she also knew, it was too late. The cat was gone; it didn't matter if she could use a stupid pink stone today or not.
It was all too late...
The group spent the night at the small lakeside cabin, thanks to Dr. Gemia. It didn't offer much in the way of space, but at least it shielded them from the outside. The next day, they were planning to leave the area.
Early that morning, Samantha found herself wandering around near the lake. It was nice to get some time alone for a change. And at such a breathtaking place too. Her mind was full, but her heart still felt a bit empty from the night before.
She kept thinking about the cat.
Her own thoughts were driving her crazy.
If I could just fly away...like a bird. She stared down at her moonstone, then laughed.
Better than guilt-tripping herself, at least.
Summoning wind, she tried to focus on its path. It needed to scoop her up, lift her up, into the air... She tried bending forward, to give the wind more of a surface to push against.
Up... Flow up...
The cawing of a lone crow. Was it mocking her?
She stuck herself out straight, feeling like a complete idiot.
Up... Up...
She felt her head and chest rise up with the wind. She had it! But just as she got excited, the wind's flow intensified. She back flipped through the air before landing on her stomach with a cough.
Someone burst out laughing. "Oh wow! Nice trick!"
Samantha looked up to see Isis off a ways, still grinning and snickering.
"I was trying to fly," she explained.
"Really?" Isis came in closer. "Don't think that's going to work. That scrawny frame of yours." She motioned. "Like trying to make a stick fly. You could always just ask someone to toss you, you know. Might have more luck that way!" She laughed some more.
Samantha got up with a frown. "What's your stone again?"
"Ice. Can't really do that much with it, unfortunately." Isis faced upwards.
As Samantha did the same, she saw a few snowflakes floating down from the clouds above.
"They don't last on the ground," Isis explained. "It's too warm. I can freeze water, but it already needs to be there for that."
Staring back down at the lake, Samantha asked, "Could you freeze the lake? Just a top section, you know? Don't want to kill the wildlife."
"Yeah, sure." Isis's eyes fixated on the shimmering, quivering surface of the water, like a wolf watching its prey. She always had a certain intensity to her expression.
First a small area frosted over, then it slowly crept outward.
"Wow. Wonder if I could use it as an air board?" Samantha began whipping up the wind again.
"An air board?"
"Like a skateboard or ski board."
"You really have nothing better to do?" At least Isis was still grinning.
"Well, the professor said it's good to practice."
"You'll break your neck and I'll be the one getting sued."
"Evan'll know it was just me being stupid. Mention the air board idea."
Getting the wind under the ice chip was trickier than she'd thought. Instead she kept creating small waves and seesawing the iceberg. Feeling impatient, she upped the oomph of the wind, only to send a tidal wave crashing down on Isis and herself.
"Hey, hey!" Isis jumped back, holding her arms out and staring down at her dripping clothes. "Watch it!"
"Sorry." Samantha shook herself off. "Hard getting the wind to slip under it."
Isis groaned. "If you're really so stuck on this..." Stopping next to the lake, she extended a leg, just reaching the iceberg. She pushed down on it, causing it to tilt.
"Ooh, thanks!" Samantha directed the wind at the other side, easing it up. "One air board coming up!"
The ice was more resistant than she'd imagined, but she managed to momentarily lift it. Losing her angle, it dropped back down, creating another surge of water. She tried again.
Finally the layer of ice started to move up at an angle. But how to board it while maintaining control of both it and the
wind?
Not having the time to think about it, Samantha instead took a running jump on the iceberg as it passed. Then she remembered another important point she hadn't thought about: it was ice. And ice was slippery.
Screaming, she slid right off and fell to the ground. The iceberg went crashing to the ground just past her with a silence-shattering crack.
Isis burst out laughing.
Maybe she should've just continued to mope about instead.
Shortly after this, the cabin door opened. Professor Lemmings came rushing out, Evan and Joby at his heels. His eyes fell on the pieces of ice, then shot to Samantha and Isis. "Gods! Are you girls alright?"
This only caused Isis to laugh even harder.
"Uh, yes, sir." Samantha got to her feet. Suddenly she had the urge to crawl under a chunk of ice. "I was just, uh...well..."
Evan's eyes shot around. "Are we under attack? Are Tranludes here?"
"Oh no! I was just playing around with my stone," Samantha said.
"Where the heck did the ice come from?"
Isis raised her hand. "I!"
Joby fell over against the cabin, howling with laughter.
Professor Lemmings continued to stare at the ice. "What happened? Why are you both all wet?"
"Gah, you don't want to know. Trust me. It was stupid."
"Air boarding," Isis said with a grin.
"Well, okay then." Professor Lemmings scratched his head. He turned to Evan. "Just a few more stones I want you to try. If you don't mind."
"No, it's fine." As the two of them went back inside, Evan continued to shoot his sister almost disgusted looks.
As soon as the door shut, Samantha hit her forehead. "Stupid, stupid."
"Try a slab of rock next time," Isis said. "Or a sheet of metal with friction."
Joby walked over. "So, what'd ya do, Samanthers?"
"I wanted to try making a board I could fly on. Since...you know..." She trailed off, noticing his eyes tracing her soggy shirt. "Hey." She covered herself.
His head snapped back up. "Oh, yeah! I'm listening!"
She stood there for a minute, arms still crossed over her chest.
"What?"
"Well," Isis said then. "I guess I'll go get changed. And see if the professor's having any luck with those moonstones." She hurried off, but not before catching Samantha's eye and giving her a wink.
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