Shadowhunter (Nephilim Quest Book 1)

by Leena Maria

  "Cleopatra the seventh!" she was a living picture of pride.

  "The seventh?" Mom looked puzzled.

  "Yes, the seventh. The famous and last one. There were seven Cleopatras in the Ptolemy dynasty," Grandma said.

  "Oh, I never knew..." Mom put a delicious peach pie on the table and looked at me in the eyes.

  "Your eyes look a bit... strange... dear?" she said in a questioning tone. I could see that she was puzzling over whether illness could do something like that to a person's eyes.

  "Are they?" I smiled, "well... it could be. They seem to have changed a bit when I had my growth spurt. Just like my hair began to turn lighter."

  This was true - I had visible root growth, which was lighter than my hair color had been before.

  "I asked a doctor at the university about it and he said it is genetic. Some changes in hair and eye color can appear later in life. It had to do with my growth spurt activating it, apparently. He explained it is related to some albinism gene. Not fully albino, but it dilutes my colors a bit. Nothing serious."

  "Oh, I see." To my relief Mom did not seem too interested in the subject, or wanted to avoid a discussion in genetics, perhaps fearing I would begin to ask if there had been albinos in our family tree, which I was not even a part of genetically. "It is a nice color, though. Silvery, light blue...ish."

  She made herself busy cutting big slices of the peach pie on our plates. She then pushed the bowl with whipped cream in my general direction and looked at Dad.

  "It seems there are some odd eye colors around these days. Remember that survey girl from last week? Her eyes were all yellow. I was certain she had contact lenses, but why would anyone want yellow eyes? Especially if they were wanting to gain access to anyone's home. It had to be genuine - I can't imagine anyone choosing to make their eyes look like that."

  I dropped my fork onto the tablecloth.

  "Oh, sorry!" I said.

  Grandma was very careful not to let her emotions show.

  "Survey? What survey was that?" she asked, full of warm curiosity.

  "Oh, they were asking about the children who'd grown up in this area – about their further education, and what they chose to study. It was something to do with how the environment of a young child affect their choice of education after high school. We told her about your Egyptology studies."

  "Yes, she was most impressed and wanted to know if you were specializing in any specific era, and under whom you were studying. Professor Reginald Rowan, wasn't it?" Dad asked, while reaching for another piece of the pie.

  "Yes, quite right." I tried not to show my fear.

  "It seems she knew him. I mean she said oh him!" Dad kept on chatting.

  "I wonder if she is from the same university as Dana, because she knew the professor?" Grandma wondered. "What did she look like, other than the yellow eyes? Maybe Dana might know her?"

  "She was a real beauty. Oh, and quite tall, just like you. Beautiful long blonde hair too. And such a lovely voice she had! Like little silver bells!" Mom said almost enthusiastically. Despite her odd eyes, the visitor had clearly made a favorable impression.

  "Oh, my cell phone!" Grandma said even though no ring tone was to be heard, "I'm sorry, I have to take this one!"

  She rose from the table and walked out of the kitchen.

  "Oh hello, Daniel!" she said into the phone, "at my daughter's house. Yes... So what did you want to ask? Guards around the house? Yes, I think that's wise. You could hire them and offset the costs as part of necessary expenses for tax purposes. Yes... quite... an angel? No no, not a statue, they really had a consultant whose name was Angel visiting there a week ago. Yes, yes... That's funny... Ok, I have to go now, we can talk better later."

  She returned to the table.

  "Really sorry about that... it was a friend who has an antique shop. He's holding something really valuable in there for a while, and was wondering about its security..."

  "The things you are involved with..." Mom sighed.

  I sighed too. Daniel had been warned, and I was sure my parents' house would be guarded very soon.

  "I was thinking..." Grandma took a forkful of the pie. "Oh my, this is delicious! I wonder where you inherited your baking skills, certainly not from me!"

  Mom looked pleased.

  "So, I was thinking... now that Dana is studying elsewhere, and her room is not in use at the moment ... a daughter of a friend of mine is moving into this area for a while and is looking for accommodation. She is a botanist, who will be doing research into the flora of the area and would like to live near the woods. It's so lucky, living where you do. Your house would be the perfect location for her. Her research is well funded, which means she could pay a decent rent, if she could have her meals, and wash her laundry here too. What do you think?"

  "Oh, this is short notice... what is she like? What about Dana? She will still need her room when she comes home during vacations."

  "She is of Asian origin and her nickname is Tinky, because she is so small. Pixie small. She's quiet and very cheerful - you'd hardly know she was there. And she's an excellent cook, too," Grandma told.

  Tinky, of course. She was one of our best and most fearless Hunters. She was tiny, yes, but she excelled in oriental fighting techniques. She would be the perfect guard against any shadows – or Nephilim – that were nearby. I felt happier knowing that Tinky would be in the house and that there'd undoubtedly be guards set by Daniel outside too. I began to feel a bit more relieved about my parents.

  "Does she speak Japanese by chance?" Dad asked, and I suddenly realized there was another reason why Grandma had chosen Tinky.

  "Yes, in fact she is Japanese."

  "Great - I haven't had the chance to speak Japanese for years," Dad beamed, "not since the time I spent there when I was learning about Japanese culinary traditions." He turned to Mom. "Honey, you could learn Japanese too."

  "I am certain she would love to speak Japanese with you!" Grandma assured him.

  "Well then – we'll think about it, of course!" Dad said. "If that's OK with you, Dana? It's your room after all."

  I could see from his enthusiasm that he had already agreed to the idea, but Mom would need a little persuading. Eventually she would give in, I was sure, but knowing Mom I did not join in the conversation or try to press her in any way. Mom did not like to be told to do anything in her own home. And besides - it would have been odd for me to encourage her to rent my room out. So I just nodded.

  We spent the day at home, and I felt rather nostalgic. The old me longed for a long evening reading in bed, or taking the binoculars and going to the hut in the woods where Kitty and I had spent so many hours. Nugget would not leave me for a second, and hopped onto my lap whenever I sat down.

  When it was time for us to leave, Dad held Nugget in his arms so he would not run after me. I hugged my parents and promised to come see them more often. I could only hope I could. If we were about to go three thousand and five hundred years back in time to a different culture, anything might happen. I wondered what my parents would do if I died there, and vanished from here for good. They would go crazy with grief...

  The thought of grief brought to my mind a thing I had promised to do. When we drove away, and our house was no longer to be seen, Daniel was waiting for us by the roadside. Grandma stopped the car.

  "Did you manage to arrange the guards?" she asked.

  Daniel did not answer immediately, but bent and gave me a kiss right in front of Grandma.

  "So that's how it is..." Grandma smiled, "not that we didn't know already, but you never admitted as much, Daniel. Have you made promises to each other yet?"

  "No, not yet... We promised to make promises later, though," I explained, hoping I wasn't too red with embarrassment.

  "So, we could say you are engaged then. I have to say I am very glad, even though Dana is very young still."

  "Yes, I agree, Layla," Daniel said solemnly, "and nothing improper has happened, because we have no
t made our vows. Nothing can even be considered until Dana is fully grown into her Nephilim powers and controls them. I won't put any pressure on her at all, because she needs to know for certain that this is her own choice. But I wanted you to know about us officially, because you are her family. I want you to know my intentions are honorable."

  "I would expect nothing less from you, Daniel," Grandma beamed, "and you two have my blessing."

  She squeezed my hand and looked a bit teary-eyed. That was something new - I'd never seen that side of Grandma before.

  "Thank you, Layla," Daniel said so seriously I didn't know where to look. I hadn't expected this discussion to happen right here. - it felt almost like Daniel had been asking for my hand from Grandma.

  "Now, about the guards? If Angel had been checking out Dana's parents, they are in danger. I'm thinking that Angel may plan to use them as a weapon against Dana at some point."

  "Some of our human guards are in town buying camping supplies even as we speak." Daniel waved his hand to the general direction of our little town. "They're going to camp in the forest near your parents' house. It would be better if we had Nephilim, who could move unobserved in the buffer zone, but Elijah and I can't stay behind for this purpose - and nor can we bring outsiders into this, not now."

  "I suggested that they take Tinky under their roof on the pretext that she is a botanist doing research into the area."

  "Perfect. She is the best Hunter we have, after you. Did they agree to this arrangement?"

  "They will. But for now, at least as long as it takes for our Guardians to arrive, will you keep an eye on them?"

  "I will, of course," Daniel said, and kissed me again, longer.

  Grandma laughed happily.

  "Young love... but I'll be keeping an eye on you two when we go, so you'd better behave!"

  Daniel laughed also, a happy relaxed sound I had not heard before. He looked around to check no-one was near and then vanished into the buffer zone.

  "You could not have chosen a better young man, Dana," Grandma said. "I truly am very happy."

  "Young? He is over three hundred years old!"

  "So he is, but one tends to forget it..." Grandma revved the engine. "Whooo, great excuse for putting my foot down on the pedal, eh?"

  "I need to go someplace first," I said. "Would you mind if we drove to Kitty's house?"

  "Of course I wouldn't mind. Wherever you'd like to go."

  The few minutes that it took to get to Kitty's house passed in silence. I saw her mother in the garden. She looked up and before she recognized me, her eyes had no spark at all. They were so tired and sad. Then slowly she realised who it was.

  "Is it you, Dana? I did not recognize you! You have grown so much!"

  "Yes, a late growth spurt," Grandma smiled. "She could be a fashion model with those long legs now!"

  Kitty's mother tried to smile, but no joy showed in her eyes. It was a pitiful try, and the corners of her mouth twitched at the effort.

  "I came to see you because of a dream I had," I went straight to the point. "It was about Kitty."

  "Yes?" a little curiosity crept into her voice.

  "You see... Kitty came to me in a dream. She looked so happy and joyful, so alive..."

  "I am glad. It must have been a nice dream," her mother said in that tired voice.

  "Wait - please listen. It's more than that. She said she wanted to give you a message, and that I should bring it to you."

  "A message?" she asked without emotion.

  "Yes, she said she wanted you to know she is still alive and well. And that she often tries to tell you that, but it is difficult to communicate with you. However, whenever you suddenly smell roses where there are none, that is her. She is close to you then."

  Her posture straightened.

  "Roses, you say?"

  "Yes, the smell of roses. Does it mean anything to you?"

  Her hands flew to her face.

  "Yes! Yes it does! I have been smelling roses in the oddest places lately. When I had my car fixed, the repair shop of all places smelled of roses. And in the library too... and one morning I woke up to a strong scent of roses... she said it was her?"

  "Yes, it was Kitty trying to tell you she is there, and that she is alive."

  Kitty's mother stood still for a long time. Then she began to smile, really smile, with tears in her eyes.

  "Thank you, Dana... I think I can believe this. She loved roses and was always talking about dreams and the messages they delivered to us."

  "Yes, she was..." I said.

  I could not force tears out of my eyes for Kitty, because I had already met her and knew full well she was still alive, even if at another level of existence. But I could sympathize with Kitty's mother's sorrow. I leaned over the fence and hugged her tightly round the shoulders.

  "I believe we go on existing after death," the person I had become had the courage to say this out loud, "and that we really do meet again, one day.""

  "I want to believe that too," Kitty's mother said and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "But where are my manners! Please, do come in!"

  "I'm afraid we don't have time now," Grandma said, "We have an appointment soon. But I am sure Dana will come and meet you in future, won't you, Dana?"

  "Of course," I hugged Kitty's mother one more time, hard.

  She waved us off, and this time she had a smile on her face. She looked like a different person.

  Grandma said nothing, but squeezed my hand again. Then she put both her hands on the steering wheel and pushed the gas pedal down. The little red car happily responded.

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO

  82. Transformation

  Artemis took Ambrogio to the city of Delphi. There he stole a donkey from its stall and it was led into the mist behind the world, showing very little surprise at the new doorway that appeared in thin air. The animal was then taken to the place where Ambrogio left the letters to Selene.

  Standing at the very edge of the human world, Ambrogio realised that he could watch all the goings-on there without being seen. Artemis stood beside him, so closely that he felt the heat of her body. Together they waited for Selene to appear, watching the light growing in the human world – the scene was slightly foggy because of the mist they were standing in, but still visible.

  For the first time in forty-five days he now saw his beloved Selene again. She appeared walking in her light coloured dress, with a cape around her and her head hooded. She immediately looked at the rock beside the road. Ambrogio's letter was there, with a little stone of top of it to keep the wind from taking it.

  When she saw it, she took a few hasty steps and then opened the folded letter. Her lips moved silently as she read the letter to herself. Ambrogio wanted to touch her, to let her know he was there. She looked so beautiful, so delicate.

  Selene folded the letter and hid it in a pouch she was carrying. Then she looked at the donkey, tied to a small tree. Her head turned towards the city she had come from, and then towards the temple. No one was to be seen.

  "I accept, Ambrogio," she said, as if she had sensed his presence. "If this is the only way for us to be together, I accept."

  She walked to the donkey, loosened the rope that tied it to the tree, and sat on its back. In moments she was gone, down the mountain, towards the harbor of Kirrha. It was the harbor where the supplicants coming to meet Pythia landed. Because Ambrogio had not known of it he had landed on the western coast of Greece instead. Maybe if he had told the ship's crew where he was headed, they would have brought him to Kirrha instead, but then his father would have heard where he was going. It was as if the gods had willed it...

  Once Selene had disappeared from sight, Artemis grasped Ambrogio's hand and pulled him deeper into the mist.

  "And now, you shall be my servant."

  "What kind of a pledge do I need to make, my goddess?" Ambrogio knelt.

  "No pledge. I simply need to kill you first," Artemis said lightly.

  Am
brogio stared at her in horror. Artemis looked at him, with her head cocked on one side, amused by his expression.

  "Kill me, my goddess?" he stammered.

  "If you are to become immortal, and to have Apollo's curse removed from you, you need to die as a human, and be reborn with new blood as the Hunter I am about to make you. But do not worry. I shall not let you slip from your body, and you will see your girl soon enough."

  Ambrogio had no time to prepare himself. Artemis yanked him to his feet as though he weighed nothing, opened her mouth, and fixed herself on his neck in a blur of motion. He felt a sharp pain, which subsided almost immediately. He felt her sucking, thirstily, and to his horror he realized she was drinking his blood. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

  His limbs went numb, and he heard his heart beat erratically. He fell down, limp. Little black dots with light edges danced in his eyes.

  Artemis lifted her head, and he saw his blood dripping from her jaws, which were very odd-looking. Her mouth had grown twice as wide as it had been before, and her beautiful teeth had grown longer. And her eyes... They were shining pure gold now, with an odd swirling oily yellow color pulsing from within the eye to the surface. She swallowed and smiled.

  "What an interesting childhood you had..." she said, "and your mother had a beautiful singing voice. You must have inherited it from her..."

  Ambrogio was passing out and could not reply. His field of vision began to blur and darken, but he had enough consciousness left to understand Artemis had somehow connected to his memories through his blood.

  He felt how she lifted his left hand. With a quick movement of her mouth she sliced his vein open. His failing eyes recorded mechanically how little blood came out. Then she did the same with her own right wrist and placed it against his wound. After that she sliced her left wrist open and pressed it against his mouth.

  "Now, drink with your mouth, and drink with your vein, and become one with my blood," she said.

  At first Ambrogio's consciousness continued to collapse. Then a fiery tingling started from his hand, and when he gasped painfully for air he had to breathe in and so he swallowed Artemis's blood. He gagged and coughed, but she never stopped pressing her wrist to his mouth. Her hot blood flowed into him.