Prodigy

by Natasha Brown

  Prodigy

  The Shapeshifter Chronicles, Book 2

  Natasha Brown

  Future Impressions

  Copyright © 2012 Natasha Brown

  ISBN-13: 978-0615731247

  ISBN-10: 0615731244

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is coincidental.

  www.theshapeshifterchronicles.com

  I would like to thank my friends at the World Literary Café for all of their support and advice, without which, I would be utterly lost. And without Bev Katz Rosenbaum’s editorial expertise, Prodigy wouldn’t be what it is today.

  I would like to acknowledge my friends and family who have supported me through my ups and downs. You know who you are—you are an invaluable part of my life.

  Contents

  Research Notes

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 1 of Emergent

  Also by Natasha Brown

  Research Notes

  Mayan Hot Chocolate Recipe

  About the Author

  Research Notes

  If you would like to see some of the the research that was involved with the creation of Prodigy, please take a look in the glossary section at the back of the book.

  *Fictional liberties taken when writing this fantasy world.

  Chapter 1

  Dense mist licked at Chance Morgan’s exposed skin and at the tall evergreens that surrounded him. The moisture in the air condensed in his lungs, making it hard to breath. As he stared into the twilight, a dark shape lunged at him through the fog.

  A fierce black bear pulled its lips back and displayed ivory teeth that held the promise of pain. Deep growls poured from its chest as its arm lashed out to claw him. Chance scrambled back against the rough bark of a pine, its abrasive coat biting at his bare skin. With nowhere to go, he held his arms up to protect his face from the oncoming attack. Chance closed his eyes and prepared for the end.

  The black bear slowed and began to shiver and quake. It grew and shifted into a huge feathered raptor. Cinnamon feathers tumbled in layers down its body. The majestic bird extended its wings to their full breadth. Its yellow eyes flashed, focusing on Chance huddled in the dirt, and waited until he met its gaze.

  Chance, you are not done with your education. There is more for you to learn if you are to be saved from your innocence. Remember, I will always be with you.

  The thunderbird disappeared into the rolling mist and resonant chanting filled the air. The fog dispersed and revealed Chance’s grandfather kneeling before a man’s lifeless body. Niyol’s hands hovered over the man’s chest.

  Chance stood helplessly by as a sapphire glow radiated from his grandfather’s palms. Light entered the still body beneath and following a burst of air, Niyol fell silent before collapsing.

  Darkness consumed them.

  “Grandfather!”

  Chance bolted upright in bed, the gray sheets tangled around his muscular body. The numbers on the clock glowed red. Morning already. He groaned and dropped his head into his hands. Grandfather, why are you doing this to me? Or am I just going crazy?

  He wasn’t sure how much more he could take. He’d had the same recurring dream for so many nights it was beginning to wear him down. In each one, different animals attacked him, but it always ended the same way, with the creature shapeshifting into the thunderbird, his ancestor’s form of power. The dream usually involved a message from his grandfather. At least it sounded like him. Chance knew it had to be his subconscious trying to tell him something. What, he didn’t know.

  The worst part of the dream was revisiting his grandfather’s death. Maybe Chance deserved it. It was his penance for killing him. If Chance hadn’t died saving Ana he would still have his mentor and teacher here to guide him. Instead, Niyol used all his power to return Chance back to life. Besides Ana, he was alone in his struggles. She was the only one he could talk to about what had happened. Because his grandfather insisted his powers remain a secret from everyone, including his parents, Chance was forced to lie and say Niyol had a heart attack while they were on a hike. The lies and secrets were exhausting. He wanted a break from it all.

  Chance pushed his legs off the bed and freed himself from the sheets. Standing tall, he stretched his arms above his head, and his spine arched like a feline’s. He thumped down to the floor and began his pushups.

  A soft knock came from his door. With a pang of sadness, he remembered how often he had answered his grandfather’s morning greeting.

  He did another five reps and said breathlessly, “Yes?”

  “You slept in. Dad’s already at the shop and I’m heading in to work. Can I come in real quick?” Aiyana asked.

  “Sure.”

  He rolled to his side and looked up when the door opened. His mother’s long dark hair was pulled into a braid. A pair of yellow scrubs hung from her thin frame. She stepped cautiously into the room and her dark eyes swept the shadowy space as though she was searching for something.

  “What’s up?”

  Aiyana’s eyes met his and she smiled. “I was wondering what you had planned today. Were you going to look at any of those college brochures downstairs?”

  “C’mon, Mom. I’m eighteen. I just graduated high school, I want a break. I’m not ready to hit the books, I’m gonna travel. You know I’m heading to Mexico to look for relatives. Don’t you want to learn more about Grandma’s side of the family? Once I save enough money, I’m leaving.”

  Aiyana frowned, walked over to the windows and opened the shades. Light flooded the messy room, and exposed piles of dirty clothes on the floor.

  “Okay, last time I ask. You’re really planning on being gone for a few months?”

  “Sure, why not? I promise I’ll come home if I don’t find anyone. But if I do, I want to hang out and learn more about where Grandma came from. Hopefully, she left some stuff around that’ll lead me in the right direction. That’s why I’m stopping by Grandfather’s ranch. You still can’t remember anything new? Where Grandma grew up?” Chance jumped to his feet and folded his arms across his chest.

  His mother shook her head. “No. I don’t really recall her ever saying much about her childhood. I know she helped raise her sister after her mother died and she never really talked about her dad but you already know that.”

  Aiyana took another lingering look at the whirlwind of clothing strewn across the room, and added, “You know, before you see Ana today you could
take care of your laundry.”

  Chance grimaced. “Not a bad idea. But it’s just—not fun.”

  “Well, I won’t be with you when you’re on the road. You need to know how to wash your own clothes, unless you’re planning on looking like a bum.”

  “I won’t get mugged that way.”

  Chance kissed his mother’s cheek. “Don’t worry about me, Mom. I can take care of myself.”

  “I know. It doesn’t mean I won’t miss you or worry.” Aiyana started for the door and glanced over her shoulder. “Love you.”

  “Love you too, Mom. See you later.”

  In a minute, the sound of the front door closing echoed through the house. Alone in his disorganized room, he took his mother’s advice and gathered a large pile of clothes, trudging into the hallway. His eyes paused on the door across from him and he thought of his grandfather’s tidy room. Everything left in its place as though some day he might return, as if he was just on vacation.

  Chance still couldn’t understand why his grandfather had kept so much from him. Why hadn’t he told him he was a shapeshifter, too? Since Niyol gave his power to save Chance from death, he’d been reliving his grandfather’s memories. Those memories had filled in some information but left Chance feeling lost and confused.

  That stormy day on the mountaintop he had learned with certainty that there were other shapeshifters in the world. His cousin, Markus had shown up to kill him and absorb Chance’s power. But in the end, Chance and Ana were the only ones left standing. At least before his grandfather died, he had ended Markus’s life. It was Chance’s only consolation as he stared at his grandfather’s door. He swallowed the lump in his throat and forced his gaze away.

  With his parents gone, Chance used the opportunity to speed downstairs. His feet barely touched the steps as he swung over the banister. Inhuman speed was one of the unique talents inherited from his ancestors, specifically, his grandfather. Chance combed his fingers through his hair, satisfied he hadn’t dropped a single piece of clothing. Being alone in the house had its advantages.

  After he dumped the armload of dirty jeans and t-shirts into the wash, he ran back to his room and got dressed. All the unanswered questions were pushed aside as he grabbed his keys and walked out the door.

  A cool breeze cut through his thin cotton shirt, a sure sign Fall was gaining a finger hold. Chance jumped into his classic truck and with a turn of the wrist, brought it thundering to life. His heart squeezed in his chest as he thought of Ana’s green eyes. She was only minutes away now, and he couldn’t wait to return to her. Like the tide, he always found his way back. He resolved there would be a day he wouldn’t have to leave her side.

  Chapter 2

  Eager to feel the last rays of summer, Ana went out the back door, breathed in the pine scent and called out to her younger sister, “Eva, I’ll be back soon. I’m going for a hike.”

  A muffled response wafted out the kitchen window. “Kay.”

  Ana started down a worn path that curled through the evergreens behind their little blue house, and wandered into the private clearing she used for stargazing. Lately she hadn’t gone alone; Chance usually joined her. There wasn’t anything she enjoyed more than spending her time doing the thing she loved most with the person she loved most.

  Ana enjoyed pushing her physical capabilities on a daily basis. After a lifetime of being forced to sit on the sidelines, she was eager to get out and do what she hadn’t been able to before Chance healed her heart. Born with birth defects and a heart condition that prevented her from doing any physical activity, her health had deteriorated when she moved with her mother and sister to Clark Bend, Idaho. Now, while jogging, she had the comfort of knowing her heart wouldn’t give out. Muscles in her legs that never had the opportunity to develop with exercise were now sore from use, but she didn’t care. It felt good—it reminded her she was alive.

  That same joyous reminder was also the marker of a painful loss. As she ran through the wilderness, she thought about how Chance had saved her from death using his amazing abilities. Even though she was angry with him at the time for putting his own life on the line to do it, she tried not to dwell on that fact because she knew Chance carried enough guilt. After all, his actions had led to his grandfather’s death.

  She leapt down an embankment, and jogged across the grassy fields. The wildflowers that had only weeks ago been splashed over the green landscape were disappearing, letting their seeds rest protected in the soil until next year. Squirrels foraged with more urgency, scurrying around the bushes and trees, sensing it was time to prepare for the oncoming change of seasons.

  Ana watched a pair of finches dart through the sky and envied their world perspective. Dreams of flying had visited her almost every night over the last month and a half, since Chance had saved her. They were so realistic, in fact, when she woke in the morning she could swear she had actually flown.

  A familiar spicy scent caught her attention and she spun around.

  “You’re getting better at that. How’d you know I was here?” Chance straightened from his crouch, walked up to her and kissed her neck.

  Distracted, Ana shook her head and said, “I don’t know. I can just always tell when you’re near. Did you fly or drive here?”

  Ana already knew the answer. Since Niyol died Chance didn’t seem to want to shapeshift anymore. He didn’t talk to her about it, except to say he ‘didn’t feel like it’.

  “I drove.”

  She smiled and slipped her fingers into his hand. He turned away from her as he stared at the landscape, frowning. Ana noticed his hair hadn’t been brushed, and she reached up to tuck some strays back into the fold.

  “You okay? Had another dream?” she asked, concerned.

  Chance squeezed her hand and said with a shake of his head, “You can always tell.”

  He moved ahead and led her away from the rising sun.

  “I think it’s time to start planning the trip. Maybe the dreams will stop or change once I get moving. Since Grandfather died, the dreams have been relentless. I know I’m missing something, but I just don’t know what.”

  They stopped at a grassy spot beneath a large pine. Ana sat down and pulled him onto the grass beside her. She traced the planes of his hand, and turned it palm up to run her finger along his life lines. She still marveled at the fact he didn’t have scars or rough skin, a trait he would possess as long as he shapeshifted. After phasing into another animal, he always returned to his true form. A form without injuries or sickness. If Ana had the choice or ability to lose the long scar that traveled down her sternum from her heart surgery, she wasn’t entirely confident she would want to.

  She lifted her face and looked into his eyes. “I’m coming with you, you know.”

  Chance’s jaw clenched and he sighed. “Ana, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. What if I run into trouble? I don’t want you to get hurt.” He paused, leaned over and kissed her tightly pursed lips. After a moment, she gave in and returned the kiss. Then he added, “But I admit, I’d rather not be without you. It’s painful to think about being apart.”

  Ana sighed and said, “I don’t think I could bear it, either. Anyway, what if you do run into trouble? I want to help. Plus, not knowing if you were okay or not would just kill me.”

  “I want you to be with me every minute of every day. I hate leaving you to go home at night. But I also love you too much to put you in danger. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”

  Ana’s face darkened as she whispered, “I do. And I won’t let you risk your life for me again. I’d never forgive you. Once was enough.”

  She didn’t like bringing up the fact Niyol wasn’t around any longer to save him if he made a dangerous choice. She suspected this was the reason he was having the dreams. He needed to find his next instructor and mentor. Someone needed to teach him how his powers worked, what the limitations were and more about the world he had been sheltered from. There were gaping holes in
his knowledge. It had become obvious just how dangerous his naiveté could be when his mentally unstable shapeshifter cousin had shown up, ready to kill him—and to take his power. Ana forced the image of Markus’s twisted sneer from her mind.

  Chance grimaced and picked at the pine needles on the ground. Ana let it go. She knew he would get cranky if she pushed it.

  He breathed out and said, “Well, I suppose if you do tag along, you can see if Grandfather really did bury something for me on his ranch.”

  Ana shot him a wicked grin, pushed him into a lying position and pinned his shoulders down. “Oh, I’m coming with you, all right!”

  Chance threw his arms up in mock defeat. “Okay, okay! I’d be crazy to say no to you.”

  He put his arms around her, and in a flash, he was pinning her to the ground, and growling in her ear. Her body quaked. Shivers raked her arms and neck. His face grew serious and he closed his eyes. He appeared to struggle to regain control over himself. When he reopened his eyes, she was waiting.

  “With your heart condition gone, it’s hard finding a reason to stop…” Reluctantly, he sat up and fixed his gaze on a small beetle trudging across the forest floor.

  “It’s nice not worrying about my heart stopping just from kissing,” Ana said in a whisper and reached out to touch her finger to his lips.