Shift (Strangetown Magic Book 2)

by Al K. Line

  Then I was shouting, banging on Pumi's chest. Then I ran. He came after me. Dogs and horses barked or whinnied as they kicked each other, panthers and goats and so many breeds of dog all crazed as I ran past their blood-soaked bodies.

  Teeth snapped at my heels as I chased after Faith, my instincts taking over now. I needed to protect her, although from what I wasn't sure. From the weather, from the shifters, from Pumi, from herself, or from me? Was I chasing her down? Or was I really just concerned for her? The thoughts only entered my mind as I got control over my body, and slowed to let Pumi catch up.

  We held hands, shouted apologies to each other as we followed Faith, knowing that if she shifted involuntarily then her sleek feline form would be crushed by the hail that pelted us.

  She was there, at the greenhouses, still her, still in her human form, just standing underneath the cover of a large overhang of a wooden shed.

  Her beautiful work was ruined. The greenhouses were smashed beyond repair, the plants toppled, little but mush and glass inside. All of it half-buried beneath a mound of frozen rain like a stack of oversized marbles, melting even while we watched as the heat intensified.

  And then it was over. Violence receded from my mind and the Pool, the hail slowed then stopped, and with a final burst of thunder like a farewell from God the clouds vanished, the sun shone fiercely and the hail melted in a heartbeat.

  "Are you okay?" I asked, but she didn't hear me, just stared at the damage. "Faith, it's me and Pumi, are you okay?" I checked what I could see of her body but she wasn't too badly injured, just bruised like us.

  She turned, snapping out of her trance at my words. "Oh, hey. It's all ruined, so much work and now it's all gone."

  "You can grow more," I said, knowing it sounded lame.

  "Not just the tomatoes, most of the crops will be ruined, too. This is our livelihood, our food, our business. Damn, what is causing this? Why is this happening to us?"

  "It's the aftereffects of the Rift, Faith," said Pumi, voice soothing. "Nobody could have known, but it's over now."

  "Is it? Is it really?" She looked angry, and almost beaten.

  "Hey, at least we have our health," I said, smiling. "Plus, you'll find a way to fix things, make it all work out." I knew she would, knew the shifters would. They are resourceful, always manage to survive, and I knew she knew it, too.

  "Haha, yeah, you're right. Damn, that was nuts. What is with this city at the moment? Why can't we be left alone?"

  "Because we're special, because of all the magic. This is what happens when we all band together. We pay the price for it with crazy stuff." This was the true reason, the explanation for it all.

  "Let's go have a cuppa. I need to get away from here."

  Not looking back, Faith walked out into the scorching afternoon, her ample behind wiggling. Pumi and I both watched her for a moment, then realized what we were doing.

  "Come on, you pervert," I said, giving him a friendly elbow in the ribs.

  "Ow! What was that for?"

  "Just keep your hands where I can see them," I warned, then kissed him.

  "And what was that for?"

  "That was for keeping cool under extreme conditions. I saw the struggle in you, the violence wanting to escape. I felt it myself, but you beat it."

  "Yeah, well, gotta show my lady that I'm not all about animal urges." He winked and we went to catch up with Faith.

  A Nice Cuppa

  The jungle had taken a severe beating by the hail. The sweeping road and the front gardens were a mess of steam, shredded plants, and toppled trunks. We trampled through it all and entered the spartan, spotless home of Faith, the place familiar and comforting. An oasis of calm after the madness.

  Others were doing likewise after the outburst of violence. Naked humans traipsing through the damage and heading for safety to take stock of their wounds and try to come to terms with what they'd done or what they'd felt like doing.

  In the kitchen, with a cup of coffee and a welcome fan blowing if not cool air then at least a breeze that allowed us to stop overheating, Faith disappeared to get changed then returned with towels.

  After a pat down, both of us declining her offer of some of her clothes, I said, "We'll help you sort out the mess. I just have to go find Bluetz first. She's gone off the rails and I need to drag her in."

  "Thanks, it's gonna take some time. I bloody hate this city at times."

  "Yeah, but it's home. Look, Pumi, you stay, help out Faith. I work better on my own, anyway."

  "I said I'd come with you, to help," he protested, but I could see he was torn. That he hated to think of Faith moping about her home, same as I did.

  "No, it's fine, really. Faith needs help, everyone here does, so do what you can."

  "Okay, if you're sure?"

  I nodded. I was sure and it was kind of a relief. I've worked with others in the past and although sometimes it's nice to have company, I also find I can't act natural. Always wondering what they're thinking, trying to second-guess their moves and motives. And besides, this was my job, not his. He should be with the shifters. He was one, after all. Different, yes, and not liked by them all, but he was still a shifter, if an anomaly. Most importantly, Faith was our friend and she needed help, and comfort.

  "Thanks, both of you. So, you two hooked up, then?" She smiled a knowing smile.

  We both mumbled something, unsure what to say, so she changed the subject. "What are you doing here, anyway? Just came to see how we were holding up after yesterday, or warn us about the jungle? Damn nutty, right? I'm so glad the Rift is gone, that the elves are outta here. You did a good job, Swift, amazing."

  "Thanks, although I can't exactly take all the credit. Actually, I came because I wanted to ask if you'd heard about Bluetz and what she's been up to. You seem to get all the gossip, and yes, I also wanted to check on you."

  Faith hears a lot, she's just one of those people, and the shifters are always the first to get the gossip because they roam the streets and listen when they shouldn't. But I could have gone to Yuki Ye's, the intel there is better and I could have a pint as well.

  "That woman is utterly mad, always has been. She's been running around killing people, so crazed it makes her usual exploits seem entirely normal. Swift, she did despicable things to people, real dark stuff. I know for at least one of them it would have taken hours. That's no way to die. Nearly took out one of our own this morning. Poor thing is freaked out. She just tore into him for no reason, but he shifted and got away."

  "Do you know why she's doing this? What's her motivation?"

  "No idea." Faith took a sip of the strong coffee and seemed to calm a little more. She was still shaking somewhat, more from stress than fear of the fighting we'd just witnessed. "She doesn't need a reason. You know she's always been psycho. She's probably upset about something or other and taking it out on anyone she meets."

  "Hmm, maybe, but she rarely goes around killing. She usually gets into trouble in other ways."

  "And that's why I stay well clear of her." Faith finished her coffee and I was rather disappointed to discover I'd drunk mine, too, not even realizing I'd been drinking so fast.

  "But you always know what's going on. Spill it, what you holding back?" I knew there was something. Faith was being evasive, and normally you can't shut her up!

  "If I tell you, you have to promise me it goes no further."

  "Of course. You know I'd never give your name. I just want to find her and uncover what's happening. Levick doesn't know, or he's not telling, so anything you can give me would really help." I shifted a little to get the breeze from the fan, but it was sluggish, as if it couldn't move the air now the humidity was up again. And why the hell was I drinking coffee? I should have been drinking something with ice in it.

  Faith leaned forward, her heavy chest—way too much revealed through her vest—wet even though she'd just changed, resting on the table. "Blue has gone and got herself a gang. They're out to take over, so she's sho
wing off, demonstrating what she's capable of. And my guess is she's taking out those she has a grudge against, for whatever trifling reason. You know what she's like. She thinks you insult her if you don't show enough respect. Just because she's strong with magic doesn't make her important."

  "Okay, so she's just acting up to get her gang to follow her? She's always had her hangers-on, though, what's different now?"

  "She's making them show their loyalty. Not sure how, but there are rumors that something big is going down. Personally, I think she's been waiting for a time when everything is disrupted, and this damn rainforest coming straight after the Rift is the perfect opportunity. Everyone's running about acting strange anyway, so my guess is she thought nobody would notice or if they did they couldn't do anything about it." Faith paused for a moment, then continued. "I think it's the dark arts. That she's drawing power by killing slowly and in the nastiest way imaginable. That's possible, right?"

  "Yeah, it is. Okay, thanks. Don't worry, I'll deal with her, and we'll get everything fixed up here in no time."

  To be honest it wasn't that much help, but it was better than having nothing to go on.

  I stood, ready to leave. I gave Faith a kiss on the cheek then was left standing there, feeling ridiculous, so did what I wanted and moved close to Pumi, gave him a kiss on the lips, and said, "See you later?"

  "You bet, and be careful. You sure you don't want me to tag along?"

  "Nope. I'm a big girl and I've dealt with worse than Blue. Bye, Faith, sorry about the tomatoes."

  "Thanks, see you soon."

  I left, the heat hitting me like a scalding bath as I trampled the rotting mess that was the front garden.

  "Swift."

  I turned at the sound of Faith at her front door. "Yeah?"

  "I forgot, but try the Resting Place. She's taken to hanging out there, so it's a good place to start if she isn't at home."

  "Will do, thanks. Oh, and Faith?"

  "Yes?"

  "Think I'm doing the right thing, with Pumi?"

  "Too right, he's a great guy. I'm jealous. We had a little... thing, but you know, didn't work out. We're not suited, but he's ace."

  "Thanks. See ya."

  No way would Blue be sat watching the TV at home. She was someone who hardly ever stayed in her own house, always out and about. A face. Someone everyone knew and most avoided. So, Resting Place it was, and this time hopefully nothing would get in my way.

  Yeah, I know. As Mack would say, "You be crazy, fool!"

  On the Hunt

  The one good thing about the juiced-up hail was that the jungle took a severe battering. It made the going easier, but just as treacherous. Many of the plants were destroyed, but now there were new problems to deal with.

  Sappy trees had fallen, the forced growth meaning they were unstable and susceptible to toppling, barring the way. The ground was deep with leaves, branches and hidden dangers, the rot already in progress, making it sticky and the smell so ripe it was like the time I found myself in a pit surrounded by half a dozen zombies—long story.

  But the plants that survived weren't attacking, just recovering. Already growing again, sprouting from buds, tendrils tasting the air, looking for a hold to gather strength as they weaved about like leeches sensing blood.

  As I made decent progress, I thought of Bluetz Skala.

  She's descended from ancient Hittites, a culture far removed from ours, although she's certainly not from that time. But she's archaic in many ways, knows her history well, and is from a long line of very powerful warriors who were the scourge of much of the continent way back in the day.

  We think she's several hundred years old, although nobody is certain. She's somewhat of an enigma, having turned up and insinuated herself into our Strange world when just in her twenties, if she is to be believed regards her age. She looks much the same now as she did then, the aging process so slow as to be hardly noticeable, same as with me.

  And ever since her arrival she's been a thorn in many of our sides. First she was merely disruptive, an annoyance, causing minor trouble. But she grew increasingly bold and troublesome, her machinations always using other people, getting them to do her dirty work as she did whatever it took to get her own way. I've watched her over the years, seen her grow in strength, both physically and magically, and watched as she has twisted others to her own needs, warped those around her, and become something inhuman.

  Magic is to be revered, to be loved, to be used when needed, and given respect. It's all powerful and extremely dangerous. When you use it for good, for a purpose you know in your heart is just, then you feel all kinds of awesome. But when you know you're using it to perform acts that are cruel, are aware that what you're doing is wrong, then I can tell you right now, it's the worst feeling in the world.

  The Pool isn't good or bad, it just is, but people make choices, and you pay a terrible price for abusing such a rare and esoteric gift. It goes sour on you, your misdeeds amplified in your mind, in your very soul, and the pain is overwhelming.

  Something switches in your head, a poison, and if you keep on abusing it then you lose yourself, become the darkness that eats on your empathy the same as you consume those weaker than yourself. Blue is all of our worst nightmares and now I'm meant to go get her. She has corrupted herself willingly, there's no other way to say it. She has opened her arms wide to embrace the madness, the nasty underbelly of this Strange world. The woman revels in chaos and disorder, in pain and hurting others.

  Her mind is broken yet she is of great intelligence, and there's nothing worse than a smart maniac. She understands magic from ancient times, from a different race and system of belief. A magic that is almost entirely lost.

  She knows secrets. She knows the dark places. She knows what she wants.

  It's always been there. Something about her, like she has a plan, a secret hidden behind a wry smile that she refuses to share. You just know it isn't good, that this is a person who would screw you over without a moment's hesitation if it was in her interests. She scares a lot of our people, and certainly any Normals who happen to cross her path.

  This is why she has always had a following, why some are drawn to her like a terrible drug that will chew you up and spit you out a husk of your former self when you run out of money, or are no longer entertaining to her. She is idolized by some, hated by others, underestimated by no one.

  If all that wasn't bad enough, she is stunningly beautiful in a way most cannot ignore. I'm pretty, I know this. It's nothing to boast about as you are simply born and look how you look. Robin is a beauty, much prettier and has the grace and the fluid motion to go with it. When you watch her, you are entranced and aren't sure exactly what is having such an effect on you. Blue is in another league.

  There are people that have a certain something that clicks with the human psyche. It's intangible, unknowable, and goes beyond mere looks or learned or affected mannerisms. It's an animal grace, the way the face is formed that surpasses our idea of beauty and takes it to a whole other level. Tiny things you aren't even aware of. How the lip is curled, how an ear is exactly the right proportion. The flare of the nostrils, the size of the eyes, and a million other subtleties you don't consciously notice but your primitive mind certainly does.

  Blue isn't thin like a catwalk model. She is slender but rather wide of hip and has average sized breasts. But she has legs that go on forever, fingers that are delicate and you want to be touched by, and a rear to die for. She has hair that hangs straight down to her pert behind, dyed as white as an angel's wings, with a complexion the color of the most refined olive oil.

  This wayward witch is also covered head-to-toe in jewelry, and makes it a point to not wear that much else. She has studs or hoops through her nose, her lips, ears, even her cheeks. She has pierced nipples, has rings on each finger and toe and bands of carved silver that wrap tight around her arms and wrists. And she wears clothes that make her stand apart from others because she refuses to wear anythi
ng that could snag on her jewelry or get in the way of her magic use. Meaning, no matter the weather, she wears a raven-black vest and a pair of cropped to the crotch cotton shorts. Feet are bare, tough as boots from the centuries of going without shoes.

  Some people can never get along in Normal society, and Blue has always been an outsider. Such styles are perfectly acceptable now, and certainly we don't hide who or what we are, but take it back a few hundred years and you can imagine the kind of life she led because of her utter non-conformity to style and standards of dress.

  It was a very different world back then, I can tell you, and she had no end of trouble because of her unique approach to fashion. She has always been exotic and challenged the status quo, which is brave in one respect, stupid in another.

  But she knew what she was doing then and does so now. She wanted the attention and got it. Wanted to stand apart. Needed the excuse to fight, to hurt, to justify her cruelty and her using and abusing of others.

  Now nobody thinks much of her fashion sense. We have such things as teenagers now, where there is freedom to experiment and explore in ways unheard of just a few decades ago. We have every style you can imagine, have computers and music, punk and disco and every country in the world is accessible thanks to the media. The novelty has well and truly worn off, but it doesn't mean she isn't still trouble, because she is, and always will be.

  So this is why I was ready to blast her with a stream of magic that would send her crashing to the ground and be left unconscious for half a day as soon as I saw her, but it didn't quite work out like that. More's the pity.

  A Ripple

  As I approached the Resting Place, I accessed the Pool, amping up my senses, feeling the familiar tingle as magic coursed through my system, giving more than I ever could in return. Nerves ebbed like a fast retreating tide, replaced with a calm confidence boosted by the power I knew was at my fingertips.