Changer's Blood (Balancer's Soul cycle)

by Lee Morgan

  Sarah saw that Mark helped Kara sit up and he took off her blindfold. Both of her knees were skinned up, but not bleeding yet. Jillian’s left knee had been skinned up as she intentionally took the brunt of the impact.

  Mark looked eye to eye with Kara and his bulky body matched his worried tone. “No more of this. It is too dangerous for you being human.”

  Kara’s anger bubbled, rising to a new high and Sarah knew she didn’t like being treated like a burden. “Well if I can’t spar as a human, does that mean you’ll turn me into a Changer?” Every one of them were stunned speechless and Mark most of all. All of his muscles tensed, locking his joints all over his body and even his tail didn’t budge. His long jaw dropped fractionally and his eyes went wide with surprise and alarm.

  A minute later, Connor touched Sarah’s shoulder then her parents. With his mind he told them all “They need a moment of privacy.”

  They didn’t need to be warned by him twice.

  When they left Mark and Kara in the middle of the field Sarah asked “Connor, aren’t you worried about your sister’s choice?”

  He turned and looked at her with his predatory hazel eyes. “Of course I’m worried for her. I’m not heartless, just accepting because everyone is allowed to choose how they wish to live. I remember you telling me that the virus kills almost every person it enters into. I don’t want to even think of her becoming another statistic. But I came to peace with a difficult choice a long time ago.” He sighed heavily.

  “What choice was that?” Sarah tilted her head, looking into his piercing hazel eyes. His eyes weren’t nearly as intense at the moment.

  “When we chose to become mates, I knew that everyone around me would die some day.” His eyes wandered to his young sister. “She will grow old and die like all humans do and there isn’t anything I could do about it. It is a choice she has to make for herself. She can either grow old one day to eventually die or she can chance being with Mark. I know he is also struggling with her decision because of the past failures and the pain it’ll cause, but I know he won’t ever deny her anything that she wants. He loves her very much, I can see that.” His eyes returned to Sarah again. “I know that feeling personally because I am the same way with you, Princess.” She felt his love for her radiating through the bond and couldn’t help but embrace him.

  Sarah sat on Connor’s lap in the shade as they intently watched Kara and Mark still having an intense conversation and discussion with wild gestures. She glanced to her left and saw that her mother was also sitting on her father’s lap, also watching the couple with interested eyes. Connor finally broke the silence an hour later by asking “How long does the transformation take for a person to become a Changer?”

  Jillian answered evenly. “If the person survives it will depend on how much blood was entered into the subjects system. If it was very little, it would take six or seven days or if the persons system was flooded, at least twenty four hours.”

  “Is it more dangerous to have more or less blood for the transformation? Is it more dangerous to change quicker?” Connor asked a few seconds later.

  Jack answered this time. “It doesn’t matter how much is introduced or how quickly they change. The survival rate remains the same, but transforming sooner ends the pain that much quicker.”

  Thirty minutes later they saw Mark stand up and pull Kara up to a standing position as well. Sarah looked up and judged it to be just past noon now. Mark and Kara walked hand in hand together to where the four still sat patiently. They kept glancing at each other intimately and sharing a personal smile. When they entered the shade and sat down, they did as the others did. Mark sat down first, crossing his legs and Sarah saw his black fur was loose. Then Kara sat down in his lap and leaned her back into his chest.

  Connor ended the silence while staring between everyone. “It looks like the two of you have finally come to a conclusion. May I ask what you have decided?”

  “Yes, you may.” Mark said softly in his animalistic voice.

  Kara jumped in and spoke seriously to Sarah and Connor “Mark is right, I’m not capable of sparring, being that I am still a human and all.” She sighed as Sarah could see her steeling herself. “I’m going to be with Mark one way or another so we have decided to take the risk.”

  Jillian asked, sounding a little worried “When do you plan to do this?”

  “I will do it on Monday, after I return with Connor and the survival seminar.” Mark said a little more strongly as Kara grabbed his furry arm and clutched it close to her chest.

  She said, looking directly at Connor, as Sarah sat on his lap “We won’t be training tomorrow because we need to prepare for Monday; just incase, Brother.”

  He said “Ok.” but Sarah could feel him worried for the little sister that he has protected for her whole life. He had a hard time putting on a good front.

  Jack said to everyone “How about we skip coming out here tomorrow altogether because I need to work with Connor anyways.”

  “Are we done for today?” Kara asked, looking up at Mark.

  He saw all of their faces and not one of them felt up to continuing. No one wanted to fight any longer. They were all too worried to continue the usual training. They were all stressed. He nodded down to her.

  “Great! Can we fly back? It is so much fun!” She said quickly and joyous and her attitude changed the mood because Connor and the others started laughing. It was a strained laugh though.

  “Of course, Sweetheart.” She stood up and so did he, not long after.

  His eyes lit up and his black wings soon were complete. Sarah felt a little challenge coming on. She leapt off of Connor’s lap and took to the sky. When she cleared the tree tops she saw Connor right on her heels as he was smiling. Sarah also saw her parents getting up and walking into the forest, their heads were shaking at the rapid mood that changes within the group.

  Kara ran and jumped on Mark’s back. As she touched, he started running until he unfurled his wings and soon caught up to them.

  After landing at the cottage Mark completely went back to his human form and left ,with Kara, as they held hands. Mark said he would meet Connor Friday morning and Kara said she would do the same.

  Obstruction and path

  Thursday morning at around ten Connor left the house with his well rested mate. He wore new, long gray shorts, a solid black sleeveless shirt and hiking shoes. Sarah looked as stunning as ever in her white shorts and a black sleeveless shirt. Her luscious hair pulled back in a tight ponytail and her soft porcelain neck glistened in the morning light. Everything about her seemed to put him in a trance.

  She was feeling giddy for some reason as she jumped up on his back. She wrapped her legs around his midsection and encircled her arms around his neck. The feel of her skin was soft and smooth like the finest silk. Connor reacted by reaching back with both hands and cupping her bottom just to make sure she didn’t fall down. “What has gotten into you, Sarah?” He couldn’t help but start laughing at this sudden change in her personality.

  She nuzzled her head against his back. She then rested the side of her face between his knotted shoulder blades. “I just wanted to do it. Is there a problem with me riding you, my Knight?”

  “Not at all, Princess. Here let me show you why it isn’t a problem.” He squeezed her bottom playfully, showing Sarah why it didn’t bother him.

  She squeaked and dug her face in even more in his back. Through the shirt Connor felt her face heat up and it was all worth it. He began walking through the forest while giving Sarah a piggyback ride.

  A few minutes later they entered the clearing of her parent’s property and she dismounted off his back. With the grace of an athletic dancer, she landed on one foot and barely made a sound. They continued walking hand in hand as the two of them entered through the backdoor of her parent’s log house.

  When they entered her parent’s home Connor was soon overwhelmed with the delicious smell of food being cooked. They entered the living room b
y following their noses and Sarah yelled towards the kitchen “Mother, we’re here!”

  “We’re in the kitchen.” Jack said aloud from the next room.

  As Sarah and Connor rounded the living room furniture they walked into the average sized kitchen. Jillian wearing a brown apron over a red shirt and a light blue miniskirt peeked beneath the apron cloth. She smiled at them playfully and then returned to what she was doing. She was cooking up a storm of eggs, bacon, sausage, fried green tomatoes and toasted homemade bread. “Good morning kids.” She waived at them with a plastic cooking spoon.

  Jack started fixing the drinks of orange juice, milk and water. He wore new denim blue jeans and an orange/red t-shirt. He looked up at Connor and smiled. “Are you ready for today, Son?”

  “What do you have up your sleeves, old man?” Connor crossed his arms and smiled back. It was odd to see him so secretive or his hear his well placed words. Usually he is the one to tell you how things are. He was keeping something from Connor and it was important.

  “You will see soon enough. Oh and I don’t give you permission to peek into my mind.” Jack said that because Connor usually asks for permission before entering someone’s mind. It is only a courtesy he lives by.

  “You have my word, Jack.” He didn’t need to say more.

  Sarah and Connor helped carry the plates of food into the living room, after Sarah’s mother filled the trays. Each tray was stacked with all kinds of food.

  Jillian called late last night and invited them over for breakfast. They accepted graciously and arrived at their request. Jack also requested that they come in through the back door. His voice over the phone made Connor’s instinct tell him that something was up. It wasn’t a bad feeling, but it still raised his guards.

  The four of them started eating together, after they all sat down in the living room. When the food had been completely consumed Jack asked “So tomorrow is your first day for the start of your new business venture. How do you plan on getting there?”

  “Mark said I could ride with him to the park.” Mark did make an offer for Connor to ride with him until he could afford a vehicle on his own and not sponge from his mate. Connor was raised to be self-reliant.

  Jack stared at the muscle bound child for a few moments until he looked at Jillian. When Connor saw her she had a soft smile aimed directly at him. When he looked back to his father-in-law he had the same expression on. He stood up saying “Follow me.”

  Connor looked to Sarah and she too had a puzzled expression as she looked to her father. Her green eyes said she was out of the loop as well. Connor shrugged and stood and so did she as they followed Jack down the hall and toward the garage. Things had gotten interesting.

  Jack stopped at the garage door and turned around. “Connor, this is a gift from me and my mate. You can’t run everywhere or you’ll reveal yourself to the humans.” He opened the door with a prideful smile and stepped through first. Connor went through the door after him and froze as he saw what was just outside the opened garage. This was why Jack wanted them to use the backdoor.

  Before Connor sat a brand new super truck. Its painted coat was the exact shade of green as Sarah’s eyes. It had a fift high enough off the ground to be used in the brush and not get hung up. It was a king cab that could hold up to five people at once. Connor saw that the truck was a four wheel drive and the tires were knobbed for keeping traction if it ever got bogged down. The underside of the truck was shielded by a protective piece of reinforced sheet metal. He looked up and saw that the truck had a snorkel across the roof incase the engine ever went underwater. The bed of the truck sat three feet deep and twelve feet long and had a lockable lid that can close and seal off the bed of the truck and protect its contents. Connor opened the driver side door and saw it had a stick shift system. It also had that new truck smell. He unlocked the hood and looked at the engine. This engine was spotless and looked like it could fly a space shuttle because of all the latest technology that had been integrated. He couldn’t imagine all the horsepower it contained within, but would soon find out. Connor looked for an emblem from the manufacturer, but couldn’t find one. All that he found was an illegible signature that looked like Jack’s ancient Viking handwriting.

  Connor turned around to see Jack smiling with Jillian beside him. “This is too much. Thank you so much.”

  “So you like it, Connor?” Jillian asked with dancing golden eyes.

  His throat had suddenly clogged up as he peered at the two ancient people who were his in-laws. They had done something completely unexpected.

  “Of course he does, Mother. Who wouldn’t?” Sarah said hopping in the driver’s seat with a childish smile. He saw her running her fingers over everything she could reach. Her green eyes were even more excited than he felt.

  Turning around, he had to ask “Jack, where did you get this thing from? I don’t see any dealership emblems.”

  “When I learned about you and my daughter getting close, I started a new project at the garage.” His grin widened as he explained.

  “You made this for me?” There isn’t any way this can be possible.

  “Yes I did. I custom fabricated everything from the framing to the computer system and circuit boards. The only things I didn’t make were the tires and batteries, but I did even have them custom made and ordered. I love technology and building new things. I also like inventing new and expensive things. I get most of my money from all the patents of inventions I’ve made over the years.” He looked behind Connor to his daughter who was still playing inside the truck. “Go ahead and take her for a spin.” He tossed Connor the keys to the new truck.

  Sarah scooted over as he jumped up into the driver’s seat. Connor had to adjust the seat back a little for his long legs to fit comfortably. Whoever drove it here was shorter than he was. He tested the resistance of the clutch, break and accelerator before he even turned the ignition on.

  Turning the key, Connor expected the engine to roar to life like a monster truck, but it didn’t. The engine idled extremely quiet and purred as it waited outside the garage. He hit the button on the armrest and the driver’s side window slid down. Connor spoke conversationally because the noise of the truck was so soft. “Jack, what does this beast run on?”

  His grin widened. “Nothing that anyone could charge you at any gas station. It runs on twenty five car batteries and distilled water. It is a closed system like your cottage. It runs on the same basic principal. That’s where I got the ideas for your truck. When your wheels rotate, they charge up the top of the line batteries as you drive. It’s just like your waterwheel. When you idle, you’re using the water to keep the engine running. The batteries separate the water molecules and burn the hydrogen. And the molecules exit the tailpipe as water vapor. It is one hundred percent environmentally friendly.” He explained and Connor understood everything. He didn’t know Jack was also a bit of a scientist.

  Knowing now how to take care of the new truck Connor pushed in the clutch and threw the shifter in reverse, to pull out of the driveway. He noticed that his mom’s car was gone and Mark’s fresh jeep tire tracks proved he hadn’t been gone long to pick Kara up. Connor knew that Kara wasn’t home and that they were together. A pain pierced his heart at the thought of preparations she was doing, but they were together. That is what mattered.

  I’ll show them later. He thought and felt giddy.

  The engine became even quieter as he drove down the street. The system shifted from water back to electric without a sound. The knobby tires on the road grew louder than the engine. Sarah put her hand on his lap and asked with a playful smile “Should we go show David and Rhoda this new toy of yours? I haven’t seen them in quite awhile and I want to see what they think of your new truck.”

  He smiled in answer.

  Pulling into his grandparent’s farm Connor spotted his grandfather working out in the forge barn again. The dark smoke continued billowing out of the chimney and through the open door he saw the orange glo
w of hot metal. Sharp metallic ringing and sparks flew every time they were struck by a hammer. Connor saw him swinging the hammer down on a red hot strip of metal, shooting many more sparks in all directions. A flash of light reflect from the truck, gaining his grandfather’s attention. David looked up from shaping and stopped working to see who came onto his property.

  Sarah and Connor hopped out of the green truck as he approached. He wore his blue and white plaid t-shirt and his work jeans that were covered with dark soot. “Connor? Sarah? Is that you?” David wiped his face with a cloth to remove his sweat.

  “Sure is, Granddaddy!” Sarah said to him because he won’t allow her to call him anything, but Granddaddy. When they aren’t around she calls them by their given names.

  “Sarah, you look absolutely lovely this morning. Where did you get this exquisite piece of equipment?” He wiped his dirty hands on the back of his shirt, which had somehow escaped without much grime. He touched the hood and said “It is so quiet that I didn’t hear you pull in, but why isn’t the engine hot?”

  Connor smiled. For several minutes he showed his elder all about this new truck that Jack built. David understood what he was talking about and his smile was more than worth coming out here. Connor said “He made it because of my job.”

  “Yeah, I saw the flier in the paper the other day. I wasn’t sure if it really was you because I didn’t recognize the number.” He looked up at with guarded eyes that remained faded blue and full of mischief.

  “That’s my work number for my new cell phone.” Connor answered his questioning eyes. “You can call me whenever you need to by that number.”

  “SARAH!” Rhoda yelled from the front porch. She walked out wearing purple spandex pants and a green and yellow striped t-shirt. Her grey hair looked like she just had a new perm done today. She almost squeezed the breath out of his mate as she picked her up in a hug. When she finally allowed Sarah to stand again she asked “How are you doing, Sweetie? Is my grandson behaving himself?”