by RS McCoy
She was flying.
Blossom’s heightened vision only made her feel that much farther from the floor. Her eyes took in every wall, every scratch, seeing the rough edges and tufts of animal fur still stuck to the tears. She saw the human well below her, looking up, watching her.
Her feet itched to claw at him, to grip his flesh in her talons and tear it from his body.
When she dove at him, the human put up his arm in defense, earning deep scratches on his forearm before she climbed back up. Her strong wings pulled through the air with ease, bringing her closer to the ceiling until she could climb no more. There was nowhere for her to go. Round and round she circled, looking for an escape, but there was nothing. She was trapped.
Blossom let out a scream, but it wasn’t her voice. It was the loud, echoing screech of a bird. She was a bird, she remembered.
She was a bird trapped in a strange room.
As fast as it came, she let go. She let her wings glide her back to the alabaster floor, her clawed feet touching down just as she pushed back up, this time with wide shoulders and strong legs.
Human again.
Blossom reeled, struggling to find her balance as she stood tall. The man’s hand appeared on her elbow and steadied her.
“A falcon. Peregrine. Impressive,” he said, his voice quiet as her ears echoed.
Her knees were weak and her head spun, but still he pulled her toward the door. When she stumbled, he put a hand under her ribs to help her, but he didn’t slow.
Blossom didn’t know how far he brought her. The doors and halls all looked the same, but when he set her on the edge of a low metal table and told her to lie down, she was happy to oblige. The cold metal pressed along her side helped to ground her, if only a little.
“Aero. Peregrine Falcon,” he said.
“Yes, Mr. Samina. I’ll have her done in a few minutes,” a stranger replied. She hadn’t even realized there was anyone else there with them. She heard the door shut and the stranger say, “I’m going to tattoo your neck. Stay as still as you can.”
Blossom was only vaguely aware of the pain in her neck. It was nothing compared to the fire of the serum. Her thoughts spun out of control, from the feeling of wings carrying her into the air to the sound of her own screech. She had been a bird today, a falcon. And she would always be a bird.
Not a bear. A falcon.
Not Terra. Not Pyro. But Aero.
Nothing made sense.
During the time it took the man to tattoo her neck, Blossom’s disorientation faded into confusion. She felt her whole body again, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head, but she had so many questions. She was eager to get home to Kaide and tell him, to show him what she was and ask if transformation had been the same for him.
“There you are. Congratulations.” The man’s voice was so monotone, she knew he’d said such words a dozen times already today.
Blossom thanked him and opened the door, surprised to see Eton Samina still standing there.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, though she got the distinct impression he didn’t care.
“I’m fine. Thank you.” With that, she started down the hall.
“Where are you going?”
“Home,” she replied without turning.
“Ms. Frane, there’s one more thing.” He handed her the small screen and waited for her to take it. Blossom had to back track several steps before she could see what it said.
BLOSSOM FRANE
AERO
PEREGRINE FALCON
VICE SYNDICATE
“So?” She didn’t see what Kaide’s position as Vice Syndicate had anything to do with her.
“You were nominated and selected for Vice Syndicate yesterday. Now that you’ve undergone transformation, I’m tasked with taking you to Aerona to formally accept your position.” He tucked the screen under his arm and clasped his hands in front of him, waiting.
“I’m not going to Aerona. I’m going home,” she protested.
“Are you sure? Once you decline an official assignment, you’ll start criminal proceedings immediately.” His voice was all too calm for the words he uttered.
When she only stared in wide-eyed shock, he continued, “I’m only supposed to bring you to Aerona. If you’d like to discuss it further with the Syndicate, I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.”
“She?” Blossom had met Syndicate Waller, a portly old man. This was all wrong.
“Syndicate Mercer was appointed only this morning. Are you ready?”
Eton started down the hall but stopped when he realized she wasn’t following. “Ms. Frane, you can either accompany me to Aerona, or I can take you down to the criminal wing. The choice is yours.” He shrugged as if it were that easy.
“I want to go to Pyrona. I want to go home,” she pleaded.
“You’ll never go there again. You’re Aero now, and your assignment is in Aerona. Forget about Pyrona. There’s nothing else you can do.”
The first tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away, but it was too late, he’d already seen.
She felt like a phantom, as if none of this were real. But it was. It was too awful to be her imagination.
With feet as heavy as stone, she followed Eton down the hall, around a dozen turns, and finally to the elevator. He brought her to the lobby and started toward the portal rooms, but Blossom stopped dead in her tracks.
She was still trapped. Still unable to make her own choices. Still not free.
It was too unfair.
She couldn’t be caged. Not again. She couldn’t go back to anything less than freedom.
So she ran. Ignoring his shouts, Blossom ran for the doors that led to the bright midday sun of Seraphine City. She jogged down the stairs, but only made it halfway down before she was airborne. Strong wings pulled her up and over the buildings, and with each passing second, they shrank beneath her. Higher and higher still she climbed into the sky. She didn’t know where she was or which way to go to get home, but the sky was the only place she would ever really be free. When she came back down, she’d be Aero, but for now, Blossom climbed toward the clouds with eyes closed and wings spread wide.
THE END.
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And keep reading for a preview of Raene and the Three Bears (Now Available on Amazon)!
Raene and the Three Bears
Book Two in the Alder Tales
Retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Raene choked back her apprehension and nervous excitement. This was it.
She’d meet her future husband. She’d see Blossom, and convince her to go back to Kaide. All Raene had to do was wait. Her already-simmering tiger’s blood felt ready to explode.
For a full minute, Raene heard the voices outside the tent. One of them was Olin’s—she’d know it anywhere. The others, she had no idea.
Olin had merely sent her in to wait in silence. She’d been standing there for at least half an hour, though with only the light of the flickering candle, it was impossible to know for sure. The conical tent was nothing more than a large piece of heavy green canvas hanging from a tree. A patchwork of mismatched fabrics—all green and brown and golden yellow—covered the floor.
It was a far cry from the grandeur of the manor.
Waiting in such a dull space with no one to talk to and nothing to do had seemed boring at first, but now that she could hear the voices outside, she could barely contain herself.
In a flash, Raene lightly pinched her cheeks to ensure a lovely pink color flushed her face. She soothed down her hair, already re-braided since her travels, and made sure her clothes were as perfect as possible. When she was satisfied she’d d
one all she could given the circumstances, Raene forced her hands to her sides.
With each passing second, her heart thumped faster and louder, her mounting anticipation and nerves saturating the air around her.
She was here in an Alderwood clan to be married, honoring Kaide’s arrangement. Raene was all too aware the next few moments would determine the rest of her life. She tried to think back to what Blossom had mentioned of her clan—three brothers, all bears—that much Raene remembered.
But she didn’t know which brother Kaide had chosen for her husband.
Then, a man ran into the tent and stopped short, staring at her.
Handsome, mid-twenties. Just right for her.
Raene and the Three Bears—Now Available!
Works by RS McCoy
The Sparks Saga
Sparks
Spirits
Schism
The Luminary Chronicles
The Lightning Luminary
The Sea Shade
The Alder Tales
Blossom and the Beast
Raene and the Three Bears
Hale and Gemini
The Snow Owl
The Extraction Files
The Killing Jar
The Lethal Agent
RS McCoy on Amazon
About RS McCoy
Rachel McCoy is a Texan living in New Jersey. Between binge-watching MTV reality shows and baking gluten-free treats, she writes paranormal fantasy and science fiction novels.
She is the self-published author of the Sparks Saga trilogy, The Alder Tales series, and The Extraction Files. Back when she lived in the real world, Rachel earned a degree in marine biology, which contributed to her die-hard love of manta rays.
To connect with RS McCoy (or swap recipes), visit her on her website (www.rsmccoyauthor.com) or check out her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRSMcCoy). You can also join her newsletter to receive release updates, free stories, and bonus extras (http://eepurl.com/YItp1).
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