Discovery at Nerwolix

by C. G. Coppola

  “Shop?”

  “Mechanic.”

  The image of Reid working in a garage catches me off guard. I don’t know what to say, so I bite my lip, waiting for him to go on. But he remains silent, staring up at the ceiling.

  “I don’t see you as a mechanic,” I finally whisper.

  “Me neither. That’s why I was constantly competing. Well…” he laughs, “that’s part of it.”

  “And the other?”

  “I was good. My dad started me in karate when I was young. I loved it,” his eyes light up, “it was my favorite thing and I was really good. So I kept advancing and then…” he shrugs, “I wanted to learn more. Really understand the art behind it. So I kept studying, kept practicing and then started competing. I lived in Asia for a while.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah,” he smiles. “It was amazing. I loved learning. I ended up excelling in Kung Fu since it incorporates discipline on both a physical and spiritual level.”

  “No wonder you did so well with Arizal training.”

  “They’re not entirely different,” he looks down to me. “They’re really not.”

  “I believe you,” I snuggle in close.

  Reid inhales with a smirk. “Any more questions?”

  I shake my head.

  “My turn?”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Well let’s see…” he looks back to the ceiling. “What was your plan? On Earth. What were you going to do?”

  I run my fingers over the top of his chest, on the small black circle with three dots. It’s the Chuloo, the mark of the Arizal. “I worked as a server in a restaurant.”

  “Where?”

  “A mom and pop place. You wouldn’t know it.”

  “Top waitress?”

  I laugh, rolling my eyes. “Not really.”

  “You get good tips?”

  “I think I did once.”

  He laughs. “And?”

  “What?”

  “What’d you want to do?”

  “I don’t know…” I let out a deep sigh. “I never really figured it out. I was good at soccer; played a lot in high school.”

  “Oh yeah?” he shifts toward me. “Is that why you’re always running off?”

  “Maybe,” I grin. “But I don’t know. I don’t think I had a plan. Just take care of Granny Ruth.”

  “What kind of cancer did she have?” he softens his voice. “Clarence said…”

  “It wasn’t cancer. It was chronic Lyme’s disease… at least that’s what she told me. But now that I think about it,” I bite my lip with a shrug, “who knows. It could be anything. It could be something from…” I wave my hand, gesturing to all around. “Anything is possible I guess.”

  “And she never told you anything? Never hinted?”

  I think about it. Did she? Were there obvious signs I was missing the entire time? But Clarence said she didn’t want me part of that life. She didn’t want that stress on me, knowing the truth of what I was and where I came from. The danger she was in. The danger I was in.

  “No,” I shake my head. “She just… she always told me I was special. But that’s what all parents and grandparents tell you, right?” I look at Reid and he nods. “I don’t know… she was just very intuitive. Like she always knew what I was thinking, what I was planning. She was very protective,” I nod to myself, staring up at the ceiling, “overly sometimes, like she was afraid for me. I thought it was just the Lyme’s disease or something. Paranoia maybe? She never wanted me talking to people; said there was no way to know who meant to do you harm.”

  “She thought Clarence was going to come back for you.”

  “But he wouldn’t hurt me,” I roll my head over to Reid with a frown.

  “She didn’t want to risk it. She saw what happened to your mom during the pregnancy,” he shrugs. “She wanted to keep you away from that.”

  “I wish I could ask her. Confront her with all this, you know? Ask her about her past.”

  “You never did?”

  “Of course. I know about the orphanage and her getting pregnant with my mom so young. She just edited out everything with Clarence… with all this,” I sigh. “I wonder what she would make of it, of me being here,” I gulp and focus on the wooden ceiling again. “I wonder what she would say now that I know.”

  Chapter Thirteen: Embracement

  “Ready to face the world again?” Reid asks.

  He’s in his green tee-shirt and jeans, holding the curtain back for me. I glance from the small opening of the outside morning to him, still unable to convince myself to move from the bed. I snuggled in close to him all morning, hoping I could keep him under the red blanket with me the entire day. It worked for a while, especially when I was kissing his neck and he kept making these deep growling noises. I thought I had him but eventually—and with much effort—he forced himself off the bed, getting up to stretch. He knows, like I do, that I can’t spend the rest of forever hiding in here.

  “Do we have to?”

  “I think it’s time. Aren’t you hungry? Because,” his free hand drops to his stomach, “I am.”

  Yeah, I could eat.

  But that would mean facing everyone. That would mean accepting that yesterday happened and that a new future is waiting for me outside. But I guess it’s always been my future…always been my past. I’m just not sure I’m ready for it all.

  “Got to face it sooner or later,” Reid offers his free hand. “I’ll be with you.”

  He’s right. I can’t pretend it didn’t happen and I can’t stay in here forever, hoping everyone forgets about me. And with everything else going on, I can’t be that selfish. I need to do this.

  Already dressed in my baseball tee and jeans, I get up and take Reid’s hand, following him outside. He squeezes me and threads his fingers with mine. “It’ll be okay.”

  “I know.”

  He leads us to Sampson’s home and when he pulls back the curtain, we find everyone is already squeezed in here, eating various types of fruits and talking about today’s agenda. As if on cue, the entire room pauses with our arrival, all eyes flickering between Reid and I, watching us as we pause at the entryway. A solid moment of silence passes before Sampson approaches.

  “How are you this morning?”

  Reid nudges my side. “I think that’s directed at you.”

  I nod, knowing I should use words. But I can’t be honest. Because the truth is, I’m still shocked about everything, still in complete disbelief even though I had last night and this morning to ruminate over it. I need another few hours—maybe days—to process it all, to really let it settle in. But with everyone watching, I force a smile. “Fine,” I answer quietly, following it up with a soft, “thank you.”

  “Any melons left? Reid asks.

  “Of course,” Sampson leads us past Walker, Pratt, Mae and the Rogues, to the back part of his home where the rest of the Dofinikes wait. No one says anything for a long minute, their attention flickering between me and Clarence. I try not to notice and instead, focus on the yellowish fruit that Sampson is handing me.

  “Hey guys,” Clarence finally breaks the solid quiet. He clears his throat, “You both doing alright?”

  I turn the melon over in my hands, the sudden urge to be selfish rising again. I know it’s not the time, but with everyone watching, it’s obvious they’re curious too. Gripping the fruit, I ask something that’s been floating around my head since yesterday. “What’s your real name?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You said you adopted the name Clarence,” I bite into the fruit. “You said you heard it in town?”

  “Clynse,” he nods with a smile. “Clynse is my birth name.”

  “Why don’t you use it?” I keep the melon close to my mouth, covering it as I chew. “If it’s your real name.”

  Clarence inhales, pondering the question a moment before he looks me in the eyes. “Anne knew me by Clarence. It’s the only name I’ll ever hold.”
/>   Sampson tosses Reid the same melon. “Eat up.”

  “Is that your only question?” Clarence raises a brow.

  Taking another bite, I keep the fruit by my mouth. “For now.”

  “Ask me anything you want, anytime. Okay?”

  I nod.

  Another quiet moment passes and the air is still rich in awkward tension. Finally Reid brings the melon to his mouth. “So what’s the plan for today?” he takes a bite. “We got a pretty good scope of the perimeter yesterday, except,” he throws an eye roll to Walker, “I don’t understand why the beach won’t be covered. It’s too large an area to go unguarded.”

  “Hozfin doesn’t want his people far from the inner ring of trees,” Sampson says.

  “But we’d just be giving the Vermix an advantage.”

  “I agree,” Sampson sighs, “but Hozfin doesn’t see it this way. He thinks he’s going overboard in widening the perimeter to the Hylas Mountains. The beach is not a pressing concern to him.”

  “They’ll invade there—you know this.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Walker approaches. “If I remember correctly, the Vermix dropped in on us at the Castle, not the jungle.”

  “Yeah and who won that fight?” Reid spins, crossing his arms.

  “I’m not sure; I wasn’t around by that point.”

  “Take a guess.”

  “It was a massacre,” Walker hooks his hands on his hips. “And they knew we were expecting it. They have no idea if the Zingfinolds are preparing for an invasion.”

  “The Vermix wanted us dead,” Reid snaps. “But this time, they want something. They’re coming to obtain something. They’re going to be smarter about their invasion. They’re not just going to ‘drop in.”

  “You still don’t know for sure.”

  “Why don’t we watch the beach?” Tucker jumps in. “If Hozfin doesn’t want troops out there, the Rogues can watch it.”

  Reid nods, turning to Sampson. “I think it’s a good idea.”

  “By yourselves?” Blovid frowns.

  “There’s six of us,” Tucker says, “and it’s better than nothing.”

  “What about me?” Pratt asks, moving closer. “I can help. I make seven.”

  “And I make eight,” I add. “It’s not a lot, but it’ll give us an edge if they decide to come from the far south.”

  “Forgive me, but what kind of edge would it be?” Jothkore frowns. “Do not misunderstand me, I appreciate your generosity and bravery, but if Reuzkimpart invades from the south, the eight of you will do very little.”

  “We can warn the others,” I say. “Give them notice so they can prepare. Although,” I look between Sampson, Clarence and Blovid, “we know Reuzkimpart’s going to spread his forces. There’s really nothing we can do other than anticipate the attack and once we know, tell the others.”

  “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” Clarence sighs, “I wish we knew where the Floating Ruby was. We could protect it.”

  “Reuzkimpart has the same as us—suspicions,” Sampson says, “that it’s here in the south, guarded by the Zingfinolds. The best we can do is protect the city and everything surrounding it. The more eyes we have over the southern terrain, the better.”

  “But the fewer at the city,” Jothkore counters, “the weaker it stands. And if everyone is scattered over the southern terrain, they won’t stand a chance against his forces.”

  “It’s a no-win,” Walker sighs.

  “We know they’re planning on attacking,” I say. “We have that much.”

  “I think,” Sampson uses his authoritative tone and everyone quiets around him, “the Rogues and Fallon and Pratt watching the beach is a good idea. But,” he turns to Reid, “best not to strike. Come back here as fast as possible.”

  “Come on…” Jace whines. “Not even a little strike? I’m itching to use that Traxpire again.”

  “Hells yeah!” Werzo chimes in. “Payback’s a bitch.”

  “I would prefer if you didn’t,” Sampson shakes his head. “Best not to give away your position, especially when you’ll be so outnumbered. Come back here and help hold down the city. That’s where they’ll be heading first.”

  “We’ll be suffocated,” Reid says. “If we block ourselves in.”

  “What about the tunnel?” Mae asks, all heads turning to her.

  Sampson frowns. “What tunnel?”

  Startled to have all the attention on her, Mae looks at Reid and he answers first, turning to the Fychu. “There’s a tunnel in the Hylas. It leads right into the Nerwos’ territory. Perry told me about it.”

  “Does Hozfin know about this?”

  “I assume. She said some tribesman told her about it. Hozfin must know.”

  “I would like to see it.”

  “We can go now.”

  “Wonderful,” Sampson agrees, scanning the room. “Everyone finished eating? Fallon?” he looks to me. “Ready?”

  I’m the only one still nibbling on my breakfast. Quickly nodding, I’m about to toss the fruit but Reid catches my hand. “Bring it with you.”

  “Alright,” Sampson gestures our exit. “Let’s take a look at this tunnel. It would be very beneficial to know if the Vermix are sneaking in from another direction.”

  Everyone shuffles out of Sampson’s home and in a group, we move to one of the posts and down to the ground. A few of the Zingfinolds notice our generous herd, watching as we head back out for the Hylas mountains.

  I finish the rest of the melon quickly, my fingers sticky from the juice residue. Wiping them on my jeans, Reid takes my hand in his and leans over with a whisper. “How you doing?”

  “Fine.”

  “You eat enough?”

  “I’m fine,” I laugh, a flutter in my chest. “I promise. I’ll tell you if I’m not.”

  “Reid?” Sampson calls. “Where exactly is this tunnel?”

  With a wink, he releases my hand and heads to the front of the group with all the other Dofinikes. He quickly falls into conversation with Sampson and Clarence in an exchange I can’t overhear. Blovid, Qippert, Jothkore and Vix join the discussion and with all the Rogues chatting amongst themselves and Pratt and Mae in their own focused conversation, I follow along quietly.

  I was here just last night, but everything looks different. And I was alone—well, I guess not quite alone. I had the Lynzees. Are they going to come to me again? She—the Mother—said there was stuff I had to do. What stuff? Would Clarence know?

  “What you thinking about there, bestie?” Able grins next to me. “Looks like you’re in some deep thought. I’m not interrupting, am I?”

  “No,” I smile over at Able, my focus dropping. “How’s your arm doing?”

  “It’s still attached,” he rotates his shoulder. “Pretty much healed. They slapped a good amount of Vilbrees on it. That stuff really works.”

  “It does.”

  “Hey…” he leans in, lowering his voice. “I…uh… heard what happened yesterday… about you and Clarence.” Able flexes his brows. “Weird.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “And you had no idea?”

  I shake my head.

  “Must’ve blown your mind.”

  “I don’t know what to think,” I bite my lip. “I talked to Reid a little about it.”

  “What’d he say?”

  “That nothing’s impossible. It’s just…” I let out a deep breath. “It’s hard to believe. I have to keep reminding myself, ‘oh hey, you’re not fully human.’”

  Able nods. We walk in silence behind the others. After a moment, he turns to me and with a tilt of his head, says, “It could always be worse. You could be part Jabba the Hutt.”

  I laugh out loud, pausing with a hand on Able’s good shoulder. He laughs along with me, Pratt and Mae glancing back as the image of the wormy Star Wars villain races to mind.

  “Actually…” Able’s chuckle rounds into a grin. “I think it’s kind of cool that you’ve got a little Dofi
nike in you. Makes you badass.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Of course,” Walker sweeps up next to me. “You’re like, the coolest chick ever now.”

  “Well, she was pretty cool before.”

  “Without a doubt,” Walker agrees. “But baby,” he smiles at me, “you just took it to a whole new level.”

  “Badass you say?” I look between the two.

  “Hell yeah,” Walker nods. “There was no one like you before, but now…” Walker actually blushes, “you’re one of a kind.”

  “I was going to say the same thing,” Able looks over to Walker. “Stop stealing my lines.”

  “You’ve got to be quick around here, Rogue.”

  “So wait,” I glance between the two. “How did you guys find out?”

  “Blovid spilled the beans,” Able says. “When you came back and talked to Sampson, we were naturally curious, so when Blovid came out, we sort of ambushed him. He told us what happened and that they were finally telling you. And then he was shocked to find out we didn’t know either. No one knew except for the Dofinikes.”

  “So everyone knows?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “But, like we said,” Walker continues, “It’s only improving your stats. You’re just that much more awesome,” he gulps, his cheeks flushing. Rubbing the back of his neck, he grins. “You kicked ass as a human and now, you’re like, super girl or something.”

  “Wow,” I laugh, feeling my own blush coming on. “I should talk to you both more often.”

  “Anytime,” Walker’s smile widens.

  “Um…” Able clears his throat, focusing on me again. “So, you feel better?”

  “Definitely. Not so much like a freak anymore.”

  “Good.”

  “You’ve never been a freak, Fallon,” Walker shakes his head. “You never could.”

  “Thanks,” I turn to him. “And hey… I’m sorry about yesterday.”

  “I should’ve known,” he shrugs. “It’s obvious how you feel about him... I was just hoping I was wrong.”