Sere from the Green (The Shape Shifter Chronicles Book 1)

by Lauren Jankowski

  Jet shrugged. “I didn’t have a choice, Hunter. Her other daughter was in danger and Passion wanted to keep Isis in the dark in the hopes that she could have a normal life.”

  “Why couldn’t you just put her under protection?” Hunter asked as she picked up a pen and began spinning it around in her fingers. “Or get her more or something?”

  Jet was quiet for a moment, watching the shadow of the pen as it twirled about his daughter’s fingers. “Because I have reason to believe she’s part of the Four.”

  Hunter dropped the pen and stared at him. “Part of the what now?”

  Jet shook his head. “I just hope I’m right this time.”

  Hunter was quiet for a long time. “Me too.”

  *~*~*~*~*

  The sun rose, casting Isis’ room in warm light. She was testing the sturdiness of the furniture in the room. Climbing up on the mattress, she examined the large post at the end of the bed, which was made of thick and heavy wood. That’ll do, she thought as she grabbed one end of the sheets she had been working on all night. Isis had spent hours tying knots in the fabric. Her dexterous fingers worked swiftly as she tied her makeshift rope to the heavy post, double-checking to make sure it was secure. She gathered up the coiled sheets and made her way over to the balcony doors, opening one and tossing the rope out onto the balcony. Never thought all those rock-climbing classes with Steve would come in handy one day, Isis thought as she walked across the balcony and checked to make sure she didn’t have any unwanted company lurking about.

  When she was satisfied there were no witnesses around, Isis picked up the rope again and threw it over the balustrade. The rope was longer than she had expected, reaching all the way to the ground. Isis swallowed, feeling mild vertigo as she looked down to the stone walkway below. The ground seemed to plummet even further down and she got a little lightheaded. Isis looked up and across the lands, her resolve returning. I’ve done worse. This is just a little climb down a rope. The worst that could happen is a broken bone and that Jet guy undoubtedly has good insurance, she reassured herself. Isis carefully took a hold of the smooth sheet with one hand, placing her other on the rough stone as she swung her long slender legs over the balustrade. She placed her feet between the balusters and took a hold of the knotted sheet in her hands.

  “Okay, don’t look down,” she whispered to herself. Somewhere nearby, a robin chirped and a gentle wind brushed against her back, causing her to grit her teeth. Isis began to carefully descend, going as fast as she dared. The rope swayed a little in the occasional breeze, but her grip never loosened. Her arms shook with the weight of her body and the muscles twitched. It had been a long time since she had been climbing, mainly because Steve’s schedule no longer allowed for the random adventure trip. Neither did hers, but Isis had never been one to let her job get in the way of something she wanted to do.

  After what seemed like years, Isis’ feet finally touched solid ground. She smiled in victory as she turned around to make her way to the gates, her smile falling when she saw Jade sitting on a stone bench nearby. The woman held a knife in one hand and a partially eaten peach in the other. She smiled and placed another peach slice in her mouth, waving with the hand that held the round fruit. Isis felt her shoulders drop as she stared at Jade, shocked that she hadn’t noticed her earlier. Jade was the picture of relaxation with one of her long legs folded under her while the other swung back and forth. Her dark hair was loosely held back from her face with a butterfly-shaped hair slide.

  “How?” Isis asked when she found her voice again. Jade chuckled, looking down to her peach.

  “When you’ve lived as long as I have, you tend to notice certain . . . tells,” she replied as she sliced into the juicy peach again. “For example, when a grown woman who has been raised by humans just accepts a story as fantastic as the one you were told last night, chances are she’s planning something.”

  Jade paused as she slid another slice of peach in her mouth, gesturing with her knife at the makeshift rope as she chewed. “Nice try though. My compliments on your climbing ability.”

  Isis frowned as she cautiously approached the bench, studying the other woman. Jade smiled at her, unbothered by the scrutinizing look, and she cut another slice from the peach. The juice spilled over her hand, but she didn’t pay it any heed.

  “You don’t look that much older than me,” Isis commented, unable to hide her confusion. Jade raised the slice to her mouth, pausing for a moment and then laughing. She shook her head, closing her eyes and lifting her face toward the sun.

  “I guess we forgot to mention that shape shifters and guardians are immortal,” Jade said as she opened her eyes again and focused on the ripe fruit in her hand, slipping the peach slice in her mouth and chewing. She swallowed and licked the excess juice off her fingertips, her brown eyes traveling to Isis’ face.

  “Yeah, shape shifters and guardians don’t die of ‘natural causes’ and we aren’t affected by human ailments and maladies,” she explained as she began to cut another slice from the peach. “The only way we die is if we’re murdered or die in an accident or something like that.”

  “I have to sit down,” Isis said after a moment, suddenly feeling dizzy. Jade scooted over and gestured to the stone bench. She offered the slice that she cut from the peach and Isis was barely able to shake her head. Jade shrugged and slipped it into her mouth. Isis swallowed and looked over at Jade, studying her features. As best she could tell, Jade was Latina, or perhaps Native American. She looked to be Isis’ age, but if she were immortal . . .

  “How old are you?” she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Jade shrugged and looked off across the lands of the mansion.

  “We generally don’t keep track of our ages,” she answered, her face scrunching a little as though she were thinking. “I was born in 1622, deep in the rainforests of Brazil.”

  “You’re over three-hundred years old!?” Isis exclaimed in shock. Jade frowned and thoughtfully chewed on another peach slice. She swallowed and smiled in amusement.

  “I suppose I am,” she chuckled. “And here I thought I was a younger protector.”

  Isis felt almost panicked as she looked back to the ground. “I’m not years older than I think I am, am I?”

  Jade shook her head as she licked her pinky finger. “Nope. You’re twenty-eight. The guardians are capable of many things, but altering time isn’t one of them. To interfere with free will and perception is a violation of their sacred laws.”

  Isis couldn’t think of anything to say so she looked at the bright green grass in front of the stone pathway that wound around the enormous mansion. There were so many thoughts racing through her mind, warring for control. She wanted more answers, but there were just too many questions.

  “Are you always up this early?” she asked the first question that popped into her head. Jade finished the last slice of her peach and placed the pit and knife aside, rubbing her mildly sticky hands together.

  “Not always, but often enough. I enjoy sleeping in whenever I have a chance, usually when I have a lover or two keeping me warm,” she said with a smile that was both suggestive and kind. Isis found it odd that she had known the woman less than twenty-four hours and already Jade was treating her like they had known each other a lifetime.

  “You’re very honest,” Isis remarked. Jade laughed as she stood up and stretched her lean body.

  “Shape shifters are very open,” she said. “I mentioned the libido thing before, but you should know that our views of pretty much everything, including sexuality, is probably very different from what you are used to.”

  Isis snorted. “Except for the whole asexuality thing, right?”

  Jade gave a half-smile. “Admittedly, we’re not perfect. Unfortunately, we also have various prejudices. While they may be somewhat different from humans’, they are prejudices nonetheless.”

  Isis leaned back a little. “So, what about you, Jade? What do you think of me?”

  Jade was
quiet for a moment, studying Isis. “If you’re wondering whether or not I’m bothered by your being Gray-A, the answer is no. I will be proud to fight alongside you, as I am with any other protector. You’re my teammate, that’s what’s important to me. If you’re asking in a more general sense, I think you’re unique.”

  Jade got up and stretched her arms over her head. “That’s not to say other protectors will share my sentiments, frankly I doubt they will. But I get the distinct impression you’re not overly concerned with what others think.”

  Isis stared at the older woman, suspicious. She was very leery when people offered unconditional acceptance so easily and without strings attached. Jade’s words sounded genuine and sincere, but Isis didn’t know her and therefore didn’t trust her completely.

  “So, the guardians, do they share your philosophy of acceptance?” Isis asked. Jade shrugged.

  “Not entirely, many of them can be rather strict and reserved — one might even say repressed — though I don’t believe that term is an accurate description,” Jade answered. “Passion is an exception. She believes everyone should be allowed to pursue what makes them happiest in life and unfortunately, that makes her a favorite target of the more traditionalist guardians. Most of the High Council is very austere and more concerned with following and enforcing the Sacred Laws.”

  “Like the whole no sex with shape shifters?” Isis asked, leaning forward so that her arms were resting on her legs. She pressed her palms together, feeling curiosity ignite within her. Jade glanced back at her, nodding.

  “They don’t allow sex before courtship,” she explained. “They also arrange courtship and they all wear proper dress. Though admittedly, those rules aren’t exactly strictly enforced. There are always loopholes.”

  “Proper dress?”

  Jade’s attention was drawn over to a bee buzzing nearby, watching as it landed on the petals of a yellow tulip nearby. “The women wear dresses and the men wear something similar to a tunic. It will likely appear very dated to you.”

  “Ah,” Isis said, smirking a little despite herself.

  “However, the guardians don’t force their ways on us for the most part,” Jade said reassuringly, sitting on the bench again. “They merely ask for respect from protectors, which we give them. You should keep in mind that their safety always comes first. Our priority is protecting the guardians. It is our duty and we take that duty very seriously.

  “The thing you have to remember, Isis, is that despite how we look, we are not human. We may share some similarities with them, but the guardians and the shape shifters are different species. The guardians have a different culture than us. And that is in no way meant to be a judgmental statement. We are no better or worse than any other culture, just different.”

  “Jade!” Electra’s panicked voice interrupted their conversation. Both women looked to the side where the door was. A moment later Electra came into view, looking nothing short of flustered. She spotted Isis and let out a breath of relief, stepping out onto the walkway. As Electra approached them, she noticed the sheets hanging down from the balcony. She looked to the two of them, confused.

  “She’s inherited the family ingenuity,” Jade answered the young guardian’s unasked question, gesturing at the rope. “And the tendency toward flight too, apparently.”

  Electra frowned at Jade and placed her hands on her hips. She was wearing a blue shirt with a white shirt under it and a pair of stonewash jeans. To Isis, she looked just like an average ordinary human, certainly not a deity or deity-like being.

  “Well it’s a good thing she didn’t get to the gate,” Electra mentioned, turning her eyes to Isis. “You should know that as long as you’re on this property, you’re under the protection of the guardians. But once you step out there, past that gate we came through, that protection starts to gradually dissipate the closer you get to the street.”

  Isis stared at her for a moment, feeling a little uneasy. “Um, okay.”

  Jade snapped her fingers as though something had just dawned on her and Isis looked over at her, happy for the distraction.

  “By the way, Isis, the first time you Appear, you’ll notice afterwards that your skin will glisten a little in moonlight. Don’t worry about it, it’s due to your being half guardian,” Jade explained, looking back to Electra. “I think I’ve covered just about everything she needs to know. Now you get to help me train her.”

  Electra stared at her, dropping her hands from her hips. “I’m not a teacher. I don’t even know where I’d begin.”

  Jade smiled as she approached the young guardian, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “That’s why you have me and Remington to help you.”

  Electra gave her a very dry, mildly irritated look, before turning her attention to Isis. “Have you had breakfast?”

  Isis shook her head. “Not really hungry.”

  It was a small lie. She could have eaten, but she really didn’t trust these people to feed her. She still felt apprehensive of them and their motives. Electra maneuvered out from under Jade’s arm in one smooth movement.

  “Fine,” Electra sighed, turning to Jade. “Lilly said we should take her back to her apartment so that she can pick up some things.”

  “All right, you both head over to the garage. I’ll meet you there after I grab a bite to eat,” Jade replied, smiling and winking at Isis. She turned on her heel and headed in the direction Electra had come from. Electra turned to Isis and nodded over her shoulder, gesturing for her to follow. Isis got up and followed her twin, a new idea already starting to form in her mind.

  *~*~*~*~*

  Isis was quiet as she stood behind Jade and Electra in the elevator. She stared straight ahead at the dirty gold doors, not willing to break the tense quiet. Electra was looking up at the numbers while Jade leaned against one of the walls. The ride over had been completely silent except for the throaty voice of Shirley Manson and the throbbing beats of the Garbage playlist that Jade had blasted through the speakers.

  “So, if this prophecy hadn’t appeared, how much longer would it have been before someone told me about my heritage?” Electra suddenly asked, drawing both Isis and Jade’s attention. Isis had sensed a palpable tension between Electra and Jet and that anger seemed to be directed at Jade to a certain extent. Electra looked over at Jade, who merely shrugged in response, her relaxed posture not changing.

  “I really don’t know, Electra,” she answered. “Jet or Lilly would be better to ask.”

  Electra scowled and turned her attention back to the numbers until the door shuddered open. She all but stormed out, followed by Jade and then Isis. Isis’ attention was drawn to the corner where a small decorative tree sat. The landlord had an affinity for plants, trees in particular. He cared for them like they were children and as much as Isis hated to admit it they did provide an almost warm feeling from an aesthetic point of view. There were a few on each floor, usually near the elevators. She frowned when she saw the plant was wilting and almost dead. He’s not going to be happy when he comes back from vacation, she thought as she turned her attention down the hall.

  It was ten o’clock in the morning, so the wall sconces were off and the light came from the brilliant summer sun. They had chosen to come when most of the tenants would be at work, much to Isis’ chagrin. She had been hoping to catch Steve on his way out. While she absolutely abhorred asking for help, Isis was smart enough to recognize when she could use it. Had she bumped into Steve, she would have been able to let him know that she was in a bad situation without alerting the two strange women. They had known each other long enough to be able to read between the lines and he had always been good when it came to reading people. Oh well, I’ll just have to go to plan B, she thought as they stopped in front of her apartment.

  Isis stared at the door, amazed that it seemed to have already been repaired. She looked over to Jade, who was wearing a regular green camouflage top and ragged jean shorts. Small circular green sunglasses shielded her eyes and
she was wearing a tan baseball cap. Noticing Isis staring at her, puzzled, Jade offered the younger woman a small smile.

  “We’ve got many resourceful allies,” she said cryptically. Isis couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that.

  “Really could have used you in the winter when the heating was on the fritz and it took several calls to even get the landlord up here,” she grumbled, hesitating. “Should we be here? What if whoever it was last night is back?”

  “I asked Jet and Lilly the same thing, but they assured me the danger is likely to be minimal. According to them, your assailant won’t be back, not in the daytime anyway,” Electra responded, leaning back against the wall behind her. “I wouldn’t eat or drink anything, just to be on the safe side.”

  “No. Poison is much too impersonal for whomever was here. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t even own a gun,” Jade observed.

  “That’s comforting,” Isis muttered, unable to hide her sarcasm, as she reached for the knob. She turned it, unsurprised to find it open. Jade had done a number on the door last night. She was about to step in when Jade put a hand on her arm.

  “Better safe than sorry,” Jade explained as she stepped into the apartment. “You and Electra stay out here for a minute. I’m going to do a quick sweep.”

  Isis moved back and leaned against the wall across from the door. She glanced over at Electra, who stood with her arms crossed over her chest. Electra’s outfit today was dark denim jeans with just a hint of a sparkle and a burgundy tank top, which made her emerald necklace stand out. She glanced over at Isis when she felt her gaze, her olive green eyes expectant. For one of the first times in her life, Isis wished she was better at connecting with people. If Electra were her sister, and based on appearance that seemed very likely, Isis felt she should at least try to have a conversation with the woman.

  “Jade told me guardians had to wear dresses,” Isis mentioned, deciding that was probably the safest topic at the moment.