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

by Lauren Jankowski

  Lilly dropped her arms to her sides, clasping her hands in front of her. “What if we started with a simple question, one that wouldn’t implicate you in any possible crime? Who are you?”

  “Someone who has places to go and is growing weary of answering the same questions,” Coop answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “You make helping you very difficult,” Jet commented. Coop turned his attention to Jet, sizing him up.

  “Helping me? I don’t need your help. If anything, you need mine,” he said, looking between the two protectors. Despite doing his best to sound sincere, Coop knew he couldn’t entirely change his natural flat tone.

  “So why don’t we try to help each other?” Lilly offered. Coop shook his head, almost chuckling at the notion. The protectors were very noble, he’d give them that.

  “If only it were so simple.”

  Jet laughed. “You remind me of one of our informants. She enjoys being an enigma and acts as though she can take on the world by herself.”

  “I assume you’re speaking of Sly.”

  Jet’s eyes widened in astonishment and he turned his gaze to Lilly, who looked just as surprised as her husband. Coop looked between them, reading the stunned expressions.

  “We have some . . . mutual contacts,” he explained. Lilly’s eyebrow rose at the answer and she turned her attention back to Coop.

  “Mutual contacts?” she asked.

  “Okay Coop, enough with the roundabout answers,” Jet said. Coop looked to the side when he heard hurried footsteps. Someone was coming down the hall.

  “Sorry, but we’re about to be interrupted,” he said without taking his attention off the hall. Jet opened his mouth to say something, but then the large door to the corridor of cells was thrown open. Electra ran down the hall to the protectors, her long hair bouncing as she jogged over to them. Her eyes were wide and her expression reflected concern, perhaps even fear.

  “Jet, Lilly! Shae and Jade just called for me. Isis is missing. The ace and king of spades were found on the mansion’s grounds, just outside the gates,” she explained, a little breathless.

  “She’s in trouble and you’re shocked?” Coop asked, ignoring the hostile glare Electra aimed at him. “I was under the impression that was a fairly common occurrence.”

  “Adara or Blackjack might think she has the Key,” Jet mentioned, glancing at Lilly.

  Lilly shook her head. “I think it more likely they think her valuable due to her guardian blood. Either way, she’s probably not in the best—”

  “I think you’re both incorrect,” Coop mentioned, rubbing the back of his neck. “There are people interested in replacing the leader of the assassins in your territory and appointing their own puppet in her place. Targeting a member of the Four would be an excellent show of strength. I didn’t think he’d make a play this soon, but this would definitely be a move he’d make.”

  Noticing they were all staring at him with varying degrees of suspicion, Coop shifted his weight a little. “Look, if that is the case, and I am not often wrong about these things, then Isis is in a very, very dangerous situation. She’s going to need help getting out of it and I am willing to help you, but not without a price.”

  “How did I know that was coming,” Electra snarled, her furious gaze fixing on the man in the cell. Coop glanced at her before turning his attention back to Jet and Lilly.

  “I don’t want money or any kind of favor. I only want to leave town and be left alone. Plus, I do owe Isis and if there is a takeover of assassins happening, it is being orchestrated by someone whom I have unfinished business with.”

  “Coop, you haven’t given us any reason to trust you and now you’re asking us to let you go on nothing more than your word? Why should we even consider such a proposition?” Lilly pointed out.

  “And what makes you think you’d be any use to us or her anyway?” Electra inquired, her fists still clenched at her sides. “If there’s some kind of assassin battle happening, what use is a single ordinary shape shifter?”

  “I am not an ordinary shape shifter. Trust me, I’d be very useful in this rescue,” Coop replied. The three people in front of him looked at him with skepticism. Coop sighed, his shoulders dropping in defeat, and he rubbed his eyes. He’d have to tell them something if he wanted to get out of there. Or show them, he thought as he looked over to the glass wall, an idea taking shape in his mind. It was something he loathed doing, but he couldn’t think of any alternative.

  Coop turned so that he stood in front of the glass wall, a little less than an arm’s length away, and made a flat palm on the glass, as if he planned to press right through it. He took a deep breath in through his nose and let it out through his mouth as he focused entirely on the wall. Drawing his hand back, Coop curled it into a fist and prepared himself.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Electra warned. “That glass is—”

  Coop let his fist fly, striking the glass so hard that Jet, Lilly, and Electra winced. Coop was completely unaffected. By all rights, his hand should have shattered under the force with which he had hit the unbreakable glass. Even more surprising, there was a relatively large crack in the glass where he’d struck it. Coop drew back his fist again, let it fly, and it burst through the glass. Lilly let out a cry of surprise and covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes widening.

  Coop snaked his hand out of the hole and reached over to the box, pressing his hand against it. After a moment, there was a pleasant beep and a clicking sound. In a movement faster than the eye could see, Coop pulled his hand back into the safety of the cell as the door slid open with a swooshing noise. The mysterious shape shifter stood at attention in the open cell, waiting for their reaction.

  Jet, Lilly, and Electra still stood against the wall across from the cell, just staring at the hole in the unbreakable glass. Jet and Electra’s mouths opened in the shape of an “O” and Lilly still had her hands over her mouth.

  “I believe time is of the essence,” Coop reminded them after a moment.

  “Your hand isn’t bleeding,” Electra snapped, the statement sounding more like an accusation.

  “No, it was but it healed almost instantly. Glass won’t leave any lasting damage, not even guardian glass,” Coop replied, wiggling his fingers behind his back. He really didn’t enjoy doing things like that. It revealed a little too much of what he was and it led to too many uncomfortable questions.

  “How?” Jet finally found his voice again. “How did you do that? Why didn’t you do that before?”

  “How did you open the cell door?” Lilly asked, dropping her hands from her mouth. “Only the guards can do that.”

  “It was unnecessary to reveal my abilities before. I had to show you that I’m very useful to you at the moment and that seemed the best way,” Coop answered. “And I can open anything . . . well almost. Think of me as a kind of living lock pick, among other things.”

  “Enough with the riddles, Coop — give us a clear answer!” Electra’s shout startled Jet and even Lilly looked over at her. Coop turned his eyes to her, remaining at attention.

  “All I can tell you, all I will tell you, is that I have been modified and trained extensively to be a superior soldier,” Coop answered as he turned his attention forward again.

  “By whom?” Jet asked.

  Coop shook his head once. “Better if you don’t know. You really don’t have time for that at the moment. Not if you want her sister back in one piece.”

  Jet bit his lower lip and looked over at Lilly, who nodded in agreement after a moment. Coop couldn’t help but be impressed with how the two were able to communicate without words, something most normals weren’t able to do with such ease. Turning his attention to the windows behind them, he noticed it was dark. The night would offer a decent advantage, certainly one he could work with.

  “Could you get Alex, Jade, and Shae into Adara’s manor?” Jet asked Coop, ignoring the icy look Electra sent in his direction.

&nbs
p; Coop lifted his shoulders in a small shrug. “If you wish to use that strategy, yes I could. However, you would have a better chance of success if I went alone.”

  “No!” Jet and Lilly stated at the same time.

  “As you wish. But I will walk away without a second thought if I even sense one of them pointing a weapon at me,” he warned. He knew how irrational normals could get when it came to loyalty, particularly to friends and family.

  “Fine, you’re free to go for the moment,” Jet said, turning to speak with his wife in a hushed tone. Coop stepped out of the cell, waiting for Jet or Lilly to Appear with him.

  He was grabbed by Electra, who slammed him against one of the smooth walls. His body tensed up for a moment as he fought the overwhelming instinct to break the young guardian’s arm. Though he could’ve slipped away from her, Coop allowed her to feel as though she was in control for the moment. He admired her strength and skill. Even though he didn’t completely understand why, Coop was a little envious of the fact that she loved her family. He was envious of most families, another privilege that had been denied to him. A violent shake brought Coop out of his thoughts.

  “If anything happens to my sister, I will hold you personally responsible,” she threatened, leaning in closer. “You do not want me to hold you responsible, Coop. I will hunt you to the ends of the Earth and I will make you suffer.”

  “I won’t let anything happen to Isis,” Coop promised. Her eyes haven’t changed color, he noticed, knowing that was a clear sign of how angry she was.

  Electra let him go, shoving him toward the protectors. Jet grabbed his shoulder and they Appeared at the mansion in a flash of light. Jade, Alex, and Shae were pacing around the main room. All of them stared when the three Appeared in the hall and then threw questioning glances at Jet and Lilly when they saw Coop.

  “Coop is going to take you to the manor and he’ll get you in,” Jet explained, holding up a hand to prevent any questions or protests.

  “According to him, there’s likely a hostile takeover happening,” Lilly continued. “We have seen this territory change hands between assassins before, as has Jade, and it is always an incredibly violent affair.”

  “Wait, are you telling us that Isis is in the middle of a damn assassin coup?” Shae asked, her wide eyes darting between Jet and Lilly. The other two women had similar expressions of concern.

  “Unfortunately, that may be the case. Even if she’s not, any kind of extraction is likely to be dangerous, so take a few weapons and exercise caution. One of you needs to keep an eye on Coop. Lilly and I will call on some of our allies and hopefully get you some backup.”

  The three women nodded and hurried to prepare for what would undoubtedly be a very dangerous mission. Coop turned his head to the side when he overheard Jet mention the assassin leader’s name, eavesdropping on the conversation he was having with Lilly.

  “She might be open to a temporary truce,” he mentioned. “If only to remain in power.”

  “It’s a risky proposition, one many protectors would not agree with,” Lilly replied. “But if it could keep things stable for the time being, perhaps it is worth a try.”

  “You can’t stop what is happening,” Coop mentioned, interrupting their conversation. “The assassin invited a very powerful threat into her territory, unaware of the danger. And he will not leave until he has control of this state.”

  Coop swallowed and turned his gaze to the towering doors a few feet away. “I’ve seen too many people underestimate this man. And they have all paid a very steep price as a result.”

  Hopefully Isis has enough sense to stay out of the thick of whatever fighting is going on, Coop thought, tapping the ground with his heel as he focused on the tile.

  *~*~*~*~*

  Isis stood with her back against one of the walls near the door to her cell. She had pressed herself flat against the rough cold stone and was waiting. Her entire body was rigid and in one scraped hand, she held a broken light bulb. The cell was completely dark and it had taken a while for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

  She had used the cramped conditions to her advantage and climbed up the walls using nothing more than her long legs and arms. Once she had reached the ceiling of the cell, Isis proceeded to unscrew the light bulb. When she’d done that, she put the narrow end of the bulb in her mouth and carefully climbed back down. That had been the most difficult part of the entire ordeal. Somehow, she made it all the way down without falling or getting a mouthful of glass. Back on the ground, she coughed and broke the bulb against one of the walls. Now at least she had a weapon. It was a pitiful excuse for one, but a weapon was a weapon.

  The sounds overhead had been intensifying and now sounded like an actual battle. She could hear mutterings and hissing in the hall, which made her even more nervous. Isis knew she had to be out of the cell before whatever was happening in the upper levels spilled to the lower ones. Prisoners of war didn’t often fare well during hostile takeovers.

  “She’s in the last cell. Help yourselves,” a faint deep voice spoke from somewhere outside. It was followed by the scraping sound of footsteps, coming closer and closer . . .

  When she heard the panel slid open again, Isis sank even deeper into the shadows, tensing up as she waited for her opportunity. Please, please, please, please, she begged to whatever guardian might be listening.

  Luck was on her side for once. The panel slid shut again, followed by the clanking sound of turning gears and a lock being opened. When the cell door began to open, Isis put one foot on the stone step that led to the door. She grasped the wall with her free hand, waiting.

  A gangly figure stepped into the open door and Isis didn’t even pause to see what he looked like. She swung the sharp broken bulb at his face, using her forward momentum to put extra force into the swing. There was the sickening sound of glass digging into flesh, followed by screams of agony as Isis tackled him to the floor. Blinking a few times as her vision adjusted to the sudden brightness, Isis scrambled to her feet and started to dash for where she hoped the exit was. Something hot and round was jammed into her back and a jolt of powerful electricity surged through her body, causing her to stumble and hit the floor again with a cry, her limbs twitching.

  Turning to look over her shoulder, Isis stared up at the strange jailer, who had gotten back to his feet. He looked like a living corpse with his pasty skin. He wore a dark butcher’s smock over yellow clothing. There wasn’t a trace of hair on his skull, not even eyebrows or eyelashes. The broken bulb was jutting gruesomely out of his right eye socket. His good eye was wide and filled with rage. In his right hand, he held what looked like a long silver baton with a round end. There was bright red button under his gloved thumb. He pressed it and the end crackled with blue electricity. He began to advance on Isis even as she scooted away from him.

  A loud blast made Isis curl up and cover her head for protection. She felt small bits of rock and dust rain down on her. The man let out a roar and Isis heard something thrown, followed by a scream. Looking up, she noticed the jailer glaring down the hall. He turned his eye back to her and started to advance on her again.

  In a split second, Isis decided to change her strategy and lashed out at the man when he got within kicking range. Her kick found its target and dislocated his kneecap. He howled in pain as he crashed to the ground and Isis followed through with a kick to the chin that snapped his head back, knocking him out cold. When she moved to find out if the man had any weapons on him, a hail of bullets sprayed from the opposite end of the hall, making her duck behind the safety of a wall again. Isis was almost grateful for the strange architecture and layout of the house, which provided a fair amount of coverage. She gritted her teeth, trying to figure out what to do, her eyes falling on the prone man. There was a sheath with an impressive-looking knife attached to his shin.

  “This is so stupid, this is so stupid,” she grumbled, shaking her head. “God, this is a stupid plan. I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die. I am so gonna d
ie.”

  Isis dove at the body, forward rolling on the prone man, narrowly avoiding the bullets from the guards at the far end of the hall. Isis quickly snatched the knife, never stopping, and hid behind the nearest wall, avoiding the second hail of bullets. It wasn’t a gun, but it was better than a broken bulb.

  Screams and gruesome popping sounds echoed from where the bullets had come from. Isis tried to steady her breathing as she adjusted her grip on the knife. She wished she had more experience fighting with knives. One problem at a time, Isis, she reminded herself as she kept her back pressed against the wall. Heavy footsteps were coming down the hall. Isis glanced around, looking for any kind of useful feature that she might be able to utilize. There were three heavy iron doors along the wall on each side of her and the bricks between them looked quite old. There was a large opening in front of her and one behind her.

  The sudden sound of a distant explosion, followed by a tremor underfoot, made Isis crouch down. She swallowed as she tightened her grip on the knife and peered around the corner of the wall, finding herself face-to-face with the eyes of another strange man, identical to the first one she’d taken out except that he was much broader.

  Isis swung the knife with a yell and managed to slice the man’s arm open. He laughed as he swung at her and Isis ducked under the clumsy swing, spinning so that she was behind him. Slicing the knife down his back, she jumped back when he turned and lunged for her, barely managing to avoid his enormous hands. Isis froze when she saw the patch sewn on one of his sleeves, which bore the same symbol she had seen in the warehouse. The momentary distraction proved to be a costly mistake when Isis found herself lifted clear off the ground and tossed down the hall. Isis slammed into a wall, the breath rushing out of her body, and lost her grip on the knife. She blinked rapidly and struggled to get her breath back, forcing herself back to her feet. To the right, the loud report of gunfire continued. All around her were the broken bodies of dead assassins, which she assumed was the handiwork of the lumbering giant who was her current problem.