Emergent

by Natasha Brown

  Why wait? I’m hungry for breakfast.

  Nastas launched forward and Balam’s wife held her arms out in front of her. As he moved through the air, her hands flipped him over her, and they both rolled backwards. He watched his tail curl out above him as he crashed into the wall. As soon as he landed, he flipped onto his paws, filled with rage. He pounced on top of her, wrapping his jaws around her neck and squeezed. Chance’s great-grandmother flung her arm up and sank something sharp into his thigh right before she went limp. A soft burst of light radiated out and seeped into him. Nastas rolled his head back as he absorbed it completely.

  It was a pleasurable sensation, like an endorphin rush. It took a few minutes for Nastas to take a deep breath and move off his prey. When he looked down at his leg, Chance recognized the hemlock pendant implanted in Nastas’s flesh. He gently eased it out with his teeth and dropped it to the floor. Its point shone red with blood and gleamed in the light.

  What a witch. She was worth the sting though. And she left me food, how nice of her.

  Nastas strutted to the table and leapt atop it mid-stride. Cups of hot chocolate tipped over and bathed his paws in warmth. He licked them off and ventured over to the plate of corn cakes. Loud purring reverberated from his mouth while he devoured the food.

  The memory faded away, and Chance was left with the distinct feeling that nothing could threaten his power. He was strong and in control. Nothing could stop him from what he wanted most.

  Balam’s home dimmed in his thoughts and he remembered where he was. On his back and in bear form, he groaned while he rolled over. He slowly rose to his feet and shook the disorientation away, like dust off a hat. Where was he?

  Humming met his ears, not unlike Nastas’s memory. He turned to spy the young woman who was hanging her last pieces of laundry out to dry. She wasn’t particularly pretty, but Chance didn’t care about that. He was drawn to the energy that flickered beneath the surface of her skin. She was transmitting to him like a shortwave radio.

  Chance stood up on his back legs to crane over the landscape, scanning for people. He couldn’t hear anything but the sound of the girl’s song and the soft trilling from birds in nearby bushes. Tall lanky trees surrounded him and kept him hidden, but the modest home was in the middle of an open, grassy field. Definitely not the place to stomp around as a bear on the off chance a farmer with a shotgun saw him.

  He considered shapeshifting into yaguar form, and the only reason he didn’t was because of his promise to Balam that he would protect it. He needed to take a sleeker, smaller shape anyway, to approach the home unseen. If a bear could smirk, he would have as he thought about Nastas.

  Good choice.

  His dark fur rippled golden, and he shrank into a large feline. A tingling sensation trailed along from the tip of his snout to his whiskers. He rubbed his face against his leg to sooth the itch. Already in position, he arched his back, feeling every vertebra stretch. Chance lowered his body so the hairs on his stomach brushed the ground and he prowled across the grassy field. The young woman moved to another clothesline and pulled a set of sheets off. Her back was turned to the predator watching her as she meticulously paired the corners together and folded the bedding.

  The closer he got, the stronger his need for power grew. It was nothing like he’d experienced before. Primal urges pushed him forward, compelled his fangs to lift, ready to cut off her blood flow and to release her reservoir of energy from her body. She was close enough for him to surge on top of her. He lowered his hindquarters and prepared to pounce.

  Something sturdy collided into his ribs, sending him tumbling into the side of the house. The woman turned and let out a high-pitched scream, threw the sheet she was folding onto Chance, and moments later he heard the door slam shut. His claws tore at the striped yellow fabric as he tried to see what had barreled into him, but a weight pressed into his side and neck, and he grew dizzy.

  A man’s voice said something he couldn’t understand.

  He needed to get out of there, protect himself, but he couldn’t. His body wouldn’t respond. Stars and bright light swirled in his vision before everything went black.

  Chapter 7

  “It was like it was real and not just a dream.”

  While Ana made her bed, she spoke to the dog lying on her floor. It was really starting to get annoying that Lifen wouldn’t shift into human form to talk with her. For that reason alone, she wanted to get on the road. Enough waiting.

  “Fine, we’re going to leave today so I can get some answers from you.”

  When she opened her door, a folded note fell onto her foot. She opened it and found Eva’s explicit threat that if she left without saying goodbye her little sister would never forgive her. Ana wouldn’t dream of sneaking out while Eva was at school, or while her mother was at work for that matter.

  Even though she slept in, she didn’t sleep soundly. The whole night her dreams were filled with images of Chance and she worried that he wasn’t safe. She didn’t like not knowing. It killed her not being with him. Not being able to help.

  Ana rushed downstairs eager to get breakfast. Lifen seemed to have the same idea while she loitered next to the fridge, waiting for Ana.

  “You know, no one’s home right now. You can shift back so we can talk.” Ana reached for the cupboard door. Lifen just sat and stared at her while she prepared a cup of coffee. “Guess you’re giving me the silent treatment until we leave. Okay, I’ve got to run out to grab a couple things at the store so I can finish packing while Mom and Eva are gone. We can leave early this evening, if I play my cards right. Don’t know how long it’ll take to get to your place, but we’ll probably have to stop at a hotel along the way. Hope you’re not planning on staying a dog the whole time…”

  Ana got them both breakfast and took another long shower. Even though she took one the night before, she took another just because she could. After throwing on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, she grabbed her keys and prepared to leave. Ana sighed and thought about what she needed to do to get ready for her trip. If the tables were turned, she knew that her love would stop at nothing to save her. She hoped she’d live up to the model he’d set.

  “Already?” Eva’s knuckles settled on her hips and she rolled her eyes. “One more night? Please, Ana?”

  They were standing in the living room and Melissa had only been home for half an hour before Ana chose to spring it on them.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’ve got to get moving. I have a job opportunity at a ski lodge up north and they’re expecting their first big snow dump any time. Do you think that banana on wheels can make it up an icy hill without any trouble?”

  “Oh, speaking of which. I spoke to Tera today and I mentioned your plans to head to Canada, so Jace swung by the bank and dropped these off.” Melissa tapped a hard plastic case that was leaning up against the wall with the toe of her pumps. “Chains. Have you ever put them on before? Do you know how?”

  Her mother frowned and leaned down to read the label. The large sticker that contained the instructions crinkled at her touch, and the edges fluttered to the floor. Ana momentarily shared Melissa’s concern, since she’d never had to do anything to her car except put gas in it. She pinched her lips together and noticed Lifen lying under the kitchen table, her chin resting on her paws. The dog was staring at her mother out of the corner of her eyes in such a way it made Ana laugh. “Nope. I have no idea, but I’m sure I can follow the how-to. If all else fails, I’ll try to flag down a cop or highway patrolman or something. I’m not worried. There isn’t supposed to be snow for another couple days, but that’s why I’ve got to get moving.”

  “You know how much I hate this, right? But I like knowing you’re not so far away from me. A couple hours’ drive is better than you being halfway across the world.”

  “I wasn’t halfway across the world, Mom. I was in Mexico.”

  “Same thing. You sure you’ve got everything you need? Your good winter jacket, heavy socks, ther
mal underwear, hats, gloves, boots, sweaters…”

  “Yes—I’ve got it all. I swear. I was very careful packing—you know me. “

  “Yes, I do, and I don’t know what I’m worried about. We’re going to miss you sweetie, but I’m going to expect you for Christmas.” Her mother held her tight in an embrace and she sniffled before letting Ana go.

  Eva walked up to her and gave her a hug. Her sweet face lifted and she announced, “I don’t like you going, but I agree with Mom—it’s better knowing you won’t be far away. You’d better call me.”

  “I will, I swear. You keep up the good work at school and keep an eye on Mom for me.” Ana leaned down and whispered in Eva’s ear, “Tell me if things get serious with her boyfriend. Remember, you can call me too.”

  She kissed the top of her sister’s head and pulled on her coat. With her keys in hand, she went outside with her family to the van. It sat in the twilight, pointed down the driveway with all of her baggage loaded and ready to go. Lifen waited inside with her head out the driver’s window.

  “You call when you get there.” Melissa hollered while Ana climbed into the car.

  “I will, Mom.”

  Ana fired up the engine and rolled up her window. She gave one last wave before pulling away. It would only be harder to leave the longer she spent saying goodbye. Sadness pitted in her stomach while she thought about leaving home without Chance.

  She sniffed and wiped her eyes. Lifen sat on the seat beside her and cocked her head. “It’s Chance. I just miss him so much and I’m worried about him. Who knew being in love was so painful.” Ana gripped the steering wheel. “How long are you going to make me suffer? You aren’t really going to stay a dog the whole trip are you?”

  The dog leaned over, licked her hand and wandered into the back of the VW van. A minute later, Lifen climbed into the passenger seat, wrapped in her blue sarong and buckled up. Her long, black hair appeared to need a good brushing after her stint as a canine over the last day. She stared out her window in silence and Ana wondered if she would ever speak.

  “It was interesting staying with your family. When you are hidden in plain sight, it is fascinating what is revealed. Your mother and sister love you very much. That is obvious. It was nice being a part of your family for a day. Mine passed away so long ago. Their memory is only a whisper in my thoughts.”

  Ana put her foot down on the accelerator and sped up on the highway while they made their way out of town. She had so many questions for Lifen, but it was clear her mentor didn’t like revealing much about herself, and she didn’t want to ruin the moment by pushing her for more. She was rewarded with her silence when Lifen continued. “I have pieced together my own family. I look forward to introducing you to them. They are like my children. After seeing you with your mother and sister, I have no doubt you will fit in well. Like any close family, it is built on trust.”

  “You can trust me,” Ana volunteered, hoping to get more information.

  “I would not have brought you this far if I didn’t. My home is a safe place for younglings who need it. Who need guidance, training and a place to call home. In the new world, our kind have struggled to fit in. When people discover our special talents, young ones can be cast out or even hunted down. It is no longer safe to reveal oneself to normal humans. In my time, when there was still a sense of magic and wonder, you had a better chance, but now there’s only fear.”

  Ana couldn’t stand it—she was dying of curiosity. “How old are you, Lifen?”

  Lifen brushed her hands on her arms. Ana reached back for a sweater she had left out and handed it to her mentor. “Thank you. I have lived through much upheaval and have seen the destruction of man. I left China so long ago, it is hard to remember when, and traveled the world. No matter where you go, it is the same.”

  She guessed she wasn’t going to get a straight answer. “Why’d you pick Canada?”

  “It is quiet there. Not as many shifters seeking you out as in the cities.”

  “Pretty too, I imagine.” Ana thought of the shining lake and the snowcapped mountains she had seen in her dreams. It reminded her of the question that was left unanswered from the other night. “I think I’ve dreamt about your home. Last night when we were looking at the stars, I saw it in my mind. Did you do that? Is that like a special power?”

  Lifen pulled on the sweater and swept her hair to the side. She adjusted in her seat and avoided looking at Ana. “It is hard to explain. Healers can have simple psychic abilities. While healing, it is helpful to link with the subject’s psyche to soothe them, but this is only something you may do at close range. Months ago, one evening while I was meditating I sensed you. I knew you were different and special because it is not normal to be able to reach your consciousness from so far away.”

  “Wait, what do you mean?” Ana asked. “I reached out to you?” What did that even mean?

  “Yes, while you were sleeping, your mind took a trip and visited me. I offered images to you of my home and did so many times, but only while you were at rest and when you freed yourself from your body.”

  “Well, what about last night, when I saw the lake in my mind while we were looking at the stars?”

  “I did not put that image in your head. You took it from mine.”

  Ana stared at Lifen, completely stunned. “I don’t understand…”

  “You are very talented, Ana. A natural.”

  She thought about her vivid dreams of Chance and a lump formed in her throat. It tightened when she spoke, like a noose pulling closed. “What about my dream last night of Chance? It seemed so real… Was it?”

  The implications of that frightened her. If it were real, then did that mean he’d killed an innocent woman? A chill laced down her spine and goose bumps rose on her arms.

  “Most likely, yes. When you’re deep in sleep, you appear to be able to drift away from yourself.”

  “Can you do it?” Ana held her breath while she waited for an answer.

  “Only in close proximity.” Lifen stared out the window and changed the subject. “We want to take highway 95 north into Canada. We can look for a hotel once we cross the lines. I think I recall hearing you say you brought your passport?”

  Ana pointed to her backpack which was sitting on the floorboards between the seats. “Yeah, I’ve got my passport and your bag is in the back. Should have everything. How long will it take to get there?”

  “I think we should get there tomorrow midday. I will let my family know we are coming and they will be prepared to welcome us properly.”

  “How many people live with you?” Anxiety crept into Ana’s thoughts. She didn’t have much experience making friends. In school, she typically kept to herself to avoid drawing attention.

  “It’s ever-changing, but right now, there are three younglings. Many others I have helped visit from time to time. They will all eventually leave, but only when they have mastered control of themselves. I will not be responsible for more poisoned shifters running free.”

  Lifen began to sing a song that was very familiar to Ana. It had been the musical backdrop to her dreams of Lifen’s home in Canada. It was clear Lifen wasn’t prepared to reveal anything more about herself. Ana knew it was in her best interest to drop the questions for now until Lifen was ready to share some more.

  She had plenty to think about anyway. Ever since she met Lifen, she’d assumed her mentor had placed the visions of the crystal blue lake in her dreams. That she had been responsible for pushing thoughts of that place into her mind last night. The news that it was Ana’s own abilities completely surprised her. She hadn’t expected it.

  Lifen said she was special. Unique. A natural.

  Ana had so many questions that she wanted answered all at once, but it was obvious that her new teacher wasn’t going to divulge anything more right now. She would have to work for it. She thought back to the countless times she’d soothed Chance’s agitation when answers didn’t come quick enough. Patience, Chance, she’d
said to him. Where was he now that she needed him to calm her own nerves? They were vibrating so palpably she was practically humming with energy.

  There was one way she might see him again, and see where he was. Through her dreams. If she could somehow visit him again while she slept, then she’d know if he were safe. The memories from last night were still fresh in her mind. He wasn’t himself, dangerous even. But she had to know, even if the truth was too painful.

  She gripped the gear shift tight as she turned north on the highway. Bright lights from oncoming traffic shone through the windshield and she flipped the visor down. Twilight had faded into tar-black night and she said a silent prayer.

  Chapter 8

  Chance woke with a start. He was in a dingy room with an earthen floor. It was empty of furniture, lights, or anything that made it livable. He sat upright too fast and became dizzy, so he leaned his back against the cement wall. While his blood pressure settled, he scanned the space and let his senses open up.

  It was dark, although his sharp eyesight was able to discern everything he needed to. He was covered with the sheet that had been tossed onto him, that had hidden his attacker from view. Its yellow stripes were murky gray in the twilight. His backpack lay on the floor beside him. The ground buzzed with sounds from insects and the crackly beat from a radio came and went. A road must be nearby.

  He smelled food. His empty stomach gurgled, demanding, while he lifted his nose to the air. Like Balam had taught him, he shifted the inner contours of his nasal cavity without changing his outward appearance. The aroma of meat, spices and cornmeal overpowered him and a flush of saliva washed his mouth. From outside the front door of the abandoned shack he could also detect the odor of human sweat.

  He needed to leave, to get out of there. Whatever or whoever put him here could be dangerous, or could be after his power.

  Hold on, I sense energy. A lot of energy. Don’t let yourself get taken by surprise. Know your enemy.