That sight brought the memory of my last few moments before unconsciousness back. I remembered thrusting my arm in the fire and the pain. I raised said arm up and the world fell out from under me. I had no arm from the elbow down. Just a few inches of charred flesh.
I let out a sob as I stared and came to realize just how much my life was going to change. I let the arm, or what was left of it, fall back down to the floor. My other arm came up and fear spiked through me as I thought that it too might be gone, but that wasn’t the case. I let my good arm flop over my eyes and lay there weeping.
Time passed and I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. Then I lay there with my face covered wishing I were somewhere else.
“Come back to me…”
The voice was faint and I couldn’t be sure if it was real. I sat up with surprisingly little effort. My eyes drifted down to my arm while my head was full of thoughts of Miranda rejecting the gimp of an alpha. All that stopped when I saw the end of my elbow.
Seeing it caused the itching to start. The bone of my arm protruded from the burnt flesh. That hadn’t been there before. It was too long to have tore through the ruined flesh. It had to be new growth. I moved my arm so I could get a better look. As I did some of the black char flaked off and pink raw skin became visible.
“I’m fucking healing!” I jumped to my feet and thrust my nub arm up. “It’s fucking growing back!”
I still didn’t know if the voice of Miranda was real or if she could hear me, but I sent a thought her way. “Miranda, my wolf, I’m coming!”
I was on top of the world. My bout with the mechanical monstrosity had shown me what it really meant to be what I am. I was strength and power, life and vigor. I was a whole new Terry. One that could take on the world and fuck its shit up.
Before I could do that I had to get back topside. I started walking and let the darkness beyond the doorway swallow me up. I didn’t rush. The black was so thick I couldn’t see through it using the meditation technique I used before. Which is how I ran face first into a wall.
“Fuck!” I shouted while rubbing my nose. There was no fluid spilling out but my eyes watered and it stung.
I felt the wall moving to the right and quickly came to the corner where the hall met the wall.
“Please don't be a dead end,” I mumbled.
I moved to the left and the wall went farther than the hall was wide. Relief washed over me when I felt the wall to my back and verified that the hall had simply made a sharp turn. I continued forward with my arm out in front of me.
I let my thought wander to the memory of Miranda presenting herself to me in my mind when she submitted. I had to do something and not just because of the dark. The itching in my right arm was unbearable. If I didn’t distract myself there was a good chance I would go mad.
My one remaining hand hit a wall keeping me from face planting. I looked right but saw nothing to the left there was the actual light at the end of the tunnel. As I turned to face the light all I saw was Admiral Ackbar with his iconic warning, “It’s a trap!”
“That it may be, Ackbar, but I’ll be damned if I keep stumbling around in the dark,” I said without feeling ridiculous at all... mostly.
With the light as my guide there was no need to hold my hand up. I walked and my excitement at being out of the dark increased and my pace shifted to a trot. The small rectangle of light quickly grew in size until I was at the door leading into a large well lit chamber. The walls were the same gray slabs of stone with the exception of the far wall which was a silver mirrored surface.
My reflection allowed me to see just how amazing this alpha thing was. My arm, which had been a charred stump, was hale and whole. The skin was a little pink, but it was there. I raised it up and got a good look. then I rolled my wrist to ensure everything was fine. All good, or as an old instructor from my college days used to say, Dai Jobi. Which he said meant, OK, or something to that tune in Japanese.
I took a step into the room so I could get with the puzzle solving and move on. Turns out solving this puzzle was really simple. I just had to step forward so my mirror copy could do the same. Only when mirror me took that step he left the mirror and entered the room.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I shouted to doppelganger me.
The really handsome guy across from me smiled. “Be glad you only have one pack member. If you had others my strength would far surpass yours. As it is, I’m going to fucking murder you!”
The copy of me shifted. His body grew much larger shredding his clothes. Hair the color of mud sprouted from his skin and his face elongated into a snout. Talons like razors and teeth like spikes grew out of his hands and mouth.
“Oh this is some bullshit,” I said. “I can’t do that. Why is it that you get too?”
It took a step forward. “Is it that hard to figure out, Tuatha?” Its mouth did not move and his words seemed to be beamed right into my head. “You are not a shifter, but something else. Before I kill you I may take the liberty of answering questions. As I spend so much time alone I will allow it now. Know that I answer only what I wish to answer. Asking a question I refuse is a quick way to find yourself dead. Now ask.”
The whole question thing was unexpected. So was something else. “So you are not really the mirror copy of me?” I asked.
“Correct. Next question.”
I had to wonder if clarification was the same as repeating a question. Then again, I had no doubt that a fight was going to happen no matter what I said or did. “If you are not me, what are you?”
The werewolf narrowed its eyes. “You come close to repeating yourself and bringing about your end. I will allow it this time. Take more care from now on or you die. I am a creature long forgotten by men and beast alike. The magic used to create this place was also used to seal me here. I am a test made of living flesh. You either die by my hand, or don’t and pass. To fail, is to die. Next question.”
“Why do I have to go through all of this?” I asked.
“Pass. Next question.”
That was unexpected. “Ok. Can you tell me anything about this challenge?”
The mirror version of me smiled. “That is a question I can answer. I will start by saying that this is not one of those things you see in movies where the hero has to talk his way out of the scenario and gain a better understanding of himself. Once I am ready to fight talking will lead to death. This is no movie and I am not here to help you find an epiphany. What I am here for is to test your ability to fight against the very same power you wield.”
That seemed like a key piece of information so I filed it away to see if there was a way to use it later. For now I would see what else I could glean from… well, me. “What power exactly will you be testing?” I asked.
The smile on its wolfish face widened. “So that is what you wish to know? Too bad you didn’t think before opening your mouth, because now I will grant your wish.”
“As they say in Mortal Kombat,” His voice was changed in my mind to the iconic voice in one of my favorite video games.. “FIGHT!”
Chapter 13
“Ah shit,” I said.
The werewolf howled and charged before the sound died out. It moved impossibly fast. I jumped back expecting a slash from its claws and I was right. I was also wrong about being able to get out of the way. Four lines of fire and agony lanced across my torso. His strike started at my left hip and swiped up across my chest opening skin and exposing muscle.
I screamed as I moved backwards to get away. The beast growled as he licked the blood from his claws.
‘You may quit, young fool. Just walk away and forget about this trial.” It hooked a thumb over its shoulder and I watched as a door opened in the mirror. “I give you this chance to escape with your life.”
“Why,” I asked as I panted. The pain was intense and my breathing was hard and heavy as a result.
“It is clear to me that you are not ready. Go and learn about the power you possess, then return to me
. I would feel bad about besting you now, however, I will gladly kick your scrawny ass should you choose it.”
“Who the fuck are you calling scrawny?” I asked. Sure, I wasn’t built like an action movie star, but I was no bean pole either.
“I see,” the werewolf’s voice said in my head. He waved his arm and the door vanished.
“Wait,” I said. “I didn’t make my decision. Bring the door back.”
The werewolf bent over laughing. “You should choose your words carefully. I told you this. The choice was made and is gone. Prepare yourself.”
My mouth opened to reply but the wolf rushed forward and batted me away with a swing of its arm. my back slammed into the stone wall and I fell to the floor shoulder first. I sucked in a deep breath and stood.
The pain from the slash wounds on my chest turned into an intense itch. But there was now pain in my back and a tingling sensation ran from my shoulder to my fingertips due to the impact with the ground. I didn’t have the luxury of time to hurt.
I pushed myself up and even though I felt weaker my body weight was like lifting nothing. I sprung up to my feet and ran at the werewolf. It wasn’t a plan I thought any sane person would do, but there was no other options. With no exit it was either fight and die, or roll over and die. I liked the slim chance of survival and not going out like a punk that fighting offered.
I leapt and pulled back my right fist. My arm exploded forward. The wolf stood unmoving as if welcoming my attack. My fist impacted with the werewolf’s jaw. A loud crack echoed through the room. I fell past the werewolf and landed on all fours.
I spun on hands and feet to face my challenger. The werewolf’s feet were in the same place but it was bent over. I rose and circled it keeping at a crouch. When I rounded it enough to see beyond it’s back I saw the damage I caused. The werewolf’s mouth hung open and it’s jaw sat at an unnatural angle.
“Fuck yeah,” I said.
I moved closer emboldened by my successful hit. But as I did the jaw righted itself with a pop and a crunch. I froze and the wolf straightened.
“Now you see some of what you are capable of. Unfortunately, this is a lesson that has come far too late.” The werewolf thought at me.
The wolf blurred then he was right in front of me. For the first time it spoke with it’s mouth. “I will teach you about strength,” He growled.
His arm blurred and an open palm strike hit my chest. I left the ground but claws dug into my right shoulder stopping my flight. Another blow hit my gut. Air and blood exploded from my mouth. My lungs pulled at the air but I couldn’t get any in.
“And now you will see the power I command,” The werewolf growled.
He lowered his left arm then flung it up and let go. I flew up toward the ceiling. As I spun I caught a glimpse of the wolf running up the wall. Then he jumped and sailed at me. His shoulder hit my gut and drove me into the far wall.
Broken bones were announced by a series of loud crunches. My vision went blurry and all I knew was pain. My mouth fell open in a silent scream. There was no air in me to make any noise.
Darkness took me.
I found myself in the dark space where I first met Miranda. My heart leapt at the thought of seeing her, but I was alone.
All around me images flashed by. They were from my time since I met miranda. Her and I running from Arnold’s house. The two of us rescuing Tabitha. Me talking with my evil twin before he became a werewolf.
Something the doppelganger said came back to me. He told me I was to fight my own power, as in he was using my power against me. If that was the case…
My eyes snapped open. With the force of will my wounds healed at the speed of thought. The werewolf was still on me so I pushed him with one hand. It flew off of me and across the room. There was another crunch as it hit the wall.
I jumped up and dashed forward. The room around me blurred and I was on the beast in an instant. I grabbed hand fulls of fur and threw it up into the air.
My fists slammed into the creature over and over as it rose and fell. Once it hit the ground I picked him up again. Its foot lashed out and I took a hit to the chest. I fell back and he slipped out of my grasp.
It stood as I stopped myself from falling. “I see this has become a real test. Now is the time to see of you can stand against power equal to yours,” he said.
He blurred, and so did I. My fist met his claws. Torn knuckles mended before our next strikes met each other. We traded blows each hitting the others hand and neither of us gaining the upper hand.
My movements were smooth as silk and fluid as mercury. I was incredibly fast and strong. Every hit he deflected could crush bone as could those I deflected. I smiled and laughed. Even though this werewolf was trying to kill me I was having the time of my life. Until I wasn’t.
While I had figured out that I was just as strong and fast as the werewolf I didn’t take into account that the werewolf had looked like me, but he wasn’t me. He reminded me by jumping up and flipping back. His claw laden feet came up and hit the underside of my chin with the force of a mac truck. He landed on his shoulders and upper back then kicked flipped back to a standing position while I flew up and came back down onto my feet.
I stumbled sideways. The werewolf dropped low and swept my feet out from under me, another move I didn’t know. I landed hard on my back and hit my head. A loud ringing tore through my head and my vision tunneled to the size of a softball.
“You have found your strength but you are dumb. You underestimate me, boy,” He said. The werewolf grabbed what was left of my shirt and lifted me up till my feet dangled and we were nose to snout. “It would seem that you will not pass this trial, boy. That is too bad. I was pulling for you once you realized your ability. It seems that you lack in training just as much as you are ignorant of what you are. A pity.”
He held me up by his left arm outstretched. So I grabbed his left wrist with my own left hand. With my right hand I executed a hammer fist strike on his elbow hyperextending the joint. The wolf roared as his hand let go.
I dropped to a knee and punched him in his junk as hard as I could. The wolf doubled over grabbing his crotch with his right hand while his left arm hung limp. He seemed to have forgotten about the damaged elbow as he whimpered like a kicked puppy.
“That backflip kick thing was pretty awesome, but a good nut-punch trumps fancy every day of the week,” I said as I stood. The beast just whimpered. “I guess I need to finish huh?”
I pulled my right hand back for what was going to be a wicked punch. I stopped when the werewolf raised his right hand. He shifted back into human me in the blink of an eye. He even still wore the clothes he had on before changing.
“It’s done then?” I asked.
“Yes.” He drew in a deep breath and rolled up to stand straight. His hands still rested on his crotch. “I had not anticipated foul play.” I opened my mouth to respond but he cut me off. “I know, the only warriors that fight fair usually end up dead warriors. I don’t begrudge you this victory. A win is a win.” It wasn’t what I was going to say, but I let him think what he wanted.
The werewolf doppelganger stepped to the side and winced as he did. He waved to the glass wall giving me a view of the change happening. A line of light split the wall in half. Two panels as wide as a man and as tall as the room slid back then to the sides. Golden light spilled into the room from the new door.
Before exiting I turned to the other me that wasn’t me. “Are there any more tests?” I asked.
“No, you have won against insurmountable odds and you bested your own power. Your testing has come to an end and you have been found worthy. Claim your prize and return to your friends.”
“One more question, if I may?” I asked.
“You may.”
“Why is this necessary? Why the tests?”
“The prize is an object of great power. It must be held by a wielder of power strong enough to tame it,” doppelganger me said.
“But ther
e was no test to see if I was good or evil. Does that mean it doesn’t matter what I do with the item as long as I am strong enough to use it?”
“Good and evil are black and white concepts which do a poor job of describing the actions of people in a grey world. What you do with the item is your decision as you are the only person who can answer for your actions.”
“That makes sense, but…”
“No more questions,” he interrupted. “Go claim your prize so that I may heal. Anything else you need to know you can ask the surviving guardian.”
“Okay uh, thanks I guess. Hope your nuts get better.”
I walked toward the light. It was a wall of gold that I couldn’t see through. I wondered if it was a force field that was going to burn me to ash if I touched it. I mean, why deal with the dick punching bastard when your magic force field can do it for you?
“It is safe,” doppelganger me said. “You have my word that you will not be harmed passing through the barrier. It is simply there to ensure the unworthy do not pass.”
“If this thing frys me I’m going to haunt you for eternity,” I said.
Doppelganger me laughed. “That is reason enough to not betray you. May your journey be full of adventure.”
I nodded once at the copy of me then stepped through. I wanted this to end so I could get back to Miranda. Tabbitha also owed me some answers and I was going to get them one way or another.
Chapter 14
The light flowed off of me like water. This new space was the same size as the previous room and was made of the same grey stone slabs. Instead of a mirror the back wall was more stone with an opening that led to a set of stairs a few feet in. A pedestal sat in the center of the room with a bright white light shining down from the ceiling. Something sat on the pedestal reflecting the white light and sending rays of it all over the room.
Shiftless: Tuatha Series Book 1 Page 8