Shifted (The Undari Trilogy Book 1)

by Sarah Reeves

  “His methods of obtaining power became increasingly violent. In secret, he turned to Necromancy, a form of magic which allowed him to take the power of those he killed. The spell he was trying to complete would make him all powerful, but he had to kill one from the royal families of each realm, the rarest of the Undari.

  “When the royal families started finding their family members murdered, they naturally suspected each other. War was threatening our race, families were scared to go outside at night. Then my mate, your father, found out the truth. He was working with law enforcement at the time, and was assigned to investigate the Royal Murders. He reported his findings, and the creature was apprehended before he could make the final sacrifice. During his trial, he promised to be the most powerful being that ever existed, and after doing so, he would come for the families of those who had taken him in.

  “There is one more realm, besides the six that I’ve mentioned, where our government sends those who commit the most heinous crimes. It’s called the Realm of Nightmares, and it is a place where even the strongest of minds will break. Those that are sent there are known as the Asgoth. This is where the creature was sent, after being convicted of the five murders he committed. Unbeknownst to us, however, there was a member of the royal family from the Fire Realm that had been sent to the Realm of Nightmares decades ago, for treason against the throne. That was the final piece. The Undari completed his spell, and became no longer corporeal, but a presence that could possess unwilling Undari. And he did so, after breaking free of his prison twenty years ago.”

  Here, Adrien paused, and took a deep breath. Her expression became haunted. “The Unseen is what we call this presence, and twenty years ago, when he broke free, he started to possess the families of those who put him away, and make them do terrible things. Kill their families, their friends. It would make them watch, unable to control themselves, as it ripped them apart.” She took another shuddering breath. Her eyes were shining, and her hands shook in her lap. “There isn’t a way to describe the horror, the utter helplessness. You were supposed to have siblings,” she said, turning to look at Alex. Alex didn’t say anything at this new bit of information, only looked back at Adrien. “I had eight eggs. As far as I know, you were the only one to survive. When I was possessed, your father and I had been hiding for over a year. I was attacked by a creature the Unseen had under it’s control, and I was possessed through the transfer of the creature’s venom. I watched myself destroy my own eggs. I killed my children.” At this, tears started to roll down Adrien’s face, and she wiped them quickly away. “Your father came after I killed the first half, and saw what had happened. When he did, he threw me against a wall, knocking me unconscious. Before I lost consciousness, I thought I saw an egg still intact. That egg was you, Alex.

  “For years, I have been forced to relive what I’d done, while being made to kill others, seemingly on a whim. I couldn’t look away, and I couldn’t forget. I should have gone mad, but I held on to the memory of that one whole egg, my one surviving child. The day I was released was the day I saw you again, for the first time since before you were born. You were with friends, and the sight of you made the Unseen so angry, especially when it saw that man speaking to you. It left my body, and I paid no attention to where it went. I only saw you. I followed you here, and saw what you were going through. I knew it was because you’d had no training. Travis must have raised you as human, to keep you safe.”

  “That’s where I come in.” Jennifer sat forward, and Alex turned her attention to her. There were tear tracks on her face, and her eyes were red. She looked almost apologetic. “I met Travis at work, at the time I was working at the DMV as a driving instructor. He came in to get his license, and I remember thinking to myself that he looked so sad. He drove, got his license, and a few days later he was back. He asked me out, and we dated for a while. Then I met you,” she said, with a sad smile. “You were so little, and immediately I noticed that you had scales in places on your body, little green ones. I was… shocked, to put it lightly. Your father explained to me then what you were; he even showed me his power. Fire,” she said, smiling slightly. “I was ready to leave, believing that he was lying, that you had some horrible disease. I planned on calling the CDC or something, but then he showed me his power. Then I believed that you weren’t going to die. That was the moment I fell for Travis. He was willing to expose his biggest secret, as long as he could make sure you weren’t in any danger.

  “We were married, in a very small ceremony. Only your grandparents attended. And I have loved you this whole time. Over time, your scales disappeared, and you stopped producing random bursts of flame.”

  “Wait, is that what the medicine was for?” Alex interrupted. “ How old was I when I started taking it?”

  “It was just before you hit preschool. We were both worried that it wasn’t going to work, that you were going to accidentally set something on fire at school, so we debated even sending you. But there were no other instances, until now.”

  “What about Dad? Did he die the way you said he did?”

  “Travis is gone?” Adrien interrupted, looking between Jennifer and Alex. Her face had gone ghostly pale, and when Jennifer nodded, she jerked as though she’d been slapped. She stood abruptly and left the room without another word. Alex stood, intending to follow her, but stopped when Jennifer laid a hand on her arm.

  “Leave her be, Alex. She’s grieving.” Alex looked back at Jennifer and saw the same grief there, one that was older but still cut deep.

  “I’m just going to talk to her.” And with that, Alex left the room.

  Adrien had gone down the hall, into another one of the guest rooms. When Alex came in, the older woman was seated on the bed, her face in her hands. Her shoulders were shaking, and Alex paused, unsure of herself. Should she even be in here? Adrien seemed like the type that needed to be alone in times like this. Alex shook herself and went to sit next to Adrien on the bed. The other woman gave no notice that there was anyone next to her, and Alex took a deep breath.

  “When I was six, I ran away. I was upset about something, I don’t remember what it was, though. It was only for an hour, but my dad was terrified. The police picked me up and took me back home, and all I remember is him racing out to the police car. He was so mad at me.” Alex paused when Adrien looked up at her. “He was so angry, and I see why now. He didn’t hit me, he didn’t yell, which was scarier to me than if he had. He thanked the officer, carried me inside, and sat me down. He told me that there are dangerous things out there, dangerous people.

  “Back then, I thought that meant strangers. That’s what all the human kids are taught, not to talk to strangers. I know better now. It all makes sense.”

  “Alex,” Adrien said hesitantly. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “You never knew him as a father, did you?”

  “...No.”

  “That’s why. You knew him as a husband, a detective, and a protector. But you didn’t know him like we did, and I think you should at least have an idea of what it was like. He was the best father that I could have asked for. Teagan never knew him, but she would have loved him, too.” Alex took another deep breath. “Maybe you’re my mother, but you’re not the one who raised me. I don’t mean to sound harsh, that’s just the facts. It’s not your fault that you weren’t here. But I’ve decided to trust you, to a point. If you can help me, train me, then I want you to.”

  “What are you saying, Alex?” Adrien’s eyes were riveted on her daughter’s face.

  “I’m saying that this Unseen guy’s after us. They want to kill me and my family, and I won’t let that happen, not when I have a way to stop them. I want you to show me how to fight.” Alex’s heart stuttered at the word, but she held Adrien’s gaze steadily. “My dad died trying to protect us. There’s nobody left to look after my family, except me.” She held her hand out. “Okay?”

  Adrien looked down at Alex’s hand, then back up at her. “Are you sure?” When A
lex gave a short nod, Adrien took her hand and shook it. “Okay, then. I’ll train you. But don’t think you’re the only one who can protect your family. I’ll be here, too.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re my daughter. I will never leave your side again. And you won’t be able to fight right away, if you need to. So I will fight with you.” Adrien looked down. “I just wish we didn’t have to. Sometimes, when I was possessed, there were moments where I could remember what it was like to be with your father, happy and expecting children. He was so excited when I told him we were going to have children. Terrified, but ecstatic.

  “Then, my mind would go back to that night, and I would have to relive it all over again. It was a waking nightmare, one that never ended.” She met Alex’s gaze again. “I know I can’t go back, and I won’t be able to get rid of this nightmare. So I’m going to try to make sure you never have to go through that kind of pain.”

  Alex felt a small weight slip from her shoulders. “Thank you.”

  “Is it okay to come in?” Alex turned to see her mother standing in the doorway. When the other two women nodded, she came forward, reaching her hand out. “Alex, honey, can I… Can I look at your wings?” Alex lifted one, already used to its weight, and how it moved. It felt cliche to think about, but it felt as though they had always been there. She still jumped slightly when Jennifer touched it, though. “Amazing,” Jennifer breathed, running her hand along the upper ridge, towards Alex’s wing joint. The winged girl squirmed uncomfortably, feeling her scales lift as they were rubbed the wrong way.

  “Okay, that’s enough for now.” Alex tucked her wing back to her side and looked at her mother apologetically. “It feels weird, that’s all.”

  “Of course, honey, I’m sorry. This is all familiar, but new at the same time.” Jennifer stepped back with a smile. “Your father never showed me his wings. He always said that it reminded him too much of the past, to Shift like that. He also didn’t want you to wander in and see. You know?”

  “Yeah.” Alex thought of Teagan, who had no clue what had been going on the last few hours, or even that Alex was awake, and healed. Just as she finished her thought, however, a small voice came from the hallway.

  “Mommy?” Teagan’s voice was still groggy, and Alex panicked as she heard tiny footsteps coming closer and closer.

  “Hide!” The hissed command came from Adrien, and Alex stumbled forward at her shove. Alex dove for the closet, but it was too late. From behind her, a small shout sounded.

  “Alex, you have wings!”

  Chapter Five

  The Unseen watched the humans clean the site of the murder behind the mall with disgust, the scene from weeks ago replaying in his mind. He’d overseen the mission to end the old man’s life, and in the process, discovered that his servant, his incompetent worm, had managed to screw up and leave one of the eggs intact. He suppressed a snarl as he took in the sight of law enforcement investigating the art he’d created. Puny, unremarkable creatures. They had no idea that they weren’t alone in the world, or even that there was another presence only fifty feet from where they were washing the blood from the pavement.

  The Unseen didn’t dwell much longer, as it had a purpose in this godforsaken realm. In his anger at seeing the spawn of the dragon alive, he’d let the mother go and severely punished his minion. It wasn’t the best move, but it was one he could eventually use to his advantage. He left the bloody scene behind, and began to send tendrils of himself through the air. The sooner he found the offspring of the mother he had been inhabiting, the better. He wouldn’t let the girl live, nor her family, if he could help it. Certainly not long enough to realize what she was. But surely she would be on alert, now that the humans had found the body. Of course, that was the reason. The Unseen knew that he had to find the girl at all costs. Already he could sense her whereabouts, her heightened emotions. With a sense of dark glee, the Unseen followed the trail.

  It took a minute to get Teagan to calm down. Questions were pouring out of her about her big sister’s new wings, and Alex herself had her wings folded so tightly against her back, she was afraid she would pull a muscle. Finally, she crouched in front of her baby sister, and took her by the arms.

  “Teagan, listen to me. I need you to take a deep breath, okay? I will explain what’s going on, but I need you to be calm first.” Alex watched as Teagan took two deep breaths, and let out a sigh of her own when the seven-year-old stayed silent, watching her sister with wide eyes. “Okay. Are you listening?” Teagan nodded, and Alex continued. “Yes, I have wings. Yes, they’re a part of me, and yes, that means I am not like you. You don’t have wings, right?” Another nod. “Right. That’s because you’re human. I have wings because I’m-”

  “An alien?” There were a couple of quickly stifled chuckles behind Alex, who turned briefly to send a look to the two women standing there.

  “Sure,” Alex continued, turning back to face Teagan again. “I’m an alien.” She spread her wings slightly, and let out a small breath at the movement. They had gotten a little sore from holding them against her body for so long. “These are only part of the changes I’m going through.” She watched Teagan’s wide eyes take in her sister’s new appendages, and spread them wider, until they were nearly touching the walls. “Would you like to touch one of them?”

  “Yes!” Teagan ran forward, hands outstretched, but before Alex could pull back, Jennifer stepped forward.

  “Gently, sweetheart. They’re new to your sister, and they’re easily hurt. Don’t be rough with them, okay?”

  “Okay!” Teagan lifted her hands again, and poked at Alex’s left wing. Delight spread over her face, and she poked it again, then ran her hand down the upper ridge. “It’s scaly!”

  “Yeah,” replied Alex. “Pretty scaly. What do you think?” The knots in her stomach began to loosen. Her little sister wasn’t afraid of her, now that she knew Alex wasn’t like her. Teagan continued to play with Alex’s wings, and Alex even moved them for her, flapping them clumsily until her baby sister’s hair blew back from the sudden wind. Giggles filled the room, and a large smile broke out over Alex’s face. Teagan’s reaction if she found out about Alex was what Alex had been dreading the most.

  “Okay everyone, it’s nearly four thirty in the morning,” Jennifer finally said, clapping her hands. “That means it’s back to bed for everyone.”

  “Yes,” agreed Adrien, and pointed at Alex. “You need to sleep, because you and I are going to train tomorrow. You need to get to where all of this is second nature to you. I will let you sleep in, simply because you haven’t been able to rest from what you’ve been through the last two weeks.” As Adrien said these things, Alex yawned. Now that it was mentioned, she felt the exhaustion creeping in on her. She had been wide awake through this whole ordeal, but she was crashing, hard. She nodded, and stood from where she was crouched on the floor next to her baby sister.

  “How do I get these to go away?” Alex again tucked them into her sides.

  “Concentrate. Go through the same process you did before, but be thorough about it this time.” Alex followed Adrien’s instruction, closing her eyes and taking a deep, cleansing breath. Teagan gave a shout a moment later, and Alex flexed her shoulders, no longer feeling the weight of her wings. It was a strange feeling, and she wasn’t totally sure she liked it.

  Everyone departed for their bedrooms, but as Alex went to hers, she was stopped by Jennifer, who was looking apologetic.

  “Alex, sweetie… I don’t know how to say this in a way that will make anything better, but-”

  “Mom, stop.” Alex put her hand on Jennifer’s shoulder, and gave her a small smile. It felt entirely too fake for her, but it seemed to work on her mother, who smiled back. “Everything is fine. I know why you couldn’t tell me what was going on. It’s the same reason we’re not going to tell Teagan any more than this. You were trying to keep me safe. Besides, I’m way too tired to be mad at you.” This drew a chuckle from her mother.


  “Honey, what you’ve been through the last two weeks… I was going insane trying to keep it together for your sister. She refused to leave you unless it was night time, and she was inconsolable.” Alex’s eyes grew damp as she imagined Teagan trying to stay with her.

  “Well, I’m okay now,” she answered, wiping hastily at her eyes. “She doesn’t have to worry anymore.” As Alex turned to leave, she thought she heard Jennifer murmur something. What she said didn’t hit her until Alex laid down on the bed in her room.

  “Yes, she does.”

  Alex tossed and turned for a while, alone in her room. She’d told her mom that everything was fine, but it most certainly was not fine. Not in the slightest. Her mom wasn’t her real mom, she was a shapeshifter, apparently she could use fire, humans weren’t alone in the universe with all those other realms out there, and the Unseen wasn’t a terrorist but a completely different entity? In a matter of hours, Alex’s understanding of, well, everything had been seized, smashed, and put back together in a way that made absolutely no sense. And the real kicker was that Jennifer knew about it the whole time. What else did she know that she hadn’t told Alex?

  The next morning, Alex was shaken awake by Adrien, who had come in and pulled back the curtains. “Time to get up!” she said, as Alex rolled over with a groan. “It’s almost noon.”

  “Good,” grumbled Alex. “That gives me another five hours.” She started to fall asleep again, until Adrien took hold of the bottom edge of her blanket and yanked. Sunlight pierced Alex’s closed eyelids, making her flinch and throw her hands up. “What the hell?”