Prophecy

I’d been to all but one of the factories in the east and they’d all turned up to be empty.

I’d searched for secret doors or entrances, as I was sure that Omayra and her father were too proud to live in a vat, but my searches were futile.

It was hard to escape as I had never noticed how nocturnal he and the rest of his family were. It was close to daylight before any of them ever fell asleep.

I took the Galusion gem which was hooked around my neck off and placed it on my bed and slipped into a black gossamer wrap dress, with the Corona insignia embroidered neatly on one panel. I pulled my hair back into a braid, like I did all the other nights. I couldn’t wear shoes, as I needed to change forms, as the dress would facilitate the change, the shoes I had, couldn’t and would hold me back since I would need to carry a load.

Tonight I had one more factory in Portland to scout. It was close to three a.m. Thorn, Seidon and Naeht were all in their rooms and the house was quiet. I silently pushed my door open and tip-toed down the hall. My toes were cramped by the icy floors, but I had to bear it if I was to make it out of the house undetected.

I peeked into the kitchen to be sure that no one was there and then made my way over to the stairs leading up to the garage. As I was about to open the door I heard footsteps coming from upstairs.

“Frick!” I said silently as I ducked behind the counter. Goose pimples shot over my back as I sat on the cold floor. I rubbed my toes softly to keep the blood flowing around them. My muscles tightened as I heard the footsteps again. I heard a small click like a door being closed and the place was silent again. I exhaled sharply and quickly shot for the door. I didn’t bother closing it as I would be back before anyone else was up.

I brushed past the cars parked in the garage and entered the lake room. I’d didn’t use the garage entrance as the hinges needed to be oiled, and so it would creak too much and wake everyone. The lake room, on the other hand, had several slots in the wall close to the ceiling, where light and air would come through for the plants in the room and it would make a quieter means of escape.

The room was dark, except for the beams of moonlight streaming in through the ceiling slots. I tipped my feet briefly into the warm water of the lake to help the thawing out process of my feet. I then skipped out and dried my feet on the grass.

I closed my eyes briefly and allowed the warm energy to spread from my core out to the rest of my body. I opened my eyes, the room had brightened greatly and I could see the fine details of every plant and rock just as clearly as how they looked in the daylight, except that the intensity of the colours had dimmed, and were shaded in the silvery hues of the night. I looked into the calm surface of the lake. Two bulb-like eyes of a fawn coloured owl stared back at me.

I giggled softly, but the sound was more like a garbled hoot. I lifted my left wing and folded it over my head. I moved my beak up and down, pulling and spitting out loose feathers which had caused a tickling sensation under my wing. I had no idea why just did that, but it was more out of instinct than of rational thought.

I ruffled my feather, shaking free all the other loose ones. I unfolded my wings and slowly lifted myself from the ground. The first night I’d changed, I thought flying would be a problem, but surprisingly, I didn’t face much trouble as the action was like second nature to me.

I landed on one of the slots and squeezed through. I readjusted my wings and soon was gliding over the yard and past the city.

I perched on the upper limb of a tall mahoe tree. My eyes spotted a mouse coming out of its hole, before I knew what I was doing, I was swooping towards the rodent and in no time had it clutched tightly in my talons.

My predatory instincts took over completely, as I tore open the throat of the moving rodent, silencing it permanently. My sharp beak stripped the succulent piece of flesh from the bones. The meat was strangely satisfying as warm morsels settled in my stomach.

It wasn’t until I saw the bloody face of the mouse with its eyes and mouth hanging open, that my human instincts returned. I loosened my hold on the remainder of the dead carcass and watched it revoltingly as it fell back to the leafy ground.

I twisted my neck allowing my curly tresses to fall into my back. I changed quickly back to my human form. I spat out pieces of fur still left in my mouth. My stomach turned and I felt nauseous. I covered my mouth with one hand and used the other to swing branch to branch as I descended the tree.

I couldn’t hold it in much longer and I skipped a few branches and jumped directly to the ground. I skidded carefully behind the tree and coughed loudly as the anti-peristaltic movements of my digestive system brought up all the partially liquidized contents of my stomach.

A ball of fur fell from my mouth and my stomach relaxed.

“Disgusting,” I miffed. I wiped the corners of my mouth with the underside of my dress. I leaned on the trunk and waited for the nausea to wear off.

I inhaled deeply, taking the cold night air, flavoured with the full-bodied scent of ripe coffee beans, which hung from the small evergreen shrubs, planted among the taller trees for shade during the day.

I had to get a move on if I wanted to reach home undetected. It had taken me about a little over an hour to get here. That left me with only two hours to find what I was looking for, and another to get back, before everyone in the house was awake. If I didn’t make it within that time, I would have to stop a few blocks away and start jogging to give myself an alibi. I just hope he didn’t wake up too early and find me gone, and then start looking for me in the gem.

I launched myself off the tree and ran through the thick coffee shrubs until I’d emerged near a small dirt road. I skirted along the shrubs to avoid detection, as it had at least two security guards posted at the main entrance and Guard members could be scattered on the premises.

I carefully scaled the perimeter fence and made a swift trot up to the main building. The huge metal door, was covered by a grille. I squeezed my hands through one of the narrow, crisscrossed lattices and held on to the huge industrial padlocks which secured the latch. I was about to pull the padlock from the door, when I heard footsteps coming my way. I could see the light of the flashlight coming around the corner. I was about to run in the other direction, but my hand was stuck and it made the grille shake as I tugged at it.

“Did you hear that?” asked of the guards.

“Yeah, it was coming from around the corner.” whispered the other. “Come on, let’s check it out.”

I could see the light coming closer to me and heard them pulling either a gun or baton from their waists. I inhaled deeply and squinted my eyes as the lights were being pointed directly into my face.

“Meow,” I purred and rubbed my head on the legs of one of the guards.

“Cat,” said the man putting away the gun.

“Should have figured, nothing exciting ever happen in these parts.” said the other guard sounding slightly disappointed.

I cantered away from the men and climbed into a nearby tree, where I stayed until the men had disappeared around the corner. From up here, I saw an easier point of access. One in which I didn’t have to vandalize property to get in.

It was an open window slightly askew of the branch I was sitting on. With my tail lifted over my head, I carefully tread along the branch which got narrower out to the end.

The coils I’d built up in my legs were swiftly unraveled as I pounced from the limb and landed on the ledge. I was standing over a storeroom, which had wooden boxes stacked up to the window. I jumped from one container to the other until I was on the floor again.

I sneezed quietly as the strong aroma of the coffee beans seemed to tickle my nostrils. I slowly extended my back until I was once again on two legs. I scanned the room, nothing more than boxes and cobwebs so I opened the door and walked out to the adjoining room.

It had taken me at least forty-five minutes to walk through the whole factory. I’d been to the packing, roasting, and admin rooms of the place and there was nothing.

I huffed as I landed over the perimeter fence. This was the last factory on the list. I must have missed something somewhere. The thought of having to go over every single one of the factories seemed daunting, but it had to be done.

It was a little past five as I’d wandering aimlessly through the trees. I had to go home soon, but the thought of changing back to an owl was well, revolting. The sun would start rising in the next twenty minutes, sixteen to be more exact. I could wait around until then to leave, but that will be cutting it close, however, I thought I could take the risk.

The morning was nippy, and thick fog covered this part of the hill. The sky was lightening, but I still couldn’t see anything unless it was directly in front of my face. The leaves were wet with the night’s dew and my skin was dripping wet as I meandered through the dense foliage.

The trees thinned and I was sure that I could see a faint light filtering through the leaves. I followed it until I was standing in an empty factory yard. It was strange because all the maps I’d looked at only recorded one factory in this area.

I looked if anyone was watching before I turned the lock. The door simply swung open. Whoever was in charge here certainly didn’t seem to have any security worries. I stepped cautiously into the building, watching each step I took. The room was wide, and only had huge vats filled with water and coffee beans.

It was odd that they would do that, since in all the other plants I’d been to the beans were left to be dried, then threshed and finally roasted. Something was just not right about this building, I could feel it. I leaned on one of the vats and had to get off it quickly, as the wood sank inwards and sounded as if it was about to crack.

I went back over to it and knocked on it and listened. It sounded hollow as if there was something behind it. I tried another vat, but it didn’t sound the same way. I tried the vat again. I bet there was a room behind there. I started feeling around the sides of the boards for an opening.

“Bingo,” I whispered as I pushed my fingers under the bottom and pulled it upwards. I stood at the opening of a staircase leading further down into a basement or something.

I looked back and forth as I had to decide whether or not to turn back or continue down the stairs. It was getting late.

“Crosses,” I cussed and ducked down the stairs.

I continued down the passage until I reached a door, marked No Entrance By Unauthorized Personnel. Sure, like some sign was going to stop me. I turned the knob and let myself in. The room was quiet and it had a strong scent of pine swirling through it. As I closed the door, I felt a sudden stab of pain kicking me in the side, leaving me immobile for a moment.

“Thorn,” I whispered. He was in trouble.

The silence in the room was suddenly disturbed by the sound of furniture being smashed into each other. “Not so tough without your other friend here,” said Omayra.

“What did you do with Summer?” I heard his voice struggling in the other room.

He was here. I heard another sound, this time of glass being broken. I didn’t feel anything this time, so I knew that he wasn’t the one who’d received the blow.

I got up quickly to my feet and sprinted towards the commotion. As I drew nearer, the noises grew louder, until I was standing directly in front of the doorway at the end of the hall. I was about to open it when I felt one hand covering my face and the other wrapped around my waist pulling me back.

In one swift motion, I spun out of my attacker's arms, flipping him over and pinning him to the floor. I looked at his face in surprise.

“Detective Adams?” I said taking my foot from off the man’s neck.

“Who are you?” he said a bit stunned.

“It is me, Summer Dayse. What are you doing here?” I said helping him up.

He rubbed his neck with one hand as he stood. “Ms Dayse, you, you look different?” he said still sounding shocked.

“Detective, what are you doing here and why were you trying to stop me from going in there?” I whispered.

“I followed your boyfriend here. I don’t know what the hell you two are up to, but I sure as hell will find out. It is probably best that I entered first.” he coughed and continued rubbing his throat. He took out his gun and moved towards the door.

“Unless you’ve got silver bullets, that thing is useless. You should stay out here.” I growled. I heard another crash coming from the inside and I winced and stooped, as I felt another sharp pain shooting up my spine.

“Ms Dayse, are you alright?” he asked concerned.

“Yes, but Thorn isn’t. I, I have to go.” I said getting up.

“You look hurt. I’m coming with you,” he said helping me up.

“I’m fine. I am much stronger than I look Detective.” he still insisted on coming. “Look if you stay here I can prove to you that I didn’t commit any of the crimes you are accusing me of.” I gushed.

“Okay, one chance,” he said hesitantly after a moment. “But if anything goes wrong, I’m coming in,” he said placing the gun back in the holster.

“Stand over there and face away,” I said pointing him to the opposite wall.

“Why?”

“Okay, fine your face,” I said finally losing all my patience. I grabbed the door by the knob tearing it from the hinges and throwing it down the hall.

“How did you do that?”

“Just hide,” I said without looking behind me and stepped into the room. “Thorn!” I gasped as I saw him sitting in a corner, clutching his side. He was bleeding. Omayra had a gold sword hovering over him, and it seemed like she was about to attack again, but was stunned by my sudden appearance.

“Summer, where were you?” asked Thorn.

“Look at what the cat dragged in.” she sniggered. “I was wondering when you would pop in to save your little boyfriend.” she smiled.

“This is between the two of us.” My eyes moved to Thorn and then back to her.

“We’ve long passed that point Summer when you two tried to kill me that night at Riverton. This is simply retribution for all that pain,” she said walking towards me.

“You attacked first, nearly killing me three times before.” I hoped the Detective was hearing this. “That didn’t give you the right to murder my aunt and uncle, hurting Caleb, Susan. And then you tried pinning it on me. I bet you also killed the real Elizabeth Lewis so that you could take her place at Campion.”

“Right? I have the right to do anything I want. I must say that this has played out all so well in my favour." she turned towards Thorn. "It is too bad that you’d come here today as I wasn’t planning on killing you now. Who knows, maybe the two of us would end up being together. With your good genes and my experience we could rule the Lunes and maybe even conquer the whole damn world if we were up to it.”

“Three hundred-year-old bitches aren’t really my type.” he hissed trying to get up but he slid back to the floor, as it seemed that he was weakened by the wound he’d received to his side.

“I prefer being a bitch than an absolute fool. Giving up the world for her, an inferior breed of shifters. It really is a shame.” she said with regret. “You will have to watch as I split this mongrel open right in front of your eyes.”

“Hold it right there!”

“Frick,” I cussed as Detective Adams burst into the room and pointed his gun at Omayra. I told him not to come in here.

“And you are?” she said walking over to him.

“Police. Don’t move or I’ll shoot. I am placing you under arrest.” he said holding the gun steadily in front of him.

“I have to tell you officer that you will do no such thing.” in a moment she had him clutched in her grip, dangling him over her head. He fired his gun twice. His eyes widened with surprise and anguish as the bullets ricocheted off her chest and back into his legs. “You shouldn’t have done that Detective,” she said sounding irked.

“Summer!” I heard Thorn shout from the corner.

I knew that he was telling me to stop her. I leaped over to her and pulled her by the shoulder and flung her across the room, causing both the sword and Adams to fall from her grip. Adams landed on a bookshelf and he seemed to have hit his head pretty hard, but at least it was better than having Omayra plunging the sword in his gut.

She was on her feet swiftly. “Raincheck on killing you officer, as I have an annoying thorn in the side that I need to be taken care of first,” she growled as she charged towards the sword she was carrying.

I tripped her as she tried squeezing past me and ran for the weapon. I didn’t get very far as she held on to my ankle and pulled me down on the ground with her. I fell only inches away from the sword and I tried to grab it, but every time I got nearer she kept pulling me back. I used my other foot to kick her in the face several times before she finally let go.

I took up the weapon from the floor and stepped on it breaking the blade in half. “We are doing this without weapons,” I said flinging the broken blade I had in my hand into another corner.

“Fine, this should make killing you even easier.” she sniggered.

“I don’t think so,” I said allowing the rapid flow of energy to surge from my core, out to the rest of my body. Huge tongues of fire leaped from different areas of my body, kicking my hair and dress wildly about my body.

“I’ve seen that trick before. But I doubt that you haven’t seen this one,” she said as she stood elevated on a huge wave of water that swirled upward into a vortex. “You know that little rumour about water putting out a fire, it is actually true,” she screamed as she shot her hands forward directing the huge wave towards me.

The blue crush of the water left me reeling for a while, but I quickly regained my composure and I planted my feet down into the ground and allowed the rest of the wave to pass.

“Is that all?” I said cocking my head arrogantly to one side. I shouted as I pulled on the cool energy up from my feet and merged it with the other warm one already pulsing through my veins. A sudden burst of blue flames enveloped my body.”

“Ooooh pretty colour, but what are you going to do burn me blue?” she laughed cynically. “Fire is fire dear and I’m sure I can ice this one out. I think it is about time I ended this once and for all.”

She shot another wave towards me, but it hardened into a thin shield of ice as it moved rapidly towards me. I closed my eyes briefly and waited as I knew that as soon as it hit my shield it would simply merge with an already raging flame.

I could feel my limbs growing in strength and the flames kicking further out from my body. I finally opened my eyes and looked directly at Omayra. “You look surprised. Didn’t know that I could do that did you? You are right. It is time for us to end this once and for all.” I said wrapping the flames around her.

Her screams echoed in the house as the flames burned her flesh from off her bones.

I walked up directly in front of her and stared into her bloodshot eyes.

“Make it stop!” she screamed at me.

“Why don’t you make it stop. It is fire after all and I’m sure that you can ice it over quite easily.” I said with hatred dripping from every word.

“Put it out please,” she pleaded as she fell to the ground.

“Okay fine.” I gritted my teeth and waved my hand and the flames disappeared from around her body and she fell exhaustedly to the ground. I’d promised myself that I would kill her, but for some reason, my humanity, as Thorn once put it, was holding me back. “You know it is too bad that I can’t torture you as you did my aunt, uncle, Caleb.” I spat and turned away.

“Yeah it really is too bad.”

“Summer!” shouted Thorn from across the room. I turned quickly and found her lunging at me with a piece of the broken blade. There was no way for me to dodge her attack in time. I watched as her blade came closer and then it stopped. I couldn’t understand.

“Thorn,” I whispered as I saw him standing behind her, clutching the other half of the blade in one hand and his injured side in the other. I then turned back to Omayra, who was laying on the floor.

“She said that she couldn’t torture you, but I promised myself that I would kill you before Summer did.” he spat vehemently as I watched her gasping for air as blood spilled out from her throat. I didn’t move until I saw the final signs of life drain from her pale blue eyes and she’d stopped moving.

I turned away from her and ran towards Thorn, who’d fallen to the floor. He slowly dragged himself up against the wall. I dropped to my knees as I came beside him.

He had his head leaned back and his eyes pressed tightly together as I could feel the searing pain of a healing wound that had been torn open, cutting through his side. “How did you get over to me that fast, you are hurt. Are you okay? Of course you’re not you are bleeding.” I gushed.

“Summer calm down. This one will leave a scar, but I’ll survive,” he said removing his hand from the wound, which seemed to have been deep but showed signs of it mending.

“You promised yourself that you would kill her before I did,” I said smiling slightly.

“I had to find some loophole out of yours. I asked you to tell me when you were coming up here,” he said as his grey eyes traced my face.

“I couldn’t because I knew that this would happen. Are you sure that you’re fine? It looks like you’re still bleeding.” I said as another drop of blood fell into the small pool gathered beside him.

“Are the two of you kids alright?” said Detective Adams as he got up slowly and trudged towards us, holding his thigh where he’d received the gunshot wounds.

“As well as can be expected,” replied Thorn.

“You do know that you’ll have a lot of explaining to do before I call for backup. I’ve seen and experienced things here today I didn’t think were possible,” he said kindly as he stooped beside us.

“Up until a few months ago, I thought the same thing too Detective. I’ve learned that impossibility is subjective. It relies on how much you test the limits of the possible.” I whispered as I sat down and placed my head against Thorn’s shoulder as he slung an arm around me and kissed me on the forehead.