Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Zila patted her pockets with one hand, making sure that the journal entries were still there. In her other hand was the pie that she had brought for Shane. Swallowing hard, she stepped up to Shane’s house and prepared to enter.

It was already dark out, and Zila was worried that his companions were still awake. She didn’t want them to be. She wanted time with Shane to herself.

Shifting from one foot to the next, she worked up the courage to enter. Slipping through the shadows like she did the night before, she appeared in the living room.

Shane was in his chair again, his eyes closed, but his breathing told Zila that he wasn’t asleep. Before she talked with him, she crept through the rest of the house and made sure Rai and Reginald were.

Nearly letting out a sigh of relief when they were, she returned to the living room. This time Shane was awake and waiting for her.

“Did I buy you enough time?” he asked.

Zila stepped out of the shadows and tried to pull the shroud away as best she could. “You did.” Her voice was soft. It was always soft.

“You look beautiful by the way.” Shane stood up and touched her cheek.

Zila closed her eyes and pressed into the hand. When was the last time someone saw me?

“You also brought another pie,” Shane said with a quirk of his brow.

“I did.” Smiling, she set it down on the end table where it appeared out of the shadows.

Shane took her hand and pulled her into him. As he was the same height as her, she rested her chin on his shoulder as he ran his fingers over her ears.

“I believe you are after my heart,” Shane whispered.

“I am,” Zila admitted.

Shane laughed lightly before letting her sit down. “What did you learn?”

Zila swallowed hard again and pulled out the first two journal entries. “I learned about Rai and her time in the capital.” Handing over that journal entry, she waited for him to read it through.

When he finished, she reluctantly handed over the next. Her heart started to pound as his eyes widened, and he slumped in his chair. Closing his eyes, she felt the essence in his body climb.

Within seconds, a turbulent storm of power wrapped around him, covering his body in a visible field of essence.

“Shane!” she shouted.

Pounding feet came down the hall as Reginald burst into the room. Rai was right behind him, her eyes wide as flames danced off her.

“You!” Rai growled.

Picking up the entries, Zila forced herself to not disappear.

“What did you do?” Reginald asked before grabbing Rai and holding her in place.

“He learned his mother is still alive,” Zila said softly. Holding out the two journal entries, she waited until Reginald took them.

His shoulders sagged a moment later, and he moved to the couch. Rai followed him and read over the reports as well.

Meanwhile, the power in the room was growing to a stifling level as Shane’s emotions were pushed over the edge.

Reaching out, Zila wanted to touch him, to calm him. Her shadows were pulled from her body, the essence around her ripped apart.

Rai gasped. “Don’t touch him!”

Zila pulled her hand back. As she left the storm, her shadows returned as she was hidden once again. “He’s tearing himself apart.”

Reginald got up and walked over to Shane. Reaching through the storm, his arm started to bleed, and by the time he pulled it back, a layer of skin had been removed.

“He’s still alive,” Reginald said. “I don’t think he realizes what he’s doing.”

“What is he doing?” Rai asked.

“He’s bonding with the rest of my essence,” Reginald stated. “His body is forcing the merge and repairing itself at a level I’ve never heard of. It’s almost like his body was designed to live off of essence.”

“That’s not possible,” Zila said.

“I know.” Reginald flickered essence over his hand, healing the damage. “I shouldn’t have been able to do that.”

Rai got up and touched his hand. “It’s completely healed. What is Shane sharing with us?”

Reginald sat back down and looked between Rai and Zila. “I don’t think we are the dominant essence-users in this bond anymore.”

“What does that mean?” Zila asked.

Shaking his head, Reginald stared at Shane. “I don’t think he’s human. I think he was when he was born, but something changed him on a fundamental level.”

Rai fidgeted with her hands as her tail battered the couch with embers. “How long will he be like this?”

“I don’t know,” Reginald said honestly. “All three of us are going to be needed to guard him until this is over.”

Zila got up. “Will he be okay with me helping?”

Rai snorted. “If it was up to him, you wouldn’t leave his side. I’m sorry to say, Zila, but I think he’s already claimed you.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Zila watched the embers spread across the couch, making the fabric smoke before Rai pulled on their warmth. The fox was angry. Very angry.

“No,” Rai said. “But I’ll also admit that I’m not strong enough to protect him on my own. Even with Reginald, we need more help. His life is more important than me hoarding him.”

Reginald Rose to his feet. “Sleep in shifts. We need to be at full strength.”

“I’ll take the first watch,” Zila offered. “I’m better at night.”

Rai didn’t argue and got up. With one last glance back at Zila, she said, “Wake us if he changes.”

“I will.”

Zila watched Reginald and Rai leave before she sat down and shifted the chair to better watch Shane. Spreading her essence through the shadows, she started monitoring the streets nearby. It was taxing, but nighttime allowed her to do that much.

“Shane, I’m sorry,” Zila whispered.

***

“Shane, honey…”

Shane tried to open his eyes, but they were too heavy to move. He let out a weak groan as his fingers twitched but refused to lift.

“He’s waking, dear!” his mother shouted from nearby.

Hurried footsteps came down the hall, and Shane slowly felt his surroundings. He was under his familiar blanket with the scent of lavender and chamomile that helped him sleep. His mother’s perfume was in the air, a slight citrus, mixed with some sort of flower.

“Is he moving?” his father asked.

“He’s starting to. He’s been asleep for three days. Was it supposed to take that long?” mother asked.

“I don’t know. All of my scenarios and testing reported that it would work, but there was no window for recovery time.”

“Are we sure it will work?”

Shane could imagine his dad shaking his head. “I don’t know. I’m almost positive it will, but the rest is up to him. His DNA was changed, but it won’t activate until he’s much older and can bond with one of the subjects.”

“They’re not subjects,” his mother said disapprovingly. “They are people, just like us.”

“Except they are also animals,” his father stated. “Animals that can wield powers that this world isn’t ready for.”

Shane tried to move again, and this time his hand clenched into a fist.

“He’s coming around,” his father said. Footsteps approached Shane before the blanket was pulled away. A cold metal disk was pressed to his chest. “His heart is strong.” A hand grabbed his wrist, and then checked his other wrist before moving on to his ankles. “Blood is flowing properly. We don’t dare test his blood.”

“Do you think they will find out we did this?” his mother asked.

“Not before they open Pandora’s Box.”

Shane tried to frown. What are they talking about? His inner thoughts came from a voice far older than he felt.

A sigh came from next to him. “We don’t have much time left,” his father said in a weary tone. “You need to be seen in the lab. I’ll watch over Shane while he recovers.”

Another pair of soft footsteps approached him. “You’ll be better tomorrow, Shane,” his mother whispered. “Listen to your father while I’m gone.”

Shane tried to nod, but his body refused to move.

A gentle kiss was placed on his forehead before the dream faded.

***

Rai juggled a ball of flames from one hand to the next as she watched over Shane. Every once in a while, she would toss the ball at him, only for the essence wrapping around him to tear it apart.

What’s happening in there?

The cocoon of essence was too thick to see through, and it covered him from head to toe. A whirling storm of red and brown, the power radiating off of him was intense and stifling.

“Shane…” Rai whispered.

Just as she made to sink into her seat, the energy started to dissipate.

“It’s ending!” she shouted.

Hurried footsteps pounded down the hall. First Reginald appeared, before Zila slipped out from behind the large man.

Rai watched as the energy around Shane slowly broke apart, absorbed back into his body. She gasped.

The Shane that she had grown used to had changed. His naked body had been reshaped, molded from his athletic build into something closer Reginald’s.

He had to have grown at least a few inches, but his black hair was still there. The new muscle wasn’t the only thing apparent.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

No.

A glowing sigil in the center of his chest was pulsing with power. It was simple in design, looking like a blackened circle with six tendrils coming off of it. Two of the tendrils were glowing. One red, the other brown.

“Was that always there?” Zila asked.

Rai shook her head.

“No,” Reginald stated. “His body is growing.”

Zila stepped forward and touched Shane’s chest. The essence wrapped around her was pulled from her body and absorbed by Shane. For a brief moment, Rai was able to see Zila’s striking beauty. Then she pulled her hand away, and the shadows returned.

“Can he control that?” Reginald grumbled.

Rai stepped forward and touched a flaming hand to his chest. The flames flickered over his body but weren’t absorbed.

Reginald copied her by pouring sand onto his body, only for the sand to cling to him before slipping off.

“I think we need to be bonded to him,” Rai stated.

A gasping breath escaped Shane, making all three of them hover over his chair. His eyelids fluttered before slowly opening.

“I feel like death,” Shane mumbled.

Rai touched his cheek. “We thought we lost you.”

Essence rippled over his body, visibly distorting the air.

“What was that?” Shane asked.

“We don’t know,” Reginald said. “We were hoping you did.”

Bracing his hands on the arm of the chair, he sat himself up. “My strength is returning, and I feel full.”

“Full how?” Rai asked.

“Like I just ate a six-course dinner,” Shane explained. Touching his chest, he brushed off some of the sand. “Why am I covered in sand?”

“We were testing something,” Reginald said. “Take Zila’s hand.”

Zila held out her hand, and Shane grabbed it. Once again, the shadows were pulled from her body before he let go and threw up.

Rai jumped back. “Shane!”

Reginald braced a hand against his chest and helped bend him over as he threw up on the ground. “I have you, Shane.”

Shane threw up one last time before wiping his mouth. “I ate too much…”

Rai shared a look with Zila and Reginald.

“You ate her essence?” Rai asked, her voice filled with worry and a tinge of fear.

Shane nodded. “I did. I don’t know how. What’s happening to me?”

Cupping his face in her hands, Rai said, “I don’t know, Shane. But we are going to figure this out together. First, we need to clean you up.”

“That would be nice,” Shane muttered.

“Reginald, carry him,” Rai ordered. “We’re going back to the river. Zila, can you scout?”

Zila nodded and stepped into the shadows before disappearing.

Shane fought his way to his feet and grabbed a pie off the end table.

“Another one?” Rai asked in disbelief.

“We’re not leaving it behind,” Shane said, forcing a grin.

Rai didn’t want to argue. She headed towards the door while Reginald picked up Shane. With a glance over her shoulder, she found Reginald struggling slightly.

“Are you going to be able to carry him?” Rai asked.

“I don’t know,” Reginald grunted.

“Set me down,” Shane said. “Something isn’t right. Besides, I think walking will help me the most.”

Reginald complied and set him down, breathing heavy from moving him. “I think you weigh more than me.”

Shane laughed lightly. “Rai, I don’t think I can be on top anymore.”

Closer her eyes, she groaned. “Now isn’t the time, Shane. That comes tonight when I have you alone.”

Smiling, Shane started walking. Each step he took made the floor groan.

“Let’s leave quickly before Shane destroys the house,” Rai muttered. “I don’t want Marge to kill us.”

***

Shane felt his legs shake as he took each step. It wasn’t from weakness, but from the feeling of being full to bursting. His body was fighting against itself for having so much essence assimilated. To make it worse, Zila had given him essence, not once, but three times while he was out according to the cat.

Stepping up to the wall, Shane took a deep breath. “Are you sure we can’t go over?”

Rai spun on him. “We are not going over!”

Zila stepped out of the shadows. “It’s fun to go over.”

“You’re not helping!” Rai snapped.

Shane sent the cat a smile. The shadows wrapped around her didn’t impede him, and he saw her beauty on full display.

“Are you going to share the pie with me?” he asked her.

To his surprise, Zila blushed. “Yes…”

“That’s my pie,” Reginald grumbled.

“Get your own,” Shane said. “This one was given to me with love.”

“After seeing you naked, there’s at least one part of you that she’ll love,” Rai mumbled.

Zila retreated into the shadows.

“Rai!” Shane crossed his arms. “She has helped us, and you are only pushing her away.”

Rai slumped. “I’m sorry. I’m still blaming her for what just happened.”

Zila transferred from one shadow to the one next to Rai. Reaching out, she touched a shadowed hand to Rai’s shoulder. “It was my fault, but please…”

Rai stood up and touched the hand. “I won’t hate you. But you are in this now. There’s no going back.”

“I don’t want to go back,” Zila whispered. “He sees me.”

Turning to Shane, Rai narrowed her eyes. “How do you see her?”

Shane ignored her and looked at the ground. Lifting his hand, he concentrated on parting the world.

An explosion of dirt was flung into the air as the wall cracked. A tunnel appeared in a near instant, dust filling the area as everyone coughed.

“Sorry!” Shane called out while trying to clear his throat.

Reginald grunted. “Let me make the tunnels.”

“I’ll go first,” Zila said before slipping away into the shadows.

Shane fought through the dust to find Rai. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her through the tunnel to get to fresh air.

Reginald filled in the tunnel behind them, fixing the wall while he was at it.

“Is the wall going to collapse if we keep going under it?” Shane asked as they reached the other side.

“If you keep making the holes, then yes,” Reginald answered.

Rai took a deep breath as they reached the forest. “How the hell did you do that?”

Shane frowned. “I made a hole. What’s the big deal?”

Reginald grabbed his shoulder gently. “You exploded the ground with a force the city is likely to sense. There was so much essence in your usage that you should be spent.”

“I feel fine,” Shane said. Waving off the last of the dust, he added, “In fact, I feel like I barely used any essence.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Reginald closed his eyes. “This isn’t right.”

“Is something wrong with me?” Shane asked softly. He could only stare at the ground as he felt the essence roil in his body.

“No, Shane,” Rai said. Touching his arm, she leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder. “We’ll figure this out. Did something happen to you when you were younger? When we first came over?”

Shane nodded. “Yes… My parents.” Closing his eyes, he shook his head. Stepping into the forest, he added, “Not right now. I think Myra and Hansel should be in on this discussion too.”

“I’ll get them,” Zila said from the shadows. “The river?”

“Yes,” Rai said. “Don’t alert his friends that we left the city. They can’t be around him right now.”

“Am I dangerous?” Shane whispered.

“No!” Rai exclaimed.

“Yes,” Reginald said. “The essence inside you is shifting the very air around you. I think if another human was to come close, they would get violently ill at best. At worst…”

Shane nodded. “I see.” Flexing his fist, he added, “My body doesn’t feel strong enough yet. There’s something missing. Something I’m supposed to have.”

Rai tore open his shirt, touching the new tattoo that was glowing with power. “I think you need to collect all of us.”

Shane touched her fingers. “What’s going to happen when I do?”

“I don’t think anyone knows,” Reginald said. Pushing a branch out of the way, he helped Shane through. “Our own powers are increasing as you grow stronger. It’s supposed to happen, but not like this. I shouldn’t be this strong, not yet.”

“How much have you increased?” Shane asked.

“It’s hard to say.” Reginald shook his head. “I feel my natural essence has increased by quite some magnitude. My body feels harder, and I can only imagine how much damage I can do now.”

“I feel the same,” Shane said. Staggering on his next step, he nearly hit a rock with his knee. Grunting, he got back up. “I think we need to spar and adjust to our new powers.”

“I agree,” Reginald said. “Especially you, Shane. If you haven’t noticed, you grew a few inches. And your body filled out quite well.”

Running a hand through his hair, Shane sighed. “Let’s get to the river. We can figure things out from there.”

Rai took his hand and gently tugged. “I get to wash you.”

Holding his pie, Shane smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

***

Zila moved through the town at blistering speeds. She found Hansel first. His arms were outstretched as he blew wind down the hall of the school, cleaning the dust and leftover debris off the floor.

“Hansel,” Zila said softly.

The hawk jumped. “Shadow,” he greeted.

“Shane needs you. Now.”

Hansel stiffened. “Where?” he asked coldly, his usual whimsical voice all but gone.

“River. Usual spot.”

Slipping away, Zila didn’t wait for him to answer. Instead, she felt him vanish in a burst of speed.

Walking through the shadows, she found Myra talking with two other Descendants, all three of them washing clothes in a basin.

As softly as she could whisper, Zila called out to her, “Shane needs you.”

Myra froze, her hands gripping the clothes tightly.

“Are you okay?” one of the women asked.

“I have to go,” Myra said, forcing a smile to her face.

“We just started,” the other complained.

“Something has happened to Shane,” Myra whispered.

Both of the women froze. “Is he…?”

“I don’t know. Carry on like everything is normal.” Getting up, she scanned the room. “Where is he?”

Zila whispered, “The river.”

Myra nodded. “Don’t alert anyone,” she warned. “I’ll be back soon.”

The two women took the extra clothes and added them to their piles.

Myra turned and strode out of the laundry room. “Is it bad?” she asked.

Zila didn’t answer. Instead, she melded with the shadows and disappeared. She needed to get back to Shane.

***

Shane dismissed his clothes as he sank into the water. His muscles started to relax as the gentle current washed against him.

“This is better,” he mumbled. Pressing his hands into the soft soil and sand, he clenched his fingers, burrowing into the river.

Rai sat down next to him, holding a bundle of leaves. “I need you completely wet.”

Shane nodded and lay down in the water until his head was under. He stayed that way for several seconds until Rai pulled him back up.

“Why do you always try to drown yourself?” she asked with a huff.

He shrugged. “Is my pie okay?”

“Yes,” Reginald grumbled around a mouthful.

“Hey!” Shane whined. Struggling against Rai, he tried to stand when she forced him back down. “Save me some!”

“Get your own!”

Rai sighed. “Boys! Leave the pie alone!” Rubbing the leaves over Shane, she started to clean his soiled body.

Reginald huffed and dropped his fork.

Shane narrowed his eyes at the big man. “We can share it after we annoy Rai enough she walks off.”

“Deal,” Reginald said with a slight smile.

Rai sighed again. “Shane?”

Shane turned to her and tilted his head to the side. “Yes, love?”

“Shut up and let me wash you.”

Shane pressed his lips together. “Yes, dear…”

Closing his eyes, he relaxed as Rai scrubbed down his chest and arms. When the air became heavy with pressure, he opened and looked towards the sky.

A giant hawk was descending towards them at a blistering speed. Just before it reached the trees, it transformed into a human as Hansel dropped to the ground.

His eyes widened as he staggered back. “What is this?” His normal calm voice was broken.

Shane glanced at the water around him. “A bath.”

Rai smacked his arm. “We don’t know,” she answered. “He’s been radiating essence for a few hours now.”

The sound of something slithering across the ground filled the air before a giant blue serpent crept out of the tree line. In a burst of essence that was pulled towards Shane, Myra appeared and staggered.

Gasping, she covered her mouth. “You just…”

Shane nodded. “Yup. Now I feel bloated.”

Reginald stepped into the water and dismissed his clothes. Relaxing, he said, “Shane is somehow eating essence.”

“That’s not possible,” Hansel said evenly.

“He isn’t eating ours,” Rai said. Throwing the leaves downstream, she leaned into Shane’s side. “It appears anyone that isn’t bonded with him is fair game.”

“What does this mean?” Myra asked.

Zila stepped out of the shadows and into the water. “It means Shane is a danger to this world.”

“Harsh!” Shane grunted. “I’m rather charming and loving.”

Zila glanced at him with a smile. “Yes, you are.” Reaching out, she touched his chest, only for her essence to be pulled away from her.

Shane threw up again and watched it flow down river.

Rai growled. “You have too much essence!”

Shane squeezed his eyes shut. “Yeah… I’m going to have to bond with her next.”

He heard Myra and Hansel enter the water.

“Being close to him is like staring at the sun,” Hansel stated. “It’s marvelous to behold, but dangerous. Can you calm the essence?”

Shane shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m so full right now, but I know I can expand my capacity even more.”

Rai touched his chest. “He needs the other elements.”

“Light is going to be hard to find,” Myra said. A bit of her essence entered Shane as she made sure the puke had been removed. “I don’t know if there are any left in the world.”

“There are,” Zila whispered. “They were captured.”

Shane felt essence explode from his body as his anger spiked. Zila, Myra, and Hansel were pushed back as Reginald moved to grab his arms.

“Calm your mind, Shane,” Reginald urged.

Taking a deep breath, Shane let it out slowly and relaxed. “I have to get her back.”

“Who?” Myra asked.

“His mother,” Zila supplied.

Shane focused on the current brushing against him, shifting around as ripples traveled from his movements. His mind relaxed as the soft scent of the herbs clung to him. “Veronica imprisoned her in the capital.”

“When are we leaving?” Hansel asked.

Shane looked up. He eyed each of the Descendants around him. “We have to finish in the city first.”

“I’ll find Veronica,” Zila offered.

Shane shook his head as she started to leave. “Not yet. You and I are going to have a long talk.”

“Shane?” Zila whispered.

Shane continued. “We are not going back for a few days. We are going to spend that time training. I need all of your help to control whatever is happening.”

“Will it be safe to bond with another so soon?” Myra asked.

“Probably not,” Shane admitted. “But I already have a lot of Zila’s essence in my body, and I can’t use it. I can feel it building in my limbs, looking for a way out.”

Zila slumped. “I’m sorry.”

Reginald cleared his throat, the air vibrating. “We don’t know what’s going on, or how to truly help Shane. What we can do is teach him how to expend the essence in a safe manner. If he stays full any longer, he might cripple himself.”

Shane’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you lead with that?”

“Because I’m still processing what is happening,” Reginald grumbled. “Now, tell us what happened in your past.”

Shane took a deep breath and lay down in the water. Dunking his head, he thought, How much do I share? What do I honestly know? Are the dreams even real?

Rai grabbed him and sat him up. “Every time,” she muttered.

Shane wanted to laugh, but his heart wasn’t in it. “I’ve been having dreams.”

Rai took his hand encouragingly.

“About my past,” he clarified. “I don’t know why I don’t remember any of this until now, but my parents did something to me before the Descendance. They knew your kind was coming. I don’t think I was supposed to hear any of it, but they said the essence would be easier for my body.”

“How would they have known?” Hansel asked. Shifting further into the water, he closed the distance between them making their circle complete as Myra joined him. “I don’t understand how they would have prepared you before we came.”

“I don’t know,” Shane admitted. “They said my DNA had changed. I…”

Rai squeezed his hand. “Do you think you are still human?”

Shane shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Looking up, he saw Reginald rubbing his chin. Myra was gaping him with wide eyes, and Hansel was rubbing his temples. Only Zila and Rai were calm.

“It doesn’t matter,” Zila said after a moment. “We have to keep him alive at all costs.”

“I don’t understand why,” Shane said.

“Don’t!” Rai threatened, her essence pressing down on everyone. “I’ll be the one to tell him.”

Shane watched everyone nod.

“I’m scared,” Shane whispered. He could feel the essence pulsing through his body as if a second heart was controlling it. He also felt like if he moved wrong, he would explode, taking everyone with him.

Reginald grabbed his shoulder. “Shane. You need to bond with Zila so we can start training. I’m going to push you hard until your body empties itself of essence. We’ll figure this out.”

“There’s a lot of testing to go through,” Hansel pointed out. “If he is absorbing essence, we need to discover a way for him to purge the elements he doesn’t have bonded to him.”

“That’s why we are all going to move into the den,” Rai said. “We’ll all monitor him over the next few days. He’s a fast learner. Also, he can slow time.”

Everyone whipped around, staring at him jaws dropped.

“Rai…” Shane groaned.