New Addresses

As promised, the new addresses.

http://brc-origin.blogspot.com
http://brc-ahiddenworld.blogspot.com

Apology and Address

Hello, readers. I want to apologize for not updating. This blog started as a school assignment, and then summer started. So I'm going to get right on that again.

It's going to be a little delayed, though. I'm moving to a new web address, because let's face it: brc-what-if doesn't fit the site anymore. I'll keep this one for the rest of the summer, then delete it. Also, I'm going to be revising each post of this site before moving it to the next site, so again, it'll take awhile.

But thanks for sticking with me for this long. I'll tell you the new addresses as soon as I get them approved.

brc

Attacked

Later that night, Allison sighed and flopped onto her bed. She'd been rubbing her arms all afternoon, and it never amazed her to find the skin whole, healthy. The flames had been so real...

She was rubbing again. She pushed against her eyes with the heels of her hands, trying to erase the images. But the flashes of light only reminded her of the fires and the grass. The fear when she forced it to grow. The pain when it started to burn.

The peace when it died and knew that such a thing was meant to be.

She shivered and got up. Her parents kept melatonin pills in the medicine cabinet, and even though they weren't home, Allison knew they wouldn't mind if she took a few. She wasn't getting anywhere awake; she needed to sleep the whole thing off. The last thing she wanted to remember was the chill serenity of death.

__________

Allison was woken from the terrifying tranquility of her nightmare by her plants.

She could feel them in their pots around her room, where they'd been resting until only moments before. Now they were uneasy, almost agitated. Something was wrong.

...strangers in the garden...
...many quiet strangers...
...tender must run, must flee the strangers...

Allison frowned, still sleepy. Tender? Did they mean her? What did they mean by strangers? And why could she hear them without trying, let alone in her sleep?

She got at least one answer when white-robed men opened her door and ran to her bed. Allison tried to get away, but the melatonin slowed her down and let them catch her easily. The plants in her room started to go beserk, bursting out of their pots and grabbing attackers with stalk and root alike. The men paid the plants no mind, stifling Allison's yells with a strip of cloth. They tried to tie her up, but the rope was made of some sort of natural fiber and writhed out of their hands. The cotton cloth untied itself and Allison yelled, "Who are you people?"

Something dark jumped into her room and slashed at the closest assailant. It moved in a blur, attacking the attackers and forcing them to flee. The last one it simply held, then let fall to the floor. It turned and looked at Allison. "Are you okay?"

Allison frowned. She knew that voice. "I'm fine."

Screams erupted across the street, making the rescuer swear and jump out the window. The moment she left Allison lunged for her cellphone. Tristan needed to know.

Training

Allison sat and frowned at the patch of Tristan's lawn in front of her. She wanted it to grow; she'd already tried orders and visualization. What else was there?

Maybe... She closed her eyes and reached out to the grass. A thousand tiny voices resounded in her ears, a thousand but one.

...grow to the sky, grow in the earth, connect with our neighbors, twist and stretch and grow...

GROW. 

...resist the new voice, resist the voice's order, unnatural unthinking unconnected... 

GROW. 

...resist resist resist resistresistresist...

...succumb...

The blades rose, stretching towards the sun. Allison smiled and kept them growing. "Look, Tristan, I--"

Light and heat burst in her mind, joined by thousands of screaming voices.

...PAIN BURNING FLAMES!...
...GROWTH MUST STOP, WE ARE DYING!...
...FIRE! BURNING! DEATH!...

Allison's scream joined theirs and she fell over, writhing. Tristan ran and tried to calm her down. "You're not on fire, Allison!"

"It burns!"

"I'm sorry!" Megan wailed.

...WE ARE GROWING WE ARE BURNING WE ARE DYING!... "Make it stop!"

Tristan tried to stop her flailing and got kicked in the ear for his trouble. "Allison, it was just the grass! Megan only set the grass on fire!"

"The grass is still on fire!" Kyle yelled. "Someone put it out!"

Jared ran off. "I think a saw a bucket in the garage!"

Training didn't last much longer.

Sorry...

I haven't been able to get on the Internet all weekend. Some guys are coming to my house today to fix it, but until then...*sigh*

Final Report

After school ended, Tristan and the rest of his group met up by the flagpole. Jared immediately handed Tristan a folder, which the junior flipped through. He smiled. "Perfect. Thanks, Jared."

The sophomore shrugged. "Don't mention it."

"Um, Tristan?"

Allison pointed over his shoulder and he turned. Destiny stood just out of earshot, talking to five other students. A little concentration confirmed the students' identities, and Tristan sighed. "I see them."

"What are we going to do?"

"We're going to go to my house and practice." She started to protest, but he cut her off before she could say a word. "We're not going to make any more headway today, and I think second period shows that we have to learn to control our powers."

The red-haired freshman wailed. "I'm sorry!"

More Information

Jared met up with Greg a few minutes before study hall. Greg immediately handed over a folder. Jared gave the contents a glance and sighed with relief. They even had the back-up email addresses. "You guys are lifesavers."

Greg smiled. "I'll pass it on, Your Majesty."

Jared gave him a look that was half-annoyance and half-smirk. It was something of a joke between Jared and the people who knew about his "kingdom", and it had yet to get old. Middle-aged, maybe, but not old. "Did you get the other information I asked for?"

"Yeah, right here." Greg took out yet another folder and gave it to Jared. The reason Greg was the head informant--the "lord chamberlain"--was his love of organization. He didn't know everything Jared did, but he knew where to find it all. Jared was perfectly happy to let him keep track of the physical information, while keeping perfect mental copies in his head. He had nothing to hide from his half-brother.

Now he looked at the papers and frowned. "No one owned the house before she did?"

"Yeah, it was an empty lot. I think we used it to play soccer when we were kids."

"I remember that. So the city owned it first?"

"Yeah. We found the sale records, but they just say 'unspecified buyer' and leave it at that." Greg gave a disdainful sniff. "Not very efficient."

"You'd be the expert on that." Jared closed the folder, thinking. Then he shook his head. "None of this makes sense. It's like Destiny just appeared out of thin air and started messing with our lives."

Greg nodded seriously. He too saw the monsters, and his ability was a secret known only to himself and his half-brother. His "aura" had yet to be noticed by the all-seeing Tristan, and Jared preferred it that way. A small and secret weapon, if they ever needed it.

Jared put the first folder in his backpack and gave the second back. "Get to study hall, Greg. I'll meet up with you around seven. Your mom's making spaghetti, right?"

"Yeah. See you then."

Neither Ferrell saw the black-skinned teen watching them. Of course, they would have had to be Seers to see her at that point.

a Different Kind of Vampire

No one ever looked down an adjoining hallway when they had a place to go. Destiny leaned against her locker and watched her rival walk down the halls, heading for whatever class he had after lunch. She caught a metaphysical whiff and couldn't help but feel guilty. Each person's life energy had a distinctive scent, and like a person's physical scent, it changed with their emotions. Young was worried. Afraid, but not for himself. He truly feared her and what she could do to his peers.

She pushed off the wall and walked slowly to her next class. How could he understand that she didn't hurt people when she fed? Just a taste of a person's essence in passing and she was done. A few minutes in a crowded hallway were more than enough to satisfy her, and she had ways of storing what she didn't eat. She had killed before, but Young really had very little to fear. When she was young and learning to control her ability, she'd killed. When she or someone else was in danger, she killed again. But she wouldn't dream of hurting him or his followers. They were far too valuable, and she still respected life. Why couldn't he--

She shook her head, angry at herself. Why did she care what he thought? He thought she was a monster, and in a way she was, but others had thought that before. Even she thought it occasionally, when everything was just too much. Why did she care?

Perhaps it was the simple fact that a Seer like him was just as rare as a Vampire like her.

Once every third century, if not rarer, one was born. A prophet who saw all that could be seen; a soldier who had no true needs. They were usually found and trained as soon as physically possible. It still amazed her that Young had lived a normal life at all, let alone for seventeen years.

Only twice had a Seer and a Vampire been born within even a century of each other, and this was the first time they'd been born in the same generation. It worried her. Vampires were bad: their coming told of war. Seers were equally bad: their coming created war. Everyone wanted the Seer, and if they couldn't have the Seer, no one could. Better a catastrophic war than their enemies knowing every move they will make.

But the same generation? If she'd been the elder, her birth could have been a foretelling of the war caused by his, but she wasn't. Unless the foretelling had been made necessary when he wasn't found.

She shook her head. It didn't matter. She'd bring him to her superiors, like she was supposed to, and they'd figure it out. Thinking was their job. Hunting was hers. It was what she did. It was her purpose.

It was all she was good for.

Pepperoni Pizza and Progress Reports

Wednesday was pizza day. Tristan wasted no time getting his lunch and heading outside. Chira sat up and chirred as he approached, and he rubbed her muzzle. "Good girl, Chira. Good stay."

Within ten minutes, the rest of the study group had come outside and sat under a tree. Chira nosed at the tree limbs, but a soft command from Tristan made her flop to the ground behind him. He rubbed her head and said, "Jared, I don't think these things are stupid. I started training Chira last night and she's made more progress than my dog did in a month."

Jared shrugged and gave his salad to the creature in question. "Maybe she's one of the smarter ones."

"Tristan, I talked to Thomas," Allison said. "He told me he's busy after school, but he wouldn't tell me why."

Around the circle, same story. Everyone was busy, and they wouldn't say why. Tristan sighed. "We have to keep trying. Destiny's not suspicious, she's dangerous."

"What do you mean?" Megan asked.

"I mean that she's some sort of vampire."

Kyle frowned. "Is that why she doesn't have a lunch?"

"Most likely." Tristan stood to throw away his tray. "Everyone, stay away from her. She doesn't eat blood, she eats life energy. I don't know if she needs to touch you or if she just needs to be close by, but I know she doesn't need fangs to kill you.

"Do I make myself clear?"

After a moment of hesitation, they all nodded. "Good. After school, go straight to the parking lot. We'll head to my house and figure out what to do next."

He left the others to their lunch, already turning the pieces over in his mind. He hadn't told them everything. Maybe he should have, but he'd made his decision. He'd seen each of the others in the hallways, and knew what each could do. Only two were directly dangerous, but only one was truly harmless. The real threat was Destiny; she could kill any of them if she wanted to, and not in a way that could be discovered or even understood.

With her in the school, was anyone safe?

Fire Alarm

The fire had been small, and put out quickly, but the teachers still made everyone assemble in the parking lot while they made sure nothing else was burning. After the students had been accounted for, Tristan and his study group got together in a small corner. Tristan frowned at the red-haired freshman. "Megan--"

"Sorry, Tristan," she said immediately. "I lost control for a minute."

"Why, what happened?"

"I was talking to Thomas, and I think he might have joined the other study group. Then I incinerated a few term papers and set off the fire alarm."

He nodded. "We'll have to work on training then. I didn't get a chance to talk to Lily, but how's everyone else doing?"

"I talked to Lisa," Kyle said, "but she said she was busy. I didn't ask why."

"Why not?"

Megan rolled her eyes. "Kyle's shy."

"Her friends were looking at me like I'd gone insane," he muttered. "What was I supposed to do?"

Allison glanced over her shoulder. "Um, Tristan?"

Tristan turned. Destiny stood just out of earshot, talking to Blair and two others. Tristan couldn't quite see who they were, but a little focusing revealed their powers to be weapon creation and enhanced physical abilities.

There was also an aura standing three feet away. That person's power was invisibility...but Tristan could still see them. He scowled at the aura. "Show yourself."

The person hesitated, then started to leave. He stepped forward and reached out to grab them, but his hand passed right through their arm. Become invisible? More like vanish from existence. He scowled.  "I can see you, you know!"

"I know," she whispered. "Goodbye."

She ran off, returning to Destiny and the others. Tristan turned back to his group. "Bad news. We've lost at least one, and losing two more."

Jared frowned. "Who?"

"I'm not sure. All I can see is their abilities from here." He clenched his fists. Now that he knew what Destiny could do-- "Look, everyone be careful and try to bring as many people as you can to the study group."

"That goes without saying," Allison muttered.
__________

Destiny finished what she was saying and sent the two students away. They had questions, and while her answers had been a little vague, she'd had enough specifics to convince them that she knew what she was talking about. They would come to her house later for more information.

"Destiny?"

Destiny turned as the black girl reappeared. "Yes, Lisa?"

"Tristan saw me. You said no one could see me."

"Tristan's special. He can see pretty much anything he wants to."

"Is he...like us?"

"Yeah. He's called a Seer." The teachers came out of the building and started rounding up their classes. "I'll talk to you later. Can you come over after school?"

Lisa nodded and ran to find her honors English 10 teacher. Destiny sighed and headed for the gym. Today was going to be just great.

Second Period Doesn't Go So Well...

Second period, for Megan at least, was dance class. It was taught on the stage, by the friendly Miss Hall. Dance was Megan's favorite subject, and the waltz one of her favorite dances, but today she had something else on her mind.

While Miss Hall talked, Megan ambled over towards a black-haired, green-eyed junior. "Hi, Thomas."

He smiled at her. "Morning, Megan. Have you been practicing those new steps?"

She smiled back. Thomas was her dancing partner, and a very good one. "Yeah. I'm getting better at them." She went straight to the point. "Hey, I heard Tristan Young was starting a study group."

"Really? He told Destiny he was too busy."

The sentence sent up immediate red flags. He'd been talking to Destiny; he might have been recruited. "Well, maybe I'm wrong. It's just a rumor floating around."

"Fire!" They jerked around to see that several papers on Miss Hall's desk had spontaneously burst into flame.

Megan's hands covered her face as the fire alarm started to blare. Today was going to be just great.

the Power of Destiny Hunt

Tristan sat down and took out his notes, pretending to pore over them as he always did. His mind, however, was nowhere near the letters on the page or the chatter in the classroom. It was with each member of his "study group", following them to their classes and assignments, wishing them all the luck he could.

"Good morning, Tristan." He looked up to see Destiny, smiling down at him. "Still too busy for my study group?"

He smiled ruefully, hoping it didn't look too forced. "Afraid so. Good luck, though."

"Thanks." She didn't stop smiling, but the smile changed. It wasn't friendly and polite anymore. It had turned cold, almost predatory, and her voice held volumes of implication. "We'll need it."

She sat and got out her own notes. Tristan watched her out the corner of his eye, focusing on the distortion more felt than seen. She'd taken pains to try and hide her ability from him: that was obvious in fleeting images, muffled sounds, and vague sensations. But ultimately her efforts failed. Tristan's ability to discover was greater than her ability to deceive.

A presence, lurking in darkness and silence. It stole something green and bright, drained it away and consumed it. Tristan shivered.

Destiny Hunt was a vampire.

Before the Bell

Kyle did his best to keep everything except surliness out of his expression. He couldn't act out of the ordinary, in any way. But it was a relief to know why he got into so much trouble. Now he just had to learn to control it...

He looked up and realized that he was nowhere near the geology classroom. He was in an empty hallway on the other side of the school, and just around the corner he could hear two guys talking quietly.

Kyle sighed. Not again.

He turned the corner and strode to the two teens. "Excuse me."

The freshmen jumped apart guiltily. "We were-- We were just--"

He didn't change his expression. He had a reputation not just as a delinquent, but as one with a hair-trigger temper. If he could intimidate these two into stopping whatever trouble they were planning, he could rest a little easier. "Just what?" Then he saw one of them hiding white squares in his hand, and scowled. "That'd better not be what I think it is."

"It's not. It's...tea."

"Tea."

"Yeah. We get headaches."

"Headaches? Kid, that is the worst excuse I have ever heard." Kyle sighed. "Listen up, both of you. If you throw that away right now, I won't tell anyone what you were about to do. But if I catch you doing it again, I'll have to tell someone. I can't let drugs stay at our school." The two freshmen immediately tossed the squares into a trashcan. "Now get to class."

The two bolted. Kyle turned around and headed for geology--and almost immediately bumped into the principal. Mr. Clemens leveled a stern look at the junior and said, "Good morning, Mr. Bolton. Care to explain what you're doing here?"

Kyle sighed. "Frankly, sir, I'm starting to wonder."

Mr. Clemens's eyes narrowed. "I received an anonymous tip this morning about some drug dealing that was going to happen. Would you have had anything to do with that?"

Allison came almost literally out of nowhere and said, "Sir, I saw it. They started to trade the packets, but Kyle stopped them."

"Oh." Mr. Clemens seemed a little flustered by this turn of events. "Well, my apologies, Mr. Bolton."

Kyle nodded, trying not to smile. "It's okay, sir."

"Get to class, you two. You only have a minute."

"Yes sir." The principal left and Kyle smiled. "Thanks, Allison."

She waved it off. "Don't mention it. Mr. Clemens can be such a jerk."

Kyle shrugged. "He likes an ordered school, and thinks that I'm the source of all the disorder. Not really his fault."

"It's not your fault either."

He sighed. "I don't even have an alibi. I'm always at the scene!"

She shook her head. "You'd think someone would realize that if you were the one causing trouble, you wouldn't stay at the scene of the crime. Or at least that it's physically impossible for you to cause all of it." She looked at her watch. "We should hurry. The bell's going to ring pretty--"

BRRRRIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!

"Dang it."

Morning Meeting

Early the next morning, the five of them plus Chira met up in front of the school for a final check. Tristan folded his arms. "Okay, does everyone have their assignments?"

They nodded. Each of them was going to talk to one of the other candidates and try to convince them to come. Working together, they'd be able to get to everyone. Jared would spend most of the day getting everyone's mailing address and home number. If he could, he'd get emails and cell numbers as well.

Chira started snuffling in the grass as Tristan said, "A word of warning: stay away from Destiny and Blair. I don't know what they can do, but something about Destiny's off, and Blair's been spending a lot of time with her lately. Maybe I'm being paranoid, maybe I'm just mistaken, but I think last night proved that we have no idea what we're getting into."

Kyle started turning red and tried to shrug it off. Thanks to his ability, he'd wandered outside sometime during the meeting and almost gotten hit by a drunk driver. Luckily for him, Chira had had enough presence of mind to first yip the alarm, then get him out of harm's way.

And then the wyverns came. "So just be careful. Okay?"

They nodded again. Jared glanced over his shoulder. A group of teens had gathered around the flag post, and they kept looking at him. "I have to take care of something. See you at lunch."

He saw the others off, then waded into the middle of the knot and looked his key informant in the eye. "Okay, Greg. Whacha got for me?"

Greg handed him a thin manila folder. Jared started leafing through it as the taller teen said, "A few students watched Hunt's house like you asked. Hunt and Ross were the only people who went inside, and Ross left around six."

"No sign of her parents?"

"Not even their cars. The only other living things they saw were two big dogs."

Jared pulled out a trio of photos. "Breed?"

"Best as we can tell, some sort of Irish Wolfhound-German Shepherd mix."

Jared nodded, looking at the pictures. The two brindled gray-black dogs looked playful enough, gamboling around Destiny like puppies, but their shoulders were higher than her waist. Add in a husky, powerful build and the potential hazard became obvious. "Okay. I want to know next is who owned the house before she came here and what happened to them." He pulled some papers from a pocket and passed them around. "Also, I need the contact information for these people. Addresses and home phone numbers at the very least, more if the information can be found. I'd like it by lunch, but after school's fine."

The informants nodded and split up. Jared glanced at his watch and headed for class. He had about two minutes to get to computer programming, and Mr. Sanders was not a forgiving teacher.

Everyone, Meet Chira

"Whoa, girl, it's okay." Tristan rubbed Chira's shoulder, trying to calm her. She yipped at the roof again, straining at the leash so hard Tristan was afraid she'd snap it. "Chira--"

Jared walked out. "Try rubbing her belly." Tristan obeyed, and Chira forgot her agitation to purr and nuzzle his shoulder. "Cool, it worked."

Tristan stared. "You mean you weren't sure?"

"What the heck is that?" someone else demanded. Tristan turned. Megan stood in the doorway, staring at the pink marsupial.

"This is Chira, my pet." Tristan scratched the animal's shoulder. "She just kind of attached herself to me during lunch. Ow! Chira, no biting!"

Jared frowned. "Wait, everyone can see her?"

Kyle stepped out, saw Chira, and went back inside. Tristan smirked. "Apparently."

"Then what can I do?"

"The only way I can really describe it is charm and persuasion. Though if I wanted to go to extremes, I could call it emotional mind-control."

Jared thought for a moment. "Let's go with persuasion."

Tristan shrugged. "Your ability, your name."

Allison stepped outside and blinked. "Tristan? What's that?"

"This is Chira. For some reason, we are the only people who can see or hear her."

Allison frowned. "Was she in the lunchroom today?"

"Yeah. And before you ask, yes, she was the one who sent those chairs flying."

She thought on that, then shrugged. "Okay."

He frowned, puzzled. "Just okay?"

"Yeah. It's obvious she's not going to hurt anyone on purpose, so why worry?" She shrugged again. "So are we going to do homework or not? I wasn't kidding about that geometry test."

Study Group Established

Tristan thought for a minute. Profiles couldn't replace understanding, it was true, but they gave enough information that he could guess a few things. Kyle Bolton wanted...sympathy. Sympathy and the knowledge that someone believed him.

Tristan looked at his fellow eleventh grader. "You're not the delinquent everyone thinks you are."

Kyle frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You get detention and lectures every day for the simple reason that you have a talent for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's happened so often, you've given up on telling people your side of the story, and just accept whatever punishment they deem appropriate." The profile said that Kyle felt misunderstood and rejected, and considering his ability, no wonder.

Kyle's frown deepened. "What're you talking about? I'm the school firebrand. It's my mission in life to cause as much trouble as possible."

Now that he was listening for it, Tristan could hear the faint and bitter traces of loneliness in the teen's voice. "No, it's not, and you know it. And firebrand applies more to your sister than it does to you."

Now it was Megan's turn to frown. "What?"

He looked at her, profile running through his mind. Now that he was focusing on them, the things were proving themselves to be surprisingly detailed. For best results, approach Megan with honesty and courtesy. She appreciated the implied respect, and returned it. "Do things burst into flame when you're around them?"

"No!" Tristan raised an eyebrow, and she muttered, "Well, not recently."

"Is that where my homework went?" Kyle demanded.

"I told you, that was the dog!"

The two started arguing. Jared sighed and flopped onto the sofa. Allison watched for a bit, then looked at Tristan. "So why am I here?"

Allison. He didn't even have to review the profile. Don't go directly to the point, but don't beat around the bush either. Convoluted sentences only annoyed her, and it didn't matter how easygoing she was. You make her mad, she'll make you pay. "Do you still like to garden?"

"Yeah."

"Are you good?"

She smiled. "I could make carrots grow on trees if they'd taste right. But what does that have to do with Megan being an involuntary arsonist?"

"The same thing it has to do with Kyle sensing trouble, and my seeing things." He sat down again and looked her in the eye. "We're different, and most of us know it. If a green thumb's the only expression of your ability, though, you probably don't."

She shrugged, accepting it despite the implausibility. She knew Tristan wasn't the kind of person who made up or even believed stories. He needed facts and physical proof before accepting such tales, and always had. Allison, not so much. She was more of a gut-feeling kind of girl, and her gut told her to trust her distant childhood friend. "I knew there had to be a reason my plants grow so well. But what about you, Tristan? What do you see?"

Megan and Kyle turned to him as well. He wasn't sure he was comfortable being watched like that. "Auras. Monsters." The dream of the night before flitted through his mind, some parts of it clearer and others still complete blanks. "Maybe the future, but I hope not."

"Why not?" Megan asked, flopping onto a chair and swinging her legs up over the arm. "Seeing the future's a lot cooler than burning things."

"Maybe, but I still hope not."

__________

Crouched on the roof, Destiny smiled. As she knew he would, Young had gathered some of the candidates and while his explanation needed work, his natural calm had kept them from panicking. Thanks to him, now she also knew what he and his candidates could do, though Ferrell remained a mystery.

Her smile faded, and she shook her head in annoyance. She should have guessed Young had the Sight. It was the most plausible explanation as to how he had uncovered her deception so easily. He wasn't the seventh son of a seventh son, but he didn't need to be. The Sight struck just as randomly as any other ability, though observation suggested that the potential of being Touched was somewhat genetic. The potential wasn't always fulfilled, but it was still passed on.

Besides which, the Sight of a seventh son was active from birth: Young would have seen the creatures of the hidden world for his entire life, not after meeting Ferrell. And a seventh son's Sight wasn't as strong as Young's. A seventh son could see auras if he was strong enough, but not the abilities of those he saw, and certainly not the future.

No. Those were the abilities of a Seer.

On the porch, the female marsuin looked up and chirred at the intruder. Destiny glanced at her, unconcerned. Marsuini weren't violent creatures by nature. They didn't attack unless actually threatened, and Destiny wasn't doing anything but eavesdropping. Besides, they liked humans.

The marsuin went from the curious chirr to an agitated yip. She pulled against her leash, but to no avail. She yipped again, and Destiny decided that she'd done enough spying for the day. She slid down the other side of the house and landed lightly on her feet as Young exited the house to calm his pet. Destiny got a running start and vaulted over the back fence, already making plans within plans. She was a Huntress. Such was what she had been born for. Such was what she had been trained for.

a Different Study Group

"And you're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

It was three hours later. School had ended, and now Tristan and Jared stood out on the lawn, comparing notes. Tristan had found two more Others, and Jared had identified them as Thomas and Allison Greene, cousins. Tristan was starting to suspect that the difference might be somewhat genetic. Jared had told him everything about the exchange during Latin, and now Tristan was frowning in thought. "And she said it was none of your business?"

"Yeah."

Tristan shook his head. "No one says that unless they don't want anyone to know what they're doing. If Destiny was really just starting a study group or making friends, Blair wouldn't be defensive."

"I know." Jared stuck his hands in his pockets. "So what now?"

Tristan sighed. "I guess we create a study group of our own."

__________

Before an hour had passed Jared had gained the cell numbers and cooperation of Kyle, Megan, and Allison. It was just a study group, he said--with one of the school's best students heading it. The two girls now sat in Tristan's living room, chatting, and Jared had coaxed Kyle into building a house of cards with him. Tristan finished tying Chira to the porch, using the long leash he'd kept to remember his old dog. Liz was at a friend's house, and their mother wouldn't get home until late.

Thank goodness.

Tristan walked inside and sat on the couch with a sigh. Auras, monsters, and Destiny Hunt somehow paled before the task that lay before him: explaining something he didn't understand to a bunch of teens he didn't know. Untested theories and personality profiles couldn't replace actual understanding. He didn't know how to approach these people, how to reassure them and keep them safe. He didn't know what any of them could do, or why they were different. He didn't know anything! 

Well, nothing important.

He looked up at Megan and Allison. The aura was there, in equal evidence around both of them, but something had changed. He focused, and their auras became different, in color and feel. Allison's was earthy and green, gentle but unyielding. Megan's, on the other hand, had gone red and crackly, bright and a little too warm for Tristan.

Well, what did you know. They controlled elements.

Jared and Kyle came around the corner. Jared's aura had turned soft and warm, luring people in and keeping them safe. Jared didn't even know about his powers of charm and persuasion. Interesting...and it explained his connections.

Kyle's was difficult to describe. His felt rebellious, hazardous, and if he tried Tristan could hear faint screams and explosions. Kyle's ability wasn't dangerous in and of itself, however. He didn't cause the trouble; he just felt it, and gravitated towards it. Probably the reason he got detention every day.

Tristan sighed and stood. "Does everyone know why we're here?" They didn't, but it seemed like the best place to start.

Megan frowned. "To do our homework?"

"I've got a geometry test tomorrow," Allison offered.

Kyle shrugged. "I was bored."

Tristan sighed again.

She's Fine?

Jared smiled one last time as he left the lunchroom. Tristan was trying to get his new pet to sit in one place and stay there, but wasn't having much luck. Chira didn't understand enough English to obey, and Tristan didn't understand enough "chirr" to make his wishes known. Tristan was frustrated, Chira was confused, and Jared thought the whole thing was hilarious.

But he couldn't stick around and chortle. He had a job to do, and he was going to do it. After all, why not? It was easy, along his way, and personally interesting. Since kindergarten, he'd been creating a little kingdom of social ties and information byways, and so knew everyone in the hallways by sight and name, if not social group and personal interests. Yesterday after school, he'd sent out some of his most trusted informants out looking for information about new student Destiny Hunt. They'd all come to him this morning, all empty-handed. School records, legal files, and pure hearsay had told them nothing about her, ordinary or outstanding. Such a lack could only mean one thing.

Destiny Hunt didn't exist.

__________

Jared walked to Latin class, absentmindedly identifying every student he came across while his thoughts wandered elsewhere. His school was the safest in the district, and such was a matter of personal pride to him. No struggling student went without help, be their struggles with grades, home life, addictions, or simple self-esteem. He learned about such problems within hours of their first being spoken, and aid was organized and deployed before nightfall. Blair was one of the newer additions to his realm, but like any good king, Jared was interested in her personal safety. If she or any other student was in trouble, he wanted to get them out.

He walked into the classroom and scanned the desks. Blair was sitting in her usual seat, checking over her homework like she did every day. He walked up to her. "Hi, Blair."

She looked up at him. "Hi, Jared."

He smiled, trying to be disarming. "I went looking for you yesterday, and couldn't find you. Where'd you go?"

She shrugged. "A friend's house."

"Oh?" He sat in the seat next to her, just as he usually did. Blair was Jared's special project for the year. She didn't have many friends, kept a low opinion of herself, and had a tendency to draw into herself when she was frightened--which was most of the time. Jared wanted to fix all three problems before summer. "Which friend?"

She returned to her homework. "The new girl, Destiny."

"What were you doing?"

"Nothing..."

"Well, you had to be doing something."

"What if it's none of your business?" she snapped.

He frowned. Since when did Blair snap at anyone? For that matter, since when did she display any sort of assertiveness, let alone aggression? "Are you feeling okay?"

She returned her glare to her homework. "I'm fine."

"Blair--"

"Jared, I'm fine. Stop worrying about me."

"But--"

The bell rang, and the Latin teacher stood. Jared frowned and turned his eyes to the board, if not his attention. Blair had looked fine, but looks were deceiving. Blair didn't get annoyed, she got shy and backed out of the conversation. Why was she suddenly being so defensive? Perhaps her new friend was the source of the change?

It was a good thing he and Tristan were meeting after school. This was a new development Jared wasn't sure how to handle.

Lunchtime (Again)

Tristan got his lunch, trying to ignore the pink kangaroo following him like a lost puppy. Jared hadn't been a lot of help--he thought the whole thing was hilarious--and had brushed off the older guy's questions. Not until they got to the table.

Tristan looked around and finally spotted the sophomore, eating by himself. Jared glanced up and grinned as Tristan sat next to him. "We can see most of the students from here," he said, trying to stay serious. "How many are different?"

Tristan looked around as the kangaroo flopped down on the floor next to him. "I've already got the black-haired senior talking to her friends, the redhead getting lectured by the principal, and the redhead's little sister."

"Kyle and Megan Bolton. The senior's Lily Foster."

Tristan looked around again. "Blonde jock tossing a football, and a brown-haired girl with dark skin and a green t-shirt."

"Aaron Maddox and Lisa Torres. Anyone else?"

"Not here, but not everyone eats lunch here." He changed the subject. "Destiny took Blair somewhere after school yesterday. I know Destiny's fine, but I don't have any classes with Blair."

"I have her next period." Jared put down his hamburger, appetite gone. "You think Destiny did something?"

Tristan frowned, brooding. "I don't know. She's nice enough, but something about her's just...off. More than the difference."

"Really? She seems pretty normal to me."

"I'm sure. Now what do I do about Chira over here?" He jerked his head at the kangaroo.

Jared frowned. "Well, first off, Chira?"

"I have to call her something other than 'the pink kangaroo'."

"I know, but--Chira?"

Tristan rolled his eyes. "I told you, I'm not good with names."

Jared decided to stop commenting and answer the question. "You won't really have to take care of her in any way. Just keep her out of your house and in your yard. Do you have any trees or flowers?"

"My mom has a vegetable garden."

"Try to train Chira away from it. A few missing leaves won't draw any attention, but chewed-up tomato plants definitely will. Take her up into the mountains at least twice a month to feed, more if she looks hungry."

"She's a binging vegetarian?"

"I think so. I haven't seen any of her kind kill things, anyway, and when they eat, they eat a lot."

"Okay. One more question."

Appetite rediscovered, Jared took a bite of his hamburger. "Shoot."

Tristan jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Is she going to keep following me around?"

Chira looked up. "Chirr!"

Jared grinned. "Yeah. Hope you liked freedom."

__________

Destiny leaned against the door frame and frowned, a little. Young and Ferrell had met and spoken, had traded secrets and suspicions, and that wasn't a good thing. Not good at all. Young didn't trust her, and now Ferrell wouldn't either. Distrust wasn't something Destiny could afford, at any point in time. She'd barely convinced Ross and Foster to follow her; she didn't need Young and Ferrell turning the others against her.

Destiny turned away and strode down the hallway. Why Young distrusted her, she didn't know. She'd done everything right, at least as far as she knew. She'd been polite. She'd been friendly. She'd behaved exactly the same way the other girls did. What had tipped him off?

It didn't matter. She knew Young's type. Stubborn, resourceful, intelligent, ethical--a true Crusader, uneducated as he was. If he thought it necessary, he would warn the others away from her. If he could, he would counter her with his own "study group". Unlike most such groups, however, the pool of candidates was limited, and each conquest would require a different approach.

This would not be a simple hunt, but rather a race. Who could find them fastest. Who could convert them first. Who could gain and keep their loyalty. Destiny didn't know what Young and Ferrell could do, but then, they didn't know what she could do either. And her ability was far more lethal than theirs could possibly be.

Destiny smiled. Very well, Young. Ready, set, go.

Some are...Not

Jared glanced over. The thing had a basic kangaroo-like shape, though larger and more delicate, with soft pink fur and a long, feathery crest spreading down its neck. "Oh. That's one of the nicer monsters. Try not to look at it."

"Why not?" Tristan looked at Jared, unaware that the creature was looking at them. "Will it attack me?"

"No, but it's really affectionate, and it absolutely adores humans."

Almost to emphasize what Jared was saying, the thing bounded over and landed next to Tristan, looking at him with big, sky-blue eyes. It had to be at least twice his height and three times his weight, but it seemed harmless. "Chirr?"

Jared hit his forehead. "Snap. She knows you can see her."

Tristan looked at the creature and started edging away. "So you're safe?"

"Yeah, I'm safe. As long as I don't look or speak directly to her, she'll think I can't see her. Lucky for us, her kind's not very smart." Without any sort of warning, a long, black tongue shot out of the creature's mouth and slathered Tristan. Jared smiled. "She likes you."

Tristan grimaced and wiped at his face. "What do I do now?"

"Wash your face. Soap and water."

"I mean to get rid of her."

"You can't. Once one of those things attaches themselves to someone, not even the person they're attached to can make them leave. You just have to hope that she finds a nice male and forgets about you."

"How long will that take?"

Jared smirked. "Hope you like your new pet. You're going to have her for a long time."