The Familiar (12 page)

Though White had already been apprehended, it’s also believed that he had some part in planning and executing the murder of Celestina Rey, though no real evidence exists in the case. To this day, the crime remains officially unsolved.”

I yawn, and realize it’s almost midnight. I’m anxious to continue my research, but I’m starting to get tired. “Samir, we better wake these sleeping beauties and get back to the dorm,” I say, trying to suppress another yawn.

Samir flinches, looking momentarily startled, but relaxes when he takes one look at Akiko and Louise passed out on the sofa.

“Maybe we should just leave them here,” he says, grinning darkly as he walks over and shakes them both gently. “Wakey wakey! It’s time to get back to the dorm ladies!” They both grumble and open their eyes, the bright white light forcing them to blink painfully.

“Hmmm… Already? We didn’t even get any studying done!” Louise mumbles sleepily.

Akiko rubs her eyes. “Oh well… At least we know where the library is now.”

I tuck the books under my arm as we leave the library the same way we came in. When we get to the other side, I insert the rose quartz brain back into the golden skull and place it on the mantle. The doorway disappears and a fire immediately roars to life.

17

I sit up in bed and rub my eyes, peering out the window once my vision clears. It’s barely the crack of dawn and Louise is still passed out, wearing her pink satin eye mask, strands of hair tangled around her face and neck. I decide to go for a walk, since I’m feeling too antsy to stay in bed. Once I’m dressed, I skulk through the house and make my way outside as quietly as possible. The sunrise is just peeking through the horizon and the air has a refreshing, dewy feel. I stroll towards the small valley that I’d seen the day before, kicking pebbles with the tip of my shoe as I find my way. After a brisk fifteen minutes, I reach the perimeter of a sparsely wooded area overlooking the valley. It’s comprised of a meadow with bright uneven yellow-green grass and clusters of wildflowers in various shades of pink and purple. As I make my way across the forest, an enormous fallen tree covered in mosses and tiny little toadstools crosses my path, and I hop up, taking a moment to relish the morning tranquility as I gather my thoughts.

I can’t help reflecting on everything that’s happened to me since that morning in the yellow kitchen. It wasn’t even that long ago that I was living in complete oblivion, unaware of the truth about my life and family.

A voice calls my name, and it sounds so much like Mom, that I tell myself I must be imagining it, my anxiety making non-existent voices speak in my head. But then, I hear it again, and this time there’s no mistaking that it’s really her voice, echoing through the light morning breeze.

“Hazel?”

I spin around, realizing that it’s coming from behind me. In the shadows of the forest, Mom, or an image of her, is projected onto a broad ray of sunlight. I blink a few times to make sure that my eyes aren’t playing tricks on me.

“Mom? Is that really you?” It feels peculiar talking to an apparition, but with all the strangeness in my life lately, stuff like this hardly fazes me anymore.

She smiles, though I can only see a fraction of her curling lip since her face is only partially visible, cut off by the ray’s edges. “Yes, Hazel, it’s me… I’m speaking to you through a portal. It’s a weak one, but it’ll do.”

“I’m really glad to see you, but what are you doing here?” I ask, concerned by the slight frown on her forehead.

She pauses for an instant, her motherly gaze giving me the once over. “I wanted to see you… I guess I’m just a bit worried.”

“I’m doing okay, Mom. I mean, it’s not
easy
per se, but I think I’m managing alright,” I reply, relieved that it’s nothing more serious.

“I’m so proud of you, sweetie… I just can’t help being a bit overprotective, I suppose.”

“I understand,” I say smiling back at her. “But now that you’re here, maybe you can tell me more about our family background? I need to make sense of things Mom, and not knowing about the past makes it harder for me to accept my future…”

A look of dread sweeps across her face, as she takes a deep breath. “Okay, I figured this time would eventually come...”

I feel guilty bringing up an obviously sore subject. “Is it that bad? Is that why you’ve been hiding out in Safe Harbor all these years?”

Even though she’s only an apparition, I can still see how upset she is, her jaw tenses and she lifts a hand to rub out the stress.

“Well… That’s partly the reason... You see Hazel, we’re descendants of a coven that escaped the Salem witch trials. When they arrived in Safe Harbor, they cast a spell on the town so that any witch or wizard could live there in anonymity… It’s what we call a
safe zone
,” she explains.

“So, it’s a secret hide out? Nobody knows about it?”

“I’m not sure who knows about it. I only found out by accident… When I was about your age, I stumbled upon some old journals in an attic filled with family relics. The journals were practically crumbling apart, but from what I could ascertain, they belonged to our ancestors, the witches who enchanted Safe Harbor. I tucked away their secrets for a rainy day, and when I needed a place to escape, to seek refuge, it was as if those secrets had been patiently waiting… And that’s how I ended up in Safe Harbor,” she says, her eyes staring into the distance as she reminisces.

Now that I know this, everything seems to make sense. All those years that she refused to travel, go out of town for shopping excursions, even forbidding me to join school trips that would take me beyond the borders of Safe Harbor.

“Mom… What made you so afraid? Does it have anything to do with Rufus White?”

She flinches and shifts her gaze nervously at the mention of his name. “I’m sorry, Hazel. I should have been the one to tell you about him. It was my responsibility to warn you.”

“Warn me about what?”

For the first time in my life, I see pure fear on her face. The kind I’ve only seen in horror movies I’ve watched with Andy.

“Rufus White is still alive,” she says in a hushed voice.

I stare at her in disbelief. “Alive? But Mom, everyone says he’s dead. Even the books in the library say he’s dead.”

“After I captured him, I had this uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach… And as the trials went on, I started to suspect that the person in the courtroom was not Rufus White, but some sort of impostor or clone.”

I tilt my head, perplexed by her explanation. “Why would you think that?”

“My wand… It should have reacted when it was in the same room as him, but it was just cold, lifeless in my hand.”

“Your wand? You’re basing your entire theory on a piece of metal?” I ask frustratingly.

Mom blinked her eyes rapidly, as if the flutter of her lashes could somehow magically sort out her thoughts.

“Wands are supposed to remember their enemies. This is hard to explain, but it’s as if they’re intrinsically connected for life. My wand
should
have glowed with energy but it didn’t,” she explains adamantly.

I looked up at her apparition, and want to say something reassuring, but no words come to me. Mom’s hands reach out just a bit, as if she wants to touch me, and she stammers for a moment before speaking again.

“It wasn’t just the wand… My gut… I could sense it. I mean he looked exactly like Rufus White, but when I stared into his eyes, there was nothing there… It’s as if he was vacant, like his cold soul had somehow escaped the confines of his body, replaced with some sort of shell… Everyone just assumed he’d lost his mind, gone into a catatonic state. But I never bought it. I warned them, even pleaded with them to believe me, but they never took me seriously. They all assumed I’d become paranoid,” she explains, her jaw clenched in frustration.

I think about everything I had read in the library, wondering if what she’s saying is even plausible. “So… what you’re saying is that he somehow managed to fool everyone but you?”

She looks visibly upset, stuttering for an explanation. “I can assure you Hazel, he’s alive. Something happened that day I captured him. When I disarmed him, took his wand into my hand, I felt connected to him, like I could penetrate his mind with mine. And when I stared at him across that courtroom, I just knew it wasn’t him.”

I want to believe her, but at the same time, I find it hard to accept that Rufus White was able to dupe everyone, even the most powerful witches and wizards of the Council.

I feel like she’s on the verge of crying, and I wish I could reach out and give her a hug. “I want to believe you, Mom. I really do…” I say softly.

She looks tired and defeated. “I know, Hazel.”

I waver and turn away, realizing that the sun has fully risen and that it must be getting close to breakfast time. When I look back, she’s gone. The sun’s rays are back to normal, and I’m alone once again.

18

When I get back to camp, I have just enough time to run into the dining hall and grab a bagel with cream cheese, a banana, and an orange juice to go. I take quick bites as I fast-walk, hoping I’m not too late. At the field, class is just starting, and I find Louise, Akiko, and Samir among the crowd, plopping down on the grass next to them as I catch my breath. Louise raises her eyebrow at me, and mouths the words, “Where were you?”

I shake my head, pulling a piece of inky flyaway hair behind my ear, while mouthing, “Later.”

As Ivana walks up front, her muscles tense and flex involuntarily as she holds up what looks like a little purple pill.

“This is what we refer to as a Training Accelerator. It allows the untrained shape-shifter the ability to transform with more ease. When taken, it will help relax you, as well as heighten your sense of smell, touch, sight, sound, and taste. We use it sparingly, but in the right dosage and given at the right time, it will speed up the learning process. The effects can last up to a full day, so today’s activities will be limited to classes and meal times. Free time will have to be spent in the dorm, with no exceptions… Any questions?”

Akiko raises her hand. “Yes, Akiko?”

“How exactly does this work, and is it 100% safe?” Akiko asks nervously, clearly hesitant about the boost.

Ivana gives her a reassuring smile. “The Training Accelerator is a combination of herbs and potions that allows the person taking it to lose their inhibitions and become more sensitive to the shifting process. The only potentially dangerous side effect is that sometimes, those who take it may become overly confident with their skills. Since we started using it several years ago though, we haven’t had any serious incidents,” she explains, looking around the class to make sure everyone understands.

“Okay, so I want everyone to line-up. After you swallow the pill, you’ll feel a bit tingly and lightheaded for the first few seconds. You may sit back down after you receive your dose.”

As we stand in line, I look at my friends and notice that they look nervous. Akiko leans over towards us. “Guys, is it me, or does this seem unethical? I wonder if our parents even know…”

Louise pats her on the back. “Don’t worry, if they’ve been doing this for a long time now, I’m sure it’s safe.”

Akiko still looks apprehensive, her insecure gaze darting around as her brow furrows, but still, she lines up with the rest of us. As Louise steps up, Ivana pulls out a pill from the golden pouch in her hand. The pill is translucent purple with a swirling center, almost as if there’s a wisp of smoke trapped inside. She holds it up, the sun making it sparkle in the light, before placing it in Louise’s mouth. When she swallows, Louise’s face and neck become flushed and her pupils dilate abnormally.

One by one, my friends get their dose, until finally, it’s my turn. Up close, Ivana looks even tougher, like she’s carved out of marble by some ancient Greek sculptor. Her flesh looks hard, but the skin over it so smooth, that her pores seem non-existent. She holds the pill up and places it gently in my mouth, as her piercing gaze lingers, observing my reaction to the magical dose. When it hits my tongue, a tingling heat spreads from my cheeks, down to my throat, and my head is spinning, dizzy like the time Mom let me drink a few glasses of champagne on New Year’s Eve. The sensation quickly fades, and while I walk back to join my friends, I feel a surge of energy, as if I’ve just chugged several shots of espresso. I sit down next to Samir who is all smiles, while Akiko and Louise hold on to each other, trying to suppress the giggles.

Ivana clears her throat, projecting her velvety voice over our heads, “Okay, so now that you’re all feeling the effects, try your best to channel that energy into our exercises. It may be a bit difficult at first, but you should be able to get the hang of it in a few minutes. For the first part of class, we’ll practice doing quick transitions between your human and alpha form. Having this ability will be important throughout your careers as familiars. This is a casual exercise, so just pick a spot and get started.”

We stride out onto the field, giving each other ample space for the shifting exercise. My heart is beating fast and I can almost feel the blood coursing through my veins. I close my eyes and imagine myself in feline form, running though the forest, jumping on rocks and branches with my paws landing perfectly after each bounce forward. Within seconds, I can feel my body shifting. This time I don’t feel awkward and the transition is fluid and quick. My shiny black fur absorbs the warm sunlight as I observe the others around me. Though some seem to shift faster than others, it looks like the Training Accelerator is doing its job. In no time, the field is full of alpha animals; Louise is a majestic lioness, Akiko is a black mink, and Samir, a falcon.

Ivana holds her hips, nodding slightly in satisfaction.

“Now, I want you to transform back to your human forms, then try and do as many quick shifts as possible… I want you to get used to the sensation of shifting back and forth.”

I picture myself as human and I immediately shift back, though the feeling is more uncomfortable as my limbs rapidly adjust to their elongated form. I’m so pumped up, that I begin doing another shift, and before I know it, I’ve shifted back and forth a dozen times in a matter of minutes. The sensation is dizzying, so I shift back one last time and collapse on the grass feeling breathless and weak. As I spy on everyone’s progress, I’m mesmerized. Their transitions are so rapid that it almost looks like a big blurry tornado. Eventually, the scene quiets down as one by one they tire, taking breaks on the grass with me.

Ivana claps her hands. “Bravo, everyone! Well done! Let’s all take ten minutes to rest and hydrate, then we’ll move on.”

There is a large table set-up under the shade of the tree with glass pitchers of water, iced tea, fresh juices, and a cooler with a variety of sports drinks. I pour myself a large glass of orange juice and sit down by the tree trunk. Louise plunks down next to me with a glass of iced tea.

“Ah… sweet tea always hits the spot,” she says, her southern accent more prominent than ever. Samir and Akiko join us, both drinking their neon colored sports drinks.

“So, maybe I overreacted a little bit,
huh? I mean, this stuff works wonders!” says Akiko enthusiastically.

“I know. It used to take me a good two to three minutes to shift, but with this, I was able to swing it in about three seconds flat,” says Samir.

“Same. This stuff is amazing. I just wonder what’ll happen to us when it wears off…” I ponder skeptically.

Louise frowns. “Don’t worry, Hazel… Let’s just enjoy it while it lasts. I bet a good meal and a long nap will take care of the aftereffects.”

Even though I’ve chugged down all of my juice, I’m still parched, my throat feeling drier and drier as copious amounts of sweat dribble out of my pores. “I’m going to get some more juice, this thirst is killing me,” I say, excusing myself to head back to the drink station.

As I’m pouring myself another glass, Henry approaches with a lopsided grin on his face.

“Hi, Hazel!”

I peer at him over the rim of my glass, and notice he looks much better than the last time I saw him at the infirmary.

“Hey, Henry. Glad you’re doing better,” I say with a smile.

“Thanks… Doc Alice is awesome… Not to mention this training accelerator. I mean, wow!” he utters enthusiastically.

I chuckle. “It
is
kind of great, huh?”

Henry nods and gives me a wink as Ivana claps her hands loudly. I turn my focus to her, but in the back of my mind, I can’t help but feel a high; everything seems to be falling in place. I smile casually so no one will notice, but at this very moment I finally understand why Mom wanted me to come here.

“Okay, everyone! Time to start our second exercise. Please come join me out on the field.”

We assemble in front of Ivana, eager for the next exercise to begin.

“Now, it’s time for a little fun. We’re going to play a game of elimination called Quickdraw. You will need to form two lines at either side of that circle,” she says pointing at a white circle that has suddenly appeared in the middle of the field. It’s about twelve feet in diameter and is made out of the grass itself.

“Then, you will enter the circle in competing pairs. To start, you will have to shift into your alphas. Then you’ll have to shift as quickly as you can into your opponent’s alpha. The one that transforms into their competitor’s alpha first will win the round and have the opportunity to move-on. The winner of the game will get a private session with the teacher of their choice.”

I can feel a burst of energy, and clench my fists in anticipation. We follow the group and line-up on either side of the circle, while Ivana stands to the side, readying herself to referee the game. I’m fourth in line, behind Lance, Henry, and Louise, so I peek over Louise’s shoulder curious to see which student I will be up against first. When Emilie’s gaze meets mine, I feel pretty confident that I can beat her.

Ivana blows a whistle and Lance steps into the ring across from Jasper, a wiry but athletic boy with jet-black hair and enormous jade colored eyes. Lance evaluates Jasper, and Jasper meets his gaze intensely. Ivana blows the whistle again, and both boys transform in sync, Lance into a magnificent palomino stallion horse, and Jasper into a black fox. They scrutinize each other while Ivana and the rest of us observe in silence. Surprisingly, it’s Jasper who’s able to shift into the horse first, with Lance lagging only by a few seconds. Both their transformations are impressively accurate.

Louise turns and looks at me wide-eyed. “This is going to be tough,” she says under her breath as Lance and Jasper shift back to their human forms. Jasper goes to the back of the line while Lance sits on the grass looking disappointed, his pride clearly beaten down.

Next up is Henry against Lana. Lana is a petite, almost elf-like girl with short platinum colored hair and upturned amber colored eyes. Henry looks boyish but confident in the ring. Ivana blows the whistle and they both shift—Henry into a small chipmunk and Lana into a white snowy owl. Lana seems to struggle, flapping her feathery wings frantically. But it’s Henry who finally manages to transform into the owl after a few minutes of concentration. He beams goofily as he goes to the back of the line, amazed by what he just pulled off.

Louise, who is pitted against Donovan, is up next. I give her an encouraging pat on the back as she prepares to enter the ring. “Good luck!” I whisper in her ear. I can see Louise concentrating as she hatches a plan. Ivana whistles and Louise transforms into her lioness, then quickly transforms into a palomino stallion even before Donovan is done shifting. She manages to predict that since Donovan and Lance are twins, they would also share the same alpha form.

Ivana looks stunned. “Impressive job, Louise!”

It’s finally my turn and I’m eager to get into the ring with Emilie. I try and look her in the eyes as we approach one another, but she averts my gaze. Ignoring everyone around me, I concentrate on my senses while waiting for Ivana’s whistle. When I hear it, I think of my feline form, imagining the silky black fur on my skin. I transform in an instant and glance over at Emilie who becomes a large Russian wolfhound. I study Emilie’s dog form, imagining myself running through a grassy meadow with the wind blowing through my wavy, golden fur. A tingling feeling radiates through my limbs as the transformation begins. It’s not until I hear Louise clapping and cheering me on, that I realize my shift has been successful. I glance over at Emilie, whose tail is shamefully between her legs. She transforms back and joins the rest of the eliminated students. When I get to the back of the line, Louise gives me a hug. “See! I knew you’d get the hang of it.”

I’m feeling elated by my success, but I try not to get ahead of myself, knowing I have many more opponents to go. We hear the whistle and shift our attention back to the ring where Samir is up against a well-built African boy named Khari. Samir transforms into a falcon and Khari into a large and sinewy black leopard. Samir flies low, gliding around Khari, trying to confuse or distract him, but Khari looks intensely focused, and before Samir can even attempt to shift, Khari has already turned into a falcon. My heart sinks, knowing how disappointed he must be.

Akiko is next, and even though I know she’s intimidated, I can tell that she’s putting on a brave face. As she steps into the ring, she glances at her opponent Nalani, who is stunningly exotic with a bronze complexion, thick, curly black hair that bounces on her head erratically, and warm almond shaped eyes. Ivana blows the whistle and they instantly transform. Akiko’s alpha, the black mink, stands on its hind legs, staring up at the air, as Nalani becomes a colorful lorikeet, its rainbow colored feathers glisten under the sunlight. She flaps her wings gracefully and falls to the ground, shifting into a mink mid-air as Akiko stands frozen, her nerves rendering her limbs useless. After Akiko shifts back to her human form, she shuffles away to join Samir looking extremely disappointed by her performance.

The game continues at high speed, with impressive after impressive match-ups. As the eliminated group continues to grow, the winner line gets shorter and shorter until only six of us are left: Jasper, Nalani, Khari, Henry, Louise, and me.

Henry has managed to miraculously win every match, and even he, seems perplexed by his success. We stand in two lines awaiting Ivana’s go signal, as she looks us over with a mischievous grin.

“You have done amazingly well, so well in fact, that I’ve decided to up the ante for the final rounds.”

We regard each other with dread.

“Much of the game will remain the same, but instead of facing one another in the ring, you’ll be back to back. You won’t know which opponent will be behind you since I’ll be choosing at random.”

Nobody looks pleased by the change of plan, I hear a few small groans, but we try to remain tight-lipped, while Ivana chuckles, clearly amused by our reactions. “You will shift into your alphas, and use your animal senses to guide you. Your senses of smell and hearing will be your best weapons.”