The Familiar (13 page)

While we wait to get started, my heart beats out of my chest, fearing that my luck has finally run out.

“Now, I want the six of you to stand with your backs to the ring, and close your eyes. Do not open them, unless I say so. Believe me, I will know if anyone is peeking, and if I catch you, you’ll be disqualified… When I’m ready for you to step into the ring, I’ll tap your shoulder.”

We follow her instruction, and spread out around the ring with our backs facing one another. I take one last look at Louise, who is standing just a few feet away, and then close my eyes.

The darkness is disconcerting and it feels like eons before I hear anything. The whistle blows, then after a few minutes, I hear cheers and disappointed sighs, so I’m assuming that someone’s already won the first round. After a moment, I hear the whistle again, and another round of cheers, signifying that there are only four of us left. I finally feel a tap on my shoulder, and Ivana guides me into the ring. I wait, holding my breath, till I hear the whistle behind me. As I shift, the breeze blows and I smell the faint scent of coconut. I immediately picture Nalani and her shiny bronze skin, but hesitate, not wanting to jump the gun. I listen for a second and hear faint vibrations in the air. I have no doubt now and imagine the colorful lorikeet in my head as my body transforms into the beautiful bird. I hear cheers, and shift back. It’s only when Ivana guides me back to my place in the ring whispering, “Good job!” that I know I’ve won the round.

I feel like jumping up in the air, but I restrain myself and stand still. I wonder who the other two survivors are. I listen with my eyes closed, hoping to hear some clues. As the whistle blows, only a minute goes by before the spectators start cheering, which means that whoever just won the round transitioned really quickly. I start to get worried, knowing there are only two of us left and that my opponent must have extremely acute senses. I think about Louise, and wonder if at the final round, it’ll be the two of us against one another.

I feel Ivana’s hand on my shoulder once again as she guides me into the ring for the last time. The whistle sounds off, and I pause for a moment before shifting, waiting for the breeze to blow past me. When the air is still, I shift then stick my cat nose up and take a whiff. At first I smell only the grass and the earth around me, but when I take another sniff, I smell a subtle muskiness in the air that makes me wonder if my opponent is male. I think about Jasper, Khari, and Henry, and immediately eliminate Henry, since I do not recall him smelling that way. I perk my cat ears up, and listen for any movement or breathing. I hear birds chirping and the leaves of the trees rustling. I listen again, and this time, a deep breath, inhaling end exhaling reverberates in the breeze, almost sounding like an animal is hyperventilating. I think of Jasper’s alpha fox and Khari’s alpha leopard, and my gut tells me that my opponent must be Khari. I do not hesitate, trusting my instincts, and picture my black feline body morphing into a larger and more menacing black leopard. I can’t help myself and utter a low growl, as my shift is complete. Louise shouts, “Woohoo!” behind me and that’s when I realize I’ve won.

Ivana blows the whistle to end he game.

“Congratulations, Hazel! You are the last cat standing!” I shift back and spot my friends jumping up and down, cheering me on.

Louise runs over and gives me a hug so tight, that it almost cuts off my circulation. “Oh my god Hazel! That was amazing!” I’m ecstatic but feeling completely exhausted. Ivana hands me a bottle of cold water, and I drink the whole thing in one go.

I glance over at Khari, who despite looking defeated walks over, and offers his handshake and a bright toothy smile.

“Congrats, Hazel… You are a worthy opponent.”

“Thanks, Khari,” I say, smiling and shaking his hand back.

“That was a great class, and I’m really impressed by everyone’s progress so far… Now, get some lunch and rest up,” Ivana announces over the noisy chatter, gesturing for us to head out with her long, graceful fingers.

Even my exhaustion can’t dampen my spirits, as I walk to lunch with my head held high.

19

I feel immensely better after a few slices of pizza and a huge milkshake. I’m on my fourth slice and as I nibble on the slightly charred crust, I can’t help but think of Andy and how I wish I could share this experience with him. I must have been lost in thought because I flinch when I hear Louise’s voice in my ear, “Hello? Haaazzeel?”

I take the last bite and frown at her. “Sorry, just spaced out for a minute… That class just sucked the life out of me.”

Akiko sighs. “Tell me about it. I just can’t seem to get a break. Everyone here is like a super-shifter or something.”

Samir leans his head on his hand looking forlorn. “It’s only the first week. There’s plenty of time to catch up...”

“I’m still completely in awe of our little Hazel annihilating Khari like that though. That guy is beyond intimidating,” says Louise, ruffling my hair playfully.

I chuckle. “I can hardly believe it myself, but Samir’s right, it’s just the first week so I’m not going to whip out the champagne just yet.”

“So, who are you picking for your private session anyway?” she asks, winking at me obnoxiously.

I scowl at her, knowing what she’s insinuating.

“Hmmm… I guess it’s a toss-up between Alicia and Jared. I think those two classes will definitely be the toughest.”

“Pick Jared, please! Samir can give you flying lessons anytime you want,” says Akiko dreamily, as Louise giggles at her girlish antics.

“So, I was wondering about something, guys,” I say, trying to change the subject. “Do you think it’s even possible that… well… Rufus White still might be alive?” I say in a hushed voice.

Louise eyes me suspiciously, placing her hand on my forehead dramatically. “Are you still high from that Training Accelerator?
Because you’re sounding kind of delirious right now.”

I roll my eyes, annoyed that I’m not being taken seriously. “No, really. I mean, isn’t it remotely possible that he somehow tricked everyone into thinking he’s dead?”

There is a moment of silence as everyone ponders my question.

Samir looks at me thoughtfully, his eyebrow raised as if he’s solving a complex mathematical equation. “Hmmm… Well, theoretically it is possible. I mean when it comes to sorcery, nothing’s out of the question. Though I would have to assume that the matter was thoroughly investigated by the Council… They wouldn’t have declared him dead unless that was really the case.”

Akiko nods her head in agreement. “That’s true. Anytime there’s a high profile death, the Council’s lead investigators are always on the case, and those guys wouldn’t make a mistake like that.”

“So, why are you asking about this anyway?” asks Louise dubiously.

I focus on my hands, twiddling my fingers nervously. Somehow, this doesn’t seem to be the right time or place to reveal the truth to them. “Nothing in particular. I was just reading those library books and wondered. That’s all.”

Akiko seems satisfied with my response, too distracted by her own woes to give it a second thought. “Anyway, there’s nothing to worry about while we’re here. I’m sure this place is practically impenetrable.”

“I’m sure you’re right Akiko. I’m just overanalyzing it, I guess,” I remark nonchalantly.

Samir looks at the large clock on the wall. “We better go. It’s almost time for class.”

Akiko groans. “Ugh… I hope Brad takes it easy on us.”

“I hope so, too. I don’t think I can take another adrenaline-filled class right now,” I utter in agreement.

The rest of the classmates must still be recuperating, because when we get to the dock, Brad’s still by himself, throwing pebbles so they skip across the water repeatedly. “Hey, guys! I heard Ivana’s class was killer!”

“Well, that’s an understatement,” replies Akiko sarcastically.

Brad chuckles heartily. “Okay, I’ll make sure to give you guys a break today.”

Louise smiles at Brad flirtatiously. “That’s what you said the last time and look what happened!”

“Okay, okay! You got me… I really mean it this time though,” he says, flashing a reassuring smile. The rest of the class finally arrives and Brad hops up on the docks, ready to start.

“I heard you guys took a beating this morning,” he says, smiling goofily. “So today, I’ll give all of you a free day to swim and explore the lake. Since the effects of the Training Accelerator are still in your systems, I want you to practice swimming both on the surface and underwater with whatever creature your heart’s desire. Experiment, have fun, and be safe. I will, of course, be watching. So, no messing around, okay?”

Most of our classmates, including us, take their sweet time getting into the water, consoled by the fact that there won’t be any mind numbing challenges to deal with in Brad’s class. Some sit on the beach relaxing and chatting with their friends, while others, casually wade in the shallows. The blazing afternoon sun is beating down, so we climb the dock ladder and walk on the creaky wooden planks till we reach the end, diving off into the crystal blue lake at the same time. I immediately feel refreshed as the water envelops me in thousands of tiny bubbles. When I rise to the surface, Louise, Akiko, and Samir are floating on their backs lazily.

“You guys wanna explore?” I ask my friends, hoping they’re up for it. Ever since I discovered the underwater world in Safe Harbor, I’ve been eager to do it again, today seems like the opportune moment to test it out again.

“Hell yeah!” says Samir enthusiastically.

“Sure,” chimes in Louise.

Akiko makes her trademark snarky face. “I thought we were just going to play around today?”

Samir splashes water on her. “Come on, little sister. A little adventure once in a while isn’t gonna kill you…”

“Gahh, okay, then… What’s the plan?” says Akiko relenting.

“I’ve always loved dolphins, why don’t we try that?” I suggest.

Louise shrieks in excitement, “Ooh yes, thumbs up for dolphins! I went to California with my family one summer, and we got to swim with them. They were beyond adorable.”

“Okay, then it’s settled,” I say with a chuckle, closing my eyes in concentration. I’ve only seen dolphins once when Andy and I spent the day on his dad’s fishing boat. They were so graceful and happy as they leaped out of the ocean in a choreographed dance. I think about that day and imagine myself as one of those seemingly carefree dolphins. The tingling sensation prickles across my body and then the transformation is done. By the time I look over at my friends, they’re all splashing around playfully in dolphin form. It’s funny how I can still distinguish their subtle features. Samir’s dolphin is long and lean with skin that is mottled brown, Akiko’s dolphin is petite, with smooth grayish white skin and a snubbed nose, and Louise’s dolphin is a pale beige color with graceful, proportionate lines.

Suddenly, I hear Louise’s voice in my head, “This is so awesome! Where to now?” I’m perplexed, not quite understanding how she’s speaking to me.

I must have looked confused, because next, I hear Samir’s voice in my head, “Just think about your response, Hazel. It’s called telepathic communication. All shape-shifters have this ability while in animal form.”

“Okay… This is a new one. I didn’t know this was even possible,” I think, trying to project to my answer to them.

“Just one of the perks of being a shape-shifter,” Akiko explains.

“Let’s swim to the other side as fast as we can,” I say, pushing my body ahead so I spring into the air and dive gracefully into the water. We instinctively glide and leap, sometimes flying over one another. I don’t feel fear, only the adrenaline rushing through my body. When we reach the other side, we relax, swimming around one another, while checking out the scenery.

“Let’s see what’s underwater,” suggests Louise before plunging deep. When I dive under after her, it takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the bluish-green world. I dive deeper and swim through underwater plants and schools of freshwater fish that dart away quickly when they see us. We reach a clearing where the sun’s rays pierce the water making everything crystalline clear. For a moment, I feel disoriented when I spot a meadow of grass and trees instead of the usual lake bottom. There is a manmade concrete path lined with metal park benches that are covered in slimy green algae. We swim along the cracked path and it becomes obvious that the lake is really a submerged park. There are several statues, some of animals and others of people in various poses. They look eerie, almost as if they’re buried in an underwater graveyard.

We surface once again to catch our breaths, and when I look around, I notice that we’re pretty far from the dock. From this vantage point, Brad just looks like a spec, a tiny little Lego man giving us a friendly wave.

“Isn’t it weird that this lake is on top of a park? I wonder what happened here,” I say to my friends.

“Yeah, it’s creepy… I feel like one of those statues is going to grab me or something,” says Akiko.

Samir does a dolphin flip in the air. “I got the hang of this. You guys up for shifting into something else?”

“Yes! How about sharks?” says Louise, projecting the dramatic
Jaws
shark song into our heads.

“Sounds good to me!” I reply with a giggle.

I remember all those times I watched shark week with Mom on TV. They just seemed to be so out of this world, mysterious, even menacing. But the first time I saw a shark in person, it was hanging upside down on a fishing boat arriving at the Safe Harbor docks. I remember feeling sad that it’s death was so undignified.

This time, I barely feel any tingling as my body transforms. We dive into the water, and take a slower descent, our shark bodies swaying lazily from side to side. It’s bizarre how changing from one animal to another can alter your mood, because I suddenly feel more intimidating, my beady shark eyes intimidating every fish that swims by. While cruising close to the bottom of the lake, it becomes clear to us how expansive the park used to be. Our tour takes us past crumbling fountains, cobblestone paths with reeds growing out of the cracks and enough benches to seat the entire camp population. We reach what must be the center of the lake, and I spot a peculiar looking statue. I swim towards it, and as I get closer, the reflection of the sun glistening on the statue’s golden surface almost blinds me. I hover in front of it, and study the strange sculpture. There’s an oversized fluffy cat curled up, and nestled on top, is a tiny baby, asleep on the cat as if it’s the baby’s crib. I see a plaque in front and swim closer to take a look:

This park is dedicated to the future generations of Wizards and Witches of Light, and those who stay loyally by their sides.

There is a date on the bottom, and upon closer inspection, I see that it’s October 31, 1976, my mom’s birth date. I swim around the statue one more time, then catch-up with my friends. We trudge on until we see the bottom of the dock ahead of us. I surface, and transform back to my human form as Louise, Akiko, and Samir continue gliding in the water, their large dorsal fins going around in circular patterns. I swim towards the dock, and pull myself up the ladder. Brad is already waiting for me with a towel. I wrap myself with it, and settle on the edge next to him. “You guys did great out there.”

“Thanks, it was fun,” I reply politely.

As I watch my friends goofing around in the water, I contemplate the cat statue, wondering if it’s appropriate to ask a Brad about it. “Can I ask you something?” I blurt out, my curiosity meddling with my uncertainty.

“Sure. What’s up?”

I wrap the towel around me tighter, feeling chilled by the gentle breeze.

“When we were swimming underwater, we noticed that there used to be a park here?”

He pauses and smiles awkwardly. “Yeah, actually, the park was named Maven Park, after your mom…Your grandma Celestina had it built in honor of your mom’s birth. I hear it was a really beautiful place at one time.”

“But what happened to it? How come there’s a lake here now?”

Brad shrugs. “Well, the trials of Rufus White took a real toll on your mom. She started saying things and rebelling against the Council and your grandma… after she disappeared, your grandma had the lake put on top of the park. She said it was to help the students, give them a place to learn how to shift into water animals, but most people think it was because it was too painful for her to be reminded of your mom.”

I’m stunned, and now more than ever, I’m curious about what really happened and whether Mom’s theory about Rufus White could possibly be true. Brad stands up and raises his hand to wave as the whistle echoes over the lake. Slowly, my classmates emerge until everyone is accounted for and standing on the beach wrapped in towels.

“So, that’s it for this week. Hope you guys had fun, but next time, I won’t be taking it so easy on you,” says Brad, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

We return to our dorm to shower and change. Since we’re not allowed to wander outside of our dorms, I decide to do some sketching, and maybe see if Andy’s around for a chat.

Louise scampers to the bathroom. “Dibs on the shower!” I relent, happy to have some alone time. Knowing that Louise will be in there for a good twenty minutes, I relax in bed, pulling my sketchbook out of my bag and opening it to a blank page. I pick-out my favorite pencil and begin drawing the statue of Mom and the cat. It flows easily from my memory to the page, and as I’m adding detail, I realize that the cat must be the same one I had seen the other day in the portrait of Celestina.

Louise finishes up in the bathroom, so I close my sketchbook and put my pencils away. She comes out wrapped in her bathrobe while towel drying her curly, copper flecked blonde hair.

“It’s all yours!”

I grab my towel and head to the bathroom, looking forward to a long steamy shower. Before I close the door, I hear Louise shout out, “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to try and take a nap before dinner. I really need some beauty sleep.”

“No problem, go ahead. I’ll just read a book or something.” I turn the shower on to the highest temperature my body can take and stand under the hot stream for a while. I think about Mom and how hard it must have been to be rejected not only by her family, but by her peers as well. Not even once did I suspect she was sad or lonely living in Safe Harbor, but knowing what I know now, there must have been times that she felt entrapped and abandoned.