The Breed Series 2: Shadow

The sound of the water lapping around my body held me entranced for quite a while. I felt like I was in a warm and enticing cocoon of peace and tranquility.

But I was laying on a sandy shore.

The sun warmed my face and when I finally found the strength to open my eyes, it took me a second to focus. I could feel granules of sand scattered along my body as the water moved in and out with the small waves. I was in my human form again and I was definitely in pain. The cuts I suffered from the Reptile’s attack were throbbing.

I still had my crop tunic on, but my pants had been ripped apart from the waist down when I flickered into my Shadow. They barely covered my nudity. Thankfully my belt from Akasha, which had my emergency location device, was still safely around my waist, along with Dr. Hedy’s journal, which I had put in a pouch attached to my belt.

I was alive.

I stared up at a clear blue sky and began to process everything that just transpired.

I was hit by the ink of a Cephalopod.

An octopus.

Alive.

It was unbelievable.

I had no recollection of what happened after I fell unconscious, but the only logical conclusion I could come to was that the Cephalopod had killed the Reptiles and then brought me here to shore—to what shore, I had yet to find out…

But I was alive.

Except for the sound of the water lapping, it was quiet.

Though there was a profound relief that washed over me as I lay in the sand. I had just escaped death, and I knew there was an animal alive on Earth, perhaps even more than just one—revelations that should have brought me great joy, brought me nothing. How could I have any joy right now?

What had befallen the people I love?

All of my joy, my heart, I left in Larsa. In OM. With Bibi, Cyrus, Gaia and even Sara, the AI who had somehow become my friend. But the biggest piece of my heart belonged to the Kingdom’s formidable leader, Aedan. The Praetor. The man I love. The man who definitely hated me now—but I would take that hate for him to live.

Were they alive?

They had to be.

I couldn’t bear the thought of any other fate than them existing. They were all fierce soldiers. They would beat the threat of the Reptiles. They would be victorious.

These were no ordinary warriors.

These warriors were the stuff of legends.

I could feel the dreaded tears begin to swell in my eyes before they began to fall. I hated this one human emotion—this weakness. But it was too much. Everything that had transpired these last weeks…it was overwhelming.

Coming to Earth. Assimilating into a new world. Making unlikely friendships.

And now…

Larsa under attack. Were their people being annihilated like mine were two hundred years ago? No. I couldn’t entertain that idea.

But how did this happen? How could it happen? I had drugged Dr. Novak and left him in a deep sleep—he could not have been part of this plan—he had arrived at the party to celebrate…

The only other person capable of such a crime, and the only one I had not seen at the celebration…

Milo.

Aedan’s nemesis on the council. The man responsible for imprisoning and capturing Michael and the child, both from Kingdom R. The man singularly focused on overthrowing Aedan, the leader of OM…and my own theory—plotting to then expand his power over the other Kingdoms, conquering them one by one, for ultimate control of Earth.

But would he slaughter so many of his own people when life was so very precious?

There was no way the casualties wouldn’t be catastrophic in Larsa. Even the soldiers indulged and had been celebrating the Day of the Soul—it was the reason why I was able to escape so easily.

There was no other logical answer.

Milo had to be part of the plot. It was the only way the Reptiles could have entered OM. Milo betrayed his own people. His own Breed. I knew this to be the truth within the depths of my soul.

Just as I knew Aedan would believe I betrayed him.

But I welcomed his hate if he still lived. That was all that mattered to me.

I slowly sat up and was surprised my pain seemed to dissipate. I looked down at the wounds on my legs. Each were covered by a thick, black, jelly-like substance. They were almost healed. I touched the substance and rolled it around between my fingers—it was something the Cephalopod excreted on me. Since I knew relatively nothing about the creature that I had believed to be extinct until now, I couldn’t be sure. But something about the substance helped heal me. I stared out at the water for a long moment, silently thanking the creature and vowing to return to find it.

I turned and looked around the desolate beach. There were incredible rock formations, rainbow colored and extraordinary in shape and size, that lined the entire shore. It was hard to take my eyes off the awesome sight. But other than the rocks, I was all alone. The only sounds that could be heard came from the waves crashing on the shore.

The sun was still high. I guessed it was midafternoon. I needed to figure out where I was. And fast. And I needed to find some type of shelter before it got dark.

For the first time since I had arrived on Earth, I hit the square compartment open on my belt—the only item I had left from Akasha. Even though my sophisticated virtual maps had been destroyed by Aedan, the belt did have a much more rudimentary version that would help me now. Once it clicked opened, a 3D image of Earth was projected before me. Along with the 3D maps of Earth, the compartment also had a virtual diary and an emergency location device—the one failsafe we had been given on Akasha so the other three Cetaceans and I could find each other.

“Current location,” I demanded of the computer.

“Greetings, Siren, from Akasha.” The robotic voice replied.

Within seconds the globe before me started to spin and began to zero in on where I was.

“Current location—Earth,” the voice said. “The Holy Shores of Kingdom B.”

I glanced back at the shore in surprise…but this time, my lens was much different.

The shores were given the name because of the incredible rock formations that littered the beach. It was considered the most spiritual and holy site in all of the Kingdoms—even the other breeds believed this strip of land was a revered wonder. This was where the spiritual leader of Kingdom B would come and perform various ceremonies.

I had made it to Kingdom B.

This moment should have been one of great joy.

This was where my mission was meant to take me. Here was the Kingdom that alleged they were open to all breeds. The Kingdom my people were to call home. In a way, finally arriving here was a victory—

But…

The only thing I could really focus on—the only thing that mattered was how I had to try and help my friends in OM—in any way I could. First, I had to warn the people of Kingdom B of the potential threat from the Reptiles. If Kingdom R had attacked OM, this land could be next. And maybe, just maybe, they could go to OM and help them if they needed it.

“Computer,” I said. “How far am I from the closest city entrance into Hermopolis?”

“You are two and a quarter miles away.”

“Show me the terrain.”

I was given what I imagined was an older view of the woods I’d have to travel through. It didn’t look too treacherous, except that for the most part, I would be trekking uphill.

I looked down at my bare feet and tattered pants and quickly ripped off pieces of the fabric and put together something I could use to protect my feet. I spent a while on my task creating the best barrier I could. After I had done a sufficient enough job, I focused on what was left of my pants. I tied big knots on the sides of my thighs but there wasn’t much other than that I could do. My legs were bare, but everything that needed to be covered was.

I left my belt open so I could leave the 3D map up and follow the way.

“Computer,” I said. “Please highlight the closest route to an entrance into Hermopolis.”

My path was illuminated before me and I started on my way.

After a few minutes of silence, I felt a sudden and unexpected longing for Sara’s companionship. I was surprised by how much I missed the free-thinking AI. I would have appreciated a conversation with her right now. Even though it had bothered me that she always had eyes on me, I enjoyed my talks with her. As I made my way off the beach and into the forest, I did my best not to focus on Larsa, Aedan, or the others, but it was nearly impossible.

The only thing I could do to distract my wayward thoughts was try and take in the scenery. I gazed upon the tall, thick trees and tried to get lost in them. There were so many, for as far as I could see. The forest was dense and not as easy to navigate through as I believed when I saw the holographic image the computer showed me. The entrance to the Kingdom seemed so far away, and the trek before me felt daunting in my current state. But I didn’t stop.

The temperature was cooling down and I was starting to feel it. I needed to move faster.

I continued on for a while until I felt a shift in energy.

A chill ran down my spine. But it was more than just the cold.

The leaves rustled from a light wind, and I was suddenly overcome with the notion I was being watched. I stared hard into the foliage, looking for a sign of any guard. I knew Kingdom B would have soldiers stationed in areas leading up to an entrance into the city. The notion was a certainty.

But I could not make out a single human.

It was frustrating. I knew, or at least I had the sense,~ ~that~ ~I wasn’t alone, but I couldn’t be sure because I couldn’t pinpoint where the energy was coming from. No matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t see a thing and it was making me nervous.

I stopped walking and took a moment.

“Relax, Siren,” I whispered to myself. “Take a deep breath and just listen.”

I closed my eyes.

I had to get a better sense of the land. I had to feel it. I needed to understand where I was. And by doing that I would be able to sense any other humans around.

As soon as I released the breath, something shifted around me. And I began to hear the forest. I heard its whispers. Its tales. The soft rustle of the leaves rubbing together—the sway of the branches was like a dance with the wind. Even the wind itself was alive with power. It was magic. The forest permeated my body like an ancient call of the wild.

When I finally opened my eyes, my vision had changed. I was no longer seeing the forest through Siren, the human’s eyes, but through the eyes of my Shadow. Everything was moving with energy. It was electric, lit with a beautiful kaleidoscope of color. This was the forest through the eyes of an animal—the way nature saw nature. My gaze immediately moved toward a twisted tree that was at least fifty feet away.

Within an instant, I saw him.

And my heart stopped.

His Shadow was an Owl, and he was camouflaged so perfectly against the bark that an enemy would never know he was there. His skin had flickered into his soul ancestor but the rest of him was human. Like the Reptiles that seemed to be part human and part Reptile, this man was part Bird and part human—he was a Hybrid. He turned his head almost one hundred and eighty degrees before his gaze met mine.

There was wisdom that emanated from his Shadow’s eyes. It took my breath away. But he remained perched where he was and only watched. It was extremely unnerving. I knew instinctively how clear and precisely he could see me. Out of all the avian senses, an owl’s vision was the most remarkable. Some even believed they could see the earth’s electromagnetic field.

I had to move. Since I couldn’t pretend as though we hadn’t seen each other, I decided to just continue my walk in the direction of Hermopolis. If he was going to attack, there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I kept my gaze on his, until I could no longer turn my head, and continued on. I was nervous he would follow and try and take me off guard, but I had no other choice but to continue on.

I waited for his attack. Every sensory skill on high alert.

With every step I took, I waited for it to come. For his strike. But it did not. After a long while, I finally let a little of my guard down. I was still nervous he would surprise me.

He never did.

The farther I went, the taller and larger the trees became.

I stared in awe at the magnificence I had never imagined could exist. They were as tall as buildings, majestic and filled with green leaves that glistened with life. The air here even felt fresher than in OM. Kingdom B’s forest was a thing of beauty—something calming, serene and awesome. It was entirely different than OM’s, but then, so were its people.

I tried my best to concentrate on the task at hand attempting not to think about Aedan or the others and just take in my surroundings as I walked through the land of the endless forest. But my mind was racing with so many different things—the visual of the soldier perched in the tree, what awaited me in Kingdom B, but mostly, I was anxious and worried about what had befallen OM. It was all I could really dwell on.

All that mattered.

I came upon a large clearing that led to a wide road, littered with small twigs and leaves, that stretched out in both directions for as far as I could see.

A formidable fortress made of trees stood on the other side of the path. The giant trees were so tall they stretched up and seemed to get lost in the clouds. An enormous entrance shaped like giant wings was guarded by four Shoebill Stork Hybrids. They were impressive in size and stature and were half their human form and half Shadow, all flickering in different ways.

I knew they could see me from where they were standing guard. But they did not move. Like the soldier in the forest, they only watched.

It was unnerving. The stare of Kingdom B’s soldiers. It was as if they could see right through me, could dissect every strand of my hair and even from the distance, be able to pick out a freckle on my face. It was jarring to encounter.

I looked above the entrance to the city. The Kingdom’s motto, “The higher we soar, ~the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly~,” was embedded into the wood—each letter illuminated by bright yellow light that shined like stars. It was a quote by Fredrich Nietzsche, and it was my favorite out of all the Kingdoms.

It gave me some reassurance before I stepped ahead.

That’s when I heard the rattling—the sound of an object hitting metal.

My gaze shot up. And I stared up at giant, human-sized cages hanging in the sky.

There were eight enormous gold cages suspended in midair, flanking both sides of the entry gate. I couldn’t even see what was holding them up. They were filled with people. Two of the cages looked to be practically overflowing, and the others had people inside but were practically empty.

I stared at the scene in disbelief.

Were they criminals? No. They couldn’t be. One of the cages was actually filled with children. What crimes could they have committed?

Just as I was about to move toward the gate, a female Bird Hybrid flew down from the sky. Her long, speckled brown and white wings were attached to her back by some device They were man-made. They were stunning and life-like, resembling an owl’s wings. When she landed in front of me, she extended them for a second, like she was showing me her strength, before they folded into whatever device she wore on her back. It was an incredible invention, but then, that’s what the Birds were known for—their science and innovation.

She was around my age. And her look took a second to get used to.

She had short black hair to her chin that moved around her face like a work of art. It actually twisted and shifted as she stood before me. I could tell it was some kind of technological piece she wore, like jewelry, that was capable of moving her hair like this. The rest of her was just as unique and bewitching to behold.

Her features were exotic and I believed originated in the Far East. Her eyes were the color of black obsidian and tilted in a beguiling way. One rounded and grew in size to resemble her soul ancestor as she looked me over. She was dressed in a skintight, brown and white bodysuit that showcased a lean and toned physique. Her muscle tone wasn’t the same as the women of OM, more like someone who spent their life dancing and stretching.

She placed her hands on her waist.

“You will remain where you are.” Her voice was strong and filled with authority.

I took in her aura. It was golden and orange. I knew she was not volatile.

She shuffled around, extending her wings again as though she was trying to intimidate me, but I stood where I was and met her gaze.

Her eyes narrowed as they moved over my face. I watched a look of confusion come over her features. I knew she was trying to ascertain my Breed. Luckily for me, the Hybrids of Kingdom B were known to have an inferior sense of smell, so she could not try and place my scent as someone from OM might.

“Mayko hatt?” She asked me where I was from in Aramaic.

Aramaic was Kingdom B’s “dead” language.

“What is your flock?” She demanded to know.

“My flock?” I repeated as my mind raced to choose the best answer.

“From what Aves do you descend from?”

This was the moment.

I would now see if Kingdom B’s doors were open to all other breeds as my people had believed—the one reason why we had come back to Earth. After the Cetacean genocide, Kingdom B had alleged they would allow any breed to reside in their habitat. As Aedan had said to me not long ago—he had never heard of anyone testing this theory to be true.

And here I was, about to find out.

The cages were certainly an ominous sign.

When I opened my eyes again, I met her gaze without flinching.

“I am an Aliud,” I whispered to her. Aliud was Other in Latin, the dead language of OM.

She stared at me in disbelief.

“My name is Siren. I am OM.”