The Breed Series 2: Shadow

“That sounds very cold-blooded.”

Nisira smiled at me.

“As are my people.”

We stared at each other for a long while before I broke her gaze to look back out at the sunset. My mind was reeling over the odds. Was Nisira’s father working with Milo? Was he working to overthrow Michael’s line? Logically, it made perfect sense. But I didn’t know if it was the truth. I was still assuming.

I sat back against the bars and finally looked over at the other cages.

I had been avoiding this one action for as long as I could. I didn’t want to see the children packed together as they were. And every time I saw it—it was even more disturbing. Some of the kids were in their human forms. For the most part they were all frightened and I could see their terror as they flickered into their Shadows and then back to their human selves, unable to control their emotions.

And they were all Amphibians.

“We are lucky, Siren,” Nisira sounded apathetic.

“There is nothing lucky about this situation,” I whispered.

“I believe there is,” she said. “We could have been born Amphibians.”

It was a cruel statement. But she was right.

“How is this even possible?!” I asked in horror.

I made eye contact with a few of the children and my soul wept. They looked so frightened. So desperate. Where were their parents? Why had they been separated? They were children…the one thing every Kingdom left on Earth needed more than anything—they were the future the most coveted entity on the planet. And this is how they were being treated? I would never understand it.

“It’s clear you weren’t aware this is the way things are done with the Others in Kingdom B,” she said.

“No,” I shook my head. “I wasn’t.”

“This is part of the holding process,” she said. “From what I have gathered, the Amphibians have it the worst—I guess it’s because so many of them have sought asylum here over the past few years.”

I looked at her in disbelief.

“How many people have sought asylum here?”

“Hundreds,” Nisira said matter-of-factly. “Perhaps over a thousand… Why do you look so surprised?”

“I think a part of me believed it was just a myth,” I admitted with a shrug.

“To risk your life on a myth tells me this was the only choice you had left.”

I ignored her comment.

“Why so many Amphibians?” I asked instead.

“Their lives have gotten harder over the past decade,” she sounded only slightly empathetic. “The Elite work them to death and the land is cruel. They are seeking something new. And the utopic whisper of this land is why we are all here.”

The wind howled around us.

“In cages.” I finished.

“In cages.” She agreed.

“They barely have any space to sit comfortably, let alone lay down,” I stared back at the people. “How long must they stay like that?”

“As long as it takes.”

We both remained quiet.

“I have found the idea of Kingdom B is far more noble than the Kingdom itself,” Nisira’s voice was soft.

Indeed.

It did look that way.

We both remained quiet, lost in our own thoughts. As Nisira predicted, it did get cold fast, and it was bone chilling because of the altitude. I had to put the second poncho on as well. When one of the Cage Keepers brought us our dinner, I even asked for another cover. I felt guilty when he gave it to me. I wondered if I was being too greedy when the Amphibians were lacking so much. But my body was aching in the cold.

The meal they brought was good. In fact, it was probably my favorite since coming to Earth. I found the fruit, bread and nuts far superior than in OM. But then, the people of Kingdom B were scientists and innovators, especially excelling with the way they created and grew food. This was their area of expertise.

Once my appetite was satisfied and my body temperature was back to normal, I was hit by a wave of exhaustion. I tried my best to get comfortable on the ground, but my mind raced back to OM. I wondered what was happening. What were the casualties?

Were my friends safe?

And what was he doing?

Aedan.

Now that I could settle into myself, I could use my Cetacean skills to tune in—I knew he was still alive. I would feel it if he was gone.

Just as he would feel it if I was. Aedan and I would be connected forever.

My heart longed for him.

It longed for his strength. And courage. And for the way he made me feel alive.

I wiped away the tears that fell down my cheeks and did my best to bury myself in the thick poncho. I tried to clear my mind, but it was impossible. I would see Aedan’s face forever. Before I knew it, I fell into a dreamless sleep.

***

I woke up to the glare of the bright sun as it rose over the trees. It was a beautiful view, even from a cage. The sun glistened against the dark green leaves, illuminating the tips with ethereal light. I had slept only a little through the night, and whenever I awoke in discomfort and looked over at those children—I stopped myself from having a thought and I prayed for the end to their stay in the cages to be as fast as possible.

I stretched out my sore body and glanced over at my roommate.

Nisira was still sleeping and I envied how comfortable she seemed.

I looked back out on the horizon and wondered what had become of OM. What did this morning bring for them? How would they cope after the ambush on the city? Who had we lost? In a short time, they had become my people too.

I heard the flap of wings and knew the woman who brought me up to the cage had returned. I could tell by the sound of the feathers moving with the wind in her wings.

Nisira quickly sat up when she heard the rattle of the cage.

The Kingdom B Hybrid looked over at Nisira, then pinned me with her gaze.

“You’re coming with me,” she said.

I stood up slowly and could feel the stiffness in my muscles. It took me a second to make my way to her. I looked back over at Nisira who stared at us in longing.

I could see how envious she was that I was being taken out. I didn’t blame her. I nodded goodbye to her then let the woman take ahold of my arm.

“I’m Siren by the way,” I looked over at her.

“Zelda,” she returned, before jumping off the perch and soaring to the ground.

I had to close my eyes because I thought my heart might leap out of my chest with the unease of being in flight.

She landed a few moments later. We stood in front of the four Shoebill Stork Hybrid guards. There were no words or even gestures exchanged. They just moved aside when they saw her, and the metallic feather doors spread open. Their technology was staggering.

“Where are we going?” I asked her.

“You’re getting exactly what you wanted,” she said. “To see one of our leaders and tell him your urgent news. But first, you need to freshen up.”

Zelda led us through the archway of a giant tree and into a small, open-aired, circular courtyard devoid of all activity. Once we were through the doors, which were the exact shape and texture of the bark, they closed.

“Follow me,” she said as she made her way to one of the giant trees, placing her hand on the bark. Like the one we came from, this opened as well.

We stepped inside. It was a small changing room. It was lined with different bodysuits, resembling the one Zelda had on. There were many colors to choose from.

“You’ll wear the purple,” she commanded. “And there should be matching boots as well.”

To my left I could see what looked to be some type of standing pod and toiletries.

“You’ll clean up in there,” she told me, pointing at the pod. “All it takes is for you to step inside. After you’re finished cleaning, you can tell the machine what you’d like to do with your hair.”

When I looked at her in confusion, she shook her head at me like I was an imbecile.

“Like mine,” she said pointing to the moving piece of art that was her hair.

I didn’t know how I would handle hair constantly moving around my face. “I’d like to just let it be the way it is,” I said, putting my hand to my long, sea-crusted ratty, hair.

“Kingdom B prides themselves on their crown,” she said stiffly. “If you want to live here, it would behoove you to adopt and accept our customs. Or you can just be as you are.”

I didn’t think she really meant that last part.

“I’ll be back in ten minutes.” Zelda thankfully left me alone in the room.

I walked over and picked out one of the bodysuits and hung it outside the cleaning pod. I quickly undressed and stepped inside the pod. The door wrapped around and adjusted to my size before it closed around me. It felt claustrophobic and I wanted to get out, but then, the pod came alive.

“Cleaning process begin.” A robotic voice rang through the space.

Infrared lights in red, blue, orange, green and yellow moved over my body like a symphony. It was warm and soothing, like sunlight on my skin. I could feel the beams move over every single pore, every inch of my skin and then it cleaned my hair in the same meticulous way. It all took less than a minute.

“Cleaning process complete,” the voice said. “Please choose your crown.”

A screen lit up directly in front of me as images of me with different hairstyles were displayed before me. Some were outrageous. A few even made me laugh. They were all a bit much for me, so I picked the one that was the least eye-catching. The machine pulled up my hair into a high ponytail and slipped in the device that would cause my hair to move around, it was more subtle than Zelda’s, but it would still take getting used to.

I stepped out of the pod and slipped the purple bodysuit on. It fit like a glove. One thing the two kingdoms had in common was confidence in their bodies, they didn’t shy away from showing them off. I slipped my belt back on and the pouch that held Dr. Hedy’s journal. I put on a pair of boots and made my way to the mirror across the room. I barely recognized the person peering back at me.

I looked very different than I did in OM clothing. The purple was a color that would take getting used to, as was my moving hair. And I felt like the clothes were too stifling, but they would do. Here I was…

A new Siren born. I wondered what Aedan would think of—

No.

I couldn’t allow myself to think about any of it. We were a thing of the past.

He would be a memory forever.

Before I could dwell any further, Zelda returned. She looked me over and gave a nod of approval.

“The color suits you.”

I was surprised by the compliment. “Thank you.”

I followed her back out of the room and into the clearing. Zelda’s wings extended again and then settled back down as the ground under us lifted and shifted around like a wheel. It was a transportation device. It looked like it was only wood and dirt, but I knew it was something more.

Without warning, it began to move—it whipped through the forest, like we were in a race inside a maze of trees. Somehow, we remained planted on the object and once I got over my initial nerves, the feeling was exhilarating. We raced through the forest before it came to an abrupt stop in front of another tree. There was a large doorway carved into the tree trunk and it opened for us. We walked through and I realized it was a short tunnel. When we came out, we were standing in a round circle, cocooned by another circle of trees.

I looked up and could not tell when or if the trees ended.

The light was dim here, the sun could barely get through the thick canopy and there was no one in sight. At least no one that I could see.

“He’s here.” Zelda said.

“Who is?” I looked around.

I felt the flutter of wings behind my body, like someone was fanning me, before Zelda and I both turned.

A man stood before us.

He had long, thick, wavy black hair that probably fell to his shoulders, but it was slicked up like a mohawk with the tips moving around. Bright red, blue and yellow feathers were entwined within. His skin was dark brown and practically glistened. He had a face that resembled the ancient, indigenous tribes. His brown eyes were wide and seemed wiser than his years. He could only be in his mid-thirties, but there was something about him that drew me in— his aura was magnetic.

He wore loose black pants and a shirt. Both looked like they were made of linen. And he was adorned in colorful beads and necklaces with animal relics. Instinctively I knew every animal artifact he wore was real, not synthetic, and I couldn’t stop staring at the magnificent site. Even after all these years, the relics still held the energy of the animal.

“Siren, from OM. I am Yanai.”

Yanai meant he will answer in Aramaic.

His gaze moved over me. I knew he was studying my aura and whatever else he could discern.

And so, I studied him right back.

I looked even deeper this time. He was regal. And powerful. Not like Aedan, Cyrus or even Michael, it was something different. And with the crown of feathers entwined in his hair, his presence was not only imposing, but captivating.

“I am of the order of the Rukha of Kingdom B,” he said with quiet authority.

Yanai was Kingdom B’s spiritual leader. He was the right hand of their leader, or Re’Sh, as they called it in Aramaic

I knew I was staring at him like he was some sort of creature of lore, but I couldn’t help myself. I had never encountered a Hybrid of faith before.

“Wait outside the circle,” he commanded Zelda.

She followed his order immediately and flew up into one of the trees surrounding us. Yanai and I faced one another. He took a step back from me and then threw what looked to be a bunch of rocks or pebbles onto the ground between us. Suddenly, flames sparked, and a huge fire came to life. He turned to the left of me and chanted an indecipherable prayer, pointed to a corner behind me and before I knew it a circle of fire surrounded us as well. And then he looked above us and whispered something to the sky and threw another pebble into the air. I stared in awe as a huge flame took shape above us.

Fire between us. Fire encircling us. Fire above us.

As I gazed at him in wonder, Yanai recited one of the oldest prayers of the Hermetic Corpus, an ancient mysticism which influenced all esoteric traditions for our human ancestors. I had read the words many times, but as he said them in that deep, solemn voice, they came to life and somehow became magical.

“As above, so below,” he said as his eyes began to shine like grey marble.

He lifted his palm, revealing a handful of pebbles. He stared at me before he blew into them.

“As within, so without,” he whispered as a flame grew within the palm of his hand.

I watched in awe.

“In this circle, before the sky above, only truth is spoken,” his eyes were practically hypnotizing me. “Do you agree to this law, Siren of OM?”

“I do,” I whispered.

I felt nervous. Even more than I had been when I stood before the Praetor’s Assembly.

“Why are you seeking asylum in Kingdom B?” His voice was powerful.

“I came here to start over.” My answer wasn’t a lie.

“Why?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s what I want.”

“And your injuries?”

I could feel my pulse speed up and hoped he couldn’t sense it as well.

“My injuries are not the reason I left.”

“Did you break a law?” His voice grew more powerful.

“No,” I shook my head and had to look away. “I broke no law.”

A second later, he flickered into his Shadow, his arm swooping before me into the shape of a beautiful, gray wing. His eyes rounded and went from obsidian to yellow. Grey feathers covered his hair, and he grew in height. His soul ancestor was a formidable African Grey and was an imposing site to behold.

“Are you lying to me?” His voice changed into something ancient.

“No,” I shook my head. It took all I had not to flicker or stand and back away, in case I had to flee.

My gaze remained locked to his.

“When I left my home…” I searched for the words, “the reason why I asked to speak to you, the reason is because I had to tell you that Larsa was…and perhaps still is, under attack by Kingdom R.”

He took the news better than I had anticipated. In fact, he didn’t look surprised at all.

“How do you think that’s possible?” He finally asked.

“I don’t know.”

He sat down across from me and remained quiet.

“The Reptiles have become cannibals,” I told him, wondering if the people of Kingdom B were not already aware of this sin.

Yanai’s eyes flickered back into his soul ancestor.

“Have you seen such crimes?”

“I have,” I said, thinking of Dar and all the soldiers in OM who had been brutally butchered by the Reptilian Army.

He looked at me sympathetically.

“There are some horrors that you will never forget.”

“Never,” my voice trembled. The loss that day was staggering, and it gutted an entire Kingdom.

“But not all the Reptiles I’ve encountered have been bad,” I felt compelled to say, thinking of Michael and now Nisira. “Some are good.”

“That is the law of the universe,” he smiled. “There is good. And there is evil.”

I looked up at the fire hovering above us.

“What else can you tell me?” He continued after a moment.

“They have been hunting humans on OM land,” I said. “They have slaughtered families, children…and they are eating them.”

Kali’s death and all the warriors of OM who had protected me…it was so unfair. With all the issues, with all the odds against our survival on Earth, we also had to worry about an attack from each other. It was a sad reality of human existence—one that could not help but rear its ugly head over and over in mankind’s history.

“I hear you are quite a swimmer,” his voice was quiet.

Besides those that were descendants of the polar bear, the people of OM were not known to be swimmers.

“I am.” My voice was strong.

The fire crackled between us shooting embers into the blaze he had set above us.

“You left your people to be slaughtered.”

There was no accusatory tone in Yanai’s voice. There wasn’t even sternness to it. It was matter-of-fact. Like we were discussing something as trivial as the weather. But the magnitude of what he said was not lost on me. And the worst part of it—

He was not wrong.

Regardless of the fact that I had already been plotting and planning to leave yesterday morning and that I had no idea of the attack until it was too late… I had left my friends, abandoned them without even trying to warn them. Bibi, Cyrus, perhaps even Gaia would find it hard to forgive me. The people of OM were more than warriors—they were a pack.

And you never abandoned your pack.

I shrunk to the ground.

“There were too many of them,” I whispered in shame and hugged my knees to my chest. “Too many Reptiles on the beach. I could not have made my way back… I know how it must look to you—”

Yanai held up his hand.

“To me it looks as though you had to survive.” The flames crackled again with the strength behind his words—like a sign from the heavens above.

“No—” I tried to argue but he stopped me again by lifting his hand.

“Survival trumps everything.”

My heart stopped.

Those had been my mother’s words to me on Akasha. Survival of our Breed was all that mattered to her and the others. It was a phrase she had often said to me.

I stared at him across the fire. His eyes penetrated so deeply, like he was dissecting me—picking through my story and deciding what I was made of. Knowing just how to throw me off balance, knowing my secrets. I knew this was impossible—no human had this gift, and I knew the African Grey most certainly did not.

“There would be no easy way,” he continued with urgency. “Leaving or staying, your life was in danger.”

Dr. Novak’s face flashed before me.

“Nothing about the last twenty-four hours has been easy,” I looked away from him, trying not to think about what my friends were going through—praying that it was the outcome I hoped and believed it would be.

“Siren, from OM,” Yanai’s voice was solemn.

“Yes?” I whispered.

“I believe Kingdom B was your destiny.”

The way he enunciated the words, the way the words left his mouth with such power, made me think he knew I was Cetacean. Even though I knew there was no logical way he could… His words made me think he did. As though he could sense my blood.

“I don’t know about that,” I shrugged my shoulders.

“But I do.” There was a finality in the way he said it.

I chose to focus on the flames again and held my hands out to warm up. His words unnerved me. He unnerved me. The talk of destiny made me think of my mother, and right now, I couldn’t afford to become even more emotional than I already was. Like Aedan, my mother was lost to me.

A gentle breeze swayed the fire.

“You are the second.” Yanai’s bright grey gaze locked with mine.

“Second?”

“The second Aliud from OM to seek asylum in Kingdom B,” he continued slowly.

“The other arrived thirteen days ago.”

My heart stopped.

“What is her name?”

As soon as the question came out of my mouth, I wished I could take it right back. I couldn’t believe my slip. But I was unable to help myself. A kernel of hope blossomed in my heart. One of my people still lived… A Cetacean was here in Kingdom B.

Alive.

Delphine, Kalypso or Jana—one of the others tasked with this mission.

I was so overcome it took me a moment to regain control.

“Do you know her?” The intensity radiating from Yanai’s voice caused goosebumps to run up my arms.

He had flickered back into his human form and his black eyes were almost more powerful than his Shadow’s. The air around us changed into something serious. I had to be very careful, I knew this conversation was one I could not afford to miscalculate.

“I heard rumors of another running away,” I hoped my voice did not waver.

“Do you know why?”

I shook my head. “I do not.”

I could not tell if he believed me or not. He shook his head and smiled.

“What’s so funny?” I wondered.

“The men in OM must be doing something terribly wrong that is making the females want to run away.”

I could see why he thought it was amusing but I remained silent.

“We’ll have to save that explanation for later,” he said with a knowing glint in his eyes.

“Will you help OM?” I asked in urgency.

“We do not interbreed.”

“But you can help them—” I pled as I rose.

“I cannot do anything,” Yanai interrupted me quickly. “I can ~only~ guide.”

“Then guide your people to help a Kingdom in need!” My voice shook with passion. “Guide them to keep another Breed from extinction.”

“And would OM do the same for us?” His voice was quiet.

I thought of Aedan. And his compassion. As a young leader he innately possessed thoughtfulness and dignity.

“I believe they would,” I whispered. I knew he could hear the emotion in my voice.

“Why would they, Siren?”

“We are all human,” my voice was soft. “We are all that we have…these breeds. As different as we all are, we are still the same.”

“The four breeds.” He rubbed his hands together over the fire when he said this.

I captured his gaze

“The four breeds,” I repeated.

His eyes locked with mine.

“And you wish to be born to Kingdom B?”

“Yes,” I replied, even though I had no idea what that even meant.

“I must warn you—” His voice was very serious.

“Yes?”

“There will be no going back.”

“What do you mean?”

“Once you begin the process—once it begins, the wheels turn. You are given a Flock and eventually a nest and there will be no turning back,” he said again as he rose. “Those are the rules. Those are the laws.”

There was a weight behind them. “Why does it sound like you are warning me?”

“Because I am warning you.”

My body grew tense.

“You can turn around now and leave,” he said. “You can go back to OM, we will let you leave…or you can be born to Kingdom B. The choice is yours.”

What Yanai didn’t know is that I had no other choice. This was it. I stared at him for a long while then nodded.

“I understand what you are telling me.”

He held my gaze then nodded to himself, as if we had just made a pact.

“The same as we offered sanctuary to Delphine, from OM, we shall offer it to you,” his voice was solemn.

Delphine from OM.

No. Delphine from Akasha. A Cetacean.

Delphine was alive. I could barely contain my happiness. I felt such an overwhelming sense of relief that it was staggering. Suddenly, I was no longer alone. Even if we barely knew each other—it was something.

“And the people of OM?” I asked him. “What will you do to help Larsa?”

Yanai abruptly stood and motioned for me to do the same. He whispered something to the flames and all the fires went out at the same time.

Then he looked over at me.

“We have known about the Reptilian attack since late last night.”

“How?” My voice was barely a whisper.

“An envoy from Larsa arrived in the dead of the night.”

My heart.

Stopped.

“An envoy?” I knew he could hear my shock.

“Yes,” Yanai’s gaze was enigmatic. “Imagine our surprise as well. It is an unprecedented moment in the short history of our Kingdoms.”

I couldn’t believe it. Larsa was too far away for them to get here by foot so fast. They must have used a transportation pod.

“How many?” I asked as the knots in my stomach grew.

“Six.”

Was Aedan among them?

He had to be. He was the Praetor—unless he sent someone in his place.

“What news did they bring?” I didn’t even know how to process it. “What has happened to Larsa? To the people?”

“I will let them recount the tale of horrors for you,” Yanai shook his head and looked sad. “I cannot bear to hear myself speak of it.”

I felt sick. The casualties must have been catastrophic. How many countless murders did there have to be for the sake of a few greedy, grappling Hybrids with a desperate desire for control and riches? When will the selfish grasp for power and dominance of all humanity end?

Would it ever?

And then something else he said made me pause.

“What did you mean when you said you would let them tell me?” I asked.

Yanai smiled.

“Your people are anxious to see you,” he said. “Especially the young Praetor.”