Chapter 10: Chapter 10

In my room, I pace back and forth going over in my head what would be my next move. So much has happened since rescuing the boys and finding out about Maze. The pack that was here has left and so it's now just us here. On top of all that, I wonder how the guys are dealing with the injections...At that moment my phone rings. I see it's Tix, "Tix, what's up?" "We are having a meeting in five minutes. It's about the injections and our strategy plan to prepare for war." I take a deep swallow, I didn't even think about the fact we now are dealing with a war.

I fall back onto my bed with a sigh and reach to grab my pillow. I clutch it closely to my chest. Everything seemed so unreal. One minute I am working my job at security and then the next…I am here preparing for war in an supernatural world. I shut my eyes tightly and then get up from my bed. I put the pillow back where it was. Everyone is expecting the meeting to start soon. I am nervous as to what this all could entail.

‘No backing out now.,’ I think to myself. I walk to the door and make my way to the meeting room where I shifted for the first time.

______

I reach the meeting room and Tix is already there. Trevor was working on putting a display up on the screen and the other guys were being checked on by Serena. She had them hooked up to a medical gurney and there was monitors connected to them. Everything looked normal on them, so I guess that would be a good sign. “Shane!” Tix waves me over to her.

“I am guessing Serena has them hooked up to keep up on the progress of the injections that guy gave?” I ask matter of fact like. She looks back and then turns to me, “Yeah. Everyone is not sure what this could do. Trevor was hooked up a few minutes ago, but he needs to be able to strategize for the meeting so Serena let him off the hook for now.”

“Honestly not a big fan of letting him not being monitored but it can’t be helped at the moment.” Serena shrugs with a big huff while adjusting some cords on Chase.

“OUCH!” Chase yelps, “Easy Serena…I am a delicate patient.” She was injecting a needle into his arm to draw blood. “Delicate my ass, if you were so delicate, you would’ve been dead already.” She waves her hand at him as she turns to put the vile down in a safe place.

Trevor clears his throat, “I am glad we all are so energetic, this could be good for us in the long run. However, the Society is now aware of Shane’s existence and they’ve gave us quite a parting gift. We need a plan of action. I am sure most of you have figured out by now this has become war.” We all nod in unison.

Trevor looks over at me, “Shane, you said your parents have been working for the Society under the cover of their company, right?” I nod, “Yeah, speaking of…” He said he had let them stay here but why were they not here at the meeting? “If you’re wondering why they are not here…” He interjects my thoughts, “It’s because I don’t exactly trust them right now. I am sure you can understand as to why.” Given the fact that they worked for the Society and that my mom happens to be exactly what I am and hid the fact of what I am…I can’t exactly blame him. “I do, however, if you want a more idea of what exactly they injected you guys with or anything regarding what they were doing…they would be your best bet.” I try to appeal to the side of him that would want answers.

“You do have a point…” his voice trails off in thought.

“I say let them in on the meeting because at this rate we will have no plan and right now my tests are inconclusive.” Serena speaks up with her hand on her hip.

Trevor pinches the bridge of his nose. I could tell trust was not an easy feat for him to do. “Anyone else second that motion?” He looks about the room for validation to Serena’s request. About a minute pass of people looking at each other with concern. Then slowly one by one everyone raises their hands.

Trevor sighs, “Alright then…Serena open a portal for them to come through, please.” Serena waves her hands in a circle, and I could see my parents on the other side. They were sitting on the bed together holding hands. They notice the portal in front of them and are amazed at the site they are seeing.

“I know it’s quite intriguing to see my powers at work, but we could use your guys’ expertise at the moment.” Serena smiles at my parents and welcomes them into the room.

They looked pretty beat up. I could tell Serena had taken some care to them too. They look about the room and spot me. They just smile and take a seat close to Trevor so he could see everything they do.

“How can we be of service?” My dad is the first to speak up.

Trevor seemed to like that he was cooperative and straight to the point. “We need answers as to what your company was doing with creating Shane and what they injected Drake and Chase with.” They both give each other a look that they were uncomfortable. Dad pats mom’s shoulder signaling that this was something they had to do. Growing up with them, knowing their gestures and mannerisms helped me understand the situation more than anyone in the room.

To my surprise my mother was the one to stand up and walk over to Trevor. “In order for us to explain…we must tell you the story about Shane and her sister…Maze.” My blood runs cold at the sound of that name. ‘I have a sister?’ shock was eating at my mind.

Trevor complies with my mother’s request and Serena hooks him back up to the third medical gurney set up. I guess she could tell this was going to be a lengthy story.

My mother takes a deep breath before speaking. I couldn’t believe that I was about to have all my questions answered and have the truth.

“My husband and I, were part of a secret government group that had been trying to prove the existence of super naturals. Hence, this government group became known as the “Society.” We were scientist and investigators. Before, I joined my husband in his work force…he had found me…” she pauses for a moment to look between me and my dad. “I was the first supernatural they discovered. I am what you can call an elemental.” At that moment, her hair changed to teal and her amber eyes showed. Everyone is shocked at her transformation but me, considering I saw her before.

“I am the wind elemental. I have unnatural speed and agility. I was once born into a tribe/pack that was considered legend and/or myth. Trevor I am sure your parents told you about our kind.” She looked over at him for reassurance to her tale.

He nods, “Yeah…it was a story told by many packs that there was this legendary pack/tribe that had uncanny abilities above the norm of any wolf shifter. Certain chosen ones of the pack were gifted with the ability of the elements from our goddess Nyx. There was this huge war that was waged between the packs because power was not distributed equally. So, it was believed they all died out…” His voice was solemn in disbelief.

“That story is only partially correct. The true story is…there was a shifter of the tribe that was gifted with an element and she was to be married off to another shifter pack’s rising alpha. However, she fell in love with a human…and ended up revealing the existence of the supernatural world…” Her facial features grew dark and tears begin to slide down her face.

“You can’t be saying you are the girl who fell in love with a human are you? That was over 100 years ago!” Drake shouted from his gurney.

Tix snaps her fingers, “Yeah, he’s right! Your husband would be dead!” Doubt started to flood the room. Even I had to doubt her story. That was too long of a time ago.

My mom lifted her head and continued her story, “ The reason he is still alive was because we…” Mom is cut off by Serena walking angerly towards her.

“You didn’t… If you say what you are about to say…I will have no respect for you or your husband! No matter what the reason or conclusion. It does not matter to me!” Storm clouds could be heard outside of the mansion.

“SERENA!” Trevor’s voice booms. “You wanted answers! So you must accept them no matter how bad it may be to hear! If you cannot conduct yourself accordingly, you will leave!” Serena reluctantly walks away and lets my mom continue.

She had a dark shadow over her again, “Serena has a right to be mad, it’s like you all said, I would’ve outlived him. He would’ve died. I…had grown to hate the way my tribe/pack treated us. We were gifts of peace for other packs…just objects. So, I ask you Serena…how would you expect to escape a life that was predestined for you that was not of your choice?!”

Serena fell silent. ‘Come to think of it, how did Serena come to be with this pack? I know how Angie did and Tix but Serena is a bit of a mystery…’ I hadn’t noticed I was staring long at Serena until her voice filled my head, [ I don’t hate your parents but I know where this is going and it’s why I left my coven…more or less.]

[What happened to you?] I ask in my thoughts to her. [You’ll see…]

“My husband…” mom continued, “the only person in this world, that saw me more than just an object…I couldn’t lose him. Our tribe/pack had talked about a powerful coven of witches called the “Aracnae”. They had abilities that surpassed any witch coven seen. Normal witches were bound by laws in which they could not break. Such like djinns. This coven could expand the lifeline of an individual for the right price…” Serena steps forward away from the machines she was operating.

“Mind if I explain about my coming to be here and coven before you drop the next bomb?” Serena look pleads with my mom.

My mom nods, “I believe it would help…in some way.”

Serena takes a deep breath. “I am from the Aracnae coven. My mother was the head of the coven. What Mrs. Knight has said is true. However, these prices that anyone asked for were always heavy. Our coven was feared, respected, and extraordinary. There wasn’t a single soul who did not know of our existence. As for me, I was expected to lead after my mother…I could not stomach what they would do. I was then shunned, beaten, and branded as a rogue witch.” She moves her hair away from the back of her neck and she reveals a brand of a dagger.

“This dagger means I am to be killed on site if I come into contact with any other covens. In other words, I am a wanted, dead, witch.”

Angie covers her mouth from shock. Tix and I follow in shock. “Serena…why didn’t you tell me? Why did you hide this?” Angie has tears streaming down her face.

“Because anyone who knowingly harbors a wanted dead witch… shall also be put to death. How could I put my new family in danger? I am only telling now because the situation is live or die. I know what I said, Mrs. Knight, to you, but as much as it is calling the kettle black…I can’t forgive you for going through with what you’re about to say…but I can understand the feeling of having no one and being a object for someone else’s benefit.” She covers her brand and walks back over to the machines and doesn’t say another word.

My mom makes a small smile towards Serena which could only tell me she understands her reasoning.

“Knowing what you know now about the coven, the price for your father’s life for eternity was the annihilation of everyone else in my tribe/pack.” Those words came like the sound of a toll bell ringing.

‘How could she? Why? I understand wanting to not be alone but the price of everyone’s life?!’

I stand up abruptly, anger flowed through every inch of me. “So you mean to tell me…for your own selfish reasons…You…YOU JUST DECIDED EVERYONE ELSE’S LIFE WAS MEANINGLESS?!” I bang my fist on the table. Electricity was popping off of my skin.

Mom hung her head low with tears streaming down her face. “I know I have no right to cry, but…you’re right. I was selfish…I didn’t think at the time what an impact it would have, but I can’t change it now if I wanted to. Shane…”

I cut her off before she could say more, “So, you mean that bogus story dad told me at the lab wasn’t true?! How you didn’t have a pack or tribe or whatever?! That you were just outcasted?!”

They both didn’t say a word to me which meant this time they were telling the truth.

I couldn’t face them anymore after this. They were selfish murders and I was the product of that and apparently my long lost sister, Maze.

Trevor sensing the tension speaks up, “So, to put it straight you and your girls are the last surviving lineage of the elementals?”

She nods. “Yes, however, the injections that you have been given is to see you are compatible with the lineage.”

Trevor rubs his chin, “Was this protype supposed to revive a dead pack lineage?”

“No.” Dad speaks this time, “Once the society got involved and learned of what we were doing before…they wanted to make super soldiers.”

“What was the first project you were working on?” Chase asks.

“Maze and Shane.” They both say in unison.

A silence falls in the room.

“Who is Maze?” Drake breaks the silence.

Dad pulls out a file, places it on the table, and slides it to me. “Your older sister.”

“She was born with the fire and lightning element.” Dad adjusts his glasses.

“We didn’t know why both of our girls were born with two elements.” Mom shrugs her shoulders, “So, we started to conduct a serious of tests to find the reason why.”

Tix shakes her head, “How would you even know what to do scientifically if tools didn’t exist 100 years ago?”

“I was already a researcher when I met Shane’s mother. We read many books and went to a college to be able to dedicate to research we would do in the future. Not knowing it would lead to research on our own daughters.” Dad was grabbing his fist tightly in front of him. “I never wanted our research to be used to harm anyone, but I suppose that doesn’t matter now, does it?”

He makes a pitiful chuckle to himself. Almost like he was disgusted with what he was saying.

Drake huffs, “Well pitying yourself sure isn’t gonna get shit done, now is it?”

“I second that motion.,” Chase claps his hands together.

Tix shakes her head and huffs, “Is Serena not repairing the damaged brain cells? What part of this is amusing to you two?”

“All of it.” They say in unison.

Tix’s face falls into irritation. “Alright, enough.” Trevor takes the room back under control. “Drake and Chase this is serious business. I know you’re trying to lighten the mood but bad timing guys.”

“Trevor, we grasp that it’s a serious situation but sitting on our asses, crying, whining over spilled milk is done. When are we going to get mad and do something about it?” Drake stares pointedly at Trevor and then moves his eyes down not to cause a dominance fight.

Trevor sighs in agreement, “I get what you are saying. Trust me, I would love nothing more than to do something, however, if we go in blind to a situation we have barely any knowledge of. Then we lost.”

Chase and Drake say nothing more to Trevor. They couldn’t argue with Trevor when he is right. Knowledge is key to any war without it you might as well raise the white flag.

“You mentioned Shane’s older sister, Maze. What happened to her?” Angie asks her own question since the conversation started. Outside of when she asked Serena why she didn’t say anything about her mark.

I skim through the folder dad had passed to me. I see a whole portfolio of her. { ELEMENT: FIRE TYPE/ LIGHTNING

NAME: MAZE LILY KNIGHT

BIRTH: 05/14/1998

*Subject is showing abnormal elemental abilities. Monitoring growth patterns. Administering antidote to normalize element.

*Subject shows adverse reaction to antidote.

*Subject is becoming more erratic with each passing day. Powers becoming more unstable.

As I read through the portfolio her treatment becomes worse with every entry.

The last entry was last year in 2020.

*Subject has become more stable and docile. Reactions to elemental state becoming normal. Powers subsiding.

‘I suppose that is good news to know she is doing much better in the last report.’ A wave of relief washes over me.

“She escaped the facility with another test subject that was apprehended during the time a agent was found looking in on Shane’s holding room.” Mom answered with crossed arms. “I had wondered why she became so docile after so many attempts of trying to escape. It just makes sense now why.”

I remember her mentioning I had a second element as well. “You said I had a second element. What is it?” I ask curiously.

“The element of souls.” My dad says.

I freeze from the answer. “What in the world is that?” Tix crosses her arms.

“It means she is the grim reaper.” Chase jokingly throws out. Serena smacks him in the head. “Ouch. Seriously Serena you have to find better ways to show your affection for me.”

She grins devilishly, “Affection you say? How does more injections sound?”

His eyes widen from terror. “See what happens when you provoke the woman caring for you. Idiot.” Drake rolls his eyes and laughs.

We all chuckle from the bantering. It did lighten the next bomb that was dropped.