Forged by Greed (43 page)

“Did you see some of the homes on Holton Street?” Erik’s father
asked, the question directed at everyone in the room. “Some look pretty broken
up. Our neighbors were lucky though.”

“From what I hear luck had nothing to do with it.” Jatred reclined
comfortably in the armchair. “Crystal is watching over her Shifters, right?”

The older man nodded slowly, his eyes on Jatred. “She’s doing a good
job with that.”

Georgeta walked into the room, carrying a large tray with glasses,
soda cans, orange juice, and a glass bowl with ice. She put it down on the
dark-brown squatty coffee table and huffed at Erik. “I am still mad at you for
going off and not even saying a word to me. I was so scared that something
happened to you in that earthquake.”

He grabbed her and swung her around, laughing. She squealed and
shifted in her brother’s arms into her animal form. He fell under her huge wolf
body, with her collapsing on top of him. Georgeta’s black wet nose was pressed
to her brother’s human nose, her sharp canines exposed. A low growl started
deep in her throat.

“What’ya gonna do, Georgie-Porgie?” Erik taunted her.

“Kids,” their father said, a playful warning in his voice. “Come on,
enough of the circus. Erik, don’t even think of shifting now. Last time you two
broke too many things to let me allow you to roll around inside in your animal
forms. Especially when we aren’t in our house.”

 
“She started it.” Erik chuckled.
He heaved a breath, trying to lift his adoptive sister off his chest. “Girl,
what do you eat to weigh so much?”

She snapped her teeth very close to his nose and snorted. Erik
grabbed Georgeta’s fur with both hands, right behind her ears, and shook her
head from side to side. She smacked her paw on his face and pulled free,
jumping off him.

Erik lay on the floor, giggling and panting, his arms and legs
thrown to the sides. He finally lifted his head and looked at his sister. She
was already in her human form, walking casually to the kitchen. She held her
left hand behind her back, middle finger flipped at Erik. Everyone was still
laughing, and even Penelope seemed to finally relax and grin. Erik’s father was
slowly shaking his head from side to side, a lopsided smile making him look
much younger than he was.

“Is your family safe?” Ivona Tornwood asked Penelope, her voice
gentle.

“Yes, they are at Saint Andrew’s hospital… with their friend. But
they’re fine; my mom’s girlfriend was injured though.”

“Is your house intact then? You are welcome to stay with us—”

“No, thank you. I mean, yes, the house is fine. We called the
neighbors to see.” Pushing her back deeper into the sofa, Penelope wrapped her
arms around her stomach and put one foot on top of the other. She was
uncharacteristically subdued. “I can go home or back to the hospital.”

“That’s crazy. We don’t know what’s gonna happen next. You’re
staying here.” Erik sat next to her.

“Absolutely,” Ivona said.

“That goes for you too, Jatred.” Andy Tornwood nodded at Jatred.
“Tyrrell’s okay, you said, right?”

“Thanks. I might actually crash here. My uncle is also at the
hospital.” Jatred stretched his arms over his head and yawned widely. Then he
added quickly, “Visiting someone.”

“I… I don’t know.” Penelope glanced at Erik. “I will see what my
parents say. I should call them soon.”

Rain drops splattered the windows, and jagged lightning slashed the
sky in half. Four seconds later the rolling thunder followed, deep and angry, ending
in a loud snap.

“First snow and now rain. And thunder,” Andy said as to himself,
standing by the window.

“Wow, look at that.” Penelope pointed to her cell phone screen. “You
know how Mount Etna keeps erupting sometimes? The whole side just broke off and
slid away today.”

“What are you looking at?” Jatred was right by her side. Bogdan,
Erik, his dad, and Andy Tornwood crowded around her, everyone’s heads close
together, trying to see the small screen.

“Facebook,” she answered.

“Internet’s up?” Erik moved closer to Penelope and
looked at the image on the phone from over her shoulder.

Georgeta and her mother walked from the kitchen and, seeing everyone
clustered together, joined in. Georgeta took her iPhone out of her pocket. Erik
and Jatred did the same.

Bogdan’s mother brought her small laptop from the kitchen and sat
down next to her husband. “Interesting that the cell towers, the Internet, and
electricity are working on and off. Weird. The earthquake didn’t do as much
damage as we first suspected.” She put her head on his shoulder for a moment,
and he kissed her temple.

Jatred watched Penelope. She looked up and locked eyes with him.

“So. Are you gonna tell me what you know about Crystal screwing up
with my brain?” he asked her with his mind, keeping his mental guards strong.

CHAPTER 49

Human World, November 18, evening.

“I guess that’s the plan. But...” Penelope quickly glanced at the
adults.

“It’s fine. They are totally cool. You can tell them what you know.
Besides, we’re all Shifters. We’re all in this mess together,” Jatred said.

She sighed. “Okay.”

 
“Oh, no!” Ivona Tornwood exclaimed.
“More disasters—there was tsunami in Sumatra and Thailand. They are thinking it
will hit eastern India pretty soon. It says here that hundreds of people have
died. And two hurricanes too, one
across the southern Bay of Bengal, going toward Sri Lanka.
The other one in Haiti. This one is heading to Cuba and the Bahamas.
And some heavy rains in Haiti too.” A line between her eyebrows deepened. “What?
Multiple tornadoes—in Dallas and Louisiana? Homes are leveled, injuries and some
fatalities too. Look, guys. Just look at this video. Do you see how these cars
and trucks are tossed up in the air?”

“They are swirling like little plastic toys. What is that flying? A
semi?” Her husband pointed to the computer screen, his voice filled with astonishment.

Everyone moved to see the video on Ivona’s laptop. Penelope stayed a
few steps behind the rest of them, picking at her nails, and chewing on her
lower lip. “Is this really happening?” she asked.

Each of the Winter Shifters turned around to face her. She stood
alone, away from the group, and felt small and lonely.

“You mean those disasters?” Erik’s mother tried to sound calm. She smiled
encouragingly at Penelope.
 

Erik’s dad laced his fingers together. He looked at his wife and the
Tornwoods. He said something to them with his mind, keeping the mental shield
strong so the teens wouldn’t hear him.

Jatred cleared his throat and stated, “Pen wants to discuss
something with you. I mean, with us… all of us.” His eyes were fixed on
Penelope, unblinking.

She exhaled loudly and pressed her hand to her forehead. “Look, I
came here because Erik and Jatred wanted me to tell you about this mess we are
in. You know, the ten-thousand-year mark.”

She related what she had recently learned from Jasmira. Everyone
listened, their expressions going from surprise to disbelief to comprehension
and shock. Each time one of the teens interrupted, the parents hushed them and
motioned for Penelope to continue.

When she finished, the room fell silent. Jatred was tapping his foot
on the floor with a speed never seen in humans. Georgeta’s eyes were huge, her
eyebrows lifted. Erik held his head in his hands, elbows on his knees. Bogdan
and Lusia huddled together, their faces grave. The four adults were talking among
themselves with their minds, shielding the conversation from the teenagers.

Finally Andy Tornwood said, “The ten-thousand-year mark started
early this time, a few weeks before the winter solstice. All these disasters
happening all over the world are the best indication.”

“And now what?” Jatred asked. There was a scowl on his face.

“And now we have to figure out what to do about Amber’s plan. Maybe
there is a chance to prevent it,” Penelope said.

Jatred turned to Ivona and said, “It kinda makes sense now. And we talked
about all this when I came here last time with my uncle. So now we know for
sure what we have only suspected before. The Summer Goddess is plotting to gain
the control over everyone. Crystal said so too. I just didn’t want to believe
her… I was really pissed about her messing with my head.” Jatred hung his head.

“Thank to Penelope we have our suspicions confirmed.” Ivona Tornwood
looked at him. Her eyes were bright-blue, a startling contrast with her pale
skin.

“Yep. Amber told Jasmira about her plans. It would be hard to get a
better proof than Amber’s own words.” She turned her head to look at Jatred.
“Do you finally believe that you and Jasmira were together?”
 

Jatred huffed, indignantly. “Whatever.”

“Look, I know you don’t remember her, but… just try to be nice,
okay? Kinda like you used to be?” Penelope said, anger replaced by
disappointment.

Jatred stood and walked out of the room.

“He gets it but still doesn’t want to cooperate.” Penelope shook her
head. “Anyway, Amber wants even more power than she already has. Jatred and
Jasmira are just tools in her plan. She won’t back off, because a chance like
this—with the Royal heads of both Races practically ready for her little scheme—doesn’t
happen often. Amber’s been waiting for thousands of years for this.”

They all looked at one another in silence. Finally Georgeta said, “How
about
our
Goddess? Can she do
anything?”

Jatred slipped back into the room, took a handful of crackers from a
bowl, and tossed a couple into his mouth. “Sure the Goddesses hate each other.
But they aren’t going to jump at each other’s throats,” he said through a
mouthful of crackers. “If Crystal wanted justice she would have done something
about the death of my parents.” Jatred spat the last words like he’d tasted
something unpleasant.

Andy Tornwood cleared his throat and said, “Ivona and I have to go
over what we just learned about Amber’s plans. This is very disconcerting. Very
serious and complicated. We should consult the other members of both Races’
Historical Societies. And especially Jasmira’s grandmother, Jousenne Rosewater,
since she’s the President of the Summer Historical Society. Although I
understand, Penelope, that you may not want anyone to know that we heard these
facts from you.”

“Look, Jasmira doesn’t even know that I am telling you what our
Goddess expects her to do. She’s scared. And I don’t know what her grandma
would say.”

“Don’t worry. There will be no mentioning the source of information
to Mrs. Rosewater or anyone else. You have my word. And I’m sure each person in
here will keep what they just learned to themselves.”
 
Andy stood up, rubbed his chin thoughtfully,
and began pacing around the room.

A series of nods and confirming murmurs accompanied Andy’s words.
Everyone’s eyes were on Penelope.

“Dad,” Bogdan said. “But what can we expect to happen? I mean… to
everyone, Shifters and humans?
         

“The members of both of our Races’ Historical Societies have been reviewing
the archives, studying ancient records of various human cultures, making
predictions based on them, and not just for a few years, but for generations,”
Ivona Tornwood explained. She held a large mug of hot tea in her hands.
 
“At the last Convention in Anchorage the
leaders of our Race’s Historical Society presented the findings of the longest
and probably most expensive research in the Shifters’ history. So far,
everything that has been happening in the last week corresponds with these conclusions.
But as far as Amber’s plans go…” she shook her head, her face grave. “I don’t want
to say anything just yet. Not before we have a chance to think it over.”

“I will get in touch with the others,” Andy said to Ivona.
“Hopefully we won’t have another earthquake or anything else as disturbing, and
everyone can meet up with us. But we might be already out of time.”

Ivona nodded, looking into the distance. “Even before we figure out if
there is anything we can do to prevent the success of Amber’s plan, I can risk
saying that she’s no different than anyone else. The Shifters, the humans, and
the deities alike are driven by greed. No matter if it’s love or power or money
we desire. Greed for something that we want more than anything else makes us determined
and blind to everything else.”
   

The room fell quiet, only the sound of heavy rain and thunder
disturbed the silence. Jatred’s cell phone chirped, announcing a new text
message. He took the phone out, looked at the screen, and said, “Uncle’s coming
over. He’s on his way. Pen, your parents are staying with Estelle at Saint
Andrew’s tonight.”

“Come with us then.” Erik took Penelope’s hand in his, weaving his
fingers between hers. “Our house is a block away. We have a guest bedroom with
separate bathroom. Mom?” He looked at his mother, his eyebrows raised.