NEWBORN: Book One of the Newborn Trilogy (39 page)

Become a witch.

The notion brings shudders of delight to my
thin frame. My freshly washed form in the mirror, I realize it’s
true. I
have
lost weight.

My hair is wet and over my shoulder. Not
cool. I see it looking soppy even through my blurred vision. So I
take my hair dryer to it for a good fifteen minutes. I hum as I do
this, always pleased to engage in one of my favorite tasks. When
finished, I replace my contacts carefully. Diligently.

Dressing in jeans and my gray turtleneck, I
watch Kiri as she writes notes across a music sheet. I’m filled
with sudden affection for her as I watch. She is such a great
roommate, such a great friend. We’ve had our differences and
arguments – mostly about Gabriel – but I realize now she is simply
looking out for me. It seems insane I ever suspected her of wanting
him for herself.

“I’m going,” I tell her. “See you tonight.” I
hope…

Horn-rimmed glasses look up from the music
sheet. “Class?”

“Yes,” I lie through my teeth.

Going to my chest of draws, I soak myself in
perfume. The deluge makes Kiri close her eyes. She’s never
complained about this habit of mine and she totally could have. Yet
here I am lying to her face.

“Your class doesn’t start for an hour and a
half,” Kiri remarks, peeking at her clock. “Why are you going so
early?”

Shitballs!
Nearly got away with
it.

“Oh,” I say, stalling for time, “I – I want
to stop in the union for a moment. See if they have a book.” I’m
such a bad liar.

Kiri swipes her bobbed hair to the side.
“What book?”

Fuck!
What is this? A witch hunt?

I’m panicking. “
The Shipping News
,” I
invent madly.

“I have that!” Kiri exclaims. Getting up from
her bed, she goes to the row of books above her desk. “By E. Annie
Proulx.” Popping it from the shelf, she hands it me. “Remember at
the beginning of semester when I said you can borrow my books? I
meant that,” she clarifies, grinning at me.

Geez, I’m going to be late if I don’t
hurry!

“Thanks so much, Kiri,” I tell her. Without
even thinking I go and hug her warmly. “You’re so great!”

She’s startled when I release her. “It’s
nothing!” she says. “Really!”

“Bye, then!” I say loudly. Tossing the book
to my bed, I dash out the door and down the staircase. I’m hoping
it will take her a moment to recover from the force of my hug. No
such luck for me.

“Nora!” Kiri yells from behind. “You forgot
your backpack!”

I’m gone. Down the stairs two at a time and
out of dorm building C. Geez, she nearly caught me there. Nearly
scuffled my escape plan. In any case, I have other worries. Far
deadlier worries…

* * *

Our meeting place is Red Square. I’m
hurrying. I’m worried Wolf and Gabriel are already there. I hoped
to get there first, thereby mediating potential conflicts. With any
luck the vampires will prove enemy enough and the werewolf and
wizard will be forced to make peace. I’m not counting on it.

I notice the sky is cloudy. True, clouds are
the sky’s default guests in this part of the country, but despite
this it’s even cloudier than usual. Geez, I hope it doesn’t rain.
That’s all we need today.

Going from the east side of campus to the
west, I keep an eye out for them. I hope Wolf has the wisdom to be
a boy instead of a dog. Some things may seem like common sense, but
with guys you never know.

Oh geez! Gabriel better not tell Wolf about
our plans to live together!

Spurred by horror of this idea, I break into
a run.

The clock tower of the Daniel J. Evans
library is drawing closer. Which means so is Red Square. Soon as
the square comes into view I see him. Gabriel. He can’t be missed.
Not in flowing ivory robes, not with a wand dangling from his hand
and an owl resting on his outstretched arm. Geez, can’t he be a
little
covert? Next to him is Wolf, his arms crossed and his
expression a scowl.

“You’re here!” I gasp, skidding to a halt in
front of them.

They are pleased to see me.

“Why, hello,” Gabriel says. He puts his arm
around my waist and kisses me sweetly on the lips. No serious PDA,
but enough to claim his property. The idea makes me furious, but
not as furious as Wolf, whose crossed arms tighten as he watches.
“Glad you made it safe and sound,” adds my wizard.

Freed of him, I give Wolf a hug. He’s so
surprised by my sudden movement he doesn’t unfold his arms in time.
He maneuvers them around me and hugs me back, his warm voice a
tickling massage. “You’re too good to me,” he says. “Did you – uh –
have time to consider what we discussed?”

“Not really. Sorry.”

“What’s this?” Gabriel asks, staring from
Wolf to me.

Ignoring Gabriel, I go to his arm instead.
Petting Merri gingerly, I stare into enormous amber eyes. I can’t
help but smile as my eyes reflect turquoise. “See what I’m
wearing?” I ask the wizard.

Gabriel nods approvingly, taking in my gray
turtleneck. “Getting use out of it, I see. That wears down the
charm faster, you know. But it’s not a problem. I can always fix
it, Nora. I can fix anything,” he adds menacingly, his wand aloft,
and his eyes never leaving Wolf. “Anything at all!”

Oh geez, this is going to be a long day. I
resume petting Merrifeather’s white plumage, my thoughts
adrift.

“That owl nearly pecked me to death,” Wolf
says from behind me. “She found me in the forest while hunting with
my pack and practically rode me out of there. I’ve never heard the
pack laugh so hard!”

Gabriel strokes his owl. “You’re tenacious.
Aren’t you? Aren’t you?” His tone adores as he speaks to Merri, but
changes drastically when he addresses Wolf. “I apologize if you
sustained injuries from Merrifeather,” he says, “but we had no
other way of finding you on such short notice.”

Wolf’s voice is a growl. “Are you calling me
thin skinned?”

“Thin
furred
, if you will,” Gabriel
corrects, staring into the werewolf’s black eyes. “You’re wearing
more fur than skin these days, dog! It’s no matter. I’m glad to see
you know your place!”

“You –!” Wolf barks.

I’m louder as I interrupt. “Stop fighting,
please! We have a vampire to find and kill! Please shelve it, you
too. For now at least,” I add strategically. “I simply want to do
this and go home. No fuss!”

To my surprise they fall silent. Opportunity
in hand, I go to Wolfgang. Taking his arms, I spread them wide. I
see cuts and talon marks up and down his bare, muscular arms.
“Gabriel!” I exclaim. “Look! Look what Merri’s done to poor Wolf!
Bad owl! Bad owl!” I tell huge amber eyes. “Wolf is our
friend!”

“Just a friend?” Wolf asks.

Gabriel murmurs to Merri, “Wouldn’t go that
far.”

“Gabriel!” I demand. “Heal these at
once!”

Holding up his hands, Wolf back away. “No
way, Nora! I’m not having his evil magic on me! It’s nothing – I’m
fine!”

Grabbing his arm, I rub a deep cut with my
thumb. He winces. “These hurt!” I inform the wizard. “Now, I don’t
know if you told Merrifeather to attack him or not – that’s neither
here nor there. But you
will
heal these, Gabriel. I mean it!
Or you’ll be sorry!” I’m staring furiously into his eyes.

Gabriel swipes his blond hair to the side of
his forehead. “Alright – I’ll do it! Get over here, dog!” he orders
the werewolf.

“I don’t want your wicked –!” Wolf begins,
but with an almighty heave I shove him to Gabriel, interrupting his
protest.

“We know,” I say to the werewolf. “Magic is
evil and so are wizards. We get it, but
get
healed so we can
get out of here! You – Gabriel – stop calling him dog! For fuck
sake, we’re all equals here!”

Wolf is watching the wizard doubtfully as
Gabriel draws back the long sleeves of ivory robes. “You’re wasting
your time, Nora,” the werewolf tells me, staring into Gabriel’s
face. “He
doesn’t
believe we’re all equals. He never will,”
he adds, falling silent as the wand is drawn down his arms.

“Alleviate,” murmurs the wizard. He goes to
the other arm, murmuring, “Alleviate,” again. I watch, fascinated,
as the deep cuts disappear from Wolf’s forearms, leaving their
russet skin mint. Exhaling with satisfaction, Gabriel pockets his
wand. “Save your criticism for another wizard,” he tells Wolf. “I
just healed a werewolf.
Most
of my kind let alone the
Puridites would consider it beneath their dignity. Believe it or
not, I’m ahead of my time, Wolf. Not behind it.”

It’s the first time I’ve heard Gabriel call
Wolf by his name. To my deep surprise, Wolf looks abashed. “Uh –
thanks,” he says, black eyes widening as he observes freshly healed
arms. “That seems to have – um – worked.”

“Let’s go,” Gabriel says, shouldering Merri,
“we’ve wasted too much time here.”

Following his lead, Wolf and I trail the
wizard as he leads us northward. Gabriel has become our leader
without so much as a vote count. Dictator.

Skirting the Daniel J. Evans library, we make
for the tree fringe. Eventually we turn westward. I know where
we’re heading because I’ve been this way before. We walk along the
tree fringe for some time. I realize we must make a strange
procession. A blond haired boy in ivory robes with an owl on his
shoulder followed by a brown haired girl and russet skinned boy.
Walking single file by the trees.

We turn into them and disappear into the
forest, spreading out amid the loam. Merrifeather hoots gently from
Gabriel’s shoulder. Is she warning him? Gabriel alone can interpret
her signals.

Wolf is the first to speak. “You’re going the
wrong way,” he tells the wizard.

“What do you mean?” Gabriel asks as two pairs
of eyes turn to stare at the werewolf. “I’ve been to their hideout
before. I
know
how to get there,” he adds dissonantly. “Have
you
been there?”

Maroon lips tighten. “Of course I have! I’m a
werewolf, Gabriel. I’m sworn to protect humans from vampires! You
think I don’t know where their primary residence is on the Olympic
Peninsula?”

This isn’t going to end well, despite the
fact they were doing
so
well… oh well. “Hold up,” I
intervene, stopping between them. “Gabriel – you first. Where do
you think the vampire hideout is?”

Geez, it’s like moderating children.

Turquoise eyes never leave the werewolf as he
answers. “Northwest a touch then north. So we’re going the right
way!”

Forestalling him, I ask, “Wolf, which way
should we go?”

“Due north,” Wolf answers. “There’s no
‘northwest a touch.’ We have to keep heading north or we’ll pass
it!”

Gabriel shakes his head, turquoise eyes
glinting menacingly. “Nora, don’t listen to him.
I
know
where I’m going. I’ve been there more recently so let’s go my way!”
Merri offers a hoot of agreement.

Wolf narrows black eyes. “I was there just –”
He stops short, staring at Gabriel.

What the fuck? I look, too. Gabriel’s right
hand is lazily grasping the wand in his pocket, turquoise eyes
locked on the werewolf. “We’re going my way,” he says with such
finality there’s no doubting it. “If you desire to continue this
discussion, my wand has something to say about it.”

“Have it your way!” Wolf barks across at him.
“But realize there’s no achievement in having a weapon like that.
It’s not part of you – not made of you! It’s a tool for evil, and
you’re too fit for it!”

I slap my palm to my face. Ouch! Didn’t mean
to do it so hard. But the gesture fulfills its purpose – they’re
distracted. “We’re getting nowhere! Literally! So please stop
fighting! Let’s get this over with!”

“Here, here,” Wolf growls, glaring daggers at
the wizard.

As we journey forward, silence resumes
between us. Following Gabriel, we go northwest for awhile before
straightening our path and heading north. The forest is growing
windy, fresh air blowing around the trees. It’s refreshing, but
also a warning that something far less pleasant is on its way.

Oh, look at that. Rain.

First a pattering, it grows in ferocity until
it’s a determined drizzle – the most common type of rain in
Olympia. Hooting indignantly, Merrifeather launches from Gabriel’s
shoulder and flies into the trees.

“Where’s she going?” I’m shielding my head
with my arms.

Gabriel says, “Somewhere it’s not raining,”
his turquoise eyes soft. “She hates the rain. Brought her to the
wrong part of the country, didn’t I? It’s like a rainforest around
here. Anyway, stand still,” he orders.

“Why? What are you going to do?”

“Stand still!” he reiterates. Screw it. I
halt. Gathering his wand to his hand, Gabriel taps it against my
head. “Equilibri!”

The rain stops. Except it doesn’t. It’s only
stopped for me. Looking up, I see drops falling directly into my
eyes. Yet I feel nothing. I’m fully dry, recovered from the slight
dampness I procured.

“Yay!” I exclaim. “I love magic!”

Wolf’s expression is loathing as he watches
on. Gabriel ignores him. “Equilibri,” he says, tapping the wand
against his own chest. He’s relaxed and comfortable, the water
clinging to ivory robes evaporating at once.

“Fantastic!” I want to clap but I fight it
off. “Now do Wolf!”

The werewolf and wizard exchange scathing
glances. Unfortunately for Wolf, even a drizzle adds up. He’s
soaked, his russet skin gleaming with water. Black eyes are
unmistakable.
Don’t put a spell on me!

Pocketing his wand, Gabriel grins at Wolf.
“Look what we have, Nora! A wet dog! Here, puppy! Come and get
dry!”

Wolf pounces on the wizard. Taking advantage
of Gabriel’s pocketed wand, Wolf roars, “Take that back, you evil
creature!” He’s on top of the wizard, pushing him into the dirt.
“Take it back or I’ll kill you!”