Reveal (Cryptid Tales) (13 page)

“
No problem.” There’s no way I want any part of
them
, I’ll stay wherever she tells me to.

She turns around and walks about twenty feet back the way we came. “Are you ready?”

“
As I’ll ever be. You just tell me what to do Yoda.”

She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. “It feels a little like I would expect flying to.”

“
What, you mean you can’t fly?” I laugh at my own joke, but she doesn’t get it, she just scowls at me. “Sorry, I joke when I’m nervous.”

She looks at me, “Whatever. Now focus.”

“
There’s a light wind blowing through your hair. Your skin feels like your hair is all over your body. Concentrate on what it would feel like to be small. To be agile. Cats can move like we can’t, so stretch your limbs, roll your neck. Relax and focus on being an animal. Focus on the instincts of a cat. What do you feel?”

She opens her eyes and looks at me, her yellow eyes are practically glowing. I can tell she’s trying to stop the change from happening to her. She keeps wiggling her fingers and stretching her neck, almost like she’s trying to release energy caged inside her body.

How do I tell her I feel nothing? No rush of electricity like when I summoned Wendy’s dad, no animal movements or instincts.

“
Emina,” I say shyly, she is not going to like this, “I don’t feel anything like that.”

She growls and suddenly I’m looking down at a black house cat. “Sorry Emina, I really did try I promise.”

She sits down, her black fur glistening in the sunlight. “Well, try again. You’re going to keep trying until you get it.” She starts into her speech again and I try, really I do, but no dice.

We go on like this for hours with no more luck than before. Finally I decide I need to throw in the towel. I’m exhausted and my brain hurts from all this focusing, it’s like there’s pins coming at it from all sides.

I take deep cleansing breaths and say, “Emina, didn’t Hugh say some cryptids couldn’t shift? I see ghosts. Doesn’t that mean I’m not a shifter?”

“
Alo told me you’re the strongest cryptid he’s ever met. He thought you’d be able to do both, but whatever, he could be wrong.” She licks the top of her right paw almost as if she’s bored with our conversation. I can’t believe a cat is actually speaking to me. Her small feline body begins to walk back toward the village.

I follow her swaying cat-self and begin to wonder. “Emina, are you married?”

“
Yep, what’s it to ya?” She looks up at me over her shiny black shoulder.

“
Do you mind if we have this conversation with you being, ya know, human?” Talking to a cat is really freaking me out.

“
Have it your way, but you started this.” She shifts back into a person with ease. She’s so quick. I wish I had her talent.

“
By the way, I’m not human, not completely anyway. And neither are you, and the minute you accept that, the better off you’ll be.” She continues to walk with her back to me, but at least she’s on two legs again.

She’s right, I know she is, and it’s important to hear it from someone besides Hugh. When she says it I almost believe her, but I brush it off and return to my original question. “Hugh said he was your betrothed and that you got married when he left.”

She snorts, “He probably said I was pregnant too, right? He thinks we’re nothing but a bunch of hicks out here. It’s why he left. And to find you. Yes, I am happily married to a man who takes care of me. And in case you’re wondering, no I am not pregnant.”

That’s a relief, I’m not sure the world is ready for little Eminas to be running around. I latch onto something she said, “What do you mean about Hugh coming to find me? Oh well yeah I mean because I’m my dad’s daughter. You know since his parents were so close with my dad and…”

She does an about face and I stop short, almost walking right into her. She would have loved that I bet.

“
Are you really that stupid?”

“
Excuse me? You did not just call me stupid.” OK I may not be some badass shifter, but I will punch this girl in the face if she does not shut her mouth.

“
I call it like I see it,” she seethes. “I should have known with you being a half-breed and all.” She’s already in a fight stance, legs slightly apart and her hands that are at her side quickly turn into fists.

I stand up as tall as I possibly can and stare her down. “Will you just tell me what the hell is going on?”

Her shoulders relax slightly, but she’s still ready to brawl if needed.

“
Shay, he left to find you because he wants to fulfill the prophecy. It says it will tie two tribes together. We made a mutual decision that it wouldn’t be us. I was in love with another man and he wanted to do bigger things. Though I remember him saying they were bigger,
better
things.”

She continues, “It hurt at the time, to watch him leave, we were best friends. But now, I get it. He had to leave to find you to fulfill the prophecy. You’re an idiot but you worked your ass off today. Most people quit after one try. Even Alo didn’t try for as long as you did. You’re tougher than you give yourself credit for, not as tough as me, but you know...” She pauses and takes a deep breath.

“
He loves you Shay, just admit it to yourself and embrace it. Embrace who you are.”

I’m surprised at her compliments, even though she gave them in an ass backwards kind of way, I can tell she meant what she said. She really believes he loves me. She believes in the prophecy and that he and I are whom it’s about. Do I believe it too?

We walk in silence as I have more to process and Emina is obviously annoyed with me as a person in general. She drops me off at the door of Chenoa and Alo’s home. She doesn’t even wave as she retreats to her trailer a few hundred feet down the dirt road. Can’t say I blame her though, she thinks I practically failed at being a cryptid, not to mention I’m denying feelings for a guy she used to be best friends with.

I walk past Chenoa and give her a simple wave. I feel her eyes following me as I go, but I don’t want to stop for a chat right now, I feel like I just ran a marathon. I go straight to the guest room and fall into bed, back under the covers.

Chenoa knocks lightly on the door. “I have something for you. Can I come in?”

I sigh but say sure. I sit up, mostly while leaving my legs outstretched. Chenoa walks in holding the most adorable little gray kitten.

“
Umm, is that?” Please God, don’t give me a local resident as a gift, it’s weird and super creepy.

She laughs, “No it’s a real kitten. One of the strays had a litter recently and I thought you could use a friend. Hugh mentioned you didn’t have any pets. I hope your mom’s not allergic or anything.”

“
No not at all,” I say gladly as she gives me the little gray fluff ball. She’s the sweetest thing, giving me a big yawn and shows me her bright blue eyes. “Thanks Chenoa, she’s beautiful.” Petting the baby makes me calmer, almost relaxed.

Chenoa sits on the bed and puts her hand on my leg. “Shay, I know all this is a lot. But it will work out, I promise.” She gives me a warm smile and it makes me think that she’s right, but I still don’t know.

I’m having this internal struggle questioning if this is really the life I want. Most of my life I would have given anything to be normal, but now there’s no going back to that. I am not normal.

I look at Chenoa, sitting on my bed with her beautiful long hair and golden eyes. “Are you happy, Chenoa?”

“
What? Me? Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” She looks flabbergasted as to why I would ask such a silly question.

“
I don’t know, just having to worry all the time. I mean we’re kind of at war with The Darkness and his followers right? And we’re different. Aren’t you scared of what people would do to us if they knew?” Suddenly I realize this is very much an “us and them” situation, and I have put myself in the “us” category.

She sighs, “Shay you can’t live your life in fear. If you do there’s just no point in living. I am happy with my life. I have a beautiful family, I grew up in this village and I have never wanted for anything more. This is my home, my life.” She brings her hand to her chest to emphasize
my
.

The bed creaks under me as I bring my knees to my chin. I move the kitten to the right side of my body. “But is it mine?”

She looks out the window across from the bed and then straight into my eyes. “That’s for you to decide.”

“
You look tired,” Chenoa said, “why don’t you and that baby get some rest?” She points to my new friend, who is already asleep lying next to me. I’ve been absentmindedly petting her the whole time we’ve been talking.

I smile, “Thanks Chenoa.”

She stands and walks to the door and then stops. “No problem,” she pauses, “and honey, take a break tonight, it’s just you and me. The boys are staying at a friend’s place in town tonight. Turns out they won’t be back until tomorrow. And there’s some stew out in the kitchen, I know ya haven’t eaten since breakfast and it’s almost six.”

“
Why aren’t they coming home?”

She sighs, “Turns out that truck of Hugh’s is not reliable as it used to be. The engine’s gone to hell, they’re stuck at the shop.”

I nod, “Oh ok, thanks.”

After I hear her close the door, I stretch my legs back out and turn on my side so that my body cradles the small new life next to me. I have to think of a name for her. Lily? Smokey? Finally I settle on Mosi, just like the tribe she came from, her people,
my
people. She shouldn’t lose her heritage just because she’s going to move away. Just like Hugh. Oh Hugh. I haven’t thought about him all day, but now my feelings come running back to me. I’m glad I have the evening to really think about us, if there even is an us. But before I have the chance, I’m out like a light.

In the morning I wake up to a strong smell in my bed. Mosi has left a little present for me,
lovely
. I look around for the little love bug but she’s nowhere to be found. I get up on the other side of the bed and walk out to the kitchen to get some cleaner. Chenoa has her back to me making breakfast at the stove.

“
Morning,” I mumble as I walk toward the sink. My mom always keeps our cleaning products under the sink. “Do you have any cleaner? Mosi decided to have an accident in my bed.”

Chenoa turns to me. “Who?” She wipes her hands on a towel. I see hash browns in the pan behind her.

“
My kitten, I named her Mosi. She pooped on your sheets, sorry.”

She laughs, “Oh my, that’s something to wake up to! All the cleaning products are in the hall closet with the washer and dryer. Just put the stuff in the garbage and your sheets in the washer. Don’t worry about it, these things happen. I’ll call the boys and ask them to bring home some extra kitty supplies, a litter box will be a big help. They should be home later this afternoon.”

“
Sounds good,” I say as I grab the paper towels.

After I drop my sheets in the washer, I hit the bathroom and take a shower. I check my eyes in the mirror again as I apply my makeup, they’re still yellow. From here on out, they’ll most likely always be this yellow, I might even have to talk to Hugh about colored contacts.

I emerge from the bathroom and go towards the kitchen to dive into the potatoes Chenoa was making this morning. She has a mug set out for me with a matching plate for breakfast. It reminds me of home and makes me miss my own mom. Chenoa is sitting at the table and reading the newspaper.

I take some potatoes and fill my mug with the homemade coffee that’s on the stove. Once I sit at the table I decide to ask a favor.

“
Hey Chenoa, can I use the phone today? My cell died, one thing Hugh forgot to pack, my cord.”

She lowers her paper and looks at me with a smile. “Sure, calling anybody I know?”

I put some hash browns in my mouth before answering so my speech is purposely garbled. “My mom.”

“
Phone’s in the hallway, use it whenever you like. By the way, found your little friend in Hugh’s room. I decided to leave her in there, Hugh could use a little gift don’t you think?”