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Chapter 154: New Recruits
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The True Nature Series Chapter 155: Prove It
RUTHIE REACHED OUT A hand to squeeze my shoulder. "I got this, Tru," she said.She skirted around Caroline's true relationship to me, at least for now. I knew eventually they would need to know, but I didn't mind putting that off. She quickly distracted Wynona by explaining how Caroline started out idimmu and changed into a usemi through an "aramusatu claiming bite.""No way! That's a thing?" asked Luke. "I thought that was impossible.""Just shut up and listen," said Phoebe, effectively shutting down that potential tangent.Ruthie had absorbed the weird stories we'd heard with amazing accuracy. She explained that normally usemi couldn't turn others like werewolves do in the movies. But, if a usemi recognized a true mate in a human or idimmu, then all bets were off. In Caroline's case, we believed that's what had happened. It was the only thing that made some kind of sense.In a shaky voice, I said, "The usemi who bit Caroline is Isaac and Phoebe's uncle, their dad's twin.""Oooo
The True Nature Series Chapter 156: Pure Energy
WE WERE STILL A FEW miles off the main road where pines and redwoods began to blend in with a variety of other types of trees like eucalyptus, cypress, and scrubs. Fortunately, the traffic was almost non-existent in the middle of the day. The last thing we needed was a good Samaritan pulling over to see if we needed help. I squeezed out of the vehicle and Wynona and Phoebe piled out of the front seat so I could climb in next to Luke. But Wynona still hovered over my shoulder, way too close for comfort. I gave her a frosty look but she ignored it. I sighed and attempted to block out the seven sets of eyes watching me with expressions ranging from suspicion to wonder and pride. Closing my own eyes, I visualized a yoga meditation pose. Not that I did yoga, but hey, I'd peeked in on that class a few times. It was always so peaceful. I could use some of that right now. I needed to center my thoughts on something tangible. I breathed in the sharp, almost minty smell of the eucalyptus tre
The True Nature Series Chapter 157: Show-and-tell
"SO, LET ME GET this straight," said Maverick pointing to Luke. "You and Wynona are idimmu. But Ruthie's just human.""I'm not just human," snapped Ruthie. "I'm a human with a black belt." But was she still completely, one hundred percent human? I hoped so. "Nice," said Maverick, lifting his fist up to her. This sign of respect seemed to placate Ruthie and she smiled as she fist-bumped him. He continued his catalog. "And Tru, you seem to be idimmu, but I keep thinking about your biological father. Was he human? And did your mother turn into a usemi before you were born? I mean, how would that even work?" Everyone grimaced, thinking about Caroline being pregnant and going through the transformation."I think her biological father was akharu," Ruthie said. "Tru had a dream about Caroline and this man she was in love with. And he had fangs and glowing eyes. They were making out in the woods when Iosefa attacked them and bit her."Everyone stared at me wide-eyed. Maverick cleared
The True Nature Series Chapter 158: Not a Vampire
"THE ONLY THIING YOU need to know is that I'm not a vampire. And I don't drink blood." She crossed her arms and frowned, but behind her defensive stance I could see that she was hurt by our reaction. I'd never seen the unflappable Phoebe Efoti looking so fragile.Ruthie elbowed past Isaac and out of the car to hug Phoebe. "I believe you," she said. "You could never do that, even if you were a vampire." "Thanks," said Phoebe, squeezing her back. "Anyway, there's no such thing as a vampire like you see in the movies. Just crazy ass akharu. If humans can have a psychopathic serial killer like Hannibal Lecter - and yes, he was based on a real guy - then akharu and usemi can, too."There was a collective "Oh yeah" moment as we all nodded our heads. We couldn't argue with her logic. Killer werewolves and demented vampires could indeed simply be psychotic supernaturals. Every race had the potential for that kind of evil, and there were plenty of human examples throughout history.I pushe
The True Nature Series Chapter 159: Cue the Banjos
WE ALL PILED BACK into our seats with Phoebe sitting in the front again. I noticed Wynona pressed up closely to Luke and frowned. She might have said she wasn't afraid of Phoebe, but she obviously still had doubts. I caught Luke's grin in the rearview mirror as he pulled back on the road. Apparently, he didn't seem to mind the close quarters one bit.On the drive, I continued to bring everyone up to speed, but I left some holes, some big holes. When I told them about Detective Winchester and Donavitch, how they tried to kidnap me, and how I'd been bitten, they were almost as horrified as me whenever I thought about it. "Now that guy was definitely a vampire - fangs, red eyes and everything," I shuddered. "Akharu may not all be vampires but some are," mused Zander. When Phoebe glared at him, he rolled his eyes. "Fine. Some are 'psychopathic akharu serial killers.'" He shrugged. "'Vampires' is just easier to say."Ruthie stiffened beside me. "Some akharu are cursed and some aren't,
The True Nature Series Chapter 160: Ulami's Hope
AS WE PASSED THE sign for Santa's Village, someone's stomach growled. It set off a chain reaction and soon I was clutching my own gut to keep it from joining in. Zander chuckled next to me."Oh, for the love of puppies everywhere," said Ruthie. "Apparently, I'm not the only one starving," said Wynona. Maverick shook his head with exasperation. "We can stop at the summit to grab some food. It's coming up on the right." Luke nodded. "Sounds good."We were passing through the Santa Cruz Mountains on our way to Dr. Frankler's place in San Jose. Calling them "mountains" was generous since the summit height was only about 1800 feet. But they did get snow every year, not that it ever stuck. There was a fruit stand at the point of the mountain that sold all kinds of snacks, drinks, and produce. Luke pulled in and parked right up next to the store. Everyone bailed from the Suburban. I headed toward the piles of fresh fruit but stopped when someone pulled on my arm. It was Zander and
The True Nature Series Chapter 161: Healer, Savior, Destroyer
I REPEATED ZANDER'S EARLIER thought. "So, you think new triangle refers to a new leadership in the form of a new triad." "Yes." He stared at me patiently, his deep blue eyes beckoning me to continue."Okay. Maybe a new triad could represent its people better, as in there will be one from each group on it.""That's what Conrad thinks, too," said Zander, nodding eagerly. "And maybe it refers to a triangle on purpose because a perfect triangle has equal sides. And that could represent equal power."I nodded. Perhaps there was a revolution already in the works. I returned Zander's smile, realizing that I enjoyed puzzling this out together. It felt like we were a team, like he was really interested in hearing my opinion.I looked down at my phone. "What about Water, Earth, Heaven?""We wondered if that could refer to the pure races - sethian, akharu, and usemi.""What do they have to do with water, Earth, or heaven?" I asked. In the back of my head, I thought about what Maverick had
The True Nature Series Chapter 162: Group Therapy
THE GPS TOOK US to a small condominium community tucked into a tree-lined neighborhood at the south end of San Jose. We parked along the sidewalk and filed out of Luke's SUV. I cringed when I thought about how we might appear to strangers. Eight teenagers wandering around looking like they were up to no good; that's what they'd see. And although Luke's leg had healed, his pants were bloody and torn. He caught me staring."Uh, I should probably change," he said, opening up the back of his Suburban.A moment later he returned, wearing a pair of black sweats and tennis shoes. He looked ready to hit the gym. "So, what's the doctor's house number?" asked Zander."B-13," I said with a wry smile.Ruthie heaved an exasperated sigh. Wynona scowled, scooting a little closer to Luke. "That's not foreboding or anything," Luke drawled."My, aren't we superstitious," said Phoebe, giving the southerners a patronizing smirk. I shrugged. "Someone has to live in number 13.""Yeah," muttered Ru
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