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Chapter 201: Superstitions and Sirens
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The True Nature Series Chapter 202: Supernatural Hickeys
I LET HER PULL me all the way over to her car before I finally came to my senses. "Ruthie," I said, yanking my arm out of her tight grip. "I can't leave Zander in there alone with them!" I tried to turn back, but she grabbed my wrist. "Ow! You're hurting me.""Good!" she yelled. "You seriously have some explaining to do because I think I just saw you doing that brain talking thing with Zander." My jaw dropped to the ground. "Yes!" she yelled. "I knew it. You and Z can speak in your heads like the twins." She let go of me and leaned on her car. "I can't believe you didn't tell me that. I thought we were best friends." She stuck out her lip, pouting.I frowned, rubbing my arm. "You are my best friend." But was she still? Had Zander taken her place? No. That was stupid talk. Zander may have become as important to me as air, but that didn't mean Ruthie wasn't important, too. "Ruthie," I said, reaching out to her with one hand. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. But you're right
The True Nature Series Chapter 203: Shotgun Wedding
I'D NEVER BEEN SO uncomfortable in my life. Caroline grilled us for at least thirty minutes and she gave Ruthie a run for her money when it came to squeezing out information. My hands had begun to sweat within minutes and I soon pulled them from Zander's grasp to fold them into my stomach, wishing I were anywhere but here. He tried to tell me in my mind that it was going to be okay, but Caroline somehow guessed that we were talking and demanded we desist our mental communication. What the heck?! How did she know? Then she laid out a new set of dating rules for us that had me grinding my teeth. My only comforting thought was that she had no way to enforce any of them. I just sat there silently, wanting this to be over as soon as possible. Suffice it to say, she was no longer worried about Zander dragging me off to Eden and the Nasaru. Now she was worried we'd sneak off and have sex every chance we got. She said that although the aramusatu attraction was difficult to resist, we had to
The True Nature Series Chapter 204: The Bloom
CAROLINE'S EYES GLOWED YELLOW for a moment and then she crumpled into Iosefa's shoulder. "No. My poor baby is dead," she sobbed. "No, she's not. And I think she's trying to talk to me."Caroline sat up, her eyes shining with hope. "You saw her? How?"I explained the grainy black and white vision and the true dream of her with Peter. Her face paled when I told her about Shanna and Peter's bond."But she's alive," she whispered. "They told me she was dead. And she stopped talking to me ..." Her face fell again. "And now he's mutilated her ...""What do you mean she stopped talking to you?" Zander asked.Caroline opened and closed her mouth, unable to explain. Iosefa rubbed a hand along her arm and took over. "Shannandoah was--" "Is," I interrupted.He clenched his eyebrows together before nodding. "Very well then. Shanna is a telepath."Zander and I scooted forward to the edge of our seats. "She can read people's minds?" I asked.Both Iosefa and Caroline nodded. "And she can
The True Nature Series Chapter 205: Lanora
ZANDER NARROWED HIS EYES. I didn't trust her either. The twins' mother might appear small and harmless, but she was cranky and mean. And now she was popping out of thin air like a ghost. From the smile on her face, she'd enjoyed our reaction, too. "That's a good question," said Zander, choosing not to comment on her sudden appearance. "It's something I'm trying to find out."She nodded, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "I'm surprised your mother didn't look at your marks."I frowned at her, thinking that she'd probably been hoping to sneak a peek at them herself. "That's really nobody's business but our own." "You're right, of course," she said, smiling slyly. "But you're wrong about them being a 'supernatural hickey.'" She smirked at me, reminding me that she'd overheard my conversation with Ruthie in the driveway. I felt my face heat up."Supernatural hickey, huh?" Zander said in my mind."That was all Ruthie," I replied, and he chuckled."Whatever you have on your shoulder bl
The True Nature Series Chapter 206: Who's Your Daddy?
SUDDENLY, SOMEONE RIPPED OPEN the back door. Ruthie's voice cut through the haze of shocking news that Mrs. Efoti had just delivered. "Hey, guys!" I looked toward the kitchen to see her skipping toward us. "Mr. Efoti is kicking us out," she said indifferently. "Time to skedaddle. Enough of this serious crap. I need to start primping for tomorrow." It sounded like she was ordering us to leave, but her eyes sought out mine with a question. I blinked, still processing what I'd heard. Ruthie's eyebrows drew together as she looked from me to Zander with concern."Yeah, we can go now," I agreed, rising from the couch before she could question me. She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, but didn't pursue her curiosity.The twins ambled in behind Ruthie, Isaac dwarfing his sister. Phoebe seemed surprised to see her mother alone with us. "Where's Caroline and Uncle Iosefa?""Aunt Caroline," corrected her mother. Phoebe rolled her eyes. "I mean Aunt Caroline.""She wasn't fe
The True Nature Series Chapter 207: Like a Princess
I STARED AT MY reflection in the mirror. Ruthie had given me an "up-do" with intricate braids and curls that weighed down my head, making me feel unbalanced as I teetered on my heels. Sparkly bronze flowers were tucked in here and there, matching the design on the bodice. It bedazzled the eye with twinkling stones and shadowy aqua and bronze lines that branched upward from my waist and over the capped sleeves. A wide aqua band of fabric made my waist look smaller, and the skirt flared out into an A-line, falling in waves to the floor and billowing around my feet. It was hands-down the most beautiful thing I'd ever worn, and like I had my own fairy godmother.I blinked rapidly, fighting back tears of gratitude for my dad who had forked out the money for the dress, the shoes, and the jewelry. Mrs. Robles had done the legwork to track down the dresses and matching accessories. Ruthie couldn't say enough about how awesome her mom was, a welcome change from her normal ranting about her. Sh
The True Nature Series Chapter 208: Best Night of Your Life
RUTHIE HAD HEADED DOWN without me and I could hear her parents oohing and aahing over her. I descended the stairs, carefully placing each foot in front of the other. Grasping the railing with one hand, I concentrated so hard on walking that I forgot to be nervous. Halfway down I glanced up. Zander stood at the bottom, slack-jawed. I looked him over from head to toe and almost missed the next step. His auburn hair was slicked back, the sides flat. He wore a slim, slate grey tuxedo with a matching vest and bow tie. His hands held a clear corsage box. Suddenly, bright lights flashed between us and I blinked. Ruthie's parents were going all paparazzi."Mom! Dad! Seriously!" whined Ruthie.The spell broken, I noticed Maverick standing next to Zander. He was trying not to gape at his date, and as I watched his customary control cracking a bit, I almost laughed out loud. He wore a black tuxedo with a silver tie that complemented the sparkly bodice of Ruthie's dress. Ruthie had bought it f
The True Nature Series Chapter 209: Back in Town
THE SCHOOL LOOKED LIKE a medieval fantasyland. Metal knight statues that seemed to watch our every move framed the front doors. Couples snapped pictures next to them before going inside where the music blared with the promise of a good time. It was almost like Ruthie had written the script. Arm in arm, the four of us practically floated through the doorway and into the auditorium. We gasped with delight when we saw that it was decorated with hundreds of sparkling stars hanging from strings of lights on a lowered ceiling. A castle backdrop hung from the stage and flickering sconces in varying shapes and sizes stuck out from the walls like glowing gargoyles. Students melted out of our way, staring and whispering as we glided across the floor. For the first time in my life, I didn't care. I knew I looked like a million bucks, I was here with the guy I loved, and my best friend was by my side inhaling the silent adulation like a movie star. Zander and Maverick led us out to the dance floor
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The True Nature Series Chapter 230: The Promise
ZANDER WAS STILL GROGGY, and I helped him lean up against the railing of the general store. I wanted to stay with him, but another problem had cropped up. Polaris was trying to move Dad, and Knox wouldn't let them. No one wanted to risk getting close to his teeth and I feared they might try to drug him or something worse. I sighed and pushed myself up."I'll be right back," I told Zander.I headed across the road and carefully approached the growling Knox. "Hey there, buddy," I said in a soothing voice. "You still have me, remember?" I reached out my hand, letting it hang in the air like Dad had taught me the first time Knox and I had met. Knox's ears flattened, and he whined as he pressed his nose into my fingers. If dogs cried, I'd say Knox was crying now. His eyes looked sticky wet. I ran a hand down his neck, coaxing him off Dad's body and toward me. With a hand on his collar, I eased the two of us several feet away, allowing the others to move Dad. When his limp head dropped t
The True Nature Series Chapter 229: Picking Up the Pieces
BOTH POLARIS AND THE Efotis arrived within minutes of each other. The folks from Polaris had found several locals disabled or dead outside the park, as well as two empty police cars. Someone must have called the authorities about the gunshots or the helicopters. Others had probably been curious enough to investigate the noise themselves. The Nasaru had silenced them before they could see anything. With heavy faces, Polaris began searching the perimeter for more victims and loading up bodies on stretchers to take them away. When the Efotis arrived, Caroline rushed up to me, her eyes wide and desperate. She grabbed me and hugged me like she was never letting go. Despite my reluctance to admit she was my mother, I found her arms comforting. It just felt right. Thaddeus stood as still and straight as a fencepost watching us with soft but wary eyes. I completely understood. My reintroduction to Caroline had been rocky. In fact, it had been like meeting her for the first time, because I'
The True Nature Series Chapter 228: Of One Mind
THADDIE AND I JUMPED away from each other, our eyes wide as saucers. "Shanna!" I breathed out in surprise. But her voice had faded away. "What the heck?" Once again, I'd lost my connection to her."Your eyes turned blue," said Thaddeus with surprise. "Does that happen often? Was that our sister?"I pressed my lips together, frustrated that we'd been so close to talking to her. "Yes, it was Shanna. But she's gone now. Dang it." He opened his mouth to say something else, but I beat him to it. "Wait. Did you just say my eyes turned blue?" "Yes," he answered, looking at me strangely.I thought my eyes had done that before, too, when I'd heard a strange voice. But at the time, I'd convinced myself that it was my imagination. Did this happen every time she talked to me? I held out my hands to Thaddeus, hoping that together we could bring her back. He looked at my outstretched arms with confusion."Just testing a theory," I said. "Take my hands. Maybe we need to be in physical conta
The True Nature Series Chapter 227: Retreat
"THADDIE!" I choked out."You know him?" asked Maverick in surprise.I huffed out a deep breath as we heaved another dead body off his wing."Yes," I said, giving him a watery smile. "He's my brother."Maverick stared at me slack-jawed. After tonight I didn't think anything could surprise him. "You're kidding," he muttered."Yeah, I was going to tell you about him. Turns out, the other sharum guy was my biological father. Is," I corrected, reminding myself that if they took him, he must still be alive."The other guy with Dr. Frankler?""Yeah, I know," I nodded. "Just when you thought it couldn't get any weirder."Maverick grunted an agreement.I examined Thaddie, who still struggled with consciousness. "Let's carry him to a brighter area. It will be easier to help him there."Together, we maneuvered him onto Maverick's back. Amid grunts and gasps, he carried Thaddie to the center of the main street and set him down near Zander, who was still unconscious and oblivious to the
The True Nature Series Chapter 226: The Aftermath
I GAVE MAVERICK A wan smile. "There're gone," I sighed, standing up to move wearily to the next body. Kneeling by the woman from Polaris, I gently closed her eyes. There was no fixing her. The other Polaris soldiers were no better. The rest were Gerard's men. My heart pounded, knowing I'd have to face my dad's body now. I dragged myself to my feet and looked toward Dad. A furry head rested on top of his chest. I ran over to them, wondering how Knox could still be alive, not to mention how he had moved. As I dropped next to them, Knox whined softly. I bent over to press my head against his. "Oh, Knox. You're okay," I wept, running my hands along his fur. Blood matted in several spots, but I couldn't find any injuries. Shaking my head at the miracle, I hugged him. "I know, boy," I crooned. "Dad isn't ... he's not waking up. But you still have me." Knox's tail pounded on the dirt, but he remained pressed against Dad.I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Maverick. "I'm
The True Nature Series Chapter 225: Just Like Dante
THE CIRCLE OF SOLDIERS tightened around us, drawing my attention away from my disappearing friends. Zander pulled me to his back, spinning us around as we faced their weapons. It quickly became clear that even with our abilities, we wouldn't be able to overpower them. "Tru," Zander said, mind-speaking. "This is going to hurt, but you can heal yourself. Protect your head." "What?" I barely had a chance to gasp before he grabbed me, lifted me up in the air, and threw me over the heads of the soldiers. I cleared them by at least five meters and landed in a dense thicket near the line of trees. Branches jabbed me, cutting my skin and shredding my already ruined dress.I groaned. What the heck did Zander think he was doing? I started to crawl out of the bushes and yelped when I felt a sharp pain in one hand. It felt wrong, like broken wrong. Looking up, I saw a few of the soldiers peel away from the circle around Zander and head toward me. "Run!" Zander yelled in my mind.The path
The True Nature Series Chapter 224: From the Frying Pan ...
I GASPED, RECOGNIZING Gerard's creepy grin. "No! It can't be!"He laughed, throwing back his head and clasping his hands together. "You've done me a favor, my dear. I may have lost my mate." A fleeting look of sorrow crossed his face. "Trust me, you'll pay for that. But now I have an even more powerful aramusatu, one that will link you and me together forever." He laughed again, and then held out his hand. "Join me, Tru. You belong with your family."I gagged and stepped away. Had I only made things worse by killing Gerard? "No!" I yelled. I felt the world caving in as Wynona's words flitted through my mind. She's a soul jumper. At that time, she'd meant Ruthie. But apparently, she wasn't the only one. Somehow, Gerard Hughes's spirit had taken over Peter's body. I had a feeling that I'd just leaped from the frying pan into the fire."What happened to Peter?" Gerard's eyes swirled, shifting to yellow slits. He squeezed them shut and shook his head. When he opened his eyes, they w
The True Nature Series Chapter 223: Backfire
OBVIOUSLY, I WAS A healer. But I was definitely no savior. But what about destroyer?The thought of that destiny had filled me with dread before, but now I wanted it so badly that everything but my enemy faded away. I wished I could channel my healing ability into a weapon. Then it struck me. If I could heal wounds why couldn't I un-heal them? I stared at my hands, wondering if it was possible. A dark feeling swirled inside me, like attempting such a thing was straight up wrong, but as Gerard stepped closer to Ruthie, and as Zander continued to bleed out, I knew I had to do something. With shaking hands, I laid Dad's head on the ground. It was too late for him but I might be able to help the others. A fiery rage whipped up inside of me and my eyes locked onto Gerard. He wore a demented look of his own as he considered the chaos around us. I took off toward him. When I was almost upon him, he saw me and pulled out his gun. I plowed forward anyway and tackled him, sending the weapon f
The True Nature Series Chapter 222: Inconceivable Choice
I YANKED AWAY FROM the guard holding me and ran back to Zander, who gasped, "I'll be fine, Tru. Go to him." I knew he meant my dad and that he'd realized the same thing I had. Ignoring the guns pointed at me, I rushed toward Dad and Knox. Donavitch was grinning at me, clearly enjoying my terror, and Knox was barking out a warning to Mrs. Taylor as she pointed her gun at Dad. "Look out, Dad!" He looked from me to Mrs. Taylor and flinched when he saw the gun pointing at him. "No, Eleria!" yelled Mr. Taylor.Crack!In the blink of an eye, two bodies fell to the ground. At the last second, Mr. Taylor had raced after his wife and thrown his body in front of my dad. They both went down. I fell to the ground next to Dad, frantically searching for his wound. A bright red stain in the center of his blue flannel shirt expanded to the size of my hand within seconds. Had the bullet gone through Mr. Taylor and Dad? Of course! The gun had been loaded with cutters, the Nasaru's usemi-killin
