Chameleon (Supernaturals) (8 page)

I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant, but I tried to relax and then suddenly the intense energy felt like warm water rushing over me. I was filled with so much relief that I began to cry. Thankfully Alex didn’t pull away from me. He held on tight and let me soak his shirt with my tears.

“Supernatural beings need to be around others of their kind,” he explained in a gentle voice. “We thrive on one another’s energies. I suspect that’s why you and Russ have always been so inseparable. You may not have known it, but you have always been physically drawn to each other. In a town where the three of us are the only supernaturals, you needed each other.”

I broke down and admitted the embarrassing truth. “I thought I was crazy. I thought it was some sick co-dependence—some kind of “Fatal Attraction” type addiction. I hated myself for feeling like I needed him so bad.”

“Is
that
why you went out with Conor?” Russ asked. I’d almost forgotten he was there. “To prove to yourself that you didn’t need me?”

That was exactly why I’d said yes to Conor. I was hit with another wave of humiliation and began sobbing again. Alex squeezed me even tighter. He sighed into my hair. “I’m sorry, honey. I should have explained this to you years ago.”

I pulled my head out of Alex’s shirt, but Russ beat me to my question. “You
knew
?” Russ sounded outraged. “You knew about Dani, and you didn’t tell me?”

Alex glanced back and forth between Russ and me. “Let’s have a seat, shall we?”

Alex peeled me away from him and then led the way to a nearby picnic table.

I didn’t have the energy to be mad at Russ anymore and didn’t see the point in resisting the urge to touch him now that there was a legitimate reason for it. So when he took a seat at the table across from his dad, I sat down next to him, leaned my head on his shoulder and managed to stop crying.

Russ let go a breath of relief and put his arm around me. Both of us ignored the way I shivered at his touch.

Alex smiled affectionately at us. “It’s good to finally see the two of you together the way you were meant to be. As supernaturals. With no more secrets between you.”

“You really knew about me?”

“Fully developed supernaturals can always recognize others of their kind. Our power gives us an aura. That’s what the two of you feel that draws you to one another. With time and practice you will learn to recognize a person’s aura. You’ll be able to tell when someone near you is a supernatural and what type they are.”

Russ was too pissed to say anything, but I knew what he was thinking and I had the same question. “How come you never said anything?”

“Well for starters, it wasn’t my place to tell you about your powers. That’s a decision meant for parents.”

“You mean my parents are—”

“No. Your parents are human. That was another part of the problem. You have the strongest aura I’ve ever come across, which means you are extremely powerful. I couldn’t help wondering if you’d been hidden away here and raised like a human for your own protection. I figured that once you got close to coming into your powers someone would show up to explain things to you.”

No way were my parents in on a secret as big as this. “I don’t think anyone’s coming.”

“No,” Alex agreed pensively. “I believe you’re right. If that were the case, someone would have come by now. It’s dangerous for people to come into their power on their own, as you noticed the other night at the dance. Then there was the matter of my other hesitation.”

“And that is?”

“I could never tell what kind of supernatural you are.”

“She’s a witch, obviously.” Russ couldn’t have sounded more proud.

“I’m not so sure,” Alex said. “If Dani were a witch, then we would naturally repel each other.”

“What?” Russ and I asked together.

“Since the beginning of time witches and warlocks have been natural enemies. There’s something in our chemical makeup that makes us so. Some say it’s because a warlock’s magic comes from demons and is therefore a form of dark magic, and a witch’s power comes from the Creator and is a magic of light. Others believe it’s because if a witch and a warlock ever mated their offspring would be far too powerful. It’s nature’s way of maintaining balance. It’s called a blood feud.”

“Well that explains Clara,” Russ grumbled and his dad laughed.

I was lost. “Who’s Clara?”

“Just an old friend of the family,” Alex said lightly.

“Your friend. Not mine.”

“And the only witch Russ knows who is his own age.”

“That’s witch with a capital B,” Russ clarified. “But I know Dani too.” He grinned at me. “Maybe you’re, like, a good witch.”

“I don’t think she’s a witch.”

“What else could she be? She cast a spell. I was there. I saw her do it.”

I couldn’t believe I was sitting there watching the two of them argue over what kind of supernatural species I was. The moment was beyond surreal.

“Yes, a time-stopping spell.” Alex eyed me with fascination. “And without any training. Even I couldn’t cast a spell that powerful without using an incantation.”

“So she’s an anomaly,” Russ suggested. “They’re always more powerful and it could explain why she doesn’t repel us.”

I could tell he liked the idea very much. “That’s a possibility.”

“What’s an anomaly?” I asked.

Russ grinned at me. “Supernatural awesomeness.”

I wanted to stay angry and afraid, but with Russ and his dad being so casual about it I was quickly getting over myself. I finally cracked my first smile in days. “That’s helpful.”

I looked to Russ’s dad for a real explanation. “An anomaly,” he said, sounding like a college professor, “is a genetic mutation within the supernatural race.”

“I’m a supernatural mutant?” That sucked. “I take it back. I think I like Russ’s definition better.”

Alex smiled. “They’re still supernaturals like the rest of us, but somewhere within their genetics there is a mutation that makes them slightly different. You wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at them, but they are almost always more powerful and can break the rules. For instance, a witch who can cast spells without potions or incantations, or vampire who can come into contact with direct sunlight.”

“Okay, so how do we find out if that’s what I am?”

“Well, I might have a better idea if I could feel your magic. Would you mind casting a spell for me?”

“But I don’t know how to cast a spell.”

“How did you do it the other night?”

“I don’t know. It’s not like I meant to. I just didn’t want to see Conor fall in the fish pool because
somebody
tied his shoes together.”

I take back what I said earlier about not being mad at Russ anymore. I was still plenty pissed. Now that I was thinking about it again. I glared at Russ and he rolled his eyes at me.

His dad questioned us with a look but didn’t actually ask. “So you were just concentrating—wishing something to happen? Why don’t you try that now?”

“Sure,” I said. “Should I wish Russ into a toad?”

Russ smirked. “Hoping you’d have to kiss me to break the spell?”

“A rock then,” I snapped. “Because I’d love nothing more than to throw you in the lake right now!”

Russ opened his mouth to retort, but before he could get a word in he was suddenly flying through the air and made a giant splash deep in the middle of the lake.

When I realized what had happened I clasped my hands over my mouth. Russ’s dad was staring at me with astonishment. “I’m so sorry!” I said. “I didn’t mean to!” I turned around and ran out to the shore. “Russ!” I couldn’t see him anywhere. “Russ!”

“Feel better now?”

I whirled around with a start. Russ stood right behind me and his voice was the only thing about him that was dry. I was so relieved I hadn’t hurt him that I threw my arms around him in a tight hug. “Are you okay?”

Russ laughed and then lifted me off my feet. “You realize you’ve just started a war,” he warned. “You’ll get yours, missy. When you least expect it.”

Russ put me back down and I grinned. “You sure you want to do that?” I pointed a finger at myself. “Really powerful? Supernatural awesomeness? Ringing any bells?”

“No. Not really. I think I remember something about a mutant though.”

“Oh, shut up!”

Russ and I went back to the picnic table where his dad was still gaping at me. His face was pale, like he’d just seen a ghost. Russ and I glanced at each other and sat back down. “What is it?” I asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“You,” Alex said to me, “are most definitely an anomaly.”

“How can you tell?”

“Because you just used dark magic.”

“Dark magic?” Russ said. “That’s impossible. To use dark magic she’d have to be—”

“A warlock,” Alex said. He sounded as if he still didn’t believe it.

“You mean I’m the same thing as you?” I asked. “Well that makes sense then doesn’t it? That’s why we don’t hate each other. I’m not a witch after all.”

“But it’s impossible,” Russ said again.

“Why?”

“Because warlocks are boys. Always. There’s never been a female warlock.”

“And therein lies the anomaly.” There was pride in Alex’s voice and he continued to stare at me with wonder.

“So, what do we do?” Russ asked. “Should we take her to see the council?”

“No,” Alex said. “Not yet. Not until we have more answers to tell them. I’ll do some research, and I’ll help you learn to control your magic, Dani. I guess that’s one good thing about this, I can mentor you myself and nobody needs to find out about you.”

“Do I need to be kept secret? From other supernaturals, I mean?”

Alex looked worried. “You’re very powerful, Dani. Very, very powerful. The fact that you are something I’ve never even heard of before will catch people’s intrigue. Yes, I believe that you might be in danger if you were discovered. It’s best to wait until you’ve grown into yourself a little more.”

“Okay.” My mouth suddenly felt very dry.

“You’ll have us,” Russ assured me. “We’ll keep you safe.”

“And we’ll help you,” Alex added. “These next few months are going to be very stressful for you. The cravings start when you first come into your powers, as you have just done. The worst of it lasts a few months, and the more powerful one’s aura, the stronger the cravings. I’m afraid it will be especially difficult for you.”

“What should I do?”

“For now, stay as close to Russ or myself as you can. And wear your necklace all the time.”

“The one Russ gave me?”

Alex nodded. “It’s a very powerful amulet. Russ didn’t know that at the time, but that’s why I agreed he should give it to you. I figured this was coming on soon, and the amulet holds some of the Devereaux family magic. It should help dull the cravings.”

Russ nudged my side with his elbow. “Look at me thinking ahead like that.”

“Please.” I laughed. “If you ever actually managed to think ahead for anything, I’d die of shock.”

“And if
you
were ever the least bit appreciative of all the incredibly thoughtful things I do for you,
I
would die of shock.”

“Well, you two seem to be back to normal.” Alex sighed his disapproval of our squabbling as he rose to his feet. “My presence here is clearly no longer required. I’m sure you two want to talk about this without me around, and I’ve got some things to look into now. Dani, if you have any questions at all, or anything else unusual happens, call me straight away. And you’re welcome in our house any time you need. Day or night. If things get too difficult, you can start sleeping over. We’ll figure out a way to deal with your parents if we need to. In the mean time?” He narrowed his eyes at us. “Try to stay out of trouble. Magic is not a toy. Remember it can be dangerous.”

“Dad,” Russ said lightly. “Who do you think you’re talking to, here?”

“I know exactly who I’m talking to, Russell, so I’ll say it again. You two stay out of trouble.”

The wicked grin Russ gave me when his father turned his back on us melted away the last of my worries. True, life just got a lot crazier and I still couldn’t really believe it, but at least I wasn’t in this alone.

Actually I was glad that Russ and I were still the same even if we were both freaks. At least this way we were freaks together. This wasn’t going to drive us apart like Russ had been so afraid of. If anything it was going to make us closer. It was a secret we shared, another thing we had in common that made us special to one another. Plus, Russ was right, we could have some serious fun with magic. Pools of Jell-O were just the beginning.