Night World : Witchlight Chapter 12

They were altogether on their feet by no.. Kellers early warning system was screaming hysterically.I cant stand it any more(prenominal), Diana hissed. Whats outlet on?Just accordingly, Nissa verbalise in a quenched voice, All discipline, we will. Yes. Bye. She carefully replaced the pass onet. past she turned really slowly to face the others.Or not to face them exactly. She was olfactory perceptioning down at the floor in an unfocused way that scared Keller to death.Well, what is it? Keller growled.Nissa opened her mtabooh and raised her eyes to look at Winnie. Then she looked down again. Im sorry, she verbalize. Winnie, I dont realise how to say this. She swallowed and then straightened, speaking formally. The Crone of all the Witches is light.Winnies eyes went huge, and her moots flew to her throat. Grandma HarmanYes. barely how?Nissa spoke carefully. It happened yesterday in Las Vegas. She was outside her shop, right there on a city street, in broad day out of work. S he was attacked by tercet shapeshifters.Keller stood and listened to her pounding heart.Winnie breathing timeed, No. Thats not possible.A add up of wolves and a tiger. A real tiger, Keller, not any abjecter cat. There were human witnesses who saw it. Its be reported as some bizarre escape from a private zoo.Keller stood rigid. Control, control, she thought. We dont have time for suffer weve got to figure out what this tauts. besides she couldnt help thinking about Grandma Harmans good aging face. not a beautiful face, not a four-year-old face, barely a good one, with intelligence and mood in the keen gray eyes. A face with a thousand wrinkles-and a story to go with all(prenominal) one.How would Circle Daybreak ever get along without her? The oldest witch in the worldly concern, the oldest Hearth-Woman.Winnie send some(prenominal) hands to her face and began to cry.The others stood silently. Keller didnt know what to do. She was so bad at these emotional things, pla inly nobody else was stepping forward. Nissa was eventide less good at dealing with emotion, and right now her cool face was sympathetic and poor unless distant. Iliana looked on the verge of tears herself, but uncertain. Galen was staring emptily across the room with something desire despair.Keller awkwardly put an arm around Winnie. Come on, sit down. Do you deficiency some tea? She wouldnt manage you to cry.All pretty stupid things to say. notwithstanding Winnie buried her strawberry-blond head against Kellers chest, sobbing.Why? Why did they kill her? It isnt right. Nissa shifted uneasily. Paulie say something about that, too.He said we should turn on CNN. Keller set her teeth. Wheres the remote? she said, trying not to go rough. Iliana picked it up and punched in a channel. An anchorwoman was speaking, but for a second Keller couldnt take in what she was saying. All she could seem were the words on the screenCNN SPECIAL REPORT ANIMAL PANIC.And the footage, rough video from somebodys camcorder. It showed an unbelievable scene. An customary city street, with skyscrapers in the background-and in the foreground ordinary-looking people all mixed up with shapes.Tawny shapes. about(predicate) the self aforesaid(prenominal)(prenominal) size she was in panther form, and sinuous. They were on top of people.Four of them no, five. Mountain lions. They were killing the mankind. A woman was screaming, flailing at an animal that had her arm in its mouth to the elbow. A man was trying to put another lion off a unretentive boy.Then something with a white-tipped muzzle ran directly at the camera. It jumped. There was a gasping scream and for an instant a glimpse of a wide-open mouth change with dickens-inch teeth. Then the video turned to static.-that was the scene at the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles today. We now go to Ron Hennessy, live outside the Los Angeles Chamber of CommerceKeller stood frozen, her fists clenched in helpless fury.Its happening e verywhere, Nissa said restfully from behind her. Thats what Paulie said. Every major city in the U.S. is being attacked. A white rhino killed two people in Miami. In Chicago, a pack of timber wolves killed an armed police officer.Shapeshifters, Keller whispered.Yes. Killing globe openly. They may even be transforming openly. Paulie said that some people claimed to see those Chicago wolves change. She took a complicated breath and spoke slowly. Keller, the time of chaos at the end of the millennium its happening now. They cant cover this up with a private zoo story. This is it-the beginning of the time when humans find out about the darkness World.Diana looked bewildered. But why would shapeshifters start attacking humans? And why would they kill Grandma Harman?Keller shook her head. She was quickly approaching numbness. She glanced at Galen and saw that he felt exactly the same.Then there was a clotted sound beside her.Thats the skepticism-why, Winnie said in a thick voice. U sually, with her elfin features and mop of curls, she looked younger than her age. But right now, the skin on her face was drawn tight, and her birdlike bones make her look just about like an old woman.She turned on Keller and Galen, and her eyes were burning.Not honourable why theyre doing it, why theyre being allowed to do it. Wheres the branch House while all this is loss on? Why arent they monitoring their own people? Is it because they agree with whats happening?The last words were snapped out with a vicious-ness that Keller had never heard in Winfrith before. Galen opened his mouth, then he shook his head. Winnie, I dont think-You dont think You dont know? What are your parents doing? Are you saying you dont know that?Winnie-They killed our oldest leader. Our bright woman. You know, some people would take that as a declaration of war.Keller felt s frivolityen and at the same time furious at her own helplessness. She was in charge here she should be heading Winnie off.But she was a shapeshifter like Galen. And along with the ability to transform and the exquisitely tuned senses, they both shared something unique to their race.The sin of the shapeshifters.The terrible guilt that went back to the ancient days and was part of the very fabric of Kellers mind. No shapeshifter could entomb it or escape it, and nobody who wasnt a shapeshifter could ever understand.The guilt was what held Galen standing there while Winnie shouted at him, and held Keller unable to interrupt.Winnie was right in front of Galen now, her eyes blazing, her body crackling with latent vital force like a small but fiery orange comet.Who woke that dragon up, anyway? she demanded. How do we know the shapeshifters arent up to their old tricks? mayhap this time theyre going to wipe the witches out completely-Stop itIt was Hiana.She planted herself in front of Winnie, small but earnest, a little ice maiden to combat the witchs fire. Her nose was tap and swollen, and she was still wea ring those teddy bear slippers, but to Keller she somehow looked valiant and magnificent.Stop hurting each other, she said. I dont understand any of this, but I know that youre not going to get anywhere if you fight. And I know you dont pauperization to fight. All at once, she flung her arms around Winnie. I know how you feel-its so awful. I felt the same way when Grandma Mary died, my moms mother. All I could think of was that it was dear so unfair.Winfrith hesitated, standing stiffly in Dianas embrace. Then, slowly, she lifted her own arms to hold Iliana back.We need her, she whispered.I know. And you feel mad at the people who killed her. But its not Galens fault. Galen would never hurt anybody.It was said with authoritative conviction. Hiana wasnt even looking at Galen. She was stating a fact that she felt was common knowledge. But at the same time, now that she was off her guard, her expression was tender and almost shining.Yes, thats love, all right, Keller thought. And it s good.Very slowly, Winnie said, I know Galen wouldnt. But the shapeshiftersMaybe, Galen said, we should babble about that If Winnies face was pinched, his was set in steel. His eyes were so dark that Keller couldnt distinguish the color.Maybe we should talk about the shapeshifters, he said. He nodded toward the kitchen table, which was still strewn with the parchments. About their history and about the dragons. He looked at Diana. If theres any chance of-of a promise ceremony between us, its stuff you ought to know.Iliana looked startled.Hes right, Nissa said in her unruffled voice. After all, thats what we were doing to start with. Its all tied together.Kellers social unit body was tight. This was something that she very practically didnt want to talk about But she refused to give in to her own weakness. With a tremendous effort, she managed to say steadily, All right. The entire story.It started back in the days humans were still living in caves, Galen said when they were al l sit down at the kitchen table again. His voice was so bleak and controlled that it didnt even sound like Galen.The shapeshifters control then, and they were brutal. In some places, they were just the totem spirits who demanded human sacrifice, but in others He searched through and through the parchments, selected one. This is a picture of a breeding pen, with humans in it. They treated humans exactly the way humans treat cattle, breeding them for their hearts and livers. And the more human flesh they ate, the stronger they got.Iliana looked down at the parchment scrap, and her hand abruptly clenched on a tissue. Winnie listened silently, her pointed face stern.They were stronger than anyone, Galen said. Humans were like flies to them. The witches were more trouble, but the dragons could beat them.Iliana looked up. What about the vampires? There werent any yet, Galen said quietly. The first one was Maya Hearth-Woman, the sister of Hellewise Hearth-Woman. She made herself into a v ampire when she was looking for immortality. But the dragons were naturally immortal, and they were the undisputed rulers of the planet. And they had about as much pity for others as a 7. rex has. But all the shapeshifters werent like that, were they?Iliana asked. There were other kinds besides the dragons, right?They were all bad, Keller said simply. My ancestorsthe big felines-were pretty awful. But the bears and the wolves did their share.But youre right, the dragons were the worst, Galen said to Iliana. And thats who my family is descended from. My last name, Drache, means dragon. Of course, it was the weakest of the dragons that was my ancestor. The one the witches left stir because she was so young. He turned to Winnie. Maybe youd better tell that part. The witches know their own history best. hush looking severe, Winnie thumbed through the parchment scraps until she found one. Here, she said. Its a picture of the concourse of the witches. Hecate Witch-Queen nonionized it. She was Hellewises mother. She got all the witches together, and they went after the shapeshifters. There was a big fight. A really big fight.Winnie selected another piece of music of scroll and pushed it toward Diana.Diana gasped.The parchment piece she was looking down at was almost solid red.Its fire, she said. It looks like-it looks like the whole worlds on fire.Galens voice was flat. Thats what the dragons did. Geological records show that volcanoes all over the world erupted around then. The dragons did that. I dont know how the magics lost. But they figured that if they couldnt have the world, nobody else would, either.They tried to destroy the world, Keller said. And the rest of the shapeshifters helped.It almost worked, too, Winnie said. But the gathering of witches managed to win, and they buried all the dragons alive. I mean, they put them to sleep first, but then they buried them in the deepest places of the earth. She second base her lip and looked at Galen. Which pro bably wasnt very nice, either.What else could they do? Galen said quietly. They left the dragon princess alive-she was scarcely three or four years old. They let her grow up, under their guidance. But the world was a sunbaked and barren place for a long time. And the shapeshifters have always been the lowest of all the Night People.Thats true, Nissa put in, her voice neither approving nor disapproving, simply fashioning an observation. Most Night People consider shapeshifters second-class citizens. They try to keep them down. I think, underneath, that theyre still afraid of them.And theres never been an alliance between the shapeshifters and the witches, Keller said. She looked directly at Diana. Thats why the promise ceremony is so important. If the shapeshifters dont side with the witches, theyre going to go with the vampires-She stopped abruptly and looked at Galen.He nodded. I was thinking the same thing.Those animal attacks, Keller said slowly. It sounds as if the shapeshif ters are already do their decision. Theyre helping to bring about the time of chaos at the end of the millennium. Theyre letting the whole world know that theyre siding with the vampires.There was a shocked silence.But how can they decide? Winnie began.Thats just it, Nissa said. The question is, is it just the ordinary shapeshifters whore doing it, or is it official? In other words, has the First House already persistent?Everyone looked at Galen.I dont think so, he said. I dont think theyll make any decision yet, at least not in public. As for what theyre doing in private, I dont know. His voice was still flat it made no excuses.He looked around the table, facing all of them. My parents are warriors. They dont belong to Circle Daybreak, and they dont like the witches. But they dont like the vampires, either. More than anything, theyll want to be on whichever side is going to win. And that depends on which side gets the disturbed Powers.I think they want something else, Keller sai d. like?They want to know that the witches are treating them fairly and not just trying to use them. I mean, if they thought that Circle Daybreak had found the Witch Child but wasnt going to promise her to their heir, well, they wouldnt be happy. Its not just a matter of having a kinship confiscate with the witches. Its a matter of feeling theyre being treated as equals.Nissas light brown eyes narrowed, and she seemed almost to smile. I think youve summed it up very well.So what it all comes down to, Keller said pointedly, is what happens on Saturday night. If theres a promise ceremony, it means the witches have found the chaotic Power and that theyre willing to tie her to the shapeshifters. If notShe let the sentence trail off and looked at Hiana.There, she thought. Ive put it so plainly and simply, you cant deny it now. And you cant help but see whats at stake.Dianas eyes were like faraway violet storm clouds. Keller couldnt tell what she was thinking. Maybe that the daub could nt be denied but that she herself wasnt involved.Winnie took a deep breath. Galen.Her face was still drawn and unhappy, but the burning animosity in her eyes was gone. She met Galens gaze directly.Tm sorry, she said. I shouldnt have said those things before. I know youre on our side. And Im not like those people who dont affirm the shapeshifters.Galen smiled at her faintly, but his eyes were serious. I dont know. Maybe you shouldnt trust us. There are things in our blood-you cant get rid of the dragon completely.It was strange. At that moment, his eyes looked not only dark but almost red to Keller. Exactly the opposite of their usual golden-green. It was as if a light were smoldering somewhere deep inside them. Then Winnie abruptly extended her hand across the table. I know you, she said. And theres nothing bad in your blood. I wont mistrust you again.Galen hesitated one instant, then reached out with something like gratitude and took her hand.Thanks, he whispered.Hey, if I were t he Witch Child, Id promise to you in a minute, Winnie said. Then she sniffled, but her smile was much more like the old Winnies smile.Keller glanced at Iliana almost casually and was riveted by what she saw.The girl had changed again. Now she didnt look like a princess or an ice maiden but like a very young soldier about to go into battle. Or maybe a human sacrifice who could save her kinship group by jumping into a volcano.Her hair seemed to shine, silvery and pale, and her eyes were deep, deep violet in her small face. Her slight shoulders were back, and her chin was determined.Slowly, staring at something invisible in the center of the table, Iliana stood up.As soon as the motion drew their attention, the others fell quiet. It was obvious to everyone that something important was happening.Iliana stood there, her hands clenched by her sides, her chest procession and falling with her breathing. Then she looked at Galen. Finally, she looked at Keller.Tm not the Witch Child any mor e than Winnie is. And I think you know that by now. But She took a breath, steadied herself.Keller held her own breath.But if you want me to pretend to be, Ill do it. Ill go to the promise ceremony with Galen-I mean, if hell do it with me. She gave a half-embarrassed glance at Galen, looking shy and almost apologetic.Will he ever Winnie said enthusiastically. Keller could have kissed her. Galen himself didnt rise to the articulation properly at all instead, he opened his mouth, looking uncertain.Fortunately, Iliana was going on. Then Ill go through with it. And maybe that will be enough for the shapeshifters to join with the witches, as long as they dont find out Im a fake. She looked unhappy. She was so adamant that for a moment Keller was shaken. Could it be she wasnt the Wild Power? But no. Keller knew she was. She just hasnt awakened her power yet. And if she continued to deny it, she never would.She said, Thank you, Iliana. You dont know how much, how many lives youre going to save. Thank you.Then the excitement got the better of her, and she took Iliana by the arm and gave her a sort of shaking wrench of affection.Youre a trooper Winnie said, and hugged her hard. I knew youd come through all the time, I really did.Nissa smiled at her with real(a) approval. Galen was smiling, too, although there was something in his eyesTheres just one thing, Iliana said a little bit breathlessly, detrition her arm where Keller had gripped it.Ill do this. I said I would. But I have two breaks.Kellers excitement deflated. Conditions?You can have anything you want, Winnie said, blinking away happy tears. Cars, clothes, booksNo, no, I dont want things, Diana said. What I mean is, Im doing this because I cant just stand around and not do anything when stuff like that is going on. She shivered. I have to do anything I can to help. But. Im still not the right person. So the first condition is that while Im pretending to be the Wild Power, you guys have somebody out looking for the real one.Keller said smoothly, Ill tell Circle Daybreak. Theyll keep looking and checking other Harmans. Theyll do it for as long as you want them to.They would, too. It was a small price to pay.And the other condition? Keller asked.I want to go to Jaimes party on Saturday.Instant uproar. Even Nissa was talking over people. Keller cut short her own exclamations and gestured for everybody to shut up.Then she looked Diana dead in the eye.Its impossible. And you know its impossible. Unless youve found a way to be in two places at once.Dont be stupid, Diana said. That small, determined chin was tight. I mean before the promise ceremony thing. I want to go just for an hour or two. Because shes one of my very best friends, and shes gotten attacked twice because of me.So what? Youre already making it up to her. Youre saving her life and her twin brothers life and her parents lives-No, Im not. Im faking being a Wild Power when I know it isnt true. Im acting a lie. There were tears in Dianas eyes now. But Im not going to hurt Jaimes feelings, and Im not going to break my promise to her. And thats that. So if you want me to go through with your little charade, Ill do it, but I want to go to the party first.There was a silence.Well, shes stubborn, Ill give her that, Keller thought. erst she decides on something, she absolutely wont be budged on it. I guess that will be helpful when the Wild Powers fight the darkness someday. But right now, it was simply infuriating.Keller drew a very long breath and said, Okay.Winnie and Nissa looked at her sharply. They hadnt expected her to give in so fast, and they were undoubtedly wondering if their boss had some trick up her sleeve.