Dez

 

Standing alone in the middle of my grandmother’s apartment, I gazed around and something I’d once read came into my mind.

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to see the ways that you yourself have changed.

In the mirror, I saw a straight-backed, serious-faced man, his face almost unfamiliar to me. Someone who was risking his life for a world he’d long only studied and seen from the sidelines.

Nelson Mandela was always poignant, but that hit home for me. I had changed.

I was filled with purpose. I knew what had to be done. And I was in love.

Soraya came out of the bathroom, finishing off a braid and securing it. She had her hair in several long goddess braids, similar to the style she'd worn to that first day of class. It seemed years ago now as she came over and smiled up at me.

Rubbing her cheekbone with my thumb, I said, “The University of Berkeley has one of the best programs in the country for my field, did you know that?”

Her eyes went wide. “I did not.”

“I haven’t taught there yet, but I’ve gotten offers. Might be a nice place to get tenure, even.”

“Dez,” Soraya said, her smile trembling. “I don’t want you to settle for me.”

“Now that’s rich,” I said. “Settling for you, Soraya Lafi.” I kissed her. “Never.”

“We’ll talk about it after,” Soraya said briskly, her chipper voice hiding her worry, but her eyes overflowing with it. “I’m glad to hear you’re thinking of it.”

“Summer in San Francisco,” I whispered. “Sounds amazing.”

“You’ll be spending a lot of time with the twins, Uncle Dez, to make up for these past few months of not being around.”

“You will be spending a lot of time with them, too,” I said.

“We will be, yes,” Soraya replied with a brave smile.

 

There had been a somberness in the air as I’d left the Shifters of Anubis. One that was following me down the winding alleys and riding on the cold breeze.

Everyone had a false kind of cheeriness, but their eyes were serious. Then the shifters Andrei had recruited to help had shown up and I knew it was time to go.

Standing outside the doors of the base Andrei had set up in an office building, I went down the line of people seeing me off. Shaking hands with Obi, Finni, Dara, and Andrei. Getting last words of advice. Hugging Roy and Kesari. Turning to Soraya.

Her eyes had blazed up at me, all silver fire. “You better be safe, Desmond Devoy.”

I pressed my forehead to hers. “I will be.”

At that, she’d pulled me down for one last kiss, surprising me. I’d thought we’d said our goodbyes in the apartment. Dara and Finni had let out wolf-whistles, while Kesari squealed.

Dazed, I’d stepped back and given her a smile. “Thanks.”

“Thank me by coming back safe,” she’d said, eyes burning into mine.

And I’d shifted, setting off alone into the night.

Stopping at the edge of a building not far from the wharf, I shifted back and studied the shadows around me. As of yet, I hadn’t met any guards, but I knew I was getting closer and that would soon change. Squinting at the new TLO warehouse, I noted something strange about the windows and realized they’d been poorly and hastily covered up.

As I walked forward, keeping an ear out, the air seemed to grow sharper and colder. The shadows were menacing, and movement flickered just out of sight. Clenching my fists, I waited as it came towards me and allowed myself to absorb the blow from what felt like a mountain. Hitting the ground hard, I let out a grunt of pain as I skidded several feet.

“Oh, I know you,” said a familiar, bored female voice.

Evie and her two brothers, currently in their bear forms, were staring down at me. Their eyes were wide and blank, while hers were narrowed.

“Evening,” I said, getting to my feet slowly. “I’m here to see Parasite.”

One of the brothers shifted back and glared at me. “This is that professor who chased us off the other night – the King Cheetah!” His lip curled. “You stopped me from getting my revenge, boy.”

“Hush, Preston,” Evie said and she looked back at me. “Parasite’s been expecting you.”

With a stiff nod, I followed her and Preston while Henrik brought up the rear. I resisted the urge to feel my inside pocket where the smoke bomb was residing. At the warehouse door, two lean wolf shifters were guarding and they sniffed the air suspiciously.

Evie knocked and someone inside opened the door. Swallowing hard, I followed them inside and tried to remain cool. At least Henrik had stopped at the doors, that was something of a relief.

It was brightly lit inside. The main room was huge and tall, the ceiling made up of huge skylights and I thought I saw movement in one. Underneath were giant fans, their blades webbed with ropes of dust and rusted over.

But on the floor, everything was shiny and people were bustling like bees. Boxes were being packed feverishly before being lifted and carried out a side door, where a strong scent of the ocean was coming through. Craning my neck, I caught a glimpse of a boat waiting beyond and panic gripped me momentarily. This really is our last shot.

“Visitor!” Evie called out and I followed her line of sight.

Parasite was masked again and talking to Brissett, the drug runner Andrei had shown me a picture of the other day. They were standing in the thick of things, both of them watching the operation. When Parasite heard Evie and saw me, however, he broke off and his eyes glittered.

Coming over, he inclined his head and said, “I knew you’d come. Especially after I heard you did impressively against the Valspars the other day – ran them off to save your girl… I knew it would only be a matter of time before you sought to keep this glorious gift from us.”

“My form has been unstable,” I lied, trying hard not to swallow or fidget.

“Has it?” Parasite asked, cocking his head, then he recovered. “Not surprising. We can help, of course. Anything for a king cheetah.”

“What do you want in exchange?” I asked, trying to determine the best place to lob the smoke bomb. When he didn’t answer, I forced a sigh and glanced at the ceiling. There was a smoke alarm not even ten yards to my left. “I’m not joining the TLO.”

Looking back down, I saw Evie giving me a strange look, but Parasite distracted me, saying in mock sadness, “Then I’m afraid we have a problem.”

At that, Preston suddenly grabbed me and I winced as he pinned my arms behind my back. Evie looked at Parasite, who nodded and she walked off.

“Be right back, Prof,” she called back with a wink.

Trying to remain calm, I stared straight at Parasite. “What the hell is this?”

“Oh, Professor Devoy, the power of suggestion is a miraculous thing is it not?” Parasite grinned at me. “Here is the delicious irony. There’s nothing wrong with you, at least from what I can tell. Your problems are in your head – you’re a shifter. A rare king cheetah. And now you’re ours.”

I pretended to struggle and Preston pinned me harder. “Like hell I am!”

“You are. You’re a curious specimen and Frost has been dying to get her hands on you. You’ll serve us until she’s done with you. And then, I don’t know, she’ll mount you on a wall or divvy up your body parts among your relatives.” My mouth went dry with horror as Parasite nonchalantly shrugged. “Whatever pet she’s in that day, Desmond, old boy.”

Evie was coming back and I squinted at the metal circle in her hands. Then my blood ran cold as I realized what it was.

A collar.

Exactly like the ones in the footage Merv’s friend had got.

I could hear Andrei’s voice in my mind. When the plan goes to shit…

Pretending to sag, Preston’s grip loosened and I broke free, swinging around and knocking him out with one well-placed blow to the jaw. He went flying, slamming into his sister and I turned around, ducking Parasite’s blow. Reaching into my jacket, I pulled out the smoke bomb.

His eyes went wide and he tripped trying to chase after me. "Stop him!" Parasite shrieked. 

But it was too late, I’d thrown it through the air. For a moment, I forgot everything else as I watched it soar through the air. Then, suddenly it landed in an outstretched fist.

My stomach sank. It was Henrik – he’d come out of nowhere.

“Nice try, Prof,” he taunted.

No! Without the smoke – our plan won’t work, I thought.

Whipping around, I barely fended off Parasite as he threw blow after blow at me. “Evie,” he panted. “Get me that damn collar!”

I placed a kick on Parasite’s chest and knocked him back. Then, I began to run towards Henrik and he tossed the smoke bomb up in the air. What an idiot!

Struck with inspiration, I shouted, “No, don’t break it!”

Henrik gave me a contemptuous look and squeezed it tightly in his hand. Immediately smoke gushed forth and he dropped it with a roar of surprise.

“Ha!” I shouted in triumph as the smoke curled up and hit the fire alarm.

Bedlam ensued as workers began to flee the exits, even as the TLO members were shouting at them to stay put. I couldn’t see Brissett in the crowd and I was just about to shift, to chase him when Parasite appeared out of nowhere. He slammed me down to the ground, pinning me there.

I knocked him off and stood up, but then Preston was there, catching my arms and holding them behind my back. Parasite reared back up, kicking my legs out from under me and I fell heavily onto my knees, Preston still pinning me.

Evie appeared then and I saw the metal in her hands.

I struggled and almost threw Preston off, but Parasite was holding me as well. Evie was getting closer and closer. A bolt of panic went through me as I saw her feet and looked up.

Cold metal slid around my neck.

And then, that final, fatal click.

Parasite let me go and stepped around so I could see him, laughing all the while. He pulled out a remote from his jacket and grinned at me. “You're ours now.”