Why did you persist with this cause lithe? I told you it would only end in sorrow, that your heart would only be broken. These Perpetuum, these unchanging, they will never love us; they are only scared of us. They hunt us when we become careless. They will never accept you. But what do I know. You left this cold world, you left your sorrowful story for me to tell, these memories you’ve gifted me have not been wanted. But a father would never deny a son his last wish. In these memories you will be remembered my lithe, my son.
“Lithe, why do you linger on this rooftop, your father has ordered you away. Please leave this place, he will order us to use force, none of us want that. You, who have been one of our leaders for most of this century, the greatest mutante to ever walk this world; changing since the age of 3. What I need to know is why you have turned your back on us. Why have you left your people, the closest thing to family you have ever had?”
“Because I am no longer interested in stealing. Never has there been respite. I found something worth more than all the gold that has passed these hands. The same hands that blessed Julius Caesar as he passed into the void. The hands that tore down a dozen civilizations and helped rebuild again. These hands are done with thievery and politics my dear Christian. I’ve found something worth a thousand years, worth losing my powers of choosing my form. Her name, if I could only tell you the letters my heart sings for. The syllables to set my heart ablaze. But alas I cannot; for fear these things will be used against my heart. But do not worry, I am leaving.”
He turned and walked silently from Christian, towards the open stairwell leading back down. In his chest a familiar burning yearned. As he left the lair of his order, sadness for his betrayal to his friends and family was no where in his heart. Only a need, as important as breathing, eating or sleeping filled him. I must see her again. With that final thought he made his way away from a country side near San Diego. He traveled north, for in the north his heart was searching. Kahlin, unknown to you I am coming my love. Soon you will know the meaning of soul mate as I have learned since first looking upon your eyes. I remember every detail. It was nearly a month ago, I was in a guise of a businessman. Tall, also thin with hints of a very physical body. Everything about the form I took that day was meant to display power. I wore a very expensive suit reminiscent of my days in the mafia, years before any of you were born, sleek black hair barely visible under a fedora. Blood red was the color of the tie I wore. People avoided my gaze as a rabbit does a wolf. For in that day, I was hunting a very specific prey. The office building I entered was pitiful compared to those of older and better civilizations. How you Perpetuum seem to lose touch with grandeur before you fall as so many before you have. I approached a secretary; I memorized everything about her appearance. She looked up and smiled.
“Can I help you sir?” she asked somewhat quieter than she meant to. In those few words I committed her voice to a recess in my mind holding her appearance.
“I am looking for a man that works here.” I replied. My voice was deep and rich, always intimidating.
“His name sir?” she asked, her voice growing faint.
“Mr. Bennet.” I replied with a smile; trying to ease her discomfort.
“Mr. Bennet is not expecting anyone mister…” she said trying to sound confident. No matter what guise we mutante assume, or form we choose to wear; the Perpetuum never are comfortable around us. They can sense that all is not well whenever we are in proximity to them. They sense a predator in their midst.
“Mr. Lithe, tell Mr. Bennet that it is a matter of most urgency. And I will not leave till my audience with him is granted.” I replied, and was satisfied as she rose from her chair and walked away from her desk. She turned away from me intending to leave the room. Silence is a skill honed to mastery that every Mutante spends years improving. As she turned away from me I moved. Quick as a hawk pursuing a mouse; I grabbed her from behind. She squirmed and tried to flee me. For over half a millennia I have stalked this earth, no Perpetuum escapes me. By the time she blinked, I had her unconscious. I froze for a minute, absorbing through the touch of our skin. The mutante is a shape shifter; legends of us have circulated for thousands of years. But in order to shift, we need to build the trifecta. Meaning we need to see our prey, hear them speak, and most importantly feel their skin against ours. This last part of the Trio Verso, our trifecta; is where we gain the largest amount of information needed to assume that guise. We absorb all the traits and memories the particular Perpetuum have. Meaning, when we assume a new guise, we inherit all of the strengths and flaws a Perpetuum has to offer. Allergies down to their likes and dislikes. This last act of completing the Trifecta is where Mutante are separated by skill and natural ability. I can absorb a Perpetuum and use the guise with a single cell touching theirs, and the shift within the span of two blinks of your eyes. I am among the most elite of the Mutante, Lesser than none, equal to very few.
I carried the body of the young Perpetuum named Angela into a janitor’s closet and shut the door behind me. I closed my eyes and focused on the touch of her flesh against mine, the sight of her slight body, and the sound of her voice. Suddenly every bone in my body started breaking and morphing into the shape my ancient mind willed it to assume. Shifting is painful, the most pain any creature will ever feel is felt by those of us with the gift. After what seemed an eternity, I was her. I knew everything about her, her diet problems down to every intimate moment she has ever shared. Her thoughts threatened to overtake mine as I exited the small room and locked the door behind me. The will of some Perpetuum can be ever as equal as any Mutante. And the danger in shifting is that you will be lost. A perfect copy of your last prey, an abomination to everyone and everything. I started gaining dominion over her mind as I walked office to office, with each step the clawing of her thoughts seemed to dull. As I walked I greeted the other employees by name and with words and attitudes Angela would use herself. It wasn’t until the elevator I entered on the top floor slowed to a stop that he scratching against my will ceased. I found myself outside the door of the CEO Mr. Bennet. I knocked and waited for a reply, which the courteous Mr. Bennet provided in almost an instant.
“Come in.” replied a voice sluggish with exhaustion. I committed his voice, and opened a grand wooden door. As I entered a somewhat lavish office decorated with paintings and other displays of wealth and taste; I saw the man for which the reason I came. His appearance already in memory.
“Welcome Angela, What gives me the fine pleasure of your presence today?” he asked with the air of a man used to answers.
“We have business to attend to Mr. Bennet.” I replied with the sweet and plain voice birthed to Angela.
“And what business would that be?” he asked clearly a little puzzled.
I chose that moment to shift back to my previous business man guise.
He yelled out in surprise and slightly cowered behind his desk; clearly scared for his life.
“Well we have to discuss this merger you seem to think is going to happen next week.” I replied with an air of power. Intimidation is second nature to us Mutante.
“What are you talking about? Who are you? What do you want?” he asked frantically.
“Your merger will not come to pass. Or I will be back. I am a shape shifter; I can assume any shape that strikes me. If you continue with this business, you will see your life forfeit. Goodbye Mr. Bennet.” With a flourish and a look I left the room. I could hear the pathetic Bennet stammering
