Mirabel's Doppelganger

Chapter 9: Out in The Open

"Y/n where are-"

Camilo appeared in the doorway of the secret room, and it seemed to take a second before he realized what he was looking at because he froze and then in a second he was bounding towards me.

His body was shifting between forms, and he straight up shoved me out of the room and shifted into a giant bear completely blocking the doorway so I could no longer see inside.

I opened my mouth to apologize and he roared at me. I was taken aback and before he was even finished making that sound he was shifting back into himself apologizing profusely as he closed the door to the room.

As soon as it was closed he took a couple of tentative steps towards me

"How much did you see in there?" He asked sheepishly.

"What is that room? And why am I on the wall," I asked in return.

"Tell me what you saw first and then I will answer some of your questions."

I stepped towards him to navigate around the back of the sofa to sit down, and he shifted as if to block the concealed room.

He really doesn't want me to see something in there.

I held up a hand to let him know I was just going to sit down, and he relaxed.

I decided to be honest because he genuinely seemed terrified about what I saw.

"The walls created pictures in gold, the only ones I saw were you holding a child, and one of me." I plopped down on the comfy cushion and turned my head to look at him.

"Now answer one of my questions."

He looked at the hidden door again and with a deep breath walked over to sit on the chair across from me.

He cracked a smile, "Could I answer any other question besides the two you have already asked?"

I tilted my head and just looked at him.

His smile faded, "Was worth a shot."

"What is that room?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "What I'm about to tell you has to stay between us. I'm worried enough about what you will think of me afterward. I don't need my cousins finding out. There will be no end to the teasing."

I nodded my head, and placed my hand on my heart, "I swear."

"You know that my gift is shape-shifting right? And in theory, it sounds awesome doesn't it?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I suppose so." I studied him, his green eyes were avoiding mine, and he looked so different from usual, he wasn't his normal mischievous cocky self.

"Well, it's not." His eyes met mine and held my gaze, making me squirm and look away. "Don't get me wrong it's great but it's not all good."

I thought about my gift, and how I felt similar about my illusions most days. In theory, they were amazing but in practice not so much.

"How so?" I questioned.

"When I shift into someone or something I don't just take on their appearance. In order to mimic them accurately I take on their feelings, their hobbies, the things they love and hate. Everything a person feels goes into their voice and expressions, their body language. So the longer I stay as them the more I lose myself."

"Wow," I whistled.

That would be horrible.

"Yeah," he said absent-mindedly.