Project X

The Way it Began: Gold

CHAPTER FOUR

GOLD

    The entrance to the club looked pretty normal, as far as I could tell. Well, I'm assuming, I've never been inside of a nightclub before. Even the bouncer looked like a normal guy. Well, a normal, scrawny, teenage guy. Well. Mostly. He had a scraggly black afro that was only about a half a shade darker than his skin, which made his crazy blue eyes look like they were about to pop out of his face, and he wore a black polo shirt and loose, dark jeans. But, he towered over me. The guy must've been at least seven feet tall. And he looked like a tenor; but, when the guy spoke, it was probably the scariest bass I'd ever heard.

    "Species."

    "Species?" The guy's eyes flashed over at Kaili, and she immediately shut up. He sighed, and tried again.

    "Obviously you're new. What kind of cryptid are you?"

    "I'm afraid we don't understand?" Kai tried again. The guy boredly referred to his clipboard.

    "Moon Child, Songstress, Earth Child, Fire Child, Water Child, Hypnotic, Immortal, Demi-God, Seraphim, Demon, Mutant, Shape-Changer-" Irwin leaned around me,

    "Is there a sub-division for 'Science Experiment Gone Wrong'?" He gave Irwin a look.

    "Are you trying to tell me you're the Incredible Hulk?" Irwin grinned,

    "Oh, man, I like you." I shot him a look, then returned my attention to the bouncer.

    "We're Shape-Changers." He crossed his arms over his chest.

    "What do you change into?"

    "Cheetah."

    "Dragon."

    "Wolf." The bouncer gave us another look, like we really were new to this, and also totally stupid. He pointed to Kai,

    "Shape-Changer." He pointed to me, "Shape-Changer, Fire Child." and then, he pointed to Irwin, "Werewolf." Irwin's jaw dropped.

    "Are you kidding me?! Even when something cool finally happens to me, it's still the most cliched thing that can possibly happen! I'm not a werewolf! I wasn't even bitten by anything!" The guy shrugged,

    "Sorry, kid. I don't make the rules. Some people are just born with it."

    "And what are you?"

    "Kai-" I started to reprimand her, but the guy smiled for the first time in our encounter. It was a weird mix of unnerving and amiable, I didn't know whether to tremble or smile back. He held his hand out, palm up, and we watched as a tiny flame popped up in the center. The flame danced around his hand for a moment before dimming, then turned into a piece of obsidian. It was shaped like a rose, and about the size of an infant's fist. He handed it to Kaili, and I swear to God she blushed as she took it. Strangers being nice is more than her awkward aro/ace mind could handle.

    "I am a Seer and a Magi." He told us. Then, he looked directly at Kai, "Do not lose that." She had the black rose gripped tightly in her hand,

    "I won't." He put his hand over hers, so they were both holding the rose, and he looked at her intensely,

    "But, you will." His gaze softened, "I am begging you not to. I see good in all three of you, and I see your battle with evil. Kaili, if you lose that stone, it is a battle you will not win." He released her hand and looked at all three of us again, he had the air of someone delivering a prophecy,