Statera - The Balanced One

Chapter Seven

Many nights had passed since that night in the pasture. I had yet to see Dad in my dreams and worried if he'd visit again. Finally, on the sixth night, he returned with Mom in tow. When I said "Lycan," their reactions were unmistakable and immediate. They were mortified.

"Zora, you need to stay away from that boy. You don't realize the danger you're in," Dad told me earnestly.

I thought back to the night Keitan and I shared our secrets and remembered how scared I'd been when he'd taken hybrid form. As I stood there revisiting that crazy experience, the aggression I'd felt in that form came flooding back. My cheeks flushed hotly as I remembered, in vivid detail, just how unpredictable and promiscuous my thoughts had been. And—I still suffered from the shame that came after.

"Trust me, Dad, I know all about his potential to be dangerous."

"Zora, you need to listen to your father; he knows what's best for you," Mom said with conviction.

Even in death, I understood they held old-fashioned ideals. Still, Mom always took it above and beyond "being traditional."

"No, Mom, I don't, and for once, Dad doesn't. Keitan is the best thing that's happened to me since ...," I couldn't bring myself to say the obvious—since their murder. "I won't shut him out simply because he was born different. In case you haven't noticed, we weren't born normal either."

"What do you mean born different?" Dad asked.

"I don't know how to make that any clearer. Keitan came out of his mother and into the world as a Lycan—only in Human Form. At least, I think he came out in Human Form. I'll have to ask him about that, but either way, he was born. Why does that make a difference anyway? You have to be born to exist."

"Zora, it was Afflicted Lycans who killed your mother and me. They are unbelievably powerful creatures. They can overpower almost any supernatural being because of an ability called wrought. It allows them to redirect and twist abilities, talents, giftings, and traits to make them useless to their users. It's a built-in trait for them. I always morphed when prey or danger was near, but if you recall, my body wasn't found that way. Instead, I was found in human form because I couldn't change when we were attacked."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. A sense of dread rose and spread. I started shaking my head. There was no way Keitan's kind killed them—it couldn't be true. Dad saw my distress and hugged me.

"Calm down, Zora. I haven't finished yet. You say your friend is a Natural Lycan, which makes a difference. It is also hard to believe. Naturally occurring lycans are extremely rare. The lycans who killed us did so to harvest our supernatural energy. It's how they make themselves stronger. These were the afflicted versions of your friend and the ones you need to worry about. Suppose your friend is truly a natural lycan. In that case, he can explain the nature of afflicted lycans. Talk to him. Most of the time, the Natural Lycan won't be your enemy. But like with Gnáths, there are good and bad individuals among the supernatural races."

I stood there, completely silent, stunned by the new information. I finally knew exactly what had been responsible for my parents' deaths, and my heart filled with rage. I had to be insane to want to kill another living soul. But, I concluded that some part of me must be insane because my thoughts were homicidal.

I tried coming to grips with my reality and failed by the time Dad spoke again.

"There is more, Zora. The afflicted lycans who killed us were tracking—you. At least, that is what the she-cat said. They were the minions of a much more powerful Afflicted that means to harvest your supernatural core. Now that you have started your Calling, your scent will be strong because your core is strong. Your life aura burns so brightly that it's almost blinding. We knew your traits and abilities would be strong when we had you. We never imagined your core would be as strong as it is. This Dominant Afflicted, Senka, means to kill you. Her minion said as much."