City of Lies

Chapter 23 - New Breed

The five of us have been hiking up the mountain for about an hour now. The grass is perfectly green but mushy from the rain. Roots from trees stick out and I occasionally trip. The sky is bright blue and without clouds but it's still pretty chilly. Sometimes a fox would scurry across the ground to get back to its home.

Jane gets tired and starts complaining so we stop to rest. We stop by a cave and a lake surrounded by a bunch of trees. It seems like we're about half way up the small little mountain. We decided to go to the top and travel across to get to the Down Worlders territory.

We hear a rustling noise from inside the cave and I jump back. Jane stands up quickly from the rock she was sitting on. "What was that?" Jane falsely asks nervously.

The noise becomes louder and I can hear scratching on the walls. I back up a bit. Soon huge creature that looks like a demon comes out. It has talons and ocean blue eyes. Chase quickly gets a sword out from the infinity pack and gets into a fighting position.

Quickly the creature grabs me by its large claws and runs over to the lake to hover me above it. I look below and it looks deep and it's filled with fish and...snakes? I scream and kick in the air. Snakes have been my biggest fear ever since I was little. I've been bitten by one and got terribly sick.

"I don't mean harm," all of us are shocked when we hear the creature speaks. "I'm not a demon, I promise."

Lacey has a confused look on her face. I can tell she's trying to figure out if the creature is figuring out if it's lying or not. "Then why are you hovering me over a lake!" I yell and kick again.

"I panicked," the creature hovers me above ground now. I would cross my arms if they were free. "My name is Nathan Hail."

The creature is a boy. I've never met someone with an ability to transform into a creature like this. Maybe he's a shapeshifter? Nathan puts me down and white flames start to go around him. It's bright and when I look back he looks like a normal, maybe seventeen year old, boy. Nathan doesn't look bad, he has brown curly hair and ocean blue eyes.

"Okay, what the hell are you?" Chase asks putting the sword away. I don't know why he would even get it out because he can kill demons, and possibly humans, with just his power.

"I'm Immortal," Nathan studies the five of us. "And I'm guessing you guys are too?"

Lacey nods still trying to figure out if he's lying or not. Why can't she figure it out?

"I know my ability is weird but I guess someone has to have a kind of ability like mine," he chuckles at his own joke.

"Wait, if you're immortal why haven't I seen you in Colina?" I ask not entirely believing what he's saying.

"Because I'm from the Forgotten Territory."

"I live there too and I haven't seen you around," Chase crosses his arms. I don't think he fully believes him either. Jane and Matthew seem to believe him and I think Lacey is beginning to too.

"Well, I live in the Forgotten Territory near the Broken. I wanted to leave because I'm going to go see some Down Worlders," Nathan explains. Chase still doesn't seem to buy it but I'm starting to believe him.

"We're going there too!" Jane says perky. "It'd be great if you'd join us."

I sat silently under my breath as she tries to flirt with Nathan. But I guess I should be happy so she can leave Chase alone. I look over at Chase and he's studying Nathan. I look over at Jane and she shoots a quick side look at Chase. Maybe she's just trying to make Chase jealous? Ugh.

"If it's fine with everyone else I'd be happy too," Nathan replies looking at all of us.

Eventually we all agree for Nathan to come with us. We eat lunch before starting to hike again.

•••••••••••••••••••••••

It's dark now. It's been a long and tiring day. By now everyone but Chase believes that Nathan is good. Even I believe that he is.

I help set up the tent with Lacey while Chase and Matthew go set up a fire. Jane and Nathan are sitting on a fallen tree talking. To be honest Nathan doesn't look really interested. There's probably not gonna be any demons out tonight because warlocks created this mountain.

"So, you and Chase?" Lacey winks and teases.

I sigh and look over to the trees to see where he is but I can't see him. "I don't know."

"But you like him, right?"

I sigh again. "I guess there's no point in lying to you? But yeah."

She squeals and claps like a little girl receiving a new Barbie. "I knew it!"

"Well partly because you can tell when I'm lying so," I laugh. "What about you and Matthew?"

She sighs out loud like she's in love. "Perfect. I didn't know I'd like him this much," she giggles and finished the last thing to make the tent stay up.

As we finish Chase and Matthew come back. The fire only takes about a minute for them to get running. I go to the fire to warm myself and because Chase is there.

"I don't trust Nathan," he says and he rubs his hands together. He must be cold too.

"Why?" I whisper back.

"Because just because he 'panics,'" he puts quoted fingers around the word panics. "Doesn't mean he has to hover you above a dirty lake. And plus I saw his eyes flash before he even spoke."

"What does eyes flashes mean?" I turn to look at him.

"It's a slight twinkle in your eye before anyone gets a vision through your mind. Like it happens to me and it must happen to you when your not sleeping."

I giggle a bit but then get serious. "Why would he get a vision and then say what he said?" I take a quick look over and now he's looks interested at Janes conversation.

"I don't know but that's why I don't trust him," he notices Jane and him now too. He wears an expressionless face but I'm hoping he's not jealous.

"Hey, I was wondering but what is Janes ability," I ask. I'm hoping to find out what Chase actually feels for her. I know he told me that he doesn't like her, but I'm very insecure.

Chase looks back at me. "Oh, she's a spirit walker. When she can go into anyone's mind or body if they're asleep or awake."

"Is that why Nathan is interested in her?" I look back at them and so does Chase.

He shrugs. "If could be, anyway I'm going back in the tent, you coming?"

I nod and follow him back. We don't stay up long because all of us are tired. Right when my head hits the pillow my eyes are shut and I'm asleep. Hopefully there will be no vision tonight.