Elarayne - What Am I?

Chapter 5

I was small. Really small. My feet were tiny but I still had shoes. My hands were tiny too and I was wearing a dress. Something feels strange on my back. I touched my back... I had wings?! After the moment of shock I realised I was a fairy. I didn't even know they existed.

Suddenly I was taken up. It was Alexander? What is going on here?

"Elena? Are you alright?", Alexander asked.

I couldn't say anything. I wanted to but I couldn't.

"It's alright. You don't have to speak. It seems like your true nature shows itself. Finally. It is time."

"True... nature?", I thought to myself,"Has it something to do with my dreams? Every time I turn into an animal. That isn't normal. Think Elena think! The legends tell of shapeshifters with the ability to turn themselves into every creature in the world. My dreams in which I am an animal... Am... am I a shapeshifter?", I thought.

"You have the power of shapeshifting.", Alexander said.

He did it again. I didn't say anything yet he answers my questions. I would try it again.

"The power of shapeshifting? What does that mean?", I thought but I knew Alexander could hear it or whatever.

"You finally understood that I can read your mind. I will have to explain that later. Now to your question: It is a power only born to those immortal. I won't explain more now. I will have to show you. Later. Turn back into your human form. You can do it."

Alexander put me onto the cold cave floor.

His answer gave me only more questions than answers... How could I turn back into my human form? I closed my eyes. I thought of ...well...humans. It must've worked because I could feel every part of my body growing.

As I felt that everything had stopped growing I opened my eyes. I looked into Alexanders emerald green eyes.

"See? I told you that you can do it.", he said with a small smile on his face.

"What just happened?"

"You used your power of shapeshifting."

"What... I mean... How..."

"I'm sure you have questions."

"Yes. A lot, in fact. So shapeshifting is a power born to those immortal... Does that mean I am immortal?"

"We are immortal. I possess the power too.", Alexander said.

"Does that explain your eyes? They are shining again."

"Yes. The only way to identify a shapeshifting being is to look into its eyes. It's the only thing that can give you away. At times we can hide our eyes but it takes a lot of concentration. You have to be very calm. We have many different powers aside from turning into other creatures."

"How did you manage to hide your real eyes for such a long time?", I asked without letting him finish his talk.

"In every moment where I was alone I could stop hiding. The other moments I had to be very calm."

"Why did you hide this before me? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would you believe me if I would tell you that you're an immortal being that is able to turn into every being in the world? I think not."

"If I'm immortal... Why don't I know of it?"

"The cause is your accident. You lost your memory. The men used some kinds of ... I don't know what it was. They gave you some liquid. They made some experiments on you. That must be the reason that your eyes are normal all the time. It changed you. For centuries it seemed like you were a normal human. But your power is returning. It is - wait... I hear footsteps..."

Suddenly a troop of Savedians soldiers passed our way. We tried to hide but it was too late. They had already seen us. Not to mention Alexanders eyes. The soldiers looked at Alexander. They seemed very interested.

"His eyes are very interesting. Don't you think?", a soldier said.

"Yes... Do you think that...", the other soldier started.

"Think what?"

"Can't you see the blood and feathers over there?"

He meant the bird which we had for lunch.

"Do you think they're... shapeshifters... It looks like the forbidden magic they used. Blood magic.", the soldier said.

After the soldiers were done talking to each other they turned to us. We couldn't flee. We were in a cave after all. Not a very large cave. You could see the walls already from the outside.

"You there! We will take you both into custody. The king Arthur Savediennes the seventh will be very interested in this matter.", a soldier said.

"Leave her alone. She is just a refugee from the war. She just passed this way and noticed me just like you. She has nothing to do with it.", Alexander said.

"It's ok. Play with.", he said to me with his mind.

"Hmm.... She does look like a refugee... Still you should come with us. We will take you to Savedian where it is safe.", a soldier said to me.

"No. It's alright. I have to search my family. They must be here somewhere.", I told as a lie.

The soldiers nodded and put Alexander in hand cuffs. I left the cave and took a little bit distance but I always had an eye on them.

They held Alexander like the most dangerous criminal in the world although he didn't do anything. It hurt to see him like this. It would be a long foot march from former Javtaia to Savedian.

I would follow them all the way. I can't leave Alexander alone. He knew that. That's why he told the lie so that I could free him. I must do it.

But how?