Deviant (Blendling Trilogy #1)

Chapter Thirteen

They all started suggesting which strength to choose. Mum wanted me to choose to become a fire elemental like dad. Gerry wanted me to be an air elemental like her and mum. The twins and their mother were unanimous in their bid to make me like them, a wizard. Only Cameron was quiet. I chanced a glance at him and he smiled weakly with a little shake of his head. Cam was a hothead and rarely thinks things through before committing. But as we both listened to the women arguing the finer points of their choices, I could tell he was thinking; listening and discarding their opinions as they came. He finally put a stop to it all.

"You all are correct" he finally interrupted loudly. "But sentiments aside, we want what's best for him. While being a fire elemental is good, we need to remember that a fire elemental is fueled by his element, fire. Ace cannot go about starting fires" he said to mum. He turned to his mother "Although air is everywhere, he shouldn't choose that because the wind cannot be tamed. You saw what happened the last time he used that ability, he almost created a tornado. He doesn't have the discipline."
"Hey..." I protested.
"No offense dude but you're impulsive and lack training" he looked at me and I squirmed "If you'd allow yourself to be trained, you'll make a cool air elemental"
"Teenagers are rebellious by nature" Jacqueline said, eyeing her daughters who just gave twin grins. It was obvious they gave her constant headaches.
"A wizard needs training and Ace could easily train with the twins but aunt Char wouldn't allow that. Plus I'm fairly certain Jacqueline will relish teaching him the dark arts. Therefore wizardry is out of it, unless we can find another teacher."
"Well said Cam" mum beamed at him in pride. He flushed and looked away in embarrassment.
"What else have you done" Belle asked and I blushed. Mum frowned at her and she glared back. Gerry answered as I was tongue tied, again.

"Well he's been a Healer, Seer, Wizard, Empath, Herman, Werewolf, Warlock, Incubus, Nature spirit, Elemental and Telepath. He has also used telekinesis, speed, strength and endurance" Gerry she finished.
"Impressive" Jacqueline said
"Don't forget he can fly" Cam said "Without wings"
"I didn't fly, I levitated" I said
"If you can levitate, you can fly if you practice" he said and mum scowled.
"You already ruled out fire and air, I'm assuming it's safe to rule out elemental abilities?" Belle asked. They all nodded and I scowled
"Rule out nature completely" Gerry said and I felt betrayed because the first time I used that ability, I'd used it to grow her cherry blossoms out of their season.
"Telepathy is often a result of empathy" Jacqueline said
"I think we should rule that out. Empaths are subject to the emotions around them. We can't take the risk that he won't be influenced by dark emotions." Cam said. The ladies nodded.
"Speed, endurance and strength come from werewolf genes." Jacqueline said "If he's as bad with emotions as you say, he'll be uncontrollable during full moons"
"I wouldn't choose Herman, healer or seer either" mum said. "They are coveted by the Council and we want our family as far from the council as possible"
"That leaves incubus and warlock" Sherry said, contributing for the first time.
"Charlotte wouldn't approve of either" Jacqueline said in glee. Mum just scowled
"Bass attends regular warlock guild meetings" Gerry said. "They submit reports regularly to the Blended Council."
"Yes" Jacqueline smiled "We want our family as far from the council as possible" she mimicked mums voice.
"So Incubus" Cameron said. Mum glared murderously at him "Okay..."
"Can't I just use another ability now?" I said to pacify mum.
"No!" She cried. "We cannot risk further corruption to your core."

Jacqueline suddenly laughed uproariously.
"What?" The twins asked together.
"This is rich" she said, rubbing her palms together "Virtuous Charlotte has a deviant son"
"He's not deviant" mum defended furiously. They started trading loud insults and the rest of us just watched in interest. When they ran out of steam, we resumed our talk as if they never argued.
"What happened with Macy" Gerry asked. I blushed and looked at my converse clad feet. Everyone was looking at me curiously, and Belle was sitting up, staring intently at me.
"We had sex" I said in embarrassment
"Details" Jacqueline grinned "What did you do?"
"Why is this necessary?" Cam defended
"Incubi are all leeches. There are three kinds: Blood Incubi, cousins to vampires. During the first war, blood incubi sided with Blendeds and were later disowned by the vamps. Next are the Nymphs or sex incubi, they can charm the pants off any human and majority of Odda. Nymphs spread pheromones that causes arousal and humans can get addicted to them if they ingest their body fluids. Last are the Spirit Incubi. They feed off emotions and can influence weak minds to do anything. All Incubi are strong, fast and lethal.
Some Nymphs can teleport, I assume it's a survival instincts that gets them out of sticky situations. Blood incubi can fly like vampires. They are cunning and untrustworthy so they are shunned by all Odda. They are at the bottom of the pyramid." Jacqueline graciously explained to her daughters while I tried to crawl under the chair in embarrassment. Mum was looking at me in disbelief.

"Oh" Belle said in disappointment "So which are you?"
"I dunno" I said "With Macy, I think I was a nymph. But I can influence minds and like Cam said, I will be able to fly of I practice. Is it possible to be all?"
"I suppose so. All Incubi come from one ancestor" Jacqueline said "A fusion must have happened, like if a blood and spirit incubus have a child, there's a fusion. The child is both"
"In your case, three fuses" Gerry said
"I don't want him to be an incubus. The council believe he's a fire elemental" mum said, grasping at straws. But it was obvious I was choosing to be an Incubus, it was the least of all evils.
"The council has bigger fish to fry" Jacqueline said.
"Roarke Parker killed an old succubus on the Tennessee Council last week. They believe he's after them so they're all in hiding" I verified. I hated acknowledging any relationship to the man. "Besides, Incubi are immune to the elements. I can still pretend to be a fire elemental if need be."

Mum sighed in defeat and Jacqueline grinned. Somehow, I think she expected this outcome and manipulated us along the way to this conclusion. But I didn't care because I knew I'd live. I could face the consequence of my actions later.
"Let's do this!" Cameron enthused.