Shapeshifter *ON HOLD*

Chapter Three

Someone had been watching Agnes the whole time.

Agnes delved her surroundings for escape. But the trees girded her and lattices of leaves hung over her head. Her legs were much too jaded to move either way.

She was dead meat. This secret would get out, and she would surely die.

The footfalls partnered with the crunching of leaves came closer.

Agnes scrunched her eyes shut, the amber of the sun filling her vision. She waited and waited for what seemed like an eternity, until her eyes opened a line and she saw the mysterious someone.

Her gaze trailed to the someone's face, and she was not prepared for the prettiness she now regarded. Raven black hair fell in waves to her shoulder, fine and smooth. Heart-shaped lips and long lashes gave her a kind look. When Agnes gazed at the girl's eyes, however, she felt chills scurry down her spine.

Those eyes. They were green. Green as precious emeralds, green as the lush leaves of a tree, green as the wavering northern lights against the deep night sky. They were ominous, a sparkle of cunning and knowing in them.

"Are you okay?" the girl asked, reaching out her hand to help Agnes up.

"Yes...yes...thanks," Agnes stuttered, not sure how to reply to a stranger who could possibly know her secrets. Why did she seem so familiar?

"A Shapeshifter huh?" she queried, tilting her head at Agnes, "I thought so."

A flower of terror bloomed in Agnes, drinking in the water of fear and light of anxiety.

She knows.

"Who are you? How do you know that?" Agnes found her voice at last, though her words were imbued with trepidation.

"Let's just say I've been watching you the whole time. You have outstanding control of your power," the girl remarked, nodding at her.

"Who are you though? How do you know this about Shapeshifting?" Agnes wondered, and realized that the girl had refused to answer who she was.

"Hmmm...all I can say is that I have a friend...who told me about Shapeshifting...and...never mind," she tipped her head down to examine her nails.

"You've avoided this question twice now. Who are you?" 

"Someone who has all the knowledge of Shapeshifting. Call me Karmen."

Agnes fell deep in thought, her mind wandering. Someone who knows her curse. Confusion grazed her mind, and she frowned. 

"I have a message for you. Meet me on the east coast of Franden Lake tomorrow, when the night annihilates the day, the time when the sky is dyed violet," Karmen informed her. Then with a curt nod, she walked stiffly away.

She wants to meet me at twilight, Agnes thought. As far as she knew, twilight was the time when many animals were active, which meant she was prone to Shapeshifting. 

On her way home, she paused to take in the magnificent scene in the distance. The sun was nearly immersed by the mountains which loomed over the land. The lonely cry of a gyrfalcon vibrated in the peaks. A lake gashed the twirling grasses clods of soil raised, glistening. Gold burnished clouds sailed in the sky, flushed with violet. The edges of the welkin were grasped by darkness, which obliterated the rest of day before Agnes knew it. 

          *          *         *

"Agnes! Where've you been?" Agnes's mother came rushing out of the house.

"Just for a walk in the woods," she answered.

"You got us all worried sick!" her mom shouted, wiping sweat off her brow.

"Not me though. The house is fine for me without her," Ethan piped up.

Agnes felt like she had been scalded. Acid squirmed up her throat, and a million retorts wanted to spill out of her mouth. But she resisted, gritting her teeth.

She ran up the stairs without a glance back. Hurling the door of her bedroom closed, she swore under her breath. 

Franden Lake tomorrow at twilight. Karmen's voice chimed.

"I'll be there," Agnes whispered,"It's not like I have much of a choice."