Graced Feather

I Eat A Magical Bug. It Tastes Like Chicken

I stare at the girl, my brain trying valiantly to process her words.

"Come. I will show you we are sisters," the pale girl says. She starts walking off towards the doors. I glance over at Eris, and see her watching me. She nods, then turns her attention back to the current fight. I shrug, stand, and follow the girl. Even follows me, his tail wagging happily. Evan simply looks after us, a hopeless look on his face.

I exit the dining hall, and find the girl standing in the middle of the hallway, holding something in her hand. I edge closer, and the thing in her hand moves.

A bug. A beetle, by the looks of it. It looks ordinary at first glance, but then I see its eyes. As bright as jewels, the beetle's eyes are silver and gold, with slitted pupils like a snake.

I look up at the girl, and see her nod. I pick up the beetle in a delicate claw. It simply walks to my palm, and sits there, staring at me with its weird eyes.

"This beetle was created by my mother. Our mother, actually. If two people were to eat it, one half each, then they would be able to see if they are related. Your wolf friend will tell us if the correct image appears above both of our heads. If it does, then we are related. If it doesn't, then we aren't. Understand?"

The girl has a fast way of talking. I look over at Even, and see him wag his tail. No sound comes from his throat, but I can tell he agrees. I look back at the girl, and split the beetle in half with one talon.

I give half of it to her, and keep half of it for myself. "Now, wolf. If the image of a woman appears above our heads, then we are related. But it has to be the same woman. Got it?" the girl asks. Even nods, and sits in between us, looking at both of us.

I take a breath, and bite down on the beetle. Its juices fill my mouth, and the scent of chicken floats upward into my nostrils. I sigh, then the sweet taste of fresh chicken turns sour. Fire burns my throat, and I try to open my beak.

I can't, though. My beak feels like it's glued shut. No matter how valiantly I try to open it, it won't open.

I see the girl drop to the ground, eyes rolled up in her head. Her long hair, colored like blades of autumn grass in the shade with stripes of gold, spans around her head like a halo.

Suddenly, blackness clouds my vision, and I feel myself hit the ground. The fire burns down my throat, boiling in my chest and stomach. My body spasms, and I feel my soul slipping away from me.

As suddenly as it started, the pain ends. I sit up, my vision slowly coming back. I see the girl sit up, her electric blue and dark brown-gold-copper eyes widening in surprise.

I look over at Even, and he nods. Woman. Floating. Pretty. Colorful eyes. Both, he signs, and I nod. The girl looks between us, then at me. "He says the same woman appeared above both of us. I guess that means you're my sister," I say. The girl's mouth splits into the most brilliant smile I've ever seen, and I feel myself smile back.

"So, what's our mother's name?" I ask. The girl looks up at me, and answers,"Annabeth. Though people call her Truther. I don't know who your father is, though." I nod, and look away, thinking about the mother I never knew, but who gave birth to this girl that I just met.

"And what's your name?" I ask, looking back at the girl. "Sophia," she answers. She starts walking back towards the dining hall, and I let her. I sit there, thinking, my mind lost in meaningless thoughts.

I only come back to myself when I see a flood of kids coming from the direction of the dining hall. "Come on, Air. We have History next," Dylan says as he walks by me. I wait for the end of the line, then proceed to follow them down the hallways.

I feel a tug on my tail after a while, and turn to see Even sitting there, my lion tail in his jaws. As I swing my tail away from his mouth, Even signs with his paws, Have to be human. No animal form. Or else get kicked out. I blink, then sign back, Don't know how to shift back. Can you help?

Even nods, and gestures with his head toward a small hallway. I follow him down it, and stop when he stops.

Even turns to me, then shifts back into his human form. He shakes his entire body like a dog ridding itself of water, then looks at me. Focus on life. Human side. Imagine skin sinking down into yourself. Opposite of shifting into griffin. Try.

I nod, and close my eyes to focus my gaze inward. I sense an invisible body in my mind, waiting to come out. I ask the invisible person to come out, but it shies away from me.

I open my eyes, and find Even watching me expectantly. I shake my head and let out a growl. Animal is powerful. More powerful than man. Try again. Practice makes better, Even signs. I growl again, but close my eyes obediently.

When I try to coax out the person again, I feel it come. When I open my eyes, I see my skinny arms in front of me once more.

I grin up at Even, who grins back. Most newbloods lose their clothes the first few times. You are different for sure, he signs. I laugh, and we walk out the hallway, almost running into Dylan and Evan.

Dylan glares at me, and says,"Come on, Airela. History is almost beginning. Let's go." He turns around and teleports away, leaving the faint smell of dirt in the air. "Easy for him to say," I mutter, and Evan laughs while Even smiles. 

All three of us run down the corridors, past doors and people running the other way. I get lost a few times, so the boys have to help me along the right path. My mind memorizes the path as we go along, which could be very helpful in this labyrinth of stone.

We reach the classroom just as the bell rings. And damn, is that bell loud. It sounds like foghorns and bells screaming into my ear.

Everyone looks at us as we enter, except for the teacher. He simply gestures towards the seats, and we all file into desks. I feel the overwhelming sense of deja vu as the man turns around, though I know I've never seen him before.

Tall, broad, and obviously strong, the man has glowing blue pupils and wavy black hair. His gaze instantly attracts to mine, and I see recognition in his eyes. "Our newest recruit, I believe? The griffin. Nice face paint, Falcon," the man says. I bristle, and the class laughs. Well, except for Dylan, Evan, and Even.

"And who might you be, Blue Eye?" I ask, staring into the man's blue pupils. He straightens, and says hauntingly,"My name is Matthew. I used to be feared by many years ago." "And now?" I ask. His eyes darken, and he answers,"Now, it's been a few years since Carter defeated me. Killed my father. Killed my mother. Almost killed me. The bloody disgrace of a human being used his witchcraft powers to turn my very sister against me. I will never forgive him for it. Him, or any of his kin."

I sense several eyes on me, but my mouth works faster than my brain. "And who are his kin, Matthew?" Everyone in the class faces Matthew, waiting for an answer. Matthew scowls, and I can sense biting words on his tongue.

"Well, his wife is Ally, a Bronze. His kids are Irises. Autumn and Alla. They're about your age, I believe. That's all I'll tell you," Matthew answers in a cold tone. "No other kids? Are you sure?" I ask, staring into my teacher's eyes. I see his life flash before my eyes, and shudder away from some of the images. Then, a crystal-clear image of a man flashes in my sight line.

Black hair. Green eyes. Easy smile. Shifting blue pupils. A sense of familiarity and knowing washes over me, but then I make the mistake of blinking. Matthew pulls away from my gaze, looking instead at the ground.

Murmurs and whispers erupt throughout the classroom, which fall to my deaf ears. The image of the man stays in my mind, even after Matthew calls for silence and class begins. Matthew starts talking, but I don't hear him. My mind is millions of miles away, on a far off planet where the man who is married to something called a Bronze with his two kids lives.

If only I had paid attention in that class.