Stardust

Truth

Truth (n): fidelity to a required standard or law. The truth itself simply what is not false. As cold as the truth may be, I want to hear it, especially if it has to do anything with my life, so imagine the rage I felt when I heard that the closest person to me was withholding the truth from me. In that standard, it would be considered lying to me. Anything besides the truth is considered lying.

I can't believe that I didn't know about this deceit until now. How did I find out? Through the whispers of some strangers. Usually, I would have felt something was off, but I guess it didn't occur to me this time that everything was off. Filled with rage, I went off seeking the truth.

"What," was my response after tracking down Blake and forced him to tell me the truth. Never in all my years have I imagined that what he told me was true or was even possible.

"As you know you were born by the wish of the cube, but as you were conceived by the cube you were also gifted by powers of its own. On top of it all, you have powers of your own that you weren't even aware of. It was inherited by your parents. Think of it as an ability only certain people have. You have the ability to morph but our people insist on calling ourselves shifters. Cause, you know, we shift."

"Shifters? Like we shift into anything we want?"

"That's the basic idea. With that we have different houses. Think of it like a pack of sorts. Our family belongs to the House of Xi."

Now, this sounds like a whole bunch of bull. House of Xi? Morphing abilities? What kind of sick joke is this?

"The guys that you seen while you were eating were supposed to help me train you after you settled in your new school, but they got here a little early."

"Train me? Now this really does sound like a whole bunch of bull," I stated.

"But, it's true. Everything you know up until this point is false. Yes, your name is Tori, but your mom's name is not Maybell. Your memories were taken by the House and were replaced with different ones. If you don't believe me, you could take a look from mine."

"How in the world am I supposed to look into your memories?"

"Easy," Blake declared. Leading me to a room I've never seen, he presented a TV that could show what you are thinking about now or past memories that need to be seen by an audience. Taking a couple cords, he pasted some to his temples and turned on the TV.

FLASHBACK

I was sitting on the grass, enjoying the sun when I started hearing shouting. By the sound of that, it sounded like a heated conversation that I don't want to get into. Each time I get into something, I'm always in trouble. So, this time, I decided to stay at the back yard and appreciate the sun.

I couldn't help it but to eavesdrop on what they were yelling about. "Why are you still keeping that demon's seed you call of a child. You already know about the prophecy. So why are you still keeping her," an unknown feminine voice announced. "I know grandmother, but I believe that any one can rewrite their destiny," aunt Kiara exasperated. Oh, so that's great-grandma Tia, she's this old prune that believes that prophecies are prophecies and they can't change, even if they decided to change it at the last sentence.

"But you know what Jason said, he said-"

"I know what he said, grandmother. He might have fooled all of you, but he doesn't fool me one bit. You people might be thinking that he doesn't even an utter lie but watch. Once I'm gone, people would start shunning Tori starting with Jason. Jason would also pick the other side once he turns 17. I know that the prophecy would someday come true, but I know my daughter would overcome it. I know that when she grows up, she will become cunning and would one day be the most powerful shifter, ever, and I will also count on my nephews, Blake and Ryan, that they will help her finish off her training and if something unexpectant were to happened to them, then I know that they will entrust the responsibilities to someone that they can trust."

After that speech no one in the room uttered a word. "Now if you people will excuse me, I have to start training my daughter since none of you will." And with that ending, I stopped eavesdropping and started soaking in some sun.

I heard some footsteps and I looked up and saw four different faces. The first was Aunt Kiara. She looked fumed from the argument that just happened. Next, I glanced at my mother's face. She had a stern expression. Then, I stared at my grandmother's worried face. Lastly, I saw Tori's confused expression. Aunt Kiara took deep breathes and looked at Tori brightly like there was nothing wrong and it kind of creeped me out. "OK Tori, are you ready for your first lesson," she chirped. Tori slowly nodded her head. "OK, let's start with something easy. Let's try turning you into a hamster. Crouch down, cover your head and feet. Make yourself somewhat like a ball. Yeah, that's it, keep shaping yourself. Now imagine yourself like a hamster. Do you have the picture in your head?" Tori nodded. "Now transform into that. Remember, concentrate." They waited a few minutes and then my mom whispered, "Isn't she supposed to be a hamster already." A few moments later, Tori got out of her shape and cried out, "Mommy, I can't do it and I'm so tired."

"Ok, sweetie. Go rest," Aunt Kiara said with a small, sad smile. And with that, Tori skipped towards her room with my mom and grandma trailing behind. Aunt Kiara watch her daughter go into the house before speaking to me. "I know that you have been eavesdropping in the conversation and that's ok because, for once, I actually wanted you to listen. I know that you and Ryan would help Tori in the future. I trust you two with this job after I'm gone. You will become a school teacher and when the time is right you and your brother will take her to the house that you guys would share, don't worry I already got a place for you guys, the address will be on a note that I would give you guys before I'm gone. There will also be five guys coming to you two to help you guys train Tori. They go by the names of Mike, Roman, Miles, Dennis, and Lucas. Tori will also have friends that are twins that would also need to be trained. Train them. When Tori is at least a level three shifter, take her back here. You guys would be living in two places; here and the other house." And with that information she left me with my thoughts.

FLASHBACK ENDED

"If this is true, where's Ryan now," I questioned.

"Oh, that was the person who actually disappeared when you thought your parents disappeared. He's been gone for a while now- "

"Hello..."

"There he is now," he uttered. "Down here!"

Ryan came down to the hidden room and when he seen me, he seemed surprised. "Tori, is that you? You look so different and all grown up!" He ran to me and hugged me. I'm not joking, he literally ran to me. "Can't... breathe...," I shouted.

After he finally let's me go, he turned to Blake. "I'm guessing you told her everything?"

"Not everything. Not yet. I was getting there until you decided to come back from wherever you came from." Blake then turns to me. There was more? How much more was hidden from me? As crazy as everything was, I didn't know that it'll get more absurd.

"You see, when you were granted to your parents, the cube warned them that there was a steep price to pay. The price was that of a curse. The cube's curse."