Birds of Shadow

CHAPTER THREE

AUTHORS NOTE - has inspiration finally arrived?? It remains to be seen... 😂

-Aspen♡

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I realize that I've been staring at the dove (Nova?) with my mouth open for at least a minute. I quickly close it, fire spreading across my face as a result of both embarrassment and shock. This can't be happening. Science says that it can't happen! I must be seeing things. My damn eyes are playing tricks. Yeah, that's it. 

The bird tilts its head at me, staring at me with one dark, unblinking eye. For some reason I get the faint impression that it can tell what I'm thinking, and I'm being laughed at. 

"Um...Nova?" My voice comes out weak and pathetic and I clear my throat before continuing. "What just happened?" The dove doesn't answer me, surprise surprise. Instead it ruffles its wings and I witness the same grotesque transformation in reverse. In a moment Nova is standing in front of me, same as before, just with the slight side effect of a few grey feathers stuck in her hair.

She flashes a wild grin with just a hint of crazy behind it. "Soooo...." She draws out the word. "What do you think? Pretty awesome, huh?"

"......That's one word for it. H-how is this even possible? What even was......that?" I inwardly curse at my babbling.

Nova's crazy grin dissolves into a gentle, all-knowing smile. "That was the answer to your question! The power source, the Pradian, inside of us allows us to transform into birds! This bracelet-" She shoves her wrist underneath my nose, "lets us channel that power effectively, and it also ensures that there are no lasting side effects from the transformation. Before our mechanics crafted these, we had a few.....'startling' accidents."

I'm sure my imagination will have a field day dreaming about those accidents later. 

But there are more important things. "Why am I here though? Can't I just go home?" A sudden feeling of homesickness washed over me, so strong that I felt sick.

Nova's face had fallen. "The reason you where brought here is because you weren't safe in your current life and home. You are a Xeno, Tessia." 

It takes me a few seconds to register what she had just said. Nova was saying that I could also turn into a bird? And she somehow knew my name? My mind was whirling in so many different directions. The world was going crazy. 

"Being a Xeno automatically means that you can't live a normal life. You just can't. The Pradian is a highly sought after substance, a substance that one can only extract from the dead body of a Xeno. The Irokar are hired by governments, scientists, billionaires, you name it. The Pradian grants long life, Tessia. And there are some people out there that are willing to pay untold amounts of money for it." Nova locks eyes with me, and it feels like the pity in them is drowning me. I quickly look down to avoid her gaze. A sudden sense of foreboding overtakes me.

"Tessia." She says my name with a kind firmness, commanding me to look her in the eye. I do. Reluctantly. "That means that you can't go home. Ever."

Time stops. She couldn't have just said that. Faces of all the people I love flash before my eyes. My mom. My dad. My little sister. My older brother. My grandparents. All of my family members. Memories play in my head. How can I not go back? How can I just abandon fifteen years worth of living? The faces blur and I realize that my eyes are filled with teardrops. I'm crying. Thick, hot tears stream down my cheeks, falling off of the tips of my nose and the bottom of my chin. 

This can't be happening.

I faintly hear Nova tell me to get some rest, and her footsteps receding. 

This can't be happening. 

Just yesterday I was back home, back at the hellhole they call school, doing normal things, living a normal life.

This can't be happening.

I cry. And cry. Heaving sobs rack my body, my eyes growing sore and puffy, my lungs struggling for air as I gulp and hiccup.

This can't be happening.

Eventually I fall into a uneasy sleep, my body and mind exhausted.

This can't be happening.

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AUTHORS NOTE - perhaps I received inspo, but definitely not length 😬 length is def my weakness!

-Aspen♡