Transformed Chapter ElevenA Chapter by Tabitha M.Larissa woke to a sound that had been missing the last couple of mornings. Tyko’s voice. As wonderful as his voice was, she muffled it by holding a pillow over her head. Whatever time it was...it was too early. “Come on, Mange,” he said, a note of excitement in his voice. “Wake up!” “No,” she whined rolling over. “Want some breakfast?” When she didn’t respond he said, “Damn, that usually works.” “Food is not always a good motivator,” she grumbled. “Has been until today,” he said. She could hear the smile in his voice. She grunted in response. “Come on,” he said again. “Remember how you applied for the position of sidekick?” She perked up. “Yeah.” “Well, time to audition.” She sat up and saw his brilliant smile. It was almost brighter than the light on her ceiling. “What do you mean?” she asked pushing tangled hair out of her face. “We’re going to find a shifter today,” he said still smiling. “Come on! Get dressed. And brush your hair.” She got up and stretched. She felt her joints popping comfortably. “Haven’t you heard? Bed head is the new rage.” “That only works for short hair,” he said gesturing to his own head. “Perfection in the flesh. Er, follicle.” She smiled, “If you say so, whatever helps you sleep at night.” She grabbed clean clothes from her dresser, changed in the bathroom, and ran a brush through her rat’s nest hair while pulling it into a ponytail. She nodded at her reflection and exited the bathroom to put her gray converses on. They hadn’t gotten much use since she had purchased them. She normally walked around the house barefoot. “Gorgeous as always, Mange,” Tyko said looking at her approvingly. Larissa thought she saw a hint of longing in his expression. If so...the feeling was mutual. She rolled her eyes at his compliment, but her stomach filled with butterflies. “I think you need your eyes checked.” He cocked his head to the side. “Why do you say that?” She raised her eyebrow at him. “I’m pretty average in the looks department. Brown hair, brown eyes.” “There’s nothing average about you,” he said. She couldn’t detect any hint of teasing in his tone. “That could be good or bad,” she said. He grinned. “Definitely good. Let’s go.” They took a detour upstairs for a leftover biscuit then went outside to the driveway. He led her to an old, red Nissan Sentra. Larissa smiled. “This car fits you perfectly.” “Oh yeah?” he said as he unlocked it and climbed in. “Why’s that?” “I don’t know,” she said. “I can just see you bobbing your head to 80’s rock, with your arm hanging out the window.” He laughed. “That’s funny, because I actually do that. You know me so well, Mange.” “So where are we going?” she asked, buckling up as he pulled out of the driveway. “The jail in the next town over,” he said turning on the radio for background noise. She smiled when Styx started playing. “There’s a new eighteen year old being held for underage drinking. He’d apparently been saying weird stuff all night and the cops called Keema. They do that when they get weird cases like that. They think she runs a psych business, which she actually does, but that’s mostly for cover for situations like this. Anyway, all the cops around this area know to call her.” “She’s a very interesting person,” Larissa commented, watching the scenery pass through the passenger window. “Very smart, very strong.” “She is,” he agreed. “She’s done so much for the shifter community. Not just here. She’s traveled to help others. There’s one girl in New York who started a mini version of what we do here. Keema started her funding.” “That’s really cool,” she said, filling with even more adoration for the woman. “I’d like to help people. I think I would be good at it.” “You’re about to help someone,” Tyko smiled. She nodded enthusiastically. “I think I’ll do better with non-superhero work.” He laughed. “We shouldn’t have to use super powers today. Simple mission.” They didn’t say anything else for awhile. Larissa looked over at Tyko and smiled. He was, in fact, bobbing his head to the music with his arm out the window. “Where are you from?” she asked. “I was born in Michigan,” he said. “But I grew up in North Carolina, close to the border, then Brian brought me here after he kidnapped me.” “Am I the only one from around here?” Larissa mused. “Not by far,” he chuckled. “Though, Ant is from Ireland, he’s from the furthest out, I think.” “The scientists had stations in Ireland?” she asked, surprised. “No, his parents came here for cheaper fertility help, and he was born here, then he and his dad went back to Ireland,” he explained. “He lived in there for a couple of years before his dad moved him back down here.” “Oh,” she said. “That explains the slight accent.” “Yeah, he doesn’t talk about his past much. It was a rough one. It seems like everybody’s was.” “None of us would be who we are without our pasts,” Larissa said. “They shape us into what we are.” “Very true, Mange. I wouldn’t rather be anybody else.” “Me either.” She smiled. Everyday she was discovering more of who she was and she liked who she was becoming. It took them a total of forty three minutes to get to the police station. It was a smaller city and the building sizes matched accordingly. She almost didn’t believe this was the jail. Tyko led the way through the front doors and to the front desk. “We’re here to pick up Donald Hyder,” he told the large lady at the front desk. She tapped her mouse a couple times then replied gruffly, “He’s being released right now. Should only be a minute.” He nodded his thanks and went to sit in the plastic chairs along the wall. Larissa followed suit surprised by how cold, and extremely uncomfortable, the chair was. The lady’s promise rang true. They had hardly been sitting for more than a few seconds before a policeman escorted a lanky teenager into the room. “He’s all yours,” the cop said. “Enjoy.” The boy, Donald, looked rough and extremely hung over. He was tall with black hair and green eyes which were bloodshot. Larissa noticed small, circular scars on his arms. They looked like cigarette burns. “Hello, Donald,” Tyko said offering his hand to shake. “I’m Tyko, this is Larissa.” “Call me Donny,” the boy said, voice raspy. He briefly shook Tyko’s hand. “Let’s go get some coffee, and talk.” “Don’t guess I have a choice, do I?” Donny said, shoving his hands in his pockets and following them out the door. “Not yet,” Tyko said. “But you will.” They all walked to the small coffee shop across the street. At least Larissa assumed it was a coffee shop. There were no words on the building; just a cliche picture of a steaming coffee mug. They walked through the door and took a table at the very back. She got the impression that Tyko had been here before. A tiny waitress came over to greet them and offering them a free scone with any latte purchase. She was halfway through another special when she realized who she was talking to. “Oh, hey, Tyko!” the waitress said excitedly. “Long time, no see. What gives?” Larissa thought her voice was too high to come from such a small person. “Been busy,” Tyko replied with a polite smile. “Well, what can I get ya, handsome?” The more words that left the girl’s mouth the less Larissa liked her. “Just an iced coffee.” She turned her eyes expectantly to Larissa. “Chai latte.” “You want the free scone?” she asked. “No, thanks,” Larissa said. The biscuit from earlier was sitting heavily in her stomach. “Coffee, black,” Donny said, not waiting for the waitress’s eyes to move to him. She scurried away and Larissa was not looking forward to her return. “So, tell us what happened,” Tyko said. Donny sighed deeply. “You’ll probably think I’m crazy like everyone else does.” He was anxiously tapping his fingers on the table. Those scars were definitely cigarette burns. Larissa had seen them plenty of times from her foster care days. “My friends threw me a party for my birthday,” Donny started. “I wasn’t really into it at first. I almost bailed on my own birthday party. I’d felt weird all day. Just not myself. Anyway, after a few beers, I felt better. And after the tequila and the weed, I felt even better. I don’t know what happened, but suddenly everyone was freaking out, screaming, running out the door. It took me a minute to realize that it was me they were afraid of. I was really confused, and went to the bathroom. But the reflection in the mirror wasn’t mine. Well, it was, but it wasn’t. I looked like some sort of demon or something. I freaked myself out, and called 911. I sobered up pretty quick. At least it felt like it.” The waitress interrupted by placing three mugs on the table. She warned about their warmth and, with a wink, told Tyko to drink up. “What happened when the police got there?” Larissa asked. “The horns were gone by the time they got there,” Donny replied. “They busted me for underage intoxication and locked me up. I tried to tell them what happened, but they didn’t believe me. But apparently somebody did or you guys wouldn’t be here.” “We believe you,” Larissa said giving him what she hoped was reassuring smile. “At least somebody does,” Donny said taking three big gulps of his coffee. “So what are you guys? Shrinks?” Tyko laughed. “Far from that. We’re shifters, just like you.” “Shifters?” Donny questioned letting the reality of it sink in. “So all of that was real? Not just some fucked up strain of pot?” Tyko shook his head. “No, but feel free to tell the party goers that’s what it was. This isn’t a secret that should get out. People would freak out, probably lock you up.” Donny scoffed. “So nothing I’m not used to. Might as well tell the whole world.” Something about those words made Larissa’s muscles tighten in slight anger. “Are you used to being locked in a cage with no bed? Or being tested on like a lab rat? Being starved for compliance? Laying on a cold floor while infection eats at your body? Because I was, and I didn’t even tell anyone. I didn’t even know.” Donny’s expression didn’t change, but she could see a shine of fear and surprise in his eyes. Larissa composed herself, rolling her shoulders to release the tension. “Different circumstances, of course. Doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen though, anything is possible.” “Your life is what you make it,” Tyko added. “Maybe I should just join the circus,” Donny mused and pitched his voice lower saying, “Come one, come all! See the fearsome demon boy! Don’t get too close, he bites!” Tyko laughed. “You’re not a demon. Probably some kind of antelope.” “Well, that sounds much less appealing. Think I’ll stick with demon boy.” “I’m sure you’ll attract quite the crowd.” Larissa sipped her latte as the two threw circus ideas back and forth. She wondered what would happen if she had found out she was a shifter in a similar way. Would she have made jokes about running off to the circus? Probably not, clowns freaked her out. “Well, if the circus thing doesn’t pan out, you can call us.” Tyko wrote the house’s land line number down on a white napkin and slid it over to Donny. “We can help you get on your feet, help with anything you would need, really. Even if you just need someone to talk to. Ask for me or Larissa.” She was surprised to hear Tyko say her name again. He had used her real name a grand total of three times that she could remember...and two had been today. Donny took the napkin, folded it up, and put it in his pocket. “You could come with us today, if you wanted. But, I’m sure you’ve got some things to think about and figure out,” Tyko went on. “But don’t be afraid to call us if you need anything.” “That’s what we’re here for,” Larissa smiled. “Thanks,” Donny said seeming a lot less broody than when they had started the conversation. “I will, thanks a lot.” They paid for the coffee, which was ridiculously over-priced, wished him luck and happiness then got back inside the Nissan. “Well done, Mange,” Tyko beamed as he pulled out. “I think you scared him.” “Good,” Larissa laughed. “He needed to be.” He nodded. “Some of them do.” “What do you think he’s going to do?” He shrugged. “No idea. But I think it’s going to take him some time to figure it out.” “I wonder if he’ll call,” she muttered turning her gaze to the window and watching the tiny buildings wiz by. “They usually do.” It took them fifty seven minutes to get home because of afternoon traffic. They went directly upstairs for lunch with their stomachs growling. Three large, homemade pizzas sat in the middle of the table. Cressida, Olivia, Oliver, Trish, Sheena, and Ant all sat around the table, munching on slices. Tyko and Larissa sat down digging in. Larissa grabbed a slice with pepperoni and onion. “What have you two been up to?” Olivia asked. “We met a new shifter today,” he responded between bites. “Exciting!” Sheena said. “What was he like?” “Broody looking,” Larissa said reaching for a new slice already. “But seemed better as we were leaving.” “Was he cute?” Olivia asked. Larissa thought back to his green eyes. She shrugged. “He was alright, pretty eyes.” “Great cheekbones,” Tyko said. She almost chocked on her crust with laughter. “How have you been, Trish?” he asked, changing the subject smoothly. “Haven’t seen much of you lately.” “Been on rotating clinical schedules, between that and studying, I’ve barely got time to eat,” she said with a stiff smile. The dark circles under her eyes and the messy state of her bun conveyed how tired she was. “But, it will all be worth it soon enough. It’s almost time to find a place for residency!” “That’s great!” Tyko said, grinning enthusiastically. Everyone around the table congratulated her and wished her good luck. “Getting a residency will be a piece of cake for you. They’ll be asking you to work for them!” Trish laughed. “That’s what I’m hoping for!” Larissa spent the next chunk of the day with Sheena and Olivia, who apparently had a date and needed to look her best. Larissa sat on Olivia’s bed, narrowing down dress selections as Olivia tried them on. “So this is a new guy?” Larissa asked, speaking a little louder so she could be heard in the bathroom where Olivia was changing. “Yeah!” Olivia called back. “I’m really excited.” “How did you meet this guy?” Sheena asked. Olivia opened the door, turning in a circle to model a simple yellow dress. Larissa shook her head, and Olivia grabbed another, retreating back into the bathroom. “He’s a regular at the bar,” she called back. “Comes in at least three times a week.” “You’re not going to the bar for your date, are you?” Larissa asked. Olivia laughed. “Oh, no! We’re going to that Greek place on the other side of town.” “Oh, fancy!” Sheena said. Olivia emerged again, wearing a bright purple, strapless dress. “You’re going for sexy, right?” Sheena asked. “Because you’re not succeeding.” “Ouch,” Olivia muttered. “I mean, besides your natural sexiness,” Sheena added quickly. “Right,” Olivia said, drawing out the word. “Try something darker,” Larissa suggested. “Maybe you should wear the black dress you made me buy.” Olivia laughed as she shuffled through her other dresses. “Our sizes don’t match. I’ve got bigger b***s, and bigger hips, and shorter everything else.” She picked one out and retreated to the bathroom. “Don’t worry, Larissa,” Sheena said, patting her knee. “We’ll find you a dress wearing occasion.” “Can’t say I’m look forward to it,” Larissa chuckled. Olivia came out again, this time, in a form fitting dark red dress. The fabric had a slight metallic sheen to it. The straps tied around her neck and the hem fell to her mid thigh. “Gorgeous!” Sheena exclaimed. Larissa grinned. “Perfect.” “Yes!” Olivia said excitedly. She went back into the bathroom leaving the door open this time. She rifled through her makeup drawer. “So, what’s his name?” Sheena asked. Larissa could hear the happiness in her voice. “Vincent.” “Vincent? Sophisticated! What does he do?” “He’s an EMT.” More happiness. “He comes in after his shifts a lot, especially on Mondays.” “How did he ask you out?” Larissa questioned. “He came in late the other night, after it had been really busy. He always comes in late, normally after eleven because of his work schedule. Anyway. Almost every table in the place was dirty, and I was rushing to clean them. And he suddenly started helping me. When I told him to stop, he said, ‘How are you going to talk to me if you’ve got all this work to do?’ And I said, ‘Well, you won’t be able to talk to me ever again if you don’t stop. They’ll fire me!’ Then he said, ‘Alright, then, come out with me Thursday night.’ So, here I am, getting ready for my date.” “That’s so sweet,” Sheena cooed. Once Olivia had her full face of makeup on, she put on some strappy stilettos and grabbed her clutch. Sheena and Larissa walked her downstairs to the door. They wished her luck and stated their demands for a full report in the morning. Sheena was closing the door when someone pushed it open. Deidre walked it. Larissa’s heart jumped into her throat. “Relax,” Deidre laughed, then raised her hand, showing off a bottle of tequila. “I come with good tidings.” “Count me in!” Sheena said. “Tyko!” Deidre yelled. “Get your a*s out here!” She put a plastic bag on the coffee table in front of the suede couch. Sheena sat beside her rubbing her hands together excitedly. Tyko emerged from his room with his bed head messier than usual. “Oh, what’s the occasion?” Tyko asked, strolling lazily into the room. He sat at the couch adjacent to them, even pulling it a little closer to the table. Larissa sat down beside him. “I had the night free, figured I’d catch up with old friends, maybe make a new one,” Deidre said giving Larissa a smile with the last words. “And what better way than tequila and a drinking game?” “Sounds good to me,” Tyko said. “Doctor Evil not going to know you’re gone?” Deidre shook her head. “No. He’s sick.” She frowned. “Actually, since his last injection, he’s been getting worse. A really bad cough.” She shrugged. “Probably just a cold.” She sat up four plastic shot glasses and unscrewed the tequila. “Thought we could play ‘Never Have I Ever’. Have you played Larissa?” She shook her head in response. “I’ve never played any drinking game.” “It’s easy. Someone says something that they’ve never done, and if anybody else has done that, they drink. “Alright,” Larissa said. “Let’s do this.” Deidre filled the shot glasses and passed them around. “Let’s start out simple.” She wiggled in her seat as she thought. “Never have I ever shoplifted.” Larissa and Sheena both downed their shot. The tequila burned down Larissa’s throat, but she managed to turn her grimace into a slight wince. “Naughty!” Deidre said. “What did you steal?” “I stole a sapphire necklace,” Sheena said. “Gave it to my grandmother for Christmas, but got her legitimate one last year.” “Very noble,” Deidre chuckled. “Larissa?” “I’ve stolen lots of food over the years,” Larissa replied. “But I stole a shirt just to prove to some guys that I could. Feminism issue.” “Controversial,” Deidre commented in a approval. “Your turn Tyko.” Tyko thought a moment then said, “Never have I ever talked my way out of a speeding ticket.” Deidre and Sheena downed their shots. Deidre winced slightly, but it didn’t phase her. “B***s for the win!” she said with a grin then nodded to Larissa. “Your turn.” “Never have I ever spent the night in jail.” She didn’t know if that was entirely true. Doctor Evil’s cage was kind of like jail. She pushed those thoughts away and went with the literal sense. Tyko drank his first shot, seemingly unaffected by the burn. “No way!” Sheena said. “What did you do?” He waved the question away. “Water under the bridge. Try again later.” “Fine,” Sheena said cutting him a narrowed eye look. “Never have I ever used a fake ID.” Nobody drank. Sheena raised her eyebrows. “Seriously?” Everyone laughed at her, and she drank. “Never have I ever cheated on a test,” Deidre said. All three drank. More silly questions were asked and they all drank varying numbers of shots. Soon, Larissa’s fingers tingled and Sheena was having trouble controlling her giggles. “Never have I ever woken up in last night’s dress!” Deidre said. Sheena drank. “That wasn’t very fair,” Tyko said. “Hey, we don’t know what you do when you’re alone in your room.” Deidre raised her eyebrows suggestively. Sheena broke into a fit of laughter. “I bet you look hot in red,” Larissa smirked. Tyko winked at her. “Maybe I’ll show you sometime, Mange.” “Promise?” He grinned. “Swear. Never have I ever gotten so drunk I forgot where I lived.” Larissa and Sheena drank. Larissa laughed. “That happens when you juggle houses every couple of months.” “No joke!” Sheena agreed. “Never have I ever claimed to be gay to get out of a date,” Larissa said. Deidre and Sheena drank. Larissa was yet again impressed by how well Sheena held her liquor. Besides her giggling fits her speech was clear. Tyko seemed to handle his own well too although he hadn’t had near as much as Sheena, but for all Larissa knew, the alcohol was clouding her judgment. “Never have I ever given someone a fake number,” Sheena said. All three drank. “Never have I ever had a sex dream about a teacher,” Deidre said. Tyko alone drank. Everyone gave him either a shocked look...or a funny expression. “What?” he exclaimed. “My math teacher was hot, and I was a sixteen year old boy. Come on.” Lots and lots more obscurely sexual questions were asked ending on ‘Never have I ever gotten carpet burn.’ By the end, Sheena had drank the most while Deidre was close second. The bottle and the glasses were left forgotten on the table. Sheena slurred a goodnight and gracefully stumbled off to her room. Deidre pulled the quilt off the back of the couch and stretched out. Larissa stood stumbling slightly when the world spun. Her stomach lurched uncomfortably, but it passed seconds later. Tyko stood up and took her arm. “You’re not going to be sick are you?” Tyko teased. Larissa laughed. “I have no idea.” They walked up the stairs running into the wall twice, which made them stop in a fit of laughter each time, and finally managed to make it to Larissa’s room. “So,” Tyko said shutting the door behind him with a smirk on his face. “About that time you showered with another girl?” She laughed remembering one of the last of Deidre's Never statements he was referring to. “So,” she said mocking him, “about that time you went to jail?” She sat on the bed, eyeing him mischievously. “Aw, come on,” he whined sitting heavily on the bed beside her. “Why ruin a good mood. You first.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Not much to tell.” She leaned her back and head against the wall. It was cool against her flushed skin. “It was a birthday party a few months ago. There was a cake fight, and Jessica and I got covered in icing.” Tyko matched her position turning his head to look at her. “And?” “And we showered together,” she snickered. “In our underwear.” He laughed. “Well, that’s takes away from the fun.” Larissa shrugged still smiling. “Leaves more to the imagination.” He moved his hand to her’s, lacing their fingers. He felt even warmer than usual as she felt the heat radiating up her arm. “Your turn,” she said. He shook his head. “Not yet.” She huffed, blowing a raspberry at her. “You are too cute for your own good,” he said, eyes smiling. “Tell me something you’ve never told anyone else.” “I just did,” she protested. “No,” he said shifting his position so that he was laying down. He pulled her down with him. “Something serious. Something not so good.” Her brow furrowed. “Why?” “Because, if you want to hear my jail story, I need collateral.” A smirk played along his lips. She sighed and stared at the ceiling while she thought. “Do you remember when I told you about my dad?” “Of course,” he nodded. “And how I was six when I last saw him?” He nodded again. “That wasn’t entirely true. I saw him again a few years ago. Four maybe. Anyway, he had met me outside school one day, completely out of the blue.” She felt her good mood fade a little as the memory came back. She had planned on locking it away, but there it was playing in full color. “He said he was going to try to get me back. That he was changing his life around. That he missed me, and wanted me back.” Tears stung the backs of her eyes. “And I told him to go to hell.” Her voice broke. Tyko rolled onto his side wiping a fallen tear from her cheek. “He had no right to come to you with that.” She shook her head. “He didn’t. He gave me up a long time ago and he had no right to want me back. But that doesn’t change how bad I feel about it. I always wondered what would have happened if I had supported him. For all I know, I sent him spiraling downward. He had actually looked better. And I’ve never told anybody about that. Not my foster family, not my social worker, not my friends.” She took a deep breath. “And I haven’t heard from him since.” “Have you thought about looking for him?” he asked, still stroking her cheek. “I check the newspapers sometimes. The obits and the busted sections. Haven’t seen his picture yet. I’m kind of hoping I’ll just run into him one day, and it will all magically fall into place.” She gave him a sad smile. “Your turn.” He rolled back over onto his back taking a deep breath. Larissa laid her head on his chest listening to his heart. “It was so stupid,” he said. He stroked her hair and Larissa felt it was more of a way to comfort himself. “I was visiting my aunt after moving here. Two years ago, I think. I had been up there for about a week. I was getting to know this girl, I’d spent the day with her.” “This doesn’t sound like such a bad story,” Larissa commented. “Aside from the fact you were hooking up.” He ignored her. “She started telling me all these things about her dad. How he beat her, how she was afraid to leave the house. She said he got drunk, and would use his belt on her back. And she asked me for help. And me being the superhero I am, I offered my assistance without question. But when we got to her house, her dad wasn’t there. For all I know, he doesn’t exist. Instead, she’d brought me there as a set up. Her boyfriend had apparently smashed up all of their stuff, and called the cops. They were trying to frame me for it, to get money I guess. They tried to restrain me so I wouldn’t run away, and I fought back. I broke the guy’s cheekbone, and the girl went crazy. Biting, scratching, screaming. I had to get her off of me, so I shoved her, harder than I meant to, I admit. She hit her head, and fell to the floor unconscious. If you were a cop, and you came into a house full of broken things, an unconscious girl, and a guy bleeding, who would you arrest?” “You,” Larissa said softly. He nodded. “Me. So they got what they wanted, and I spent the night in jail. My aunt bailed me out.” “That is absolutely crazy,” she said. “Yeah,” he agreed. “The whole thing got thrown out later. They had apparently tried this before, but the damage had been done. I hate hurting people. I’m supposed to save them, not hurt them. Especially girls.” She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off by rolling over and leaning above her. “But enough with the sad stuff. Let’s end the night on a good note.” He pressed his lips against hers, kissing her long and hard, setting her mind on fire, making every bad thought vanish. Every awful memory melted into burning passion...nothing else mattered. Tyko pulled away dimming the fires in Larissa’s body. Neither spoke and he wrapped her tightly in his arms. He whispered a sweet goodnight, then they both fell asleep in their warm embrace. © 2015 Tabitha M.Author's Note
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Added on May 12, 2015 Last Updated on May 12, 2015 Tags: fantasy, shapeshifters, romance, young adult Author
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