The Chosen - 16. The Paragon of Animals

[Chapter 16]

When I came to it was days later and I was sick as hell. I couldn't believe it. I had beaten demons, werewolves, ghouls, and came out just fine. Of all the dangerous things that could have done me in it was the fucking flu. It was always me. Sigh. The way Ryan explained it was by using so much energy I overexerted myself to the point of exhaustion, causing my body to almost shut down. And with my immune system down for the count, the damn winter weather punched me in the face and here I was. Layed out in my bed like an extra off Grey's Anatomy. Ain't that a bitch.

At least it was worth it. I destroyed Jakphrust and freed the world from a fatal ice age. Where were my medals? My key to the city? My freaking Prefect's badge? That's right, we had secret identities. It was becoming a real pain in my ass.

The media had explained away the light that cleansed the planet as, "a worldwide phenomenon of Aurora Borealis or a very large solar flare from the Sun". Right. My favorite was how they portrayed the ice wraiths as, "costumed vandals who took advantage of the extreme weather to commit extreme acts of violence". Extreme alright. Freezing everything counted as more than extreme. You would think those who were frozen would remember being encased in a sheet of ice, I would, but apparently, they all suffered from cases of short term memory loss. Lucky them.

"How are you feeling, honey?"

I opened my eyes and blinked up at the blurry form of my mother. She was tenderly smiling down at me and I tried to muster up a smile, but it took too much energy. Damn this feeble, weak body of mine. I hate being sick. I was feeling sluggish and there was a pain in my stomach as if I had a large rock in it. My nose felt heavy, probably filled with mucus and there was a sting behind my eyes. Damn. I probably left my contacts in. I blinked again and groaned at the sticky sensation that accompanied it. Yep. Still there.

"I feel like I just got off a roller coaster," I frowned at the scratchy sensation in my throat.

She winced. "Still that bad, huh? I'm just glad that Adam noticed you weren't feeling well and we got some medicine in you quick."

I was grateful for having a man who could think on his feet. Adam had snuck me back home and into bed right after I passed out. It was soon after that he noticed that I was getting sick and he immediately alerted my mom. I found this all out from him during my brief moments of clarity.

She squeezed my hand. "I'm sorry, baby, but I really have to run to work. That freak weather and light show is still big news. I hate to leave you but Adam's on his way over to watch you."

I nodded weakly. "Okay. If you have to go I don't mind. I'm not a baby."

Mom laughed. "I know you're not. But you're my baby. Go back to sleep. Adam will be here soon."

"Okay," I mumbled sleepily.

As soon as my eyes closed I was asleep again. I had a dream of standing on a mountaintop overlooking a rolling field of pretty flowers. My foot hovered over the edge of a steep cliff and then I stepped off. I fell through stardust and moonlight toward a shining city resting on a blue ocean.

My eyes came open and I looked around my room disoriented and slightly dizzy. Adam sat in a chair beside my computer engrossed in a novel. He looked up from his book and those hazel eyes lit up when they saw me awake.

"Hey, darling," Adam said softly. He jumped up and moved to the bed, taking my hand and entwining our fingers. "How are you feeling?"

My throat felt scratchy and dry and it hurt to form words. Adam immediately saw I was having difficulty and offered me some ice chips from the cup on the bedside table. The ice melted against my sore throat muscles and I felt a bit better as the water soothed the ache.

"Thanks, baby," I said softly. My voice was still coming out hoarse. "I feel a little bit better today."

The pad of Adam's thumb rubbed circles over the top of my hand. "Nathaniel called again. He's worried that you're still under the weather. He expects to be back by the end of the week."

I tried to nod but it was tough. Damn sickness. "I hope he comes back with useful information about the Lords in Shadow."

"Me too."

I went into an abrupt sneezing and hacking fit. Adam turned into a miniature hurricane as he spun around my room looking for Kleenex or something resembling tissue. I grabbed at the tufts of white thrusts in my face and hurriedly blew my nose, coughing up phlegm, and sounding distinctly like a broken blow horn. This was ruining my image. With watery eyes, I offered Adam an embarrassed smile. I was feeling more like road kill every time I took a breath. Oh man this sucked. He offered me something to drink and I greedily gulped down the water.

"I must look a hot mess, huh?" My voice was going in and out, sounding like a person who smoked for fifty years.

Adam quickly shook his head. "No!" He protested instantly. "You look fine. Downright gorgeous as usual."

I was touched. "Really?"

He beamed one of his sunny grins. "Promise."

"Gimme a kiss," I requested, puckering up my lips.

Adam's bright smile dimmed and I narrowed my eyes. I knew that look. It was indecision. "Darling, you got a little snot or something..."

I dabbed at the fluid running from my nose to my top lip. "Did I get it?"

"Yeah," Adam replied weakly. His eyes kept darting to the door and back to me. Adam literally looked like he was thinking how far he could get if he sprinted from the room. The answer was not very.

I stared at him hard. "I thought you said I looked gorgeous. Do I look that bad you can't even kiss me? Tell the truth. I look like someone's vomit and you know it!"

"No, you look fine!" Adam argued, waving his hands around in emphasis.

He sucked in a breath and leaned in, drew back, leaned in again and then drew back. I glared harder. He smiled shakily and shrugged. He abruptly kissed his fingertips and then tapped them against my lips. My mouth dropped and I gaped. Son of a bitch. He grinned at me looking really proud of himself.

"What the hell was that?" I watched him with wide eyes.

Adam cocked his head pretending to be extremely confused. Bullshit. "What do you mean? You asked for a kiss..."

"You sorry sack of shit," I whispered when my strength slowly began draining. What the deuce? I was feeling weaker by the second. My eyelids grew heavy as a sudden drowsiness took hold. "I should... revoke... your boyfriend... pass..."

Adam nodded with mock seriousness. "Yeah, I know. Have a good nap though."

A light bulb went off in my head. "That... water you offered me..." I struggled to get off every word, fighting against the grip of sleep. "You drugged me."

"It was your mom's idea," He sounded a tad bit guilty. I wasn't buying it. "It's just your medicine. It's supposed to make you really drowsy."

I snorted. Damn that meddlesome woman. "Well played, huge pecs. Well played."

"My pecs are normal sized!"

I closed my eyes and murmured, "Yeah, right."

Then I succumbed to sleep.

When I awoke the sun was still up and the room was empty. I glanced at the clock on my table and it was a little after four in the afternoon. I yawned loudly and scratched my head. I was actually feeling a bit better. I wasn't in the mood to run a marathon but I think I could get out of bed and walk around a bit if I had to. I looked around and was surprised that I was all alone. I expected Adam to be on hand but maybe he was off somewhere hiding after he conspired with my mom to drug me. I chuckled. It was actually kind of funny but I wouldn't tell them that. My door creaked open and I turned. There was no one there and yet the door edged open more.

I frowned and called, "Hello?"

"Meow."

My eyes lowered and gazing up at me with quicksilver colored eyes was a tabby cat. It looked at me and I looked at it. Our eyes locked and we had a silent battle of wills. Time stopped and the cat took a small step forward.

And I screamed bloody murder.

The cat paused and it stared at the ball of fire that now hovered above my palm. I reared back my arm and the door was thrown open startling me into losing concentration. The fireball vanished as my control slipped. Morgan, Adam, and Kevin ran into the room looking like a knock off Hermione, Harry, and Ron. I wanted to roll my eyes. Just my luck. Instead of getting some real heroes like Superman and the Justice League, I got the Pokemon gang. Somebody just shoot me now.

"What's going on?" Morgan demanded.

"Chad, you okay?" Kevin asked simultaneously.

Adam joined me on the bed and grabbed me in a one arm hug. I leaned into his body all the while not taking my eyes off the creature sitting in its same spot. Adam followed my gaze and everyone else drew their stares down as well. There was a brief pause. And then Morgan and Kevin both groaned and rolled their eyes. I glared at them.

Morgan scooped the cat into her arms and glowered at me. "It's just a cat, Chad. Honestly. You really need to go to the wizard and ask for some courage."

I raised my eyebrow. "I already did. He gave me magical powers instead."

Adam's squeezed my shoulder and he gave me a questioning stare that screamed, what are you doing. I gestured at Morgan and shrugged. She was rolling her eyes with an exasperated expression. Of course, she didn't believe me.

"This is Isis," Morgan petted the cat, who was still staring me. I wanted to flick it off but knew I had already pissed it off with the fireball. I was not pressing my luck. "My girl Krystal found her outside in the cold this morning so I brought her home. Mom says we're taking her to the shelter if no one comes looking."

To the shelter you go, little fur fuck. I was totally not having a cat in this house. It was comforting to know Morgan hadn't argued with mom on keeping the creature. I probably would have opened a can of act right on her. Act right was my politically correct term for a smackdown.

"So... I guess you don't like cats?" Adam asked slowly.

I turned to him. Blinked and then blinked again. My eyes took on a haunted look. "It all started in darkness..."

Morgan disappeared from the room in a flash and Kevin groaned audibly. I stared at him until he quieted down. I started my tale again and Adam listened along in rapture. He nodded, gasped, and squeezed my hand at all the right moments. I finally took a breath and pulled down my collar.

"...And where the cat tore open my throat I now have this," I finished dramatically.

Adam leaned in examining my throat. "Umm... there's nothing there."

"Tell me about it," Kevin muttered from where he leaned against the desk.

I pulled up my shirt. "Well, it's been years so I guess it healed."

There was silence and then Adam pulled me into a big hug. I was squished against his side and hugged to the point where I thought breathing was going to become a problem. He pulled me away and held me at arm's length

"My poor deluded boyfriend," Adam's expression was full of pity. "I knew you were sick but this is just... Have you been having delusions like this all day?"

I slapped his arms and glared at him. "No, you ass." I turned my glare on Kevin who had fallen to the floor in a laughing fit. "And what are you doing here anyway, numb nuts?"

Kevin recovered and jumped to his feet. "I heard you were sick so I came by... to help."

Oh no.

Please no! NO! NO! Anything but this. Anything. I would rather watch a Gilmore Girls marathon for a week straight! I watched in a sort of numb shock as Kevin slipped on a white coat I had seen held in his hand, but disregarded. It was a familiar doctor's coat that I recognized from previous occasions of being sick and...in my nightmares.

"No need to fear, Chad," Kevin struck a pose in the coat. He slipped a stethoscope around his neck and winked at me. "Doctor Kevin is here!"

I shook my head. A kind of unreal denial swept over me. "No," I muttered in disbelief. "Not again."

A timer buzzed downstairs and Kevin brightened. "Your soup is ready! I'll be right back in a minute. Just wait, I'll have you better in no time."

He dashed off downstairs and immediately I was out of the bed and at the window faster than Adam could blink. He gawked at me as I threw open the window and stuck one leg out. He shouted in alarm and grabbed me around the waist, hoisting me away from my escape. Damn, foiled!

"What are you doing!" He dropped me on the bed.

I looked up at him fear dancing in my eyes. "Adam, if you ever want us to have a future..." I paused and met his hazel eyes. "You will help me break out of here."

"Wait, slow down," Adam massaged his temple as if he was having the biggest migraine. Tell me about it. "What's going on? I'm so confused."

He didn't know. It boggled my mind that no one knew how dangerous that demented individual downstairs really was. I waved my hand at the bedroom door and it slammed closed. Adam flicked his wrist and the desk chair wheeled in front of the door and wedged up under the knob.

"That help?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged. "Probably not, but thanks for trying."

Adam grabbed my hands. "You want to explain from the top now?"

I shook my head. "I don't even know how to begin. Whenever someone is sick Kevin has this...urge... to play doctor. Just nothing ever goes right. It would be fine if he was decent or even competent or sane!"

"Why is your eye twitching?" Adam subtly scooted away from me.

I growled at him feeling my head pound with all the moving around I was doing. I really needed to lay down and did just that before even realizing it. My body was draped over Adam's lap who was looking at me bemused. Adam chuckled and righted my body on the bed before tucking me under the blankets. He sat on the bed's edge and ran his fingers through my hair.

"He really can't be that bad," Adam shook his head.

I just raised an eyebrow. "My room is arranged differently from a year ago. Why you ask. Well I came down with a cold and it was Doctor Kevin to the rescue." I shook my head. "He lit candles all around the room claiming `the scented candles were therapeutic and helpful in my recuperation'. My bed now covers a huge patch of burnt carpet."

Adam looked distinctly amused. "Sounds like an accident, darling."

I scoffed at that. "You don't understand" I shot back, making him raise both eyebrows at my ominous tone. "Don't worry. You will."

The door jiggled and the doorknob twisted loudly. "Hey, who locked the door?" Kevin's voice was muffled by the door. "Wait! I think I got it."

The door was suddenly thrown open and the chair went sliding across the room. The wheel caught and it went falling into my dresser. The dresser rocked and my laptop fell over the edge and crashed on the floor. My mouth dropped open in shock and horror. My precious! I almost dove from the bed but Adam stilled me with a hand to my chest. He picked up the laptop, checked it over, and then placed it back on the desk. He pressed the power button and it came to life with its usual happy beep. I sighed in relief and turned my wary stare to Kevin, who was frowning at me.

"You should really be more careful with your stuff," Kevin scolded me like a redheaded stepchild.

"You crazy, psyc-"

Adam covered my mouth with his hand and smiled widely at Kevin. "What you got there, Kevin? It smells good."

Kevin instantly lit up as if someone told him he won the lottery. "Oh, this. It's just a little something I put together," he said with false modesty. "It's chicken noodle soup."

He bounced over to me carrying a tray containing a glass of water and a steaming bowl. I watched him warily immediately on guard for anything. He carefully sat the tray down and I breathed a little easier when it was positioned on the bed on its little hinged legs. I picked up the bowl and looked into it. It was black. A black so dark that I couldn't see what floated in it. This wasn't no damn chicken noodle soup. I felt bile try and crawl up my throat. I swallowed it down and looked at Adam who was gazing into the bowl with shock. He hadn't seen anything yet.

I released a long breath and calmly looked at my best friend. "Kevin? You said this is chicken noodle soup?" He nodded and I showed him the contents of the bowl. "Why is it black? This doesn't look like any chicken noodle soup or any soup I've ever seen."

Kevin waved his hand dismissing my concern. "I took a little creative license when it came to the directions but I think it turned out pretty good."

"Right," I shot Adam an incredulous glance.

At their, yes both, of their urging I raised the spoon to my lips. I opened my mouth and then took a second look at the black soup floating on the spoon. I couldn't do this. I lowered the spoon and looked at Kevin and immediately regretted it. He looked so crestfallen that I felt a wave of guilt drown me. I couldn't believe this. Here was my well meaning best friend trying to fucking kill me and I was the one feeling guilty. This was like a bad episode of Friends. I summoned my courage. I could at least try it. Adam was here. He wouldn't let Kevin accidentally kill me. I hoped. I raised the spoon. The smile that broke over Kevin's face could have lit up Manhattan. I swallowed the soup.

Burning was the first sensation followed up by a swift feeling of nausea. I felt like everything inside my body was suddenly on fire. My eyes went wide as I spewed liquid down my chest. Adam cried out jumping up to help.

"Chad!" Adam grabbed the spoon and took a sip of the soup. He blanched and instantly went into a coughing fit. "Kevin, it's too hot and spicy! And how much salt did you put in?"

Kevin winced frantically toweling dry my wet blankets. "I don't know. It said a tablespoon but I figured that wasn't enough since he's really sick, you know." He grabbed my arm stopping me from moving. "Chad, just hold still you keep making your blankets wetter."

"Maybe I should get this tray out of the way," Adam said cautiously, sensing having the tray near was just a disaster waiting to happen.

Kevin snapped his head up. "Wait, let me get the drink off."

He reached even as Adam was moving. Kevin lost his balance somehow knocking Adam to the floor and slapping the tray over. The soup bowl and cup full of water went flying into the air. I rolled over and out of bed just as both liquids fell on the spot I once occupied.

"Shit!" Kevin jumped to the bed and snatched the blankets and sheets off. "I'll put some new ones on for you. Don't worry about anything, bro."

He didn't watch where he threw the bedcovers. They collided against the lamp on the dresser. The impact knocked it against the wall and then the lamp crashed onto the floor breaking into a spectacular mess. I looked at the lamp and then Kevin who was looking at me with those big brown eyes that pleaded innocence.

"Man, that lamp just came out of nowhere," He was staring at the broken mess in amazement.

Yeah. Out of nowhere all right. He left the room presumably to get some dry bedcovers. I stared at his departing form shaking my head and sank down on the floor with my back resting against the wall. Finally a moment of assured calmness. I looked at Adam and just crossed my arms with my head cocked. I didn't have to say anything.

Adam winced at my accusatory glare. "So, I can see why you were a little scared earlier."

"A little and who said anything about earlier," I retorted. "I am still scared shitless."

Adam shook his head. "How about we do this. We just tell him the truth."

I snorted. "That would be like calling Tiny Tim a cocksucker. Even though he is he won't own up to it."

"Nice comparison," Adam said dryly.

I chuckled and grabbed at the Kleenex on the floor to blow my nose. My eyes landed on the cup that fell off the food tray. It was turned over and laying on the stack of graphic novels that I got for Christmas. The gift that Adam had given me. I batted the cup away and picked up the top book. It was wet and heavy with water. I gawked at the ruined book in disbelief. I felt a well of tears press behind my eyes and I blinked hard to hold them back. Distantly I could hear Adam call out to me asking me what was wrong. I opened my eyes just as Kevin appeared in the doorway.

"I hope you don't mind but I just broke a window..." Kevin trailed off noticing the storm that had taken over my face. "You alright?"

I stared at him coldly. "I know you mean well, Kevin. I know you're only here because you care. But you just ruined something that I treasured and I'm really trying not to yell and throw something at you. Please, just leave. I really need to calm down and having you here won't help."

"I'm sorry," Kevin said softly. He looked dejectedly down at the ground. "I didn't mean to."

He turned around and walked out of the house. I sighed feeling my shoulders droop as the tension left. I looked at Adam and he was staring at me in disappointment.

"He meant well, Chad," he began.

I cut him off. "I know, Adam. I know. I'm already over it. I was really only mad there for a second. He knows that. It's just that when I saw your Christmas gift you got me ruined I got pissed. It's the first thing you ever bought me."

Adam smiled faintly. "I can buy you other things. You two have been friends way too long to let this bring you down."

"It was just the heat of the moment." I started to sneeze continuously and he dutifully gave me a tissue. "Thank you." But with my nose all stuffy it came out as "thunnq yuw".

"You need to lie down. Your bed's still wet though."

He didn't let that stop him. He suddenly turned into a boy scout. He grabbed some sheets and blankets that Kevin left and formed a makeshift pallet on the floor. It was surprisingly really comfortable and I didn't mind at all lying down in it.

"Do you mind going to talk to him for me?" I tucked myself between the blankets. "Tell him I'm not mad at him. If you can, try and blame the sickness!"

Adam laughed. "Ah, yes. Damm this rage virus of yours."

"Ah come on, baby. Work with me here."

"I was going to go check on him anyway, darling. No, don't get up." He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss against my forehead. "Feel better."

I nodded and watched him leave. I hoped that Kevin wasn't at his house being emo boy. I would feel really bad then. I think Adam could talk some reason into him. This wasn't as bad as some of our usual fights. Arguments between Kevin and I were known to go into an epic scale. Both of us were really stubborn which wasn't a good trait to have in two arguing individuals. There was one time we had gone two months without speaking to each other. That had sucked but looking back it had been a really stupid fight. I'm guessing this was one of those times too. I wanted to talk to him myself but I didn't have the energy. Kevin's brief visit had drained me of all strength I had regained from the medicated sleep.

I closed my eyes and tried to call on that blissful sleep I had fallen into earlier. I tossed and turned until finally giving up and opening my eyes with an exhale of frustration. Looked like sleep wouldn't come easily to me now. Maybe if I read something. That usually helped. I looked at the graphic novels, soggy and still soaking wet. I wouldn't be reading these anytime soon. What could I read? I needed something. Anything. I lost a sense of self, racking my brain for a good title. My eyes shifted back and the world went out of focus. I blinked hard to reset my vision and started in surprise at the sudden weight that dropped in my hand.

I looked down and frowned. In my hand was a long crystal. It was almost a foot long, skinny and completely clear ilke glass. Did I rob the set of Smallville and not even know it? This looked like one of those control crystals that belonged in the Fortress of Solitude that Kevin always went on about. I was going to jail! I hurriedly started to wipe the crystal on my shirt to get rid of fingerprints. I held it up to the light to make sure I got it good and clean. The crystal shined and a set of glyph like numbers scrolled vertically inside the crystal. I gaped at the scrolling script. I don't think that happened on Smallville. I peered closer at the crystal. An unexpected sense of familiarity came over me.

"Videum Crystallus," I said softly without meaning to.

Legacy Crystal, my mind whispered to me. This was mine.

I clutched it to my chest feeling like I had gained back something very precious to me. I brought it to eye level and went on instinct, running a finger down its surface. A beam emitted from the crystal’s tip and hit my forehead, closing my eyes I envisioned an image of a book. I ran another finger down the crystal and willed it to change form. The beam stopped as the air around the crystal wavered and then flared white. In its place fell a heavy book encased in a blue binding.

On the cover of the book was my symbol. A five point star surrounded by a circle. It was the same symbol that I wore as a pendent-clasp on the cloak of my Chosen uniform. I opened the book carefully. Really carefully. I was not in the mood for broomsticks to randomly go flying or monkeys to get wings. I wouldn't look good with green skin. The pages were blue and the lettering was in glittering silver. And it was in Atlantean. Fuck.

I wasn't fluent in Atlantean. I could recognize few words but to read this entire book was impossible. I'm sure Nathaniel could help me. He could translate this or something. I flipped through it frowning. Parts of it seemed like a journal and some parts read like battle strategies. I came across descriptions of creatures and then suddenly it went into portal harmonics. I couldn't really be sure but I'm guessing the crystal was Prince Emrys' version of a grimoire. I flipped through some more pages and caught a few words I recognized.

"My spells!" I gasped in surprise.

I eagerly scanned through the more familiar words and found myself smiling. This was kind of cool. All those times I just rattled spells on the fly they were here in writing. I could read this thing better than I initially thought. Words caught my eye and I stilled.

"Aequitus Inturimo," I whispered, tracing the characters with my fingers.

I knew this spell. Hadn't I just used it to save the Earth from another ice age? I looked at the spell above it and recognized it enough to know that it was the Hell Ground Zero spell. For some reason these two spells grouped together made sense. I traced the characters at the top of the page that stood out like a title or subject heading. I concentrated hard, staring at the squarish, blocky characters.

"Giga..." I said slowly, translating. "Annihilation... Programs..."

Giga Annihilation Programs. That sounded... dangerous. And very familiar. It was right on the edge of my memory but out of reach. I could suddenly make out the words right under the Justice Apocalypse spell. TABOO. LOCKED. ACCESS FORBIDDEN. The rest of the page was blacked out leaving the script underneath unreadable. Wow. Spells more dangerous than Hell Ground Zero or the Justice Apocalypse? Those spells had enough juice behind them to power the entire continent of North America for a year. I had no desire to know what lay beyond them in terms of firepower. Although I did wonder how they became locked away. I guess there was a reason these were called the Giga Annihilation Programs.

"Meow."

I let out a loud squeak and the book went flying from my hands in surprise. The cat was back and it was staring at me like I was its last meal. I scrambled backward and conjured a fireball again.

"Listen up, you creature from the black pit!" I snarled. "Back the fuck back!"

The cat hissed and I swear its eyes flashed with a weird green light. Holy shit! It hissed again and jumped toward me. I screamed and rolled away. The cat turned on a dime and bounced in front of me, hissing like I owed it money.

"Look, man," I said quickly backing up. "I will barbeque your ass. Now leave me the fuck alone!"

I raised the fireball and wondered if it knew I was bluffing. Sure I would melt it into steaming flesh but I wasn't going to send my room up in flames in the process. If I was outside then there would be no problem.

"Umm... Chad?"

I looked at the doorway and Adam stood there. I looked at the fireball and then at the cat who was suddenly cowering in the corner looking like a fake ass Puss and Boots. Son of a crack whore!

"Adam, you should have seen it!" I dissipated the fireball and ran into his arms. "That flea factory came in here and tried to freaking attack me! It was insane."

Adam led me to the bed. "Right. Chad, you shouldn't be moving around so much."

"I know," I admitted quickly and pointed a shaky finger at the cat that was blinking at us innocently. "But it tried to kill me, Adam!"

"Okay, so Isis is a killer cat?" He obviously didn't believe one word I was saying. "I think this flu has you seeing things. Here take your meds and sleep some more. You'll feel better."

I took the pills in my hand but didn't swallow them. I'll be damned if I took pills that knocked me out while a killer cat lorded around my house. I didn't say anything more on the matter. I knew that Adam wouldn't believe me. He hadn't actually seen it happen. I was really creeped out the cat hadn't left my room yet. It stood in the corner just watching us.

"It's still staring."

Adam rolled his eyes and shot the cat an apologetic look. "Sorry, Professor McGonagall. It looks like Transfiguration is canceled. Morgan is downstairs if you want someone to go talk to."

Damn if that cat didn't give a little nod and silently pad out of the room. I looked at Adam to see if he thought that was unusual but he was too busy trying to tuck me into bed.

"Kevin said he understood why you got so mad," Adam wouldn't stop fussing with my sheets. "He's sorry and said he'll stop by tomorrow after you've had enough rest." He read the time on his phone and swore. "I have to get home. I told my aunt and uncle that I wouldn't be out late. It's already after ten."

I nodded sadly. "You really have to go?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry, darling."

He bent over and kissed me. It was a soft kiss. A brief touch of lips that left me aching for me. But swapping spit with a sick person was not something I would wish upon my worse enemy. So that meant Killian was safe. I waved pathetically at him feeling like I was trapped in a horror movie. All I needed to do was shower get good and soapy, and wait for my death. But there was no way I was going down without a fight. I needed to figure out a game plan or agenda. I needed options.

I fell asleep.

I dreamt of a flaming wheel and then the open blackness of outer space. It went on and on and I witnessed the collapse of black holes and supernovas and the ruins of toppled empires lost to time. I stood on the bridge of a starship with the entire universe spread out before me. The silk clothes on my skin were a gorgeous shade of blue...

Then I felt... cold?

My first conscious thought as I came to was why was it so damn cold. I groggily opened my eyes and with a start realized I was lying on my back in the snow. In my backyard of all places. Holy rusted metal Batman! I tried to get up but I was tied down by my arms and legs. Was this some type of joke? Was I some type of extra in a kinky bondage film? The moon hung silently in the air and provided just enough light to make out my captor.

"You have finally woken up," a silky voice whispered from the shadows.

What stepped forward was a creature that resembled a woman in body and face, except this thing was covered in tan short fur and her face had dark markings. I was getting a real Thundercat vibe here. Her dark hair went down to her ass in a long mane, making her quicksilver eyes stand out. I knew those eyes. I had those weird, shiny orbs trained on me for a good portion of the day. This bitch was the cat. Isis was a damn shapeshifter. This cat bitch wanted to kill me.

"I KNEW IT!" I shouted smugly, grinning like a loon.

Isis didn't let my triumphant cheer detour her. Her steps were graceful and silent. She moved with an otherworldly grace that no human could hope to match. Not even the best dancers or performers.

"I was surprised when those humans took me in," She was distinctly amused.

I smirked. "Were you overwhelmed with strong fuzzy feelings and knew the life of a family pet was just for you?"

"No. I planned to slaughter you all while you slept."

Well wasn't that just swell. "Where's Morgan and my mom?"

"The two females slumber in their beds," Isis bent over to run a clawed finger down my cheek. She cut skin and blood welled up. "I care not for them. I have a prize far beyond their worthless spines. I have the champion of magic."

I looked around craning my neck to could scan the backyard. "Oh my, God. Really? Where is he?"

She slapped me. Hard. My hand snapped sharply to the right. "Your incessant chatter tires me."

My gaze turned ice cold. "That hurt, bitch. You won't live another night."

Isis laughed long and hard. "I heard you had a sharp tongue! Fates sing to me today. I assumed you were just another family that I was once again going to rip apart. When you conjured that fireball I knew you were so much more. So much power I sensed from you. I knew you had to be the fabled Warlock, commander of the Chosen."

"That's my name, don't wear it out."

I called upon that well of power inside me and prepared to send this bitch packing straight to hell. My magic lashed out and I screamed when it suddenly inverted and rushed back into me with an unexpected shock of angry energy. My nerves screamed as a feeling of white hot knives stabbed into every part of my body. I looked through my pain filled vision and saw Isis standing above smirking.

She gestured to the circle I just now noticed was drawn around me. I could make out foreign symbols and glyphs dotting the inside of the circle. Runes went around the outside glowing as they nulled my power, trapping it inside the protective circle.

"What is this, you crazy bitch?"

Isis laughed again, those quicksilver eyes glittering with a malicious glee.

"That is what we in the Ever After like to call a Saint's Cage. It prevents humans from getting in or out, and renders them harm if they use magic." She laughed again and kicked me in the leg. I bit back a cry of pain. "When the moon is at its peak the witching hour will be at hand. I will open a gate to the Ever After and deliver you to the Lords in Shadow. They will reward me greatly for your severed head."

I faked a gasp. "Do you want to split the money? We can go halfies! 50/50 what do you say?"

"I say I will kill you now and take your mutilated corpse," she replied frostily.

Isis was suddenly slammed into the oak tree near the old swing set. Omega floated down from the sky touching down on the snow soundlessly. He stood between me and her and I have never been happier to see anyone at this moment.

"I did some thinking on my way home," Omega didn't take his gaze away from Isis. "I realized that there was something strange about that cat. Or should I say you. I came back after realizing I had never seen a cat with eyes like yours. I had only seen them belonging to shapeshifters."

Isis climbed to her feet and came at Omega in a run. "I won't go down without a fight!"

If I had blinked I would have missed it. She leaped at him and Omega's sword was out and ignited in one swoop. There was a cry of pain and then two thuds as Isis body was cleaved cleanly in two, black blood spraying the snow.

"I wasn't expecting you to," Omega said into the quiet, night air.

Her organs pooled out of her ripped body. Omega returned Oathkeeper back into subspace without a word. He ran to me and kicked at the markings around the circle. There was a low hiss and snap as the circle lost power. He helped me to my feet and I leaned my forehead against his shoulder breathing in his scent.

"You believed me," My voice broke with emotion.

Adam kissed my cheek and my ear then tucked his chin into the crook of my neck. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you earlier. It seemed so unreal but things just didn't add up so I flew back."

I pulled back and couldn't stop smiling even if I wanted to. "I'm glad you did. I knew making you watch those reruns of CSI: Miami would pay off." I closed my eyes. "I just want to sleep for like a week yo."

Adam kissed me again. "Go for it, darling. I got you."

And I believed him.