Page 12 of Smoke and Mirrors
Thembi’s jovial face turned to a frown. “Yes, shifters are in dire straits now exactly because of the lack of shamans for them to turn to. With no humans on ya side, the rest are treatin’ ya like livestock.” She ran a hand down her face with a sigh. “Shamans used to be respected among humans, until public opinion started changin’. We started bein’ seen as crazy people. Talkin’ to animals and havin’ visions didn’t belong in a world with modern science and medicine. Nobody wanted to be targeted so they stopped passin’ on the gifts.”
“That’s a terrible reason,” Mel echoed my thoughts. “Leaving shifters to suffer at the hands of humans with no one to back them up? Just because they didn’t want to be made fun of?”
“It went beyond that, girl,” Thembi replied in a scolding tone. “Some got locked up in institutions back in the day. Others even got hanged and drowned as witches, goin’ way back. At the end of the day, people had to save their own hides.”
“That’s what it always comes down to,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. “Survival.”
Small fingers gave my palm a hesitant stroke. I closed my hand around Mel’s, hoping she would see that I wasn’t angry. I wouldn’t lash out at her. I was just consumed by things I’d rather forget.
“Why can’t I sense shifters or other shamans?” she asked, her voice sounding far away from me. “I didn’t sense you just now.”
“A gift still needs to be developed, girl,” Thembi answered. “Ya need to practice listening. Stop all those chattering voices in ya head and listen to the deepest part of ya.” She pointed at her own chest. “When did ya turn eighteen?”
“A few weeks ago,” Mel replied.
“Hah! I’m surprised ya’ve had dreams already. That’s half the battle, girl. Listen to ya instincts. Humans are animals too, don’t forget.”
Another set of fingers closed around my bicep and Mel’s voice became much closer.
“I think we need some time to process this. Will you still be here if I have more questions?”
“Yes, girl. Til the end of the carnival this weekend. Take care of ya doggy boy. He’s not a in good place right now.”
A gentle pull to my feet and a few steps later, fresh air and sun hit my senses.
“Hey.” Two hands flew to either side of my face and I found myself looking down into a pair of warm, brown eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Not really,” I admitted. “You didn’t mention it so I don’t think you saw what happened after the hunt.”
Mel shook her head. “No, Hunter. I don’t need to—”
“A hunter shot her,” I said, my voice flat. “As she was dying, she begged me to take the pups and run. She was carrying two. Only one was alive.” I looked toward the direction of the den, where the only two living memories of my mate remained. “That was Rinna.”
“Oh, Hunter…”
Mel’s arms went around my waist as she pressed her cheek to my chest.
“I’m so sorry,” she murmured into my shirt. “I’ll get a hang of this… gift, one way or another. I don’t want to dig through your past. I don’t want to bring up painful things for you or anyone.”
“I know.” I tucked her head under my chin and rubbed my hands across her back. “It doesn’t hurt as much anymore, not like it used to. I just… didn’t want to think about it again. Especially not today.”
“Damn it.” She looked up at me and huffed out a humorless laugh. “No matter what we do, we can’t seem to have a fun, easy day, huh?”
I let out a heavy sigh, determined to get out from under the black cloud settling over me. “The day is still young, though.” I stroked her face, trying to lose myself in those wide brown eyes instead of being haunted by cold dead ones.
“Let’s go on some rides.” I grabbed her hands and began walking us in the direction of the Ferris wheel and all the brightly-lit rides surrounding it.
“You’re seriously in the mood for rides?” Mel asked, catching up with my long strides.
“No, but I want to get out of this mood I’m in,” I draped an arm over her shoulders, “and go back to enjoying my day with you.”
7
MELODY
Ihad to admit, screaming my lungs out after a few hundred-foot drops felt incredibly cathartic. With Hunter grinning next to me, my feet dangling in midair, and the heavy ride harness secured over my chest, the day almost felt blissfully normal again. The adrenaline took over and I could forget about Thembi’s haunting words for at least another few hours.
We were smart enough to get foodafterrides and walked through the vendor booths, checking out the clothes, jewelry, weapons, and other crafts as we munched on corn dogs. My stomach flipped uncomfortably as we strolled past the metalsmith tables. This was where I first saw Razvan, flipping knives flawlessly through the air like he was born to do it.
