Page 116 of Darkness Bound (Night Prowler 5)
But she didn’t die. The white dragon flew steady and straight, leading them farther and farther from the colony, careful not to let Jack tip from its back.
Jenna slowed and banked right, maneuvering carefully through the narrow break in the upper canopy. She was much better at taking off than landing, so she approached the small square of cleared forest where a large tree had fallen, taking out several other trees, with apprehension.
One wrong move and she and her passenger would both be in a world of hurt.
Luckily, her fears turned out to be unfounded, and soon she and Jacqueline were safely aground. Jacqueline slid off her back, landing on her feet with a huff, and Jenna Shifted back to woman. Without further ado, she began walking south through the small clearing, headed for the abrupt end to the forest several hundred yards ahead.
Jacqueline followed silently. After several minutes of walking, she said wryly, “Too bad you couldn’t manage to keep some clothes on during all these costume changes of yours.”
Jenna smiled. Costume changes. She’d never heard the Shift described quite like that. “Sorry. After a while you get used to going around naked.” She stopped and looked back at Jacqueline. “Why don’t you go ahead? Just keep going straight. That way you won’t have to stare at my . . .” she jerked a thumb toward her rear end.
This suggestion was met with a grateful smile. Jacqueline went ahead, and Jenna followed.
Finally they stood on the edge of the forest, looking out.
The clear-cut was exactly that: a total absence of trees, vegetation, or even a single leaf. Emerging from the lush, moist dimness of the forest was a harsh assault on the senses.
In pursuit of such prized, exotic woods as mahogany, teak, and rosewood, loggers had brutally razed this section of the rainforest in an enormous, perfect square. Shorn trunks stuck up like brown stubble for as far as she could see. It was as dead and silent as a graveyard, an ugly scar on the land.
Jenna pointed. “Go straight toward that hill, you see it? On the other side is a small road that leads to a highway, and if you follow that, it’ll take you into town. From there you can hire a car to take you to the airport. You probably won’t need a passport or ID—there’s enough money in your pack to bribe a local pilot three times over—but a commercial flight’s a different story. Once you get to Manaus you’ll have to find a government office and declare yourself. An American embassy would be best. If there is one.”
When she finished, Jacqueline was studying her face. She said, “What are you?”
“I’m a woman. Just like you.”
This statement was met with a short, disbelieving laugh. “You’re nothing like me.”
Jenna answered softly, “You’re wrong. I’m exactly like you. In all the ways that matter, we’re exactly the same.”
Jacqueline swallowed, turning away. In profile she was stern and remote, her hair a vivid flame atop her head. Jenna touched her arm. Jacqueline met her gaze head-on, unflinching, the confusion clear in her eyes.
“Everyone has Gifts, not only my kind. In fact, you have one of the most powerful Gifts I’ve ever seen.”
Jacqueline waited, silently watching her.
“You have the ability to shape people’s thoughts with your words. What you write, the way you communicate ideas so they make sense, gives you the ability to change people’s minds. To open their eyes to a different way of thinking.” She shrugged. “So I can change my form. So can a caterpillar, or a seed. But you . . . you can change the world.”
They stared at each other. After a while, Jacqueline said, “If I had a choice, I’d take the dragon.”
They stood there awkwardly another moment longer until Jenna said, “I’m sorry about all this.”
Jacqueline sent her a small, melancholy smile. “Well, life is funny that way. One day you’re riding the subway in New York City, the next you’re waking up in the jungle with a man you’ve never seen before in your life, and the one after that you’re riding around on the back of a dragon. If nothing else, it’ll make for a good story.”
“Yes,” said Jenna. “I imagine it will.”
They both knew Jacqueline would have to tell her story, what would be waiting for her upon her return to her old life. Jacqueline looked at Jenna, not quite sure how to respond, so Jenna said, “Just tell them the truth. Whatever you remember. I know you’ll be fair.”
Jacqueline shook her head, frowning at her. “I don’t understand. I was told I was brought here to observe you in hopes of gaining a better understanding of your kind because I hated you, and spread it around like a bad case of the flu. Why are you being so nice to me? Why not roast me like you did with that other guy? This doesn’t make sense.”
Hawk had told Jenna that he changed Jacqueline, that they’d changed each other, and even though Jacqueline couldn’t remember what had happened between them, Jenna knew the heart had a funny way of remembering what the mind pushed aside.
Love can’t lie. There was still hope.
“For one thing, that other guy deserved it. You don’t. And like you said, life is funny. You never know how things will turn out.”
Now Jacqueline looked angry. “What does that mean?”
Jenna began to slowly back away into the trees. “It means it was my pleasure to meet you, Jacqueline Dolan. I wish you the best. Maybe someday we’ll meet again. Goodbye.”
