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The two girls sat on the king-size bed in Amelia’s penthouse suite, sharing stories of their past. How they both liked the same kind of foods and how similar their tastes were in movies and books. They were warming up to big stuff, but this part was fun too. It only helped to solidify the fact that they were in fact so uncannily alike.
After Amelia was adopted she’d tried to find a common ground with her new siblings, but there was always something missing. She knew now what that was. For her and Michelle it was just easy, they were sisters, as simple as that.
“I know this isn’t what you meant when you said you wanted to talk,” Michelle finally said. “You don’t have to be scared to ask me what you want to know. I grew up going to the Celebrations and all the things that come with being a part of the Colony. It’s like being raised in America, it seems so natural to you, but I have a ton of questions for you!” She smiled, trying to put Amelia at ease. “But later,” She said, lowering her enthusiasm and allowing Amelia to speak.
“My dad. Do you remember him?” Amelia asked. The one big thing she was missing, was information about him.
Michelle shook her head. “I don’t, but I do know the story. If you want to hear it. I can tell you, but it doesn’t end well.”
“I already know he’s . . . gone. But I need to know the rest, and I need to know why I’m so special because of him,” Amelia said.
“His name was Lachlean, and yes he was from the Larougo bloodline. A werewolf, as you would say. But the Larougo aren’t wolves, they’re dingos. The wild dogs you see roaming around by day. At night, the Larougo become human. It runs in their blood like Garkain does in ours.
“If we’re as alike as I think we are, then we’re both independent and strong-willed. We push our boundaries and don’t like taking no for an answer or being told what to do. We get that from our mother. She fell in love with Lachlean. She didn’t care what happened. But the leader of the Larougo pack was the one who killed your father.
“Because of her status in the Colony, she was given a choice. We aren’t enemies, Garkain and Larougo. Our truce was struck centuries ago when we first came to Australia. But inter-breeding isn’t allowed. Children born of both Garkain and Larougo aren’t allowed to survive. So that answers the why you’re so special question. Because no Garkain and Larougo children have ever survived in the Colony. Until now.”
“That’s terrible. Why would they do that?”
“It’s not our decision about the children. It’s a pack rule for the Larougo. Heavy bargaining needed to be made to save you. Firstly, you had to be given away, know nothing about the Colony, or who we were. To see how your mortal life might be different. Secondly, Lachlean’s pack punished him by death. I was too young to remember him. I’m sorry.”
“So, we don’t have the same father, I’m guessing.”
“No, and neither do Robert and I. That’s one thing about the Colony, we aren’t monogamous. It helps to ensure a variety of different cultural backgrounds and genetics. Although I wasn’t required to have children, I decided to. I have two. A boy and a girl, to carry on the royal bloodline. Just as our mother chose to do for us.”
Amelia sat for a while mulling over all the information that Michelle had shared with her. One of the biggest questions that remained was, did she want to join the Colony? Stay with her new family and become Unbound. Could she stand by and be a part of a culture that seemed so brutal and antiquated?
All her life she’d wondered what it would be like to find her family, to be a part of their lives. To finally be accepted. And now that she finally had that choice, she wasn’t sure if she wanted it or not.
“How do you feel about becoming part of the Colony? Becoming Unbound?” She asked Michelle honestly.
“It’s my birthright for one thing. For another, I am a part of the Colony, and so are you, it’s in our blood. Literally. We are exempt from certain obligations because of status, but we’re still a part of the Colony. At first, when I began to understand some of our customs and our requirements, the laws and the punishments, it was hard for me to wrap my head around them.
“But I’ve seen things go very wrong when the rules are broken. The guidelines and rules in place have helped to keep our people safe, and undiscovered. Secrecy is a very important part of who we are. Just bringing you here had to be a process of approvals. But again, being of a certain status, exceptions were made.” Michelle patiently explained as Amelia thought of what to ask her sister next.
“What’s the best thing about the Colony? What’s the best thing about being Unbound?” Amelia asked. Michelle had kept her word. They’d been talking for over an hour and she had answered every question Amelia had come up with. Blunt, with no sugar coating. She began to trust her because of that.
“Wow, I would have to say the feeling of belonging. We would die for each other. Have died for each other. We truly are an unbreakable force together. It’s also exciting to be a part of something secret, special. As for being Unbound. I can only tell you what I’ve seen from my mother and others.
“Immortality first off, with a few exceptions is a plus, at least most of us see it that way. Speed, which is kind of a bummer because the only time we get to practice or have fun with it, is during our gatherings, away from curious human eyes. The same for strength. Then, of course, there’s your ‘gift’. No one knows exactly what theirs will be, but it’s usually something that’s already a part of you. Most likely, we’ll both be empaths, like our mother.”
“Phoebe, mom. You know, I’m still not quite sure what to call her. She said the same thing. That I’ll be like her because I can feel other people’s emotions, read them already,” Amelia said.
Michelle nodded, “That’s true. She says the same about me and Robert. It does take some practice to do it right. And you’ll have to have a crash course. But from what I’ve been told, is that for empaths, you feel, deeply. Not about yourself, but the person you’re trying to influence. Think deeply about their feelings until you become a part of them. Then you can change how they feel. Shift them around until they fit, or something like that.
“It’s not like telling someone to do something or making them do something they don’t want to do. You can make them feel like they want to do something or feel something you want them to. It’s their choice, you just help them feel like making it.”
“You make it sound simple. And great, and scary. And I know that if I don’t Unbind, neither can you or Robert. Either that or I’m shunned from the family I just met and the Colony. No second chances, which kind of makes me feel pressured,” Amelia admitted.
“I could sense that. And we want you to join us, but we, as a society, do respect free will to a certain extent, as long as it doesn’t put the Colony or any member at risk. This is your choice. And with enough negotiating, we could come to an agreement. These are special circumstances after all,” Michelle said, easing Amelia worry, just a bit.
“About that. If I do Unbind, what do you . . . what do they think will happen?”
Michelle sighed. “We don’t know. There are speculations that one side may take over the other. If you chose to undergo the Unbinding ritual, it could make you full Garkain, without any Larougo characteristics at all. Or you may have some combination of the two. Because of the dual bloodlines it’s doubtful you would become full lycanthrope or full Garkain. But again, it’s all speculation at this point,” Michelle explained.
“What about lycanthropes? What about their group?”
Michelle sighed. “We’ve lived in peace for a long time, as I said before. But it’s a strained peace. Larougo and Garkain have a past, and it’s one that hasn’t always been peaceful. Two different supernatural groups vying for control at one time. Each with their own weapons against the other. Wars raged between us for thousands of years until we came here. For us, we had to learn to coexist or face extinction. So, we came to a place of mutual understanding.
“Larougo can resist our influences completely. They also have poison glands at the base of each claw. The same way we have a coagulant in our saliva. We’re stronger, and faster. Physical attributes which have each evolved and changed over time, like our skin. But their venom is toxic. Driving a Garkain mad, and it doesn’t end well.”
“So Garkain stay as they are, but Larougo can only become human at night. It sounds like nothing I’ve ever read or heard about.”
“Don’t believe everything you read or see on TV. And yes, over time we’ve adapted. And so have they in ways. I’ve heard that in the beginning they were wolves, but that they adapted into dingos. Which makes more sense. We mostly keep to ourselves, each kind separate. Although Anatole will be there at some point. He’s the newest leader of their pack. He wants to see you too. I told you, there’s a lot to do about you.”
“Now I really am nervous. What if things don’t go as well as everyone hopes? Would they kill me?” Amelia couldn’t hide the fear in her voice.
“Mother is very powerful, and so is Ambrose, our grandfather. I doubt it would come to that.” Amelia could tell that Michelle was trying to ease her worry, but she could also tell that she didn’t have all the answers on this one.
“I say, just take it all in tomorrow, see how you feel. And by weeks end, you can make your decision. I’m actually starting to get a little tired, and a little hungry. Mother will be back before night, I’m sure. So we have about an hour left to ourselves. Coffee downstairs and a snack?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They talked a bit more, about less heavy things until, just as the sun was beginning to get lower in the sky, both Amelia and Michelle noticed their mother walking toward their table, sitting down to join them.
“Well, did you two have a nice time?” She asked.
“Absolutely. Amelia and I are like long lost twins. We had a great talk too,” Michelle glanced over at Amelia and winked.
“I’m so glad to hear that,” She said smiling. “We have a long day ahead of us, as Michelle already knows. And Amelia, I would suggest you take me up on my offer to help you sleep tonight. The planes leave for the Outback at 8:00 A.M. and the Celebration begins at noon,” Their mother said.
“Are you staying with me again tonight?” Amelia asked.
“If you would like me to, I can.”
“I think so, and yes, I will take you up on that offer. I’ve been dead on my feet all day,” Amelia said. “I could use a good night of rest.”
“Well, then it’s time for you to get home to your family. Your children are driving me crazy, as always,” She said to Michelle.
“I know when my time’s up,” Michelle pouted, then stood and hugged her sister again. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“See you in the morning.”
Her mother stopped by the front desk, influencing the concierge to have an actual bed brought to the penthouse suite. Amelia guessed the pullout wasn’t as comfortable as she thought it would be last night.
Less than an hour later, a knock sounded at the door, with Trevor greeting them both. “Nice to see you again, Miss Amelia. Where would you like your things, Miss Phoebe?” He asked her mother.
“In the front living area. And I’ll need your help with both our things in the morning at no later than 6:00,” She instructed him curtly, making Amelia flinch.
He bowed to them both. “Of course. I will see you in the morning.”
As he opened the door, a group of four hotel employees struggled to fit the queen size bed through the elevator opening and set it up in the living area. Amelia watched as they pieced the entire thing together, then made the bed completely and left without a word.
“Ah! So much better.” Her mother smiled, pulling down the top covers. “Are you nervous? About tomorrow?” She asked Amelia.
“A little.”
Her mother frowned. “Okay, a lot,” Amelia admitted.
“Would you like me to help with that too? Take away some of your anxiety? I promise to do only the things you ask me to. And it should wear off by morning. If yesterday gave us an idea of how long my influence will last.”
Amelia considered it. Thinking that a nice, stress-free sleep would be heavenly. And that no matter what her mother influenced her mind into thinking or feeling, the effect would be gone by morning.
“Yes. To both. Sleep, and less anxiety. I feel like if you don’t, my mind will just spin and spin like last night.”
Her mother crossed the room, sitting with Amelia on the bed. “Michelle told me about my father. Lachlean?” Her mother nodded. “I’m sorry. It sounds like you loved him very much. I wish I had the chance to meet him.”
“So do I. And yes, I loved him very deeply. And you, my sweet girl, are the only thing I have left of him,” She said, gently brushing Amelia’s hair behind her back. “Now, I’m going to influence your mind to relax first, and then convince you that you’re sleepy. You should be out soon.”
“Thanks, mom,” Amelia said, finally deciding on what to call the woman she met just yesterday.
“Shhh . . . Just relax.”
Within five minutes Amelia began to feel so emotionally light, so relaxed, that she barely needed any help to feel sleepy. It had been anxiety fueling her all day, she realized now. She didn’t even remember her head hitting the pillow.
Waking up, she felt refreshed and well rested. The same smell of heavenly coffee with breakfast hit her nose as soon as she opened her eyes. She could certainly get used to this!
“Good morning, how did you sleep?” Her mother asked again as Amelia plodded into the kitchen.
“Like a rock. Thank you. I didn’t even dream.”
“We only have about thirty minutes before Trevor gets here, so eat fast, and get packed. Today you meet the rest of the Colony.”