“There’s a barn in the next field over. I’ll meet you there.” I took off running and was almost over the wall when I finally heard Mr. Shaw coming behind me. I scrambled along the top until I could see the barn, then I dropped down and ran straight for the structure, up and over wheelbarrows, haystacks, and low hedges in my path. Mr. Shaw seemed to keep pace with me, but I could tell he was going around obstacles instead of over them. By the time I made it to the barn, he was out of breath.
But not much. Being a Bear must have advantages in speed and endurance that someone like Adam, a fit seventeen-year-old guy, didn’t even have. I wondered about the genetics of that. “Do you keep the physical advantages you have as a Bear when you’re in your human shape?”
My question surprised him, but he considered his answer. “Normal strength and endurance genes were super-promoted because of my particular mutation, so yes, I do.”
I nodded. “That makes sense. So Connor is probably really fast then, huh?”
Mr. Shaw nodded. “He’s also the alpha in his pack.”
“You mean like his friends?”
Mr. Shaw was looking around the inside of the barn as we spoke. He nodded. “He’ll always rise to a leadership position within any group because he’s the oldest male in his family.”
“What about his older sister?”
Mr. Shaw scowled. “Alexandra lived with her mother when her parents divorced, and when her father, Andrew, married my sister, Liz, Alex rarely came around. Alexandra’s mother became a Gazelle and there’s a gender component to our heredity.”
“So, because she’s a girl, she doesn’t become a Wolf?”
Mr. Shaw nodded. “Correct. However Alex also carries some of the Wolf’s physical enhancements, just like I carry some of my mother’s Lynx attributes.”
I thought about all the possible combinations out there. It was sort of mind-boggling. “It seems like Shifter genetics would be a huge science to study all by itself. It must be pretty cool to see what different kids can do based on who their parents are.”
Mr. Shaw nodded. “We’re actually quite fortunate that genetic diversity is allowed with us.”
“Allowed? It seems like a necessity if you don’t want to end up inbred and weak.”
“Genetic diversity, even between Families, is an argument that is coming up more and more among those of us who want to see the Families survive.”
I climbed up a hay stack and perched myself in the rafters of the barn. I think I needed a little distance from him to ask the questions that had been burning holes in my brain. “Miss Simpson said they take ‘medical steps’ to keep people from different Family branches from mixing their genes.” From my perch high above him, I could see the muscles in the Bear’s shoulder bunch with tension. He looked up to face me, and I could see worry etched around his eyes.
“Are you in love with Arman?”
I wasn’t expecting that question, at least not from him. “No. But I think he must have been in love with Alex.”
Mr. Shaw closed his eyes as if to block out that thought. “I haven’t seen her since she left school. You remind me of her a bit. It’s probably what attracts him to you.”
“Adam and I are just friends. I don’t know why everyone’s so freaked out about that.”
Mr. Shaw sat down on a hay bale and rubbed his fingers through his shaggy hair. “This whole issue of mixing bloodlines and cross-Family mating is coming to a head right now. The leaders among the Families come from old blood. They’re jealous of their power and will do whatever it takes to keep it pure and uncomplicated.”
I shuddered. “That sounds like Aryan race crap.”
He gave a rueful smile. “It is. The problem is that everyone looks at the mixing up of Families as ‘dilution’ instead of what it really is, which is ‘survival.’ I mean look at your Family. No one even knows if there are any Clockers left who can travel through time aside from you and your mother. If you don’t have children, that skill could very well be lost.”
I grimaced. “No pressure.”
“Indeed. And here’s the rub. Because there are no Clocker boys your age, and possibly no Clocker men left at all, any children you have will only have half your Clocker blood.”
“Can we please stop talking about my hypothetical kids? It’s really weirding me out. I’m about as far from having kids right now as a person can get.”
“Sadly, Miss Elian, you and I are not the only people having this conversation.”
I don’t know which made me more uncomfortable, the Bear calling me ‘Miss Elian’ or the idea that other people could be discussing anything about me.
I got up from my perch and walked the upper beams of the barn like a tightrope. It took my mind off Mr. Shaw and gave me something to concentrate on. He must have needed a change of subject too. “Regarding Vampires, they do have a couple of vulnerabilities.” I dropped down out of the rafters and it startled him. Good.
“Tell me.”
“As we touched on briefly after class, the mutant strain of porphyria, supercharged by a Family neuregulin 1 type 6 gene, is what halts their cell growth and creates a sort of suspended animation for all organs and tissue in their bodies. Obviously other skills are enhanced by the neuregulin 1 protein promoters.“
“Like what?”
“I guess you haven’t had a lot of one-on-one experience with Vampires.”
I held my tongue. Explaining my very complicated relationship with Archer was not something I was prepared to do just yet, or maybe ever.
“Well, they’re stronger and faster than an average human. I could go into why, but it doesn’t really matter unless you’re a scientist. They need concentrated protein to exist, and the hematocrits in human blood are the best way to stave off the painful symptoms of the porphyria. Animal blood will work too, but there are apparently conversion issues there. And whatever skills they might have inherited from their Family bloodlines are also present, so there’s a wild card to dealing with a Vampire.”
“In other words, if he comes from the Seers he could have Sight, or he could have animal skills if he comes from Shifters?” A fascinating and terrifying idea.
“But a Vampire would never be a true Shifter. There’s an incompatibility between the porphyria and a full change. He might have latent skills though.”
“What about if he’s part Monger?”
Mr. Shaw looked me directly in the eye. “Then he’s just a very bad guy.” Somehow I thought that fit perfectly with what I was up against. I nodded.
“Okay, how are they vulnerable?”
“It’s all about blood with Vampires.” I rolled my eyes, but Mr. Shaw continued. “Porphyria is a blood-borne disease. Drain the blood, and the cell stasis can be reversed.” He could tell I was struggling with that one and he smiled ruefully. “It’s the suspended animation of the body’s cells that cause a Vampire’s ‘immortality.’ They’re not truly immortal, but until their cell death cycle can be kick-started again, they might as well be. So, by draining a Vampire’s blood, the cell stasis has nothing to sustain it anymore and the body’s cells will start to die. Then it’s just a matter of dealing what would be a ‘normally’ fatal wound before the body has time to generate new blood. Of course, if you’ve managed to get all the blood out of a Vampire, you’ve likely delivered that fatal blow already.”
“And for those of us without homicidal inclinations?”
“In this game, it’s kill or be turned, because if a Vampire gets his teeth on you, Saira, your blood will mutate and the porphyria will take hold. You will become a Vampire too.”
I shuddered. “Big stakes.”
“The biggest.” He circled around and sized me up. “You’re tall, but you have no weight to back you up in a fight.”
“My physical strengths are agility and speed.”
“What else?”
“I’m not sure. Night vision?”
“What else could you rely on if you were attacking or being attacked?” He was still circling me as if looking for a weakness.
I thought about that for a moment. “A very strong self-preservation instinct.”
“Let’s see.” Mr. Shaw lunged forward and grabbed me.
I hadn’t seen it coming and was instantly trapped in strong hands. I tried to spin away, but I couldn’t move. Tried to kick him. Missed. I even tried to use my head to break his nose, but I only connected with his chest. I screamed in frustration! Rage and impotence boiled in me like poison as I tried to get free.
Then, a blur of movement came from the shadows.
The heavy sound of impact.
I was being pulled down. Everything felt like slow motion. I knew I would hit the ground hard and it would hurt.
Hands let go of me. Pushed me away.
The thud of a big body. A grunt of pain.
I hit a bale of hay and all the breath whooshed out of my body. I tried to open my eyes. They were open. My vision cleared. In the dim light I could see a figure huddled over another on the floor.
Archer. And Mr. Shaw.
“NOOOOOO!”
The scream was mine, and it jolted Archer out of whatever had possessed him. There was anger and fear and something else etched on his face. He turned to me. His hands were like claws and he looked feral.
Suddenly, an enormous brown Bear rose up behind Archer, towering over him with full, menacing size. The Bear growled in rage. It was a sound that froze the blood in my veins. This animal meant to kill.
“Mr. Shaw!” I screamed his name hoping that sheer volume would be enough to get through to the Bear. He took a step toward Archer, who was still focused on me, not the two thousand pound Bear that was about to maul him.
I darted forward, between them. Archer screamed my name, but I barely heard him, so intent on reaching the man inside the massive Bear. My eyes were locked on the brown Bear’s golden ones. I held my hand out to him and begged.
“Mr. Shaw, it’s me, Saira. He won’t hurt me. He’s my friend. Please change back!”
I could feel Archer ready to leap at the Bear’s slightest move. But I kept my eyes locked on the huge beast in front of me, and slowly, I felt the rage slip out of his glare.
With a deep “hrumph,” the Bear dropped to all four legs, and after a final growl at Archer, he turned and ambled slowly from the barn.
I started to sag in relief until I remembered I wasn’t alone. I spun angrily. “What the hell were you doing? You just attacked a teacher!”
The concern on his face instantly flashed to anger. “What the hell were you doing grappling with him in a dark barn? I thought I was saving your life!”
“Throw me my jeans, Vampire. They’re on the floor behind you.” Mr. Shaw’s voice boomed menacingly from the deep shadows of the barn.
To his credit, Archer retrieved the jeans and tossed them toward the voice. After a moment Mr. Shaw emerged from the shadows, shirtless, barefoot, and scowling.
“Why are you here, Vampire?”
I’d never heard a voice so scary and fierce.
Archer held his ground. “For Saira.”
Mr. Shaw’s eyes narrowed. “Her blood does you no good.”
That made no sense to me, but apparently it did to Archer. “I won’t let them have it.”
“So you’ll destroy what you can’t have?”
They were growling in riddles, and I didn’t like being the subject of their argument.
“Not destroy. Protect.”
Mr. Shaw’s gaze sharpened on Archer’s face. “What does the Clocker mean to you?”
Archer’s voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “I love her.”
Mr. Shaw roared and lunged at Archer.
“Stop it!” I put myself between them again and almost got taken out by the force of his blow. “Enough! Archer won’t hurt me, but you will if you keep attacking him.” That must have gotten through to him. He stepped back, and I was able to get my feet back under me. Mr. Shaw sat warily on a hay bale while Archer retreated to the other side of the barn.
There were scars marking nearly every inch of Mr. Shaw’s bare chest. I’d seen the newest ones on his back, but the crisscrossed lines on the front looked like the rake of claws across his skin. He didn’t notice my horrified glance, and I was able to look away before he caught me staring.
“What is the game you’re playing, Clocker?” The Bear’s voice was gruff, and I didn’t like how he kept calling me ‘Clocker.’
“I’m not playing a game. I got thrown in the middle of one, and all I want is to find my mother.” My voice broke.
“Why is the Vampire here?”
I looked back at Archer, still pacing on the other side of the barn, his shoulders tightening visibly at the Bear’s tone. “I met him in 1888. He helped me escape then from the killer who may have my mother, and he found me again now. He has information I need …” My voice broke again. “And he’s my friend.”
It sounded lame to my ears after Archer’s proclamation of love, but I honestly didn’t know what I felt. And I didn’t need to be announcing it to my teacher, whatever it was.
“So this isn’t the Vampire you want to kill then.” It was a statement, not a question, and I almost heard the hint of a joke in the Bear’s gruff voice.
“No. I don’t actually want to kill anyone. I just need to know how.”
Mr. Shaw looked at Archer. “Got any tips for her, Vampire?”
His mouth tightened and his eyes narrowed. Archer really didn’t like Mr. Shaw, and I had the sense that feeling was quite mutual.
“Go for the jugular, isn’t that what you teach your Cubs?”
Okay, that was enough of that. “Archer, I need to finish my lesson with Mr. Shaw. Can we meet later?”
“You’re not allowed outside at night.” The Bear was back to full growl mode.
“Isn’t that because of Archer though? I mean, he is the Vampire they’re hunting, right?” It galled Mr. Shaw to concede that point, but he finally nodded. “If you’ll leave the solarium window unlocked, I can make it back in without letting anyone know I’ve been gone.”
“And how will you evade the Hunters?”
“She’ll be with me.” Archer’s voice sounded posh and upper class in comparison to Mr. Shaw’s, but it was equally dangerous.
Mr. Shaw considered him for a long moment, and then looked at me. “The Hunters won’t be out for another hour, so you have your conversation now, and we’ll finish our lesson in my office when you’re back inside.”
I nodded meekly. It seemed to mollify him a little.
Mr. Shaw threw one last menacing look at Archer as he stood up to go. “Your accent puts you around a hundred and fifty years old, but don’t think I’m not stronger, faster, or more experienced than you, Vampire. Regardless of your age, you’re still a cub to me.”
Mr. Shaw grabbed his sweater off the barn floor and stalked out of the barn. I noticed the bandage on his shoulder had been ripped off again. The wound was almost healed, and I had a moment of irrational pride that my poultice had done well on him.
Archer was suddenly in front of me. “What the hell are you doing, Saira? Why do you need to know how to kill a Vampire?”
I rubbed my eyes tiredly. “I’m not planning to sneak up on you while you’re asleep if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
He scoffed. “Until the other night I wouldn’t have been. Now I’m not so sure.”
I gaped at him. “You can’t be serious. I would never hurt you while you’re sleeping.”
“Just when I’m awake, hmm?” There was a bare hint of bitterness in his voice, but it was enough.
“I don’t know how to react when you say you love me. I barely even know you.”
“You know me. Better than anyone. And you forget it’s been a hundred and twenty five years since we first met. That is a very long time.” What could I say to that? “I’m not here to pressure you, Saira. Or make you feel anything you don’t. I truly am just here to watch over you while you learn the things you need to know here.” He took a deep breath. “And when you go back to my past again, you have to find me and tell me about myself.”
I stared at him. “Wait … it’s already happened and you were there. You can tell me!”
He shook his head. “I can’t. I’ve spent the last hundred years looking for memories of you, but all the ones with you in them are blurry, like I’m looking at all the possible pasts at once. Only the things that have already happened to you are clear in my head. I can’t tell you what you’ve done because you haven’t done it yet.”
There was desperation in Archer’s voice, and I wanted to put my arms around him and tell him everything would be okay. But I wasn’t sure about anything. For all I knew, my mother had been turned into a Vampire.
I had to go back and try to find her. I needed all the help I could get, and my best shot at success was standing right in front of me. I took a deep breath. “Will you help me?”