Metamorphosis

By Melinda Fox

Raina's life revolves around her eight-year-old half sister, Amy. But time with Amy is running short as Raina starts her senior year of high school. Soon she'll have to leave for college away from her new home and Amy.
But something happens that no one thought possible and Raina is thrust into a conflict that was old before she was born. Raina's choices will effect those she holds most dear causing a disruption in the balance of power between legendary beings and humans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312372665

Book preview

Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis

By Melinda Fox

Published by Melinda Fox at Lulu

Copyright © 2014 Melinda Fox

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-312-37266-5

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

The acknowledgments page in a book was always something that I skipped. I didn’t buy the book to read to some vain author tearfully thank their spouse for not divorcing them when they tried to stomp a hole in the floor when their flash-drive broke, true story. But now that I have a book of my own and an Acknowledgements page, I realize its importance, maybe not for the reader, but for the author. So much of what we write really belongs to other people, the people that were close to us during its creation. It’s because of them that the book is now living and hopefully being read.

Maggie and Melissa, you called and emailed me constantly asking questions, critiquing, fixing, and basically being my own personal editors. You both were excited about Metamorphosis when I wasn’t. You helped me believe that maybe others would find the same enjoyment from Metamorphosis that you did. I hope you’re right.

As silly as it is and not that you will ever read this or know what you did, but I have to thank Steven King. Your book On Writing made me want to be a writer. You understood what I was feeling and spoke to me through your book. I will always be so grateful.

Russell, the love of my life, you didn’t leave me, you never said that this was too hard, you never asked why I was doing this, you just believed in me and my dream. You listened to me talk for hours on end as I tried to unravel Metamorphosis from the universe and most importantly, you didn’t let me quit. This book is here because of you, not me.

Dedication

Metamorphosis is for my father. He’s one of the greatest men I ever knew and from a young age taught me the importance of sacrificing for those you love.

My father also had a great love of literary works. I like to think that were he here he would enjoy Metamorphosis.

This is for you dad. I love you

Prologue

They’re coming, Ardan said as he ran into the room. Shaking, sweating.

Six other men were looking back at him, men that had known each other for generations. Their once smooth faces and dark hair had changed over hundreds of years. They were now wrinkled and grey. But that was expected, just like everything in their long lives. Nothing new or unanticipated every happened.

They were in control.

Always in control.

Until now.

Now their faces held the unfamiliar look of fear.

We know, Ronan said through clenched teeth. Now you’ve led them to us.

Four of the men struggled to push a heavy oak bookcase in front of the door. The rest of the room is made of rock, Ronan told himself, they can’t get through that. It doesn’t matter how powerful they think they are.

The electricity had been shut off and only the flicker of three kerosene lamps kept the darkness at bay.

What are we going to do? Ardan asked Ronan. We can’t wait them out in here.

Someone tapped softly against the door . . . tap . . . tap . . . tap

Everyone held their breath.

Tap . . . tap . . . tap

Maybe they wouldn’t know they were there.

Tap . . . tap . . . tap

Maybe they would let them live.

Tap . . . tap . . . tap

Don’t breath.

Taptaptaptaptaptaptap!

Don’t move.

"Hello, called a drippingly sweet voice from the other side of the door. It was her. Let us in. We miss you. We need you."

Everyone’s eyes shifted to Ronan.

He needed to stay calm.

He could live through this.

Maybe they would save him and kill the rest.

"Please come out. This voice was stronger, male. We still have so many great things to do. You promised us greatness."

Ardan dropped to the floor and pressed his hands over his ears and started rocking back and forth as he sang. 

"Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry, go to sleepy, little baby!"

Be quiet, Ronan whispered.

Ardan closed his eyes and continued to sing.

"When you wake you shall have all the pretty little horses!"

I said be quiet! Ronan kicked Ardan in the leg making his sing louder.

"Way down yonder in the meadow lies a poor little lambie, bees and butterflies, picking out its eyes, poor little thing’s crying, Mami."

Ronan pulled on Ardan’s clammy arm, If you don’t shut up I’ll kill you.

You would be doing him a service, Glendan said from the corner. Maybe if we give you to them they’ll kill us quickly.

You don’t know what you’re saying, Ronan said curling his lips.

A bead of sweat rolled down his back. Ronan always hated Glendan. He was always getting in the way of things that could make everything better.

"Drague, the sweet womanly voice flowed through the door and bookcase. Drague. Remember what it was like. With me. Come be with me again, Drague. Come love me."

Disgusted, everyone looked at him. Drague wouldn’t meet their eyes. Couldn’t.

You idiot. You fool. You willingly laid with that filth, Ronan said, his eyes cutting into Drague.

She’s a child Drague. How could you? Dean said taking three steps away from him.

Drague rubbed his head with a shaky hand, I didn’t pursue her. She pursued me. She seduced me. I would never . . . I didn’t want . . . It wasn’t my doing!

Don’t fool yourself. None of them were ever children, Glendan said straightening up. Ronan made sure of that.

Ardan was still rocking as he sang on the floor; a puddle was forming beneath him.

You cannot put this on me, Ronan said baring his teeth.

The bookcase shook as a voice as loud as thunder yelled through it, "Let us in!"

I am putting this on you. This was your idea. From the moment you saw what he did with her, Glendan said.

Don’t mention him, Ronan whispered.

He hated him for leaving.

He could have made everything work.

If only he could have seen it.

He ruined everything.

This was his fault.

The bookcase shook again.

Ardan sang louder.

"Way down yonder in the meadow lies a poor little lambie-"

This is your fault. You brought this on us. You created this evil, Glendan said.

Four men braced the bookcase that was starting to inch forward.

They were strong, stronger than Ronan thought possible.

"Make us better. We need you to be better," pleaded a small voice behind the bookcase.

Two of the men were crying, mumbling prayers that wouldn’t save them as they pushed against the bookcase.

You chose this! You all did. I never forced anything on any of you, Ronan yelled. You wanted the power and I found a way for us to have it.

Damn you! Damn you like you damned us. You are going to hell for what you’ve done, Glendan said.

No.

Everyone turned to the closet door that was now open. Cold darkness was spilling out onto the rock floor.

Hell doesn’t want you. Lips curve into a smile. But I do.

Part I

Chapter 1

Prime Minister, Abijah Ben-Horin, was found dead yesterday morning in his office after addressing the press about his country’s new foreign aid policy. Guards and security tapes prove that no one was seen entering or leaving his office.  This is suspected to be an attack from a neighboring country trying to bring down the government. The UN is holding a special session—

This is so depressing, my mother said as she turned off the radio. I hated it when she did that.

I don’t like this car, Amy said from the back seat.

I asked you if you wanted to ride with your father in the moving truck. I told you there would be more room but you said that you wanted to stay in this car, my mother said as she looked at Amy in the rear view mirror.

No I didn’t. I said I wanted to ride with Raina, Amy said. I don’t want to be sitting anymore.

I stretched out my legs as far as I could in the front seat. Amy was the first one to say anything in the last three hours. My mother and I weren’t on speaking terms. I’d been doing a good job at not talking to her since she told me we were leaving Miami three weeks ago.

We had been driving for more than six hours with only a five minute bathroom break. Ben and my mother wanted to get to our new house as soon as possible even if it meant mine and Amy’s discomfort. 

How much longer? Amy asked.

About another twenty minutes, my mother said as she looked at the GPS on the window.

Twenty minutes? That’s forever. Amy hit her head on the back of her seat. I did the same. I was tired of being in a cramped space with my mother. She was getting on my nerves.

For an eight year old Amy was handling the move and a three day drive very well.

My mother, step-father Ben, Amy, and I had been living in Miami, Florida for the last two years as part of my mother’s job.  She was a journalist for a magazine. According to my mother we were moving because her boss had given her what she called ‘a living article assignment’. This required my mother to move all of us and write monthly articles of our life in the small town of Horse Heads, Montana. Horse Heads had one grocery store and one gas station with a population of one-thousand ninety. 

Raina, Amy said, I don’t want to be in the new house.

Why not?

It’s taking too long to get there.

We only have to make this drive once, I said. You’ll have your own room and have a big yard all to yourself. I turned back and touched Amy’s knee. I couldn’t let my anger affect her. I was trying to be happy, for Amy. Even though this move meant that when I went to college in Miami I would barely ever see Amy.

I still don’t like it, Amy said sticking out her bottom lip.

You haven’t even seen it yet, I said. Don’t you like all the trees? Miami didn’t have trees. But Miami did have the college that I was accepted to. The college that was only twenty minutes away from where we used to live, twenty minutes from Amy. But now when college started Amy would be days away and travel would be more than I could afford.

I just want to get there, Amy said as she picked up her teddy bear and laid her head on top of it.

Amy was tired and grumpy but I knew she was excited. A week before we moved she had her whole room packed and insisted that we leave early. She didn’t know what this move was going to be the reason I couldn’t see her when I left for college.

I saw our driveway coming up on the GPS and turned back to Amy.

Amy, look. I pointed out the windshield. This is our driveway coming up.

Amy struggled against her seatbelt to get a better look out the window.

The driveway was gravel leading to the house about a quarter of a mile up.

There it is! Amy was bouncing up and down. I see it!

The house was white with a covered porch sitting in a small grove surrounded by trees. It was two stories with large windows and blue trim. The house was older, built in the 1980’s, but had since been renovated with new carpet and more modern appliances, or so the retaliate listing said. 

Hurry mom! Stop the car, Amy said unbuckling her seat belt.

Once the car was stopped Amy jumped out and ran to the house.

Well she seems to like it now, I said to my mother.

I agree with her, my mother said as she tied her blond hair into a pony tail. My mother was beautiful when she was younger with green eyes, golden hair, and dark delicate freckles but she wasn’t aging well. Too much time in the sun when she was younger was starting to show with wrinkles on her forty year old skin. While my mother couldn’t stop the wrinkles she could stop herself from gaining weight. Cardio two hours a day everyday helped her keep the fat off.

I didn’t resemble my mother at all, not the way Amy did. I was almost a foot taller than my mother with dark brown hair that ended at my waist and blue eyes that seemed too large. I didn’t think of myself as pretty, not in the Hollywood way. I wasn’t even the girl next door type, although this didn’t stop guys from asking me out.

We spent the rest of the day unloading the truck so that Ben could take it to the U-haul place the next day.

Ugh. Finally we’re done, Ben said as he sighed, placing the last box on the floor in front of the couch where he flopped down. You know, Steph, we didn’t have to get the whole truck unloaded today.

Steph was my mother and it was short for Stephanie. Ben was the only one allowed to call her that.

Ben adored my mother. He seemed to understand her inability to show affection to him and to me and Amy.

Ben was a nerdy guy who wanted to be manlier. Ben was as tall as my mother with black curly hair. He was skinny without trying, something that my mother envied. Ben had kind brown eyes and was trying to grow a beard. It had been weeks since he last shaved and he only looked like he had about a day’s growth.

My mother and Ben talked to each about the next few days and when my mother needed to start writing her article about Horse Heads and what rooms needed to be unpacked first.

I laid on the couch next to Amy who was already asleep. Her blond hair was covering part of her heart shaped face. I always loved Amy’s hair, it was fine and soft. I thought about cutting mine to shorter length like Amy's but I didn't think it would suit me. 

I looked out the window into the darkness, remembering what it looked like earlier in the day, all the trees swaying in the wind and the sweet smell in the air. Nothing was polluted or run down. Everything was fresh and alive. It was hard not to like the area but I needed to hate it. It was because of this place that I would be separated from Amy. I dreaded the thought of having to tell her.

Will you and Amy be ok with sleeping in the living room? Ben tapped my foot making my eyes open.

Yeah we’re fine, I said.

My mother found two blankets and laid them on the end of the couch. Her and Ben said goodnight as they turned off the lights and left for their room.

I covered Amy with one of the blankets then laid on the other couch.

I was going to start my senior year of high school in five days. I was going to be surrounded by people I didn’t know but that didn’t bother me. I was used to having only a limited number of friends but even they weren’t close. I worried about what was going to come after high school. This would be my last year with her before I would have to say goodbye.

I felt a tightening in my chest and pushed the thoughts away.

I would deal with it later. 

* * *

The next day my mother, Amy, and I got in the car and headed for the grocery store.

What time will my school start? Amy asked from the back seat as I searched for a radio station.

The same time as your other school, I said as I continued to turn the radio knob.

I wanted to sleep in, Amy said.

Sorry, sis. You’ll be stuck getting up early to be indoctrinated by mediocre teachers who are only there for a pay check for the next several years, I said.

Amy was quiet then said, I don’t even know what that means.

Out of the static came the rhythmic beat of my favorite song.

I looked out the passenger window of the car and watched as the trees went by.

This is so depressing. Can we find another station? my mother asked, frowning at the radio.

But I like this song. It’s got layers, I said making sure she saw me narrow my eyes at her.

No let’s change it. See if you can find an oldies station.

I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the oldies, I just didn’t like agreeing with my mother. But it wasn’t worth it trying to convince my mother. I could tell she had made up her mind and once that happened it was best to go with it.

I like Raina’s music, Amy said from the back.

Oh I know. You like anything Raina likes, my mother said.

I grabbed the knob on the radio and again began listening through the static in hopes of finding something.

All within a few seconds I heard my mother gasp and slam her foot on the break. The tires squealed as I was hurled forward against my seat belt then I was back against the seat. I could feel my heart trying to beat out of my chest as I looked at my mom with my mouth open. My eyes followed her gaze out the window. A deer stood looking at us perfectly still. My mother and I stared back. He turned his head forward and leisurely finished his walk across the road then bounded into the forest.

Amy, are you alright? I turned back studying her face.

Her green eyes were wide with tears riming the edges and she was biting her lip as she nodded her head.

Two years ago on a Saturday afternoon Ben and I got a call from mother saying that she and Amy had been in a car accident. My mother was at a stop light. She got the green light and as she was moving through the intersection a women in a suburban ran into the passenger side where Amy was sitting. My mother’s Mazda was totaled but the worst part was what happened to Amy. Her right arm was dislocated, black and green bruises were left where the seatbelt held her against the seat. She had severe whiplash along with spinal problems that required her to go to the chiropractor three times a week for a year. Amy was lucky the suburban didn’t hit her door strait on; it would have killed her. Amy was six at the time. My mother never should have let her sit in the front seat. If I had been there that never would have happened.

My mother took a deep breath and let it out. Are you ok? Her eyebrows drawing together.

Yeah I’m fine. Are you alright? You look kinda pale. Pale was an understatement, she looked white or maybe gray, like ash.

No I’m fine. Make sure Amy’s ok.

She’s fine—

I said make sure, my mother said loudly.

I looked at her, surprised she raised her voice then reached back to Amy and touched her knee.

You sure you’re alright? I asked.

Yeah, it was just scary, Amy said her lip was trembling and she was trying hard not to cry.

Shh, I said taking her hand. You’re ok. See? Nothing’s wrong.

Amy nodded her head and I turned back to my mother.

Are you sure you’re ok? I asked quietly.

That deer just startled me. It came out of nowhere.

Ok … we can always go back home and do some unpacking then go to the store later, I said.

My mother shook her head as she put the car in drive.

No. I think we’re closer to the store than we are to home anyway. I’m just glad there were no other cars on the road, my mother said putting the car back in drive. 

We were driving slower than the speed limit which normally would have bothered me but after what could have happened I didn’t mind. I kept my eyes on the road, scanning for other deer as I blindly listened for a clear radio station.

* * *

We pulled into the small parking lot of what looked to be a gas station. Once I saw that there were no gas pumps and people were exiting with shopping carts I knew this was in fact the grocery store in Horse Heads.

I looked over at my mother who seemed to be doing better.

This is really small, Amy said as she hopped out of the car and took my hand. Do they even have food?

Maybe it’s bigger on the inside like the Tardis, I said as we came around the car and stood next to our mother. I doubted it.

We walked in through the sliding doors of the store. I was surprised at how modern things actually were. My mother grabbed a cart and started to look over the list but I took my own cart.

I’m going through the produce section and I’ll get cereal too, I said to my mother then pushed my cart away without waiting for her answer.  

Raina, Amy said behind me. Wait up. You walk so fast.

Sorry, I said and gently elbowed her with my arm.

Why are you so mad at mom? Amy asked.

I bit the inside of my mouth. I wasn’t ready to tell her what really bothered me about moving.

It’s just really far away, I said.

But mom didn’t mean to take you away. She had too, Amy said as we walked.

She could have said no, I said too quietly for Amy to hear.

We walked through the produce section as Amy pointed out different things she thought we needed.

I grabbed a bag of apples and put them in my cart. As I started to push forward I decided to go back for oranges. I pivoted around and almost crashed into someone who was also getting oranges.

Oh excuse me. I’m sorry. I wasn’t- I stopped my sentence short because I was talking to a chin, a very cute chin with a 5 o’clock shadow. I took a step back to find that this guy’s arm had made its way around my back as if to keep me from staggering into my cart.

He had sandy blonde hair and brown eyes on a long face.

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come up so close behind you. He looked sincere but then his eyes traveled down my face and he smiled. 

But I’m glad I did, he said smiling wider.

He dropped his arm and I took a step back.

It’s fine. I should have been watching where I was going. He was cute and tall.

I’m Chase. I don’t think I've seen you around here.

I blinked, surprised. He wanted to continue talking. This was not the way that my trips to the store usually went. If it was I would have been going to the store more often.

Hello Chase. I’m Raina. I stuck out my hand for him to shake.

He looked at it and chuckled as he took hold.

His hand was warm. I took this time to look at the rest of him. He was in shape, bulky, even though he was tall, most likely a football player. He was good looking and he knew it.

So . . . You're new right? Chase was looking down at me raising his eye brows.

Oh, yes. I’m new. I’m from Miami, I said nervously touching my hair. I should have done more with it.

Cool. So you’re like a surfer girl. It must have been sweet living in the big city. Sucks you had to move here. Chase was looking at me with pity.

More than you would know. I didn’t tell him that I rarely ever went to the beach, which should have been obvious from my white skin.

He shrugged. So are you going to high school in Mount View?

Mount View was the next town over, fifteen miles away to be exact.

Yeah I am. I’ll be a senior.

Sweet, me too. I guess I’ll be seeing you and your beach body around more often. He smiled.

Yeah, I said a little taken back by his comment. It’ll be nice.

Maybe me and some friends of mine could show you around before school starts, he said keeping his eyes locked on mine.

Really? I asked.

Yeah.

You’re serious, I said surprised that he would want to see me again. Ok that would be nice.

How about tomorrow around noon? We can meet up here and then show you around, he said smiling, showing off his white, straight teeth.

Tomorrow should be fine.

I’ll see you later, he said then walked away without his bag of oranges.  

That was unexpected.

Is he going to be your boyfriend? Amy asked.

I doubt it, I said. He’s not my type.

I’d dated a football player once before. It didn’t end well. I couldn’t handle his obsession with his body.

Good, I think he’s weird, Amy said as she opened a bag of grapes and ate one.

That’s not nice, I said as I closed the bag and put them out of reach.

Dad says to always tell the truth.

Less than thirty minutes later we were done shopping.

Can I borrow your car or Ben’s truck tomorrow? I asked my mother as we put our bags in the trunk. I hated asking her for favors. I didn’t want her to think I was suddenly ok with all she’d done.

What do you need it for? my mother asked looking at me.

I met a guy who offered to show me around town with some of his friends.

Oh, yeah? She seemed happily surprised.

Yeah. We’re going to be at the same school and he’s also a senior.

How about his friends?

I don’t know but I assume that they’re seniors too.

Oh, well that’s nice that you’ll have a friend when you start school.

I think he’s mean, Amy said from the back seat as we got into the car.

You said you thought he was weird, I replied.

He is but now I think he’s mean.

Why is he mean? my mother asked as she backed the car up.

He talked to Raina the whole time and didn’t say anything to me.

Well, boys are like that sometimes, my mother said.

We drove back to the house listening to the oldies station.

* * *

I sat in the driver’s seat of my mother’s car in the grocery store parking lot and tapped the steering wheel. It was almost twelve twenty and there was still no sign of Chase or anyone around my age.

Was he just kidding?

Maybe he meant another day.

I would give him another ten minutes then I would go. If he meant twelve thirty, he should have said twelve thirty. I would have.

Then I saw an older model Mustang with dark tinted windows pull into the parking lot. The driver side door opened and Chase stepped out. He put his arms over his head and stretched making his shirt move up his stomach and his jeans slide down on his hips. Oh yeah, he knew he looked good.

Hey Chase, I called over as I got out of the car.

There she is, he said as he strode over.

Where is everyone else?

Oh I guess I forgot to give them a call. You don’t mind if it’s just me showing you around?

I thought for a second. I didn’t know Chase and we would be alone for a period of time. But he seemed nice. If anything happened I had taken self-defense classes and had a can of pepper spray in my purse. I had the city to thank for that. 

It would be like your own personal guided tour and your tour guide happens to be very good, Chase said raising an eye brow.

Yeah, it’ll be alright. But I have to be back in an hour, I said as I locked my mother’s car.

An hour is plenty of time. Chase and I walked over to his car and got in.

This is a nice car. Is it yours? I asked as Chase started to back out of the parking lot.

Yeah, my parents bought it for me when I made the football team my sophomore year.

Wow that was really nice of them.

Yeah I guess. They make me pay half of the insurance though. It’s really been eating through the money they give me, he said as he turned down a side street.

It was difficult trying to sympathize with him. I got a very minimal allowance but that was because I would proof read my mother’s columns before she handed them into her boss.

Chase pointed out the little shops in town while he wasn’t talking about himself and what he liked to do. According to him he’s the only one on the football team that knows what they’re doing and all his teachers were jealous and tried to get him kicked off the team last year by giving him bad grades. But I was able to learn that there was one diner as well as several antique stores.

This is the park. Chase pointed out my window as he slowed down. It’s a popular make-out spot. 

I couldn’t tell if Chase was leaning close to me on purpose or if he just didn’t understand personal space.

Wow, what perfume is that you’re wearing? he said as he looked at me. It was the first question he asked me since I got in his car.

I’m not wearing any, I said starting to feel uncomfortable. 

Really? You smell amazing, he said as he winked at me.

Thank you.

Are all girls in Miami as hot as you?

This was getting ridiculous. I liked being complemented but I could tell these were far from sincere.

I don’t know, I said as I folded my arms tightly. I don’t really look at other females and judge them like that.

Chase laughed. You’re funny, surfer girl.

I hoped that ‘surfer girl’ wasn’t going to turn into my nick name. It wasn’t even true.

Chase drove us back to the grocery store as he talked about the high school in Mount View and all the people that went there. To Chase the school was divided into two categories, Chase’s friends and losers.

I was relieved