Lawless by Ippolito Janeen

Author:Ippolito, Janeen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Uncommon Universes Press
Published: 2017-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

As far as Kesia had seen, the Central Market only had one pest: clayborer beetles that attacked the claymesh and loosened the mosaic tiles. If metal hadn’t been requisitioned for use in the war effort, it was likely more of the buildings would be made of it instead of clay over wire frames.

She should be grateful the clayborer beetles were there. But as Kesia studied the small bug in her hand, she couldn’t manage one appreciative feeling. From a mighty dragon to a tiny, squirmy bug with a greenish-brown back.

Augh. Why couldn’t they have had a bird infestation? Or something cute and furry?

Enough. She closed her eyes and allowed her skin to absorb everything that made the clayborer unique. Every crevice of its carapace and pointy barb on its legs slipped into her. The bug itself disappeared, but she could feel it in the nether, waiting for her to shapechange. One instant, then another, and her body was shrinking and wrapping itself tighter and tighter to fit inside the small shape.

Wings fluttered at her back. Her tiny legs pushed her off the ground, and she let the buzzing wings move her forward. She flew a few hesitant circles around the room. This was far different from being a bird. The buzzing was louder, the shifting quick and jerky. Everything happened too fast and took too long at the same time.

Her heart thudded in her ears. A purely mental response, but it felt real. What if she couldn’t control this form? It was too small.

Hold to your heartflame, Kesia. It isn’t an evil: it is a Talent even more precious than your other Talents, my star. Let it guide them. Those Above gave us our heartflames so we would always remember who we were, no matter our form.

She remembered the words of her father and mother, holding her tight after an unexpected shapeshift had left her in tears, ready to never use her Talent again. She could almost hear the resonance in their voices calming her, reminding her of where she came from and that they loved her, even if she did something unforgiveable.

Kesia laughed silently. She was more than the beetle form that encased her or even her skin form that waited in the nether.

She was a dragon with a heartflame that burned clear and strong.

With those thoughts, she landed on the floor and crept under the door from the bedroom to the living area. Another quick flight and she scuttled beneath the door to Shance’s suite. As long as she stayed near the top and bottom corners of the corridor, she should be fine. The last thing she wanted was to encounter other beetles. Trying to fake a form around creatures who naturally owned it always meant trouble. It usually involved them attacking her or trying to mate with her.

Kesia shuddered internally and zoomed through the hall. This late at night, the electric lights were at half-power, which was all the better for her. From the fear that beat her wings, it seemed that clayborers were adverse to light.

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