Chapter 13 – Day Two
Terry didn't sleep that night either.
—
Not from fear.
From calculation.
—
What he saw inside Lin Mei wasn't going to stay still.
And he couldn't either.
—
When he went out to the patio, the sun still hadn't risen.
—
Eliza was already there.
Again.
—
"You never sleep," said Terry.
—
She shrugged.
"I slept."
Pause.
"Two hours."
Pause.
"It's enough."
—
"How is it enough?"—
Eliza looked at him.
"When you accept what you are, the body stops needing what it needed before."
Pause.
"Eat less.
Sleep less.
Talk less."
—
"Then I haven't accepted anything."
—
"You accepted something."
Pause.
"If you hadn't, you wouldn't be awake at this hour without me asking."
Sebastián came out behind.
—
He had put on a gray shirt.
Training pants.
—
He was pale.
But standing.
But breathing well.
—
"Ah," said Eliza.
Pause.
"Better.Both of you train today."
—
"Me?" asked Sebastián.
—
"Yes."
—
"But the wound—"
—
"Closed."
Pause.
"Your body isn't what it was before."
Pause.
"You have to learn to use it or you'll break things without meaning to."
—
Sebastián looked at her.
"Like what?"
—
Eliza pointed to a coffee cup on a patio table.
—
"Like that."
Pause.
"Pick it up."
—
Sebastián walked over.
Reached out his hand.
Grabbed it.—
The cup broke in his fingers.
—
Coffee spilled on the ground.
Glass in his palm.
No blood.
His skin no longer cut so easily.
—
"Ah," said Sebastián.
—
"Yes."
Pause.
"That's why."
Lesson one of the day
Eliza put Terry and Sebastián face to face.
—
"Today you're not going to fight against me," she said.
Pause.
"Today you're going to fight against yourselves."
—
"How?" asked Terry.
—
"Sebastián.
I want you to control your strength."
—"How?"
—
"Hit Terry."
Pause.
"But softly."
Pause.
"Like he's a child."
—
Sebastián blinked.
"And if I hurt him?"
—
"He heals."
Pause.
"But that's not the important part."
Pause.
"The important part is for you to learn not to give him everything."
—
Sebastián looked at Terry.
—
Terry nodded.
"Do it."
—
Sebastián approached.
Hesitated.
—
And gave him a slap on the shoulder.—
Terry flew two meters.
Crashed against the wall.
—
"…Sorry," said Sebastián.
—
Eliza didn't laugh.
But almost.
—
"That was soft for you."
Pause.
"Again."
—
Terry got up.
Dusting himself off.
—
"This is going to be a long day."
Two hours passed like that.
—
Sebastián failed.
Less and less each time.
—
By mid-morning he managed to touch him on the shoulder without throwing him.
—
By eleven he managed to slap him without breaking his jaw.—
"Good," said Eliza.
Pause.
"Now reverse."
—
"What?"
—
"Terry.
You're going to hit him."
Pause.
"But not with strength."
Pause.
"With intent."
—
Terry frowned.
"I don't understand."
—
"When an alpha hits a wolf of his blood, he doesn't need to hit hard."
Pause.
"He just needs to want to correct him."
Pause.
"The wolf's body understands."
—
Terry looked at Sebastián.
—
"This is going to be weird."—
"Everything is already weird," answered Sebastián.
—
Terry raised his hand.
—
He thought: stay still.
—
And touched Sebastián's shoulder.
Barely.
—
Sebastián fell to his knees.
—
Out of breath.
No strength in his legs.
Like an order had run down his back and turned his body off.
—
"What…" Sebastián tried to breathe "…was that?"
—
Eliza smiled.
"That was your alpha telling you to stop."
Pause.
"And your body obeyed before your head did."
—
Terry stepped back.
"That's dangerous."
—"Yes."
Pause.
"That's why you're going to learn to use it well."
—
Sebastián stood up.
Slowly.
"Again," he said.
Pause.
"I want to know how it feels so I can get used to it."
—
And Terry understood.
—
Sebastián wasn't asking for training.
He was asking for trust.
—
He was saying: if you're going to have this power over me, I'd better know it too.
—
Terry nodded.
—
And continued.
The interruption
It came at noon.
—
A car pulled into the dirt road.
It wasn't Eliza's.It wasn't Paulina's.
—
Black.
Older.
Dirtier.
With a dent on the right fender.
—
Eliza saw it before anyone else.
And for the first time Terry saw her tense.
—
Really tense.
—
"Who is it?" asked Terry.
—
Eliza didn't answer.
—
Paulina appeared at the door.
Looked at the car.
Looked at Eliza.
—
"You called him," said Paulina.
—
"I called him."
—
"I wasn't going to recommend it."
—"I know."
—
"But?"
—
"But he's the only one who knows."
A man got out of the car.
—
He wasn't tall.
He wasn't short.
He was average in everything.
—
Except in how he walked.
—
He walked like he knew where everything was before looking.
—
He was forty years old, maybe more.
Short hair.
Three-day beard.
Simple clothes.
—
But the eyes.
—
The eyes weren't average.
The eyes were yellow.
—Not gold like Sebastián.
Yellow.
Like a lighthouse.
—
"Eliza," said the man.
His voice was dry.
Like he hadn't used it in days.
—
"Damián."
—
"Your letter said it was urgent."
—
"It is."
—
Damián looked at Terry.
—
He looked long.
—
Terry felt something he had never felt before.
—
Like he was being read.
Not with eyes.
With something deeper.
—
Damián blinked at the end.
—"So it's true," he said.
Pause.
"One appeared."
—
Eliza nodded.
—
"How long since one was born," asked Damián.
—
"Sixty years."
—
"And he came right now."
—
"Yes."
—
Damián looked at Sebastián.
At the almost invisible mark beneath his shirt.
—
"And that one?"
—
"Bitten," said Eliza.
Pause.
"Not complete."
—
"Dirty wolf."
—
"Yes."—
Damián nodded.
Without judgment.
Without surprise.
Just registering.
—
"And the girl?"
—
Eliza was quiet for a second.
"Indigo."
—
Damián stayed very still.
—
For two whole seconds.
—
"Are you sure?"
—
"Yes."
—
"How long since the marking?"
—
"A day and a half."
—
Damián closed his eyes.
—
When he opened them, his expression had changed.—
Harder.
But also sadder.
—
"Then we're going to have to hurry."
Inside
Damián walked in without asking permission.
—
He went straight to Lin Mei's room.
As if he knew where it was.
—
Eliza didn't stop him.
Terry tried.
—
"Wait."
—
Damián turned.
—
"Kid."
Pause.
"I know these."
Pause.
"You don't."
—
"She's my friend."—
"That's why I'm going to help her."
Pause.
"But first I need to see with my own eyes."
—
Terry didn't move.
—
"How long have you known her?" asked Damián.
—
"Months."
—
"I've been knowing Indigos for thirty years."
Pause.
"Do you want me to help her or not?"
—
Terry stepped aside.
—
But went in behind him.
Lin Mei was awake.
Sitting up like yesterday.
—
When Damián entered, she lifted her head.
Slowly.
—
And sniffed.—
Not subtly.
Deep.
Like an animal.
—
"You smell old," said Lin Mei.
Her voice was soft.
Pause.
"And like something else."
Pause.
"You smell like blood that isn't fresh anymore."
—
Damián didn't flinch.
"Yes."
Pause.
"I killed one of yours three weeks ago."
—
Lin Mei blinked.
—
The green point in her eyes grew bigger.
—
"Why?"
—
"He was eating children in a town up north."
—
Silence.—
Lin Mei lowered her head.
—
"Good," she murmured.
Pause.
"You did right."
—
Damián approached.
Slowly.
—
He took something from his pocket.
—
Not a stone.
—
A blade.
Long.
Flat.
With runes carved into the edge.
—
Eliza tensed.
—
"Damián."
—
"Easy," he said, without turning.
Pause.
"I didn't come to kill anyone today."—
He brought the blade close to Lin Mei's green mark.
Without touching it.
Just close.
—
The mark glowed brighter.
—
As if it recognized the blade.
As if it was afraid.
—
"Mmm," said Damián.
—
"What?" asked Terry.
—
"Your girl is infected by an old one."
Pause.
"Not just any one."
—
"How do you know?"
—
"Because the mark has layers."
Pause.
"New marks are just green."
Pause.
"This one has veins inside."
Pause."Like moss growing over something that was already there."
—
Eliza paled.
"Damián.
Are you saying—"
—
"Yes."
Pause.
"The one who marked her is one of the Three."
Silence.
—
Terry looked at Eliza.
"Who are the Three?"
—
Eliza took time to answer.
—
"When the Skinwalkers still lived in clans," she said, "there were three leaders."
Pause.
"A long time ago."
Pause.
"Before my mother was born."
—
"And they're still alive?"
—
"Yes."Pause.
"That's why they're the Three."
—
Damián put the blade away.
—
"Two of them stay hidden," he said.
Pause.
"The third one does strange things from time to time."
Pause.
"Marks people.
Creates Indigos.
Uses them for something."
Pause.
"No one knows what for."
—
"What's his name?" asked Terry.
—
Damián looked at him.
—
"You don't know yet and it's better that way."
Pause.
"The names of the old ones attract."
Pause.
"If you say it out loud, he hears you."
—
"But—"—
"When you're stronger."
Pause.
"For now, call him the Third."
Lin Mei was speaking low.
Almost to herself.
—
"He's looking at me right now."
—
Everyone turned.
—
"What?" said Eliza.
—
"The Third."
Pause.
"He's looking through my eyes."
Pause.
"I feel it."
—
Damián approached.
"Lin Mei.
Look at me."
—
She raised her gaze.
—Damián looked at her directly.
"If he's looking, tell him something."
—
Lin Mei swallowed.
—
"Tell him what?"
—
"Whatever you want to tell him."
Pause.
"It's your face.
It's your mouth."
Pause.
"Take them back for a second."
—
Lin Mei closed her eyes.
—
She breathed.
—
When she opened them—
The green had contracted.
—
And she said, with her own voice, strong and clear:
—
"I'm not yours."
—
Long pause.—
"And I'm going to live longer than you."
The green mark shook.
Like it had been hit.
—
Lin Mei collapsed forward.
Terry caught her.
—
"Well done," said Damián.
Pause.
"You're stronger than I thought."
—
Lin Mei was pale.
Sweating.
But smiling.
—
"It hurt him," she murmured.
Pause.
"It hurt him that I spoke to him like that."
Pause.
"It hurt him a lot."
—
Damián straightened up.
Looked at Terry.
"Your girl has strength."Pause.
"But strength without time is useless."
Pause.
"You have six days."
—
"I know."
—
"No."
Pause.
"You have less."
On the patio
Damián went out.
Eliza behind him.
Terry followed at three steps' distance.
—
"How much less?" asked Eliza.
—
"Four.
Maybe five if she's lucky."
—
"Why?"
—
"Because the mark doesn't advance the same in everyone."
Pause.
"In her it goes fast."Pause.
"Her mind is strong, but her body is small."
Pause.
"The green fills what it finds."
—
Eliza clenched her jaw.
—
"We need to know where the Third is."
—
Damián looked at her.
—
"That's going to cost you more than you think."
—
"I know."
—
"No, you don't know."
Pause.
"If I tell you where he is, you're going to have to go yourself."
Pause.
"Not the kid."
—
"I go with him."
—
"No."
Pause.
"You go alone.And you go like your mother taught you.
No composure.
No title.
Just wolf."
—
Eliza didn't answer.
—
"And if you don't come back," continued Damián, "the kid is going to have to lead what you
leave behind."
Pause.
"And he's not ready yet."
—
"I know," said Eliza.
—
Pause.
—
"But I'm going anyway."
Terry felt a hit in the chest that wasn't physical.
—
"Wait."
—
"Terry—"
—
"No."
Pause.
"We go together."—
"You can't," said Damián.
Pause.
"You still smell like a new alpha.
For kilometers."
Pause.
"If you get close to where the Third is, you're going to call every Skinwalker in the region
before you arrive."
—
"And she doesn't?"
—
"She does smell."
Pause.
"But she knows how to hide herself."
Pause.
"You don't."
—
Terry looked at Eliza.
—
"Don't go."
—
"I have to."
—
"But—"
—
"Terry."
Pause."If I don't find the Third, Lin Mei is lost."
Pause.
"Do you understand that?"
—
Long pause.
—
Terry nodded.
—
"Yes."
—
"Then let me go."
Pause.
"And train.
Every minute."
Pause.
"Because when I come back, I'm going to need you to be ready."
That night
Eliza didn't leave right away.
—
She waited until Lin Mei fell asleep.
Waited until Sebastián rested.
Waited until Paulina and the doctor sat down to talk about something in the kitchen.
—
And then she went out to the patio.
—Terry was there.
Waiting for her.
—
"I knew you weren't going to sleep," she said.
—
"And you knew I was going to be here."
—
Pause.
—
Eliza approached.
—
She touched his face.
Soft.
Just with her fingers.
—
Terry didn't move.
—
"Take care of her," said Eliza.
Pause.
"But take care of yourself too."
Pause.
"If I don't come back and you die, this ends."
—
"You're not going to die."
—
"Maybe not."Pause.
"But just in case."
—
She kissed him.
—
Short.
—
It wasn't a girlfriend's kiss.
It was a goodbye kiss.
—
And that was worse.
—
"How long are you going to take?" asked Terry.
—
"Two days.
Three if things get bad."
—
"And if you don't come back in three?"
—
Eliza didn't answer.
—
She just touched the broken moon pendant he had on his neck.
—
"This hides you for six days total."
Pause.
"If by the fifth day I haven't come back, tell Damián to do the second thing."—
"The second thing?"
—
"He'll know."
—
"But—"
—
"Terry."
—
She looked at him directly.
—
"If the worst happens.
If the Three find out and come together."
—
Pause.
—
"Save Lin Mei first."
—
"And you?"
—
"I'm already what I am."
Pause.
"Lin Mei can still be herself."
Eliza took a step back.
—She walked toward Damián's car.
—
Damián was already inside.
Waiting.
—
Before getting in, Eliza turned one last time.
—
"Terry."
—
"Yes?"
—
"You told me you didn't want me to decide for you."
Pause.
"This is the opposite."
Pause.
"Today you let me decide for me."
—
Terry didn't answer.
—
Because he understood there was no answer.
Just acceptance.
—
"Come back," he said finally.
—
"I'll try."
—She got in the car.
—
The lights came on.
—
The engine started.
—
And the car drove away down the dirt road.
—
The taillights disappeared between the trees.
—
And Terry stayed standing on the patio.
Alone.
—
For the first time since all of this had started.
—
Without Eliza.
Inside
Paulina was in the living room.
—
She looked at him when he came in.
—
"Did she leave?"
—
"Yes."
—Paulina nodded.
—
"You're going to be fine."
—
"I'm not sure."
—
"I am."
Pause.
"That's why I stayed."
—
Terry looked at her.
"Aren't you the person who sent you?"
—
Paulina smiled.
Barely.
—
"The person who sent me said to take care of you."
Pause.
"Didn't say how."
Pause.
"I'm improvising."
—
"And is that good?"
—
"For you, yes."
Pause."Because the person who sent me didn't know I would come to care for you."
—
Pause.
—
Terry didn't know what to say.
—
Paulina stood up.
"Tomorrow we're going to train other things."
Pause.
"Eliza taught you to feel."
Pause.
"I'm going to teach you to hide."
—
"Hide what?"
—
Paulina walked toward the stairs.
—
"What you are."
Pause.
"When an alpha wants, he can make himself small."
Pause.
"They learned it in the old wars."
Pause.
"I'll teach you."
—
She climbed the first step.Stopped.
—
"Good night, Terry."
—
"Good night, Paulina."
—
And went up.
—
Leaving him there.
Again.
—
Alone in a living room that no longer seemed the same without Eliza in it.
Before sleeping
Terry passed by Lin Mei's room.
—
She was asleep.
—
The green mark had grown another centimeter.
Another.
As if it knew it now had less time to invade her.
—
Terry sat on the edge of the bed.
—
But this time he didn't touch her hand.
—In case the Third was watching.
—
He just spoke to her.
—
"Day two," he said low.
Pause.
"Eliza went to find the one who did this to you."
Pause.
"Don't look at me like that."
—
Pause.
—
"I know you're in there listening to me."
Pause.
"You."
—
"The Third."
—
Long pause.
—
And then, on Lin Mei's face, something happened.
—
A smile.
—
Small.
Slow.—
Not Lin Mei's.
From someone inside.
—
And Terry, for the first time in his life, smiled back.
—
"Good," he said.
Pause.
"I want you to know something."
—
Pause.
—
"I'm going to learn faster than you think."
Pause.
"And when I get to you—"
Pause.
"I'm not going to kill you."
—
Pause.
—
"I'm going to force you to let her go."
Pause.
"And then I'm going to kill you."
—
The smile on Lin Mei's face stayed a second longer.
—And then it was gone.
—
And Lin Mei went back to sleep.
—
Calm.
For the first time in hours.
Terry left the room.
Closed the door.
—
Turned off the hallway light.
—
Walked to the patio.
—
Sat on the grass.
—
Closed his eyes.
—
And for the first time since he woke up with the bite—
—
He looked for Korr on his own.
—
Without Eliza asking him to.
—
No blindfold.
No instruction.—
Just him.
And the old voice inside.
—
"Korr."
—
Silence.
—
"Korr."
Pause.
"I need to learn faster."
—
Long pause.
—
And then, from very deep inside—
—
Something answered.
—
Not with words.
With an image.
—
A hand.
Old.
Covered in scars.
—
Holding another hand.Younger.
Newer.
—
And a voice that sounded like earth:
—
Then learn.
—
Day two.
—
Done.
—
Five more.
—
Or four.
—
Or three.
—
And Eliza was no longer there.