Chapter Eleven
Transformation
‘Where have you been? I was so-’ Mum stopped, staring in shock at my skin. ‘What on-’
‘Out of the way; I need to put him down.’
I stared at Mum, not really seeing. I let my mind wander, trying to reach the ash field, but with no success.
‘Oh poor Dimi,’ Mum said, following Father towards my room. ‘Is it a skin disease?’
Father barked out a wild laugh and dumped me on the bed.
‘Disease? If only it were that simple.’
I was laid on my back, limbs sprawled out. The pain I’d felt from her still ached through me. I moved my hand closer to my face, tilting it to the side so I could see.
The lines were like angry red burns, clear for all to see. I whimpered, realising the pain was from them.
‘Oh Dimi,’ Mum said, reaching out a hand to touch me, but unable to find a bit of skin she wouldn’t irritate. ‘I’ll get some pain-relief cream ready. Can you undress him, Dimitri?’
‘I won’t touch him again.’
‘Wha-’
‘I’ll be at the caves.’ He was gone before Mum knew what to say.
‘Well, never mind him. I’ll look after you; everything will be okay.’
Annie arrived back with a soft bang of the front door closing.
‘Mum?’ She called, ‘Are they back yet?’
‘Keep it down honey.’ I heard Mum’s hushed voice. ‘Dimi is trying to sleep.’
I’d given up trying an hour ago, instead staring blankly at my arms covered in white cream.
‘Is he okay? Why were they so late?’
I didn’t hear Mum’s reply, her voice moving away.
I opened my eyes, seeing Lennie hovering over me.
‘How do you feel?’
I didn’t answer, blinking at him.
He turned his head away towards the door. I didn’t have the energy to follow his gaze. ‘The poor thing’s wiped out from fighting the pain. Just keep him comfortable, bathe him to keep the wounds clean and cover him with more cream. I’ll come check on him as often as I can.’
It felt like my whole body was cracking. Every breath that moved my chest caused a wave of agony, the marks bleeding.
I tried moving my mouth and felt more split open on my face, blood slipping down my chin and neck.
‘Mum,’ I managed a hoarse whisper, swallowed by the night.
People were talking, their voice shrill and fast. I tried to concentrate, translate the noise to words, feel my body again.
‘Dimitri, are you listening? It’s Lance. I know it hurts and you’re confused, but it will be okay. Your life was never in danger, this is a gift she’s given you. I know it’s her now, because I tried to enter your soul and she stopped me.
‘I know you don’t trust immortals, but I swear on my true name, Rafferty of the Earth element, that I’ll do all I can to watch over and protect you. I vow to make you live a good and long life. I will help you through this.’
My eyes struggled open, everything blurry and confusing.
‘Dimitri?’
‘Mum,’ I croaked out, wincing with regret. My throat felt like a desert.
‘Thank Goodness,’ she sobbed. I blinked, each time her form becoming clearer. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Thirsty.’
‘Of course, of course. Let’s get you sat up.’ She turned her head to the door. ‘Annie! Could you get some water?’
Mum gently wrapped her arms under my armpits, pulling me up to prop against a pillow.
‘There you are.’ Her voice was soothing, calm and safe. ‘Good girl Annie.’
My eyes moved, noticing Annie for the first time. Her eyes were bright with tears, a relieved smile on her face.
‘You’ve been asleep for a week! Lennie had to put a tube down your throat so you wouldn’t starve.’
I opened my mouth to speak but a cup was placed there, tilted. I gulped slowly, everything still sluggish and strange.
The cup was taken away. The hand holding it was Mum’s, when had that happened?
‘I think it looks pretty,’ Annie said as Mum left the room. ‘Your skin. You can’t see it too well right now, but Lennie said it’s like a scab and will come off when it’s ready.’
I frowned, trying to move an arm so I could see.
‘Oh, let me help,’ Annie’s hand was warm and soft, holding me with as little pressure as possible. She set it gently on my lap.
A layer of dead skin was covering the new red scales. The ones on my outer arm were harder, while the ones on my inner arm, palms and fingers were softer, looking more like a pattern.
‘My face?’ I asked.
‘That’s like the ones on your fingers, really small and flat.’
‘So, I either have scales like a fish, or skin like a reptile.’
Annie’s smiled vanished.
I decided they weren’t like fish scales. They were too hard, yet smooth, the strength of nails. I flexed my hand, hearing it creak like new book binding.
I flexed both hands, staring at the drawing Annie had done of my face. I still had my hair but my eyebrows were gone. My whole face and neck were coated in a lizard type skin, red in colour. Where my eyebrows used to be the skin was bulkier, darker. I still had my nose, ears and lips, but they too were harder, like leather.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, relieved I still had toes. I stood up from the bed, keeping a grip on it. My legs wobbled but didn’t collapse.
The house was bathed in moonlight, harsh whispers travelling from Mum’s and Father’s room. It took four steps to reach the door, grabbing the handle to prevent knocking into the wall.
‘How could you even ask me?’ Mum demanded, voice shrill with anger. ‘I could never abandon my own child!’
‘He isn’t a child anymore. He isn’t human anymore. Ignatius wants him here, but we can still leave. He can live with that man he works for.’
‘I will not leave him here! If you’re going, you go alone.’
A long pause was his answer.
‘Daddy!’ Annie’s voice cried, storming into their room. ‘Don’t leave us!’
‘The move is in two months, it’s your choice if you come.’
‘You’re not taking my daughter.’
‘Isn’t that her choice?’ His voice was no longer a whisper. I moved closer, standing outside their door and peering in, ready to duck back out of view.
Father and Mum were sat on their bed, Mum curled up as far away as possible, while father’s legs were dangling off the bed’s edge. His gaze was fixed on Annie in front of him.
‘Well?’ He snapped. Annie flinched, taking a step back. ‘Can’t you even make your own decisions?’
‘Leave her alone!’ I yelled, banging into the room. ‘Stop bullying her!’
His face changed to a look of complete disgust. I flinched, head lowering.
‘She has time to decide. You,’ he spat out, glaring at me. ‘Will come to the next trading trip, as Ignatius commanded.’
I shook my head, feeling bile rise in my throat.
‘You say that now, but in another three weeks my master says you’ll be begging to go back. I leave for the fire caves in the morning, meet me there in three weeks.’
‘Why wait?’ Mum’s voice was quiet, but firm.
‘What?’
‘Why wait until morning? Leave now, Dimitri. You’re no longer welcome here.’
I braced myself, ready to grab him, but he just laughed, stepping off the bed.
‘Very well. I lost all respect for you months ago, there’s no point pretending now. Have a good life, Lily.’
He stepped past me, his footsteps echoing through the house. Annie crumbled to the floor when the front door slammed shut.
I didn’t sweat anymore. At mid-day I panted like a dog, desperate to expel the heat from my body. The large brown cloak I wore wasn’t helping, but I couldn’t bear to leave the house without it.
‘You should go home and rest for an hour.’ Lennie said, handing a bag of groceries to a customer.
‘I can’t just abandon my job.’ I panted.
‘It’s not busy at this time.’
‘I need to get used to this.’
‘Maybe if you took the cloak off-’
‘Do you want to lose all your customers?’ I snapped.
If Lennie had asked again ten minutes later I would have gone home in a heartbeat. My head felt overheated, my skin too hot to touch.
‘Why don’t you deliver this to the hotel for me? I was going to go later, but now is just as good a time.’
My whole body stiffened.
‘You haven’t seen Aaron since you got back. He said he came to your house but you didn’t want visitors.’
I flexed my hands, listening to the now familiar creak.
‘You can’t avoid him forever.’
The box was small, containing herbs and medicines.
‘Is someone sick?’
‘One of the guest’s been having a hard time with the heat. This is to help them on the journey home.’
I took my time, trying to ignore the few people out. The locals stared and looked away, while the tourists stared and kept staring.
‘Hey, are you crazy?’ A young man stepped in front of me.
So close, I sighed, staring at the hotel entrance beyond him.
‘You’re going to collapse if you stay in that thing!’ His hand reached out. I flinched back.
‘I’m fine; I’m a local.’ I said, balancing the box in my hands as a hint.
‘Not even the locals wear cloaks.’
‘It’s none of your business!’ I snapped. I stepped forward but he didn’t move.
‘Come on, you can’t be that ugly,’ he sneered. ‘I was trying to be nice, but your attitude is appalling, kid. How about handing over the box and cloak?’
I blinked, lifting up the cloak’s sleeve to inspect. I’d made it from material the elves had traded because it was the lightest and most breathable.
‘You’re wrong.’ I said.
‘What?’
‘I am that ugly. In fact I have a terrible skin disease.’ I pulled the sleeve back, twisting my bare arm around. ‘Are you sure you want a cloak that’s touched me?’
His eyes were wide with disgust, a hand moving to his mouth as he gagged. I smiled, slipping my sleeve back to pull my hood down.
‘Do you still want me to take it off?’
I set the box down and slid my arms from the sleeves, letting the cloak slip to the floor. I paused a moment, letting him see the lizard-type scales covered with dead skin before turning, bending to pick up the cloak.
‘Here,’ I said, turning back and holding it out. ‘Take it.’
The man shuffled backwards, his feet slipping, making him stumble. I stopped, feeling the grin spreading on my face.
If I’m stuck this way, I might as well enjoy it.
The man stumbled to my left.
‘S-sorry, my mistake.’ He stammered, flinching at my outstretched hand and sprinting away.
I watched him head in the direction of the market stalls until he was out of sight, then turned back to the Inn.
Aaron stood at the entrance.
Scribbled Thoughts 