Changeling

*gives some of my old blood* In your rface.

*can't say the retort or it'd spoiler*

I'd barely retired to the room and collapsed onto my bed when I was dragged back to my feet by knocking on the door. I called out asking who it was, and went to open it upon hearing Sky's voice.

"What is it, Sky?" I asked, hoping my voice didn't show my trepidation, as I already suspected she knew of my eavesdropping. She looked close to laughter.

"What you're already guessing. I knew you were there - and don't worry, the others didn't have a clue, I'm just more attuned to you since we're familiar to each other, and it helps that you have my blood. Anyway, I just wanted to explain what you heard....."

I nodded, going back to the bed and sitting cross-legged on it.

"I'm sorry about what Erris said, he's just....."

"A bastard jerk?" I offered. She laughed.

"Yeah, that pretty much sums him up."

"What was it he called me, anyway?" I asked, trying to keep my voice offhand though it didn't really work. Sky's expression darkened.

"A visar," she muttered darkly, hatred and contempt in her tone. "It's a term used by old blood to describe and ancient fucked-up concept. If one of us gave their blood to strengthen a new blood, it used to be customary for that new blood to become a visar, practically a slave to their master."

I was silent. Yes, I'd noticed the contempt when the man had voiced it, I'd have had to be an utter fool not to realise it was negative. But the idea still made me shudder.

"I don't think of you that way," she added immediately, trying to reassure me, "I ...."

"Yeah, I got that from your response. Don't worry about it. But....can I ask....."

She smiled slightly, and I could see she was resisting the urge not to laugh - whether at herself or at me, I couldn't tell.

"That plan they were discussing....what is it?"

Her smile fell. She hesitated, as if she were deciding how to phrase the explanation, or whether to explain at all. Finally, she shook her head.

"You don't need to know about that, Ariana."

Seeing my expression, she added:

"I don't really like talking about it....you probably have guessed from what you heard that I hate the idea. More than that.....it's just horrific...." she shuddered. I knew I should have dropped the topic, for her sake, but I just couldn't.

"You said something about a sacrifice..."

"The cost they would be willing to have paid, to save the Atari race. A cost which is far too high. "

My eyes widened, the horror I was feeling at her tone showing on my face. She smiled.

"But they can't do a thing, without my permission - they need my help, my family's skills, to put it into action. It's a dead end without those, and I'd never."

I nodded, reassured. Had I seen the expressions of those men and women as they'd left the safehouse, had I sensed more clearly the confidence within them, things would have been highly different.

What's the plan?! What can Sky do that no one else can???? Too many questions. Really good, Lowri. Lovin' it.

That would be a secret It's one of the many skills unique to her family though. And thanks, Jerk

OK... I'm guessing it has something to do with... the humans?

Is that a yes?

It's a "I'm not saying anything because that's too much of a spoiler"

Aka yes?

Or aka that's what I want you to assume so I don't want to admit it isn't.

Or I'm talking in riddles

It's fun

Sure.

But, of course, I had no knowledge or warning of their plotting. None of us did. And therefore our lives continued as they had previously, filled with only hiding and training, paying no thought to the nefarious plan. We didn't know they'd changed their strategy.

A few more weeks had passed, and again I'd grown to feel trapped and claustrophobic within the safehouse, enough so that I felt driven to leave despite my irrational fear. I'd reminded myself that the events of last time were highly unlikely to repeat themselves, but maybe because my thoughts were dwelling on that day, I still found myself heading down to the waterfront. I stood there, leaning alone on the barrier, and staring into the depths, watching the waters swirling by.

"Ariana?"

I jerked my head up, memories of last time flooding me with fear, though dimly I registered that the voice did differ. The man approaching me laughed slightly, and stopped a few paces away.

"You've no need to fear," he reassured me. "I mean no harm. I only wish to speak to you."

"About what?" I asked cautiously.

"A few things," he replied. "You are Ashford's visar, am I right? No, not exactly a visar.... her blood host?"

"I have her blood within me," I shrugged, not sure of what he meant by what he'd said, or where he was going with the question. He nodded, as if I'd confirmed what he'd suspected.

"But you were originally new blood? Originally human?"

I answered that with a terse nod.

"What is your viewpoint on humanity now?"

"I..... I'm not sure," I answered slowly, yet again staring into the waters, thinking. Where was he going with this? "I don't really know.... I began off as human, I can never deny that. I was one of them. But I know I am Atari now...."

"And their persecution of our kind?"

Anger rippled reflexively up my spine for a second. The events I'd suffered seemed to be flashing before my eyes. The description of Sky's parents' murders was also echoing through my thoughts.

"I hate it," I answered flatly. He nodded again, with the same expression as before, as if again I'd confirmed his suspicions, or fallen into his plans. The idea made me shiver.

"Thank you, then, Ariana," he replied. "But I must be going, now. Goodbye."

I bade him goodbye too, and watched him leave. It struck me that he hadn't given his own name or identity, and I had no idea of how he'd learned mine. I doubted Sky had given it. Turning back to look into the river, I lost myself in yet more thoughts.

Curious but really good chapter Forgot how much I missed it

I'm trying to build up for the next storyline in it now And thanks. I've missed the writing, too.

Told you should start writing again

Do you read The Extraordinary or not? I've started a new voume in that too.l

I read the latest chapter, and I'm going to re-read it all, because I read it all ages ago

Don't blame you for that I found myself rereading it all when I was posting it for Dana, and that's what inspired me to restart it. Plus I found I'd started it off in the file, and forgotten.

Awesome