A Tale of the Other Kind: A Therian Novel (16 page)

‘Oh Kai, did you hear?’ came gossip queen Demy’s shrill voice from behind him. 

‘Geez Demy, don’t sneak up on me like that,’ Kai shot back, irritated and anxious.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Demy said as tears filled her eyes.

‘What’s wrong?’ He asked. 

‘I can’t believe you don’t know yet. It’s horrible. Nothing will ever be the same again. A body was found at the pools this morning. It’s horrific. Horrible,’ she wailed. 

‘Demy, calm down. Now tell me, what is going on?’ Kai said slowly.

‘Allison! She was murdered. They found her mangled body drifting face down in the pools this morning,’ she stammered, pushing hard at the tears that streamed down her face. 

Shocked at the thought of Allison’s murder. ‘It doesn’t make sense. I saw her just yesterday,’ he said, fading out of the conversation, too shaken to continue. Before long, Demy rushed over to the next group of students who came into the building, eagerly telling them about Allison’s murder. Kai shook his head and turned back to the locker. He closed his eyes, upset at what had happened. He couldn’t understand how something so horrible could have happened. He swallowed back a frog in his as the reality of the news sunk in. 

‘Hey, what’s going on?’ Sienna said as she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. 

‘I don’t know how it happened, but they say Allison was murdered at the pools last night. They found her body this morning,’ he said. 

Sienna was speechless. She stood blankly, unable to respond to the news. Kai felt the choking feeling rise in his throat, again, as images of Allison’s smiling face flooded his mind.

‘Who would do something so senseless?’ he said angrily. 

‘I don’t know.’ Visibly upset, she placed her arms around him.

****

Classrooms were filled with mourning students. Even teachers couldn’t compose themselves. Confusion and unease spread through the hallways faster than a wild fire. A list was compiled of all the students who were at the pools the day before and they were all being called in for questioning, each being treated as a suspect. Kai was the first to be called in and was led into a small room behind the teachers’ lounge. 

He sat down nervously as two police officers looked at him with stern expressions. A beefy fellow with a balding head was sitting behind a large desk, fiddling with a stack papers he held in his left hand. 

‘Kai, please have a seat,’ he said in a deep voice as he leaned back in the chair. Obediently, Kai sat down, but he could feel himself shaking, unable to hold his composure. 

‘Why so nervous young man? Do you have anything to be afraid of?’

‘No, no sir. I’m just still so shocked at what happened to Allison. She was such a good person.’

‘Yes, well, someone thought it wise to get rid of her. And we believe that someone knew her well.’

Kai didn’t know what to say in response, but the thought of the killer being among his friends scared him more than anything else.

‘I can see you are rattled by this. Why so?’ 

‘Well, it’s a horrible thing that has happened, sir. I’ve known Allison since kindergarten and this is truly upsetting to me.’

‘How did she seem yesterday?’ the officer said, jumping right in.

‘Normal, I suppose. I don’t know. She was fine. Nothing unusual.’

‘Some girls overheard your girlfriend, Sienna, and Allison chatting about you. Is that correct?’

‘Um, I don’t know, but what does that have to do with anything?’

‘Well, we’re just looking at all possible avenues at this point. What was her relationship with you Mr Emery?’ he asked, leaning forward.

‘We were friends, sir,’ he replied, ‘Like I said before.’ 

‘Are you sure that is all the two of you meant to each other?’ the officer persisted.

‘What are you trying to imply? There was nothing between us,’ Kai said a little too aggressively.

‘Calm down young man,’ the tall officer standing in the corner said sharply. ‘We are still investigating. Everyone’s a suspect at this moment.’

‘But why on earth would our friendship be a motive?’ he asked flabbergasted.

‘Well, maybe you got sick of her and had to get her out of the way of your new relationship with miss Fynn? It happens all the time.’

‘That is absurd! There was nothing between us. I can’t believe you are accusing me of this. She was a good person. I had no harmful feelings towards her. We had a good relationship,’ he said angrily. 

‘Well, we will see about the validity of that,’ the staunch officer behind the desk replied. ‘Now go, but don’t leave town. We might need you to come down to the station for more questioning.’ 

Kai got up, astonished by how he was made to feel as if he were a criminal. He desperately needed to get away from campus. His thoughts were reeling. He couldn’t comprehend what could have happened to poor Allison. 

Once he got home, he ordered a bunch of flowers for delivery to Allison’s parents. He fell down on the living room couch with a sigh. He picked up his phone and dialled Sienna’s number, ‘Hey Sienna, are you home safe?’ he asked, weary.

‘Hey, Kai. I’m fine. Listen, you need to get here quickly. I think I know who murdered Allison,’ Sienna replied sharply.

‘I’ll be right over.’

Ten minutes later, his motorcycle raced down the road and made an abrupt stop in front of her house. 

‘Hey, are you okay?’ he asked as he took off his black helmet.

‘Yes, I’m fine,’ she said, motioning towards the door.

‘So, what is this about? How do you know who murdered Allison?’ he asked suspiciously. 

Kai felt unnerved by her quick judgement. He couldn’t fathom how she could know who it was. Nobody knew. The police had questioned everyone, and they’d put him through a tough grilling. 

‘I know this might sound a little crazy, but it makes so much sense. I was sitting here, thinking about it, and I couldn’t place my finger on who might have something against Allison. She was such a sweet person and I couldn’t think of anybody who could have this kind of hatred for her. Then, suddenly, I thought of one person.’

‘Okay, so who do you think it was?’

‘I think it was Astrid,’ Sienna said simply.

‘What?’ Kai asked, shocked. 

He tried to compose himself as a deep line furrowed his forehead. ‘No Sienna, it can’t be. She would never...’

‘Who else, Kai? She wanted me out of your life after all. It all makes sense now. She wanted to frame me. The way the cops were questioning me, it felt like they thought I had done it,’ she said, shaking her head. 

‘Come on Sienna, they did that to all of us. It doesn’t mean that Astrid had anything to do with it.’

‘You know, they thought that I wanted to get Allison out of the way. They thought there was more between the two of you. But then, I thought about it, and it hit me – what if Astrid got rid of her as an added bonus?’ She said as she took his hand. ‘Kai, she is evil. She has powers that aren’t even human!’

‘Sienna, it wasn’t her. She wouldn’t do something like that,’ he said in her defence. ‘Besides, anything that might have been between me and Allison was years ago. She was just a good friend. I never felt the way she did and she accepted it.’

‘Why are you defending Astrid? She tried to kill me,’ she said, a shocked expression crossing her face. ‘She tried to kill me,’ she repeated slowly, ‘So why are you defending her?’ 

‘Because you don’t know her, Sienna, she isn’t who you think she is. She isn’t a bad person. Perhaps misguided in her ways, but she’s no human killer.’

‘Human killer? What? Does she kill animals then? You are not even making sense! How do you even claim to know this girl so well?’ she asked as panic set in.

‘I know her better than you do,’ he said, resigning to the fact that this conversation was heading into a direction that he feared wouldn’t end well. 

‘Just get out. You’ve obviously made your choice,’ Sienna said, anger riddling her face.

Kai shook his head, ‘It’s not like you think. Don’t do this Sienna.’

‘I trusted you and thought that you were being honest with me, but you obviously have some hang-ups with this girl and I
do not
want to be a part of it. So get ... the hell ... out of my house,’ she said, unable to meet his eyes. 

Reluctantly, Kai walked to the front door and gave Sienna one last glance, hoping that she would change her mind. 

But she didn’t. 

Kai could feel his soul screaming from the inside. Anger pounded at his chest as he raced down the road towards the forest. He parked his motorbike outside the cabin and marched straight into the dense greenery. His pain and anguish all came out at once as his clothes tore off his back and he changed shape. 

His nails violently clawed at the ground, but he couldn’t run fast enough to get away from this new demon that was hunting him. He knew that it was for the best, and perhaps now, Quinn would leave her alone. Maybe Sienna would be safe now that he wasn’t in her life anymore. He hated himself for being what he was. 

The harder he tried to run from his feelings, the worse the torment became. He didn’t know how to get away from who he was – who he had become. Breathless, he came to a halt next to the riverbank and stood up on his hind legs. A pain-ridden growl escaped him as he grabbed at a large tree and pulled it out right at its roots. 

He threw the tree across the river and it landed with a crashing thud. His heart was torn apart and he knew that he would never get over it. He would always carry this pain with him. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder and he swiped at the intruder, causing her to fall face down on the ground. 

‘Oh, Astrid, I’m so sorry,’ he said when he turned around and saw who he’d knocked down. 

‘Hell kitty cat, you’re getting stronger. That was one mean smack you gave me there,’ she said as she wiped the ground off her face and clothes. Kai helped her up and sighed. 

‘She left me you know,’ he muttered.

‘She what?’ Astrid asked.

‘She thinks you are a cold-blooded murderer and that I’m covering up for you.’

‘Why would she think that?’ she asked.

‘Because a friend of mine was murdered yesterday. She was ripped to pieces. It’s awful. Nobody knows how she was murdered,’ he added. 

‘I didn’t do it. You know I...’

‘I know you didn’t, Astrid. I tried to explain that to her, but she thinks that because of what had happened between the two of you, that you’re capable of much worse.’ 

‘And you haven’t told her what was actually going on?’

Kai shook his head, silently staring at the ground.

‘Yeah, well, that was a dumb move.’

He abruptly looked over his shoulder when he heard something move deep in the forest, his ears prickling. ‘Did you hear that?’ he asked tensely.

‘No, what?’ 

‘There’s something in the forest. I can smell it. I’ve never smelt an odour so strong.’ 

Before Astrid could say a word, he was off, running towards where the sound had come from. Trees flew past him and he hardly even tried to avoid the overhanging branches, breaking them down as he ran towards the odd smell. 

‘Kai, wait!’ Astrid screamed after him, following hot on his heels. ‘Oh hell,’ she muttered.

The smell was now unbearable. Its poignant stench felt like it could penetrate his skin. Soon enough, he came upon one of the most horrendous looking beast he had ever seen. ‘What the hell is that?’ 

Astrid sighed and walked over to him. ‘That is Ogel. He’s friendly. Don’t hurt him,’ she said by way of explanation. 

‘How could something so horrific be friendly?’ Kai asked, amazed as he stared at the humongous beast standing in front of him.

‘Hey, no fair. I ain’t horrific,’ Ogel said taken aback, grabbing his chest to emphasise how much Kai’s words offended him. 

‘What are you?’ Kai asked, trying not to breathe through his nose because of the stench.

‘He’s a giant troll,’ Astrid explained. 

‘A troll?’ Kai looked at Astrid. 

‘No, a giant troll, not just a troll. He’s one of only a few still left in this world. Umm, for example, his mommy was a troll and his daddy a giant. Make any sense?’

‘Oh, wow,’ he said shaking his head as the words sunk in, ‘I can’t believe this. One day my life is dead normal and the next I’m in wonderland. This is all just too much.’

Astrid touched his arm. ‘I know that all of this came very quickly and must be taking its toll on you, but Ogel here is a friend. He’s the only one who can help us.’ 

Kai looked up at Ogel and sighed. ‘We don’t need your help anymore Ogel, but thanks for coming.’ He started walking away. 

‘Kai wait, it isn’t over yet.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘She isn’t safe yet. And neither are you,’ Astrid whispered, distressed.

‘We broke up Astrid! They have no reason left to hurt her. They can do with me whatever they want. It’s over.’

‘Do you really think that your friend was murdered by a human, Kai?’

‘What? What do you mean?’

‘She was murdered as a message to you. They’re here. And they’ve arrived much quicker than I had expected. I’m sorry about your friend, but we need to continue with our efforts, or they’ll destroy you and everyone you care about.’

‘That’s why I’m here,’ Ogel said in a deep hungry voice. 

‘How, Ogel? How are you going to help, huh? Whatever is after us are killers. They are after me and Sienna and there is nothing we can do to stop them!’ Kai replied angrily. 

Ogel looked down at the ground and a tear dropped from one of his large eyes, rolling down the ground and starting a flowing river. He slowly wiped at his wrinkled face with his three-fingered hand.

‘Kai, please listen. Ogel isn’t just a large oaf like you make him out to be. He is exceptionally powerful. His kind are the only ones with the power to call the
Umbrae Damnati
,’ Astrid pleaded. 

‘The what? What on earth are you talking about, Astrid?’

Closing her eyes, she sighed and began: ‘Ogel’s kind has been around for much longer than any human or god has. Ogel is one of only a few giants left, or, rather, half-giant. His father was Ymir, the primordial giant who gave up his limbs to create the world that you and I now live on. He bore many children, created from his sweat. But then the gods were born, and Ymir’s children were all hunted down and killed.