The Changer War Read online

  Darren recognized that voice. Thankfully, it wasn’t his mom at all—it was Fiona!

  For a brief second Darren was happy to hear her, but that was soon replaced with a new worry. I don’t know if I can hold the force field much longer, Darren worried. Fiona could accidentally get hurt.

  “Fiona!” Darren shouted back. “It’s not safe. Call Ms. Therian.”

  “Fiona?” Ray repeated. “Your friend from school? Oh, don’t tell me she’s an impun—”

  Ray’s question was cut off by Fiona herself, soaking wet from the storm that raged over their house. But if she was bothered by the rain, she didn’t show it. She used some of the rain droplets to weave a water shield around herself and took a look at Ray.

  “Is Ray . . . ?” Fiona asked.

  “Yes,” Darren said.

  “So the curse is . . .”

  “Broken.”

  There was a beat of silence. Then Fiona’s face brightened.

  “Professor Zwane can work the protection spell now, Darren,” she said earnestly. “You’ll be protected from Sakura!”

  “Yes, that’s great,” Darren said, “but right now we need to get Ms. Therian. Ray needs her help.”

  Fiona dropped her water shield and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed Mrs. Therian, but there was no answer. Then she dialed again. Still no answer.

  “She’s always by her phone,” Fiona said. “Where could she be?”

  An exhausted Darren dropped his guard for a second, and that was all it took. Ray’s powers were too new and unwieldy to control. A stray bolt of lightning burst from Ray’s fingertips and zipped quickly past Darren—right to Fiona.

  “Ack!” Fiona screamed.

  It all happened in an instant.

  Fire. Something smelled like fire. The room was covered in yellow light and then darkened into black. For a brief pause no lightning emanated from Ray. It was like the world froze.

  “Fiona!” Darren yelled.

  Was she hurt? Darren could barely see her—all he could smell was ash. Like something—or rather, someone—had just been burned. His stomach turned and he feared the worst.

  Thankfully, he heard Fiona’s voice.

  “I’m . . . okay,” Fiona replied breathlessly.

  Whew. Fiona was already working on putting out the fire with water when Darren noticed what Ray had hit. It was Fiona’s hair! Fiona’s hair was completely buzzed on one side. For a moment he was scared, but then he couldn’t help but think it looked, well, cool.

  But there was more where that came from. Lightning ping-ponged from the wall to the ceiling and back again, all at the speed of—well, light.

  “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” Ray kept yelling, doing his best to cover up his hands, but the lightning just wouldn’t stop. Instead, with each “sorry,” another jolt came bursting out.

  Fiona ducked into the hall to try calling Ms. Therian again while Darren worked on building a new—and hopefully, more durable—force field. The smell of singed hair filled Darren’s nostrils.

  He remembered the time he almost killed Fiona in the ancillary gym where they had their Changer training. He had shot a lightning arrow that missed its mark, shattered an overhead light, and nearly fell into the saltwater pool where Fiona was training. It missed by less than an inch—and Darren felt terrible.

  Thankfully, he’d had Ms. Therian’s help then. Darren knew he needed her help again now, more than anything.

  Fiona kept calling and calling, but there was no response. It was so unlike Ms. Therian. Fiona tried a few other numbers, but nothing seemed to work.

  Darren didn’t know what was going on.

  Where are you, Ms. Therian? Darren wondered. We need you.

  Chapter 2

  Behind Enemy Lines

  Mack was engaged in another battle. He was exhausted. Fighting with Sakura meant fighting many battles, many times a day, but he couldn’t blow his cover; he had to tough it out. His role as a double agent was too important. Just as he was about to attack a mo’o, Mack saw a flash of lightning cross the sky, illuminating the battle going on all around him. He assumed it was created by an impundulu because the sky was otherwise clear, but Mack was so tired and confused that he couldn’t entirely be sure.

  Sakura’s forces had barely limped back from their last battle in New York City when the master (as Sakura preferred they call her) sent them out again. Sakura was enraged with her army on two fronts. Not only had they failed to capture any members of the First Four, they had failed to secure one of the Changers most powerful relics: Circe’s Diadem. The diadem was able to awaken magical potential sleeping inside nonmagical humans, and Sakura intended to use it to help build her army. Unfortunately for her, it remained safely in the hands of Esi Akosua and the anansi, who, for the most part, aligned themselves with the Changer Nation.

  Mack and the others had just reached their own base and begun to heal their wounds when Sakura ordered them to this remote forest in the hopes that other Changer relics were hidden here. Mack wasn’t even sure in what part of the world they were, but someone had obviously tipped off supporters of the First Four. They were ready and waiting to do battle. Ms. Therian and Sefu were commanding them. Mack was relieved to not see his grandfather or any of his Willow Cove friends. Now that he was back to being himself, the idea of battling against people he cared so much about was challenging. He’d done everything possible to avoid hurting Ms. Therian and Sefu already.

  An aatxe, or bull Changer, was charging toward him, its powerful horns ready to cut him in two. Mack somersaulted out of its way and cast a fire arrow at the assailant. It was an arrow intended to miss, not to hit, but he had to make it menacing all the same. Working as a double agent for the First Four was proving to be trickier than Mack originally thought it would be. It was much less like a comic book and much more frightening.

  Mack could see that this battle was going sour for Sakura’s forces, just like the last one. They had lost too many of their veteran soldiers. The new recruits were weak and easily frightened. Although grateful for this, he dreaded to think of the Shadow Fox’s fury after they lost another battle.

  Will she blame me? Mack wondered. I have to make her think I’m still her apprentice, that I still worship her as my master, or I won’t get the intelligence I need to defeat her.

  His mind drifted back to the fight between Sakura and his grandfather in New York’s Central Park. While humans wandered through the park on what they thought was a typical summer day, a major battle was going on just inches away—hidden from them by a magical shield.

  What made him so special? Sakura had demanded of his grandfather. Why did he get the power? The power that should have been mine? Who decided?

  That was obviously about me, but what did she mean by that? Mack wondered. What power do I have that she doesn’t?

  Mack was slowly beginning to realize that there was more going on in this war than a battle between teacher and student, good and evil. Sakura’s rage went well beyond simply trying to surpass her old master. There was history. There was a deep hurt, a deep fury, that had been festering inside the Shadow Fox for a long time.

  That must be what drove her to dark magic, he thought. I’m going to have to find out what this is all about if the forces for good are going to prevail.

  Mack snapped back to reality and then blocked another attack from the aatxe. The battle was definitely going against them. He ordered a retreat.

  Adam, a nykur—or Icelandic horse Changer who could control lakes, rivers, and other waters—galloped over.

  We’re retreating again? he communicated. When in their animal forms, Changers spoke telepathically.

  Even without spoken words, Mack heard the angry sneer in Adam’s question. Mack said nothing but gave Adam a hard look.

  Adam pushed the issue. That’s twice in one day. It’s almost like you’re not really on our side.

  Mack fought to keep fear from flitting across his features. If Sakura found out he was a doubl
e agent, she’d take him out, and any advantage the First Four had over her would be lost.

  He turned on Adam with fiery eyes. I’m giving it my—

  He was cut off when the aatxe charged at Adam and knocked him out.

  Bingo, Mack thought privately.

  With Adam unconscious and Sakura’s forces already beginning to retreat from the battlefield, Mack finally felt it was safe to reach out to Ms. Therian.

  I have intel for you, he told her. Ask Gabriella to spirit-walk in my dreams tonight so I can pass the information along.

  I’ll do that, the werewolf told him.

  They circled each other as if they were enemies about to enter hand-to-hand combat. Mack wished they were back at home in the Willow Cove gym, doing a training exercise.

  Those days are over, Mack reminded himself. You’re at war.

  Adam began to stir.

  The nykur suspects I’m working for the First Four. If Sakura finds out, I’m finished, Mack communicated. She’ll kill me, and you might lose this war.

  You need to prove your allegiance to the Shadow Fox, Ms. Therian answered. Attack me. It’s the only way.

  Attack you? No. I can’t. I don’t want to, Mack answered. He hadn’t hurt anybody since becoming himself again. How could he?

  Attack me, Mack, she repeated. You have to. Any doubts Sakura has about you will be erased. We need her to trust you with her deepest secrets. It’s the only way.

  Mack knew she was probably right, but he still hated the thought of hurting her. He hated the thought of hurting anybody. But this was a dangerous game—and Mack had to play it right. He squared his shoulders and braced himself.

  Sorry, Ms. Therian, Mack thought.

  With Adam’s eyes on him, Mack used a cloaking spell to make himself invisible. He circled his coach while she pretended to look for him. Then when the time was right, he pounced, unmasked himself, and sank his teeth into her leg.

  He’d done it. He was behind enemy lines.

  Chapter 3

  Intel

  Gabriella grabbed two mugs from the cabinet and filled them with hot milk and chocolate. She’d just arrived home from New York City, and after the day’s tumultuous events, it was finally time to relax.

  “Can you make sure to add some marshmallows?” her little sister, Maritza, asked. “Tía Rosa never adds any marshmallows.”

  Gabriella smiled. There was so much her sister didn’t know. She looked at Maritza and felt jealous for a moment, jealous that Maritza was concerned for her reading homework and her friends and sleepovers and elementary school. Maritza was wearing three friendship bracelets from her three best friends, and it all seemed like so much fun. Gabriella couldn’t even imagine having time to make friendship bracelets with Darren, Fiona, and Mack. Never mind that Mack was currently double agenting in the belly of the beast, when would they possibly have time for something fun like that?

  Gabriella found some mini-marshmallows in the pantry and some rainbow-colored sprinkles. “Let’s make this unicorn hot chocolate,” she told her sister, who loved all things fantastical—unicorns and mermaids and talking frogs.

  If only she knew how magical the real world is, Gabriella thought.

  “Unicorn hot chocolate!” Maritza gasped. She watched as Gabriella scooped a dollop of marshmallows into her mug.

  “And the finishing touch,” Gabriella said, opening the fridge door. “Whipped cream and sprinkles!”

  Maritza clapped. “I have the best sister in the whole world,” she said, taking a sip after Gabriella sprayed a mountain of whipped cream and topped it with sprinkles. A whipped cream mustache appeared on her upper lip, and Gabriella laughed, wiping it off with a kitchen towel.

  Gabriella certainly didn’t feel like the best sister in the world, though. When was the last time she and Maritza had hung out—like sisters? Perhaps before Gabriella had learned she was a nahual. So much had changed in seventh grade. Gabriella was hardly the person she was before.

  “I have something important to tell you,” Maritza said after a few sips. “I think I have a crush on someone in my class.”

  “A crush?” Gabriella’s interest was piqued. “Who is it? Anyone I know?”

  Maritza giggled. “A crush! A crush! But you have to promise to keep it a secret—Emma would hate me if she knew!”

  Emma was one of Maritza’s best friends.

  “Okay, spill,” Gabriella said. She was glad to have this family bonding. She missed it very much.

  “Okay, so, we were sitting in the cafeteria at lunch, and Etai was walking past me, and I think he was the person who left me some secret Valentine’s Day candy at my desk—oh, did I not tell you about that? Well, yeah, someone left secret Valentine’s Day candy at my desk, and—and—”

  But before Maritza could say anything else, her words were cut short. The kitchen door opened and in walked Tía Rosa, Gabriella and Maritza’s aunt. Tía Rosa was also a nahual, along with Gabriela’s abuelita, but Maritza (and their mother) didn’t know.

  A knot formed in Gabriella’s stomach. Tía Rosa appearing unannounced and out of the blue—this had to be Changer news.

  “Gabriella, a word?” Tía Rosa asked. “In private?”

  Gabriella looked at Maritza. She so desperately wanted this sister time. But she had a duty; she knew what she had to do.

  “One second,” she told Maritza, and headed with Tía Rosa for the den.

  Once there, Tía Rosa checked to make sure no one could hear her. She then drew the curtains closed just in case and spoke in muffled breaths.

  “There’s been another attack—this one close by,” Tía Rosa informed her. “We have many Changers wounded. I don’t know much more than that. I need to be there to heal, so if you’re looking for me—”

  “What do you mean? I’m a healer too,” Gabriella said. She didn’t want to leave Maritza, but she had a duty, a sacred duty to the Changer nation. If Mack could be away from his family—and his friends—and work for the dark side . . . Gabriella had to help too.

  “I’ll get my stuff, Tía,” Gabriella said. “Meet you outside in a minute.”

  Tía Rosa tried to protest, but it was no use. They both knew Gabriella had to help with the healing—whether she wanted to or not.

  Gabriella went back into the kitchen and kissed the top of Maritza’s head.

  “Tía Rosa needs me,” she said. “Ma is upstairs. If you put your mug in the sink when you’re done, I’ll wash it for you when I come back, okay, mi linda? I love you. I’ll see you later.”

  Maritza looked sad. Gabriella wanted to stay, to hear about Etai and Emma and normal things, but she knew she couldn’t. She laced up her combat boots and grabbed a protein bar. If she ever needed the extra energy from a protein bar, it was now. She cast a sidelong glance at her sister before leaving.

  I feel so terrible for leaving her, Gabriella thought.

  But that was the life of a Changer, wasn’t it?

  Gabriella and Tía Rosa arrived on the battleground in their nahual forms just as Sakura’s forces retreated. It was clear that Gabriella made a good choice—healers were needed, and desperately.

  Healing was something that only the most powerful of nahuals could do while spirit-walking in another Changer’s mind. After their battle in New York City, Gabriella had started to learn how to heal others herself. Although difficult, it made all the difference when she used her new skills on Mack.

  Gabriella had seen that Mack’s dark magic wasn’t something to be conquered like they’d thought—it was a deep pain that needed to be healed. She was able to use her power to overcome the darkness that Sakura had used to poison his mind and spirit. Mack was himself again—if only in secret—and determined to help win against Sakura.

  It was the most amazing, terrifying, and gratifying thing she had ever done.

  Gabriella looked around and saw just how much that healing was needed now. Everywhere she turned, it seemed a Changer was hurt.

  Gabriella didn’t know
where to start. She looked among the wounded as if to assess who was in the most pain, to alleviate that pain first, when she caught sight of a woman’s face in great agony.

  But it wasn’t just any woman. It was Ms. Therian.

  Gabriella made a beeline toward her. She could see the deep pain in her coach’s eyes and smell the burned skin around the wound on her leg. Gabriella barely had time to register that it was a kitsune bite mark before she got to work.

  Gabriella gently placed her hands on either side of the wound and entered a meditative state. Almost immediately she could feel her spiritual energy begin to envelop the wound, and cast around for a path to recovery.

  She reminded herself of what Daniel, the nahual who had taught her about healing, had said: The body wants to heal itself. We’re just helping it along. She remembered to keep her energy loose and flexible—to follow where it led.

  Gabriella expected Ms. Therian’s wound to heal as easily as the injuries Daniel had mended. But this wound seemed to fighting her, as if it didn’t want to give up its hold on Ms. Therian, almost like it was intended to be there, for some reason. Gabriella kept concentrating, letting her energy move about the injury, seeking a pathway to healing. She could tell her teacher was hurting, and Gabriella desperately wanted to lessen that pain.

  It took a while, but the pain began to let go of its tight grip. Ms. Therian’s skin finally began to knit itself back together. In a moment all traces of the bite and the burned skin around it were gone, but there was some lingering magic hovering around the area where the wound had been.

  Gabriella had questions, but there were others who needed her help first. When she had done as much as she could for Ms. Therian, she came out of her meditative state and checked the battlefield. Tía Rosa was busy helping an aatxe with a broken leg while Margaery Haruyama and Kenta, both tengus, transported three chained prisoners away in a ripple of wind.

  Gabriella noticed a bultungin with a badly burned foot and leg. “I’ll be right back,” Gabriella told her teacher. “Rest here.”