Chapter 13: The Burn

Irina couldn't bring herself to forget everything that happened back at the university, from meeting Nyla's best friend and boyfriend to running into Nyla's biological sister. She was deeply confused about how to move forward in her new life without stirring too much suspicion.

Her human family had been very hospitable and caring, almost too caring. She got whatever she asked for without resistance like a wardrobe overhaul to reflect her new taste in fashion. Then when her new clothes arrived, Irina tried to layer her old self in her new body. One look in the mirror and she knew it was a terrible idea.

"The old you would never wear that." Her brother joked. 

"I guess that's the point." She poked her tongue out at him.

As much as she loathed Nyla's barbie/princess inspired collection, Irina knew that veering off from the Nyla everyone knew and loved would only make things tougher for her in the city. She mourned her street fashion sense as she shrugged into a pink mini-skirt and thigh-high boots. Yuck!

As she swept her hair up in a sleek ponytail, she noticed the fading scars from Isla's claws. A cold chill washed over her. Why couldn't she expunge that memory from her mind? She had been deeply concerned ever since that day because she had no idea what Isla had done to her or seen inside her head. All Irina knew was that she had felt a rude probe.

Isla's widened eyes as she knelt on the bathroom floor flashed in her memory. How had Isla fallen? Why did she look so scared? Irina hated that she lost time between asking Isla to stop messing with her head and finding her deathly scared on the floor. Did Isla see something that made her so fearful? Irina wondered.

"Are you ready?" Matt asked, rapping on her door when she was taking forever. Irina let her hair down to hide the marks.

"In a sec."

Since she had changed her mind about going back to school for a few days, she had been cooped up in her room reading up about werewolves on her iPad. She gobbled as much information as she could find on legit websites and refused visitors, including Dakota and her brother.

Today, she felt like getting some fresh air and pestered her brother to take her to their mother's flower shop for a little tour. After that, maybe they'd go for ice cream or visit other touristy locations in the city. With Matt by her side, she was certain he'd protect his little sister.

Plus, Irina was slightly confident in her werewolf knowledge now. She made a mental note to keep her emotions in check to avoid triggering her glowing eyes but even if she couldn't, her dark sunglasses would help.

"Are you going to a farm?" Matt laughed. "You're a little overdressed, Nyla. Throw on a simple gown and some sandals. It's hot out there. You'll cook inside that jacket."

She returned in a red flowery dress that skimmed her knees. Matt nodded in approval before leading her outside. Thankfully, it was a short trip to the flower shop. Irina kept her senses sharp and her eyes open, observing her surroundings and the people in it. There was no way to tell who was a human and who was not. Everyone interacted cheerfully.

Her mother was pleased to see her step outside her room. She gave her a bear hug and gleefully showed her around while Matt got distracted by the brunette at the counter. Irina's nose twitched with the overpowering scent of the different flowers. They all smelt lovely but since her sense of smell was intensified by her wolf, it was a lot on her.

"The flowers over here are werewolf repellants." Her mother said, stabbing a finger towards a bunch of potted purple flowers. "There are also herbs that serve the same purpose for other creatures too. These are our bestselling flowers."

Irina's head swam. Her vision blurred. Jumbled images flitted across her memory, overlapping and confusing the hell out of her. One of the flowers was more overpowering than the others to the point where it felt strangely familiar. The flower shop was gone in a second, replaced by a brightly lit hall, three-tiered chandeliers dripping gold lights across a hall filled with elegantly dressed people in ball gowns and suits.

Was this Nyla's memory? Irina wondered. Laughter bounced off the halls. Music from harps and cymbals serenaded the room.

"Here you go, Nyla." Slender fingers passed a fruity drink to Irina. It was such an out of body experience because though the point of view was actually Nyla's. Irina just watched everything playing out. Nyla accepted the drink with lips curled in satisfaction. Nyla felt the drink was something of a favorite, a guilty pleasure Nyla could hardly resist.

"Thanks."

Irina tried but couldn't see the face of the person who offered the drink. Then Nyla took a sip. As the drink reached their nose, Irina perceived the overpowering flower along with a mixture of other substances which were undoubtedly fatal to werewolves. Nyla didn't perceive it.

"Don't drink it, Nyla!" Irina screamed but Nyla kept taking long sips as she cruised from one friend circle to another.

"Damn it, Nyla, our vision is getting weak. Why won't you stop?"

Irina felt the poison spreading slowly. It wasn't a quick hit but it was gradually gaining ground around their vital organs. Nyla finally drained her cup and coughed a bit. When she turned, the man with a blurred-out face on stage was one she loved going by her increased heartbeat.

Zain? Irina wondered. Was this the day he betrayed her? Did she die from the shock or the poison? Was Zain behind the poison? More questions floated across her mind till the image faded back to the flower shop.

"Are you okay, dear? You look like you just saw a ghost." Her mother quipped. Irina shook her head.

"I'm fine, mom. I just need to use the bathroom." She gave the flowers one last wary glance before pivoting on her heels towards the restroom. Nyla was poisoned by someone dear to her, someone who knew her favorite drink. Someone whom Nyla would never consider a threat but who?

In her haste, she accidentally bumped into a customer exiting the restroom.

"I'm so sorry, I…" Irina froze up at the sight of the lady.

"That's okay." The teenager spoke politely with a soft smile.

Irina recognized her as the teenager from the fresher's line on the rebirth station. She was glad the poor soul got sent back to earth to be with her loved ones again.

"Nice earrings." She complimented.

"Thanks."

She watched the girl run back to join her family. Suddenly, she felt a burning sensation on her chest and clutched it for dear life. Grimacing with pain, she grabbed the knob of the bathroom door and pushed herself in.

"Fuck." It felt like a literal fire was burning in her chest. Irina slid to the floor and bit her lips to stifle a scream. Sweat broke out on her forehead. "W-What…the…hell?"

Someone knocked on the door.

"Nyla, are you in there, honey?"

Shit. Her mom. She badly wanted to respond but there was no way her voice wouldn't give off the pain she was under at the moment. Her fingers reached for the lock and slid it shut a second before her mom jiggled the knob. While she called out to her, Nyla gritted her teeth as the wave of pain enveloped her. Then in a flash, it was gone. She felt nothing. She hastened to the mirror, pried her chest open and was horrified to find a reddish scar just above her left boob.

Her mother was surprised when Nyla pulled the door open.

"Oh dear, you scared me. What took so long?"

"Sorry. I thought it was that time of the month and had to check for stains."

"Well, a customer said she saw you in pain. I had to come check."

Irina's eyebrow shot upwards. "What customer?"

A lady who looked to be in her late twenties suddenly appeared next to her mother.

"Hello. I'm Ingrid. I couldn't help but notice you by the door, felt like you were having a heart attack so I alerted your mom. Are you okay?"

Irina feigned a smile and bobbed her head. Her mother thanked the lady before returning to attend to her customers. Irina kept her head down and started for the counter but the stranger set a foot in her way.

"What are you doing?" Irina scowled impatiently.

"We need to talk."

Chills ran down her arms at the serious look on the woman's face.

"I don't know you. I have nothing to say to you." She brushed past her.

"They can smell you now, Irina Duncan."

Irina whipped her head. "What?" Did this woman just call her by her real name? Her full name?

Ingrid smirked when Irina froze. She turned slowly and flung the strap of her bag over her shoulder. Her eyes surveyed their surrounding for eavesdroppers and though she found none, she still lowered her voice.

"You have to be extremely careful, Irina. You might be in the body of a bigshot were-witch but nothing can save you from that knife. The burn on your chest is just the beginning. They can smell your burning flesh now. They can sense a wraith is close by. The more burns you get, the quicker the wraith killers can find and kill you."

Irina gasped with shock smeared all over her face.

"Wraith killers?" What the hell was she hearing right now.

"Yes, Nyla. They exist. The worst part is that they look as human as you and I. You didn't think the rebirth station folded their hands after you were caught beating their system for the seventh time, did you? Xander is desperate to fix his mistake aka You. He put in measures to end souls like yours from here. That's why he specifically sent you to this godawful city with no memories of your host but some how you're still alive. He isn't pleased." Ingrid scooped her hair off her face. "You can't trust just anyone. The wraith killers could be anywhere, anyone."

Irina followed Ingrid's eyes and found a beautiful family fussing over flowers. The reborn teenager's family. The teen locked eyes with Irina and waved. Irina's breath hitched for a second. When she turned back, Ingrid was already leaving.

"Wait! Who are you? Why are you telling me all this?"

A small smile crept into Ingrid's face. "Watch your back, Irina. Trust no one, not even me."