Jace glanced at Natalya whose warm expression was frozen on her face, for a moment he felt a conflict in his senses. Why wasn't this Anan playing according to the script?
Jace had judged Anan a trickster, one with an ulterior motive who acted like a friend of a mystical being to gain something or do something to them.
When the girl in the light showed up, he was puzzled.
Perhaps it was time to give up and admit that he had no clue what was going on.
Natalya recovered quickly from her shock and replied, "We think your life might be in danger"
Anan heard her and an amused expression replaced his anger but his eyes still burned beautifully, "Do you know where you are?" he asked, his tone slightly playful.
"Everything here can kill us many times over" he added.
"I take it you are an Oracle and you are a teleporter. To be able to get in here you must be really powerful or just stupidly lucky" Anan said to Jace and then he turned to the girl with a contemplating frown on his face.
"As for you. . . " he started but almost immediately Light dashed at him, her body turning into specks of light mid-sprint. She appeared as if a ball of plasma, like a star on Earth.
But the most bizarre thing happened. Anan shifted! He was a Shapeshifter and for one to shift was as normal as the sun shining, what he shifted into however was something else. Anan was. . . Light.
The two balls of light mixed and for a moment the atmosphere turned harmonious. The light from Anan and Light Girl lit up this area of the forest in beautiful warmth so that even the flowers bloomed and plant leaves seemed to dance in the brilliance. It happened so quickly that before the others could react, they had separated.
Anan appeared where he had always been standing, his eyes radiating an interesting light as he stared at the ground where Light Girl appeared a moment later. Propping herself into a half-sitting position she stared at Anan with shock in her eyes, for the first time she felt a fear so primal that she remembered she was mortal too.
Before Anan, Light had always seen herself as a God, she was invincible, and none could hurt her or comprehend her existence. What she had was not just an ability or a superpower, this was her, she was light not a human who could manipulate light. But Anan knew that, no, he didn't only know it, he knew better than she did what she was. He knew more than that, also knowing how to make or break her.
Just now, Anan had indeed shifted into her, but since he was no light, he could only copy. When she jumped into him, he fed off her energy to sustain himself. The worst part was that she had no way to break out of it, she was still reeling in the aftertaste. It wasn't like the high of a drug but the embrace of a lover whose entire being was out to comfort her. It was intoxicating to feel so covered and cared for and nurtured... but no, she was dying. She was dying and he made her enjoy the process.
Anan must be the devil!
But she was no God, no, she was a lesser Angel, one whom the devil enticed to be with him. Light knew this, but whatever it was Anan had done doomed her to want this devil.
"That was... bizarre" Anan muttered to himself. What he had done to Light was not conscious but instinctive. Anan understood her abilities enough to shift into her, and he knew in theory to siphone energy off her. But his cells were not like hers, he was in such perfect harmony and control of himself that Light was becoming one with him during that brief moment of contact. His cells gave hers the illusion that they had been incomplete without him, and for that instant, they had a taste of true completeness.
That was a lie, but it was a lie her cells believed. She believed.
"Wait, stop!" Natalya immediately rushed to stand between them. She could see Light's burning gaze on Anan and the inexperienced girl misunderstood. Words blinded her to expressions.
"This might all be an accident or a plot. We came here because I think your life is in danger... No, I know it is and trust me it's different this time" She hurried with her words expecting Anan's impatience but oddly he wasn't, instead, he stared at her listening silently.
"I heard a conversation about a vial and leaving no witnesses. I'm not sure if it's you or someone else but a kid's life is in danger,"
Jace almost facepalmed, Natalya was all over the place.
"Slow down," Anan said, tilting his head as he looked at Natalya.
"You are not an Oracle, are you?" he asked slowly.
Natalya stared blankly at him for a while before turning somber, "I don't know what I am" she replied honestly.
"At least you know what you are not, sometimes that has to be enough"
For a moment, Natalya could swear that Anan had a different face. He had long hair and a face so handsome her father would feel shame beside him. That simple glimpse set her heart in a skip. Not a romantic skip, but one more deadly. Like she was seeing a truth too broad and clear for her mind to handle.
"Careful" Anan warned and his appearance returned to that of the unassuming boy.
Natalya was not a fool, this wasn't Anan's form. She knew that now. Her mind kept rolling back to that perfection and she wondered why anyone would ever want to hide such beauty.
"There have been some intruders lately, kill everyone and capture the boy alive, if he proves to be trouble, kill him too. We need the vial at all costs and there must be no witnesses" a voice suddenly filtered into her ears.
"They are here" She turned to Jace, her eyes red and brows tense.
Jace hurried to her holding her up just as her feet wobbled.
"What is wrong with you? Help her" he glared at Anan who just stood there watching them with interest.
"She can handle herself" he shook his head and turned to light.
"The two of them are just school kids, take care of them, I'll get rid of the intruders"
Light opened her mouth to say something, to retort, 'Who as he to order her around?'
Alas, he was gone before the words came to her.
What Light did not know was that Anan did not only see through her powers but her nature. She was only a spoilt child. Spoilt not with pampering but with power.
Getting up, she turned around and started walking away.
"I'm okay," Natalya said to Jace who was hugging her to himself protectively. She gently pushed him away before following Light, her face slightly flushed from her proximity to Jace.
Awkwardly scratching the back of his head, Jace followed while contemplating if to be offended at Anan for saying they were only schoolchildren.
If Anan must know, he had long passed his combat tests and he passed them all with flying colors. But would Anan care? Even if he would, he was out in real combat.
***
From atop a tree branch, Anan stood, his eyes roving through his enemies as they carefully walked around searching under every shrub with guns at the ready. If only they knew that the tiny mosquito a few three feet away did not have compound eyes.