"So who's going back?" she said, "Whoever it is, I'm coming with you!" she laughed but nobody laughed with her. "Well then, perhaps I'll go alone..." she said, hovering away out of the room.
"Mother!" said Moira through gritted teeth as her ghost re-appeared, half out of the living room.
"What?"
"Oh... just go."
Again, Ruby smiled and was gone.
"What else did you see?" asked Gabriel.
"It was like something out of a film," said Lilly awkwardly.
"What do you mean, dear?" asked Rose.
"Erm, the few clothes they were wearing were kind of like, erm, like something from Egypt, like from Cleopatra," she said with an uncomfortable chuckle.
"This is so bizarre," said Millicent.
"Bazar... yeh, Millie, yer right there. Is this common wiv them Sarens?" asked Kieran.
"Unfortunately we don't know much about the Sirens, Kieran," answered Jo. "We're trying to track down a Siren expert at the moment but we're not having much luck."
"Which is why we decided not to approach Calliope until we know more. After all, we don't know how dangerous she really is," said Carmelo with his eyebrows raised, looking across at the group that had gone out that morning.
"Perhaps we could have....ouch....ow....oh......" said December, falling forwards onto the thick rug in the centre of the room, almost knocking her head on the coffee table.
Everyone rushed forward to help her as she held her head in her hands.
"It must be Jack," announced Millicent, "He must be trying to get through."
Carmelo took the young witch in his arms as everyone sitting on the sofa stood up to allow her to be gently placed there.
Moira held one hand, Millicent held the other and Lilly hurried to the kitchen to dampen a cloth for her forehead.
When she returned, the room was silent except for Millicent's soothing voice, calming her and helping her to get through to Jack.
After five minutes, it was clear he wasn't attempting to get through at all.
"I don't understand," said Moira, "I thought the headaches were purely to do with the communication?"
Millicent nodded, "They are," she whispered, her own brows knitted together in confusion. "Keep trying, December. He must be trying to get through."
As December winced and moaned at the pain, another person fell to the ground holding his head.
"Wyatt!" yelped his wife, Sonya.
"My goodness, what on earth is going on?" said Rose as Gabriel was the next to fall, "Gabriel!" she yelled.
And then, both Meredith and Lilly succumbed to the excruciating pain.
People rallied around them all, placing dampened cloths on all of their foreheads.
"What's the connection, Carmelo?" asked Millicent, "What connects all these people together?"
"It's Jack. He's Lilly's father, Gabriel's son, Meredith and Wyatt's brother. Jack is the connection. Could he be trying to communicate with them all?"
Millicent nodded, "It is possible, of course, but I think there's something else."
"Awww," yelled Wyatt all of a sudden as he fell off the chair and onto his knees. Everyone looked on in horror as his eyes began to darken and shrink in size right before them.
"Oh My God," said Jo, "It's not what you think it is...he's changing. Dad, you're changing. It's the raven gene."
"B...but how do you know?" asked Millicent in surprise.
"I have the gene, I've been changing for well over a year now. That's it, they're all changing," she said gleefully clapping her hands together.
And soon enough, Gabriel, Lilly, Wyatt and Meredith all sat in the living room looking around at their surroundings from a completely different perspective. They were no longer human, they were stunning large black ravens.
December was still wincing from the pain as she turned to look at the strange occurrence.
"Lilly?" she croaked as one of the ravens hopped up from the floor onto the sofa and sat beside December.
"Lilly? Is that you? she asked as the bird nodded its head. One after the other, people spoke to the family of ravens, identifying each one. Soon the room applauded and excited laughter broke out.
"I..I..I don't believe it, I j..j...just can't believe it," stuttered Sonya as Wyatt fluttered to her side and turned his head from one side to the other. He opened his beak and out came a loud squawk. She and Wyatt both jumped before he tried again, letting out a soft coo as she gently stroked his feathers.
"Mom?" asked Cormac, the astonished teenager who had always believed he had a normal mother just like everyone else.
Meredith gently tugged at his fingers with her beak as Rose approached the last bird who remained alone in the centre of the room.
"I always knew you could do it, Gabriel," she teased as he began to squawk uncontrollably and dance around the room happily.
The laughter soon died down as December continued to suffer aloud.
"Shhh, I'm sorry everyone, I know this is a very exciting time for you all, but December is still in a lot of pain and I know quiet really does help somewhat," said Millicent as Moira looked at her gratefully.
The room quietened down until her groaning became less and less and, eventually, she fell asleep.
"I'll carry her into Lilly's room," whispered Carmelo, bending down and scooping her up into his arms, carrying her as if she was as light as a feather. He placed her gently on Lilly's bed as Moira and Millicent sat down by her side.
"Thank you, Carmelo. We'll stay with her."
He nodded and quietly closed the door behind him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
A long low groan escaped Jack's lips as a massive headache seemed to erupt deep within his head. It felt different this time.
He fell to the floor, holding his head in his hands as Zalea watched on helplessly. Turning her back on him, she rushed to the riverside and scooped up a little water in the wooden cup he had carved the day before. While she was looking away, Jack quickly removed his trousers, vaguely remembering something his father used to say about clothes getting destroyed in the change.
When Zalea turned back to him, she wasn't prepared for what she saw.
His large brown eyes turned darker and shrank while his slim legs became skinny and stick-like. His arms disappeared altogether and he howled uncontrollably.
Zalea dropped the cup and ran to his side.
"What can I do, Jack? What can I do? I feel so helpless." she cried, tears falling down her cheeks, "I'm so sorry. I made you do this and now look at you, you're in so much pain..." she sobbed as his transformation continued, his cries of pain soon turning to the strange squawkings of a large black raven while he stood proud and pulled back his wings to reveal a beautiful set of black feathers.
"Are you all right?" she whispered and waited for some kind of response.
When he nodded, she let out a sigh of relief and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Are you sure?" she asked and again he gave her an exaggerated nod before he turned to face the precarious cliff face that had given them so much grief.
With his wings outstretched, he began to move them up and down until he found himself lifting from the ground. If he could've shouted with glee, he would have.
Getting higher and higher into the air, he found himself swooping around, enjoying the freedom of flying. Flying, he was actually flying!
Eventually, when he stopped playing around, he glanced down to see Zalea jumping up and down, laughing and clapping her hands together.
He landed on the precipice facing the awkwardly positioned Meliam tree and flew up to the first oblong shaped brown fruit he could see, perching himself down beside it. He began pecking on the small branch that held it firmly until it began to loosen and the fruit fell to the ground.
He then swooped back down and began to roll it until it was on the edge. He peered over and made a loud squawk to let Zalea know it was coming down and then he pushed it as hard as possible.
Zalea stood to on
e side and let it crash to the ground, the fruit opening on impact to reveal several golden nuggets. She let out a loud, "Yes!" before picking it up and gently taking out one of the nuggets and putting it into her mouth. She savoured the flavour before slowly chewing it and swallowing it with a loud gulp, followed by a sigh of contentment.
Suddenly there was another loud squawk from above and so she moved away from the rocks and let Jack push eight more of the brown oblong shaped fruit to the ground.
As the last one fell, he threw himself off of the precipice and soared down to the bottom to stand beside her.
Now all he had to do was transform back into human form. But having never done it before, he had no idea how to.
"Okay, you can change back now, Jack," said Zalea smiling at him.
But when he did nothing but stand there, she began to worry. "You can change back, can't you?"
Jack didn't know how to respond so again he did nothing.
"Do you know how?" she whispered.
And that's when he shook his head from side to side.
"Oh no..." she sighed. "This is all my fault," she repeated again and again, bending her knees and flopping down beside him.
But Jack began hopping up and down shaking his head vigorously.
"I really don't know what to suggest, Jack..."
A loud slurping noise interrupted them and they both turned to face the water just as Dacius appeared, pulling herself onto the riverbank.
"Dacius!" exclaimed Zalea.
The mermaid smiled, "I see you have a problem. Perhaps I can help?"
Jack and Zalea turned to face each other and he nodded, hopping over to her side.
"I suggest you throw yourself into the water. The shock should turn you back into your usual form," she suggested.
"No!" yelled Zalea, bending down and picking up the raven, closely holding him in her arms, "It's too dangerous. He might drown."
"He will not drown. I will not let him."
Zalea looked down at her companion and he nodded his head. She turned from Dacius and took a few steps away from her, "But what if she takes you away like her sister did with Nick. I'm not sure I trust her, Jack. I... I'm frightened."
"Please don't be frightened of me," said a gentle voice from the water's edge, "I know my sister may have harmed you and she took away your friend but I am nothing like my sister. I would never try and harm you. I promise you that... you can trust me."
Jack nodded again and Zalea let him go. Holding her breath, she watched as the black raven flew higher into the sky and then turned to dive bomb himself into the cool water of the river.
Crashing through the surface, Zalea rushed to the edge and watched him go deeper and deeper until she could no longer see him. Turning to look at Dacius, tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Please help him... please help him...."
Dacius smiled and pushed herself after him.
All Zalea could do was wait.
But the waiting didn't last long, soon the water began to bubble and before long, both Jack and Dacius burst through the surface. His face glowed with excitement as he swam to the shore and jumped out, rushing over to Zalea and picking her up before twirling her around with laughter. When he realised he was naked, he blushed and quickly located his clothes, getting dressed as fast as possible as Zalea turned away laughing.
"I can do it, Zalea, I can do it..." he exclaimed once he was fully dressed.
Dacius watched them and smiled before very quietly disappearing beneath the water and swimming away.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The phone rang just as the Tulugaq family were returning to normal. Gabriel and Wyatt in Sammy's room and Lilly and Meredith in Tiffani's room.
They were helped by the Elders who gently coaxed them out of their transformations. It was easy for Lilly because she had been a changeling for some time. Although the sensations were quite different, the underlying transformation was the same. She was changing from animal to human.
Meredith struggled. Having only recently lost her husband, her transformation from raven to human wasn't quite so easy. It required intense concentration and relaxation... and she hadn't been able to relax for weeks. The mourning process prevented it from happening.
Moira was called in to assist. With her abilities as a witch and her gentle persuasive voice, the Elders knew she would be able to help.
"Hi Meredith," she whispered as she opened the door to the bedroom.
Lilly sat on the bed in a dressing gown, helplessly looking on as her aunt struggled with the change, pacing up and down on the carpeted floor, her claws occasionally catching on the woolly pile.
When she saw Moira, she hopped up onto the bed and squawked loudly.
"I'm guessing you're yelling 'help'?" she asked and the bird nodded in response.
"I know how difficult you're finding it to relax, Meredith, but you must know it is the most important aspect of changing back."
Again she nodded.
"So I think we'll try a gentle spell to help you completely relax. Is that okay with you?" she asked and Meredith nodded.
"I'll leave you both, then," said Lilly, standing up to walk out of the room, "You can do it, Meredith. Don't worry... good luck," she said as she closed the door behind her and headed to her own room where December was just waking up.
"Is she okay, Millicent?"
"I'm f...fine..." mumbled December from beneath the blanket. "What happened?" she asked, pushing it down and slowly sitting up.
"Don't you remember?" asked Millicent as December shook her head.
"Oh dear... that's not good. You have to remember these things, December. If you ever have these awful headaches, you must try and remain alert, relaxed, but fully alert."
December nodded while they told her all about the amazing transformations that had taken place that morning.
"You're a....you're a....." she stuttered and Lilly laughed and nodded, "Yeah, I know, a Raven Mountain Lion Human! Insane huh?!" she giggled.
"WOW... that is unbelievable and you caused it!"
"Me? I really don't think so. Considering the headaches, it must have been Jack who was responsible for it all," she said trying to recall if she had spoken to him but there was nothing but the pain.
"Maybe I ought to try and get through to him now it's over and make sure he's okay?" she asked, looking across at Millicent who stood looking out of the window at the forests beyond.
"Millicent?" she asked again.
"Hm? she said, turning around, "Oh, sorry, yes that's a good idea. Are you feeling strong enough?"
December nodded.
"Okay then, lie back down and I'll just go and see if Moira can join us," said Millicent who opened the door and walked out, closing it behind her.
"Are you really okay, December?" asked Lilly, bouncing on the bed and laying down next to her.
"I feel fine now but I do have this feeling we need to try and speak to your dad."
"Well I'm not going to argue with that... I hope he's okay."
The door opened and Millicent waltzed back, letting it shut behind her.
"Where's Mom?"
"She's coming, she's just having a chat with Meredith," she replied, sitting down on the wooden chair next to the bed.
"So Meredith managed to change back then?" asked Lilly while Millicent smiled back and nodded, "Yes, she's fine, just a little emotional that's all. Don't worry, her change will help her mourning process. Meredith is going to be just fine."
"Jack, are you there?" December whispered half an hour later with her eyes closed.
Waiting for a response, there was silence in the room.
"Jack, it's me December. I'm here with Lilly. Can you hear me?"
After a few more minutes of December wincing at the pain she was inflicting on herself, her face lit up.
"Yes!" she exclaimed, "You too? No no, it's just that it happened to a few others too. Hm?" December chuckled before continuing, "Lilly, Gabriel, Wyatt and Me
redith. Yes, all of them changed. No, no, they're fine. And you? That's great. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Yes, we're still working on it. There's just another problem here in Powell River that we need to sort out as well. Okay, we'll talk again soon then. Yes, I'll tell her. She's sending you her love too. Bye Jack, bye."
Soon afterwards she opened her eyes and smiled at her friend. "He sends you all his love."
"What else did he say?" asked Millicent and Moira.
"Sadly, something happened to his friend, Nickolaus, and he's disappeared but more importantly, he changed, Lilly," she squealed, "Your dad changed into a raven too!"
Lilly jumped off the bed and began hopping up and down, shouting. "Oh, I need to go tell the others!" she said, walking out of the room while they climbed off the bed and followed behind.
#
"I understand you've been trying to reach our kind," said the mesmerising silky voice on the other end of the phone.
"Erm... I'm sorry? asked Jo.
"The Sirens," the voice whispered.
"Oh, erm, hang on..... Carmelo, the Sirens," she mouthed, handing him the phone.
"Hello, this is Carmelo, head of the Elders. Thank you for getting in touch. You are quite difficult to reach."
"We can only be reached if we so desire," replied the captivating voice. "We understand you have some...questions for us?"
Carmelo nodded, turned and sat on the chair that was positioned by the telephone stand.
"Yes, we would like to know more about the Sirens."
"And why would you like to more... Carmelo?" she breathed.
"Because we have an unidentified woman in our neighbourhood that we believe might be one."
"Oh, I see. If you can describe this woman, I can tell you whether or not she is one of us. We do keep track of them all. For our own security, I might add."
"Yes, yes of course, of course. This woman is really quite beautiful..."
"We are all very beautiful, Carmelo. Perhaps you should pay us a visit one day."
If it were possible for Carmelo to blush, he would have done. "I doubt my fiancé would be too happy about that," he laughed nervously as Jo looked up with raised eyebrows. "This woman is called Calliope and the mere mention of her name has the most bizarre effect upon the men in our community."