Prints_Birth of The Demon Read online

  “Hey.” Dominaze folded her arms.

  “It’s the truth. He’s next in line to be an Elect. If he hosts a party, Prints will come. Now come outside and make him look good.”

  Tossing the book on the sofa, Hemrick pushed Dominaze out the door. The yard was breathtaking. White and yellow flowers blossomed along the perimeter of the yard and throughout the trees. Floating flames were surrounded by suspended water droplets that sent brilliant rainbow reflections dancing off every surface. There were swans on the distant grassy hill. At the center of the yard was a long glass table. On one end there was a large drinking fountain and food. On the other end there was a large stack of gifts and envelopes. The band was off to the side, surrounded by younger dancing and screaming Prints and Taloms.

  Dominaze shook her head. “This looks incredible. I just wish I knew someone.” She wanted to go back inside and hide behind her curtain.

  “Well I won’t be far and I’m sure Marinetta will be here soon. I also heard there will be two more Elders here.”

  “Really?” Dominaze’s insides squirmed. “What are they Elders over?”

  “Commander Dean Scotts is Elder over Insect Prints and Beverly Scotts is Elder over Sea Mammal Prints.” Hemrick smirked.

  Dominaze held up her hand. “Wait. Commander Dean Scotts? Marinetta’s dad? And is Beverly Scotts her mom?”

  “You got it.” Hemrick laughed. “Marinetta’s parents are Elders over Insects and Sea Mammals. Her family lives on the coast so her mom and dad can be together as much as possible. Beverly spends a lot of time at sea.”

  Dominaze shifted uneasily side to side. “Yeah…speaking of moms…what did Kor mean when he asked if Mom was still in a Manick state? What is a Manick state?”

  “It’s when your strip is removed.” Hemrick pointed to his strip on the back of his right shoulder. “When you remove your strip, your markings disappear, and you can no longer exercise authority over your imprinted element. Our strips make us who we are. Your strip is forming now and it’s the reason your shoulder hurts. Without our strips, we are Manicks—completely dependent on others.”

  “Why is Mom in a Manick state?”

  Hemrick was about to answer when a large gloved hand grabbed him and spun him around.

  “There he is,” announced the stranger.

  Intimidated, Dominaze backed up. The Print who just arrived looked nothing like the other Prints here. For one, he wasn’t dressed up—not at all. His clothing was worn to shreds and barely hanging on his muscular body. He had scars on his arms and chest. His hair reached his lower back and was hopelessly tangled. Incredibly bright orange-red markings wrapped themselves around him and through his hair. There seemed to be a blistering heat coming from him.

  “You made it.” Hemrick slapped the Print’s back. “I thought it was unnaturally warm today.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t miss the long-lost sister’s Talom celebration.” He turned to Dominaze with glowing red eyes.

  Hemrick introduced him, “Dominaze, this is Brike, my all-time best friend and Fire Print.”

  “Nice red dress.”

  Dominaze looked down at her dress and realized it matched the color of Brike’s markings. She managed to force a smile. Had she met Brike down a dark alley, she would have run the other way. Though he was undoubtedly handsome, he was definitely rough around the edges. But Hemrick trusted him, so maybe he wasn’t as bad as he looked…maybe.

  Brike stood still, looking down at Dominaze. He didn’t offer his hand to greet her like she was growing used to Prints doing when she was introduced to them. He didn’t say anything at all, just raised the corners of his lips slightly into an amused smirk.

  “Nice to meet you.” Dominaze said lifting her arm toward him.

  She immediately regretted it when Brike backed up. Feeling awkward Dominaze let her arm drop to her side and looked at Hemrick for some sort of explanation. To her surprise it was Brike who spoke up.

  “Relax.” He rolled his eyes, “There are some Prints you are better off not touching.”

  “Forgive Brike.” Hemrick nudged Dominaze, “He’s an acquired character.” He laughed like he was making a joke.

  “More like an acquired temperature.” Brike raised an eyebrow at Dominaze. “Some can’t take the heat.”

  Smiling stiffly she nodded.

  “Brike’s been overseas.” Hemrick turned back to him. “When did you get back?”

  “Just now actually, and I come bearing gifts.” He smiled, clearly happy with himself.

  As he dug in his sack, Dominaze noticed a strange, round metal shield covering his strip. She gasped when she realized it was cauterized to his skin.

  “Ta da!” Brike exclaimed.

  He held two clear glass rings, one smaller than the other.

  “I shaped them myself.” He announced.

  When Dominaze realized Hemrick wasn’t sure what they were, she didn’t feel so bad not knowing.

  “They’re armbands.” Brike pointed to his own on his arm.

  “Oh cool.” Hemrick took his.

  Dominaze reached out to take hers, but Brike pulled it away.

  “Allow me.” He said with a crooked smile.

  “I thought you didn’t want to touch me,” Dominaze spoke without thinking.

  Brike froze and Hemrick eyed him waiting for his reaction. Dominaze regretted speaking, but held her chin high and didn’t take her eyes off him.

  “Ha.” Brike laughed once, “… or maybe it’s you who shouldn’t touch me.”

  Dominaze could tell he wasn’t used to being confronted. Raising his eyebrows he held out the armband for her to take it. “Very well.”

  “Thank you.” Dominaze took it, slightly ashamed of her behavior.

  Pulling open the small clasp, she slipped it onto her arm and gently pressed it closed. She really did like it.

  “Thank you,” she repeated.

  Music continued to play as a few more Prints arrived with gifts in hand. Dominaze could see Marinetta coming across the grass. Just as she turned to meet her, Brike touched her arm sending hot bursts across her skin. Gasping, Dominaze pulled away from him. He furrowed his brow at her as if she was the one who burned him.

  “Don’t sleep in this tonight,” he said, pointing to the arm band. “It’s gonna be a rough night. I would hate for your carefully pampered imprinting to go badly.”

  Dominaze waited for him to smile, to give a sign that he was joking, but it never came. Instead he pierced her with his fiery eyes and she could have sworn he hated her.

  “Okay,” she mumbled.

  Brike held his chin high, still looking down at her, as he put his arm over Hemrick’s shoulders.

  “Be nice.” Hemrick nudged him.

  “That was me being nice. Besides, she’s got you.” He pointed at Hemrick and winked at Dominaze. “Happy imprinting.”

  He turned and walked away with Hemrick, leaving Dominaze to stare from behind.

  “Hey, Dominaze.” Marinetta called. “This is such a fabulous party.”

  “Hey Marinetta.” She tried to forget Brike.

  “So I wanted to make sure you knew you and Hemrick are invited to my Talom Celebration next week, if you’re granted permission to go.” She linked her arm with Dominaze’s.

  “Who do I need permission from?”

  “The Elect Elders. You’ll be a new Print and considered hazardous. You have to stay in containment until you have decent control over your authority. Oh, but your dad got permission for you to imprint here. That’s lucky. All Taloms are usually sent to the Imprinting facilities. Maybe my parents can be granted permission for me to stay home, too! I mean…they are Elders after all.” She smiled down at her.

  Dominaze tried to act like Hemrick hadn’t just told her. “Wow, that’s so cool.”

  “Right? They’ll be here soon and I’ll introduce you.”

  “That would be great. Listen…” Dominaze pulled
Marinetta off to the side, away from a group of Prints. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course. Is something wrong?” She eyed Dominaze with a concerned look.

  “I don’t know. Do you know why my mom removed her strip and is in a Manick state?”

  “She didn’t… It was pulled.” She pursed her lips, trying to remember. “It was some sort of raid I think. I don’t think they ever caught the Prints who did it. They were thought to be Elect protestors. No one’s really sure though. She was just found wandering alone. It was supposedly one of the worst vulnerations recorded. She has almost no memory of it.”

  “Vulneration?”

  “Yeah, it’s when a Print pulls another Print’s strip. It’s completely against code. You can be sentenced to death for it. It’s a miracle your twin sisters even survived.”

  “Why?”

  “Well your mom was pregnant with them when it happened. Most of the time a baby is lost due to vulnerations, but those who survive are born Human. It’s awful…but lucky.”

  Dominaze folded her arms and looked down. “Oh.”

  “So where’s Hemrick?” Marinetta looked around.

  Dominaze mumbled, her thoughts somewhere else, “With Brike.”

  Marinetta gasped and dug her nails into Dominaze’s arm. “Brike is here?”

  “Yes.” Dominaze pulled her arm away from Marinetta’s grip.

  “Oh no. He is horrible Dominaze. The worst.” Her eyes were huge. “Why is he here?”

  “I didn’t invite him. He came to see Hemrick. He seemed sort of put off by me actually.”

  “He is not a good Print, Dominaze.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t exactly get a good vibe from him,” Dominaze admitted.

  “Oh, I don’t think I can stay. I’m really sorry.” Marinetta shook her head. “I heard from a very reliable source that Brike has killed innocent Humans. It’s a mystery why the Elect Elders haven’t locked him up.” She shook her head at the thought. “My parents wouldn’t want me anywhere near him. In fact they probably shouldn’t come. Brike is dangerous and my parents are very important for Domicile’s military. It would be awful if something happened to them.”

  “Oh…are you sure you have to go?” Dominaze didn’t want to be left alone.

  “It’s best if I do. I’m really sorry.” Marinetta placed a hand on Dominaze’s shoulder and bowed her head. She turned to leave but looked back. “Dominaze, do not trust him. He’s not a friend.”

  Dominaze nodded and watched as Marinetta disappeared into the party crowd.

  “That was weird,” she muttered to herself.

  “Where’d your friend go?”

  Surprised, Dominaze spun around and froze when she saw Brike right behind her.

  “Brike.” She looked around nervously. “What are you doing?”

  “Planning the destruction of this world as you know it.”

  Dominaze looked to where Marinetta had just disappeared and back to Brike.

  “Were you eavesdropping?”

  “I can honestly say I wasn’t. I am simply here to get some drinks.”

  Only then did Dominaze realize she was standing next to the refreshment table.

  “Where is Hemrick?”

  “Inside.”

  Brike began filling two glasses with a rainbow bubbling liquid. “You shouldn’t be so quick to believe everything you’re told.” He finished filling them. “Even if it is true.” He gave her a cunning wink and left toward the house.

  Left alone, Dominaze thought about running after Brike and making sure Hemrick was okay, but stopped mid-step. Hemrick said Brike was his friend. He probably understood his weird personality better than anyone. Instead, Dominaze walked from one group of Prints to another. A few older Prints would briefly introduce themselves as Prints who had worked with or admired her dad. She stopped a few times, trying to understand the conversations, but quickly gave up when things like ‘Code Pallets’ or ‘Elders Council’ came up. These were things Dominaze might never understand. She decided it was best to avoid the dancing Prints and Taloms. Even though they were more her age, she didn’t feel confident enough to join in. Instead she headed back to the porch and flopped down onto a bench. Only then did she hear voices coming from inside the house, through an open window.

  “I can’t stay.” Brike was talking to someone, “Too many Elders and Elect close by for my taste, but it was nice seeing you and meeting your lost sister.”

  “Don’t stay away so long this time,” Hemrick’s voice replied.

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Dominaze thought that was the end of the conversation and was about to get up, when she heard Brike again.

  “Hemrick, it’s none of my business, but be aware of Dominaze. She’s about to become a part of a world she knows nothing about. If she’s anything like you and your father, she will imprint strongly and gain favor with the Elect. She can easily become corrupted, please be cautious.”

  “Thank you, Brike. I will.”

  The door next to Dominaze opened and both Brike and Hemrick came out. Seeing Dominaze, Brike grimaced briefly before hurrying down the steps and disappearing. Hemrick came and sat next to her. He already knew she had heard them talking.

  “Just like the governments from The Keep, we have pros and cons, good and bad.” Hemrick explained. “There is concern about how much power the Elect Elders have been given. Brike means well.”

  “I’ve never understood government and politics, so I know little about the government in The Keep, let alone here,” she admitted.

  “You’ll learn. It’s pretty basic, but tonight is a time to celebrate. Not educate.” Hemrick smiled.

  “Attention everyone.” Kyro’s powerful voice was easily heard over the multiple conversations. His winds carried and amplified it. “May I have your attention?” He waited for everyone to settle and listen. “I would like to make a toast to my dear daughter, Dominaze.”

  Dominaze tried not to blush as all eyes turned to her. Hemrick pushed her to her feet and she smiled bashfully in front of everyone.

  “Every night, since the night Dominaze left with Kora, I have waited impatiently for her return, and now the wait is finally over. Dominaze is here with us, having never to leave again,” he announced.

  Everyone cheered and clapped.

  “Dominaze,” Kyro continued, “tonight is a special night. Tonight you imprint with an element and become the Print you were always meant to be. I encourage you to exercise your strength and authority, so that you will grow to be strong and be presented with many opportunities. No matter how you imprint tonight, understand that every Print is important in order to keep balance and also know that everyone here is someone you can trust and receive guidance from. You are not alone.” He raised his glass higher, signifying the end of his toast.

  Everyone cheered again and sipped their drinks. They went back to their conversations as if there had been no interruption. They had no reason to be interested in Dominaze.

  The party seemed to last forever, but finally the sun began to set and it slowly died down. Almost everyone had left before Hemrick insisted Dominaze open her gifts. Even then, little attention was on her as she received flowers, unwrapped gifts, and thanked everyone for coming. Finally the last Print left as the floating flames were put out by their surrounding water droplets.

  Dominaze stood outside until the last flame sizzled out and then turned and headed up the stairs. Inside, Hemrick and Kyro were quick to send her to bed.

  “You have a big night ahead of you.” Kyro placed his hand on Dominaze’s shoulder. “When you wake you must do your best to have a clear mind. Impulsive thoughts can be dangerous to a new Print. I urge you not to attempt anything with your new authority, but rather keep your mind set on something entirely different to prevent any mishaps.”

  “Mishaps?”

  “For example,” Hemrick laughed, “if you wake up a Mouse Print, please don�
��t fill the house with mice before I’ve eaten breakfast.” He nudged her.

  “Gee, thanks.” Dominaze took a breath in an attempt to relax.

  “Don’t forget to take the armband off.” Hemrick touched the glass band on her arm.

  “Right, thanks. Goodnight, I guess.”

  She stood awkwardly for a moment. Before she could change her mind, she threw her arms around both of them and hugged them tight. Not sure of what to expect, she was almost surprised to feel them hug her back. Pulling away, she headed upstairs as they both smiled at her.

  Once in her room, with her door closed, Dominaze’s stomach filled with butterflies for what she was about to experience. She knew putting off sleep would only make her feel more anxious. Quickly washing and changing, Dominaze hurried to get ready for bed—if she was even going to be able to sleep. Removing her armband, she placed it on the nightstand and tried to prepare herself for what was coming. Pulling the covers down, she climbed into bed. Letting herself relax, she tried to feel something happening to her body, but she felt completely normal. Even the throbbing in her shoulder seemed to be softer tonight. Fear that maybe she wasn’t really a Print threatened to keep her awake.

  “Relax,” Dominaze whispered to herself.

  Rolling over, she closed her eyes. She hadn’t realized how tired she really was and in no time at all she was drifting into unconsciousness. It was impossible to know if the growing pressure behind her eyes was the start of a bad dream, or something more.

  ~5~

  IMPRINTING

  Pressure on Dominaze’s chest forced her lungs to work harder. Her muscles stretched and contracted as she tried to lie still in her bed. She wanted to think she was awake, but her eyelids were sealed and a faint dream struggled to be present. Chills covered her body, yet she was too hot to be comfortable. She felt free, but constricted; strong, but weakened. Finding the feeling in her arms, she wrapped them around herself in an attempt to hold herself together. This was going to be a long night. Trying to relax and let the unavoidable process take place, she rolled over onto her side.