Prints_Birth of The Demon Read online

A strange light hit her eyelids. It couldn’t be morning; she had just fallen asleep. Squinting, she peeked toward the light source. Sure enough, it was coming from the morning sun just outside her window. She held still, almost afraid to move. That was it? The process was admittedly uncomfortable, but unless she was sleeping deeper for the worst of it, it wasn’t as torturous as she had expected it to be. Of course, she wouldn’t opt to go through it again. The faintest pressure in her head and a subtle pulse behind her shoulder were all that remained.

  “Oh!”

  She gasped, remembering what the whole process was for. Dominaze wiggled with curiosity. What did she look like? What element did she imprint with? What was she able to do now? Remembering what Kyro said about new Prints having to control their thoughts, she did her best to clear her mind. A few deep breaths helped her relax. She sat up carefully so as to not look at any part of her skin and focused on inhaling and exhaling. She wanted to see everything all at once. Her muscles ached slightly, as they would have after a good exercise. Reaching over her right shoulder, she felt the thin, strong strip protruding out of her skin. It was real. She was a Print now. She couldn’t help the ridiculous smile that spread across her face. Carefully standing, she closed her eyes and stepped forward, to where she knew she could see herself entirely in the mirror.

  “Okay,” she whispered to herself. “On the count of three. One…two…three.” Opening her eyes quickly, she looked at her reflection.

  Shock took over and her mouth dropped open. Stumbling forward, she stared at the unrecognizable new Dominaze Pierce. Nothing could have prepared her for what she was looking at.

  Her once brown hair was now the darkest black she had ever seen. Her arms and legs were covered in thick black stripes, similar to a tiger’s. Lifting her shirt, she could see the stripes covered her back and stomach. They rose up her chest, covered her neck, and continued up the far right side of her face, until they disappeared into her hair. Turning to see the back of her shoulder, Dominaze leaned in to get a good look at her strip—solid black. There was a strange urge to protect it. There was something else different that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Stepping closer, she studied her face.

  “Oh…” She gasped quietly.

  Staring at her eyes, she was shocked. A once soft-caramel color, they now looked intimidating, replaced with a cold, void of black—almost lifeless. She pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t stuck in a dream. She reached toward her reflection and the mirror began to shake. At first it swayed softly, but then quickly escalated until the mirror rattled angrily in its frame. Panicking, Dominaze backed up, only to realize all the windows in the room were shaking.

  “Stop!” she yelled.

  Immediate silence filled the room, followed by a loud crisp snap. Looking back at the mirror, a long vein-like crack spread across her reflection.

  “I need help,” she whimpered.

  Not wanting to run through the house in her pajamas, Dominaze decided she had better get dressed. She took the glass armband Brike had given her, slipped it on, and raced to the closet. She grabbed the first outfit she found. Holding it up, she was about to slip a pale pink shirt over her head when a dark mark on it caught her eye.

  “What’s this?”

  To her horror, the dark mark started spreading. It grew darker and larger, covering every inch of the soft pink top. Dominaze dropped the shirt and stepped back, watching in bewilderment as the once pale shirt quickly became a shadowy black pile on the floor.

  Frozen in place, she glanced up. Before her was a closet room filled from one end to the other with solid black clothes. She threw her hands over her mouth and tried to relax. Shallow quick breaths dried her throat and she couldn’t swallow.

  “I just need a drink. That will help,” she whispered to herself.

  Heading to the bathroom, she stopped halfway across her room. Splatters of water were landing on her head.

  “What the…”

  It was raining…in the bedroom.

  “No, no, no, no… clear my mind. No thoughts. ”

  Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around herself.

  “No thoughts, no thoughts, no thoughts.”

  Maybe it wasn’t a good idea for Hemrick to have brought her back to Domicile. Suddenly the rain poured harder as she remembered Hemrick bringing her through the wind tunnel during the storm. Lightning crashed across the ceiling and wind sent everything in her room flying. The curtains whipped violently and the windows rattled. Afraid they would break, Dominaze ran and pressed her hand to the glass to hold it still. The glass rippled and felt like jelly. Suddenly it melted onto the windowsill and dripped onto the floor. Dropping to her knees, Dominaze stared wide-eyed at the liquid glass.

  “No!” she yelled. “Stop! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.”

  But no happy thoughts came. Soaked from the rain, she shivered in the billowing wind. Growing colder and colder, she could see her breath in front of her. No one had explained any of this to her. Something had to be wrong with her. Rubbing her arms, she tried to warm them. Sparks burst from her finger tips and flames rolled off her arms.

  “Aaaah!” She jumped to her feet and slapped helplessly at the flames. “Help!”

  She gasped as the flames landed on the billowing curtains, sending fiery spirals through the air. Her bedroom door flew open. Hemrick and Kyro stood petrified at the sight.

  “Help!” Dominaze yelled.

  Kyro stared wide-eyed at her and the chaos that filled her room before his jaw tightened and nostrils flared. With hands in fists he stepped abruptly toward her.

  “Dad don’t!” Hemrick pushed him back. “Stop.”

  Hemrick turned and slowly moved toward Dominaze as if she were a wild animal. With the wave of his hand the wind ceased, letting the curtains fall limp and the fire to burn out in the rain. He looked around at the stormy chaos before turning back to Dominaze.

  “Come with me now.” He held his hand out.

  Desperate for help, Dominaze took it. Instantly he walked her out of the room and into the hall. She couldn’t help notice the protective stance Hemrick kept between Kyro and her as Kyro followed them down the stairs.

  “What’s…going…on?” She stuttered between chattering teeth.

  She was soaked from head to toe, wearing nothing but pajama shorts and a shirt. She shivered violently, not only because she was cold, but because she was terrified. Hemrick sat her down on the front room sofa. Next to Dominaze sat the book 5,001 Prints. She desperately wanted to look up what she had just become.

  “Here.” Hemrick handed her a small blue flower from a vase on the table. “I want you to think of nothing else but this flower.”

  “But...”

  “Do it,” he snapped.

  His lips turned downward and Dominaze thought she saw them quiver. He was worried. Nodding, she put all her attention on the flower; its color, shape, size. She studied each vein on its pedals.

  “Dad.” Hemrick turned his head toward him, but Dominaze could feel his eyes still on her. “Help her.”

  Confused, she forced herself to stay focused on just the flower; the different shades of green that made up each leaf, the pointed pattern that shaped their edges.

  “It’s Dominaze, Dad.” Still feeling his eyes on her, Hemrick pleaded. “Help her.”

  Kyro said nothing. The atmosphere was too still for there being two Wind Prints in the room. Dominaze felt their eyes on her and her heart raced. Concentrating harder on the flower, she studied the yellow and brown edge where it had been clipped.

  “WILL YOU NOT HELP HER?” Hemrick yelled.

  Dominaze looked up, the flower forgotten. Tears filled Hemrick’s eyes as he stared at her. His shoulders sank and he shook his head. Dominaze didn’t understand, but obviously something was horribly wrong with her. Hemrick looked at her as if he were being forced to say goodbye, as if to say sorry. Desperation filled his pale eyes, but quickly turned to pi
ty.

  It was silent. Dominaze’s eyes stung as they filled with tears. Perhaps she did it wrong. Maybe imprinting was something that didn’t come so naturally after all. She could feel herself falling apart. She felt compressed and torn at the same time. It shouldn’t have surprised her. Any attempt she had ever made to fit in had always ended in disaster.

  “Yes.” Kyro spoke.

  “Yes?” For the first time Hemrick took his eyes off Dominaze.

  Kyro stood expressionless, not looking at Dominaze or Hemrick.

  “I’ll go for help.” He nodded.

  “Yes.” New life filled Hemrick’s eyes. “Okay.” He smiled at Dominaze. “It’s gonna be okay.”

  “I’ll go to the Elders’ quarters immediately.” Kyro kept nodding.

  “What?” Hemrick’s new found life evaporated. “No. You can’t. They’ll kill her.”

  “Wait, what?” Dominaze’s heart raced and she didn’t feel the cold anymore. “Kill me? Why, what’s happened to me? What’s going on?”

  “Dominaze, the flower.” Hemick warned.

  “No, I want to know what’s happened to me. Why would the Elders want to kill me?” her voice screeched.

  Hemrick grabbed her shoulders.

  “Will you focus on that flower before you bring the house down on top of us?”

  She hadn’t even noticed that the entire house’s foundation was shaking violently.

  “I will explain everything to you, but I beg you to focus right now.”

  “Is someone going to kill me?” Dominaze quivered as the tears that filled her eyes found their way down her cheeks.

  Hemrick placed his hands on both sides of her face. “I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re my sister.”

  Nodding, Dominaze reluctantly looked back at the flower and forced herself to count each anther surrounding the stigma.

  Kyro seemed to come to life as he became aware of what was happening. He was stiff and unnatural.

  “The Elders will get suspicious if they don’t hear from us immediately. Her chances are better if I go to them straight away and explain the situation.” He paused again to think. “It’s too dangerous to let her leave. I need you to keep her here until I return.”

  “She’s a target here—a sitting duck. We need to take her somewhere no one will find her until we know she’s safe.” Hemrick was shaking.

  “No, Hemrick.” Kyro raised his voice. “You are both in danger if you leave. You will stay here until I’m back. I will go to the Elders and do all I can to protect Dominaze. Maybe I can convince them she is a benefit to them, rather than a threat.” He nodded his head in agreement with himself.

  “Dad, no.” Hemrick shook his head.

  “Hemrick, do this.” A wall of wind burst from Kyro hitting Hemrick head on. “You will wait here. If I’m not successful I will let you know, but you must stay here until you hear from me. The island is the safest place. Do you understand?” Kyro waited for a response.

  Hemrick just nodded this time. His knuckles white from his tightly clenched fists.

  “I’ll leave immediately. Do exactly as I said.” He paused to look at Hemrick.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Kyro patted him on the back before turning to leave; he never once looked at Dominaze. Hemrick was looking after him with his jaw set and eyes piercing.

  “Hemrick, I don’t think…” Dominaze began.

  Hemrick shook his head and held his figure to his lips.

  “Wait.” He motioned to where Kyro had just disappeared.

  They listened as an engine started and faded as it drove away.

  “Are we staying?” Dominaze asked as soon as it was quiet.

  “Nope. We have about thirty seconds to get out of here. Let’s grab you some clothes” He took her hand.

  He moved so fast that she was surprised when he tripped, taking them both down. Something had entangled his legs. Lifting her head off the floor, Dominaze looked around in horror. Creeping across the floor were hundreds of vines. They pushed their way through the doorways and windows. Growing on them were prefect replications of the blue flower she had concentrated so hard on.

  “What the…” she stammered. “Did I do this?”

  Still holding the blue flower in her hand, she held it up to one on the vine. It was the same—all the way down to the veins in each pedal.

  “What is going on Hemrick?”

  He pulled her up and grabbed the book 5,001 Prints.

  “We gotta get out of here. Now.”

  He dragged her past the stairs.

  “What about my clothes?” she pointed up the stairs.

  “No time.” He didn’t stop. “We have to get off the island now.”

  Looking back, Dominaze was sure she caught a glimpse of Thora standing wide-eyed and frozen in place, staring at her as Hemrick dragged her into a large garage filled with strange vehicles. Each vehicle was wrapped in the blue flowered vines. There was no time to admire them. Hemrick led Dominaze to a thin silver vehicle. It had a pointed nose and no wheels beneath it. Pressing his finger to a pad on the side, both doors lifted up.

  “Get in and buckle up.”

  She didn’t hesitate. Sliding in, she found a harness on the back of the seat. She put her arms through each side and clipped it together as fast as she could figure it out.

  “What is this?” Dominaze asked looking around.

  “A wind vessel.” Hemrick smiled. “It’s one of the fastest vehicles in existence.” Winds rushed off Hemrick’s arms toward the front and back of the vessel and an engine purred to life as it lifted.

  “It runs on wind?”

  “That it does.”

  He maneuvered out from the garage and shot toward the coast. The momentum glued Dominaze to the back of her seat. The path was clear in front of them as they accelerated. There was a sudden unusual weight surrounding Dominaze. It seemed to move like a wave.

  “Do you feel that?” Lifting her hand she tried to feel it in the air.

  “No.” Hemrick gasped. “But I see it.” He veered just in time.

  A wall of water shot up in front of them.

  “Did I do that?” Dominaze cringed in her seat.

  “No, that’s Soomi.” Hemrick sped alongside the water trying to get ahead of the rising wall. “I had a feeling Dad was reporting you. She’s trapping us on the island.”

  “Reporting me?”

  “If I don’t get you off the island, they’ll kill you.” He pushed as much wind as he could into the engine.

  The strange pressure seemed to wrap itself around Dominaze. She could feel it rise and grow. Looking out the window, she watched the water doing the same thing; it was the water. The pressure sensation she felt was the water moving around her.

  Dominaze jumped in her seat. “The water is closing. You have to get ahead of it now!”

  “I don’t see it closing.” Hemrick pushed the vessel faster.

  “I don’t see it, I feel it. Go now.”

  The wall of water shooting up from the other side of the island was approaching their end. The water rushing toward them was too high for them to fly over; they would have to make it through the wall.

  “Dominaze, if you feel it, move it. We’re not going to make it.”

  “Move it?” Her eyes were wide. “How?”

  “The same way you grew the blue flowers. Concentrate, but now. Do it now!” Hemrick yelled as he veered toward the water.

  The vessel shook violently. Hemrick struggled to keep control of it.

  “Dominaze!” Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

  The pressure was closing in on Dominaze. She felt crushed and struggled to breathe. Pressing her hand toward the water, she concentrated on the pressure and pushed it away. The wall retreated just as Hemrick shot them through. A loud eruption followed as the walls of water collided and closed behind them.

  “I did it.”

  Dominaze
smiled, looking back at the spouting wall. She had moved the water. Turning back to Hemrick, her smile quickly faded. His jaw was tight as he looked straight ahead. Breathing deep, his nostrils flared like an angry animal.

  “Hemrick?”

  He didn’t move for a moment, but suddenly snapped. Punching the screen on the dashboard, he smashed it until it whined pitifully and the lights went out.

  “Hemrick,” Dominaze gasped.

  “What have I done?” He shook his head. “This was stupid. I’m so stupid.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You.” He looked at her. “I saved you. I wasn’t supposed to do that. I shouldn’t have.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re not supposed to exist. You’re an abomination.” He reached behind his seat and grabbed the book 5,001 Prints and dropped it on Dominaze’s lap. “For as long as I can remember, I have been taught to fear you. But you’re just you. You don’t know anything. You’re innocent, or so I think, or thought.”

  Dominaze opened the book.

  “Which one am I?”

  “Your page is missing,” he scoffed. “A pitiful attempt to pretend you don’t exist. But it doesn’t matter. You’re still in there.”

  “What do you mean?” She frantically flipped through the pages.

  “You’re all of them.” He clenched his teeth. “You’re the Demon Print. You’ll be the death of us all.”

  ~6~

  THE TALOM BOY

  “Am I safe with you?” Dominaze called to Hemrick as he paced.

  They had driven a few hours in silence before Dominaze’s thoughts betrayed them. A mere glimpse at Hemrick’s armband from Brike and she was suddenly engulfed in flames. Screaming in panic as fire enveloped the vessel, Hemrick crash-landed into a red rock desert. The once-spotless vessel now lay in smoking shambles just a few yards away.

  Dominaze sat in the sand, flipping through the pages of 5,001 Prints, trying to understand how she could be all of the Prints mentioned.

  “Are you safe with me?” Hemrick laughed. “You?” Rolling his eyes, he laughed again like she was making a joke. “You’re the Demon Print, Dominaze. A single thought could kill me, and you want to know if you’re safe with me? I just broke a major code! Now I’m more than 2,200 miles from home and I’m a wanted Print and you want to know if you’re safe? Just look at my vessel.” He hissed between his teeth. “You aren’t even supposed to exist. There’s no balance if one Print can do it all. It’s dangerous. You’re dangerous. You have no idea.”