Read Online Natural Selection by Elizabeth Sharp - Free Book Online

many examples of what can
happen when humans get a glimpse of all the things they think
couldn’t be. There are people today, who call themselves hunters,
who do nothing but search for us. They will kill you if they figure
out what you are.”
    That put the fear of God into me. I
couldn’t imagine killing anyone because I didn’t understand. Hell,
Nate electrocuted me and… The train of thought derailed as several
of the things I just learned fell into place like puzzle pieces.
Nate said I’d been struck by lightning. Dad could control the
weather. Lightning was part of weather. And he had changed
drastically over the summer—gotten all manly and made me tingle
down to my toes. I knew before I said it, but I wanted my mom to
confirm it. “Nathanial Peplow. He’s a gaia, isn’t he?”
    My mother’s mouth tightened, but she
just nodded, giving me a hard look I didn’t understand. “I know
it’s hard, Lia, but you have to try to stay away from him—at least
for right now. He is gaia, and he’s very dangerous for you right
now. You want to stay away from him as long as you can. Someday
it'll make sense, but I won’t talk about it anymore
tonight.”
    “ You never explained what
can set my change off sooner than it should be,” I said,
desperately trying to keep her talking so I could learn as much as
possible. Her features softened, and I knew I had successfully
prolonged the conversation.
    “ You need to avoid any
areas where a natural cataclysm has happened recently: a hurricane,
a major earthquake, etc. The forces of the earth can waken your
slumbering nature, so be careful.” I gave her a definitive nod,
since I couldn’t imagine it being an issue. The closest I’d ever
been to a natural disaster was the tornadoes that destroyed a huge
chunk of the state the previous summer, but it hadn’t really gotten
close to us. “Just be careful, Lia. It’s a dangerous world for the
humans, and you have so much more to worry about.”
    My mom got up and walked to her
bedroom, but I stayed on the couch for a long time lost in thought.
I couldn’t help but remember Nate’s words, “I had no idea you were
so close.” I hadn’t really considered it at the time, but now I
couldn’t help but wonder if he knew something more. I decided to
corner him at the Halloween party tomorrow and find out.

 
     

    SARIAH CURLED AND sprayed my hair to
perfect soft wisps, applying way too much eye makeup. Once I
slipped on the skimpy costume Evelyn had picked out, I figured
there was no way my parents would let me out of the house. Mom made
the "my-baby’s-growing-up" face and took about a zillion pictures
before telling Sariah to drive safe. I felt betrayed and cursed
myself for being such a good girl. If I’d gotten in trouble once in
a while, I wouldn’t have to show my face—and possibly my arse—in
public. I was wearing garters, petty coats, and stockings, oh
my!
    The annual party at the Rec Center was
kind of a big deal. It had to be one of the most redneck ideas this
town had ever had to make that the official name for the YMCA-type
facility, housing the town pool, a gymnasium, a baseball diamond,
and a soccer field. Located on the edge of town, next door to the
high school, it was built on the remaining land donated to the city
long ago. A few years back the town started the Halloween party
hoping to curtail the teenage hijinks that ensued every year. It
was kind of school dance lame but always fun, and I enjoyed it the
last two years—but I’d actually gotten to wear clothes those years.
There were always costume contests, giveaways, games, dancing,
food, and a somewhat cheesy haunted house. I remembered being
terrified when Xander drug me in there the first time. I was beet
red and denied my fear as we came out the other side laughing at
the pathetic scare tactics. We went through three more times that
night.
    When we got out of the car, I helped
Sariah put on the wings of her Tinkerbell costume. I think it