Chapter 221 - Odd Friends (1/2)

Zakynthos Islands 1821: Three years later

”You have to come next week! It's my fourteenth birthday and you're literally the first friend I've made outside the palace!” Cam persisted as she followed Jos through the town, ignoring the strange and distasteful looks the townspeople sent her. She caught the other girl's hand and tugged her to a stop. When aqua eyes met hers, she puffed out her bottom lip pleadingly. ”Jos, please! You have to come.”

Jos let out a huffed breath as she rolled her eyes. ”Cam, I'd love to go but look around. The wolves hate me. I wouldn't be welcome.” She turned and began walking again until Cam's grip tugged her to a stop once again. She met the wide blue sad puppy eyes staring back at her. Letting out an exasperated breath, she added. ”It's not like I don't want to go... it's just that I know I'll not be welcome, and I don't want to bring you any undue stress on your birthday.” She tilted her head at the still pouting girl. ”How about we have our own celebration?” She fumbled with her dress with her free hand. ”You could come to my home... It's not much...” She gave a chuckle. ”It's not even really a home comparatively but...”

Cam's face lit up. ”Really? that would be great! When?”

Jos laughed. ”You did hear the part where it's not much, right? Like I live in a cave... more or less...” Jos looked away in embarrassment.

Cam squeezed Jos's hand tighter as she bounced up and down. ”I don't care what you live in I'm simply excited you are finally willing to let me get to know you more after all this time.”

Jos frowned, her eyes moving to the ring on her finger. ”I'm sorry. It's nothing against you... It's just... I don't have a good track record when it comes to letting people in...”

Cam tilted her head as she stepped closer to Jos, really studying the young girl's face for the first time. ”Jos... how old are you?” Cam asked.

Jos's wide eyes shot up to the girl. ”How old?” She stammered.

Cam nodded. ”I've known you three years now and you haven't changed at all. You speak as if you're an old lady that has already lived, loved, and lost more times than I could ever imagine...” She placed a hand on the girl's thin shoulder. ”You're not human, are you? That's why the townspeople look at you oddly and why you refuse to come to the palace...” When the girl wouldn't meet Cam's eyes, Cam continued on. ”Jos, it's alright. Whatever you are, it doesn't change the fact that we are friends. I don't care what you are or how old you are... or where you live.”

Jos finally forced herself to meet Cam's questioning eyes. ”Do you really want to know?” Cam nodded eagerly causing Jos to swallow hard. ”Alright... Do you have plans this afternoon?”

Cam shook her head. ”No, not really. As long as I'm back for dinner it should be fine.”

Jos nodded. ”If... If you would like to come back to my home with me today, I can explain on the way and show you a few things...”

Cam became giddy. ”That would be amazing!”

Jos led Cam through the town in a new direction. Once the last building of the town was far enough behind them, Jos let out a long breath. ”You're right... I'm not human, and I'm not the age I appear to be.”

Cam nodded. ”I assumed as much. So how old are you?”

Jos shrugged. ”I'm not entirely sure... I was raised by sirens. They didn't really have the same idea of time as the majority of the world. I didn't really start tracking the years that passed until sometime after I left them.”

Cam's eyes were wide with wonder. ”How long ago was that?”

Jos laughed glancing over at her friend. ”Over 2000 years ago...” Jos could feel her cheeks heat at the admittance.

Cam's eyes bugged. ”Really? But you look... well younger than me lately!”

Jos nodded. ”Yes... This form is easier to maintain. It requires less sustenance and exerts the most energy. It's also easier to attract less attention this way.”

Cam's brows furrowed as she tilted her head and studied Jos closer. ”So, what exactly are you?”

Jos blew out a puff of air. ”Isn't it enough to leave it at being raised by sirens?”

”Can I see your other forms?” Cam asked in curiosity.

Jos sent her a skeptical look. ”Most forms I take involve a human likeness at whatever age I find most effective for the situation. It's not much different than this one, really. And trust me, you don't want to see my other form.”

Cam scrunched her brows together. ”I really would, though!” She let out a sad huff. ”But I understand if you don't like it. It took me a while to adjust to the thought of being a wolf.” She shrugged. ”I guess I may get more used to it the more I shift...”

Jos smiled at the opportunity to shift the conversation away from herself. ”How long have you been able to shift?”

Cam frowned. ”Only about a year now and it's still hard to without being emotional especially outside the fuller moon cycles. What about you?”

Jos let her eyes travel out over the path ahead of them. ”The majority of my full shifts have been forced on me. I've only ever partially shifted on my own.”

Cam's mouth fell agape. ”In over 2000 years you've only ever partially shifted?!” She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Jos nodded sadly. ”Not all shifted forms are helpful. Some are horrible and without control over them really bad things can happen.”

”Well, now I'm even more intrigued!” Cam exclaimed. ”Come on you must tell me! I swear I'll never tell anyone. Not even Ales and you know how I feel about him!”

Jos nodded toward a heavily vegetated path. ”We're here. I'll explain inside... or at least try...” She mumbled as she led the way to the quiet lagoon. ”Over by the waterfall. Well, under it actually.”

Cam's eyes moved over the lagoon in shock. It was beautiful. Her gaze continued to wonder as she followed Jos toward the falls. ”Jos, this is amazing. Why are you embarrassed by it?” Cam's curious eyes searched the inside as Jos pulled the door open and stepped inside. ”WOW! It looks so magical!” Cam said as her wide eyes landed on shimmering jewels reflecting the light filtering in through the blanket of water coming down.