Forbidden Power

Chapter 1- The Mystery Begins

Teddy POV

I shook my head in exasperation as I stared at the display before me. These museums. They always brag about their huge impressive displays, but they always only put out what they feel like the public is competent enough to appreciate. Where is the good stuff? I don't care about mummies and gold. I want to see the hieroglyphs. I didn't go to human school for nothing.

I whirled around and stomped away from the big Egyptian display, once again disappointed by the meager offerings of such a rich history. There is more than this in the world. The Egyptians were all about preserving their history and keeping their pharaohs alive through the telling of their deeds long past. The question is, how do I see more? What is the point of being able to read ancient languages if said languages are never brought out of the warehouses and displayed for the general public? Do I have to become a full-fledged archeologist to see those items of antiquity? I can do that. I've learned all the ancient languages and even spent time living in Egypt, though my search yielded no results without some impressive titles to get me into classified areas.

I can feel this dormant power inside of me, and I want answers to it. What does it mean? How do I control it? How do I even figure out what it is? Yeah, I can control the flow of blood in someone’s body, but I feel like that only uses a small fraction of the energy swirling inside of me. I’m capable of more. I know I am. I need to find someone who has answers and can help me, but how do I track down a family that doesn’t want to be found with literally nothing to go on but my grandmother’s first name and the Americanized names she and her sister chose?

I exited the city’s biggest museum and glided down the road, not bothering to look at anyone as I moved like a ghost through the streets. I hate cities. They stink of trash and gasoline. The humans here always smell like tobacco or alcohol. Not that I would kill any of them for their blood in the first place, but they could at least have the decency to smell a little less rancid.

The sidewalks were a bit too congested for my taste. I only came here to see if the museum had anything decent to offer me, but as usual it was nothing but another dead end that forced me to come out of my peaceful country life to brave the crowds. Someone bumped into me, and I glanced up at the offending man who wasn’t walking straight. Big guy. Smells of alcohol. Of course. He grumbled some profanity at me as if the person not walking straight was me, but I've long learned not to waste my time on people like him. I moved to the side and politely motioned for him to pass.

Right behind him was a woman dressed in way too little clothing who also was teetering on her feet. Even though I was standing still and out of the path, she ran into me and squinted at me as she glared at me.

“Hey, you! Stahp getting in my way,” she slurred. Then the big guy grabbed my shoulder.

“You tryna do somethin’ funny with mah gurl?”

Good grief. What a joke. He has no idea how disgusted I feel. She stinks of cheap perfume, alcohol, and tobacco, and she isn't wearing enough clothes. Her breasts were spilling out in a way I found unattractive and utterly uninticing. These sleezy bar girls aren’t my type, anyway, but she was especially not my type. There was only ever one girl I was slightly impressed with, and she was a human archaeologist. I respected her intelligence and dedication to her work, but she got married, and that was that.

“No,” I said simply and moved to walk away, but he tightened his grip on my shoulder. This guy has a death wish. I’m not in the mood for dealing with this.

“Punk, ya think I’m gonna let you walk away after disrespectin’ mah gurl?” He demanded. He took a swing at me, but I hardly moved and was able to avoid it. Just how drunk is this guy? What a pathetic punch.

“She ran into me because you’re both clearly intoxicated,” I answered coldly. I’m over this. I knocked his hand off my shoulder, nearly throwing him off balance with a simple flick of my fingers. I should have jumped the rooftops or gone down an alley. I’d rather deal with a stickup in a dark alley than a drunkard making a scene on a crowded street, and he was starting to draw an audience. Don’t these people have somewhere to be? Why are they watching like this is a spectator sport? If I was a human, I could be in real danger. These people don't know I'm not human, and not one of them is intervening on my behalf. Once again I am reminded of why I find humans so insufferable.

“Ya in her way!” The guy bellowed and tried to throw another punch, which I easily dodged with a small step to the side. The force of the punch nearly knocked the guy off his own feet when he didn’t connect with anything. If I wasn’t so annoyed I might find that amusing.

“It’s impossible not to be in the way when you’re stumbling all over the sidewalk like an i***t,” I prodded him, tired of him holding me hostage with his stupidity and ready to go ahead and knock him out cold. He should choose his enemies better. He chose to challenge the deadliest person in the city who also happens to be in a bad mood. His mistake.

He let out a string of obscenities and charged at me. This time I didn’t bother dodging but instead punched him right in the face and sent him flat on his back. Rather than be concerned for her man, the woman stared at me for a moment with her mouth open before trying to cozy up to me.

"Yer a little thin fer me, honey, but I respect ya punch. How 'bout you come back to my place, huh, baby?" She took my arm and pressed against me in a way that made me feel sick.

“Don’t touch me. But you may want to call an ambulance,” I suggested sweeping her to the side with the back of my arm. Some people were pulling out their phones, so I pulled up the hood on my coat. The last thing I want is publicity.

“How dare you!” The woman yelled. “Harassment! Didja see that? He touched me. He touched me! Somebody call the cops!”

Nobody was taking her seriously, and I was over it. With an inconspicuous flick of my hand I froze the blood in her left leg. With a shriek she fell over onto the ground, but the people watching just laughed at the drunken woman. I just turned and dematerialized into the darkness of a side road. Behind me I could hear cries of, “Where’d he go?” “He was just here?” “Party’s over, I guess.” “Anybody get his face?” "Let's check the videos!"

I sighed and called on Cesar. It was my last resort, but I'm desperate to get out of the city now. Ugh. I hate the city. I'd rather be knee deep in quicksand in a pyramid trap than here right now. Maybe one day I can make that happen. Might be fun.

Hey, Cesar. Can you get us out of here, please?

I figured you would ask soon. You really have bad luck around humans.

Always. I suppose my fate is to live my life exasperated with how stupid and simple humans are. Too bad they hold the answers to history what with their museums and stuff.

Maybe we should go visit the pyramids again. Those were pretty quiet. We might have missed something.

Ten years in Egypt. I’m sure we didn’t miss anything. At least not anything obvious from flying around them at night. I’m tempted to go back, though. At least those humans don’t act like these simpletons.

Cesar agreed and took us up into the sky and away from the glaring lights of the city. Even though I can be out in the sunlight, I do prefer being out at night.

The city faded as Cesar sped toward home. I live just a flight away from anything in this country, and I don't take Cesar for granted. I've embraced my beast more than any of my siblings. We're partners. Always.

In a measly few hours Cesar had us back home in North Carolina. I always felt relief when I saw the comfortable country house quietly sitting under the Milky Way with trees and nature surrounding it. No light pollution. No noise. Pure bliss.

Cesar landed in the backyard at the door of my home, a tiny home cottage my mom had built for me when I was ready for some privacy, which was around the same time Liz got married. It's basic and private and mine to return to any time I come home.

I opened the door that was never locked, not bothering to turn on the light since I could see perfectly without it. On my small table was a package with my name on it. Odd. Nobody sends me anything. Ever.

I opened the package, and an ancient puzzle ball rolled out along with a short note. I picked up the note first.

Solve the puzzle, solve the mystery.

Return to Egypt, learn your history.

The ball will show you the way...

Good luck, Theodore Fairchilde.

I frowned at the note. No signage. I picked up the ball and turned it over in my hands. It looked old, and it looked complicated. Was this some kind of joke?

I reread the note, but I couldn't quell excitement from bubbling up inside me. Whoever sent this knows me, and they know what I'm pursuing. It could be a trap...or not. Was I willing to risk the or not? No. If it isn't a trap, I'm not willing to give up a lead and learn the truth. Looks like I'm heading back to Egypt.