Dangerous Shapeshifter (Teenage Shapeshifter #2)

PROLOGUE

                     It was a busy night that day. Then again the night club was always busy. The bartender, a beautiful blond was serving the customers swiftly, mixing their drinks without any accidents. She was good with her hands. Having fast reflexes helped. She had been working at the Pulse for almost 8 months. She often checked the clock. Her shift ends in half an hour. She kept glancing at the people in the club. She had been eagerly waiting for someone. While she was searching the faces among the crowd, she saw a couple kissing. Seeing them reminded her of how she ended things with her boyfriend. She loved him so much. Still does. But she had to end the relationship between them. The look on his face while she left still haunted her. What is he doing now? How is he? she thought. She closed her eyes. The thought of him sent a knot in her stomach.

                    Just then the person she was waiting for arrived. She waved and moved towards her. "Hey Nicole", she said and took the chair. "Hey Sarah. The usual?", Nicole asked her.

                   "Yeah", Sarah said. Sarah came to this club one night with her friend. Nicole met Sarah that day and from that day they became friends. For some un-explainable reason Sarah was compelled to tell Nicole her problems. With Nicole she felt like she knew her. With Nicole she found comfort. Sarah was worried about her daughter who hadn't caller her for a long time. Today she's gonna meet her daughter  thought Nicole. She wanted to tell Sarah for a long time. But she couldn't because she was afraid Karen might use her to get to her mother. Nicole wanted to make sure no one was watching them. She felt it is time to for Sarah to meet her daughter since everything has calmed down.

                  After some time Nicole's shift ended. Sarah and Nicole left the club. They kept talking. Nicole thought she should tell her now. "Sarah there is something I want to tell you", Nicole said.

                 "Okay", Sarah said.

                 "Not here. Come with me". Nicole took her to a deserted alley.

                "What is it, Nicole? Why did you bring me here?"

                Nicole looked at her mother and said "I am not Nicole".

                Sarah looked confused and said "What are talking about Nicole?"

                "I am not Nicole. I am Katherine, your daughter".

                Sarah's eyes widened. "Katherine, is it... is it really you?" she asked.

                "Yes, mom", Nicole said. She closed her eyes and a moment later her body shifted and instead of blond woman there was now a brunette girl.

                "Katherine", Sarah said and hugged her.

                "It's me mom", Katherine said.

               Her mother pulled away and said "Where were you all this time? I was worried sick".

             "I am so sorry mom. I had to make sure Karen was not watching us. I wanted to protect you".

             "Where is she now? Is she here?" panicked her mother.

             "Mom, calm down. She's not here. I haven't seen her in a long time. She went silent."

            "But she's still out there."

            "Yeah", Katherine said.

           Her mother looked at her for a moment and asked "Katherine, what happened to Nicole? Why were you wearing Nicole's body?"

          Katherine looked apologetic and said "Mom don't be mad. It was ... me all along. I am Nicole".

          "It was you all along. You didn't even tell me. 8 months.... I've been worried sick about you and you've been here all along", Sarah said her voice and anger rising.

          "I am sorry mom. But I wanted to keep you safe. Karen wants me dead and I thought she might use you to get to me. All this time I've been watching over you as Nicole".

         Her mother began to understand. She nodded and said, "I thought I knew Nicole when I met her. Now I know it's you". She looked at Katherine for a moment and said, "So what do we do now?"

        Katherine was about to say something when she heard a sound. Her mother fell towards her. Her head against her chest. She wrapped her hands around her mother's back and her hands were wet. She looked her blood coated hands. She instantly panicked. "Mom, mom", she said frantically. Her mother sagged against her. She knelt to the ground holding her mother who wasn't talking.

       "Mom, mom. Oh please, no, no, no", she said crying. She immediately bit her wrist so that she could her with her blood. She kept wrist against her mouth. But she wasn't drinking. She was gone.

        She looked at her mother's back. Her mother was shot in her head. She kept crying and crying calling her mother. But she didn't wake up. Somebody shot her. All this time trying to keep her safe and now she lost her.

        She then heard her mother's phone ring. She took the phone and read the message, "This is what costs you for refusing me". Karen, it's her. She killed her mother.

        She decided then and there. She was going to find Karen and kill her.