Both Dr. Jeffries walk into the room. They move like they are one unit. I have never seen it but I'm told when they shift into their dragon form they are conjoined, one dragon with two heads. The first one begins to speak, "We have consolidated the list, as asked, and simplified every supernatural down…"
"... into these three categories: Humanoid, Animorphs, and Otherkin." The second finishes the first's sentence and I cannot tell which is which. I can not tell who is the guy and who is the girl.
I try to peak at their name tags to see. Both tags read "Jack and Jill Jeffrey" which leaves me dumbfounded. All this time I thought their names were actually 'Jeffries' but apparently its actually just 'Jeffrey' and the 'Jeffries' because there are two and they speak as one? One would think with an IQ of 153 this genius would be able to wrap my head around this, but I cannot. Give me neuroscience, physics, any other impossible to grasp concept and I am there- but this is just too much. My brain hurts.
The first one begins speaking again, "Each of those is simple enough to understand- those who could always pass as human, with little to no cosmetic assistance; those who are shifters..."
"... changing back and forth between their mortal and shifted forms. Otherkin being anyone who could never pass as human. Each class…"
"..ification is further broken into three categories." Wow, finishing each other's words. Is that new, or do they always do that? I look around, and no one else seems phased by this. This must be completely normal for them.
"Psych. Magic. Non-Magic." They say in unison. At this point I am so distracted that I cannot even look at them. So I begin 'taking notes.'
One of them speaks again, but I am done trying to decipher who it is, "Psych includes anyone with mind powers, including but not limited to visions, telekenisis, compulsion, telepathy etc. If a species has any type of mind power they are in this category even if they have other magic as well. Even if one never presents with any type of power, they will still be in that category if the rest of the species is there. For example, if a siren fails to gain their siren call, they would still be considered a Psych Animorph, though surely their family would feel shame. Jack that was not appropriate. Jill that was a fact of life."
Yea, this is definitely weird. Apparently they were taking turns talking and since I was doodling I did not even notice. That is how similar they sound.
These two always freak me out. I would like to say you will get used to it, but after 30 years I have yet to do so. I Smile as my father speaks to me throught he mind like that will surely land werewolves in the 'psych' area of the animorphs. Werewolves are the only shifter species that can communicate telepathically.
Noone knows why, though some speculate we are the original Animagus shifters, and all others were created out of sexually immoral practices. Others say witches are to blame, cursing weres by not only stripping them of their pack connections but also forcing them to change into other animals, thus stripping them of their connection to the moon, which fuels our power. This connection to the pack and the moon is what has us near the top of the power food chain.
"Thank you Dr. Jeffries for all your work. I assume you have broken down all species into the proper categories?" My mother asks, looking nervous.
"Yes, Your Highness, we were able to break down every living paranormal using the DNA taken at birth and logged by the UPU, as well as every deceased paranormal since samples began 21 years ago…" Wait… 21 years? They have only been taking DNA samples for 21 years? Why?
"Every individual has been successfully examined and placed into one distinctive category based off their genetic factors. And we have found a 99.999% match when comparing their genetic and magical make up. There is but one anomaly, as expected…"
The room goes silent. I look up from my doodling and see that the entire room has eyes on me. My father inhales deeply and then speaks in a voice that shakes, "And just where does that progress lay?"
"Your Highness, Your Grace, I… We…" They address both my parents, stammoring in unison…
"OUT WITH IT!" I shout, slamming my closed fists on the table, my voice sending a wave of compulsion that should not be possible. I am not yet 21, I should not be able to channel power only the Queen holds. No other vampires are capable of using compulsion on other supernatural beings. They can control humans all day. Other vampires? Sure- but only if they are stronger than that vampire. But my mother, and every queen before her are the only vampires able to control everyone.
The twins close their eyes as fear crosses their faces, neither daring to speak. The room is so tense you could cut it with a knife. My mother breaks in, sending a wave of calming throughout the room, felt visibly by everyone. I can see their shoulders relax and the sound of heartbeats begins to slow, concern leaving faces. Everyone returns to their former state of calm. Everyone but me. Why is her compulsion not working on me today? "Please, Dr. Jeffries, continue. What ever you must say, we need to know. No punishment will come to you for revealing the facts of life."
That statement about facts of life seems to give one enough confidence to speak. "Your Highness, we have found that Princess Lily is extraordinary. She is the only hybrid in 21 years of study who has a perfect 50/50 genetic ratio. She is the only hybrid who is able to channel both of her parent's powers- and was able to do so from birth. She has never followed any pattern typical for either species."
This must be Jack speaking. He seems to be fact-oriented. Now that I am in the room with them this long, I am starting to see slight differences, and their personalities are starting to come out.
A softer voice now from whom I assume to be Jill, "As you know, wolves do not usually shift until the first full moon on or after their 16th birthday. But Lily shifted as an infant. She is the only Vampire who has even been able to use compulsion on animals, which is said to be a power held only by nymphs. She is the only creature known to have resisted not only your own compulsion, but that of the most powerful cyclopses as well…"
I look from them to my parents, who look at the twins, with a look of concern, then to everyone else in the room. They all look at me with shocked faces, some jaws hang low. Until this moment it was kept top secret that I shifted as a baby, and that no cyclops has been able to view my memories.
What they don't know is why I was interrogated by a cyclops.