The Hybrid

In the small seaside village of Elaris, sixteen‑year‑old Vanessa Leonard sat at a small table with her family inside their tiny one‑room hut. They ate in silence.

Tension pressed through the room like a second presence. Several monstrous beasts had swept over the village throughout the day, their shadows dragging across rooftops like warnings. Each pass had rattled the huts and sent whispers racing through the dirt paths. At last, the village elders ordered everyone indoors for the remainder of the day and to remain there until morning, and the command carried a weight that made Vanessa’s heart thrum faster.

Vanessa and her brother, Brody, were unusually quiet tonight. Their father had returned from a four‑day scavenging tour, and he was grumpier than usual. He and his team had been forced to slip into the village under cover of dusk, careful not to draw the attention of the flying creatures overhead.

Jarvis Leonard sat at the table with his wife, Saundra, and the children, his expression dark and brooding.

Brody cast a quick glance at Vanessa, as though he wished to speak, but instead he shoved a bite of food into his mouth and fixed his gaze nervously upon the floor.

Vanessa swallowed a piece of meat and reached for her cup. Before her fingers touched it, the cup slid away from her hand, lifted from the table, and hovered in the air. She had wanted only a sip of water.

The moment she tore her gaze from it and looked toward her father, the cup dropped. It struck the table with a violent crack, rolled to the floor, and shattered into pieces.

Jarvis cursed as he stood and gave her an angry stare. “You are going to cause all of us to get expelled.”

“I’m sorry, Papa.” Vanessa stood as tears streamed down her face.

Saundra stood as Jarvis took a leather strap from the wall near the door. “Jarvis, quiet down, or the neighbors will hear.”

Jarvis shot his wife a disgruntled expression. “The girl is going to get us all into trouble if she doesn’t learn how to control those cursed things she does. I hope she doesn’t transform in front of anyone outside of our family, or we are finished.”

Fourteen‑year‑old Brody scooted his chair back and jerked to his feet. He gave his father an angry stare before walking to Vanessa. Stopping in front of her, Brody looked back at his father. “Please, Papa, don’t whip her. She is trying to control her gifts.”

When Jarvis approached his children, Brody shook his head and stepped closer to Vanessa. “I’m not going to let you hurt her again.”

Vanessa glanced at her father. “Papa, Brody is right. You will not lay your hands on me again.”

A gasp escaped Saundra, and she cupped her mouth in shock.

Jarvis’ face grew dark with anger as he moved closer to them. “We’ll see about that.” He folded the leather strap and glared at Vanessa.

Vanessa saw Brody’s face and knew he would defend her, but in doing so, it could cause their father to hurt him. She wouldn’t let that happen. Her anger heightened to a new level she hadn’t felt before. She glared at Jarvis.

Suddenly, her eyes grew warm until she thought they were going to burn. As Vanessa continued glaring at Jarvis, a red, sizzling flame shot from her eyes at her father, narrowly missing him.

The flame flew to the floor and ignited a small fire, which Saundra quickly stomped out. Jarvis stared at Vanessa with fear and backed away.

“What was that?” Jarvis asked in a shaky voice.

“Are you okay, Vanessa?” Brody touched her arm and looked at her with concern.

“She shot a flame at me, and you’re worried about her?”

Saundra glared at Jarvis. “Stop it now. Vanessa meant no harm.”

Jarvis gave his wife and Brody an angry look.

Vanessa cried. “I don’t know where it came from. I…”

Jarvis shook his head at her. “You tried to kill me.”

“No, Papa.”

Jarvis glared at them all. “Forget about what I said before regarding our getting expelled from the village. Vanessa will kill us before that occurs! You’re out of control.”

Vanessa couldn’t stand the look of fear in her father’s eyes. Her father was right. She was dangerous. Taking one more look at her brother, she felt as though her heart would stop beating. She whispered, “Brody. Papa is right. I must do whatever I can to protect you all from my curse. I love you. Take care of yourself.”

She spun on her heels and bolted out the door.