Infinity Read Free Page A

“How do you fire your brother without causing total havoc?”
    She didn’t look at me, just touched me on the arm comfortingly, “You start by telling him it’s time to let go.”
    I closed my eyes, breathing deep, calming breathes because I didn’t want to acknowledge the truth—at least not right now. “What in the hell am I doing out here?”
    She looked at me with exasperation, “You’re training to protect yourself from whatever may come.”
    I stopped her abruptly, “See, that comment right there is what irks the hell out of me. For once can you just explain what you mean by, ‘whatever may come’?” I paused, “Wait a minute, did you have some premonition that I’m going to be attacked by rabid fans while performing some booty jumping song? Just tell me what’s got you so rattled lately.”
    “I don’t think that you’re ready to handle the truth. You just got off the Rejuvenators and you’re grappling with all the shit for the concert…”
    Oh, that’s it. I couldn’t take this secret squirrel shit anymore. I let out an ear piercing, frustrated scream that was so loud the ravens croaked in protest. “Stop! Stop, mom! If you’re not going to be straight up with me then just stop with the nonsensical rambling.”
    She looked at me indignantly, “I’ve always been straight up with you, Infinity.”
    “Not when it comes to this,” I paused. “You think that I don’t get that not everyone can ‘sense’,” I did air quotes, “things about people like I do? And that I actually believe that my freaky dreams are some fluke birth defect from the Fire and Ash war? Really? Do you actually think I’m stupid?”
    “I know that you’re not stupid, Infinity. I never mislead you about your gifts. I have always been honest. You’re simply not ready to know the truth. One, you simply can’t handle it, and two, it’s dangerous if you know too much, too soon. I’m sorry, but that’s the facts.”
    “No, the facts are that I know there are things out there,” she tried to interrupt but I continued, “Things that are not…human…these are facts, and my dreams tell me that every fucking day. As addicted as I am to those fucking Rejuvenator pills, I know that it’s tied to all of this shit.”
    She looked at me curiously, “Is that what you’re dreams are telling you?”
    “Yes! There’s like a big damn red arrow that’s practically screaming for me to pay attention. Just tell me….those non-humans things in my dreams…..they’re what I think they are, right?”
    She sighed, “Yes, Others. Wolves, vampires....”
    I breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally, confirmation that I’m not losing my damn mind. But, how do they stay hidden?”
    “Because they go to great lengths to make the world think that they don’t exist.” Mom continued, “And all those over the top fairytale stories? They were written to help humans’ process the fact that there are Other beings like wolves and vampires living among us. And no, despite what movies want you to believe…humans cannot be turned by being bitten.”
    I wanted to push for more, craving information. “And these brutal sparring sessions that we’ve been having since I could walk?”
    “So that you can protect yourself against the unpredictability of some of these beings.”
    “I’m rich and have a security detail…well, had one. Anyway, that’s their job, to protect me against the unpredictable.”
    Her mouth twisted angrily. “No, that’s your job. Never rely on anyone but yourself to ensure your safety. That’s what happened before and during the Fire and Ash war. Everyone was looking around for a savior because they had their heads up their asses thinking that it would somehow fix itself.” She shook her head and sighed. “But, obviously, it didn’t. This world paid a heavy price for their naivety.”
    I turned my head, looking at the eerily quiet ravens perched in the tree looking at me before responding flatly. “You