@trysian – Not only have I got previouslies for you but even previews… So hang in there… If I were Shane I’d be freaking but she’s ultracool… At least she is in my world hehe…

@JanetM – Wow… that’s high praise indeed from the queen of twists and cliffhangers… You’ve had my head spinning on a regular basis… I think my colleagues were getting ready to call an exorcist haha…

@CFone – Who would have thought? Dana and Shane teaming up? Come to think of it… If Belle is as dangerous as everyone keeps saying, she’s going to need someone she can trust. And I think we’re going to be seeing a whole new side of Dana… the real Dana… You’ll know what I mean when you read the next chapter…

@Amazed – A movie? That’s an excellent idea… I wonder who’d be interested in making it though? ~chuckles~

@m_rave – ~blushes and then blushes some more~

@Berks – Ok… one more awesome power but only cos it’s you… Hope I don’t disappoint…

@bvhall – Shaneland? That’s sooo cool… I’ll be the first to buy tickets… Wouldn’t life be so much easier if you could read someone’s mind? It would make dating so much easier… ~ponders the issue some more~

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Previouslies

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Unh try thirty-seven she mumbled her head still in her hands.

Thirty-seven?! Youve slept with thirty-seven people? Tina exclaimed.

You know Al, that would be ok if you were like a senior citizen and lost your cherry at fourteen, Dana said rather loudly.

Cherry? both Shane and Tina said exchanging an amused glance.

Face it, Al, youre a *****, Shane said laughing as she winked at Alice.

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So that was the Executioner? Alice muttered. Shes hot. I wonder if Shanes working her magic yet?

Alice! Tina said admonishing her.

Dana remained silent. She looked at Shane and Anita and wondered what they were talking about. She just hoped that Anita wouldnt reveal what she had felt in those few seconds. She had tried so hard to hide who she was. She couldnt afford anyone finding out now.

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It seems our friend has one other ability we were not aware of. She can read minds.

But how come she didnt hear what we were saying before? Anita asked.

Perhaps, ma petite, because she wasnt paying attention before. Everyone in the room fell silent.

Can she read anyones thoughts? Nathaniel asked breaking the silence.

I guess we should try it, Jason said looking at Shane as a wicked smile spread across his face.

Jeez dude, youre a real pervert, you know that? Shane let out suddenly.

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BLOOD HEIR

Chapter 10 – Emotional Rollercoaster

Shane sat at Anitas kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee which had now long turned cold. She watched as the sun slowly made its way to its highest point. She hadnt wanted to come, but Anita had insisted fearing that Belles people would try to take her by force again. And Belle would not underestimate Shane a second time. She would now come prepared.

Shane had almost forgotten about the incident with her kidnappers. Rather she was thinking back of the exercises she had done with Anita and she still didnt understand. Why was it that all these things were happening to her now? Or had they always been happening and had she just blocked them out? Had she convinced herself that everyone experienced the same things? She thought back to all those nights she had been on the prowl almost like a hunter looking for its prey. But unlike hunters she never had to chase her prey. They would always come to her. A look or a touch was all it took and they would willingly follow her wherever she would take them. Her friends had called her Romeo or Casanova. But is that really what she was? Or was she just a freak?

Her fingers traced the rim of the cup. Come to think of it she had always been able to charm people. Whether it had been men or women, they had always found themselves drawn to her. But it was women that fascinated her so she had started dressing and acting accordingly. She had set her boundaries and had chastised those who had tried to cross them. But now she was no longer sure that it had been her charm that had wowed them. Perhaps it had always been this slumbering power inside her that had drawn them to her. She couldnt help but feel somehow she had taken advantage of those people.

Are you alright? Shane looked up startled and saw Nathaniel sitting next to her. She hadnt even heard him approach her. But then again wereanimals were notorious for their stealth. It was how they managed to sneak up on their victims, or their food as Alice always said. He was looking at her with concern. For some reason Shane felt she could trust him. She saw nothing but kindness and honesty in his eyes. Maybe those conservatives were wrong. Maybe not all the shapeshifters were animals.

Yeah, Im ok just

Dont worry. Everything will be ok. Anita will take care of it, he smiled at her. She looked at him, but this time she saw love and adoration in his eyes. Her rational side questioned these emotions. She knew Anita was sleeping with various men. Normally people werent willing to share their lovers with others. They might stay with them, but eventually they would start resenting the hold others had on their loved one and they would force them to make a choice. But she saw nothing of resentment in his eyes. Just pure unadulterated love.

You have a lot of faith in Anita, dont you?

Shes my Nimir-Ra, he stated plainly. Shane raised her eyebrows.

It means she is our protector.

Are all Nimir-Ras like Anita? Nathaniel shook his head.

Some are kind. Others are cruel. Very cruel. Some use you like you are just a pawn. Shane saw a flicker of pain behind those beautiful lavender eyes and then it was gone. She could relate to that kind of pain. As a child she had met people like that. People who only knew how to take. People who only knew how to lash out at others to hide their own weaknesses and inferiority.

Yeah, dude. Nathaniel smiled at her. He had known this girl was different the moment he had seen. There had been something about her he had recognised. Something that had reminded him of himself. Or rather of his past.

They both sat in silence contemplating things long forgotten and buried. Finally Shane pushed her chair and got up.

Im gonna go. Have to see if I still have a job or not. Nathaniel smiled and nodded. He seemed to smile a lot. Whatever haunted him at night in his dreams, he kept at bay during the day. Or perhaps the happiness in his heart is what kept the nightmares at bay. She would ask him some day.

Ill go call Zane.

Zane? Shane asked.

He is a leopard in our pard. Anita has asked him to keep an eye on you, so no other unfortunate incidents take place. Shane felt a little angered at this. She didnt want a shadow.

I dont need a bodyguard. After all, I have all these cool powers now. I can look after myself. Nathaniel just shrugged.

Its what Anita wants. Before Nathaniel had a chance to move away from her, she placed a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to stop. She wasnt prepared for what came next. At first she thought she was hallucinating. By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late for her to pull back even if she had known how to do it. Her mind started sorting through countless images. She saw herself standing on stage at Guilty Pleasures. Then her mind suddenly jumped to an image of her in bed with Anita. Stroking her. Kissing her soft skin. Her lips tasting the salty sweat on her neck. Suddenly she was out in the woods looking up at the moon. She felt this adrenaline coursing through her body and felt raw need. Then she was in a room. She was crying as she watched a man beat up a little boy. She saw herself lunging at the guy trying to stop him from hurting the boy. She started screaming when she saw blood pouring out of his head. Blood was clinging to her hands.

Stop it! No more! It was then that she realized that she had been screaming. They had both been screaming as they fell on their knees. Shane let go and started rubbing her hand as if she had burnt it. Nathaniel was holding his head trying to stop the memories from coming back. And as Nathaniel had seen flashes of his past, Shane had been there right beside him experiencing them as well.

Anita came running into the kitchen her Browning in her hand. When she saw the two of them on the kitchen floor she quickly placed the gun on the counter and rushed over.

What happened? she asked gently stroking Nathaniels hair as he tried to crawl into her lap craving her warmth and her comfort. Shane just shook her head.

I dont know. I just touched him and I started seeing all these things

What kind of things? It was, however, Nathaniel who answered.

She reached into my mind, he said his voice trembling slightly.

You mean she read your mind? Jason asked from behind them. He and Zane had rushed in behind Anita.

Yes. No. I dont know. It seemed it was almost like I was reliving them. Jason frowned at this as he knelt beside the threesome. His puzzled look didnt go unnoticed by Anita.

What?

I dont know. All I know is that this is not what it was like with me. When she read my mind, I didnt feel anything. I didnt even know she was doing it, until she spoke. This is different somehow. His tone was very serious. There had been a point when Anita hadnt thought that the ever playful Jason could even be serious. But lately he had proven her wrong again and again. Behind that arrogant, flirtatious exterior was a very smart man. He would have to be to have survived in the kind of world they lived in, for so long.

Anita looked back at Shane who was looking a little pale. She saw that she had been crying.

What happened? Tell me.

I dont know. I just touched him. Nothing else. And suddenly I saw all these images. And I felt things.

What kind of things?

Well, first I was dancing on stage and I felt happiness. Then I was Shane hesitated.

Then she was in bed with you and she felt desire, Nathaniel spoke slowly untangling himself from Anitas hold but still staying close so part of their bodies were touching.

Go on, Anita slowly urged.

Next I was in the woods and I felt I dont know hungry I guess.

That must have been when he had changed shape, Jason said.

And then I was in a room and a man was beating up a boy. And I was screaming. And there was there was blood, Shane spoke softly trying hard to keep her voice from shaking.

My brother, Nathaniel almost whispered. Anita looked at him and for the first time realized how much his past still hurt him. She knew what their father had done to him and Gregory and she knew that it had scarred them both emotionally. But until now she hadnt realized how deep the pain really was. A rush of anger and hatred at this man coursed through her and in that instant she knew that if the ***** hadnt already been dead shed have killed him herself.

Does this always happen when someone reads someone elses mind? Shane asked feeling very ungrounded at the moment. There were all these changes that were threatening to drown her. She needed to know if this was normal. Well normal within reason that is. Unfortunately Anita shook her head.

When you read someones mind, youre able to read their thoughts. Whether theyre thinking of something that happened in the past or whether theyre thinking something at that exact moment. But you shouldnt be able to read emotions. And you sure as ***** shouldnt be able to feel them. Anita turned to Jason and Zane and motioned them to take Nathaniel with them.

He needs some rest. Zane nodded and immediately moved over to help Nathaniel up. He was reluctant to break body contact with Anita and as soon as he moved away he latched on to Zane. With Zane on one side and Jason on the other they moved out of the room. Anita helped Shane off the floor and onto the chair she had been sitting on earlier. She sat down next to Shane in the chair Nathaniel had been sitting in only moments earlier.

Whats happening to me, Anita?

I dont know, Shane. But were going to find out. She saw there were a lot more questions in Shanes mind. She thought the next one would be how and she didnt quite know how to answer that, because she didnt know where to look for the answer. They had never come across anyone like Shane before.

Is this it? Or is there going to be more? Anita felt a little thrown by this.

I dont know that either. She reached out and touched Shanes cheek softly. Without warning she was hit by this intense sense of fear. She felt as if she was falling down a big black hole and she couldnt see the bottom. And she just kept falling and falling. She quickly pulled her hand back and the feeling was gone. But when she looked into Shanes eyes, she saw a look that mirrored the look that must have been on her face only minutes before. It wasnt her own fear that she had been feeling. It had been Shanes.

Bloody *****, she cursed softly. Shane wasnt just able to draw out and experience the emotions of others, but she was also able to let others experience her emotions.


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Previews

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Yeah. Which is why for a while now Ive been seeing a witch.

A witch? There are witches? You mean with pointy hats and long noses and warts who fly on brooms? Anita chuckled.

Maybe psychic is a better word. A psychic with magical powers. And she looks completely normal by the way, Anita quickly added.

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But she had allowed herself to fall in love with her. And Lara had fallen in love with her.

As much as she had wanted to be with Lara, she just couldnt bring herself to telling her the truth. She knew exactly what would have happened if she had told her.

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That was also when the strong, confident Dana had changed into the goofy, clumsy Dana. No one suspect someone who was shy and unsure of herself to be what she was. At least thats what she had thought. She was always careful with what she said and how she acted. She hadnt counted on anyone finding out. But one person had.

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Kiss me, she whispered opening her eyes again. Shane gazed into her eyes and then pushed her until she was lying on the floor on the back. The movement caused the robe she was wearing to fall open revealing the short nightgown she was wearing. Shane wrapped her close in her arms so they were their bodies were touching everywhere and then she kissed her letting her fingers trail down her throat.

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