THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 26 - PRACTICE

GABRIEL

We took a bus full of humans. A baby kept crying, and the sound of people snoring and chewing almost made me puke. I was overwhelmed by all the sounds and the scents of the bus. I hate it! I completely hate it1 and Zeus, he didn’t even want to speak to me, he was more overwhelmed and trying to stay away from the situation. I saw Lucas and he slept, ate, and even went into the most disgusting place on all the bus… The bathroom. Every time someone enters or leaves the bus was filled with an awful scent. When the bus finally stopped I was so glad, only to hear Lucas telling me that this was not our stop. The hell continued for hours. I didn’t sleep a bit. Finally, we arrived and still had to take a cab to arrive at the hotel. We arrived at the city and it was huge, he was right in the place where we were nothing in comparison to this place.

    -There is a lot we need to learn right?

    -Yes, but I think that practice will make it easier for you to understand. 

    -I’m not sure about that, humans are strange creatures.

    -You did live near them for years.

    -But they have changed so much.

    -Not that much but you didn’t interact with them that much, your friends were all werewolves.

    -I knew humans…

    -Human kids, but yes you knew some.

I was getting anxious, was it that hard to be part of the humans? Can we pass as one of them? Two young hyperactive cubs… and now I notice I´m not ready, and I’m supposed to guide the rest.

    -Lucas I really don’t think we can do this… It’s too much and we haven’t accomplished much in the last week.

    -You can, I will plan something trust me.

“I think we can give it a try.” “Why are you supporting Zeus? You told me that you didn’t trust him.” “But I want to find Sam! and if he can help us I will take it! It doesn't matter that I don’t trust him, I want my brother and when we left the pack we knew that we were willing to do the impossible to find him.” Zeus was right, we can’t back down now.

    -We will trust you with that then.

    -Just with that?

Lucas had confusion in his eyes.

    -You are the expert, right? You can train us to pass as real humans and reach the high hierarchy and find information about Sam.

    -High hierarchy?

    -Yes, the high ranks should be informed about all the humans and what they are doing, so if someone compared Sam to their place or have him in a jail the high ranks know, and we need to be there and take one of those positions and find about that!

    -Yes… that’s not even close to how humans work at all.

    -Really their king doesn't know what his people do? Then how does he know if an attack occurs or if…

    -In other ways and not a king… Well, there are some but not like you think.

    -Then?

    -Then… I think I need to explain and make you understand many things.

I was more lost now, every time Lucas wanted to explain something the things went even more confusing. For the rest of the trip in the cab he didn't speak, and when we finally arrived he immediately left. As I was entering the room the twins ran and started sniffing me around.

    -You smell od.

    -There is an awful scent and it’s mixed with the scent of other humans.

    -Yes at least ten different humans!

    -Yes! Can we go with you the next time?

    -Yes, please!

    -We will behave and our ears will be hidden all the time!

    -Yes!

The twins were more energetic than usual, I saw Maria entering the room.

    -I knew you were back with all the noise coming from the wall.

    -Hi sister.

She smiled at me, but her eyes were all over the room.

    -You are the only one who came back?

    -No, but as soon as we arrived Lucas took his car and drove away.

    -And where is he going?

    -I don’t know. Apparently now I don’t know a lot of things.

    -What?

     -It’s nothing, Lucas said he will take care of that.

    -Take care of what Gabriel?

Maria’s voice was irritated.

    -See that’s how I felt during the whole trip!

    -Gabe you are just making everything worse, explain yourself!

    -That’s my experience with the last trip, when I asked something everything just turned more and more confusing.

Maria sat on the bed.

-So we are just waiting for Lucas to come back?

-Yes, we are.

-I hate waiting.

She said while she laid down. 

-By the way where’s Eva?

-She is watching the TV, I told her I was coming here, but she was hypnotized and didn't even hear me. 

-At least someone is having fun, we have been here trapped since you left, and Maria didn’t even let us put a foot out.

-David is right and I never thought I would say this, but I no longer love pizza, we need to eat something different.

-We need a lot more than a change in our diet to be able to walk between the humans.

-Gabe please stop talking, your nonsense just makes my head hurt.

Maria said as she sat. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. I saw Maria flinch a bit, but before I could say something, Daniel opened the door and Lucas entered with bags of stuff.

    -What’s all that about?

Lucas's eyes were stuck on my sister, he closed his eyes and then turned his head. When he opened them he looked at me.

    -It’s a crash course on how to act like a human and on human normal behavior.

    -Should I go and bring Eva?

I was surprised at Maria’s words. She was speaking to Lucas… as if he was just someone else… Lucas didn’t respond, he was just looking at her. Finally, he nodded and she left the room. He looked at me then he continued with what he was doing. I felt the twins trying to contact me.

    -” Gabe what’s happening?”

    -” Lucas… His pack shares territory with humans, so he knows more about their behavior than what I can explain to you.”

I knew the twins didn’t ask because of that, but I couldn’t explain in a believable way why there was so much tension and the awkward feeling when Maria and Lucas are around. Maria came back with Eva. Lucas immediately started to talk about the humans and he started taking food out and then he turned the TV on and put on a movie, it was a strange movie. Lucas paused the movie every time in a while and explained the behavior of the humans or their reactions. I was lost, many things didn’t even make sense… They said some things but acted differently. A mom was cheating on her partner and they even had a kid! and she didn't care! Watching it I notice many behaviors that the human dads had with my Mom while we stayed at the Howlers pack… Flirting at her apparently… I suspected but at that time I just let it pass because I knew they were mated and with kids but apparently humans didn’t have that loyalty to their mates. They could live years near someone and didn’t know their names or talk. They also had a profession, like doctors, but they could be part of different protection organizations, as the police or army, even some were private and didn’t involve the ruler… That was also… Their order was a mess. It didn't have a structure or order that was easy to be… My pack had a King, a Beta, a third in command and that was it, no more complications in between. The other higher ranks were given by the people and merits. You could work to gain them. And in the other packs just the same. There it was done, but with humans, everything was exhausting and complicated.

    -So that’s kind of how they interact…

    -That was…

    -Now you need to know about their studies so if someone asks they don’t think you lived under a rock.

Before I could finish he put in another movie. “What there is more?” Zeus was tired and frustrated. Apparently, kids are mean to each other in school… I fought with Lucas but just once… and the behavior of some kids in the movie was not even real, they tormented other kids just because of looks or height. The dumb kids were more popular than the smart ones, and just because they were big they could get away with it? It was confusing and mean. On the other hand, the food was really good, chips and other stuff I hadn't eaten before.

    -I’m not understanding many things, but the food is really good.

    -Yes.

Both of the twins had their mouths full of food.

    -At least we are getting more improvements.

Lucas was getting tired of answering our questions and explaining many other things. The curse continued for three more days, some things made sense others were just not right in any sense. 

    -I don’t think I can teach you more than this, so we are going to go and live near the town and put this into practice.

    -Yes finally, I can’t stand staying here more time.

I looked at Lucas and he meant it, but I wasn’t sure we were ready.

    -Don’t worry Gabe, It’s a small town and we are going to go step by step. I can’t explain even more than what I already explained, and the rest of the information is going to be easier if it’s learned by experience.

    -If that’s what you think, we can give it a try.

    -Great, then this is our last night in the hotel, tomorrow we part, so pack your stuff.

Eva and Maria left the room and the twins started to take their clothes out of the drawers. I hadn’t bought new clothes, so I just had the ones I took from the pack, it wasn’t going to be hard for me to pack my stuff. I couldn’t sleep anything that night, I was nervous and unsure of what to expect.

    -No one forgets anything right?

    -No.

    -I already checked the room and I didn’t find anything there.

    -Then let's go.

Lucas and the twins were so excited to leave the hotel. We entered the car and Lucas drove. He stopped near a building, it had three floors.

    -We are finally living as we should!

    -Yes! Having a room for myself again is going to feel great!

I looked at the house and saw someone living at the front door, her scent revealed she was a human. I looked at Lucas.

    -Why is there a human in our house?

    -This isn’t our house?

    -Then which one is it?

    -This one, but not the whole place. I rented an apartment in this building. It has three bedrooms and two complete bathrooms so it’s more than enough.

    -Wait three bedrooms? Does that mean that I am going to share a room? Again?

    -Yes, you are sharing the room with your brother, Maria and Eva will share the second room, and finally, Gabe and I will take the third one.

    -I really wanted my own room.

    -You? I can’t keep sharing a bed with you! You don’t stop moving through the night! There have been days since I had a proper night of sleep.

    -Stop complaining and take your stuff, we need to settle in.  

I took the bags of Maria and mine. Lucas took Eva’s and his, while the twins were not happy following us with their bags. We went into the second floor and Lucas opened the door. It was an open space, the kitchen, the living room, and the TV were all in one area. There were three doors, one was near the kitchen and the other two were near the space of the living room.

-You are taking this room.

The twins looked at Lucas and opened the door next to the kitchen. 

    -It's really small.

    -But it has a bunk bed, so you could have one bed each.

Lucas smiled at them, they didn’t look so happy but still entered. Lucas then opened the last door and a room with a king-size bed.

    -This is going to be your room.

He said to Maria and Eva. Then he left Eva’s bag inside and walked out. I entered the room and left Maria’s stuff on the bed.

    -This room looks nice, and you have a pretty view.

I say as I looked through the window, and saw a park full of kids playing.

    -At least we have a new view, the truth is that I was also getting tired of the hotel view and the sound of all the cars passing through.

    -Well I leave you two so you can arrange your room.

I left the room and entered the next door. It was smaller than the girls' room, it had two single beds. I left my bag on the floor and sat on the bed. “I’m not sure about this Gabe.” Zeus also had his doubts and I couldn’t blame him, I was also nervous and all this situation was far from my control.