Professor Starion, a rotund man in his early 50s, spoke confidently at the center of the lecture hall. His scratchy voice was amplified and carried by the microphone across the room, and into the ears of the eleven students who dared take Early Cryptozoology this semester.

"Contrary to the belief of those buffoons in America, the earliest Liumanau settlement was not Chichen Itza, but El Mirador. As evidenced by the Plate of Kon." The professor clicked a button on his hand controller and projected a spectral plate above his head. White lines betrayed the source of the apparition; projectors scattered across the walls.

The plate was once part of a larger whole, this being just a small fraction that survived the millennia. In ancient Liu, it described the founding of the oldest city in Central America.

Eve checked the time - 10 minutes until the end of the lecture. A tightness in her throat appeared momentarily. Eve raised her arm.

Professor Starion noticed her, blinked at her for a moment, and promptly ignored her. Eve nearly slammed her head down onto her laptop when the wave hit her. It crashed into her from the professor's direction. Eve cringed as the wave slowly subsided.

"That would be all for today. See you next week, and good luck on the essay," the professor said with a smirk. Another wave, another near slam into the laptop.

The fucker promised... Eve thought and met the eyes of the other students. All wore disappointment on their faces. No concrete information about the essay; today was a waste.

Eve collected her things. Looks like I have some work ahead of me. She planned on studying all day tomorrow and the day after that. To deliver the most concise, straight-to-the-point essay this muffin of a professor ever saw.

A buzz in Eve's pocket stole her attention. It was Nianna.

NiNi

You alright? Hungry?

You

Yeah. Gonna eat something before meeting you. I’ll be quick

NiNi

No just come meet me. Please.

You

You’re freaking me out a bit. But ok. You out front?

NiNi

No, back parking lot. Got my bike.

You

Sweet, omw

Eve stepped onto the wooden floor of the hall, outside the lecture room. The University of Advanced Mathematics, Physics, Technology and Humanitarian Sciences was the largest in Europe. And second in the world only to the Grand State University in South America.

Eve weaved through the wide halls towards the northern exit. She passed by the cafeteria, stopped and went inside. Nianna won't mind, I'll be quick.

Eve scouted the vending machines and found her favorite; canned strawberry cake. Its glass lid and container betrayed the juicy insides. Eve inserted the coins, pressed the appropriate button, and grabbed the can. She swiped a wooden spoon off the trays on her way out.

She waited until she was outside to open the can. She pulled at the lid, which came flying off with the slightest effort. So fast, in fact, that it escaped Eve's hand and flew into the sky.

Eve stared after it until she could no longer see it.

Well. That’s gone. She marvelled at her strength.

This… couldn’t be…

Arresting that treacherous thought, she resolved to find Nianna as fast as possible. Between the looks and the licking, Nianna might know what was wrong with Eve.

She laid eyes on Nianna, next to the parking lot. Her air motor behind her, a two-person steel flying machine with propellers on the front and back.

Eve called out to Nianna: "Hey!" and scooped a bit of cake into her mouth.

Nianna turned and faced Eve. Her hand shot up as she yelled: "No!"

As Eve swallowed, and the strawberry cake hit her throat, Eve gagged. She fell to her knees and felt the entire contents of her stomach lunging out. Nianna was there within the second, her hand on Eve's back, supporting. And her top hat in front of Eve's mouth.

Eve emptied herself over the next several seconds – what little was in her. She had skipped breakfast – being late already. Most of what filled Nianna's hat was stomach acid. Eve could taste the vomit in her nose.

"Ugh…" she managed.

"I know. I know." Nianna comforted as she wiped Eve's mouth with her handkerchief.

"I need to go home, get better," Eve said standing up. "Get some antibiotics or something." She looked down at Nianna's hat and winced. "Sorry… no getting the smell out of that," she said.

"I'll get a new one. I stole this one anyway," Nianna said and picked up her hat, vomit sloshing inside. She collected the canned cake too, and threw them both into the nearby dumpster. Several other students were staring, and they pointedly looked away as Nianna gave them a glance.

"Told you to just come to me," Nianna said as she straddled her airmotor and tapped the seat behind her. Eve got on, equipped the helmet Nianna offered, and held tightly to her waist.

"You diagnosed me already? Didn't know you had a penchant for medicine."

"I don't," said Nianna. "But I might… have some experience with what's wrong with you."

Nianna started her airmotor. The propellers spun and the antigravity engaged. The airmotor rose to the lane height, passing just above the bronze buoys. The streets weren't busy around the campus, so Nianna had no trouble merging into the traffic.

"Where are we going?" asked Eve over the sound of rushing wind. She had to evade Nianna's wild hair.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Not far."

"Today's lecture wasn't any help. The fucker didn't keep his promise."

Nianna laughed. "A professor who is a prick. Imagine that." Nianna revved her airmotor and crossed into the other lane, passing a slow-moving double-decker carrying large metal containers - destined for the factory district.

"I know the maths lecturers aren't the same as in the humanitarian division, but I just can't get how you can hate them so much. Starion is an exception in my experience," Eve said, laying her head on Nianna's shoulder, setting her cheek next to the tattooed crow.

Nianna grunted. "People in positions of power never really care for you. Their job is to manage you, make you do things their way. Sometimes by force."

Nianna led them around the Preptrian Wall, a 2nd century stone monument. All that's left of the 300km long wall that once divided the north and south of the Val Padana. It was a protected site, an attraction. Eve could look down and see the thousands of daily visitors that came to see one of the eleven wonders of Lürich.

Not long after Nianna said: "We are here."

Nianna parked her airmotor on the ground next to a 3-story building. A bar was the centerpiece; the Checkmate.

"Is this where you hung out? Since you left." Eve asked.

Nianna winced, and cleared her throat. "Yeah."

Eve took off her helmet and handed it back to Nianna. "I didn't mean anything by it. You know I… understand." Eve didn't mean to pause, but she did anyway.

Eve followed Nianna into the bar, the four large windows on the front were wide open. The doors screeched as Nianna pushed them open, and a bartender in his early 30s perked up.

"'Sup Nia! Who do you have with you?" the bartender asked with a tight-lipped smile. He was of average height, had American features, and wore the classic white shirt and tie most common in the north-west side of Lürich.

"A friend, her name is Eve," Nianna said and turned. "Eve, this is Rook. He's chill."

"Nice to meet you!" said Rook as he rounded the table and shook Eve's hand.

Firm grip, Eve noted.

The bar was empty save for the three of them. Nianna led Eve to a small booth secluded from the main lounging area. There were others like it, each with a curtain that could be pulled for maximum privacy.

Eve and Nianna took off their coats and sat. Nianna motioned to grab the hat off her head and froze when she remembered her hat was, in fact, filled with vomit and in a dumpster. Eve snickered at her and Nianna shook her head, smiling herself.

Rook asked: "What can I get you ladies?"

Eve piped up, craving something refreshing: "Lemon water please! Large."

"That's…" Nianna said before furrowing her brow. "…actually alright."

"You got something against my lemon water?" asked Rook.

"No." She shook her head. "But we will also need a glass of the red."

"Bit early for wine…" Rook said dubiously.

Nianna closed her eyes. "In a chalice please."

Rook's gentle smile vanished. He glanced towards Eve. "Uh… I don't think…"

"I know," said Nianna. "Please just bring it."

Rook looked back at her and nodded. He closed the curtains as he left. Nianna and Eve were alone in a circular booth, the only light source was a red lightbulb hanging above the table. Paintings of far-off landscapes adorned the three wooden walls.

"I am getting some peculiar vibes from you today," said Eve, looking at Nianna.

"Peculiar? More like horrified." She set her elbows on the desk and rubbed her forehead.

"Whoa! Okay, what is going on? What's wrong with you? What have you been up to these past months?"

"Evie. Look, I have some stuff going on that you do not need to be a part of." Nianna winced as she said it.

"Excuse me?" Eve said, scooting closer to Nianna. "NiNi, we have known each other how long?"

"16 years?" ventured Nianna.

"Don't pretend you don't know. Yes, 16 years. You and Atilan are the only constants in my life. You can't keep shit from me, I've been dealing with your parents alone since you left." She sighed. "And just so we're clear. You leaving did not make them more agreeable." Eve sat back, letting her head hit the wooden wall behind her. "Sometimes I wish they never adopted me."

"I don't," Nianna assured her. "I just… can't be around them, or you, all the time. It is not safe."

"Safe? How long do you plan to make me wait for an explanation? This is getting ridiculous."

"Just as soon as our drinks arrive."

Like he was summoned, Rook ducked through the curtains and presented a platter. On it was a glass of crystal clear and bubbling lemon water, and a grey stone chalice filled with mulled wine. It was warm, smelled perfectly irony, and emitted gentle condensation in the cold air.

Rook set the drinks down. "All good here?"

"Yes Rook. Thank you," said Nianna.

Rook went to leave, and whispered to Eve: "Good luck."

When he left, Nianna turned towards Eve and held her hands. She looked her in the eyes and swallowed. Eve's heart started to race, the look in Nianna's eyes was frightening - she had never seen her this scared. Nauseous waves washed over Eve, blooming from Nianna as she gulped and asked:

"Would you like to taste some wine?"

"I would not. Answers, Nianna."

Nianna reached for the wine and brought it in front of Eve.

Inside was a pool of red, hot liquid. Its edges darkened to a deep burgundy. Small pink bubbles dotted the surface. Eve inhaled, and the smell completed her. From head to toe she felt her skin shiver, her mouth filled with saliva.

Eve inhaled once, and her hands lunged.

She wrestled the wine from Nianna's hand, spilling some of it over the table, and pulled it toward her face and into her mouth. The stone rim of the chalice hit her teeth hard.

It did not matter.

Eve drank.

As the wine filled her throat and stomach, for the first time since what felt like forever, Eve felt warm. Inhaling over the rim of the cup, her lungs filled with air that was now richer and fuller than before. Her stomach relaxed, a tension in her abs released. Eve slumped back in the soft seat, melting in ecstasy.

Eve angled the cup faster than she could drink, hoping to use gravity to her advantage. Wine spilled out of her mouth and across her cheeks. It spread underneath her shirt and across the front of her body.

It felt like being covered in a warm blanket.

The cup was empty.

Eve's tongue darted out, licking the chalice, her shirt, whatever was left of the wine.

Eve shivered once again and felt a dull ache across her entirety. She wanted more; this was nowhere near enough. Rook! How dare he bring so little. Eve gripped the cup, which promptly shattered into stone shrapnel.

As the chalice disintegrated, Eve saw Nianna.

Nianna's hand was over her mouth, her brows furrowed above wide eyes. She was crying, visibly more so than audibly. Tears flowed freely.

As the wine-high subsided, Eve looked down at her wet clothes, at the broken cup, and her face painted red.

"I... I don't know what came over me..." Eve said quietly.

"Oh Evie. Oh no." Nianna wiped her tears into her sleeves. She grabbed Eve's hands.

"What's wrong with me?"

Nianna kissed Eve's hand. "That was blood, Evie. That was blood."

Eve's heart sank. She stood up. "No, it wasn't," she breathed and looked down at the liquid. Eve knew what blood looked like, and this wasn't...

Blood.

"I can't. I am not." Eve grabbed her left forearm and felt the scars beneath. She went to leave the booth, but Nianna stepped up to her, threw her arms around her, and hugged tightly.

"You are. I'm sorry. You are," Nianna said, holding her even tighter than before.

Eve shook her head wildly. "You know what they do. You know what they did. I cannot be an Other!"

"We will figure it out, you and me. We will figure something out. Sit, please."

After she did so, Eve gulped and tried to steady her breathing. She inhaled as much as she could, and exhaling slowly, she felt her heart calm. After a minute, she could speak again.

"How are you so calm? Aren't you afraid of me?" Eve asked. Nianna was still close to her, supporting her by the shoulders.

Nianna laughed, properly and loudly. Eve laughed too, but tears fell from her eyes.

Nianna nodded to herself and put her hand in Eve's palm. Nianna's hand darkened into a black goo, her fingertips lengthened and sharpened, all angularity vanished as Nianna's entire form morphed into darkness. Her clothes sank beneath her dark skin, vanishing.

Eve recoiled, and Rook popped his head inside.

"Everything alright?" he asked, before laying eyes on Nianna. "Ah. I will give you two some privacy."

Eve blinked at Rook as he closed the curtains, and at Nianna's mercurial form.

"You're an Other..." Eve whispered. "A Nykiram."

Nianna's head bobbed in a nod, and Eve wondered:

Then what am I?