The Fledglings' Mentor Read online

  Sasha nodded and motioned for the door, “Get James to send over my usual goodie basket. I’m going to need it if I am going to be slumming it for two months.”

  Jim laughed as he opened the door for her, “Will do!... don’t forget to have an early night. I need you to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning.”

  Chapter 3 Prep for two months in Slumberville

  Sasha came gliding into her apartment. The smell of ammonia was overpowering, but at least the cleaners had done their jobs well. She dropped her shopping bags on the couch and opened the balcony for some fresh air. Her apartment was small and functional but massively overpriced. She preferred the clinical look… it was much easier to maintain when bombarded continuously by would-be assassins. She had learned the hard way that these assassins tended to be clumsy oafs, ill-equipped to determine a 5th century Ming vase from a cheap inner-city knock off. Sasha walked over to the counter. Her goodie basket from James sat in the middle of it, and she carefully peered into the one side, and immediately her face flashed with an evil grin as she ripped off the lid of the basket and pulled out a large salted steak and two bottles of her favorite red wine. She placed them on the counter and dug a little deeper into the basket; relaxing bubble bath, a new robe … and oooooh, a fancy little waterproof vibrator … everything she needed to relax before her big assignment.

  Sasha grabbed the bubble bath and vibrator and headed to the bathroom, let water into the tub, and plugged the USB into the monitor mounted on the bathroom wall. She popped back to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of wine, pausing for a moment before deciding to take the whole bottle with her.

  Sasha’s slim, perfectly toned body slipped into the bath, disappearing beneath the bubbles, and only her perfect nipples pierced through the bubbles. She switched the monitor on and flipped through the folder on the USB… History of Changelings… she decided to come back to that and scroll to the next folder… History of the Wolf… she scrolled past that one too! History of Tom and Julia Blackberg…she clicked to open the folder. She thought of the picture Jim had shown her in the office and all she could think of was how much fun she was going to have on this assignment… a brother and sister duo… both in their sexual primes and ready for corrupting. She zoomed in on the picture of Tom and Julia, standing outside in the garden of their family’s farmstead. She raised her left hand and started fondling her breast, gently teasing her nipple with her wet fingertips, then she grabbed the vibrator in the other hand and lowered it beneath the water, causing faint little ripples. She carefully placed it under her hood and began circling around her little bean. Immediately her body wriggled with shock and excited anticipation, quicker and quicker she moved the vibrator over her clit, inching towards a total and complete climax and just as her body started convulsing uncontrollably with pleasure she shoved the vibrator deep inside her, found her g-spot as she had many times before, and the bathwater tsunami in every direction, splashing onto the floor as she reached peak climax. The waves of pleasure and pure rush emanated in unstoppable and uncontrollable convulsions of pleasure as she hit orgasm after orgasm… stopping only when her body felt so spent that it collapsed almost lifeless back into the tub. She reached over and took a big gulp of wine, her mouth dry from exertion… but well worth it, as she smiled from the rush of endorphins and the feeling of complete and utter relaxation. Her clit still sensitive and tingling, she braced her hand over it and rode out the final few gentle waves until she was ready to concentrate on the work at hand.

  She sat down on the couch in her soft new gown, and with the USB now plugged into the monitor in her open plan lounge, she scrolled to the first folder, and upon opening it, let out a huge sigh. The History of Changelings … more political propaganda from the High Council and the perfection of their bullshit bloodline, she thought. She set the video to play and grabbed the last bit of wine out of the bottle… it was only mid-day… two bottles weren’t going to cut it today. She texted James… please send over another bottle, this USB is as boring as an Amish campfire singalong, you’d better also crate up some wine for the trip… it seriously looks like I’m heading into Slumberville.

  Sasha spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for her role as a councillor. She read up on the history and culture of changelings and wolves, learnt the key points of guidance she was supposed to execute in her role, watched a few more of the tutorial videos and finally ate her steak. By 9pm she was ready to pack her bags, and with the third and last bottle of wine in hand, she pulled down her suitcase and opened the walk-in safe adjacent to her closet. She smiled as she took out the tightly sealed bottle labelled sexual desire, and carefully wrapped it in tissue paper before returning to the safe and taking out the pack of 50 neatly bound ninja stars, her beloved katana, 5 extra ammo clips for her Glock, and just in case, a stockpile of her venom and her trusted Amazonian blow dart gun. She knew she would have to be prepared for a stealthy wipe-out and envisioned how she would play the silent stalker by night and the horrified councilor by day… oh, how to make life a little more interesting in Slumberville. She carefully removed the false bottom of her case and carefully packed in each weapon, securing them in their places. She locked in the false bottom and placed the key into a hidden side pocket of her handbag. She rummaged through her shopping bags and pulled off all the tags for her new outdoorsy styled clothing range and threw them into her case. That was all for the evening; she walked over to her balcony and enjoyed the last few sips of her wine as she glanced over the busy city below… she knew it would be a while before she heard the comforting humdrum of the noisy city streets… in the city she never felt alone… she always knew someone was close by.

  Chapter 4 Black Mountains

  The mountains were a short 30min drive from the inner city and yet Sasha had never even taken the time to go up there; firmly rooted in her city life, she saw little pleasure in the eerily quiet and calm of the mountains. As she left the comfort of the bustling city, she felt a sudden chill rush down her spine and had to breathe deeply to center herself… she felt as if the cold silence of nature was already attacking her and they had scarcely left the city limits.

  Jim knew Sasha well and immediately picked up on her discomfort, and he reached across the back seat and gently squeezed her shoulder, “You’ve got this, don’t let the location throw you off your game… you have come a long…”

  Sasha cut him off abruptly, “I told you never to mention it…,” She gently placed her fringe behind her ear, avoiding eye contact, “It’s nothing, it means nothing to me … I am only focusing on the job at hand… nothing less and nothing more.”

  Jim sat back, “Good, now pour yourself a drink and relax… you can’t pitch up looking like a nervous wreck.”

  25 minutes later they found themselves at the entrance to the Blackbergs’ farm. The farm itself was nestled in the valley at the foot of the tallest peak of the range, and lush green fields rolled alongside the sand road, gently guiding them closer to the 200-year-old house. As they got closer to the house, the landscape changed from green grazing pastures to the typical white paddock fencing, with the last 1km of road flanked by 100-year-old oak trees swaying and creaking in the fresh mountain air. As they made their way around the last bend, Sasha saw a large cliched red barn adjacent to the house and a somewhat smaller paddock… she assumed this was for horses. She flashed a glance over at Jim, “Red barn and all… wouldn’t have expected anything less!”

  Jim chuckled, “Now play nice… you have to get these people to trust you. You of all people know how mistrusting and stubborn wolves can be.”

  She punched his arm, “I brought my bag of magic tricks… by nightfall the two siblings will be so besotted with me that I’ll have to lock my door just to get a few hours’ sleep.”

  Jim shook his head, “Did you read the game plan? You need to play the long game; you have to drag it out and get to know them first. Remember you don’t want to attract any unnecessary attention…” He paused, looking in
the mirror on the back of the seat and straightened his tie, “You are here to mentor them… not start a sex cult.”

  Sasha pulled a fake sad face, “Ah, you spoil all of my fun.”

  Jim snapped with rage, pointing his finger in her face, “Don’t fuck this up Sasha; remember what is at stake… and not just for you!!”

  Sasha smiled, trying to ease the sudden tension, “Relax, I’m just pulling your leg, I read through your game plan and I know it step for step… you made it very clear that I had to wait for their next change before we can have a fucking party inside my vagina...and that’s if they even change… I mean, the only fourlings I have ever met are that silly sow you always bonk and that prick Bernard.”

  Jim looked around motioning for her to hush, “I have told you not to talk about them that way… they are the highest ranking members of the council, and when you are older you will be eligible to take a seat on that council, ” Jim paused to open the door and glanced back at Sasha before he climbed out.. “Well, that’s if you don’t fuck up your chance to win your freedom… just remember… Ka-ching!! Ka-ching!!… That apartment in Paris isn’t cheap.”

  As Sasha climbed out of the black SUV with its tinted windows, the sharp light and cold, crisp air had her blinded and almost choking; she reached into her bag and pulled out her sunglasses. She could hear Jim already talking on his side of the car… the proverbial charmer, butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. With the glasses on she could at least see, but the cool air burnt her throat and she felt like a fish out of water. Suddenly, without warning she felt small arms, no larger than her own embrace her. Sasha felt physically disturbed and had to fight to control every muscle from lashing out and destroying this intruder of her space, and feigned a chuckle… “Oh you must be Julia, I see we are hugging already?”…so much for that untrusting wolf thing, she thought, as she politely tapped to break free of the embrace.

  Julia stood back smiling from ear to ear, her youthful excitement and innocence abundantly clear. She had blonde, curly short hair carefully framing her equally cute face, and was a little shorter than Sasha had imagined but no less sexy in real life as her petite frame curved in all the right places.

  “Sorry!” Julia piped up… “We are huggers, not sure how you greet people in the city… but out here friends are just extended members of your family.”

  A deep, powerful voice came around the back of the car, “You will have to excuse my little sister; she was born to make people feel welcome, if a frog hops through the living room she tries to get it to stay and by nightfall it has its own little bed.”

  Julia slapped his arm, “Oh Tom, do you always have to tease me?”

  Sasha’s eyes focused on Tom. He was slightly taller than the average man, his pitch-black curly hair combed and cut neatly with just a hint of farm boy. His body was muscular and defined, not by weights in the gym but from hours of hard labor on the farm. She took a quick glance at his crotch and had to bite her lip to stop herself from grinning. “Julia and Tom,” she extended her hand professionally, “I am Sasha, I have been sent by the High Council to tutor and mentor you and it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She shook each of their hands before gently nudging them on their shoulders, motioning for them to turn and face the opposite direction so they could follow her into the house… “Now that the formalities are over, we can sit down and get to know each other a little better.”

  Tom and Julia looked over at one another and shrugged, Tom called out, “Can’t I get your bag?”

  Sasha stopped abruptly and turned on her heel. “There is no need - James will move it into my sleeping quarters - I believe Jim has already made all the arrangements with your grandfather.”

  Tom smiled, “Okay, so can I at least get you two ladies a drink before we settle down on the porch?”

  Julia gasped as if she had run through a desert, “I could murder a brew right now,” she slapped her hands over her mouth in shock… “Um, well, that is if it’s not too early…” she looked around frantically… “That is if we can even drink during our training…” she shook her head… “God! I must sound like an alcoholic … I wish I could just shut up already!!”

  Tom put his arm around his little sister, “Relax Jules, I am sure one drink will be fine!” He smiled down at his little sister reassuringly, “Besides, it’s the best way to get to know new people.”

  Sasha carried on walking, and she smiled before concurring, “Don’t stress, I could murder a brew as well.”

  Jim stood by the car, pretending to be interested in the conversation he was having with their grandfather, but his ever-watchful eye carefully monitored their interaction. He glanced down at his watch and only smiled when he saw James returning from the cottage empty-handed; all Sasha’s luggage was delivered and the two of them could now head back to the city. He shook the grandfather’s hand and climbed back in the car. He glanced over at Sasha, who was now sitting comfortably on the porch, and was pleased with how well the introduction had gone. After watching Sasha take the lead, he felt comfortable leaving her out here to complete her mission.

  Sasha spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know the twins a little better; they had just recently turned 21, and the evening was blessed by a full blood moon and somewhat to Sasha’s surprise, their first full wolf shift. She had read that certain bloodlines took longer to shift but had never met someone who had actually shifted so late in puberty. Sasha, by contrast, was forced to shift when she was only three… she shook the memory out of her head. Sasha continued, “So your first shift was only three months ago, and since then, on the eve of every full moon you have shifted into another form?”

  Julia answered first; her exuberance to everything in life made it impossible to keep quiet for longer than a minute and Tom was so used to it that he didn’t bother questioning it anymore. Julia sat on the side of the porch, balancing somewhat precariously, and she leant forward, “You can imagine our surprise! We were about halfway into our wolf shifting training, in fact we were supposed to join the pack on a hike up to the mountain the night it happened.”

  Sasha leant forward, feigning interest, “So this happened on the first full moon after your initial shift?”

  “That’s right, almost a month to the date, we gathered together as a pack and watched the full moon break the horizon. Everyone started to shift into their wolf forms, and my brother and I were a little nervous because it was going to be our first run with the pack and as leader, he was meant to run up front. I will never forget it; he smiled at me reassuringly, and as he shifted, instead of seeing a large black wolf he sprung feathers and thudded to the ground. Already half way with my own transformation I was horrified when I caught the first glimpse of my wings, and I hit the ground with a hard thump too”… she sat forward and spoke softly, almost embarrassed, “Can you believe that neither of us knew how to fly?”

  Tom interjected, “Even worse our pack thought we were lunch; luckily we managed to shift back before any serious harm came to us.”

  Sasha nodded knowingly, having been through a series of her own rebirths, “Don’t worry, it’s all perfectly normal and the nearly getting eaten part is far more common than you may think. We can set up flying lessons in the morning, but first I want to know how your pack reacted… from what I understand, the rest of them are single changelings?”

  Tom continued, “Well they were obviously thrilled; we are the first generation in over a thousand years to be able to shift into more than one form… that immediately increased our pack’s status. We have had wolf packs from all over the East Coast send messages of well wishes, but what shocked us even more was when it happened a third time - that is unheard of throughout our clan’s history.”

  “So, what form did you shift into on the last full moon?”

  Julia laughed uncomfortably, “Yeah, last week?” She shook her head, “Have you ever seen a snake that’s scared of itself?”

  Tom laughed with her, “Yeah we were lucky grandp
a saw us change or we would have been filled with buckshot and turned into his latest belt.”

  Sasha nodded and smiled broadly, “Yeah, snake is a little tricky… but I promise you now that it has gotten me out of more than my fair share of dangerous encounters; you just need to learn to control your venom.”

  Julia squirmed in discomfort, “Hopefully I can learn how to avoid and prevent that shift from happening altogether.”

  Tom stood up and walked over to his little sister, and put his arm around her, “That is exactly why Sasha is here, she is going to teach us everything we need to know.”

  Sasha watched their loving interaction and couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for their naivety. The High Council didn’t give a shit about their little clan and would rather see a twoling lion or bear on the council before ever taking a threeling wolf… the very fact that two threelings had emerged from a single changeling pack sent out waves in the community. She laughed inside herself, as she pictured the sow’s face if they became fourlings and of equal rank to her and Bernard. Sasha shook her head; she was here for a job and had to put these thoughts far out of her mind and focus on what needed to be done. After all, her own freedom was at stake, and that was all that counted.

  Chapter 5 Intruder Alert

  Sasha entered the small cottage adjacent to the house just after dark. The cottage smelt of old wood and potpourri, and the décor may have been dated but at least it was functional. She carried her case to the bedroom and flopped it down onto the surprisingly springy mattress perched on top of a steel framed bed, which creaked and groaned with the sudden intrusion. That’s going to make life interesting, she thought to herself as she unzipped the case and began unpacking her clothes. She thought about sleeping naked, like she always did, but as soon as she pulled her shirt up, she became distinctly aware that she was being watched. She turned quickly, letting her top slide back down over her perfectly rounded breasts, and saw a flash of movement outside the window. Sasha dived over the bed and rushed to the door of the cottage, but by the time she got outside the person had ducked. She knelt where the intruder had stood just moments before and picked up the freshly disturbed earth. She raised it to her nose and took in a deep breath, which filled her nostrils with the strong scent that still lingered on the soil. One thing was immediately certain…it wasn’t a wolf. Instead, the intruder left behind the distinctive musky smell of bear. She considered shifting and following the intruder but as she stared into the black, eerily silent night, she thought it best to return to the relative safety of the cottage.