“Once upon a time long long long ago, when the earth was brand new, all wight races were in fact humans and had human magic, which is the greatest of all because it can grow into any kind of magic. All creatures had no wings, no tails, no horns, no claws. We were all the same outside. But inside some were different. And the other humans did not like this. So they named those who were different the shen and these, they shunned. Some went into caves, where they grew to fear the sun and their magic helped make them invisible.”

“Those are stelleste right, Da-duh.”

“That’s right, sweetie. They are the stelleste. Others rejected the human form and their magic made them into shape-shifters like you and yourfirst mommy. Some turned into their own minds and their magic made them incubus like you and me. And many others changed in many other ways. Until every shen was different, but the shen races never turned away from each other. And one day… not a long long long time ago, the shen came together and formed their kingdom. And they no longer feared the humans, for humans lack the ability to harness their powers and that means that the shen are stronger.”

I wonder what made me think of that… some kind of story they told me when I was little, no doubt. I think… there’s a lot of doubt in that ‘no doubt’. That’s strange. That man has been walking after me for such a long time. Oh god, what if he’s following me.

Sure, jump to that conclusion. You really have no control over your head do you, fool. He’s probably just wandering in the same direction as you. These human malls they're like sheep pens, you go around and around in one big circle.

Just dodge over through these hats if you doubt…Oh man, he’s following. What do I do?

Run you, idiot!Got to run run get away i’ve got to get away run where can I go? Run who is he? why is he … Stop it, Tabari. Just stop it. Calm down. He’s not following you. He’s just walking the same way you are. For instance, if you suddenly remember you left something in the food court ... He would continue on, go to his store, or the gym, or the bathroom, or wherever the hell he’s going.

You blend in perfectly, don’t you, Fool? Jeans, t-shirt. You’re a teenager, you are a human teenager. You like T.V. and pizza and junk food and that nasty candy stuff and you like No Doubt and Linkon Park and Hilary Duff ... Well, maybe not Hillary Duff. But you’re a teenager. A human teenager. The black coat hides the tail they tried to cut off. Damn this book bag. I wish I could drop it. I wish I could be a normal Incubus teenager.

He the guy following…run. The guy walking after me he’s maybe an undercovercop … you’d probably end up in a scientific research facility if he saw what you look like. Damned ugly human form.

Oh hell he’s still back there. Let’s turn around. Just head back. “Oops, forgot my head phones in Victoria’s Secret while I was fondling those stupid things you punish your human women with.” I should get headphones. Most human teenagers have them. Only you cant buy them with out those bulky round things what are they called walking man's… who cares I should get a pair, a lot of humans have them.

There look, fool. He’s not turning. He’s not stopping… He’s not even looking at you.

Why is he... is he going to touch me? Oh shit...God no!

-Stop running away. I’m here to help you.-

What the hell was that! Run! No ... Run! Get away!

Damn book bag Do I need it? I need it i can’t run with it. God Damn It. Hes following no he isn’t... where did he… Damn it! Is he a stelleste... invisible when he wants to be? then how did he get into ... he just thought it and touched me and i heard. Fuck! I let him know I wasn’t human i was incubus me by running.

hell,Hell, HELL and Damnation. run faster damn it fly... Get out of my way! You stupid humans. I should jump onto that bridge there. Wait I know!

Corner! Snake. Damn I hate small animals.... damn.... snake... okay... snake... I think I’m a snake. I don’t care. I can’t see. Damn it’s bright. Fuck that. Get in the bag. Into the bag … Good... it’s not so damn bright in here. Just breathe. Collect thoughts … Damn I can’t hear him. I should have been a mouse. He’s a stelleste. Snakes see with infrared vision or something maybe I could see...

Oh shit! Bag in motion. What next? He found it… I wonder if he notices my clothes aren’t outside. He’ll think I threw it down and ran. He’s not supposed to stop and get my bag. He’s supposed to go and find me. Damn damn damn damn damn damn.

“Come out of the bag...”

Out of the bag. Is he nuts… he wants me to come out of the bag. What the hell? No! Keep your hand away from me... No. Damn these books. I can’t fit... Ouch! Can snakes get paper cuts... shit hows that going to hurt when I turn back into a human incubus me ... I wonder where I cut. Damn! No! Don’t touch me...

-Come on out. No one wants to hurt you, except yourself. You have refugee status in eight worlds and this isn’t one of them. -

Fuck you. Let me go! I want to go home.

-You don’t have a home, here. -

I don’t have a home anywhere.