Lirssa approached the clinic steadily. She was nervous, yes, but she was determined to not let it delay her. Delay gave opportunity to justify not going. Not going meant not knowing. All the years before she had not cared to know. Even with the first chaotic months of her unasked talent, she had gone on with only knowing of herself what she could see and remember. What had always been a small worry now had an outside voice to support it: she was dangerous to everyone, not just those of dark designs and sinister purpose.

First, of course, she had to determine if Olen was truly her father. It was an abysmal likelihood. No one else had claimed to be biologically related to her. And it wasn't as though he wanted anything from her except to teach her. At least not yet. Ali, Elliot, and Kyrie had taught her much, but what more would she learn from one of her own? Was he her own? It made her stomach turn.

All of these thoughts had carried her through the front door of the clinic where Mrs Doc Eva worked. The reception area was welcoming with comforting scents to ease patient's anxieties. The warm aroma of coffee permeated the air as did fresh cookies and the lighter touch of fruits and other snacks. Behind the desk was a matronly looking woman who instantly had a kind smile for Lirssa as she approached. "Excuse me. My name is Lirssa, and I am hoping Dr..." Lirssa paused. She did not know Mrs Doc Eva's official name. Making her best guess, she just went with, "Dr. Eva Luna is available."

The office was as welcoming as the High Spires kitchen, even with its spare nature. It was all to the better by Lirssa's way of thinking. Enough to put a patient at ease and not seem overrun with nick-knacks and frippery.

She was sure that was the point, though her own ease was hard to gain. Sitting in the indicated chair, she noticed her thumbs rubbing along her knuckles and immediately clasped her hands together to stop the fidgeting. Looking up from her hands to Doc Eva, she twisted her mouth as she thought through the purpose of her visiting again.

It was just a moment, and the idea of wasting Doc Eva's time certainly pushed her along to speak. Lirssa said, "Well, Doc, several years ago, I was speaking with another healer who said she could find out how old I was and all sorts of stuff about me from some tests. I didn't care to then, and," she hesitated. It was not that she really wanted to, but she had to know. "Well, things have changed, and I was wondering if you could do such tests. Tell me what I am or stuff about me. I trust you like no other healer I know." A half laugh, she shrugged, "Well, and outside of the whole healer thing, you're a friend, and seen me in some pretty bad states of being. So, if something comes out of the tests that's awful, I'm betting on you not flat-out running from me."

Her shoulders lifted a little. Her feet wiggled to keep from pacing out of anxious worry. "I don't know what the tests are called, just that she could tell me about myself from the inside. Is that something you can do?"

Lirssa listened to Doc Eva, really focusing on the words. She could feel the anxiety pushing against the listening. It took effort to make sure that she did not let her mind go into a blur.

"Yes'm, I understand. That's what I need. I need, well," Lirssa hesitated, "I need to see if I'm really related to someone who has turned up. I want to know if he's telling the truth about me and him, and I guess, me and who he says my mom is."

She clamped her teeth closed to keep a flood of explanation from thundering out. Once the impulse was gone, she took in a deep breath and released it slowly. Her shoulders shrugged up and sank once more. "I can get his blood. That's the way it works, right? You need blood?"

There were several paths in front of her, and all depending on how much she accepted --asked for-- from others. "I," she shifted a little in her chair, debating just the right words, "I'm not being pressured. It's a bit convoluted, but when I thought maybe they were trouble and skeedattled, they haven't come after me. Not sure he even cares, considering I wasn't supposed to live anyway. No, it was more what they said that's got me worried."

She looked down at her hands and then back up to Doc Eva. "If I am dangerous, like they say I am, because I don't know what I am and haven't been trained, then I need to know. But I also don't want to make the same mistakes I did as a kid, and try to handle this all on my own. It seems, keeping people away and keeping them close are all different shades of danger."

None of the words were just quite what she wanted to say, but there was so much jumbling in her mind, images of possibilities overlapping with words spoken and imagined. She rubbed her eyes, and drew up a smile. "I want you and Mr Mason to know what is going on, because you know me but you also aren't responsible for me. For now," she took a deep breath, settling on the decision, "I will be fine dealing with them, but if that changes, I'll come to you and Mr Mason. I'll keep ya'll in the loop."

She set her hand on top of Doc Eva's on her knee. "Thank you."

Then a brief stop to the steam train of her thoughts, she could not recall how much Doc Eva or Mr Mason knew about her or her cursed ability. "I suppose keeping you in the loop might go with telling you what I know already. I mean, I don't remember if you know why I sometimes ran into trouble. I don't know if you need to know even. I'm leaving that up to you."

Lirssa took in a slow, deep breath. As she released it, she ran her palms against her pant legs. ?Time is not something I?m used to using. I?ve had four birthdays since the time we decided how old I should be, but before that I can?t remember when something actually was. So beginning is hard to find. But I remember everything else.?

She could remember the Minstrel Man, the sight of the room and its blue candles, the scent of decay and the fear of hiding. ?There was a time when I did lots of odd jobs around town. I ran messages, packages, performed in the Marketplace, and pretty much anything I thought was legal and fair to earn coin.? Fair. Trade. Something for something.

Her hand gripped her hair behind her ear, and then released but remained there, rubbing at her skull as if pained. It was not a pain of now, but memory. ?The story is big, so I?ll try to keep it to the basics. I?ll try.? She smirked, knowing Doc Eva knew her all too well.

The chatter of her youth was never far away, and she used it as a weapon more than anything. There was no fight to win or situation to weasel out of. Still, she was not going to hash out every element of that time. It did not matter. Or, it did, but not to make her point. ?I was running messages for a man, I wanted to stop, but he would not let me. Threatened me, people I care about. I wanted to know why me, why not just any street rat. So, I did what I usually do, and ferreted it out.

?The message run was easy. I get a letter, don?t open it, and slide it under a door in the inn.? She shrugged and chuckled, muttering, ?Simple.? With a deep breath once more, she continued and finally lifted her gaze from her hands on her legs to Doc Eva. ?One night, I went into the room.?

Flopping her hands, she sat back and looked at the floor again. ?From one thing to another, I learned the group was called The Society. They collected magical things and people. They said they wanted help those they studied and collected into their group. I had been helping them control, capture, nearly kill one of their members.? Her voice sank on the last word, full of spite and mockery. ?It seemed the notes had writing on them that kept the captive in stasis, unable to use his own gifts, and when I touched those notes, they became more powerful.?

Lirssa waited for a moment, looking once more to Doc Eva. She let that night replay in her mind while she waited. There would be time for questions, but at that moment, she just needed her intention, to be open, catch up with what she was going to tell one of the few people she trusted completely. ?The best explanation that?s been given to me, is I don?t have power myself. I can?t make anything happen, but I?m like a battery. A really big, powerful battery.?

As ridiculous as it sounded out loud, Lirssa still cringed with everything that had happened since she learned. ?Ms. Kyrie and Papa ? Ali ? taught me how to keep people out. When I'm used to power other people's magic, I get displaced. I?ve gotten pretty good at barricading.? She smiled. ?One of the reasons I don?t get in the dueling rings. Not really keen on getting pummeled, and I?m afraid that if I open up to the ring?s healing capabilities, that there?ll be a feedback loop and who knows what then.?

Even her own attempt at levity did not chase away the grim reality that speaking of what she was out loud. She was dangerous. But she had to know. ?So, I guess I need to know if what they say is true. Maybe he is my father, and knows things I should know. What if, maybe, something else happens now that I?m older, and barricading isn?t enough??

?Listen, I sent you those samples a week ago.? Eva rolled out of view of the comm unit, and grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge in her office, then rolled back.

?You?ve asked for a full genetic--?

?I know what I asked for, I just don?t know why I don?t have it.?

?--work-up and according to our system--?

?Can you just tell me when I can expect it??

?--the report should be coming through now.?

?Now?? Eva?s brow lifted.

?Yes, ma?am.?

Eva turned to her data screen. Then exhaled. ?There it is. Thanks, babe, you?re the best!?

?You?re welcome, doc--?

Eva cut the line, and let her eyes skim down the report summary.

Sample A is of unknown or unlisted race.
Sample A shares 64% genetic markers with those identified as ?Chameleons.?
Sample A?s remaining markers are too diverse to attribute.

There is no parental relationship between Sample A and Sample B.
Genetic markers indicate a close familial relationship between Sample A and Sample B.

Eva leaned back in her chair, frowning. Whoever it was that had inserted himself into Lirssa?s life wasn?t her father. But he was related to her, and closely. Eva took a breath, trying to figure out what this would mean for the young woman. And she just didn?t know.

She reached forward to the intercom on the comm unit. ?Hey, Jean? I need you to send a message to a patient. Sarengrave, Lirssa. Just tell her I need her to come in as soon as she can.?