Chapter 8A Lovely View

We went outside, through the heavy door and were standing on the roof again. I was only just beginning to realize I'd have to go all the way down again. From climbing trees I did know going up is a lot easier then going down.

I was wrong.

"We jump."

It took me a moment to realize what Khuna had said. "We what?!?"

"We jump. It's not as far as you think. Your body is a lot stronger now and this is only five floors." She looked at me honestly. Not joking obviously.

She couldn't be serious!

But she was, she just walked to the edge and softly jumped off. I stepped to the edge and looked. She was on the ground unharmed.

"Trust your new reflexes" Said Valerie as she walked past me, her dress fluttering on the way down but she landed almost without a sound.

As weird as it seemed I guess I had to follow their example. It looked as normal as breathing for them. And... I guess I'd heal anyway if I did something terribly wrong.

I really sucked at trying to convince myself. Ah well. "Here goes nothing."

I tried to do it the same way as I jumped out of trees, when I had no other choice. Just a straight jump, legs slightly relaxed so they could absorb the impact.

The rush through the air as I went down was actually quite nice. It felt as if I was flying for just a moment. My body did not seem to feel the fear I did, as if it knew it was alright. The whole fall down took much longer then I had expected, but as soon as I hit the floor, my whole body absorbed the impact almost naturally.

New instincts I thought.

The landing was a bit of an anti-climax. It was just like I jumped one floor or so. I mean, I could feel it, but it was in no way a burden. I felt a bit proud of myself though. Looking back up it was still very high. And it felt good to have jumped it like it was nothing. I felt good, strong, alive.

"Stop dreaming." Khuna giggled besides me. "We're going into town, come on."

We walked slower this time, just taking the time to talk and everything. There was so much I wanted to know.

"So, how long have you been... you know." I asked.

"Me? I was turned three years ago." Said Khuna casually. Her tone turned a bit sad. "It took me a while to find a place for myself."

"I was only turned about fifteen years ago." Said Valerie, her voice a bit distant. "I still look like I did then. It wasn't easy to survive on my own for the first few years. I found Kai a lot later and kind of hooked up with him. It was good to be able to talk to someone."

Something was nagging on my mind, I wasn't sure if it was polite to ask. I guess I could let it rest until I could speak to Khuna alone again. I felt slightly more comfortable with her then I did with Valerie. I didn't know why yet. There was something else I wanted to ask. What was it again? Oh! Right.

"What was the look when you asked..." I blushed. "If I was a virgin?"

Khuna smiled but managed to suppress another giggle. "We all are."

Wha?!? I looked from her to Valerie and back again. They looked serious. I tried to think again. And again.

"All virgins?" Khuna nodded at my question. "So, think we were turned because of that?"

Valerie frowned. "We don't know for sure. To be honest we all are above average in looks, intelligence and some other things." She nodded to Khuna. "She's quite the artist actually. And I myself have a strong affinity with plants and nature." She giggled. "And I'm sure I don't have to explain what Kai's qualities are."

I giggled as well despite myself. "Yeah, I can guess. But still... If we were chosen, then why?"

Valerie shrugged and looked at Khuna.

"Who knows." Khuna shrugged as well. "Perhaps we'll find out. Kai's been searching for information about us as well. It's not easy though."

I nodded in understanding. Looking around I just started to notice we had wandered all the way into the center town district. Stores were still open and quite busy here and there. Both Valerie and Khuna started to look around for a store that would fit with my style. They were talking to each other and giggling, pointing to one store and another. I just walked in the rear, being dragged along and still not really sure I was ready for this. But I guess I had to.

They appeared to decide on a store. Worries of money floated by in my mind. But I'm sure they wouldn't have dragged me here if it was a problem. I tried to go along and payed attention to the store we walked in. It was actually quite nice. They had nice looking stuff that wasn't really any definitive style.

"Stand still for a moment." Khuna looked into my eyes. "Blue-green, okay. So something blue and maybe white" She went through the racks of clothing and picked out a skirt and a shirt. An elegant sport-bra was pushed in my face by Valerie.

"Here, simple and elegant. It suits beneath most clothing, and you can always look for something more exciting later on."

I blushed as I took it. The implication of dressing that way a bit too much for me. I rallied as I saw Khuna take out some more clothes. She walked back to me and dragged me to an empty fitting room. She pushed me in giving me a white skirt with a blueish floral pattern and a white shirt with a forget-me-not on the front in simple colors.

I tried them on, including the bra, and was actually quite surprised by how I looked. I looked... sweet, cute. I shook my head. It was weird feeling this way.

I stepped outside and Valerie nodded appreciative. Khuna just looked at me and smiled. "You look good Amy. You will have no trouble at all. Wait, give me a moment." She stepped towards me and removed the elastic in my hair, letting it flow free.

She stepped back. "Hmm... Almost." She yelled to the girl at the counter. "You got lipstick there?" The girl nodded and Khuna went to the counter to get some. I took the time to admire, yes admire, myself in the mirror. Even at family parties I was usually to busy playing with all the children there, even with those much younger then I, to go through the trouble of dressing nicely. This was different, but it felt good.

Khuna came back with a soft-red lipstick. She applied it and smiled. "Perfect, it complements your lovely eyes." Speaking of eyes, this close I just managed to see that she also almost had the same eyes as me. Perhaps a shade more blue. I looked into the mirror...

Was that me?

I looked again. The full length mirror didn't seem to reflect me, but a lovely innocent looking girl with long auburn hair and soft red lips that just looked adorable.

But it was me.

I just stood there, enjoying the view I saw in the mirror for once.

"Come on, put your own clothes on again, we'll buy this and a few other things." Khuna's voice got me back to reality again.

I changed back into my jeans and shirt and immediately felt much less comfortable. They didn't make me feel as nice or as pretty. Almost sad I left the fitting room but in my hands I held the clothes like a trophy.

The slight reluctance in handing them over to the store girl was of some amusement for Khuna and Valerie. But I didn't mind. They gave me a wondrous gift.

Perhaps change wasn't so bad after all.