TASCHA
I arranged myself on the ground. "Tobias and I have an…understanding," I explained. "I have known him for my entire life, and I love him more than anything in this world. We knew each other a long time ago. When we parted, we both made a pact that we would find each other again, when our burdens became too much to bear. Obviously, Tobias's has not. But mine has." I sighed theatrically. "A very short time ago, my parents…left me. I had nothing in the world, and had to borrow even my clothes from a stranger. I was on the road for weeks, begging rides and food. I was destitute. After an eternity of searching, I have found my one true love. You would not keep even him from me, would you?" I looked at Rachel pleadingly.
It's amazing how easy it is to lie in human form. My mother, Lilith, knows all and sees all. You can't lie before her. But for the most part, Lilith ignores the behavior of humans. I have gotten into the habit of not lying, but I can at least twist the truth.
Rachel softened a little. "Where did you know him from?" she asked.
I could see Tobias tense up. "From his aunt's house, across the country," I said. "We met when we were young."
And I haven't seen her for ages, Tobias added.
RACHEL
I didn't believe one word this bitch told me. From the moment I saw her, I knew Tascha was bad, bad news. I knew that she would take Tobias away from me if I let her.
I also knew that if I told Tobias what she really was, I'd lose him forever.
But there was something really interesting about Tascha. She made me feel like I hadn't since the very beginning of the Animorphs—wild and free, like I could do anything, beat anyone, and never get hurt. I wanted to fight her just to see if I'd win. I hadn't really wanted to fight since months ago.
"Do you have anywhere to sleep?" I asked her.
Tascha shook her head. "Nowhere but in the trees."
Tobias looked at me pleadingly. Rachel, you told me that your parents are going to be out for the weekend. Can she sleep in your house?
I looked at Tascha. She looked at me.
"Yes," I said. "She can."
It was a really, really bad idea.
TASCHA
That afternoon, Tobias introduced me to the rest of the Animorphs.
I smiled politely and said hi. They seemed to like me.
The boy that was introduced as Marco kept watching me throughout the entire meeting as the Animorphs determined my fate. Rachel and Cassie seemed to be fiercely opposed to letting me into the Animorphs. Jake and Tobias wanted to let me in.
While they were discussing me, Marco slid over to me and put his hand on my leg.
"So," he asked me, "you're Tobias's new girlfriend?"
I nodded. "I suppose you could say that."
Marco grinned at me. "You know, he already has a girlfriend. But I don't."
"Are you trying to ask me to be your mate?" I asked him.
Marco shrugged. "I guess you could put it that way. But I think you're the sexiest girl I've ever laid eyes on."
I giggled. "It's very kind of you to say that."
"No," Marco whispered in my ear. "It's true." He leaned over to kiss me. I turned my head away so that he got a mouthful of my hair.
"Hey!" Marco protested.
I shrugged. "I belong to Tobias. Until he dies, I cannot be attached to anyone else."
Marco looked disappointed.
The other Animorphs dispersed. Jake looked me over.
"You're in the Animorphs," he said.
I smiled. "Terrific. When do I begin?"
JAKE
We got the blue cube out from its hiding place. I held it up, and everyone touched it.
Tascha took a deep breath and touched it. When she laid her hand on it, her eyes rolled up into her head and she collapsed.
Tobias rushed over to her and knelt by her side. "Tascha?"
Marco stared at her. "Oh my God."
Tascha's eyes fluttered. "What happened?" She sat up, cringing.
Cassie stared at her back. "What the hell happened?"
Tascha's hand went to her back. Two stubby little bat wings has sprouted out of her back, tearing two holes in her shirt.
Tascha grinned. "Wow." She stood up and stretched. The wings grew larger.
For a second, Tascha seemed like—I don't know, a devil or something. She grinned evilly, and her eyes glowed red. Then the wings disappeared, and she was a normal girl again.
Cassie regarded Tascha with great suspicion. Marco looked dumbfounded. Tobias didn't look surprised at all.
Rachel gawked at her. She turned to Tobias and muttered, "And this is a normal girl?"
Tobias looked flustered. Well, maybe she's allergic to morphing, like you were to that alligator morph.
Rachel glowered at him. "Tobias, this isn't anything normal at all."