As the nurse screamed for security,the view bounced around, but the man was gone before security could get him. The entire waiting room fell into chaos, people shouting, crying, and jerking away from the man. The video ended with the filming woman whispering, “What the fuck was that? What the fuck was wrong with him?” And then a row of retching emoji heads.
Torrent stopped the video. “There have been over a hundred uploads of similar events since this morning. Hundreds from all over the world.”
“What is that?” I motioned at the tablet. “What could have done that to him?”
“I looked into it.” Torrent picked up his tablet. “All the people in the videos were patients who received a flu vaccination yesterday.”
“You're saying the flu shot did that to them?” Viper asked. “Thank goodness we don't need that shit.”
“The flu.” Odin scowled. “A vaccine meant to heal turns people into the disease.”
“It turns themintothe disease?” I grimaced. “They just looked sick.”
“That's the thing,” Torrent said. “They aren't sick. Those admitted to hospitals underwent full examinations and received clean bills of health. The doctors have done all the tests they can think of, but the patients appear to be in good health.”
“They don't even have the flu?” Viper asked.
“Not even the flu.” Torrent looked at Odin. “I think the machine is malfunctioning without a transformation relic, and it's causing transformations to go bad.”
“Trevor had trouble shifting back from a wolf last night,” I said. “I had to call me back through our bond.”
“Oh, that's not good.” Torrent looked around at the shifters. “What about the rest of you?”
“I shifted back fine, but I don't want anyone else to risk it.” I motioned at the tower door as Trevor came into the room. “Trevor called Fenrir to warn the Froekn, and I told the Intare not to shift.”
“Father is warning UnnúlfR to stop his pack from shifting too,” Trevor said. “Hey, Torr. What's up?”
Just then, Re returned. After a single look at us, he grimaced. “Oh, funnel cakes. What now?”
Viper explained things to Trevor and Re, taking Torr's tablet to show them the video while the rest of us continued to discuss it with Torrent.
“Perhaps we should warn all of our shifting friends,” Torrent suggested.
“I'll text Loki and Freya.” Odin pulled out his phone.
“I'll text the Thunderbirds,” Azrael said. “Is there anyone else?”
“I'll text Horus, Finn, and Pan.” Kirill pulled out his phone too.
“And Brahma,” I said. “Tell him to warn the Hindu Gods. They have a lot of shifters.”
“And I'll ask Pan to have Hermes make another announcement,” Kirill added.
“Who else?” I pulled out my phone and went through my contacts. “Oh! Athena sometimes shifts into an owl. And Quetzalcoatl! Oh, hell. How many gods do we know that shapeshift?”
“Too many.” Re sighed and pulled out his phone. “I've got the Egyptians.”
“What about Karni Mata?” I asked even as I texted. “Does she change into a rat or does she just control them?”
“She just controls them,” Trevor said. “Tell Athena to warn any of the shapeshifting Greeks.”
“Already did.” I hit Send on the last text and looked up at my men. “Are we overreacting?”
“Better that than our friends get stuck as animals,” Torrent said.
“What about Artemis?” I asked. “Does she change into a dog?”
“No, she's fine.”
