Dante tipped his head as if thinking. “It depends on what you’re talking about. There are Fierros in Boston and some in Arizona, but I don’t think there are a lot of phoenixes worldwide. And I doubt everyone with that last name is a firebird.”
“Oh. So, what does a phoenix look like, exactly?”
“Why don’t I show you? Think you can handle a short demonstration?”
“You won’t set my place on fire, will you?”
His jaw dropped. “Absolutely not. I’m a firefighter, not a firesetter.”
“Oh. Sorry. I guess that was a stupid question.”
“No. Considering the many legends that are incorrect, it wasn’t an unusual assumption. Don’t worry. We don’t spontaneously combust.”
“So, what do you do? I mean, is the reincarnation thing real?”
“If we die in a fire, we can reincarnate. It’s why my mother doesn’t freak out about having so many sons as firefighters. We do our best to avoid dying though.”
“Oh, good.”
“Where should I undress? I’ll give you a brief demonstration. Wait—I didn’t mean that like it sounded…”
She chuckled. “I know. Bathroom. Top of the stairs.”
“Okay. Before I go, I want you to know what to expect. I’ll be aware of who I am and who you are the whole time. I’ll look like a bird, about the size of a hawk, but with bright-colored tail feathers.
“I’ll only stay in bird form a short time. We age faster as birds, so shifting is highly discouraged. And showing humans the paranormal world is forbidden. But you’ve already promised not to tell anyone. Are you ready?”
“Yup. Ready and as curious as George.”
He grinned. “Okay then. On that note…” He ran up the stairs. A few moments later, a beautiful bird with colorful tail feathers flew down the stairway, circled the ceiling fan and landed on the back of the couch.
“Wow.” It wasn’t an eloquent comment, but the gift of speech had deserted her. She reached out toward him slowly, and he walked forward a few steps. Eventually, she patted his head gently with one finger. He didn’t flinch.
“I can’t believe this. Am I hallucinating again?”
He hopped away and flew up the stairs. A few moments later, Dante walked back down the stairs, fully dressed. “You’re perfectly sane. You’re just a shape-shifter. And by the way, you should never tell anyone what you are. I probably should have explained that first.”
She laughed. “Who would believe me? First I’m the crazy girl who talks to people who aren’t there, and now I’m a shape-shifting spider monkey. Your secret is safe with me.”
“And you’re safe with me.” He sat beside her.
She relaxed. “I do feel safe with you. I don’t know anyone else who would still be sitting here, talking to me like this. Most guys would have run.”
“You haven’t shifted in front of anyone else, have you?”
“No. I’ve been lucky, I guess. You’re the first person to see it happen. I don’t know what I’d say to anyone who witnessed it. They’d probably think they were going crazy.”
“You don’t think anyone would be concernedfor you?”
“I honestly don’t. Remember how I said all my friends knew where my parents were and that’s why I had to call you?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, all my friends are scattered around the world now, living their own lives, and don’t know where I am, never mind my parents.”
“Seriously? I remember you having tons of friends.”
“Very few of them were close friends. Most were acquaintances.”
