The Nefaliem's Duty (Ordinal Novella, 1) by Kelvia-Lee Johnson Page A

backyard. I pass the pool, wrapped in
a tall bar fence. Heading up the footpath, I carry my satchel over
my shoulder. At sixteen, this sight would not be considered strange
at all nor arriving home late because often foster kids like to run
away or so they like to say.
    I arrive at the
back double doors of our large house. The thought of it is too
expensive but then again the thought of living in Australia is
expensive in itself. The doors are locked, no surprise there. I
allow my idol form—my human form—to transition (change) into my
Nefaliem form a form that I was originally born in. I’m what is
known as a Nefaliem Hybrid, that’s probably why no one on Nefelia
will talk to me. A Nefaliem Hybrid, is a baby hatched by Tylif but
then sent to Earth to be reborn by a random Human. Depending on who
gives birth to the Nefaliem Hybrid, will determine the child’s
social status.
    So as for me, I
was born into a poor family who lived boarder line poverty and as a
result I was given up and put into the system from the first early
months of my life until now. I don’t know if that is a good thing
or a bad thing, I mean I get an education after all. The one thing
that keeps me from playing around with boys at my age. Being born
from an Aboriginal woman and Irish Australian, makes me a half-cast
Aboriginal born Nefaliem Hybrid. I stand at the door and grasp the
handle. “Why are you procrastinating?” a familiar voice sounds and
I glance at the shadows to see Asashin.
    I freak out at
his voice, not because I’m scared, but rather I’m worried about
what would happen to him if someone saw him. “What are you doing
here?” I demand.
    “Making sure
you get home okay.” he declares.
    “I’m okay. I’m
home you can go.” I say and slip my Nefaliem transitioned hand into
the glass panel and unlock the door from the inside. I slip my hand
back out and open the door.
    “I can’t just
yet. Here.” he says and gives me a small chip and I know what these
are. My first practical assignment package. Unlike Earth, we don’t
need to worry about packing because it’s already done. “You know
what you have to do.”
    “I do.” I
whisper and head inside. The moment I close the door, the light
flicks on. There stands my foster mother with messy brown hair and
tanned Australian skin. Her Caucasian features are hard but
elegant, she’s in her early thirties and has children of her own.
Why she decided to foster—I’ll never understand. Not all of us are
good, even I know that. But even so, I know why and it’s not fair
but someone has to look after us I guess until we’re of age.
    “Who are you
talking to?” she asks, “And what are you doing up?” I frantically
search for a reasonable excuse one that doesn’t cause me more
problems. Especially given my new assignment and it being my first
practical assignment, I can’t afford to blow it exclusively if
Colonel Izrick is the report-to-man. My foster mother’s eyes shift
over to the digital clock on the oven’s overhead and the next thing
I hear is a blurry grounded. “It’s four in the morning! Get to bed.
And you’re going to school tomorrow.” She turns her heel and stomps
down the hall not even considering to ask me where I was. I guess
I’m going to get that question flung at me later today.
    “Perfect.” I
say and scan the darkness outside and see Asashin in the distance.
A portal opens and he disappears into it and vanishes without a
trace. “I’m so going to sleep in class today.” I intemperately
mutter.
     
    KORMILDA
COLLEGE, DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY
    09:55 HRS
    It’s a bizarre
dream that much I knew. I was left to wait with the others in the
waiting room. There’s an agonising scream of pain and I couldn’t
help but follow that newly born cry. As I enter, the white clean
room, I see what I never expected to see, a baby. It’s wrapped in a
blanket and handed to the mother, the mother is Aboriginal several
shades darker than me. She, I notice,