Eighteen-year-old Nicholas Hammerstein is at the cusp of finishing high school in his hometown of Los Alamos, NM. He has a seemingly ideal life and is blessed with loving parents, a cute baby sister, and great friends. Nicholas is a gifted student and martial artist who has dreams of leaving for college at the end of his senior year. But, living in a world of Emergent humans, he will soon find his life turned upside down as his life and the fate of a kingdom hang in the balance. His future and theirs will be determined by how he navigates the drastic changes in his body and the magical and superpowered Mergent population he joins.

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The Legal Stuff: Emerald Princess © 2016-2023 By Sofia Hammerstein
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016-2023 By Sofia Hammerstein. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.
 
 
Chapter 8: Visitors

“YOU CAN’T EVEN tell,” I said as I showed her the underside of my wrist where they tried. She spent several nervous moments examining it before agreeing. “Apparently, I have some regen ability too.”

“So what did they list your powers as?” Dad asked quickly to change the subject.

“Well, I’m an Avatar Level 5 since I am hosting Caireen. I think that might be higher, but that’s what he put down. Apparently, from the ball attack test, they decided I’m an Esens Level 3. I have Level 3 Regen healing abilities, I’m a Level 4 Paradigm, and they put down 4 plus for my Magic skills.”

Dad whistled again, “They ran out of tests with you then on the magic skills. You’re probably at a higher ability level than any of the people I have working with me.” I could see some wheels turning in his head, “Rachel, we really need to send her to Bechtel.”

Mom nodded, “They were talking about sending someone out to see us when I called them earlier.”

“Sending someone out?” I asked, surprised, “Isn’t that really expensive for a school?”

“Depends on who you’re talking about, sweetie. In their case, they may have a teleporter that can bring the person on out without even getting on a plane or wasting too much time.” Dad said.

Right then, Mom’s cell phone began to ring. “Hello? This is she.” I heard her say some uh-huhs and such for several moments before she said, “Okay, tonight at eight would be fine for us.” She ended the call and looked at me, “Apparently, they saw something on your testing that bumped up their interview. So they’ll be here at eight.”

I looked at the clock and saw it was almost four. I had missed lunch and was suddenly starving. “I’m hungry…”

Mom laughed, “Tell you what, why don’t we go out to eat?”

“Okay,” I said. Mom picked me up and told Dad, “You’re on diaper duty with Lily, honey.”

He stood up with Lily without a word, and we were both taken to our rooms to be changed. “You know, you two would be sharing a room in most houses? That way, we only had to keep track of one changing table,” she said as she looked down underneath, “We’re going to have to go buy you some more diapers.”

I just sucked on the pacifier that had reattached itself to my face and nodded. Mom, had me changed quickly and asked, “Do you want a less conspicuous outfit on now?”

I thought about it for a second and nodded. ‘I hope you don’t mind, Caireen,’ I said.

I felt her laugh, ‘Go for blending in.’

Mom picked out a purple one-piece romper with hearts and flowers on the front and quickly undressed and redressed me. “We need to figure out how you’ll keep your GEID on you, sweetheart.”

I nodded… I didn’t know where though. ‘Caireen, you have any way for me to keep it on me? I’m a little worried about losing it since most of my clothing isn’t about storing stuff...’

‘Here,’ she said, and a cute purple purse decorated with Princess Sofia appeared.

‘Huh?’

‘Put your GEID in there,’ she insisted.

“Mom, can you hand my GEID to me?” I asked. She was, of course, staring at me again.

“Here,” she said.

I placed it inside there and asked, ‘Now what?’

‘Think ‘put away,” she told me.

I did, and it vanished. ‘How do I get it back?’

‘Just imagine it back in your hand.’

I did so and then put it away a few times before realizing Mom was glaring at me. “Sorry, Caireen was giving me a lesson and helping me put it somewhere safe.”

“Okay, Princess, let’s go then,” she said, a little bit on the cranky side herself. I hoped she would get to be in a better mood. Mom held the diaper bag on her shoulder while she carried me, and Dad had Lily still. When both of us were strapped in our car seats, we headed off to our favorite restaurant in town. We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by the hostess.

“How many?”

“Two adults and two high chairs please,” Mom said.

I refrained from glaring at her since we’d talked about this. I’d have a bib on, too, I was sure. My only real question was how I would get enough to eat! Mom and dad set us in the wooden highchairs that sat on opposite sides of the table, and then Mom sat next to me while Dad sat next to Lily. “Here you go, sweetie,” the lady said as she put a coloring mat in front of us that I could just reach. I felt Mom push me in a little bit farther to help.

“Twins?” The lady asked, confused.

“No, she’s older,” Mom pointed to me. “Just hasn’t started really growing yet,” Mom added.

“They’re adorable! Your waitress will be right with you.”

Mom and I quietly talked about what to order me. She didn’t really think I should have a full adult meal, but I wore her down. Finally, she agreed to order a combination plate (chile relleno, taco, shredded beef enchilada, and cheese enchilada) for me to split with my sister. She would only want the taco, and a little bit of the beans and rice Mom knew. I admitted my wimpy new status when I agreed that green chile on the side was a better plan than smothering the plate. Once she had taken our orders, Mom asked her to fill our sippy cups with milk and then put bibs on both of us.

I was sitting like that when I saw Jacob come in with his family.

“Oh no,” I said quietly to Mom, “Jacob is here!”

“Relax,” Mom told me.

I sucked on my pacifier fervently as he saw us and looked obviously for the missing person, me.

“Hi, Mrs. Hammerstein, Doctor Hammerstein,” he said. “Where’s Nick?”

“He’s still at home sick,” Mom said smoothly with a smile, “he’s going to be out for a while, I’m afraid.”

“That’s too bad… any chance I could stop by and see him?”

“Why don’t you and Hannah come by tomorrow after school?” Mom suggested. Jacob had a car and had long been designated as our trio’s taxi driver.

“Okay, sounds good,” he said, staring at Lily and me. Then, as he looked at me, he asked, “Who’s the other baby?”

“Oh, that’s Sofia. She’s a friend of Lily’s that we had over today while her Mom does some shopping in Albuquerque.”

“Okay,” He said. “Anyway, I’d better go join my parents; tell Nick we’ll see him tomorrow and bring his homework.”

“Thanks, Jacob!” Mom said.

“See, it’s all fine,” she said after he left.

“No, it’s not,” I said, trying not to cry.

“What do you mean?”

“I pooped my diaper again. And in front of one of my best friends!”

Mom laughed, picked me up, the diaper bag up, and told Dad, “We’ll be right back. Someone is a poopie pants.”

I was so embarrassed to have my diaper changed in a bathroom with a long line of ladies and girls waiting for the stalls, but a clean diaper was worth it, I guess.

Mom carried me back and placed me in the high chair just before the food arrived. After she split off my sisters’ portion, she left the main plate in front of me. There were a few stares from the waitress as she came by and saw my devouring the plate. Mom had been thoughtful enough to provide me with the miniaturized silverware I made the other day. “I can’t believe she ate all of that,” the lady said as she dropped off the check.

I smiled.

“How is she so tiny?”

“High metabolism,” Mom said and kind of glared at me. We would probably have this problem regularly, so she would have to deal with it. As it was, I was still hungry! On our way out, Mom stopped in the bathroom to change Lily and decided she could skip me until we got home for me.

I thought we were heading home, but instead, we stopped at Smiths. “Honey, do you want to stay in the car with the girls while I make a quick stop inside?” She asked Dad. “I need to buy Sofia some more diapers and probably some more wipes and stuff for both the girls.”

He nodded, and I watched Tangled on the car’s DVD player with Lily to kill time. Mom came back out to the car not too much later with a large box of diapers and a couple of sacks of stuff that she put in the back.

I was glad to have been spared the embarrassment of going inside to purchase diapers for me!

“Come play!” Lily demanded when we got home at seven.

“Okay, until our visitor gets here,” I told her.

“Actually, I’ll be giving her a bath at 7:30, so you have thirty minutes,” Mom told us.

“Sorry, Lily, I promise I’ll play with you all morning tomorrow!” I said, as I knew today had to have sucked for her.

“Pwomise?” she asked.

“Pwomise,” I smiled and said right back the same way.

In the end, we sat and fed a couple of baby dolls. Their clothes and diapers had been changed before Mom came for her to get her in the bath. Mom had just finished putting Lily to bed when there was a quiet knock outside our front door, precisely at 8pm.

“Is this the Hammerstein residence?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Yes, I’m Doctor Hammerstein,” Dad said, “I assume you’re from Bechtel?”

“Yes, we are. My name is Talia Hensley; I’m the Headmistress for Bechtel Preparatory School. This is Catherine Raspin, one of our mystic arts faculty members and the head of our junior high program.”

“Please come in,” he said. I was sitting on the couch waiting for them nervously when they came up. I jumped down.

“And who is this pretty little girl?” the lady who hadn’t spoken asked.

“Sofia Hammerstein,” I said and curtseyed. I hadn’t planned on it, but it seemed appropriate, “How do you do?”

“Wait a second,” she said, and her eyes opened. “This is the young lady we’re here to see?” She asked Mrs. Hensley.

“You can see why I asked you?” she replied.

“I can’t handle another one!!!” she told her in a soft but scared voice.

“I promise I don’t think she’ll be like the others you had,” she said with a smile. “She doesn’t need to go stealing manna everywhere.”

“Where are our manners? Please sit down. May I get you anything?” Dad said nervously. “My wife will be right down; she’s just putting our youngest to bed.”

“I’ll take a glass of water,” Mrs. Hensley said, and Mrs. Raspin agreed. I felt they did that just to give him a way out.

When they came in, I forced the pacifier from my mouth, but it was still clutched in my hand. I tried to put it on the couch behind me but couldn’t release it.

“So, Sofia, what can you tell us about yourself?” Mrs. Hensley asked.

“Well, until last week, I was a skinny eighteen-year-old boy… I liked playing in a band and did well in my classes, like most kids at LAHS. I just tested for my second-degree black belt last week in Tae Kwon Do...” She nodded. “I also really loved helping care for my baby sister Lily - kind of hard to do now.” I paused and politely asked, “May I ask why you came so soon to see me?” Then, after a second, “And how’d you get here?”

Mom came in right then, and Dad returned with the glasses in hand, too, “Hi, I’m Rachel Hammerstein,” Mom introduced herself. “Talia Hensley,” Mrs. Hensley stood and extended her hand. “And this is Catherine Raspin,” she added as Mom shook her hand before coming to the couch where I was sitting, picking me up, and plopping me on her lap.

I sighed, “So?”

Mrs. Hensley smiled, “You’re a driven individual, aren’t you? Well, you’ll definitely need that. I came so soon because the head of the testing lab called me and explained your situation. He seems worried you are extraordinarily powerful and may stand out a bit.”

I blushed, “How can a baby stand out?”

“Your size is certainly among the more unique emerges I’ve seen!” She laughed, then added, “But, in my experience, I doubt that will hold you back in the future? Just how much…?” she seemed to be fighting for words.

“I think what Mrs. Hensley is trying to ask is this, how much do you act like a baby?” Mrs. Raspin prompted.

I really blushed then. Mom answered before I could, “The diapers are something I don’t think she will be able to help. As far as I can tell she lacks any potty-training readiness that they tell you to look for in babies. I think she’s behind the age they figure she is for that. Besides that, she behaves like she did as a teenager. The only real babyish thing that she can’t seem to escape is a need for her pacifier,” Mom said while holding my hand up that was keeping it in a death grip.

“Intelligence hasn’t changed, and maturity hasn’t changed?” Mrs. Hensley asked.

“Not that I’ve seen. Sofia’s played with her sister and might be enjoying it more, but that may be because she knows it looks normal now.” Mom said.

“Can she take care of her own needs?” Mrs. Raspin asked.

I cringed as the conversation continued around me like I wasn’t even there… Finally, I jumped in myself to respond, “Well, I can change my clothes magically and normally still,” I answered. “Diaper changes seem to be the one thing I have to depend on others for so far. Caireen indicated she’ll eventually teach me to do it with magic. Still, she wants me to get into the role first or something.”

I felt her nod before she said, ‘I will teach you the magic to change yourself in a few months.’

I sighed, “She said in a few months she’ll teach me that.”

“Okay, so when would you want to send her out to us?” Mrs. Hensley asked my parents.

“She’s accepted?” Dad asked in surprise.

“Oh, most definitely. We’ll have to deal with the logistics of having a toddler as a student, but I think she’ll do very well at Bechtel. Besides the oddity of her transformation, she is very much what we look for in a student who will excel at Bechtel.”

“What grade would I be in?” I asked timidly. “Assuming you run the school by grades?”

Mrs. Hensley sighed, “I don’t honestly know yet. I brought Mrs. Raspin with me because she has had several young ladies as junior high students for the last ten years. Currently, she has five that she takes care of. Unfortunately, our institution has no elementary or preschool for us to even consider those options. I looked at the transcripts your Mom faxed us over the weekend, and I think you would normally be listed as a sophomore on entry to our school.”

“I have to go back two grades?” I groaned.

“Would it be better to go ahead and have her be in the junior high?” Mom asked. I glared at her as she was not helping!

Mrs. Hensley said, “Maybe, but I think the high school level is where all of her classes will be, so we might do well to consider her a high schooler. Or maybe we’ll consider her an eighth-grader to finish out the year...? I don’t think she’s going to grow, so it’s not like waiting for her to get older will do any good. I’ll probably try and find a high school junior to pair her up with.”

“And changes?” Mom asked.

“I’m going to look into our best options for her.”

‘You’ll need space for a crib,’ Caireen told me.

‘Really?!?’

‘Yes baby, that won’t change.’

I sighed. “Caireen says I need space for a crib in my room instead of a normal bed.”

“She’s the goddess that you’ve bonded with, correct?” Mrs. Hensley asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.

“May I speak with her?” She asked.

I said, ‘All yours,’ to Caireen and felt her take over.

“Good evening, I am Caireen,” I heard her say through me.

“Good evening, Your Majesty,” Mrs. Hensley said. “I assume you know all of what we spoke about?”

“Yes, ma’am, I do.”

“Do you foresee any issues with Sofia coming to our school?”

“No, she should be more than fine. I will ask that you either provide a crib and changing table for her, or I can create them when we get there. She will need an older student or adult to help her several times through the day.”

“You won’t help her with that?”

“No, I believe it’s in her best interest to learn to blend in by being just as needy as any two-year-old is.”

Mrs. Hensley looked thoughtful, “Okay, would you let Sofia rejoin us?”

I came back from the closet it seemed like, “Yes, ma’am?”

“Would you be okay if I assign an older student as a big sister/caregiver?”

I sighed, “I hope I don’t regret it, but I should be fine.”

“Okay, I have a student in mind in Trident House that should do well. She’s a junior, so she’ll be able to be around next year too.”

“So, when do I come?” I asked nervously.

“Well, after Christmas Break seems wise right now. You have a month and a half to get used to things before coming out.”

“Will she be safe around here that long?” Dad asked her.

“I’m not sure, honestly. If it seems like it would be better for Sofia to come out sooner, please let me know. We can get her in sooner, but we probably should have a lot of pieces in place first. Not least of which are Caireen’s requests.” She paused, “Best bet is to pretend she is a normal two-year-old anytime you’re away. Any magic should be done only under Caireen’s supervision and keep a low profile.”

‘Should be easy enough...’ I thought sadly.

‘Don’t be so sure...’ Caireen said, and I thought I could detect some worry.

“Well, I guess we should be going. Please call this number immediately if we need to take Sofia sooner.” Mrs. Hensley said, handing her a card, “It’ll get to me no matter what, and we can make emergency arrangements.”

“Thank you for coming to see us.” Mom said to her.

“Our pleasure,” Mrs. Raspin said, “I look forward to seeing you at school, Sofia. You’re going to turn a lot of heads!”

Once they were out the door, Mom said, “Okay, bath time,” and, without hesitation, picked me up and carried me upstairs. She started the bathwater, stripped me, and washed me quickly. “What time is it?” I wondered suddenly.

“Ten,” she answered, “Time for baby girls to be in bed,” she said as she dried my hair.

“Oh.”

Mom took the time to heat up a bottle and fed me like the previous nights. It had been a long day, and I went to sleep during another story before it had even really begun.

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Thank you for reading! Please consider leaving a comment if you’re reading! I do appreciate the Kudos(Likes) as well, but it’s nice to hear what my readers are thinking!

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