Louise immediately makes introductions, “Hi, I’m Louise, and this is my friend, Hazel.” I wave casually, still feeling a bit shy with the barrage of new faces.
The girl is Asian, and petite like me. Her hair is black, shiny, and cut in a severe bob with bangs just sweeping the top of her almond shaped eyes. “I’m Akiko, this is Samir,” she says, gesturing to her companion. Samir is tall and lanky, with wavy black hair, dark thick eyebrows, piercing amber colored eyes, and a deep golden complexion.
“Nice to meet you, guys,” he says politely, his eyes distant, like his mind is elsewhere. We make small talk, nothing too personal. It’s obvious that nerves are on edge and we just want something simple to keep our minds off of what we’re about to dive in to. Louise talks about life in the south, mostly the hot weather and equally hot country boys. Akiko is sheepishly silent but chimes in with encouraging laugher every time Louise recounts something even mildly funny, like the time she tried to wrestle a pig on a bet when she was in sixth grade. The only one totally silent is Samir. He observes, smiling most of the time, but every once in a while I see his eyes dart around quickly in observation. It seems like he just wants to leave, and part of me doesn’t blame him. All I can think about is falling asleep in my own bed tonight, and I frown slightly when I remember that won’t happen.
The room suddenly quiets down as Maya reappears, standing up front, her golden collar gleaming under the spotlight. Several other staff members enter and sit on sofas behind her.
“Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome once again. We are all very pleased to have you all here at Camp Chameleon. From the looks of it, we have a really great group this year, and undoubtedly you will all impress us with your skills, intelligence, and hard work. To start, I would like to introduce you to some of the key members of our team.”
She stands aside to make room in the front. “First up is Ivana Baskov, who will be your instructor for animals of the land. She herself is from the felines, but her experience and skills, especially in the predatory species, will be invaluable to all of you.”
Ivana stands, walks to the front, and bows formally. She is tall and lithe, with well-formed muscles, pale, supple skin, and sharp, angular cheekbones. Her upturned eyes are a bright, sapphire blue, and her auburn hair is tied up in a neat ponytail. She goes back to her seat and Maya returns to the front.
“Next is Brad Myers, who will be your animals of the water instructor. He is one of the most skilled shape-shifters in this category and you will surely learn a lot from his class.” Brad is tan and built like a professional swimmer, with a casual and comfortable demeanor. His hair is tousled with flecks of blonde and he looks kind of like a California surfer dude. He smiles goofily and salutes us before going back to his seat.
Maya once again takes center stage. “Now, to introduce Alicia King, your instructor for animals of the air. This will probably be the most difficult course for all of you to tackle, so make sure to pay extra attention in Alicia’s class.” Alicia strides up front. She is graceful like a ballet dancer, but with wide, strong shoulders. Her large, golden colored eyes stand out next to her dark skin and thick mahogany colored hair. She bows dramatically and takes her seat.
“Lastly, I would like for all of you to meet our newest instructor, Jared Jones. This is the first year in which we will be including a course in mythical creatures, and Jared is somewhat of an expert in this field,” Maya explains excitedly. Jared saunters to the front, looking intense, and almost too young to be up there. His stark, blue-gray eyes are framed with thick dark eyelashes that make it appear as if he’s wearing eyeliner. His brown hair has that just got out of bed but still looks good look. He could easily be a model, and as I look around the room, I see the girls eyeing him appreciatively. He nods coolly and takes his seat.
“Well, as you can see, this is going to be a very exciting year for all of us. I would like you to get settled in and enjoy the rest of the day. You will be assigned a dorm, as well as a counselor to help you with anything you might need. Please try and get to know your fellow students, and make sure to get some rest tonight. Classes will begin tomorrow after breakfast at nine. I look forward to meeting all of you in the coming days.”
Maya smiles and walks off the platform with the other instructors following behind her.
The room is suddenly buzzing with excitement, as students chat with each other, commenting on the different classes and instructors. Louise grasps my arm, almost pulling it off the socket. “Wasn’t Brad gorgeous?”
I giggle, wondering if this is what it’s like having a boy-crazy girlfriend.
“I guess. If you’re into that type…” I reply taciturnly.
Louise rolls her eyes dramatically. “What’s not to like?”
Akiko joins in, “Well, I think Jared is way hotter, he looks more like a rock star than a teacher, don’t you think?” she says dreamily, making sure nobody hears her except for us.
Samir looks around, obviously feeling out of place. “Where’s a dude when you need one? Too much girl-talk around here.”
Akiko hits him on the head playfully.
“So I guess you guys must be related?” I ask Akiko, who is now on the receiving end of a punch in the arm from Samir.
“Yeah, Samir is my adopted brother,” she explains as he begins to wander towards the exit with the rest of the students. I watch him and notice he seems dazed, eyes glazed as he takes in the new surroundings.
“His parents were best friends with mine, and when they passed away, he came to live with us.” She cranes her neck, trying to spot him in the crowd. “Since then, he’s had to put up with me I guess… Or vice versa, depending on the situation,” she admits jokingly.
Everyone starts filing out of the auditorium, and when we exit, we’re each handed an old fashioned silver key with a number on it.
I study the key in my hand. “Mine has the number eighteen on it.”
Louise shrieks, “Me too, me too! That must mean we’re roomies!”
Akiko looks at hers. “I’m in sixteen, so that must be just down the hall from you guys.”
Samir emerges from behind a column, eyeing the key in the palm of his hand. “I’m in lucky number thirteen,” he notes with a grin.
Outside, there are numbered signs on tall wrought-iron posts. The sign reading “1-20” points to the right, so we follow a small path with several other students. The grounds are spectacular, with majestic trees, manicured gardens with lush plants in various shades of green and flowers so dainty and perfect, that they almost look like fake silk reproductions. As we stroll, statues of different creatures leap or peek through the bushes, making it seem like they’re watching us. We reach the end of the path and find a quaint, whitewashed stone guesthouse with cheery yellow shutters overlooking the lake and part of the mountains behind us.
Louise gasps. “I love it! Could it be anymore perfect?”
Even though I’m still homesick, I can’t help but admire the house and its surroundings. As we walk inside, Sabrina, the counselor that we had met earlier, is there to greet us. She’s girl-next-door cute; her freckles and intelligent green eyes make her approachable.
“Welcome everyone, I’m Sabrina, I met some of you earlier today. I’m going to be the counselor for this group, so feel free to ask for my help with anything. Think of me as your big sister while you’re here. I want you to treat each other like family. This camp is a safe haven for us and we should enjoy, but most importantly, respect our surroundings. You should know that this entire area, including the lake, mountains, and forests around us are protected, so only those who have been approved can enter. That means we are all safe to shape-shift out in the open without fear of being discovered.”
We breathe a sigh of relief and Sabrina smiles in response. “I know it feels good to be among people like you, right?”
She gestures at the keys in our hands. “Okay, so you have your room assignments, please go ahead and settle in. I’ll drop by in a while to make sur
e you’re all doing okay.”
Louise drags me upstairs and we find room eighteen at the end of the hall on the second floor. Inside it’s spacious, but cozy. There are two black metal-framed beds covered in light summer quilts, two antique desks on opposite sides of the room, dark, knotty wood floors, a soft shag rug, and a large bay window with a cushioned reading nook overlooking the lake. We have our own bathroom and a small walk-in closet, which is filled with dozens of gray uniforms hanging on wooden hangers. They look similar to the black ones worn by the staff, but the fabric looks lighter and less stiff. I pull one out of the closet and inspect it.
“Hmmm… No wonder they instructed us to bring a minimal amount of clothing,” I say dubiously.
Louise takes one out of the closet and takes a look for herself.
“Well, it wouldn’t be my first choice. It’s a bit drab, but I guess we have no say in the matter.”
Someone knocks, and Sabrina peeks in through a crack in the door. “Can I come in?”
“Sure!” we say in unison.
She enters and sees us checking out the uniforms. “I know those are a bit boring, but they serve their purpose.”
She takes the one I’m holding from my hands and violently pulls it apart from opposite sides. The garment magically breaks into pieces without ripping.
I look at Louise and her mouth falls open. “Wow! I take it back… These are the coolest outfits ever!”
I gather the pieces from the floor, and hold them up, my eyebrow raised perplexedly. “So, how does this get put back together?”
Sabrina takes the fabric remnants from me. “You see, they found that shape-shifters, especially while learning in camp, shifted so many times that all their clothes ended up ripped and ruined. They designed these uniforms to have invisible seams, held together by magic, so that you guys can shift multiple times in one day without damaging your clothes.”
She balls up the pieces of cloth, rubs them together, and throws them up in the air. The uniform magically reassembles itself and floats in one piece. Sabrina grabs it and slips it back on the hanger.
“Your weekends are free, so you’ll be able to wear the clothes you brought on those days… Anyway, it’s nice to have both of you girls here. If you need anything, my room is at the other end of the hall with the yellow door.”
Sabrina graciously waves before leaving.
When we’re alone again, we plop onto our beds and relax.
“So, what’s it like having one of the most powerful witches as your mom?” Louise asks out of the blue, her eyes filled with curiosity.
My face stings with embarrassment from not knowing what she’s talking about. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know? Were you like born yesterday or something?” she says with amazement.
“Well, to be honest, I was sort of clueless about all of this till a few weeks ago,” I admit.
Louise’s eyes widen in shock. “Oh my god. Really? No wonder! So, what’s the story?”
I proceed to tell her about everything that’s happened, leaving out details about Andy and the advanced progression of my powers. I don’t want to freak her out and lose the only friend I’ve made so far.
She sits on her bed in stunned silence. I stare back at her and shrug my shoulders.
“I know. It’s kind of crazy, right? One day, I think I’m totally normal then the next, I’m not only a shape-shifter, but also a descendant of a family of witches…”
“You poor thing! It’s a good thing that we found each other! I’ll do what I can to help you through this, Hazel,” says Louise consolingly.
“So, you should know then, that you’ll probably get a lot of attention once people find out who your mom is… She’s kind of a legend actually.”
I lean in, confused, but intrigued. “A legend? That seems kind of exaggerated don’t you think? I mean as long as I’ve known her, all she does is paint and do yoga. I would hardly call that stuff of legends.”
Louise glares at me. “Maven Smith single-handedly captured the most powerful dark wizard in modern history and she was barely out of the Academy.”
I look at her shocked, only half of me believing her. The other half assumes she’s messing with me since I don’t know anything about this world. “The most powerful dark wizard? As in the most evil bad guy ever?”
Louise nods her head, her mouth slightly agape. “Well, he definitely falls somewhere in the top three,” she says, half-joking.
“So, who is this guy?”
“His name was Rufus White. He died in prison where he was locked up a long time ago… The Federation had been hunting him down for years, and it wasn’t until your mom was assigned to the case that he was finally caught. There was even an intense chase with wands blazing, killing people right and left…You can probably read all about it in the camp library if you want,” she explains.
I tilt my head, unsatisfied and wanting more.
Louise eyes me sympathetically. “Sometime after the trials your mom disappeared and everyone just assumed she must have had gone into hiding or something… Once in a while people would claim to have seen her somewhere, but none of the reports were ever confirmed. So as you can imagine, it was probably quite a surprise when she appeared almost seventeen years later to sign you up at camp.”
I’m still stunned, but everything starts to sink in and make some sense. I’m grateful that Louise has filled me in, so at least I won’t be too shell shocked later on. I get off my bed and motion for Louise to follow, feeling kind of claustrophobic all of the sudden. “C’mon lets go for a walk, I could use some fresh air.”
“Sure, I’m up for exploring,” she replies enthusiastically.
We traipse downstairs, passing by other students as they settle in. Everyone seems to be unpacking, customizing desks, organizing weekend clothes, and finding places for the rest of their stuff. Nobody gives us a second glance as we head outside. It’s late afternoon now and the sunlight is casting a mellow golden light on everything, giving the semblance of magic in the air. We decide to check out the nearby forest, which perches dangerously on the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake. The scenery reminds me a bit of Safe Harbor and I’m suddenly homesick all over again.
As we enter, everything becomes a little bit darker; shadows cast abstract patterns along the way. Occasionally a ray of sunlight manages to break through, illuminating the floor, which is littered with pinecones and needles, twigs and moss covered stones. We stroll, relishing the tranquility. As we continue walking farther and farther, we have to pause and get our bearings. Suddenly we hear someone behind us.
“Try not to get lost around here… We wouldn’t want to come looking for you in the middle of the night,” says a male voice. We both whip our heads around, scanning the forest with our eyes. It takes a minute to spot him, but we finally see Jared, our mythical creatures’ teacher, perched on a boulder close to the edge of the cliff. He’s no longer wearing his uniform but instead has on a dark, well-worn pair of jeans, along with a long sleeved black t-shirt, and black boots. He still looks intimidating, but at least his smile looks friendly.
I stammer for something to say and blurt out, “Uh… We were just killing time, checking the place out.”
Louise eyes me nervously. “We weren’t doing anything wrong. We just wanted to explore a little.”
Jared chuckles. “Don’t be so defensive ladies, you’re not in trouble,” he replies, looking mildly amused.
“You have the advantage, so perhaps you should both introduce yourselves…”
Louise smiles, clearly more at ease now that Jared seems more cordial. “I’m Louise and this is Hazel.”
Jared hints surprise as he examines me intensely.
“So, you’re Hazel Smith, huh? I was expecting you to be… I don’t know… Different.”
My face is suddenly hot and I know my cheeks must be flushed. “I don’t know what you mean…”
“You kids always think different is
a bad thing,” he pauses. “Let’s just say I’m pleasantly surprised, that’s all.”
Louise butts in, “You should be. Hazel is pretty awesome.”
I glare at Louise, my face getting even hotter. “Don’t listen to her. I barely know anything. I’ll probably just embarrass myself in front of everyone.”
Jared grins and pushes himself up from the boulder. “Somehow, I doubt that.”
The sunset is crimson and orange, illuminating him like a grungy Greek god. He climbs effortlessly off the large rock, and saunters into the dark forest.
“See you both in class,” he says before disappearing into the shadows.
I glance at Louise, my eyebrow raised, and we both chuckle. Then, she gazes at me mysteriously, feigning a dramatic look. “Hazel, you’re… so… different…” she says, doing her best Jared imitation. We both laugh again until our stomachs are sore.
“That guy is intense, huh? Makes me wonder what that class is going to be like.”
Louise screeches excitedly and says, “I can hardly wait… I just hope I won’t be a total failure!”
It suddenly sinks in that we’ll be starting class tomorrow and all these kids have years of knowledge, compared to my measly few weeks.
After the excitement dies down, we head back since the sunlight seems to be disappearing fast. By the time we arrive at the dorm, it’s almost dark and the grounds are now illuminated by tall antique looking iron and glass lamps. We go to our room to freshen up for dinner and just as we’re about to head out, someone knocks on our door. Louise opens it, revealing Akiko and Samir standing in the hallway.
“You guys going to dinner yet?” asks Akiko. They both look freshly showered and changed.
I pull on my sneakers and reply, “Yes, I’m starving!”
We leave the dorm and follow the throng of students heading to the dining hall. The mood seems to be cheery, as they laugh and mingle. When we arrive, we’re led to a formidable archway past the grand lobby. We enter and find ourselves in the midst of a warm and comfortable dining room with tables of all sizes, surrounded by counters offering a variety of gourmet meals. It almost reminds me of an upscale, old-fashioned food court. Hanging above the functional wooden tables and chairs are smaller versions of the black chandeliers in the lobby. We find a table in the corner near some windows, and then go our separate ways to get our food. After a few minutes of perusing, I find a wok station and order a tofu, broccoli, and snow pea stir-fry with sesame peanut sauce on noodles. At the dessert counter, I grab an apple pie and a brownie. By the time I get back to our table, everyone is busy chatting and devouring their food.
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