by Lucia Ashta
The owl flung his wings out to the sides in a happy flap, and I wondered if he might actually skip in celebration across the desk, the length of which he paced. When he gave half a skip, I couldn’t contain my smile. Maybe he was right, maybe this semester would be great. I’d lost my lion, sure, and that sucked so badly that I’d no longer allow myself to dwell on the fact, but I still had magic. I still belonged in the supernatural community, the one thing I’d long dreamed of doing, even when I was too afraid to voice that wish. I was a student at a school for magical creatures when I no longer was one, but I was still here, among the people I cared for—by some glitch in the Academy Spell perhaps.
I’d survived. And according to Sir Lancelot, who was always right, things were looking up.
Leander reached across the armrest of our seats to take my hand. Immediately, Ky’s gaze swept across the point of contact, but I no longer cared. Ky would have to accept that Leander and I had feelings for each other, which meant I would have to do the same if he chose to date Jas. Though I hadn’t had the chance to catch up with her yet, the constant looks she shot in my brother’s direction assured me that her crush hadn’t been forgotten. I’d have to learn to deal. It was only fair.
“Enjoy your studies and all that you’re posed to learn in this remarkable environment,” the petite owl was saying. “Take advantage of the experts in their fields who walk these halls among you. Learn all you can, so that when it’s your turn to apprentice with the Enforcers, you are qualified to contribute to that great honorable institution of our defense—and that of all humanity, of all life. Today, we move forward in peace and hope. We embody the supernatural community I’ve always believed could exist. Today you are students of the Magical Creatures Academy, connected to a prestigious network of sister institutions of higher learning in the magical arts.”
He held his wings out to the side, allowing his words to ring through our heads, magically amplified. “This day, every single one of you is a beacon of hope for a better future. The choices you make today will usher in a better and brighter tomorrow. Today, every past suffering proves worth it as we lead the way in accepting peace and giving it a home in our hearts.”
With a quick glance at me, the owl said, “Let us release the past injuries and offenses. Let us put behind us all prejudices and judgments. We have the opportunity to become the supernaturals I’ve always dreamed we could be. To do this, we must forgive, and we must learn to trust again. But we also must prepare ourselves for anything. That means, while we usher in peace, we train as hard as ever, we bury our noses in books, and we appreciate every moment we are given to live as a great gift.”
He swept a wingtip across his head, unintentionally fluffing his feathers. “I could go on. As you can tell, I’m most excited by this fresh turn of events. So instead I’ll bid you a fair welcome. I’m most looking forward to sharing this term with you.”
Sir Lancelot offered his audience of a couple hundred students and scattered staff a serene, encouraging smile—or as much of one as an owl could beam. He scanned his audience, seeming to land on every single one of us, though I imagined it quite unlikely.
“All but oners, please proceed immediately to your 9 AM classes. I’m certain your professors will be as eager to see what this semester has to offer as I.” Then the owl crossed his wings behind his back like a tiny man.
When it became obvious we’d been dismissed, all twoers and up shot to our feet and began filing out. I ushered Ky and Boone to the side of the hall before they could move on.
“Did you seriously not find Rage or Fury?” I asked while Leander and my friends shored up behind me.
Boone was shaking his head, his low ponytail sliding across his wide shoulders. “We thought we had them a few times, but they were long gone before we got there every time.”
Ky slung an arm across my shoulders. “They’re definitely working with a dark sorcerer of some sort. Nothing else makes sense. Boone’s dad agrees, as do the rabbits. There’s no way the group of us wouldn’t have been able to find them if not.”
I bit my lip, and Ky turned me to face him. “We’ll find them, squirt, don’t worry. They might still be out there, but we aren’t giving up. Sooner or later, they’ll make a mistake and we’ll be on them.”
“A hundred percent,” Boone said, crossing his arms across his impressive chest. “Their evasiveness has only made me more determined to find them. My dad’s wolves too. They’ll come again when we call them, and the rabbits are on this like you wouldn’t believe.”
A part of me wanted to ask what he meant, but a greater part of me didn’t want to focus on how terrifying the rabbits were. Maybe better not to know...
“Obviously the Enforcers have decided we’re safe,” I said, struggling to believe Sir Lancelot’s celebratory speech. “Sadie’s room was gone.”
“Like, not there at all?” Wren asked.
I smiled sadly. “Both extra rooms are gone.” It was easier not to mention Wendi’s name. “It’ll be just you and me again.”
Wren nudged Jas and Dave aside to sidle between Ky, Leander, and me. She wrapped me in a hug, whispering in my ear. “Don’t worry, girl. Everything’s going to be fine. We’ll talk later tonight, okay?”
I nodded, a wave of unidentified emotion welling in my chest. Leave it to Wren to realize I needed a hug before I even did. I squeezed her tightly before letting go with a nod that sent my long, loose hair scattering. “Thanks, that sounds great.”
Too many concerned eyes were on me, reminding me of how all of my friends had treated me like I was one freak-out away from one too many for the final weeks of last term—all except for Jas, of course, who’d treated me just as she always had instead of like a trauma victim worthy of special consideration.
I pulled away from Wren, Ky, and Leander, straightening. I had to act strong to believe that I was strong, and I was ready to believe it, through and through.
“Ahem.”
As one, we all swiveled to look at the tiny, spitfire fairy hovering above our group. “You’re congesting traffic,” Fianna snapped. “And you’ll be late to class if you don’t get a move on. What kind of way is that to start the first day of classes?”
Rather than give her more opportunity to unleash her grumpiness on us, our group began to shuffle away. Stacy, Tracy, and Swan walked past our huddle, the force of their glares drawing my attention up to them. Stacy’s stare held murderous spite, but I forced my attention away, pulling my folded class schedule from my skirt, where it was tucked away in one of the pockets concealed in its plaid pleats.
9:00 – 10:45, Monday – Friday: Intermediate Shifting 301 – Prof. Conan McGinty
Wren, who peered over my shoulder, said, “Oh good! I have that class first too.”
I snapped my head up. “But I’m not a shifter anymore.”
She shrugged. “Well, the Academy Spell never makes mistakes, right? And it’s what chose what classes you’re to take…”
I turned to look at Leander, who was already staring at me. “She’s right,” he said. “No point questioning the Academy Spell. Let’s just be glad you’re still here.” His eyelids lowered over rolling silver eyes.
“Guys,” Ky said, “I get that you’re dating for real now, and nothing I say will change that.” He scowled at Leander, suggesting he’d already tried. “But can you keep the goopy looks for behind closed doors.” His eyes popped. “Wait, no, not behind closed doors. No closed doors for you guys. Doors open at all times, just like Dad makes us,” he said to me.
“Dad made you do that, not me. You were the one with the endless stream of girls whenever you were home. I didn’t bring boys to the house, remember?”
Leander smiled at me, obviously pleased at the reminder that he was my first real love.
Jas took a step forward, weaving her arm through Ky’s. “I’ll give you something to do behind closed doors, if you’d like.”
Ky smiled roguishly before sauntering off with a grinning Jas, he
r hand firmly looped through his as they exited from Irele Hall’s double doors and out into the sunshine.
“Was that payback?” I asked Leander.
“I think so, and I’m sorry to say, from his earlier reaction, I suspect lots more might be coming. He was far from pleased when I told him how close we’d grown.”
“Oh man…”
“It’s worth it though, isn’t it?” He smiled gently, his eyes soft as they took all of me in.
“Totally,” I said, convincing myself entirely of the fact. By the time the rest of us emerged onto the sidewalk lining the quad, I was almost as sure as Sir Lancelot that this term would hold the right kind of excitement—the non-life-threatening kind.
Leander pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and joined Boone in heading toward their own first class. I looked up to find Wren, Adalia, and Dave staring at me with big goofy smiles on their faces.
“You guys are gaga for each other,” Dave said.
I smiled shyly.
“They should be,” Adalia said. “You should’ve seen what she did in the court of the fae to earn her right to be at his side.”
“I haven’t earned my right yet,” I amended right away.
“No, I guess you haven’t, but now I think you just might.”
“Tell us all about it,” Wren said, settling to one side of Adalia while Dave settled along her other side, starting down the sidewalk toward Bundry Hall.
I followed, unable to keep the smile from stretching across my face as Adalia launched into a theatrically embellished recounting of how I’d faced off with Galen until we reached the entrance of Bundry Hall. As a paranormal creature who didn’t shift into anything else, from the start she hadn’t been in McGinty’s shifting classes with us. We said our goodbyes as she headed off for the gnome Professor Quickfoot’s class. After her excited retelling of my flash of mage magic in the fae’s arena, even I was ready to believe that luck was finally on my side and that everything would find a way to turn out well in the end.
9
“Welcome, lasses and lads!” the auburn-haired, burly shifter McGinty greeted from inside the gymnasium-style room within Bundry Hall that had become the unofficial classroom for the professor’s shifting classes. “Glad ya figured out to meet here instead of in the auditorium. The Academy Spell insists on listing it as the class’ official meeting room no matter what I have to say about it.”
He waited for everyone to finish shuffling inside, and when we formed a haphazard semicircle around him, he rubbed his hands across his full beard. “I hope ya enjoyed a nice, invigorating break, and that ya’re ready to work hard in this class. You’re no longer beginners. As we move on to more advanced shifting abilities, ya’ll have to work harder to master the skills. Just because many of ya have a basic shift down by now”—the professor seemed to scan all of us assembled except for Dave and me—“that doesn’t mean ya won’t be challenged by what we’ll be learning next. There’s a lot more to being a shifter than transforming into your creature. Your shifter magic is capable of more than ya probably realize, and I suspect many of you will be quite surprised to see what else you can do. I know I can’t wait ta find out.”
He grinned a mouth full of white, solid teeth at us. His enthusiasm would have been infectious if not for the fact that I no longer had shifter magic. No matter how I tried to spin it, it remained, threatening to drag me into gloomy regret.
When his eyes alighted on me, I forced a smile for his sake. It was tremulous, but it was all I had. He nodded at me, as though understanding the extent of my inner turmoil.
“As in the previous two terms,” he continued, finally dragging his gaze from mine, “ya’ll learn from hands-on experience—or claws.” He chuckled, and a few of the dozen or so students beyond my friends indulged him with a chuckle of their own.
As I scanned the students there with us, I noticed a few faces new to the class, though I’d noticed them around campus a few times, so they weren’t entirely new to the school. They must have been in Professor Quickfoot’s “other” class until now, suggesting their shifter abilities were probably relatively new to them.
“I hope y’all practiced over the break, and if ya didn’t, in the future make sure ya do. Despite the headmaster’s assurances of peace, it’s my experience that it pays to be prepared—no matter what. That means ya always train, ya always strive to do better, and ya always keep your shifter magic strong.”
This time, I was certain McGinty was purposefully avoiding my waiting gaze. I guessed the professor was as uncomfortable as I was at the thought of having a non-shifter in his shifting class.
“To start us off today, I’m going to pair y’all up, and I’ll make my rounds to evaluate where yar skills are at. From there, I’ll decide what next steps to take with each of ya. From this point forward in yar course work, ya’ll be working with an individualized plan I’ll develop. No two shifters are alike, not even from the very start. The purpose of this class is to hone your specific shifter skills, and those will necessarily be unique, even if just a little bit. If ya’ve discovered any new skills over the break I don’t know about, make sure ta tell me about it when I make my rounds. Any questions?”
Yeah, what’s the one non-shifter in your class supposed to do?
But I didn’t ask. As had become blatantly obvious since Fury sucked my lion’s magic in through his greedy mouth, I’d have to make the best of a bad situation.
Professor McGinty beamed an excited smile at us. “Can’t wait to see what ya’ve got for me, lasses and lads. This is gonna be a great term. I can feel it in ma bones. All right. You and you, pair up. You two, over there,” he said, pointing out the pairings. “You guys. And you two.” With that Jas went off, and Dave matched up with one of the students new to our shifting group. My friends and I had barely had time to catch up, what with check-in and everything. I hoped Dave had made more progress on shifting into his bobcat. He worked harder at shifting than anyone I’d met.
McGinty continued matching students up until only Wren and I remained. Either McGinty was pairing me with Wren because he understood that her constant support might help ease the discomfort of being in a shifter class, expected to complete the regular shifter curriculum, or else the shifter professor had paired me with Wren because she transformed into a willow tree. Her shifted form was neither menacing nor too painful a reminder of the lion I’d once been.
“You two work together,” McGinty said in a gentle tone, guiding us to a free patch on the smelly padded mats that covered the floor of the gym. His brown eyes, brimming with compassion, met mine. “Do the best ya can until I get back to ya, lass.” At whatever he saw in my face, he added, “Don’t worry, lass. I’ll help ya. We’ll figure it out.”
I nodded, annoyed that my eyes burned with ready tears. I was going to have to develop thicker hide than this to survive another semester here.
The shifter, solid as a tree trunk, thumped me on the shoulder before moving to the center of the room. “All right, kids. Get to it. A general rule in this class, for you newcomers: if ya’ve got time to be wastin’, then ya aren’t doin’ what you’re supposed ta be doing.” He clapped twice. “Now … show me what ya’ve got.”
A handful of students pressed their eyes shut right away, the edges of their bodies beginning to blur within seconds. The others were definitely improving, and a quick glance at Jas suggested she had managed to further advance her already superior shifting skills over the break. Jas completed her morphing while the others were still trudging through the three distinct stages of a transformation—blurring, flickering, and, finally, vibrating before appearing wholly in their shifter forms.
I was busy admiring Jas’ beautiful skunk when Wren moved into my line of sight. “You all right to do this, Rina?” she asked in that gentle caring voice of hers that seemed to crush every one of my defenses and sink straight into my heart.
I met her glassy, brilliant green eyes and swallowed thickly. My friend looked like she
was about to cry over my loss. I had to get my act together right this second.
I forced what I hoped would be a convincing smile. From her look, I knew it didn’t convince her, but I said, “Wren, thanks, from my heart, really, but I’ve got to move forward. It’s the only good choice. So let’s just pretend I’m okay and get on with this.”
She stared at me so intently that I worried if she might be examining my soul somehow, but eventually she nodded, her waist-long bark-colored hair dancing around her. She smiled for my sake. “Want me to start?”
“Oh God, yes please.”
“You got it.” And she closed her kind eyes. Within seconds, the edges to her lithe, willowy body blurred, and she transitioned between the next two phases of a transformation faster than I remembered she’d been able to do before. With a final groaning creak, what had once been my best friend and roommate burst into a willow tree—on the bigger side.
“Wow, Wren,” I exclaimed, tilting my head all the way back to call up to her top branches, which I equated with her head, though trees didn’t really have one of those. “That’s amazing! You’ve come a long way over the break, I think. And is this new?” I gestured with a hand along the length of her trunk. “You fit perfectly inside the room now. Did you learn to adjust your size or something? You were a lot smaller last time I saw you shift, though you still tore a hole through the wall that Nancy had to fix.”