Seth nodded. “Of course. I’m sure all of us will be here while you transition.”
That made me feel a lot better. I sucked in a breath and rapped my knuckles against the door.
“Come in,” A woman’s voice called out softly.
I wiped my sweaty palm on my skirt before opening the door slowly. The Headmistress’s office was cluttered, full of books and boxes stacked high along the walls. She sat at a large desk in the middle of the room. There were two antique chairs in front of the desk, presumably for guests. I approached the desk nervously. “Hello,” I said. “I’m Luna.”
The Headmistress looked up. “Yes, I know who you are. I am Gertie Woodlock, the latest generation of Woodlock’s to take care of this home.” She wasn’t unkind, but her tone was straight to the point. She looked almost exactly like I had imagined that a Headmistress would. She was a slight woman with white hair, dressed conservatively in black.
Gertie played with the reading glasses that hung from a chain around her neck. “Seth tells me that you are an excellent candidate for our program,” She continued. “Tell me, what were you doing before he found you?”
I hesitated, suddenly ashamed of how I had been forced to survive on the streets.
“Be honest,” She added.
“I was picking pockets and stealing from tourists. I lived in a women’s shelter on the nights I could get a bed. Otherwise, I was on the street,” I said. I glanced back at Seth who gave me a reassuring nod.
The Headmistress looked me up and down, assessing my story as it spilled from my mouth in a mess of words.
I told her how I had been abused as a child, abandoned, sent to foster care and institutions until I got the nerve to run away. I told her how I had never known I was a changeling until my teenager years when the faeries tracked me down and decided they wanted me back. I told her how I could change my appearance at will, but it was only glamor. I told her how I had survived years on the street. Then, I told her how Seth and his pack had found me and brought me here. I didn’t hide a single thing from Gertie; something about her aura made me trust her.
“Hm, a changeling!” The Headmistress said once I was finished. “That’s interesting. I’ve never had anyone like you under my roof before.” She leaned back in her chair. “Seth has put in a good word for you and he made a strong case, but I wanted to meet you myself and hear your story.”
I clenched and unclenched my fists nervously. My panic was coming back. The overpowering urge to run was creeping through my body. I took a breath to stay calm.
“And I have decided that you may stay,” The Headmistress said. “However, I am concerned with getting involved with fae matters. We are a private reform school. We have little to do with the outside world aside from donors and those who we reintroduce into society.”
“Thank you,” I said. My chest was tight. My fingernails were digging into my flesh. I was no good with authority-types like her, but she seemed ok.
“You will begin classes tomorrow. Your schedule will be delivered before dinner.” The Headmistress paused. “Oh, and please try not to cause any trouble. You are dismissed.”
I nodded and backed away from her desk. I didn’t turn until Seth touched my shoulder and guided me back out into the hall.
“Oh gods,” I sighed as soon as the door was closed.
“You did great,” Seth said.
“I felt like I was going to die. I was so nervous.” I admitted.
“It was good,” Seth said to reassure me. “You’ve been through a lot.”
I knew he was talking about what I had told the Headmistress. I blushed and shrugged it off. “Everyone has their own challenges. I just did my best to overcome mine.” I paused. “Any chance we can sneak downstairs and get some lunch? I’m starving.”
SEVEN
————————————
LUNA
The kitchen was empty. There was a small window of time between lunch and dinner that we could exploit to ensure I didn’t go hungry until six o’clock.
Seth dug through the pantry. “What are you hungry for?” He asked.
“Anything,” I said. “Don’t go to any trouble. I’d be happy for a PB’n’J.”
Seth scoffed. “You should have more than that,” He said. A few minutes later he produced a roasted turkey and cheese sandwich on dark rye bread with heirloom tomatoes and romaine lettuce. He added a dash of mustard and presented it to me.
“Wow. Thanks.” I didn’t know what else to say besides that.
“Chase says the best cook in the pack, but I still make a mean sandwich.” He winked.
I sat on the counter and ate while he cleaned up. Every bite was better than the last. I had never even had heirloom tomatoes before. I only knew what they were because one night I had to use a stack of cooking magazines as a bed.
“Can I ask you something?” I asked after a moment.
“Sure,” Seth said.
“Why did you buy me that drink the other night?”
Seth chuckled to himself. “Isn’t that what I should do when I see a beautiful woman at the bar?” He raised a dark eyebrow at me.
I blushed. “I mean if you knew I was a supernatural. Why did you do that? Why didn’t you stop me before I caused all that trouble?”
“I wasn’t sure at first,” Seth admitted. “Your energy is extremely hard to read. It’s like faerie energy, but different and a lot weaker.” He stood beside me and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Well, I’m glad you did,” I said. My heart fluttered. He was so close. His cologne smelled like cloves. I was alone with another member of the pack and all I could think of was how badly I wanted him. This was not like me. Why was I so attracted to these shifters?
“Seth,” I breathed. The room faded away and I was caught in his dark eyes.
Seth leaned in closer. I could feel his breath against my skin. “You smell like a wolf,” He rumbled. “I was hoping I’d get to claim you first, but it seems I’ve been beaten to it.” He kissed my jawline. “Did you know if you play with one of us, you get the whole pack?”
My breath hitched in my throat. His body was pressed against mine. I trembled in his grasp. “I’m not that kind of girl,” I protested.
“There’s no shame in it, my dear,” Seth said. “You should honor your body. Be aware of your desires. Be open with what you want. This isn’t the human world, Luna. You’re free here.”
I whimpered and Seth crushed his lips against mine. My feelings surged like a storm.
Seth growled against my skin. “You should have asked me first, little morsel,” He hissed. “I’m the alpha.” He grabbed my arms and pressed me down on the counter. “I rule this pack. I get first dibs.”
I couldn’t breath. My clothes felt too tight. My body was too hot. “I’m sorry,” I said with trembling lips.
“Not yet, you’re not.” Seth grinned and flipped me over, cupping my ass. “How would you like a spanking.”
Every nerve in my body jolted. This was happening so fast. I wanted him, but here? In the kitchen? It was so wrong. “What if we get caught?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Seth lifted my skirt to expose my panties and slapped his hand across my ass. “We have just enough time for you to apologize to your alpha.”
His words were almost enough to take me over the edge. He pushed me against the counter so my pussy would grind against the corner and slapped my ass again. He grabbed my soft flesh, breathing in my ear and whispering things I’d never even heard before.
“Seth,” I groaned. My need was uncontrollable, and my panties were slick with wetness.
“I can smell you,” Seth said against my ear. He kissed me hard and pulled away, his eyes perking up at the sound of distant footsteps. “Looks like that’s it for us now though.”
My legs were so weak I nearly collapsed. I caught a glance of his massive bulge before the kitchen door was thrown open and an old witch stomped in.
The witc
h looked at us in surprise. She was short and round, dressed in white clothes that were stained with all sorts of food. Her hair was a mess, but she had a hairnet in one hand. “Seth! What have I told you! No students in the kitchen!”
“You know I’m not a student,” He said with a dashing smile.
“Oh!” The woman was flustered. “You were less than a year ago. Now git! Go!”
Seth laced his fingers between mine. “No problem, Miss Betty. We were just leaving.” He led me out of the kitchen and down to the basement.
“Where are we going?” I asked as the kitchen door slammed behind us. Even the thick wood wasn’t enough to block out the sounds of the old witch cursing and banging pots.
“Don’t you want to finish what we started?” His eyes glimmered in the dim light. “The pack has an apartment down here away from the students.” He slipped a hand up my skirt, his two fingers running down the center of my wet panties. “Oh my.”
My breath caught in my throat and the heat in my body returned. “Seth,” I started.
“There you are!” Maddox’s voice came from down the hall.
Seth withdrew his hand and placed it on the small of my back. “Just having lunch,” He said.
Maddox motioned to a door. “We have some reports of a lost puma shifter,” He said. “We could use your help.”
Seth stiffened. Suddenly, he was all business. “A puma? Don’t they all settle out west?”
“Exactly.” Maddox glanced at me. “Your little pet project can wait. Let’s go.” He went back inside.
Seth sighed. “Sorry, Luna,” He said. “Can I get a rain check?”
I was half disappointed and half relieved. “Sure,” I said. “No problem. You have work to do.” I cleared my throat and fixed my hair, which had become stuck to my face. “I’ll see you guys later?”
Seth quickly leaned in and kissed me. “Absolutely.” He glanced back at me before disappearing into the room.
Now alone in the basement, I wondered what to do next. I wandered back down the way we came until I found a stairwell that led to the main floor. I hadn’t had any time to explore, so now was as good a time as any. I had to calm my heart down before I passed out.
The main floor was empty. The large foyer led to a series of sitting rooms and a library. In the other direction I found a large formal dining room with enough seats for twenty people. It was eerily quiet. Everyone must have still been in classes. I wandered through the sitting rooms and past the library and computer lab. It was like a real school in here. But where are the classrooms? They must’ve been on a different floor.
A meow from behind me caught my attention. A large tabby cat looked up at me from an armchair.
I smiled and crouched down to pet the cat. My fingers slid through her long fur. Her purring brought me instant peace. I sighed softly and sat down on the carpet next to the chair. “Hey kitty,” I said softly.
The cat lay there and purred while I stroked her.
“You don’t have a care in the world, do you?” I whispered. Her fur was so soft and clean, nothing like the alley cats that I was used to. I had always loved cats. In fact, if I had the power to shift, a cat shifter would have been my first choice. How nice must it be to just lay in the sun all day without having to worry about human problems?
A minute later, a ball of fire appeared. It fizzled and flashed, sending a note flying at me before vanishing.
“What the fuck!” I exclaimed. Magic was going to take some getting used to. I gingerly opened the envelope, the paper was still warm. I found my schedule inside.
8:00AM - Breakfast - Dining Area
9:00 AM - Individual Counseling - Room 210
12:00 PM - Lunch - Dining Area
1:00 PM - Art therapy - Room B100
3:00 PM - Free time - N/A (exceptions: Wednesdays are mandatory physical education)
6:00 PM - Dinner - Dining Area
9:00 PM - Lights Out (no exceptions!)
I read it twice just to make sure I knew the room numbers. All the classes were on the second floor. That explained where all the students were. The art studio was in the basement? That put me close to the shifters again. My heart skipped a beat.
“No.” I whispered to myself softly. My body was losing control and I was not that kind of person. I folded the schedule up and tucked it in my pocket. I needed to keep distance between myself and the pack or I’d lose any last scrap of self control I had left.
EIGHT
————————————
LUNA
It was a miracle, but the next morning I managed to wake up on time. I dressed in my navy uniform, brushed my hair, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and (most importantly) made sure my sack of money was still secured underneath my mattress.
It was then that I realized how hungry I was. I hadn’t eaten dinner because I lost my nerve and ended up hiding in one of the third-floor lounges with two of the house cats. I used my glamor so people wouldn’t notice me and saved myself from any awkward altercations.
There was no avoiding it now. It was time to face my fears.
I walked down to breakfast, avoiding the tiny elevator that reminded me of an antique birdcage. The dining room was busy. Over half of the chairs were full. Food had been laid out down the middle of the long wooden table and everyone was helping themselves and chatting in small groups. I counted ten of them; I made eleven.
Everyone looked up and the chattering stopped. Ten pairs of eyes of all colors stared me down for a moment before the students went back to their conversations. The welcome was colder than I had anticipated.
Thankfully, there was an empty seat at one corner of the table. I kept my elbows in and ate quietly. In a way, it reminded me of mealtime in a shelter, except quieter and better smelling. Students finished eating one by one and left without a word to me.
I struggled to swallow the dry toast. My eyes remained fixed on the plate in front of me. It was then I realized I was waiting for someone to steal my bacon or hit me or something like that. But this wasn’t a shelter. It was a group home. It was a reform school. These kids all had a bad streak to them, I guessed, though I doubted it was anything like I had seen on the streets. I reassured myself of this and relaxed a fraction.
My reprieve came too soon.
“So, new blood?” A girl said as she passed by me, kicking the leg of my chair. Her friend snickered. They were both witches with long black hair and perfectly applied make up. Mean girls. No matter where I went in life, I knew there would always be at least one. Bullies that talked a lot of shit but probably couldn’t throw a punch to save their life.
I ignored them. I was done eating.
“What’s your name?” The first witch asked.
I wondered if they were allowed to have their wands in this place. I didn’t want to cross a magic user as much as I didn’t want to put up with bullshit.
“I said, what’s your name?” The witch was getting closer now.
“Why do you need to know?” I snapped. Faeries hated giving their name, and I found out early that I was no different. I didn’t like anyone knowing about me. If it was possible for me to permanently glamor myself as invisible, I would have a long time ago.
The witch sneered. “You a shifter or something? You have strange energy, girl,” She said. Her friend nodded.
I stood up so fast she nearly fell over. I said nothing as I turned on my heel and walked out of the dining room. I didn’t want to be near these people. This is what I hated about schools. People had no concern for others. Bullies were everywhere.
Thankfully, Mr. Hobbs was in the lobby and instantly ended any of their plans for a follow up. I watched the witches glare in my direction before walking upstairs and then let out a sigh of relief.
“Ah, Miss Luna? How are you liking everything so far?” Mr. Hobbs asked.
“Fine,” I lied. Most people thought changeling couldn’t lie so this secret of mine worked to my advantage. “I was just heading to cou
nseling.”
“Good. Have fun,” Hobbs said.
I forced myself not to laugh. “Sure,” I said. “I’ll try.”
***
The art therapy class was in the basement. Besides the door that lead to the pack’s apartment, there were only two other doors. One said POTION LAB and the other said ART STUDIO. I looked back at the apartment door before getting a hold of myself and entering the studio.
It was a small room that smelled of paint thinner and dust. Materials were stacked haphazardly on tables, frames and easels leaned against every wall. Besides the mountains of dusty art supplies, there was nothing.
“Hello?” I called out, taking a hesitant step.
The lights flashed on suddenly and a strange box on a desk became illuminated.
“What the hell?” I reached for the box and flipped it open.
There was a rush of cold air and the lights flickered. A white orb rose from the box. “What is it? Who’s there?”
I screamed and fell backwards. “What the hell? A ghost?”
The orb shimmered. “Oh, for goodness sake, I’m not a ghost.” It bobbed up and down as it spoke. The tiny voice filled the room in every direction. “I’m nothing like that. I’m just a spell.”
“A spell?” I repeated.
“The late art therapist left me in her stead. I am an enchanted orb that is here to guide students in art therapy.”
I was beginning to wonder if I had eaten something bad at lunch. “Excuse me?”
The orb sighed. (Or at least that’s what it sounded like.) “I’m just an enchantment, ok?”
“Sorry,” I said, standing up and brushing myself off. “I’m not used to enchantments.”
“And I’m not used to students barging in!” The orb squeaked. “How long have I been asleep?”
I glanced around. Judging by the dust, a while. “I don’t know. Doesn’t anyone else do art therapy?”
“Art therapy is a wondrous form of healing, my dear,” The orb said. “But no one else seems to see the benefit. The only students I get are the ones with no where else to go.”
Crooked Changeling Page 4
