Monster Academy

by Catherine Banks

  That was terrifying.

  “So, how long are we going to be on lockdown?” Frances asked.

  I rolled my eyes. “Forever.”

  “The rest of our lives,” Tsukiko muttered.

  “You three are so dramatic,” Sakura, Tsukiko’s mother, said. She was a werewolf with silver fur and was just as beautiful in human form as in wolf form. She had silver hair, a very thin frame, and was as scary as a chupacabra.

  “Ma’am,” I said and dipped my head in a bow.

  Frances bowed as well.

  “Girls, stop bowing. I keep telling you to treat me like a mother,” she chastised.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Frances and I said, our eyes still down.

  She sighed. “So, now that you are cooped up here for at least a week, what would you like to do? Would you like to come with me on a trip?”

  We all looked at each other and then her.

  “Father will not allow us out,” Tsukiko said.

  Sakura spoke quickly in Japanese and although I couldn’t understand the words, I could tell from her tone that she was chastising Tsukiko.

  Tsukiko bowed her head and apologized.

  “You will accompany me on an errand. There will be three werewolves and one chupacabra accompanying us. Now, pull up your panties and come with me.”

  I coughed to cover my laugh, but Sakura’s eyes darted to me.

  “I am glad I amuse you, daughter,” she said and smiled.

  “Can we get some food?” I asked.

  “We just ate,” Frances said.

  “I’m hungry, too,” Tsukiko said.

  “You are always hungry,” Sakura grumbled.

  We stared at her in silence.

  She sighed loudly. “Yes, I will have food picked up on our way. Now, come along, daughters. We will go on this errand and get food.”

  With quick steps, we followed her, being sure not to get more than a couple feet behind her. She did not like dawdlers and I did not want to get punished...again.

  “Are you three afraid?” she asked as we climbed back into the limousine.

  “A little,” Frances admitted.

  “Good. Fear keeps you on your toes,” Sakura said with a nod. “But know that you will always be protected. In fact, I was informed that your grandparents will be coming in a few days to discuss the situation and come up with an answer.”

  I met eyes with my friends.

  We had to be part of that meeting, whether our families knew it or not.

  I would find a way for us to eavesdrop so we could find out what they knew. One way or another.

  Thirteen

  FRANCES

  I had expected an errand with Sakura to be a shopping trip or something along those lines.

  Instead, we were driven to a super fancy creature restaurant, one that we were incredibly underdressed for.

  Sakura strode in like she owned the place, walked straight to a table of three women in gorgeous gowns, and she sat in one of the two empty seats available.

  Since there weren’t enough seats for the three of us, we stood behind Sakura.

  Sakura smiled at the three older women, witches from what I could tell, and said, “Do you have the items?”

  The women looked at each other nervously and then each pulled out small parchment wrapped packages and slid them across the table to Sakura.

  Sakura took them, lifted them to her nose one at a time, and inhaled. Then, she slid three envelopes across the table to the women. She rose and said, “Thank you,” before walking away.

  We followed her, expecting to walk out of the restaurant, but instead walked to an empty table on the other side of the restaurant.

  She sat and waved at the empty seats. “Sit, girls. We will eat here.”

  One of the chupacabras took the packages from her and walked out of the building.

  Tsukiko opened her mouth, but Sakura shot her a glare that had Tsukiko snapping her mouth shut.

  “Order whatever you would like,” Sakura said, opening her own menu. “I recommend the fish.”

  Tsukiko and I opened our own menus. I couldn’t decide on anything.

  “Sakura, ma’am, would you choose for me?” I requested.

  She beamed. “Certainly, daughter. I would be delighted.”

  “Me as well, please,” Loralie said.

  “You, too?” Sakura asked Tsukiko.

  Tsukiko closed her menu and nodded. “Please, Mother.”

  Sakura lifted her chin and as if summoned by the movement, a waiter appeared at her side.

  The waiter was tall, thin, pale, and definitely a vampire.

  She whispered into his ear, and he nodded several times before walking away.

  “A surprise?” Tsukiko asked, smirking.

  Sakura smiled. “I know how much you enjoy surprises.”

  We smiled and then all scowled at the same time as the surprise of the day came to mind.

  That was a surprise I hoped we never dealt with again.

  “You are safe, pups. No creature, especially no human, will ever lay a filthy hand on you,” Sakura said. She growled softly and the hair on the back of my neck rose.

  She may have married Tanjiro for love, but she was one scary alpha female werewolf.

  “Do you—” Tsukiko started to ask, but Sakura put her finger to her lips.

  “It is not public knowledge,” Sakura whispered.

  We nodded our understanding.

  “Again, do not be scared. You will be protected,” Sakura said.

  “But what about the other students? They’re still at the school, right?” Loralie asked.

  “Yes, but we have sent an entire pack to patrol the perimeter and a dozen chupacabras as well. No human will get near them,” she said.

  “Then why can’t we be there?” Tsukiko asked.

  “Because your fathers are too protective,” Sakura said. “I would have left you there, just with additional guards, if it had been up to me.”

  “Will we be allowed to go back soon?” I asked.

  “No,” Sakura said. “Not until we talk to your grandparents and Frances’s parents.”

  “When will that be?” I asked softly. My parents were incredibly hard to get ahold of.

  “We already sent word to them all. So, hopefully, in a couple of days,” Sakura answered.

  The waiter returned with several drinks and a few appetizers.

  Loralie and Tsukiko tore into the appetizers like starved dogs, pun totally intended.

  “You two just ate a few hours ago,” I reminded them with a shake of my head.

  “They are growing,” Sakura said. “It is natural.”

  “They’re going to get fat,” I muttered. I knew I was just jealous, but my friends also knew I wasn’t seriously degrading them for eating so much.

  “I could do with some weight gain,” Loralie said around a full mouth of breadsticks.

  “Loralie,” Sakura hissed. “Do not speak with a full mouth.”

  Loralie swallowed. “Sorry, Mother.”

  “Do we have another errand after this one?” Tsukiko asked, her eyes darting towards the table where Sakura had taken the unknown packages from the witches.

  “Yes,” Sakura replied and took a sip of her wine.

  I took a drink of my water and looked around the restaurant. There were several different creatures eating, but we were definitely drawing most of the attention.

  “Do you come here often?” I asked Sakura.

  She shrugged one shoulder. “On occasion.”

  “How do you keep the humans from finding it?” I asked, looking towards the front door nervously.

  “It is heavily glamoured. There is a witch on staff who reinforces it when necessary, but if she were gone, it would still be fine. Humans could walk in and they would see a full restaurant of humans. The host would then advise them it was full for a private event,” Sakura explained.

  “What if they come back a different night?” I asked.

  “They
don’t,” she said. “Once they’ve entered the building, it gives them the creeps and they won’t return.”

  The waiter returned with our food and set each plate before us, before bowing and walking away.

  Sakura had gotten me some type of pasta dish I had not seen before. It smelled good, though.

  Tsukiko, Loralie, and I set our napkins on our laps and waited until Sakura took a bite of her food before we picked up our forks and started eating.

  Loralie had a black dish that looked like it was moving, but her wide smile was not the reaction I expected.

  Tsukiko had a huge rack of ribs that were smothered in sauce on her plate. She licked her lips and looked at her mother who sighed and nodded, giving her approval to eat with her hands despite it being a nice restaurant.

  I picked up my fork and took a bite, barely suppressing my moan. It was full of cheesy and garlicky goodness!

  For the next fifteen minutes, no one spoke as we ate our food, savoring each bite with happy smiles.

  Sakura finished her food and sipped on her wine more, smiling as she watched us.

  I wiped my mouth when I had finished and drank some water.

  “Dessert?” Sakura asked once we were all finished.

  Our heads bobbed in unison.

  Sakura lifted a finger and the waiter appeared in a poof beside her. “Dessert menus please.”

  He set them down in front of us and waited.

  Another server came and took our empty plates away.

  I skimmed over it and said, “Lava cake, please.”

  “Sundae,” Tsukiko ordered.

  “Flan,” Loralie ordered.

  “Flan,” Sakura ordered.

  He bowed, took the menus, and walked back to the kitchen.

  “Were your meals acceptable?” Sakura asked with a smirk.

  “It was amazing,” I said.

  “Delicious,” Tsukiko said.

  “Phenomenal,” Loralie said.

  “I’m glad you three enjoyed the meals. How are the meals at the academy?” She asked.

  “Pretty good,” Tsukiko responded. “But not as good as this.”

  “Nothing is as good as this,” I said.

  “I will try to take you girls out to more places like this,” Sakura said. “What would you like to do tomorrow?”

  “Don’t you have work?” Tsukiko asked softly.

  Most of the time Sakura and Tanjiro had to deal with the shapeshifters and, more often than not, they were away from home.

  “Due to the circumstances, and that it is nearly impossible to get all of us old folks together at one time, I will be staying home until things are decided,” she said with a smile.

  “Can we have a spa day?” I asked excitedly.

  Tsukiko squealed softly while Loralie scowled.

  “It has been several years since we last had one. I’m sure I can whip up some beauticians and such for tomorrow. Let me step outside and make some calls,” she said and stood.

  “Really?” Loralie asked us.

  “Oh, shut up. You like them, too. Just tell them to paint your nails black,” Tsukiko said.

  “Who doesn’t love a good massage?” I asked and squirmed as I thought about it.

  One of the werewolves went outside with Sakura while the other guards stayed in the room with us, leaned against the wall with their hands clasped in front of them.

  I wasn’t sure I would ever get used to having guards nearby. I wasn’t used to it yet and it had been at least a decade.

  “Your desserts,” the waiter said and set them on the table.

  All other thoughts left my head as I picked up the new fork and eyed my beautiful chocolate cake.

  Cake was life.

  Fourteen

  TSUKIKO

  After picking up some more suspicious packages, we returned home and Mom disappeared to her office.

  Frances and Loralie took turns showering and then we all climbed into our beds and slept.

  My sleep was fitful, dreams of snakes and humans attacking plagued me.

  The next morning, we sat at the huge table able to sit forty in the fancy dining room meant for when we had important guests over. There really was no reason for us to be in there, but we had started using it when we were toddlers because we wanted to feel important.

  Dad had scolded us once and then had decided he didn’t care if we used it. Some mornings, like today, he even joined us. “Can you pass the butter?” He asked from the opposite side of the table.

  I gripped the butter dish and then slid it across the tabletop.

  It slid right into his waiting hand.

  He smiled. “Thank you.”

  Mom sighed loudly and shoved a piece of roll in her mouth. She knew there was no point in reprimanding us because we had been doing this for a decade and would continue doing it for at least a few more decades.

  “What are your plans today, girls?” Dad asked as he buttered a roll.

  “We are going to have a spa day,” Mom answered for us.

  He paused buttering. “I don’t want—”

  “Here, Tanjiro. Don’t get your fur matted,” she said and rolled her eyes.

  Loralie snickered and coughed to try to cover it up.

  “Good. Tonight, we should be meeting with everyone to decide on a course of action,” Dad said.

  That had me meeting his eyes. “Tonight?”

  “You were able to get ahold of my parents?” Frances asked.

  Dad nodded. “They were difficult to get ahold of. I had to use a seer, but we eventually got in touch with them.”

  “What time?” Loralie asked.

  Dad shrugged. “When they arrive. You know how they are. We will probably eat dinner first, though. I expect you three dressed nicely and to join us.”

  “Yes, sir,” all three of us responded.

  He nodded once and took a big bite of his buttered roll.

  “What are your plans, Father?” I asked and took a bite of the sausage on my plate. I had drenched it in syrup when neither of my parents had been looking.

  “I have a few meetings with pack leaders and then I’ll be home a bit before dinner,” he replied.

  “Can you pick up some refreshments?” Mother asked. “For the dinner.”

  He nodded. “Certainly.”

  “Uh, don’t you usually have your staff do that?” Loralie asked.

  She was right.

  “We’ve recently decided to start doing things like this ourselves. To help keep us humble,” Mother said.

  I arched a brow at her because I could sense she was lying. What were they hiding?

  It wasn’t common for them to keep secrets from me. Was it because Frances and Loralie were here? Was there some coup going on within the shifter community?

  If there was, I needed to know about it.

  Mom gave me a look that had me keeping my mouth shut to save my questions for later.

  Once we were done with our food, we headed to the large bathing and sauna area where we would have our spa day.

  Dad had agreed to build the area in order to try to keep Mom and I safer. He knew if there was a facility on our grounds, staffed by creatures we could trust, we would be less likely to leave.

  It totally worked.

  Sure, there were times we went elsewhere, but ninety percent of the time we just used our own facilities. Mom had to call in the staff when we wanted to use them, since we didn’t need to have someone here that often.

  The staff was scheduled to arrive in around thirty minutes, so we changed into our massage clothes which was just a breast band and a pair of booty shorts.

  Mother had the largest breasts among us and fiddled with her top a few times to get the position right. Loralie, Frances, and I tied ours tight, smooshing our smaller breasts against our chests.

  “Pick out your colors,” Mother ordered us, smiling down at her chest in satisfaction when she finally got her breast band tightened comfortably.

  Frances and I hurried to
the wall of nail polish and looked over the hundreds of options.

  Loralie picked the blackest black there was and sat in a massaging chair to wait.

  I took down one teal and one pink colored nail polishes and stared at them with conflicting emotions.

  Frances took down a reddish orange that matched her hair with a nod.

  “Which one?” I asked Mom.

  She regarded them for a few moments, giving them serious consideration. “The pink. That is a good color on you.”

  I put the teal back and sat beside Loralie in one of the other massaging chairs.

  I twirled my hair and asked, “Would Father tar and feather me if I dyed my hair?”

  Mom turned from her phone to look at me. “What color?”

  I held up the pink.

  Her lips twitched. “I think we can get away with it as long as you leave some of your hair your natural color.”

  “Will it make her wolf’s fur pink, too?” Frances asked.

  Mom shook her head. “No.”

  Frances pouted. “Sad. A pink wolf would be super cute. I bet the guys would fall over themselves to get to you.”

  A pang of pain hit me. I had run from Rathik...again. This time I had hidden in a bathroom. I wasn’t sure I could face him again.

  He probably didn’t want to see me, either.

  I had to go back to school, but I was going to have to pretend Rathik didn’t exist.

  As if it was so easy to do.

  “Why the sad face?” Mom asked.

  I put on a fake smile and said, “Nothing. So, what’s new in the world of shifters?”

  She sighed. “You couldn’t wait until we were alone?”

  “Since when do you hide things from your daughters?” I asked, giving her a glare.

  She glared a moment and then her eyes softened. “You’re right.” She turned to Frances and Loralie and bowed her head. “I am sorry.”

  “What’s going on?” Loralie asked, worry making her eyes widen.

  “Our world as we know it is over. We are at war,” Mom said.

  Fifteen

  LORALIE

  “War? With who?” Tsukiko asked, her throat bobbing as she swallowed hard.

  “The werewolves have decided that they don’t want to be under our control any longer, though they haven’t officially declared war on us yet,” Sakura said. “And the humans clearly are at war with us.”