Shifter Academy- an Impish Christmas

by Angel Leya

  She had his ankles, but the imp grinned and snapped his fingers. A moment later, they were surrounded by some sort of energy, the globular shape swirling with snow. The air around them chilled, but Kenzie refused to let go. She could hear her friends yelling from the other side, and some other odd sounds that made her think of static. Maybe they were trying to kick the barrier down, but it was magic, not glass. There was no way they were getting through it. And there was no way she was taking her eyes off the imp.

  “How do you keep doing this?” Kenzie growled.

  “I’m a helper, you see. Your magic made me.”

  “But my magic doesn’t work on you!” The imp was kicking and struggling, Kenzie desperately trying to hang on. It was like trying to restrain a toddler—nearly impossible, and infinitely harder than you’d assume just looking at the thing. Sure, he was larger than a toddler, and more fully aware of his capabilities, but still. Kenzie let go with a grunt. Maybe he’d be trapped by his own force field. To her relief, he didn’t try to leave. Maybe she was right.

  The imp dusted himself off, pulling to his full height. “Not on, but upon. It’s the charm of our bond.”

  Kenzie allowed herself to glance around the little dome the imp had created. The snow blurred the figures outside, who were still yelling and definitely banging on the force field. It looked like her friends, as well as other shifters.

  “Bring the barrier down!” came a muffled voice that Kenzie believed was Trevor’s.

  “I can’t!” she shouted back. Even if she wanted to, she didn’t know the spell to remove it. “How come you can use such advanced magic?” Kenzie asked the imp. Maybe if she stalled for enough time, he’d turn back, and she could put an end to this nightmare. She tried to tune out the voices still shouting. She needed to concentrate if she was going to win.

  The imp cocked his head. “You do what you do. The answer’s in you.”

  Kenzie rolled her eyes. Great. The riddles were getting more complicated. “So, what? You got all my memories, except with better recall or something?”

  The imp grinned. “Well done. Yippee! She’s catching on, I see. But all good friends come to an end.”

  Kenzie’s brows scrunched. “What do you mean?”

  “After all you do, who still stands with you?”

  Kenzie glanced at the barrier, the snow growing thicker and the chill making her teeth chatter. “I don’t know. But you saw them. They’re still there for me.”

  “Are they, indeed? Let’s see.” The imp raised a hand, and the swirling stopped.

  Kenzie’s jaw dropped as she looked at the sea of shifters standing around the force field. Oberon looked like a very angry momma bear, and only Trevor was still in view. Where had Leya and June gone? Where was Jesse and Wes? Helena and Lenore were somehow front and center, arms crossed, looking quite pleased. Was this even real? The movie of her and Adam played on, apparently on repeat, as it looped back to the beginning, movie-her once more jumping on Adam’s lap.

  Kenzie’s eyes pricked with tears. How long could the imp keep this nightmare up? His visits had been short, but he’d been in helper form for hours, from the sound of it. Was she too late? Was the person trapped inside lost forever?

  “They all want you gone. Say the word and it’s done.”

  The imp’s words were like a siren’s song, the pain of her time at the school coming to a crescendo. Sure, she’d never tried very hard to fit in, but nearly a year of indifference, fear, and outright rejection weighed heavily on her. She’d refused to admit it, refused to acknowledge that it was even happening, but somehow everything had gotten under her skin, eating away like an infestation. Maybe everyone would be better off if she was gone. Maybe the whole Christmas idea had only served to push everyone further away. Maybe she’d subconsciously paved her path out of this place.

  “You agree so I say, let’s make them all pay.”

  “What?” Kenzie asked, blinking through her blurred vision, trying to focus on the creature tearing her apart from the inside.

  The Dome began to shake. At first Kenzie thought it was just in the little bubble, but the faces transforming to worry around her, and the upward glances at the cracking ceiling were enough to convince her this was affecting the entire school.

  “No!” Kenzie shouted, lunging at the imp.

  He giggled and dodged her. “Why? We’re not done. The fun’s just begun.”

  Kenzie growled. “Ooh, if I could just use one of my spells on you, you little imp.”

  “Try it and you’ll see; your magic can never catch me.”

  The Dome rattled harder. Kenzie wondered how long it would hold up before water began to breach the shell. It was like the vampire attack all over again, except this time it really was her fault. If only she could call on someone else’s magic. Mom or Gram or . . . Kenzie’s eyes widened. The blanket. That quilt was put together with a piece of every baby’s blanket in her line. There had to be some sort of magic in it. A whole lineage of magic. More than likely enough magic to take down one impertinent imp.

  Kenzie ran to the edge where she’d seen Trevor. He wasn’t looking at her anymore, but up at the ceiling. Oberon was at the door, urging students out, as guards shifted to aid those frozen in fear.

  “Trevor!” Kenzie shouted, banging on the force field. “Trevor!”

  Trevor’s gaze snapped to hers, and he leaned against the forcefield.

  “The blanket!” she screamed. “Get Gram’s blanket! The one Ren brought!”

  Confusion swept over his face, and Kenzie’s hope waned as she saw an arm wrap around his waist and begin pulling him backwards. It was Jesse, wearing a pained look as he struggled with the mer.

  “Where’s Wes?” Jesse mouthed at her. Kenzie shook her head. She didn’t know. Hadn’t seen him since lunch. Was he still in the school? Was he in danger?

  She had to stop the imp. For Wes’s sake. For her friends’ sake.

  Kenzie turned back to the imp, her hands clutched into fists. “You. Will. Stop. Ta’usche!” She released her fists and water poured out, filling their little bubble.

  The imp cocked his head. “Stop playing pretend. You don’t want this to end.”

  “I will, so help me. I’ll drown you, and me with you, if you don’t stop this at once. These are my friends, whether we’re fighting or not. My boyfriend—or ex-boyfriend, whatever—is missing. I will not let you kill them just because I’m an idiot.”

  “I didn’t know you cared. Could the love still be there?” The smile was slipping from the imp’s face.

  Kenzie decided it was time to wipe it off completely. “Ta’inthreachá.” Electricity sparked off her fingertips, and she winced as a stray arc came dangerously close to her face. She held it tightly contained, but the stuff was wild.

  The imp’s eyes widened. “You couldn’t. You wouldn’t.”

  Kenzie smirked. “You have no idea who you’re messing with, do you? I don’t back down, and I don’t give up. Stop the shaking. Now!”

  The tremors seemed to ease, but it was the staticky sound of someone banging on the bubble that made Kenzie turn her head. She expected to see Trevor there, but it was Ren, down to his smart clothing and already turning into the red kitsune she’d heard so much about—not from her mom, though, thank all that was good in the world.

  “Why don’t you put that away?” he called to her. “You could really get hurt.”

  “You brought the blanket,” Kenzie shouted back, diffusing her magic and letting the sparks on her fingers die. “How?”

  “A little fishy told me. What should I do now?”

  The gurgling water stopped filling in the bubble as well, but it was nearly knee-deep. “Try wrapping it around you and see if you can get in.”

  Ren nodded, now fully fox, and grabbed one corner of the blanket, dropped down, and rolled across, like a giant sushi—straight through the force field. He spluttered as he came out of the water, unwrapped and upright, fully human and completely drenched. “O
kay? What now?”

  “We wrap the imp in the blanket.”

  Ren winked. “One imp burrito coming up.”

  Kenzie smiled as she approached the imp from one side, Ren covering the other.

  “You will not get me. The helper is free!” the imp shouted, trying to dive between them.

  Ren threw the blanket over where the imp landed, and Kenzie grabbed the other side, the two of them trapping the creature and then bringing him above the water. There was kicking and yelling from inside, and Kenzie was sure she’d have some pretty bruises in the morning, but she didn’t let go.

  The blanket became heavier, and the bubble disappeared with a pop, the water spilling out, leaving a large slick area on the floor. Kenzie let her side down, Ren doing the same opposite her. Some rubble lay around them, but from the looks of the Dining Hall, things weren’t nearly as bad as she’d thought, looking through the force field.

  The school wasn’t flooding.

  It was salvageable.

  They were going to be okay.

  There was a groan from beneath the blanket, and Kenzie peeled it back, curious as to who had been behind all the mayhem and destruction.

  She gasped when she saw Wes laying there, his granola eyes closed, his granola hair damp and plastered to his forehead. Kenzie swept a lock from his eyes, staring at him, unbelieving. How had she not known? The fatigue, the distance, the imp’s obvious hatred for her relationship with Trevor. I should’ve known. I should’ve known. She could’ve stopped this, if she hadn’t been so blinded by her own concerns.

  “Please be okay,” she whispered, pulling his head into her lap. “Chúnthór nos’mó, thuill adthoil mó. Croileathra, kruthitheoirha, goraih maigh agaht.” Kenzie took a deep breath, praying the spell had worked, that the curse had been lifted, that she wasn’t too late. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you. I always will, no matter what. Do you hear me?”

  Wes coughed, his eyes fluttering open, his brows pulling down.

  “How do you feel?” Kenzie asked, her heart hammering.

  “Kenzie?” Wes croaked after a long moment.

  Kenzie let out a long breath.

  Ren tapped her on the shoulder. “I hate to break up your happy reunion, but this cat-tastrophe needs to get his tail to the sick bay.”

  Kenzie chuckled. “You mean the nurse’s station?”

  Ren shrugged. “Same thing. Let’s go. You might be feline fine, but I could really use a towel.”

  Kenzie shook her head. Leave it to Ren to make light of an awful situation. But one look at Wes sobered her back up again. He was shivering, his face turned away from her. She wondered if they’d ever find their way back to each other, or if the severing was forever. A single tear escaped, and as she wiped it away, she thought she saw one on Wes’s face, but it was hard to tell with him still so damp and her vision blurred.

  Kenzie stood and she and Ren helped Wes to his feet. Wes leaned on Ren, and Kenzie started after them as they made their way to the nurse’s station, but stopped.

  She wasn’t needed anymore. Not with him, anyway.

  Maybe she should try to find out how to get this mess cleaned up. Anything to delay her inevitable expulsion.

  Chapter 25

  Ren barked out orders—and puns—as he repaired the hairline fractures running through the Dome. Other students and staff milled around, picking up debris and making reports on what needed to be patched and repaired. Kenzie helped out for a while, keeping her head low, but as there were so many hands, and she didn’t know how much longer she had in the school, she decided to play Santa one last time.

  Trevor had already taken the shopping bags they’d left up front and Gram’s blanket back to her room. She headed up there to put together the last of her gifts.

  On the way up, she noticed that the one selkie statue on the staircase had lost her head. It seemed fitting, given her current status. Would they repair the broken statue? Replace it with a mer? She’d probably never know. Maybe it was better that way. A piece of magical spark had broken off as well, and Kenzie took it as a memento of her time at the Dome. Maybe she’d have it made into a necklace or something.

  She took her time with the presents, doing her best to make them pretty and label them. Bracelets for the girls, a dog collar for Jesse—the jewelry kind, of course—and the turquoise and copper cuff for Wes. Kenzie even made a card for Trevor, since she’d never officially gotten him anything.

  She grabbed a ball cap—one of Wes’s that she’d taken, of course—and tucked her hair up into it before setting back out, hoping not to be recognized as she rejoined the throngs of students.

  She quickly scuttled through the dorms, dropping off her gifts. The bag for Myreen she left in Juliet’s room with a note on it. She’d filled that bag with Kol—pictures of him, to be exact—and a note about how she must have been a bad girl this year to get coal as a gift. She hoped Myreen would like it. They were worlds apart these days, but that girl was still her best friend.

  As she was backing out of the door, she bumped into someone. She screamed and spun around, placing her hand over her heart when she saw who it was.

  “Trevor!” she said, slapping his arm. “Don’t sneak up on a girl like that.”

  Trevor’s arms were folded over his chest, and he let out a chuckle. “Or maybe it’s you who shouldn’t be sneaking around.”

  “Hey, at least I have good reason.”

  Trevor’s brow lifted. “Which is?”

  Kenzie rolled her eyes. “Making a final Santa dash. You?”

  “Trying to find out what you were up to.” Trevor looked at his feet. “And I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  Kenzie didn’t answer for a moment, her mind turning to all the awful things the other students must be saying about her. “You heard, huh?”

  Trevor let out an amused huff. “Oh, I heard. Apparently turning Wes into an imp was revenge for him breaking up with you like he did.”

  Kenzie smiled, but shook her head. “If only I were so clever.”

  “No need. You’ve got a big heart—behind that big mouth, of course—but a big heart, nonetheless. Don’t let anyone change it.”

  “I just wish I hadn’t been such an idiot. If it weren’t for Gram’s blanket, this school would be fish food. How exactly did Ren end up with it, by the way?”

  Trevor looked up, merriment dancing in his eyes. “While your friend was dragging me out, I spotted Mr. Suzuki and told him what you were asking for. I thought I could remember, but I knew he’d definitely know what to look for. I would’ve gone myself, but that hound is really strong.”

  Kenzie smirked. “Yeah, Jesse’s a beast.”

  “Sorry it took me so long to figure out what you were asking for.”

  “I didn’t think you would.”

  Trevor feigned offense, bringing a hand to his chest. “You wound me!”

  “Bah. The worst I could do is deflate that massive ego of yours.”

  Kenzie looked at the floor, scuffing the tile with her toe. “Look, I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be around, but I will pay you back. I promise.”

  Trevor shook his head. “No need. Really. It’s okay.”

  “Even if I’m not your dream girl?”

  Trevor shrugged. “What’s a few hundred dollars between friends?”

  Kenzie’s eyes widened. “Did I really spend that much?”

  Trevor laughed. “The jewelry put it close, but no, you weren’t too bad.”

  “Good.” She met his eyes. “I will pay you back.”

  “And you will be staying.”

  Kenzie looked past him, afraid if she looked straight at Trevor, he’d see the tears threatening to spill. “Yeah, I’m not so sure.”

  Trevor slung his arm over her shoulder, guiding her down the hall. “The way I see it, you have a great case, and some great friends. Besides, you’ve got magic. Who in their right mind would throw out a magic user that could bring the entire school to its knees?�
�

  Kenzie snorted. “I’m afraid that was just the imp.”

  Trevor put a finger to his lips. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

  Kenzie shook her head, but a half-smile crept up her lips. Maybe she could stay. Just maybe.

  “THERE’S NO WAY SHE can stay!” Helena said, venom leaking from every word. “Look at everything her ‘magic’ has done to this place. We might as well have gone through another vampire attack, the way the school looks.”

  Kenzie stood in the corner, her head down, her arms folded. What Helena said was true, and Kenzie was struggling with whether to agree and give up or try to fight to stay.

  “Oh, come on,” Trevor said. “How many times has a were gone berserk and taken out a classroom? Or a greenhouse?” His eyes slid toward Kenzie, and she smirked. The story of Myreen’s destruction of the greenhouse was epic. Like, she was basically a legend. It didn’t hurt that she was a hybrid now. Or the daughter of Draven—who she killed. Sheesh. Kenzie needed to give Myreen a ring when she got a chance. It had been too long since they last talked.

  Oberon looked at the students in his office, his gaze finally landing on Helena. “It’s come to my attention that you and Lenore were behind the rather scandalous video.”

  Lenore looked at her feet and Helena reddened.

  “I think your silence speaks volumes. It’s my opinion that there have been wrongs on both sides. Should I send all of you away?”

  Kenzie took a step forward. “No. I think we should all try to get along better. Starting with me.” She turned to Helena and Lenore. “Hi. I’m Kenzie. I’m a selkie, not a dragon or a phoenix. And I promise, I’m on your side. I hear the mer love their seafood. How about some sushi?”

  Leya and June walked in at that moment, drawing the attention of everyone there.

  “Hey, sorry it took so long to get here. Did we miss anything?”

  Kenzie’s brows scrunched, and she saw the same look of confusion on the director’s face.

  “Nope. You ladies are just in time,” Trevor replied, looking a little too full of himself.