The Four Protectors

One

I'd never once detested someone quite as much as I detested Mrs. Clearwater around examination season. I shifted back into my human self, letting out an audible groan in the process. Mrs. Clearwater shot me a glare to which I returned a fake smile.

My smile dropped the moment her back faced me again.

She knew that shifting into creatures that were extremely small caused painful cramps when a shifter returned to his or her original form. Since she'd marked me as her least favorite student the minute I'd walked into her class over two months ago, she'd asked me to shift into a ladybug and hold the shift for an hour for this midterm examination. It had taken every ounce of my concentration and willpower and I was rewarded with an ill temper and cramps in my legs and neck.

This had been the longest hour of my life and that wasn't a bloody exaggeration.

The old crone sauntered over with a satisfied smirk before begrudgingly handing me my score for the practical exam. An A+. I looked up at her in surprise. I deserved it but she rarely gave me what I deserved.

"You're the best shapeshifter I've seen in years," she admitted.

I'd been told that on more than one occasion. Other kids in this class could barely hold transformations for ten minutes before whining like babies as they complained that it hurt too much. Then they'd come to my dorm room two days before the practical begging for 'tips.' I gave Clearwater my trademark smirk.

"I know," I said. She rolled her eyes.

"You need to work on your attitude Catherine," she scolded.

"But my big ego is my best quality," I teased.

She tsked with disapproval but I couldn't care less. For one glorious moment, I was on top of the world.

Sensing the end to our surprisingly pleasant banter, I turned to leave. My slightly inflated ego could be taken down a notch or two but no one ever tried to do it. I was good at what I did and I had the right to be proud of myself.

After all, I didn't have anyone else that cared enough to be proud of me.

I headed to my dorm room to change out of uniform and catch up on some much-needed sleep. I dropped my bag onto the messy floor littered with Chinese takeout cartons thanks to examinations. I was about to rummage through my mess of a closet when I noticed a thick black envelope sitting on my bed.

The school's seal was stamped on it and a thousand horrible scenarios ran through my head at once.

They'd finally found out that I'd shifted into a grizzly bear to give the incoming students an 'initiation' two years ago. They realized I'd shifted into a rat and ruined Lizzie Waltham's brew during potion's class last week. Or perhaps they found out that I shifted into a tarantula and scared the headmaster's nephew on his birthday two months ago.

I was royally screwed.

Before I descended further into my rabbit hole of panic, I picked up the envelope and tore it open. Inside was a set of simple instructions to report to the Headmaster's office at 7:00pm tonight to discuss important matters. The letter couldn't be more vague if it tried.

I gulped nervously.

I'd met Headmaster Rafia Hamilton once during my eight years at The Academy. The meeting still scarred me to this day. She was a terrifying woman to say the least with cold blue eyes and a permanent scowl etched on her face.