The Four Protectors

Nine

We arrived at the academy late in the night due to traffic. None of us were particularly hungry enough after the revelation we'd had to stop for dinner. We were all stressed and we were only stressing ourselves out even more by being near each other.

"I'm heading back to my room," Desmond announced.

"Yeah same. It's going to be okay guys. Just rest today, we'll figure all of this out in the morning," Cassius said optimistically.

The two of them departed, leaving behind five people with two rooms for accommodation. How considerate. The four of us just stared at each other awkwardly like we hadn't been in life or death scenarios together.

Alex just looked bored as he sat on top of my suitcase twiddling with his fingers.

"Okay Annabelle you can stay with me tonight and we'll figure something out in the morning. Azriel do you mind taking the boys with you," I asked.

"We're not splitting up," Theo said immediately, gesturing to his sister.

"I understand. You and Annabelle can come with me. Alex can go with Catherine," Azriel suggested graciously.

Once that was settled, Azriel gave me a reassuring hug before walking away with the teenagers in tow. I trudged through the familiar corridors back to my room, hoping Alex would just follow. My thoughts were still all over the place when we entered the room together.

I'd barely been gone but this room suddenly felt like a stranger's.

"Do you want the bed or," I started.

The kid had already taken his shoes off and clambered onto the bed. Well that settled that question. I pulled out an old sleeping bag from the cupboard and laid down the floor, alarmingly awake despite the tiredness in my body.

I didn't get much sleep for the rest of the night as I tossed and turned on the sleeping bag.

Rafia Hamilton called us into her office a week after we'd gotten back to the academy. Classes had gone on as usual and more than one teacher had commented on my frayed focus. It was hard holding the shift of an ant, recalling the circumstances of the last time I had held this shift.

But of course, Ms. Clearwater didn't care.

Alex did pretty much nothing but eat, shower and sleep. He even refused to leave the room for mealtimes since kids had stared at him weirdly on the first day he'd come with me. Ever since then, I'd been bringing back food to him in the dorm between classes like his babysitter.

The kid didn't so much as thank me for it but I let him be.

I hadn't seen much of the others since we'd all gotten back. Cassius was spending time with his pack. Azriel was busy writing out the reports for our mission and re-establishing his wide social circle that had apparently 'suffered' in his absence.

And of course, Desmond didn't need an excuse to avoid social gatherings.

I knocked nervously on Rafia Hamilton's door. A voice from inside called for me to enter a beat later. She didn't sound too angry but I still felt like I was entering a lion's den as I pushed the door open.

I was struck with a startling moment of déjà vu as Cassius, Desmond and Azriel looked back at me.

Azriel seemed to sense my train of thought. With a sly grin, he pulled out the chair next to him like he'd done when we'd first met. I sat down with a wide smile on my face despite the terrifying woman that sat across the desk from us.