“I rename you Richard Placksworth, go and find the Protector’s Academy, maybe they can help you.” 

Victoria spat at him, and disappeared in a cloud of red. Leaving the boy once known as Trevor Aguirre alone, confused, and very afraid. He traveled many nights alone; he couldn’t ever return to his family--for surely, they wouldn’t understand what had happened; or why. His only option it seemed was to find this Protector Academy. Following the only clue given to him, he boarded the first flight to London.

***

          Arriving safely, and now accustomed to his new appearance, Trevor adapted to his new name. He rid himself of his old identifications back in New York, now he was Richard Placksworth, a man of vast intellect; but Trevor knew; that he was not at all as smart as his suit jackets and spectacles made him appear. He was; at best an average student; barely scraping a B or C. An A minus was few and far between.

 On his third night in the foreign city; he stumbled upon what seemed to be an old castle; but it was in the middle of town, it couldn’t truly be a private residence...it rose high above the city limits, the mountain top it rested upon surpassed even the tallest of the skyscrapers. Power radiated off of it, the iron gates had a name inscribed on them; The Castle Sherwood. He wondered how no one else seemed to notice such a massive building or the plateaued mountain it rested on.

“What are you doing there?” Trevor spun around;

“Just admiring the architecture.”

“Are you the new recruit for the Academy?”

“Er, yes.”

“A bit old, ain’t you?”

“I was er, cursed.”

“That explains it. The Academy ain’t in there. That is where the Guardians of London reside. Don’t you know nothin’ of the beings you going to be protecting?”

 “N-no.”

“Of course, follow me then.” 

Trevor followed the stranger down many twisting alleyways and cobblestone streets. Until finally the pair arrived at an ivy-covered building built entirely of limestone.

“Welcome to your new home then. In you go. Don’t want no humans to follow ya.”

“Who are you?”

“Names Valentine Everett. I live in Sherwood with the rest of my pack. But I’ll be moving to the Americas shortly. My mate lives there. Dianna Gold.”

“I-I went to school with her; before I was cursed.”

“Who cursed ya?”

“The Unspeakable, Victoria.”

“What did ya do to piss her off?”

“I-I couldn’t love a monster...I told her we were through, and she cursed me.”

“You dated an Unspeakable? You didn’t smell the rot and decay? The smell of burning flesh? Her eyes didn’t give her away?”

“N-No she was very good at masking her true self.”

“What made her tell you?”

 “I’m not sure.”

“Well, when you figure it out, let me know, won’t ya?”

“Sure. See you then, Valentine.”

***

Placksworth wandered through the double doors that Valentine had opened for him, the entrance hall was vast, the marble floors were bright white with swirls of gray, a double staircase was constructed of the same material, and the walls were dark mahogany and decorated with portraits with what he deduced were alumni. Important ones at least. He was studying a particularly sad portrait, for it was in memoriam of a young woman barely twenty-two. She was beautiful, striking blue eyes, midnight black hair, and ivory skin were forever immortalized in oil paint, her image would live on even if she herself were gone.

“That was Angelina Gold, the former Alpha Female of The Zell Pack Warriors.  She gave her life so that this plane of existence could experience peace for the first time in a thousand years. Who are you?”

“I was told to come here.”

“That hardly answers my question. You look far older than you sound. Once again, who are you?”

“I was Trevor Aguirre, a teenager. I’m now Richard Placksworth and I was sent here by the creature who cursed me.”

“Very well, follow me. Our Headmaster will want to talk to you.

The library that was built within the walls of the Protector Academy was profound in its architecture and stature. What made it all the more impressive was that it was hidden from most human eyes. Future Protector’s had to pass four exams with flying colors and take an Oath of Secrecy before ever being allowed access to it, and another exam to earn the rune that would allow them to enter and exit, and peruse the stacks at their leisure. 

The extremes in which the Elders took to ensure that the secret of the Guardians and their Protectors remained just that, a secret, a fairytale, a bedtime story baffled Trevor Aguirre now Richard Placksworth. He listened to the wizened man behind the giant desk in the darkened office, that he had been guided to shortly after entering the Academy, He attentively heard of all that would be expected of him now that he had signed away his life and learned about the Supernatural world. The library being the first thing explained, since it would play a vital role in his life to come. It was where all the prophecies ever given were stored. Along with secrets and histories only Protectors had access too.

                “You are either very stupid or very brave to have listened to that creature and came to us. You see, normally cursed humans are terminated or have their memories erased...but you seem to have something to prove, something to achieve. As does the magic in your blood.”

                “I didn’t know what else to do, Sir. I couldn’t go home, and I had to leave… even if I did return to my home; how would I explain to my parents how my sister died?”

                “Perhaps not stupid then. Very well--”

                “Placksworth, sir Richard Placksworth. Trevor Aguirre died the night Victoria cursed him.”

                “Richard, I will allow you to attend my Academy...on a probationary basis. You will be expected to excel in every course and ace every test given to you. I expect great things from you.”

                “Thank you, sir.”

                “Yancy will show you to your room.”

                Placksworth turned around and was greeted by a slightly younger man in an identical suit and ascot as the headmaster. 

                “Follow me.”

Three Years Later:
January of 1990

           For the last three years Richard had immersed himself in the world of Guardians, Protectors, Demons, and other members of the supernatural world. For the first time in his life, he was at the top of his class. Achieving higher marks than his peers that had been training since birth, because of this he had been chosen for the most important assignment that the Council of Protectors could give. Richard Placksworth had been assigned to Protect the Prophecy Children. 

          During his tenure at the Academy he learned basic spell work, including potion making, the gift of foresight, and an extended lifespan, slow aging, enhanced strength and senses. He even had warfare medic training for emergency wounds that couldn't heal alone. Now he was ready for the next step.

          He stood before all the Councils. The Protector's High Council, The High Elder's Council, both Elder's Councils from London and Manhattan, and the current Warrior Pack Council from both aforementioned cities. He was sweating profusely through his suit jacket and could feel his hair beginning to plaster itself to the nape of his neck.

“Richard Placksworth, formerly known as Trevor Aguirre; graduate of the Protector Academy at London; I hereby place you in the charge of the Prophecy Children; to be born in six years’ time as the Prophecy foretells. Do you accept your placement?”

“I do.”

“Then you will leave tonight along with Valentine and Marcus and the rest who make the pilgrimage to the Americas to their mates.”

“Yes sir,”

“May the Makers and Creators watch over you all.”

“That wasn’t so bad, was it mate?” Valentine asked of him as he left the chamber.

No, he supposed it wasn’t so bad. He looked his best friend up and down and smirked, he looked nervous.

“No need to be nervous Val, I already like you. It’s that Dianna that you need to worry over.”

“Hardee har har. Ain’t you a comedian now that you got yourself some fancy powers and a new assignment.”

“Come off it mate. Plackie here is just nervous to be going back to the states.”

“Afraid you might see Vicky again?”

“Course not. You two will rip her head off for me, won’t you?”

“Anything for you mate.” Valentine assured, draping his arm over Placksworth’s shoulders.

“Then, bring on this next adventure.”