Accalia

All I could smell was wet dog as I entered my house. That, and blood if you could call what I ingested that. It smelled and tasted like brimstone…and my dreams. I shook my head at that thought and wandered up to my room, where my Jacuzzi tub was waiting

I can’t be a wolf…there has to be a way to not be what I am. I stared at myself in the mirror and tried to see any differences, but I couldn’t see anything other than my dark circles being gone. Who knew, the cure for dark circles and looking like death was shifting into a giant wolf.

I turned on the water as hot as it would go, and stripped off my clothes, that were stained and ruined by Snow’s blood. Thank goodness my mother packed clothes from last season. Although, the jumpsuit had been one of my favorite pieces.

I poured in too much lavender oil before adding rose scented salts. Maybe I’d actually sleep tonight. I climbed into the water, that was still too hot but I couldn’t give a damn. It felt amazing and I found myself drifting off to sleep.

The ballroom was decorated in golds and reds and everyone present was dressed in extravagant gowns and suits. Ornate masks disguised much of their faces, but I recognized a set of orange eyes immediately. The man from my many other dreams.

A sense of unease washed over me as the man approached; no this wasn’t the man I had dreamt about before. This man gave off an aura of danger…all I wanted to do was wake up, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even move from the spot I was standing in.

“Accalia, you belong to me now.”

I shot out of the water just as the mystery man was about to touch my mask. The water was cold, and so was I, I climbed from the tub and wrapped up in a fluffy robe, trying to shake the dream. The thought of belonging to someone so…terrifying was enough to make me never want to sleep again.

Snow

I woke up on the couch and slowly made my way up the stairs, slowly, unlike the rest of my fellow Guardians I couldn't change for a while. Stupid Unspeakable. I changed my outfit and looked in my full-length mirror and fingered the stitches, they were makeshift, not professionally done but they would do until it healed all the way. I reminded myself to thank Mr. Placksworth tomorrow for it. 

After-all he saved my life, but I saved his so are we even? Something about him is off like he's not his real age almost as if at times when he lets himself slip that he's my age but it’s a silly thought he's my fifty something principal.

 I should be thinking of Lycan, my best friend that I happened to find extremely attractive but was dating my other best friend. Right, cause longing after someone you can’t have is healthy. I sighed and got dressed and slowly and painfully got into bed, hopefully my parents let me stay home and sleep. I was tucked in on the couch so maybe Mr. Placksworth did it because my parents weren't home yet. I fell asleep with thoughts of both Lycan and Mr. Placksworth.

 I woke up with the sun on my face and saw it was six AM and my mother was pounding on my door. Yep, I knew it, they're making me go to school. I got up and showered, careful of the stitching and I got dressed in a loose-fitting tunic and gladiator sandals and grabbed my bag and headed out the door. My ride was there; just pulling up. I got in the car and the tension was so thick, I could cut it with a knife.

"I'm surprised you even got up today. With all the brandy Placksworth gave you last night." Accalia laughed. "Oh, and if you think you feel tension, it's because there is. Echo just broke it off with Lycan and well as you can see Lycan and Echo are being separated by poor Luna."

 The red Camaro was pretty tension filled. I wondered why Accalia was driving Luna’s car; but I didn’t ask. It was no secret Luna hated driving. She only got her license so her parents stopped harping on her.

"Oh um, sorry Lycan, and Echo what the hell?"

"I just wasn't feeling it I guess." her answer was so vague and she wasn't even looking at me in the eye through the mirrors.

"Okay." I dropped it and stared out the window. "So, guys what did you guys do after you got home?"

"I went out for a run...wolf style." Lycan said, 

He sounded upset, but not because of the break up; I wondered what else could be upsetting him. At least he could experience our heritage without running into the damn monsters that haunted the dreams of humans.

"I did too." Luna said

"I took a bubble bath trying to get rid of the stench." Accalia sneered, she would take her grand ol’ time coming to terms with our heritage; Accalia hated animals. She hated the forest; she hated the outdoors altogether.

"I read a little and went to bed." Echo said quietly, but she blushed...she was hiding something.

"I was asleep all night and will be for a few days. So how is it being a wolf without the fighting?"

 I tried to reign in my jealousy. I was intrigued with my being a supernatural being. I always was fascinated by werewolves, vampires, and the other beings that go ‘bump’ in the night. Now, I was one of them. Better than a werewolf, and stronger than a shapeshifter. I was a Guardian! I was part angel, part demon...but I knew deep down, that I was much more than that lineage. I was part of a new era of Guardian, I could feel it.

"It’s so free. And there's not a care in the world. It's like you’re an actual wolf. It's amazing really." Lycan commented.

"You can finally be yourself. You don't have to worry about what others think of you." Luna said glancing quickly at Echo then away.

 I was suspicious, what were they hiding? It wasn’t necessarily my business to know, but as their new Alpha, and Luna’s cousin; it became my business. We arrived at school; this morning’s drama and life changing decisions, forgotten for the time being. Accalia and I strode towards the school; the Queen Bees of the school, but we didn’t give ourselves that title; no, the school populace did. Lycan was the King of course, and our King had better things to do it seemed. He ignored us and he went off with his football buddies, so unlike him. 

Then he glanced back over his shoulder at me and then quickly away. Was I dreaming or did Lycan look at me differently than he usually does? I had to be dreaming, I had to be. But a small part of me relished in it. Lycan was interested in me...but what if it is just the Rebound Bug, biting him in the ass because he knew I liked him somehow?

Mr. Placksworth

I peered out the window of my office and saw Snow and the rest of the new Guardians arrive at school but Lycan and Echo ignored each-other. Odd, instead Echo walked close with Luna, their arms entwined, Accalia and Snow; deep in conversation strode confidently towards the school, whilst Lycan sought out his teammates. Four Guardians went inside the building and one stayed outside with his football teammates. What happened last night? Snow was walking better than I ever imagined so early after her injury and informal surgery. She was laughing but also looking for someone.

Just before she entered the building, Accalia, already invisible in the swarm of students, she let out a silent scream. She ran towards someone, it was Lycan. He was down on the ground. I rushed out of my office and into the parking lot. I got to them and saw that someone must have made his emotions unbalanced; dangerous even for me to be close to him. For a newly transitioned Guardian; anything could set them off. Maybe the recent break up or a new love interest or someone made him angry.

 I looked up and saw Travis Dillenholer and Charity Bell in the crowd, that could be it. He was always protective of Snow and seeing the boy that broke her fragile heart with the girl responsible probably set him off. I got him to look at me and he growled, Snow whimpered; she didn’t want anything to happen to either of us. She was confused; and angry by the presence of her ex.

"Get them out of here or they won't be here and there won't be anything left for the police to identify." Lycan snarled softly,

 I shooed the students away besides Snow of course. I noticed Echo just inside in the shadows looking observing and then I saw a head of black hair moving...Luna? When did they get so close? Is this what Lycan saw? His recently ex-girlfriend with another girl so quickly? I didn't really care what set him off but I wanted these students out of this parking lot before everyone died. I again shooed them off. I leaned down and whispered in his ear

"Run I'll cover for you Lycan." I looked at Snow.

"You are healed enough, go with him." she looked at me and then ran after him.

I stood up and went back inside. They were all changing, I just hoped I would change too. Just one kiss of someone that loved me, and I would be sixteen again. I hoped it would be soon, I don't think I can be sixty-five much longer, my back is killing me.