It was early in the afternoon when Nik went by his locker, got out his phone and dialed. 

"Yes, okay mom. I'm staying after school for history, I'm kinda falling behind, so I wanted to ask for some extra help. Yes, I'll be safe, I'll be home soon. Love you too, bye.”

He met his teacher in the back of the school near the pavilion. "Hey Ms. Sphinx.”

"Hello Nik, glad you could make it.”

Nik looked around to see if anyone was watching. "Wouldn't the school cameras catch us swinging swords around?"

"Not at all. I disabled the cameras in the back, so nothing will be shown on the film when they review it" Ms. Sphinx explained.

Nik blinked. "You know how to do that?"

"Mr. Thompson, I know how to do many things I'm a trained assassin. Now on to your first lesson" she smiled drawing her sword. "Good. "But you must keep your body strong and flexible, that's what we call a formal stance".

"Oh man..." Nik looked over at Ms. Sphinx, she looked like she hasn't broken a sweat. "How come your not tired?.”

"Years of practice. Have enough people trying to kill you, you'll adapt", her phone rang. "I'll be right back Nik, rest up.”

Nik dropped to the ground with the dagger hanging from his waist and his sword in hand. "I wonder if I'm worthy, only one drop?” That’s when he heard a noise and turned to see two people approaching with bloodlust in their eyes, they were wearing all black with red dragon shaped tattoos on their arms.

Nik stood up. "Shapeshifters....”

"A child?" said the man. He was skinny and tall. "No doubt about it and he has the dagger, but he's not our target.”

"Just like the vile women to push her trouble onto someone else and a child at that", sneered the heavy built woman.

Nik held up the dagger. "Stay back!"

They stopped and laughed. "Look, kid. Were not after you" the man explained. "Just tell us where Dark Swan is.”

He lowered his guard. "Who?"

"The assassin! The women who gave you that dagger" the woman didn’t like the boy’s procrastination. "Don't make things harder on yourself!" she threatened before shifting into a lion.

Nik stood his ground until he saw something flash and rush at the shapeshifter causing her to fall back biting her arm, the creature had black scaly skin with green and red spots, pointy ears and fangs.

The woman clawed at the monster. "Get off me!.” The other creature had the other shapeshifter cornered and chomped on his leg, the man shifted into a large snake and wrapped itself around the creature, but it used its sharp teeth to slice through the skin, the snake hissed and went back to human form.

"Wh...what are those things?" he stammered. "Where's Ms. Sphinx?"

The woman reached out her lion claws. "Hideous creature, Die!" “But, the creature slashed her stomach causing the shapeshifter to cough up blood. She laid there as Nik stood over her.  Why won't you tell us where she is...why are you protecting that cold-blooded killer...? She murdered the son of our majesty, Prince Antauri".

Nik thought. "Why am I protecting Ms. Sphinx?  She nothing but a killer, she talked about how she murdered the prince in cold blood because it was an assignment. Maybe, I'm just being selfish cause of the treasure and my own problems”.

"Tell me boy...why?!" bellowed the woman.

"Because...she saved my life" A few minutes passed before Ms. Sphinx returned.

"Ah, good boys", she petted them. "Listen, I want you both to protect and look after Nik make sure you do what he says.”

"Ms. Sphinx...what are those things and where did they come from?" they approached and started sniffing.

She smiled. "Theses are my Darkmatter Beasts, pets for assassins. To answer your other question, before you left the classroom I planted my mini monsters on you encase you had a hard time learning the moves; I wanted you to have some protection.”

Nik looked at the bodies. "I see.”

"Now come along, we should go" she put her arm over his shoulder. "Okay boys, clean up the mess.”

( Nik's House )

"Hey, I'm home", Nik yawned.

."Welcome back", said his mom. "How was extra help?"

"It was fine, I did well. Where's dad?'

"He got caught up with work, so he'll be coming home a little late", she explained

"I understand", as he went to his room.

"Better wash up before dinner ", she yelled.