Fangs, Fur and Magic

I woke up to Jason shaking me like there’s no tomorrow. I sit up and rub my eyes, squinting at the bedside clock. 5:30 AM. What the hell does he want at this time?

"Get dressed, Alex. We need to go. Your buddies managed to track you down. They're in the city. We gotta move now."

He didn’t have to tell me twice. In seconds, I’m out of bed and getting dressed.

"Good, let’s go."

I grab my bag, and Jason leads us to his garage. He opens the door, revealing a black Dodge Mustang.

"Nice wheels," I say.

"Thanks. Now get in, we need to roll."

I hop into the passenger seat and fasten my seatbelt. He does the same, and we’re off.

We drive through the city in silence for about twenty minutes before Jason decides to break the ice.

"Look, Alex, I know you're young, and I’m sorry that this is happening to you. I know you're scared and afraid, but you have got to trust me and believe everything I tell you." He looks at me silently, asking me to comply, and I nod my head in agreement.

"This world is not how you think it is. Your mom raised you in a way she thought was fit and safe for you, considering what you are."

"What do you mean...?" I ask, clueless to what he’s saying.

"There’s a side to this world that’s hidden from humans, a side known only to them as myths and legends. This is the supernatural side."

I look at Jason, wondering what the heck this guy drank this morning.

"I know you think I'm crazy, but believe me, it's true. The supernatural world has four main factions." He looks over to me before continuing, "The Vampires, the Werewolves, the Witches, and lastly the cat shifters, known as Werecats."

Okay, this guy is on drugs. He seriously needs some help.

"Jason, this isn’t the time for jokes. My mom is kidnapped, and here you are telling me that Vampires and Werewolves exist. I wasn’t born yesterday, okay?" I say, angry that he’s taking this as a joke.

"I know it’s a lot to take in, Alex. I understand. If I were in your position, I would react the same way, but what I’m telling you is true. The supernatural world does exist."

I look out the window, angered by the current conversation I’m having with Jason. And here I thought he was going to shed some light on this situation.

"Look, kid, I know you don’t believe me. It’s cool. I wouldn’t believe me either if I was in your position. But reality is reality. Those guys after you are Vampires. If you paid attention, you might have noticed that they had pale skin." Come to think of it, they did have pale skin. "They won’t stop until they have you, and the only place you’ll be safe is school."

"SCHOOL?!" I shout. "You have got to be kidding me. We just closed for the holidays."

"Yes, school. Except this isn’t your ordinary everyday school. It’s where our kind goes to. You’ll be safe there, trust me," he says.

"Our kind? And what is our kind?" I ask.

"Your mom and I are Werewolves, but you’re only part Werewolf," he replies.

"Oh really? And what other part am I?" I ask.

"That’s not important right now. All you need to know is that you’re a Werewolf."

"But..."

"I said it’s not important, Alex," he says firmly.

Okay, it’s not like I believed him anyway. I sit back and look out the window. We’re past the city and into the country. We pass by beautiful farms and green fields. After two hours of driving in silence, we pull into a gas station to grab some breakfast and fill up the car.

After 20 minutes, we’re back on the road. Three hours later, we pull off the main road and take a left turn.

We follow a dirt road into the woods for thirty minutes before coming to a stop.

"Where are we...?" I ask curiously.

"Checkpoint. This is your way to school," he says as he gets out.

"You mean to tell me that the school is in the middle of nowhere?" I say as I follow suit.

"Not exactly. Come on, I’ll show you."

Jason starts walking deeper into the woods, and my mind starts pondering: What if this guy is a serial killer? Or worse, maybe he has a family of cannibals he feeds like in that movie... what’s it called... Wrong Turn?

I’m about to turn back and make a run for it, but then I hear people talking and laughing. Jason leads us to a clearing in the middle of the woods. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of people here.

"What is this place and who are these people?" I ask Jason, clearly confused as to what people would be doing in the middle of the woods.

"Like I said, checkpoint. This is your way to school. These people are students like you, returning to school from holiday."

Looking around, I notice that everyone’s got a bag, trunk, and other weird stuff.

"Don’t worry. I notified the school that you’re coming. You’ll find your requirements there," says Jason, noticing my look.

"So this school, it’s a boarding school of some sort?" I ask.

"Yes. As you can see, everyone’s got a bag and a trunk. You’ll be provided with a school uniform at school, so don’t feel like the odd one out."

"Thanks," I mutter. "Wait, what...? Uniform, as in wearing matching attire...?"

"Yes, Alex. You’re going to wear a uniform. What do you think the others are wearing right now?" I look more closely at everyone and notice that they’re all wearing white shirts, black trousers, and jackets. Hmm... I can wear that, I guess.

I was about to ask him how on Earth we’re supposed to get to school from here. I don’t see how any form of transport could get us from these woods, unless it’s a walking distance. But even so, why would the checkpoint be so close to the school? Why not just take us there directly?

"Good afternoon," say three voices in unison. "We hope you all had a wonderful time at home and, of course, enough rest, as we are about to start our second term."

I look toward the source of the voices to be astonished by what I see. Standing in the middle of the crowd are three beautiful dark-skinned women—sisters, I presume. Triplets, to be exact. They’re so identical that only their eyes tell them apart.

"Well," they continue, "we hope you’ve said your goodbyes to your family because it’s time to go."

Jason turns to me and says, "Take care of yourself, kid. Make friends you can trust—ones that can help you. You never know, they might just save your life one day."

After that, he and all the other parents step back. I turn to join my peers. In front of us are two trees: one as white as snow and the other as black as night.

How on Earth did I not notice them?

The trees look so different yet so identical. All of a sudden, both trees start to bend towards each other ever so gently without the slightest sign of breaking. They’re forming a circle as they intertwine with each other.

I’m astonished beyond comprehension. I glance to my right and notice the sisters saying something under their breath, as if they’re chanting. I can’t really hear them, but it seems to be in a language I don’t understand.

Just when I think the weirdness is over, a shimmer forms in the middle of the circle. A blue light grows from the middle until it fills the entire space. Once it’s over, everybody starts going through the circle.

They don’t come out from the other side, so I’m guessing this is a portal of some sort. Mmh... I decide to follow suit. Walking through the portal feels like walking through water, with the exception of not getting wet, of course.

Once through, my eyes almost fall out of their sockets. In front of us is a fifty-foot tall gate that seems too heavy to move, but it opens as if detecting us just as we approach it.

When Jason said I was going to school, I expected it to be one of those dull-looking boarding schools. But what I’m seeing blows my mind. A couple of yards from the huge gates stands a castle in all its glory.

It has eight towers—four on each side. To the west of the castle seems to be grounds for whatever games they have here, and beyond the castle are woods with a small lake, I presume. As we march towards the castle, I can’t help but wonder how I’m going to live in a place like this and for how long.

A couple of days ago, I was at home enjoying my life with my mom. Mom... The last time I saw her was just before I jumped out of my window. I wonder where they took her and why the hell they’re after me.

Upon reaching the castle, its huge oak wood doors open, inviting us in. Everyone seems to be happy here. I guess they all missed being back with their friends.

"Welcome. I hope you all enjoyed your leave." In front of us stands a tall, elegant woman with hair as white as snow, flowing down to her hips. She has to be the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, and that means something, considering I don’t really pay attention to women. But her beauty holds a dark secret.

"Please proceed to your respective dorms. Gents to the east, and ladies to the west side of the castle. I believe you all know your way."

As soon as she says this, people start to file out just as she instructed. I’m about to follow the guys when I feel a hand on my shoulder. Turning around, I look up to meet grey steel eyes.

"You must be the new student I was informed about. What is your name?"

"Alex," I reply, wondering how fast she moved from where she was standing a second ago.

"Ah, yes, Alex. We rarely get new students during the middle of the year unless it's a transfer. Well, not to keep you... Run along to the first tower on the east side of the building. That’s where the wolves sleep. You’ll find your belongings there."

"Ah, thank you," I say, not sure how to respond. With that, she nods and goes on her way.

As I go down the hallways, I can’t help but admire the magnificent portraits hanging on the walls. Some seem to have been here for over a century, while others are recent photographs.

After a couple of wrong turns and dead ends, I finally come up to a huge double oak door with the insignia of a wolf howling at the moon. As if sensing my presence, the doors swing open.

Walking in, no one even pays attention to me. Everyone seems to be catching up with their friends, telling each other what they did on their holiday. People are seated on leather couches, others playing video games. I think it’s Call of Duty maybe.

I even enter a room thinking it’s the toilet, only to find out it’s a fully equipped gym. That explains why everyone is so buff.

As I’m walking around, I spot a couple of kids about my age laughing near the window sill. Finally, some people my age, I think to myself. As I’m about to walk up to them, a dark-haired boy walks up to me. He has a nose that seems to have been broken recently, but he still manages to look good-looking. Come to think of it, everyone I’ve seen since I got here is miraculously attractive.

"Hey man, you must be new here."

"Ah, what gave me away?" I reply.

"I saw you walking around like a lost puppy. Anyway, welcome to Shadow Castle School for the Supernatural. This is the Wolves Tower. It’s enchanted to only allow wolves in. The same goes for the other towers—only their respective factions can enter them."

Mmh, factions.

"So how many factions go here...?" I ask.

"Well, we only have four factions here. That includes the Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, and Werecats."

"Werecats... I’ve never heard of them."

"Well, you’d be surprised to know how many supernatural species actually exist. Werecats are quite similar to us Werewolves, except they don’t turn into the same cat species. Some can turn into lions, others tigers, and so forth, but they’re all big cats. I’m William, by the way. First year. And you...?"

"Alex," I reply. "It’s my first year too."

"Well then," he says. "I believe we’re going to be good friends. Come on, let me show you to the sleeping quarters. They’re upstairs. I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping."

With that said, I follow William upstairs to my new life in this new world.