“You seem distracted today, Sophie. I heard about your impressive shift this morning. You should be feeling elated.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I am. I think the shift just wore me out, though. It takes a lot of energy to shift and I was too nervous to eat much this morning.”
“Ah,” the professor said. He started into my eyes. I shifted my weight. What was he looking for? I finally looked down at my shoes to break the eye contact. “Is that all? I’m sure being the dragon is a huge responsibility, are you feeling the pressure of that? You know, we professors are here to help you come completely into your powers, however that looks for each student. And we want to help you in whatever way we can. We actually enjoy it, that’s why most of us become professors. Is there anything you’d like to share with me? Anything I can help with?”
I debated telling him about the conversation I had with my father. Dad had said it was secret, but Professor Vickers was a professor at Animage Academy. Surely, he knew there were immortals walking around, right? I looked up to see he was staring at me and I lost my confidence.
“No, really, I’m just tired. Thank you, though. I appreciate you asking me.”
“Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me. You better get to your next class.”
“Thank you,” I said again before heading out the door.
I had just enough time to get changed and run into defense class before the next bell rang. Hudson’s mystery folder still sat in my bag, unopened. I wouldn’t see him again until dinner so it would just have to wait.
“There she is, everyone: the dragon.” I jumped when I heard Professor Sarah announce my presence when I entered the room. The whole class broke into applause. I suddenly wished I could melt into the floor and disappear forever. Instead, my face broke into a furious blush. I was saved by the sound of the bell ringing. Everyone quit clapping and grabbed their staffs to get down to business. I turned to grab a staff and was met by Drew already holding one out to me.
“Here,” he said. “Figured you might need this.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Are you okay from yesterday?”
“Of course. It takes more than a little tumble to keep me down. Though, now I know where that super strength came from. How does it feel to be a dragon?”
“Honestly? Overwhelming. I know I should be excited and honored and all, but right now, it’s just overwhelming.”
Drew laughed and stepped back into a guard stance.
“Well, let’s work out some of that frustration, shall we?” For the next two hours we sparred. I was pleasantly surprised to see my reflexes had improved almost overnight. I thought defense class was silly, but it was time I got to spend with Drew, so I always tried to do my best. For once it was nice to be able to hold my own. Thankfully there was no return of my uncontrollable super strength.
As soon as class was over, I rushed to the cafeteria. Instead of getting food, I went to our usual booth and pulled the folder out of my bag first thing. Inside was a beautiful drawing. It was a picture of me from the waist up in charcoal. Surrounding me was a beautiful dragon. I heard someone sit down beside me and looked up to see Hudson. He slid an extra tray over to me.
“Hudson, this is beautiful. I didn’t know you were an artist.”
“Happy Birthday,” he said.
“The detail is amazing. You must’ve been working on this forever, but—” I paused and looked at him. “Why did you draw a dragon? You couldn’t have drawn all this between classes today?”
He shrugged, “I just had a feeling,” he said. “I drew most of it and then filled in some of the finer details during meditation time this morning after your shift. You make a very good model as a dragon.”
I laughed and then burst into tears.
“Sophie, I’m sorry, what did I say?” Hudson asked, looking both concerned and terrified at the same time. He looked around us, but neither Gracie nor Willa were anywhere in sight. I couldn’t answer him. The crazy events of the day had taken their toll, and I was emotionally spent. He reached out and tentatively put an arm around me. I turned and sobbed into his shirt.
“My artwork is that bad, huh?” He said after a minute.
“It—it’s—not that,” I managed to get out through my sobs. “I really—like it.”
“Sophie, come on. What’s wrong?” I shook my head and continued to sob. He waited patiently until I was able to semi-compose myself.
“Want me to walk you back to your room?” I nodded into his shoulder. He draped his arm around me as we walked back. His warm presence next to me was comforting, but it also reminded me how much I wished I could talk to my brother. Once we made it to the room, I threw myself onto the couch and buried my head in the pillows.
“Just leave me here forever.” Instead of listening to me, Hudson sat down with me and patted my back.
“This has something to do with where you disappeared to today, doesn’t it?” He asked. I nodded into the pillows.
“Will you tell me about it?” I propped my head up on my arm.
“I can’t.”
“Are you sure? I don’t like seeing you upset.”
“Oh, Hudson. I wish I could tell you; I really do. But I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” I let my head fall back onto the pillows again.
“Well, okay then. Can I do anything for you, bring you dinner? It’s your birthday, Sophie, you’re supposed to be celebrating. It’s not every day you turn sixteen.”
“I know,” I said with a sigh. “I guess I’m just not in a partying mood. It’s been a long day, and it
