Shade Academy

Chapter 29

Not long after Elana and I had taken our seats in the assembly hall Ashe took a seat beside me. He looked from me over to Elana and raised a brow at me. I looked towards Elana and laughed. She was absolutely giddy. A large smile was plastered across her face as she sat literally on the edge of her seat. Her knee was bouncing up and down so hard it vibrated her body. 

"You'll see what she is excited about." I told Ashe as I turned my attention back to the stage. "She don't even know what's going to happen so like her, you'll just have to wait and see." Ashe's face held curiosity as he nodded and faced forward. I smiled, he was lucky I decided not to do this to him, poor guy would have been humiliated. Not to mention the shame that would have accompanied it. 

My thoughts were interrupted by the clacking of the headmistresses heels as she walked across the stage. She looked at me and smiled triumphantly before she began to speak. 

"Good afternoon students. You were all called here today for a couple reasons. First. The year at the Academy is almost over, you will all be taking your final exams soon and I expect all first years to do your best. Should you not pass your finals your time here at Shade Academy will be over." Gasps were heard from the first year section as her words settled into them. The talking and whispering grew louder the longer Charlotte let them think about what could happen. I rolled my eyes, Charlotte sure liked to let the first years sweat. 

"Alright, alright quiet down." Charlotte tsked. The hall fell quiet quickly as Charlotte looked out sternly across the sea of students. "Now then. The reasons the rules have changed is simple. There has been more and more activity from the rebellion, and we need strong and capable young people to help in the fight with them. If you can't pass your first year here then you are not what we are looking for. 

On to our next order of business. The rebellion. Their activity is getting closer and closer to the Academy. Our best guess is there is something or someone here that they want." Charlotte looked to me briefly and I balled my hands into tight fists. "Our security has been increased to help protect the Academy, but I want all of you to be prepared, there is a chance you will have to fight." 

The air in the room changed as the potential danger the Academy was under reached every student.  I sensed an immense amount of fear along with determination, anxiety and so many other emotions it was stifling. 

"Now on a lighter note. How many of you remember the four men who terrorized our halls while Anna was in her comma?" Charlotte asked. The hall filled with angry grunts and growls as memories of what happened returned to them. "Well, our very own Anna has decided a fitting punishment for them. Well, all except our Prince of course. Now Professor Samuel could you please make your way across the stage?" 

Charlotte was trying very hard not to let the humor of the situation effect her, but she failed miserably. when Samuel made his way across the stage in his hot pink mini skirt and white crop top the crowd erupted into uncontrollable fits of laughter. Our out of this world handsome professor that all the girls drooled over was now dressed as a woman, strutting across the stage. His face was red all the way up to his ears as he stopped beside Charlotte. 

"Next our very own dragon shifter. Axel, please join us on stage." She sang. A growl came from behind the curtain as a very angry looking Axel walked onto stage. I could hear the snickers around me, but people were too scared to laugh out loud like they did with Samuel, Axel's menacing look sending chills through everyone. Even Charlotte gulped lightly and stepped slightly away from him as he came to a stand still beside Samuel.

"Next is Alex." Charlotte said a little more hesitantly than before. Alex however had decided to have fun. He strutted onto stage like it was a runway. He popped poses every few feet on his way to Charlotte's side making everyone's fearful features morph and change into one of humor as they all began laughing. The room quickly thawed at Alex's eccentric behavior. Even Axel's angry exterior thawed a little. 

"Alright, that's it for today students you may return to your dorms." Charlotte said and quickly left the stage. I stood and made my way up to my men smiling. I knew they wouldn't be happy. They would be embarrassed, upset and more than likely mad at me, but they had things to make up for.

All the guys eyes turned to me and they glared. "This was going too far Anna." Samuel said harshly. I flinched back and stepped away from him at his tone. Ashe, Alex and Axel quickly flanked me as they all glared at Samuel. "No, I will not back down this time." Samuel said. "You went too far this time Anna. I am a professor. I am supposed to be respected not humiliated." Without another word Samuel stormed out. 

I stared after him in shock. He knew what he was getting into when I told him about today, he knew what the punishment was and agreed to it. No, they didn't know about the assembly, but what did it matter? They had already been walking around the school and teaching classes before now. So what made such a difference this time? Why did this all of a sudden have me going too far? 

"He'll get over it love, don't worry about it." Ashe tried to soothe. "Ya, he is just being a butt hurt ass right now Anna. Don't let him get to you." Alex added. I gave them a small smile and walked passed them towards my dorm. 

I felt them following close behind me and I heard as they whispered between each other but I couldn't really focus on them. Samuel has been acting off ever since we came back to the Academy he seemed tense, angry, on edge. Something was wrong with him, something was making him like this. His anger and hostility towards me hurt yes, but what was making him act this way? What was influencing him? 

The dream from my first day here ran through my mind. Samuel's blood stained clothes, his malicious smile as his fangs dripped with blood. Was he returning back to how he was? Has something just snapped within him and his behavior is just him? No, there was no way this was my Samuel, no way this was the man I fell in love with. My Samuel was smart, fiercely protective, sometimes over baring, irritating but kind, honorable and just an all around great man. There was no way he was acting like this from his own free will, and I was going to figure out what was happening.