The Cursed Academy

Just one more thing....

"Hold on just a minute Sophia," my grandmother said "We have a few things to go over before we can discuss where you're going."

My father gently released my mother's hand and rose to his feet, from his chair behind his desk.

"I don't think that my heart can take much more today," my father said- his face saddened with the thought of losing his daughter to a far away school.  "I'm going to leave you ladies to further discuss the details." he glared at my grandmother when he emphasized the word ladies. "I'm going to bed!" he growled and exited his office slamming the door behind him.  We could hear his footsteps stomping up the staircase in the distance and the bedroom door slam above.

"Well!" my grandmother exclaimed "Now that I can think clearly we need to sit down and talk."

She released her bony grip on my shoulder and led me by the hand to the big leather couch in the sitting area of my father's office. My mother joined us and sat on the other side of me.

"Sonjia," my grandmother said as my mother took my other hand. "You need to tell her."

My mother spoke softly and said "Your grandmother had to agree to a compromise with the Vice Principal of the school. " her voice hesitated, and my grandmother loudly cleared her throat.

As if poked with a sharp tack, my mother jumped at the sound and rapidly said "No one can know you are part werewolf. No one except the vice principal."

Bam! My grandmother whacked the bottom of my chin again and mumbled under her breath about turning me into a toad if I wanted to leave my mouth open wide enough to catch flies.

"OK." I was too confused to say more.

"This school is very......exclusive." she hesitated at her word choice. "And by nature of being exclusive they are very, VERY...selective."

"Oh for goddesses sake, Sonjia! Stop beating around the bush!" my grandmother commanded. She turned her comments towards me "Sophia. My beautiful granddaughter. It is because you are part werewolf."

'Surely, I did not hear that correctly?' I thought to myself in disbelief.

"Here, in our pack lands in Spain, we are an eons old community. Our allies include magical creatures of all walks of life..and death" she laughed at her own humor. "But where you are going is a foundling country.  Why, I remember it was just over a couple of hundred years ago that they were 'born'!!" she said while using her fingers to make air quotes. "They have yet to fight their battles and make their allies. So, they are not open to the idea of a hybrid living among their 'precious children' " she said, again with the air quotes.

"You haven't shifted yet so it won't be difficult to hide. But, in order for you to have the absolute best instruction vice principal Blackclaw has agreed, as a personal favor to me" she stressed "to admit you. We will have to mask your scent, of course. And buy you all new clothes. Everything here smells like.....wet dog." She wrinkled up her nose.

'Ugggh. Why hadn't I paid more attention in world history at pack school!! I would have figured this out by now!!'

"Grandmother!!" I pleaded "Where am I going???"

"America, my child. America!!"