Page 27 of Monsters Within (The Creatures We Crave 1)
Liar, liar, pants on fire.People who didn’t want to hurt anyone didn’t sadistically smile the way they did.
“Fuck right off!” I screamed and waved my middle finger in the air. No one was taking me or my monsters. Over my dead fucking body. I had waited twenty-one years to feel even a fraction of the happiness they had brought me, and I wasn’t letting anything or anyone rip that away from us.
The strangest thing happened then, and truly I wouldn’t have believed my eyes if my own monsters hadn't just come to life in the past twelve hours. The space in front of me reflected back at me and swirled like water in the air in a silver-blue tone.
I didn’t have enough space or time to stop myself from catapulting straight into it, and I let out a “Oh, fuck”. Warmth encompassed me as I screamed in fear of what was happening before I landed harshly in a heap on my shoulder.
“Damn, that hurt,” I hissed out and groaned before the reality of the situation set back in.
Just as I looked back to see where my monsters were, they tumbled through the same area I had, ungracefully much like I did. Fear clawed at my chest at the thought of the two men after us falling through any second now. We had no head start anymore, and we’d be fucked.
We’d have no choice but to fight however we needed. We would not be taken captive by any ‘factions’ or whatever they had called them.
“Shift into your true forms! We have to fight them off,” I commanded as I jumped to my feet.
I didn’t have the first clue how to fight, but I knew that kicking a guy in the balls, shoving my fingers into their eyes, and raking my nails down their skin had to hurt. I’d do anything I could to help get us out of this mess.
Right as their forms were released and swirling in front of me, their chests and eyes glowing brilliantly, claws at the ready to fight, the space blinked away. We were left staring at a wall full of books that I didn’t recognize.
We were definitely not on campus any longer.
“Well, I have to admit, I’ve never seen a creature like that before, and that’s saying a lot,” a gentle voice spoke from behind me, startling the hell out of me.
I practically jumped out of my own skin as I whirled around with my fist raised, ready to defend myself. But all I found was a woman sitting at a large oak desk with her hands clasped and a kindness radiating from her pale blue eyes.
“Be careful,” Kylo growled and swarmed to move in front of me, placing me directly in the middle of my three monsters. Their backs were to me as they faced out, prepared for any attacks. I’d be a liar if I said their protective mannerisms didn’t make my heart flutter every damn time.
“I understand your trepidation, but there is no need for that here,” the stranger offered. Her tone was so soft and unthreatening that I immediately felt the tension bleed out of my body.
My gut instinct was to trust her, but at the same time, it was glaringly obvious how out of my depth I was.
“And where is here, exactly?” I piped up from behind Kylo.
“Dark Imaginarium Academy,” she responded, and from her tone she was quite proud of that fact. “We are home to supernatural creatures honing their skills over a four year span with us. Once they make it to graduation, they are offered widely sought after positions here in Praeditus.”
I couldn’t help but screech as my eyes widened. “Did you just say Praeditus? Like, we are in that plane?”
Excitement had my heart beating in overdrive. This was something I’d often dreamed of but never thought would ever come to fruition.
“Yes, dear. This is Praeditus, and you are safe at my academy.”
I felt no danger from her, and I suppose my monsters felt the same, as they shifted back into their human forms until we formed a line looking at her. As she pushed from her desk and walked around, I took in her features.
She radiated a warmth and peace that washed over me in waves. Her blonde hair was perfectly curled, and it appeared like she had no makeup on, but she still was easily one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. Her piercing eyes took me in as she came to stop in front of me.
It was clear she was naturally taller than me, only emphasized by the black heels she had on. Normally I hated feeling like I was being towered over by people, as they wielded it like a weapon, but I didn’t feel that way with her at all.
Holding a hand out, she smiled and offered, “I’m Headmistress Estrid, and you are?”
I hesitated, swallowing hard as my mind tried to process all of this. My monsters were real, we were in Praeditus, and this was an academy for supernaturals.
Cool, everything was cool. Super normal.
Extending my hand, I gently enclosed hers and shook it. “I’m Alexandra, and this is Kylo, Elwin, and Lucien.”
A knowing little smirk tugged at her lips. “Welcome to Dark Imaginarium Academy. We hope you’ll consider staying here.”
