Where Do I Belong

Christa pushed open the door of The Academy, sighing.  Everyone said how lucky she was to be here.  Was she?
“My magic hasn’t fully appeared. I’m just a joke and a failure.”

Someone barged into her almost knocking her flying. Christa pushed back her long blond hair and stared into the face of the person she hated the most.  Jade Harris.

“Look girls, the dud is back.  I notice your taste in clothes is no better.”
Jade’s entourage giggled.

Christa stared at Jade’s designer outfit.
“At least my clothes are bought with honest money,” Christa said quietly.
It was well known that Harris Pharmaceuticals hiked up the prices of medicine desperately needed by the poor people of County Ridge where The Academy was based.

Jade shifted into her werewolf form and had Christa pinned to the wall by the throat, her legs dangling.
“What did you say?” Jade growled.

Christa scrabbled to pull Jade’s long fingers away, desperately trying to drag some air into her lungs.

“What’s going on here?”
Jade transformed, leaving Christa to slide down the wall, gasping for breath.
“Nothing sir.”

“It didn’t look like nothing to me.  If I see you bullying this student again you will be in serious trouble.  Now get to your class before I black mark you for being late.”

“See you later, Christa,” making Christa very aware this wasn’t over.
A glare from the headmaster had the girls moving along.

“Come with me.”

Christa trailed behind miserably.  Already in trouble and only back in the school ten minutes.
Headmaster Blake pushed open his office door and ushered her in.
He examined her neck which was turning a deep shade of purple.

“You need to see the healer about that.”

Christa nodded.

“Do I belong here sir?”  Something that had been worrying her all summer.

“I wasn’t wrong about you Christa, you have unimaginable power.  We have to find out why it’s locked away.”
Christa breathed easier for the first time in weeks.

“Thank you sir,” she smiled.  “I will work hard to find out.”

He smiled back.  “I know you will.”