This was the day that changed everything…..
I had met Jesse when I started kindergarten at Masonry Mountain School for Young Boys and Girls. I wasn’t a werewolf yet, and I didn’t know I was going to become one either. But when I first saw her, I knew it was true love, even though we were only five years old then…..
The morning before the first day of school, I was sitting down eating breakfast. Then my mom entered, pouring a cup of coffee and helping herself to some toast, eggs, and bacon Dad had made before leaving for work.
“Jake, I’ve got your clothes in your room. I know you’re not going to like them, but that’s the dress code. When you get home from school you can change, I promise.”
I quickly finished my breakfast, and went up to my room. Sitting on the bed was a white long-sleeved button-up shirt, a navy tie, a red plaid sweater vest, gray pants, black socks, a navy jacket with the school logo on it, and black shoes. I couldn’t believe my eyes, is that what I really had to wear?!
“Mom, come on! Do I really have to wear this? Why do I even have to go to a private school?”
“Because that’s the dress code for Masonry. And we don’t want you going to a public school; and we have enough money, so that’s why you’re going there. No more questions, now get dressed.”
“Fine.”
I looked at the clothes with digust, but undressed all the way down to my boxers and put them on. Mom helped me with the tie and left. What next? Carrying all my textbooks with a belt? I looked into the mirror, and I acually didn’t looked too bad. I looked handsome, spiffy, (I think that’s the word Mom used), and super cool. I brushed my teeth in my bathroom, then went downstairs. The backpack matched my jacket, and Mom had taken to packing it last night. The bus came, I kissed Mom goodbye, and she wished me good luck. She waved goodbye, then the bus’ doors shut and we drove away. It was a long ride, but then after going up the mountain (that day I learned where the name came from!), we arrived….
When all the buses arrived, the teachers were waiting. My teacher, Mrs. Kirsten, took my hand and introduced herself. Then I saw Jesse, and was starstruck. Even at five years old, she was beautiful. My heart sped up, and we walked to the classroom together. I was trying to keep up with her, but everyone was in front of me. When we got to the classroom, however, luck was on my side…..
She was put in the seat next to mine, and she introduced herself.
“Hi, my name’s Jesse. What’s yours?”
“I’m Jacobus. But you can call me Jake for short. Or Jacob. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you as well.”
Then the teacher began speaking again, and said we were going to be tested for special abilities individually in a separate room. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but I soon found out…..
We were called in alphabetical order, and when it was Jesse’s turn, I wished her good luck, giving her the biggest smile I could muster, and I touched her arm, being as affectionate as I could.
“Thanks,” she said, returning the smile, beaming from ear to ear, and quickly squeezing my hand. I blushed, then I watched as she was gone. She came back, and then I was next. I didn’t know what to expect, my heart was racing, my palms were shaking, and I was sweating.
She whispered in my ear, “I’m an Alchemist.”
I whispered back “What?”, but then they called my name again, irritated I wasn’t paying attention. But I ran my hand through my hair, and got up and went to the man that was “testing” us. He took my hand, and took me to a room. The man in black began talking to someone, and I found if I focused, I could hear what he was saying.
“William Trolanski is a werewolf. So what do you think the chances are of his son Jacobus turning?”
“I think there’s a 100 percent chance of Jacobus becoming one when he turns 16. But until then, he’s going to develop his abilties, we just don’t know what yet, being that it varies from father to son. But he will be a werewolf.”
Then I realized he was coming out, and quickly turned and pretended I was staring at the opposite colorful wall.
“Hello son. How are you today?”
“Pretty good. Um, why am I here?”
“Because we’re testing you for special abilities that you might have when you’re older. It’s important, and you’ll be glad we did.”
Then they did a whole bunch of things, giving me a clean pair of gym shorts, socks, a shirt, and sneakers. They stuck weird sticky things, (which I know now what that is), to my chest and arms, connected to a bunch of wires, and asked me to run on a treadmill. I ran faster than I ever did before, and I broke it. They measured my strength, and asked me to growl like a wolf or a dog. When all the tests were over, they went into the room and talked. Then they came back out, and began talking to me again.
“Son, do you know why you broke that treadmill, or you’re incredibly strong?”
“No, sir. Why can I do what I did in those tests?”
“Because you’re a werewolf; half human, half wolf. You’re already undergoing all the changes, and by the time your 16 birthday arrives, you’ll change completely. Your body is already preparing itself for the major change that your father went through when he was 16.”
“I-I-I-I-I-I-I’m a werewolf? But I thought they weren’t real; that’s what my mom told me.”
“That’s because your mom doesn’t know they exist. You completely inherited your father’s genes, and you are truly an inhabitant of the Night World, the neighboring dimension to Earth, and in order to be that, you had to be born there. Do you remember being born on Earth?”
“No, no one really told me my birthplace.”
“That’s because you weren’t born here, and no one except your father knows that. And your mom is only your mom because your father married her. Your real mom is somewhere in the Night World, and was probably a surrogate mother for your father, a werewolf as well.”
“Oh, wow! Wait, what does surrogate mean? I’m only five…..”
“It means she was paid by your father to have you. The Night World is full of werewolves, that’s why he did it. To have a full werewolf son instead of half.”
“What will happen when I change?”
“Well, you’re too young to know that, and we don’t really know anything either, except that you’ll find your werewolf mate. That’s all; you’ll have to find the rest out when your 16.”
“And do all my classmates have different abilities? Am I the only one?”
I didn’t dare to bring up what Jesse told me before it was my turn, cause I knew she would get in trouble.
“No, you’re not, and you and your classmates will probably be split up. The only class you’ll share is Mrs. Kirsten’s class; then you won’t see your roommates unless they specialize in your werewolf abilities as well.”
“Oh. Well that stinks, I made a friend already.”
“Well, that’s life kiddo. Sorry.”
Then I was led back to the classroom, and I sat down next to Jesse, upset knowing I wasn’t going to be able to see her hardly anymore.
“What did you specialize in? I’m an alchemist, which means I can use chemistry and combine it with magic.”
“I’m a werewolf. Half human, half wolf.”
“That’s cool! I’m jealous; what did you have to do for your testing? You were gone a really long time!”
“I ran on a treadmill, and broke it, running faster than the treadmill could handle. Then they tested my strength and endurance, and also asked me to growl like a wolf. And the scary part was, I sounded like it when I growled!”
“Wow! I’m still jealous, but I really like you! I think you’re cool, and I hope we can be good friends!”
“Of course we can!”
“Alright, class. Listen to me, I’ve got all your results back, and I’m going to split you up into groups based on the categories you’ve been assigned to.”
“Sirius Lazarro, Jacobus Trolanski, and Brutus Williams, please form a group over by the whiteboard.”
We followed her directions, and a new teacher came in.
“Hello Sirius, Brutus, and Jacobus. My name is Mr. Roberts, and after meeting with Mrs. Kristen for morning activities, I will come and pick up you three for your specialized activities in the area our brilliant scientists have placed you in. If you would come with me please.”
I looked at Jesse one last time with a sad expression, then left, my head hung down in sorrow as we were led away…..
We were led into a big training room, with weights, treadmills, dummies for attacking, boxing equipement, and other training things for fighting other students. Then we were given sweatpants, a sweatshirt with the school’s logo on it, a groin cup, shin pads, elbow pads, a boxing helmet, regular climbing gloves, and boxing gloves. We spent those three hours sweating it out, climbing ropes, running on treadmills, fighting dummies, boxing, and having Sirius, Brutus, and I fight each other. When it was time for lunch, I was so happy. I was starving. But we took showers first in the locker room, and changed back into our academy clothes. I had left my tie on my shirt, so I wouldn’t have to do it again. Then I walked to the lunch room with Sirius and Brutus, me leading them and they flanked me to my left and my right. I saw Jesse, and was excited, but I didn’t know if she wanted me to sit with her or not. Then she waved me over, and I went and sat with her. Brutus and Sirius came with me, and we had a good time. We were led away again from each other, and then the afternoon session was spent learning how to meditate and get to “our inner wolves.” When the final bell rang, I was exhausted and ready to go home. I fell asleep on the bus, but woke up when my senses told me I was at my house. I ran down the steps and up to my door, taking the key out and going inside. Then the phone rang…..
“Hello?”
“Hi, Jake, this is Jesse.”
“Oh, hello! What a surprise! How are you?”
“Exhausted and tired. You?”
“Same here. Did you have to fight, run on treadmills, climb ropes, and do boxing? The only relaxing part was in the afternoon when we did history and learned how to meditate and connect with our inner selves.”
“Lucky. We learned chemistry, physics, history, and magic. But um, listen, I think I live near you, a few houses down, cause I saw you get off the bus. So do you wanna hang out?”
“Um sure, as long as we stay in the neighborhood.”
Then I met her at her house, and I told her I knew a gravel road with trees on each side that would take us around the neighborhood. As we approached the Speed Limit sign, she grabbed my hand, and we walked that way the whole way. She kissed me, and then I knew what we would have would be more than friendship….
We hung out for the next seven years, and she moved away when we were 12. I would miss her, but little did I know we would reunite when I was accepted to Brooke University; she was held back a year because she needed more time on her alchemy skills, but we would meet again. Fate wouldn’t let us be apart…..
ws216394 