Chapter 2 2

"Uh, well . . . " Mum stammered, blushing, which was a good change from the pale color before, otherwise I would have thought she was half dead.

"Mom, I just saw a cat turn into a human! Could you explain that to me? You look like you know it." I said in a panic (okay, I admit that was a lie , she looked more like she was about to fall over) because Tyler was still scaring me.

While my mother continued to stammer, he also began to talk.

"I thought you had already told her, Celine. Last time I visited..."

Bla bla bla. I tuned them both out and tried to concentrate. But it just wasn't possible with all the noise here.

"Quiet!" I said exhausted.

My voice hadn't even been loud, but it echoed twice as loudly in the now quiet room. Both had stopped talking in an instant.

After a few seconds of silence, Tyler whispered, "She's already too strong. I can hardly resist her. Please!" he looked at Mum pleadingly, "Let me take her with me. She'll learn to deal with it. We'll teach her ."

Hello?

I'm still here too?

Deal with what? Who will teach me what?

I looked at my mom again and jumped in shock, her face was contorted in pain. Her eyes radiated pure desperation.

"Please, you can't hide her here any longer. Eventually they'll find Sarina," Tyler continued.

Mum just shook her head weakly. I knew what was coming next, I knew it from books.

"I just want to protect her. I want to have her close to me. Who knows what you'll do to her?" she raised her chin defiantly. "I'm powerful too."

Wait a moment! Stop! Short break!

What had she said?

She is powerful?

Are we talking about a computer game or something?

No, not really. But from what then?

Am I dreaming, or is this reality?

Maybe I should pinch myself.

I resisted the temptation to physically hurt myself and Tyler sighed in exasperation.

"Celine, you're in middle school. I don't even know why Mrs. Roberts let herself get this far. We'll protect her. Plus, she has a lot of undiscovered talents inside her. We'll help her discover and develop herself. But to leave them completely ignorant..." He shook his head in shock.

I cleared my throat.

"Could someone please explain to me what's going on here?" I asked.

Tyler turned to me and looked at me with a sad smile.

"Sarina." he said.

I grimaced.

He said my name like someone who worshiped a god. Full of admiration and hopes.

"It's shocking to see how much you've changed."

Oh dear, that could be fun.

I gave Mom a panicked look.

"I'm a little disappointed in," he looked at Mum briefly, "your parents."

"Why?" I asked stupidly.

"What do you know about mythical creatures? Do you know some?"

Huh?

I looked at him confused.

"I don't know, werewolves that transform under the full moon and, vampires that drink blood? " I tried.

"Hmm, do you know any others," he grimaced, "kinds? Some that you might know from old fables?"

I thought hard.

In seventh grade I went through a phase where I was constantly on I searched Wikipedia for myths and the like. Of course, including werewolves and vampires.

"Witches, fairies" I kept trying. "and..."

Now the lever flipped.

But that can't be the case.

"Shapeshifter," I said tonelessly. My mother groaned.

Tyler nodded slowly.

"Yes, we prefer to call ourselves metamorphs."

My expression didn't move.

"Yes, good for you," I replied indifferently, "but what does that have to do with me now?"

Actually, I already knew the answer.

I always knew that something was wrong with me. I thought sarcastically and almost laughed out loud.

"You're special." Tyler said. I grimaced.

"Even by our standards."

Great, that just kept getting better.

"I'm sure you know what I'm about to say. You're a shapeshifter. You can transform into an animal. We'll find out which one if you're allowed to go with me." As he said this, he gave my mother a sharp look.

He's totally crazy!

The only thing I can do is do fractions, write commas correctly, eat Skittles and apart from that I'm also very good at not making friends.

That's why I've developed a protective mechanism over the last few years to protect myself from prying eyes. Just don't show any emotions. I now put this poker face to use.

As if this little sentence could change anything .

Just what I was still passionate about. . .

"Mum and Dad?" I asked expressionlessly.

Tyler nodded.

I turned to Mom.

"What are you?"

Even if I hate to admit it to myself. . . It's still cool somehow.

My mother woke up from the paralysis she had fallen into while Tyler was talking and looked me in the eye.

Trying not to look withdrawn, I now looked at Mum with (hopefully) curiosity.

She closed her eyes and suddenly I felt that her clothes were flickering.

It grew brighter and brighter and suddenly Mum seemed to shrink.

Less than two seconds later, a beautiful swan sat in front of me and looked at me shyly.

Her feathers were as white as snow and when I gently ran my fingers over her back, it felt like the finest silk.

"That is wonderful." I breathed, fascinated.

Tyler looked at me with a smile.

I straightened up and looked at Tyler.

"And now?"

"If your parents decide soon, we can leave tomorrow."

"And where to, if I may ask?"

"Phoenix Academy." He said with a hint of pride in his voice and I think he sat up a little straighter.

"Well." said Mum, now back on her feet.

"I'll talk to my husband about it. But, Tyler?" she said admonishingly. "I can't promise anything."

With that she turned around and rushed out of the room.

I stared at the spot where she had stood before.

"All right." Tyler said and sighed. "Maybe we'll see each other again tomorrow. And maybe you can talk to your mother about it. Besides, I think Marco sees it the same way I do, and not like Celine."

With these words he rose from the sofa and a short time later a black flash flashed past me, out the window and out into the approaching dusk.

There was another white feather from Mum on the floor. She had probably lost it.

I bent down and looked at her. Without question, the feather was truly beautiful.

I wondered why my parents, my mother according to Tyler, would want to keep something like this from me.

As I thought about it, I turned the keel over and over in my hand.