Chapter 9
Defining Factor
Khristos Orichalcum
The girl was one wrong word away from fainting in my office.
The olive complexion she’d arrived with had paled; her eyes wider than a doe before a predator.
I’d met many a liar in my time on this earth. I imagined I would meet many more.
This girl, contrary to my original opinion, was not one. She was also not the spy I’d assumed her to be.
Fairview Academy was neutral ground, not under the purview of the Houses, and therefore a separate entity governed solely by Headmistress Bladgood.
The six great Houses of the Fae often sent in young spies, either to poach potentially powerful young students or to spy on an Elite.
Half the job of being a Counsellor was to spot these nefarious individuals.
With my gift, that was easily done, since most tended to lie about their powers and beast form on their paperwork.
I was very old, had seen things humans could only dream of. And yet, in a decidedly unusual manner, I’d discovered that I could still be surprised.
An unknown Dragon Shifter. An unknown young female Dragon Shifter, with green scales.
Green dragons hadn’t been seen for many a century.
Their bloodlines had either been bred to extinction or died out in the last Battle of the Nests some years ago.
And since she allegedly hadn’t shifted, finding out what kind of dragon she harboured was impossible.
Taking a subtle note of her scent, I deciphered the smell of reptile, a mix of rare flora, and a slight note of something bitter.
No signature dragon scent of hurricane winds and smoke to be found.
But that could also be because she hasn’t shifted.
“Miss Cora, I’d like you to take a deep breath. I understand this is likely…….. life changing news. We have time for you to calm yourself before we deal with your registration.” I assure her upon noticing the frantic rise and fall of her chest, the bitter tang of distress in her scent. “We also have services and courses offered by the Academy to help you through this.”
“Calm—” She gulps a breath, shaking her head. “Calm myself?”
“Yes.” I drawl, realising belatedly my attempt to soothe might have gone wrong.
“Calm myself? After being told I’m a—” She chokes, bending forward, head between her knees as she hyperventilates. “Are you sure? How – how can you be sure?” She gasps.
“I am sure, Miss Cora.” Her dragon form glowed green like a spectre to my vision, curled into a tight knot within her middle.
The creature was affected by the same panic flooding it’s host, constricting with emotion.
And likely heightening Miss Cora’s.
“This isn’t possible. Wouldn’t I know?” She denies, shaking her head. “I’d know, wouldn’t I? I’ve never thought I was anything other than a snake.”
“Young minds are impressionable. Being told you are something, from the very day you were born, makes it hard to dispute it. Even with proof.” I try to sympathise.
“And you are the proof? You can see it?”
I nod. “Yes, Miss Cora. I see it as clear as I see you.”
The choked, whimpering sob she emits is gut-wrenching.
“All my life, my entire life.” She laughs, the sound off.
Setting down her paperwork, I hover for a moment, unsure how to comfort her.
Emotions were not something I easily understood. Rather, the more fragile emotions awarded to intelligent beings were somewhat above my skillset.
Crouching slowly by her chair, I hesitate before resting a palm on her back and lowering my tone to more of a murmur. “You need to breathe, Miss Cora, or you will pass out.”
She chokes a laugh. “I think that’s the least of my worries right now.” She gasps.
“This is not the end of the world.” I counter softly, awkwardly patting her back.
“Yes it is! Of my world, at least.” She cries. “Being a snake shifter has been the defining factor of my entire life. How I was treated, what I was given, when I was given it, what I could and couldn’t do. I’ve spent my entire life being pushed around and stomped on, yet you say I belong at the literal top of the food chain.”
Brows furrowing, I stare at the female having a very messy nervous break down in my office.
Or was it considered a mental breakdown?
Whichever it was, her distress was overwhelming, and I struggled to find a way to soothe it.
“I know that being classed as a latent snake shifter would have been difficult, with them being viewed as weak and all—”
“Weak? More like useless, powerless, not even good enough to make a pair of shoes out of. Going to this Academy is my only bright light, I can’t lose it—”
“You are not, we simply have to adjust some of your enrolment information.” I counter and rub her back a little harder. “Being a snake shifter isn’t all bad. The King of House Onyx and Bone is an Anaconda Shifter—”
“No one is going to talk crap about a Death Mage who also happens to turn into a snake.” She snips with a sniffle.
“Which is beside the point. You are not, and have never been, a snake shifter. If people treated you badly because of it, then that says more about their character than yours.” I assert.
“Being a latent dragon shifter, with no power, can’t be much of a step up.” She mutters, but at least she is no longer in danger of having a panic attack.
“You are not latent, either.”
She lifts her head enough to raise a sardonic brow, not quite meeting my gaze. “But I have never shifted.”
“Dragons do not shift without the help of an Elder or a more Dominant Dragon. The first time it must be influenced, but then they are able to shift on their own. Canines, cats, bears, and avian shifters are much the same. It’s done when they are children to allow for a smooth bonding of Fae and Beast. Very rarely does a Dragon Shifter make it to adulthood without shifting – it is dangerous and carries with it some risks.”
“So,” She sits up a little, appearing less rattled so I remove my hand and place it on the arm of her chair. “Even if they knew what I was, I couldn’t have shifted anyway? I’ve only ever met one dragon and he—” She cringes, eyes darting away. “Um, didn’t stick around long. Or ask me if I was a Dragon too.”
“He wouldn’t have. You don’t smell like a Dragon, likely won’t until you shift, and your power will come in then as well.” I consider for a moment, rising to once again lean on my desk. “Dragons keep the truth of their practices very private. Even if your mother or foster parents knew what you were, they likely couldn’t have done anything. They would’ve had to petition for help from House Fire and Gold.”
“But you know how I can shift?” She asks, eyes shining with emotion.
“Yes, I know how it is done. But I would need to call in some favours, speak with the headmistress. Arrange for you to have guidance and maybe a tutor since your knowledge on our culture is…… rudimentary.”
She cringes, eyes downcast.
“But…… I will eventually shift?” She murmurs. “I could have powers?”
“Maybe.” I allow.
Her head shoots up, eyes narrowing. “But you said—”
“That shifting at such a late age comes with dangers and risks. There are Dragon Shifters on this campus, most of them likely to be more Dominant than you. Simply being around them may kickstart the process and send you into the Shifting Fever. If there isn’t a superior Dragon ready to help you through the fever, it may kill you.”
She stares sightlessly at my chest, her brow scrunching in thought. “But I’ve been around a Dragon Shifter for the last year. I haven’t felt any different?”
“Was he more Dominant than you?”
She blushes furiously. “I—ah, no. Definitely not.”
“Then it wouldn’t have moved your Dragon to surface. Your beast will attempt to surface for one of two reasons – to defend you, or to challenge another dragon. Dragons determine hierarchy and Dominance through battle. An Elder will challenge you and push your beast to surface, and the resulting tussle generally determines Dominance.”
She nods along, her face pinching, probably attempting to absorb the flux of information.
Deciding she’d been through enough for now, and trying to avoid sending her into another break down, I reach again for the form and pluck up a blank one as well.
“I will give you my private number so that you have a direct line of contact, and I will keep you informed whilst I consult with the Headmistress. Until then, I want you to pay attention to your body. Unusual cramps, hot flashes, bouts of fever, unusual behaviour – I want you to report any of it to me. They all indicate the onset of Shifting Fever.” I order. “Until then, we will organise your paperwork and get you set up in housing. I think it best if I place you with other dominant mythological shifters, it should stabilize your beast to a point…… however the only available space is in the student village, a house already containing five males. Will that be a problem?”
“Will I have to share a room?”
“No, there are six bedrooms in Rising House. The last was left empty after a……. disagreement between the boys and a previous occupant.”
“And you said it will help my Dragon.” She checks.
“Yes. Housing you with prey would cause your Dragon to become tense as it begins to surface. Placing you with a house full of other Dragons may cause you to feel constantly threatened. Rising House has one male dragon, though he will not be in attendance for a month, and by then you may have already shifted. If not, he could be helpful in guiding your shift.”
“So it’s the best option for me.” She muses, fidgeting with her hands.
“They are decent males. You won’t be in danger, if that is a concern.” I add after a moment.
She thinks for a long moment, thoughts flying behind her eyes, her expressive face roiling with emotion.
“If you think it is best, then okay.” She agrees. “But I don’t want to tell them what I am. Or anyone. Not until…… if I shift.”
I dip my head. “That is your choice. However, your professors must be informed just to be safe. They’ll be warned against sharing the information.”
She nods. “I can live with that.”
“Excellent.” I reach for a pen, handing it and the blank form to her, then retrieve her file from the cabinet behind my desk. “Then let us fix your paperwork, and we shall get you settled.” I pause as she takes the items, lips pursing. “I don’t want you to worry, Miss Cora. Fairview Academy looks after its students, and I take exceptional care of those in my charge. You’ll be just fine.”
She smiles, the action lifting her features and turning them from striking to girlish. “Thank you. And you can call me Sinta. You know practically everything about me, you might as well use my name.”
“Sinta.” I agree. “You fix that up, and I will start on your file. With any luck we’ll have you sorted before dinner.”