Keller walked stealthily through the halls. Her senses were alert and attuned to every smell, sound, and movement around her. She had a feeling about this place. Something was wrong here. Not dangerous, but wrong. Of course, there was a strong possibility that it might just have been her truly fowl mood, clouding her judgment.
She couldn't believe that she had to go to this ridiculous school while Iliana stayed home, playing patient in her oversized and comfy bed. Keller had fought hard to not be the one to be condemned to stalk the halls of the school while Iliana stayed home sick, but her attempts had been unsuccessful.
"You have to", Iliana had pleaded with them, the night before. "If there really is something dangerous out there I want my friends at school to be safe."
"Trust me," Keller had reassured her in a strained voice, "If they are trying to hurt anyone it's you, and while you're safe here, they don't care about your friends."
"Well, maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea," Galen had put in. Of course he would side with his destiny. He was still holding Iliana when they had the discussion.
Winnie had also decided to side with Iliana. "It would probably be beneficial for us to have someone there, just in case something happens," she had added.
"Well then I'll go," Nissa had offered.
Most of the group was seeming to agree when Iliana decided to raise her voice ruin it.
"I think that it would be weird to have someone that I hadn't even introduced as a relative of mine to go to school while I wasn't there," she had said in a small voice. "It wouldn't make sense to them."
"So who do you suggest we send?" Keller asked her sarcastically.
"Well you," Iliana had replied.
So there she was, guarding a school that wasn't even in one iota of danger. She had tried to fit in at first, answering some questions about herself, and lying of course, in the beginning of the day, and then attending the first to classes diligently, even pretending to copy down the notes. Then, around the third class, she decided it really wasn't worth the effort, and just walked around instead. Whatever "danger" was there, it wouldn't be bothering with classes either.
All because of Iliana, she thought angrily. Keller's resentment towards Iliana had been growing recently. Mostly it was because of her silly little flirting episodes with Galen that seemed to be happening constantly. Ever since the day of the accident the two had been inseparable and unbearable. They wouldn't really discuss their feeling for each other, but would instead share "secret" smiles and little laughs the whole day, while Keller and the others were forced to watch on, waiting for the moment when the two finally expressed their attraction, and the fear that the alliance between the shape-shifters and the witches might possibly not occur would be quenched. Part of Keller was relived that Iliana finally seemed to be okay, even looking forward to the whole promise ceremony thing, but another part of her…
No, she told herself. She would not think about things like that. She had to keep them out of her mind at all times. She would not think about it, about him.
Stewing, Keller began to walk down the hall at a faster pace, trying to distance herself from all of her idiotic thoughts.
She didn't care. Nothing and no one, not Galen or anyone else, and especially not that gnawing feeling in her gut could make her believe that she cared for Galen. It was foolish to have even been in the same room with him if she could not control her actions. She knew that now. She had slipped up, and she thoroughly regretted it, but it would never happen again.
Keller came to the stairwell in a huff, and pushed the door so forcefully that it whacked against the cement wall, sending echoes throughout the dimly lit, cavernous room. She climbed lithely up a long flight of stairs to the other door at the top of the staircase. She reached for the cold metal handle, only to find that it wouldn't budge. The door was locked or possibly jammed.
A shiver ran down Keller's spine as a frightful thought crossed her mind. What if it was a trap? What if someone in the school knew exactly who she was planning to eliminate her as a possible threat?
"Don't be ridiculous," she said aloud to herself, relaxing her tense muscles slightly. She knew she was being paranoid, but she also knew from past experience that it was better to be on the safe side than the dead side.
She cautiously walked back down the stairs again, thoroughly taking in all of her surroundings so as to be ready for any possible attack. When she reached the door at the bottom of the staircase, she glanced behind her once, and then swiftly grabbed the handle.
It wouldn't budge either.
"Damn," Keller cursed aloud. She was stuck in the stairwell until someone happened to walk by and see her. Or maybe she could yell, and someone would hear her in a nearby classroom. But that was a hassle.
Suddenly she realized that she knew exactly what she needed to do. It was so simple, as long as no one interrupted or came in unexpectedly. If she could just change shape shift into her panther self for a moment or two, she could use her conveniently sharp claws to jimmy the lock a bit, or even push the door open by throwing herself at it. It had worked before.
She readied herself for the change, feeling the wave or release wash over her.
She had only just begun to transform when she heard the door open at the top of the staircase.