Page 27 of Dryad, Try Again
I sigh. “I spent all these years practicing shifting, only for it to go to waste when a cute guy shows up.”
“Human boys are nothing but trouble.” He shakes his head and mutters, “No matter how handsome they are.”Huh. Before I can ask him to explain, he straightens his shoulders. “I’m sure your shifting will get back under control. Just do some isolatedshifting exercises, that’s what the OME always teaches kids, right?”
“You’re right, maybe I will.” Niko is a cool guy. I ought to ask him about the human he clearly likes, but right now he obviously wants to drop the subject. “Thanks. I’ll let you know any developments on the boy front.”
“I’m sure I’ll witness any at this year’s Halloween Ball.” We share a chuckle. “And hey, at least you get to shift. Some of us are…well…” He looks up and readjusts his hat, snakes wiggling about underneath the fabric.
I completely forgot Niko has no human form. I frown; I’m complaining while my friend has never been able to walk among humans without the snakes on his head giving him away. “Sorry, dude, I—”
“It’s cool.” He waves his hand in front of him. “Involuntary shifting sounds rough, too, so I hope you get a handle on that. I need to get back to work. And hey, go easy on the books? They don’t deserve your splinters.”
We both snicker and he saunters off, pushing the cart.
Later that evening,I sit atop a scaffolding branch on one of the largest oaks on the quad. Most people notice the fountain or the statues if they ever look up on the way to classes. I’ve spent plenty of evenings up here, unnoticed in solitude, and tonight, I’m on a mission; I need to practice my shifting. It’s supposed to be a natural part of life, so easy for an adult monster to do, and yet, pretty, red-headed humans have me completely off-kilter.
So it’s time to meditate. I close my eyes and focus on my inner being, just as my mentors at the OME taught me for years. I focus to shift only my arms, then open my eyes. My fingersturn to vines and flexible branches, with the wood extending to underneath my green polo shirt. First my right, then my left, then I quickly shift back into my flesh. I meditate on my face, then fish out my phone; even in the dark of the night, I can see my big dryad face in the reflection. I smile at the tiny wooden canopy that comprises the top of my head, like a poofy green afro.
In short, I look great. Shifting is so easy. I had nothing to worry about. I shift completely and extend my leg roots down—it’s easier to leap from several feet when you, yourself, are ten feet tall. Barely anyone is around, and even if they were, no one ever pays me any mind when I walk the quad in my wooden dryad form.
I stretch my arm branches and affectionately tap the oak I was sitting on. It doesn’t need any nutrients for growth, so I simply dust off any dead leaves. I smile, always grateful for any plant that thrives on campus. The trees mean a lot to Dean Yaga, and ensuring their livelihood is an integral part of my dryad side.
My grooming is cut short when I hear two animated voices from the library.It’s Tanner!The guy I’m still avoiding and the one person I want to kiss so badly is walking this way. He’s laughing with that dark-skinned girl from the bonfire, and fortunately, neither of them spot me in the dark. But they’re headed this way!
I don’t want him to see me in this form—I’m the creature of his nightmares, after all—so I try to shift down. But my pulse pounds all over my tree bark as I nervously fail at bringing myself down.
Become human…become human…ugh, this is worse than trying to will down a persistent erection. They’re getting closer, and I panic. So, I do what only I can do: I hide in the one place they can never find by communing with the campus tree and phasing into the trunk. The dryad magic—how it works, I don’tknow—enables me to occupy the small space. I’m cocooned in my own little world here, and no one can spot me.
It would be so easy to stay here all night, wrapped in comforting tree bark, avoiding my problems like a coward. But I have stuff to do back in my dorm. So, after waiting five minutes, I phase out and stretch my branches. No one’s around the quad. Shrouded in the darkness of the night, I’m alone. Lonely is all I ever will be at this rate. Until I get a grip on my shifting, I won’t be able to date the one person I want, the same gorgeous man that I suspect has feelings for me, too. But I won’t risk hurting him again, I can’t.
So, I sigh and walk to my dorm, gradually shifting into human form with each step. This disappointment is a new low, but there is no solution for the predicament I’m in. I’m a lonely dryad, and for now, that’s all I can be.
12
TANNER
Professor Fan scribblessome words on the chalkboard, then turns around. “And that’s why the cafeteria serves a variety of foods,” he announces. He’s a slim, mild-mannered dude, donning a cape and a white half-mask on his face. He’s chattier than every other ghost I’ve met, but he’s charming and intelligent. This whole semester I’ve generally enjoyed his class as he’s taught us about how monsters live. This week, however, I can barely pay attention to the lecture. That’s fine since the quizzes in this class are simple.
What’s not fine is Kovi dodging my texts. I know he wants me, and I want him, too. I need to see where our connection leads, even if it crashes and burns. He’s so thoughtful and sweet, and thinking about his visit to my childhood home gives me shivers, but in a good way. I want him to give us a shot.
I have half-a-mind to beg Seth to let me barge into their suite, but I have just a smidge more pride than that.
“There are so many diverse food groups and sources of energy in the monster community. What’s enjoyable for one monster won’t be for another. Though I’d be hard-pressed tofind someone who doesn’t enjoy a good sarcophacappuccino.” The class murmurs with laughter. I haven’t seen Professor Fan order anything at Mummy Mocha, and frankly, I didn’t think a phantom like him could eat. But he’s also occasionally solid, unlike the library ghosts. Every monster species’ rules are different it seems.
“Who can give me an example of a nontraditional monster source of energy?” Professor Fan looks out at us and points to someone behind me.
“Incubi require like…human energy, right?”
“What kind?” Professor Fan says in an encouraging tone.
The handsome, bookish dude scratches his arm and looks up. “Like sexual energy?”
“Yes, right on the money. What was your name?”
“Penn,” he says.
“Great work, Penn. And yes, incubi do require that specific form of energy. But keep in mind, sexual rules of consent still apply.” He points the chalk at us, and the crowd hums in interest.
To my left, fellow human, Owen, raises his hand. Shonda sits between us, and she turns and gives me a smirk.This guy with his constant questions.
