Page 1 of Monster's Past

CHAPTER1

Anja

I stareat the uniform arranged on the bed and try to reconcile myself with precisely where I am and what’s happening to me. After twenty-one years of wondering if I’m even slightly magical, I’ve found myself at Blackthorn Academy and with the certainty that I am.

The only problem is that I still don’t knowhow.

This would be so much easier if I wasn’t adopted.

I glance around the rest of the room, grateful that I’m alone, at least for the moment. I haven’t seen any of my roommates awake yet, not after I arrived late last night. Which is a relief, I don’t fancy the idea of changing in front of strangers, even if I know I’m going to have to get used to it.

This would have been so much easier if I’d gone to a normal university like I planned on, but an invitation to Blackthorn isn’t something to be ignored, at least not according to my parents.

With nothing else for it, I strip off my sleep shirt and start to get dressed, hating the itchy feel of a uniform that hasn’t been worn before. Hopefully, it’ll pass quickly enough.

The door opens just as I’m pulling on my blazer and a girl around my age freezes in the entrance.

“You must be Anja,” she says.

“Mmhmm. Good to meet you.” I pull the sleeves of my blazer so it’s on properly and hold out my hand.

She looks at it weirdly.

“Sorry, force of habit.” I let my hand fall.

She shrugs. “It’s no big deal, I just don’t like touching people.”

“Good to know.”

“I’m Nathara, but everyone calls me Nati.”

“Hi.” I wave awkwardly.

Something moves on top of her head and I jump, only for her to let out a bemused laugh. “Snakes,” she says by way of explanation.

“Snakes?” I echo.

She nods. “Never met a gorgon before?”

“No, I can’t say I have.”

“Oh, right, well this is Frank.” She puts her hand into her hair and pulls out what looks like an actualrealsnake.

“He has a name?”

“They all have names,” she says as if it’s obvious, pushing the snake back in amongst the others. “But Frank is the most talkative.”

“I see.” I don’t, but I’m not sure how else to respond to that. Is she going to expect me to remember the names of all her snakes? Because I don’t think I’m good enough at keeping people’s names in my head for that.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s just hair.”

“Livehair.”

She shrugs. “I don’t really think about it.”

“Even when they move around?” I shouldn’t be asking such blunt questions about this, it isn’t going to make a good first impression. But Nati also doesn’t seem to mind too much.

“I’m used to it,” she responds. “Aren’t you used to your hair?”

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