The Consultant came round in the afternoon accompanied by two junior doctors in blub scrubs, they checked my arm again and overall seemed pleased with my progress.
"I'll give you some more painkillers and you can go home tonight." The Consultant said cheerfully and gave me a wink, he disappeared out of the room with the junior doctors.
I let out a sigh of relief. My palms had been sweating the whole time, it now seems like I had been worrying for nothing.
Werewolves had a much faster healing rate compared to human beings, what would normally take them a few weeks to heal would only take us a few days. The cuts and bruises on my face were already starting to fade. No doubt my father and Uncle Colin's injuries were doing the same.
I thought maybe the doctors or the nurses could tell we were different from the others and raise alarm bells, but luckily the Consultant was too busy to notice and the staff seemed keener to free up the hospital beds than querying why we were healing abnormally fast.
By the time I had changed back into my normal clothes, my father had reappeared alongside two strangers.
The man was medium built with broad shoulders like a rugby player, he had ginger hair and a beard that made him look like a Viking. The woman next to him was tall and willowy, she had the most unusual coloured eyes, it was a strange mix of yellow and amber.
"Aria, this is Dr Will Carlton, he is the Homeroom teacher for your year at Werewolf High and this is Dr Sarah Black, she's the Admissions officer who also teaches Anatomy, they're here to interview you." My father said.
There's an interview? I felt momentarily taken aback, then a thought came into mind. If I do badly in the interview and fail it does that mean I won't have to go?!
Dr Sarah Black chuckled. "It's more of an informal chat. And it won't affect whether you will get in or not." She gently explained.
I looked at her puzzled, wondering how on earth did she know what I was thinking?
She smiled at me, her amber shined like the crystals, they were innocent and pure, devoid of any taint, similar to that of a child's.
"What made you decide to apply?" Dr Will Carlton asked, his loud voice boomed across the room.
"I don't know," I said without enthusiasm. I didn't apply! Some stupid policeman told my father to send me there! Had no choice, did I?! I thought bitterly.
To everyone's surprise, Dr Sarah Black laughed out loud.
She can read minds! I realised all of a sudden.
Then, as if to confirm my theory, she looked at me and smiled.
My eyes opened wide, and you're both werewolves? I found myself asking.
She nodded again then turned to her colleague: "Dr Carlton, would you care to demonstrate?"
Dr Carlton gave her a 'why is it always me'-look, she quickly raised an eyebrow, then as if in defeat, he muttered, "this is my favourite shirt as well."
"You can keep your shirt on." She said.
He held out his right hand and within the split of a second, it turned into a huge werewolf claw covered with ginger coloured fur and long fingernails. I gasped, at the same time my father stepped in front of me protectively, his eyes guarded.
Then the claw quickly reverted to human form like a magic trick. I could only see small hairs on the back of his hand.
Impressed was, to say the least, I had never in fact seen any werewolf transform with that much poise and control before, certainly not during broad daylight, not without the help of my father's potion, not under the full moon. He was able to control which part of his body he wanted to transform.
"What potion?" Sarah Black frowned, now looking at my father.
My father, who had been busy staring at Dr Carlton's hand, choked: "I beg you pardon?"
"You have a potion that could allow a werewolf to transform freely?" She asked.
He looked at her, then at me, as if trying to decide how she could've figured out, but he knew perfectly well that no one would've had the chance to tell her.
A mind reader, of course, that explained a lot. Aria's Clairvoyant skills could do well under her guidance. He thought. "Yes, I make potions for a living, usually for minor ailments, I also have a potion for werewolf transformation. I can give you some to try if you want?"
Dr Black's amber eyes grew even more interested. A Clairvoyant and a Potion maker. She glanced over at Dr Carlton and smiled. Mark James had been right, this family was something else, something truly special.
"Aria, we'd like to officially offer you a place at Werewolf High, where all young werewolves have the opportunity to grow and develop in a safe and nurturing environment. When would you like to start?" She asked.
So I got in?! I was a bit stunned, it all seemed a bit easy, not much of an interview?! I haven't even transformed, what if I will never transform?
"Everyone develops at different stages, there's no right or wrong. I didn't have my first transformation until I was 21. When the time is right, it will happen." She said.
Her words were like a gentle hand caressing away all my worries. I've never told anyone this but I've always been worried if I'll ever be able to transform into a werewolf. Then my heart sank again when I heard my father spoke.
"I'd like her to go as soon as possible." He said.
I looked down, too afraid to meet his eyes. I was busy hiding the sense of hurt and betrayal I felt. He really couldn't wait to get rid of me fast enough. I thought sadly.
Dr Sarah Black paused for a moment, then looked at my father, "Mr Brown, would you like to come with us?" She asked. "Your friend Colin too. We always need teachers and extra members of staff."
Then as if seeking approval, she turned to her colleague. "Am I right?"
"Yes, of course. The more the merrier." Dr Carlton chirped in unison.
Before my father had the chance to decline, she also added, "The school is protected under a UN treaty, no werewolf shall be killed on its premises."
My father hesitated for a moment then nodded.
What she was offering was what they needed at this moment given time, a safe place to live and to be nearer to Aria, to protect her from harm.
"Perfect." Dr Black said, "we look forward to welcoming all three of you."
They bid their 'goodbyes' and I pretended to be busy tidying up the hospital bed. The auxiliary staff were most likely to come in and strip the sheets as soon as we leave, but nevertheless, it gave me something to do. I didn't want to talk to my father. I just couldn't face him.