Quiet Burn (Discordia University #2)

Any Other Way

Kit/Kat

I don’t know what the unholy Hell is going on right now, and it’s freaking me out. Unlike normal, that doesn’t have me paralyzed on the ground in a panic attack. Instead, allowing the dark spot in the pit in my gut that’s always been lurking to energize my body in a way I’ve never felt before. I’m moving like someone who knows what the shit they’re doing, flinging my throwing doodads with an accuracy that’s inhuman.

When they hit… I don’t know what that is, but they seem to invigorate me more, giving me energy while our foes fall to the grass in agony.

“I wish I knew what is going on,” I mutter to myself as I spin on my heel, finding a new target rushing towards me. Every time there’s another demon headed my way, something inside me pushes and I face it without a shred of concern for my safety. It’s sort of freeing not to be worried, not to fear for my life, but I also know that’s not normal.

“No wonder those idiots picked a puny little shit for their concubine,” the giant fully shifted demon sneers. I think he’s a chaos demon because everything in his path is going crazy as he stalks toward me. Fighters trip, the ground moves, and people curse as their weapons miss the mark and hit someone else nearby. “You’ve been keeping your power hidden so we won’t come for you.”

I arch a brow. If only this dipshit knew that I have no idea what I am, much less how to control it. “I haven’t been hiding anything, and that’s not why. Get fucked.”

My insult bounces off of him like the bodies and magic in his wake, his laughter dark and ominous. This dude is not going to hold to the rules of engagement, and I need to be ready for whatever he throws at me. I have no idea how , but my gut is screaming that I have to focus on him above all else going on around us.

I don’t even know who he is in this form; he could be anyone because his demon is simply ugly as fuck.

“I’ve been waiting to get my claws on you, especially since it will fuck with your boyfriends . That is just the cherry on the sundae for me, and when I’m done, I’ll be heartily rewarded.”

Gripping my weapons in my palms, I realize not only does this idiot want to kill me, but he’s using me for some fucking agenda against the guys. That makes the darkness spreading through me angrier and it pushes at my skin hard, making me cry out. Ugly Ass Demon Guy laughs again, stopping just within stabbing distance as his tail whips and he tosses his head like his horns are hair he wants to flip.

“You’re already crying in fear—it’s delicious .”

Before I can process it mentally, I’ve whipped one of the throwing dagger-things at him and it embeds in the meat of his shoulder. He opens his mouth to say something stupid then I see it—the panic in his black eyes as whatever these are being infused with starts to sink into his body. A wordless scream forms on his lips and I feel the darkness’ satisfaction grow inside me. It likes his pain; in fact, it hungers for it because the more contorted this Ugly Demon looks, the better I feel.

I’m not sure I like the joy that’s rocketing through me at his suffering, but I’ll take whatever help I can get.

“Not so smug now, are you, fuckface?” I call out as I pull another one of the weapons off the belt they’re stored in. “Something got your tongue? No snarky comment?”

His visage is still twisted and he’s fighting to stay up; I can tell by the tiny sway to his wide stance. Much like the others, the spot where my blade is lodged is turning black and spreading over his frame slowly. “You can’t stop me. I will end you, scum.”

Typical villain speech, but he’s wrong based on what’s happened to the other guys. I stand ready to launch another, my feet firm as I block the bench behind me. I won’t let him get past me—that’s where X is slumped, nursing a wound in their side. They’d rushed to rescue me, but instead, ended up being jumped from behind when the darkness escaped.

“You can try, asshole.” I growl at the injured dude. He lets out a roar of pain, and I think for just a moment, I may have won.

But then a crowd of other demons storm to his aid and I swallow hard. They’re either in full demon form or various shifts, all wielding magic as they stare me down.

I may have underestimated how much the Headmaster hates me.

“Fine. You want some, too? You can?—”

My words are cut off by the sound of a fierce ‘caw’ and two flying bodies hitting the ground hard enough to shake it. Panic tries to claw its way past the darkness in my veins, but it pushes back, and I’m able to look at the intruders without fear.

It’s Oriel and… Anton? I think? Fuck he’s even more gorgeous in this guise; I almost can’t even look at him. The golden haze and rainbow sparkles surrounding him are so bright that it makes him appear similar to what I’ve always been told angels look like.

Well, okay, maybe a pride angel, but six of one, right?

“Imagine needing seven friends to face one little freshman demon,” Anton says as he quirks a brow. “How sad for you all when this gets out.”

Oriel flexes his wings, spreading them like the fucking Crow from the movie and my heart skips a beat in my chest. He’s a palette of dark, Gothic beauty in the half demon form and it makes it even harder to focus on the task at hand. The two of them are the perfect complement of light and dark like something out of Good Omens . I lick my lips, trying not to let my shock and appreciation show on my face. Fuck knows I don’t need these idiots knowing how much they affect me.

“Very true, Annie.” O looks at me, his eyes glittering with intelligence as he studies me, then notices what I’m standing in front of. “Oh, shit, they got X! No wonder we didn’t see him anywhere.”

That’s when the glow around the shining peacock shifter increases and Anton lets out a screech of anger. “How dare you ? How fucking dare you?!”

I arch a brow, looking at Oriel, who gives me an evil grin before saying, “Annie’s biggest ‘no-no’ square is doing anything to upset Xerxes. He’s taken assholes out for much less than wounding them.”

My reply is cut off by Anton raising his hands and unleashing a blast of colorful magic big enough to level every single one of our attackers. They hit the ground like sacks of potatoes and my jaw drops. I would never have expected such a huge amount of power to come from the restrained, fussy demon hybrid, but he’s making a weird, angry bird sound as he stomps across the field to hover over the fallen dickheads.

All he’d need is a flaming sword and he wouldn’t look like a demon at all but for the delicate, filigreed horns that adorn his head—he’d look like a painting of Michael.

“Whoa,” I mutter as I back up carefully.

Oriel laughs softly, then grabs my arm to lead me over to X. “We should let him do his thing, Kit Kat. It’ll be pretty, but also kind of gross. You might not be ready for it.”

I expect the darkness in me to lash out at the crow, but instead I feel a vibration almost like a cat’s purr inside and the overwhelming urge to get closer to the avian demon. Having zero clue what to feel about that shit, I swallow hard again and look down at Xerxes to distract myself. They’re bleeding a ridiculously attractive silver substance from the wound and I sheath one of my weapons so I can scrub my hand over my face. “Is there nothing you two do that isn’t visually stunning? I mean, I look like someone regurgitated me, man. It’s not fair.”

X gives me a pained smile, and even that is picture perfect. I throw up my hands, grunting in irritation as Oriel bends to examine their torso. Oriel sighs, his wings folding against his back as he pulls their shirt until it rips to see better.

“Man, what did you do? No one should have been able to get this close. You’re way too good.”

Xerxes’ lips twitch as they look at me. “Well… I sort of dived into the fray to save KK here before he went absolutely bonkers. I might have stayed unharmed if I knew what was going to unleash.”

“I didn’t do that! It wasn’t me making everyone lose their shit, and I definitely didn’t make this weird mist!” I give O a panicked look then hold my hands up. “Don’t blame me for whatever Anton’s magic did.”

The crow shifter snorts as he pulls the shirt pieces aside to get a better look at X’s wound. “Uh, in case you didn’t notice, Annie’s magic is like a Rainbow Brite cartoon. This red shit is not him, nor is the rage-out going on with every demon in this fucking arena. You can’t see it in here, but Prince Prickface is full-on dragon balls right now.”

Covering my mouth at his innuendo, I choke back a laugh. I’m not sure if it’s in humor or fear, but my entire body hums at the thought of seeing that. “Oh, no. He’s going to be so pissed.”

“Uh, if he’s the scaly serpent, that ship has sailed, Kit Kat.” X gives me a commiserating expression as they wince when Oriel touches the blade lodged in their stomach. “He’s going to be damn near impossible to get back to equilibrium for a couple days.”

“Who’s dealing with him?” I ask as worry fights with the darkness for control. “We have enough trouble without him getting sent away or whatever.”

“Truth,” Oriel says as he sits back on his heels. “X, we can have Dank remove this. I don’t want to cause more damage doing it as battlefield triage. It might scar, and you’ll come for me.”

The cobra shifter hisses low, and I take it to mean they agree with the sentiment. “Leave it be.”

“What do we do now? And someone answer me about Jasper, for fuck’s sake.” I elbow Oriel hard, my brow furrowing. “We need to get Xerxes out and check on everyone else.”

“They’re fine.” The voice is flinty and when I look up, I see Anton. He’s no longer covered in the sludge from before and he looks as regal as ever. In fact, at the moment, he looks better than any of us and I'm a little jealous again.

But I don’t look to see what he did; Oriel said not to and I’ve had a lot of surprises today.

“How do you know?” I say softly. “I mean, we’re in here and no one knows how to make it stop and?—”

The peacock demon rolls his eyes, but his expression is fond. “Kit Kat, you’re doing this. You can stop it. Whatever you did when my magic didn’t help you… undo it . Focus your mind and remember when everything changed, then reverse it.”

I blink, dipping my chin as I realize the darkness I allowed to escape isn’t just pent-up fury from years of being neglected and abused. No, this part of me is the demon side, and it’s been dormant until it was time. Like Dank said, the veil is lifting inside of me and I’m coming into the powers the guys have consistently told me I have. I didn’t believe them—not entirely, anyway—but now I know they’re right.

Which means the big pause in the cafeteria and the fire in the study room might have been me, too.

That rocks my world for a moment and I have to breathe very slowly to keep the panic from creeping in again. I don’t think the darkness and my PTSD need to make friends, especially not right now. So I close my eyes and dig deep into my mind, visualizing my body. I see the bright blue of my panic and the deep onyx of the darkness filling my frame. Very carefully, I coax the colors to recede. I don’t know if this soft begging will work, but if they’re right and I’m making this misty fury fest, I have to try.

Please, I murmur internally. I’m safe now. You can rest until it’s time.

Rocking a little, I keep talking to the parts of me, hoping like hell it works. Xerxes needs the doctor, and we have to find the rest of our caliphate.

Then we’ll have to face the music with the administration.