Chapter Six
I heard Zarmenus correctly.
Apparently, Dean Leeke wants to meet with the two of us in her office as soon as possible. Why does the dean even have Zarmenus’s number? It would make sense, given how big of a deal he is. Being the first-ever demon student does give one an undeniable special status.
“Do you mean she wants to see you?”
He shakes his head. “She specifically said the two of us. You’re not getting out of this that easy.”
My brain tells me my worst fear must have come true, that the scholarship actually was a huge mistake and it’s all going to be taken back. Even though the odds of that happening are incredibly slim.
“Do you know why?” I ask.
“No idea, but we shouldn’t keep her waiting. Shall we?”
As we walk toward University Hall where the dean’s office is located, people keep stopping to stare at us or take pictures with their phones.
It’s making cold sweat break out on my palms, even though I try to remind myself that Zarmenus is the one they care about, not me.
If he wasn’t with me I wouldn’t get a second glance.
Zarmenus has seemed mostly oblivious to the double takes we’ve received, though sometimes he pulls a face or throws up a peace sign if he knows he’s being photographed.
I keep asking the same question: Why me?
I get her wanting to see Zarmenus. He is the prince of Hell, after all.
He’s probably the most important student Point has ever had.
His visit here is truly historic, and how well it goes could very well shape the rest of human history, and will be a key point in human-demon relations going forward.
We’ve now reached University Hall. The redbrick is classic for Point, broken up by large, white-trimmed windows.
In the middle is an ivy-covered clock tower, and above the entrance, the words UNIVERSITY HALL are etched into the stone.
Like a lot of the buildings on campus, it’s absurdly pretty.
It’s so picturesque it’s like I’ve stepped into a college-set movie.
“I guess we’ll find out,” he says as he holds open the door for me.
We go through the pristine building, which is bright and airy, its marble floors gleaming.
We follow the signs until we reach the dean’s office, which is on the top level.
There’s no elevator in this building, so we take a staircase all the way up.
Zarmenus walks quickly, and I find myself out of breath by the time we reach the top floor.
“You good?” he asks.
“I should exercise more,” I say. I stand up, putting on a brave face. “I’m good.”
Dean Leeke’s office is at the end of the hallway.
Zarmenus knocks on the door, and a few moments later it opens, revealing Dean Leeke.
She looks just like the pictures I’ve seen online: mid-forties, with her brown hair worn short.
Her skin’s a deep, warm brown, and she’s dressed in a sharp navy-blue pantsuit, one that’s perfectly ironed and clearly tailored.
She gives us a smile that’s welcoming, yet professional.
“Come in,” she says, moving aside for us.
Her office is amazing. The room is spacious with tall windows that not only give an incredible view of the campus, but also let in plenty of natural light.
Directly in front of me is a large mahogany desk adorned with a few framed pictures of Dean Leeke posing with an unfamiliar woman as well as two kids.
Her family, if my assumption is correct, looks blissfully happy.
“Take a seat,” she says, going over to her chair.
Zarmenus and I both sit.
“Thank you for stopping by,” she says. “I hope that the two of you are settling in nicely.”
“We are,” says Zarmenus. “I love it here.”
“Me too,” I say.
As nice as she seems, I still feel a little like I’m in the hot seat, as if I’m in the middle of a job interview or something similar.
She might not hold all the keys to my academic and professional future, but this could be an opportunity.
I never thought I would interact with her like this; I don’t think many students meet the dean of the entire school.
It makes me think my choice to stay sharing a room with Zarmenus was a good one: having the dean of the school know and hopefully like me can only mean good things for my future.
“I’m sure you’re curious why I brought you here,” she says. “And don’t worry, you’re not in trouble.”
“Not yet,” chimes Zarmenus.
“I just wanted to thank you personally for choosing Point to do this exchange. I’m sure every school on Earth wanted you, and I am overjoyed you chose to come here.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he says.
“Now, I’ve spoken with your parents, Zarmenus, and we all agreed on the importance of this exchange. A lot of people are, shall we say, wary of your kind.”
“Demons, you mean?” suggests Zarmenus.
“I know you are nothing like you have been presented throughout human history,” continues Leeke.
Her tone has lowered a little, and the hard look she gave Zarmenus made it clear he is not to interrupt her again.
“But a lot of damage has been done. It’s my hope that, through this exchange, we can show mankind just how alike we truly are. ”
“Why?” asks Zarmenus. “What’s in it for you?”
“Coexistence is going to happen whether we like it or not,” she says. “Now that this particular cat is out of the bag there’s no going back, and I for one think striving for peace is always a worthwhile goal.”
“What you’re saying is I can’t torture students for fun?”
She laughs. “No. And you’re not fooling me with this attitude, Prince Zarmenus.
Your parents sent me quite the extensive file on you.
” She pulls out a cream-colored folder from her desk drawer.
“You received nearly perfect grades throughout your high school career at the”—she peers closer—“Horrible and Foul-Smelling Academy.”
“Go Stinkers!” calls Zarmenus, as if cheering at a football game. “Best school in Hell; only the best get in.”
“You were involved in a large number of extra curriculars at this, um, school. You’re a near prodigy-level violin player, and you led your school’s debate team to four different championships.”
“What can I say, I like to argue.”
Is this all true? I wouldn’t say this to his face because I’m sure it would come out wrong, but I didn’t get the impression Zarmenus took anything that seriously.
“All I ask is that you don’t forget who you are.”
Now I’m envisioning a version of Zarmenus that’s completely different: one who wears button-down shirts and keeps his hair neatly pressed. He does debate? He plays the violin?
“But we’re getting off topic,” she says.
“And I’m sure the two of you want to get back to getting to know each other.
The reason I called you here is because I want each of you to know just how important you are, and how you have my full support going forward.
I have increased campus security tenfold, so we shouldn’t have to deal with any protests like the one we did this morning.
Still, I think it’d be best if we all agree to keep our heads on straight. ”
As straight as I can, I think.
“I’ll behave,” he says. “Not that being straight is my thing.”
He winks at me. Wait, he isn’t straight?
I don’t like to assume anyone’s sexuality.
I prefer it when people don’t make assumptions about me, so I like to treat other people the way that I like to be treated.
Still, him being queer endears him to me even more.
It means we have at least one thing in common, and a lot of the times that’s enough.
“Excellent. Now that’s settled, I’m sure you both have things you’d like to do, so I’ll let you go,” says Dean Leeke. “Owen, would you mind hanging back a little longer? I’d like to have a word with you in private.”
Zarmenus clearly isn’t being used to being dismissed like this, but he still gets up and leaves. Before he shuts the door, he mouths the words nice knowing you.
What does she want with me? I still don’t understand why I’m here, let alone her wanting to speak with only me. If she wanted to speak with just Zarmenus that would make sense. I’m just the roommate.
“I must say, I’m thrilled to meet you,” she says. “Yours was one of, if not the best, application we received this year.”
Wait, really? I did work hard on my essay, and my grades were basically flawless, but that information is still surprising. I also didn’t think the dean would personally read any applications, even for a midsize school like Point.
“I must admit, there was quite the scramble when Zarmenus’s first roommate became unavailable,” she says, her tone hinting there’s more to that story. “But as it often does when one door closes, an even better one opens up.”
In this scenario am I the door?
“This exchange is of vital importance,” she says.
“People are scared, Owen. And it’s understandable.
But you and I both know that Zarmenus and his kind aren’t the evil beings some make them out to be.
I meant what I said before; it is my genuine hope that our two species can coexist. But this is a delicate situation, one where any mistakes could backfire horribly.
It’s why I wanted to speak with you, because I want you to understand just how important you are. ”
“How so?”
“By sharing a room with a demon, you are showing that coexistence is possible by literally coexisting. You’re setting an example for the rest of humanity.”
I hadn’t thought about it that way, but she’s totally right.
“All I ask is that you try your hardest to keep the peace between you two. People around the world are going to be looking at you and making up their minds based on how your relationship goes. I don’t expect it to be totally smooth sailing; almost all roommates experience some tension at one point or another.
If you ever have any difficulties, you can come directly to me. ”
She slides a business card across her desk. Her name is embossed on it in shiny black ink.
“However,” she says, as I pocket the card, “I understand this is a lot of responsibility, especially when it’s one you did not ask for. If this semester goes well, I will be an advocate for you in any way that I can. I understand you are looking to become a data scientist?”
“That’s right,” I say.
“Well, I happen to be good friends with the woman who runs the internship program at Google, and she has asked me to keep an eye out for any especially bright students.”
Is she serious? That kind of internship would be life-changing.
I’m speechless.
“Would that be something you are interested in?”
“Yes,” I say. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Well, if this semester goes well, I’ll give her a call and put in a good word. If I sing your praises enough I’m sure she’d take you on.”
An internship like that would unlock a bigger future for me than I thought possible. Grades are important, yes, but sometimes the battle is more about who you know than what you know.
The greatest barrier to the future I want is that I have basically no connections.
My parents were a teacher and an accountant, then coffee shop owners, and now Dad is back to being an accountant and Mom works part-time in an art gallery.
Even with all the jobs they have they know basically nobody in the IT world.
This would solve that problem.
“Do we have a deal?” she asks.