Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
SO MANY FIRSTS
“Welcome to Alignment, Roles, and Responsibility. I’m Professor Calista Drummond.
It’s nice to see you again. If you’re new, welcome to my class.
” Her eyes move to me before she goes back to looking at all her students.
“ARR is a core subject at Thales, and you will be a student of mine until you graduate.”
Professor Drummond is small in stature, but she’s one of those women who radiates confidence and commands respect.
The lecture hall is full, but no one is fidgeting or talking. It’s either the subject, the teacher, or perhaps both, that are making them act like entirely different beings than those I saw at breakfast. Admittedly, I’m being judgmental as heck, and maybe this is how everyone acts in class.
She holds up a textbook in her hand. “For those who have recently joined us, this book is the only reference material you need.
Period. I encourage you to read it from cover to cover, irrespective of what year level you are in.
Our time together is essentially us working through each and every page because this is the reason you are a student at Thales.
“Alignment is what you should strive for, not perfect grades. Don’t let the other professors sway you to believe otherwise because I guarantee, an A is not going to save your life, but an Alignment will.
And not only yours.” She places the book down and picks up a device that looks identical to mine.
“The textbook is also on your device. If you want a hard copy, just come and see me after class. Okay, let’s start where we left off. ”
All around me, other students reach for their tablets.
If Orion were here, I’d be watching his every move and copying everything he did, but he got called to the office as soon as we arrived.
Instead, I follow the students around me, pretending I know what I’m doing.
Thankfully, the software Thales uses is beautifully simple.
I tap on the ARR icon, and the textbook is waiting there for me to open.
Once more I copy those near me, opening the arm of my chair to pull out a small, concealed desktop and set up my device with split screens like they do.
One side of the screen shows the textbook, while the other side is like a notebook.
I’m relieved I put time into staying up to date with the latest computer advances back home, as it’s paying off now.
Professor Drummond reads out the textbook word for word, stopping to expand in places before continuing. She doesn’t quiz anyone during the class, nor does she allow questions, but I like the way she teaches.
The concept of alignment is insane. You’re tying yourself to people for the rest of your life.
Essentially, it’s the process of three, four, five, or even six individuals of mixed species coming together and reforming as one.
In a process not yet explained, they become a cohesive unit, which allows them to share energy and I think, strength.
“Okay, that’s it. Homework is a two-thousand-word essay on what we’ve gone over today. This is not a group task, so make sure you’re doing your own work. And, like always, the submission date is before our next lesson.”
I scribble down both the deadline and the task, probably unnecessarily, considering how snazzy their lesson app is. I prove myself right when a notification flashes, the task she outlined ready to be added to my calendar.
The lecture hall clears out while I’m looking at my timetable. Orion said all my lessons today were in this building, which means I shouldn’t get lost. I’m the last to leave, and Professor Drummond watches me as I stand up and walk down the stairs.
She comes closer, the oversized textbook in her hands. “Maya Ellis, I take it?”
“Yes, Professor.” I smile politely.
“How are you finding your first day here?”
“Overwhelming,” I offer truthfully.
She doesn’t argue the fact, nor does she make some odd promise that it will get better, like so many would, just to be nice.
“I’m in the camp where knowledge is power, and power is strength.
There’s a lot of others here who think strength is the be-all and end-all, or that which family you were born into matters most. I’m a big believer that we all have something special inside us.
If others can’t see it in you, that’s a ‘them’ problem, not a ‘you’ issue. ”
“Even a Nom?” I ask before I pull a small grimace. “And I say that without knowing anything about being a Nom.”
She tips her head to the side in understanding, as her gentle confidence continues to radiate. “A Nom is simply a label, Maya. How you wear your designation is up to you.”
Professor Drummond goes back to packing up her bag, and I’m caught, knowing I need to leave but wanting to press her—or anyone—for more information on this Nom stuff.
She keeps focusing on what she’s doing. “I’ll add some more textbooks to your profile.
They’re not part of any course offered at Thales, but I’m a firm believer that those who cannot understand the past have already failed their future.
You should go now, Maya. Not all teachers at Thales share the same views I do. ”
I don’t get the chance to thank her. She moves quickly and picks up her bag and walks in the opposite direction of the door all the students used. With her words of warning echoing and my own roiling anxiety, I race from the room, trying to read where I have to go next.
I remember Orion saying my next lesson is on the floor above, and I search for the room number sequence before climbing the stairs. I’m mostly confident the layout will be the same upstairs as it was downstairs.
I’m entirely focused on what I’m doing and don’t even notice the two golden jackets waiting for me at the top of the stairs.
God, they are stunningly beautiful. Achingly so, actually, like can beauty get any more beautiful? Regardless of their looks, a wave of discomfort runs down the back of my neck in warning.
The male is the one responsible for my early morning face-plant. He wears the same condescending smirk on his face as he did when I was sprawled at his feet.
The female wears a softer expression. Her smile is inviting and friendly, but it sets my teeth on edge. “Day one and you’ve already made a scene, Nom.”
I step up to where they’re standing and then move to put distance between us.
The mean-girl energy rolling off both of them is impossible to ignore.
I don’t run and hide. I mean, I don’t stare in challenge either, but I stay where I am.
I’ve seen enough movies to know if you give these people an inch, they’ll take a mile.
There are other students loitering, which makes me think this is a smackdown of sorts. I wait, letting them lead, since they’re the ones with the issue. Why exactly, I’m not sure, but I’m hoping they’ll share the reason with me soon enough.
“Your sort shouldn’t even be allowed a place at Thales. You’re nothing but a waste of space.” Her voice is like listening to a xylophone playing. The tone is as perfect and mesmerizing as her exquisite features.
“You know, Seraphina,” the male purrs, his hand gliding over her shoulder in a show of unity as his gaze flicks from her to me, from sweet to venomous. “She’s not even a Nom.” He swings his head, making sure everyone is watching. “She grew up with humans.”
Around me, it’s like what happened earlier in the dining hall as the crowd of students becomes a single force, uniting to make the same ‘tsk’ of disrespect, aiming it directly at me.
They all come closer, and I move to keep the same distance between us.
“I say we take her back to the wall and let her kind deal with her. Save us the effort.”
Then, like before, a red coat inserts himself. “Let’s not waste resources, especially in this age of sustainability. We’ll take her off your hands.”
A wave of laughter follows, and the two golden coats swing their focus to him. They study him, both tipping their heads to the same side, the same damn angle as they consider what he said, as something like agreement is mirrored across their pretty faces. “For the right price, that could work.”
The red coat smiles, and I get a visceral reminder of what the red symbolizes. Although considering I’ve only seen one other vampire before and that was super briefly, I might be wrong on the type of supe he is. But the fangs and the way he’s eyeing me like I’m a meal are pretty obvious too.
“You’re not worried about catching something from her?” the female golden coat croons.
I still can’t figure out what species she and her friend are, though to be honest, no one’s given me a list of supernaturals that actually exist in the world, and I’m basing my knowledge on paranormal romance books.
“You know our kind doesn’t get sick, Seraphina. Or did you miss that in class because you were too busy trying to stop your halo from slipping right off?”
The reference to her halo makes my eyes jump to the spot above her head where you see all the cartoon halos hovering.
There’s nothing there. My gaze drops to her shoulders, where a lack of wings makes me wonder if I heard wrong.
But given the glow, which is decidedly heavenly, and her tinkling voice, I’m still leaning toward her being an angel.
A flood of adrenaline pulls my focus from what’s happening around me. My body’s reaction is slow, or maybe the reality of being in the presence of an actual angelic being defies belief.
My reaction doesn’t go unnoticed, with the guy in red lifting his head and scenting the air. His smile widens, making more of his fangs show, as his eyes turn to me. “Yes, we’ll take her. Let me know how much.”
Instead of calming down, as you should in the face of a predator, my pulse speeds up. My dad always said I have a flair for impulsiveness when I’m feeling cornered, and I prove him right.
“I’m not for sale.” My voice carries from one end of the hallway to the other, pulling students from their classrooms.