Chapter 20 #2
“I don’t want to interrupt your morning, so I’ll wait out front. I’m ready for training.”
Before I can take so much as another step, Professor Cane makes a weird noise in the back of his throat, and it coincides with Emrys standing up suddenly. I jump a mile, then get starstruck again by his vibrant energy which is snaking around the room slowly coming closer.
Emrys waits until I’m looking at him, and I see this morning he’s back to being approachable.
But I’ve still got the wounds from the last time he acted like my friend.
He smiles and I match it, knowing everyone is watching us.
As I don’t trust him, I check my shields, expecting another of the slap downs he’s so good at delivering.
“New girl, get some food, sit-down wherever you want, or use this spare seat. We have a training session that promises to be punishing. The last thing we need is you getting in our way because you’ve fainted.”
At least he doesn’t let me down or prove me wrong.
My eyes jump from him to Professor Cane, sliding over to the vampire I’ve met but haven’t been introduced to yet. He’s wearing a smirk, clearly ready to add something. “She’s not going to miss the chance of getting her fix.”
“Her fix?” Cane asks, his eyes back to shooting laser beams in my direction.
“You didn’t know?” The vampire grins, showing lots of pointy teeth as he does. “New girl is kinky. She has a thing for wanting to be chased.”
The audacity of this vampire has me as wound up as I did the last time our paths crossed. My mouth pops open as waspish retorts start forming in my mind, but I figure surprise is as good a tactic as being a dick.
I lean over the table, my hand held out in his direction. “We haven’t properly met, I’m Maya.”
I catch him off guard, and before he can stop himself, he takes my hand and tells me his name. “Arlan.”
My mom would be so proud of the way I took charge, despite being intimidated and irritated by him. I can hear her soft voice in my thoughts—size, money, and power are irrelevant, Maya. Just look at spiders if you’re ever doubting yourself. Those tiny guys strike fear in many.
I pull my hand from his, feeling lighter. Not because of my win regarding the introductions, but by the fact that my mom is still with me when I need her most.
A gentle shove of energy against my barriers keeps my emotions buoyant.
I turn to face Emrys. Much like with the vampire, I take the lead in the interaction by not ignoring what he’s doing. Though I’m mindful of not being too cocky, since these beings are so unpredictable.
“I did what you said and worked on my shields. I’m mostly sure no one will get past them.”
The emphasis hits, and he takes up the challenge, just like I knew he would.
His probing comes more often and with a little more force.
If I had to describe the sensation, it would be like getting jabbed with a finger.
It doesn’t hurt, but it is a little rude.
Again, it seems to go with the territory of being a superior being.
“Who taught you?” Emrys bites back after a few harder jabs.
I keep my expression neutral as a flicker of irritation builds at his obvious suggestion that I cannot be responsible for this myself. Then I play dumb, because that’s clearly what he thinks of me.
“Why? Did my shield pass the test?”
He stares at me, his voice dipping dangerously low. “I knew we couldn’t trust you. Are you even aware every magik done leaves a signature?”
I continue with my facade, gasping and looking caught out. “What? Really?”
He takes a step closer, and I let him walk straight into the trap he thinks I’ve set.
“Isn’t it strange that the sickness thing with the other Noms only happened after you arrived?
Never in the history of Quin-state have we had a human virus infect our kind.
Yet now you’re inside our house, weaseling your way into our lives under the pretense of a commission.
The questions why you’re here keep stacking up, new girl. ”
I laugh in Emrys’ face, but what he said also warrants a response. “Your arrogance and ignorance are blinding. It’s not my issue how you perceive things, that’s entirely on you.”
I walk backward because I don’t trust him not to lash out, his purple energy is bouncing erratically right now. It gives the same warning as his clenched fists do.
“And for the record, not one person—teacher or student—at Thales has bothered to even try to teach me a single thing about being a Nom or how to navigate this new life I was thrown into. But you know, it’s actually possible to do things for yourself without relying on others.
So, screw you and the judgmental broom you flew in on.
I taught myself how to shield by reading a ton of books.
You’re pissed off because I did exactly what you asked, and you underestimated me. That’s all this is.”
With that said, I don’t hang around, nor do I storm off. I go to walk off calmly, but Cane’s hand flies out, catching my wrist as I pass.
I blame the pent-up frustration on what I say next. “Let me guess, another essay on disrespect, sir? Or should this one be on the impact of prejudice?” I pull on my arm, the action makes it blatantly clear he’s the one touching me, and that it’s obvious I don’t want him to.
“That’s hardly appropriate,” he says, standing up, still holding my wrist.
“I’d say differently,” I reply, keeping my voice low and calm.
“Emrys raised valid points,” Cane argues.
I shake my head, adding some distance between us, in case he flips on me again. In doing so, I also take the opportunity to once again show that he’s still holding me hostage. “He might have raised valid points from where you stand, but not from where I do. Can you please let go of me, Professor?”
He does at the same time as Arlan stands. I’m not here to get caught in their bully-boy drama. Nor am I here to teach these idiots empathy. I’m here to graduate as is required.
“I’d like to return to my room at Nom House. I’m on level two, no one else is on my floor. The risk of me getting any kind of infection is about on par with this being a workable living arrangement.”
His eyes flash gold again, as his voice drops dangerously low. “Lockdown is mandatory. You’re staying here with us until I tell you otherwise.”
I lift my chin. “Then we stick to the original arrangement. I stay downstairs, no one comes into my room, and we leave each other be.”
“No one’s been in your room,” Arlan says dismissively.
I wish I believed him, but considering I felt the warmth on my bed and ate the food that was left, I don’t.
“Let’s keep it that way.”
“Easy done, new girl,” Emrys says while his magik wraps around my limbs. “Outside of training, of course.”
I agree in an instant.