Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bartimaeus
I t’s the ceremony to kick off the new school year. The Dean stands at the podium and gives his insipid little speech with a level of excitement that makes me nauseous. I sit behind him on the stage with the rest of the faculty staff, bouncing my leg impatiently. My body is fighting my new blood, refusing to embrace it, and it’s wearing my nerves down.
I scan the students sitting in the auditorium chairs, staring at the Dean with amazement. As he finally finishes his energetic speech, they all rise and clap like he’s a rock star they admire. I notice the faculty is responding in the same way, so I have no choice but to join them.
When the whole affair is over, I linger behind. Some of the lecturers are gossiping about the students, and I have to glean as much information as I can about the new students I’ll be teaching this year. These demons are entirely different from the ones I’ve known so far, who were all freshly made. The demons of the senior classes already had solid control of their nature, their thirst, and they were allowed to feed on human blood. They’re cleverer and much less na?ve than the children I’d had to deal with so far. I take in all the information, word for word, willingly. It’s unprecedented information for our world, and we’ll surely be able to use it to our advantage.
As the lecturers intend to move their busy conversation elsewhere, the Dean returns to the auditorium and calls us in for a talk. The haunted look on his face tells me this won’t be idle chatter. Something’s happened.
We hurry to follow him in a single group, exchanging curious glances. We’re all wondering what’s going on.
When the entire faculty gathers in the staff room, the Dean shuts the door and leans against it. He’s gasping for breath, like he’s trying to sort out his thoughts. All eyes are on him, including mine. Say it already, damn it , I grouse to myself. Finally he stands up straight and addresses us.
“The coming school year is going to be one of the most challenging in all our careers.” He pauses dramatically. “We’ve been visited by Othello Fermi, who’s been made an official member of the Council.” Gasps and mumbles burst into the room, interrupting the Dean’s words. I don’t dare breath. If Lilith’s father has been given a seat on the Council, that means I wasn’t wrong and something big is indeed about to happen. “Bellcolor Fermi, the human demon, has returned to campus. She’s completed her transformation, but she’s nothing like the other students we’re used to teaching.”
Bellcolor is back . Excitement surges up inside me. Fucking finally .
“What do you mean?” Ms. Kingsley asks.
“Othello informed me that Miss Fermi has been taken under the wing of the head of the Council, and thus she holds a status apart from the other students. We must treat her with the respect she deserves. The esteemed Council member left no room for misinterpretation: If any harm comes to her, if she’s mistreated, we shall suffer the consequences,” the Dean warns with a bloodcurdling tone.
“Have you met her?” the Demonic Arts teacher Mr. Fleming asks.
“Yes,” he nods heavily. “She’s… quite different.”
Mumbles fill the room.
“Designated demonic incarnation never fully takes place before completing training and studies, especially not in the case of a freshman student, but I’ve been told she’s already taken on some of the powers that accompany her intended role. We mustn’t ask about her role, or discuss it amongst ourselves, and we must not intervene in anything she does. You’ll find her presence is quite charged. Any faculty member who crosses the line will be returned to their creator, no exceptions. That’s a direct order from Satan himself, given to us through the head of the Council. Am I clear?” He narrows his eyes as he examines us, as though seeking doubt in our eyes.
“Yes, sir,” we answer as one.
The others don’t know what this is about, but after the Dean’s message I have no doubt: In spite of my efforts, Lilith has awakened. She walks the lands of Adam.
I’d meant to evade Lilith. At least until I could inform my superiors of recent events, and until I was given orders on how to proceed. It was one thing before the girl completed the transformation, now I find myself in territory I wasn’t properly prepared for.
I go to my office so I can contact my superiors, but the Devil’s in the details. As I open the door to my office, I find Bellcolor sitting in the chair across from my desk and staring. Fuck.
I can’t just turn and run. It would be stupid and irresponsible. I can’t afford to rouse her suspicion.
“Miss Fermi,” I address her formally, unsure of what I should call her now that everything’s changed.
She snaps out of the trance she’d been drawn into and stands up.
Not only has Bellcolor completed the transformation, she looks like the polar opposite of the lanky, pale girl I’d met at the start of summer.
Her black hair has been given volume and a life of its own. It cascades and curls on her swollen breasts, which threaten to split the buttoned shirt of the school uniform. There’s no question that she fills it out differently now than she once did. The black tie lies between her breasts and is tilted slightly to one side, and all I want is to arrange it and cop a feel of those stunning breasts. Her pleated black skirt reveals long legs and silken skin, almost as pure as the holiest of angels. My eyes return to her flushed face, its color living and gleaming, and I need to remind myself that the woman before me isn’t alive, she’s actually a walking corpse. Her eyes are white and gleaming, wide open as they look me over with the same intensity.
“Barty,” her pink lips speak my nickname, and I feel all the filthy blood flowing between my legs and making me hard. I’ve become a monster, and my blood again retakes control of my body and my filthy, sinful thoughts.
“What are you doing here?” I blurt out, almost enraged. Damn it, I need to control myself. The Dean was very clear with his warnings.
“I need your help.” Her eyes grow soft, displaying a sadness unlike any I’ve ever seen.
“Mine?” I ask in amazement.
“I’ve thought a lot about the creation story you taught us.” She looks down. “I think you were trying to tell me something and I was too stupid to pick up on it.”
She’s onto me. That’s it. It’s over.
She raises her gaze and approaches me. All the air drains out of my lungs and my knees shake. The aura around her is powerful, and I can barely breathe. My blood bubbles in my veins and I find myself fighting to keep my body from pressing against her and never letting go. Where does this influence come from? She’s controlling my body without even meaning to. If I hadn’t been aware of the Devil’s tricks, I might’ve mistakenly thought I missed her.
“W-what do you want from me?” My lips finally manage to move, and I curse myself for the weakness I display in her presence.
“I need you to set what you came here to do in motion.” She fixes her gaze on me and I freeze in place.
“W-what? What do you know about that?”
“Everything,” she immediately answers, tilting her head with clear amusement on her face. “I need you to banish her. Lilith… she’s awakening inside me,” she demands, and I’m stunned into silence.