Chapter 18
Everyone rushes pastme through the halls as I meander down the corridor with no place to go.
Okay. That’s a lie. I have somewhere I should be. Should being the keyword in the equation. But there’s no chance in hell I’ll willingly walk my ass into his class again. Someone will have to drag me, kicking and screaming, before I subject myself to his cruelty.
It does make me wonder, though, how the fucker still has a job. And I know he does, even though I haven’t stepped foot into West Field since the incident. It would have been the hot gossip all over the academy, just like my incident in Spells and Potions and the dining hall disaster, but instead, I’ve been fielding stares of pity for the past week. If he were anything other than a supe, he would have had his employment terminated immediately. That’s what would have happened in the human sectors, anyway. It’s just another reminder of how vastly different things are here compared to where I grew up.
The bell rings right as the hallway empties, doors slamming shut as the professors start their lessons. It’s easier to gain access to the stairs up to the faculty wing now that no one is around to watch where I go. The first step toward my haven has the stress of the day releasing from my shoulders. The second step has a smile curling my lips. This goes on and on, my entire demeanor brightening until I’m practically skipping down the hall toward my dorm room.
My door opens with ease, and I toss my black bag on the counter, planning to leave it there until it’s needed come Monday morning. It’s not like they’ve given out homework anyway. All they say is practice, practice, practice. But I don’t think that means me. Nothing in my near vicinity is safe from my flames. Except for maybe me.
Perks of being a curiomancer, I guess.
But that just means carving more time into my schedule to get back into one of the magical containment rooms. Which reminds me, I’ll need to ask Thaddeus if he has any time to do so this weekend. There’s only so many things I can attempt in my room that won’t destroy the academy property. Plus, there’s a few other marks on my body that I want to ask about before I get randy and try them out.
The bright light of the refrigerator illuminates the contents within, but my lips tilt down in a frown when I don’t find anything really worth eating. I’d like to avoid the dining hall, but it doesn’t look like that’ll be possible since I polished off all those little freezer meals already.
The door thudding closed echoes my groan of dismay at having to join my classmates. They aren’t all that bad, per se, but the less time their eyes are on me, the better.
My hand clasps around my necklace as I wander over to the couch, plopping down the cushion. The snowflake charm warms in my palm, reminding me of the magic contained within. It’s amazing how such a little thing can keep my real self hidden. Safe from the harm others would want to cause me.
Only, sometime I wonder if what they say about me is true. Besides the incident with Professor Asshole, not one person has come after me. Because, let’s get real. There has to be someone else here who can see through this whole glamour thing and see the real me. But it hasn’t happened. Everyone has just left me alone.
That doesn’t mean I’m stupid enough to go out without my glamour intact. On the contrary, it won’t leave my neck for a second time. Not after the big reveal in Jasper’s office and what ensued after that.
The last thing I need is another piece of shit claiming me as their mate.
Unless it’s Axel or Luka. I could totally get onboard the mate train with one them.
Choo-choo.
Or they could run a train on me instead.
All aboard!
My eyes widen, and a giggle slips free until I’m full on bent over at the waist, cracking the hell up. Tears leak from my eyes, and a cramp makes my stomach clench from laughing so damn hard. Where the hell did that thought come from? I really need to get these crazy notions under control.
It takes a few moments to finally wrap my head around what my mind is trying to tell me. I’m crushing, and I’m crushing hard. On both of them. While this isn’t my first and most definitely won’t be my last crush, it definitely complicates things.
Luka said he and Axel were friends. And there’s no way I can get in between a friendship like theirs. One that has probably been around longer than I’ve been alive.
I think I’ll need to do what’s best for all of us. Avoid them both from here on out and hope that one day, when I’m out of this place, I can find someone—one someone—who makes me feel even a fraction of what I feel for them after such a short period of time.
Ugh. Who am I kidding? That task feels impossible. My mind seems to stray unbidden to each of them. So I’ll just play it by ear, and before things get physical, I’ll tell them. Hopefully, they won’t try to kill each other when they find out.
My phone chirps behind me from where it sits in my bag, pulling me from my tumbling thoughts. I groan as I get to my feet, wishing the infernal thing wasn’t so damn far away.
Once in hand, a smile curves my lips when I see Axel’s name on my screen.
Axel
Hey, cor meum. Hope you’re having a good day in class. I wanted to check up on you and see what your plans are for the weekend.
With a giggle, I change Axel’s name in my phone to match what I think of him before typing out a reply.
Me
Hey, Axe. Class was okay, nothing new to report there. No plans for the weekend either. Why? What’s up?
Yummy Vampire
Shouldn’t you be in class right now?
Skipping classes already, are you?
Why is it that I can imagine him raising his brow at me while tapping his foot and waiting for me to answer?
Me
Yep.
He doesn’t need any more than that. I’m an adult, and if I want to skip class I will.
Me
So about this weekend…
Yummy Vampire
Nice deflection.
I wanted to see if you were free on Saturday, so I can pick you up and take you over to your property. There’s a few papers you need to sign off on in terms of the house, and Luka told me you were looking for books about your kind. Your parents kept an extensive library, so I thought it would be a great place to look.
I was wholly prepared to pass on the house looking until that tidbit of information. That is more than enough reason to check it out. Even though I really don’t want to step foot into the place where I should have grown up.
But if I have a chance to grab some study material to bring back here, I’ll take it.
Yummy Vampire
Cor meum?
Me
Sorry. Yes. I’ll go on Saturday.
Yummy Vampire
Okay. Great. I’ll pick you up at 8:00 a.m.
Eight?! Nope. My weekends are for sleeping in.
Me
On second thought, I decline. I’d be a raging bitch without my beauty sleep.
Yummy Vampire
You don’t need sleep, cor meum. You’re already beautiful.
Fucking. Swoon.
Me
Fine. Since you’re so sweet about it.
Yummy Vampire
It’s a date. I’ll see you bright and early.
Date? Hold the freaking phone. Nobody said anything about a date. Except I can’t help how my heart thuds a little harder in my chest at the thought of going on a date—or pseudo date—with Axel.
Dropping my phone on the cushion next to me, I relax back on the comfortable couch, letting my mind drift to thoughts of how the day tomorrow might end.
My stomach growls in dismay at the sight of the line waiting at the buffet tables to grab dinner. It seems like every single person at the academy is in this very room, all vying for the food laid out to sate their appetites.
I nibble my lip as I join the back of the queue, already feeling the pitying stares aimed in my direction. What happened is over and done with, I just wish they’d stop looking at me like I’d choose now to finally break over what Professor Asshole did to me.
But what none of these people seem to realize is that I’d never show them that weakness of mine. Only one person has caught me when I’ve been like that, and I know he would never hold it against me. If anything, he’s been the one to hold me together when I’ve broken.
The line moves steadily, and before I realize it, the delicious food is laid before me like an offering. My mouth salivates at all the yummies I can choose from, and much like the first time I was in here, I grab a little bit of everything. Avoiding the flesh of the dead with a wide berth.
With my plate piled high, I scout around at the tables, looking for somewhere to sit while I dine.
“Bailey!” My head snaps to the right at the sound of my name being called over the raucous laughter of the other students.
Marion waves from the corner, beckoning me to come sit with her. But I honestly don’t know if I can. Not now that I know she’s related to Professor Asshole. Because it’s my fault she got hurt when she tried to stop him, and instead of finding time to apologize to her for it, I’ve hidden myself from her.
I grimace. Guess there’s no better time like the present
My food mountain balances precariously on my plate as I make my way around the tables, finally setting it down on the empty table, save for Marion.
She shoots me a beaming smile, and I return one that I hope is somewhat convincing that I’m happy to be in here.
“Listen, Marion,” I get the jump before she can, “I just want?—”
She cuts me off with a stern look, pointing her fork at me. “Don’t you dare apologize for what my shithead brother did. That was not your fault. The asshole got what he deserved for it.”
Got what he deserved?
“What are you talking about? What do you mean he got what he deserved?”
“Oh. Oh, man. You don’t know?”
I shake my head, completely bewildered at what she could be referring to.
Marion tosses her head back and laughs, grabbing the attention of the nearby tables. “Dude, someone beat the everloving shit out of him.” My mouth drops at that news, but she isn’t finished yet. “And get this. They used their magic to stop his healing. So the fucker limped his way to my dorm room and begged me to ask my roommate to heal him.”
Holy shit.
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing. You don’t need to say anything. He deserved what he got. My roommate heard all about what happened, and she refused. Flat out told him to suffer. Then, we slammed the door in his face.”
A laugh bubbles up just imagining the look on his face as the door shut on him. Leaving him to fend for himself. But she’s right about one thing. I don’t need to say anything. It still doesn’t make what he did okay now, but at least, he got a little payback. Maybe this was Karma rearing her ugly head like Olga said would happen.
Olga. I’ll have to text her later and let her know. I bet she’ll cackle her ass off.
“Anyway.” Marion waves the conversation away, moving onto the next. “What are your plans for this weekend? I want to go into town and do some shopping. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve laid eyes on a new pair of shoes.”
Shopping. The one thing I haven’t let myself do in years. Too worried about saving money. But that was then. Now, I don’t have the same worries.
“I have something I need to do Saturday, but Sunday is completely free if you want some company.” Holy cow. Look at me making plans. Go me. I figured I’d spend the next few years hiding away until I was comfortable in my supernatural body. But nope. I’m doing it. First a date with a vampire, and then shopping with a wolf.
“Perfect! I’ll drive!”
That’s where the conversation ends as she digs into the heaping plate in front of her. I follow her lead, tucking into the yummies calling my name. The entire time, I wiggle in my seat with excitement coursing through my veins. Something about being, dare I say, friends with Marion seems right. Like we were meant to find each other.
Is that the way things are in this world? Everything just clicks into place, literally? If so, I think I can get used to life on this side of the wall.