Chapter 31 Battlefield
Battlefield
Kit/Kat
Slash was not kidding about his dad’s lackey causing problems. Human history is typically an enlightening class for me because I hear what really went on, versus what I was taught for the first half of my life.
Alabaster isn’t great, but I usually make notes about things I need to research to be caught up to everyone else’s level.
He’s a jerk when I don’t know shit; that won’t ever change.
However, that’s where this class helps me pinpoint the most important gaps in my knowledge.
The demi-hybrid is often most snide about things, places, and people that every demon should know by now, and he clarifies that I’m deficient for not knowing.
He’s a dickwad, but his dickishness helps me focus on the right shit, at least.
Today wasn’t like that at all. The Major wasn’t in our class, but one of his minions was.
A tall, broad demon of indeterminate gender who never spoke—other than grunts and scoffs—but watched everyone in the room like they wanted to stab them.
Alabaster was rightly nervous in their presence, and it made everything I use this class to accomplish go out the window.
The lecture rambled, our professor was too shaken to snipe, and he ended up letting us read ahead for a nebulous ‘project’ that I’m certain doesn’t exist. I think he couldn’t stand the mercenary-looking observer glaring at him any longer.
Of course, this atmosphere not only fucked up my actual learning but made me sit there on the edge of panic for the remaining hour after Dank dropped me off.
Poor Dottie did her best, but I had to stay laser-focused on the front of the room.
Our watcher was threatening enough without pissing them off by texting or indulging in self-care methods.
My notes are fractured—disorganized and messy—because of the pressure and my racing mind. All I want to do now is…
Oh, thank fucking Mammon.
Oriel is here to pick me up, and I feel the tension leave my body as he approaches. His brows are furrowed as he studies me with the avian head tilt, and when he’s close enough, he mutters, “Rough class, little shadow?”
A shiver runs through me at the new moniker, but I ignore it to nod. My eyes plead with him not to ask here, and he smiles before offering his arm. Once I take it, we turn, heading down the hall to the elevator so we can go to the Triclinium. “Thank you for being… you, I suppose.”
He arches a brow, smirking through his shiny piercings. “You thought I’d show up in costume, pretending to be someone else? Amusing, I’m sure, but definitely not the day for expressing our ‘furry’ sides, KK.”
The humor is to get me to relax, I know; he’s not making light of my obvious stress to be a jerk.
“Well… I think it would be fun to see you dressed as Big Bird, but it’s not really my thing. Don’t get any ideas, okay?” I grin a little, letting him lead the slow unraveling of my knots of panic and fear.
“Hmph. I’m a much bigger bird than that yellow motherfucker. Just you wait.” Oriel puffs up, giving the impression that if he were shifted, his feathers might actually be ruffled at the idea.
It’s adorable, and if I say so, he’ll get even more affronted.
“I’m sure you are. The few of you I’ve seen in the private shift sessions have been holding back, I’d wager.
None of you wants to scare me accidentally, which is very considerate.
” I frown as I think about this morning, then look up at O with a curious expression. “Slash asked me if he could go next.”
That gets a snort, then a full-on laugh from my companion as we enter the elevator and head to the bottom floor. Once it opens, Oriel guides me out into the lobby of the building with his hand on my elbow. When we’re clear of the front doors, he looks at me with sparkling mischief in his eyes.
“Did you acquiesce?”
“Should I not have?” His response is another rumbling laugh, and I yank my elbow free to dig into his side as we walk across the quad. “Tell me.”
“Slash is an odd duck, little shadow. He doesn’t mince words and looks at things differently than anyone else I know, even Jasper. I think it’s because of how the General raised him to look at the entire world like a giant chessboard, but I could be mistaken.”
I give him a wry look. “I’m very aware of that. I have met the guy.”
“Yes, but you have not met his animal, nor his demon. Not really.” Oriel grins crookedly. “It’s an experience you won’t forget, so make sure you find some sort of swimwear. Also, remember that he doesn’t hide who he is in humanoid form and won’t in those forms, either.”
Squinting at him, I ask, “Are you trying to tell me you guys are all being… gentle with your reveals and Slash will go balls out without a thought?”
“I don’t know about balls out…” The crow snickers and I whack him in the arm indignantly.
Once he’s done laughing at his own dick joke, he sobers up.
“Look, I know I’m being silly, KK, but I’m not lying.
Slash wouldn’t ever hurt you because you’re one of us, but he is always exactly who and what he is.
So, you know… be prepared that he won’t cushion the blow. ”
Huffing, I try to think about what that will mean for a shark and a vengeance demon, but the latter has so many different visages.
I’ve seen a few around since I arrived, and I don’t know what his is going to look like since they can occur in several of the royal lines.
As for the shark? I mean, I’ve seen Jaws, so it can’t be too much worse, right?
If no one starts the French horns and the strings playing the theme song, I should be fine.
Of course, those are famous last words, especially when I say them.
Lunch went surprisingly well, but that was because the group chat got a message that Jasper and Zavida were ‘tied up’ with work—something that made Oriel act like a very typical guy as he re-directed our path to Canto IV to have lunch in our dorm.
I’m not na?ve; I know he believes they’re fucking and doesn’t want to say it.
But honestly? I’m not really as touchy about that stuff now—plus, I have to admit I’m curious, if only to myself.
Jasper and Zav’s dynamic is a mystery to me in practice, and I know the media doesn’t portray it correctly.
Not that I’m going to tell anyone that because I’m definitely ready for the explanation.
For the moment, I’m okay with my less-than-knowledgeable imagination and the bite of mystery.
I have enough ‘new things’ to deal with now that I’ve kissed both Oriel and Salem—two dudes who know my secret and seem completely fine with playing tag team.
They like jabbing at one another playfully, but I believe them when they say they’d have no problem working together.
“Yet another thing I’m not ready for,” I mutter as we climb the stairs to our dorm. Oriel opens the door, letting me pass as he tilts his head.
“What was that, little shadow?”
My eyes widen. “Nothing.”
“That was a very strenuous protest. Doesn’t seem like nothing,” he replies as we wade through the other demons filling the entryway and common space. “I told you that you can—”
“Suck his dick, right?”
We both whirl around to see our old friend Bastion standing there with a group of similarly beefy-looking fuckers as they smirk at us.
Dottie scrambles out of my bag, perching on my shoulder immediately like she’s ready to throw down with the asshole.
It makes Oriel chuckle, but the dumbass from the Thieves Guild just glares.
“As if some stupid rat could help you thwart me.”
Dottie chitters loudly, her small fist shaking as she gives Bastion a piece of her mind.
I reach up and pat her head lightly in thanks, then shrug as I look at the homophobic shitstain with a bored expression.
“Bastion, if the Games hadn’t been announced, O would be running your shit.
You lost; get over it. This little scene is so…
90s high school movie, man. Homophobic slurs?
Demons don’t even give a fuck about that shit. ”
“Alas, he’s right, Queznar.” Oriel angles himself so his bulk is between me and the furious bigot just slightly—a move not missed by the troupe of Beavis and Butthead-esque demons standing next to Bastion.
“You tools are just dying to use cockwaffle to get ahead in the ranks, but you don’t realize that you are cannon fodder. ”
Bastion sneers. “What the fuck are you talking about, Bloodstone?”
I’d like to know as well, but fuck if I’m going to say it.
“While Queznar is high enough that there are limits to the damage I can do outside of class without declaring an official beef… you are not.” Horns sprout from his head, and his wings and tail appear as he stares down the group of hecklers with an eager grin.
“I can wipe the seven of you off the face of Hell without breaking a sweat, and no one will give a single fuck because you’re from the bottom of the barrel, boys.
Do you think Queznar missed that fact when he formed his little boy band? ”
I blink, watching the crow demon, who's been kind to me from the beginning, morph into the dangerous royal heir to the Greed Line as he confronts the bullies. “Oriel…”
“Don’t worry, Kit. They know I’m right. Look at their faces—full of realization that they’re disposable pawns too late.”
“You can’t kill all of us,” Bastion huffs as horns sprout from his head as well. The others shift, and I suck in a breath at the various forms before me. “You’re one demon, Bloodstone, and not even the most powerful one from your stupid group.”
“You’re a drude, and most of your powers require us to be asleep, asshole,” I retort then clap my hand over my mouth.
I did not mean to say that out loud.
“Oh, the little human wants to play, too? That’s perfect because when you’re out cold, I can break your mind just as easily as if you’re asleep. Comas work for me, too.” He licks his lips, and the ice cold hand of past trauma wraps its fingers around my gut.
Oriel flaps his wings, and his size, even in the humanoid form, grows with the fury radiating off of him. “Consent is sexy, fuckwad, and unconscious people can’t give it. If that’s how you get your kicks, no wonder there are rumors about your… lack of staying power.”
I want to laugh, but the hungry gaze of Bastion and his minions is triggering something inside of me. It’s not just the fear again, though, and as the black and red energy moves through my veins, I whisper to Dottie, “Get out of range, girl. Now.”
“What are you yammering about over there?” one meathead growls. “I don’t like mouthy food. Let’s get this over with.”
That comment is the last thing I register before the power inside of me takes hold and my body aches from head to toe.
I let out a loud sound that reminds me of being at the zoo, then I see Oriel’s jaw drop as he spins to check on me.
Head heavy and bones aching, I throw my head back and let the sound escape again to echo off of the walls.
Screams and yelling follow, but I pay it no mind as I stalk towards the group of guys foolish enough to threaten me and the shifted demon next to me.
I want to say something snappy, but I can’t seem to make my mouth work except for the continued bursts of sound I’m emitting as the inches between me and the bullies close.
Whatever the result is, I’m not in control again, and the energy inside of me will not be sated until they have been taught a lesson in respect.