The spectral form of the professor raises his hand to shush me, and I roll my eyes once he’s turned back to his own computer. Professor T isn’t really a ghost, but he’s been co-opted by Discordia from his proper home in the Legendary realm to teach. I assume he’s being paid a fortune because storybooks and legendary types aren’t fond of coming to Hell versus the deity’s place. He’s fucking amazing, though, and when I’m really allowed to learn from him, I know it will be amazing.
Since I will not get an answer to my question, I plop down at the computer I favor in the corner and log in. Once I’m into the system, I look up at the whiteboard to get the assignment and fly through it as fast as my fingers can type. It only takes a few minutes to complete and email, at which point I look at my screen with a hidden smirk. One flick of the app on my phone shrouds the lab computer in my own security, and I get to work.
The web spiders for the surface don’t take me long—I’ve been doing that shit since I was a wee demon. After I have those set up to notify me of any findings, I code a series of malware that I’m going totryto infect the intranet at Discordia with. I want to use it to trigger alerts for specific words and phrases that might help us identify who the fuck is helping Darkstar, and who might be after KK. There are more basic ones that monitor socialmedia in Hell for our names and families, but those are mostly to keep track of what’s being said. We’ve never needed them to keep someone from doing terrible things to us because we’re so damn strong together. Kit doesn’t have that and I want to do my part—as small as it may be—to help him stay safe.
After all, I promised to make it up to him and I’ll be damned if I’m going to fail.
Magic
Kit/Kat
I’m a bit surprised when Oriel shows up by himself at the end of Human History. My free period/ lunch time coincides with a couple of the guys’ over the two-hour stretch and I expected to see at least Zavida with him. Instead, I see a sharp-eyed crow demon leaning against the wall opposite the doorway with a nervous expression that isnotthe norm. At least, it’s not in my experience so far, and I’m very curious why he looks like he’s ready to bolt.
“How was class?”
I shrug, stepping out of the room and closer to him before I reply. “Same old. The shit I knew isn’t remotely correct, and we’re only in ancient times. My solo reading is further along—I’m in the Middle Ages—so it’s not surprising, just really hard to reframe with the new lens. It all makes moresensewith the supernatural context, but relearning things you’ve been taught since you were little ishard. You know?”
“Freaked out by the fall of Rome, aren’t you?” He smirks and I’m glad to see the worried look leave his handsome features.
Making a face, I snark, “Uh,yeah. Romulus and Remus were wolf shifters, Nero was a fucking demon, the deities were real, mythos fell along with empires because of other deities meddling, and Pompeii being less of a volcano and more a dragon? Little weird for me.”
The crow demon nods and offers his arm. “Well, I can’t say whether it will get weirder for you or not, KK. I’m also biased, but from the other end. Every time I have to hear the stuff they told the humans about history in that class, I marvel at how damn gullible they are. It’s just as worthy of head shakes to supes as it is from your side.”
I take the arm, twining mine through his as he leads me down the hall. “So what’s up with you being here all by your lonesome? I figured Zavida would have raced his tails to join you. Is he with Jasper or something?”
The smirk fades and Oriel scratches his jaw, his eyes going back to the nervous look from before. “Well, he might have if I hadn’t declared this lunchtime mine.”
What?
“Why… why would you do that?” I ask carefully. I’m not sure if the nervousness makes sense now or not. Salem was a bit like this until we… found a rhythm, and now he’s smugly confident. But Oriel will not do what Salem did during lunch, right? I swallow around a dry throat, feeling my stomach drop as I consider all the possibilities that it could be as my mind flies off the handle.
Turning to look at me, the dark-haired demon gives me a crooked smile. “I have something to show you, and those assholes aren’t invited.”
I blink, not sure what to say to that.
Does he mean what I think he means? If so, what the hell am I going to do?
As we head deeperinto the building, I realize I haven’t been to this part before. That’s not remarkable by itself, if I’m honest—outside of the doc’s office, my classes, the dorms, and theTriclinium, I don’t wander around the campus. The one time I did resulted in Prince Pissypants rescuing me from a fire that we still don’t discuss. No reason for me to repeat the scariest night I’ve had at Discordia so far.
But I am curious where the fuck O is taking me.
When we hit the ground floor from the twisty back staircase, I tap the arm I’m holding. “Are you ever going to tell me where we’re headed? I mean, Idon’t know Discordia very well, but it seems like we’re taking a really roundabout route.”
“That’s because it is.” His eyes dance with mischief, and I huff softly. “Don’t get all puffed up, KK. I don’t want anyone following us here; in fact, turn your watch thingy off.”
Oh, damn, I forgot about this thing.
“It’s kinda funny that I disabled the tracking on your phone and laptop after Jas had Zav do his thing when you first got here, but now you wear that shiny trinket without pause.” His grin is knowing and I roll my eyes as I hit the button to turn it off with my free hand.
“Shut up,” I grumble. “You know that was to keep him from controlling me, and this thing is actually about safety. Though it wasn’t aneasytransition to accept, I’ll grant you. I have trouble accepting help, especially when it makes me feel caged, but um… I also don’t want you guys to worry and something to happen to you because you’re distracted. It’s aCatch-22, I guess.”
“We appreciate your sacrifice, KK. However, I’m glad you turned it off. I don’t think you’ll remember the route since you don’t roam the campus, but I don’t want them to know where we’re going. I even considered a blindfold, but I didn’t know if that would activate a trauma, so I discarded that plan.”
My face heats and I have to clear my throat before I answer. His care in making sure he doesn’t accidentally trigger me is sweet, and it reminds me of how carefully Salem is treating me. Once I’m good, I murmur huskily, “I appreciate that. Though, um, for future reference, I wouldn’t… I mean, blindfolds aren’t an issue. Just… so you know.”
Oriel stops, giving me an absolutely sinful grin. “They aren’t, huh? Good thing you told me; I’ll tuck that away for later. I’m sure I’ll want to remember it.”
Oh, my. Now what do I say?!!
