We, along with Lucy, got blind drunk that night.It felt fitting.We even tried to convince Finis to call him back.He never showed.
Mortem even tried to find him in the underworld.But nothing.
We figured that maybe because he was finally with his family, they’d all passed over to whatever came next, and that made us all feel a little better.
Mortem now lives with us, on an obscene diet of tuna and charcuterie—alas, he did not let me forget that deal.Sometimes he goes on vacation and lives with Lex for a few days at a time, but for the most part, we’re stuck with him.
There was a more regal ceremony for the loss of Ignatius and Arcadius.Lucy had to grin and bear her way through it; she had an excellent poker face.Though I suspect her butterfly was responsible for that.
It was shortly after their ceremony that Lucy was voted in as Chancellor and Alistair was elected archdevil in recognition of his services to Finis Academy.
I ride onto campus, flipping my bike helmet up.Aurelia is outside the cloisters looking hot and sweaty.Her hand is healed now.She chooses not to wear a prosthetic, at least not that I’ve seen.
I don’t mean to, but I find myself staring at her.She used to take up so much space in my life, even after we broke up.I was consumed by what she did to me.It’s so strange that I’d almost forgotten she was still at Finis.She’s struggling to wield magic and pull from the cloister walls.
I take my helmet off and reach my hand out to help her.
“Don’t,” she says.There’s no malice in her voice, it’s far more resigned and exhausted.“I have to learn to do it by myself or I’ll never graduate.”
“Why don’t you use your demonic favour to just poof your hand back?”
She glances at the floor.“I gave it to my girlfriend.Well, my ex.”
“You what?”
But she huffs at me.“Oh, please.Like you haven’t heard.”
I mean, I literally haven’t.I can’t say I spend any time hunting for gossip about Aurelia.She doesn’t even feature in my life anymore.
Aurelia flings her arms up.“I gave it to her to help her improve her grades and then found her in bed with my ex-best friend.”
My lips twitch.
“That’s… I’m so sorry.I know how much that hurts.”
Her neck vein pulses; her lips pinch tight.
“Goodbye, Aurelia,” I say and leave her to her choices.I’ve made enough of them.It’s time I learn to live again.
I find Lucy unlocking her office.She slides behind her grand desk, and I can’t help the swell of pride as I stare at the Chancellor of Finis Academy.While our demonic hierarchy is a mess after the loss of both Arcadius and Ignatius, things are improving.Alistair is doing a fine job even if he’s having to spend the majority of his time trying to work out how demonic law works in this new system of free will.
There has even been the odd talk with the angels.Who knows, maybe the gods will return next.
Lucy slides a paper across her desk.It’s titled:The Gellara Principle: The Debt They Cannot Repay, A Case for Fairer Contract Terms and the Right to Restitution for Mortal Souls
“What’s that?”I ask, peering over her shoulder.
“Oh, a little something I’ve been working on.New leadership and a new system means new opportunities.There was an injustice done, and I think it’s time we set things right.”She smiles to herself as she slices open a letter and pulls a large piece of paper out, then frowns at it.
“What’s wrong?”I ask.
“It’s from Nefari City.”
“The mafia city?”I ask, my mouth dropping open.
“I’m not sure if it’s politically correct to refer to it as that.But yes, only, it’s not from one of the families.”
“What do you mean?Who is it from then?”
