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22
Harper
When I get back to my room, Sadie’s waiting for me on the couch. She’s already dressed and ready to go, which is not typical of Saturday morning. Sadie is usually at her boyfriend’s place or still sleeping at noon.
“Did I miss something?” I ask as I close the door behind me.
“Time to summon a monster, right? Isn’t that what we do on weekends now?”
“No way,” I say. “I’m not doing that again. I can’t have anyone else hurt for me.”
“Stop being so fucking noble, Harper,” she says. “You dropped in rank. You don’t have a choice.”
I wince at the mention of it. I’d been trying to ignore the fact that I dropped down to fourth during the week. I guess not trying to take my classmates out was having a negative impact on me.
“Unless you’re going to take out Em and Tasha, you’ve got to do something,” she says.
“I can’t risk it,” I say.
“I mean, the thought of you taking on Em and Tasha sounds pretty glorious,” she says. “I don’t normally go for that behavior, but I can make an exception for them.”
Part of me wants to show them some of what they’ve thrown at others. But I know I won’t.
“If I summoned a monster again, I’d do it solo,” I say.
“You can’t,” she says. “You don’t know how. Besides, I’m volunteering.”
“We’d need the others. It’s not going to happen,” I say.
“I have my ways,” she says. “Let me help you. I am immortal, after all. It takes a lot to kill a pixie.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, guilt swirling in my chest. I know I need to use more magic. I know this is probably the only way. “I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t,” she says. “Come on, let’s go find you a nice gooey monster to fight before the twins show up and talk themselves into joining us.”
Reluctantly, I agree.
Sadie jumps up and claps her hands. She acts like summoning a monster to take out is a normal, enjoyable weekend activity. Maybe in Faerie, it is.
We pass a few students in the halls. Some of them in their party clothes from last night. Others heading outside with frisbees or carrying books to the library to study.
It’s a normal Saturday morning at Brimstone. I have to wonder if anyone would even flinch if we told them we were purposefully fighting monsters in the dungeons. Probably not. They’d probably ask to join. Even though I’ve been here for months, it’s still strange to think about how different my life is here.
As we near the classroom, Sadie puts her hand out in front of me. “Wait here.”
My brow furrows in silent question.
“I need to be alone for the spell,” she says. “I’ll come back out after I cast it and get your back.”
“Okay,” I say.
She slips into the classroom and closes the door behind her. I pace the hallway, wishing I knew how to do the summoning part myself. I wanted to learn it, but with the distractions of Liam this past week, I hadn’t perfected the spells.
I’m still beating myself up for slacking when the door opens and Sadie steps out.
“Anything?” she asks.
We’re both silent and I stare down the halls as I listen for any sounds. I turn to her. “Not yet.”
