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Somehow, I knew exactly who was who.
Creeper was baby-faced and small mouthed, his dark brown hair cut short, but spiked up at the front. Honestly, he looked quite similar to how I’d imagined him as a human, which was bizarre.
Quiet, reserved, lacking many emotions, even now, with his small smile intended just for me. I couldn’t help but smile back.
Bug, on the other hand, was grinning widely. His brown hair was lighter than the others, more of an ashy brown color, and he definitely fit the name Bug. He was the lankiest of them all, and his face was slimmer than the others, his ears sticking out to the sides in an adorable way.
“Everyone, this is Lily Mordov, she’ll be joining us from here on out, if she chooses to stay,” Dezikiel said as Jack led me over to the seats with the boys.
The trio of men—my monsters—were watching me carefully, all their black eyes twinkling at the sight of me.
So, black eyes were a hellhound thing apparently. Strange, considering I’d grown accustomed to the glowing red eyes.
“Lily, as you probably know, this is Krodan, also known as Chumley, Tolrun, also known as Bug, and Magnus, also known as Creeper,” Dezikiel said, completely straight-faced, despite some of the others snorting around the table.
My face burned at the use of the nicknames I’d given them. Especially for Creeper and Bug. But they looked unfazed as they sat back down in their chairs, and Jack indicated for me to take my seat next to Chumley, which would put him closest to Dezikiel.
“At the far end, you have Cornelius Baron, one of our teachers, and across from him is Amelia Sage, our other teacher,” Dezikiel indicated to the far end of the seated people.
I nodded at the middle-aged man with messy blond hair and blue eyes tucked behind a pair of wire-framed glasses. Amelia looked more poised, her wavy brown hair cascading down her narrow shoulders. Her almond eyes were warm and inviting as she waved at me.
“Now, starting from the left of Mr. Baron, we have Diane and Hadley, the sisters. Then we’ve got Paris and Wayne. Then over beside Miss Sage is Matthew, Flynn, Xander, Thomas, Dylan, and Hershel,” Dezikiel introduced me, each person giving me a wave or smile as he said their name.
“Are there more students?” I asked after the introductions.
“There are past students who drop in or stay between assignments. But the people in this room are the people you will study and learn with, if you choose to,” Dezikiel said as he moved to sit down in his seat.
I eyed the teachers and other students. This Academy was for demonics who retained their souls apparently, and I was one of them.
I couldn’t wait for answers.
“Time for breakfast,” Dezikiel said, and he clapped his hands twice in quick succession.
“So, you handling all this okay?” Chumley murmured as two doors on the far side of the room sprang open and two hooded figures strode in swiftly.
“I guess,” I murmured as I turned to him, still gobsmacked by everything.
I was actually able to talk to him. To all of them.
He was giving me a charming lopsided smile as he stared at me. God, he had such a bad boy vibe, like roughing up others on the streets was his thing.
Except I knew him better than that.
He was my Netflix and cooking buddy.
I focused on the hooded figures that were setting out dishes on the table for us, and everyone was eyeing off what they wanted and snatching up a plate. I spied some eggs Benedict with salmon, and my mouth practically watered.
Chumley snatched it up before anyone else could, and then set it down in front of me.
“You love eggs Benny,” he beamed at me.
I managed a smile as my stomach growled, and my cheeks heated at how he’d remembered one of my favorite dishes. It’d be ages since I’d had anything more than just noodles and fruit.
And yet, I kept glancing at the hooded figures.
“Who are they?” I whispered to Jack as the group began conversing over their meals.
“The cooks,” he said, frowning at me like I was asking a stupid question.
