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It didn’t stop spinning.
Not all night.
Leaving me going into work the next day on no sleep and far too much caffeine, feeling frazzled and disconnected from myself. My students were more concerned with my attack than the actual lesson plans and I was so out of it, I actually called class early so I could retreat into my office.
Where I promptly knocked over two piles of papers that I needed to grade.
I swear tears sprang into my eyes.
And then I heard it.
The tinkling little laugh.
I don’t know why this time made me snap into action, but I rushed to my office door, wrenching it open, and looking out into the hallway.
There was only one person around.
Atty.
Professor Stan’s new assistant.
Atty, who had fumbled when telling me her name the first time.
Atty, who looked eerily like an old statue I’d seen once.
I wasn’t conscious of telling my mouth to form the name, to call it out, but my voice rang out loud and clear in the empty hallway.
“Atë?”
I swear she moved in slow motion, turning with a huge smile on her lips. “Very good. I was wondering when you would figure it out. It took you longer than I thought it would. Of course,” she said, starting toward me, “you have been pretty distracted by that attractive demon, haven’t you?”
It felt good to hear someone else say that word, to call him what I knew he was.
Even if, objectively, it was even more insane that the person to do so was an actual freakinggoddess.
Atë, the goddess of mischief and ruin.
“I know,” she said, eyes twinkling. “Why have I just been making you knock over things instead of creating actual chaos?” she asked. “Think about it, Professor,” she invited me, hugging a stack of paper to her chest.
“Because you’re known for ruining the lives of men,” I said.
“There you go,” she said, nodding.
“Then why are you here? Working as an assistant?”
“But am I?” she asked. “Am I really working as an assistant? Have you been around Professor Stan recently?” she asked. I hadn’t. I’d been too busy with Bael. “He seems to sort of be losing his mind, wouldn’t you say?” she asked, and her smile was pure, wicked delight.
“Why?” I asked.
“Why not?” she asked. “Men,” she added, rolling her eyes. “They have it coming. He had it coming. Three female students paid off by the university.”
“What? No!” I objected, stomach turning over at the idea of anyone having to feel that man’s hands on them, especially vulnerable young students.
“Does it really surprise you? Your human men, they’re as bad as the gods.”
I mean, she wasn’t exactly wrong.
“So, it’s true then,” I said, feeling a certain sort of sinking in my stomach.
