by Abbie Lyons
My heart plunged to my stomach, and only partially because we were nearly back to ground level. "It would? I thought we were basically the same." I blinked. "Also, wait. Why should I even trust you? You just told my boyfriend to dump me, you've barely been in class for the past week, and you have a great motivation to get someone else to beat up your brother for you." We scraped against the ground, and I grabbed the edge of the table to steady myself. “How do you know all this?”
"He doesn't know all this," said a female voice. "I do."
I whirled around. A tall, graceful figure in a black, hooded cloak swept into the room and bolted the door after. The hood lowered to reveal the silver hair and fine features of Professor Mantel.
God, I knew I liked her.
"What?" I actually had to press a hand to my head. "Sorry, but what the hell?"
"I apologize for being late," Professor Mantel said, sinking into a chair opposite Raines. "I know this is urgent. It's just...the faculty situation is getting worse."
"What's wrong?" Raines and I said at the same time. Professor Mantel's lips tightened to a line.
"I can't say. But that's not important now, anyway." She looked to Raines. "Have you explained Nova's inverse?"
Raines shrugged. "More or less."
She looked at me. "Nova, sit." She motioned to one of the cushioned study chairs. I sat. "First, I want to say that this is extremely unusual. This isn't ordinarily something I would ever discuss with a student. But after the last exetasis...Raines told me a few things. About his brother. About your..." She looked at my hands, which I realized I had clenched in my lap.
"The faculty all know each other's ranks," she went on. "It's part of the onboarding process, something considered when hiring. So I knew where Professor Frost stood. After all, it’s highly unusual for a demon with a title as high as Duke to take on a simple professorial position. Most of us occupy a much lower position in the hierarchy. Then, when Raines told me what had happened in your last few exetases, I knew that Professor Frost was doing more than the required tests; he was trying to size up his competition.” She took a deep breath and folded her hands on the table, her nails painted a glittering black sheen. “Nova, do you know what happens when a demon kills their inverse demon?”
I shook my head. “Permission to speak freely, Professor Mantel?”
Her lips twitched. “Sure.”
“I don’t know shit.”
She didn’t laugh, but her lips twitched again. “Very well. Understandable. When a demon kills, destroys, or causes their inverse to return to Chaos, they absorb any residual power the inverse yields. It’s part of the need for balance—the power can’t simply vanish.” She snapped her fingers. “But it’s also highly taboo. We consider it immoral, more so, I’d venture, than human murder. To kill your inverse is...it’s unthinkable. But also incredibly difficult. Often, hundreds or even thousands of others demons have the same ranking and title. If you’re a Duke such as Wilder, figuring out which demon within that ranking is your inverse isn’t simple. It’d practically take a killing spree to find the right one, and in that case the demon authorities would likely get to you before you finished the job. The fact that Wilder ended up teaching a class with his possible inverse...well that’d just be very good luck for him and very bad luck for you, I’m afraid.”
The irony here was that I’d already suspected Wilder would be an inverse. His very nature was a wildcard had arouse–d my suspicious that he was an inverse. The fact that I’d never considered that he might by my exact inverse...well, I definitely should’ve thought of that one sooner.
“So why can’t we turn him in?” I asked. “We have some pretty solid evidence that Wilder was trying to off me.”
Professor Mantel stared at me, not harshly, but intently. This was serious, and she was not about to let me forget it.
“Unfortunately, raising the alarm bell when the school is already on probation is...well, let’s just say that Dean Harlowe was not receptive,” Professor Mantel said. “I brought forth much of what we’ve discussed here, what Raines has told me in private. She said I was being paranoid, accused me of professional jealousy, all kinds of things.” She sighed. “Academia. Regardless, I want you to know I tried, Nova. I tried to help you. And I tried to help you and your classmates help yourselves by what I taught you in class. It’s simply that there are some who believe it’s better to keep a lid on things rather than set all things free with the truth. Don’t rock the boat, as they say.”
“Because if we really knew what was up, and proved that Wilder was basically murderous...we’d get Hades shut down for being unsafe,” I said.
“That,” Professor Mantel said, “and you’d shame Dean Harlowe as a poor administrator. Which, to her, is the worse crime.”
“Seriously?” I cried. “What more proof do we need, for him to put a knife to my throat in the middle of the refectory? God, and to think that I thought my boyfriend dumping me was the worst thing to happen today.”
Raines snorted. I smiled, too, almost in spite of myself, and in spite of the danger we were wading into.
“If you truly are his inverse, only one thing will prove it,” Professor Mantel said. “Your exetasis results.”
Chapter Twenty
So I went to get the results of my exetasis.
Here was how the process apparently worked: there were no classes for first-year students for the next few days. A schedule was posted with appointment times for each of us to meet with Dean Harlowe and whoever our proctor was and receive the results. Each session was an hour. We got a full file on ourselves. And after that...
...after that, no one knew.
I got to Dean Harlowe’s office five minutes early. One of my foster mothers had always chirped early is on time, and on time is late whenever it was time to go, even though that strangely never seemed to apply to her actual kids, only me. I hated it. And yet now here I was, five minutes early, my uniform pressed and blazer on straight, like a central-casting teacher’s pet.
Teacher’s pet. I shivered. Never again.
I clasped my hands behind my back and tried not to pace. Dean Harlowe’s office had only a narrow corridor before the entrance, at the top of a winding staircase. Not even a couch or anything to sit on. Just me, alone with my nervous thoughts. I wasn’t even sure what I was more nervous about: the results or being in the same room as Wilder.
The clock on the wall hit exactly 2 p.m. and the door to Dean Harlowe’s office opened not a moment later. I’d expected Harlowe to meet me at the entrance and usher me in, but no, the door simply opened of its own accord. I guessed that meant I should just show myself in.
Dean Harlowe sat at her desk totally stone-faced and ever the consummate professional. She’d make sure I didn’t have any inkling of my results until it was time. She silently pointed to an open spot in front of her desk, at which that classic black-vined chair materialized.
But there was already one other person seated in a similar chair beside it. He didn’t turn around to greet me—the back of somebody’s head had never seemed so foreboding.
“Hello,” I managed, as I took my spot. I still couldn’t bear to turn toward Wilder or give him acknowledgment of any kind. Hopefully Dean Harlowe wouldn’t think I was weird for just staring straight ahead at her.
Probably better things to worry about right now than somebody thinking you’re weird.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Donovan,” Harlowe said after what felt like a solid minute of empty silence. I got the feeling she legitimately enjoyed milking the drama of giving out the results. “I’m pleased to say that your exetasis has been successfully completed and that your continued attendance here at Hades Academy is guaranteed.”
Well, that’s a huge fucking relief.
She smiled. “I always like to get that part out of the way right up top. No need to keep you in too much suspense. And after all, I do believe that the particular information gleaned from the exetasis is far more interesting. Don’t
you agree, Professor Frost?”
“Undoubtedly,” he replied. His voice was soft and low. “Even more so than usual in this case.”
“Agreed. I’m aware this has been an interesting year for you so far, Ms. Donovan, to say the very least. I’m very proud of how quickly you’ve adjusted and how highly you’ve risen to each obstacle placed in front of you. But given what we’ve learned from your exetasis, your success here isn’t any great surprise.”
A surprised “really?” was all I could muster in return.
Why am I surprised? Wasn't I expecting something like this?
"To put it simply," she said, "your exetasis results confirm that you are a demon of high ranking and great power. You're lined up well for a successful and satisfying future with a position of influence and power within demonkind. Should everything go as planned, that is. There's still much to learn...an exetasis, after all, cannot ever be totally comprehensive. But these are some of the most exciting results we've seen in years, and I'm looking very much forward to discussing them with you in great detail. Professor Frost, do you have anything to add before we get started?"
A pause. Shit, is he going to say something about the soul binding?
"No," he said. "Nothing to add."
That was a relief.
It still felt strange that after everything that had happened, he was just sitting there right beside me. And honestly, it felt unfair more than anything else. Sure, he was the one who proctored my exetasis, but it felt violating that this now-obvious creep knew so much about me.
But this also meant he had still had purposes of his own. To keep such a valuable piece of information from Dean Harlowe meant that there was still an ulterior motive up there in that stupid brain of his.
"Very well then," Harlowe said. "First, we’ll begin with the question of your lineage, which I'm certain you've been very curious about. From your results, we were able to make a few very valuable assumptions about the line from which you come. It won't answer every question you must have, but it'll be an excellent starting point for further inquiry.
"I was starting from nowhere before this," I said, finally capable of a response more than a single word. The excitement of finally knowing about my family—about my mother—was going right to my head. "So even a good place to start would be nice."
"Yes, well—"
The next thing I knew, five figures materialized behind Dean Harlowe's desk. Four kyrioi and one white-haired serious-looking man in a dark black robe with a crimson red sash. Something about the way he presented himself just screamed "I'm important!" Like some kind of demon judge or politician.
"Senator Flauros," Dean Harlowe said, turning to the man. "I'm in the middle of administering exetasis results. I trust whatever you're here for is of the utmost importance?"
"I'm afraid it is of great importance," he said in reply. Two kyrioi stepped forward and placed their hands on Harlowe's shoulders, at which her arms dropped limp to her sides as if they'd just been paralyzed. And maybe they had. “Genevieve Harlowe, upon the authority of the Regents, and commissioned by the Four Princes of the Air, I place you under arrest for the crime of treachery, pending further investigation.”
I took a moment to consider just how fucking shitty the timing was. I was this close to learning more about my family. It was ridiculous, like something out of a bad movie.
“Treachery?” Harlowe gasped. “After all I’ve done for this school, and the Regents? On what grounds are you accusing me?”
“We’ll discuss that further during the questioning,” the senator said blankly.
“I want to know now!” she screamed. “If you take me away from here this school is going to be in great danger!”
The senator narrowed his eyes. “Is that a threat?”
“You can’t just leave the school without a headmaster at a time like this.”
The senator stepped around to my side of the desk. “You’re exactly right. Which is my second order of business today.” He motioned for Wilder to rise and shook his hand. “Wilder Frost, in gratitude for your service in determining the causes of the insurrection here, and in consideration of your accomplishments, on behalf of the Regents, I now declare you dean of Hades Academy.”
What. The. Actual. FUCK?
It didn’t take my power of intuition to know that there was no way I was getting my full exetasis results today. Not after this shit.
The kyrioi picked Dean Harlowe up by her arms and dragged her to the side, leaving the seat at the giant stone desk open for Wilder, who seconds later was sitting in his new spot.
“Thanks for keeping it warm for me, Gen,” he said snidely. He turned to Senator Flauros. “Now if that’s all, Senator, I’d like to continue giving this girl her results.”
And with that, he and the kyrioi, along with Dean Harlowe, were gone in a poof, leaving Wilder and me all alone.
“That was a lie, of course,” he said. “You’re not getting anything more today.”
Even given everything that had happened, it was still shocking to see Wilder acting so nakedly sinister. Evidently, putting up even a veneer of friendliness in front of me was meaningless. He was free to be his true self.
“You’re dismissed.” He waved toward the door. “Oh, and just in case you’re tempted to share all the excitement you’ve just witnessed...” He clenched his fist, then released it.
My throat burned. “What the f—”
“You’re silenced. Try to say a single word about anything you’ve just seen here and you’ll find yourself in excruciating pain. And believe me, if you try to pull any shit out there, you can consider these results as good as lost. I’m in charge now.”
There was only one thing left I could think to say as I made my way toward the exit.
“Fuck you, Wilder.”
“That’s Dean Frost to you,” he corrected. “Get it right.”
Chapter Twenty-One
I didn’t know what to do.
Wilder—or whatever the hell I’d be calling him now—had suddenly become dean of the school seemingly out of nowhere, which was the kind of situation that felt urgent enough that I should run.
But I couldn’t. I couldn’t run.
I clutched my throat as I walked, trying to make the words come. It felt like swallowing knives. I literally couldn’t tell anyone.
So Wilder had managed to somehow become the most powerful person in the school, and he was the only one with full access to my results—and my family history—and I was silenced. Because of course there was some dark demon magic that let you do that. My only hope was that maybe, if I found Raines...maybe he’d understand anyway.
Without words, he was the only one who possibly could understand me.
When I finally made it back, I scanned the room for him. Nowhere in sight.
Defeat hung off of me like a ten-ton weight. Then again, I was silenced, and I wasn’t clever enough to figure out a workaround. And even if I was silenced, he would hear the news soon enough, anyway. Everyone would. No way would a dude with a head as big as Wilder’s assume the top rule in the school and not make a whole big deal of it. I was sure an official announcement of some kind would be arriving any minute. From there, we’d figure out a way to deal with it.
Or not deal with it. My hopes weren’t high.
“Nova, dear,” Morgan said gently as I entered our room. “There’s something there for you on your bed.”
“What is it?” I asked robotically.
“I think you’d better have a look and see for yourself, love.”
Sitting on my bed was an envelope and what looked like a small gift, wrapped in gold paper. I didn’t have the faintest idea what either of them could be. I took a seat against a big puffy pillow and looked the envelope over. Written on the front was NOVA in big blocky letters—not to be too gender normative, but it was definitely a boy’s handwriting.
Wow, a new admirer already. Guess word of the breakup spread fast.
I pulled th
e note out and immediately looked ahead to see whose name was signed at the bottom.
Collum. That wasn’t what I was expecting. Seeing his name still made my heart do a little flutter. Not a romantic flutter, because I was not the kind of chick who pines for a man who leaves her, but more of a longing feeling for what we had at its best. I started reading back from the top.
Dear Donovan (aka Nova),
I want to start by saying sorry for how I ended this thing. I don’t think either of us knew what to expect out of this relationship, but I think I speak for the both of us when I say it ended up being much more fulfilling than either of us imagined. We made a pretty good pair, right? You made for an excellent cuddling partner and I so enjoyed all of our late-night conversations sprawled out in the common room. Very often, our fake relationship began to feel real. I think you probably felt that too, especially when we went axe throwing over in Westrock. Thank you for all the good times.
Everything was different after that kiss. You’re a hell of a kisser, but something about it didn’t feel quite right. I felt like I was betraying Aramind’s trust, but I know that sounds like a load of crock. When I saw here again later that night she confessed she wanted me back and my heart just couldn’t say no to her.
If you decide you hate me forever now, I wouldn’t blame you. I did you dirty, and you didn’t deserve that one bit. But I’d love if we remained friends, and I’d love it even more if the memories of the times we spent together give you a little smile when you think of them in the future. I’ve gotten you a little gift that will hopefully help do the trick.
I’ll see you around, Donovan.
Sincerely,
Tavish (aka Collum)
P.S. You were right. I’m a Gryffindor.
