Page 118 of Devil May Lie

“I’ve already forgiven the other four occasions,” Professor Essi pinched the bridge of her nose. She was a woman in her late fifties who’d been with the school for over three decades. She’d also written numerous award-winning scientific papers and was one of Berga’s most influential idols.

Up until recently, she’d only had praise to give him.

“It was one thing when you blew up your own personal lab every other month,” she stated firmly, “but you almost created a gas bomb just now, and it was all due to your carelessness. What has gotten into you?”

Berga had mixed the wrong chemical composition. It was the type of a mistake even a freshman would know better than to make.

“I—” He lost all train of thought when he glanced over her shoulder and his eyes landed on a familiar figure making his way down the hall.

They hadn’t seen one another since Berga had fled the hospital last month, and greedily, he took the other man in from head to toe, searching for any lingering injuries. If there were any, however, they weren’t visible.

Madden strolled past whispering Vail University students with his head held high and his usual cocky gait. He was dressed in his Academy uniform, a sign he’d come straight from there. He’d started back at school a little over two weeks ago, so that wasn’t surprising.

As he headed Berga’s way, the Butcher’s heart skipped a beat in his chest, breath catching in his throat.

Until the Mad King walked right past him.

Without so much as a single glance in his direction.

Berga deflated.

“I know you keep saying you’re fine after the accident that took place here,” the professor said then, as if oblivious to Berga’s renewed melancholy. “But are you certain? You’ve been acting far too out of character for it to be nothing. I really think you should go and get a brain scan, just in case—”

“You’re here,” Zane’s voice cut through Berga’s mind, and he stopped listening to the professor, turning to find the other med student exiting a nearby classroom. He was talking to Madden, who’d stopped in front of him.

So, that’s who Madden had come to see.

Of course.

Berga was a fool for hoping, even if it’d only been for that split second.

Madden’s memories hadn’t been recovered and there was a very good chance they never would. Which was fine.

Better even.

It meant Berga didn’t have to worry about the two of them breaking up. At least this way, they could just slip into nonexistence. Make it as though nothing had ever even happened.

Erase it from reality, the same way Madden had erased Berga from his consciousness.

“Yeah,” Madden replied lightly. “Why’d you want to meet here?”

“It’s closer to that BBQ place you like,” Zane explained.

“Is it?”

Berga bristled childishly. He’d been the one to introduce the Mad King to that restaurant in the first place. Asshole Zane. Asshole Zane with his asshole—

“Mr. Obsidian,” the professor heaved a sigh, “are you even listening to me?”

“Of course,” he replied on autopilot. “I promise not to accidentally almost kill the entire class a second time.”

“You almost what?” Zane and Madden had been heading back this way, but he paused now and lifted a thin brow at Berga. “Did I hear that correctly?”

“Mr. Solace,” the professor greeted, though she did nothing to hide her frustration toward the Butcher. “Perhaps you can spare some time and go over the basic composition of x-c0L with Mr. Obsidian. It seems he’s somehow forgotten all about it and why it shouldn’t be mixed with 4-Rt.”

Had Berga referred to her as an idol in his head before?

He’d been mistaken.

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