Page 19 of Prayer of the Damned

“Let me worry about that, Bellcolor. All you have to worry about is acquiring the education you need to prepare for your new life.”

I barely survived high school, how am I supposed to survive university too?

If I thought humans were cruel, I have a feeling hanging out with demons will be substantially tougher.

Chapter Seven

Bellcolor

The University of Bologna is a wet dream for any person of privilege. But for me it’s like a nightmare coming true before my eyes. Crowds of teens cluster across the plaza, alongside their parents and mountains of luggage.

The demons accepted for freshman year at the university arrive before the school year begins, to get acclimated and get to know their classmates. Some of the demons from the upper classes were carefully chosen to make the process easier. At least that was how my father explained it.

My father teamed me up with Valentina Bandini, a Chicago mafia princess. Not only would she be in the same class as me, we’d be roommates too. Valentina is American, but everything about her is as Italian as my dad. Her father Mateo often does business with mine, and they both thought the match would be appropriate. I scan Valentina’s appearance and can’t figure out what the pairing means.

Valentina’s wearing the school uniform, just like me, but it doesn’t hang off her the way it does for me at all. The short blackpleated skirt accentuates her curves and her seemingly-endless legs. She’s wearing sky-high heels and stands at least head and shoulders taller than me. The only button on the cardigan that carries the university symbol is on the verge of popping thanks to her bountiful bosom. Her brown hair is long and curly, drawn back with a diamond-studded bow. Her face is carefully made up, emphasizing her white eyes, her turned-up nose and her sensuous lips.

Great, you teamed me up with a beauty queen whose looks will only stand out more next to her ugly friend. And my ugliness will stand out more thanks to her beauty. Thanks, Dad.

Valentina’s glance at my appearance tells me she isn’t too pleased about this ridiculous pairing either. She probably imagined hooking up with the university elite, the way she did in high school, and now all her plans were getting flushed down the drain.

“Mateo, good to see you.” My father smiles and holds out a hand towards Valentina’s father.

“And you as well, Mr. Fermi, I’m honored.” Mateo politely shakes his hand.

I curtsy to him and introduce myself, with Valentina doing the same. Looks like we’re both uncomfortable with each other and the choices forced upon us.

“I apologize for the brief introduction, but we’re late for a meeting with one of the lecturers. Valentina, Bellcolor will be joining you in your room later, and you’ll be able to get to know each other better.”

“Of course, Mr. Fermi, I’d be delighted,” she answers with a polite smile, and I roll my eyes.

My father pulls me in towards the university building, and I trail after him with a sulky expression. “You couldn’t find me a roommate I’d have something in common with?”

“Valentina has many fine qualities, Bellcolor. How have you managed to write her off as unworthy already?”

“She certainly seems that way…”

“Her father’s the head of the Italian mafia in Chicago. She was raised traditionally and what matters most to her is loyalty. Her father and I have been in business for many years. He’s someone I trust very much, and he’s certainly made the same point clear to his daughter.”

“When I was thinking about a bodyguard, I didn’t think you’d actually assign one to me, let alone a woman. How’s she supposed to protect me? Stab my attacker with her stiletto heel?”

My father laughs. “While mafia women are meant to hold to traditions, and the men like their women delicate, that’s not the case with Mateo. He trained his daughter well. There’s nothing she can’t handle.”

“Great…”

My father comes to a stop before an ancient, heavy wooden door bearing the name of Professor Sapienti, and knocks.

“Come in!” a low baritone calls from within, and my father opens the door and pushes me inside.

“Oh, Mr. Fermi, good to see you!” Prof. Sapienti calls out happily, hurrying to shake my father’s hand.

“And you as well,” my father replies with a smile. “I’d like you to meet my daughter, Bellcolor Umbra Fermi.” He gestures to me with one hand, and I smile hesitantly.

Prof. Sapienti examines me for long moments, mainly pausing on my eyes, or more accurately their pigmentation.

“Interesting, very interesting…” he mumbles, snatching a magnifying glass from his desk and examining my eyes more closely.Here we go…I wasn’t pleased to be anyone’s lab rat.

“As I told you over the phone, Bellcolor’s transformation is still incomplete. Now that you’ve seen her with your own eyes,is there anything you can tell us about that? To your knowledge, has anything like this ever happened before?”

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