Page 4 of Demon Found

“Hello, Admissions speaking.”

Taking a deep breath, I start my story again, explaining I’d like to accept and could be at Fates Academy ASAP if they’d just give me a chance.

“I see, dear. So, you’ve been offered a place, but couldn’t make the start of term? The simplest solution is to defer your entry to next year. I can go ahead and do that now if you’d like?”

Shit. That won’t work, by then I’ll have been with Las Ratas a year. Once I join them, they’ll never let me leave.

“I’m a scholarship student. I’d lose that wouldn’t I?”

“Well, yes. That wouldn’t be rolled over. It would go to a student who could guarantee their attendance, to keep things fair.”

I’d resolved not to tell my sob story, but this lady’s kindly tone undoes something in me.

“My foster carer, he kept my letter from me. I didn’t know I had a place. Now he’s sold me off to a gang on some stupid government scheme. I’ll never get out, not unless I can take this place,thisyear. I don’t know what to do. This is my last chance.”

There’s a slight cough at the end of the line. “Ahem. Do try to contain yourself, we like our students to deport themselves appropriately.” The words somehow don’t sound harsh. “Please hold while I take this to the dean. What was your name, dear?”

My nails are bitten to the quick and Dog has been hugged half to death by the time there’s another peep from my phone.

“Miss Smith? I’ve spoken with the dean. Luckily, he’d just been chatting about you. Your sponsor is the Virrey himself. You’re a very lucky young lady. They are both happy for you to proceed into first year, providing you can arrive in the next five days, and that you catch up on all missed work.”

“Yes!” My scream startles the mangy pigeon next to me.

“Deportment, Miss Smith! Also, from our records, it appears that when you applied you were not yet emerged? I assume this is resolved? We only accept students with full access to their genus.”

Shit. So so so close. And yetstillFrank has fucked me over.

“Miss Smith? Are you still there? Can I assume from your silence this might be an issue?”

“I . . . I would be delighted to accept the place. But I’ve not emerged.” Heaviness settles on my chest. “My foster carer kept me locked in the cellar on the school’s emergence days. I can’t come.”

“I see.” There’s a long pause. Just as my finger hovers over the disconnect button the voice speaks again. “May I suggest you accept this offer in principle? There’s an emergence day for the homeless population of Venez tomorrow. It’s been onallthe news channels. Perhaps you could persuade someone to allow you to participate?”

“Woo-hoo!” The tut on the line makes me rein myself in with a smile. Thank the gods and the devils for motherly people. “I mean, I would be delighted to accept my place.”

“Good, good, be at the academy portal at 5 p.m. sharp in five days’ time, emerged, and you will officially be enrolled.” The line clicks and goes dead.

I squeeze Dog, ruffling his shaggy coat so hard he grumbles to be put down. This is it. Finally, something in my shitty life is going right.

I just have an official to bribe and no money to do it. Nothing to stress over. Not really.

I slide quietly into the municipal hall clutching my papers to my chest. The place is buzzing, of course it is. There’s even a damn camera crew. The elections must be coming up. No one bothers about the homeless in Venez unless they have an ulterior motive.

My gaze drifts round the room before landing on a blustery-looking official. He’s practically creaming his pants at the authority he’s wielding over all us lowlifes. Worse, he’s checking everyone’s papers. I wasreallyhoping that was more a formality.

The line is massive,I’ll be here all day if I go to the end. Darting in near the front, I smile my best smile at the supe behind me, twirling my finger in my hair and batting my eyelashes. He grins and winks, eyeing me from head to toe.

“You, there!” A shrill voice pierces the air. “You. Skinny little thing with eyes too big for your head. I saw you line-jump. Get to the back!”

Shit. Maybe if I just smile innocently . . . The official glares at me, and my heart sinks. He’s an imp. I swear their only fucking pleasure in life is causing mischief and grief. Unluckily for me, someone gave this particular jumped-up shit a job with real power over real people.

“I saidget to the back. That cutesy nonsense doesn’t wash with me.”

Shrugging, I back up and shuffle slightly farther back. A viselike grip hauls on my arm and I’m forcibly dragged to the very freaking end by the imp’s henchman.Argh.That’s karma.This thing better run until everyone has emerged.

I eventually reach the front and I’m a sticky, sweaty mess. At least I look every single freaking bit the homeless person.

“Papers?”

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