Page 28 of Demon Found

Las Ratas.

Chapter Fourteen: Lorelei

Thewatercascadesovermy head and neck, relaxing my muscles, washing away my worries. It’s pure luxury being able to stay in the shower however long I want. Shit, having warm water is a luxury. Naeve pounds on the door, startling me. Okay, so maybe I can’t stay inquiteas long as I’d like.

As soon as I turn off the shower my thoughts buzz in my head like angry hada fairies. There’s no way around it. If I’ve a chance of staying at the academy, of avoiding whatever hold that damn gang still has, then I have to toe the line. I just need to trust a handful of people enough to learn this power-sharing shit. That’s all. I can do that, surely.

I slap my hand on the shower wall, making a satisfying wet smacking sound. Dammit. I can trust myself not to fuck up. But other people? Other people are the liability.

I clamber out and wrap myself in the fluffy white towel, sniffing its clean, fresh, piney scent. I’m living a life I never thought I’d have: clean towels and bedding, a comfy ass mattress, food. So so much good food. And if I don’t pull my head out of my backside, I could lose it all. Fuck that, fuck that like a horny incubus.

“They have vegetarian sausage!” I squeal, tugging Naeve into the line for breakfast.

Naeve rubs her eyes. “I’ve never seen anyone get so excited for bog standard cafeteria food.”

Ignoring her, I turn to the serving lady, giving her my most winning smile.

“One of everything veggie friendly on the cooked breakfast please. Maybe two sausages?”

The plump server returns my grin and heaps my plate high. I’m not going to complain.

“I wanted those!” Camille wails behind me. This damn woman is everywhere. And she’s never happy.

“That’s too bad, Miss, those were the last. Not only was Miss Smith here first”—the serving lady throws her arms out in my direction—“but she’s vegetarian.”

Camille stamps her foot, but the serving lady hasn’t finished. I hope to the gods and devils she isn’t about to go where I think she is. There’s only one reason she would already know my name.

“She has preferential treatment, on medical grounds.”

Aaaand, there we go. She’s gone there. With Camille of all people.

“That’s not a thing. Vegetarianism is not a medical condition, you idiotic crossbreed.”

“Are you a doctor? Hm?” The woman looks smug as fuck now. “She has an allergy to red meat. We’ve all been instructed about it in the kitchen.” She turns to me and smiles in a kindly way. “You come to me if you have any problems, dear. Mrs. Cocci will see you right.”

Slinking away, I ignore the daggers being drilled into my back by Camille. Is it possible to die from misplaced kindness? I wish I could hide under the damn table. Sure, I always wear my medical alert bracelet, but it’s not obtrusive. And I never talk about it. I mean, why would I go around advertising a weakness? Supes prey on weakness. Maybe not as much as the fae, but still.

I poke desolately at the sausages.

This better not be an indication of how today’s going to go. I’m unnerved enough by the “present” and, weirdly, being in different classes to Naeve this morning is throwing me more than it has any right to. She has water while I have air.

I have to find my own way around campus. Finding out if Las Ratas actually still have any legal hold on me will have to wait.

“No, Miss Smith. Finger and thumb an inch apart and picture a tornado, not a gentle puff of summer breeze,” Professor Adhair explains, her kindly tones easing my embarrassment marginally.

I try again. And again. I know my elements now, this should come easily. Sneaking a glance around the room, my heart sinks. Every other student has a small vortex spinning in their hands. Okay, so some are a bit squint, but they’rethere. I can barely feel the air I’m generating.

“Right, class, pair up.”

Professor Adhair tugs off her bottle-bottom-thick glasses and peers at me. She rubs them vigorously on the edge of her her tatty academy gown before perching them on her head, nestling them between a couple of pens and . . . is that a peacock feather?

The professor pats my face, her fingers trailing across my features. “Your air is muted, Miss Smith. What a pity. You’ll work with Zephyr, our strongest air elemental. Your fire element is similarly suppressed. I’ll let your fire tutor know to pair you up with his strongest student. It’s the best way to advance quickly. Is that okay?”

“Yes, great. Thanks.”

A professor actually asked for my opinion, hell yes.

“Now, where did I put my blasted spectacles?” Professor Adhair wanders off, patting frantically at her pockets, bumping into things as she goes.

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