Page 40 of Misfit Monsters
He sinks into his chair in a laidback pose and folds his hands over his stomach. His dispassionate gaze takes in his colleagues. “I had an inspiration but wanted to make sure everything was in order before I proposed it. And I spoke to the other involved parties first. I assumed the one in confinement was the least urgent.”
His attention slides to me with a hint of what might be… amusement? Pearl did hint that he has an odd sense of humor.
Gnash clears his throat. “I’m not sure there’s anything more to discuss. This being admits she can’t control her powers. She’s inflicted wounds on several students. Keepingher here endangers all her classmates, so we have to move to banishment.”
I knew that was where he was going before Rollick interrupted him, but my heart lurches anyway. Another protest rises in my throat.
“Hmm.” Rollick continues studying my face, directing his answer at me. “From what I’ve gathered from my staff’s reports, you would prefernotto harm anyone, and you’ve expressed ample dedication to getting a grip on your powers. Is that right, Peri?”
The fact that he uses my preferred nickname sets me slightly more at ease. I square my shoulders, demonstrating my dedication as well as I can while standing here. “Yes, that’s absolutely right.”
“And you’re also very concerned about staying out of the shadow realm.”
I dip my head. “Yes, um, sir. I wouldn’t mind going back for a little while! But I don’t absorb much emotion in the shadows… I can’t get enough nourishment without coming to the mortal realm.”
“It sounds like you have a strong motivation, then. Excellent.” Rollick looks around at his colleagues. “In that case, I have a unique proposition.”
Pearl arches her eyebrow. “What are you up to now, Your Demon-ness?”
Rollick’s lips twitch with a smile at her irreverent tone. Okay, he might wield enough power that he could disintegrate me with a snap of his fingers, but I don’t think he’s a bad guy.
He leans farther back in his chair. “We’ve had reports of strange shadowkind activity up north. Lesser beings acting in unusually destructive ways… The few associates I’ve already sent to investigate have failed to return—or in one case, returned so injured I hesitate to send him again.”
Toni frowns. “You’ve mentioned this before. How does it relate to Peri’s situation?”
Rollick’s smile grows. “We have a few beings here at the school with potent powers but behavior so erratic they pose a threat to the other students. As an alternative to banishment, I suggest that they might benefit from some hands-on learning. They’ll investigate the strange occurrences as a team and, if possible, eliminate the problem. If they succeed, we have proof that they can corral their impulses when the stakes are high enough.”
And if we fail, we… disappear? Or possibly even die?
Not my preferred outcome, but I can’t say it’s any worse than being banished to the shadow realm to starve.
At least this way, I still have a chance to make things right.
“I’ll do it!” I pipe up before anyone needs to ask. “I’ll take up whatever mission you want if it means I might get to stay here in the mortal realm.”
Rollick beams at me. “Excellent. Your three classmates felt the same way. We can get started almost immediately.”
Al’s near-translucent skin has somehow paled more. “You’re going to send a group of unpredictable, destructive shadowkind off on their own?—”
“To deal with an unpredictable, destructive problem,” Rollick says. “It seems fitting. I have other concerns that prevent me from delving in for a sustained period myself.”
He swivels. “And they won’t be alone. Jonah, I’d like you to accompany this ‘team’ as their commanding officer, so to speak.”
Jonah’s mouth opens and closes again before he finds his voice. “Me?”
Rollick’s tone turns droll. “Who better? In a case like this, your sorcery may prove invaluable, both for tackling theunknown threat… and keeping our wayward students in line as need be. Unless you don’t feel up to the task.”
Jonah looks queasy, with a pang of defiance that hits me like a spicy dumpling. He sits up straighter in his chair. “Of course I can handle it. Who are the other students?”
Rollick gets up. “Three troublemakers who’ve been on the verge of banishment for ages—and who’ve been making a particular nuisance of themselves lately. I think they should make an interesting squad.”
He saunters over to the door and calls into the hallway. “You can come in now.”
The three figures stalk through the doorway one by one. My heart drops—and then plummets even farther.
First is Mirage, with a flash of his fangs through his grin like he’s thinking of snapping at me again. Even when he comes to a stop, he keeps shifting on his feet as if he can’t stay still.
Next comes Raze, who I last saw accusing me of defiling our dorm room. The massive shadowkind stares at me and then jerks his gaze away, his sinewy shoulders hunching.
