Page 45 of Nine Inch Nasty
“Look, I’m really sorry. I know I can—"
“We think she’s right. It’s time you’re let go.”
I’m hit with a wave of shock, and even though I’ve been thinking about where I want my priorities to be all morning, to hear someone at the top of the line tell me I should be released from my job because of who the goddess gave me to love, well…I don’t know what to say.
“Oh gods, sorry. I didn’t mean like, we’re firing you. Fuck! Damnit, I’m so bad at shit like this. Look. There are some changes coming. The goddess thinks I’ve served her long enough and wants some fresh blood in. She claims my contract is up and my mates and I think that since we all started here at Hemlock, we should spend some time giving back.”
“I don’t understand. And I’m not entirely sure I want you to keep talking about it if I can be honest with you.”
One of Delaney’s dads claps me on the shoulder. He’s massive, long locs tied up and cool as fuck, and even at his age, has muscles upon muscles upon muscles. He’s the reason my matehas a case full of toxic draughts hidden in her closet, and I’m trying real hard not to piss myself. He’s fucking terrifying.
But I’m a naga. That’s pretty scary, right?
I relax my shoulders and puff my chest up a bit. Yeah, I’m a scary motherfucker, too.
Delaney’s mom lays her head on his shoulder like he’s a teddy bear. She’s terrifying. “We’ve already met with Hemlock’s board of directors, and they’ve approved the changes, effective after the weekend. I’m trying to hold the goddess off that long, but, you know, she’s a bit adamant that Delaney get looped in immediately. Something about needing her knowledge before a massive penis comes her way? I don’t know. She sounded a bit drunk.”
“Point is,” Mr. Jericho tells me with a grin, “it’s ya’lls turn to run things. We’re going to watch the school for a year or two while we sort through the staff and try to revitalize this place, as per the goddess, and you, well. You get to make sure my daughter doesn’t lose her mind. She has as many mates as her mother does, so she’s now qualified to be the voice of the goddess. We’ll have our shit fully out of the mansion within the next few days so you guys can move in. There’s a welcome basket scheduled to arrive with everything you’ll need to know.”
“Delaney told me you guys liked to joke around. She never mentioned though, how oddly in-depth your jokes were. Good one. So, what are we doing with this gargoyle?”
“I’m giving her an infusion that will lower her magic levels just enough that she won’t be able to fully access her gargoyle powers. Don’t worry, it can be reversed once we’re confident that she’s no longer a risk to the conduits at this university. She’s too unstable at the moment though, so she will be under observation for the foreseeable future.”
“He means we’re lockin’ her up,” another of Delaney’s dads says as he throws some snacks into his mouth.
Didn’t even see that one come in. He’s small and sneaky and utterly intimidating as well, feet crossed on the table as he nods his head to some silent beat. “She just made a threat to our kid, that shit don’t fly. And as of two hours ago, we’re now the highest authority of this academy, so we say she shouldn’t be around students. Oh. Just texted Delaney. She’s expecting you to go and give her some big news. If you can’t find the balls to do it though, let us know, and mommy and daddies will swoop in and tell her everything for you.”
I hold my head and stumble, leaning against the wall for support. “Is this really happening?”
Queen Gabby pats me on the arm, a touch condescendingly. “They’re not so good at peopling anymore, either. We’ve dealt with too much bullshit over the years, trying to make sure everybody in this realm behaves. We’re burnt out; and as much as I hate that my daughter has to shoulder this burden, I know she can do it. Don’t you dare forget how fucking strong she is.
“Change almost never comes at a convenient time. She’s going to become the new queen, new voice of the goddess, whether you’re all ready or not. That means you and the rest of her mates will make up the new council, taking our spots. We all got dropped into it as well, amidst a ton of corruption, nonetheless. HQ is stable. There are people there to help you, and all of us are only a phone call away. If you’re a part of Delaney’s life, then this is your path. The goddess was very clear. Well, still think she was a bit drunk, but she knew what she was asking of us. Go be with your circuit, talk about it, and pack. You’re all going to be great.”
Fuck.
I think I smile and nod, but I cannot put two and two together. I wander down the hall, out the main doors, stand at the top of the stairs, and watch all the students shuffling off to classes or enjoying the sun, and it’s surreal. To have everything just taken from me like this…it’s jarring. But in a way, it makes sense.
Time to close one chapter of my life and start a new one.
Delaney is still outside, tossing a football with her brother and her bio dad off to the side, looking so carefree. Why do I have to be the one to take all this away from her?
But then she senses me, and I can tell she’s looking right at me, even from this far away. She tosses the ball off and says something to her dad, then takes off running.
I’ve always wanted to slide down the handrail that runs down these massive stairs out here, and I give in to that impulse because it might be my last chance.
In my mind, I’m flying down that bar, wind blowing through my hair and leaping off the end right in time to grab Delaney and swing her around.
In reality, I make it about halfway down before I lose my balance completely and fall off and then manage to roll down the rest of the concrete stairs. Yeah, that’s going to fucking hurt later.
Or, you know, now. Cement tends to be a bit hard.
Lights out.
Chapter Seventeen
Delaney
“Now why the fuck would he go and do that?” Zac, you dumbass.
