Page 27 of Dancing with Vipers and Shadows

“Why are we best friends again?” he questions Professor North when they reach us at the same time. “Professor D’Angelo was supposed to be here, not me. You’re supposed to praise and worship me for coming to your aid instead of being matched with that prick of an ancient professor.”

“Thanks,” Professor North declares with a dismissive eye roll. Those eyes of dusk are back on me. “Sadly to admit, you still failed.”

“What?” Blair gasps before laying the golden cobra snake around her neck like it isn’t a living creature that could choke her to death. “What did we miss?”

“Do not touch the roses,” he repeats as if we’ve forgotten. “Doesn’t mean we expected you to come to the gates empty-handed.”

When Blair and I remain silent, Professor Blackbird decides to enlighten us while he crosses his arms over his chest.

“We all know how black magic works, yes?” he prompts. “Give and you shall receive. Take and you’ll be expected to pay back what you have stolen. Everything in life is an exchange, meaning, upon your arrival at the gates, you’re expected to give something as an exchange.”

“You’re trying to say we were supposed to bring something from the chaos we just endured to exchange for our acceptance,” Blair concludes. “Yes?”

“Yes.” Professor North states as he begins to grin like he’s won some sort of bet.

That taunting gaze grinds my gears, but I tame myself, for patience is the key to overcoming a trap set out for you.

Blair and I exchange a look before she points to the golden snake that’s her new living accessory.

“Then Ophira counts, yes?”

The two professors have no choice but to stare at her, then the snake, and then back at Blair.

“Ophira?” Professor Blackbird eventually inquires.

“Hebrew for gold,” Blair reveals. “Besides, I think she’d be a good pet for Ophelia and me.”

“Are you insinuating that you’re going to steal a key piece in our entry process, Miss Lysander?” Professor North scolds.

“Can’t steal something that’s already been claimed,” Blair replies in a matter-of-fact tone. She pets Ophira with a proud smile. “Ophira… wanna come to school with me? Not sure if it’s gonna be fun like this place of repetitive death and misery, but I’ll take care of you.”

“Hisssss.” The golden cobra seems excited about the new journey.

The way I’m fighting the darndest not to smile from ear to ear makes Professor North’s expression go sour with scorn.

“Miss Guinevere, I’d be more worried about myself than smiling like a fool who thinks she’s won the lottery.” Professor North’s snarky remark makes Professor Blackbird chuckle.

“Your jealousy is making you short-sighted, Orpheus.”

“What?” he looks to his colleague with annoyance. “Just because she’s guaranteed a spot doesn’t mean she’ll be rewarded for not following the key components of acceptance into N.M.U., Daemon.”

Professor Daemon Blackbird and Professor Orpheus North.

I can only assume Professor Blackbird is new because I’ve never heard of him being spoken of outside the university walls.

Unlike Professor North, who is a celebrity for being a young prodigy… but hold on. Didn’t Professor Blackbird say he’s twenty-five and a half? Why isn’t anyone talking about him being younger and carrying the “Professor” title?

“You don’t smell the evidence,” he concludes and even wrinkles his nose.

“Smell?” Professor North looks at him with a scrunched face, only to take a few whiffs of the air. I notice Blair is doing the same, the three of them all looking at me to the point I’m lifting my arms and checking to see if I smell.

“I put deodorant on before the chaos,” I announce. “So, if I’m a little sweaty, you can’t use that against me.”

Blair has a playful smirk on her lips, but the two professors are exchanging a look.

“You have something,” Professor North mutters as his eyes narrow on me.

“Do I?” I ponder innocently, yet I know he catches the slight uplift of the corners of my lips.

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