Page 49 of Prayer of the Damned
It was more complicated with the trio, because they clung to each other like flies on shit. Fortunately for me, Liam had his eyes on Bellcolor.
I found him sniffing around her a few times, and used the first moment he parted from the group to plant the seed within him. The same happened with Tyra. As soon as Valentina’s relationship with Bellcolor loosened, she found a new friend. I must thank Valentina for doing the work for me, and thus Tyra was trapped as well. And since the two siblings were already marked, the third brother Evan was easily snagged as well.
And then Ms. Kingsley came into my office, curious to meet the new lecturer. Her curiosity drew her directly into my trap.
I taught the right lessons, planted the right book, moved all the tools into all the necessary positions, and waited. Patience is a virtue that no longer receives the respect it deserves, and I have it in spades.
The day I summoned Bellcolor to my office and she didn’t show up, I thought she simply had cold feet. The next day, as I entered my classroom as usual and found Bellcolor missing, I started to get suspicious. Another day passed, and another, and still no sign of the lanky demoness. Not only that, but Liam had disappeared as well.
“Valentina, Tyra,” I cleared my throat as they were leaving the classroom, arm in arm. They stop and give me questioning glances. “Do you know anything about Liam’s and Bellcolor’s absence?” Tyra recoils and casts her gaze down. Valentina hurriedly pats her back to calm her friend down. “Well?” I’m impatient today. Babysitting instead of fulfilling the purpose for which I came here.
“Liam’s returned to his creator. Bellcolor’s with the Council. I don’t know when she’ll be back, if at all…”
“I see, you’re dismissed.” My venomous voice leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
They scurry out of the classroom, and as soon as I hear the door slam shut I hurl all my things off the table with a quick sweep of my arm. The thought that Libretto has her is terrifying. I have no access to his castle, and not even the slightest notion of his abilities. What is he planning for her? Will he put his plan into action now that he’s gotten her away from here? The Pope won’t be pleased. Every time I think I’m making progress, Satan throws another obstacle into my path. Damn it all… was it all for nothing?
Summer’s almost over. The senior students will be returning tomorrow, filling the campus entirely. And yet… no sign of Bellcolor.
My weekly donor gurgles next to me, and I kick him to shut his mouth. I mustn’t drain him entirely, or he’ll fall into a coma. His disappearance will raise questions I can’t answer without getting caught. I rip the IV tube out of my vein, put a hand on his head and say: “TheLordshall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul1.”
He gets to his feet and walks to the door. “Thanks for the help, Dr. Abano, I hope today’s private lesson gets my grade up.” He smiles and leaves my office, unaware of what really happened here.
I have no choice but to initially flunk students, luring them to my office; I have to continue polluting my body with their blood and extracting any information I can about Lilith and the Council.
I lock the door to my office. The new blood has already started scorching my veins, and my skin bubbles like a pot of water left on a lit stove.
It’s going to be another night of agonizing pain. Another week of desecrating my body in vain, because Bellcolor hasn’t returned to campus this week either. The Church has instructed me not to abandon my post, but the foreign blood running through my veins has a life of its own and it’s starting to affect me. I don’t think they understand that I can’t hold out here much longer. Soon enough His Holiness himself won’t be able to tell me apart from the rest of the damned. I know I need to wave the white flag, because I’m afraid to discover that the Devil has defiled not only my body but my soul.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bartimaeus
It’s the ceremony to kick off the new school year. The Dean stands at the podium and gives his insipid little speech with a level of excitement that makes me nauseous. I sit behind him on the stage with the rest of the faculty staff, bouncing my leg impatiently. My body is fighting my new blood, refusing to embrace it, and it’s wearing my nerves down.
I scan the students sitting in the auditorium chairs, staring at the Dean with amazement. As he finally finishes his energetic speech, they all rise and clap like he’s a rock star they admire. I notice the faculty is responding in the same way, so I have no choice but to join them.
When the whole affair is over, I linger behind. Some of the lecturers are gossiping about the students, and I have to glean as much information as I can about the new students I’ll be teaching this year. These demons are entirely different from the ones I’ve known so far, who were all freshly made. The demons of the senior classes already had solid control of their nature, their thirst, and they were allowed to feed on human blood.They’re cleverer and much less naïve than the children I’d had to deal with so far. I take in all the information, word for word, willingly. It’s unprecedented information for our world, and we’ll surely be able to use it to our advantage.
As the lecturers intend to move their busy conversation elsewhere, the Dean returns to the auditorium and calls us in for a talk. The haunted look on his face tells me this won’t be idle chatter. Something’s happened.
We hurry to follow him in a single group, exchanging curious glances. We’re all wondering what’s going on.
When the entire faculty gathers in the staff room, the Dean shuts the door and leans against it. He’s gasping for breath, like he’s trying to sort out his thoughts. All eyes are on him, including mine.Say it already, damn it, I grouse to myself. Finally he stands up straight and addresses us.
“The coming school year is going to be one of the most challenging in all our careers.” He pauses dramatically. “We’ve been visited by Othello Fermi, who’s been made an official member of the Council.” Gasps and mumbles burst into the room, interrupting the Dean’s words. I don’t dare breath. If Lilith’s father has been given a seat on the Council, that means I wasn’t wrong and something big is indeed about to happen. “Bellcolor Fermi, the human demon, has returned to campus. She’s completed her transformation, but she’s nothing like the other students we’re used to teaching.”
Bellcolor is back. Excitement surges up inside me. Fuckingfinally.
“What do you mean?” Ms. Kingsley asks.
“Othello informed me that Miss Fermi has been taken under the wing of the head of the Council, and thus she holds a status apart from the other students. We must treat her with the respect she deserves. The esteemed Council member left no room for misinterpretation: If any harm comes to her, if she’smistreated, we shall suffer the consequences,” the Dean warns with a bloodcurdling tone.
“Have you met her?” the Demonic Arts teacher Mr. Fleming asks.
“Yes,” he nods heavily. “She’s… quite different.”
Mumbles fill the room.
