Page 98 of Revenant

Everyone begins passing their papers to the front. Koen nudges my elbow, eyes flicking to my bag on the ground. I stuff my hand inside, surprised to find a clear folder—the title of the assignment and my name typed on the front.

My shoulders slump even more, grateful to whoever wrote this for me, but discouraged I didn’t do it on my own. Granted, I didn’t know about the assignment, but that’s also my fault. Heat flames my cheeks as I pass it forward with the rest, and Eldritch looks just as surprised as I am.

Class continues without a hitch, and I make sure to take thorough notes as well as enlist Koen in taking a second set—though it’s just for my amusement—he already has these notes in grave detail. It might be overkill, but I refuse to fall behind. Well, more than I already have apparently.

By the time the lecture is over, my brain feels fried, and I can only imagine the work I’m going to have to put in to catch back up. As I’m gathering my things, a gruff voice sounds from the podium.

“Miss Calder, would you mind staying a moment?”

I huff out a breath of annoyance and reluctantly wave goodbye to Moriah. Since day one, Professor Eldritch has buried a hatchet so deep in my back, I’m not sure if there’s a way to recover.

Koen follows me down the steps to the front of the class, and I’m preparing myself for the worst. Does he know I didn’t write the paper? There’s no way. Not yet anyways.

“It’s nice of you to grace us with your presence today. To what do we owe the pleasure?” His attitude isn’t lost on me, but I choose to ignore it.

“I haven’t missed that many classes,” I defend, trying to tally them up in my head.

“Yes, well, if you were any other student, the school would’ve sent you packing a long time ago.”

Defiance pulls at my brows. “If I was any other student, I wouldn’t have to miss any class, professor.”

“It would do you well to watch your tone.”

“I suggest you take your own advice,” I fire back, taking a step forward, enclosing on his personal space.

If it bothers him, he doesn’t show it; however, I can feel Koen stiffen behind me. “Is that a threat, Miss Calder?”

“More like a promise.” Magic thrums through my veins, heating me from the inside out as the anger festers. Koen places an anchoring hand on my shoulder, attempting to calm the storm, but it feels more like holding a torch to a blazing fire.

“I might not look like much, but I think it would be in your best interest to not test me, professor.” I’m not sure what is happening to me. I need to get out of here. Just the sight of his face is enough to make me want to set this whole room ablaze. Suddenly the heat begins to dissipate, my rage rolling down to a simmer, like I was in a trance and finally snapped out of it.

I stare at Eldritch, attempting to analyze him and figure out what has gone so wrong in his life that he feels the need to continuously take his frustrations out on me. So desperately I want to be angry, but a new found calmness only has me feeling one thing toward him.

Pity.

My voice comes out docile, soft enough I’d hope my words were only meant for him. “I don’t know what I ever did to you—”

“Your blatant disregard for Veilcrest and its standards are quite enough for me to form my opinion,” he interjects without a single semblance of remorse.

“Leon, that’s enough.” Leon? Eldritch’s eyes snap to the deep browns behind me, ones I know just from the sound of his voice are nothing short of lethal. Clearly the high-horse professor has forgotten what kind of company I keep these days.

“Koen, even you—”

“Don’t act like you know how I feel. However, keep it up, and I’ll loosen my hold and allow her the privilege to show you exactly who she is.”

What does he mean by that? Before I can ask, rage surges through me again, and I can’t hold back the words that come pouring out. “Whatever stick is shoved up your ass, I suggest you pull it out. I’ve dealt with a lifetime of bullshit since arriving here and I don’t have time to deal with anymore. Either fail me, or drop the tough guy act because, simply, we don’t have time to stroke your ego.” Magic pulls at each of my nerves, beckoning for release.

When Eldritch doesn’t respond, I peek over my shoulder at Koen, who is sporting nothing short of a proud smile. And judging from the appendage poking me in the back, I’m going to assume it made him feel much stronger emotions as well.

I let out a heavy sigh. “All things considered, do you think we can bury whatever hatchet you’ve bestowed upon us, and let bygones be bygones? Contrary to what you may believe, I’m not the enemy.”

Eldritch looks like he’s contemplating the proposal, eyes bouncing between Koen and me as if we’re ganging up on him. Which, in retrospect, we kind of are.

“Very well,” he relents, releasing a weighted breath. “But I’m not going to pass you just because of who you are. You will earn your grade yourself, and I want to trust that you will be doing the rest of your course work?” He raises his left eyebrow.

“She will,” Koen answers for me. “Though, not to change the subject. Something else has come to light…” he continues, and I’m not entirely sure where he’s going with this. “When we were questioning Naomi, it was brought to light that Clara is back and she’s somehow connected to Lacey Morgrave. Care to shine some light on the subject?”

Eldritch looks like he’s seen a ghost, shaken as if he hasn’t thought about that name in quite some time. “I know nothing of the sort.”