Page 21 of Quiet Burn

“I regret teaching you guys the words for all your problems so much,” I mumble. “Whenever you have problems, you end up sounding like internet psychologists.”

He grins broadly, his eyes sleepy but amused. “I like having a better name for it than ‘Salem’s Sleepytime,’ man. And like I said earlier, my internal clock is all kinds of fucked up today for no apparent reason. I even had trouble in my damn cooking classes—you know that never happens.”

“You’re right, man. That’s super weird.”

I look up as Anton takes the aisle seat, leaving space for Oriel, X, and Kit when they arrive. “How’s your trauma doing today, then? My anxiety is off-the-charts.”

The peacock shifter makes a face as he dusts himself off, adjusting his uniform fussily. I have to cover my grin as he does so because thatishis issue, and he’s definitelynotin control at the moment. “I’m fine, but I’m sending a complaint to the laundry about the quality of care our uniforms are getting. It’s abysmal.”

A snort echoes in the mostly empty room as Kit approaches with X and Oriel in tow. “You could always press yourowndamn uniform. Then it would meet your exacting standards.”

Annie looks puzzled, tilting his head in that avian way. “Press my own uniform? I wouldn’t have the slightest clue how to do that. It would be a nightmare.”

“For the love of crispy croissants, give me strength,” Kit mutters as he scoots into the row and sits down next to the panda. “I don’t even know where to start withthathorseshit.”

Salem sits up, turning to look at the new guy curiously. “Do you know how? ‘Cause I forget to send shit down all the time, even in lower schools, and I’d love to avoid being bitched out all semester.”

Kit puts his hands on his temples, dropping his head as he rubs them, and I chuckle. Oriel grabs the seat to his right and X plops down between the crow and the bird in the spotlight. Once everyone is settled, I lick my lips and venture the question on all our minds carefully. “Is that a weird question or something?”

“If I survive this goddamn school and these death games, I’m going to die of suppressed fury over you rich morons and your spoiled bullshit,” he mutters grumpily. “Yes, most people know how to use a fucking iron where I’m from. It’s not rocket science, for fuck’s sake!”

X leans forward, batting their lashes. “That sounds like it would have been super helpful for Drama if they hadn’t taken it away. Are you going to teach us?”

Oh, X. Now you’ve done it.

“It is not my responsibility to teach you fools to be self-sufficient beings.” Kit whips his head around, looking at them, then turning to glare at us on his left. “And the first person who offers topayme is going to have missing teeth.”

Oriel shrinks back in his chair and I cover my mouth again. He almost fucked up but good. I wait for a moment, letting our new inductee seethe off the irritation before I ask, “Perhaps if we asked nicely you might be willing to trade? I’m doing the cards because I enjoy it and helping you, but someone else might have a skill they could barter.”

“Oh.” We all wait for him to ponder that, staying quiet lest we set him off again. “Well, I suppose I could do that. We’d need an iron and board and shit… but I don’t know what the hell I’d trade it for. I don’t know what any of you can do or what I don’t know I need to know.”

We can fix that—that is, if Jasper doesn’t ruin this when he finally arrives.

A rush of students all flood the hall at the same time, and I watch who sits where. I have a feeling that the Games will change behavior everywhere we go. I need to help identify the patterns so we know which demons Jasper will want dossiers on before he asks. Slash sent me a text to remind me this morning and I started a database as soon as I got to a computer. Being prepared is the best way to help Kit get through this—not to mention us—so I want to ensure we have everything we need.

Jasper finally stalks in after the last wave of demons take their seats with a sour expression on his face. He didn’t look this pissed this morning and he hasn’t said anything about it before now. Something must have held him up and that’s why he’s late. “Since I’m three minutes late, every one of you had better be ready to learn by the time I get to the front.”

Ouch. He’s definitely right on the edge.

“What the fuck happened to him?” Salem whispers as he leans into me. “He’s even more grumpy than normal.”

I shrug, fiddling with my supplies nervously. “I don’t know. He didn’t say anything to me privately.”

Salem arches a brow as he watches me arrange and re-arrange my desk. “Dude, you gotta breathe. It’ll be okay. If he tries to make you choose something, I’ll try to help. Got it?”

My face turns red, nodding because my weakness makes me embarrassed. The panda chuckles and squeezes my shoulder then turns to Kit. “You’re gonna have to keep me awakeandwatch your temper. This room has a shit ton of the caliphates from that meeting; we can’t let them see division.”

“Youremember that? Really?” Oriel says in surprise. “Damn, Salem, you are paying attention in between naps, man. Good job.”

Before Salem can reach over to smack the crow, Kit intervenes with a stern look. “What did he just say? No division. If I can’t give Prince Cockwaffle a hard time, you have to behave as well. I mean, didn’t he say you guys are supposed tohelpme stay calm?”

“Very smart, KitKat. Use the Prince’s order against them even though you’d rather swallow acid than follow them,” Anton snickers as he holds his fist out for a bump. “You’re picking up on demonic behavior quite nicely, I think.”

“Excuse me!”

Our heads whip around to see the demon in question practically vibrating with rage at the front of the room and my tails pop free before I can stop it. Ducking behind them, I breathe slowly. I’m not afraid of Jasper; Ihatedisappointing people. My parents weren’t great with that situation and it sends me into a spiral when I know I’ve done something wrong that upsets people I care about. Salem’s big hand lands on my arm as I grip the chair and it’s more soothing than I expected.

“Are you sixquitefinished with your off-sides conversation? I’d like to begin discussing the evolution of projectile weaponry throughout Hell’s ages.” Jasper blows four fat smoke rings in our directions and his eyes turn to slits. “But I could certainly demonstrate instead if you’re inclined to continue interrupting my class.”

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