Page 55 of Architecti
“Delicious,” he purrs before curling up and falling asleep.
My nose wrinkles.Gross.I shoo him.But he stares blankly at me.
“Where did the students go?”I ask Alistair, who is sat in a chair beside my bed.
I glance around.I’m in the medical wing.
“Seven bells rang, they were sent to bed.”
“I see.”
“Are you okay?”he says.“You’ve only been out about an hour or so.”
“I think so,” I answer, moving my limbs this way and that.“Magic surge?”
“Yeah, docs think you tapped too much, and it blew your circuits.”He taps his scalp.
“Figures.”I lie back against the pillow.“Can I leave?”
Alistair nods.“They’re not worried, I just thought I’d stay until you woke.Thalia popped in too but was summoned by Arcadius.”
“That was nice of her.Honestly, there’s nothing I want more than a bath and a glass of wine.”
He smiles and gets out of his chair.“I’ll see you in the morning for first classes.”He rubs my shoulder before leaving.
I get out of bed and make my way to medical reception.The nurse hands me a bottle of painkillers, which I gratefully take, and I leave.
Which is when I remember I’m not going home to my wonderful, quiet bath.I have a new apartment in House Inferos that will no doubt be covered in boxes.
One small silver lining about living in the penthouse of House Inferos is that the view will be fantastic on the days when the mists actually abate.
I head to the staff faculty block and track down the maintenance team to collect my keys and then schlep my weary arse all the way across campus to House Inferos.
Once inside, I trudge up to the penthouse, slide the key into the door, open the apartment and scream.
Familiar orange eyes blink back at me.
“Helloooow,” Mortem meows.
“Oh no.Oh, hell no.Come on, shoo.Out.”
He sits down.
Fuck my life.
“Out.You.Go…” I try to shoo the cat out of my space, but my hands slip right through his body.
Demon’s sake.
“Mortem…” I growl.
“Yes?”he purrs.
I gesture at the door.
He stretches.Bum up, paws down.His back arches, his fluffy tail bristling.Finally, he pads forward towards the door, only to turn around and stroll into the heart of the apartment.
“MORTEM,” I squeal, high-pitched and frantic.“I can’t… I don’t do pets.”
