Page 5 of Shadows of Nightshade
My heart pounded as my mind screamed encouragement. Nothing bad would happen; professors were good people. Besides, I was already growing as a person, as evidenced by the very big step I’d taken to come here today. Knocking on a door was easy. I could do this.
I wiped my sweaty palm on my thigh, sucked in a deep breath, and raised my hand.
What if he laughed at me? I froze and closed my eyes.
Come on, knock.
What if he wasn’t here? What if I’d done this all for nothing?
My eyes flew open. My heart thundered, pounding as though it might fly out of my chest.
Actually, why would he be here anyway? Damen wasn’t arealstaff member. And that low muffled voice—a barely discernible sound streaming from the office in front of me—could be the radio.
There was no use getting all worked up. I’d come back another day.
I turned around but didn’t make it more than three steps before the door opened behind me.
“Who the devil are you?” The abrupt, unfriendly sound stopped me in my tracks. Damen was meaner than I’d hoped.
“Turn around and answer me,” the voice demanded. “I haven’t got all day. I’m not allowing any new transfers into my classes right now, if that’s your purpose.”
My mind screamed at me to run away, but my body obeyed the man’s stern command. It was too late to hide. There was no escape.
“Mr… Abernathy?” I asked.
The very tall, old man narrowed his eyes as he touched his wire-rimmed glasses with a manicured finger. “Damen Abernathy is not here; this ismyoffice. What do you need from me? I have a consultation to attend, so make it snappy.”
Then this must be Dr. Stephens. But weren’t tenured professors supposed to be kindly?
“I’m sorry to interrupt…” I pulled at my sleeves and focused on his brown loafers. “I need to talk to Damen Abernathy, just for a minute, if that’s possible. Please. See, my name is Bianca Brosnan, and I’m friends with Finn. The secretary told me…”
“Finn?” Dr. Stephens interrupted in a curious voice.
I glanced up. He appeared to be deep in thought.
“Finn, as in, Damen’s adversarial little brother?” he asked.
I frowned.
That was enough of a response for Dr. Stephens, who continued, “I didn’t know he had any friends. Who would hate themselves enough to put up withhim?”
I wasn’t even sure how to respond. I didn’t usually argue with authority, but that wasn’t very nice.
“You must not be…” He narrowed his eyes, studying me. “Why are you here, again?”
Did he forget already? Perhaps he was senile. That wouldexplain his bad attitude. “I need to talk to Damen. Do you know where he is?”
Dr. Stephens waved his hand in the air. “Yes, I got that much already. But whyare you looking for him?”
I blinked at him—he was very nosy. But perhaps, since he was Damen’s mentor, he was interested in the paranormal too? Maybe he’d understand.
“Because if you’re here to ask him on a date, I have to warn you that you’d be wasting your time.” Dr. Stephens scrutinized me. “You’re an attractive young lady, but before you have your heart broken by the follies of youth, I’m obligated to tell you that…”
“I’m not here to ask him on a date!” I blurted out, horrified that he would think such a thing. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I stared over his shoulder.
“Then what do you need?” He crossed his arms. “Clearly something is upsetting you.”
“A ghost has been following me!” My skyrocketing anxiety had me blurting out everything without thought. “Sometimes I can see it, but other times, it’s just a feeling. I’m not sure what to do, and Finn’s no help! I thought that, maybe, if I could talk to Damen I…”
