Page 20 of Emerald Rising
Chapter 10
RIVER
“You want to what?!” I roared. I wasn’t sure I’d heard Griff correctly.
Griffon let out a dramatic sigh, as if I were the one being difficult. “We need to wipe her memory. She can’t know she’s a hybrid. It’s not safe and I know for a fact that there is talk about a royal lovechild. Someone, somewhere, somehow knows of her existence.”
“But why do you want to remove her memory of us? Of the bond?” I could barely get the words out. The thought of her not knowing who we were was killing me. It was like a weight settling on my chest and crushing my heart. It was unbearable.
“We need to keep her safe. And she needs to go to Lockwood to learn to control her powers. But if she rocks up at that place with two demons and two angels tied to her, the whole world will know who she is. Think about it, River. The more anonymous she is, the safer she will be.”
I hated that he was right. Hated that his trail of reasoning was sound and that even though this was probably the hardest order I would ever give, I knew that it was the right thing to do.
Lockwood was one of three academies. There was also the Imperium Academy, which was for angels only, and the Occultus Academy which was for demons. Lockwood Academy was nothing like the other two; it was a mixed school catering to both angelsanddemons. Part of someone’s grand plan to encourage peace and forge a better relationship between angels and demons. Throughout all of history, demons and angels have never seen eye to eye. There had been a number of wars dating back to the first one where Lucifer fell, taking half the angels with him to forge the demon Underworld. If Emmy were going to be safe anywhere, it would be there.
“Look, I know this is shit and I hate that we have to do this but it’s not going to be all bad. However, you’re probably all going to dislike why.”
I looked at the angel incredulously. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Griffon ran his hands through his hair. I’d never seen him so distressed. I could tell this whole thing was grating on him more than he let on. I flicked a glance to Ash and Blaze and even they looked concerned.
“Just tell us,” Ash said on a sigh and Blaze grunted his assent.
Griff let out another sigh. “Two months ago, I accepted a professorship at Lockwood, teaching Angelic and Demonic history.”
Oh, fuck. He’s not suggesting what I think he is, is he?
He winced.
Fucking Hell. He was.
“I’ve also managed to secure you three positions at the academy that I think will suit you.”
“No. Absolutely not. I am not a fucking teacher.” God, I couldn’t think of anything worse than teaching a bunch of snotty-nosed kids.
I could see Blaze’s scowl deepening. He clearly didn’t like this idea at all. And I knew why. Most of the class he taught probably wouldn’t survive the first five minutes, let alone an entire term.
Griff smirked. “Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t sign you up for teaching anything mundane then, isn’t it?”
Now I was intrigued. My eyebrow rose and I was definitely curious to know what Griff had in store for me.
“You will get to teach combat and weapons and Blaze will be your assistant. I thought you’d both enjoy scaring them all. And, having a demon and an angel, even a fallen one, working together prospers the academy’s idea of unity.”
I grinned. I couldn’t help it. I hadn’t taught anyone skills in centuries. Before becoming part of this close-knit team, I used to train the recruits for the King’s personal guard. We were the best of the best, and I demanded the best from every individual, otherwise you weren’t worthy of a position protecting the King. I was probably going to be a bit rusty but if I could train an army, then surely I could train these students?
I looked over to Blaze and he was grinning from ear to ear. Those poor students weren’t going to know what hit them. I couldn’t wait.
“And what about me?” Ash asked cautiously. He had many skills like healing and combat, but most of his impressive skills lay in illusion and magic. He might be a sex demon, but he was also a powerful enchanter. If I knew Griff, he would have also chosen something for Ash that would suit him.
“You get to teach Control and Magical Theory,” Griff replied.
Ash’s face scrunched up in disgust. “That sounds rather dull. Do I only teach theory? Not actual magic?”
“That’s up to you,” Griff said with a shrug of his shoulder. “The last professor wore a bow tie, tweed jacket and was incredibly dull. It’s the most hated subject in the academy. Lockwood is looking for someone to spice it up a bit. Surely you’re capable of that?”
“Nowthat,” Ash said with a shit-eating grin, “I can certainly do.”
“Excellent. You certainly took that a lot better than I was expecting,” Griff said with a chuckle. “I do have to tell you that I have had to invent some new personas for you all. We have to be as anonymous as Emmy so just think of it like an undercover mission. I’ve put all the information together and you’ll need to read it before you start the next term. No one knows who we are, about our ops or anything we did as a covert mercenary team.”
