Page 11 of Demon Hunger
Her upper lip trembled and twisted. She raised the sword a little higher. She was going to hit me over the head with it.
“Stop!” Jenna shouted.
I put a hand out, directing my telekinetic power toward her hand. She chopped down with the sword, ill intent in her expression, but before I had a chance to use my skills to deflect her blow, the sword disappeared from her hand, and she staggered backward, completely thrown off balance.
“That is definitelynotthe best use of your skills, Ms. Becker,” Drevan’s voice echoed through The Fray room.
Even as I sucked in labor breaths, relief washed over me at the sound of his deep rumble.
He’d escaped Jophiel.
I turned my head to one side to watch him stroll into the room. He wore a bespoke black suit, and his raven hair was slicked back stylishly. His powerful aura filled the room, and despite myself, he was all I could see. I tried to tell myself that I was only glad to see him here because we had a task to complete, a world to save, but deep down I knew that my efforts to see him strictly as a monster were failing. The longer I spent in his presence, the weaker he made me.
Turning on my Truesight, I forced myself to see him as he was. Eight-foot tall, membranous wings folded behind him, ridged horns ending in points, rows of sharp teeth.
Drevan stopped, his demon-red eyes drilling into mine. He held his pointed chin high, his horns tipping backward with the motion. He was aware of what I was doing, but despite my harsh judgment, he didn’t seem embarrassed by his grotesqueness.
I glanced away and sat up, arms wrapped around my stomach as I took deep breaths. Jenna kneeled next to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
I nodded.
Drevan stopped at my side, his polished shoes within reach. He extended a hand, which I didn’t want to take, except I did, my body moving of its own accord. He helped me to a standing position.
“Do you need to go to the infirmary, Ms. Sunder?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Turning his back on me, he faced Regina. “I’m very disappointed in you. What we learn here is not to be used against our fellow students.”
“She provoked me,” Regina said.
“Not true,” Jenna put in.
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the situation. “Sorry, I’m late. I was detained by… very important matters. But we still have the time for a short lesson, so let’s get started.”
5
WesummonedalevelF demon, one much lower than Eisheth. As Benjamin issued the words to bring the demon forward, and it appeared inside the pentagram, it was clear that everyone was more tense than normal. Last night’s adventure left all of us shaken up.
The entire time, Regina shot hateful glares my way, while I kept pressing a hand to my middle, where my muscles complained every time I moved. She had hit me pretty hard and I would probably bruise. If only I knew what I’d done to her. It seemed impossible that she hated me because she thought there was something between Sage and me. There wasn’t, not really. And even if that was the case, didn’t she have any dignity? If a guy doesn’t want you, you have to muster every ounce of self-respect you have and go find someone else. There are over seven billion people on earth. Someone is bound to think you’re the love of their life.
After Drevan himself quelled the demon in a demonstration of deceptive tactics, we put the summoning kits back in the closet and started heading to our next class. I was almost out the door when Drevan called my name.
“Ms. Sunder, may I speak with you, please?”
I winced.
Jenna winced in solidarity. “See you later.” She walked ahead with Benjamin.
“Do you want me to stay?” Sage asked.
I frowned up at him. “No. Please, don’thelpme anymore.”
“What?”
“Did you have to do that?”
