Page 51 of Demon Hunger
I frowned. Where was she going with this?
“Because that would imply he didn’t succeed. You know… with Khargon. Honestly, she doesn’t seem like the loving type of person, demon, whatever.”
He might have failed with Khargon, but he certainly was succeeding with me, and I didn’t know how to feel about that. Did that mean I was failing some kind of test? Acing it?
“He swore to me there was nothing between them,” I said.
She threw both hands up in the air. “There you have it.”
“I don’t believe him, Jenna.”
“He loves you.”
I shook my head.
“He loves you,” she repeated. “Hetoldyou, and even if he hadn’t, it’s clear to see.”
“Maybe he does,” I said. “I honestly don’t care anymore. I’m tired. I’m confused. I just want a simple life. A normal life.”
“We’re students at the LDH. Our lives will never be simple or normal. You realize that?”
“How about being a demon hunter, period?”
“You’re wasting your time wishing for things that can’t be.Youpulled down Striker’s Queller from its perch in the common room. No one else did that.”
Her words were harsh, but inevitably true. I had no one else to blame but myself for the state of my life.
“You’re right. I need to stop whining. I’m ready to get back to the library.” I picked up my plates, deposited them on the conveyor belt, and marched out of the cafeteria without waiting for Jenna.
18
OnMonday,attheend of our History of Demon Hunting class with Professor Fennix, she made an out-of-the-ordinary request.
“All the students taking Professor Veneres’s class, please remain for a quick announcement.
Yawning, I exchanged a glance with Jenna. She shrugged, which I assumed meant that, like me, she had no idea what the announcement would be. Yesterday, after I left her in the cafeteria, she joined me in the library where we studied until dinnertime. I thought she would be mad at me for stomping away like a spoiled brat, but luckily, she didn’t take my behavior to heart.
After all the students who had qualified to be part of the Advanced Summonings For First Years class, Professor Fennix stood from her desk and walked closer.
I yawned again and rubbed my eyes. Those stupid bad dreams still hadn’t left me alone, and Dani hadn’t found anything on persisting nightmares due to schizonevima. Also, the sleeping potion she’d sent me hadn’t worked. At this point, she believed the situation had more to do with my stressed-out psyche than anything else. Super. I was going mad, schizonevima or not.
“Director Grant has requested that I communicate this to you,” she started. “He apologizes for not being here. As you know, the director, as well as every professor at the league, is working overtime. We have always had demon-hunting responsibilities, but lately, we are at our max. Hence, the need for training students like you faster. At any rate, what I’m about to share with you should not be shared outside of the group. Is that understood?”
Everyone nodded.
“The need for help out in the field grows greater by the day. To aid us in combating the surge in demon attacks, we have acquired authorization from the Delegacy to take students out on real missions.”
The room stirred at the news, everyone exchanging glances, some looking scared and others excited.
“When you check your apps as you leave this classroom, you will find a consent form that you need to sign if you decide you’re ready. The form refers to going through the Truesight procedure.”
A few murmurs of surprise rippled through the classroom.
“There will be another document explaining the risks and benefits. You don’t have to sign the consent, but only those who do will be able to go on hunting missions. Your parents have been informed, and I expect some of them will try to dissuade you from going through with the procedure, but you are adults, so ultimately, the decision lies with you. We will need an answer by Wednesday. I know that only gives you two days, but time is of the essence. There are more things to discuss that relate to how participating on missions will work for students, but we will save that discussion for later and for those who sign the consent. That is all.”
We started leaving the classroom, the chatter of conversation growing louder.
Professor Fennix cleared her throat and put a finger to her lips. The din died down, and Jenna, Benjamin, Sage, and I left to hide in a corner of the library.
