Weakened Mountains (Artemis University Book 4)

by Erin R Flynn

  Didn’t we all?

  Right as we were about to start, Katrina Calloway showed up with a lot of what I ordered from the new deal Craftsman made. She offered to pick it up for me and handle it as she probably guessed I was up to something and she wanted some fae dust on the side for personal reasons.

  “You going to tell me what you’re up to?” she asked.

  “Only if it works,” I chuckled as Ray and Sean came through the portal. “Perfect timing. You can meet the two lone Alpha wolves Geiger hired to try and keep me alive.”

  “Oh dear, you’re in a mood,” she sighed. “I’ll speak with them and they can ask you when you’re in a better mood.”

  “If you want something, just do it, Katrina,” I muttered, waving it off. She knew not to go over the line with me and I had enough on my shoulders. I thanked her for what she brought and got it all set up on my cleaned off workbench. Then I grabbed what Zack had brought and got to work.

  The etching had gone much better than I’d thought as apparently those who didn’t ever have caffeine had the perk of a steady hand. Or at least I did. So, after I’d practiced a few times on the new ones, I did a few more and added them with the boxes and boxes Katrina had bought of tier one crystals.

  I wanted to do a bit of experimenting on my own… Given the one in charge of the project was my current headache. I got lost in my bike since it needed some work anyways and basic TLC. I’d been wanting to give it some upgrades since I had the money to now anyways so it was nice to just do my thing.

  The guys had time to gush over their new bikes before they joined me.

  “Dad wasn’t happy you’re off leash tonight,” Ray teased Zack.

  Zack snorted. “Yeah, well, Glen can challenge me any time he wants. We’re older and stronger and the shit wants all the information he doesn’t need. He’s controlling, not in control.”

  “I think we should fasten the crystals in with O-rings instead of clamps,” I muttered as I checked out cigarette lighter now that Zack had it pulled apart. “Metal on quartz could chip off a rune or crack it. O-rings are flexible and we can find the right size to wrap or something similar.”

  “Good call,” Zack agreed. “Yeah, something rubber or flexible, not even plastic zip ties.”

  We worked a while longer before the portal activated and Irma arrived with food. I wasn’t the only one ready to wag my tail when I saw it was a Friday night seafood buffet on the menu. Hot damn.

  We took a break and after I threw down a blanket on the cold concrete floor, I set myself up with a picnic… That several fae dogs kept encroaching on.

  “Come on, guys,” I bitched when they stole a lobster tail I’d just taken the shell off of. “I share. Eat the shit I share, not the stuff I work on.” Just to make my point I cracked the legs off a snow crab and tossed the middle part with meat, brains, and extra gunk to them.

  “They just eat that whole thing?” Sean asked as Chief practically swallowed it whole.

  I snickered. “Yeah, they’re fae dogs who most people think of as hellhounds. Little things like bones or whatever don’t bug them. Even bears eat the whole damn fish. Toss them shrimp and lobster heads or anything you don’t want to bother with. Just no shells like clam, mussels, or oysters. They’re too jagged. If you give them blue crabs, they bust it open and gobble it up. It’s a trip.”

  We needed music so I jumped to my feet to put my iPod in the speakers I had on my workbench, but not before I warned the dogs that if they stole my food they’d sleep outside in the snow for a week. It worked, but I got a lot of puppy pouts even if they were scary ass huge dogs.

  Still, we shared a lot.

  I didn’t realize a temporary portal to the cafeteria kitchen had been opened until more food came and I realized no one was wearing coats. Well, that was silly to make the hobgoblins bring it all. Sean seemed to have the same idea and we followed after, singing the Nickelback song that had been playing, both our moods lighter and happier.

  The next round I made sure to scoop up a huge five-gallon bucket of fae dust to bring with me. I brought it right over to Professor Pillay, shrugging when she gave me a confused look.

  “You wanted fae dust for the new greenhouse and the kids are eating all our scraps so a lot more will be coming,” I explained.

  “Anything we can do to help?” she asked after she recovered from her shock.

  I nodded and told her what scraps to save. It actually wasn’t a bad idea to have more people save them, but most wouldn’t or would demand some fae dust in return. Most of the elites at that school were jerks like that. They’d seriously rather toss the scraps the dogs could eat instead of helping us out if they didn’t get anything for it.

  Except Edelman stepped up and used magic to make his voice carry over the noise of the cafeteria. “Everyone currently in any botany classes will set aside the following scraps to help feed the fae dogs that are providing the fae dust you will be using at no cost to the school. Also, any wanting to take the extra seminars with the high-tier crystals.” Then he told them what to set aside.

  “Thanks, that helps.”

  He nodded as he stopped projecting his voice and sat back down. “We should start doing that anyways. There is a lot they would eat that we waste.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, they’re garbage disposals for sure. Too much of it and I would worry someone would slip something in just for spite.”

  “Fae dogs are too smart for that and would track down whoever the culprit was,” Professor White said loudly, making sure her voice carried for the ears we had. “And might I ask why you have some sort of oil or grease on your face?”

  “Working on my bike and a project,” I answered. I shrugged as if that said it all.

  “I’d be curious to see what that was, but I assume Craftsman is going to help you and be there this weekend.”

  “No, he’s not coming,” I replied easily. “You guys have some meeting thing or whatever the guards said and it’s just us for the weekend.” I had no idea if he’d been planning to come after his meeting, but I didn’t really want him to, and I hurried on to change the topic. “And you can see it if I get it right or get stuck.”

  “So, you are plotting something magical?” she checked.

  “Maybe,” I purred, tapping my fingers together like I was up to no good. “I’m going to do the same thing we do every night, Pinky.”

  “Yes, ha, ha, try to take over the world,” she drawled. “Glad you’re in better spirits. The storm clouds over your head earlier were rather dark.”

  “Don’t remind me, I was in my happy place,” I grumbled and headed for food. My stomach did rule me and food did make everything better.

  Mostly.

  15

  After we stuffed ourselves silly we also had a working prototype. Sean grabbed my hand and we started dancing to Santana’s “Into the Night” that featured Chad Kroeger. I sent out the dogs to flame up and melt the snow and ice on the driveway so we could test it on there.

  “We need to know what tier these crystals are at,” Zack reminded me as he nodded to the boxes on my workbench.

  “Maybe we don’t need all the power of tier seven,” I countered. “Or the higher the tier the longer it lasts? They’ve changed color at least twice, so we’ve got some juice enough to try.”

  “I saw three colors,” Marshall corrected.

  Sean thought he saw four, but no one could agree which four colors then. Unfortunately, none of us knew how to read crystals and see what level they were at.

  I brought my bike out of the garage and got on, letting out a slow breath and hitting the button to activate the crystal. I looked out at the guys and saw only frowns. “You can see me, right?”

  “Yeah,” Zack admitted with a wince. “Maybe you need to have the engine running and bike going. It’s a full package sort of spell you built there, Tamsin. I think the crystals need that situation. Maybe?”

  It was worth a shot.

  I turned it on and cranked the
gas before taking off towards the gate. I flipped around and headed back for the garages, hitting the button when I was about halfway and smiling brightly when I heard several whoops and hollers.

  So, we got a working prototype to hide me, but what about the barrier? And we’d need to test how long and power levels.

  “Where’s Ms. Vale?” Professor White asked from near the portal. “We got nosy again.”

  “We don’t know,” Zack said proudly. “That’s what she was working on.”

  “Can you hear me?” I called, smiling when no one reacted. I stopped in front of the open garages and the minute I shut off the bike people flinched or jumped that they saw me. “Wicked. Now we just need to test the barriers.”

  “And try it out during daytime,” Ray added. “I’m not knocking your idea, but it’s much easier to use a shadows rune at night than during the day.”

  “Fair enough,” I accepted as I got off. “We need to know the tier and see how long for sure—”

  “The crystals changed color again,” Marshall called from the workbench. “It’s like you need the combo of happy, exciting like new to you, and fuel to tier them up.”

  “That’s pretty…” I trailed off when I saw we had a few other professors who came that didn’t know I was a fairy. “Really? Do you guys just drop in on other students’ houses like this? No, it would be rude, and parents would balk.”

  A few flinched at my tone, but I smiled to take the bite out of my words as I flipped on my telepathy and told Sean to close the garage doors since he was there. The problem was if people stepped outside and saw the front of the house or the address. They might know more then we wanted then.

  Sean shrugged when people shot him confused looks. “People are trying really hard to get this address. You want to come see the dogs in the garage, cool, but you don’t need to see the house or address.”

  “You’re right and that wasn’t why we came,” Campbell agreed. “I wanted another chance to make friends with your fae dogs. I’m sorry, our meeting is starting soon, but White wanted to come poke her nose in what you were doing while Pillay and I wanted to see the dogs. We brought loads of scraps to help feed them.”

  I nodded it was fine but knew they wouldn’t like her… Since she wasn’t my favorite person right then. Totally not her fault since she didn’t know I was involved with Craftsman, but complicated.

  “Stop,” I ordered, not sure if I meant her or the dogs, but both sides froze. “You weren’t invited. I invited White and they know that. Hold up.” I went over there and took the bucket from her. “Thanks for bringing this, why don’t you stay a while and join us? We could use some insight on what we’re doing. Professor Pillay, you as well.” I glanced over at the dogs and they started settling and I let out a sigh.

  “Nicely done,” White praised.

  I shrugged. “They don’t answer to me, but they understand more than natural animals. It’s a tricky, tricky line. I feel more like a stereotypical stepmom where they don’t have to listen to me because I’m not their mom and we’re just tiptoeing around each other.” I glanced at Campbell with a frown. “I think they just need to get used to you around before you’ll make progress.”

  “Thanks for letting me try and for explaining that,” she sighed. “They are fascinating creatures and always a favorite of mine. I want so desperately to get to know them.”

  “Mine aren’t going anywhere,” I offered, liking her as a teacher and even her taste in men… As long as she would just back off mine.

  “Tell us what you’ve been up to now,” Professor White cut in, looking ready to burst open, Edelman and Pillay excited as well.

  So I did. I explained Professor Nelson’s assignment and where my brain went. I showed them the crystals and the prototype Zack helped me rig; still, they were curious.

  “Not everyone can throw up a temp portal or even has a conduit to use their runes legally,” I explained. “There are real emergencies that could use stealth to get home or to a known portal. A way to duck bad guys if they give chase. There are dozens of applications for this.”

  “Or the bad guys using it to get away,” Professor White warned as she studied one of the crystals. “Another reason they might come for you.”

  “Yeah, but if they’re coming anyways when word gets out I can get crystals up to tier seven already. This way we have a better chance of getting away with keeping me in a cage.”

  “Touché.” She handed the crystal back to me. “That’s a tier six so one more for your max, but I believe that extreme overkill for what you’re trying to accomplish.”

  “Agreed,” Campbell added. “As the new wolf said, during the daytime is harder than night.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I apologize, I completely forgot your names with all the crazy this semester.” She thanked them when they told her and focused back on me. “Also, for this type of barrier the more sent against it drains the magic faster.”

  “So, I was going to have them toss snowballs at me to try it but that’s a lot easier than say bullets.”

  “Yes,” she chuckled but then frowned when she realized I was serious. “Have you been shot at often, Ms. Vale?”

  “Define often, Professor,” I threw right back, snickering when she blinked at me. “I’ve patched two bullet holes on my ride, yeah I have. I’ve had too many guns pointed at me. It’s why I don’t like them. I went after bad people who didn’t like someone coming after them. I’ve been shot at and shot.”

  “You’re only nineteen,” she whispered in horror.

  “So are people killed in the human military all the time,” I reminded her. “Marshall, we’ll have to try some tests with blanks.”

  “Those still hurt if you get shot, Tamsin,” he informed me.

  “Yeah, no shit,” I drawled. “You got another idea if the barriers will really stand up to more than snowballs?”

  “Yes, let someone more durable who heals faster do those tests and with a bigger bullet like a sniper rifle,” Zack suggested.

  “Damn, you’re really taking this seriously. We should talk to Geiger. It’s the barrier he gave me. He might have a list what can stand up to it.” I glanced at where my bike was on the other side of the garage door. “Think we could make this into a charm that could be a bug-out for dragons? I mean, if they’re hidden and have a barrier and shit hits the fan—”

  “They could fly away like falcons or other bird shifters do,” he muttered. “Maybe. One project at a time. A bike is much smaller no matter how big the rider where a dragon is the size of a semi and trailer.”

  “Good point.” I might have said more but burst out laughing when I saw the fae dogs had eaten all the scraps in the pails. “I can’t even judge because you are the only gluttons worse than me.”

  “And we have more coming,” Irma informed me as she came through the portal pushing a cart. “It seems many are excited for the new greenhouse you donated and even if they are not in botany classes, hope some fae fruit may be shared now and again. Even some of the snidest students who dislike you were putting the right scraps in bins.”

  “Maybe there’s hope for some of them.” I shrugged when she shot me an amused look. “What? I know some of them are beyond saving. ‘Some’ was pretty damn positive already.”

  “You keep spoiling those dogs like that, Irma, and they’re going to start coming to school during the week to get scraps,” Zack teased, a humorous glint in his eyes.

  And a brilliant plan should anyone sense or see them at school.

  “You go right ahead and visit us,” Irma told them, catching on quickly like usual. “There’s no reason we can’t have other prep scraps ready for you instead of just wasting that food you’d eat.”

  “It would be easier on our budget,” Edelman chuckled. “Our bill for garbage is a joke sometimes since we’re so remote.”

  “Feed my garbage disposals whatever you want, really, it would help,” I told them. “They eat so much and so many want fae dust. I’d worry it woul
d make them sick, but they still get exercise in winter because, you know, they can set themselves on fire.”

  “It still boggles your mind, doesn’t it?” Professor Campbell teased me.

  “So many things do,” I admitted.

  Ryfon came with the next cart and this time it was desserts for us. The teachers excused themselves, White and Edelman giving me apologetic looks that the teachers who didn’t know I was a fairy snuck with. Twits. I’d spank them later. Some of the wolves went with to help so the hobgoblins didn’t have to do so much when they were so small.

  There was enough prep for them to do after all. The school might have been posh, but it was smart about not wasting what it had. Any leftover shrimp and crab from the buffet would be made into salads for tomorrow. Same with lobster or pasta dishes. The cooks already working on that promised to set aside the scraps for my dogs since we’d shared fae fruit and goods with them as well.

  That was some nice karma I was getting for sure.

  I happily ate my gobs of desserts as I etched more runes on crystals, chuckling when they all flashed another color. So that was it. Tier seven and my stomach really was the key to most things. The guys thought that hysterical as I could out eat all of them and they were bigger men, wolves, and older than me. By all accounts I should have been the underdog.

  Yeah, yeah, dog pun sitting with fae dogs and wolf shifters. So sue me.

  Just as we got the prototype on Zack’s bike so he could test it out, Darby and Hudson came through the portal.

  “You said you didn’t want to study, but we had a date schedule,” Darby explained. “Just because someone else canceled doesn’t mean it was called off.”

  “Go have fun, we’re good here,” Zack promised. “Ray and I are staying in the guest rooms tonight, but Marshall and Sean have to go back. We just need someone to lock the portal before you’re down for the night.”

  “I will,” Darby told him. It was then I noticed they each had an overnight bag and more to-go containers.

  “I want to see how it goes with snowballs,” I argued.