Upended Life (Artemis University Book 1)

by Erin R Flynn

  Cool.

  I had a feeling it was bigger than that in the world I’d stepped into though.

  After some discussion, we decided we’d need to drive back to campus. He checked the garage while I grabbed more garbage bags to protect the gowns.

  There was a “brand new” 1999 Ford Explorer that started like it was years ago. That confused him to say the least. I explained the stasis spell and how time stood still at all the properties.

  “That’s wicked,” he chuckled, shaking his head as he picked up what I had ready to go. “Good deed done, now think about what else you need, love.”

  I glanced over at him. “Do you always call your students that?”

  He cleared his throat and looked away. “No, and I shouldn’t.” He headed for the garage and I left it alone.

  I did take his advice though. The towel I had was shit and more than one would be great for school.

  Plus, some other clothes. The woman had actually been right about my size and I loved her style so my good deed was properly rewarded, it seemed.

  I would be glad to get rid of a lot of my clothes. Not the workout stuff but besides normal jeans and shirts, most of my clothes were meant to look like sex worker clothes. That would not go over well at a place like Artemis University.

  Well, unless they had a designer label.

  “Wait, all the scholarship students aren’t women,” I groaned when I dragged down a few suitcases with my new wardrobe.

  Dr. Craftsman sighed. “You’re right. Fuck.”

  “Do we have more room? I know nothing about suits but I’ll get bags and we can just grab a bunch, right?”

  “There was a roof rack with a hard roof box I saw in the garage. We have room. I was just hoping I could talk you into riding back with us.” He sighed again when I snorted. “I thought not.”

  I ended up going for heels to go with the gowns since I’d forgotten those, while he handled suits and the roof box. He groaned as he realized he’d forgotten shoes as well.

  We decided people could worry about their own shirts, ties, and accessories but at least it was something.

  I made sure to grab what I had for the headmaster and let them take my bag in the SUV after I locked up. I gave Dr. Craftsman a glance when I saw their frowns.

  “You’ve got a choice. Either I drive to stick to you or I drive like I normally would and it helps with my upset and it’s less likely I’ll need to take a drive soon.”

  “Fine, but stop at the guard station and really do what you’re supposed to as a new student,” Marshall agreed.

  I sighed, shaking my head. “It wasn’t Darby’s fault I didn’t know the rules.” I smirked when they gave me confused looks. “You guys abducted me here instead of my driving up like a new student. So you’re the idiots on this one, aren’t you?”

  I threw back my head and laughed when they winced.

  I didn’t wait for them to accept blame, putting on my riding sunglasses and taking off. It was easier going back than I thought, mostly because I had a place to escape to.

  7

  I was just finishing up with the guard station when Dr. Craftsman pulled up looking like he was going to flatten me. I ignored him and thanked the guy who handed me my new ID.

  It was funny that Headmaster Edelman had skipped so much, as they had only my name in the system. Even I knew a college would need my social security number and shit.

  I went over to Dr. Craftsman, who was holding out my bag, guessing correctly that the guards would need copies of my driver’s license and whatnot.

  “Do you have a death wish driving like that? I was going ninety and none of us could keep you in sight.”

  I clucked my tongue at him, smirking. “A teacher admitting to speeding? That deserves a detention or two for sure.”

  He was not amused, but Sean looked like he was losing the battle not to laugh.

  We actually left Sean and Marshall at the guard station after I swore on my bike that I would not leave campus again without following procedure and making sure someone accompanied me.

  At least for the first semester. Fine, I could deal with a babysitter for a few months. I was a pain in the ass, not stupid.

  Dr. Craftsman had us drive over to the administration building to handle Headmaster Edelman before we moved on to our plans. It was almost amusing to see the man standing in the doorway of his office with steam about coming out of his ears.

  I didn’t even flinch though, raising an eyebrow at him. “The rules were explained to me when I came through the guard station conscious and able to fill out what I needed. I didn’t come in the school that way originally, did I?”

  His anger slowly deflated, giving me a curt nod. “I assumed Darby would have handled it but I didn’t explain your circumstances so that makes sense. I hope you now understand the rules?”

  “Yes, and I even agreed to a babysitter the first semester as long as it’s not an emergency or something.”

  “We talked her into that,” Dr. Craftsman warned the headmaster. “She did say she’d be open to longer but wasn’t committing to more until she learned more, as it was a shock to learn the university was six years, not four like most would assume.”

  That took the rest of the wind out of the headmaster’s sails.

  Good. I was reasonable and they needed to be reasonable with me.

  I set the other bag I’d grabbed from the SUV on the chair in front of his desk before pulling out the journals. I handed them over to the confused headmaster before I went back for the list I’d copied.

  “Conall Townsend had more specific instructions at the house for his belongings if whoever inherited them was so inclined to listen to his guidance. In the novel he wrote about it all, there were several pages of what to give to Professor Kyle Edelman. I’m assuming that’s you.”

  “Yes, I was, when Conall was alive,” he muttered sadly.

  That answered if they knew each other.

  “I copied the first page of the list and grabbed what I could find. I had planned to be back before dinner and needed some stuff myself,” I explained, deciding to add that last part in so they knew I was being reasonable.

  He opened the wrapping around the journals and his eyes lit up with excitement. So he was a history buff for sure.

  Good. That made me feel better that they would be in good hands.

  He quickly grabbed the list from me but frowned. “I cannot read this, Ms. Vale,” he told me, sounding annoyed.

  I frowned. “Did the copier make it too dark?” It had looked fine to me but maybe I hadn’t looked closely enough since I went off what I had written down before seeing the copier. I flinched when the headmaster gave me a look that hinted at a good dose of anger.

  Dr. Craftsman reached over and grabbed the list, frowning before holding it up to me. “How can you read this?”

  I reacted as if he slapped me, angrily zipping up the bag so I could get the fuck out of there. I heaved it on my shoulder and gave them both a disgusted glare.

  “Wow, that didn’t take long to show your true colors, huh?” I shook my head at myself. “I really had hoped you were like you seemed and not elitist assholes. I might only have a 9th grade education but I can fucking read. I’m not that stupid.”

  I might have said more but my eyes started burning so I stormed for the door.

  Dr. Craftsman grabbed my arm before I could escape, and as much as I wanted to crack him, even I knew not to strike a professor. Though I did give him a warning look and then focused on his hand on me.

  He slowly let me go, clearing his throat. “We don’t think you’re stupid, Ms. Vale. We cannot read this as it’s in the language of fairies. It’s written in Faerie.”

  “Where did you learn to read that?” the headmaster asked, clarifying what they were focused on. “I thought you didn’t know what you were.”

  “I didn’t,” I muttered, studying them and getting why he’d been angry. He thought he’d busted me in playing them. I looked ov
er at the sheet and shook my head. “That’s in English. I have no idea what you’re talking about and I don’t know any other languages.”

  “No, it’s not,” Dr. Craftsman whispered. “Holy crap, fairies can read Faerie automatically.”

  Headmaster Edelman’s eyes went wide as he looked at the sheet again. “That explains why no one has ever been able to decipher it, not a single translation dictionary found. They don’t need it. It’s inherent with their magic.” He smiled brightly at me. “You can decipher it. You can translate what’s in our archives, show us how to read it even.”

  I froze, a cold anxiety rushing over me as I saw how excited they were.

  “No, sorry.” I cleared my throat when they both immediately frowned. “If fairies never shared that or a way to translate their language, I really don’t think that’s something I should do.” I backed away towards the door, my instincts telling me to escape. “I might not be the last and there were reasons it was secret.”

  The headmaster cleared his throat this time and his gaze told me how he noted I was moving towards the door. “Is that what your instincts are telling you?”

  “Yes,” I admitted, seeing no reason to lie. “Like a cold panic telling me to get out of here before I do something bad.”

  He nodded, handing me back the paper. “I understand. I’m sorry to upset you, I wasn’t thinking. The scholar in me reacted at the chance to unravel mysteries I’ve long wondered about, not as a logical being. You’re right that you shouldn’t if fairies made a point never to.” He lifted the journals in his other hand. “Thank you for these. I will make sure they’re scanned for you to read if you wish.”

  “Thanks, that might be cool to have one day,” I agreed, taking the paper, grateful he gave it back. It could give him a baseline to translate if I gave him the list in English later. “I’ll get you a readable list soon, I promise. I need to get settled.” I let out a chuckle. “And buy school supplies and books, it seems.”

  “You got this,” Dr. Craftsman murmured as he rubbed my shoulder. “I didn’t know your education was so stunted by your circumstances, but there are several of us rooting for you who will help, Ms. Vale. Don’t drown on us.”

  I thought it odd he used that phrase but it was oddly comforting that he somehow knew exactly what I was feeling. I said goodbye to the headmaster, feeling a bit like I broke a kid’s Christmas present before he was able to play with it but knowing it was the right call.

  No matter how cool it would have been for him to know the secrets of whatever fairy books he had, others would know too.

  And they might not just be cool books but dangerous secrets. Why else write them in a language no one could read?

  Dr. Craftsman looked at his watch—as he was a proper adult with one—before focusing on me. “Why don’t you head to dinner after you park your bike since you didn’t get lunch? Darby will be there most likely. I’ll find some clothing racks and meet you at my classroom. We can set up there and bring the rest to your room later.”

  “Sounds good,” I agreed.

  “For the record, I’m keeping the keys to the SUV,” he told me when I handed him back the bag as we made our way outside. “I have a feeling I’ll need it to chase you down again.”

  I raised an eyebrow at that. “You don’t have a vehicle?”

  “Nothing so reliable and able to manage a cross-country trip,” he answered with a snort. “I wouldn’t put that past you.”

  I didn’t even try to defend myself as I knew he was mostly teasing me, but my nerves were raw so it wasn’t the time for it. I drove my bike over to the same spot I’d parked before heading to the cafeteria. I noted there was someone sitting at the entrance this time.

  “ID?” she asked when I just stared at her.

  I nodded and pulled it out, handing it over. She swiped it and gave it right back. Oh, so meals weren’t just open and included? How had I managed breakfast then?

  Whoops.

  I headed inside and went for food first when my stomach growled loudly. I loaded up on the comfort food that I would love if it tasted half as good as it smelled and looked. I set my tray down a bit harder than I meant to when someone bumped me from behind.

  “Shit, sorry,” a guy said as I looked over my shoulder at him. Damn he was hot. Buff too. Buffer than Dr. Craftsman and taller too, maybe six-four or so.

  I nodded, locked into his sexy hazel eyes. He was mixed race, half black and half white if I had to guess from his lighter dark skin. His hair was a chocolate color and hung in his face.

  He pushed it back and smiled at me. “Hey, I’m Lucca Von Thann.”

  My eyes went wide as I recognized the last name, booking it out of there as fast I could.

  “Wait, sorry,” he called after me.

  “Dude, she must have met your father or something,” his friend teased him. “That’s the only time people run from you the moment you say your name.”

  Wow, that was a good guess, but that didn’t mean I was turning back. I grabbed what else I wanted before circling back to where I’d been, glad when they were gone.

  The cafeteria was packed full by then and after a few moments glancing around I found who I wanted.

  “Hey, Darby,” I greeted as I sat across from him. I wasn’t shocked when he just nodded in acknowledgment and kept reading the book he was holding. “So I was wondering if you wanted to do a good deed for the day?”

  He raised an eyebrow but didn’t look at me. “I already did. I warned you not to cross Holly. That was my good deed for the day.”

  “And I showed up to my door half naked which you enjoyed so how about you don’t act like I’m trying to pull your teeth,” I threw right back.

  He set down his book with a sigh and looked at me. “You haven’t actually told me what you’re up to so for all I know that ‘good deed’ is a tooth donation.”

  “It’s not,” I promised. “It’s something for the scholarship students and Dr. Craftsman is helping. I don’t think he’s that type of doctor.”

  Darby rolled his eyes at me. “He’s not.” He eyed me over, probably trying to figure out what he was getting off of me. I was a ball of everything so I doubted he’d get much. “Fine, as long as you promise not to take off from campus like that again. Everyone was in a tizzy and I don’t like security tracking me down and interrogating me.”

  I winced. “Yeah, sorry, that’s been worked out. Headmaster Edelman assumed you took me there and got everything sorted along with the rules.”

  He frowned. “Why would I do that?”

  “Because they knocked me out to bring me here and I didn’t come through like all the other students,” I answered honestly, smirking when he dropped his fork. “Yeah, I made sure to let them know they were the idiots. My abduction here didn’t come with a download of the rules.”

  “They abducted you?” he hissed as he leaned in.

  I nodded. “Dr. Craftsman has a debt to pay with me after using a siren voice to knock me out with a hangover.”

  He shook his head before glancing around. “I’d like to hear the rest of that story another day with fewer people around. I have a feeling it’s a doozy.”

  I snorted. Yeah, it was, but I wouldn’t tell him all of it since I was keeping my species from him too.

  I jumped when the guy from earlier and his friend sat down on either side of Darby… Who looked less than thrilled at the company. Glad we agreed on that.

  “I’m Mason Rodriguez, bear shifter,” the friend introduced himself. “And whatever Mr. Von Thann did, don’t hold it against Lucca. We’re not fans of his but Lucca’s a good guy, I vouch for him.”

  “Which carries so much weight when she doesn’t know you,” Darby drawled, giving me a shocked look when I snickered, clearly of the same opinion.

  “I am sorry for whatever my father did,” Lucca said quietly. “You’re the unknown, right? He gets really bitchy with them like it’s their fault we failed to know about them.”

  “Somethin
g like that,” I muttered, not giving him more than that. I caught a few of his thoughts and he was clearly confused as to what could have happened, no clue what I was.

  Well, at least his asshole father kept his word and didn’t tell.

  I glanced around the cafeteria, seeing a lot more people, and found myself eating faster. I was picking up more random thoughts of those around me and it was going to give me a migraine soon.

  Several of them were from Darby, who wanted Lucca and Mason gone, hoping I said whatever they wanted so they’d leave.

  Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen but I felt for him.

  “Headache?” Darby asked, frowning when I glanced at him.

  I nodded. I opened my mouth to tell him why but realized that might give away what I was. I needed to have a conversation with Dr. Craftsman or maybe even Dr. Salzman about what could give me away as a fairy, so I kept it to myself.

  Or the book Headmaster Edelman gave me. After a few awkward moments, I decided to go with a fib.

  “Still a little achy from the pills Dr. Salzman gave me. It was a bit of an uncanning of worms and I skipped lunch.”

  He nodded, seeming to accept that answer, and I noticed he was eating faster too. I didn’t think it was for my benefit but to get free of our uninvited guests. I barely grunted at the two bear shifters as I stood with an empty tray.

  “There’s a study that ice cream can help headaches,” Darby offered as we dropped our trays off. “Plus, it’s just good here and you seem a bottomless pit.”

  I was after too many years living on not enough food so I couldn’t even quip at him. I thanked him and we went over to make sundaes to take with us.

  He led the way to Dr. Craftsman’s classroom, which I realized I knew the location as I’d been there earlier in the day on the tour. He knocked before opening the door for me.

  “Good, you found him,” Dr. Craftsman greeted. “There’s more, but I only found two clothing racks the theater department wasn’t using.”

  “What is this?” Darby asked as he glanced between us.

  I realized I didn’t know how to answer that without risking what I might give away, nodding to Dr. Craftsman to handle it. He smiled at the trust and focused on Darby.