Upended Life (Artemis University Book 1)

by Erin R Flynn

  “I want to check some of our other pills and medications, the curiosity of a scientist, I’m afraid, but yes, I would keep it to myself. I couldn’t share the answers without starting trouble.”

  “I meant we’re not handing off my blood to anyone,” I clarified.

  “Certainly not,” he declared firmly.

  I nodded. Sure, I could give him an extra vial. He asked me for my number and promised to call the moment he had answers. He also was going to look into some medical journals, but it might take him some time given what else he had on his plate with the start of the year.

  “We should also schedule a full physical and female exam if you haven’t had one in a while,” he gently suggested.

  “I haven’t. Sure.”

  We set it up for after classes on Thursday, the doc saying he hoped to have answers for me by then as well.

  Cool. I thanked him and headed out, hoping to get back before Mel did. I stepped out of the building and about bumped right into Hudson.

  He was the quiet mountain once again, staring at me for a moment. “You didn’t know who I was?”

  “No.”

  “Does it change anything?”

  “No.”

  “Good.”

  “Did what you learn change anything?” I threw right back, a knot forming as I worried it might.

  He snorted. “No.” He looked past me and a smile curled one side of his mouth as he focused on me again. “You got it?”

  I shook my head. “Out of stock but they’re getting it.”

  He nodded and leaned in so no one could overhear him. “I’m still going to taste you next time, my princess. Wear a skirt soon.”

  “Maybe,” I teased, biting back a smirk when he growled. “Later, Hudson.”

  “Juan is like me,” he said as I moved away. I turned and frowned. “He’s next in line of the Asian dragons. His mom is of the royal line of South America.”

  I nodded but then shrugged. “That’s cool but he’s not my type.”

  “Good. Thought you should know.” He glanced at my hand and closed the distance in two long steps, grabbing my phone from me. He unlocked it and used it to call himself, his phone vibrating in his pocket. “Use it.”

  “Maybe,” I chuckled, taking back my phone.

  Pushy dragon. It was hot because he wasn’t a jerk about it, but yeah, it made more sense now that I knew he was used to getting what he wanted. Also his lack of talking, as his dad wasn’t holding most of the conversation earlier.

  I glanced over my shoulder to catch him watching my ass as I walked away.

  And he did not look like he cared that I knew. Again, hot.

  “I’ll tell you later,” I promised Mel when she reached my dorm the same time I did. “It was needed.”

  “Fine.” She gave me a look that I would tell her though, and that was cool with me.

  Izzy had already made a good dent in unpacking the deliveries and getting stuff set up. Mel mostly took boxes out to the truck she rented. No reason not to use them, after all.

  We got it all set up and after some pushing, I got Izzy to admit anything she was interested in getting as well.

  Right as we were finishing, Natalie showed up with the list, saying she was heading to lunch so she didn’t want to miss us.

  “What are you bringing?” she asked me curiously.

  I sighed. “I’m not sure. They were distant cousins I didn’t know about and they died over a decade ago in some crazy. I’m not taking all the sheets as I’ll need them there, but I might use the guest room stuff instead of what was theirs.”

  “And if it’s been that long it’s not been updated,” she muttered. “Wow, a headache and a bank account. Nothing is ever easy.” She gave me an understanding smile. “Well, we appreciate anything you don’t mind parting with, really, it’s awesome. If you need help cleaning some of it out next weekend, I can get a crew to help Saturday?”

  “Nah, we got it, but thanks,” Mel quickly told her. Yeah, I wasn’t even planning on bringing Izzy there yet. “It’s not a rush and Tamsin’s going to have a lot on her plate with school.”

  Natalie nodded. “You’re lucky you got Darby. The guy can be a total pain in the ass but he’s maybe the best teacher I’ve ever had. He’s a year younger than me and saved my ass a few times. Just be honest with him as he’s got a few teaching styles he can use.”

  “Cool, thanks.”

  She headed out and I was nervous Izzy might want to come with us, but she was so into setting up my computer I decided to be nice. I tossed her my ID.

  “We’re going to eat on the way and I found out they bought me all twenty-one meals a week in the group plan. Use it.”

  She smirked at me. “Sure, because you didn’t also pay for Mel’s breakfast and will now pay extra for me.”

  “Brat,” I grumbled.

  “Yes, but I’m your brat.”

  “That you are,” I agreed, grabbing what I wanted before heading out with Mel, excited to get some more shit done.

  15

  We spent the weekend packing up and taking loads to where they needed to go. Not just the college though as Mel had the great idea of handling what needed to be tossed.

  At first I wasn’t sure what needed tossing, but then she brought me to the entertainment room and there were shelves of VHS tapes. The DVDs were still fine, but yeah, VHS was out. There was some stuff like that and it was nice to get a jump on it. Or Mel mostly as she kept making me go back to studying or reading the book the headmaster gave me about fairies.

  I filled her in on the fairy language thing and she just sighed, getting it was another reason someone would want me and that list was getting long.

  We got her little apartment set up at school too and I was a bit disgusted the teacher rooms were barely bigger than ours. It was only a studio apartment with a small kitchenette.

  The guard dorms were the same. Oh well, they chose to deal with it and I couldn’t fight everything I thought was bullshit.

  Well, and keep my sanity.

  I also learned what a Kansas City dog was when we went to return the truck and it was fucking good. Adding pulled pork, coleslaw, and pickles to a hot dog was genius and delicious.

  We hit a grocery store for snacks while we were there instead of Amazon and Sam’s only. I think Mel realized I needed some normal, not that normal for me was having money to buy food whenever I wanted, but it was normaler.

  Was that a thing?

  Part of me wanted to wear a skirt for the first day of classes but I was nervous enough to actually start school. Waving a red flag in front of Hudson might fry out my nerves completely, and given the effects of the pills were getting progressively worse, I had enough on my plate.

  And I was really grateful for Izzy and her meticulous organization. She had schedules and more up on our walls along with a whole section full of sticky note to-do lists.

  She was right that it helped to see it all laid out. I was going to have to do a private one hidden in my closet or something. She also had us go Sunday and get our lockers in the sports center.

  Good thing one of us knew about that. I would have just showed up without gym clothes or any of it. Idiot.

  After some back and forth I decided on dark low-rise jeans with my black boots tucked under and a black tank top that didn’t reach my belt so a few inches of stomach showed.

  My belt itself was a weapon, a knife pulling out of the buckle, and the belt was a chain. Yeah, in style, but a heavy chain that didn’t look like a towing one but could be wrapped around my hand for a nasty punch.

  I had my messenger bag for class but decided to also add a small black satchel that clipped onto my jeans and looked like a purse. It wasn’t. It had eight throwing knives in it. I felt better with them.

  Maybe?

  Wow, Mel had me even more paranoid than I’d been before. Probably not. I was pretty paranoid to start with. Life had taught me to be.

  I made my way to my first class, noting it
was smaller like Darby had warned. Everyone there had an air of worry unlike most of the other freshmen I’d met. Good, so I wasn’t the only one behind and they would take that seriously.

  A woman walked in moments before the bell rang and set her bag on the desk, staring out at us.

  “I’m Professor White. Welcome to Intro to Supernaturals. Those of you here were raised going to human schools—and I hear we have an unknown, so you’re really behind—I’m here to help with that. This class is not meant to trip you up or break you. It will be a lot of information fast as you have a lot to catch up on but it’s only one credit.

  “So I’m not going to mess with you and give you twenty-page term papers or insane projects. I’m going to make sure you understand the material and have a safe place to ask the questions you will undoubtedly have. People will not laugh at you here for asking whereas others will. No question is stupid. Repeatedly asking the same question might make you dense and waste my time.

  “I don’t like my time being wasted so if you ask questions without doing the reading, you won’t like your grade.” She turned and reached into her bag, pulling out a folder that she opened and grabbed the pages from. “This is your syllabus and I stick to it. You know now exactly what the topics of your papers will be and when they’re due.

  “You will have to do research outside of your textbook. Again, we’re not trying to trip you up. I’ve listed over fifty books I recommend you all read when you can or over breaks that will help you. Others know this from growing up around supes and going to supe schools. However, they tend to be divided, so in some ways you’ll come out ahead by getting more well-rounded information.”

  I thanked her as I took the packet, swallowing loudly when I saw it was several pages long. Okay, I could do this.

  She went on to explain that while it wasn’t an English class, she wouldn’t ignore poor writing and made it clear to edit our papers. I hoped Darby wouldn’t mind if I gave him lots of time. Maybe Izzy if she was any good at it? I honestly had no idea of Mel’s education so maybe not the thing to bug her with.

  After her intro, she loaded up a presentation on the projector. I opened my notebook for the class but she told us if we wanted the notes she already had typed up to write our emails on the list she had. Okay then, she really didn’t want to make us jump through hoops but focus on learning.

  Cool.

  When class was over I went over to the professor’s desk, waiting until she glanced up at me. “What can I do for you, Ms. Vale?”

  “I was wondering where we get these books? I figured the library for research but is there like Amazon for supes?”

  Her lips twitched. “There is in a fashion, yes, but also a bit of Harry Potter with that magical alley. You bring up an interesting point that you, as an unknown, might not be the only one unfamiliar with. I will speak with the headmaster and see if we should have a field trip there and soon, or maybe your advisor can take you specifically.”

  “Thanks, that would be a big help.”

  “Of course. Anything else?”

  “Nope, that was it. I want to try and read the books over break.” I cleared my throat. “Thanks. Have a nice day.”

  “You too.”

  I turned to leave, pulling out my phone and sending a text to Izzy so she could add it to the list of things we needed to do to get me acclimated.

  I rushed to the sports center, hitting the locker room at the same time most of the others did. They took their time changing but I hurried, yanking on my full-coverage sports bra and spandex shorts.

  Mel had made it clear that physical training for supes in school was like training with her. The world was dangerous and we needed to know how to get out of trouble.

  Awesome, but that meant fitted clothes. Loose clothes meant something to grab onto and fling or flip you into a bad spot. I grabbed two extra hair ties and headed out to the gym after clicking the lock.

  I yanked out the tie from my hair as I walked over to the far wall. I parted my hair and started braiding the first side as I stretched my legs.

  I switched sides after tying off the first and by the time I had the second done my legs were stretched. I pulled both braids together and wrapped them in a bun so there was nothing hanging to grab onto, no shorter pieces to fall out with braids either.

  I stretched my core and my arms, getting into the right headspace. The bell rang right as I finished and I was glad I had a nice routine now to prep for class.

  “All right, everyone, gather around,” a man said, his voice booming in the large space. I moved closer like everyone else and focused on him. “I’m Coach Khan. We’re going to spend this week assessing where everyone is at. This class has Physical Training I, II, and III together so no matter your level, you’re in the right spot. Seniors and masters class are together as they add in magic to fighting.”

  That made sense. I was glad they thought through this stuff.

  “Let’s start with a mile run. That’s twice around this building. Any questions?” His eyes zeroed in on me when I raised my hand. “Yeah?”

  “Are we going to get a schedule of when we’re running?”

  “Why?” he asked. “You have a problem running?”

  “Nope,” I drawled, popping the P loudly. “Just going to run less every morning when we’re running in here.”

  He nodded, giving me a suspicious glance like he wasn’t sure he believed me. “We run a mile to start every class. Next semester you’ll run two. Can you manage that?”

  I nodded. “Not the first time I’ve run seven miles in a day.”

  He snorted. “All right, let’s go, out the far door and come through the near door your second lap so I know you’re not cheating. Anyone tries to come through the doors on the other side to cheat and your ass is grass.”

  Fair enough.

  I moved with the throng of people but took off when I hit the door and had space. I’d seen the stopwatch in his hand. Mel would beat my ass if I didn’t get a good time.

  Then again, I was in a whole new league as these people didn’t have to pretend they were human. Several flew by me and I pushed harder, realizing my level of high was going to need to be my new low and soon.

  Still, I was also passing people as well. I wasn’t counting or making it my main focus but it seemed as if I was in the middle.

  At least it was a good time for me when he was calling out numbers. I’d take it, especially when I’d run six miles and an obstacle course that morning. I waved to Sean and Marshall when I saw them, realizing some of the guards were the “we” the coach had said.

  “Time?” Marshall asked me. I told him and he nodded, shooing me off so he could keep recording people.

  Next we were back in the gym for the regular physical assessment. We were timed for push-ups and sit-ups. Then it was pull-ups, or the women were supposed to do that timed hanging thing. I rolled my eyes at that and started doing pull-ups until I couldn’t anymore.

  “Troublemaker,” Sean teased me. “How many?” I told him and he nodded. “Nice.”

  “I’ve been lazy and not doing them, just getting back into running,” I admitted, stretching out my arms as we waited for others. I made my way to the fountain and drank some water before feeling energy dance over my skin.

  Shit. Hudson was in this class and that weird thing was starting again. That was going to be fucking distracting.

  Funny how fucking seemed to ease it.

  “No skirt today,” he grumbled as he moved like he was going to drink next.

  “I was nervous enough after being out of school so long,” I muttered, making it clear not to push it. I didn’t wait for his answer, heading to where people were gathering now that they were wrapping up.

  “All right, now we’re going to see where you’re at fight wise. This is to prepare you for the real world. I don’t want to hear shit you have guards or will when you graduate. I don’t care. You learn how to fight your way out of trouble or you don’t graduate. Simple
as that.”

  Way too many people were frowning—and not just the girls—but none of them said anything.

  The coach found me in the group and smiled. “How about you go first, little unknown?”

  Steam about came out of my ears and I practically snarled my reply. “Sure thing, you massive creeper.”

  His face turned bright red as my death filled his eyes. “What did you call me?”

  I froze, studying him and actually catching a thought of his even in a large group. “You have no idea what you just said to me, do you?” I sighed when he eased down and scrunched his eyebrows. “I get you guys have a definition for an ‘unknown’ but you’re not the only ones.”

  “Well, what does it mean then?” he demanded, still not happy with me.

  Well that made two of us. I rolled my eyes. “You basically just called me a virgin you wanted to tap, mate.” I nodded when his eyes went bug wide. “Yeah, like it’s little, tight, and unknown territory.”

  “Did you know that?” he asked the guards standing there. Most of them shook their heads, muttering they had no clue. He looked back at me. “I had no idea. I apologize.”

  “Got it, but maybe lay off the nicknames if you’re not up on Urban Dictionary.” I sighed when he nodded, still creeped out at even the idea.

  I went over to Sean when he waved at me, grumbling I was 1-3 with my professors so far. I took off my shoes and socks before getting on the mat when I saw he was barefoot.

  “I think you’re 2-2,” Sean told me quietly. “You’re cool with Craftsman.”

  “Yeah, but I meant shitty beginnings. That’s a bad win-loss ratio.”

  He shrugged. “Okay, you’re attacking. I’m only deflecting so we can see what you know.”

  I snickered, shaking my head. “Got it.” I winked at him. “I’d suggest not smirking at me this time or you’ll end up with another broken nose.”

  “Go!” Coach Khan called out and I didn’t hesitate. As much as I hated to start the action, more of defender than attacker, I still knew how to do it and do it well.

  I rushed in like I was going to hit him but instead leaned and kicked out his leg, catching him with another hit before he even landed on the mat. But he didn’t. He caught himself and flipped back. Well, good to know the guards had moves.