Chapter 26
“Education is a progressive discovery
of our own ignorance.”
-Will Durant
I had entirely forgotten to mention to Gabriel that I didn’t have the nephilim escorts for class anymore, but I wasn’t surprised to find him waiting for me when I got home.
“Need a date for class?” He wagged his eyebrows at me.
I grinned. “You bet, handsome.”
In the past, I might have been mildly perturbed at the notion of needing a babysitter, but with all the unwanted demon attention I’d been receiving, I actually welcomed the supervision, especially since it was Gabriel. Also, there was Josie to consider. I really didn’t think I could live with myself if she got caught in the crossfire because of my stubborn pride, and she would be on her way to collect me for class soon. I dropped some Cerberus Chow in the hounds’ dishes and went to fix a pot of coffee.
Gabriel shook out his wings and perched himself on one of the barstools. He was wearing one of his nicer white robes, which made me wonder if he had just come from an assignment or if Amy had threatened to crucify him if she spotted him wearing his drawstring pants in public again. It was still bizarre to me that Gabriel was dating a demon, and odder yet that she was the positive influence on him.
“What happened to our breakfast date this morning?” I asked, dumping some sugar into a couple coffee mugs.
Gabriel blushed and looked away. “I, ah, I heard Maalik come in. Thought you two could use some privacy.”
“Yeah.” I sighed and filled the mugs with coffee. “Any news on the rebel situation or my demon admirers?”
“Not yet.” Gabriel frowned. “Amy’s been extra busy lately with Cindy’s camarilla. She’s helping them compile a missing list of the bigger players in Hell. The civilian demons are harder to track, but there are a few notable absences, and I think they suspect them of joining the rebel forces.”
“Super.” I frowned and took the barstool next to him, passing him a mug of coffee.
“Amy’s hosting a Hell Committee summit at her chateau in a few weeks to discuss a plan of action. I don’t know what the Sphinx Congress is doing to minimize the damage coming from their side, but at least Hell has got it together.”
I laughed. “That’s got to be near the top of the list of things least likely to be said by an angel.”
Gabriel nodded in agreement. We finished our coffee in silence, both lost in our own thoughts. I was growing restless about the demon situation. I was starting to wonder just how long the babysitting detail was going to last, and what Winston would do if I didn’t show up when he expected me. I also wondered how I was supposed to go back to work and focus on harvesting souls while simultaneously watching my back.
Before I could dwell too long on how impossible my life was, Josie arrived and we all headed off to the academy by coin. Gabriel followed us down the scholarly passages hung with inspirational posters and class schedules for the following semester. He made himself comfortable across the hall from our classroom on a cushioned bench, looking like he might try to squeeze in a nap. It was highly unlikely that a demon would make an attempt on me in such a crowded setting.
The classroom was noisier and more frantic than usual. No one looked like they had slept well, but everyone was dressed a little nicer for their presentations. A handful of students were last minute speed-reading their papers, mouthing the words to themselves with furrowed brows. A group of ladies from the Mother Goose Unit, dedicated to harvesting child souls, huddled around a table, rearranging their notecards and touching up their lip gloss.
I took a seat at an empty table while Josie went to join Miranda Giles, Craig Hogan’s girl toy from the Lost Soul’s Unit. Josie wasn’t especially happy about being paired up with her, but the pickings were slim, especially since she was friends with me. The notion that I, a low-risk harvesting peon, might be Grim’s new second-in-command, didn’t exactly make me popular among the reapers. Miranda just happened to be available because Craig was paired up with me.
I opened my messenger bag and pulled out a bundle of folders and neatly stacked them in front of me, along with a thumb drive containing my visual presentation. I was actually pretty pleased with myself. I had done every last bit of work for the project, and that was saying a lot, considering I went ahead and did Craig's part too, just in case he flaked out on me. Of course, Josie had done a fair amount of editing. I really owed her a big one for keeping me afloat academically. I really didn’t know how I would have fared without her guidance.
Craig was the last to arrive, which was uncharacteristic of him. He stood inside the classroom door and scanned the crowd until he caught sight of me. He donned one of his cocky grins and strutted his way to my table. I couldn’t help but scowl as he took the seat next to me. He reeked of sulfur. He had probably gambled away his afternoon with shady demons in Purgatory. Shooting craps was one of his vices back in the day, one I thought he had kicked. Apparently not.
“New cologne?”
“What?” He froze.
“You stink of demons. You couldn’t have saved Purgatory for after class?”
Craig blinked a few times and shook his head, mirroring my scowl. “What do you care?” Then his nasty grin returned. “Are you telling me you’re concerned about my well-being now?”
I huffed. “I’m concerned about your hygiene, and only for the next two hours. Then you can stink all you like around someone else.”
“Sure.” He set a similar messenger bag on the table next to mine and pulled out a binder, clearing his throat. “I figured you would be stubborn and resist working with me, so I prepared your half of the project as well. You can thank me later,” he said, handing the binder to me.
I slapped it away. “You wish. I’ll be presenting what I’ve prepared. If that’s not to your liking, too fucking bad. I’m more than capable of presenting the entire project on my own.”
Craig smiled and leaned in closer, dropping his voice down to a whisper. “Is that so?”
“It is,” I hissed back.
“So you won’t mind if I call your bluff?”
“Excuse me?” I sat back and blinked at him.
“If I drop this class, right this moment, do you suppose you’ll be able to pull it off on your own and make it on the Posy Unit?”
“What’s your game, Hogan?”
“Dinner.”
“What?”
“Agree to meet me for dinner after class, and I’ll stay and make sure you pass this final. Refuse, and you’re on your own. I know you, Lana. You’ve been away from the academy too long, and Josie can’t save you this time.”
Heat crawled over me like Hell had just blown me a kiss. I leaned in as close as I could stand to be to him and gritted my teeth. “I would rather eat entrails than have dinner with you. Do your worst, asshole.”
Craig went pale a moment, and then I realized he really hadn’t considered me refusing him. Dropping this class at the last minute was going to look bad for him, but would he consider it worthwhile if it meant potentially seeing me fail and lose my chance at the Posy Unit? He couldn’t possibly know how well prepared I was, and I didn’t see any reason to tell him again. He hadn’t believed me the first time.
He swallowed and struggled to regain his composure. “This is your last chance, Lana.”
“Eat shit, Craig,” I said with a smile.
“Suit yourself.” He stood, knocking his chair over as he shoved the binder back in his bag and stormed off to Grace Adaline’s desk. She had just taken her seat and looked up at Craig with mild disdain.
“You’re team is fourth down on the list, Mr. Hogan, not first,” she said.
“I’m not up here to present the final. In fact, I won’t be presenting the final at all. Lana refused to work with me, so I guess I’ll be dropping this class, unless you would allow me to show the presentation I prepared on my own?”
Grace sighed and looked over the top of her spectacles at me as
she laced her fingers together on top of her desk. “Is this true, Ms. Harvey.”
I wanted to break Craig’s face. I wanted to call him every name in the book. Twice. Instead, I smiled sweetly at Grace and folded my hands in my lap. “Of course not. Craig even came to my condo at Holly House to consult with me on the final. We decided on a scenario and which sections we would each be doing. If you don’t believe me, feel free to call the deskman and ask him to review the guest log. Craig signed it himself.”
Craig’s jaw dropped.
Grace rolled her eyes and stood up from her desk. She took her glasses off and glared at Craig. “I do not have the patience or the time for this juvenile BS. Get out of my classroom, Mr. Hogan.”
“But-“
“Out. Now.”
Craig shrank away from her and made his way to the door in disbelief. He cast me one last poisonous look before slamming the door behind him.
Grace cleared her throat and put her glasses back on. “Is this going to present a problem for you Ms. Harvey?”
I smiled again. “Not at all, Professor.”
“Good. Let’s get started then. Galla. Jiles. You’re up.”
Josie gave me a wink as she walked by, letting me know she had enjoyed my small victory as well.
The presentations were as boring as expected, but everyone seemed to do okay, including me, all by myself. I didn’t need the notecards for my half or Craig’s. Grace actually complemented me when I handed her the typed report that went along with my presentation. I never knew how satisfying academic progress could be. I guess I was always too busy pining over Craig during the classes of my apprenticeship to care about the pride of achievement.
The multiple choice exam that followed the presentations was a breeze after all the studying I had done. I was one of the first to hand it in.
Grace stopped me before I left her classroom and pulled me aside. “Lana, I just wanted to express how impressed I am at your growth in my class. I was concerned about you for a while there, but you’ve really turned things around. Saul would have been proud of you,” she said.
My chest tightened at the mention of my mentor. I knew as well as Grace did that Saul was more of a field guy and never cared much for the academy, but it was the thought that counted, right?
“Thanks. That means a lot.” I gave her a soft smile and left to join Josie and Gabriel in the hallway. Gabriel gave us both a high-five.
“One down, one to go,” Josie said with a sigh.
I wasn’t quite as concerned about my final in Edgar Dorian’s mentoring class. It was a basic, multiple choice exam. I would still be glad when it was over and I had my new certifications in hand.
We left the academy with pretty high spirits. Things seemed to be going well, until we ran into Craig, sitting on the steps outside. He sneered when he caught sight of us and stood, running a hand over his buzzed head.
“I bet you’re real pleased with yourself,” he said, balling his hands into fists.
I folded my arms with a grin. “Yeah, I suppose I am.”
He took a step towards us, but then glanced cautiously at Gabriel and decided to glare at me from a distance instead. By now, our entire class had made it outside.
“I’d love to stay and chat, Craig, but I’ve got somewhere better to be,” I said, taking a coin from my pocket.
Josie and Gabriel found their coins too, and the three of us zipped on out of there before Craig could blink. It was glorious.
Chapter 27
“We cannot banish dangers, but we can banish fears.
We must not demean life by standing in awe of death.”
-David Sarnoff
I was downright depressed to find out that Bub had left my lessons in Jack’s hands again on Tuesday. It wasn’t that Jack wasn’t a nice enough guy. He even kept his disappointed grimaces to a minimum as he reviewed me at the end of our session. I just needed to see Bub. I was feeling pathetic about it too. Especially when my heart leapt at the sound of his voice as Jack led me back through the house to the foyer.
“Is Bub here?” I asked, trying to hide my excitement as I glanced down the hall leading to the den.
“I believe he’s currently in a meeting,” Jack said, just as Bub stepped out into the hall.
“Jack, could you bring us a bite to eat?” he asked, and then noticed me. “Lana. How was your lesson today?”
“Fine.” I could hardly find my voice. I had been so anxious to see him, and now I didn’t even know what to say.
He nodded slowly. “Good.”
Then a sultry, female voice called from the den. “Bub, you devil, where’s that bottle of Summerland vino I left in the chiller?”
My breath caught in my chest.
“Check the wine rack,” Bub answered, not taking his eyes from me.
I hadn’t really thought I meant anything to him, had I? All the same, I felt ridiculous, standing in his foyer, jealousy coursing through me like a poison. And he could see it, which made it ten times worse.
He took a step towards me. “Lana, I-“
“I have to go.” I backed away from him, reaching blindly for the door. I found the handle and nearly jerked it off its heavy hinges in my attempt to get out the house.
Coreen and Saul were waiting for me, having given up their futile patrolling to lazily sunbathe on the dock. They bound up the hill and met me halfway down. I heard Bub’s front door open behind me, but I didn’t bother turning around as I rolled my coin and got the hell out of there.
I couldn’t get back to the condo fast enough. After I let the hounds in and dumped some food in their dishes, I retreated to my shower. I found the elaborately tiled stall comforting for some reason. I rested my head against the cool tiles and let the multiple shower heads massage the tension in my back and shoulders while I breathed in the soothing steam.
Everything was all wrong. I had no right to be mad at Bub, but I was mad all the same. He had made move after move, and I had turned him down. What did I really expect him to do? I had Maalik. I wasn’t supposed to want him. So why did I? I couldn’t put my finger on it.
Maybe it was because he was a bad boy. Girls always wanted bad boys. Or maybe it was because he didn’t try to micromanage my life the way Maalik did. Maybe it was simply because I was spending so much time with him, and I could hardly catch Maalik’s attention for more than five minutes. Whatever it was, my libido was ready to follow him off a cliff. I couldn’t get a handle on it, so I was just going to have to avoid the hell out of him and stew and grumble over my misplaced lust. And what better place to do that than Purgatory Lounge?
It had been almost a week since my run-in with Tisiphone. Grim didn’t think I needed the guards anymore. Bub wasn’t too concerned with my training. I had passed my first final with flying colors and had even managed to put Craig in his place with an audience. That last one alone warranted a celebratory drink or twelve.
I hopped out the shower with a new attitude. I squeezed the water out of my ebony curls and ran a towel over them as I browsed through my closet for something festive. A shimmery, silver halter top caught my eye. The back was nothing more than a strip of material that ran along my waist and the tie that went around my neck. Tisiphone’s gashes were hardly visible anymore. They had healed up a lot faster than the burn on my neck, which was still pink and raised around the edges. I added a pair of dark skinny jeans and went back to the bathroom mirror to run some gel through my damp curls. A soft, pink lip gloss completed the look just as the doorbell rang out a hymnal tune.
“Just me!” Josie called out, more for the hounds than me. She was really getting comfortable with that spare key. I didn’t mind though, as long as she wasn’t using it to throw surprise study parties.
I went to greet her in the kitchen, putting in some peacock feather earrings on the way, and caught her digging through the refrigerator. Her short, spikey hair was mused and she was still wearing her black work cowl.
“I see Gabriel’s been over.”
She snorted as she cracked open one of his Ambrosia Ales and took a drink.
“Long day?”
“You have no idea.” She started to laugh, but stopped suddenly when her eyes fell on me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Purgatory. You’re welcome to join me. I’d stay and drink with you here, but I’ve got to get out of this place. I’m getting cabin fever in a bad way.”
Josie set her beer down on the counter and went to stand near the front door. “You really don’t want to be down there tonight. In fact, Maalik asked me to come keep you company so you wouldn’t be out and about. The Nephilim Guard is out in full force with Anubis tonight. They’re crawling the city. Something big is going down. I’m sure of it.”
I sighed. “Something big has been going down for weeks now. I’m tired of waiting.”
“Seriously, Lana. You’re not going out in that. I gave Maalik my word.” Josie could be a bossy twit sometimes, but she usually softened her ranting with skewed humor and playful smirks. Not tonight.
“That’s your problem.” I laughed, pulling on my jacket.
Her face scrunched up with a peculiar mixture of worry and anger as she watched me step into my boots, not even giving her warning half a thought. She folded her arms and held her ground, conveniently blocking the front door.
“Lana, I don’t think you’re hearing what I’m saying. The city isn’t safe right now, not for you.”
“Is it ever?” I groaned and leaned against one of the white sofas. “Josie, I know I’m not safe. Hell, I’ve woke up at Meng’s twice in the past two weeks. But I can’t live under a rock for the rest of my life. I’ve been studying hard and training even harder. I need a break. Some relief. A stiff drink.”
2 Pocket Full of Posies Page 15