Page 20 of The Demon's Spell

“Professor,” I rasped.

“I came to check if you were all right,” he said gently.

I kept my gaze on the water as I answered. “I’m the Reaper’s Apprentice. I hear people die every day. This is normal for me.”

The words felt ingenuine, like I was speaking off a script.

Professor Warren frowned. He knew me well enough to know when I was lying. “This was far from ordinary, Lucas. A man was murdered, and he died right in front of you.”

I shuddered. He was right. This was fucked up.

I turned off the water and shook my hands out. “His thought was… heavy. Someone definitely targeted him.”

“Any idea who?” Professor Warren asked.

“No!” I snapped. What exactly was he accusing me of? “You already asked me that. If I knew, don’t you think I would’ve said something?”

“You told the truth about his last thought?” he asked curiously.

“Yes, of course.”

Professor Warren sighed. “I’m only trying to help, Lucas. We’ve gotten to know each other well, and I thought… well, I thought it seemed like you were hiding something back there.”

I leaned against the sink. “If I was, you won’t believe what I have to say.”

“Try me,” he offered. It was obvious he really cared and wanted to be here for me.

I drew a deep breath. The priestesses could hang me for this, but it didn’t matter. Innocent people were dying, and I’d gladly hang if it meant saving them.

I spat it out. “Professor Leto is a demon summoned by the Imperium Council to help them end the Waning, and despite the fact that I—along with twenty other students—saw him in class right before Professor Perez was attacked, I know he’s somehow involved.”

Professor Warren didn’t react to my accusation right away. Instead, he looked thoughtful.

I frowned. “I told you that you wouldn’t believe me.”

“No, no, I believe you,” he assured me. “I believe that’s your version of events. You’ve just gone through something very traumatic, and you’re trying to rationalize it in any way you can. You need answers. We all do.”

I scoffed.

“I want to believe you, Lucas,” he promised. “But do you really think the priestesses would summon a demon and let him into the school?”

“Yes!” I cried. “The priestesses burned people at the stake on the school grounds not even a month ago. You think they wouldn’t resort to this? Ask yourself why you’ve never met this guy before.”

“He’s been on sabbatical,” Professor Warren said. “Many members of the coven, professors particularly, travel often, especially between supernatural races. They study their magic and trade with them.”

I nearly snorted. “Or they’re summoned straight from the Abyss and bring a wave of destruction with them.”

“He’s a good guy,” Professor Warren said. “He volunteers at the hospital.”

“Because he wants you to believe he’s a saint!” I insisted. “This isn’t over, Professor. He’s planning something with the priestesses.”

“You said it yourself that he was with you when the attack happened,” Professor Warren pointed out. He thought he was helping, but he was doing the exact opposite.

“Maybe he teleported, or cast a curse. I don’t know how he did it, okay? I’m not crazy!”

“Of course you’re not. But these things can be misinterpreted when you’re not thinking straight.”

I couldn’t help myself. I went off on him. “You think I’m this troubled, depressed kid who can’t handle his powers, but you don’t even know me anymore. You’re just going to stick your head in the sand when I really need you. Be scared all you want, Professor, but be brave enough to face it! I know what my magic told me. And I know without a doubt that this coven will be destroyed if I don’t do something to stop it.”