Page 7 of My Demon Teacher

Whatever the answer, I need to know. I need to find out what they know and how, so I have no option but to go to the party, whatever objection Jace may have.

I don’t know how Lucian will react if I tell him, so I don’t. I just send him a quick message to say I’ll be studying all night and will see him tomorrow.

I don’t like lying to him, but…I need to start standing on my own two feet. I can’t rely on him for everything. I’ve got magic now. I am strong. I have no excuses to run and hide behind my demon boyfriend for everything.

Besides, it may be nothing. There’s no reason to make a big fuss over something that could be a nonissue. Right?

My phone beeps, and I read the message on the screen.

Lucian: The whole night? I can always come by when you go to bed and we can cuddle to sleep.

My heart skips a beat as I read his message.

Damn it. Now I feel guiltier.

And how can a ruthless demon who can kill without a second thought be such a softie for cuddles?

Me:

Okay. I’ll let you know when I’m done.

Surely, this party won’t go on forever. Right?

I mean, it is starting at midnight, but hopefully, they don’t wait until sunrise or something to show me how they can invoke eldritch creatures.

I pull up Mom’s recipe book I found in storage and follow the instructions to make kimchi stew. It’s been so long since I’ve made or had Korean food that I feel like an impostor. But reading Mom’s notebook, deciphering her handwriting, seeing the Hangul letters next to every ingredient, every instruction…helps me reconnect with a part of me I thought was dead forever. There are a lot of parts of me I can reconnect with now that I’m free.

Somehow, I manage not to fuck up any part of the process, and I serve myself dinner after a couple of hours.

“Shit. That’s spicy.”

I hiss and take several gulps of water before returning to my stew.

Even my taste buds need adjusting again. The Taylors were not a fan of spice, and since I was only allowed to eat their scraps, my spice tolerance has diminished.

Yet another thing I have to rebuild.

But I don’t care. I’ll do it. I’ll reconnect with all the sides of myself they stole from me.

I may get hot, I may sweat like a motherfucker, but I finish the stew and enjoy every moment. It’s not like Mom used to make it, but it’s close, so even that particular comfort helps me finish it.

“Who’s Korean now, bitch?” My bowl doesn’t respond to me, but that’s to be expected.

I feel accomplished as I box up the rest of the food and do the dishes. I might have some with Lucian later. I’ve cooked for him since we got together, but nothing Korean or spicy. I hope he can handle the heat.

If my experience with him is any indication, he can handle anything I throw at him. Or put in him. His mouth, I mean.

“Right.” I turn to Goemi, my spider plushie that now features prominently in my bed, and bid him goodnight.

I make my way downstairs, grab a little protection necklace on my way out, and venture into the night.

I play with the white crystal the whole way, rolling the spell word on my tongue.

A good witch doesn’t need to be told the spell word. They can sense it as soon as they hold a spell in their hands, but since I’m new and inexperienced, I cheat.

It’s impossible not to. I’ve been selling these necklaces for years. Let’s just hope that if and when it comes to it, I can use it.

I reach the metal gates of Lockwood, and they part. I half expected to have to climb over them, but I guess Lockwood is always open to its students? Or maybe it’s so students who live in the dorms can come and go freely.