Page 96 of Class Studies
I stood and motioned toward the door. “Shall we then?”
The Director scowled, and I grinned like a madwoman, badly wishing I felt as confident as I looked.
Chapter 18
Tanwyn sat stiffly facing the director’s desk. I joined him in the chair on his left, and he reached out, resting a hand on my knee. A smile pulled at my cheeks.
Director Flemmings shook her head. “I should’ve expected this.” Her gaze bore into me. “You should have come to me when you saw Tanwyn’s unsanctioned summon.”
I held my hands out. “I didn’t know it was unsanctioned.”
Director Flemmings pinched the bridge of her nose. “It’s moot now.” She scowled at Tanwyn. “Everyone knows about your summons, blatantly flaunting the rules. However,” she turned back to me. “I don’t like it that Cozbi felt comfortable enough to attack you in the halls. He’s not alone. A wave of violence is sweeping my institute.” She opened her laptop. “Although it centers around Saffron, I don’t think he’s the source.”
I’d never been so quick to talk before in my life. Details about Derek’s change in personality and Tederwinkle's odd behavior flew out of my mouth.
The Director rapped on her desk. “Teddy Tederwinkle has assured us his reenactment will not only unify the student body but reaffirm their trust in the Aptitudes. His integrity is not in question.”
I bit my lips shut. Tederwinkle was doing the opposite. The Director either had to be blind or willfully ignoring the evidence.
“There’s no reason for him to start rumors,” she said as if to convince herself. “He’s promised a large donation to the Institute, enough to hire a team of psychologists who can assess the Aptitudes themselves and help revive our original intentions.”
I tapped on her desk. “That sounds wonderful, but if students hurt each other, this place will get shut down before you can fix it.”
The Director raised her eyebrows. “Your two months here told you that?” She shook her head. “No, the event will go on as planned. How close are you to getting your magic out of others?”
“Ah.” I pulled on my braid. “I don’t know. It’s only been two days.”
Director Flemmings pursed her lips. “Alrick was on the video, standing behind Cozbi. Can I assume he’s bothering you again, meaning your magic has a time limit?”
I nodded.
She drummed her fingers on the table. “Perfect. It took about a week for your magic to dissipate. We’ll plan on running Tederwinkle’s game in a week and a day.”
The massive ball of magic I’d shoved into Officer Keres burned in my vision. How long would it last? What if Alrick just found a way around it? The number of ‘ifs’ made my head spin. But the Director had already turned from me and picked up her phone. She paused before dialing and pressed a buzzer on her desk.
The two MA agents who escorted me here joined us.
“Take these two to the Sphérique and lock them in.” She turned to Tanwyn. “I don’t know if I believe your summon won’t go back. I’m disappointed you stuck yourself into the mess Aphrodite’s created.” Her face pinched. “It will tarnish your Aptitudes. You’ve already demonstrated the control to be gone from here. Another month and we would’ve graduated you.”
My heart sank, but Tanwyn pulled me to my feet and into his side.
He looked at me, his dark features practically gowling with joy. “We’re a team now. It’s not just the two of us.” My heart swelled as he focused on the director. “I’ve learned a lot in this program. I’m grateful. It’s taught me how to be a better person—but it’s not given me a world to practice those skills in.”
I squeezed Tanwyn’s hand.
Director Flemmings looked at us sadly and nodded, not disagreeing with the summoner. I didn’t understand how she could go along with all of this. If she knew there was a problem, why didn’t she fix it?
The director turned to the MA agents. “The demon will follow Aphrodite. All three must be locked in the Sphérique until I figure out what to do.” She narrowed her eyes. “No exceptions.”
She turned her attention back to her phone and dialed.
Tanwyn squeezed me to his side, and I molded to him. We followed the nervous MA agents to our temporary jail. As the door shut and locked, Vac growled at it.
Tanwyn chuckled. “Relax, Vac.”
His fingers glowed orange as he opened his dimensional pocket and pulled out a set of yoga mats and my pillow. He put them against the wall and held out his arm to me. I eagerly joined him on his makeshift couch, though I used him for a padded surface instead of the floor.
I poked Tanwyn in the shoulder. “Why won’t she take action?”