Allies and Foes

DELLA

Sorin leaves me with a quick kiss, and Micha and I head to class. We’re looking into our centers again. Thanks, Professor Coach. I sit and slowly sink into my center. It still seems different, lighter, and not as dark. Almost softer. I get even closer to it, almost touch it, but then it whispers to me in the voice that always warns me.

~Look.~

I open my eyes and see Caleb looking right at me from the gym door, grinning. His aura is a slimy green with deep pink splattered throughout. Lust and greed. Jesus, that’s creepy.

I still feel my center awake and vigilant, whispering more urgently.

~Look, look, look. Beware. Look, look, look.~

Well, that’s not good. Caleb sends me a gross-ass wink before turning around and leaving. Oh, I don’t like that at all.

“Did you see that?” Micha asks.

“Yep.”

“He gives me the creeps,” he says with a shiver.

“You are not alone. Made my Spidey-sense go off,” I admit.

He makes a quiet snort. “I love how nerdy you are,” he whispers, making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

“Shut up,” I mutter with a giggle.

“Ms. Hearst, Professor Raziel wants to see you now,” Professor Coach says.

Well, shit. I feel Micha stiffen beside me.

Professor Coach looks at me and then seems to change his mind. “Come to my office first,” he states.

I nod and get up to follow him.

“Why are you absolutely terrified?” he asks after closing the door. Right, fear demon.

“I… Okay, this is going to sound crazy, but I found out what kind of demon I am, and Professor Raziel wants to kill me because of it,” I state, looking at him.

“What kind of demon are you?” he asks. Oh, I’m going to regret this.

~Trust.~ Well, my center hasn’t steered me wrong yet.

“A Sin-Eater,” I whisper.

His eyes go wide in shock, but then he bows to me. “How can I serve you?” he asks.

“Uh… Professor? What are you doing?” I ask.

He’s obviously gone insane. I made him go insane. He looks up at me with a blaze of pink and orange surging through his aura. Oh no.

“You’re powerful, a goddess. Let me serve you,” he begs, dropping to his knees. I take a step back and find myself against the wall. Well, shit. Let today be known as the day my center has let me down!

“Listen, I um… I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m super uncomfortable,” I explain.

“Della, I’m here however you need me. If it’s sex, then I am more than happy to become your consort; if it’s protection, then I am your guard. Please, let me know what you need,” he begs, reaching out and running his hand up my leg.

My breathing is coming out in ragged gasps, and my chest is tight. I can see the washroom of the homeless shelter where the man stabbed me.

All of a sudden, Coach’s hand is off me, and he’s back on his feet and looking into my eyes, telling me to breathe. I nod and follow his example until I’m pulled back into the present.

“I’m so sorry, Della. I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?” he asks, his voice full of remorse. I see the pink in his aura is gone, replaced by gray and brown wisps of regret and shame.

“I’m back. I’m okay,” I assure him.

“Fuck, I am the worst. I shouldn’t have come at you like that,” he says. “I am so sorry. It’s not like me to behave like that. I know there’s no excuse, but my shock and excitement got the better of me.”

“It’s okay. I’m not usually this on edge. But I’m pretty freaked out on the regular these days,” I explain, hoping it won’t backfire.

“I bet.” He walks over to the other side of the room and sits on his hands, making me feel safer. That kind of warms my heart, not going to lie. “What do you need, Della?”

“I can’t go see Raziel. And I can’t be alone. He has some cupid working with him,” I explain. “I’ve found my consorts, and Raziel has already tried to use one of them against me before. I… I don’t know what to do.”

“Shit. Okay, you have support and protection then. That’s good. Do you know who the cupid is?”

“No, I thought it was Caleb, but the guys don’t think so,” I explain.

“Well, it was Caleb who passed along the message. He’ll be waiting for you outside the changing rooms.” He seems to be lost in thought for a moment. “Do you have somewhere safe you can stay over the weekend?” I nod. “Okay, I’m going to send you and Micha—I assume Micha is safe?” I nod again. “Good, you two take the side doors through the supply room. I’ll tell Caleb I’ve already sent you out.”

“Thank you,” I give him a small smile.

“And, Della, I am sorry. I’m ashamed of how I behaved,” he says, red and brown wisps of anger and shame taking over his aura.

“It’s okay. I’m just…a bit more fragile than I’d like to be right now,” I say with a grimace.

“Completely understandable. Please let me know how I can help in the future. You can come to me anytime and for anything. I swear to keep you safe. We need Scions like you.” I feel like I’m missing something. Again.

“You seem to know a lot about Scions.” I hedge.

“I do. My grandmother was a consort,” he reveals. Wow. So he’s Karl Sigmund’s grandson? That’s crazy. “I honestly never thought I’d see another Scion in my lifetime, let alone know one.”

“Can you teach me?” I ask, practically begging. I need to know more if I’m going to have any chance at survival.

“Of course. But not now. Now, we need to get you to safety,” he vows.

I nod and make my way to my bag as Professor Coach calls Micha over to talk. I see Micha nod and walk toward me.

“You okay, sweetness? You look…pale,” he says, looking me over.

“I’ll explain later. Let’s just get out of here.”

He nods, but I know he’s not going to let me off the hook.

We make our way through the supply closet and out into the hall. I hear Caleb cursing around the corner, and my heart starts pounding against my chest. It’s going to be really nice not having to deal with this all weekend—worst game of hide-and-seek ever.