9

Dove

The Demonology professor, Ms. Jensen, stood at the front of the classroom, gray curls encasing her heart-shaped face as she scanned the room in a birdlike way. Brynn clicked away on her laptop at my side, pushing her glasses up her nose.

Across the room, Caleb sported a split lip and what looked like a blossoming black eye. He glanced over at me and when our eyes met, quickly turned back to the teacher, as though terrified to look at me.

Kairos beat him up…for sparring with me?

I'd seen him punch Vince that morning. A bubble of guilt swelled in me, as though it was my fault Kairos had gone rogue, attacking a fellow fox and student.

Ms. Jensen cleared her throat several times, the chatter continuing as she spoke.

"Welcome to Demonology I. You will be taught about every type of demon, where to find it, and how to kill it." She paused, sizing up the classroom, picking off certain students with a frown. Her eyes landed on my bruised cheek, among others. "Demons will not show pity if you are weak and small. Most of you have never even seen a demon ranked higher than a Tier II. And that was only yesterday for the entrance exam."

Ms. Jensen laughed at her own joke before continuing, "The elements will determine how you may serve best in the fight. Water and Storm kitsune can douse the demon flame. Mind kitsune, to see their plans. Shadow for ambushes. Fire, earth, and air to fight them. And Life kitsune can heal their damage. Each of us has a role in the fight against Hell."

The wisp of a woman jumped, gripping a string and pulling at the rolled white screen. She flipped on a projector image and dimmed the lights. The screen showed Forneus, Tier V, Marquis of Hell, tens of thousands of demons under his command. A snake tail covered the bottom half of his body, his skin green with sharp fangs like a vampire, wings like a bat.

"This is a Tier V Archdemon. They are rare—one in a million. They command all lesser demons. Pray to the goddess you never come across one. Few live to tell the tale."

She launched into a long monologue about Forneus, the students taking notes. Acid spike on tail, venomous teeth, quick to strike, observes his legions from the air. Prefers ambush attacks.

"The lesser demons, anything Tier III and below, are what we will be focusing on this year. Tier I demons are incredibly easy to defeat. Take imps, for example, they're more likely to get themselves killed than to pose any real threat. Fire wasps are known for setting fires, we presume accidentally, as the process kills them."

"Tier II demons are slightly more intelligent than their lesser counterparts, but still small in size and easily overpowered…" Even though I already had memorized everything the professor said, I wrote it down again. "...Tier IV, demons with strong magic, such as vampires, banshees, oni, and the tengu."

By the end of class, my hand was as cramped as the rest of my body.

I waved to Caleb to catch his attention, losing him in the molasses stream of students filtering out the exit.

"Want to get lunch?" Brynn asked, clutching her books against her chest. I found a fast friend in Brynn, who was much of a nerd as I was.

I agreed, my ravenous stomach pleading to eat. The cafeteria was a huge room with sunlights and doors leading to a small outdoor area. Several lines offered different types of food, but I followed Brynn. We both got lasagna with a salad and went to sit at one of the empty tables near a window.

Brynn opened her fruit punch bottle, taking a long sip and placing it in front of her meal.

The food smelled of savory meat, basil, garlic, and gooey cheese. I cut into the steaming square, ready to take a delicious mouthwatering bite—

A hand appeared at the side of my plate, pushing it off onto the floor, spilling it into a disappointing pile. I looked up into the icy blue eyes of Mel. She flicked her short blonde pixie-cut hair over her shoulder, raising her eyebrows.

"This table is reserved for people who aren't sleeping with three guys at the same time." She scoffed. "Slut."

The group behind her laughed, including her two friends and Vince.

Brynn grabbed her tray with both hands, ready to protect her lasagna before it met the same fate as mine. Every inch of me ached from the long workout that morning. My sore muscles begged me to let this go.

My heart had other ideas. I stood up, gesturing to the table. "What's your problem?"

Brynn's eyes widened in fear as I spoke, probably wishing she wasn't associated with me, but she stayed put.

"Everyone knows that foxes with multiple mates always go rogue. I won't let you take my Kairos down with you," Mel snarled. She swung her arm across the table, smacking the bottle off. Almost a full bottle of artificial red fruit punch flew through the air. The movement drenched me and the white tile floors in the sticky substance, splattering like—

Blood.

The white floors, covered in red. Elder Jane's hollow eyes staring up at me. My hands were coated in her blood.

My heart thumped into my ears, screaming as I stumbled back, my legs hitting a dead body and falling backward. I let out a scream—

Dirty water soaked me as I landed in a janitorial mop bucket and tipped to the side. The sharp plastic hit my back. Screams echoed in the silent cafeteria. Every single person was staring at me until the residual echoes turned to silence.

My voice was hoarse. I had been the one screaming. My heart slammed painfully against my ribcage with each beat, my vision clouded, the fluorescent lights above were too bright.

The cafeteria burst into laughter. Mel laughed harder than anyone. "What the hell is wrong with her? What a freak."

And like the urge of the foxfire called me, the mess of his black hair, his ruby eyes piercing mine, not a hint of his usual smirk on his face. Seven. I couldn't place the expression on his face. Worry, confusion? No doubt it was him doing his best to cover his own embarrassment and shame at being associated with me, being Fated to me. Keeping our gaze locked, he stepped forward.

"Dove!" Kairos called as he jogged over to me, carefully avoiding the mess covering the floor. Enko and his approach silenced all the laughter, their glares sent everyone back to their meals. When I looked back to where Seven had been, he was gone.

Enko helped me off the floor, not seeming to mind that I was sopping wet with fruit punch and dirty mop water. I stood there dripping as Kairos rounded on Mel.

She threw up her hands defensively before he could even speak. "She just freaked out, Kairos. She was sitting in our spot and it bothered me so I pushed her lunch on the ground—"

"Don't talk to me again." Kairos' voice was a low rumble, thunder and the crack of a lightning strike.

Mel flew into dismay. "No, you can't do that. I need you. You said we could be friends—" Mel stopped mid-sentence, turning to me. "You have to tell him what happened."

"I saw what happened," Kairos said as he joined Enko on my other side, walking me out of the cafeteria.

"Kairos, wait!" Mel called after us, her shoulders dropping in defeat as the three of us rounded the corner.