The Curse (H. Academy Series #1)
Chapter 39: The Road to Nowhere

I haven’t considered how I’d feel if I actually slept with Leon. I’ve thought about whether I should do it in extensive detail, and imagined how I’d feel before and during the act, but until tonight, a part of me truly believed I wouldn’t do it.

Now, I felt weird.

I felt even weirder walking back to my dorm on such an obvious walk of shame, especially once I reached Amma’s room and realised everyone was inside.

“Fuck me.” I mumbled as I knocked.

“Come in.” Amma’s hushed tone reached me.

I opened the door; Amma was standing in front of her trusty blackboard, coloured chalks in her hand, Morta was sitting in the chair, her hands draped over the sides and her eyes narrowing at me, Eugene was leaning against the table. None other than Thar Adara stood next to him.

Surprised, I checked my phone.

They decided to meet earlier. They were waiting for me for over half an hour.

“Where’s Dean?” I asked, not sure whether to pull my hem down or cover my cleavage.

Of course, I couldn’t help but look at Thar, but he didn’t look at me.

“He left.” Morta’s smile was tight. “We’re very tired, you know?”

“Yes, I know, I’m sorry.” I tried to come up with an excuse. “The- uh- the cleaning took longer than anticipated.”

“Ha.” Morta raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t know your father’s office was in Leon’s room.”

I glared at her, my heart skipping a beat. This time, Thar did look at me, his expression one of realisation.

“Leave it to Morta to make things awkward.” Amma murmured.

Thar looked away and cleared his throat, “Professor Darth filled me in on what’s been happening behind my back.”

I leaned against the wall, unusually hesitant to come any closer.

“Once again, I think one thing is quite clear.” He continued. “You should have come to me with this. Perhaps then we wouldn’t have almost been attacked by a demon, the Vice Mage’s office wouldn’t have burned down, and no student would have been deemed a suspect for lighting it on fire.”

“We don’t know how it caught on fire.” I lied. “It could have been the magic in the backyard, from the party.”

“Well, you’ve orchestrated the party, didn’t you?” Thar glanced at me, gaze cutting and cold. “And you’ve orchestrated the game in the backyard. In my book, it’s your fault either way.”

“Someone had to do something.” I said.

“That someone aren’t a bunch of nineteen-year-olds.”

“I’m actually twenty two.” Eugene mumbled.

“Not really acting our age, are we?” Thar looked at him, and Eugene shut up. “Anyway, Darth has agreed to run his own tests on the sample of the black ooze. He has his own ideas about who’s going to be present during the tests.”

“We’re obviously all going to be present.” Morta said.

“Obviously not.” Thar cut in. “Anyway, while you were trying your hardest to give us all away, Lange and I tried to locate the Headmaster.”

I looked up, as did everyone else in the room.

“You were right.” Thar sighed, hands falling to the edge of the table. “We couldn’t sense his spirit. There is a possibility that he’s dead.”

“Crap.” Amma broke the chalk in her hand, her eyes widened as the chalk dust fell on her carpet. “Shit.”

I moved from the wall, “What now?”

“Now-” Thar pinched the bridge of his nose. “All I know is that you have to train. All of you.”

No one complained.

“Harder than ever.” He added. “Every day. Whenever you can without causing suspicion.”

No one said anything. That terrible feeling I’ve managed to shed for a few seconds with Leon returned with a vengeance. Claustrophobia, helplessness, disillusionment. Part of me wanted to bolt from this school as fast as my feet carried me. Part of me wanted to fight demons head on.

Part of me knew I wasn’t strong enough. Part of me hated the idea of cowering.

“Thar...”

He shut his eyes for a split second when I said his name.

“My dad.” I said quickly. “I don’t like how unbothered he was with the whole chambers-catching-on-fire-by-freak-accident thing. I’m scared.”

He looked at me, muscles tensing, causing a rush of warmth inside me.

“What do you mean?”

“He’s prone to harsher disciplinary measures.” I said. “There is no way in hell he’d allow parties after such an incident. It almost feels like... like...”

“Let the kids have their fun before they’re demon food?” Morta offered.

I nodded, hating how well she put it into words.

Thar glanced between the two of us, worry pulling his eyebrows closer together.

“I’ll check the protection spells around your rooms.” He pushed himself off the table. “In the meantime, train. And- and don’t cause any more problems. Please. This is hard enough as it is.”

I hated causing trouble for him. I hated being a problem in his life.

“Okay.” I nodded. “We’ll lay low.”

There was nothing else we could do anyway.

“Eugene.” Morta said, face coated in worry. “Did anyone find the instant-pass question?”

“What?”

“The question in the balloons.” Morta raised her eyebrow. “If I’m going to become demon food, I want to at least pass Demonology.”

“Oh, that.” Eugene let out a laugh. “Yeah, no one’s ever answered correctly, I think.”

Thar chuckled. “I thought he’d given up on that five years ago when someone broke into his cabinet and stole them.”

“It’s been passed on.” Eugene said. “But, fine. Here it is. Ready?”

We nodded.

“You’re facing a demon one on one.” Eugene said.

Amma already had her notebook out, “What kind of demon?”

“Regular demon.” Eugene said. “You’re all alone-”

“Am I an element user?”

“No.” Eugene crossed his hands on his chest. “You have no magic whatsoever. How do you defeat the demon?”

“You mean, I have no access to magic?” Amma asked. “As in, I’m in the demon world and they ate all the magic?”

“No, you literally have no magic. You are not a witch.”

“Uh...”

I was way too tired for this.

“Don’t bother.” Thar chuckled. “No one ever answers his questions correctly. You’re better off studying.”

“Shit.” Morta cursed. “Nothing comes easy in this school, does it?”

“No.” Thar’s smile disappeared and he headed for the door. “Anyway, get some sleep. All of you.”

“I’m gonna head back to my room, too.” Eugene followed. “Professor Adara, there are some theories I want to discuss with you, regarding the demons.”

“Eugene, I saw you throw up a dozen times. Call me Thar.”

On their way out, Thar didn’t look at me, and I kept my gaze on the floor, ashamed. When they closed the door behind them, my shoulders sagged.

When I looked up, I found Morta’s judgemental stare.

“What now?”

“Someone took their role way too seriously tonight.” She raised her thin eyebrow.

“Oh, come on.” I rolled my eyes. “Leave me be.”

“What happened to Vice Mage Montgomery’s office?” Amma asked.

I sighed, “Leon. But don’t tell anyone.”

“Oh, great.” Morta murmured. “I should have known the entire school would get fucked because of him.”

“Hey, he came through.” I said. “You had no idea what to do about my dad. Bella throwing a hissy fit isn’t a brilliant plan, you know?”

“I get that his dick might be 3D, but his personality isn’t.” She said. “Stop defending him.”

“I’m not!”

“Yes, you are.”

“What’s your problem?” My hands fell by my sides. “You won’t stop bitching about him.”

“You’re forgetting you met him two months ago.” Morta said. “I’ve known him for a whole year. The same thing he’s doing to you now, he’s done to Bella last year. She ended up whipped with a broken heart.”

“Are you equating me with Bella?”

“I’m just saying.” Morta crossed her hands on her chest. “She too thought she could change him.”

“I’m not-” I swallowed the anger. “I don’t think I can change him. I couldn’t care less about his personal development.”

“Right.” Morta murmured. “Because having casual sex with someone is so easy. Especially when you two have been chasing each other for two months.”

“I’m not having sex with him. I had sex with him. Once.”

“How was it?” Amma jumped in.

“Great, actually.”

“Yeah, and you’re never going to repeat it?” Morta kept her eyebrow arched.

“Why would I?” My gaze snapped to her. “I got what I wanted. He got what he wanted. I’m not even interested in talking to him, I’m definitely not having sex with him ever again.”

“Fine, let’s just sleep.” Morta sighed. “I’m tired of you having fun while we’re hanging out with Thar Adara.”

“Oh, I’d much rather be hanging out with Thar.” I said. “Wanna switch places?”

“Can’t you like normal guys?”

“Apparently not.” I headed for the door, suddenly exhausted. “Goodnight.”

“Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Morta shouted after me.

Whatever Morta thought or said, I knew where I stood now in regards to my situationship with Leon. We slept together once, and it was enough. I’ve gotten my release and fulfilled my needs. The magic was gone.

I would never sleep with him again.

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