Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,118

mess.”

“I don’t pry when I’m around people I trust, unless I’m worried,” I reminded her.

She responded with a glanced that she knew she was in a place anyone would worry about.

Fair enough.

“I’m losing faith too,” I admitted, flopping down in the chair. “We’ve had wins though. We just had one now, and Geiger reminded me that of that. We’ve saved over a hundred thousand hobgoblins, Anya. I didn’t even know there were that many, or Faerie was that big to have that many anyone. We’re getting wins.”

“Quietly,” she whispered. “Exchange students being tossed back to their schools to thwart the councils. Dragons and friends stepping up, but nothing… Public. They are still winning publicly and in control. We can’t beat them—we need a public smack that lands.”

I told her what had just happened and hoped it was enough.

She shook her head. “He won’t admit it was him or someone will weasel their way out of it. Their moves are being dodged and thwarted, but nothing is happening to them in punishment or retribution. Even all that happened to Calloway—or myself—and it was no skin off of them. Some angry phone calls and press. Oh no, I’m sure they are so worried.”

“They got banned from all the hobgoblin businesses.”

“It’s not enough,” she snapped, immediately apologizing.

I accepted it because I knew the anger wasn’t pointed at me. This wasn’t my fault anymore than it was hers. We couldn’t get the upper hand just yet, and it was maddening. Any small victory was met with lies and dismissals of it never happening, but anytime we dodged them, they did the same. So they never lost ground.

But neither did we, which was an actual victory.

“We’re gaining ground,” I argued with her and myself. “That’s a victory, even if not public. We are. You were the one who told me many times that if we keep taking small steps, we’ll look back and see miles of progress behind us. We are doing all we can, and we just keep going. Look how far we’ve come in Faerie since you’ve even helped me. We are miles and miles from the portal now.”

“But no people,” she rasped.

“We’ll find them soon,” I declared, swallowing loudly. Dear gods, please let me find some fairies soon. We need backup, or we might lose, and lose everything.

25

Banging on my door made me about jump out of my skin all the way from the shower. It was weeks after the incident with the supe police and almost time for break. I was looking forward to a chill Saturday watching Izzy compete in the big Physical Training tournament.

“Hold on!” I bellowed when they started again. I rushed to finish and throw on a towel, wrapping my hair as well, before booking it for the door. I couldn’t even hide my shock when Craftsman was standing there… Nor could I get my mouth to work.

His seemed to stall out at seeing me in a towel as well, both of us staring at each other until he shook himself. “The councils made their next move. They’re demanding you compete today, as it’s written as a requirement for all underclassmen to participate to pass the semester.”

“Right, but I placed out of the class,” I sighed.

“Except the wording isn’t currently included for that, as no one has ever placed out before and Edelman can’t fix it today,” he explained, sounding just as annoyed. “I’m sorry, love, but we’re over a barrel. We need you to fight.”

I studied him a moment. “So what? I’ll still kick their asses. I mean, I placed out for a reason. Why are you worried?”

He licked his lips and eyed me over before trying to focus again. “Something is up with the vampire council. They’re all here, and their auras are… Disconcerting. Edelman, White, and I are all in agreement they are up to something.”

But what? I nodded I heard him and adjusted my neck. “Give me a few minutes to throw on clothes and get ready. I’ll be right there.”

“I’ll walk with you. Zack and Ray were called on to handle something.” He nodded that he thought it was funny too.

So they were going to come at me from all sides on this? No, on campus? That would be… Well, they’d been stupid before for sure.

I hurried to dress and grab the bag with all my training gear. Locking up behind me, I was out the door in under five minutes.

The walk across campus was quiet. Most everyone was at the arena