Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,27
but a slap. And it’s his power, not yours, Blake.”
“It’s our family’s,” she snapped. “It could easily be me as elder one day, instead of my brother, but it won’t ever be you because you’re—”
“No one,” I finished for her, smirking when they all gave me shocked looks. I shrugged, not afraid of the truth. “I’m no one. The problem with this society is I behave better than the ‘elites’ who are supposed to earn their privilege and positions, not abuse them, not hurt people with them. You are meant to deserve what you have, and you don’t. I’ve earned what I’ve inherited and helped people.”
“So you say but—”
I rolled my eyes at her. “So they say, Blake. They say it. You are the one who screams she’s powerful and important. I say I’m no one, and others say I’ve helped them, given them a chance, and saved them from what they were suffering through. Who would ever say that about you? No one. So I might be no one, but no one would stand with you if it wasn’t for the power of your grandfather.”
She growled when I turned to leave, knowing the four men I’d also avoided had moved closer to have my back. “I look forward to seeing you in training, Vale. Someone needs to knock you off your pedestal.”
I paused, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. “You got into Power Training I?”
Her eyes went wide. “How the fuck did you get into that. We all should be in Physical Training II as sophomores!”
I chuckled. “I’m just better than you, Blake. I was pushed up to Physical Training III from the very beginning, and I aced the class, winning the contests and all of it. Why the fuck would I have to go back down to Physical Training II? I know you’re stupid, but I didn’t think you were that stupid.”
“I’m not stupid at all,” she hissed. “I’m here, aren’t I? It was nothing to get around being expelled. A year of tutors, some bullshit community service, and here I am again. The councils always fall for the act and red stamp as many chances, as the elites want. You wouldn’t get that.”
“I wouldn’t con for it; I’d actually earn my second chances, and I have,” I threw right back. “But it’s not a second chance if you’re not even sorry, Blake, and clearly you’re not.”
She snorted. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you kicked out of here like I wanted, because you wouldn’t be back. I’m sorry you weren’t gang raped by these guys. And I’m sorry I didn’t out you to the Underground, and they killed you before you got a clue and guards. I’m not sorry that I’m going to make your year fucking hell and make you run screaming from this place.”
I snickered, letting out a long, amused breath. “You make it so easy, yet I cannot be sorry how easy it is to pull one over on you.” I held up my finger to hold her off as I pulled out my phone. “And I’m not sorry I recorded this whole conversation while my attorney was on the line so she could send it to your grandfather and council.”
She cracked and launched at me, bouncing off the barrier I still had up.
“And you said it all right in front of a professor and still didn’t respect me enough to care, Ms. Ward,” Professor Craftsman said, his voice ice cold. “None of you respect any of the faculty here, and that will change, as there is no more cheating or buying of grades.”
They all looked at him as if he was nuts.
I snorted. “You missed a lot while you were gone. Good luck catching up, kids.” I threw my head back and laughed as I walked off, not wanting to acknowledge Craftsman or any of them, even if he had tried to back me up.
There were too many times he missed being there when he should, so I was numb to it now… Or I wished I was. I just needed more time. Maybe.
Izzy was waiting for me outside our dorm with our keys since we’d signed the new addendum already. I had helped create it, so we’d signed the first copies hot off the printer.
She frowned at me. “You drive like a fucking demon. How did we beat you here? I mean, we left first, but we saw you fly by us.”
I rolled my eyes. “I had a couple of welcoming parties.”