Dodging Calamities (Artemis University #7) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,36

I’d taken eight lives. Maybe that wasn’t normal, but it was what I needed.

8

I was right, and Berman denied the whole thing… And I’d killed the witnesses. A fact he pointed out constantly, and that the whole thing was a conspiracy of my demented mind, clearly playing into this narrative the warlock elders were working on.

His version was a rogue faction of his guards tried to resolve the issue his people were facing because I was such a horrible and selfish person who would only help the dragons who would bow to me. It was completely without his knowledge, and he not only wrote them off as traitors, but their families, who he kicked out of his area.

Well, that was slightly better than killing them since the eight dragons had failed, but labeling them that way and having them lose everything wasn’t exactly great either. Especially given Berman had threatened their lives to make the mission happen.

Asshole.

The Diazes had swooped in and brought the families to one of their estates to be watched under guard. The move had shocked everyone, but I understood. Berman had set those people up to hate me. I’d killed their mate, or parent, and they’d lost everything because of it. Grief wasn’t logical, and one of them wouldn’t see Berman as the monster, but me, and I was damn sure Berman knew that.

The man was getting on my last nerve, and so were others.

It was well past time to stop playing defense only with the warlock elders and go on the offensive. This was way over the line of too much and miles past dangerous. People were still in shock they were acting this way, but if they didn’t get over that and we started reacting, we weren’t going to be able to handle one of their attacks.

I was glad I’d came to that decision already when I stumbled upon a discussion a week after the dragons had come for me. I quickly threw up a barrier to cloak and hide myself.

“Your parents aren’t going to stop trying to put their family back together, Isabella,” Instructor McGrath said to Izzy.

She snorted. “They don’t care about that, but just want to control me so they can sell me again. And I don’t feel comfortable with you using my first name, as I’ve already said, Mr. McGrath.”

“It’s Instructor, or you can—”

“No, not in this instance, as you’re not coming to me as my teacher since this is my personal matter. One that you’ve approached me about and is way over the line, especially having looked into it.”

“Everyone knows of your situation, Isabella,” he comforted, his tone placating.

“I can accept that, but no other teacher has approached me about it, as it’s unprofessional and not their business given I’m an adult and I’ve made my decision.”

“They haven’t? They should have, as you’re a young girl—”

“I’m a woman, thank you. An adult.”

“Legally, but a young one, and you need your parents. You have had so many issues without them or—”

“Mr. McGrath, you keep speaking on things you don’t know, and I’ve asked you not to. I had a ton of issues with them. The main one being I’m a lesbian, and they don’t—”

“Lesbianism isn’t real, Isabella. It’s an issue in your brain, and the right man can help you understand that. The right guidance, as well. I’m sorry your friends haven’t been giving it to you.”

She gasped. “Enough. You’re not qualified to speak on such things, and this is highly inappropriate. You shouldn’t even be allowed to teach if you seriously just told a student being gay isn’t a real thing, but a mental issue. Why would I ever want you to speak to my parents on my behalf when you wouldn’t even help me?”

“I would. I would help you understand you need them, and your place with them. I’m the best to get you what you want with them—”

“You’re just an instructor. My parents would never respect that, even one from here,” she drawled. “If I was going to ask anyone, I would ask Dean White. She would be on my side as well.”

“Yes, but she’s a woman, and your father—”

“Fine. Then I’d ask Doctor Craftsman. Or Headmaster Edelman. Why would I ask an instructor I don’t even think should teach here, doesn’t listen to me, doesn’t respect women, and behaves inappropriately with his students? I wouldn’t. So again, my answer is no, and don’t bring this up again. I will not speak to you again unless it