Remembering the dean’s earlier power plays with Ylva, Eva sighed. She could definitely understand why Catherine disliked the woman. Perhaps it would be possible to poach Catherine off of Martina. Eva would have to look up some information about familiar bonds, though it might all be a moot idea anyway. If Catherine didn’t like her better, there was no reason to alter the status quo.
Besides, she already had Arachne to worry about.
“Unless you’ve summoned me here to deliver reparations for Zagan’s actions towards Shalise and Juliana, I’m leaving.”
After another few seconds of silence, Eva turned on her heel and reached for the door.
“Eva,” Martina said. “You’ve heard why Zagan did what he did.”
Ignoring the woman, Eva tried the door.
Locked, of course.
Eva started building up magic for a teleportation to the prison as she turned to Martina.
“That doesn’t excuse his casual disregard for my friends.”
“And,” she continued, in a tone that suggested she was ignoring Eva’s statement, “Miss Rivas even thanked Zagan for his actions.”
Eva raised an eyebrow.
“You didn’t know that, but it’s true. I was present alongside Catherine and Governor Anderson. Even if you distrust Catherine and myself, Governor Anderson doesn’t particularly like Zagan or myself. Ask him to confirm it.”
“I will,” Eva said.
Governor Anderson had been wandering around since Eva’s return. He never once spoke to her, mostly choosing to spend his time moving from place to place with a sweeping coat. Eva would have assumed him to be a part of Martina’s demon security had Jordan not greeted him between classes one time.
“If there is nothing else you wanted?”
“Actually,” Martina said as she leaned back in her chair, “I have a certain initiative that I would like to start. Among students. Another club, if you will. Potentially a full-blown elective course for the fifth and sixth year students.”
“You’re really dancing around the subject.”
Martina pulled back her lips into a not-so-kind smile. “I would like to enlist Devon Foster and get his assistance and expertise in instructing a select group of students.”
Eva blinked. Her mind crawled through processing exactly what Martina had implied. Devon’s name wasn’t one she expected to hear. As a teacher no less.
That thought sent Eva into a short fit of giggles. She doubled over, hands clutching at her sides.
“Something the matter?”
“Just,” Eva took in a deep breath of air, “just picturing him in a room with a bunch of students.”
“And what is wrong with that?”
“You’ve clearly never met him.” Eva sighed. It had been a long time since she really laughed. The feeling was somewhat euphoric. “Devon in a room with twenty kids? Recipe for disaster. He hates kids. Including me, I’m pretty sure. And what would he be qualified to teach, summoning demons?” Eva let out a short chuckle.
“Exactly.”
Eva’s laughter died off. Martina wasn’t laughing. “You’re serious.”
“Entirely.”
Eva stared.
Martina Turner’s face betrayed no deception.
Finally, Eva shook her head. “I misspoke earlier. He doesn’t hate kids. He thinks they’re annoying and should leave him alone to his research. What he does hate, however, are demons. He loathes the entire population of Hell.”
“He’s a man so steeped in diablery, yet hates demons?”
“
“And that isn’t even getting into the fact that you want a bunch of kids to summon demons. Are you insane? A couple loose will make Sawyer look like a peaceful hippy.”
“You heard Zagan,” Martina said. “Demons may be flooding to Earth in the future. It is important now more than ever to broaden people’s horizons. To interact with demons, to know demons, and, if necessary, to fight demons. Widespread knowledge of shackles alone could save millions.”
“Starting with a few kids is the way to go then?”
“Children are the future,” Martina said, smiling as she leaned back and clasped her hands across her stomach. “What better place to start could there possibly be?”
Eva shook her head with a laugh of disbelief. “Doesn’t matter either way. I can ask him, but I guarantee that he will vehemently decline.”
“In that case, you step up and help teach your fellow students.”
“What? I know hardly anything about–”
“You don’t need to. Catherine will be the primary instructor.”
The succubus grit her teeth together loud enough for Eva to hear.
“Being a demon, Catherine is quite knowledgeable about the subject. You need to provide a human element. Perspective from a human point of view. Things that a demon wouldn’t think to consider.”
“You want me to babysit Catherine while she teaches–”
