Chapter 20: Chapter 20:Cleared
In front of the infirmary room, Kai leaned against the wall, arms folded, as Professor Pearl Sunderland stood before him with a not-so-subtle tone of concern.
"Why don't you want the check-up, Kai? That rebound could have residual effects on you."
Kai gave a casual shrug. "Nah, I feel fine. Trust me, if anything does happen, I'll wobble over to the infirmary myself."
Inside, he thought, 'Right, because letting them hook me up to a monitor and accidentally discover my vampiric nature sounds like a great day plan.'
Suddenly, his enhanced hearing kicked in. Quentin's voice ripped through the silence in a scream of agony. The sharp crack of bones snapping back into place rang loud as the nurse's voice followed, calm but firm, "Hold still, please."
Penny's laughter echoed. "Pussy."
Kai winced. "Ouch," he muttered.
Sunderland frowned. "What the hell was he thinking using that spell?"
Kai looked at her, deadpan. "You know, it's kind of been his lifelong dream to a place like here. Getting ratted out by Penny probably crushed that more than the spell did."
She crossed her arms. "You both performed a spell that summoned a beast from another world. What exactly were you expecting?"
Kai glanced at her, briefly tempted to compel her into dropping the whole conversation. Instead, he exhaled. "You're right. We did something stupid. It wasn't intentional."
He added with a shrug, "I mean, who would've guessed that some random old book lying around would summon a moth-faced eldritch entity to our cozy little campus?"
Pearl sighed, unimpressed.
Kai smirked. "Gotta love magical academia. Just one demonic oopsie away from expulsion."
Pearl scoffed and walked off, heels clicking down the hallway.
---
Later that evening, Kai was heading back toward the Physical Kids' Cottage when he caught sight of someone in a hoodie slipping away from the direction of the building. Kady.
He raised a brow. 'And where are you going, sexy boots?'
In a blink, he vamp-sped after her, keeping to the shadows. She moved quick, cutting past the hedge wall and slipping into one of the school's secret passageways.
'Man,' Kai thought as he watched her from behind a pillar, 'for a school with "tight security," it's got more holes than Swiss cheese… pun very much intended.'
They made it to the city. As Kai followed at a distance, he drifted into a thought. 'Maybe it's time to teach Julia some real spells like a proper telekinesis spell. Or fire starting. Or'
"Wingardium Levi—nope," he muttered, snorting. 'Wrong universe, Kai… then again a levitation spell would do plus one or two battle magic'
He paused on the sidewalk. "Maybe we should take it slow," he said aloud to no one.
A couple passing by gave him a strange look.
Kai smiled. "I got my pods in."
Even stranger looks.
'Right,' he thought. 'Pods aren't a thing yet. Forgot I'm the iOS update this world wasn't ready for.'
His attention snapped back when he saw Kady slip into a parked car with none other than Pete and Marina.
Kai perched on a nearby rooftop edge, listening in.
"So, I'm sorry," Kady was saying, "I couldn't get the necklace thingy".
Marina, "Emerson Alloy repellent."
Kai rolled his eyes. 'Nope. You gave that to your new fuck-buddy, sweetheart. Don't lie on my time.'
Then came the part that made his brows lift.
Marina "Oh, and by the way… who the hell is Kai?"
Kady " wait what, why are you asking about him'
Pete chimed in. "Well, he threatened me. And I don't like him."
Kai blinked. 'Aww, Pete. I'm flattered. Really.'
Kady said flatly, "He's just a student."
Kai winced. 'Ouch, Kady. Way to make a man feel insignificant.'
Then she added, "Besides, I wouldn't want to be on his bad side. He can be… bad news."
Kai smirked. "Why thank you for the lovely compliments," he whispered under his breath.
Marina responded, "Watch him closely."
Kady "Uh-huh."
Kai shut off his hearing just as Kady exited the car with a list. He watched her for a beat longer and thought, 'More like liberate for them. Bet half of that list ends up 'borrowed forever.'
Grinning, he vamp-moved down to the alley's corner just as Kady turned it, intentionally bumping into her shoulder.
"Hey, watch it, dimwit!" she snapped before realizing" Kai?? What the hell are you doing here?"
Kai cocked a brow. "I could ask you the same thing."
Kady shoved the list quickly into her hoodie. "I asked you first."
Kai laughed. "I came to grab a few things from my apartment… but you know what? Nah. I'll do that another time."
"Yeah?" she said.
"Oh yeah," he smirked. "And now you're headed back?"
"Yup."
"Perfect," he replied sarcastically. "Then I shall walk the mighty adventurer home."
As they walked side by side, she asked, "How'd you even get out?"
"Oh, secret passage. Eliot showed me. Guess I've got my own Marauder's Map now."
"Uh-huh."
Kai glanced sideways at her, amused. 'MOh this is going to be fun. Having someone watch me, I mean. Heh heh heh.'
---
Later, Kai stood in front of Dean Fogg's office. Quentin had gone in nearly fifteen minutes earlier likely to speak with Jane Chatwin or Eliza as she's taken to calling herself.
Sure enough, it was going exactly as Kai expected. Quentin tried hiding the Emerson crystal, only for Jane to call him out with that timeless, knowing smile.
'Of course, ' Kai thought, 'I'm sure that's not the first time he's tried that. Seeing as she's been through what over 30 loops now?'
He perked up at Jane's voice, which always seemed to tingle in his bones just slightly.
"Relax, Quentin. Nobody's taking your mind today. Or Kai's, for that matter. It'd ruin everything."
Kai listened closer.
"We'll make something of you yet," she said gently. "I'll tell the school: one more chance. Probation. They'll respect my call. Just don't make me regret it. And don't hop back on the garden path like some little lemming."
From his spot around the corner, Kai grinned.
Quentin exited moments later, beaming. "I'm not expelled!"
Kai returned the smile coolly. "Congratulations, buddy. Just don't go full squirrel next time."
Jane's voice floated through the door. "Kai. Come in."
Kai gave Q a two-finger salute and entered the office.
Jane leaned against her desk, turning the Emerson crystal between her fingers. "So, Mr. Parker."
Kai closed the door. "Oh please. That's my dad. Just call me Kai… he was the boring one."
He gave her a long, appreciative look and grinned. "Though, I must say, Professor… you're making me feel butterflies. Everywhere."
Jane laughed, a light, melodic sound. "Oh my. What shall I do with you?"
"Oh, I can think of a few things."
She mock gasped. "You naughty boy."
"You don't know the half of it."
She walked slowly around the desk, and Kai subtly eyed her graceful figure. 'Damn,' he mouthed, before quickly schooling his expression.
Sitting on the desk before him, Jane crossed her legs with casual elegance. "I heard you fought it."
"The Beast?" Kai said, rubbing his jaw. "Well, fought might be overstating it. More like... delayed it slightly."
He tapped his chin. "I think I broke a few ribs. Maybe a couple fingers. Pretty sure the Beast broke a few things too… mostly rules of reality."
Jane smiled softly. "You're very interesting, Kai… I like interesting."
"Oh, I know. But please, go on."
"This is a first," she said, tone cryptic.
"A first of what exactly?"
"Nothing," she replied, then met his eyes. "Just… a feeling. That it's going to be very different this time around. And for that I believe a thank you is in order."
Kai leaned back slightly, cocky grin spreading.
"What kind of a thank you tho?"
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