Chapter Seven
Evie woke the following morning with her head pounding. When she squinted at her watch, it was just after five in the morning, hours before her first class. She tried to fall back asleep, but it eluded her. She eventually crawled out of bed. Sharp pain racked her sides if she moved too quickly. Her injuries warranted a visit to the healers’ office, but then questions would be asked, questions she couldn’t answer without having to deal with the backlash from Dominick’s minions.
Besides, she dealt with worse at the camp.
Moving carefully, she found the pain pills in her bag and shook two out, hoping they would ease the ache. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. By the time she dragged herself out of the shower and dressed for the day, the medicine kicked in, helping to dull the pain to a manageable throb.
Sitting at the small desk, Evie pulled out the schedule she received from Soma Dashiel. Her classes ran from Monday through Thursday with Friday open for independent study to allow her the opportunity to catch up on any work she missed since the start of the semester. Today was Thursday, only one day of classes remained for the week. Evie would spend tomorrow studying for part of the day, but the rest of the time, she would walk the campus to familiarize herself with the area.
Perusing her schedule more closely, she realized the list of classes offered weren’t part of her traditional schooling in the past. This made her a little apprehensive, but for the most part, she looked forward to the challenge. She had four classes in total: two in the morning, two after lunch.
SPh.H1: Hisotoria Surmata - Introductions to Surmata History
SPh.F1: Suojata - Self Defense Training
MHs.W1: Demonology
MHs.L2: Metaphysical Self-Mastery
She put the schedule aside and tugged the small bag on the desk closer to her. The size of one of her old textbooks, the grey neoprene bag featured the school’s emblem on the front. After her encounter with Dominick last night and the resulting injuries, she hadn’t taken the time to search through its contents. When she pulled it onto her lap, its weight surprised her. She tugged sharply on the strings that held it closed. It opened, and she peered inside at the contents.
Surprised, she found a tablet and cell phone nestled within the bag. Her hands shook as she piled everything on top of her desk. A handwritten note was taped to the outside of the tablet’s box, the scrawl elegant and graceful. Nothing like Evie’s chicken scratch.
Welcome to the Suoja Guild. We hope you will find these items useful in your studies here. The phone comes preloaded with a map of the campus with full GPS navigation capabilities, as well as a contact list with the school’s important numbers already programmed. Texting is popular among the faculty here. Be prepared to receive updates and assignments outside of the classroom. There is also an intranet site preloaded on the tablet where you can sign in for further information. Your last name and last four digits of your social security number are needed to access any of our sites.
All classes have electronic drop box capabilities on the individual class websites. Bulletins will be sent to your university email with updates on all activities on campus, including any special events scheduled in the town of Henley. Both devices are registered to you and preprogrammed with your information. Turn them on and set your password.
Your key card is state of the art technology. It not only unlocks your room and other areas of the campus; it also serves as your food voucher and spending card. As part of your paid tuition scholarship, you will also receive a small monthly allotment to be used at your discretion in the town of Henley.
My number is also programmed into your phone if you have any questions. Please contact me at any time. If you prefer an in person visit, my office is located on the first floor of the administration building. My hours are posted on my door.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Solomon
Human Liaison
Evie folded the note and stuffed it in the top drawer of the desk. Excited, she unboxed her new supplies. The silver phone came with a teal case. Pressing the power button, the phone sprang to life. The home screen lit up with a beautiful wallpaper picture, a rose in mid-bloom, its petals barely opened. Drops of water glistened on the vibrant petals, reminding Evie of a flower garden after a sudden spring downpour. The words, Create Password, flashed on the screen.
Smiling, she placed the phone down and reached to open the tablet box. The sudden movement caused a sharp streak of pain to radiate up her side, and she almost dropped the box. Moving more carefully, she opened the ten-inch tablet in matching silver. She created passwords on both devices and scrolled through the intranet site, logging into her email.
Eager to begin her day, she went through the other items on her desk: notebooks, pencils, pens, highlighters, and a few other items necessary for studying. She packed her backpack with the items she needed and set off.
On the ground floor, she bypassed the café to avoid any chance of running into Dominick after last night. With her injuries, she wasn’t ready for another confrontation. She planned to keep her head down until she figured out the campus’s rules. No way would she allow Dominick and his goon squad to be responsible for her getting kicked out. She wanted to stay, and if it meant taking a beating every so often because she refused to obey their orders, so be it.
Walking out the front door of the dormitory, Evie stopped at the top of the steps to enjoy the warm morning sun shining on her face. Skipping breakfast meant she had plenty of time to make it to her first class.
She pulled out her new phone, tapping the icon to bring up the campus map, and studied it until she located her destination. Her history class was located in Hilldane Hall, which was off to her right. Settling her backpack on her shoulder, she set off past a group of students who stood chatting at the bottom of the steps. Checking her watch, she decided to explore the courtyard before class.
Following the curved pathway, she avoided eye contact with anyone she passed. The few students around were human, but none of them came from her camp.
On the other side of the courtyard, the main dining hall was positioned opposite the administration building. While each dorm had a café as well as a small kitchenette, the hours were limited, and they only offered a small selection of food. The main food court stayed opened from six in the morning until nine at night and boasted a wide array of different culinary dishes. Most students would be there at this time in the morning.
The courtyard resembled an ancient Greek garden. Situated in the middle of campus, it stretched the length of a football field, accessible from all the buildings. With soft green grass underfoot, tall trees, heavy with autumn colored leaves, gave the illusion of privacy. Statues scattered the pathways, their patina indicative of old age. Each one boasted a plaque, detailing the artist who created it, and gave students a brief glimpse into the artist’s life. Benches carved from wood, strategically placed, allowed students the opportunity to study under the trees’ shade.
A quiet paradise with no one else in sight. It was early, but the sun shone. After being stuck inside last night, she figured a few more students would be out, eating their morning breakfast or lazing around in the velvety grass. Evie meandered around for an hour before an increase of students heading toward their classes told her it was time for her to do the same.
Hilldane Hall’s exterior, while identical to all the other buildings, was only two stories high instead of three. The interior reminded Evie of a typical school with small classrooms that sat forty or fifty people. The white tile floors gleamed with fresh polish. On the gray cement walls hung artwork and corkboards filled with advertisements. Pegged to the main board at the entrance, Evie read ads for tutoring services, school clubs, and sporting announcements. Painted in magenta, the words, Why Be Normal, decorated the wall. The letters formed a wavy pattern that ran the length of an entire section of cement between the first two doors leading to classrooms.
Navigating the hallways was confusing. After a few turns, Evie found herself twisted around, unsure of where she was and with no idea how to reach her destination. She moved off to the side of the corridor and stopped, observing the other students around her. They walked confidently, not sparing Evie a glance.
She took out her phone and pulled up the school’s navigation app. The little blip showed her in the east side of the building when she needed to be in the west. She turned around, keeping one eye on the app and the other out for anything in her pathway. It took several left turns, then a few right ones, and one flight of stairs, before she reached the door for her first class.
Evie double-checked the room number above the door. The gold plaque clearly stated room one hundred and twenty-three even though it was on the building’s second floor. Curious, she checked a few more plaques above the doors on either side. The numbers, all different, didn’t go in any decipherable chronological order Evie was familiar with. It was like a child had randomly made up numbers for each classroom.
This place was weird.
Hoping she chose the right one, Evie sighed as she opened the door. Students filled the classroom almost to capacity. At Orientation, Mrs. Solomon mentioned that all forty-three camp members would attend this specific class; it was one of the mandatory ones assigned to them. She mistakenly assumed there would be numerous classes offered at different times, so she wouldn’t be stuck in the same room with all of them.
She assumed wrong.
From the looks of it, most of the forty-three already sat in their seats, frowns in place and bored expressions on their faces. Some still looked angry, while others appeared wary. They sat clustered together like a swarm of insects, feasting on each others’ emotions. Evie searched for a seat amongst the ones who appeared bored. They were the safest choice.
The classroom was a typical college lecture hall, albeit a lot smaller. The front of the room held a desk with a projection screen behind it and a lecturing podium off to one side. Stadium seating, the kind with desktops attached, went up ten rows. Based on the number of seats, a hundred students could fit in the room, not the typical two hundred or more traditional universities offered.
The emptiness in the front of the classroom told Evie she wasn’t as late as she thought. She made her way toward a seat halfway up at the edge of the row closest to the door. The ability for a quick exit relieved her. As she settled into her seat, a backpack was flung noisily into the seat beside her.
“Hi, doll. Did you miss me?” Dominick leered at her as he sat. He reached over and took one of Evie’s hands in his, squeezing it tightly.
Like a bullet finding its mark, fear shot through her. Not wanting to cause a scene, she didn’t say anything as she yanked her hand from his grip and tried her best to ignore him. Surveying the rest of the room, Evie noted all the exit points. Normally, a second exit would be situated at the top of the stairs of the lecture room, but the wall was empty, nothing but cinder blocks. No posters, pictures, or anything hung to offset the stark gray color. Evie spotted a second door located behind and off to the left of the projector, but she assumed it led to the professor’s office.
At exactly nine, the second door opened, and in walked a man a little older than Evie. She estimated his age in the mid-twenties. At his entrance, all the female students shifted in their seats, straining for a better view. Their bodies turned at the perfect angle to put their cleavages on display.
Evie snorted in disgust. Catty girls in high school were catty girls in college with skimpier clothes and a more experienced aura to broadcast their interest.
The man who Evie assumed to be the class’s professor walked coolly over to the podium and placed a stack of papers on it. She took in his outfit, surprised a professor at such an elite school would dress casually. Dark khaki pants, white button-down shirt, and a pair of loafers gave the illusion he should be lounging at an exclusive yacht club, not standing in front of a classroom. In need of a trim, his russet-colored hair, short on top, curled slightly around his ears. He glanced up and bright cerulean blue eyes collided with hers. Her professor was a Surmata.
Surmata liked to play human, holding their true image a secret. No human, at least the ones in the general population, knew what their true form looked like. Stories said that if you saw a Surmata in his or her natural state, it’s the last thing you will ever see before they take your head.
“Good afternoon,” a stiff voice rang out, dryness coating every word. “I am Soturi Aaron, and this is Introduction to Surmata History. This class is designed to give our new students a brief introduction to the Surmata culture as well as our laws. This course is mandatory for all humans. Since the school term started several weeks ago,” he surveyed the room, his glasses slipping down his nose, “and you started here late, we will need to cover a lot of material in a short amount of time.
“I need to gauge your knowledge of Surmata culture in order to tailor a teaching plan to best suit your needs. At the end of class, I will give you a questionnaire to complete before the next class. Please bring it with you on Monday.
“Now, as an icebreaker, I thought it would be nice to open the floor to a discussion on what some of your current beliefs are and whether they’re correct. I will go around the room, picking a few of you to pose a fact you have heard about my kind. I will try to be as candid as possible when addressing your theories. Now let’s see…” He gazed around the room. “Hmmm, how about we start in the back row? You there, in the blue shirt. Please state your name, and give me one fact you know about the Surmata.”
Evie turned to look up the rows to the back as the guy in question stood, adjusting his shirt. “Uh, Jase Donnelly. It’s said the Surmata are wicked fast and strong. Stronger than a human.”
“That’s correct. The human race is not weak, but the Surmata are the apex predators of this planet, and we are naturally stronger. Alright, next question. Let’s see…you in the middle.” Soturi Aaron pointed to the center of the room. As his arm flexed, Evie swore she heard sighs from the girls as well as a few of the men around her.
A blond woman stood, her breasts barely contained within her too-tight shirt. She twirled her hair and pursed ruby-colored lips. “I’ve heard Surmata men are fantastic lovers.” Her voice was throaty, the invitation in her words clear.
The professor arched his brows in amusement. “I am sure there are fantastic lovers in both our species, but humans and Surmata are not compatible.”
“But why, Soturi Aaron?” The girl’s lip, curled in a full pout, bent over her desk, her hand on her hip, still twirling her hair. Evie was surprised she wasn’t on her desk, legs splayed open with a sign saying Come on in, open for business.
“As I said before, the Surmata are the stronger race. Imagine Superman trying to get it on with Lois Lane. It’s physically impossible. If he lost control even slightly, at best, he would crush her pelvis; worst-case, he would kill her as he reached the pinnacle of his orgasm. The same could be said for a Surmata female and a human male. But the best case for him would be his penis being ripped from his body.”
Several gasps and a few moans echoed around the room. Guy after guy moved to cup the crotch of their pants, a move born from sympathy.
“Okay, moving on. You in the front.” Soturi Aaron pointed to a guy in an orange shirt.
The guy stood up. “Mike Ledford, and I heard that the Surmata aren’t from earth.”
“That’s a misconception. Even demons are from earth, just a different plane of existence, one we call the demon realm. The Surmata come from another plane, one parallel with the earthen plane. While some demons and all Surmata can pass into other planes, humans cannot because they lack the necessary magic.”
Soturi Aaron turned to the whiteboard behind him, picking up a marker from the small crevice under the frame. Evie missed what he drew at first, her eyes glued to his firm ass. When he reached up, his shirt rode higher, exposing the top of his pants. Since he wasn’t wearing a belt, his khaki pants rode low on his hips.
Evie forced her eyes away and tried to focus on his words. He drew one large circle with an intersecting circle on either side. The one on the right, he labeled the Surmata realm, the one on the left the demon realm, and above the one in the middle he wrote earthen realm.
“As you can see, the earthen realm intersects both of the other realms, but the Surmata and the demon realm do not intersect with each other. Demons are unable to pass directly through to my home realm. They must first pass the earthen. This is one of the reasons why we protect humans so rigorously. In doing so, we protect our home as well. The earthen realm is the battleground everyone is fighting for. It’s the main connecting point for all the other smaller realms as well. And yes, before you ask, there are other realms besides the main ones I mentioned. You will not be covering those for quite some time. Just know they are there for now.”
“So that’s why you protect humans? Because we’re a buffer between your realm and the demon realm?” Dominick spoke out, his voice neutral, no hint at what he truly felt on the subject.
“That is part of the reason. There are many more, but once again, we shall save those for another day. Alright, let’s continue.”
Evie raised her hand impulsively. Soturi Aaron smiled at her, gesturing for her to speak. Standing, she voiced her question clearly. “I’m Evie Saunders. Does your home world differ from ours?”
“Ah, excellent question. Yes, my world is vastly different from the earthen realm. We don’t have cities with skyscrapers like the ones you do here. We believe in keeping our environment as natural as possible. Smaller dwellings make up population centers. We are also a private race, so we keep our dwellings spaced farther apart, each of us owning the land surrounding our habitat.”
After Evie sat back down, other students asked more questions. The remainder of class passed quickly. At the end, Soturi Aaron walked around the room, handing out the questionnaire for homework.
As Evie reached up to take the offered paperwork, her fingers accidently brushed his. The brief contact sparked an electric shock that raced along her skin. Heat spread through her cheeks, her pulse jumping. A sharp intake of breath pulled Evie’s gaze upwards. She watched as Soturi Aaron’s pupils enlarged, taking on a darker hue.
Quickly taking the pages from his hand, Evie busied herself by stuffing her notebook in her backpack. She hoped he hadn’t witnessed her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. After a half second, the Surmata moved on, approaching the remaining students.
As everyone stood to leave, he called a halt to the procession. “All the textbooks you need for your classes are waiting to be picked up in the library. Even though you won’t need them today, I expect everyone to have them for the next scheduled class. Now, you are dismissed.”
Before Dominick could gather his things, Evie rushed from her desk. He tried to grab her arm, to stop her from leaving the class without him, but she dodged his attempt. She barreled toward the exit, bumping her way past a few of the others in her haste. They cast weird glances her way, but she ignored them and kept her head down. Most of her old campmates believed the lies spread about her anyway and would not interfere.
At the door, she glanced back over her shoulder. Through the crowd, she saw Soturi Aaron leaning against the podium. As if sensing her gaze, his cerulean eyes met hers before the press of the other students pushed her out the room.