28.

  As the last of the Ichor melted away, Angelica, a legion of students, and damn near every professor made their way through the basement and came across Benny and Gregor, and an embracing Tav and Cole. The two came to their feet, Cole summoned his sword and again the great fire erupted up his blade.

  “If anyone thinks they’re going to hurt Tav, you go through me first,” he said, holding his sword, ready to take on the academy, every professor, and the whole damn world if he had to. If the world wanted to hurt Tav, he wouldn’t let anyone get close enough to even threaten her.

  “Cole, it’s okay,” Tav rested a hand on his shoulder, he calmed his stance and stood to the side as she walked up. No glamor, her horns, and demonic traits were there for everyone to see.

  “This is me,” Tav said, “Everything you’ve heard about me, about my father, my mother, it’s all true,” she took a deep breath, “The good and the bad, I came here because of my father, and I came here because of my mother,” she said. “I know I lied to all of you, and I’m sorry,” she looked to the professors, “If you don’t wish to teach someone of my ilk, I understand, and I will leave peacefully,”

  “Tav, no,” Cole said, moving up next to her. Tav turned to him and smiled. The Seventh son of a Seventh son, the destined hero, the one person she was sure would want her slain, yet here he was the one person who kept her secret. She turned back to the crowd.

  “My father was the Demon Hunter Joseph Cosgrove, and my mother is the Demoness Xisira, believe any story you want about how I came to be born from them, but by whatever means you could choose, I’m here,” she said, holding her chin high, “I wanted to be a Demon Hunter, I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps, my parents wished for an end to this war, and I wanted to help end it,” she stood tall, proud, “That’s all I have to say,” she said, “So expel me if you want, I won’t fight you, I won’t fight my fellow Hunters,”

  “I will,” Cole said, stepping forward.

  “Cole, stop,” Tav said, “It’s okay if they don’t want me, it’s okay if they hate me,” she turned back to the crowd, “It doesn’t bother me anymore, this is what I am,” she shrugged her shoulders, “Nothing is going to change that, I realize that now,” she said.

  There was a silence within the crowd, one broke by the hard tap of a cane against the stone floors of the academy basement, the rows of students separated into a path for him as he made his way through to the front of the crowd. “Tavalia Cosgrove, Cole Longdren,” he said bringing the two students to stand tall and stiff.

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  “Headmaster,” Cole spoke up, “If you’re going to expel Tav, you have to expel me as well,” he said.

  “Cole!” Tav said, “Don’t do this for me, you’ve already done more than enough for me,” she begged.

  “I knew, I knew her secret almost this entire year and I told no one, but I didn’t tell anyone because I swore I wouldn’t, I’m not the kind of Hunter who breaks his oaths, but if Tav is to be punished, know that I’m just as guilty as she is,” he said.

  “You are guilty,” Toris said, “You have trespassed into the basement without permission or supervision,” he looked to Benny and Gregor, then back to Cole and Tav, “The four of you, one-day confinement, take the time to study for finals,” he said.

  “That’s it?” Benny asked.

  Toris smiled, “I see you killed the Ichor, quite a hunt you went on, I’ll be sure to inform your professors that your third hunt credit has been earned,” he said.

  “Tav killed the Ichor, she was amazing,” Cole smiled.

  Professor Marcus spoke up, “Headmaster, the danger that these students engaged in is fitting of a much stricter punishment than-”

  Toris turned to the professor, “What would you have me do, expel two hunters of maybe the highest caliber this class has to offer?”

  “I wasn’t saying expel but-”

  “Oh, the year is almost over as it is, I’m sure after the summer when they return to finish their training, these two will have skills surpassing even the accomplishments they’ve shown today.”

  “This is preposterous!” Angelica blurted out, pushing her way through the crowd and to the Headmaster, “Sir, a Demon has infiltrated the academy, has been living among us, beguiling male students, likely collecting information,” she turned to Tav and scowled at her, “When my father and the Archangels hear that you have allowed a demon to not just hide in our halls, but live openly and without any repercussion, they will-”

  “They will what?” Toris said, “And that will be two days of detention for you, young angel,” he said, “You stole another student's property, not just that but you destroyed it, that is conduct unbecoming of a hunter, and you’re lucky that your stellar performance in class is enough to make me show you leeway, you’ll be working in the inventory shop, earning the money needed to acquire a replacement necklace for Ms. Cosgrove,” he said.

  “You would have me not only accept, but help a demon hide among the mortal world, Headmaster, don’t you see how she’s been using her demonic power on everyone too,”

  “That’s enough, or I’ll double your punishment,” he said, “Ms. Cosgrove, feel free to spend the remainder of the year in a private dorm, I understand that your dorm mate has been a source of conflict for you,” he said, then turned back to Angelica, “And as for you, until you earn enough coin to replace Ms. Cosgrove’s necklace, you will be sentenced to confinement to your dorm outside class and work hours,” he said.

  Angelica had to bite her tongue, lest she got into even hotter water, all she could do was shoot Tav a look that said, “This isn’t over,” before huffing and returning into the crowd.

  “Well, that’s it then, back to your rooms everyone, finals are coming, take the time to study,” he turned to Cole, “And Mr. Longdren, please come to my office, alone.”