101
Lucy
When Friday came around, I packed a small duffle bag. Tina and Stacy teased me the whole ride to campus, but I didn’t mind. I got through most of my classes easily. Before I knew it, I was sitting next to Duke in Professor Smith's class, trying to focus on the lecture. All throughout the lecture she refused to call on me even when I raised my hand. She didn’t call on Duke either, so I just wrote my questions down to figure out later.
Then, the door opened and a woman in a pencil skirt and a blouse walked in.
“I’m looking for Lucy Graves.”
I lifted my hand. “T-That’s me.”
“You’re being called to Director Roberts' office about your behavior.”
A murmur rippled around the room. Professor Smith smirked at me.
“Better get going…”
I gathered my things hastily, feeling a mix of confusion and nervousness. Duke pat my shoulder.
“See you after?”
I nodded and walked down the stairs to follow the woman. She looked over me with a dismissive glance and rolled her eyes. She turned and walked down the hall.
“Do you know—“
“Shut up. I don’t care, and you’d be better off pretending like you don’t exist.”
I shuddered as her words rocked through me. As we walked through the corridors, her brisk pace and lack of explanation added to my growing anxiety. Finally, we reached his office door, and the assistant knocked without any hint of politeness. She pushed the door open and turned away to leave.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my courage, before walking into Director Roberts' office, my hands trembling slightly. I hoped that he was calling me to get all of this straightened out, but I had a sinking feeling that it wouldn't be that easy. He glared at me from behind his desk. His expression was hard as he glared at me across his desk.
"Sit down," he snapped, motioning to the chair in front of him.
I took a seat, feeling the tension in the room thickening. Director Roberts was an older man. He looked about sixty with greying hair. His eyes were hard.
"I've heard some nasty rumors about you, Lucy," he said. His voice was so harsh. "Spreading lies about T.A. Wright and Professor Smith. Causing chaos and unrest in our department with your baseless accusations."
I felt a knot forming in my stomach. "I haven't spread any lies. T.A. Wright told me that she did it on purpose and Professor Smith—“
Director Roberts leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with anger. "Don't give me that innocent act, Lucy. I know exactly what you're up to. You're just stirring up trouble for the sake of it.”
“That’s not true. I—“
“Let me make something clear: you will never be allowed to sit for the GED exam."
My heart sank at his words, and a wave of fear washed over me. “T-That’s not fair. I—“
“Shut up, you stupid, wretched girl,” he slammed his hand down on the desk. “The only reason you’re here is because we have to accept a certain number of GED students. Otherwise, I would have refused your application.”
He snarled at me. "You're nothing but a nuisance and an eyesore.”
He huffed and stood up. I heard the locks on the door click into place and my heart sped up.
“I don’t understand. I haven’t done anything…”
He narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t know your place.”
I swallowed.
“I’ve looked at your records. Alternative school, living at an escort dorm. Orphan. Classless, waste of space. Compared to my daughter you’re nothing.” He growled at me. His face flushed. “And yet Tony seems preoccupied with you, going so far as to take you to events where my daughter should have been!”
My stomach churned and my frustration grew. Again… Again, someone was ruining my life because of Tony and Matt.
“My daughter is most beautiful and accomplished young woman," he began, his voice dripping with pride. "Intelligent, poised, and perfect in every way. She deserves nothing but the best. Top of her class, accomplished all on her own, charitable, elegant. She would be an asset to his business dealings here and the expansion of his family company.”
He glared at me. “They were meant to marry within the year. I had just introduced them. Imagine my surprise when she comes home in tears stating that he’s dumped her for a nobody like you.”
“T-That’s not my—“
“OH, but it is,” he said. “Your fault for existing.”
I heard my adoptive mother screaming. It’s your fault we have to live so hard!
We should have never picked you up!
Can’t you do anything right?
“But it won’t matter,” he smiled coldly. “You only get three chances before you fail out of the program. By then, Tony will have ended his little dalliance with you and gotten back on track. I’ll make sure of it.”
“You can’t do this,” I said. “I-I’m not the reason—Be mad at him not me.”
He scoffed. “Men are creatures of pleasure and self-indulgence. If there is a distraction they’ll take it, and that’s all you are: a distraction. I am simply removing it.”
My hands shook. “You can’t do this to me.”
Director Roberts let out a bitter laugh, his face contorted with malice. "Oh, my dear Lucy, you have no idea what I'm capable of. I hold all the power here and I can make sure you're expelled.”
He smiled. “I would do it quickly, but I much prefer to be able to keep an eye on you as you suffer the way you’ve made my daughter suffer… Starting with the marks on your record.”
I frowned. “I haven’t done anything.”
“Insubordination, disrespecting a professor, causing general unrest among the population with your lies,” he smirked. “I say you’ve done a lot. Your record will haunt you forever."
As I left Director Roberts' office, tears streamed down my face. I was overwhelmed with a mix of fear and sadness. I stumbled forward, barely able to see through my blurry vision. Then, Duke came up to me, coming out of Professor Smith's class.
“Just the person I wanted to see! I—“
I couldn't hold it in any longer, and I burst into tears, throwing my arms around him as I sobbed into his chest.
Duke wrapped his arms around me, rubbing my back.
"Lucy, what's wrong?"
"D-Director Roberts... he was so m-mean. He accused me of spreading lies about the T.A. and Professor Smith. He said he'd make sure I never get to sit for the GED exam b-because he wants his daughter to marry Tony. And then he... he threatened to expel me and ruin my record!"
He squeezed me closer. “That’s… fucking despicable.”
“Won’t it ever end?” I sniffled. “Won’t it ever be over?”
He squeezed me tight. “It will be.”
He pulled back and wiped my face, lifting my head by my chin. “And they’re not going to get away with this.”
“But… no one’s going to believe me.”
He smirked. “OF course they will… You have proof.”
I frowned. “But… the papers aren’t enough.”
He led me down the hall and into a small alcove before pulling an orb out of his pocket. He did something to it then I heard Director Roberts’ voice.
“I've heard some nasty rumors about you, Lucy...”
My jaw dropped and I looked up at him. “How did you…”
“I put a surveillance spell on you.”
"Duke," I said, wiping away my tears and looking at him with surprise. "You've been spying on me?"
Duke shrugged, a mischievous smile on his lips. "Not spying, Lucy. Just keeping an eye out for you. I knew something was off, so I cast a surveillance spell to gather information."
I crossed my arms, feeling a mix of annoyance and gratitude. "And how long have you been watching me?"
"Since you went to speak with the T.A.," he said.
“B-But… all this time.”
His eyes widened and he shook his head. “It wasn’t on all the time. Just when you went to talk to her and when you went up to the professor and of course just now.”
He shuddered. “I would never invade your privacy like that. I just wanted to make sure you were safe and had backup in case something went wrong.”
I eyed him. “You… promise you weren’t watching me any other time.”
“Trafficked orphan’s honor.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome… Are you ready to wreak fucking havoc on the university for this?”
I frowned. Then, my jaw dropped. “You… But how can we give it to the police?”
He chuckled. “We give it to the Council enforcers and they deal with the logistics. The Hecate Coven has an interest in the University so they’re not going to let this stand.”
My lips twitched and I hugged him again. "Thank you, Duke.”
“Any time, Lucy,” he squeezed me close. “Oh, and look who’s here!”
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