Saved By The Omega

Chapter 7

Freya

The smell of bacon and eggs jolts me awake, sending me into a panic. Have I overslept for class? Is the cafeteria already serving breakfast?!

I lift my head, shocked when I see Beelzebub down on his knees in front of a…stove?

“Umm, since when do I have a brand-new kitchen?” I ask tiredly.

“They sell summoning cards in the cafeteria. I had a few on me to summon a new kitchen and food.”

I squint at him, feeling suspicious. “You’ve never been in the cafeteria before…”

He flinches and then clears his throat with unease. “I brought some summoning cards from hell, but I can sense that there are some in the cafeteria as well.”

“That makes sense,” I mumble, rubbing my eyes. But why are you cooking right now?”

His gaze shifts towards me, the intensity of his red eyes lessening. “I thought I’d surprise you with a proper breakfast. Also, I have other plans while you’re in class.”

“Going back to hell?”

A mysterious smile tugs at the corners of his lips. “Something like that, yes.”

“I see…” I fish up my phone and realize there is still an hour before my first class starts. It’s a boring one about werewolf history with Professor Bell.

“Something the matter?”

I grimace and begin changing out of the clothes I slept in. “Just bracing myself for my first class of the day. It’s the worst one.”

“Why is it the worst one?” Beelzebub asks, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Because Professor Bell hates all of his students. He has been somewhat nice to me, but…that doesn’t mean he is any less intimidating. He is also strict.”

“That so?”

“Yeah,” I groan, struggling to get my leg in the right panthole. “Professor Bell is brilliant, but I think most people who have signed up for his class are just there to check out his ass. It looks great in his uniform.”

Beelzebub nearly chokes. I watch him in stunned silence, bewildered when he turns around with narrowed eyes and an expression that makes him look almost flustered.

“You shouldn’t be checking out your professors, Freya,” he retorts as he flips a sizzling strip of bacon onto a plate.

“Wh-what? No! I...I don’t!” I stammer, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “It’s just...all the other students talk about it and...”

“And what?” He arches an eyebrow at me, his smoldering eyes burning like the pits of hell.

I swallow thickly. “Well…I wasn’t exactly…” I stammer out, but before I have time to defend myself, he interrupts me.

“There are consequences to such distractions. Focus on your studies, not on Professor Bell’s...attributes.”

He seems more flustered than angry, which only adds to my confusion. Why does Beelzebub care about me admiring a professor’s looks?

“Beelzebub…” I start, but I’m cut off when he slams a plate of bacon and eggs on the table, making me jump slightly.

“Eat your breakfast,” he commands gruffly. It’s the most emotion I’ve seen him display since I summoned him yesterday.

He hastily fixes a plate for himself and pushes away a chair to sit down on the floor, his arrow-shaped tail moving back and forth. Is he irritated?

Nevertheless, I don’t ask any questions and hurry to finish my breakfast before leaving my apartment. I’m not dealing with an angry demon first thing in the morning…

An hour later, I enter my classroom and sit down beside Tiffany.

“Slept well?” she asks.

I feel a blush creep over my cheeks. I can’t possibly tell her that I summoned a giant demon and spent the night cuddling with it…

“Yeah,” I lie. “I slept like a baby.”

Tiffany grins at me, flipping her perfectly styled hair over her shoulder. “That’s good. You need your beauty sleep, princess,” she teases, nudging me playfully in the ribs.

I can’t help but return her grin. “Oh, absolutely. Got to keep up with all the rowdy boys.”

As if on cue, Jaxx and his goons enter the classroom. They glare at me when they see me, still somewhat injured from when Professor Bell beat them up.

“Yikes,” Tiffany utters. “What happened to them?”

Even though it’s unlike me, I smirk in my seat. “I heard they tried to bully someone of their own size.”

“Good for them,” Tiffany chuckles, her gaze following Jaxx and his werewolf gang as they slump into their seats at the back of the classroom. They look worse for wear, each sporting bruises and cuts at varying stages of healing. “They needed a lesson in humility.”

I laugh quietly under my breath, but my mirth is cut short when Professor Bell strides into the room. He isn’t wearing his usual suit, and the sleeves of his white shirt are rolled up, revealing muscular forearms.

Tiffany leans over to whisper in my ear, “Wow, someone’s having a mid-life crisis early.”

“Mid-life crisis?”

“Uh, yeah? It looks like he fought with his wife or something before coming to work. Not that I mind; I’ve always wanted to see what he hides underneath.” She giggles and shoots Professor Bell a dreamy look.

“Professor Bell is married?”

“Was,” she corrects, tracing an invisible ring around her finger and then swiping it away. “Rumor has it he’s newly single.”

I blink in surprise, turning my eyes back to the front of the classroom. Newly single? Who was he married to before?

The bell rings abruptly, drowning out Tiffany’s gossip as Professor Bell calls the room to order. He scans the student body with a critical eye before beginning.

“Today begins our discussion of the Great Werewolf War of 1854. We will examine primary sources and read firsthand accounts from those who fought in it.”

As Professor Bell continues, I can’t help but let my gaze drift over him. His usually tidy hair is slightly disheveled, and his rolled-up sleeves show off his toned forearms very well.

Beside me, Tiffany nudges me with a grinning, conspiratorial whisper, “You see what I mean now, Freya. He is...captivating.”

Pushing away the embarrassment that threatens to spill over my cheeks, I nod slightly and return my attention to Professor Bell’s lecture.

As I watch him, trying to focus on his words rather than his looks, my mind drifts back to Beelzebub’s flustered warning. Why does he care whom I admire? We have no bond apart from our contract, and even in that he is obliged to follow my commands, not guide my personal affairs.

Mulling over this thought, I scribble notes of Professor Bell’s lecture. However, my hand slightly trembles as Beelzebub’s words ring in my ears. Was he possibly jealous?

“Freya, are you okay?” Tiffany whispers. Her concern draws me from my thoughts.

I flash her a quick smile. “I’m fine,” I assure her. “Just slightly distracted.”

“By Professor Bell?” she teases, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

I splutter, shock and embarrassment surging up in me. I fumble an attempt at denial, but it only makes her giggle even more.

“You’ve got it bad for him,” she continues, sending me into another fit of flustered denials.

“No!” I insist fervently. “I’m just…confused.”

“At the fact that you’re attracted to Professor Bell?” Tiffany asks innocently, batting her eyelashes at me.

“No, yes, I mean... no!” I stammer, my face burning hotter than ever. Tiffany’s teasing laughter rings in my ears again.

“Oh, honey,” she coos, patting my arm in what she probably thinks is a comforting manner. “Denial is the first stage. It’s okay to have a crush.”

“I don’t have a crush!”

“Keep telling yourself that…”

I roll my eyes at her. “I don’t have a crush on my professor…”

Tiffany raises a skeptical eyebrow at me but doesn’t push further. She knows when to back off.

“Alright, alright,” she sighs in defeat. “Why don’t we focus on the lecture.”

Before I know it, the bell rings dismissively and everyone begins to pack up.

Tiffany nudges me again, her eyebrow quirked playfully. “Want me to set you up with him?”

My eyes widen as I splutter in embarrassment. “T-Tiffany!”

“I’m kidding,” she laughs, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder.

After a few minutes of idle chatter, we part ways, Tiffany heading off towards her next class while I make my way to the library, hoping to find some distraction in the dusty pages of old books.

The library is quiet, it’s usual hum of activity dulled by the ongoing classes. I walk past the long rows of wooden shelves, my fingers brushing against the worn spines of the books.

I settle down in a secluded corner, flipping open a thick volume of ancient magic. Hours fly by unnoticed as I bury myself in the world of ancient spells and forgotten rituals.

Suddenly, a soft rustling breaks the silence, and I look up in surprise. In the doorway stands Professor Bell himself. He looks surprised to see me as well.

“Ms. Freya,” he says, eyebrows raised slightly though a small smile plays on his lips. “Doing some light reading?” He motions to the tome in front of me.

“Actually, I’m doing some research,” I respond, my cheeks warming at his presence. I clear my throat and focus on the worn book cover.

He nods and steps fully into the library, glancing around. “I’ve always found this place calming.” His voice is softer here, more subdued than his authoritative lecture tone.

“I agree,” I reply politely, my heart pounding in my chest.

Why is he here? And why am I suddenly so aware of every little detail about him? The way his hair falls in loose waves over his forehead, how his shirt fits just right across his shoulders.

Professor Bell’s eyes meet mine, and I quickly look away. “Is there anything I can help you with?” I ask in an attempt to break the awkward silence that’s settled between us.

He seems to consider my question for a brief moment before answering. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but a student went missing yesterday.”

A chill runs down my spine. “Missing?”

“Mhm, the missing student is Daniel, a bright young man. He always listened eagerly to my lessons.”

“Is that why you’re so troubled?”

“No, I’m troubled because he isn’t the first student that has gone missing,” Professor Bell admits. “We found a body two days ago. One of the school janitors discovered it behind the gymnasium...it was Laura, a cheerleader.”

Ice-cold dread fills my veins. I haven’t been a student for long, but I’ve seen Laura in the hallways, always surrounded by her friends, always laughing.

“That’s... horrible,” I manage to choke out.

Professor Bell nods, running a hand through his hair. “There’s more,” he says quietly, his eyes filled with a quiet despair that makes my stomach churn. “Both bodies...they were drained of blood.”