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The headave janitorial punishainst the Guidons, to chastise her, Headmaster Fournier had forced Emma to clean toilets as her punishment

I pushed away the memory I couldn’t let emotion cripple me I needed clear focus I told ic that would ulti rin, and heartbreak that was Carden? Would anything ever be enough for that?

I stiffened my upper lip I was roots in the earth I was cold stone I was grit and vision I was Watcher Or I would be if I lived that long

I knocked on Headmaster Fournier’s door, a cup of coffee in uy--but I’d waited for the dregs, and I irounds

His voice was muffled from behind the door "Come"

"Good afternoon, Headmaster Fournier" I used my most formal tone--I wanted to earn a simple janitorial punish"

It took a lot of gall, doing the casual drop-by like this, and his expression was a mix of curious and surprised "This is not the best tilanced over ht present itself He didn’t look angry, though, and that was souessed it took a lot to rouse a vampire’s curiosity, and they probably didn’t mind when it happened

I thanked him with a s noalked in and put ht on his desk It made a ceramic clack sound, and coffee sloshed over the sides

Horrified astonish lady, this is not a café"

Nerves had le at his expression "I’m so sorry," I said with ratifyingly dark ring, which I pro a fine line here I needed to be careful--bad enough to earn a minor disciplinary action, but not so bad I’d lose ies"

"What did you want?" He addressed ue

Okay So a coffee ring on his antique desk didn’t do it I’d need to go further If I spilled on his shirt, I et laundry duty, but ould I do with a bunch of soap? No, I needed janitorial duty--uys surely had all kinds of chemicals and tools at their disposal

"I needed to ask you about so fast Honestly, I’d expected to be punished the h If this is a bad time"

"I told you it was not Now speak before you try my patience further"

"I had a question about…an acade his office as best I could without actually pausing to look around Beneath his desk was a gorgeous Aubusson throw rug, with a floral pattern in shades of pale peach, sky blue, and ivory I prayed it wasn’t priceless and irreplaceable, because spilled coffee could really et behind his desk I stepped forward

"Stop," he said sharply "You have thirty seconds to tell me why you’re here before I pursue disciplinaryyour pardon, Head I’llfast, I said, "I wanted to propose we establish a TA prograh I were speaking soue

I nodded enthusiastically "Like teacher’s assistants, research assistants, that sort of thing Like at real colleges"

"This is not a real college" He scooted back like he was about usher me out himself

It was now or never

I s oflike a black spiderweb across that pretty carpet

Fournier asp He pointed to the door "Acari Drew You will report to the janitor, hom you will spend the rest of your day"