Failing is not an option...
"I've been watching you, wondering, waiting to see where
you'd end up. After all, there are other demon law schools,"
Seknecus said, making a moue of distaste that made it clear
exactly what he thought of them. "But I was happy to see
that you chose St. Lucifer's."
Technically my mother chose St. Lucifer's . . . But there
seemed no reason to interrupt just to clarify that bit of
misinformation. Seknecus wandered around the room, picking
through papers, flipping open and quickly shutting the front
covers of various leather–bound books, never meeting
my eye. I had no doubt, however, that his attention was
fully focused on me.
"So, you see, seeing your name on my List wasn't exactly
a surprise, although it appeared much later than I would
have liked."
He did look at me then, with a frown of disapproval. I
did my best to look expressionless because none seemed
appropriate. It wouldn't do to look amused, bored or, Luck
forbid, rebellious. Seknecus stared at me with narrowed eyes
and then went back to wandering.
"You've got some catching up to do," he said, addressing
a copy of Sin and Sanction: Codification & Case Law. "It
doesn't matter why or what excuses you've got for yourself.
You will be held to the same standards as everyone else,
regardless of whose daughter you are. And you've missed a
lot of class already."
I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off with a wave.
"Manipulation class," he clarified. "You're going to have
to work ten times as hard as everyone else just to pass.
Quintus Rochester doesn't go easy on students and he's
likely to see your absence during the early part of the
semester as a challenge. You know, failing is not an option.
Not if you want to live."