Zodiac Academy: The Awakening: An Academy Bullymance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts Book 1)

by Caroline Peckham

“And what is the purpose of Vampire fangs?” he asked.

  “To suck magic out of other Orders!” Kylie called out, seeming excited.

  “Correct,” Orion said with a hungry glimmer in his gaze. “Any volunteers?”

  Nervous laughter rang out and my stomach twisted up.

  “No?” Orion pressed, strolling casually into the aisles between the desks. “Because in Solaria, Fae don't tend to ask for what they want, do they?”

  He paused beside Diego's desk and the boy's eyes widened.

  “Name?” Orion demanded of him.

  “Diego Polaris,” he said. “And as a teacher, sir, don't you have to ask for blood?”

  In answer, Orion snatched Diego's arm and dug his fangs into it.

  My heart slammed into my throat as Diego released a yell of pain and I suddenly found myself on my feet.

  “Stop!” I demanded and Orion extracted his fangs, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

  Diego seemed a little weak, blinking heavily as he held his bloody wrist as far away from Orion as possible.

  “Problem, Miss Vega?” Orion asked, his brows arching as he assessed me.

  I glanced over my shoulder at Tory and she shook her head to warn me off.

  I sank back into my seat, my heart thundering in my ears. I didn't answer him, instead looking away in disgust.

  Pig.

  Orion marched back to his desk and dropped into the wide leather chair behind it. “You have ten minutes to describe the shifted forms of each Mutatio in the table. Go.” He plucked up his coffee cup, drained it in one then sat back in his chair, thumbing through something on his Atlas.

  “Great, we'll just sit here for ten minutes then,” Tory said under her breath, folding her arms.

  I nodded, pursing my lips.

  A few minutes into the task we had no chance of completing, I glanced at Diego. “Are you okay?”

  He nodded, seeming to have gotten over Orion's vicious attack. He dropped his eyes back to his Atlas and continued tapping away the answers.

  My gaze drifted to Orion who was grinning about something he was reading on his Atlas. His eyes shimmered with a deep heat and I firmly reminded myself he was only a beast with a beautiful face. Just like Caleb.

  "Orion is so hot,” Kylie whispered, her voice carrying to my ears.

  "Yeah and he knows it." The girl beside her smothered a laugh.

  "He does know it, because he has Vampire hearing." Orion looked up from his desk, pinning them in his sharp gaze. "So if you don't want detention for the next week, I suggest you keep your petty thoughts to yourselves about me and any other member of faculty for that matter."

  The girls’ mouths dropped open and a snort escaped me.

  "Oh come on Professor as if you don't love having a bunch of girls drooling over you," Tyler called out from the front row, shoving a hand into his blonde-tipped hair to mess it up.

  Orion rose from his seat, wandering casually toward the boy with a smile that said he was thoroughly amused. The guy grinned from ear to ear as Orion reached out to him. In a surge of movement, he cracked Tyler’s head against his desk and the entire class inhaled as his smile fell away.

  Orion pointed a finger and swept it across everyone in the room who wasn't yet sporting a head wound. “To me, each and every one of you is just a pair of ears. Ears that are going to listen to me speak and no one else in this classroom. If you want to talk to your little BFF in the seat next to you, go ahead. But you'll join Frosted Tips here in detention tonight. And trust me when I say, detention with me is not a fun experience."

  "Detention?" the boy gasped as he rubbed his forehead.

  Orion's eyes narrowed on him with a do-you-really-want-to-backchat-me-right-now? look and the boy backed down, nodding quickly.

  I released a breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding. That teacher had just physically attacked a student! What the hell kind of school was this?

  Tory and I exchanged a glance and anger bubbled inside me. That was so not okay.

  “This place is crazy,” I whispered to Tory.

  “Batshit,” she agreed.

  My Atlas pinged loudly and Orion’s gaze narrowed on me in fury. I waved a hand in apology before he lost it and tried to find the mute button. My gaze snagged on the notification on the screen and I frowned.

  You’ve received a private message on FaeBook, Darcy!

  Overwhelmed with curiosity, I tapped the screen and navigated my way to the app. I found a single message in my inbox from someone called ‘Falling Star’ and their profile picture was of a crescent moon.

  Falling Star:

  He didn’t tell you the whole story…

  I glanced at Tory and found she had her own Atlas pulled in front of her. I realised she was in the chat box too and my brow creased as she looked to me in confusion.

  She tapped out an answer and I glanced down at my screen as it popped up.

  Roxanya Vega:

  Who?

  She seriously needed to change that profile name. I stifled a laugh, taking her Atlas and doing it for her. She mouthed me a thank you as I passed it back. I’d always been slightly more tech savvy than her when it came to computers.

  A sharp ping sounded from my Atlas and I winced, my shoulders hunching as I locked eyes with Orion. If eyes could fire lasers, I would have been a puddle of guts right then.

  “Miss Vega, are you entirely dense?” he snarled.

  “No,” I forced out with as much strength as I could.

  “Then why are your Atlas notifications switched on in my classroom after I gave you a clear warning to turn them off?”

  My throat closed up but I didn’t want to let him see me flounder. I might have been ten (okay eighty) percent scared of this guy but he wasn’t going to know that if I could help it.

  “I didn’t realise-” I started but he cut me off, his mouth twisting into a demonic smile.

  “Don’t ever lie to me,” he growled and his tone lifted the hairs on the back of my neck. “Let’s hear it then. What does this message say that is obviously important enough to interrupt my class?”

  My breathing became shallow as I glanced down at the message on the screen. I traced the words with my eyes and my day took a seriously dark turn. It felt like reaching the top of a rollercoaster and realising your harness was unlocked.

  “Out loud. Now,” Orion demanded and I spotted Tory shaking her head in my periphery, clearing having read it.

  Well, bye bye life, it was nice knowing you.

  I cleared my throat as a few giggles sounded around me. Diego shot me a sympathetic look as I began to read it, every syllable enunciated, figuring I might as well enjoy the ride on the way to my doom.

  “The lump of muscle who teaches your Cardinal Magic class. Just to be clear, you’ll recognise Orion by the scent of bourbon on his breath,-” a big inhale sounded from the whole class, “-the permanent scowl stamped on his face and the general air of failed dreams about him since he lost his chance at playing for the Solarian Pitball League.”

  I lifted my eyes, my heart lodged firmly in my throat as I met Orion’s could-melt-a-glacier gaze. The laughter was growing in the classroom and Orion looked like a volcano ready to blow.

  “And which of your many, many friends sent you that colourful message?” he asked, deadly calm.

  “I don’t know. It’s sort of... anonymous,” I said weakly, offering up the Atlas.

  He eyed it for a moment then looked to the class. “Everyone return to their work.”

  He settled himself back in his chair and I bit into my lip, the tension in my chest becoming unbearable.

  There’s no way I’m getting off that easy.

  Orion returned to looking at his Atlas and I turned to Tory, a thousand words on my lips.

  “Do you think we can trust this Falling Star person?” she whispered.

  “I don’t know,” I said thoughtfully. “It’s hard to know who to trust in this place.”

  Orion sudd
enly waved his hand as if he wanted me to get out of my seat. I frowned, glancing around for some kind of confirmation, but everyone was staring down at their Atlases with a steely determination.

  "Miss Vega if you're not standing up in the next three seconds, you're going to regret it,” Orion barked.

  “Which Vega?” Tory asked, barely concealing her jibing tone.

  Holy shit Tor.

  Orion's eyes snapped to her. “The one who has tried to individualise herself by dying the ends of her hair blue. It has failed by the way.”

  I pressed my lips together at the insult, deciding not to budge.

  You don’t know anything about me, jackass.

  "Stand up,” he commanded.

  "If I say no are you going to smash my head into the table?" I asked through gritted teeth. I might have been one-percent terrified to call his bluff but I also didn't want to be his next target. And it seemed everyone around here had to fight for their place in this culture. I wasn’t going to be made into a weak link on my first day. And as I decided that, something innate came to life inside me like a planted seed suddenly growing a little shoot.

  Hell, I really am Fae.

  “I'll do it.” Tory rose from her seat but Orion raised a hand.

  “I didn't ask you,” he snarled.

  Tory pouted then dropped back into her chair, rolling her eyes. I didn't like that Tory always took bullets for me; she didn't always need to protect me.

  I stood up and raised my brows as I waited for my sentence. Orion's mouth hooked up at the corner and a predatory glint entered his eyes. Fear trickled through me but I held his gaze, refusing to show my terror, though something told me he could taste it on the air.

  “Tell me the qualities and abilities of a Nemean Lion.” He did that creepy smile thing again. Like he was as happy as Larry. But I could see his tactic now. This was his way of intimidating people. Pretending to be the friendly type, like maybe he was on your side for a second then BAM he slams your face into a desk.

  He knew I had no clue what a Nemean Lion was but he wanted to embarrass me. Just like every other asshole in this school apparently.

  I shrugged. “I don't know.”

  “I thought not,” he said quietly. “But while everyone else was working you thought it was a good time to speak with your equally useless sister?”

  Anger flashed inside me and Tory rose abruptly from her seat. “Who are you calling useless?”

  “Am I not speaking clearly enough?”

  She pursed her lips and didn't answer.

  He surveyed us for a moment then his eyes glittered with some idea. “Both of you climb onto your desks.”

  His sharp tone washed over me and I felt unable to do anything but obey. My heart hammered as I scrambled up onto my desk beside Tory and everyone in the room started chattering excitedly.

  Orion moved to lean back against his desk, his hands in his pockets. He nodded to Diego. “Polaris, please explain loud and clear to the ignorant twins on your left what Coercion is.”

  Diego got up, his chair legs scraping across the floor with a screech. He adjusted his beanie hat, throwing us an apologetic glance before answering. “Coercion is one of the Cardinal magics gifted to all Fae without exception. It's the ability to control those of weak mind and is particularly effective on mortals.”

  “Tell them why,” Orion pressed, his eyes dancing with mirth as they remained on us.

  My heart thundered as all of this information sank in. Anyone who could cast Coercion magic could control us.

  Diego cleared his throat. “Because most Fae learn how to perform a simple shield on their minds to block basic Coercion from a young age.”

  “Thank you, sit down,” Orion told Diego and heat built in my cheeks.

  “We've never been taught any-” Tory started but Orion cut over her.

  “Quiet,” he commanded her then looked to the rest of the class. “The Vega Twins need to learn how to perform a simple shield. To encourage them to do so, you are all assigned the task of Coercing them at any given opportunity from here on out.”

  Kylie squealed her delight and several more of the class laughed.

  “What?” I gasped. “How are we supposed to learn to do something we've never even heard of before now?”

  Tory was still struggling to open her lips after he'd ordered her to stay quiet, but she was working real hard at it.

  Orion ignored us, pointing at Tyler in the front row. “Stand up, turn around, one command.”

  “Are you kidding me right now?” I blurted, trying to force myself to get off of the table, but finding myself unable to ignore the impulse to remain there.

  Dammit.

  Tyler grinned at us in excitement. “Jump up and down and flap your arms like a chicken.”

  My legs immediately complied as I started jumping and my arms swiftly followed suit, flapping madly beside me. Tory was still desperately trying to speak while she jumped up and down in time with me.

  Heat slammed into my cheeks as laughter echoed around the classroom. Orion was grinning his head off too. “Who's next?” he asked and Kylie's arm launched into the air faster than a N.A.S.A rocket.

  Crap!

  “Go ahead.” He nodded at her.

  She stood up with a malicious expression on her too-pretty face and my heart raced with anger. I felt the previous compulsion wearing off of me and both Tory and I fell still.

  “Screw this,” Tory snapped, kicking her Atlas off of the desk. Orion's arm shot out and the Atlas stopped mid-air, floating back up to sit right back where it had been before on an invisible wind.

  He opened his mouth to berate her when the classroom door opened and Principal Nova strode in. She surveyed the scene with a look of interest then smiled at Orion. “How is everyone's first lesson going?”

  “Terrible,” I muttered, but she didn't seem to hear me. Orion's eyes flashed my way, confirming he had. I dropped off of my desk, folding my arms as I glared at him. I didn't expect Nova to do anything, not after she'd stood idly by when Caleb had bitten Tory. But maybe the distraction would be enough to put an end to this madness.

  “The twins are behind,” Orion told her bluntly. “They don't know a thing about the Orders. Beyond that, they don't have even a basic shield against Coercion and I doubt against any other magic either. So they'll most likely be dead before the end of term.”

  My stomach scrunched up into a solid ball and in that moment, I hated him. He was talking as if it was our fault for being so under-prepared. We'd been here one day and spent our entire lives without any knowledge of Fae. How could we be expected to cast shields against magic we'd just found out about?

  “Hmm.” Nova glanced our way. “Well that won't do.” She tapped her lower lip. “They'll have to have Liaisons for tuition once a week.”

  Orion nodded. “That's the least they need.”

  “They'll need the best for the job,” Nova said thoughtfully.

  “Right.” Orion scratched the short beard on his chin, suddenly seeming disinterested in the conversation.

  “So you'll have to tutor one of them and I'll elect another Professor for the other.”

  Orion's bored expression turned to a wall of fury. “I coach Pitball most evenings, I don't have time for that.”

  “Yes but you only coach for an hour, then you have the whole evening at your disposal,” Nova said brightly.

  “You're right, I'd love to give my private time up for this,” he said dryly and Nova beamed as if she hadn't registered his sarcasm.

  The Principal looked to me and pointed. “Tory, you'll be taught by Professor Orion and-”

  “I'm Darcy,” I corrected.

  “I – er – of course you are,” Nova backtracked. “So you'll be with Orion and Darcy I'll let you know-”

  “I'm Tory,” my sister huffed.

  “Right er-” Nova started but Orion stepped in.

  “Blue, you’re with me.” He pointed at me and I scowled at the nickname.<
br />
  “Right,” Nova said. “You should start tonight; they need to get on track as soon as possible.”

  “Great,” he bit out and my stomach swirled with nerves. Me and him? Liaising? Please no.

  “I'll leave you to it then.” The Principal turned on her stilettos and headed out of the room, snapping the door shut behind her.

  Orion sighed heavily, marching back to the board with tension in his posture.

  “Sir?” Kylie moaned. “Are we not doing Coercion anymore?”

  “No,” he growled. “Sit down and shut up. That goes for all of you.”

  Tory and I sank back into our seats and my mood took an even darker turn. Spending my evenings in Aer tower with Seth and his friends had already seemed bad enough, but now it looked like it was going to get even worse. Me and Professor Bites-His-Students in a room together. It sounded like the universe was having a really good go at ruining my day. And as I recalled my morning horoscope, I wondered if Professor Orion was a Libra.

  AFTER OUR DOUBLE Cardinal Magic class with Professor Asshat, we followed a trailing line of students towards The Orb for lunch. The glimmering golden building was even more breathtaking in the sunlight and I was so caught up in looking at it that I didn't notice the four Heirs standing by the entrance until we were almost on top of them.

  Darcy muttered a curse beneath her breath as she spotted them, her fingers curling around my wrist in warning.

  I exchanged a loaded glance with her and held my chin high as we drew closer. By some miracle, they didn’t seem to have noticed us and the four of them headed inside before we were forced to pass them.

  We merged into a group of excitable juniors who were discussing something called Pitball in loud voices and made our way to the lunch queue unnoticed. I wasn’t going to hide from the Heirs but drawing their attention on purpose seemed like a stupid idea even to me.

  “What do you think we should do about the messages from Falling Star?” Darcy asked me as she chewed on her thumbnail.

  “I dunno,” I admitted. “It seems like everyone in this place is either threatened by us or wants something from us. And they already dropped us in it with Orion even if their assessment of him was pretty damn funny.”