I bit down on my tongue and shoved the papers together, pushing them into a thick envelope so that I could take them with me and give them back to Roxy. I didn’t know if she’d even want them, but it didn’t seem right to leave them here.
Caleb caught my eye and wordlessly grabbed a bag from beside the chest of drawers and filled it with their clothes. It was still pitifully empty when he was done and there wasn’t anything else here.
“Let’s go home,” Max said in a low voice and Seth whimpered as he glanced around at the barren apartment one last time before pulling the stardust from his pocket.
“We’re not telling anyone else about this,” I said as we all looked at each other.
“No,” they agreed and a moment later we were swept up by the stars and transported back to the academy.
Two weeks. I’d hidden like a rabbit down a hole for two damn weeks. And I knew it couldn’t go on any longer. Especially when I’d received an email from Principal Nova last night stating that she was sympathetic to my situation, but I needed to get back to classes and face life like a Fae.
My Atlas had been returned the day after the trial, no longer required as evidence. I’d avoided FaeBook, the internet, instead spending hours poring over the Phoenix books Orion had given me while trying not to damage the pages with my tears. They weren’t all tears of sadness either. A lot of them were rage. Confusion. Hurt. How could he have done this to me, to us, himself?
Not being able to ask him that question was driving me to insanity. I needed to know what the hell had been going through his head when he’d thrown his entire life away. He’d clearly decided on it during the space of the trial. Changing his plea to make me out to be some poor little student he’d forced into loving him. It was sickening. Enraging. Humiliating.
But I couldn’t keep hiding from the world. I had to face it. Tory had been strong enough to show up on the first day of term after being Star Crossed, but when my world fell apart, I’d fallen apart with it. So it was time I scraped myself off the ground and took a leaf out of my sister’s book.
The worst part of all of this was that Orion’s lie was so iron clad that even if I screamed and shouted the truth, everyone would think I was still under his Dark Coercion, forced to believe I loved him forevermore. Another surge of rage clung to my soul as I thought of those words leaving his mouth. But then I pictured him alone in prison and my rage gave way to pain. And not just any prison, a maximum security prison for the worst Fae imaginable. Darkmore Penitentiary.
I stood in front of the mirror in my uniform, my hair hanging around my face which was painted in subtle make-up to hide the pallor of my skin which spoke of my lack of sleep.
I’d been sorely tempted to give myself to the shadows a thousand times since the trial. They were always there, winding beneath my flesh like my body was haunted by whispering ghosts. I never answered their call though. I knew the moment I did, I’d drown in them forever.
I eyed my blue hair with a twisting in my gut as it reminded me of him then I strode from the room, slinging my bag over my shoulder and locking the door before heading out into the stairwell. Groups of students paused as they spotted me, tugging on each other’s sleeves and whispering beneath their breath.
“Good to see you back, Darcy,” a girl I’d never spoken to in my life called to me.
I clenched my jaw, saying nothing as I headed down the stairs and words of sympathy rang around me. It was worse than being called a whore. Now they called me a victim. They believed Orion had preyed on me like some kind of monster.
My heart was thundering by the time I reached The Orb and I held my chin higher as I walked in. Geraldine leapt from her seat, her mouth opening as if she was about to make some grand speech and I shook my head at her firmly.
“Please don’t make a show,” I begged as I approached and her lips slowly closed as she lowered into her seat, her eyes brimming with tears.
“It is so good to have you back,” she breathed, reaching across the table to take my hand.
I didn’t let her take it, my brows stitching together as I grabbed a bagel and started buttering it just to busy myself. I couldn’t eat it. I’d lost my appetite the same day Orion had cast himself into hell.
I felt Diego and Sofia’s eyes on me, not to mention the entirety of The Orb, and I was grateful when Tory suddenly appeared in her running gear, dropping down beside me, her presence lending me strength.
A moment later, Darius arrived, placing down her coffee with one of the chocolate wafers she loved before walking off without saying a word.
Tory cleared her throat, picking up her coffee and taking a sip then everyone looked back to me with questions in their eyes.
“I’m only going to say this once,” I told my friends, looking between them.
Tyler leaned in closer, chomping on a bagel like he was hanging on my every word.
“Orion didn’t Coerce me, he lied,” I said firmly.
“I told them the truth,” Tory said. “And anyone who says otherwise can go sit at another table, isn’t that right Geraldine?”
“It is absolutely correct,” Geraldine said, puffing out her chest with pride. “There is no ounce of my being which would ever question the word of the true queens. If you say it is so, then it is so.”
Sofia nodded firmly and even Diego seemed to agree despite the fact that I was sure it would have been easy for him to turn against Orion.
“And for your peace of mind, I will ask my most wonderous Aunt Brenda to keep an eye on him for you. She works as a healer at Darkmore and I have no doubt she would rise to the occasion to ensure he is taken care of if he has any bumps or scrapes.”
“That’s kind, thank you,” I said, a rush of air tumbling from my lungs. I hadn’t realised how desperately I needed my friends to stand by my side in this. But now I knew that they were, I felt foolish for staying away from them for so long. I could see in their eyes how much they cared for me. “I’d rather not talk about it any more than that, okay?”
“You hear that?” Geraldine called to the whole table. “Not a word is to be uttered about the recent events our Queen Darcy has faced or by the glowing backside of the moon, I will smite you!”
Everyone nodded their agreement and I offered her a smile of thanks. In the ranks of the A.S.S. I managed to get through breakfast without having to engage with any other student in The Orb who was looking my way. But I caught sight of people muttering, smirking, frowning, forming their opinions, starting their rumours. The events at court would have spread like wildfire by now. And I was going to have to accept that most people had probably already made their minds up about me and Orion.
As I walked to Jupiter Hall, my heart sinking as I thought about attending Cardinal Magic class without Orion to teach it, I decided I wanted to know what was being said. I knew it would hurt. But if I ignored it, I couldn’t face it head on. So I took out my Atlas and Faegled my name, my stomach knotting as I tapped on the top article to appear - by Gus Vulpecula of course.
“Darcy, don’t,” Tory warned, reaching for my Atlas, but I side stepped away from her as we entered Jupiter Hall.
“I want to see,” I said firmly, no room for negotiation in my tone.
She sighed, but didn’t make another move to stop me.
My gaze fell on a picture of Orion at the top of the article and my heart thrashed against my ribcage. It was a mugshot, his eyes looking dead, his head tilted down, the tie he’d worn at the trial hanging loose around his throat. There were shadows cast over the black and white image that made him look monstrous, deadly. And the title of the article made me want to throw my Atlas into the nearest wall.
Zodiac Academy professor sentenced to 25 years in Darkmore Penitentiary for sordid predation of a Vega Princess.
As the people of Solaria held their breath to hear the outcome of the most televised trial in thirty years, the Court of Solaria confirms that Lance Orion, former teacher of Cardinal Magic at Zodiac Academy and esteemed Pi
tball coach, used Dark Coercion (a form of manipulative black magic) to force Gwendalina (Darcy) Vega into an ongoing sexual affair which began just a few weeks after her enrolment at the academy.
With her already addled mind, it seems Orion abused the Solarian Princess in what can only be described as a sick and twisted plot. Details have emerged that he dragged her into a swimming pool the first time he forced himself on her, creating an air pod in the water where he could make his first move. No doubt, Gwendalina’s history of mental illness made her even more susceptible to his suggestions and one can only pity the princess for what Orion put her through, all the while bewitching her thoughts and memories to make her believe she wanted his advances.
There is a growing concern coming from this terrible revelation that with her mind forever corrupted by her abuser, one can only wonder what kind of disturbed woman she will turn out to be beyond graduation. There are rumours that the Mental Health Institute for Fae have tried to call her in for assessment. But Miss Vega pointed them towards her P.A. for comment who, unfortunately for their efforts, turned out to be a raven.
As for Lance Orion, his past reveals the destructive route he’s been on for many years, becoming cold to his widowed mother after she lost her husband in a magical accident and when her daughter disappeared years later (see page fourteen for news on the miraculous re-emergence of Clara Orion). Stella Orion gave this comment after her son's prison sentence was announced. "I am saddened and deeply hurt by this news. My son has not been himself for many years and unfortunately, I didn’t realise how bad things had gotten. As a loving mother, I would have helped him through any problems he was having. I always had an open ear for my son, but perhaps there was always something missing in him.”
I shut my Atlas off, stuffing it back in my bag as my hands tightened into fists.
“It’s all bullshit,” Tory muttered and I nodded.
“I know, but it’s bullshit the whole world has swallowed,” I growled. “And he did it to himself.”
“Good morning, my dear,” Washer’s voice made me flinch and I recoiled as he reached out to touch me. Tory had told me he’d temporarily taken over our Cardinal Magic classes and he was about the last person in the world I wanted to see right now. “Great to see you’re ploughing deeply into your studies again. But I would be amiss not to offer you my services.” His tanned face twisted into a sympathetic smile as he glanced over at Tory. “Both of you must feel as though you’ve been dragged naked through a thorn bush lately. So if you’d like me to siphon away those dark emotions writhing inside you, then I am more than willing to assist you.”
“I’d rather swallow a toothpick whole, but thanks,” Tory said coolly and Washer tutted, turning to me again.
“But you my dear, you must be so troubled, not knowing your own mind. I can pick apart your thoughts, try to help you feel out what was real and what wasn’t. We’d have to go through each of the times he touched you in quite vivid detail, but it would be most beneficial to get it off your chest.”
“I know my own mind,” I said firmly. “Orion lied in court.”
I knew it was pointless saying it. No one was going to believe me. But not saying it felt like a betrayal to myself. I couldn’t let the whole world think I’d been brainwashed, even though Orion had given me zero choice in the matter. And I wasn’t going to give up trying to clear his name.
I’d talked it over with Tory a hundred times already and we’d decided it was time to let everyone know that Phoenixes couldn’t be Dark Coerced. That our Order powers could block all kinds of invasive mental magic. But we couldn’t just blurt it out and let the papers dismiss it. We had to handle it right. So Darius was working on an appeal with his lawyers which would allow us to prove it in front of a judge.
“My dear.” Washer stepped closer, his musky cologne reaching to me from the patch of waxed chest I could see between the few buttons undone at his throat. “The first step towards healing is accepting what happened. Professor Orion seemed like a fine, fine man, but unfortunately it is never the ones you suspect that have a dark seed growing inside them.”
“He did not abuse me,” I snapped, my voice rising enough that the entire class turned to face me. “And the only pervert in this school is you.”
Washer’s lips parted in offence. “I beg your pardon? I do understand that you’re dealing with a swell of emotions right now, but do not turn your ire against me, Miss Vega.”
I pursed my lips, refusing to apologise. Why should I? He went around getting in people’s personal space without their permission all the time. He was gross, and the fact that Orion was being called a creep by the whole world and not this guy was an actual joke.
Washer frowned pitifully, apparently giving me a free pass as he patted my shoulder and walked away to the front of the class. “Come on in, I’ll be handing you over to your new professor today. She will be here any minute.”
The door opened and people started muttering as they headed inside. My gaze hooked on Kylie giggling with Jillian and rage singed my insides as I took in her smirking face and the light dancing in her eyes. She was seriously damn pleased with herself for getting her revenge on me. Revenge for something I didn’t even do. Bitch.
Tory scowled, stepping closer to me. “Want me to punch that smile off of her smug face?”
“No,” I said through my teeth. “I want her to hurt far worse than that.”
“Ooh, that’s dark, Darcy,” Tyler said, slinging his arm over Sofia’s shoulders as they followed us inside. “I’m so here for it. Just make sure to gimme a heads up so I can have my camera ready when it goes down.”
“I think she deserves a stint in hell for what she did,” Sofia said with her upper lip peeling back.
They were all so determinedly on my side about this and it made my heart thaw out. They didn’t doubt my story. They just blindly believed it. And I couldn’t thank them enough for that.
“The stars will punish her,” Diego said in a growl. “There’s no justice in the world if they don’t, chica.” He laid his hand on my arm and I frowned at him in confusion, my heart tugging.
“You hated Orion,” I breathed.
He dropped my gaze. “I think we were starting to see eye to eye. And Tory said she saw you together, she knows the truth. That’s enough for me.”
I was incredibly grateful to her for that and I reached out to squeeze her hand as we moved along the line.
We headed into class and I took my usual seat between Diego and my sister while Washer gathered up a box of things from the desk. Orion’s desk. Things he’d obviously filled the drawers with. And I was hit with a blinding fear - where has all his stuff been taken?
Had his house been emptied out? His things thrown away or shoved in storage somewhere? My muscles tensed at the thought that his presence had been so swiftly and sharply removed from the academy when he’d given so much of his life to this place.
I took my Atlas out, shooting Darius a message with anxiety warring in my chest.
Darcy:
Do you know what happened to Lance’s things?
Darius:
I’ve got them in storage. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t let any fucker touch his stuff. If there’s anything you want to hang onto let me know.
Relief filled me and I released a slow breath as I sent another reply.
Darcy:
Thank you. How’s the appeal coming along?
Darius:
The Kiplings are working on the documents. I’ll let you know when I receive them and what will be required.
P.S.
Glad to see you back. Don’t break alone. I know you have your sister, but I’m always here if you need to talk about him.
The weight of my heart lessened at his words and I offered him the only thing I could in return.
Darcy:
You too, Darius. Thank you for everything you’ve done for him.
“Ah, here she is,” Washer announced and I turned to the door where a wo
man with raven hair down to her waist was stepping into the room.
She was beautiful, almost sickeningly so. Like every inch of her skin had been buffed and polished, her makeup impossibly flawless. It was as if she was wearing a Faechat filter that made her practically glimmer with beauty. Her almond eyes were delicately painted with eyeliner and her full, pouty lips were scarlet red. The knee length black dress she wore hugged her petite yet curvaceous figure, her boobs shoved up and displayed without modesty and a pendant hung around her neck with an aquamarine stone in it that matched her unusually coloured eyes.
“Class, this is Professor Highspell,” Washer announced. “Although Professor Orion taught with a firm hand that we will all miss-” He paused as he sighed. “- I have no doubt that your new professor will make sure your needs are met, won’t you Honey?”
“Honey Highspell? Is she some kind of escort for hire?” Tyler snorted and Highspell strode towards him, pushing her fingers into his hair then yanking backwards so he was forced to look up her.
“Watch that tongue of yours,” she purred. “Or it might end up in trouble. And I always find a punishment that fits the crime.” She chuckled flirtatiously then stalked up to the desk like a panther, waving her hand at Washer disinterestedly. “You may go.”
He nodded, apparently not taken in by her allure despite him perving on ninety nine percent of the population. He kept his eyes fixed on her face instead of her obvious cleavage, smiling tightly before heading out the door.
Highspell leaned her ass against the desk, gripping it either side of her thighs with her long, manicured nails. Her eyes roamed over the class, moving from face to face as if committing each of them to memory. When she reached me and Tory, her upper lip pulled back almost imperceptibly. “I think it’s apt for me to mention the elephant in the room,” she said with a gentle smile. “Lance Orion, an upstanding citizen in Fae society whom I had the pleasure to train with for our teaching degree, has been convicted of a terrible crime. A crime which he did not commit.”
Zodiac Academy 5: Cursed Fates: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts) Page 61