Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts)

by Caroline Peckham

  I nodded. “Not much we can do about it now either way. What are we gonna do with all of that though?” I gestured to the gold.

  Tory gazed at it for a moment then an idea glowed in her eyes. “We keep it. If we ever need to run back to Chicago, we have it as a backup plan. Plus I quite like knowing that we’ve got a big ass bag of Darius’s gold smuggled away.”

  “Good plan, so where are we going to hide it?” I glanced around my room, unsure if anywhere was safe from the Heirs. If they ever caught wind of Tory stealing it, we were so dead.

  Voices carried from out in the tower and I realised we'd run out of time to do anything about it right now. The assembly was over.

  “We can keep it here for a while,” I said quickly, gathering up a handful and kneeling down to hide it under the bed. Tory helped me, stuffing the gold chalices, coins and jewellery back into the sports bag and shoving it beneath the bed, as far in as we could push it.

  When we were done, Tory got to her feet, giving me an expression which was laced with a little concern. “I just hope I can get back to Ignis House before Darius does because one of my biggest regrets leaving this place would have been missing the look on his face when he sees his room going up in smoke.”

  A laugh escaped me as she opened the door and waved goodbye. I didn't miss the way she checked up and down the corridor as she went and I knew it would be a while before we felt safe in these walls again. And perhaps we never really would. Not until we harnessed our powers. We'd been to the brink of hell and back and the Heirs could take us there again if they wanted to. But we'd be ready this time.

  I locked my door and dropped onto my bed, releasing a slow breath as my heart rate finally settled. My Atlas pinged and I picked it up, wondering if there was a way to turn off my FaeBook notifications for good.

  You have a private email waiting for you, Darcy!

  I clicked on the banner with a frown and was taken to an inbox I didn't recognise.

  Lance:

  Location: Venus Library

  Row: Epsilon

  Text: Earth: The Power of Growth.

  I read over the strange message, wondering if it had been intended for me. I didn't know anyone called Lance. But at least they weren't sending me hate mail. So I was counting that as a win.

  Darcy:

  Sorry, who is this? I think you might have the wrong person.

  I hoped this wasn't going to be another Falling Star situation. If only Astrum had been upfront sooner, maybe... I didn't let myself finish that thought, my stomach knotting at the idea that his death could have been avoided if we'd acted differently. And now we'd decided to stay here, that meant we might be on campus with a murderer.

  I started to wonder if the mystery man would reply. Maybe he had got the wrong person after all. But then another message came in and my heart tripped over itself as I read it.

  Lance:

  I think you know me better as the 'bourbon drinking Professor with a permanent scowl stamped on his face and a general air of failed dreams about him.'

  Check out the book, Blue. You'll find it educational.

  P.S

  Delete these messages immediately.

  I jogged down the spiralling staircase in Aer House, my heart pounding with exhilaration. We were staying. Leaving had seemed like the only option for a few bleak hours but the moment Darcy had said she wanted to stay, a weight had lifted from my chest.

  I’d never run from any challenge in my life. And deep down in my soul, I’d known that I never would have forgiven myself if I’d ended up running from this.

  I may not have wanted the throne or to rule over every other Fae in this academy, but I sure as hell didn’t want to bow to the demands of a bunch of sadistic assholes either.

  A couple of students noticed me as I passed, a few shouts coming my way like ‘fancy a swim, Tory?’ and ‘did you enjoy your dip last night?’. I responded by holding my head high and moving beyond them without even bothering to respond. I had bigger fish to fry than a few hanger-on douchebags who were only concerned with impressing the Heirs.

  I made it our of Aer House just in time to see lightning flashing within the dark sea of clouds overhead. Thunder boomed and I glanced up at the tempestuous sky, expecting rain at any moment.

  I jogged back down the path that led to The Orb, my high ponytail swinging across my back from the fast pace. The wind blew a little fiercer and my hair whipped around me, the smell of smoke assaulting my nostrils. I gritted my teeth, hoping no one else had noticed that scent on my clothes when I’d passed them.

  I kept up my pace as I passed The Orb and turned towards Ignis House, merging with other Fire Elemental students who were among the last to head back from the assembly. I wound my way between them, wanting to get back quickly and hurried forward as I spotted Sofia.

  “Hey,” I said as I fell into step with her.

  “Tory!” She threw her arms around me and I stumbled back a step in surprise as I returned her embrace for a moment. “I was so worried about the two of you,” she said. “I’ve seen the footage of what The Heirs-”

  “I’m fine,” I said quickly, wriggling out of her grasp as I spotted Darius prowling our way. The last thing I needed was for him to think I was moping about what he’d done to me. He was laughing with a bunch of his fan club and I resisted the urge to gag at their display. Milton Hubert was smiling at him so widely that I got the feeling he’d lick his boots if that’s what Darius wanted.

  Sofia followed my gaze as she released me and I gave her a nudge to get her moving towards the House again, turning my back on Darius as his gaze moved my way. I wanted to get back before him.

  We walked on in silence and I encouraged her to move even faster as the crowd began to thicken.

  The wind blustered around us, carrying the scent of smoke on the air just as a giant crash broke through the sky and the rain burst free of the clouds.

  Several students cried out as the torrential downpour began and we started running toward the safety of the House. A lot of the older students created shields of hot air above their head to evaporate the rain before it could reach them but I didn’t even consider attempting it. I let the rain drench me, releasing a laugh at my luck; now I didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing the stench of smoke on my skin anymore.

  Sofia looked at me like I was crazy and I grinned at her.

  “I like the rain,” I said by way of an explanation and she shook her head, clearly not agreeing.

  As we made it to the doors of Ignis House, cries of alarm went up, people were screaming and calling for help and my heart quickened at the sound of it.

  Inside, I took the steps two at a time, wanting a front row seat for when Darius made it upstairs and found out what had happened to his precious room. Sofia barely managed to keep up with me and I almost lost her more than once in the crowd of shouting, panicking students.

  “Someone get Darius!” Marguerite screamed. “We need his water magic!”

  I slipped into the common room and pressed my back to the wall where I could get a clear view of what was happening. The stench of smoke had filled the space and more than a few students were coughing and hurrying back outside.

  “What the hell is going on?” Darius bellowed as he made it into the common room and a lot of the panicking voices fell quiet in response to his commanding voice.

  “Upstairs!” Marguerite called desperately, running forward to grasp his hand. “It’s your room - it’s on fire!”

  “WHAT?” Darius snatched his hand out of her grip and sprinted through the room.

  The other students scattered to get out of his way as he charged up the stairs.

  I caught Sofia’s elbow and we made it into the crowd who followed him. She looked up at me with wide eyes and I shrugged in response like I was just as curious as her. I felt a bit shitty not telling her the truth but sharing what I’d done with her would only put her in danger. It was better for her if she remained totally innocent.


  Milton Hubert elbowed me out of the way as we reached the top floor and I flattened myself against the wall to watch the commotion that broke out.

  Darius’s door had flames licking out from the top of it and a thick layer of smoke clung to the ceiling all along the corridor. But it didn’t look like the fire had progressed beyond his room. I wondered if that was to do with my magic and the fact that I’d only wanted to target him or if it was just luck that it hadn’t spread any further.

  With a snarl of rage, Darius kicked his door hard enough to smash the lock and break it open.

  The fire tried to explode towards him, hungry for the fresh supply of oxygen out here, but Darius already had his hands raised and he wrangled the flames under his control, forcing them back.

  Students were crying out, the crowd thickening in the corridor while everyone gave Darius space to deal with the situation. I had to crane my neck to see over everyone's heads and I caught a glimpse of Darius commanding a great flood of water into existence before him as he stepped into the inferno.

  “Who else holds the Element of water?” Marguerite shrieked in panic as Darius moved out of sight. “He needs help!”

  Everyone looked around, someone said, ‘I’ve got earth,’ unhelpfully and then someone else noticed me.

  “Help him!” the girl demanded, grabbing my arm and hauling me forward.

  As the rest of the students noticed me, they shoved me through their ranks, crying out encouraging words and demanding I help the Ignis House Captain with his little problem.

  I made it to the front of the crowd and came face to face with Marguerite, her bright red hair a mess for once and tears painted with mascara running down her cheeks.

  “What are you waiting for?” she demanded, reaching out to grab my wrist. “Help him!”

  I snatched my arm back out of her grasp. “No,” I said simply, my voice firm and offering no room for negotiation.

  “What?” she yelled. “You have to! You-”

  “I don’t have to,” I said. “And after last night, I’ve had more than enough water to last me a lifetime. I don’t feel like conjuring any more of it.”

  The sound of something heavy breaking was followed by a startled shout from Darius and a lot of the students behind us screamed in fear.

  “Help him you bitch!” Marguerite lunged at me like she was thinking of forcing me down the corridor and I raised my hands, shoving her back with a smack of ice cold water which slammed her against the opposite wall.

  “Oh, looks like I can manage a bit of water after all. That’s enough though. I don’t feel like summoning any more.” I smirked at her and a few gasps of surprise came from the crowd.

  Marguerite spluttered angrily, raising her hands to defend herself then seeming to think better of conjuring more fire in our current situation.

  “Your House Captain needs your help!” she snarled.

  “Well when I needed his help he told me I’d have to force it from him. So I think I’ll be giving the same answer,” I replied icily.

  Marguerite shrieked, shoving herself off of the wall opposite me like she intended to attack me with her bare hands. Air magic built in my palms but before I had a chance to use it, a commanding voice filled the corridor.

  “Move aside!” Professor Pyro’s voice carried above all others and the crowd parted to let her and Principal Nova through.

  They headed straight for the end of the corridor where Darius was still battling the blaze in his room and I offered Marguerite an innocent shrug as I joined the crowd who followed them.

  The Professors headed straight inside and I caught a glimpse of the devastation within as I leaned against the wall to watch.

  Darius was in the centre of the blackened space, panting heavily as he looked around at the remains of his bedroom. He’d managed to douse the flames but now everything was soaking wet as well as burned to a crisp. His jeans were singed, his shirt burned almost entirely off of his body to reveal the tattoos which marked his flesh and soot lined his face. I noticed a dark red symbol raised on his forearm which I recognised as the sign for Libra and wondered for a moment why he had someone else’s star sign on his skin.

  He looked angry as all hell, maybe even a little devastated and I couldn’t deny the surge of triumph that ran through my veins.

  Darius looked around as the Professor and Nova strode into the room, his dark hair falling forward over his eyes which were blazing with fury.

  “What on earth happened here, Mr Acrux?” Principal Nova demanded sharply, her hands on her hips.

  “I don’t know,” he snarled.

  “First that incident with poor Professor Astrum last night and now this. What are the chances of two such major events being linked to fire magic within such a short space of time?” Professor Pyro muttered worriedly. “Perhaps we should be concerned that this was an attempt at a second attack?”

  “Who would try and attack a Dragon Shifter with fire?” Nova replied dismissively. “I’d sooner believe this was an attempt to cover up evidence...” Her voice trailed off but her eyes narrowed on Darius.

  “I hope you’re not making an accusation against me, Principal,” Darius growled, his voice menacingly low.

  Everyone in the corridor had fallen silent in hopes of listening in.

  A tense moment passed between Darius and the Principal.

  “I’m sure the FIB will get to the bottom of this,” she replied eventually. “Whatever the motivations for the blaze.”

  Darius clearly took that as an insinuation that he might have done this and his eyes flashed with the characteristics of his dragon form as his anger grew.

  “We will arrange another room for you while this mess is sorted out-” Professor Pyro began, breaking the growing tension in the room.

  “It’s fine, I have somewhere to sleep,” Darius snapped.

  “Okay. Well, perhaps you can gather anything you can salvage here and...” She trailed off as she looked around at the complete and utter devastation in the room. It certainly didn’t look like anything could be salvaged.

  Poor little rich boy, all his pretty things are gone.

  I had to fight the smile which was coming for my lips but I wasn’t sure I was managing it.

  “I just need my gold and...” Darius looked around at the spot where his chest of gold used to be and kicked aside some charred lumps of wood to reveal the puddle of molten treasure which had now cooled enough to fuse itself to the remains of the carpet and floorboards.

  His whole body seemed to tremble with rage for a moment and the two Professors took a measured step away from him.

  “Control your form, Mr Acrux!” Nova demanded in a shrill voice.

  “Oh shit, he’s losing control of the Dragon,” a guy breathed behind me.

  Darius rocked forward, bracing his hands on the floor as a growl of absolute fury escaped him which sounded way too deep for a man to make.

  “Holy hell!” Pyro stumbled away and Darius managed to force himself upright as he started running.

  He stumbled, half tripping and didn’t quite make it to the window before the transformation began. Wings burst from his back, scales covered his skin and his clothes were shredded right off of him. He launched himself out of the shattered window half a second before his body exploded in size and a huge dragon burst from the confines of his flesh.

  Darius released a powerful roar filled with absolute rage as he swept up into the sky and a little sliver of fear tracked along my spine. If he ever found out that I’d been responsible for this, he’d kill me.

  Dragon Fire tore through the storm clouds and a deathly silence fell over the students as everyone strained to get a look at him as he flew away. More than a few people had been recording the whole thing on their Atlases and I was looking forward to watching the replay of my victory multiple times.

  “Show’s over, people!” Pyro shouted as she ushered the rest of us away. “Return to your rooms!”

  “That’s minus fift
y points to Ignis for an out of control blaze!” Principal Nova called after Darius though he clearly couldn’t hear her over all the crazy roaring and fire breathing. “And minus twenty for a student failing to control their Order form!”

  I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing at that one. Darius Acrux had just completely lost his shit in front of everyone because of what I’d done and he had no idea that it was me.

  The Principal noticed me before I could escape and she beckoned me over.

  “I heard about the incidents last night,” she said softly. “I’m glad to see you up and about.”

  “Oh, thanks,” I said, surprised to hear the concern in her voice.

  She reached out to squeeze my arm reassuringly. “Minus one hundred and fifty points for Ignis and Aer for the two of you missing assembly though,” she said before releasing me and walking away.

  My lips parted in surprise at the punishment. It wasn’t like I gave a shit about House Points but that was cold. Maybe she wasn’t so sympathetic after all.

  I turned away quickly and followed the crowd downstairs. When we made it to my floor, I peeled off and retreated to the safety of my bedroom.

  I pressed my back to the door as a shiver of adrenaline rocked through me. Setting Darius’s room on fire might have been a terrible idea but damn, it had felt really good.

  ***

  The next morning, I showered in my en-suite, with a small smile on my lips that just wouldn’t quit.

  While the hot water ran over my skin, I tried to make myself regret what I’d done from a self-preservation point of view at the very least but I was struggling to do it. It might have been reckless and impulsive but it was also pretty damn poetic. And it was the only way that I could strike back at Darius while I was still learning to take full control of my power.

  I was absolutely done with just rolling over and taking shit from the Heirs. What they’d done to me and Darcy on the night of the party was beyond unforgivable. And if they wanted to make enemies of us then they had thoroughly succeeded.