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

by Caroline Peckham

  “Useless.” Seth rammed his knuckles into Diego's gut and I lost it.

  I knew what it would cost me, but I flicked my fingers over my shoulder, casting ice cold water from the tips. Just enough to make Caleb flinch because it did not seem like a good time piss him off even more. The second his grip eased, I jerked free of his hold.

  I lunged forward, reaching for Seth's arm as he went to hit Diego again. He whipped it back so hard his elbow caught me in the face. Pain exploded through my cheekbone and I saw stars as I stumbled back. Ow - dammit!

  Seth's brows raised in surprise as he found me there and a soft whimper escaped his throat.

  “Teach her a lesson Sethy.” Someone shoved me back toward him and I didn't have to look to know it was Kylie.

  In the corner of my eye I spotted Diego scrambling off of the table, snatching up his shirt from the floor and pulling it back on. I couldn't take my gaze off of the fiend before me though, the sharpness of his eyes penetrating right through to my core. Seth stepped forward and I raised my hands, drawing magic to the tips in desperation to hold my own.

  I'll fight you with everything I've got.

  “Get the fuck to class!” Orion's voice suddenly filled the room. “You're all late. And I'll take ten points from every Fae standing in this room when I reach zero. Ten, nine, eight-”

  “We're not even close to done here,” Seth said with a smile that planted a seed of fear deep in my heart.

  The room was half empty already and Tory suddenly jogged to my side, blurry eyed with rain dotting her cheeks. “What the hell happened?”

  The rest of the crowd ran for the door and the Heirs were the last to head toward the exit apart from Tory, Diego and I. I spotted Seth checking his reflection in a mirror beside the door, not seeming in any hurry to leave.

  Orion moved across the room with all the speed of a raging bull. Before Seth knew what was happening, Orion smashed his face straight into the mirror and I gasped. He held his head in place while yanking his right arm behind his back cop-style.

  “Argh!” Seth roared as Orion stripped the braid of hair from his wrist and applied more pressure to his arm until he whined like a kicked dog. “I'm done with your fucking parading, Capella. This isn't Academy approved school wear.” He swiped the beanie hat from his head while Seth nursed a broken nose.

  “What da thuck?!” he spat at Orion and my heart leapt with the thrill of seeing him beaten.

  His friends lingered outside The Orb and Darius gave Orion a raised eyebrow as if he was questioning his actions.

  “Ten points from Aer,” Orion snarled, pointing to the door, his hand clenched around the contraband.

  Seth squared up to him, growling deeply as if he was about to go full wolf. My gut knotted tightly as I glanced between them.

  “Twenty,” Orion hissed, moving into a threatening stance. “And another thirty if you dare to lose control of your Order from, Capella.”

  Seth glared at him for several seconds then backed up, taking his hand away from his face to reveal his newly healed nose. He wiped the blood away on the back of his hand before striding out of The Orb after the other Heirs.

  Orion turned his gaze our way and Tory swore loudly.

  “Twenty points from Aer and ten from Ignis. Get out.” He pointed at the door and we hurried toward it. I threw a lingering glance over my shoulder as we exited, spotting Orion pocketing the band of blue hair alongside Diego's hat.

  His eyes met mine for the briefest moment, blazing with a fierceness I didn't understand. But as Tory tugged my sleeve, I turned away and tried not to wonder about the intensity of that look.

  Darius and Caleb were still standing outside, but it seemed Max and Seth had headed off to class. I eyed the two of them cautiously as we exited The Orb.

  “Hey Altair!” Tyler Corbin waved to Caleb from the end of the path leading toward Fire Territory, surrounded by a group of friends. I spotted Sofia amongst them and my brows jumped up.

  The Heirs turned to him as one, like a single beast firing two icy glares.

  “What?” Caleb growled.

  “Does this turn you on?” Tyler and his friends swiftly pulled off their clothes and burst into their sparkly Pegasus forms, turning around and waving their butts at him.

  Tory and I burst out laughing as they kicked their legs and shook glitter from their coats.

  “You mother fuckers!” Caleb roared, sprinting toward them with a burst of Vampire speed.

  All eight of them cantered away, spreading their wings and launching themselves into the sky. Darius charged forward to assist his friend, tearing off clothes as he went. In seconds, the huge, golden dragon that lay dormant within him exploded into existence and shot into the sky with a powerful roar.

  My heart pounded madly as my hair was drawn back by the forceful beat of his wings. He released a spurt of fire at the Pegasuses colourful tails, but their twinkling bodies were already disappearing up into the clouds. Run for your life Sofia, you rebel!

  Caleb sprinted out onto the grass, following Darius on foot and shaking glitter from his hair as he went, shouting obscenities at the sky.

  When Tory and I finally managed to rein in our laughter, I realised Diego was standing there moodily, staring off into the distance.

  Tory gave me an awkward look then her eyes fell to my cheek. “Oh shit, are you alright?” she frowned.

  I reached up to brush my thumb across my cheekbone and winced at the sharp sting it caused. “Yeah I'm fine.”

  “Darcy,” Diego said, looking to me in despair. “I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have gotten involved.”

  I shook my head, moving forward to hug him. “Where I come from, people don't stand on the sidelines while their friends get hurt.”

  “I like the sound of where you're from.” He said into my shoulder and I pulled away with a terse smile.

  Tory placed a hand on her hip, tutting. “That dog needs taking down a peg or two. I wish we could figure out how to hit him where it hurts.”

  “How about in the dick?” Diego offered and we started laughing.

  “I’ve still got that Aquarius Moonstone-” I started.

  “Now you're extra late,” Orion barked as he exited The Orb with a steaming mug of coffee in hand.

  “So are you,” I countered and I was almost certain he smirked before he turned and headed off down the path in the direction of Jupiter Hall.

  “When do I get my hat back?” Diego called after him and Orion answered with his middle finger. I snorted a laugh and Diego shot me a glare but I wasn't paying enough attention. My gaze was lingering on Orion's ass and Tory gave me a pointed look when I finally turned away.

  “Come on, stop staring at the teacher, we’ve got class to get to,” she said, giggling as I tried to deny it.

  We headed toward Air Territory and Diego started dragging his heels. He kept running his hand through his dark curls as if hoping to find his beanie there.

  “You really like that hat,” I said gently and he nodded stiffly.

  “Mi abuela knitted it for me before she...” He didn't finish that sentence and Tory and I shared a frown as he drew to a halt and hung his head, looking utterly defeated. We stood on the plain of land which stretched toward the eastern cliff. Aer Tower stood tall to our left, the wind beating off of the ocean in a powerful blast and making the turbines spin wildly in the gust.

  Diego released a heavy sigh.

  “Come on Diego. It's not so bad.” Tory nudged his foot with the toe of her shoe - which was affection in her language.

  I rested a hand on his arm. “You can't let them grind you down.”

  “Yeah, I guess,” he sighed. Seeing him like that made me want to hug him all over again. “I think I'm gonna skip this class.” He looked up, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “You guys are so strong, I don't know how you put up with them.”

  Before we could object, he headed off toward Aer Tower with his head dipped low. I watched him go with sadness and anger blee
ding into my stomach. Seth had been upping his cruelty the last few days. And him peeing on my sister in the middle of the woods, plus beating on Diego got my back up even more than it had when he'd targeted me. It was time we got our revenge on him. Today.

  Tory and I headed to Air Cove, walking down the sheer set of steps cut into the cliff wall which led all the way to the beach where our Elemental Class was held. Sand shifted underfoot, the golden colour dulled to a murky brown beneath the dim light of the hanging storm. Although the cove was more sheltered from the wind, we were now closer to the choppy waves and sea spray carried over us like mist.

  Professor Perseus was flustered as usual, calling out orders at random as he tried to keep the class under control. He was a slight man with a quaff of hazel hair that constantly changed position in the breeze.

  Max was chasing a girl with a piece of seaweed and she shrieked in delight as he caught her by the waist. Several others were wandering off down the beach while a few even looked like they were preparing for a dunk in the sea.

  “Please, everybody!” Perseus called out, his voice lost to the wind.

  Seth was perched on a rock, his mood clearly sullied by Orion's attack and I noticed his fingers were resting on his wrist where my hair had been. A sweet kind of justice flowed through me as I watched him.

  Perseus clapped his hands. “If we could all gather-” Max threw the seaweed at the girl but she ducked it and it slapped Perseus dead in the face. He peeled it off, trying to flick it from his hand as it got stuck there. “Oh bother.”

  Seth's wolves from Aer House grouped around him, nuzzling and pawing at his hands. He waved them away, resting his chin on his knuckles, but they continued to surround him, one of the girls even licking his face.

  I spotted Kylie turning redder and redder as she watched, but she didn't step in. I guessed she had to let him be when it came to his pack.

  Tory and I headed over to Perseus, apparently the only ones eager to learn today. Harnessing our powers was a number one priority if we were ever going to be able to truly defend ourselves against the Heirs. And after Seth's run-in with Diego, I was ready to release the storm that had been brewing in me full force.

  “Ah, good girls,” Perseus said, seeming happy that he had someone to teach. “Today we'll be focusing on wind shields. They can be used for many purposes, but repelling the magic of other Fae is perhaps the most important. I personally like to use them to keep the rain off.” He chuckled.

  I smiled, eager to learn that particular skill as raindrops gathered in my hair and icy droplets slid down my neck.

  “You've both been doing wonderfully with releasing your energy on the sea. This is a slightly more refined technique so you'll have to keep that deep well of power in check. However, once mastered, you'll find this skill is as easy as breathing.”

  “Can we do hot air too?” Tory asked. “I'm sick of being damp and cold.”

  “All in time, all in time.” He nodded, raising his hands. “Now I just want you to feel the shape of mine first of all.”

  “I bet you do!” Max called as he ran past, continuing his seaweed game.

  Perseus muttered under his breath then gave us a bright smile once again. “Okay have a feel.”

  I reached out, brushing my fingers against the shield he was casting around himself. It pushed back against my fingers with a gentle pressure. “This is enough to keep away the rain, but a firmer shield feels like this.”

  “Watch out, it's getting hard now!” Max darted back past us and I tried not to laugh. Damn fish boy.

  Perseus muttered something about miscreants then gestured for us to feel the shield again. I brushed my fingers over the invisible barrier and this time it was practically solid, pushing back against my hand like a forcefield.

  “Yup, I want this,” I said eagerly and Perseus laughed.

  “I'm going to live in one full of warm air,” Tory said wistfully.

  Perseus taught us how to push the air out around us and I marvelled at the way it felt to gain more control over my powers. My skin tingled as the wind drifted away from me in a continuous stream, but every time I lost focus, it stuttered and died. The rain beat down on me again and I squinted against the onslaught as a crack of thunder rumbled over head.

  “Ay yi yi yi!” Max hollered like an Apache warrior as he stripped off, his Siren form already in place by the time he pulled off the last of his clothes.

  “Mr Rigel, this is an Air class!” Perseus called as Max waded into the water, his scales glittering navy and deepest green as they met the sea.

  He disappeared under the waves and Perseus sighed wearily.

  “Okay girls, I'll leave you to practice, I'd better round up some of these lollygaggers.” He headed away and I faced Tory as we started working on creating our shields.

  My eyes kept drifting to Seth whose pack were now piled around him like sleeping dogs.

  “What's wrong Sethy baby?” Kylie approached, seeming slightly cautious as she neared the group.

  Seth glanced our way then shook his head at her in warning.

  “What would cheer you up?” She tilted her head to one side and I noticed she didn't have a grasp on shields either, her golden hair glistening with moisture.

  Seth stood up, shrugging off his pack and making a beeline for Tory and I without responding to her.

  “Oh no.” I nudged Tory and she turned, her shoulders stiffening.

  I wielded the air around me, making as strong a shield as I could manage and holding onto it with all my might.

  He stopped before us, folding his arms, his muscles tightening as he observed us. “Darcy.” He pointed at me. “Come here.” He beckoned me across the two feet parting us, but of course I didn't move.

  “How do you know I'm Darcy?” I asked coldly. “I don't have the blue anymore.”

  “Not in your hair you don't.” He stared at my face and Tory shifted closer.

  “Your cheek is bruised,” Tory explained and I lifted a hand automatically to touch it, the skin throbbing beneath my fingers. I lost focus on my shield and Seth shot forward.

  “No.” I threw up an arm to defend myself, willing any magic into existence as panic surged. Vines snapped around his throat, closing tight, but he didn't stop coming, reaching out to touch the bruise on my face. I jerked away but I was too late to stop his thumb skating across it.

  Warmth spread through my skin and I inhaled sharply as I realised what he'd done. Confusion rattled through me. He'd healed it.

  He gripped the vines around his neck, releasing a choked noise as he severed them with his own earth gifts.

  Tory looked between us, her hands raised defensively. “You okay?” she asked me.

  “Yeah,” I said with a baffled frown then looked to Seth. “Why'd you do that?” I demanded, weirded out by the strange act.

  “My fight was with Diego. Fae to Fae.” He hunched his shoulders, seeming uncomfortable about something. “And plus, I have to – fucking -” He growled as if he was trying to stop himself from continuing. “Gah.” He turned away, marching across the beach, his body shaking as he went. He looked ready to shift and I wasn't surprised when he and the rest of his pack started stripping off.

  “If you could all remain in your Fae forms for the rest of the class!” Professor Perseus begged, but the wolves continued to take their clothes off.

  “Sethy, what were you doing talking to the Vegas?” Kylie asked, hurrying forward to link her arms around his neck while he wasn't smothered by his pack. Seth released a booming bark in her face and she lurched backwards, her foot slipping on a wet rock. She nearly fell over but regained her balance at the last second.

  Seth leapt forward, shifting into his enormous white form and charging off down the beach, leaving huge paw prints in the sand. His pack howled as they tore after him and shock took hold of me.

  “Five points from Aer!” Perseus called, but his voice was once again lost to the wind.

  “He’s in a bad mood,” Tor
y said quietly.

  I nodded. “Well he’ll be in a much worse mood after tonight.”

  A grin pulled at Tory’s lips. “Just be careful.”

  “That's code for don't screw it up.” I arched a brow and she snorted a laugh.

  “Not at all, I believe in you.” She gave me a teasing grin.

  “Good. Because this is one mission, I am not going to fail, Tor.”

  ***

  I’d done a casual wander past the corridor leading to Seth’s room three times since dinner. I’d overheard him at The Orb saying he was going into town with his wolf pack and I kept waiting for him to fulfill that promise.

  The tower was quiet as most people headed out for Friday night. It was the perfect time for revenge plans as there’d be very few witnesses around.

  As I trailed up the stairs once more, I found one of the muscular guys from the wolf pack glaring at me outside Seth’s floor. I couldn’t turn back, so continued past him and headed up the stairs into the common room as if that was where I’d been intending to go. Dammit, why aren’t they leaving?

  The huge room was empty for once and though it wasn’t somewhere I generally spent my time, I figured I’d have to until Mr Tall And Intimidating had vacated the hallway downstairs.

  I headed over to a large grey armchair by the furthest window and dropped into it.

  Diego hadn't shown his face at dinner and as I curled up in the seat and looked out across the sea, I wondered if I should go and visit him. But maybe he needed some alone time. Besides, I had to spend at least a little while here in case that muscle factory downstairs was watching my moves.

  I practised my earth magic as I gazed across the roiling sea, growing a little row of flowers along the arm of my chair. The wind hammered against the pane, the world wild and chaotic beyond it.

  Whines and whimpers caught my ear, announcing the arrival of the wolf pack and my heart jolted. I sank lower in my seat, curling my legs up to my chest. With the chair facing the view, no one would know I was here unless they came to the window. I was in the perfect position to eavesdrop and hoped I might overhear what time they planned on going out tonight.