“Urgh, and then we’d be stuck with the Heirs forever.” Darcy mimed puking into her satchel and I laughed.
“Point taken. I’ll do the spell twice to make extra sure. Shall we see if the message shines any light on The Empress then?” I suggested, eyeing the card suspiciously.
Darcy nodded, reaching out to flip the card over.
In the Palace of Souls, rests a secret untold.
Find the light who burned on after the fire...
“Clear as always,” I said, leaning back in my chair irritably. What was the point of sending us these messages if they were always so damn cryptic?
“Do you think we’ll ever get one that just says ‘there’s a folder full of answers sitting beside you’?” Darcy asked.
“Here’s hoping, because that means nothing to me,” I said, tossing the card away from me in disgust. It caught on an errant breeze, flipped over and landed right back on the desk in front of us. I scowled at it.
Damn ghost card.
“Well the first half is pretty self explanatory,” Sofia said, raising an eyebrow at us.
“No it’s not,” I disagreed.
“Well, the Palace of Souls is your family’s palace,” she said slowly. “You know, where the Savage King and the Queen lived before they were killed...”
“I didn’t know that,” Darcy breathed, leaning back in her chair.
“We don’t know much of anything about them,” I added, twisting my lips. “But maybe it’s time we found out... Who owns the palace now?”
“Well...” Sofia looked between the two of us. “I’m assuming you do.”
I snorted a laugh and Darcy blew out a breath as she picked the card up. “I keep forgetting we’re actually princesses,” she said, shaking her head.
I looked at her and a smile hooked up the corner of my mouth. “Yeah, we’re motherfucking princesses and we own a goddamn palace. Maybe it’s time we went and visited it?”
“Do you really think we can?” Darcy asked, her eyes lighting with excitement for a moment at the idea. “Maybe some of our parents’ stuff is still there...”
I swallowed thickly at that idea, a frown pinching my features. I hadn’t really considered that. I’d been thinking more about vaults of gold than something that might link us to the people who brought us into this world. Suddenly my chest felt a little too tight at the idea of going there and I had to fight against the idea of backing out of the plan before we’d even made one.
“Perhaps we should just focus on getting through The Reckoning this week first?” I said, hoping it wasn’t obvious that the idea of finding out more about our parents made me uncomfortable.
Darcy gave me a look that said she’d seen right through me and I offered a tiny shrug in response. “I guess you’re probably right,” she agreed but I didn’t miss the hint of disappointment in her tone. “But maybe afterwards we can ask Nova about us taking a visit to the palace?”
“Sure,” I agreed with a nod. I’d just have to suck it up and go. It wasn’t like it mattered anyway. The King and Queen were just two dead people I’d never known. Even if all of their stuff still filled the palace it wouldn’t change that fact.
The rest of the class passed quickly, though Diego stayed in a mood with me after he returned from his bathroom break. I half considered apologising to him then realised that I might have been being a bitch - but he was too so I was pretty sure we were even. No doubt he’d get over it soon enough.
We left the class without Washer coming over to me at all and I couldn’t help but let some of my irritation with Caleb go in response. He might have been a damn underwear thief but if he’d actually managed to scare Washer away from me then I’d happily pay the price in panties.
That said, our next class was Fire Elemental and I had no intention of spending it without my underwear.
We said goodbye to Diego and I forced Darcy and Sofia to hurry down the path to Fire Territory, explaining my problem to them on the way. When they stopped laughing, they started running with me and we got to the Fire Arena early to wait with the full intention to retrieve my panties from Caleb before it started.
I waited outside for him to arrive with a very amused Darcy by my side. She kept trying not to laugh and I tried to look annoyed at her.
“Here comes the panty thief now,” she said in an undertone as Caleb appeared on the path ahead.
“I shouldn’t have told you,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as she snorted a laugh.
“Do you think he’ll give them back?” she asked.
“I’m going to make him,” I said confidently, striding forward to meet Caleb who broke a smile as he spotted me.
“You have something of mine,” I accused, folding my arms as I blocked his path.
“Really?” he asked, feigning surprise. “What’s that then?”
I glanced around at the other students who were filing past us into the locker rooms and fixed him with a death stare.
“You know what.”
“Remind me,” Caleb challenged, stepping a little closer.
At that moment, Darius appeared. He strolled straight towards us and heat rose in my cheeks as his gaze landed on me. I felt ridiculously awkward around him after last night and I had zero intention of talking to him now.
“Forget it,” I said quickly, turning away from Caleb before Darius made it to us.
“You can have them back if you promise to spend tonight at Terra House with me,” Caleb called.
I turned back to him with a scowl. “No,” I said flatly, flipping him off for good measure. I turned away before he could say anything else and headed into the locker rooms with Darcy.
“Oh my god, you should have seen his face when you turned your back on him,” she said on a laugh. “I think you just really pissed him off.”
“Whatever. He’s shouting about us hooking up in front of the whole damn school. I’m not his girlfriend and it’s no one else’s business what we get up to. Plus he stole my underwear so...” I shrugged, not wanting to admit that Darius was actually the one who’d rattled me.
“Well you always knew he’d leave you for a Pegasus in the end anyway. He’s got the horn for the horn,” she said and I smirked in response. That joke would never get old.
I ducked into Pluto Offices out of the pouring rain after my final class of the day, pushing back my hood as water dripped off my coat to the shiny floor. The storm had rolled in from the sea and was picking up strength with every passing hour, but a package had arrived for me that I simply couldn't wait to get my hands on.
I headed into the postal area where the tall machines were humming and flashing, stretching high up above me right to the ceiling. I tapped in the code on my Atlas and the units shifted around until the one containing my package stopped before me and I snatched it out.
“A la mierda esta lluvia,” Diego's voice caught my attention and I turned to find him hurrying into the atrium dripping wet with a scowl on his face. “Oh hey chica, this rain sucks huh?” he said, his eyes brightening as he spotted me.
He hurried to my side, pushing his hand into his dark curls to stop them dripping onto his cheeks. “I hate the rain. Where I grew up it never rained.”
“I quite like it,” I said with a shrug. “Something about a storm feels kind of...exciting.”
“You're crazy,” he laughed, glancing at my package. “What did you get?” he asked, heading toward the machines and taking his Atlas from his backpack.
“It's a secret,” I said mischievously, tucking the box firmly into my bag.
“I like secrets,” he urged, tapping in the code to retrieve his own package. He took the small box from the unit as it arrived and ripped it open.
“What did you get?” I asked and he pulled out a small tube with the words Minotaur Strength Glue printed on the side of it. “What's that for?”
“Mi abuela's trinket box,” he said with a dark frown. “I'm going to try and glue it back together, but that bastardo professor broke it
pretty good.”
“Maybe there's a spell for fixing things. Have you asked Sofia?” I suggested gently, my heart pinching at the memory of Orion doing that to Diego. He really could be a total asshole sometimes.
“No...” Diego pocketed the glue then stepped toward me. “So come on, chica, I showed you mine, let's see yours.” He lunged forward playfully and I laughed, dancing away as I held my satchel behind my back.
“No! It's a surprise,” I laughed as he wrapped his arms around me, trying to reach my bag. My laughter echoed off of the ceiling and I stumbled back into the counter as he tugged at the strap.
“Come on! Let me see your package, Darcy,” Diego insisted, grinning in my face as he stuck his hand into my bag.
“Diego,” I warned, but not with actual annoyance. If he really wanted to see it, it didn't matter that much.
As his hand closed around the box, he was suddenly torn away from me and thrown forcefully onto the hard floor. The box went skittering away across the lobby and shock replaced my amusement as I found Orion standing beyond him.
“What the hell?” I demanded, hurrying forward to help Diego to his feet. He rubbed his head, scowling at Orion with a dark fury in his eyes.
Orion looked slightly confused by his own actions, backing up and scooping my package from the floor - which was thankfully still in its delivery box so he couldn’t see what it was. I moved forward to take it from him, but Diego caught hold of my hand, pulling me back protectively. Orion eyed the interaction with a burning intensity in his gaze, his muscles twitching as if he was about to lunge at my friend again.
“He's not going to hurt me.” I looked to Diego in surprise but he didn't seem convinced.
“Ten points from Aer,” Orion growled, tossing the package at my feet.
“What for?” Diego balked. “We didn't do anything wrong.”
Orion glared at him like he was trying to melt him with his stare. “Are you back-chatting me, Polaris?” he snarled.
I shook my hand free of Diego's, bending down and picking up my package. My face felt overly hot as I tucked it into my bag and stood upright, pursing my lips at him. Orion stalked away, heading to a long row of mailboxes which were evidently for the professors. He tugged one open marked Orion, 3 Asteroid Place, and grabbed a fistful of letters from inside.
“Come on,” Diego muttered. “Let's leave the sanguijuela to himself.”
We nearly made it to the door before Orion spoke in a deadly voice. “What did you call me?”
Diego stiffened, glancing over his shoulder and shifting closer to me.
Oh shit.
I turned around, finding Orion right behind us, his letters crumpling in his hand.
“I called you a bloodsucker,” Diego said, sounding slightly less confident than before. “It's not an insult, just a fact.”
Orion bared his fangs and I moved to put myself between them. “Professor,” I said gently. “He didn't mean anything by it, did you Diego?”
Diego was too stubborn for his own good. His lips twitched but he couldn't get the words out that would clearly have been a lie. I could see how much he hated Orion and I couldn't exactly blame him after what he'd done to his grandmother's trinket box right before reading his journal aloud.
Orion rolled his shoulders, releasing a slow breath. He stepped around me, leaning in close to Diego's ear and he visibly trembled, shrinking beneath him.
“Dear diary,” Orion taunted. “Today I was almost murdered by my asshole Cardinal Magic professor. I won't backchat him ever again because the next time I do I think I'll end up in a body bag for real.” He moved to step away then paused, leaning close once more with a calculating grin. “P.S. I have a major crush on Darcy Vega, but she doesn't seem to realise it. I wonder what she'll say when she finds out.” He strolled out of the door into the storm and I stared after him in utter shock.
“Darcy, I-I don't,” Diego spluttered, shaking his head.
“I know,” I said quickly, sure Orion was wrong about that. “He's just being an asshole. You're into Sofia, right?”
“Si,” he agreed with a heavy sigh. “But now she likes Tyler Corbin.” He hung his head and I laid my hand on his back with a guilty frown. Diego was having a seriously hard time these last couple of days and I really wanted to do something to cheer him up. An idea sprang to mind and a wicked grin pulled at my mouth. “I know what we should do...”
“What?”
I took out my Atlas, typing a group message to Tory and Sofia, telling them to meet us at Jupiter Hall. “Come on,” I said brightly. “Let's go get your hat back.”
“But Orion,” he breathed, his eyes widening with fear.
“He didn’t head that way,” I said. “Besides, he was the one who challenged you to get it.”
“I guess so,” he said, nodding as a little more courage entered his eyes. “Let's hurry up then.”
I pulled my hood over my head and Diego zipped his coat up to his chin, following me into the rain. Lightning flashed above and my heart pumped harder as we started running through the downpour. I pushed the air out around us both, making a shield, but the rain kept slipping through every time I lost concentration. I gave up as we arrived at Jupiter Hall, hurrying inside and finding Tory and Sofia there already. Beyond them were Geraldine and Angelica, looking excited as lightning illuminated us all, flashing through the windows.
“Oh hi guys,” I said to Geraldine and her friend, surprised at finding extra recruits.
“What are you doing here?” Diego asked like he was disappointed to see everyone gathered there. I so did not understand him sometimes. Maybe he was still pissed at Tory and still bitter about Sofia going out with Tyler. But they were his friends. I guess he hadn’t realised I’d invited them.
Geraldine answered before the others could.“We are here to assist you on your quest, young Diego. A friend from the stars is a dear friend of ours.” She puffed up her chest and Angelica raised her chin in solidarity.
“As a loyal member of the Almighty Sovereign Society, I have pledged to help the true queens and any ally who follows them diligently,” Angelica said proudly, bowing low to Tory and I.
“Riiight, well let's go before Professor Psycho shows up,” Tory said with a grin, taking a couple of hairpins from her pocket. This was clearly her way of apologising to Diego and his expression softened at the sight.
We hurried up the marble stairway toward the Cardinal Magic classroom, our footsteps clapping loudly around us.
“Jam doughnuts!” Geraldine hissed. “I better cast a silencing bubble around us, we sound like a herd of Pegasuses wearing tap shoes.” She opened her palm and the magic pressed out around our group. We reached the door and Tory knelt down while Sofia cast the spell that would divert attention away from us. It wouldn't hold if a teacher got too close and sensed it, but it would definitely help.
“Dammit, it's not working,” Tory sighed. “I think there's magic on the lock.”
“Figures. Orion's a total security freak,” I said. “I had to blast his desk apart to get to the stardust that time.”
“If we damage the door, he'll know it was us,” Diego said, frantically pulling at his hair.
“No he won't.” Angelica stepped forward. “I'm great at fixing spells. I can definitely do it.”
Diego looked at her with a hopeful smile. “Okay, chica, if you're sure. Maybe you could help me with mi abuela’s broken trinket box sometime too?”
“Love to!” Angelica beamed.
Geraldine barged us all aside, pulling Tory out of the way and planting her feet in a wide stance. She raised her hands and yelled, “No one can hold back the power of a Grus! We are the guardians of the royal bloodline!” Water blasted from her hands in a massive deluge, taking the entire door off its hinges and sending it crashing across the room.
We all sucked in air as several desks went flying under the onslaught.
“Holy blue tits,” Geraldine breathed. “I don't know my own strength someti
mes. Onward friends!” She ran into the room and I giggled, hurrying along with everyone as we headed toward Orion's desk.
The watermelon was waiting for us and Sofia reached out to grab it but quickly snatched her hand back like she'd been electrocuted.
“He's put some sort of protection spell on it,” she gasped.
I moved closer then looked to Tory. “Fire?” I suggested, holding out my hand and she took it, grinning as our power merged immediately, flowing through us instinctively.
We raised our free hands and fire burst from our fingers, blending together and surrounding the shield encasing the watermelon. We blasted it until it was clear it wasn't going to work then dropped our hands.
“Crap,” I sighed, glancing back at the doorway as Angelica hurried around fixing chairs and siphoning away the water drenching the floor.
We gathered closer to the desk, frowning as we tried to figure out how to get the hat.
“Maybe it needs to be me?” Diego suggested, stepping to the front of the group. He raised his palm, casting a gust of air at the shield but still nothing happened.
“It's almost curfew,” Sofia said anxiously. “We need to hurry.”
“Tiny Tim in a handbag, there's something written here,” Geraldine said excitedly, pointing at the back of the watermelon. We all shuffled around and I read the message written in ink across the back of it
Fae bleed for what they want.
Prove you're Fae, Polaris.
He pursed his lips as he realised what he had to do and I looked to him with a frown. “You don't have to-”
He bit into his hand and I winced as he sank his teeth in so deep he drew blood.
That is so not the way I would have chosen to do it.
“Holy shit, Diego!” Tory cheered as Diego let the blood drip over the shield. It fizzled out of existence and he snatched his hat from the watermelon, pulling it onto his head.
“You are a true Fae, Diego Polaris,” Geraldine said with tears in her eyes and Angelica hurried over to pat his back.
Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts) Page 19