I took Tory’s hand, knowing we could cast more accurately with our combined power and we focused on pushing air beneath the mixture. It peeled off the table with a schhhuuck sound then we propelled it toward the domed ceiling where it immediately got stuck. A laugh bubbled from my throat as we dispelled our air magic and the gloop remained stuck there.
“Get rid of the distraction spell, Sofia. We can’t risk them sensing it,” Geraldine encouraged. “Everyone act naturally.”
The whole table fell into casual chatter around us and I leaned my elbow on the arm of my chair, fiddling with a spoon as Sofia’s magic lifted away from us.
“Oh my god you are so funny,” a blonde girl said to Max and he grinned from his seat beside Seth. “How’d you get so funny?”
“I practice in my bedroom,” Max smirked. “You should come watch sometime.”
I couldn’t fight a glance up at the ceiling and a laugh battled to get free from my lungs as I saw the sludge slithering across the ceiling as Geraldine pressed her power into it. It wormed its way closer and closer to the Heirs’ couch and I could barely contain my excitement as it drew to a halt above Max’s head.
Geraldine’s fingers curled into a fist as she stopped casting magic and anticipation rippled across the table as everyone waited for it to unstick itself from the ceiling.
Max leaned back in his seat, reaching a hand behind his head as he grinned cockily at the girl before him. “Maybe we should head to my room right now in fact.”
“Right now?” she breathed, twirling a lock of hair between her fingers.
A spot of the sludge dripped down onto his face and he flinched, wiping it from his cheek with a frown. “What the-“
SPLAT.
Syrupy chocolate gloop exploded all over him, splashing Seth too and making him yelp as he lurched away. The girl he’d been talking to screamed and ran away with her friends.
“AH!” Max shouted, jumping to his feet followed by the rest of the Heirs who looked ready to take on everyone in The Orb. Brown muck slid down his face and Seth pawed at him to try and wipe it away.
“Who the fuck did this?!” Max bellowed, dislodging bits of food and sending them flying around him.
Laughter roared through the room and I lost control, leaning against Tory as tears swam in my eyes.
“Oh my god it’s Griffin shit!” someone shouted and Max whipped around, trying to locate them amongst the crowd.
“It’s not!” he roared, lifting a hand to cast water to wash it off but there was so much syrup in it, he had trouble getting it off. “It’s not Griffin shit!”
Seth wiped some off of his shirt, lifting it to his mouth and licking it. “It’s chocolate.”
“Oh my god, Seth Capella is eating shit!” Tyler shouted and Seth looked up with a bark of anger as people started taking pictures and echoing what Tyler had said.
“For fuck’s sake, let’s go,” Caleb snapped, taking hold of Seth’s arm and Darius moved forward, pushing Max along. They hurried out of The Orb while Max threatened to kill anyone who took a picture of him and Tory and I fell apart.
***
I headed down to Air Cove with Diego and Tory, nerves rushing through me as we arrived at the beach with the other air Elemental freshmen. The fun we’d had in The Orb had given way to anxiety now we were faced with our first trial.
A set of bleachers had been set up further along the sand and the freshmen ran to meet their parents who had come to watch. As more and more students were wrapped up in the arms of their mothers and fathers, my heart filled with a long-forgotten ache. Tory and I were soon left with Diego, waiting awkwardly for the hugging to stop.
Diego shuffled in the sand, glancing hopefully toward the seats and a minute later a tall man appeared with short dark curls and a thin moustache. His suit was a murky brown colour and he wore a thick red woolen scarf against the chill. He had a frown on his face and the lines around his mouth said it was a life-long expression as he jerked his head to beckon Diego over.
“That's my uncle Alejandro,” Diego said to us with a nervous smile then hurried away to greet him.
“Looks friendly,” Tory muttered.
Alejandro patted Diego awkwardly on the shoulder then folded his arms and remained silent as Diego spoke to him.
“What’s with that family and fugly knitwear?” Tory said under her breath and I started laughing.
“Don’t let Diego hear you say that, I think he’d sacrifice a goat for his hat,” I teased and she grinned like I’d just dared her to do it.
I dug my feet into the sand as we stood there waiting and turned my gaze to the sea to try and figure out what this trial might involve. Clouds had drawn in and the water was choppy and grey beneath it. I could just make out a wide wooden platform bobbing on the surface far out to sea.
A table was set up in front of the bleachers where Professor Perseus and Principal Nova were sitting. The wind didn't seem to tug at their clothes or hair and I assumed a shield was cast around them as they chatted lightly, unaffected by the cold weather.
“Daddy!” Kylie shrieked as she appeared on the beach, bounding past us before being drawn into the arms of a handsome man with dark blonde hair and deep green eyes. I looked for her mother but didn't see anyone nearby who fit the bill and Kylie didn't look for anyone else when she detached herself from her father's arms.
“Don't drown today, little Vegas,” Max's voice hit my ears and I turned in alarm, spotting the four Heirs moving toward us with their fan club in tow. He was entirely clean and I realised all of them had changed their clothes as if in solidarity. Nothing about Max’s expression hinted at what had happened to him, but rage seeped from him in waves. “We'll be watching.”
“Yeah don't go dropping out of the Academy and doing us all a favour or anything,” Darius taunted, but his tone was kind of hollow as his eyes slid to the crowd. He nudged Seth beside him. “Great. They're all gonna want autographs.”
Caleb’s gaze pinned on Tory and she bit her lip, looking uncomfortable as he walked towards her.
“Is your Atlas broken, sweetheart?” he asked, a slight frown pulling at his handsome features.
“Nope,” she replied casually though I could tell she was putting it on. “Why?”
“I sent you a few messages and you don’t seem to have replied. And then I find out you’re off chasing around after one of my friends all night. So what am I supposed to make of that?”
Darius was smirking behind Caleb’s back and Max shifted uncomfortably, folding his arms as Seth whimpered.
Tory’s gaze hardened as all of them looked at her and I almost winced in preparation of her response. If Caleb expected her to apologise he was about to be severely disappointed because my sister never let guys back her into a corner and I could see her temper flaring as he tried.
“Honestly?” Tory asked, cocking an eyebrow at him. “I don’t tend to date guys who are so needy they send me fifteen messages without a response. So if you’re hoping for me to message you back you might wanna tone back the desperate vibe I’m getting. And secondly, I’m not your girlfriend so I don’t have to check with you about where I spend my evenings or who I spend them with.”
Caleb scowled at her, his fangs snapping out as he lurched towards her, clearly intending to bite. Tory stepped back but he jerked to a halt as Darius caught his arm, a low growl sounding from him as he did.
“If you bite her right before her trial then people will say you were trying to sabotage her by draining her magic,” Darius hissed. “It’ll make it look like we’re worried about them passing The Reckoning.”
Caleb opened his mouth to respond but Max got there first. “He’s right, Cal, just leave it.”
“Why don't we go and watch from down there?” Seth pointed to the other end of the beach, throwing a glance at Kylie and her dad. “Let's avoid all the bullshit.”
“Yeah I’m sure you’ve had enough shit for one day,” I said airily and Seth glared at me in fury.
/> “Sethy!” Kylie suddenly spotted him. “Come say hi!”
“Hi Kylie!” he waved enthusiastically.
“Come on over!” she beckoned him.
“What? Can't hear you! Good luck!” Seth headed in the opposite direction, tossing an arm around Caleb to make sure he followed and the others walked after him, shoulder to shoulder. Their friends trailed behind them and I spotted more and more of their groupies pouring onto the beach including Marguerite dressed in full cheerleader uniform with the squad behind her.
“I didn't realise other students could come and watch,” I muttered to Tory. “We could have asked Sofia along.”
“Well she's probably better off not being stuck on a beach with that bunch of dickwads,” Tory reasoned.
“Tory, Darcy, would you like to come and meet my uncle?” Diego called and I was glad of the distraction as we headed over.
He stood awkwardly beside the man in question who looked like he was attending a funeral rather than his nephew's school assessment.
“Good day, my name is Alejandro Calabozo,” he said in a faint spanish accent, his pebble grey eyes moving between us curiously.
“Nice scarf,” Tory said overenthusiastically and it took everything I had not to start laughing.
Alejandro stroked it proudly. “Mi madre knitted it for me.”
“Oh, Diego’s abuela?” I guessed and Diego’s eyes narrowed on us.
“Si, rest her soul.” Alejandro kissed his fingers and pointed them to the sky. “She’s with the stars now. But at least she isn’t around today to be disappointed by her grandson.” His lips tightened.
“I’m sure she wouldn’t be disappointed,” I said, but Alejandro didn’t acknowledge that comment.
“So my nephew says you're friends. How much did he pay you to say that? I'll be sure to reimburse you.”
“Uncle,” Diego grumbled.
“Of course he didn't pay us,” I laughed, but apparently Alejandro hadn't been joking as he fished out his wallet and starting to count out auras.
“No really, dude,” Tory refused. “He's our friend.”
Alejandro's expression barely changed apart from the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. “Well, what wonderful news,” he said hollowly. “Diego has finally done something worthwhile with his miserable existence.”
“Being friends with us isn't really an achievement,” I said, trying to fight Diego's corner, but I realised how it sounded a second too late.
“No, you're right. It isn't,” Alejandro sighed then clapped Diego around the back of the head. “Are you going to disappoint your parents today? You know I'm only here to pass on the message of whether you pass or fail. I really didn’t want to waste an afternoon, but your mother insisted so here we are.”
Diego hung his head. “Is she mad?”
“Seething,” he enunciated every letter.
“Why? He hasn't even done the trial yet,” Tory said in disbelief.
“She's mad because I've been having trouble casting my magic,” Diego said quickly. “I write to her every week to update her.”
I glanced at Tory, feeling a little unsure of what to say.
“She wanted me to tell you that you don't have a room to come home to if you fail today,” Alejandro said and my jaw fell slack. “Have you grasped any basic spells yet or are my expectations rightfully low?”
“I have. And I won't fail,” Diego growled, his shoulders stiffening and his eyes filling with determination.
“That's right, you won't,” I said firmly and he gave me a small smile.
“Air students – please make your way into the tents to change!” Nova commanded, pointing beyond the bleachers where two tents were set up for guys and girls.
The fifty or so air freshmen headed down the sandy beach toward the tents and I walked away from Diego's cold uncle with Tory, hearing Alejandro laying into him in Spanish before he could follow.
“I'm starting to think having no parents is a good thing in Solaria,” Tory said, though as my eyes trailed over the many proud faces in the stands, I wondered if that was entirely true.
For a delusional moment, I pictured our mother and father up there, conjuring an image of them with our dark hair and deeply bronzed skin, calling our names as we headed into the trial. A bitter kind of sigh left me then I pushed the vision away and headed into the female tent with my sister. Sometimes it was better not to indulge in impossible dreams. And at least we had each other.
A pile of wetsuits were laid out in different sizes on a wooden bench and Tory scooped up two smalls for us before we moved into a corner to change. I folded my clothes as I stripped down and tugged on the wetsuit. Tory pulled up the long zip at the back for me and I gazed down at the tight-fitting suit with a frown. “I thought this was an air challenge.”
“Looks like we're going in the sea though,” Tory said with a visible shiver. “I'm already cold and I freaking hate the water.”
“Will you be alright?” I asked with concern and she nodded firmly as I did up the back of her suit too.
“Max Rigel taught me that air bubble thing. I'll be fine.”
I nodded, hoping that was true. “I wish I could do that hot air thing.” I lifted my hand, drawing air to my fingers and trying to warm it but the magic only switched sharply to a roaring flame instead.
“Bit late to practice now,” Tory laughed. “You'll set your suit on fire first.”
“Yep, guess we're gonna get cold and wet then,” I conceded, moving to follow the other girls as we headed back onto the beach barefoot.
The boys were already waiting in front of the judges’ table and the girls grouped around them as we looked to the teachers for direction.
“Right,” Nova said brightly. “We're just waiting for our final judge and we'll get started,” She glanced up to the end of the beach with a frustrated look and I suddenly had a pretty good idea who we were waiting for.
My heart did something weird as I continually glanced at the path leading down the cliff, expecting to see Orion at any moment.
Nova checked her watch, shaking her head in annoyance before tapping something on her Atlas which I suspected was a message to hurry him up.
“You alright? You look kind of pale,” Tory asked.
“Just nerves,” I said. Which was true, but now my nerves had escalated to fidgeting hands and major dry mouth. The breeze pressed in around us as we waited and everyone grew impatient.
“Here he is, Professor Gives No Shits himself,” Tory announced and I bit into my lip as Orion strode across the sand at a pace that suggested he wasn't late, maybe even early.
He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt looking decidedly casual, but the second he drew near he tugged his shirt over his head and my eyes arrowed in on his chest. My throat closed up as I took in all of those hard muscles which had been firmly pressed against my naked body not that long ago. What the hell is he doing?
“Get up then Perseus, wouldn't wanna start late, would we?” he shot at the Air Elemental Professor with a smirk.
Professor Perseus got to his feet, looking a little flustered as he hurried over to join him. Orion kicked off his shoes and proceeded to unbuckle his pants, giving the whole audience a show.
What the crap is happening?
I glanced around and found most of the girls and several of the boys outright staring at him, waking a feral creature in my chest that growled mine.
I shook off the strange feeling with a frown. I was so not a possessive person but something purely animal awoke in me when I was around Orion. And I was kind of afraid of the certainty with which she wanted him. I’d struggled with my trust issues for a long time, but he’d slipped through my defenses like they didn’t even exist. We’d power shared in the battle without a moment’s hesitation and I’d only realised how impossible that was to do with anyone other than my sister after trying to do it with Caleb in Fire Elemental class.
Perseus pulled his own shirt off followed by his trousers, givi
ng a show of his body which was surprisingly toned. I only had eyes for Orion though as he stepped out of his pants and socks, then walked straight into the sea like a goddamn backwards bond moment.
“Fuck me...that body,” Tory whispered, watching him and a small laugh escaped me.
Dammit, I wish I could tell her about last night.
Perseus headed out after Orion until the two of them were up to their waists in the sea about twenty feet apart.
Nova rose from her chair, looking stern. “Right, you will all have one hour to make it to that platform out there.” She pointed far out to sea. “It's a three hundred foot stretch over very deep water. You must only use air magic to get there, but you can do so in any form you please, and you must not get wet once you pass the starting line.” She lifted her hand and a glowing green line appeared in the sea just ahead of Orion and Perseus.
“Will we fail if we do?” Kylie balked like that seemed impossible and I had to agree with her.
“Of course not.” Nova clucked her tongue. “If you touch the water on your way out there, Professor Orion or Professor Perseus will bring you back to the starting line where you will try again. If you cannot make it to the platform before the time is up, you will fail the exam. You may work together or alone, it’s entirely up to you. And if you do make it to the platform, you will be graded by both myself and the other professors based on your skill, how many failures you had and how long it took for you to make it there. Any questions?”
“What happens if we use magic that isn't air?” Kylie asked as pink petals danced in her hand.
“You will be disqualified,” Nova said firmly and Kylie quickly dropped the petals to the ground.
“Is there a water Elemental here who's going to warm up the sea?” Diego asked, looking genuinely hopeful of that and Nova threw back her head on a laugh.
“Okay. Question time is over.” She raised her hands and a huge timer burst from her palms, travelling up high above the water and showing sixty minutes on the clock. It glowed red just like the Pitball timer and I marvelled at the magic for a moment before setting my eye on the horizon.
Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts) Page 27