The Awakening (Zodiac Academy, #1)

by Caroline Peckham

“I need this money – it's not even his!” I shouted, my heart wailing just as loudly in my chest.

Why would you shout at the cops

“Yeah...but I do want the money.” Tory elbowed me in the ribs, and I frowned. “It's full board?” I looked to Orion.

I just think id maybe have more questions

“Your parents were the last King and Queen of Solaria. You return here as joint Heirs to the throne.”

Sounds like a terrible idea

“They don’t know how it works here yet. I’m guessing you didn’t realise that turning your back on your superiors is considered an insult?”

Who tf talks like that

Everyone in The Orb was staring at us now but no one took so much as a step forward to help.

I hate this

“Water focus, House Aqua. My house is for those who have what it takes to face the deadly sea of life in Zodiac without flinching.”

Deadly sea of life? Ick

“Earth focus, House Terra. And terror is exactly what you'll get if you don't fit in.”

You think they all like practiced their little slogans beforehand

“Ohh are you gonna cry?” Max called to me,

Is he 12?

“Hey girl, just so you know, my bae is in charge. So long as you get that, we're totally cool.”

I actually hate this

A murmur of assent went up from the freshmen. “You will reply with ‘yes Alpha’. Let’s try again,” Seth commanded. “Have you got that?” “Yes Alpha!” the freshmen called but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It was just too degrading. I was suddenly yanked against a hard body, and I felt sure it was Seth. “Answer me, pledge.”

Ew

Movement sounded around me, the shuffle of feet and the odd giggle.

Stop

jumped. My feet hit the floor. Someone ripped my hood off and raucous laughter filled my ears. It took me a painfully long second to realise I'd just jumped from a one-foot step at the heart of a crowded room. All of the other freshmen had been pulled aside to watch me do it. Alone.

Honestly. Its so childish

“You can step through the flames once you’re ready to leave your mortal trappings behind. The fire will burn them all away, but your flesh will remain unscathed,”

Shes gonna end up naked in front of everyone huh

“Remember the A.S.S. love you!” she cried and several people who heard her started laughing. Really? That was the name she went with? The ass club?

This is so cringy

Everyone's talking about you on FaeBook

Stop

Marguerite Helebor: PMSL #showerpower #splashanddash Milton Hubert: Hahaha yeah get them wet! #waterweirdos Gary Jones: BRUTAL BRO! Catch ya at Pitball practice later! #pitballbros Milly Badgerville: You’re soooo funny Max! #lolingtilIdie

Please make it stop

He shed his blazer and my mouth dried up at the press of his muscles against his pale blue shirt.

Darcy needs to chill

The guy grinned from ear to ear as Orion reached out to him. In a surge of movement, he cracked Tyler’s head against his desk and the entire class inhaled sharply as his smile fell away.

A little dramatic if you ask me

Honestly, I should have had better balance by now. But I fell over way more often than a grown ass woman should have.

She needs more of a personality

smiled cruelly. “Kneel,” he commanded, using Coercion on me and I winced as his order claimed my body. I dropped to the ground before him, cursing his name between my teeth. “Kiss my foot.”

Gtfo. Ew

“Your weakest Element is fire, although I use the word weak very loosely. You're an eight in earth, a nine in water and a ten in air.”

Well thank god she chose air then Also what are the odds tory is the opposite

“Tell you what? Even if I relayed the entire history of Solaria to you, do you really think that would be enough?” He released a dry laugh. “The world has already fallen out of balance and now you and your sister have shown up to tip the scales even further into chaos. Whole families are turning up dead. Powerful ones too. Your parents were the first but not the last and it's only a matter of time before-” He halted himself mid-sentence, seeming to think better of finishing his line of thought.

Yea but some information could actually be productive

Damian Evergile: Not a whore then. Just sporting a vagina sweater. #muffscruff Marguerite Helebor: Shut your face, Damian! #basicbastard Terrance Bonnerville: If both Vega girls look that good naked then I’ve just found my latest fantasy threesome. #idtaketwofortheteam Barry Gurra: Nice one Damian! Tyler Corbin: Next time he’ll get her on her knees too. #gaggingonit

These make me wanna barf

I knew I had very little chance of matching anyone in this room in a straight fight but with my anger burning hot and fast in my veins, I could feel my power raising its head like a prowling beast readying to strike. And with the element of surprise coupled with the raw brutality of my power, I was hoping to teach this douchebag a lesson.

I feel like im going to get second habd embarrassment again

“There, there,” Professor Washer said as he pulled us both into a hug. It should have felt weird to embrace a teacher who was wearing skin tight, tiny trunks and had scales covering his flesh

It is uncomfortable

Max Rigel was looking at us with a highly amused expression on his face and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I realised he’d just seen us cuddling our nearly nude teacher. What the fuck just got into us? To make matters worse, Darius Acrux sauntered up behind him, his face falling into an amused grin as his gaze turned our way. “Thanks for that, girls,” Professor Washer said, his voice a little mocking. “Anytime you need a shoulder to cry on, you can come my way.”

Im so uncomfortable

“Hey, Vegas!” We both looked up and I spotted the fire asshole with the unibrow, Milton Hubert, standing on a table surrounded by a group of students, gazing at him excitedly. “Make out with each other.”

Might as well announce to everyone you're into incest

“I’ll teach you to shield yourselves,” Sofia piped up, her eyes shining. “We’ll start tonight and spend every moment we can until you’ve got it.”

3 days later

“So, someone's lying to us,” I whispered, and Tory nodded, belief filling her eyes as she finally bought into the art of Tarot.

People barely even talk to you

He released a soft whine, moving closer, eye to eye with me with his massive size. He bumped his wet nose against my cheek then did the same to Tory. She tentatively reached out, brushing her fingers over his ears. He nuzzled into her so hard that she fell on her ass, and she laughed as I pulled her back up. In that moment, I pushed aside the fact that he was an Heir, too fascinated by his beautiful transformation and the inviting look in his wolfish eyes. The magic of this place and the students in it was just too wonderful to ignore. And I longed more than anything to know what my own Order was. Seth suddenly dropped to the ground, turning his head as he gestured toward his back.

I want this to be a nice moment buft i feel like its a trap

My mouth fell open, and my heart stuttered to a halt as they left us in the middle of The Wailing Wood who knew how far away from the meadow.

Not surprised

He moved out of the clearing, and I slipped from my hiding place, watching as he reached the path. Instead of turning left and heading back towards Ignis House, he turned right and set off at a fast pace.

Girl dont follow

I guessed students’ post was delivered via unicorn farts or whatever their version of a postie was.

Lmao

“Are you going out yonder beyond the gobbledy gates?” she asked excitedly. “I was just about to catch the shuttle; we can all go together like geese for a gander!”

Jfc

“They're for the Almighty Sovereign Society – aren't they just the gnat’s pyjamas?!”

If she doesn't chill tf out im going to throw the book

“I just thought...after last night.” He cleared his throat - was that actually a look of vulnerability in his eyes? “I just thought things had changed. But clearly, I was wrong.” He released my hand,

He cant be for real. And even if he is, he cant expect one apology to fix everything

“But what if he didn't? And what about Darius? The two of them left the bar together. And whoever it was must have been after us before. We heard the same weird noise.” “How can we be sure?” Tory asked, pushing a hand through her hair. “We confront them,” I

Terrible plan

“Funnily enough, sir, I've taken an interest in your business too lately.” I let the energy of that impending thunderstorm crackle over him. He cocked his head, his mouth twisting up at the corner. “Well don't keep me in suspense, Miss Vega. I'm dying to hear the speech you've written for this occasion.”

Girl this is embarrassing. You need to stop and think for half a second

and the general desire to have fun would mean that me and Darcy could enjoy it too.

Darcy and I

or I missed the memo about your enrolment in Captain Silver’s new fleet.” A beat of silence passed as his gaze dragged over me. “You really don’t know anything do you?” he asked. “This is how my kind regenerate our power; from gold.” “Oh.” I frowned at the coins again as I processed that. “So, are you Order of pirate then? Do you transform into a one-legged man with an eyepatch, a hankering for rum and a pet parrot?”

Shes so funny

“If you come to my room uninvited again then it had better be because you’re ready to bow to us or to beg me to bend you over that headboard and make you scream my name,”

Can you bend someone over a headboard?

Caleb released a noise of satisfaction deep in the back of his throat as his hands moved to my waist and he walked me backwards until my thighs hit the hard line of a desk.

I have to many trust issues for this

My hair, he took my hair. But it wasn’t just my hair. It was an age-old wound and he’d cut it open deeper than before.

Oh no

I knew what we were heading for as soon as the warm air and scent of chlorine hit me,

Oh no

A huge spout of water rose up like a tower beside me and I tried to kick away from it even though I knew it was pointless. With a flick of Darius’s hand, the column bent and slammed down on top of me, submerging me again.

Girl use your magic

The answers you seek are hidden between Leo and Libra.

Im assuming darius and orion