Zodiac Academy 4: Shadow Princess

“Come to me…”

Shadows swirled around me, dark and alluring. They crept along my skin like warm hands and pulled, pulled, pulled me toward oblivion. I was safe, wrapped in a blanket of comfort as ecstasy trickled through my veins.

“Where are you?” I whispered into the void, my voice like satin as it slid from my tongue.

“Over here…closer…come to me…”

She sounded further away than before and my heart squeezed with the need to find her in the abyss.

“I can’t see,” I breathed, trying to swipe away the pressing black.

A hand caught mine and soft fingers latched onto me. My heart pulsed softly as I stepped forward, feeling her arms sliding around me even though I was still blind.

“Save me.” Her breath dragged across my cheek, branding a cold kiss there that washed deep into my bones. For a moment I felt like I was standing with someone I knew, someone as familiar to me as my own flesh and blood. Then she was gone and the darkness swirled around me, its sweet pull drawing me after her.

I took a step, reaching for the whispers at the edge of my hearing, desperate to find them.

But then a memory found me of someone whose flesh matched my own, whose soul was built of the same essence as mine. Then another presence, a man with endless eyes who held me close and begged me not to go. And whoever they were drew me back a step, because there wasn’t a realm in this universe I could go without them at my side.

I woke gasping, sweat plastering the covers to my skin. I threw them aside, stepping out of my bed and moving to the window. I pushed it wide and the icy morning air poured over me, rushing across my heated flesh.

The shadows receded into some ever-present space inside me. They’d always be there, waiting to tempt me into their arms.

I recalled the voice of the girl who’d tried to summon me to her. She’d asked for help. Was she some poor lost soul who’d stepped into the void and never come back?

I shuddered, pulling the window shut as the cold became too bitter. Frost clung to the window pane and the white sheen dusted the grass down below. It glittered like stardust as the rising sun spilled over it and I gazed at the peaceful scene until my heart returned to a normal beat.

My alarm went off on my Atlas and the sound of soft windchimes tinkled through the air. I dropped back onto my bed, tapping the screen to turn it off and opening up my horoscope.
 

Good morning Gemini.

The stars have spoken about your day!

Today will deliver many challenges on your doorstep, but take heart, the stars are glimmering in your favour. So long as you dig deep for the strength inside you and use the pull of Jupiter to prepare you for surprises, you could have a great day. Remember, the honey will be all the sweeter once you’ve faced the hive to take it.

It was cryptic as usual, but I was always on guard whenever it spoke about challenges and surprises. Especially freaking surprises.

I headed into the shower to wash away the clinging darkness of the dream and was soon walking down to The Orb in my uniform and coat. The wintery air brought my senses to life and by the time I reached The Orb, my face tingled with its icy caress. I needed to start wearing gloves and a hat soon, so an online shopping spree was in order.

Better not tell Tor, or she’ll buy me the whole winter catalogue.

I smiled as I spotted her, already at our usual table surrounded by our friends. A suspiciously new looking cream scarf was wrapped around her neck and as I approached, I spotted the price tag still hanging from it.

I snapped it off, waving it under her nose. “One hundred auras for a scarf? You’re gonna bankrupt us before we graduate,” I teased.

She snatched the tag from my hand with a grin. “Have you seen our bank account? I couldn’t bankrupt us if I tried.”

“But you are trying, right?” I laughed.

Sofia giggled across the table, taking a bite out of her toast but she wasn’t looking at us, she was staring at her Atlas.

“Is Tyler sending you dick pics?” Tory asked with a smirk.

Sofia glanced up, her cheeks colouring a second before Tyler appeared behind her, leaning down for a kiss. She quickly tucked her Atlas away and turned to press her lips to his and he fell into the seat next to hers.

“I don’t send dick pics, Tory,” Tyler said as he snatched an apple from the fruit bowl Geraldine had filled on the table. “The screen’s not big enough to encompass all that.”

“Ew,” Tory laughed. I noticed dark circles ringing her eyes and frowned as I realised it was odd for her to beat me to breakfast. I guessed the shadows were keeping her up at night too.

“You okay?” I asked her under my breath and she shook her head.

“Didn’t get much sleep.” She glanced over at Darius. “And I had a bit of a run in with the Dragon asshole.”

Before she could tell me more, Geraldine appeared with a large tray of bagels, nudging Tyler aside as she placed them down at the heart of the table and dropped into her seat opposite us. She looked a little frazzled and her usually perfect uniform seemed kinda ruffled. “Grape juice on a one-way flight to Alestria, I nearly lost an arm for these bagels this morning.”

“What happened?” I asked in surprise.

“Max Rigel happened!” she huffed. “That bloated beluga whale needs to get the hint. He’s swangling his way into my life at every turn these days. He laid siege to the entire bagel pile!”

“Please tell me you knocked him on his ass,” Tory said hopefully.

Geraldine swiped a hand over her hair to flatten it. “Certainly. But not before he sent my skirt shooting up over my head with a jet of water. Gravy granules, does he have no shame at all? I had to teach him a lesson of course to try and drive the message home.”

Tory elbowed me and as if on cue, Max Rigel stalked his way past us toward the exit of The Orb with jam dripping from his hair and what looked like a bunch of bananas sticking out the back of his pants. He snatched them out, tossing them to the floor and some sad sap of a girl hurried to pick them up, running to her friends’ table where they preceded to start eating them. Gross. Do they have no shame?

I turned to grin at Geraldine and she lifted her chin, grabbing a wedge of butter and a knife for the bagels.

My gaze fell on Diego several feet beyond the table, holding a plate of eggs and toast, glancing our way with a look of uncertainty.

I nudged Tory and she glanced over at him, shrugging before returning to picking at her breakfast.

“He said he’s sorry,” I whispered. “I feel bad for him.”

“Whatever, take in the stray if you must,” Tory said. “But I don’t recall getting an apology myself.”

I chewed on my lower lip, standing and heading over to him as he drifted toward an empty table. Before I made it to him, Seth Capella stormed across the room, flipping Diego’s plate up into his chest and ramming his shoulder against his before making a beeline to the buffet.

“Asshole!” I called after him but he ignored me.

I hurried to help Diego wash the eggy mess off of his shirt with the aid of my water magic, cursing Seth under my breath.

Diego’s arms hung limply at his sides as if he’d given up on life. The guy seriously needed a pep talk. And it looked like I was the only one willing to give it.

“Just ignore him – and all the Heirs for that matter,” I said.

“How has that worked out for you in the past?” he asked with a frown.

“Fair point.” I broke a grin and his shoulders relaxed as he returned it. I nodded over at our table with a hopeful look. “There’s room for one more.”

“Your sister looks like she’s trying to melt my head with her glare.”

I glanced over at Tory, silently communicating that she back off. She rolled her eyes in response then slapped a too-cheery smile on her face instead.

“She’s just having a rough morning,” I said to Diego with a shrug. “Maybe if you apologised about before…”

He nodded, shifting from foot to foot then he leaned in closer and whispered to me, “I’ve been meaning to but…well she scares the cagada out of me, chica.”

I snorted a laugh, taking his arm and guiding him over to the table. “Ignore that resting bitch face, it’s totally an act.” Okay not totally, but he didn’t need to know that.

We arrived behind Tory and I tapped her on the shoulder when she didn’t turn around. She sighed dramatically, her stare hardening as she swivelled to look at Diego.

I clutched his arm tighter, sensing he was about to bolt.

Diego cleared his throat several times, then finally choked out a garbled apology, intermittently falling into his native tongue.

“Okay okay,” Tory waved a hand. “You’re giving me a headache so I forgive you and all that jazz.” She pointed at the empty seat on her other side and Diego smiled as he dropped into it.

Geraldine pushed the bagel tray toward him with a motherly look. “You’re as skinny as a dieting toothpick, Diego. Tuck into my buttery bagels.”

He grabbed one and we were all soon chatting like nothing had changed between us. Even him and Tyler seemed to get on just fine and for a second it felt like the shadows that lived in me had evaporated, leaving only the light of my friends shining through my skin like rays of the sun.

***
 

It was our first Numerology class and I was excited to learn about another magical faction as we headed into the classroom half way up Neptune Tower. The room was built of grey stone walls, the bricks exposed and the air cool. On each wall were seemingly random numbers including eleven, seven, three, thirty three and seven hundred and forty seven. They were etched deep into the stone as if they’d been carved by a giant blade and where the cuts had been made, glittering crystal was revealed within.

Tory, Diego, Sofia, Tyler and I all sat on one of the long desks at the back of the room, taking out our Atlases and textbooks.

Professor Faun was a stocky man with dark skin and short dreadlocks which hung over the shaven sides of his head. He had a handsome face and a crooked smile that made me warm to him quickly.

“Numbers. Are. Everything.” He pressed a button on his Atlas and jazz music began to play throughout the room. He clicked his fingers to the beat, shutting his eyes as he lost himself to it, sucking on his lower lip. “Mmm yeah.”

I glanced at Tory and we both stifled laughs as Professor Faun sauntered his way between the aisles, moving in a strange, seductive sort of rhythm.

“I heard he’s a Satyr,” Kylie whispered from the table in front of ours. “They’re so…sensual.” She sighed like she was lost to some dream and a flicker of fire in my periphery made me realise the professor was giving off some vibe my Phoenix powers were shutting out.

“Everyone relaaax.” Professor Faun released the top button of his shirt. “Get comfortable, shake out your limbs and enjoy the positive vibes of this space. We’re all just spirits dancing in an endless sea of stars.”

“Is he high?” I whispered to Tory and she snorted into her hand as Faun danced past us, his moves surprisingly good.

“Numerology is the music of the heavens. Each number is a note and they all work together to create one magical tune.” Professor Faun cast a vine in his hand, shooting it across the room to flick the light switch so we were plunged into darkness. A disco ball above us immediately started spinning and the silvery light it cast merged into infinite numbers, all spinning around us across the ceiling and walls.

“Your soul is written in numbers,” Faun explained like that made total sense. He funky-danced his way back up to the electronic board at the head of the room, tapping it to bring up the first slide.

Determining your birth path number and using its groovalicious meaning to discover your path in life and place in the world.

“Your first task is to work out your birth path number. Follow the equation on the board then I’ll go around the room discussing each number specific to you and what it means.” He tapped the board again and the equation appeared. I frowned, expecting some god-awful math equation, but luckily it was pretty simple.

Add up all the numbers in the month, day and year you were born.

For example:

01/18/1990

0+ 1 + 1 + 8 + 1 + 9 + 9 + 0 = 29

Add the number once again to learn your Birth Path Number:

2 + 9 = 11

1+1 = 2

I wrote out my birth date on my Atlas as everyone in the class set to work. After a minute, I came up with a Birth Path Number of one and was intrigued to learn what that might mean. Tory got the same obviously while Sofia got a six and Diego got a seven.

Professor Faun made his way over to us, seeming interested as he took in the number one Tory and I had written down.

“One is the number of achievers…leaders.” His eyes ran over us and curiosity burned in them. “Many of Solaria’s rulers have possessed this Birth Path Number.”

“Well we don’t plan on ruling anything so…” Tory shrugged.

“Plans,” Faun spat out a laugh. “Plan away, Miss Vega. You will soon realise that all plans are futile. The only ones that matter are written in the stars.”

“So technically we could find out if we’re destined to rule or not?” I asked curiously and Tory rolled her eyes in my periphery.

I ignored her, fixing Professor Faun in my gaze. My sister seriously needed to be less cynical. We were at Zodiac Academy for god’s sake. I didn’t like the idea of my life being fated either, but if it was, I’d rather know that…and what freedom we had in our choices.

“Yes and no,” Faun mused, rubbing the stubble on his jaw. “Numerology will give an indicator of the life you’ll lead and can help guide you along your path. All of your power numbers influence your decisions. They’re as bound to you as your DNA. If you are born to lead, then lead you will. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you will rule Solaria.”

“Good, because the day I bow to the Vega Whores is the day I hang myself from a tree in The Wailing Wood,” Kylie said loudly, her joke punctuated by a snort from Jillian.

Faun turned to dock House Points and I muttered to Tory under my breath, “I think I just got my first real incentive to claim the throne.”

Tory released a laugh and Faun whipped around to look at us with a questioning frown. We gave him innocent looks and he moved away to define Sofia’s number, naming her as a caregiver and nurturer, likely to lead a career in health services. Diego’s number seven denoted him as a seeker who looked for meaning in life, questioned things and had a spiritual nature.

Yup, when your grandma’s soul is knitted into your hat, I guess that makes you one seriously spiritual guy.

***

I headed to the Pitball Stadium after school hours with my heart thumping against my throat. Tory had gone back to her room for something, but the look in her eye had told me she had no intention of showing up for cheer practice. Did I blame her? Hell no. Being stuck on a squad with Marguerite and Kylie was almost as bad as being stuck on a team with the Heirs. Not that it was a competition or anything, but I had the awful feeling I’d just won.

At least there was a silver lining. One with muscles, incredible skill on the pitch and who actually liked me. And no, it wasn’t Orion – a moody Vampire for a coach? No thank you. He wasn’t going to go easy on me just because we were…whatever the hell we were. Nope, if ever there was a knight in shining armour awaiting me in the locker rooms, it was Geraldine Grus.

I reached the stadium, finding myself locked out and recalling Geraldine had a key the last time I’d entered this way – to rub Griffin shit all over Max’s kit. A smile pulled at my lips at the memory and I wondered if we’d get a chance to mess with him again soon. The hashtag #poowhatyougottado was trending high this week and I often flicked through the FaeBook newsfeed to amuse myself with the mocked up images of Max. Someone had found a professional photo of him lying on a beach with his lips parted and had done a great job of adding a lot of poop to that pic.

I tugged at the door a few pointless times then blew out a huff and took my Atlas from my pocket. I was about to shoot Geraldine a message when an arm dropped around my shoulders. I jolted in surprise, finding Caleb there, steering me toward the door. “Stuck out here, sweetheart? I’ll let you in.”

“Oh…thanks,” I said suspiciously. He might have been seeing my sister, but I was still wary as hell when it came to Caleb Altair.

He reached for the door then paused, turning to me with mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Of course…I’ll want a favour in return.”

I sighed, my eyes swinging to the sky. “Of course you do.”

“It’s just an itty bitty one,” he said with a grin that could have melted most girls panties. Not mine because ew, my sister had been there. Which gave me blinkers just for him, along with any other guy my sister had laid a hand on. It was innate. He might as well have looked like a potato in a dress for how interested I was in him. Plus, you know, there was the completely mind-consuming hotness that was Lance Orion for me to focus on.

“What is it?” I glanced over my shoulder, hoping for any other team member to arrive who could let me in. Except maybe Seth…or Darius…or Max. Yeah, anyone else would be great though.

“I want the truth,” he asked, his arm tightening around my shoulders. “Tell me what Tory’s said about me.”

I barked a laugh and his expression darkened.

“What?” he demanded.

“It’s just…there’s not much to report.”

He scowled. “There must be something.”

“I mean, she thinks you’re hot.” I shrugged and that seemed to lighten his mood a fraction.

“Tell me what she wants from a guy,” he blurted, swinging me around to look at him. “What am I missing? I mean, look at me. What’s not to like?” He pushed a hand into his hair and gave me an actual smoulder.

I pursed my lips. “How about not being a douche? Have you tried that?”

“I am trying,” he said gently, his cocky shit suddenly falling away.

I frowned, suddenly finding the desperate look in his eyes kinda sad.

“Cal!” Seth jogged up to us and Caleb released me in an instant.

I glanced at the firmly closed door with frustration.

Just let me in, dammit!

Seth’s eyes swung to me, his gaze dripping with disdain. “You’re really trying out for the team?”

I clenched my jaw, a fire igniting in me at the disbelief in his tone. Sure, I hadn’t exactly believed I was a great candidate either two minutes ago, but now he thought it, I was going to give my best shot at proving both of us wrong.

“Yeah, and? Can you just open the door?” I moved toward it and Seth stepped past me, unlocking it with his key.

He headed inside with Caleb in tow and I moved to follow just as he slammed the door in my face. An actual growl escaped me and I hammered my fist on the door.

“Open up!”

No response.

“Tory also said you’ve got the personality of a grape, Caleb!” I shouted after him, knowing he’d hear with his Vampire ears. It only made me feel one percent better.

My heart thumped in my ears as I reached into my pocket for my Atlas to message Geraldine. Except it wasn’t freaking there.

My mouth parted as I hunted the area but nope, one of those assholes had freaking pick-pocketed me.

Deep breath, Darcy.

I gazed around for a solution to present itself but unsurprisingly none came to me.

Unless…

I stared up at the roof high above. It was currently open to the sky and though it was a seriously tall building, that didn’t really matter to my air magic. It was just the fear of it failing on me that made me pause.

What am I gonna do? Fly up there like Wonder Woman and swoop down onto the pitch?

Holy shit I think I am.

Wait, does Wonder Woman even fly?

I pushed air from my hands before I could back out, propelling myself up the curving metal wall which arched toward the sky. A rush of adrenaline poured down my limbs as I hurtled up and over the open roof. The four quarters of the pitch gazed up at me from below. The team were assembling on it, jogging out of the tunnel which led to the locker rooms.

My stomach dropped the same second I did, the blast of air from my hands slowing so I started descending – fast.

Oh shit shit shit –

By sheer force of will, I held my scream in my chest, refusing to embarrass myself. Which lasted all of two more seconds as I crashed into the ground and slammed to my knees before everyone. It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t totally humiliating either – win!

Geraldine started applauding as everyone stared at me like a meteor had just crashed from the heavens. “Holy spaceballs!” she gasped. “What an entrance!”

Orion’s brows were practically in his hairline, his arms folded and bulging against the fitted black T-shirt which labelled him as the Pitball Coach.

“Five points to Aer,” he said with a smirk. “But it would have been ten if you made that landing, Miss Vega.” Backhanded, but I’d take it. He glanced back up at the sky as if looking for another Fae falling from the heavens. “Where’s your sister?”

“She’s on her way.” Total lie. I bet she was stretched out on her bed watching Faeflix right about now.

I spotted the cheer squad congregating at end of the pitch, stretching and flashing a lot of skin in our direction. Most of the guys were captivated by the show and Orion started directing them into sprints around the pitch to distract them. There were nearly fifty people present including almost thirty freshmen waiting to try-out.

“Your kit’s waiting for you on the bench in the girl’s locker room. Go get changed,” Orion ordered. “And hurry or I’ll remember how late you were to practise.”

He was such a hypocrite, but damn it made me hot when he got all bossy like that. I didn’t let him know it though, offering him an eye roll before heading down the tunnel into the locker room.

My kit was waiting for me and my Atlas had been left on top of it by whichever one of the Heirs had thieved it from me. I stripped down, shoving my stuff into a locker and was soon dressed in the navy and silver colours of the academy. I wore a pair of fitted shorts and as I wasn’t an official member of the team, the academy letters were printed on the back of the shirt instead of my name. I pulled on the knee high socks and sneakers before jogging back out to the pitch where I was ready to freeze my ass off.

Orion immediately sent me off to do sprints with the rest of the team and I nodded, running to join the pack. After the comment Seth had made, I was determined to do my best today. I was gonna make myself a substitute. It was a reasonable goal. I’d played lacrosse in high school so I wasn’t completely inept when it came to sport.

After four sprints, my legs ached, by eight my lungs burned, by fifteen my tongue was practically lolling. Okay maybe I’m ten percent inept.

Orion finally called time and though I’d not been the fastest, I hadn’t been the slowest either. I could feel him assessing me and tried to stand straighter but holy hell I was dying.

Sweat clung to my skin and I drew in heavy lungfuls of air, wondering why I’d ever thought I’d get cold during this.

“Right team, line up in front of me,” Orion commanded and the star players did as he said, the Heirs and Geraldine included. There were only eight of them, though I was sure a full team was made up of ten. I glanced around to see if anyone else would join them when Orion explained their absence.

“Our Airsentry, Ashanti Larue, lost her life in the battle that took place here. Subsequently, one of our Pit Keepers, Milly Badgerville, quit the team. So we’re looking for official replacements. The Pit Keeper position is open to any Element, so stand to my left if you’re trying out as an Airsentry and on my right to play Pit Keeper.”

I hesitated as the subs and newbies split accordingly. Several people went for the Pit Keeper position and the rest lined up for the Airsentry, all of which were massive, broad chested girls and guys. I vaguely remembered it was a defensive position so hell if I was suited to that. Apart from being clumsy as shit, I couldn’t tackle a Labrador, let alone someone the size of the Heirs in a match.

Pit Keeper it is.

Orion’s eyes followed me as I moved into my chosen line and I swear he nodded his approval.

“Airsentries, you will each try to get a ball in the Pit while our new Keepers try to stop you. All of the main team will be playing defence to prevent you from scoring,” Orion explained.

“Perhaps a demonstration from Solaria’s finest Airsentry of his time,” Geraldine suggested, eyeing Orion with a cocked brow.

“I don’t think so, Grus,” Orion said with an amused expression.

“Go on, sir,” Justin Masters piped up. “Impress the newbies.”

Max put his fingers in his mouth, whistling loudly in encouragement.

The rest of the team started chanting, “Go on sir, go on sir, go on sir!”

Orion’s eyes flashed to me then he strode toward Darius, handing him his Atlas with an eye roll. “For fuck’s sake, fine,” he said, shaking his head but a smile was playing around his mouth.

“What ball do you want?” Darius asked as he eyed the screen, evidently able to control the Elemental Holes from it.

“Surprise me,” Orion said, rolling out his shoulders. “Rigel, Grus, on the pitch.”

Max and Geraldine jogged out either side of him and as Darius tapped the screen a fwooomph sounded an Airball shooting far up above us.

Orion ran for it, powering down the pitch and launching himself into the sky to catch it. He snatched the ball from the air and landed in a crouch. Max and Geraldine were already charging him down and he barrelled toward them, locking the ball tight under one arm and raising his other hand.

Geraldine cast a wall of earth, tearing it up from the ground, but Orion launched himself over it with a gust of air.

Max was waiting, casting ice under his feet. He leapt away from it, running on nothing but air as the two of them took chase.

Everyone started calling out in encouragement and I found myself doing the same as he sped toward the Pit. Max was hot on his heels and he leapt forward to take him down, but Orion swerved sideways at the last second.

Geraldine cast vines out to catch him and Orion leapt forwards, throwing the ball just as the vines caught him around the waist and he crashed into the ground. The ball fell into the Pit and I cheered in excitement as Geraldine released him and Orion sprang to his feet, muddy, bruised and looking hot as hell.

I wet my mouth as he jogged back to us with Geraldine and Max in tow.

“Right, enough time wasting,” Orion said firmly, but a spark had entered his gaze. “Airsentry tryouts, head onto the pitch and try to get a ball in the Pit.”

The Airsentries fanned out across the pitch and Orion took his Atlas back from Darius, tapping something on the screen.

“Two Keeper tryouts at a time. If you let a ball in, tag out. There’ll be no rounds. Everyone on the main team is going to be playing defence so if you’re tackled, get up and keep playing,” Orion called and my heart beat quickened as I moved to stand beyond the Pit while two of the tryouts took up position in front of it.

“Good luck, little Vega!” Max called to me with nothing but poison in his eyes.

“Don’t fall into the Pit again,” Seth said with a smirk.

“You might not get out this time,” Darius added before jogging after Caleb down the pitch.

Tension prickled along my skin as the team spread out. The Heirs were gazing at the Airsentry tryouts like easy prey and one guy actually looked ready to call it quits before the game had even started. I moved into the group of Keepers standing on the edge of the pitch and two of them jogged up to guard the Pit.

“Three, two, one!” Orion blew his whistle and the shrill sound combined with the thundering of feet across the ground. At a tap on his screen, balls shot out of the four Elemental holes in each corner of the pitch.

My pulse elevated as the main team raced to tackle the Airsentries and they ran to try and get a ball. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of the Heirs as they took down player after player like it was as easy as breathing. Geraldine at least helped hers up while the Heirs leapt over their prey to make the next kill.

Darius was like a tank as he tackled players to the ground and some of them didn’t move again once he’d got off of them. My jaw was dropping further and further as the Airsentries battled to reach the Pit and finally one girl broke through. Her bright blonde hair whipped out behind her as she ran, her arms smeared with mud and her eyes full of determination. The Heirs were busy taking other players down but Damien Evergile was hot on her heels, casting a pillar of fire after her.

She knocked the two Pit Keepers aside with a huge blast of water, directing it behind her as well to extinguish the flames at her back. With a shriek of excitement, she slammed the ball into the Pit and I released a whoop, the energy in the air electric.

The cheer squad had started up a routine, but I couldn’t turn my attention from the apocalypse taking place on the pitch to watch.

“Tag out!” Orion barked at the two Pit Keepers before praising the blonde girl and sending her back to keep playing.

I glanced around, noticing a few of the Keepers had backed up and figured I might as well go for it. I headed to the front of the Pit with Elijah Indus, his jaw set in determination. He stood to the other side of the Pit and adrenaline tingled in my veins as Orion blew the whistle and more balls were launched onto the pitch.

I set my feet firmly on the ground, sensing the depths of the Pit behind me as I remembered the Heirs pushing me in there.

A dark haired boy broke free of the warring pitch, racing toward the Pit with a battle cry. I lifted my hands, focusing on the ground beneath his feet as I attempted to trip him up with earth magic. As he got within two yards, power exploded from my body and a huge tremor ripped through pitch. He yelled in surprise, crashing to the ground and the Earthball dropped from his arms with a dull thud.

A girl swooped down on it, picking it up and launching it toward the Pit. I threw up an air shield as Elijah tried to knock her over with a wall of ice. The ball bounced harmlessly off of my shield and a grin burrowed into my cheeks. This is actually kinda fun.

Seth charged someone down ten feet in front of me and my heart hammered as he scooped up their Airball and swung toward me with a vicious smirk. I gritted my jaw as he ran forward, fire burning in my veins as I faced him.

I half wondered if Orion would blow the whistle on him for taking a shot at the Pit, but he didn’t. I couldn’t even see him in all the madness and there was no way in hell I was taking my eyes off of the wolf closing in on me.

Seth threw out a hand and knocked Elijah flying. His power slammed into my shield a second later and I gasped, driving my heels into the ground and throwing every ounce of energy I had at it. I felt my shoes skidding in the mud as the pressure of his power forced me backwards. Everything he’d done to me manifested into my magic, pouring out of me in wave after wave. I wouldn’t let him have this win. I refused to. Not after he’d defeated me in front of his whole pack, broken my ribs and nearly bitten my head off.

He’d spent a lot of his magic taking people down on the pitch, and through sheer force alone, I may have just had an advantage.

With a cry of exertion, I released everything I had into the shield and magic sparked around me, rising the hairs on my arms.

Seth launched the ball at me with another wave of magic propelling it. A boom sounded as it hit the shield and my magic fell a heartbeat later, but it had done its job. The ball bounced back and fell harmlessly into the mud with a wet slap.

It took me a moment to realise the pitch had quietened. The Heirs were watching me from where they stood. Darius had his foot resting on someone’s back while Caleb was mid-way through choking another player out.

Orion’s eyes finally found mine and he looked like he’d just been handed the holy grail.

“Tag out,” he commanded and I nodded, moving around the pitch and finding the rest of the group looking like they’d already been told they hadn’t made it onto the team. My breathing was wild and the excitement coursing through me was intoxicating.

Holy shit, I can’t believe I pulled that off!

As the crazy game started up again, Orion shot to my side in a blur, steering me out of earshot of the waiting Keepers. “You’ll have to work on your stamina,” he said with a suggestive smirk. “Apart from that, it’s clear you’re made for this, Blue.” He dipped his head to my ear for half a second. “Thought you might be.” He stepped back and I stared at him with my heart pounding as I found a world full of faith gazing back at me. No one had ever looked at me like that. Like I was unstoppable.

“Keep going!” Orion called to the pitch. “I’ll be back with a pissed off Vega Twin in thirty seconds.” He disappeared with a flash of his Vampire speed and I bit down on my lip to hold back a laugh as he raced out of the stadium. Tory was not gonna appreciate that.