Zodiac Academy: The Awakening(30)
(Mutating Orders)
Dragon
Manticore
Griffin
Cerberus
Pegasus
Werewolf
Nemean Lion
Hydra
Caucasian Eagle
Chimera
DIVISUS
(Spliced Orders)
Minotaur
Medusa
Centaur
Cyclops
Sphinx
Harpy
I stared across the names in fascination, unable to believe all of these strange creatures really existed.
Orion turned to face us again. “You each have an Order, most of which will have been apparent since childhood. Let me have a show of hands who does not yet know their Order.”
Tory and I slowly raised our hands and Diego did the same. I glanced around, finding a handful more joining us and I was glad we weren’t singled out in something else.
Orion nodded stiffly. “Email me after class.” He turned back to the board without further explanation. “The Taenia have just two divisions whereas if I were to write every Mutatio on this board we would be here until next week.”
I gazed down the list, my mind boggling at the words Werewolf, Dragon, Medusa, Cyclops and all the rest.
Orion pointed to the middle column. “The easiest way to distinguish a Mutatio Order is that they will shift fully into a creature without humanoid characteristics. The Divisus Order can get confused with the Mutatio, but the easiest way to distinguish them is that the Divisus Orders maintain human-like characteristics when they have mutated into their magical form. The Taenia differ from the other two Orders in that they maintain human form at all times, except for one feature. Can anyone name the feature of a Siren which changes when they embrace their powers?” He looked to the class and I glanced around, finding many of the students with their hands raised.
Orion picked a girl at the back with long braided hair. “Sirens get scales.” She twisted her hand in the air and a shimmer of blue and gold rippled across her skin. “They're tough as hell and perfect for swimming.”
“Correct,” Orion said and I jotted down the note on my Atlas under Sirens. “And what feature changes for Vampires?”
“Teeth,” Tory offered in a sharp tone.
Some of the students snickered and the hairs on the back of my neck rose to attention.
“Correct, Miss Vega.” Orion rested his hands flat on his desk and peeled his upper lip back.
My heart took a freedive into my stomach as his canines extended into sharp points. He grinned darkly, then ran his tongue across them as they retracted once more.
My heart pounded unhappily in my chest. He was a Vampire? Like Caleb?
My nose wrinkled as I stared at Orion, seeing him in a wholly different light. And not a good one.
“And what is the purpose of Vampire fangs?” he asked.
“To suck magic out of other Orders!” Kylie called out, seeming excited.
“Correct,” Orion said with a hungry glimmer in his gaze. “Any volunteers?”
Nervous laughter rang out and my stomach twisted up.
“No?” Orion pressed, strolling casually into the aisles between the desks. “Because in Solaria, Fae don't tend to ask for what they want, do they?”
He paused beside Diego's desk and the boy's eyes widened.
“Name?” Orion demanded of him.
“Diego Polaris,” he said. “And as a teacher, sir, don't you have to ask for blood?”
In answer, Orion snatched Diego's arm and dug his fangs into it.
My heart slammed into my throat as Diego released a yell of pain and I suddenly found myself on my feet.
“Stop!” I demanded and Orion extracted his fangs, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Diego seemed a little weak, blinking heavily as he held his bloody wrist as far away from Orion as possible.
“Problem, Miss Vega?” Orion asked, his brows arching as he assessed me.
I glanced over my shoulder at Tory and she shook her head to warn me off.
I sank back into my seat, my heart thundering in my ears. I didn't answer him, instead looking away in disgust.
Pig.
Orion marched back to his desk and dropped into the wide leather chair behind it. “You have ten minutes to describe the shifted forms of each Mutatio in the table. Go.” He plucked up his coffee cup, drained it in one then sat back in his chair, thumbing through something on his Atlas.
“Great, we'll just sit here for ten minutes then,” Tory said under her breath, folding her arms.
I nodded, pursing my lips.
A few minutes into the task we had no chance of completing, I glanced at Diego. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, seeming to have gotten over Orion's vicious attack. He dropped his eyes back to his Atlas and continued tapping away the answers.
My gaze drifted to Orion who was grinning about something he was reading on his Atlas. His eyes shimmered with a deep heat and I firmly reminded myself he was only a beast with a beautiful face. Just like Caleb.
"Orion is so hot,” Kylie whispered, her voice carrying to my ears.
"Yeah and he knows it." The girl beside her smothered a laugh.
"He does know it, because he has Vampire hearing." Orion looked up from his desk, pinning them in his sharp gaze. "So if you don't want detention for the next week, I suggest you keep your petty thoughts to yourselves about me and any other member of faculty for that matter."