The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I slowly exhale as I concentrate on the little stack of wood at the center of the empty space between the tents that my mother lead us to. A little anxious, I glance around at all of the very flammable canvas fabric around us.

"Steady," Jacks murmurs, smirking down at me from his place at my side, sensing the direction of my thoughts. "You control it. You won't set the camp ablaze unless you want to."

I huff a laugh and shake my head, hoping that he's right. Then I glance to my other side, where mom, Cora, and Rafe are waiting, watching me carefully, impatient though they're trying to hide it. Jackson takes my hand and I feel the power start to flow between us. Just a trickle right now, but more at the ready whenever I want to pull on it.

"I mean, we're not going to have the darkness," I say, my voice small, my eyes moving to Cora's. She swallows hard as she nods to me, raising her chin. My mom steps closer to her sister, taking her hand. "Or...the wind."

"Flame is still great, Ari," Rafe murmurs, his green eyes wide and full of support. "It's kind of the important part. Let's just...see what you can do."noveldrama

"Okay," I whisper, squeezing Jackson's hand. And then I exhale again and turn back towards the stack of wood, concentrating on it.

Instantly, it bursts into flames, bringing a little smile to my mouth. Because despite all of the horrible things that have happened, I do love the magic. It's warm and peaceful and right. I pull on Jackson's power then, letting the fire roar happily as it grows in size, far bigger than it should be with such a little pile of wood to feed it.

I take a minute to let the joy and the magic fill me, taking a deep and peaceful breath. And then I begin to experiment, making the flame go bigger and smaller, seeing what I can do.

"It's still very effective," Rafe murmurs, glancing at our mom. "Even without the wind. The fact that she can just look at something and make it burst into flames - I mean, as long as her visuals aren't interrupted..." Rafe and mom continue, discussing military applications, but I sigh and little and turn back to my happy little fire. Or, happy gigantic inferno, more accurately.

But even if Rafe is right that my magic is still a very destructive force, I miss the wind. Being able to turn it into that wide and flaming gyre...

Man, but that had been cool. And it had felt good and right, singing through my body. After all, that's how I had been able to move it around.

A little wind ripples through the little square clearing now as I remember what it had been like when the fire danced along with me, moving as moved. The wind moves towards the fire which seems to reach for it, eager for the fresh oxygen that it brings. I smile when the wind plays with the tendrils of fire, letting them grow a little, pulling it towards the sky.

Then I smile, turning my head to Cora. "Is that you?" I ask, curious, nodding towards it. "Bringing in the wind?"

But she just stares at me and slowly shakes her head. "I'm not doing anything, Ariel."

I frown, glancing back towards the fire as the wind dies down. "You didn't?" I whisper. Because, I mean...we're entirely surrounded by tents and it's a calm day. If Cora didn't do it...

My mom gasps and I turn to see her grasping Cora's hand, looking at me with wide eyes.

"What?" I ask, feeling wary, taking a step closer to Jackson, who is ready for me as he always is. Jackson steps behind me, keeping hold of my hand with his, letting me lean against his broad chest.