by Ava Corrigan
Even Musa’s detached voice sounded worried. How could I stop thinking about burned monsters if people wouldn’t stop talking about them? I willed Musa to quit killing the flying vibe.
“What about my ring?” Stella demanded.
What was mortal danger compared with jewelry? Stella’s priorities rocked my world.
No. She’d been kind, to loan me the ring. I was responsible. I didn’t want to run away from any responsibility.
Chin up, I stepped out into the common room.
It was a bright beautiful space, filled with comfortable chairs and sunlight. There was a light shaped like a fluffy cloud. The common room looked made for a different, nicer conversation.
“That burned thing … took it,” I admitted.
Stella snapped, “What?”
Musa drawled, “Calm down, Princess.”
Stella drew herself up in a temper. “Do not tell me to calm down, and do not use my title as an insult.”
It was my turn to say What? But I did it in the privacy of my own head. I blurted out, “You’re actually a princess?”
Stella glared. “The ring you lost is one of the crown jewels of Solaria. That might not mean much to a First Worlder, so feel free to ask your suitemates how big of a screwup that is.”
On cue, Aisha emerged from the bathroom. My savior, towel-drying her hair. “Almost as big as giving it to her in the first place,” she told Stella calmly. “Dowling has the creature locked up. Which you’d know if you were here last night when she gave us an earful.”
I was still dazed and amazed by the princess news. Solaria, I knew from Dowling’s map, was the realm we were in right now. Stella was the royal princess of this land.
“Quality walk of shame, though,” Musa commented.
Musa and Aisha had my back. I appreciated it, even as I wondered where Stella had been last night. With Sky? They’d talked at the party, but talking was one thing, and hopping into bed was another.
I’d kind of got the vibe Sky liked me. I was surprised by how much I wanted Stella to have spent the night with someone else.
Aisha continued on the subject of Ms. Dowling. “And as luck would have it, she wants to keep last night a secret, so you didn’t get in trouble.”
Musa shook her head. “If anyone knew there was a Burned One in the First World? Even temporarily? Disaster.”
The way Musa said “Burned One” sounded like the fairy name for those creatures, as if the name had ominous capital letters. But Ms. Dowling had saved me from the monster. Perhaps she would help us again.
I offered, “I didn’t tell her I lost the ring, but I’m sure if we do …”
Stella replied, the lash in her voice making everyone jump: “We will do no such thing. I’ll figure it out after class. But for now? Nobody tells anyone anything. And will somebody please make sure Terra knows that? She can never keep her mouth shut.”
On that pleasant note, Stella opened the door to her bedroom. For some reason, Terra was changing in there. She’d clearly heard everything, and looked absolutely mortified.
I was too dazed to spare much pity for Terra. It shouldn’t have mattered, compared with magic arson and monsters, but I couldn’t get over the fact that Stella was the literal princess of a fairy tale. Golden-haired, walking in light, to the castle born.
She was so the heroine of this story.
Fire
Class today was being held in an ancient stone circle. The stones were gray, some slightly broken and chipped, like the teeth of a vast and long-dead giant. They were placed at regular intervals from each other, in a clearly deliberate pattern in the long green grass. The sense of history, past memory, had me feeling overawed. This circle had stood for centuries before I was born, and would stand for centuries after I was gone. Surely, I couldn’t be a part of this.
The subject of our lesson appeared to be a bowl, ancient tarnished iron or possibly even bronze, with an embellished rim and covered with intricate looping designs that looked Celtic. Terra whispered that it was called the Vessel. The bowl stood on a plinth in the circle of stones, and I stood with the other first years in a ring around it. Each one of us was waiting our turn, to show everybody what we could do.
With flaming torches and a tumbling waterfall behind her, blond hair pinned up and navy trenchcoat flaring around her, Headmistress Dowling was at the very center of the stone circle. She fit in here, in a way nobody else did. Her dignity gave this lesson a sense of ceremony, her serious voice intoning the words loaned the lesson an air of ritual.
“Magic lives in the very fabric of nature. And here in our circle of stones, it is magnified. The Vessel tests your ability to channel that magic. A baseline to start your training. Down the road, you may learn to connect with other elements. But your first year is all about the element you were born with.”
She began calling elements, as though she was taking attendance.
“Earth. The soil, sand, rock, and all manner of plant life.”
No surprise, Terra advanced, placing her hands on the Vessel. Instantly her eyes glowed green and delicate tendrils of ivy sprang from the stone bowl.
Dowling continued: “Water. The lakes and oceans of the world, or the molecules that exist in organisms all around us.”
Aisha took her turn at the Vessel. Her eyes glowed blue, and inside the Vessel a tiny whirlpool started.
“The mind. The connection to memories, thoughts, dreams, or emotions of all living beings …”
As soon as Musa touched the Vessel, her eyes glowed purple, and electric ripples like sound waves cut across the bowl. There was a flash of crimson in the Vessel, the color of heart’s blood.
“Or air. Its speed, temperature, moisture; its sound and electrical properties …”
A girl I didn’t know, with dark mischievous eyes and a cleft chin, stepped up to the Vessel. Suddenly, her eyes glowed gray, and arcs of lightning zapped around the bowl. She slanted a confident smile over at Ms. Dowling.
Ms. Dowling continued as if she hadn’t seen the girl’s almost-taunting smile. “Whatever your element, the emotions underlying it are the same for all fairies.”
Ms. Dowling hadn’t given the other girl a glance, but she nodded at me as I approached the Vessel. I tried to take regular breaths and cover my nerves with swagger. I laid my fingertips on the stone loops and curls covering the Vessel.
The steady voice of Ms. Dowling urged me on. “Open yourself up to the magic of the world around you.”
I tried.
I stared at the bowl.
Nothing was happening.
“Focus on clear, positive feelings,” Ms. Dowling encouraged.
“Yep,” I said.
Happy thoughts. Flying feelings. Come on, dammit.
“There’s an emotional wellspring that lives deep inside you. Find it. Step into it. Push through your doubts.”
Even Ms. Dowling was starting to sound doubtful. Time stretched on, and the Vessel stayed humiliatingly unresponsive to my touch. The other first years were murmuring behind my back, their whispers filling the stone circle like fog.
Very quietly, I heard Musa say: “This is a disaster.”
And I knew she was right.
Fire
After class, the other first years were still gossiping about me, and Ms. Dowling drew me aside under the trees. Even the green leaves above seemed to be whispering mockery.
“It’s only the first day,” she reminded me, but I wasn’t in the mood for a pep talk.
I resented her, standing there eating an apple like someone with knowledge she wouldn’t share. I reminded her of some facts, too. “I’m either on the verge of killing everyone, or I can barely light a match.”
“You need a clear mind,” Ms. Dowling advised. “Distraction can cause magic to be erratic.”
I wondered what could possibly be distracting me. I could think of about only a thousand things.
I didn’t know I was going to ask the question before I did.
; “Am I a changeling?”
I saw that hit Ms. Dowling harder than I’d anticipated. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to find out so fast. I wondered how long she’d planned to keep it from me. I wondered what else she was keeping from me.
“Where did you hear that?” Ms. Dowling asked carefully.
“My roommate saw me lose control in the forest yesterday. Had a tough time believing I was from a long-dormant fairy bloodline.”
I repeated the lies she’d told me, the lies I’d swallowed so easily, with bitterness.
“Bloom …”
Ms. Dowling drew in a breath. From a woman as poised as her, it was as good as an admission of guilt.
My voice went sharp. “Would it have been so hard to tell me my parents weren’t my parents?”
“I didn’t want to burden you with too much, too quickly.”
Oh sure. She’d lied to me for my own good.
“So instead you let me learn from teenagers, the most gentle and reliable sources of information.”
Ms. Dowling almost winced. “I will admit. It was not ideal.”
I snorted. “Ya think?”
“Tone,” snapped Ms. Dowling, and I knew I’d pushed her too far.
I didn’t want to push her away. I wanted her to help me.
“Do you even know who they are?” I asked softly. “My … real parents?”
I saw the negative in her eyes before she spoke. “I don’t. Which is another reason I didn’t tell you.”
Abruptly, I lost my grip on anger. I was so tired, all my hopes for the day already crushed.
“So … what am I supposed to do?”
I just wanted answers. But nobody would give them to me.
“You come to class every day,” Ms. Dowling said. “You focus. You learn. You grow. Eventually, the answers will come.”
The answers wouldn’t come from Ms. Dowling. That much was obvious.
“Cryptic and vague,” I said bitterly. “Just like everything else in this place.”
I barely knew this woman. I didn’t know why I kept looking to her for aid. She’d lied to me, and now she was telling me to come embarrass myself in class day after day. She didn’t care about me. Asking Ms. Dowling for help was worse than useless.
I turned away.
Specialist
On the platforms spanning the lake, two baby Specialists were sparring. Kat was a badass. New boy Dane decidedly wasn’t.
Sky called out helpful suggestions. Riven, on the bench next to Sky, called out unhelpful suggestions and mockery.
As he did so, he watched intently as new boy Dane’s phone buzzed over and over again. With what appeared to be five thousand messages from Terra. Wow, Riven guessed they were besties now. Or Terra liked Dane. Did Terra like Dane? Barking up the wrong tree there, Terra!
Riven had the urge to mock Terra, but then Terra might strangle him with vines again. He snickered as Kat tackled Dane to the mat.
“Could you try being fifty percent less of a jerk?” asked Saint Sky.
Riven smirked. “That’s fifty percent less fun.”
Dane headed over to get his phone, presumably so he could read his many messages. He was avoiding eye contact with Riven.
Sky said mildly, “Remember what a lost cause you were last year? Two black eyes and a sprained ankle. Day one.”
No, Riven didn’t need reminding of last year, and he didn’t see why Sky and Terra had to keep doing it. Yeah, he got that Sky had taken pity on him, taken Riven under his wing. Riven just didn’t like thinking about how pathetic Sky must have found him. How he’d been hero Sky’s charity case.
Riven made a scandalous suggestion about how he might express his deep gratitude for Sky’s benevolence, adding, “Thought my friendship was reward enough—”
Sky tipped back his head and laughed. Riven was aware Sky mainly kept him around for the amusement value. That was better than Sky feeling sorry for him.
Then Sky spotted Stella, princess of Crazytown, lingering at the edge of the field. Sky immediately headed toward Her Insane Highness.
Riven turned his attention to Dane. “Get off your phone.”
“And I’d listen to you because …?”
At least the new guy had some spirit.
Riven threw down the gauntlet. “Because you full creeped on my Insta last night and I’m not telling anyone.”
He’d been amused when he noted Dane liking an old picture of him. It wasn’t even a particularly hot picture. Obviously, Dane disagreed.
A hot red flush crept up under Dane’s clear brown skin. “I was just curious about all the second years, and then my finger slipped, and—”
Riven scoffed. “Your finger slipped? That’s what you’re going with? I’m feeling generous. I won’t feel that way much longer.”
As Dane put his phone down, Riven leaned forward to observe the long stream of texts between New Boy and Terra. Yeah, it appeared they had a real dialogue going. Riven shook his head.
Okay, he decided. He could be like Sky. Do a good deed. Take Dane under his wing.
Yeah, Riven was feeling benevolent. And if that annoyed Miss Terra and all her vine friends, too bad. Riven was virtuously devoted to helping the new kid, who flushed deeper under Riven’s continued attention.
“First piece of advice? Pick your friends carefully this year. Second? Focus. Get your mind in it. You fought Kat with your limbs and you lost. Being a good Specialist is not about how big you are. It’s about strategy.” He called out: “Hey, Mikey! Let’s do this.”
Dane eyed Mikey with alarm. Probably because Mikey was huge, and Dane was worried Riven’s pretty face would get messed up.
Mikey lumbered across to the sparring mat, where Riven walked to meet him. Mikey came at Riven hard. Riven parried two crushing punches. Then he launched himself and took Mikey to the floor in a choke hold.
Riven glanced up to see if Dane was watching. Of course Dane was.
First lesson. That’s how you win, new kid. No mercy. Not for anyone.
Good deed for the day done, Riven strolled away from the training area to find some of his friends. The universe gave him a reward for his virtue when Mystery Girl zipped over to his side.
She couldn’t stay away, Riven thought.
“Lurky stoner guy, right?” asked Mystery Girl.
“Or Riven,” Riven suggested.
She made a face. In the sunlight, she was even cuter. He could reach out and press a fingertip against the cleft of her chin.
“Your name is Riven? Really?”
Riven asked, “Can I help you?”
She purred, “You can.”
She entwined her arm in his, leading him away from his friends. He let her do so with a vague feeling of triumph. He’d known she was into him.
“You seem like a proper delinquent.”
“Depends who’s asking,” said Riven.
She twinkled up at him. “The person who wants to break into Dowling’s office. Thought you might wanna help.”
“And why,” Riven inquired, “do you think that?”
“Because you’re a guy, and I’m hot.” The new girl locked eyes with him. “Or did I misread the depth of your character?”
Turned out the sexy criminal’s name was Beatrix.
Mind
Once people knew you could read feelings, and that your mind magic was strong, they wanted you to read everyone around them. And they never wanted you to read them.
Even Aisha, much as Musa liked her, started questioning Musa as they got lunch.
Musa tried, but she didn’t even know how to explain her magic. She worried about scaring Aisha off. She worried about Aisha feeling sorry for her.
And it was difficult for words to encompass the endless chaos that surrounded Musa at all times, pressing in on her from all sides. The lunch lady’s back hurt. A new Specialist kid called Dane was feeling frantic and trapped. Terra’s dad, the professor, was feeling nervous about something, possibly that dead body, and Musa’s w
ords stumbled as she tried to tell Aisha all this and attempted to cope.
And then Musa stopped midsentence, hit by something she’d never felt before. Silence, after so much noise had made silence seem unimaginable. A calm in Musa’s emotional hurricane.
The new sensation was coming from a guy in a green jacket, leaving the room. Musa only caught a glimpse of his back, and then he was gone.
“What just happened?” Aisha asked, beside her.
“Not entirely sure,” Musa answered distantly.
She didn’t know what had happened, but she knew how she’d felt.
Peace at last.
Light
Stella had planned to share a room with her best friend the whole time they were at Alfea together. That hadn’t worked out. Now she had to share a suite with first years, and the worst first year of all had gone and lost Stella’s ring. Sure, why would anyone be careful with the crown jewels?
Bloom from California clearly believed she could have anything that caught her eye. Stella’s ring. Stella’s boyfriend. But Stella was keeping Sky, and she intended to get her ring back, too.
Bloom had already somehow won the loyalty of all their suitemates. Terra, Musa, and Aisha were having lunch with her right now. Aisha the perfect roommate was in the midst of explaining her scheme to help poor pitiful Bloom.
“So here’s what we should do. Maybe you can make a list of emotional triggers, and we can go through …”
“Aisha, I appreciate what you’re doing,” said Bloom, clearly not appreciating it at all, “but I can figure this out myself.”
“I’m sure.” Aisha didn’t sound sure at all. “I just think you’re in your head about the changeling stuff, and maybe overthinking?”
The changeling stuff? Oh, that was interesting. No wonder Bloom thought she could grab other people’s things. She’d grabbed a human child’s whole life and kept it for her own. Stella was getting the full story on that, and soon.
Voice sharp with alarm, Bloom said: “So they all know? About me being—”
