by Ava Corrigan
She raised an eyebrow at Riven’s phone and his hilarious messages. “You’re gonna help him by making him feel bad about himself? A well-intentioned bully?”
“That’s the plan,” Riven drawled. “Why? Is that a confusing archetype for you?”
Beatrix slanted a smile at him, this one a little startled as well as impressed. That’s right, Riven thought. I’m not just your piece of meat. Though I’m fully willing to also be that.
Sadly, he couldn’t invite Beatrix to despoil his nubile body, as right then Riven’s roommate walked in and clocked the Beatrix-on-the-floor-getting-high situation.
“Hello,” said Sky, all disapproval.
“Hi,” said Beatrix, not bothered.
Sky looked at her. Then at Riven. Then back at her. Like Sky hadn’t had a girl in their room last night.
Beatrix offered Sky the vape she was holding.
“No, thank you,” Sky said primly. “Daytime’s not smart, Riv. Silva catches her up here—”
“Beatrix,” said Beatrix. “Not her. Beatrix.”
You tell him, girl.
Riven pointed out: “And Silva left. Kinda snooped to make sure. Something about meeting up with a military detachment from Solaria? Ask your girlfriend.”
Sky just wasn’t as great at sneaking around gathering information as Riven. It was the good intentions and the inner nobility. Those majorly got in the way.
Beatrix started mocking Sky for dating Stella. Truly, Riven might have found his soul mate.
Sky ignored her. He’d gone all tense. Even tenser than normal.
“If the Solarians are coming …”
Sky appeared to be thinking hard.
Riven finished the thought for him. “Means the rumors are true. They captured a Burned One. The Solarian prison is no joke. Guess they’re gonna transfer it.”
Seemed like a great idea to Riven. Get the murderous monster far away? A big win for the team!
“Upshot is …” Riven stretched luxuriously. “We got nowhere to be.”
Everyone else seemed to disagree. Suddenly, Beatrix needed to go the library at once, and Sky needed to talk to Stella urgently. And Dane was off in the greenhouse, having fun and being pathetic with Terra.
Riven had been totally abandoned. Typical.
Water
Sky had told Stella the Burned One was being moved. It was now or never. It was time for Bloom, Stella, Musa, Terra, and Aisha to act as a team. Finally.
So it would be great if Stella could stop sniping at her, Aisha thought, and Bloom would listen to Aisha’s warnings about Stella’s training. This wasn’t the spirit of teamwork.
Aisha eyed the back of Stella’s hunting green coat. “So what’s the plan, Army Barbie?”
“Did you ask Aisha to come with us?” Stella wondered aloud as the team headed away from Alfea and toward the woods by night.
Bloom kept silent, and Aisha appreciated it. Bloom might be annoyed with Aisha, but she wasn’t gonna play Stella’s game.
Stella continued, “I don’t think you did. And if you didn’t ask Aisha to come, and I didn’t ask Aisha to come … It’s official. No one asked Aisha to come.”
“This is idiotic,” Aisha snapped. “You need me. What are you going to do, Stella, dazzle it with light? While Bloom struggles to light a fire?”
Bloom snarled, “I’m right here.”
Stella claimed: “I fixed her.”
Like Bloom was one of the broken lamps or clocks Bloom had told Aisha she liked to fix. Only Aisha didn’t trust Stella to fix anything.
It was so clear Stella wasn’t a team player. There was no I in team, but there was an I in ring. Getting her costume jewelry back was all Stella cared about.
“Negative emotions are unstable,” Aisha argued. “They have limits. Your method won’t help her in the long run.”
“Neither of you are helping right now! Can we just do this?” Bloom’s snarl echoed through the trees.
From behind them came Musa’s detached voice. “Oh good. Everyone is calm and collected. Perfect.”
Terra and Musa came toward them, Terra waving a vial. Apparently, Musa had helped Terra make the oil that would control the Burned One. And Terra knew where the Burned One was being kept. Terra and Musa were both team players.
The mission was a go.
Silence reigned at last between the five girls. As they moved through the trees, the only sound was the soft crackle of twigs and undergrowth beneath their feet.
The scene was wreathed in fog. Utterly quiet. A set piece for a horror story waiting to happen.
They emerged from the trees and stopped short at the sight of the derelict barn. Bloom took a deep breath and forged ahead.
Aisha heard the breathing of the others quicken as they approached the broken-down old structure.
The door of the barn was hanging, already open.
Bloom advanced, so Aisha went with her and Stella came in pursuit of her ring. But even before they entered the gray echoing space, Aisha was afraid of what they would find. Nothing.
The team spread out, Aisha stopping by a pair of manacles, unlocked and open.
“They’ve taken it already.”
They were too late, she thought, distantly despairing. Then Bloom’s head swung in the direction of the back door of the barn, which was standing open.
There was a tiny sound. Perhaps it was only the creak of a hinge, but it made Bloom move instantly forward, as though on a hunt for prey. There it was again. Not a creak, or a rustle, but a rasp.
Instinctively, Aisha was about to follow in Bloom’s footsteps. Then the screaming began.
Earth
Terra was just about to enter the barn when she noted Musa going the other way. Musa’s eyes were glowing an unsettling violet, and she was stumbling like a sleepwalker in the direction of the creek. Roommates should stick together. Terra changed course.
“You okay, Musa?”
Musa barely seemed to hear her, mumbling as she walked, oblivious to everything.
Until she doubled over, moaning: “It hurts.”
Terra moved to help Musa, but Musa’s eyes were fixed on the creek.
So Terra’s gaze moved to the creek as well.
“Guys!” Terra shouted for her suitemates. “We have a problem!”
It was carnage.
There was a black jeep overturned. A truck, askew against a poor wounded tree. Four dead soldiers, hacked apart into hideous pieces. And the lone survivor, Mr. Silva.
The Specialists’ commander was sitting slumped against a tree. There was a gash in his side. Cuts on his arms and neck. Blood running from a wound on his scalp.
Terra’s eyes cataloged the list of injuries, knowing what this must mean. “The Burned One,” she said out loud.
It didn’t seem as though transporting the Burned One to a Solarian prison had been a huge success.
“It’s still here somewhere,” Stella breathed.
At least they were all together, Terra thought. They could figure out what to do as a team.
Then Aisha said, “Wait, where’s Bloom? Bloom!”
There was an edge of panic, even in Aisha’s voice. Stella looked as though she was about to take flight. This was ridiculous. Bloom could get eaten by the Burned One. Mr. Silva could die.
Terra took charge. “We’ll help Mr. Silva. You and Aisha go find Bloom,” she commanded Stella, and Stella nodded.
Terra moved forward to Mr. Silva, who appeared semiconscious. Musa tried to keep up with Terra, but she was clearly in a bad way, too. Mr. Silva’s pain and fear must be an onslaught, bringing down all poor Musa’s defenses.
“I can’t,” Musa whimpered.
“I’ll help you,” Terra promised. “Come on.”
Mr. Silva’s eyes snapped all the way open. They were black. His sword was suddenly pointed at them, his mouth locked in a snarl.
To a soldier, it must be terribly disorienting to feel the urge to react as though your friends were enemies. Terra’
s father had warned her of the effects of a Burned One’s attack.
“Be careful, he’s not in control,” Terra warned Musa. She explained to Mr. Silva, as kindly and steadily as she could: “The Burned One cut you. You’re infected. We’re going to help you.”
She summoned magic to bind Silva’s arms with vines so that his nasty sword wasn’t pointed at them. Mr. Silva struggled violently against the restraints, and when he tried to lunge, Musa froze.
Panicking wasn’t going to help anybody.
“I have Zanbaq for you,” Terra assured Mr. Silva. “It’ll calm the infection, and we can get you back to the school.”
She turned to Musa. “I’m going to hold his head, but I need you to pour it in his mouth.”
Musa hesitated. Terra understood that Musa must feel awful right now, but that didn’t change what needed to be done.
“Musa,” Terra said firmly. “He’s scared. I’m not. Focus on me.”
After a moment, Musa’s eyes met Terra’s, and held. She nodded.
Fire
I was lost in the forest, chasing the sound of the Burned One, but no matter how deep into the woods I went I couldn’t find the sound again.
Until I did. The faint rasp sound. Behind me. I turned to face the monster.
Shrouded in fog, the Burned One was staring across the clearing right at me. The monster took a step toward me, and I took a moment. Willing my magic to work. The Burned One charged, barreling down on me. I stood firm and flung up one of my hands.
A line of fire erupted across the forest floor toward the Burned One.
My fire hit head-on, lighting up the night. The Burned One staggered back, writhing as the flames engulfed it, and I found myself smiling. Gotcha.
But then, the Burned One stopped staggering. Stood upright. Regained its composure—and charged at me again.
Still on fire.
It was possible I’d really screwed myself here.
The monster that was no longer burned, but burning, leaped right for me.
I felt rooted to the ground. Fortunately, its leap was cut off midair by a powerful blast of water. The monster was sent flying, tumbling into the cradle of the upturned roots of a tree. One tree root pierced it, and the body lay crumpled and unmoving.
I turned slowly, already knowing who I would see.
Water to cool my fire.
Aisha.
The kingfisher-blue shimmer of water power already fading from her eyes, she asked: “You okay?”
I nodded, and we looked toward the Burned One.
“Is it …?” Aisha whispered, as if worried she might wake it.
“I think so. You hit it pretty hard.”
Aisha grinned, and nudged me, sharing the victory. “And I’ll admit, you had more control than I thought you would.”
I grinned back. “Hang on. Is that a … compliment? Are you complimenting me right now?”
Aisha rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
“Let’s just get Stella’s ring,” Aisha said, but I was already full-on beaming.
I stopped beaming as we examined the Burned One. My fire magic and Aisha’s water magic had not improved its appearance.
Aisha squinted. “Where is it?”
“There. It looks like it stuck … inside itself …?”
The ring was barely a glint in the creature’s arm. The ring seemed embedded in its charred skin.
“So … Do you wanna?” I asked Aisha, hoping against hope.
She widened her eyes. “Me? Oh no. I did my part. Did you forget? Water cannon?”
“No. It was so impressive that I thought you’d wanna finish the job.”
I gave Aisha a beseeching look. She stared back at me.
“Didn’t you …? Who actually lost the ring, again? I forget.”
Point taken. I took a deep breath, then I dug my fingers into the charred flesh.
“This is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen,” Aisha murmured.
It was the most disgusting thing I’d ever felt. But finally, I got it out.
Aisha cheered. “But she does it!”
My eyes met Aisha’s. My heart was pounding fast with victory. My smile woke hers, and I opened my mouth to tell her thank you. For coming after me. For believing in me.
Then the Burned One lurched upright.
Aisha and I ran for our lives.
Earth
Terra had always been slightly afraid of Mr. Silva. He was so stern looking, with his buzzed hair and cold eyes.
Now she had her arm around him, supporting him as he hobbled toward Alfea. Mr. Silva was being so brave, not stopping to rest, though she could tell every breath and every step cost him. Musa was smaller than Terra, and not as solidly built. Terra had to take most of Silva’s weight, but she could do it.
As they walked into the courtyard, Terra’s eyes scanned the terrain for assistance.
There was Sky on the balcony and thus too far away to help, his arms around a shaken-looking Stella. Terra caught a snatch of conversation: Apparently, Stella had gotten lost in the woods. Really, Stella wasn’t good in a crisis. Terra had to trust Aisha would find Bloom.
“Is that Silva?” Sky demanded from above, as though he couldn’t believe it.
Oh no, Terra remembered. Sky was really close to Silva. Her dad said Silva was like a father to Sky. It must be horrible for Sky to see Silva like this.
She’d feel sorry for Sky later. Right now she needed someone she could rely on, to help her in this emergency. “I need a med kit from the Bastion!” Terra shouted out the order.
Riven ran to obey.
The sly-looking Air Fairy, Beatrix, offered to get the headmistress. Musa was helping support Silva, Riven was getting medicine, and Terra needed more assistance. She noticed Dane was there.
“Can you help us get him to the greenhouse?” Silva made a low wounded noise and Terra soothed: “Almost there, Mr. Silva.”
It was a relief to spot her annoying brother. He was coming toward her and Musa, moving fast.
“Sam!” said Terra. “Get Dad.”
Musa said, in a small horrified voice, “Dad?”
“Yeah,” Terra told her absently. “That’s my brother.”
She wondered why Musa looked so stunned. Had Musa not realized that Terra’s dad was a professor here? Or had Sam annoyed Musa somehow?
If Sam was bothering Terra’s roommate, Terra would tell him off later.
For now she had to concentrate on helping Silva. He was clearly in agony, though he was pretending not to be. When Terra got Silva to the greenhouse and her father, Sky was following hot on their heels.
“How bad is it?” Sky demanded tensely. “Can you help him?”
“I’ll be fine, Sky. If you’d let Professor Harvey work,” Silva joked.
Terra believed it was pride for an instant, but then Sky stepped back. Once out of Sky’s sight line, Silva’s face twisted, and she realized what was actually going on. Silva was trying to spare Sky, who was frantic with worry. And all Terra could do to help them was prepare the medications to ease Silva’s pain.
When her father had a moment to breathe, he told Terra that she’d saved Silva’s life.
Terra felt happier than she had in months, until Headmistress Dowling ran in with none of her usual dignity. She and Terra’s dad and Sky’s dad and Mr. Silva used to fight the Burned Ones all together, when they were young. Before Sky’s dad died. Ms. Dowling always looked so calm, but now she looked terrified.
Mr. Silva must not be safe yet.
Terra’s father had praised her, and made Terra so happy. But Sky’s dad was dead, and the man who was as good as Sky’s father might be dying.
Fire
I felt almost giddy with victory. I’d controlled my magic successfully and brought down a monster with a friend. Terra had texted to say Silva was being treated.
If only Stella didn’t have to snipe at us. I would’ve thought that getting her ring back would improve Her Highness’s mood.
“How about we never talk about this night ever again?” Stella demanded.
Then the door to the suite opened, and Sky came in. His head was bowed, and he moved toward Stella as though he was tempted to cling. Stella’s demeanor softened instantly.
She led the way into her room. Just before he went, Sky looked back at me.
But he went into the bedroom after her. I was left outside alone.
Only then Aisha came back from the bathroom. I wasn’t alone, I thought as Aisha began to turn down her bed. A roommate meant you were almost never alone.
And maybe that was great.
Aisha said cautiously, “So … at the risk of making you hate me again …”
“I never hated you. Everything that’s happened to me has been out of my control. I just …”
“Needed to do it your way,” Aisha supplied, with ready understanding. “Why do you think I swim? The lane markings don’t tell me what to do. Best friends a girl can have.”
Lane markings actually were there to indicate what someone should do, but Aisha was trying. Having Aisha try to understand me made it suddenly easy to understand her, too.
“You were just trying to help.”
Aisha admitted, “It was only partly about helping you. This, here—it’s new for me.” She indicated the room, and our beds. “Just want it to go well.”
I smiled. “Same.”
“Okay, so … Why did you wander off, at the barn?”
“I don’t actually know,” I confessed. “Which is strange. I felt something. Like I had a connection to that thing.”
“Weird.”
Aisha had a gift for understatement. But tonight, I felt too good to let the weirdness get me down.
“I’m realizing I just have to live with weird. I’m not going to understand it all. The thinking side of my brain has limits. But opening up emotionally? I can feel it. The magic is all around me. It’s new and kinda scary, but …”
And our bedroom, Aisha, my new feeling of hope, were all telescoped away. I could hear Aisha calling my name, but she seemed very far away.
