Ignite (Solar Academy Book 1)

by Raven Steele

  “Let it go,” the boy with the bleached blond hair and intense eyes told her. “They’re talking just like we are.”

  “But we have interesting things to say, Hudson.”

  Hudson. I startled at the name. When I was little, I used to have an imaginary friend named Hudson. He was my closest “friend” after my mother was taken away. Interesting that he would have the same name.

  “You look like shit today, Maisy,” Ireland told her. “Did you run out of acne cream?”

  “Are you serious? My complexion is flawless.” Maisy waved a hand in front of her face.

  I subtly pushed my chair back to try and go unnoticed. I did not want to get in the middle of whatever past these guys had.

  “Damn, Ireland,” Arrow said, “you’re extra moody today. Not wearing enough black?”

  Before Ireland could respond, Maisy turned her sharp gaze on me. “Hey, new girl.”

  I quickly turned my attention to the text book pretending I hadn’t heard her. My knee began to bounce up and down beneath the table.

  “You with the …. blondish hair. New girl!” she said again.

  I sighed and looked up.

  “You shouldn’t be sitting with goth girl,” she said. “She’ll probably have you cutting your wrists by the end of the day.”

  Ireland actually laughed at this. Maybe she was crazy.

  “I’m fine where I’m at.”

  “Look, I get it,” she said, casually flipping her hair over her shoulder. “You want to make friends, but you’ve got it bad enough as it is. Don’t start the school year off by hanging around her.” She paused as my heart thundered inside my chest. She knew who I was. “Oh, and sorry about this morning.”

  “For what?” I asked trying to keep my voice even.

  “I was supposed to show you around this morning, but my hair just wouldn’t cooperate.”

  Hudson shook his head at her in frustration, then glanced over at me. “I can show you around if you’d like.”

  As soon as our eyes met again, my flames grew hotter, reacting to some kind of vibe he was broadcasting. A cold shiver, something I didn’t think I’d ever felt before, erupted across my flesh, startling me.

  “No need,” Maisy blurted, smiling sweetly, but everyone could hear the poison in her voice. “I’ll take her around at lunch.”

  “No.”

  The room quieted at my sharp tone and all eyes turned towards me. I admit it was a little dramatic, but I had to stay away from them, and probably Ireland, too. There was a war between these students, probably one that had been going on for a long time, and I wanted nothing to do with it.

  “I can find my own way. It’s easy enough.” I lowered my gaze back to the book and continued reading. I focused on the words and really tried to understand them. With tensions so high here, I had a feeling I’d need to learn to focus my powers quickly.

  The Red Letters mumbled something, then burst into laughter.

  Class ended without any more snide remarks tossed across the room. Instead of being the last out of the classroom like usual, I was the first. It was lunch time and I wanted to get in and out quickly. Just like all the other schools I’d attended, my best chance at surviving would be avoiding the students.

  Hurrying down the hall, I heard someone call my name. I ignored it and followed the smell of fresh bread, hoping it would guide me to the lunch room. It did.

  I loaded up a tray, then returned to the dormitory and to the tables I’d seen just outside the theater. A sign hanging on the wall read “Bistro”. I figured it would be empty since it wasn’t in the same building as the lunch room.

  So far so good.

  I dropped into a chair and turned on my cell phone to watch a show I’d previously downloaded.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  I spun around and groaned. Maisy, Arrow, and the other girl I’d seen at their table earlier stood in the entrance scowling at me.

  “This is our spot,” Arrow said.

  I glanced around. “There are plenty of tables.”

  She stepped closer to me. “I don’t think you understand. The Bistro is for Red Letters only.”

  “Oh yeah?” I kept eating. I didn’t want to find trouble, but I sure wasn’t going to back down from it when it found me. The fire inside me would never allow it.

  “Let’s just sit over here,” the unfamiliar girl with them said. She tugged at her short red hair and shifted her thin weight back and forth. Where Arrow and Maisy seemed to bleed confidence, this girl looked timid, like a bird who’d flown into a lion’s den.

  Maisy folded her arms. “Absolutely not, Becca.”

  “What’s going on?”

  I looked up at the new voice in the room. A tall man, I call him a man because I’d never seen a student sporting such huge arm and chest muscles before, took in the scene. “Is the new girl actually sitting in our spot?”

  “Her name’s Rose. Remember, Grant? I told you about her.” Maisy looked back at him conspiratorially.

  His dark eyes widened in recognition, then turned cruel.

  Shit. Time to go.

  I forced the heat inside me to burn low and gathered my belongings.

  “Good girl,” Arrow said to me then motioned Grant over to her. “Come put those strong arms around me. I’m cold.”

  I threw up a little in my mouth and made my way through the maze of tables towards the exit.

  “Thanks,” Becca said to me in passing, her voice so quiet I didn’t think the others had heard it.

  I turned to smile her, but just as I did, I slammed into something hard. My lunch bag fell to the floor, but I didn’t have a chance to retrieve it before strong hands gripped my shoulders.

  Chapter 5

  “Are you okay?”

  I didn’t have to look up to know whose hands were on me. Hudson’s touch burned into me as deeply as his gaze. But it was a different kind of fire. One that burned cold, like when you leave an ice cube too long on the skin. The sharp sensation should’ve had me flinching, but instead it sent a soothing calm throughout my veins. For once, I didn’t feel as if I had a fever.

  His full lips parted and air slipped past them in a slow intake of breath. His dark brows drew together, gathering like a storm over his icy blue eyes. “Who are you?”

  “You don’t know?” Maisy asked. She had been watching our interaction closely.

  “I should go.” I moved to slip past him, but he still held me in a tight grip. Not aggressively, but almost as if he wanted to protect me.

  Maisy spoke slowly and deliberately. “She’s Aurora’s daughter, and from what I hear, just as explosive.”

  A collective gasp cut through the air. Silence would come next. Then the stares. The fear.

  His gaze dropped to mine. “Is it true?”

  The way he was looking at me, like I’d just pissed on his favorite jacket, made my insides ignite with angry flames. I didn’t owe this guy anything. I didn’t even know who he was.

  I jutted out my chin a little. “So what if it is?”

  His hands dropped to his side, and his face contorted into a jumbled mess of confusion.

  “Have a nice lunch,” I said. “I have to go burn some shit up.”

  A roar of “Ohhhs!” and laughter echoed behind me as I marched out of there, but as soon as I rounded the corner and out of their view, I slumped into the hall, my chest heaving. That couldn’t have gone worse.

  My stomach growled at me angrily, having skipped breakfast and only eating a few bites of my lunch. I smacked my head. My lunch tray was still in the cantina. No way I was going back to get it. I guess I’d just starve until dinner. At least the knotting pain in my gut would be a good distraction to whatever crap I had to deal with next.

  I hid in the bathroom until lunch ended, then made my way to my next class, which was in Summer Auditorium. I crossed campus and when I opened the door, a blast of sulfur and sage stung my nose. I flinched and covered my nose and mouth with my ha
nd.

  “You get used to it.”

  I jumped. Ireland stepped out of the shadows.

  “You scared me.” I laughed nervously, trying to calm my racing pulse.

  “I get that a lot.”

  “You seem the type to enjoy it.”

  “I do.” She motioned her head down the hall. “You going to casting class?”

  “Casting?”

  “Spell casting.”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “It’s this way.” She sauntered in front of me as if she had nowhere to go.

  I caught up to her. “Are you in the class too?”

  “Nah. I took it last year.”

  I paused then asked, “What class do you have now?”

  “Not sure.” She stopped and peered into an elongated window. “This is it. Ew. Maisy and Becca are in your class. Sucks for you.”

  I huffed a frustrated breath. I didn’t want to deal with them again.

  She opened the door for me and let me pass. I expected the door to close behind me, but Ireland stepped in with me.

  “I thought you said this wasn’t your class?”

  “It isn’t, but if there’s going to be a firework show, I don’t want to miss it.” She winked at me and walked towards the back wall that was covered in some kind of black material. She dropped to the mats on the floor and leaned back. There were no chairs in the room or tables for that matter. It was just a giant room with padded walls and dark floor mats.

  Maisy and I locked eyes. She scowled and turned away, whispering something to Becca, who immediately looked at me. They both laughed.

  I rolled my top lip into my teeth and joined Ireland on the floor just as the teacher walked in, an older man in his fifties. His receding hairline made his forehead look way too big, but that only drew more attention to his ruddy complexion.

  “Welcome to class. Sorry I’m a little late. One of our young students turned his leg into a tail. It was quite the mess, as you can imagine.”

  Several students laughed.

  I leaned over to Ireland. “Is he joking?”

  “Coach Tom never jokes. Like ever. It’s super annoying. You’ll see.”

  “What does he coach?”

  “Girl’s lacrosse.”

  “Do you play?” I’d always wanted to join a sport, but my father never allowed it. In case there was an “accident”. He literally thought I’d burn up the opposing team. I guess I could’ve. I’d never had the chance to find out.

  “Of course,” she answered. “It’s the only time I can smash into those girls without getting into trouble.”

  I followed her gaze to Maisy and Becca. Becca was chewing on a nail and laughing at something Maisy was saying. Becca seemed so timid, not at all the type of person Maisy would be friends with.

  As if reading my mind, Ireland said, “Becca doesn’t play. She’d break the first five minutes.”

  “They seem unlikely friends.”

  “Normally they wouldn’t be, but Becca’s family is rich. Famous, too. Her mom and dad were the ones who put down that psycho Aurora. It nearly killed Becca’s mother.”

  I froze, my heart even stopping. Ireland didn’t know who I was. But she would soon enough, especially since Maisy just blabbed it to her friends.

  Maybe the truth would be better coming from me. Ireland might react better. I opened my mouth to do just that when Coach Tom said, “Rose. Could you come up here for a minute?” His gaze shifted to Ireland. “I assume you’ll be joining us today?”

  Ireland smiled big, an expression that looked unnatural on her. “There’s no better class.”

  I reluctantly stood, hoping he’d keep my introduction quick.

  “Don’t be shy,” he encouraged me, making me feel even stupider. He motioned me right next to him, then addressed the class. “I am very excited to introduce our new student, Rose Favreau.”

  Silence, then the old familiar gasps of horror pinging off the walls. Only one person spoke: Ireland.

  “No shit? That’s hilarious.”

  She laughed out loud while I about died of embarrassment. I’d have given anything in that moment to have a different last name. I hated that it was so rare. After my mother killed all those people, it became the butt of hurtful jokes like “Fire breathing Favreau,” and “Fever Favreau.” Or my personal favorite: “Favreau, the five-fingered flame farter.”

  “Ireland,” Coach Tom snapped. “Watch your language. One more outburst and you’re out of here.”

  She saluted him, but keep her wide eyes on me.

  “Rose has a unique ability, but just needs to hone it,” Coach Tom said, deepening my horror.

  If I could, I’d ignite myself on fire. That might just be a real possibility about now. The temperature inside me had skyrocketed. I slowed my breathing to hold back the power.

  Maisy raised her hand, an arrow shooting right through the air.

  “Yes, Maisy?” Coach Tom asked.

  “I don’t mean to be insensitive or anything, but do we want her to control it? I mean, look at what her mother did.”

  “I’m not my mother,” I blurted.

  Coach Tom patted me on the shoulder. “No, you’re not.” He flinched and quickly withdrew his hand. “You’re hot! What do you say we see some of that fire power in action? I think you could use the release.”

  I stared at him, stunned. “You want me to deliberately create fire? In the class room?”

  “Look around. This is not your typical space. It was built to withstand all kinds of magic, including fire. I swear to you, no one will be harmed.”

  “Do it!” Ireland cheered. “Send it that direction.” She pointed to where Maisy sat.

  Maisy flipped her the bird.

  “Now, now girls. You know I’m all about safety.” He turned back to me. “What do you say? A simple demonstration?”

  Normally I would say no, but hell’s breath was brewing up a storm inside me. Mr. Tom was right when he said I needed the release.

  “How do you want me to do it?”

  He reached into his pocket and removed a small remote. After pushing a button, a section of the wall began to slide into itself revealing another room. Much smaller with all metal walls. In the center of it stood a plastic dummy propped up by a wide base.

  “I want you to focus all your power on that dummy. Do you think you can do that?”

  “I’ll try.”

  The room fell deathly silent, and I pretended everyone wasn’t leaning forward, anxious to see what I could do.

  I’d never been asked to deliberately make fire by anyone. I admit, the notion excited all my senses. On my own, I had attempted it years ago. My father had taken me to a cabin when I was ten during winter. I walked nearly a mile from any structure before trying to create fire, thinking it would be safe. I was desperate to get control of my ability, but in the end, through tears of frustration, I’d managed to explode seven trees despite them being covered in snow.

  The fire had burned so hot it had actually spread. It razed only an acre of land before it fizzled out, but that was enough to make the nightly news. No one could explain how such a phenomena could happen. When my father had heard about it, he recognized the cause immediately. The crack in our relationship widened into a deep chasm that day, even though he never spoke of it. I never deliberately created fire again.

  Until now.

  My earlier excitement turned to fear, and I stepped back. “This isn’t a good idea.”

  “Nonsense. We’re in a completely protected environment. If we want to help you, we need to know what you can do and where to focus our efforts.” He gently pushed me forward. “Go on. Just give the dummy some flames on top.”

  I painfully swallowed and lifted my shaking hands, thinking that might help to focus the power. It had already swelled to epic proportions. I could feel it pacing inside me, claws extended, fangs drawn. My fire wanted out.

  My flesh began to tingle as I tried to pull it out slowly. I narrowed my eyes, conc
entrating on the dummy. Sweat broke on my brow, and I ground my teeth together. This was always the hardest part, trying to hold it back from exploding outward.

  I sucked in a breath from between my teeth, making a strange hissing sound. A spark ignited on top of the dummies head, a single flame that danced wildly.

  “You’re doing it!” Coach Tom exclaimed.

  Maisy snorted. “Is that it? Aurora would laugh.”

  Without warning, dark and hot energy roared out of me, engulfing the dummy and the small metal room. But it didn’t stop there. The raging inferno billowed out into the training room, licking at the walls and ceiling with the tongue of the devil.

  Students screamed and scattered . A scalding wind rushed out from the ball of flames and lifted my hair. I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid the heat might burst my eyeballs.

  Maybe what everyone said about me was true. I was just like my mother, doomed to kill us all.

  Chapter 6

  “Stop!” Coach Tom shouted at hell’s gate. A burst of energy released from his body and knocked me to the ground. The fire in front of us reared up as if it had hit an invisible wall.

  Coach Tom darted to an electronic panel by the room’s light switch and pressed a button. A vent in the ceiling opened and made a whirring sound. The flames and all its heat began to recede, sucked back by some kind of venting system. It disappeared in moments, leaving only the charred skeleton of a plastic dummy and angry black scars along the walls and ceiling.

  “You’re a freak!” Maisy yelled at me. She frantically patted at her face and hair as if checking for burns.

  My mouth fell open at what I’d almost done. What was wrong with me?

  Biting the inside of my lip, I rose and fled the room, taking my notebook with me. I sprinted down the hall. I could’ve killed them all. Tears as hot as lava ran down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away before they burned my skin. They’d done that before.

  I kicked open the door and stumbled onto the lawn, gasping for breath. Cold air whistled into my lungs, lowering my internal temperature a little.

  “Hey,” a voice said behind me.

  I glanced over my shoulder. Ireland stared at me, her expression blank.