by Erin Forbes
A sudden and thunderous explosion erupted from behind us. We whipped our heads around to see the headmistress standing on the stage. An electric shriek filled the air as Ruby Lane attempted to adjust the antique microphone that stood in front of the professor. After a long moment, Zara waved her hand, gesturing for Ruby to take a seat.
“Welcome to the Presentation of the Gifted,” Zara’s proper voice bellowed through the microphone as the crowd erupted into cheers. “I’m very pleased to announce that we have a wealth of talented first-year students.”
I glanced at Emery, and she smiled in return. My sister’s face had grown unusually pale, and her eyes were even wider than normal. I realized the event was just beginning to settle in her mind.
“The first student to present will be Avery Russell,” Zara continued, gently unrolling a scroll that had been placed on top of the podium.
As I looked down the line of children, a young girl stepped forward. Her blonde hair fell just beneath her shoulders, and her eyes were a striking shade of emerald green.
“I shall kindly ask for each of the remaining first-year students to take a seat in front of the stage,” Zara announced as she gestured to the line of tree stumps that rested just below the stage.
We each took our seats, leaving the girl in the center of the field. I watched in surprise as she sat down in the grass. After a brief moment, she began to levitate above the meadow. I wondered if she would float away. Nevertheless, as she tilted her head to the side, Avery’s entire body flipped upside down in the air. Her Gift reminded me of a circus acrobat, although she was not held in the air by ribbons or an invisible string.
As her long arms reached toward the grass, the girl began to lower herself to the position of a handstand. Her hair dangled gently toward the ground. She eventually stood back on her feet, and the crowd exploded into cheers. As the young girl returned to her seat, my mind continued to search for a unique idea.
“Avery Russell is twelve years old, and she is Gifted with the power of levitation,” Zara announced as she stepped back up to the podium. “Avery is the only Gifted individual in her family.”
I wondered what it would be like to be the only Gifted person in the Hanley clan. It seemed like such a life would be lonely. Despite our extraordinary lives, my Gifted family was a treasure.
“Hugo Stone will be the next child to present his Gift,” the headmistress told us.
I glanced around in search of the boy, but none of the students stood up from their seat. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a figure in the center of the field. Turning their heads, each of the students looked at the boy in confusion. My breath released with the satisfaction of knowing I was not the only one who had seen him appear out of thin air.
“Hugo is one of the youngest students at the Academy for Gifted Youth. Many of you probably know his sister, Juniper Stone, who is currently visiting one of the isles off the coast of Aisling,” the headmistress spoke as the young boy continued to disappear and reappear across the field. “Hugo has the remarkable Gift of making himself invisible to the human eye for short periods of time. Such a power may appear similar to teleportation, although the experience is entirely different.”
As Hugo returned to his seat, the teachers and children laughed. Before I had a moment to collect my thoughts, my sister was standing up. We barely made eye contact before she hurried into the center of the field.
“At the age of thirteen, Emery Hanley discovered that she has been Gifted with the water element. She can control and manipulate both water and ice, and she possesses extraordinary talent for someone with so little training,” Zara announced before giving my sister the signal to begin.
Suddenly, a rolling ball of water appeared in the palm of Emery’s hand. As she threw it toward the sky, the water began to roll out in waves. I heard the gasps of the students beside me. The sparkling water tossed around my sister, as though she were the center of a raging whirlpool. Her long hair blew wildly in the wind, and she did nothing more than stomp her foot to the ground as the waves froze into a solid sculpture.
Once again, the audience roared with excitement. My gaze wandered the crowd, analyzing the various expressions of wonder and awe. Emery eventually took her seat beside me, and it was not long before the headmistress called my name. As I stood up and walked into the center of the field, it felt like a knot had formed in my stomach. I told myself not to look at the audience, but my gaze instinctively darted up to greet them.
“Alice Hanley has the extraordinary Gift of the fire element,” Zara told the crowd. “Despite the difference in appearance, she is the twin sister of Emery Hanley.”
As Zara gestured for me to begin, I turned toward the frozen waves that my sister had created. Cold water droplets dripped gently from the ice, as the late summer heat shone down from the sky. Closing my eyes, I focused on the waves. Heat radiated off my outstretched palms, as if I was warming them beside a winter fire. The water droplets began to stream from my sister’s creation, until the ice was nothing more than a puddle in the meadow grass. I heard a few gasps and whispers, but the reaction did not satisfy my expectations. I wanted to give the crowd something to remember.
As my gaze wandered the field, an amusing idea entered my imagination. Glancing over my shoulder, I dared to look back at Emery’s suspicious mien. She knew my thoughts before I had even known them myself. I gave her a humorous grin before both of my hands were set ablaze.
The crowd stood up in shock. My eyes searched through the audience as a smile spread wide across my face. I reached behind me and set my ginger hair on fire. A few people screamed, but my sister laughed with the careless attitude of a child. My mind recalled the first time this situation had occurred.
I had been reading in the dim light of my flames, when a piece of my red mane dipped into the fire. My entire head was crowned in flames. Despite the horrified expressions of my parents, the accident quickly turned into a habit and entertaining game. Due to the traits of my Gift, my skin was unable to burn in the heat.
I gave a small curtsy before walking back to my seat, where my sister began to extinguish the flames. The crowd was still cheering by the time the next student made their way into the field. As my eyes wandered through the faces in the crowd, Professor Georgina Iris watched me with an approving smile.
◆◆◆
After the presentations ended, the crowd began to dissipate. I pushed my way through the scattered clusters of people, leading my sister through the gathering. It was not long before my eyes caught sight of Violet, as her purple hair stood out in the crowd. She was standing at the bottom of the grandstand, accompanied by Kade and Ronan.
“Oh, Alice!” Kade exclaimed. “That was brilliant!”
“You were both incredible,” Ronan added.
“You made our first-year presentations look like nothing in comparison to your own!” Violet threw her head back with laughter as we began to walk toward the castle.
“Shall we go to the dining hall for lunch?” Violet suggested as she fiddled with the silver ribbon around her neck.
We trotted up the old castle steps and swung open the heavy door. As my stomach released a sudden rumble, I was reminded of the fact I had missed breakfast.
“Oh, yes! I’m starving,” Ronan complained as we hurried through the crowded entranceway.
Our shoes clapped loudly on the smooth stone flooring. Not long after we entered the dining hall, a group of young students rushed in my direction. Their eyes were wide with curiosity.
“Does the fire burn?” questioned a girl with curly hair and caramel skin.
“Have you ever set something on fire by accident?” asked the boy who stood beside her.
I looked down at the children with an expression of uncertainty. Their eyes sparkled with wonder and admiration. Their interest in my Gift was flustering, although my body relaxed with the knowledge that the young people did not see me as a danger. I had grown used to the idea of locking my talent in an invis
ible box. This admiration took me by surprise.
As I felt a hand tap on my shoulder, my eyes turned to see Ronan standing quietly by my side. His gentle touch had caused me to jump. The boy snorted with laughter before his freckled face was overcome with a serious expression.
“I’m sure Alice will have time to answer your questions later,” Ronan spoke to the children, hinting for them to leave me alone.
They looked up at the older boy with expressions of annoyance written firmly across their adolescent faces. For a long moment, I wondered if they would listen. The children turned away and hurried back to their seats at a small table, which erupted with the high-pitched giggles of younger students.
“Thank you for your assistance,” I murmured.
“No problem,” Ronan laughed. “It seems you are the latest school celebrity.”
We made our way through the crowd of students and over to the table where our friends were seated. Emery gave me an awkward smile before I claimed an empty chair. Paying no attention to her childish expressions, I poured a cup of tea.
We each ate a bowl of oatmeal, which, for some reason, did not taste quite like the kind from home. The tables were lined with several plates of warm toast and tiny bowls of sweet-smelling jam. The glorious scent left me to reminisce about Saturday morning breakfast with my father.
The centerpiece was surrounded by a wide variety of unfamiliar fruits and berries. Ronan picked up one of the pieces that resembled a peach. As the teenage boy took a bite, the inside revealed a vibrant shade of blue. His lips pursed with a reaction to the sour taste.
Despite my homesickness, I tried to make the best of the experience. Small conversations were beginning to flow with ease. Each of my new friends spoke with a glimmer in their eyes, which promised to remain for countless years. It was too early for me to make any allegations about what the future might hold, but my heart hoped for the best. My classmates were interested in every word that leaped from their peers, and they embraced my Gift with marvelous encouragement. I was eager to explore the realm of Aisling, and my new companions offered to be my guide.
“That reminds me,” Emery exclaimed after taking another bite of her oatmeal. “Georgina told everyone in the class to pick up two boxes of fireleaf and petalstone for an upcoming project.”
“Perfect! I can take both of you on a tour of the old village,” Violet offered. “You’ll be able to find some petalstone at the Moss Shop, although fireleaf is quite expensive. It would probably be best to forage it in the White Birch Forest. I think I know just the spot where we would be able to find it.”
“That sounds great,” I responded.
◆◆◆
After we finished eating lunch, many of the students wandered off to study in the library. Such an idea was wise enough, but it did not provide my spirit with the fuel of adventure. I stood on the edge of the castle steps, gazing out at the vast landscape that rested before me. Four outlandish towers stood on the castle grounds. Other students had mentioned the structures in conversation, only to say the doors were locked and there was no sense in trying to open them. So many unexplainable secrets. After a quick glance behind me, I continued to walk down the gravel path that led toward the courtyard.
The courtyard was a large garden surrounded by old stone walls, which were covered in an assortment of flowering vines. I stopped myself before allowing my hands to brush against their leaves. Sir Barrington’s lecture had reminded me to be conscious of the possible dangers in the poisonous plants of the realm.
The garden was bursting with color. I was sure my body had stepped through an entrance to the Victorian era. In the center of the courtyard was a fountain of water, which flowed out of thin air. Along the sides of the path were the most brilliant flowers I had ever seen. I allowed my wonder to guide my feet down the cobblestone path. As the sunset welcomed the first stars of the night, I came to a halt at the sight of something unusual.
On the far side of the courtyard stood a stone bench, where a figure was seated with her back toward me. I immediately recognized the mousy brown hair of Ariadne Moss.
“Hello, Alice,” she spoke as I approached.
I took a seat on the bench. Silence lingered between us for several moments. Tears glistened like fresh rain upon Ariadne’s face. Her eyes were a cloudy shade of gray, and her nose was dotted with faded freckles. A small bundle of fur rested gently in the crook of her elbow.
“Ariadne, are you okay?” I inquired with concern, before recognizing the shape of a tiny kitten.
“I must seem quite melancholy,” Ariadne sighed, dabbing at her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. “I’m not sure you will care to hear about my sadness, but I must explain the situation.”
I blinked with surprise, for I had not expected Ariadne to defend her emotions. I assumed she would ask me to leave the garden at once. After all, I was never comfortable with the idea of speaking to a stranger about my sorrows. It was a wonder how anyone could deal with such a thing.
“I don’t want you to think I simply enjoy wallowing in self-pity.” Ariadne shrugged as she wiped away another tear and glanced down at the kitten. “Penelope belongs to my friend, Juniper. She is arriving late to the Academy this year, and she has given me the task of caring for the kitten while she is gone. I did not want to leave the creature alone in my household—my younger siblings would torture the poor thing. The Academy staff checks the dormitories for this type of thing, so I have been keeping Penelope in the garden until the students are settled.”
Ariadne’s gray eyes watched me carefully, as though she feared I might reveal her secret. My roommate was keeping this animal without the permission of the headmistress. Although I did not care for such an idea, the girl was acting with good intentions. She deserved a trustworthy friend.
“You have to promise you will not tell anyone about this. I cannot risk the trouble that it would bring me,” Ariadne said. “My parents already pay enough for me to attend this school, and they expect me to follow the rules.”
It was clear that Ariadne was missing her best friend. Otherwise, her headstrong attitude would have never permitted such a conversation. She was suffering through one of the greatest trials in life, which I had grown to recognize as loneliness. My heart ached for the teenage girl, and I decided to make an effort to be her new friend.
“I promise I won’t tell anyone about this cat, as long as you will sit with me at lunch for the rest of the semester.”
Ariadne’s eyes crinkled into a smile as she laughed. The cold wind was interrupted by a warm summer breeze, which hushed the whispers of the coming autumn.
CHAPTER NINE
It was nearing dusk as the evening breeze blew softly against my skin. I buttoned up my thin sweater. My feet had been carrying me toward the castle steps, when I passed one of the locked stone towers. My eyes caught sight of a narrow path that led away from the castle and into the forest. I stopped in my tracks and took a quick glance around before heading down the gentle slope. After peering down the path, I could have sworn I heard a soft rustle in the bushes.
The woods were dark and foreboding in comparison to the spectacular castle that stood in my presence. I did not remember the forest looking so grotesque. The tall and beautiful oaks seemed suddenly twisted, as though countless terrifying creatures dwelled beneath the canopy.
The woodlands were almost entirely dark, despite the shining trace of sunset that hung low in the distance. Curiosity drew me in. As I embraced the scenery with open eyes, my steps gradually led me down the forest path. I had never believed the woods were a place to fear, until I heard the low and distinctive howl. Darkness suddenly began to overwhelm me.
A bright flame ignited in my hand as I tilted my head upward. The night stars were nearly invisible through the treetops. Even the silver moonlight did not dare show its face in the haunted woods. My eyes trailed across the branches from below the shadowed canopy. It seemed as though my flames were the only source of light. I heard the rustl
ing once more, but it was closer this time. My gaze scanned the forest that surrounded me.
I suddenly noticed a large pair of golden eyes, which had appeared out of the darkness. My heart skipped a beat. Dirt crunched beneath my boots as I backed down the forest path. Even so, the creature was moving forward much faster than I was running backward. I heard a voice growl and held my hand up to see if I could get a better look at what might be the cause of my death. A doglike muzzle appeared just beneath a pair of glowing eyes as the animal bolted toward me. Every muscle in my body had braced for an attack; however, a few moments passed without the sharp pain of teeth ripping through my flesh.
I opened my eyes to see the beast standing before me. His breath smelled of peppermint, rather than the rotting meat on his teeth. The creature’s eyes reminded me of the wolf-girl from my class with Professor Barrington. I suspected the animal was one of the Guardians of Aisling. The creature was not a wolf, but he was a tall and burly wolfhound. I heard a deep rumble and almost expected the animal to bark; however, he began to speak in a rough sort of voice.
