“I think that’s exactly where we need to start,” Ava said.
“Just remember, it is already done,” Kallie encouraged.
I drew a deep breath, hoping to soak up some of her confidence. “All right. I’ve got this.”
I pulled my Earth magic to the surface and held it there. A spruce tree sprang to mind immediately, since Christmas trees reminded me of Ava. I imagined the tree sprouting in the center of the room. I pictured its strong, piney scent and the brush of needles across my fingertips.
It is already here,I told myself.Hemlock never took down her Christmas tree. She spent three hours decorating it, and she had to go into Shade Hills for extra ornaments.
Tingles spread across my skin as I continued creating the story in my mind. I felt my Earth magic intermingle with my illusion magic, and my confidence soared.
Hemlock chose icicle ornaments with glitter on them, because they remind her of winter in Malovia. The fae can be over the top with things, so of course she used ten strings of lights—
“Oh, Charlie! It’s beautiful!” Ava cried.
“I did it?” I asked, a little shocked. I shouldn’t have been, considering I was actually starting to believe the story I was telling myself.
“I love Christmas— and not just because it’s my birthday,” Ava said. “Look how pretty it is!”
“Impressive indeed,” Takahashi said genuinely.
“Wow. You got the lights and everything,” Marcus said.
“The icicles are gorgeous,” Kallie added. “Ice skating is a big deal in Malovia. This tree reminds me of home.”
I didn’t know if they were just trying to make me feel better, lying as they had before to make me believe it. But Kallie couldn’t have known I was going for a Malovian aesthetic. I must’ve really nailed it.
“It’s all white,” Kallie said. “Did you do that on purpose, to make it look like snow?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t really think about the colors, because that’s not how I experience the world. I bet I can work on it, though.”
Rishi must’ve liked it, because I heard an ornament clink to the ground, and he started meowing as he batted it around the room.
Ava wheeled herself forward and took my hand. “Come see it, Charlie.”
I stepped to the center of the room, and a strong pine scent filled my nose. I reached out, my fingers grazing across the spruce needles. Amazed, I continued running my hands around the tree. I could feel the strings of lights, right down to the heat they emitted. My fingers trailed over the smooth ornaments, until they met the rough glitter swirling into beautiful shapes across the glass.
“How is this possible?” I wondered. “I mean, I should be able to make a tree with simultension, but the rest of this…”
You’re a demigod,Oberi reminded me.Your illusions must be stronger than the other Elves. It could be your special Elf power. I definitely felt something different when you cast this illusion. I think we may have found your demigod power.
“That’s wonderful!” Ava cried, before turning to the others. “Oberi thinks illusions are Charlie’s power.”
I got excited. “If I can feel what it’s like to make things solid through simultension, I might be able to make any illusion solid.”
“Your illusion is different than the fae’s, though,” Kallie observed as she paced around the tree. “I can’t quite figure it out… this is more solid than my illusions. It’s like I can’t tell it’s made of magic. Most fae could only conjure a visual and scent at most, or make it solid without the smell. This is impressive. It’s actually… real.”
“That must have something to do with combining my Earth powers into the illusion,” I theorized.
“With illusion magic like this, we could escape the Institute!” Marcus exclaimed.
I shook my head. “Not with all the inferichite surrounding the property. I’d never get an illusion to hold near the fence.”
“Then we’ll have to find another way out,” Ava suggested. “Charlie’s illusion magic just might be our key to escape.”
CHAPTERTEN
AVA-MARIE
