“That's it. Now try removing your hand from the wall, Ivy. Focus all of your attention on the heat that flows through your veins and gather it on the tip of your finger.”
Exhaling, I slowly lower my hand from the wall, turning on the spot as I keep my right hand in the air. The flame grows an inch or two, and I giggle in disbelief.
My eyelids fall closed as emotions bubble inside of me, and they sting with unshed tears as I acknowledge where I am right now and what I'm doing.
I spent my entire life counting down the days until I got to step inside Neverbound Academy, a life that I thought was ripped away from me two years ago. Despite the circumstances, I have now found my way here, and I refuse to give up on it. I only ever wanted to be blessed by The Fates, and here I am, controlling heat with nothing more than my own will.
How, I don't quite know, but I'm sure that part will make itself more prominent in the near future. Knowing I am more than someone who can rise from the dead, someone who can physically see my magic before my own eyes, and not just for the desire of others, is everything.
I sway on my feet, ready to collapse in a heap with joy, but I stiffen my spine, desperate to remain grounded the best I can. I refuse to let this moment slip away from me.
Determined, I pry my eyes open and find the flickering flames on the tip of my finger once again.
It's not a figment of my imagination.
It's right here.
It's a part of me, and I'm a part of it.
“That's it, Ivy. Now, what you feel churning in your stomach, you've got to try and move that to the same spot.”
My eyebrows gather, just a little confused about what he means, but when I pay attention to my stomach, it's there, a swirling ball. It’s contained chaos.
With my gaze fixed on my hand, I take calm, measured breaths as I connect with the swirling ball inside of me. Every inhale moves it, and I feel it rise up my chest, reaching across my collarbone to the top of my shoulder.
Excitement gets the better of me as I try to encourage the sensation down my arm, and the slow movement is gone.
A burst rushes through me, and the flicker grows.
Only this time, it’s not contained.
A scream rips from my lungs as the fire ignites all over me.
Fear takes hold of my breath as I fall to the floor of the cave in a heap.
Every part of me ignites, but I don't burn.
Engulfed in flames, my screams halt as I lie on the ground, my vision a blur of orange and red. A shadow falls over me, deepening the reds to a dark crimson, tapering to the edge of burgundy, until the fires extinguish, and a face comes into view.
“Archer?” I rasp, spying his eyes wide and wild as despair seeps from every inch of him.
He blinks down at me in disbelief.
His thumb ghosts across my cheek as he takes every inch of me in.
The flames no longer exist as I lie on the floor, a breeze fluttering over me.
I may have survived the heat, but my clothes didn’t.
“Dorian, get the fuck out,” he snaps, and no response comes as he shields me the best he can. Shaking his head, he blinks at me in disbelief. “Holy fuck,” he exhales, pressing his forehead against mine. “Are you okay?”
A bubble of laughter bursts from my chest. “Did you see what I just did?” I blurt in astonishment, and he rears back, eyes wider than ever.
“You set yourself on fucking fire, Ivy,” he gasps.
I feel manic as I grin. “I’ve never felt fucking better,” I sing, and he shakes his head.
“You're insane, Ivy Hayworth,” he grumbles, a smirk touching the corner of his mouth. “And I love it.”
