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Thirteen Years Old

Marlena sat at the lunch table alone, her head on a swivel, waiting for Vega to walk through the doors to the dining hall at any second. It wasn’t unlike Vega to get stuck in the halls talking to someone, but it was weird Khort and Arlet hadn’t made their way in yet.

She chewed on her bite of sandwich—which tasted a little like cardboard with the worry gnawing its way into Marlena’s stomach.

What if something happened?

Marlena abandoned her meal, pushing the plate away when she realized her leg was bouncing under the table.

She nibbled on her fingernails and tried to ignore her mother’s nagging voice in the back of her mind, but it was too loud.

“Marlena, get your hands out of your mouth. People are watching you.”

Her hand shot down to her side like a bolt of Vega’s lightning zapped her. Marlena let her eyes wander around the room again, conscious of where people were looking, with Ryanna’s voice echoing in her head .

A few classmates walked by, and Marlena couldn’t help but eavesdrop on their conversation. “Did you hear she manifested a second ability today during elementals class?”

“What?”

“No way.”

“Yes. Professor Cato kept her after class was dismissed.”

The girls in matching uniforms passed by quickly, but now that Marlena was aware of the chatter around her, she couldn’t drown anything out.

A group of boys walked by. “It was crazy. It felt like more than just wind.”

“Yeah, there was a, like… wetness to the air, like a storm was coming.”

Wind? A second ability?

As far as Marlena knew, she was the only person in Tolevarre that had ever been in control of two powers—it was precisely the reason her parents had been able to convince the other members of the Curia to allow Marlena to be the heir to both of her parents’ seats.

She was different. She was strong. She would be the person to change the way their world worked, the way their government ran. Her parents had promised that.

Marlena would be remembered.

The doors to the cafeteria swung open, silencing the room with their thunderous crack against the wall.

Everyone’s eyes landed on the source of the commotion.

Arlet.

Arlet’s panicked eyes locked with Marlena’s almost instantly. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, and a bead of sweat rolled down her temple like she’d run clear across the school grounds without stopping.

Marlena jumped from her chair, forgetting about her bag under the table. She zipped through the students and tables, pushing past whoever was in the way .

“What’s wrong?” Marlena asked when Arlet was in earshot.

Arlet’s chest rose with a deep inhale. “Vega.”

Marlena’s stomach dropped out from underneath her, leaving her hollow inside. No, if something happened to Vega ? —

Marlena was too frazzled to speak, stuck inside her own head, where all she could hear was the screaming of her terror.

“Come,” Arlet wheezed, grabbing Marlena by the hand and dragging her out of the crowded room where they’d become the center of attention.

As they ran, Marlena began to sort through all the scenarios that could have happened…

Did Vega get hurt while practicing skills?

Was she in trouble?

Vega wasn’t only her sister—she was her best friend. Marlena would fight, kill, and maim for her. The wind soared through her fingers, the trees of the courtyard leaning from the burst of Marlena’s fear.

“Marlena, control yourself.” Her mother’s lessons were always there to remind Marlena when she wasn’t acting the way she was supposed to. She wasn’t acting like a leader , like a lady .

Right now, she didn’t give a fuck about her mother or being a lady.

Her wind soared high above the buildings of their school, mixing with the natural breeze of Stella’s mountains. Marlena felt the wind change, working against her own. It was a sensation she only ever felt when another air wielder was manipulating at the same time.

It could be any number of students. Air control wasn’t uncommon, but there was something new about this power. She could feel it in the whispers of the wind.

Marlena ran faster, letting go of Arlet’s hand. She didn’t look back when Arlet called after her. She didn’t slow her pace. She let her wind catch her strides and push her faster, further, until Arlet was too far behind to hear .

The practice field came into view, and in the center stood Vega, surrounded by a crowd. Her dark hair stuck to her sweaty skin, wild and windblown, flowing over her shoulders with a gust of her newfound wind.

Vega’s fingers wiggled, her teeth gritting, and her face turned a shade of red Marlena had only seen when Vega struggled with the control of her lightning—the lightning she’d only just begun to have access to.

The lightning that was no longer her only power.

Marlena inhaled a sharp breath, filling her lungs with a fresh breath of air as she came to a stop outside of the circle of faculty.

No one paid attention to her, their eyes still stuck on her sister.

It wasn’t until Marlena shoved her way through that they took notice of her, earning a couple scoldings as they tried to pull her out of the training ring.

“Get your hands off me,” she growled, her lip curling in the corner. Professor Cato scoffed, reaching for her again, but Marlena was gone, disappearing from everyone’s view, not allowing anyone else to lay a hand on her.

Marlena didn’t like being touched.

When she reappeared, she stood in front of Vega, her hands resting on her sister’s clammy cheeks. “Vega.”

Vega’s eyes shot open, and Marlena beheld the same eyes she saw when she looked in a mirror. Vega’s were filmy, a clear sign of burnout, and her skin felt like a freshly lit flame. Marlena felt the thrum of the electric current under Vega’s skin.

“You’re burning out, Vega. You need to stop.” Marlena pushed the hair out of her face. “Take a breath.”

Vega listened, her chest rising and falling too quickly.

“Again,” Marlena ordered softly.

Wind whipped around them in a fury, scattering leaves across the open field. “Marlena,” a voice growled from behind—a voice she knew without having to look .

Marlena hadn’t noticed him when approaching the circle…

but of course he’s here. Of course he showed up to see Vega’s new ability.

She didn’t turn around. She didn’t take her focus off Vega.

“She’s going to hurt herself, Father.” Marlena grazed a thumb over Vega’s pink cheeks.

“Take another breath.” Her voice was light as a breeze.

Vega did as she was told and then wrapped her hands around Marlena’s wrists for support as she took another few inhales.

“Good,” Marlena cooed at the same time Jonan ripped her hands from Vega’s face, pushing his eldest daughter back with a gust of his own wind.

Vega stumbled when their hold was broken, stealing the leverage she needed to stay upright. Her knees hit the dirt, and a squeak of pain escaped her lips.

Marlena lunged for her but hit a wall of air so solid it knocked her down too.

Jonan stood above his daughters but only reached out to help one up. Vega extended her hand, letting him lift her back to her feet.

Marlena watched from the ground as Jonan wrapped his arms around Vega, whispering into her ear loud enough for Marlena to hear.

“I am so proud of you, my strong girl. You’re spectacular.

” He pressed a kiss to her temple and pulled her into his side.

“Let’s get you home so you can rest.” He glanced over his shoulder as he turned to leave.

“Back to class, Marlena.” Jonan glared, and Marlena knew her punishment for interfering today would come later.

Horrible images of previous beatings flashed in her head.

Her heart raced from phantom hands wrapping around her neck.

One day I’ll show him just how strong I can be. One day.

She had yet to pull herself up from the hard ground, watching as Vega hobbled away, using their father’s arm for support.

Arlet stepped into view, blocking Vega’s and Jonan’s exit. She held her hand out. Marlena stared at her open palm, eyes dragging up to meet her soft gaze. “You did what was right. It’s why I came to get you. I knew you’d help. ”

Marlena pushed herself off the ground without Arlet’s help, wiping the dirt off her backside. “It’s still not good enough.” Marlena stored away the hurt, pushing it down deep where no one could find it.

She took the long way back to the dining hall, not ready to paint on a pretty face while the putrid taste of self-doubt crept up her throat.

Why does Vega get two powers too? Is her lightning not enough? Why can’t I just have this one thing?