TO LIE WITH MIDNIGHT ROSES

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RENESSA

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Anger.

They say it's a natural emotion and it's important to feel your emotions, isn't it?

"Don't hold them in, it's not healthy," at least that's what they say but, what about anger?

Nobody likes you when you're angry, nobody wants to see you mad. Anger is not a pretty emotion. Father never liked it when I was angry, he couldn't handle me when the world felt suffocating and I felt small. When my emotions felt too big and too powerful and when I couldn't control them, but father... Well, he isn't my father, is he? Not biologically, of course, because if he was I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be standing here with pointed ears and glowing hands and I wouldn't be so... angry.

The lightning I felt soon turned into something more, thick and heavy, like a volcano on the cusp of erupting; veins burning inside me like magma forcing its way up to the surface.

My ears ring, drowning out the words of everyone around me I find myself pushing past Roman who doesn't seem to stop me. My hands illuminate the dimly lit hall, the sensation both terrifying yet equally exhilarating.

Outside, cold snowflakes blur my vision more as they mix with tears and sting against my hot cheeks. I thought I was making progress, but as soon as I began finding my sense of self for the first time in years, it took only seconds to strip that all away again.

My breathing quickens, heavy breaths fall with heavy footsteps and I know Finley and Jade are following me but I think they both know better than to stop me, or perhaps they should know better.

I was burning with a flood of emotions all conjoined into one and it almost felt like the night I went back to my house, when I saw the mess and when I heard the clock and it was still ticking and time was still passing but they were still dead and now... what about my real father? Is he dead too or is he out there somewhere waiting for me?

"Renessa!" Jade's voice seems urgent and her steps quicken behind me, branches cracking beneath both their boots and I hear they're getting closer.

I halt, stopping and turning around as my fists ball at my sides, their glow reflecting off the fresh snow.

"What do you want from me?" I ask, irritated.

Finley shoots Jade a glance, one with doe-like eyes as her forehead creases.

"We want you to take a moment to calm yourself... calm yourself before-"

"Before what, I cause a storm?" I tilt my head, quirking a brow, thinking back to the night I shared with Xavier and what he had said, "Storms can be beautiful disasters, Jade."

Finley chimes in, taking a step forwards and my hands clench tighter but her soft voice almost calms me for a moment, "Renessa, we don't want you getting hurt."

The wind outside picks up, fast and heavy with wet flakes of snow, their bodies now becoming shadowed blurs behind the only source of light which came from my hands and I release the tension. I spread my fingers open, sucking in a deep breath.

"I already am, just let me be, just let me think!"

Sticks, leaves and small stones rise from the ground, swirling and mixing with the snow which hits against our skin. The air becomes suffocating, swirling faster around me until I can no longer see the two women who were before me. I shut my eyes. Then suddenly, everything stops.

A sharp silence as it all falls to the ground hard and fast and as I blink my eyes open, I notice that Finley's hands are outstretched, palms to the sky and her vision laser-focused on me. Suddenly, vines and roots break through hard soil, creeping their way up my ankles and wrapping themselves around my feet holding me into place. I squirm, trying to move and yet I am unable to which makes me even angrier.

"Finley!" I hear Jade gasp her name through the heavy wind, "Stop this could make it worse, stop!"

"I am trying to help her before she harms herself, or anyone else."

"Do not make me use my magic, Finn, I swear to high heavens I-"

I let out a cry, one that was full of anger and frustration but their bickering made my already racing mind unbearably loud, everything was so loud. The vines and roots tighten around my feet and I hear Jade saying something, something in a different language. An incantation of sorts but I lose focus as I fall to my knees, hands connecting with the ground and then suddenly everything is in the air once more. Except for this time, Jade and Finley too. Sticks, leaves, rocks and snow hover above me and then in a split second hit the ground.

The earth splits beneath my palms as heat escapes me like molten lava, fire from my fingertips and I hear it rumble, crack and crumble beneath me, vines and roots break and loosen their grip around my ankles.

There are voices, Roman I hear first and then Jaxon. Ryker calls my name and Rayya too but I don't dare look up. I know Finley and Jade are on the ground now, tossed into the mess I created but I almost don't care. I almost don't care about anything at all, my thoughts become hazed over with rage and I focus on my hands.

I feel the heat as I force my energy down, down into the ground where cracks have already formed and the trees around me shake as I push myself up onto my feet. Standing now, I see the wreckage before. Stumbling back I find myself pressed against a tree and through the heavy snowfall I see their silhouettes.

I can almost feel their emotions, scared and curious and yet unsure of what to do. I dig my fingers into my palms, feeling the sharp edges of my nails pierce my skin and I feel a spark, energy pulsing hard and fast, with a heartbeat of its own.

My fingers open with a jolt that startles me, my shoulders flinch and then I see red. Red and royal blue, mixing into a deep purple. I bring my hands up towards my face and see the energy I created now physically forming in my hands.

"Nessa!" I hear Ryker call out to me, "Nessa, stop before you get hurt. Please."

But I can't stop, there is so much more left in me to give, to get out.

"Just leave, Ryker!" I yell back, stepping away from the tree, "Leave."

"I don't want to."

"I don't care."

My words are harsh, but I know that if he were to stay, I would only hurt him, too. I have no sense of control, no distinct outlet, the energy is coming and going so fast and I have no idea what I am doing.

All I know is that anger was the driving force and it has hold of the wheel, it has control.