Fire & Flame

One

The wind blew through the trees, its leaves snapping off and floating slowly towards the wet ground below. If there was one thing Louis loves about Red Thorn Academy, it was the natural beauty of the land it sits upon. Acres of green land running miles long across the vast facility, curving and twisting around the unnatural habitants within it. The caves and tunnels created by Mother Nature herself which Louis adored exploring when he wasn't studying or training. He sighed and tilted his head back as he soaked up the moist air that was left after the brief storm which passed an hour ago. He had another hour before he'd get summoned to practice and he wanted to enjoy this time before enduring a three hour long torture to strengthen his powers. 

Being apart of the royal Tomlinson lineage had its disadvantages and training was starting to become the main force, especially since his new trainer Zayn took over. Zayn Malik was a reformed demon who took a blood oath five years ago after his little sister was murdered by The Kings, a demon gang which ruled the underground crime ring. The blood oath ensured his family's safety from the The Kings in exchange for a mystical chain latched around his powers, weakening his true form for as long as the contract existed with the council. He took over for the head trainer who retired a month ago and it's been hell ever since. 

A twig snapping catches Louis' attention and he flips around, flinging his hand out as he sends the large body before him flying into a tree. A loud groan sounded followed by a thud as the unknown person hit the ground. "Fuck Lou! You could have at least checked to see who it was first." Niall groaned as he attempted to push himself off of the ground. Louis winced and lurched forward to help his best friend up, but got swatted at as Niall lifted himself up. Niall Horan was a white warlock like Louis but his family wasn't of royal blood so he could only harness one main power. Luckily enough, his family's power was the four elements which meant he controlled earth, fire, water, and air. 

"Sorry Ni, I was lost in my thoughts and I just panicked. You can never be too safe especially with the Canis here." Louis explained as he helped brush the dirt off his friend's clothes. The Canis were hound dogs summoned by the council who come monthly to check in on campus and ensure the safety of the students within. But they're wicked and like to play tricks on unsuspecting students who let their guards down during their visits. 

"Well maybe you shouldn't be alone in the dark forest when they're here," Niall remarked, his blue eyes staring down his best friend disapprovingly, "Or ever really, why do you come here so much anyway? It's so creepy." He shivers as he casts another glance around the forest surrounding them. He could almost hear the whispers of the monsters that may lurk within.

"It's peaceful." Louis replied, "Why are you here?"

"Mr. Hot Ass sent me looking for you, said you should have checked your email to see that he moved training up an hour earlier. And he said because you're late you have to do a demonstration for the class on whatever he's talking about today."

Louis groaned and rolled his eyes, Niall was infatuated with their new demon head trainer and insisted on calling him ludicrous names when referring to him. "He's such a pain in the ass." Louis mumbled as he followed his friend down the path back towards campus. The next three hours was going to be absolute hell. 

—

"How nice of you to join us Mr. Tomlinson." Zayn greets him with a smirk on his face as Louis walks towards his desk in the middle of the class. Louis rolled his eyes and took his place next to Niall, a sigh leaving his lips as he prepared himself for what was to come. "Alright class as I was saying, to harness the power that courses within you, you must first become one with it. As cheesy as that may sound, it's true. The power you wield means nothing if you do not understand it, if you cannot connect with it." 

Zayn holds his hand out and a spark of fire ignites in the middle of his palm. "The connection is what causes your power to surge. You may not be able do anything without your power but it can wreak havoc without you. So you must learn to work with it, to gain its trust but also trust that it won't hurt you." The fire grows larger until it covers his entire hand before vanishing a second later, leaving no trace of it behind. 

"Mr. Tomlinson since you arrived late how about you demonstrate for us how to connect with your power."

Louis bites back a groan and simply nods his head, pushing himself out of his seat. He walks towards the front of the class and stands by Zayn, facing his fellow students. "What would you like me to do your majesty?" Louis drawls, doing a half bow which warrants a few chuckles throughout the class including from Zayn himself. 

"You tell me Tomlinson. Show me what a true connection is, feel the power course within you and let it come forth. But be sure you know how to reel it in." Zayn warns him before taking a step back, giving Louis the floor. Louis sighs but listens, closing his eyes as he focuses on the thrumming he feels within his body as his power struggles to keep itself inside. He lets the warmth overtake his body, starting from the tips of his fingers until it travels down to his toes. He can hear the whispers in the room as his power presents itself in the form of an glowing aura, circling his body in a protection of light. His lips tilt upwards into a smile as he senses the happiness his energy is exuding by setting it free. 

The sound of the door opening followed by heavy footsteps barely catches his attention as his hands lift up to reveal two white orbs in each palm. "Mr. Styles, you're late." Louis' eyes fly open at the sound of his name and he can feel his power surge forward but it was too late to stop it, his aura rushes ahead and sends the chairs flying backwards, knocking the students onto their asses. The windows shutters slam back against the wall as Louis' energy vibrates throughout the room. He gasps and holds his hand out, twisting them in as he desperately attempts to reel his power back. He feels it slither back into his body, finding its way home until it settles in the pit of his stomach. 

It was silent as all the students gathered themselves off the floor and Louis could feel his face heat up in embarrassment at the looks they were giving him. "Thank you Tomlinson for providing the perfect example of why you need balance when connecting with your gift." Zayn says with a sigh, closing the windows with a flick of his hand. "We'll work on that one on one. You may have a seat." 

Louis huffs and makes his way back to his seat, his blue eyes zeroing in on the reason for his loss of control, Harry Styles. The bane of his existence and the man Louis has sworn to enact revenge on for what his family has done to the Tomlinson name. The dark warlock was tall with a head of curls and vibrant green eyes, tattoos littered his tan skin, and he had dimples that popped out when he smiled. Louis hated him. He has done nothing but hate him for the last two years when he first discovered that Harry was attending Red Thorn Academy.

 As if he knew that Louis was thinking of him, Harry tilted his head to the side and green met blue. His lips lifted into a smirk causing his dimple to poke out as he nodded his head at Louis. Louis scowled and flipped him off, turning his attention back to the front where Zayn was going on about harnessing their energy. He glanced at Niall and saw the brown haired man almost drooling as he stared at Zayn, latching onto his words like it was God speaking to him. He frowned and casted another look at the curly haired man who sat scrolling on his phone as if what Zayn was saying were insignificant to him. God, he hated him.