The Fire Within (Book 1 of Dragonfire series)

Chapter 5

The next day I again woke to Prim bringing me fresh fruit. She instructed me to get dressed and go to Kokel's office for a class/training schedule. When I got to his office, Alfio was already in there sitting on the couch. I was still a little upset he didn't accompany me to Earth, or greet me when I returned. Not that I minded going with Cullen, but even as a friend I figured he would want to know how things went with my parents. Maybe the almost kiss has something to do with it... Kokel brought me back to reality when he handed me a piece of paper with my schedule and sent me off with Alfio.

First on the list was Potions, which took place in the potions lab. All the classrooms were on the second floor, so it was completely new to me. I struggled in pretty much every class due to the fact that I hadn't actually gotten my Fia yet. Fia, as I was told, is just a more specific word for "magic". Many people have magic, but those who transform into Faeries or become Wizards specifically refer to their powers as Fia until they master it. Kokel explained getting your Fia to me as, "If you are born with Fia, you have it your whole life, even though you might not be able to use it because it is rusty in a sense. Fia is like a muscle, if you've never exercised it, it takes practice until you get it strong enough to the point when you can use it whenever you need it." I was the only one in Potions who just sat there because I didn't have my Fia to give the brew the "finishing touch" as Professor Aneirin said (my male Potions teacher).

After Potions was my Nature class with Professor Tivona, where I would learn about useful and dangerous plants, and take occasional field trips into Mirkwood Forest. She was probably my weirdest teacher, but also one of the friendliest. This class I could actually keep up in because it was just memorization, and no Fia was required yet.

Next I had a one-on-one class with Kokel to help me get my Fia and "work the muscle".

Lastly was a Defense class with Mr. Galtero and Cullen sometimes assisted him because I guess he was pretty good at fighting, so I was told. I struggled in this class as well because I had no Fia to use to defend myself.

A week went by with me going through the motions. I only had classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but they gave me enough homework to last a lifetime. As the days progressed I fell more and more behind. Cullen and Alfio helped me whenever they could, but they were just as swamped as I was. It was finally Saturday and I had actually survived my first week of training. I decided to go out and celebrate with a girl I had met named Stella. She was tall and thin, like me, and had dirty blonde hair with a medium complexion. We had every class together, except for the individual with Kokel. Saturday night we took a cab into Magix. I had only been there once during the day, so I was anxious to see what it was like at night. We both wore tight dresses and heels, showing off our toned figured. As we were walking towards a club, I heard heels clicking down an alley to our left, slowly getting closer. I turned my head and saw two girls, maybe a year or two older than me, who were unmistakably witches. I was told not all witches are bad, but that I should avoid any who affiliated with Aradia. Similar to Faeries, witches also have an element or such that they specialize in.

"Well, well, look who we have here," the shorter witch spoke. Her hair was short, very curly, and dyed a deep purple.

"Aradia will be proud," the other witch said in agreement. She was tall and thin with long, silver hair that was poker straight. "I'm Kiora," she announced proudly, "and this is Ravyn," she pointed to her friend who was pulling her curls playfully.

"We should get out of here. Now," Stella whispered to me anxiously. I knew I should've left, but I wanted answers and I knew they would be the only ones who could give them to me.

"What do you and your witchy friends want from me?" I demanded, forgetting I had no way to protect myself.

Ravyn's eyes temporarily went black, then spoke once they returned to normal. "The cocky one doesn't even have her Fia yet," she informed her companion.

Kiora returned her attention to me and said, "Then we're going to have a little fun," and with that, ominous clouds suddenly grouped over the alley where we were standing. Her eyes went white as she focused her energy into bolts of lightning hitting all around Stella and I. Her power must be weather. Ice began growing up from the cement and encasing my entire body but stopped at my waist when Stella transformed. It was the first time I had seen a Faerie do so, and it was incredible. A sphere of orange light encased her, before dissipating, showing Stella in sparkly orange short shorts and a matching one shoulder crop top. Those outfits are so weird. I hope mine isn't orange, I hate orange. Stella had a silver scepter in her hand with what appeared to be a sun on one end. She faced her palm towards Kiora and blasted her with a golden ball of energy. I remember Stella telling me she got her power from the sun. She pointed her scepter toward the ice surrounding me and began melting it when Ravyn attacked her from behind, making her fall to her knees and cover her ears with her hands. Stella screamed as if she was being tortured. Maybe Ravyn has a type of mind control?

"Stop hurting her!" I screamed at Ravyn angrily. Eventually, Stella passed out from the pain, leaving me alone to deal with the two witches. I looked at Stella lying on the cold cement and lost it. First I felt it in my stomach, then in my arms and legs, spreading through me like a virus. I tried to contain it, but it had already begun.

"WHAT DID YOU DO," I screamed as the ice shattered and I was surrounded in a ball of fire. When the fire dissipated, I was left in almost knee high blue heeled boots, a sparkly light blue mini skirt, and a matching crop top that wrapped around my neck. My hair was being whipped around until it it lightened, almost to the shade of Alfio's bleach blond/almost white hair, and a crown appeared on my head. A fiery electricity was dancing all over my body as my Fia coursed through my veins. I felt movement on my back, realizing I had sparkling wings that lifted me into the air. Both of my fists were encased in flames as I spoke, "Tell me why you are hunting me."

"It's you," Kiora said quietly, but repeated it again louder so I could hear it. "The rumors are true, you have it, for now. But soon enough, I will take it from you," she spat in disgust.

"Alena," a familiar voice yelled. I turned around to see Cullen getting out of a car. "What the hell is she?" He said to himself, but because of my heightened senses I was able to hear it perfectly clear. I returned my gaze to Stella, who was back in her dress and clutching to a phone. She must have texted him to come. The clouds again began to stir and I knew what Kiora was going to do. Just as the static in the air was increased and the bolt of lightning began to form, I yelled in protest, but couldn't contain it. A mass wave of pure energy released from me causing everyone to fall backwards. A blinding light erupted from me with the energy wave, before fading away and leaving us in the dark. Feeling as exhausted as I did the first time I used my magic, I unwillingly transformed back into my normal self and fell from the sky. I looked up at sky, admiring the twinkling stars as I fell. I wonder if I look like that when I transform. Rough hands caught me before I cracked my head off the pavement. I looked up into those emerald eyes as he pushed the hair out of my face. That was the last thing I rember was before slipping into a black abyss.

"Aleeeeennaaa, Aleeeennnnaaa," the voice continued to call me. I saw a woman glowing in contrast to the black that surrounded us. Her fiery red hair was in an extravagant up-do, wearing a gold dress that ruffled at the hip and fell to the floor. She wore the same crown I did when I transformed.

"Who are you," I called to her.

"You are ready Alena, are you willing to make the journey?"

"Journey to where??" I yelled in response.

"Journey inside yourself, Alena, to learn who you are." I had been trying to figure out my heritage after learning I was adopted. It was embarrassing I hadn't figured it out sooner. Neither of my parents had magic, which meant I couldn't be theirs.

"I'm ready! Tell me what I have to do!" I jolted awake from my own voice, and noticed Cullen, Alfio, and Kokel were standing around my bed looking very concerned.

"Ready for what?" Alfio said in a hushed voice.

Hello readers :) I know it's short but I needed to write this chapter so I can start getting into the actual story and move on from some of the boring stuff. For those confused, sentences in italics are Alena's thoughts. Happy reading and pls continue to vote and comment! xoxo