Solasta Academy: All Hallows Eve

Chapter Twenty Four

Part of Calia wanted to know why Malakai betrayed her. But the other couldn't care less as she used every bit of lightning in her body to strike him and Gideon. It was like a cat and mouse game, the three of them. While she struck Malakai with her left, Gideon used every opportunity to bite her, but she moved out of the way each time and hit the Werewolf with her bolts. She angled her head to the side, giving her two enemies the death glare. The one she mimicked from her guardian, Soari Breevort. "I would give up now, you two," she breathed with fake confidence—again, the same one she used from Soari's chessboard. "Lest you end up a pile of bones and ash."

Malakai barked out a laugh. "Confidence doesn't suit you, Calia. Maybe I should remind you that you're only a Faeling who can't even control her abilities."

Beside him, Gideon chuckled as he turned his head to face her now. But she didn't stop—wouldn't—because if she did, she would most likely be killed by the two of them. Calia needed the perfect time to strike the two so they could go down simultaneously. Around her, the others were fighting their asses off, but she could tell they were growing weaker by the minute. Even Arzhel was out of breath but didn't stop as he stabbed a male spirit right in the heart.

Use your full potential, Calia Nox. It will save you.

What do you mean? she asked.

The female voice in her head was silent for a moment while she dodged both Gideon and Malakai at the same time. She took a step back but realized she had nowhere else to go as her backside landed on the patterned wall behind her. You are stronger than you think, my storm child. Many generations before you are watching and know you can survive this altercation. Those two are pathetic, weak creatures that are below you. You have more power than you think—all you must do is let it in. Don't be scared of it because it is your true nature. Let them see how terrifying a storm is, Calia.

The two males walked slowly toward her as fear seized her throat and muscles. Calia knew they were faster than her, so running was not an option. She waved her hands in the air and forced her lightning to come out in full force, but it only sizzled down and disappeared—as if it cowered away when she needed it the most. They stared at her like she was prey, and no doubt they thought they were the predators. Well, one of them was while he was alive. Malakai seemed like a kid trying to play in the big game. But she saw through his monstrous gray eyes and decided he was nothing. Malakai was never her friend—he pretended to be so the betrayal would hurt more. But it only pissed her off to the extent that she let the storm inside her boil every atom of her body until she could feel the electricity running through her blood.

"You're trapped now." Gideon grinned.

Calia turned to the others again, who were slowly falling one by one. Amias was on his knees with blood seeping out of his mouth as the spirit punched him right in his nose and broke it. Arzhel collapsed and landed on his side with a wound protruding from his ribs as he groaned out in pain. She heard Elliot's crying in his Werewolf form and Lottie and Torin's panicked state as they flew across the room. Jade was breathless as she tried every spell in the book to fight off the spirits, but even that was not working. Slowly but surely, Calia closed her eyes. She thought she would see darkness, but no, a rainbow of colors swirling beneath her eyelids was beautiful. Gone was the broken glass and the people she loved on the ground, ready to die to protect her.

It started with Calia finding the corpses of her fellow classmates. Every time she did, she discovered she bled silver, uncommon from the rest of the Fae folk. And she was stronger than most in this sort of daze. At least, that is what her friends told her when they watched her transform, but she never called upon the hidden side of her because it terrified her to her core. If others see her blood, then it will be over. It would feel like she was back in the asylum being pricked and prodded just because she had a unique blood color, and she didn't want her newfound guardians to see her as something alien to them.

But for them, she would do anything.

Calia let out a steady breath and called the full extent of her thunderstorm. Her powers listened, and within seconds, her body was lighting up like a fucking glowstick, and then her thunder shook the entire room. When she opened her eyes again, she grinned like a maniac and started screaming at the top of her lungs. 

***

Calia Nox was only six years old when she asked her mama if she could have a teddy bear. Being more mature than others her age, she sat her down at their makeshift dinner table in their cramped living room and gave her a list. Her mama, only in her early twenties, looked at her daughter curiously. "What is this, baby?" she asked.

Young Calia gave her a list of reasons why she should own a teddy bear. In the number one spot, she wrote that she would take great care of it and love it until she dies. She watched her mama read it carefully before setting it down and turning toward Calia with a big grin on her beautiful face. She had just gotten off her long shift at the diner and brought home a bag of burgers and french fries for both of them, but Calia demanded they wait. "It's a list...to see if I could have a teddy bear."

"I see," Mama said. "And you promise to love it until the end of your days, Miss Calia Nox?"

"Yes!" she said brightly.

Mama chuckled as she pulled Calia into her lap and hugged her tightly. "You, my sweet girl, are the best thing in the universe. My treasure," Calia giggled until her ribs hurt as her mama tickled her sides. "Calia asks for a teddy bear, and she will receive it. Now, anything else for the princess?"

Calia pondered momentarily before glancing at the bag of greasy food lying on their dinner table. "I want some food!" Mama laughed again as she lifted her daughter off her lap and emptied the bag. After months of living off cheap food, Calia loved it as much as any young child would. Her mama unwrapped her burger with no pickles and fries and gave it to her. She took a big bite of her burger before going for her fries. Next to her, her mama was soaking her fries with an enormous amount of ketchup, and Calia grimaced. "That's yucky."

"It's delicious!" she replied with a mouthful of french fries.

Calia giggled again. "I love you, mama."

She watched her mom somber up and kiss Calia on the cheek. "I love you, my sweet girl. Know I'll do anything for you...now until the end of my days."

And for the next ten years, Calia Nox believed her mother's promise.