Beasts

6: A Few Minutes

"AH!" I scream and duck as dad shot a fireball at the target above my head. So far, I learned that I can throw two types of spells. One is fire and sets things on fire, duh. The other is the one I did before where it bursts on impact. Also, I learned how to 'use the force' as I like to call it. I even got to push dad back with my hand. From twenty feet away!

"Sorry dear, are you okay?" Dad asked and helped me back up. "I'm fine. Just don't do that again." I say and bend over to catch my breath. Who knew magic was so tiring?

"I think we're good for today. Don't want to deplete your magic. The more you use it without letting it recharge, the more you will have to wait for it to fully recharge again."

"You say this like it's some sort of battery."

He chuckles. "Well just be careful. It's hard to use up all your magic but if you do then there could be some permanent damage done to your body." He warned. "I want you to work on your fireballs. Next time we'll tackle the werewolf form." He said and started walking away.

"Wait!" I say and stop him. "I wanted to ask you about what happened this morning. On the bridge my violin left this gold trail behind it. When I stopped playing it burst into little sparkles."

"Oh," He looked shock. Shock was not good. Shock meant he didn't know. "I don't know about that." See. "Maybe it's something only you can do. I can't play any instrument so I'm sorry. See you later." He patted my shoulder then left. What did I do then?

"Guess who?" Hands go over my eyes as I was walking to the bakery to get my own bread. Apparently it's free since people here just give to each other like one big family. Anyway, it's obvious who it is because of the warmth.

"Phoenix." I say and turn around. He smiles.

"Correct! Congratulations! You win a Phoenix for next few minutes!" He says like a game show host. I roll my eyes as he starts walking with me. "So where you going?"

"Bread. You?"

"Butter. hey, we're bread and butter." He jokes but I don't even smile. A wave of depression just came over me and I don't know why. I stop and stare down at my hands. "June? Are you okay?" I squeeze my hands into fists then sprint home. "June!" I hear Phoenix call out but I can't look back.

I lock the door and slump down against it. What is happening to me? Why did I just do that? I ask myself. I curl up into a ball and close my eyes. I wish I could just disappear. Leave this world and be home. I want whatever is going on with me to stop. Stop messing with my emotions and changing my life. I want it all to just stop. Even for the slightest of seconds I want to feel normal again.

"June...?" I hear Phoenix say through the door.

"Go away..." I mumble.

"Please, open up. I know what you're going through, I can help."

"No, you can't... You grew up knowing who you were. I just became an adult and found out." There's a silence.

"You know even I feel these mood swings." He finally says.

"Y-you do?"

"Oh yah, they just aren't as bad. Magic comes with a price, you know. It messes with your brain. As you get used to magic, your body gets used to the changes until they're just gone. It's like a second puberty. Only with magic." He explains. "Take Iridescent for example. She's 21 and perfectly fine. In her own happy way." I manage to laugh at that. "That's the spirit. Come on, don't make me burn down your door."

"My dad and Bear would kill you if you did."

"Bear?"

"Your uncle, Jason. I thought he looked like a bear before I realized he was one." I say and he chuckled. "Fine. I'll come out." I say and stand up.

"Good. I didn't want to get Iridesscent." Oh thank God he didn't. I do not want to know how her pep talk would of been like.

"What took you so long?" Phoenix asks when I come out.

"Bathroom." I answer and start walking back to the market.

"For that long?" He asks and I ignore him. "Hey, answer me."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to."

"Why?"

"Because I don't. End of conversation." I snap.

"Okay..." Guys will never understand.

When we're almost at the bakery, Phoenix stops. "What?" I ask. "I think I know why you took so long now. Sorry I'm so dumb." He says and looked down. I grin and shake my head. "You need guy friends." I say and continue walking. "I do have guy friends, it's just that I've known them for years. You, I've known you for a day and you're the daughter of the chief." "Okay." I say and hold back my smile. "Looks like my few minutes of Phoenix are up." I say as we walk up to the bakery. "Bye." I smile and open the door. "Get me a muffin, will ya? Thanks!" How can that guy be both a phoenix and kitten, at the same time.

At the bakery I got a loaf of bread and a chocolate chip muffin for Phoenix. At my door, I looked up at the sky. The sun was starting to set behind the trees. Dinner, right. I dropped off the bread and muffin then headed for the bonfire. "Hey, over here!" Iridesscent called out. I'm guessing that she's going to do that everyday from now on.

"Hey," I say and sit down next to her. "I have a question."

"Yah?"

"Do you ever get bored, being cooped up in here?"

"We get to leave here from time to time. But it's hard to get bored with so much going on all the time."

"True." I nod. "How about I get dinner this time?" I offer and stand up.

"No chicken for me! Vegetarian." She called out and I gave her a thumb's up.

Salad. There are tables around the perimetre of the area with stacks of plates and salads. So. Many. Salads. I took a salad with grapes and kiwi chunks for Iridescent. Even the look of it was enough to make me get one for myself. "Here." I pass iridescent her salad, eager to eat my own. Once I took that first bite, I was in love. I'm a big fruits person and I didn't have any in the past two days. Just the crunch of the lettuce and the freshness of everything. It's nice to know that the food you were eating was freshly washed that day.

"Hey, where's Phoenix?" I ask and look around.

"Don't know. He's a busy guy." Iridescent said as she poked at her lettuce.

"Busy with what?"

"Phoenix stuff." She shrugged. I glared at her before returning to my salad.

"Didn't he light the bonfire?"

"It was lit before I came here. He probably went to eat at home. Not everyone eats dinner at the bonfire. He isn't as extroverted as I am." She says with a smile.

"Trust me, no one is." Phoenix wasn't kidding when he said a few minutes.