Broken Spirit: The Next Avatar

Chapter One: Serefina

My feet pound the earth as flames shoot out of my fists, propelling me forward. When I'm close enough, I step deliberately and bring my hands together to form a trail of fire that coils around his body, offering no escape. He rips the fire from my control, and unleashes it back on me. I clasp my hands in front of me and the inferno blazes past my face on either side, split cleanly in two. Before the firestorm has fully passed, his foot kicks alarmingly close to my face. I drop to the ground and punch fire at his legs. The force of the blaze knocks him off his feet, and I waste no time. My hands jab forward, my fire eager to burn, to incinerate his flesh—

Strong, cool hands close around mine, wrestling away my control and squeezing the skin until I wince in pain. The guard's face is impassive. "Enough." He shoves me hard enough that I lose balance and scrape my palms. He turns to the boy lucky to still be alive.

"She's crazy!" he shouts, pointing a wild finger at me.

"Funny how you're only brave enough to say that when there's a guard here to protect you," I snarl.

"What happened here?" the man asks.

I'm still breathing hard. "He insulted my family."

"So you attacked him?"

"He was asking for it."

"I only spoke the truth," the boy says. "I mean, look at her, sir. Anyone that turns out that crazy must have some bad blood somewhere."

"I wonder what people will be saying about your blood once it's smeared all over the roads," I say.

The guard sighs. "Get up. You're coming with me."

The next day is a nightmare. Word spread like wildfire around campus that I had another incident, as if I'm a small child that had a tantrum. I'm used to the silence as I walk through the halls at the Academy. I'm not used to the whispers. At least, not since that fateful night a year ago.

To make it worse, my mother's words from last night keep echoing in my brain, wishing to shame me as much as possible.

"What is wrong with you?"

I absentmindedly trace a design on my notes, envisioning her instead of the teacher lecturing before me.

The memory plays out like it's happening all over again. Mother pacing in front of me, back and forth. The floor smoking where her feet touch the tiles. "Getting a notice at work that my daughter was charged with assault and destroying property. Absolute nightmare. What's next? Blowing up the Firelord's palace? When will you learn to control that temper?"

My voice, reflecting the proper amount of shame, with only a hint of defiance. "I am sorry for the dishonor I caused our family."

"It seems that's all I hear lately." Her sigh when she finally looks straight at me. "Maybe we should revisit that doctor—"

"No! I don't need counseling."

"Then what should I do? You can't keep doing this."

"I know."

"It's childish and destructive. Why can't you be more like Bridgette? She creates things, not destroys them."

My hands clench. "Thanks, Mom." I stalk away before she can call me back.

"Serefina!"

My eyes snap open at the hand splayed on my desk. "Yes?"

"Do we need to have a meeting with the headmaster?"

"No, ma'am," I mumble. The teacher walks away, and I can feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me.

I almost cry with relief when the final bell sounds. I need some time alone.