Reformation

Chapter Five- America

Nova

"Ace!" Nova screamed, flailing wildly. Her hand hit a solid object, then her arm made contact. She heard an oof. "Ace make it stop make it stop make it stop...!"

"Elenova! Please, try to control your limbs."

Nova opened her eyes, her skin drenched in sweat, her breath coming in gasps. "Please... I'm begging you... make it stop!" She pleaded, reaching out desperately for something to cling to. She found Ace.

He gripped her hands, locking cooling blue eyes onto her burning golden gaze. "Elenova, I'm here. Focus on me. Focus on calming your inner fire. Only you can control this outbreak."

She panted, struggling to swallow past the desert in her throat. "W-what's happening to me? My skin... it's on fire." She caught sight of sparks lighting her veins from the inside out; Nova sobbed once, a dry heave of fear.

"Your powers are manifesting again. They're getting stronger, and without proper control, the fire is raging in your blood unchecked. I cannot do anything for you, only tell you what needs to be done. Calm your mind, slow your heart, and still you soul." Ace spoke quickly and firmly, anchoring her panicking heart with his steady frosty gaze. His hands were cool in her burning grip.

Nova gulped, sandpaper, and tried her best to do as he asked. She forced the whimpers deep inside her, ignored the light show under her skin, and concentrated. Nova winced; embers seethed through her cheek, across her jaw, then slipped past the bone and down her neck. With a monumental effort, her breathing slowed and her heart calmed.

Ace smiled. "That's it, breathe. Just breathe..."

Nova was shaking. "Can I... have some water?"

He gazed at her. "Of course, I'll be back as soon as possible."

Her pillar left, and Nova sat in bed on top of the sheets, trying to hold her limbs away from her body. Anything to stave away the awful, burning heat. It felt as if her heart was melting within her chest, and in a moment it would explode, covering her lungs in tar.

What was going on?!

Nova bit her lip hard, refusing to cry. "I won't burn up I won't burn up I won't burn up..." She murmured under her breath.

A flash of black. Nova gasped, turning to see a familiar panther in the window. "Alec!"

The cat leapt into her bed, looking up at her with huge orange eyes that wept concern. A rumble deep in his chest reverberated in her skin as he rubbed against her, nudging her chin with his head. Even the feline's black fur, exposed to the sun, was cool to the touch.

Nova managed a shaky laugh. "I'm okay, don't worry sweet one. I'm sorry for throwing you off my lap like that... seems I don't have enough control over this, this fire inside of me."

The panther looked up at her and mewled, as if to offer condolences and ask what was wrong with her. He was very vocal.

Nova stroked his ear. "I don't know what's happening to me... or if, whatever it is, I'll be able to manage it. I'm... I'm scared Alec. What if this disease consumes me? I don't want to die this way. Not from the inside out, when I can do something about it."

The cat huffed, exhaling gently against her cheek.

Nova smiled, comforted by his presence, and tickled his chin.

Suddenly the panther started in her lap, and seemed to disappear out the window in a matter of seconds.

She looked after it, sad to see the black cat leave.