The Witching Hour

Training

Serena bit her lip as they followed Tal into the field. She looked around at the emptiness surrounding her before looking back at Tal.

Tal clapped his hands together and grinned. "Here we are."

Serena looked at Jorel.

"Where exactly is here?" Jorel looked around.

"Here is someplace I don't have to worry about you leveling cities." Tal chuckled.

He waved a hand and an array of things materialized from nothing including a shabby metal building.

"What is this?" Jorel looked right at Tal as he crossed his arms.

"Target practice." Tal smirked.

Serena bit her lip as she glanced around, she probably couldn't even hit one of these targets.

Tal looked at the red head and smiled warmly. "Darling would you like to go first?"

The girl shook her head, she bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood. She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to do it at all.

Tal cocked his head to the side before gently taking the girl's arm. She jumped once his skin came into contact with hers. "Come on, love we'll do it together."

Serena let him pull her in the middle of the field.

Jorel moved beside Circe, he watched his sister with worried eyes as the girl slipped her hand into his, intertwining their fingers. Jorel squeezed her hand slightly and she sighed.

Tal smiled at the girl. "Just try."

She bit down on the inside of her cheek, the metallic taste grounding her. The ground rumbled and Tal grinned.

Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, she focused on the nearest metal target and flicked her hand slightly. The ground exploded next to the thing and she cringed. She glanced at Tal. He nodded.

Tal moved behind her. "You need to relax." He ran his hands over her shoulders before placing his hands firmly on her sides fixing her posture. "These are your powers. You control them not the other way around. Remember that. Try again."

The girl took a deep breath, she flicked her wrist again and the ground on the other side of the sign exploded. She whimpered slightly. She was waiting for Tal to snap.

He shook his head. "Darling, you have to try harder than that." He sighed. "Daniel, Jorel, come here."

Danny looked genuinely shocked. He hesitated for a moment before he walked over. Jorel let go of the grey haired girl's hand and followed.

Danny crossed his arms as he leveled his gaze on Tal. "What?"

Tal smirked. "You two go stand on either side of the sign."

Danny's eye grew wide. He paused and Tal cocked his head to the side, a challenge in his gaze. Danny rolled his eyes as he went and stood next to the hole in the ground that Serena had made only moments ago. Jorel looked from Tal to Serena before he went and stood on the other side of the sign.

Tal grinned. "This is what you call incentive. Hit the target or hit one of them." Tal shrugged and the girl went pale.

"I can't.."

"Well, love, you don't have a choice." Tal motioned towards the target and the girl whimpered.

Serena looked at Jorel who smiled at her slightly before her gaze shifted to Daniel who stared back at her.

She bit her lip. "I'll never hit it, please don't make me do this."

Tal shook his head. "You will hit it or you'll hit them. Those are your choices, love."