Sparks

♛ Chapter 4 ♛

I woke up extra early the next morning and took a shower, singing to myself. Today was a new day, and that meant yesterday could be forgotten. Anyway, he probably wasn't going to kiss me. Maybe he remembered that he had to do something and was in a rush. I told myself I didn't care and stepped out of the tub. I dried myself off and put on my training clothes. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and reminded myself that I was not here to make friends that I'd end up leaving behind. I had to get out of here.

I walked to the training room, which was empty. I picked up the bow and arrows and started practicing my archery skills. I was hitting the chest area, but I just couldn't get it right at the heart.

A while later, Alex came into the training room. "Today we'll be practicing magic, so you won't need any weapons except for yourself," he said, dropping a black duffle bag on the floor next to him. I wanted to ask him what was in it, but I suspected I would find out sooner or later. I obediently put down my bow and the rest of my arrows and turned to face him. "Hold your palms out, and think of fire," he said.

I did what he said, but nothing happened. I finally dropped my arms and sighed in defeat, but he just told me to try again. I held out my hands again and thought of fire, but it wasn't working.

"You're not concentrating hard enough," he said with disappointment. "Concentrate."

I closed my eyes and concentrated, but nothing seemed to be happening. "Focus," Alexander commanded.

"I am!" I shouted. "I'm trying my best!"

"Well your best just isn't good enough then, is it?" he sneered. "You have to be able to do it! You belong in the Fire clan! What's wrong with you?"

"Maybe your attitude is annoying me," I retorted. "I can't do it with all this negative energy in here."

"Then make me have positive energy!" he snapped. "You have to be able to do this." I heard a tinge of desperation in his voice.

"Why do you want me to be able to do it? And don't tell me it's for my own good or because Olivia wants me to. It's something personal, isn't it?" I asked.

He huffed out a breath. "Yes. Yes, it is personal. I need you to teach me how to be a better fire user. I've mastered Air magic, but my father was a Fire user and I should know how to fire magic," he admitted.

My mouth dropped open. "What about Olivia? She's a fire user. She should be able to teach you!" I exclaimed, not mentioning how his parents had cross breeded, which was highly surprising. They would have caused a firenado or something.

"She's fifteen. Her powers haven't fully developed yet, even with what the late Queen taught her," he said flatly. "The only thing I can manage to do is make tiny sparks. I know you can do it. You did it at the palace. So just replicate that!" he shouted in frustration.

"I can't! I was scared! And I'm definitely not scared of you!" I shouted back. "In fact, you infuriate me, and make me want to rip out my hair!"

"You're not scared of me?" he asked in a deadly voice.

"No," I insisted, crossing my arms over my chest. He actually sounded a bit scary now, and when he was trying to kill me that definitely wasn't fun, but it didn't seem like he would try to kill me now.

"Are you forgetting how we met? I was going to kill you. What makes you think I wouldn't now?" he asked, taking a step closer to me.

I forced myself to stay still, and replied, "Because if you wanted to kill me you would have already. You had so many chances, but I'm still standing here, very much alive."

"It feels like you're initiating a challenge," he said, stalking closer.

"Maybe I am," I said, grabbing my sword. He drew his sword and attacked. I automatically went on defense, but I knew I wouldn't be able to get any hits in if I didn't attack him. I jumped as he tried to saw off my legs, and tried to disarm him. I was too slow, and he ended up disarming me. He pressed the edge of his sword onto my neck, and I automatically tried to retreat. Unfortunately, only the wall was behind me and no weapons.