Sparkle (KOTLC) {Completed}

6

The next day was spent playing very similar games with the balls of Everblaze to work on her control until the early evening, when Fintan left and Janessa light leaped back to the base by herself.

Although she was tired, Janessa was less so than the previous day and really missed Keefe so went to visit him in his room.

"Hey Keefe." Janessa greeted cheerfully.

No one answered. Janessa looked around confusedly. Where was he?

"Did you seriously not realize he's been gone for over a week?" 

Janessa jumped in fright, putting a hand to her chest to calm her frantic heart, then glared at Gethen. "Wait what? Did he run away?"

Gethen snorted. "No, he was just moved to another location."

Janessa frowned, glancing away from the blond man uncomfortably. How had she not noticed?

"I'm an awful friend." She muttered to herself, wrapping her arms around herself shakily.

"Not going to argue that." Gethen snarked. 

Janessa growled at him. "You're the worst, you know that?"

Gethen just grinned smugly. Janessa huffed then stormed away, brushing past him and feeling a strange sudden burst of pride that made her choke slightly before it faded.

Sitting down on her bed, she wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. How could she be such a bad friend that she didn't even notice Keefe was gone? What would she do now that she had absolutely no ties to her friends and Sophie?

She examined her room, focusing on the one tiny window near the ceiling. She then realized. She had forgotten she was a prisoner. 

Shaking, Janessa grabbed a cloak and ran out of the base, light leaping to the forest and pressing her back against a tree as she tried to steady her trembling hands. 

Her vision blurring, she yelled and unleashed a wave of fire towards the trees, sending spark after spark of all different colours lighting up the night sky with a rainbow of heat.

Breathing heavily, Janessa fell to her knees sobbing at the destruction surrounding her, still burning the forest except for a circle surrounding where everything was still. Curling into a fetal position, Janessa wept until she fell asleep to the sounds of the cracking flames.

When Janessa woke up, the forest for a 10 metre radius around her was reduced to ash and there were a few small flames still flickering on the ground. Fintan was crouching next to her, a hand on her shoulder. Worry flooded her, then he moved his hand, noticing she was awake.

"Are you alright now?" Fintan asked concernedly.

Janessa just pushed the white hairs that had plastered to her face in the night behind her ear. "I don't know." She mumbled, sniffling.

Fintan extended a hand to help her up and as she grabbed it the most overwhelming sense of care and fondness swept over her making her eyes tear up. Once she was standing and let go, it slowly disappeared. 

Confusion filled Janessa's mind. What was that? Then she realized. She'd manifested again. As an Empath.

Before she could dwell any longer on the development, Fintan placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. Once again she felt that wave of affection mixed with genuine concern that made her knees shake and it made her actually make eye contact with Fintan, who was staring confusedly.

"Are you alright?" Fintan asked again.

Without thinking, Janessa just wrapped her arms around him and sunk into the feelings he was giving off. It had been so long since anyone had expressed that kind of love towards her that she couldn't help herself. It reminded her of back before she'd found out she was an elf, back when she had a family, when she had a father. Her shoulders shook in silent sobs and she let herself soak up his emotions that were so strong she almost puked, but she couldn't ignore it.

After a few moments, once she adjusted to the emotions to be able to realize she was hugging Fintan, she pushed him away abruptly and sat next to the charred remains of a tree. 

"Umm, sorry." Janessa mumbled, looking at her hands awkwardly.

Fintan sat next to her. "You don't need to apologize. You've had so many difficulties in your life, and I'm the cause of many of them. I should be the one apologizing."

Janessa sighed and met his concerned gaze, her azure eyes wide and innocent-looking. "You're supposed to be the bad guy... But it's becoming so hard to hate you. Even after everything you've done."

Fintan froze, looking at the young girl in shock. "Thank you, Janessa."

"This doesn't mean I'll forgive every bad thing you've done." Janessa said, sharpening her voice.

"I'll take what I can get."

At that, Janessa couldn't help but give a watery smile, wiping the last of her tears away.

"Janessa, I doubt Gethen will ever get anything from your mind that he hasn't by now, and you've gotten control of your pyrokinesis very well, regardless of last night." Fintan started, looking towards the destruction she'd caused.

"Yes? And?" Janessa wondered confusedly.

"What I'm saying is there's no need for us to keep you prisoner. If you want to go home to your family, you can. I won't keep you here against your will anymore." Fintan continued, moving his gaze back to meet her wide-open eyes.

"Really? I can see Sophie? And Dex? And everyone else again?" Janessa grinned, before it faded. 

"Isn't that what you want?" Fintan asked.

"Can I have a few days to figure things out?" Janessa mumbled, barely believing her own ears.

Fintan smiled. "Of course, Sparkles. Now, you should get back to the hideout to get some proper rest."

Fintan helped her to her feet again and they light leaped back together. Before she entered her room, Fintan squeezed her shoulder, sending another rush of that fatherly affection through her. 

For the first time since she'd arrived, Janessa fell asleep with a smile on her face.