CELINE'S POV
I stood on shaky legs. "Celine Fallows?" Headmistress Triss called again.
"That's me," I answered, my voice betraying my fear. "Make your way forward. We don't have all day."
I walked towards the front of the entire hall, my heart ringing in my head. I had never done magic before; my mother had forbidden it, in fear I would be found out by the people who wiped away my family.
I faced the hall, my eyes scanning. The new students looked anxious around me, while the older ones just looked… bored.
Here goes nothing.
I mimicked kiera's movement, copying her simple light spell. Nothing happened at first, but soon there was a little spark.
This was finally it. I had magic.
The spark grew into a small orb. I stared at the crystal like a torch, emitting from within me, so light, like the very air I breathed. The entire hall erupted into applause, and I looked up at them in shock.
My orb grew bigger. "That is enough, Miss Fallows," I heard Triss hiss from behind me. "We have seen enough. No need for grand entrances."
How do I make it stop?
"Miss Fallows?" Triss hissed. I turned to her with panic in my eyes. "I can't make it stop."
I used my other hand, trying to see if I could squash it. "Ugh," I gasped when the light shot across the hall, causing students in its path to squeal and scramble away from it. I tried to control it, my hands shaking as I moved its direction, curses and expletives falling from my lips.
Please don't fall there, I cried to myself. Please don't.
It was too late. Three lights cut across the room in an almost comical manner, falling across the vampire section.
"That is enough," a strong hand grabbed me from behind. The hands spun me around by my shoulders, directing my palms till they were pressed against a hard wall of muscle. I gasped in shock as all the light got absorbed by this wall of muscle. "Just let go of the fear," the person said. "It will be alright if you let go of the fear."
"Ughh," he groaned. "Keep calm, do not lose your focus," he hissed, his entire voice strained, the vibrations matching the tremors running through his body. "Do not let it control you. Reach inside and turn it off."
His voice was so grounding, I found myself doing what he said. I closed my eyes, blinking twice when I realized a thick stream of tears had clouded my vision. I searched for something I did not know, an unfamiliar feeling, curling like a patient green snake, waiting for the right moment to strike, and now that it had its fang in its target, it refused to let go.
I closed my eyes and killed the snake.
"Yes," I gasped, opening my eyes. Sure enough, my hands were now normal, the light gone. In its place, the chest of a man, burnt almost to the bone. I glanced up, only to see that I was not just holding onto any chest.
My hands were firmly pressed against the prince of the shifter kingdom, Eryx. His brown hair was standing straight, as if someone had just sent a bolt of lightning through him, and I watched in slow motion as the prince collapsed on the floor.
The hall burst into chaos.
"Prince, two, I choked, falling to my knees so we were at the same eye level. "Are you okay?"
Eryx glanced up at me. "I am fine," he replied, his throat raw, a small smile gracing his lips.
Someone pulled me away, and I watched as healers surrounded him. They quickly covered the wound with a paste and lifted him slowly out of the room.
The hall is silent. I watched, praying internally that he did not die. I thought wolves could heal themselves, not as fast as vampires, but they had fast regeneration."
A hand struck my jaw. "How dare you?" Headmistress Triss hissed angrily. "You lost control of your powers, almost striking students."
I bow my head in shame." I apologize-"
"You should not be here. You have no basic control over a light spell.2 Triss interrupted me. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
I glanced at her. "It was a mistake. I am sorry."
Triss raised her nose in disgust, yet it didn't seem to reach her eyes. "The only reason you will not get expelled is because of the mercy of the council," she pointed towards the stage. I followed her outstretched hands, staring into the eyes of the vampire and fae prince.
"You have been warned, Celine Fallows. Keep your emotions in check. Control your powers,2 Triss warned. "This is your last chance."
I listened to Triss ' words without offering a rebuttal. Tears threatened to fall on my cheeks again, embarrassment filling my orifices. "The next time, you would be punished and tried for treason. Your punishment is no dinner, and you will clean the floors of the training room for a week."
I got up from the ground, my head still low. "I am so sorry for the damage I caused," I whispered. I looked around, and my stomach sank lower. The entire front table was empty, which was filled with vampires. Instead, a black burnt mark mars the table, a proof of my negligence.
"You may return to your seat." The weight of the stares feels heavier this time, a stark reminder that I did not belong here and I had already failed the first and most important tests. My eyes sought out the twins, but I could not find them on the fae table, with all their backs turned to me.
I sat down tenderly. The witches around me had moved slightly, but kiera inched closer, slipping her hand into mine underneath the table.
I looked up at where the two mother princes were. The fae prince was still staring into nothing, his expression dead, but when I turned to the vampire prince, my blood grew cold.
His red, dead eyes were fixated on me. The look on his face was not anger, nor curiosity. It was recognition.
The room grew colder, even when I finally pulled my gaze away.