Typhon's Revenge

Chapter Twenty-Six

FIRE

Since I had already started Mason's training before, he had more control than Kalani did. Much more. 

The Princess of the Skies thought she was good and a natural at her powers but she was struggling to keep up with Mason and I thought it had something to do with the fact that she had always used her powers out of emotion. Not because she actually intended to use her powers. In some ways, I could relate to that. Heck, that was something I was struggling with right at that moment. But at least I knew what control felt like.

"Need any help?" I asked as I approached Kalani. She looked frustrated and annoyed. 

Quickly, she shook her head and frowned at me. "I'm good. Thanks," she muttered sharply and I rolled my eyes. Not only was she stubborn, but she was also prideful. 

I didn't say anything as I watched her for a moment more and she cursed under her breath as another gust of wind passed her and she couldn't stop it before it reached her. 

"Kalani, it's all mostly muscle memory. You just have to have enough will to stop that force," I started to say before she glared at me. 

"That's what I'm trying to do. It's not working," she muttered through clenched teeth and I saw Andrew and Mason turn to look at us from further back. 

I crossed my arms in front of my chest and shook my head as I held Kalani's gaze. "You're not. Or else, it would be working," I said and she flinched as her gaze hardened. 

"You don't get to come here and criticize how I work. You're not even in control of your own powers," she snapped and Alex stiffened next to me. Since she didn't have any powers to train with, I was teaching her how to train others. Maybe at some point, it could come in handy. 

"Look, Kalani. I'm not trying to pick a fight. I'm just telling you that what you're doing is not the right way. If you want your pride to blind you then, by all means, go ahead. But that's on you, don't try to take it out on me," I responded calmly as I turned my back on her and started to make my way towards Andrew. I was going to tell him that he was the one that was going to be in charge of teaching her. 

Suddenly, I saw Mason's eyes widen and he opened his mouth to say something but it was too late. I felt the force of the wind push me forward and I almost didn't have time to put my hands in front of me before I hit the ground. I groaned as stayed on the ground, feeling sore from the force of the hit.

"I did it," Kalani called behind me and I felt something snap inside of me. I was in control, but I'd had it with that spoiled Princess. I was trying to be civil to put things behind us and I thought that was what she wanted too. But for some reason, today she seemed to have changed her mind.

"Aileen, don't," Mason said and I looked up at him and saw Andrew stiffen as he shook his head. 

"She's not thinking straight. Something's bothering her," Andrew said, and him trying to excuse her only made things worse. 

"Well I am going to straighten her out," I muttered before jumping to my feet and turning to face her. She was no longer looking at me as I walked towards her. I didn't even look at Alex who tried to stop me. I was too pissed off. 

"What is your problem?" I demanded once I reached her and she turned around to face me with her arms crossed in front of her chest and a smug look in her eyes. 

"I don't have a problem. You're the one who seems to have a problem with me. Every time we're in the same room it's like you try to find ways to make me less. Well, not anymore. I'm also a Princess by birthright, so you have no power over me. In fact, I think I'm the one superior here since my parents are the King and Queen of gods," she retorted and I rolled my eyes. Was she serious? Did we have to go through this again?

"No one is more or less than anyone here, Kalani. We're all going to need to fight as a team, not as individuals. But we're only as skilled as our least skilled fighter," I said, trying to keep things from getting out of control. I was controlling the urge not to give in to her, it would be so easy just to put her in her place once and for all. 

"What a load of bullshit. You have been nothing but cold to me, you have avoided me," she said as her eyes began to glow.

I closed my hands into fists so hard that my knuckles started to turn white. "You kissed my boyfriend. How do you want me to act friendly towards you if my first impression of you is of a girl who took advantage of the situation," I said louder.

Her eyes softened for a moment before she shook her head and her anger was back. "No, you know I was controlled by the darkness. I never would have done that," she said but her words fell to deaf ears. 

"You know what, you're right. Let's settle this right here, right now," I said and I heard someone approach me from behind. 

"Aileen, don't," Andrew said.

I only shook my head in acknowledgment but I didn't look at him as I twirled my fingers and flames appeared in the palms of my hands. Kalani looked taken aback but she didn't step down as she raised her hands defensively. 

"You already made the first move, now it's my turn," I said and a part of me was surprised to hear how dark my tone had become. 

Kalani shifted her weight and I created a ball of fire in between my hands before throwing it her way. Kalani's eyes widened and she quickly stepped aside. I raised an eyebrow, thinking she wouldn't try to fight me after that, but I was wrong. 

As soon as she regained her footing, she swung her arms from one side to the other and a gust of wind pushed me to the side but only slightly, she wasn't fully concentrated on what she was doing so her powers wouldn't respond exactly like she wanted to or in full force. 

A small smirk appeared on my face as my fingers tingled in anticipation. I couldn't believe I was enjoying this.

At some point, I lost track of time and space. I had completely forgotten that we were out in the open and that Mason, Andrew, and Alex were watching everything. It was just me and Kalani at that moment. 

Suddenly, she threw a gust of wind at me, pushing me back and making me land near a tree. If I hadn't been so lucky, I might have hurt myself in that fall. With my jaw clenched tightly together, I got to my feet and summoned all the energy I could while keeping my eyes on my target. 

Kalani was panting heavily and her moves were becoming slower and less powerful, soon she'd lose all focus and energy and she'd give up. I should have stopped. I should have given her a chance to surrender and walk away. To retreat without a wound. But I couldn't. I was too caught up in the way the fire raged inside of me. I felt powerful. Fearless. And most of all, unstoppable. 

With a grin, I let go of all the energy accumulating inside of me and burst like a bomb. Waves of fire soared from my fingertips towards Kalani at full force. That wave of power made me feel as though I were finally being freed from the burden inside of me. I could breathe again.

Then it all happened in slow motion, I watched as Kalani's eyes widened in surprise and she raised her arms to try and summon a wind strong enough to push the fire aside and shield her, but she was too tired to do so. The next thing I knew, Andrew was standing between the fire and Kalani and he raised both of his arms to the sky and summoned a rainstorm upon us. 

I was surprised to see that it worked. I never expected the Underworld to have such a precise replica of the world on the surface, not one able to conjure up rain as if the clouds down here went through a water cycle. 

Andrew's storm was strong enough and fast enough to rain down on the fire and put it out. It was pouring vigorously and before I could open my mouth to say anything, the ground underneath us trembled and both Kalani and I fell to our knees. 

"Stop it. Both of you!" Mason called over the sound of the rain pouring down on us. 

Kalani and I shared a look before getting to our feet and turning to look at Andrew and Mason that were now standing in front of us with their arms crossed in front of their chests. "Class is over," I yelled over the rain and a bolt of lightning fell onto the ground as I started to walk towards the door. 

Andrew didn't say anything as I walked past him and the storm outside started to clear as if nothing had happened. 

Walking inside, I took off my shoes and socks before stepping on the floor and shivering as my feet touched the cold ground. Then I raised my hand and slowly closed it into a fist, focusing all my energy on drying myself. Steam rolled off me until I was perfectly dry and I let out a sigh as I felt much warmer now that I wasn't wet. 

The others walked in soon after, their surprised expressions fell on me as they realized I was dry. 

Without a word, I raised my hand and did the same for them and a big cloud of steam filled the corridor and when it finally dissipated, we were all dry and warm. 

"I'm going to take a shower," Alex said, breaking the silence as she rushed up the stairway with Mason at her heels. Kalani had her head down as she walked past me but didn't even look at me as she also made her way up the stairs. 

Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I was about to follow their lead when I heard Andrew clear his throat next to me. 

"What?" I said tightly as I turned to look at him.

He looked angry. 

"What the hell was that, Aileen?" He demanded and I rolled my eyes. I really wanted to avoid this pep talk, especially now. 

"Just don't, Andrew. I can't deal with that right now," I said as I tried to walk past him but he stepped in my way. "Get out of my way, Andrew. I'm serious," I said as my fiery eyes turned to him. But I was no longer mad or pumping with adrenaline. I couldn't hurt Andrew even if I wanted to.

"We have to talk about what happened," he said through gritted teeth and I sighed.

"There's nothing to talk about. She is the one that started it. She's the one who should get the pep talk, not me," I said, raising my voice slightly. 

Andrew didn't seem fazed as he raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "You're her mentor, Aileen. You aren't supposed to give in to childish feuds."

I flinched as I felt my heart clench in my chest. My eyes widened slightly and Andrew noticed very quickly that he had said the wrong thing, but it was too late. The damage had already been done. 

"Wow, okay. I'm sorry my behavior has been so 'childish' lately, Mr. perfectly fine. I, for one, have emotions to deal with because I was the one who was hurt, not you. So leave me the hell alone and go comfort your girl. I'm done," I said as my eyes began to burn. But this time, not because I was angry, but because I wanted to cry and I didn't want him to see me cry. 

Andrew stood perplexed in front of me and I quickly shoved past him and headed down the hall. I didn't know where I was going until I got to the other side of the castle where I was met with Noah who had apparently been walking there. Tears had been streaming down my eyes the whole way and I quickly tried to wipe them off before he could see that I had been crying. 

"Aileen? What are you doing here? What's wrong?" The worry in his voice told me I had failed to deceive him and I just sighed and shook my head. The last thing I wanted was to explain how I felt or what had happened outside. 

"I just want to go to my room," I whispered without looking at him and he looked confused for a moment.

"But your room is on the other side-," he started but then he stopped midsentence when he realized what I meant. "Oh, I see. Come this way, I'll show you."

He gently placed a hand on my back and began leading me deeper into the castle until we reached a black marble stairway. He helped me up and kept his questions and thoughts to himself as we made our way down the halls. 

Finally, we reached a couple of wooden doors and opened both of them for me. 

"Welcome to your room, Princess Aileen."