Fire is Blazing

The test

The morning came quick, and I was not ready for it, but the dorm lady came knocking on my door early before the sun was completely over the horizon. She did a series of rapid knocks on my door e set louder than the next until I got up and open the wood slab as I try to rid the sleep out of my eyes. The tall elder lady stood her arms behind her, with her narrow eye look down her nose at me in with my messy hair and jumbled baggy clothes that I am swimming in, the tightness of her bun in her hair made her look even more like s super villain than anyone I ever meet.

"Get dressed and see me in my office in thirty minutes. Also, if you ever pull that stunt again, we will confine you to this dorm for a month." She was never one for fluff words and was never interested in the fact that I was a protector in training I was just a normal student with just a few more rules than most about leaving. I nod and close the door as she turns and walks down the hall back to her office on the first floor. I groan as I head to the bathroom and wash my face once out, I see Ray sitting up in bed she was clearly half asleep and in a bad mood.

"She is too ducking loud for 5 in the morning." She groans, "Uggghhh, I said ducking, didn't I? I am not awake yet." She lays back down.

"Sleep I have the clock alarm set for eight get some sleep." I pat her head as I go make my bed and then get a clean outfit, once I was ready, I left and headed straight to the dorm mother's office. When I got there my mother, and two out of the eight head council members were also present. I sigh as I take a seat everyone was wearing serious looks on their faces. This is definitely about yesterday no one says anything for a long time we all just sat there looking at one another so I clear my throat.

"So, I know I shouldn't have left the grounds yesterday." I start but was stop mid apology one of the council members holds up her hand making me shut my mouth.

"We are here to inform you that your performance evaluation will be held today at six thirty, once you and your partner are finished you will come to the principal's office you will receive the fire uniform and will accompany us to the announcement, of course that depends on how you both preform." Since they were already standing, they turned towards the door and head out without letting me speak a word. I huff taking a look at my mother and the dorm lady who was surprisingly glaring at them. Our eyes meet briefly before she coughs glancing down at her papers on her desk,

"You may leave now good luck today." I nod thanking her and taking my mother's hand as she reaches out to me coming around the desk,

"Good day Mrs. Wlgert come on honey I'll make you a light breakfast before you go change. Your father will be there he just had to attend the meeting." We walk out into the hallway,

"Mom." I started to say in a hush tone but without the squeaky shoes and everyday chatter of the other girls the word still sounded very loud, so instead of finishing my thought I rest my head on her shoulder awkwardly. She is a a bit shorter than me, I stand at 5'9 while she is only 5'3, it's safe to say I pretty tall for my age. My stomach starts to turn into knots imagining all the reasons my father was meeting with the elders and other council members and all the reasons would be about me. she pats me on my hand and says,

"It'll be alright your dad is a big boy he can handle himself. He may be a quiet man, but he can be a badass when he needs to be." I look at her and she smiles at me a hint of worry behind her eyes made me feel a tinge of guilt I rest my head back down, her trust in my father is reassuring, I start to get an ache in my neck as we walk I think about how it feels to walk next to Angelo like this again, unlike when we were young he is just over six feet now and tone the way his heat always washes over me when we are together is new since we both finally have out powers, I can see his loop sided smile when he looks at me my heart flutters I close my eyes absently trusting my mother to lead us to the dorms kitchen that the staffs uses. My mind rests on Angelo, the way his short hair spikes up ever so slightly, his sad but hopeful and determined eyes, his strong arms and the way he calls me bunny. I seemed that my second sigh made my mom a bit worried, so she pats my shoulder,

"I know you will do great honey. Just do your best and give it all you got. Remember your dad and I both want you to be happy and safe don't overdo anything and good luck, we all need this t go well so always take a second before you move the fire it can get out of hand if you're not careful." We walk the rest of the way in silence stand side by side the kitchen staff hasn't woken up yet, so we had the room all to ourselves the kitchen is an enclosed place and has only two entrance way and so I look around the room checking to make sure no one was coming in. My mom on the other hand was getting out some eggs and bread.

"Mom," I start again as she whisks some eggs she looks up while continuing her work. "I have found something out about my magic," My voice was still in a low whisper, and I lean in closer to her from across the counter just to be safe, "IT seems Angelo and I the fire protectors and I can teleo with him." Her eyebrow scrunches together.

"With him?" She asked, I nod before I could say more footsteps followed by chatter can be heard from the doorways. It's five minutes till six she had finished cooking, and we move to the dining room after she quickly washed dishes. Once at the table she says in a quieter tone,

"We will discuss this later." I could spot a hint of guilt in her eyes as we finish the food. I go up to my room telling her I'll meet her at the gym, Raven was still sleeping so I quickly change in the bathroom, and head to the gym wondering if this is going to be like last years or will they make it more difficult since we were both here and it will be the last test. Once there I could see all the council members were here along with their assistants and most of the elders with their families, they were all sitting on the bleachers high up as if they are expecting some great magic to happen and they didn't want to be close when it did. I see my father with the council and my mother sitting with him in a low but heated argument. I glance at the gyms floors there is an obstacle course, we are in the biggest gym the school has out of the three on the opposite side of the bleachers is the course running along the long side of the wall thanks to the high ceiling there was a rock climbing wall a short water part there was a bunch of rope hanging from ceiling beams between the bleachers and obstacle course is a table of tools such as axes, swords, guns in several different sizes and some older tools like whips and mallets and next to the table was a wall of weapons on wheels similar weapons but much larger, looking at the equipment I see Angelo eyeing the tools with an intense glare he was already in his gym shorts and tank top displaying his lean muscles his arms folded across his chest his biceps on full display. I almost connected with him giving the bond a strange tug causing him to break his train of thought,

"Well hello." He turns and smiles at me the quick tug was enough to make him focus only on me, as I walk closer to him, his eye sweep over me up and down. My outfit similar to his but instead of a shirt I decided that a sports bra would be best when using my favorite weapon. Finally reaching him at the weapons table I take a closer look at all the goodies I could use.

"Morning." I stifle a yawn as I tap his shoulder with mine,

"Morning." He says back we are both well aware of the eyes on us. Our backs are to the bleachers and the feeling of the prying eyes are starting to make me uneasy.

"This is nothing like my last evaluation." I mutter,

"They are watching our interactions; they were being kept in the loop on how we've been and let's just say they are very upset with my behavior and are worried about that we won't work with one another as a good pair." I smile,

"Cause you were acting like a dumb ass." I laugh then rest my head on his shoulder using this chance to tell him.

"So, it seems that my parents knew we were partners, was I the only one left in the dark about this?" He looks at me I could feel the guilt coming from him I wanted to take his hand but there was to many eyes on us it's one thing to use his shoulder it's another to interlock hands.

"Did she say how long she knew?" He asked I stand up straight and we start to move to the middle of the floor to start the q and a part of this test.

"She didn't say but I don't think she would say even if we did have the time to talk. She seems to be hiding something from me." I respond in a very low murmur.

"If we are ready, we will be getting started." A man in a bold purple suit clears his voice while he projects it loud enough that he can be heard up top looking at the high-ranking people in the room every single one of them were staring back at us with a glare. Angelo stands his back straight and his shoulders squared, I match his stance also placing my hand behind my back. The two oldest elders loom down at us and nod giving us the approval to start. I internally roll my eyes as I see the way they look at Angelo with disapproval,

"Besides the thing involving me why do they look so mad at you?" I teleo.

"Last time we spoke I told them that they were too lax with security and not noticing that we are being taken over from the inside out. I pointed out their flaws."

"Yeah, can't imagine that going bad." I think sarcastically I was going to ask something else when the flamboyant man said something that brought my attention back to the introduction.

"Since the end of the war almost eighty years ago the amount of fire wielders have decreased, and their powers have weakened, today we will see if that is true with these two fire protectors the last let's start with questions." I see him take out a pile of cards so before he speaks, I step forward and reintroduce myself not sure why he was down grading fire users or maybe just us, but I wasn't going to play along while someone questioning my abilities,

"My name is Apheina Flaris as you all know, I am now eighteen years old with the goddess Gratphy blessing I was given my powers at a younger age which has happened once to every element except fire until now. So, I don't really think we will have to worry about strength for us anyways. So please continue with the questions."

"Please wait until I ask you something." He says in a cold tone clearing his throat again, "Do not interrupt me a second time." He says in a lower tone that I barely heard him. doing my best to keep my temper down I snare,

"Oh, was I supposed to not speak." I shrug and roll my eyes.

"The f**k is his deal?" I look at Angelo and he looks at the fancy pants asshat glaring at him. I barely register the rest he said cause my parents were staring at me with an unpleasant surprise look on their faces at my attitude.

"So, Ms. Flaris lets test your strength than since you are so confident." The assistant rolls out the candle that is usually used for testing fire ability. I sigh and cross my arms walking to it setting the wick on fire then slowly increase the flame until I got to the totem the flame was already well above my head.

"Don't push it to high we can't let the cat out of the bag yet." Angelo reminds me I sigh internally. Once I stopped, I could see the slight amazement on the guy's face,

"Let's see that with some tool handling, shall we?" He says in a smug tone. I glare at him and move to the table of tools spotting a small handgun along with a dagger and a few beads out of the cup they had on the table putting them in my pocket without anyone noticing the hand full and head to the target range that was set up with a fire shield Angelo and the host follow me staying at the safe distance line as I began to shoot five rapid shoots all five very bright and so powerful that the targets were ingulfed with flames in seconds and that was only at two percent of my magic without waiting I use the metal dagger as a conductor and create four fire blades and aim and hit four different targets with the fire blades then with the red blade I hit a dummy in the forehead the hot blade melting the fibers and went straight through the head. I hear Angelo sigh in my own thoughts,

"Subtle love." He says only to me I roll my eyes internally,

"I haven't even used my beads or the whip I saw." His eyes narrow,

"Don't even." I sigh. Eyeing the table of goodies the weight of the beads had me itching to do more but instead I turn to my right and bow to the leaders who was silently marking some paperwork.

"Safe to say it's my turn." Angelo sighs loudly starting to head to the candle, but one of the two elders raises her hand and with a bombing voice she says in a monotone,

"No need for that, please continue to the weapons area, I'm more interested in our captain of the guards training methods, I do believe all know how strong your flames can get with that little thing." He bows and moves towards the weapons, without thinking or faulting in step he takes a long blade that is as thin as a toothpick but when the light hit you can see the hues of a reddish orange glow as the metal was inside flames like the dagger, I used I can see that Angelo is heating up the sword, it is so long that the end just barely misses the ground as he begins to twist his wrist spinning the blade testing the light weight tossing it from hand to hand swiftly moving over to the area that is clearly meant for showing off your swordsmanship his hot blade slices through the wooden rotators with easy the cut ends a charcoal black moving with silent elegance swiftly moving across the floor within seconds the complete section was sliced into pieces and in a pile of charred wooden blocks.

"Wow look who's showing off now." I roll my eyes watching as he swings the blade one last time before placing it back on the table sucking all the heat back out of the metal, he was able to use the heats waves to move from one area to the next it was almost hard to see him. He had taken a gun and used it to shoot the remaining targets tossing it back onto the table and grabbing hold of the bow and arrows that even I missed in the corner and starts to shoot the targets that were place up high again using the heat he could manipulate and pushed the arrows up and through every target. Not missing a beat, he puts the items down and runs over to the obstacle course jumping over the wall with easy and using the top to launch himself onto the rock wall landing halfway up. Without stopping he climb to the top and slides down with only one foot on the ground it starts to move rocking back and forth I was surprised when he didn't fall but instead glides effortless over the shaky ground while fire balls shooting out of the walls at the end of the uneven walkway there was a tank with rocks water splashing over them. He walks as if he was walking down the street hands in his pockets and briskly walks to the edge where he once again jumps onto a moving rotating pedestal jumping and dodging a few items that are in the rotating path once on the other side of the spin to the rest of the course he runs up a large wall a good fifteen feet up and rest on the edge barely out of breath. I look at him and then the council and elders I shout,

"Do I have to do that too?" I hear my mother gasp and my father say my name in an angry tone, I put my hands up, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, just a joke." I laugh and begin to run over quickly but not as elegantly as Angelo up and over all the obstacle course within moments I was sitting next to my graceful partner.

"I'm going to use that whip before we leave here today." I swear as we slide down, I make beeline to the table with my favorite tool and pick it up the oldest of the elders perks up this was also her favorite tool. I take hold of the handle and grip it tightly as I test the taunt, it appears to be metal made of little joints connected I infuse it with my heat and twirl around letting the whip fall around me it lifts into the air. The whip begins to glow a hot red creating circles in the around me as I twist and twirl a flame, sparks and I am surrounded by the bright flame. After making a few shapes and flowers and danced around I bow to the bleachers ending my performance. One of the council members clears his voice and stands,

"It appears that your studies and practice has been very fruitful, keep up the good work, Aphiena I would think your temper would have improved in the last year it appears I was mistaken, I'd advise you to fix that and soon." He was a talk older man in his late sixties, his face was annoyed, giving him a good once over I remember the first time, I meet him it was shortly after I turned sixteen, he was to be my mentor from the council, but we clashed hard safe to say I was given a new mentor. "Congratulations, you both surpassed our expectations as always, Angelo, see us once you have changed for the gathering." Angelo nods and everyone starts to off the bleachers. Once my parents were on the floor my mom goes and gives Angelo a tight squeeze her little frame get quickly engulfed in his embrace back. He goes from a tough guy that just went up against an enemy to a little boy that was lonely, sad and scared.

"My sweet little boy, I'm so sorry, I'm so, so, sorry that happened to you. You should have never been put in that situation." She lets go and takes his face into her hands and make him look her in the eyes as she continues to talk, "I had already given the council an ear full believe me when I found out what they forced you to do, they got chewed out like never before. They won't ask you to do any of that again until you are ready and not a second before." She pats his cheek, and he gives her a weak smile at her, she had missed hin these last two years he was part of the family since he was born being the child of her best friend.

"Thank you." He says in a low voice mom gives him one more hug before taking a step back she takes my dad hand who was waiting for her next to me we stood in silence she looks at me her eyes narrow,

"You young lady, we will talk about this later and well done with the test." I see Angel bite his lip trying not to laugh.

"Shut up." I see him turn from me and walk to the doors.

"I'll meet you at your door I'll knock when I get there but take your time I can wait."

"We should get going your gown is in your room and we will meet you at the hall with everyone else." My dad pats my shoulder as they head out as well.

"What for me." I whine in through teleo. I might have to work on the tele-communication because that was way too loud. I spot him flinch a little as he stops. I sigh as I walk next to him,

"What does the council want from you?" I ask,

"It could be anything." He answers with a shrug. I was about to enter his mind when the door opens and slams shut up stopping me from digging further. I groan and rub my eyes,

"Ugh, I can't believe how hard it is keeping to myself." He laughs softly and pat my head bring me in close wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"I know bunny, trust me I know." He sighs and I lean into his embrace. We walk in silence to my room I try my best to keep my mind to myself but the quietness between us was comforting it reminded me of the last time we were together before I left on his roof top looking at the stars but then I went to the dorms, and he was out there doing gods know what for those d***s of a council. I push down the anger and focus on how great it was walking down these halls with him and the sense of completion. He kisses my cheek as we part ways I go in and see an empty room I quickly shower and change into a grey tight dress and black heels.

"Once second." I shout checking my make-up and fluffing my hair once more before going to open the door to Angelo in his fire uniform. I sigh,

"I wish I could wear my uniform, but no I have to wear this stupid dress just because I have some royal blood in me." He steps closer and brushes his knuckles along my jaw tilting my face towards his.

"I think you look amazing in that dress. Plus, there will be plenty of times when we will both wear this uniform." He leans in closer and whispers, "And between you and me it's a bit stuffy." I laugh kissing his nose a red mark from my lips stick makes me laugh, I whip it off and force him back,

"Come on they are starting soon, and we can't be late." There weren't many students left in the dorm, so we don't bump many people. Once there we were escorted to the stage and seated next to my parents,

"You two look lovely." My mom chirps happily.

"Guess what mom." I whisper as we wait for the rest of the school to get here. "This dress has pockets." I sequel. She laughs but I was so excited to have found them thanks to them I was able to place a few of my fire beads in my pockets. I know I didn't need them but having a weapon on me with so many new unknown people here help but me at easy. I sigh,

"You're worried." I look over at Angelo, he was look around checking every door and window. As he does so I see him studying the room as if he is trying to remember everyone here. "We have many guards here we will be safe." He sighs,

"Yeah, but they are all newbies I wouldn't trust my life with them, and I certainly don't trust yours with them, so just to make sure nothing goes wrong stick with me." I do my best to hold in my laugher he was so cute however he was serious, so I nod and hold his hand until one of the younger council members steps to the podium and begins to talk. I zone out until I hear mine and Angelo's names.

"Why did they announce us we were supposed to be keep a secret." I look over at Angelo who shakes his head. The guys stood there and talked about nothing for several hours I tried to stay awake, but it was so tiring thanks to this tight waisted dress I was starting to struggle to breath. When he finally wrapped it up we got up and were able to leave I greeted both elders and all of the seven of the council members before excusing myself. Angelo notices me waiting for him and we quietly walk out. By the time we had finished talking to all the high important people we were practically the last people out the outside paths were empty,

"Hey, Angelo." I say in a low tone.

"Yes, gorgeous?" His hand was around my shoulder again keeping me close and helping me from falling in these annoying heels.

"The council is full of dumbasses." I mutter he laughs, and the rumble of his chest makes me smile.

"I know."

"What did the council want with you?" He sighs his whole body tensing up.

"They wanted to know if our bond has formed since we've been closer to one another." I sucked in a breath,

"What did you say?" We keep our voice low and cautiously speak as we walk.

"You've become so paranoid." I laugh gripping his hand on my shoulder he curls his two fingers I was holding onto. As we got closer to the dorm.

"I'll wait here." Angelo mutters his eyes meeting Mrs. Wlgert at the entrance, I nod giving his hand a small squeeze before running in my heels echoing through the empty halls before reaching the stairs I lean on the railing and take of the torture devises I had to wear. Once they were off, I was able to hike up the stairs in seconds and got to my room in record time. The soft click of the door rings through the empty room but there was something about this silence that is giving me goosebumps, something is feeling off, but I can't put my finger on it, I shake the thoughts out of my head Angelo is the paranoid one it's just the bond making me feel on the edge. I sigh doing my best to rub the tiredness from my eyes as I head to the closet for my comfy clothes but there was the unsettling feeling of being watched that makes me hesitate from moving too quickly, the scraping of the closet door on the floor made the heavy air even more daunting, feeling a bit scared I try to push my thoughts to Angelo it shouldn't have been to hard he was just outside but when I try to reach out I felt no connection to him I couldn't even fully feel my fire something was wrong. I stopped opening the door only halfway I look down my room starting to fill up with smoke, my body starts tot ache like I was getting squeezed, my lungs start to tighten, and taking a breath was getting harder to do within seconds it felt it was almost impossible anymore. I hear the bathroom door click and footsteps echoed behind me as they grew closer my mind going into shock there really was someone here. I groan out of frustration how did I let this happen, how didn't I notice he was here? I try to look around for a weapon as he takes a step out of the dark bathroom. The best I had was the heels in my hand with as much strength as I had left I which wasn't much I throw them at his head and try to make it to sprint to the door, but he was much faster and was able to use his powers.