morning to the sounds of loud voices and dishes clanging in our common kitchen area. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up in bed. I had maybe slept two hours and I was beyond exhausted. My back was a little sore from where my wings had sprouted for the first time. I hoped that feeling would eventually go away. I also wished more than anything that I could ask my mom questions about it, too. But I can’t. She is gone. And now, someone at my school is dead at the hands of the Trackers. With anger boiling inside of me, I wanted revenge. I wanted to yell and scream and force everyone here to listen to me. However, I couldn’t let that deter me from starting my day. I knew I had to listen to Ace and be patient. The leaders of this Academy were busy devising a plan, or so I hoped, and I had to wait.
My conversation with Ace had replayed through my mind all night long, like a movie stuck on repeat. I had fallen asleep sometime early this morning as the sun began to break through the black night sky. As I got up and dressed in my required uniform, I tried to muster a smile on my face. I didn’t need anyone asking me questions that I wasn’t prepared to answer. Plus, I had to hide my newfound wings and magic until I knew it was safe to showcase them to the others. Ace was excited and so was I, but how would the others take it?
Leaving my room, I was greeted by the other girls as they started their morning.
“Hungry?” a girl asked. I had forgotten her name, but as her friend walked up to her, I learned her name was Marie.
“Yes, thank you,” I greeted, as I took the blueberry muffin handed to me.
I made my way to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of orange juice and quickly engulfed my breakfast. I watched in awe as a girl in her second year at the Academy, used heat from just her hands to toast a bagel. That is a power I could use!
Seeing me staring, the girl smiled as she looked up at me. “Don’t worry. Once you understand how to use your powers, you will find they can be pretty useful,” she grinned.
I smiled and nodded as I continued eating my breakfast. Little did she know, I already did.
***
I spent the first part of my day learning more about the history behind Fairies. I almost giggled a few times when I learned that Fairies once did live in the forests, making trees and other parts of the woods their homes. It sounded like something straight out of a Disney movie. However, I managed to keep my laughter subsided as he continued to talk.
The second part of my day was filled with a memorial service for the professor who was killed. While I had never met her before, it was still a sad occasion. The rest of the day’s classes were dismissed and everyone was told to spend the day relaxing. I found this as a way to escape unnoticed and spend some time alone in the room designated for Fairies to practice flying and magic. I had learned a few ways to call upon my magic and with already obtaining my wings, I knew that I had almost everything I needed to pursue my powers.
Finn and I managed to get coffee and watch a superhero movie in the school’s amphitheater. I really liked Finn and enjoyed spending time with him, but Ace was always in the back of my mind. Guilt would creep up on me, and as much as I tried to stamp down that feeling, I just couldn’t seem to make that angry, green monster go away.
After the movie, I decided that I wanted to try out my powers more, but I didn’t feel the need to have an audience just in case I failed miserably. Ace was waiting outside the amphitheater and when I walked past him, he called my name.
“Brie, where are you going?” he asked, as I turned down the opposite hallway where my dorm was located.
“I want to try something–in private,” I responded, not stopping.
“Ok.” He didn’t try to stop me.
I stopped in front of a large door where I had heard some of the other Fae’s talking about. Ace stood right outside and waited silently.
Making sure no one saw me, I slipped into the room and closed and locked the door. The room was wide and had extremely high ceilings. There was no furniture or anything else, which I was grateful for. I stood in the center of the room and looked up. At the top of the ceiling was a large window that was open. I knew instantly it was so if we did fly, we could soar as high as we could.
I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath, and called to the powers inside of me to help me fly. Instantly, just like last time, I felt a slight movement in my back and my wings sprung to life. A wide grin spread across my face as I realized what I had done. Only this time, I had done it alone.
I could hear my mom’s encouraging words whispering to me as I continued to call my magic to me. I felt my body being lifted off the ground. It was as though she were here with me, helping lift me up. If only it were true.
I began to fly and as I went higher and higher, a tingling sensation coursed through my limbs. Sparks of light-- like a sparkler lit on the fourth of July-- flew from my fingertips. They crackled and popped as the sparks ignited in front of me. Without anyone else, I had ignited the true Fae within me and I was now flying.
I felt incredible as I reached the window at the top of the ceiling. Feeling fearless, I opened the window and continued to soar up toward the baby blue sky and soft, cotton like clouds. I felt weightless as my body was carried along with the birds who owned the sky. As I looked around, I saw the roof of the Woodsong Academy below me. The emerald green arches looked tiny from this distance and I laughed happily to myself. The forest that lined the Academy looked so small and harmless from way up here in the clouds, but I wasn’t fooled. I knew that somewhere deep in that forest lurked the Trackers and other creatures that threatened to harm those of us Supernaturals at the Academy.
I couldn’t think about that darkness now. No, this was my time to enjoy being the Fae I was destined to become all along.
***
Once I returned back to the room, I rushed to the dining hall, hoping to spot Finn. I was excited to share with him what I had done. Sadly, he was nowhere in sight.
“Hey, Brie. Come sit with us,” I heard my name being called, and when I turned, I spotted Lisa waving me over to her table. Her wide, doe eyes were kind as she smiled.
I walked over and sat down next to her, offering a smile. “Hey,” I offered.
“Guess what? I just discovered that I am in the Earth Coven,” Lisa said, with a wide grin.
“Wow, that’s great!” I agreed. Earth really seemed to fit her personality. She is so nice and I guess the sage green eyes should have been a hint, too.
“Thanks,” she said. I listened to her tell me all about the Earth Coven dorms and how everything was so peaceful and calm. I wished more than anything I could share with her what I had just done, but knew I needed to ask Ace first. Would she even believe me?
“So, what did you do today?” she asked. “I mean, after the memorial. It was so sad watching people cry. I felt bad because I hadn’t met the professor before.”
I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I just practiced my powers,” I said. I wasn’t giving her too much information, but I wasn’t lying either.
“Have you heard anything else about the Trackers?” she asked.
“No, why?” I asked, my tone a little too sharp.
“I just figured since you are always with Ace, you might know something. He works closely with the professors, so I thought he might know something,” she suggested.
That made sense. I wasn’t sure why I was so quick to respond when she brought up Ace. But, she was right. He probably knew more than all of us. I guess I just needed to find out more from him.
I went back to my room to relax. I was exhausted from flying and using my powers. Plus, I felt alone with my thoughts. But of course, someone else had other plans for me. Waiting on my bed, was a note.
Brie,
Meet me by our balcony tonight. Midnight.
-Ace
Smiling, I tucked the note away in one of my drawers and lay on my bed. Midnight couldn’t come soon enough. Hopefully, he had something important to tell me. And I hoped it had to do with the Trackers.