A shot went off, piercing it right through the temple and I heard a burning sizzle from the bullet wounds as the demon fell to the ground, motionless.
My eyes darted to the side, Malakai had shot it. Had he… used quartz? He must’ve… it died way too easily.
“Shit, that was the last demon!” Lionel shifted towards him. “Not only are most of us wounded, we are back at square one.”
“No,” Malakai said low, firmly. “We’re not.”
“Don’t,” I said through my teeth, glaring at him. I would not let him take this away from me, he would not sacrifice himself because I was too weak.
Malakai looked blankly at me. “We have another option.”
“I had it!” I barked, shooting up on my feet, my blood boiling.
“Calm down,” Malakai eyed me, as he put his gun back down.
“Why did you shoot? Now we have nothing!” Fire spurted out of me, sparks singeing the ground. I saw the others’ heads turn; Lionel took a step backwards, eyes wide.
“I had it!” I shouted. Another burst of flames, climbing the air violently, igniting the closest trees and greenery around me. Then I saw it.
The way they looked at me.
Ashley’s blank face, the mask she wore when she simply didn’t want to show her concerns, Lionel’s fear, as if he was debating if he should run or fight.
Eve, who looked at me as if I was a monster, a demon, holding her rifle tightly, ready to take aim. Nate, who wasn’t sure if he should focus on Mey’s wound or me, as his sister battled to stay conscious. I gasped, taken aback by how fast they shifted, howmy abilitiesmade them scared. How I frightened them. I looked down at my hands, still burning wildly, I couldn’t make it go away, flames consumed my entire body, taking over.
Whatam I?
Tears threatened at the corners of my eyes.
“I’m so—”
Arms wrapped around me, hugging me tightly. My eyes went wide in confusion.
“Calm down,” Malakai soothed again, and when his hand stroked my hair tenderly, I broke.
The flames retreated instantly, and I somehow smothered them from the trees as well. I kept them at bay along my skin, as a snivel escaped me.
Why was ithim?
Why did he have this effect on me? Why did his arms feel comforting, soothing? It was Malakai, not Lionel, he shouldn’t make me feel this… safe. My flames sparked once more, my emotions in disarray as I began trying to break out of his hold. His arms only tightened further, my flames climbed as they sizzled against him, was I actually burning him this time?
“Let me go.” I intended a bark, but my voice was too weak, putting all my strength in trying to break free. I clawed him, I shoved my shoulder into his chest.
I wanted to run.
Run from this moment, run from these terrifying emotions, run from the flames.
But he wouldn’t let me, his arms were like steel.
“Ethalyn,” Malakai said, his voice soft yet controlled and I stiffened. It wasn’t often that he used my actual name, but when he did… I knew he was serious. The fires retreated once more, I smelled the burnt flesh and my eyes widened as I finally looked up at him. I had burned through parts of his shirt and jacket, revealing his skin which was irritated and red. Yet, he hadn’t even flinched.
Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips, once our eyes met. “Are you okay?”
I had scorched him, and he asked me if I was okay?
“What’s happening to me?” I sobbed.
“You’re not used to how your feelings feed your magic,” he explained, his voice lowered, yet everyone heard him clearly. “Since you’ve hidden the flames all your life, you haven’t been able to practice restraining them when you’re vulnerable.”
