Instinctively, I move toward the fire to help, although I don’t know how. But the moment I try to take my first step, I realize just how far my feet have slipped beneath the surface. I try to yank them free, but I’m trapped, held prisoner by the grip of wet sand. With every wave that moves over the shore, I sink deeper. My new strength is no match for the force keeping me here. I give another tug of my leg to try to free one foot, but I lose my balance. Then a great force propels me forward, and I fall face-first onto the shore.
Screams, gasps, and cries burst from the crowd of guests, who are running in all directions. When I look back toward Alec and Iris, I see that the wind has taken control of the fire completely. I can’t even see them anymore. The bonfire has nearly tripled in size, its wild flames the shape of arms, reaching outward as if trying to sweep anyone and anything into its deadly inferno.
I grab my necklace and close my eyes, my focus on the earth that shackles my legs and feet. “Release me!” I scream over the sound of the flames. Nothing immediately happens, but I’m not ready to give up. I can’t just stand here. I need to help them.
“Release me now!” I scream again, more commanding this time, my voice reverberating with the wind. The sand loosens around me, giving me the burst of confidence I need. It’s working—I look back at the orange billowing flames that are growing with every second—but not fast enough.
I use all my heightened strength to wrestle and claw my way out of the hole I’ve sunk into. I have to help Alec and Iris. I search for them again and gasp when a figure emerges from the flames. It’s Iris. I recognize her blond hair first, though half of it glows like hot embers, as if it’s about to ignite any second. I fear that’s exactly what it’s about to do.
Alec is there, pulling her a safe distance from the fire. He doesn’t see the gust of wind that sweeps the flames toward them as it doubles again in size and takes up nearly half of the beach.
“Run!” I scream.
Alec looks over his shoulder, his eyes spreading wide. He pulls Iris to her feet, but she’s too limp to stand on her own. He throws her over his shoulder and starts to run, but the flames act like magnets, threatening to catch them if they slow at all. I hear Alec scream out for Ava to run. She’s just standing off to the side, appearing frozen with shock. The horror of the scene before her is written all over her face.
Adrenaline surges through me. “Release me now!” I scream it one last time, and it’s finally enough. I yank my foot to release myself from the sand. I’m back on the shore, ready to take off toward the fire. There’s got to be a way I can put it out. But before I make it far, a wave of smoke blows toward me, encasing me like a shield. I turn in a circle. The cloud thickens into a black wall, and it’s closing in on me.
As it nears my face, I begin to gasp then choke. I fall back, feeling defeated. How do I stop the fire? I think hard, trying to recall anything that I’ve practiced that can help.
That’s it. Water. I look up at the dark clouds overhead and decide to use them to my advantage. I raise my hands, palms toward the clouds, and use all my energy, everything I possess, to call the rain from the sky. When the first drop lands on my nose, I know it’s working, but a light drizzle isn’t going to stop that fire.
I use my hand to clear the wall of smoke, but panic surges through me when I see the fire still raging on. I need more water. I look over my shoulder toward the bay’s now-restless surface. I don’t even know if this is something I’m capable of, but I know I need to try.
I face the water and let my inner strength guide me. Slowly, I raise my arms toward the waves rolling in toward the beach, then focus as hard as I’ve ever had to do. Something deep inside me vibrates, like my core is the root of my power and it’s bracing itself for war. A force radiates through me and blasts through my fingertips, commanding the water to operate at my will. Then it happens.
There’s a wave growing in the distance, gaining height as it gets close, until it’s like a tsunami, towering over the shore. With a final command, I bring the wave toward me, toward the threatening fire, knowing there’s nowhere for me to go except through it.
When the gargantuan wall of water is standing nearly an inch before me, I squeeze my eyes shut and drop my arms, giving the surge free rein to stamp out the fire once and for all. I only have time for a short breath before it crashes over me.
For what seems like an eternity, its deep currents throw me around like a rag doll. I use all my strength and held breath to claw my way toward the surface. I don’t know how far I need to rise, so I just keep on swimming, but I’m continuously dragged back down and am rapidly using up my held breath.
Breath is rapidly leaving my lungs now, and I grow weaker until darkness begins to take over my sight. My energy is depleted. My chances of holding on are slimming to zero. So I do the only thing I can think of and release my will and float freely within the lulling quiet of the water until an eerie peace fills my dreamlike state.
What makes us most powerful can also kill us.
I imagine Rose talking to me now, her stark warnings making complete sense. I should have listened. I should never have gone to the party. There is obviously so much I don’t know about myself or my powers—and clearly, there are things I cannot control.
I grab hold of my emerald. My last hope. I attempt to squeeze it tightly, but my strength is gone, my power drained. Feeling utterly lifeless, I float away into my own consuming darkness.
Not even my magic can save me now.
I’m starting to see things.
A shiny blue fin passes by me. I recognize it from my dream. Only this time, I see more of it. The V-shaped fin is a beautiful iridescent sort of blue, sparkling when it catches a glint of light from the moon. It’s attached to a long tail, narrow at the bottom and curving in until it meets the body of the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. She has long red hair, a creamy complexion, and sparkling green eyes.
I’m mesmerized by her beauty. As she swims closer, her hypnotic eyes hold mine, nulling all my thoughts of death. Then she scoops me into her strong arms and carries me up where the water meets the air. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.
We’re nearing the surface of the water when a strange black shadow covers the light from the moon. The girl’s arms slip away, and no matter how desperate I am for that small taste of air, I’m sinking beneath another wave.
My lungs burn. My muscles are weak, and just as I give up all hope, arms dip into the water above me and yank me to the surface. I scream, causing water to bubble around me as I use the last of the air in my lungs.
Strong arms tighten around my waist and pull me to the water’s surface. I’ve swallowed so much liquid, it feels as though I’m still drowning, but the gentle breeze and the sound of waves crashing around me tell me I’m being lifted into the air.
As I fade in and out of consciousness, the rest seems to happen so fast.
I’m laid on a cold, hard surface.
The floor beneath me is rocking with the waves.
Hands push hard against the center of my chest.
I’m struggling to breathe, but it still feels like I’m drowning.
A mouth lands on mine…
Pressure flows into my lungs, causing water to gush from my mouth. Water continues to empty from my stomach, and I can finally breathe again. I gasp for air as if it’s my last breath.