Page 43 of Hellfire

Cheeks reddening, Blaze snatched Astra’s energy ball, and it shrank in his palms. A column of darkness sprouted in his sacred flame, and it spat ashy flares of light.

“You sure you don’t have a headache too, sir?” I said, covering for him.

Blaze recovered quickly with, “Balls of Veil light act as an electric shock that stun a foe into retreat or knock them out, depending on their countenance. Dragons and larger beasts require a few blows to discourage them from continuing their attack.”

Brimstone shivered and fluffed his wings, echoing my sentiments. I hoped I didn’t encounter a dragon anytime soon.

“You’re going to practice hitting these targets.” Our teacher pointed at the boards spaced at sixteen-feet intervals apart, featuring images of alternating gantii—Lycans, vampires, bigfoot, yeti, and Fae.

Djinn elements scratched at my skin, begging for expression, and I rubbed my hands to restrain it.

I took stock of the gantii, intimidated by their hulking size, claws, fangs, bulging muscles, and fur. Vampires and Fae moved at great speeds, were incredibly dangerous and cunning, ranking high on the levels of difficulty to subdue or immobilize. Yetis had unpredictable reputations for ripping off their foes’ arms.

Blaze came to a stop next to the Fae target in Astra’s line of sight. “I know your text outlines where to hit each gantii. That doesn’t matter for this lesson. We’re just practicing hitting them. Future lessons will narrow down your targets for the gantii’s weak spots.”

I recalled our lesson yesterday where we learned that a shock to the heart and head of a gantii incapacitated them for enough time to ship them home.

Astra clapped her hands together, excited to practice.

Djinn elements surged under my skin to breathe life into the drooping, lifeless flowers in the courtyard that Blaze brought to life for decorative purposes. The elemental magick responded to the natural setting, rejoicing at the wind tugging the bushes, the moisture in the soil, the stillness in winter that allowed the plants a few months of withdrawal and peace, and the decay beneath the soil’s surface, generating the flicker of heat. Energy I had to withhold and rely on Veil power only for this lesson. No one must know that we crossed over into another world to save Blaze.

Our teacher got out of the line of fire, coming to stand at the side wall of the courtyard, collecting his clipboard. “Put your gargoyles aside for this task.”

Everyone moved to the back of the courtyard, setting our familiars on the wooden railing. Brimstone gave me a cute chirp, which I interpreted as a wish for good luck. I patted his head and moved away.

“No, Obsidian.” Astra wrestled with her gargoyle to let go when he had separation anxiety issues and a serious case of puppy love that made Brimstone’s affection look minor in comparison. “Bad, gargoyle!” she rebuked him, and he fell into line, sniffing the air.

I smiled at her when she stepped up to our standing mark.

“It’s so quiet without Nelle.” She brushed the hair fuzzed by her gargoyle.

Blaze silenced us with, “Get ready, class. Practice spelling the symbols and reciting the words.”

The class jumped into action, forefingers writing the angelic runes or uttering “Vocarus,” blue-white balls of light bursting into students’ waiting palms. Glimmering bombs of power lobbed through the air, some hitting the ground, scorching thegrass, others hitting the walls, the magick repellents sparking, and half of the shots burning holes in the paper targets.

“Very good,” Blaze praised, marking his check sheet of who struck targets.

While I called upon the Veil, I peeked at my bonded, smiling at the content flicker of his flame.

“Yes!” I hooted as she scored her second triumph, hitting her Fae in the leg and arm.

“Go, bestie!” Astra grunted as she launched her second round, hitting the leg of the board, singeing it. “Damn. I need better aim.”

One thing she wasn’t good at. I gave her a pat on the back.

Blaze’s eyes flicked up, and he frowned at my blast.

Ifrit fire swarmed beneath my skin as I prepared my next shot. “Yes!” I squealed at hitting my target, a mean-looking werewolf threatening to tear my throat open if I didn’t contain it.

Blaze’s wrist moved in a tick motion.

We continued like this for another ten minutes, until our targets were smoking, the images charred.

“Very good, class.” Blaze resumed position in front of us, gesturing for us to huddle. “We’ll be back to practice more tomorrow. Let’s break for lunch and meet back for theory this afternoon.”

The group dispersed, and his grandmother, the Hadrian assisting the class got busy, putting out burning targets, and cleaning up the mess.

I paused to smile and wave at my boyfriend.

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