Page 19 of Firestorm
For hundreds of years, affinities were considered blessings from a higher power. But if a higher power actually existed, my parents would be here, wouldn’t they? My whole life wouldn’t have changed in an instant, and I wouldn’t be sweating in this room as this ancient man touched my hand and sensed the absolute worst within me, would I?
I’d had a hard life. I was a huge pessimist. I generally believed,and sort of hoped, that we were going extinct.
I squeezed my eyes shut as Vince drew closer.
“Give me your hand, darlin’,” Vince drawled.
I held out my violently trembling hand, willing my body to relax. Forcing my heart to slow. Forcing my hands to still.
Vince’s cool hand held mine, as if he were shaking my hand in greeting.
He went rigid.
My stomach fell through the floor.
Vince breathed out slowly.
We stayed that way, in silence, for nearly a minute.
“Interesting,” he said finally. “Who in your family Chain shares these affinities?”
I didn’t open my eyes.
“N-no one has had water. We’re j-just a family of air.” I replied. I sounded like I was chattering from the cold. I was lightheaded, oxygen stuck in my throat.
“Very interesting, indeed.” Vince said. “Would you look at me, Ms. Aria?”
I slowly opened my bloodshot eyes. Vince’s blue eyes sparkled as he examined my face. “How long have you known?”
“Since yesterday,” I replied slowly.
“No, darlin’. How long have you known of thedominantaffinity?” Vince’s eyes were still sparkling, something between amusement and awe.
The dominant affinity…
“Since I was a kid,” I said quietly. “The uh, dominant…air.”
“Yes, of course.” Vince breathed. His eyes held mine for just a moment longer, and then he abruptly let go of my hand.
“Water and air. It’s uncommon, but not unheard of.” he said.
My jaw dropped as his overly inky pen scribbled across the form he was filling out. I snapped my jaw closed, clenching my teeth and only nodding curtly in response to the rest of Vince’s ramblings.
I left with paperwork in hand, then jumped directly back into the government vehicle that would take me the rest of the way to the campus.
I was silent the whole way.
My life was full of chances. I never quite understood how or why, and now wasn’t the time to consider things too deeply.
I’d just been given another chance.
I squeezed my hand into a fist, imagining Zephyr, imagining…the utility room…
Even if I had to hide my affinities…I could still learn something at the academy.
I wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste.
The airat the gravesite was so cold, my breath was nothing but a puff of air in front of my face. I rubbed my hands together and tried to reposition how I sat, but the grass under me was nice and warm, and my ass froze every time I tried to move.
