Page 63 of Crimson Shadows
I’m drenched in sweat, my body trembling with exertion. The rush of power is intoxicating, but it’s taken a toll. I collapse into my chair, breathing heavily.
“You’ve exceeded all expectations, Miss Black,” Blackthorn says, looking both impressed and slightly concerned. “Butremember, with great power comes great responsibility, and great risk.”
I nod weakly, too drained to speak. Despite the exhaustion, there’s a deep sense of satisfaction settling in my bones. For the first time, I feel like I’m touching the surface of my true potential. It’s exhilarating but at the same time, it’s scaring me beyond anything I’ve encountered here at MistHallow so far. “Thanks, I think. So, what happens now?”
Blackthorn sits back down behind his desk, his expression turning serious. “Now, we begin your real training. You need to learn to control these abilities, to use them effectively, and more importantly, you need to learn when not to use them.”
I nod, understanding the gravity of his words. “I’m ready,” I say, and I mean it. Despite the exhaustion, I feel more alive than ever before.
Blackthorn gives me a small smile. “I believe you are, but be careful. Power like yours... it can be intoxicating. Don’t let it consume you.”
As I leave Blackthorn’s office, my mind is reeling. The extent of my abilities, the potential I possess, make me feel like I’m standing on the edge of something massive, something that could change everything.
But as I make my way to the dining hall, Orby bouncing along next to me, I touch my lips, remembering Zephyr’s kiss, the dark thrill I felt watching him torture Lucian. I think about the rush of the blood, the power I felt enhancing those magical objects.
I’m walking a fine line, between control and chaos, between light and dark. Légère and Black.
I’m convinced that means something more than just two random names. I simply need to find out what.
29
IGNATIUS
The dining hallis bustling with activity as I enter, the cacophony of voices and clattering dishes washing over me. My eyes scan the room, a habit born from years of being hyper-aware of my surroundings. That’s when I see her standing near the synthetic blood dispenser, a look of concentration on her face as she fills a large tumbler.
My heart does that stupid little skip it seems to do whenever I catch sight of her. It’s ridiculous. I’m a powerful fire elemental, for crying out loud. I shouldn’t be getting flustered like some lovesick teenager.
But Adelaide is different. Special.
Whatever it is about her that makes her unique is pressing at my senses, urging me to find out as much as I can about her. Corvus already knows, but he is not talking. So that means I need to do the digging myself.
I make my way towards her, trying to appear casual. “Hi,” I say, reaching for a glass of water. “How are you after the Strix business?”
I cringe inwardly. What a fucking thing to ask her.
She turns to me with a soft giggle, and I’m struck again by how beautiful she is. Her dark hair falls straight down her back, and her eyes seem to glow with an inner fire that wasn’t there before. She’s changing, coming into her power, and it’s a sight to behold.
“Well, hey there, Australian firestarter of the mysterious Order,” she says, her eyes lighting up. “I’m doing alright, I think.”
I nod, understanding that confusion all too well. “It’s a lot to take in, I’m sure. Especially for someone who didn’t grow up in this world.” That’s a testing comment, but it’s as clear as the nose on my face that she didn’t.
Adelaide takes a wary sip of her blood. I notice the way her eyes close briefly, savouring the taste. When she opens them again, there’s a hint of embarrassment in her expression. “Yeah, that seems to be the news of the day. Everyone is talking about it, about me.”
I chuckle, remembering my early days at MistHallow. “The first few weeks are always the hardest. But you seem to be adapting well.”
We move to a nearby table, sitting across from each other. I’m hyper-aware of her presence, the way she moves, the subtle changes in her expression. It’s like my senses are dialled up to the max around her.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something. About your powers, actually.”
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? What would you like to know?”
She hesitates for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. “Well, I know you’re a fire elemental. But what exactly does that mean? What can you do?” She lowers her voice to ask, “And what is that Order thing?”
I consider her questions. It’s not often that I discuss my abilities, but with Adelaide, I find myself wanting to open up.
“Well,” I begin, “I can’t say anything about the Order, but as a fire elemental, I have a deep connection to the element of fire. I can create and control flames, manipulate heat, and even sense thermal energy around me.”
To demonstrate, I hold out my hand, palm up. With a thought, a small flame dances to life above my skin. Adelaide leans in, fascinated.
