My heart continues to thrum in my chest as we wait for…I don’t know what, and I can’t ask.

Everyone else in the closet is just as quiet, and I dare say just as scared. The punch from before that had been so sweet has left a bitter aftertaste on my tongue, and my skin buzzes with the sudden loss of stimuli. From loud noises, bright lights, and social engagement, to complete silence and darkness. It’s almost like some kind of sensory deprivation, my body feeling too alive for the emptiness happening around me.

I squeeze Ella’s hand—for reassurance, maybe?—and she gives me a squeeze back, but remains silent. What could be so threatening that these Fae, with their elemental powers and who knows what else, are scared? There must be something terrifying out there. A giant ogre? A powerful dark wizard who has come to seek his revenge on… I suppress my new HP obsession, not allowing myself to think about He Who Must Not Be Named, even though the urge is strong.

“Okay, everyone. Back to normal,” a bright voice says when the lights flicker back on. “Time to get to class.”

As Ella opens the door, everyone lets out a collective sigh and pours into the big party room. The day doesn’t feel very fun anymore, though. The alarm had been a total buzz kill.

I whirl toward Ella, who’s chatting easily with one of the girls who had been stuck in the closet with us.

“What was that?” I ask, trying not to sound as freaked out as I feel.

She smiles at her friend, then turns her attention to me. “Oh, just a drill.”

“Drill for what? An earthquake or something?”

“Nah,” she says coolly. “There have been a few bad incidents lately. Attacks on some of the houses. But it’s no big deal. You know how it is. Grownups always overreact.”

“No, I don’t know how it is,” I say, regretting that I sound like a broken record. But truthfully, I’m a little annoyed at the way she’s blowing this off. That is simply not normal.

“Hey! Dannika,” Ella calls, waving over a tall, gorgeous girl with black hair and smooth brown skin that catches a silver sheen when the light filtering in from outside hits her.

I sigh, resigned to the fact Ella and I will have to continue this conversation later.

“Hey, Ella,” Dannika says as she leans over to kiss Ella on her cheek.

“That was quite an entrance,” Ella jokes.

Dannika tosses her hair over her shoulder, and then repositions a hibiscus flower tucked behind her ear. “I have no idea what you are talking about,” she quips with a sly smile that brings out the rosy undertones of her dark skin. “Sorry I’m late. Did I miss any excitement?”

“Just Erick showing off his kilcross skills.” Ella rolls her eyes.

Dannika scoffs. “I suppose he is champion for Pyralis this year.”

“As if there was any doubt,” Ella says.

I stand awkwardly to the side, listening to their conversation, but not having anything to add to it. Mentally, I plead with Ella to introduce me. Eventually, it works.

“Dannika, this is Imogen,” she says, motioning toward me.

I hold out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Dannika arches an eyebrow and twitches her mouth from side to side, as if she is examining me. I must pass whatever test she is giving me, because she finally places her hand in mine and gives it a dainty shake.

“Likewise,” she says. “Imogen Flareburn, right?”

“Um, yeah,” I say, confused. “How did you know?”

“I’ve been expecting you,” she says.

My jaw drops, but I hurriedly close it.

“Of course, we didn’t expect you for a few more weeks. Miss Brayerwood said your mom was a bit of a hard ass. Wouldn’t let you come.”

“Then…why were you expecting me?” I ask, my confusion in no way cleared up.

“Because everyone who is supposed to be here shows up eventually,” Dannika says, as if it should be obvious. Before I can ask more about that, she continues. “You’ll be shadowing me for classes today until you get your own schedule. You’ve also been assigned to room with me.”

“Oh my God,” Ella says. “So lucky.”

Dannika grins knowingly. “Not looking forward to rooming with Oria?”

The girls head over to the wall closest to the double doors that lead into this room. Ella picks up a backpack, and slings it over her shoulder. “I shouldn’t complain, I guess. There could be worse ways to wake up than with a room full of ivy.”

“Plants, especially ivy, are simply drawn to Oria,” Dannika explains, turning her attention to me as she lifts her own bag. “They practically follow in her wake, even when she’s sleeping.”

“That does sound annoying,” I say, trying to commiserate even though I can’t imagine it. Inwardly, I chide myself for trying so hard to fit in. That’s not like me. But then again, this whole ‘making friends’ thing is brand new to me.

“Well, we better head to our first class.” Dannika clutches my arm, using it to steer me where she wants me to go. “See ya, Ella.”

“Bye, girls,” Ella says with a wave. “We can have dinner later.”

We nod, and while I’m sad to leave the comfort of Ella’s company, it’s sort of empowering to be seen with Dannika. She’s so sure of herself, walking with her head held high. She’s simply a force of nature. High energy, loud, happy…and yet, not obnoxious. Everyone we pass says hi or at least nods their heads in our direction. This must be what it’s like to be friends with the popular girl.

She’s not your friend, I remind myself. Miss Brayerwood tasked her with showing me around, and she was assigned as my roommate. It is in no way her choice to be blazing through these halls with me.

We go into a locker room where there are several girls changing their clothes. I try to not be a total creep by staring at them, but many of them have unusual features I’ve never seen before, like spikes or elaborate markings. One girl has the most magnificent iridescent scales running down her back; I’m transfixed by the way they move in the light.

“Hey!” she yells, shoving my shoulder. “What’s your problem, weirdo?”

“Hey, calm down, Aquilla,” Dannika says, stepping in. She holds her hand up to the girl’s chest, a placating tone in her voice. “She’s new. She doesn’t know any better.”

“I’m so, so sorry,” I say, feeling my cheeks blaze hotly in embarrassment. “You are just so mesmerizing, and I’m a total idiot. I’m really sorry.”

“That’s no excuse,” Aquilla says, crossing her arms. “It’s human decency not to stare.”

“You’re right,” I say again, because she is. I wouldn’t stare at someone back in my world just because they were different, so why did I think it was okay here? First trying to touch the dragonettes after I crossed through the Shadow Veil, now staring at undressed Fae in the locker room? I’m such a mess. “There is no excuse,” I continue. “I am new here, but that doesn’t make it okay. I’ll try to do better in the future.”

I think Aquilla might have been itching for a fight, because she doesn’t seem happy with my heartfelt apology. She just huffs and turns away. I’m relieved, but still feel guilty over the whole thing.

“Don’t worry about it,” Dannika soothes. “She’ll get over it.”

When I chance a glance around, I notice that several of the other girls seem to be uncomfortable or glaring at me.

“She’s not the only person I have to worry about,” I mumble. As far as first days go, this is probably one of my worst.

Dannika just shrugs. There isn’t much she can do to smooth my bruised ego right now, or make the other girls comfortable. I follow her to a couple of lockers in the corner of the room, thankfully out of the way of where everyone else is getting dressed. I’m not sure I could handle another stink-eye glare, even if I did bring it on myself.

“Do you have workout clothes?” Dannika asks as she pulls open her locker.

I open my bag, pulling out yoga pants and a sports bra. “Is this okay?”

She nods. “As long as you are okay with them getting dirty.” She points to a locker adjacent to hers. “That locker’s free, if you need a place to keep your things. No one here steals or anything like that, but it keeps everything off the floor.”

She pulls out a ratty T-shirt and well-worn jogging shorts from the open locker, starting to undress with no self-conscious. I turn around, not wanting her to think I am some kind of peeping Tom, and hurriedly change as well. Her lack of modesty doesn’t translate to me, and I’m acutely aware I’m removing clothes in front of a stranger. For some reason, I have the urge to find a stall to change in, but I grit my teeth and finish.

Once we’re both dressed, she turns to me with her hands on her hips like some kind of cheerleader ready to lead her squad. Even in such well-used clothes, she looks perfectly put together. After pulling her hair up in a loose ponytail, she sits on the bench to pull on a pair of sneakers, glancing up with a smile.

“You ready?” she asks, bouncing to her feet.

I nod. I mean, I don’t really know what we’re doing, so I have no way of knowing if I actually am. But I am ready to find out.

“Okay, let’s go.” Dannika spins on her heel, and strides out a door on the other side of the locker room.

I follow her into an open field where boys and girls mingle together.

“A coed gym class?” I ask, but Dannika doesn’t even acknowledge I’ve spoken. She’s looking at a man with long hair who’s approaching the group from across the yard.

“Welcome to Basics of Elemental Application—Fire,” the man says, his robes flowing around him. His clothing looks similar to the other men and women I saw earlier, but his robes look lighter and thinner, as if they are easy to move in despite the length. “I am your instructor, Coach Drake Thorne.”

A boy lopes easily across the field, stopping beside the instructor, who gestures at him. “Class, say hello to Erick Greyspark. Erick is a third-year student,” Coach Thorne explains, interrupting my brain from tripping over itself. “But he will be helping me spot you as you practice using your powers.”

It turns out Erick Greyspark was the guy I saw playing—what had Ella called it earlier? Kilcross? Yeah, he was the one playing kilcross who smiled at me from the field. Pfft. Whatever. He hadn’t smiled at me in particular. He had been smiling at all of his swooning admirers. Not that I was swooning.

We all mumble hello, except for a few guys and girls who are a bit too enthusiastic about greeting him. I have to take some calming breaths myself to keep my heart from pounding too hard against my ribcage. Some of these Fae probably have super-hearing or something, and I don’t need to be giving myself away so soon.

“I’m sure you full-Fae can handle yourselves,” Erick says pompously. “I’m mainly here to protect the halflings.”

My nose wrinkles at that, and I can almost feel the force of Dannika’s eye roll without even looking at her. Who does this guy think he is—the self-proclaimed protector of the halflings? Give me a break.

I might have felt a little intimidated before by everyone who knows way more about this world than I do, but now I’m pumped to get in there and do…whatever it is we are going to do. Bring it on! I don’t even know what it is yet, but I’m determined to be the best at it. There’s already a burning urge to show that halflings are just as strong as full Fae.

“Erick,” Coach Thorne says, “perhaps a demonstration of what the students can hope to learn in the class is in order.”

“Sure thing,” he says. “You won’t be able to accomplish everything I show you this year, but by year three, I think you’ll be amazed at what you can do.”

He goes to the center of the field, and stands at attention. Visibly inhaling a deep breath, he moves his arms to his side, then over his head. He does a series of movements like in a Jackie Chan movie. Suddenly, fire shoots from his hands like water. As he moves, the flames flow with him, like those ribbon dancers at the Olympics. It’s really quite mesmerizing, and I can feel the heat all the way where I’m standing. With movements akin to rolling a snowball, he starts to form a ball of fire, and it gets bigger and bigger. When he tosses it up into the sky, it bursts like a firework in a brilliant cascade of sparks. For his grand finale, he shoots fire out of the palms of his hands and uses them like little rockets to propel himself into the sky, where he does a few loops and spins. I can’t believe I’m actually watching someone use fire to fly.

It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

Erick comes back down to earth, and everyone claps. He takes a bow before trotting back over to us. All around us, he is sparking with tiny fireworks, like little remnants of the powers he just used.

“Wow, that is so neat,” I gush to Dannika.

“It sure is,” she agrees.

“Thank you,” he says. “Now that takes a lot of effort and training, but even halflings can accomplish what I just showed you…”

Again with the halfling bashing? Ugh, forget this guy. He blabbers on about protecting blah-blah-blah something, so I let my eyes roam around the field for something better to focus on. There are actually quite a few good-looking guys around here. A blond guy catches my eye, and while I’m checking him out, I realize…he is staring back at me. Oh jeez. I’m making a fool of myself…again.

“How about a demonstration?” Erick asks. “Any takers?”

A man steps out of the crowd, and raises his hand. “Me.”

“Caleb Darkflame,” Erick says, smirking. “I haven’t seen you since—”

“Let’s not revisit our high school years,” Caleb cuts in. “I came to fight.”

I lean into Dannika. “Should I be worried?”

Dannika giggles. “They’re friends,” she says. “Kind of.”

“Kind of?”

Coach Thorne claps his hands. “Please, everyone, stay focused on the class,” he says, leveling his gaze pointedly at Dannika and me. “You could learn a lot from this demonstration.”

Caleb and Erick are already facing off. I can’t help but think they’re both kind of hot, and then I feel bad I’m getting enjoyment from watching two guys about to fight. How petty.

Erick fires off the first shot, and Caleb deflects the blow easily, grinning. “That all you got?”

“You don’t want to see all I got.” Erick’s voice sounds lazy, almost bored.

Dannika murmurs, “Erick can’t show him everything he’s got anyway.”

“Huh?” I dart a glance at her, but as I do, I realize Coach Thorne is glaring at us again, so I press my lips together and focus.

The demonstration, to be honest, is kind of unimpressive. Erick’s supposed to be a third-year student and talented enough to assist the coach. But it seems like these two are just dancing around.

Finally, Erick powers the largest flame I’ve ever seen in the palm of his hands, and I think, now it’s getting to the good part!

But Coach Thorne steps between them. “Great work, guys. That’ll do.”

Caleb smirks at Erick, then heads back into the crowd.

“What happened?” I ask Dannika.

She grins. “Caleb’s a prince. Erick’s not allowed to win.”

“Wait, what? That’s not fair!”

“Hey, Flareburn,” Erick calls. “You awake?”

“Huh?” I ask. I didn’t even hear him calling my name. “Yes, I’m here.”

“You’re next. Come here and show me what you can do,” he says.

What I can do? I can do nothing. But I don’t tell him that. He’ll find out soon enough. At least I’ll give it—whatever ‘it’ is—my best shot.

He brings me over to the middle of the field. “Have you had any training in controlling your powers before?” he asks.

“No,” I say. “I only found out the Fae existed today.”

“Whoa.” He laughs a little. “Talk about a rude awakening.”

“I can think of ruder,” I mutter, though he doesn’t seem to pick up on the fact I’m referring to his diatribe on protecting the weaker links of his species.

He takes a few steps back, and motions to the empty space in front of him. “Okay, so to get started, just show me what you can do. Then we’ll talk about control, direction, application— all that good stuff.”

“I can’t do anything,” I say. “I didn’t even know I was a fire Fae until the party.”

He scrunches his eyebrows. “Stop messing around. Surely you can do something.”

I shrug. “I don’t know what to tell you. I can’t shoot fire out of my hands, or whatever it is I’m supposed to do with my supposed powers.”

“How do you know?” he asks. “Have you ever tried?”

I open my mouth to release a snappy retort, but pause. Huh, he does have a point.

I mean, I’ve never tried to shoot fire out of my hands. So I clear my throat—I don’t know why—and stand in a mountain pose, since yoga is pretty much the only physical activity I do regularly. Focusing over the big open field, I hold my right hand out.

Fire, I command you to shoot from my fingers.

Nothing happens. I feel like an idiot, but I keep trying.

“Okay…” Erick finally chimes in. “Thanks for…whatever that was.”

I press my lips together, wanting to tell him off for singling me out, but not wanting to pick a fight in front of everyone. What did he expect? I was just a normal human like five minutes ago.

“That was a good first try,” I hear someone say. Caleb is walking toward me.

“What?” I ask, thinking he’s joking. “Nothing happened. How is that good?”

“That’s not true,” Caleb says with a confidence I don’t share.

He stands behind me. I crane my head, trying to figure out what he’s doing, but he gently pushes it back around. When he places his hands on my waist, I jump, startled, and warmth pools in my stomach. Pretty sure that wasn’t what he intended, though.

“Spread your feet,” he says. “Turn slightly to the side. This is a firmer stance. You don’t want the recoil to knock you down.”

I follow his instructions, but really…what is there to be knocked down by? Nothing. Happened.

“Now I want you to visualize,” he murmurs, almost directly in my ear. He holds up my right arm and runs his fingers down to my fingertips. My breath catches in my throat. He’s standing way too close. I can feel his breath against my ear as he speaks. “Do you remember the first time you felt heat, an unnatural heat, forming in your fingertips?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“I want you to focus on that for a moment.”

“I was angry,” I remember.

“Anger can be a very powerful force,” he says. “What made you so angry?”

It was about a year ago. We had just moved to a new place, and it didn’t have the Internet set up. I was used to these things taking time, and usually Mom would just take me to an Internet café in the meantime. But that hick town was so small it didn’t have one.

It might seem absurd I would get so worked up over not having Internet, like I had a serious addiction, since my only friends, my entire world, really, was online. Cassie and I were supposed to chat with our book club before going on a raid together. To me, that was my life.

I got so mad at Mom, and I could feel the heat build, not just in my fingers, but through my whole body, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

Even now, just thinking about that day, I get so mad I could just…

Boom!

A huge fireball explodes right in front of me, knocking me to the ground.

I hear screaming and smell smoke. My vision is hazy, but I can sense Dannika beside me. I feel strange, my equilibrium off balance, and I think I may throw up.

“Someone! Anyone,” she yells. “Get help!”