Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Jade inhaled deeply, her heart pounding. It was strange, she felt so bad and insecure sneaking out. What if she got caught? It wasn't as if she was up to anything nefarious- she and Alana were going to exercise their 'special gifts' in a sparring match, and West was going to judge. There was no risk involved, and it would be an interesting and fun time. It might even help her relax and relieve some of her stress. So why was she so nervous?

There shouldn't be anything to worry about, but Jade was feeling a strange twinge in her gut telling her that something was going to go wrong.

Alana poked her head back through the window in the Hufflepuff common room. "You coming, slowpoke?" Her red hair flopped in a curtain around her eager face.

"Yeah." Jade steeled her nerve, rolled her shoulders back, and lifted herself into the window ledge.

The air outside was warm, for April, and as Jade looked up at the stars, her hands slipped and she landed on top of Alana. Alana inhaled to scream, but then remembered that their presence outside was supposed to be a secret.

"Spongify!" A voice cried from Gryffindor Tower, wand pointed at the ground. The turf became spongy and rubber-like, and a small West came pinwheeling out of the tower a moment later, landing on the ground and being bounced up again. She sat up and blew a swoop of hair out of her eyes. "I'm here!"

Jade beamed, the wash of cheerful happiness that came over her assuaging her earlier worries. "Okay, let's go."

The three girls hiked down to the lake, which Alana submerged herself in. She shot three streams of water into the air and laughed, kicking her glowing feet.

Jade tried to let happiness overwhelm her, but nothing happened. She tried for anger, but only a small spark came when she snapped her fingers. Closing her eyes, she let her current emotion fill her. She shot up into the air, her power manifesting in a new, strange way.

She was ensconced in white and green light this time. The fire that licked around her was pale and feathery, ice white and barely existent. Jade's fingers clenched around what looked like shards of ice. This feeling that filled her- this was terror.

Alana shrugged and lifted herself up, a skirt of water washing over her and making a rippling ring around her damp feet.

West perched in the branches of a tree, grinning. "Alright. Three, two, one, START!"

Jade dropped her shards of ice and snapped her fingers. A thin streak of pale, golden light glittered in her hand, She pushed it at Alana, who at the same time sent a ribbon of water shooting from the palm of her hands. The light and the water were drawn towards one another, each girl cheering hers on. The two forces met, a snap emitting as they joined into a spinning, painfully bright ball of blue and gold.

Jade looked away, the light too strong for her eyes. Alana screamed as the light pushed harder against her, and pulled more water from the lake to press the light back. Jade pushed harder as well, and the ball stayed in the very center. It grew in size, pulsing, and then suddenly-

CRACK!

The lights separated, and Alana and Jade shot apart, flying through the air. Alana hit the bank of the lake with a wet-sounding smack, but Jade was blown backwards into a tree. She hit it with an ominous thudding noise, and slid to the ground moaning softly. She wasn't in much pain, but there was a lump forming on the back of her head and bark tangled in her hair.

West raced over to help the two of them up. "Are you guys okay?"

Jade rubbed her head, seeing stars. "I think so. Let me try something." She snapped her fingers, expecting a fizz of illumination to appear at their tips. Instead, a puff of bitter green smoke hissed into being before dispersing into the air. She tried again, but nothing- just more smoke. She screamed in frustration, and Alana tried to lift some water from the lake's surface.

Nothing. More smoke. The girls looked at one another, and shrugged. Jade yawned expansively, and the girls headed back to their common rooms, achy and sore.