I walked past everyone, ignoring the small glares and quiet whispers as I passed. No one ever paid me any attention and now I was getting all of it, still though I was considered a freak. No one likes the girl who's secluded from the world, living in the outskirts of town, on the edge of Darkwoods forest. She might steal your pets and eat them.

My mother liked quiet, the less of anyone she saw the happier she was. I never had a problem with it growing up but as I got older people talked. I guess they always did but I was too young to hear, well now I hear everything.

My mother didn't come with me, I told her not too. She was freaked about my sudden outburst yesterday and so was I.

Savanna was in the middle of talking with Sabrina, she was declared a Cast Witch. As I got closer she seemed upset, her face puffy, eyes rimmed with red.

"Lana. Come with me." I turned to see Fia, the fire element Sister.

She guides me to the other end of the clearing, we were the only fire users so it was quiet besides the spirit users. I watched as Vincent surrounded himself in shadows, Sha Mia looked pleased with his quick learning skills. Vincent seeming to notice my staring, looks over at me finding me easily. My body heats up as we stare at one another, averting my gaze I focus on Fia.

"Are you ready to learn, Lana." She was a very intimidating women with her hard features. Her black hair like coal, eyes dark that held flames of red. Her red lips were a perfect match against her tan skin. She had long features, tall and statuesque the opposite of me. I wasn't tall at all I had to be at least five four maybe I might be pushing it.

"Yes of course."

"Good, now." She pulled out a candle from her bag in the floor. "Light this."

I was taught this at thirteen of course I knew how to light it. Taking the candle from her long fingers I had held the candle to my face. Blowing lightly, I set fire to the candle.

"Wrong." I looked at her.

"I lit it." I said confused.

"Yes you did but you used a simple cast spell not your element. Now try again but use the element, feel the heat, let it feel you."

Focusing on the candle I tried lighting it. Nothing. Frustrated I peered up at Fia.

"Stop focusing on the candle. Focus on your element." She was patient with me, I was glad.

Taking a deep breath I focused on me, internal feeling around for the heat. It was like the floodgates had opened releasing the fire within. My body engulfed in flames but no pain came. Glancing around me the earth became scorched around me, the candle completely melted out of my hands dripping to the ground. Panicked I look at Fia, her eyes are knitted together, her hands in front of her.

"Slowly reel it in, control the flames." Her voice was calm.

I nodded. Feeling around I focused on the fire within, trying to reel in the element like she suggested. The opposite happened, wind whipped around me spreading the flames, lifting me in the air, I was a ball of fire.

"Lana! Relax feel your elements control them!"

I tried I really did but as I reeled in one the other would strengthen causing the flames to outstretch, ruling in air first only made the flames brighter, reeling in the fire only lifted me higher. There was no way out of this.

"I can't!"

I felt air whip around me only I wasn't the one doing it. Peering down I see Sister Alane trying to force me down but it only caused the flames to burn brighter.

"Alane enough you're feeding the flame, making it stronger!" I hear Savanna scream.

"Waitilanni you'll have to stop her!" I hear Fia shout.

I close my eyes embarrassed that I couldn't control the elements granted to me by the goddess. Everyone surrounded me staring not in awe but in fear. I was a ticking time bomb.

Opening my eyes I feel the water hit me, knocking me down, I land with a thud, face first in the dirt. The fire has died leaving me soaking wet and freezing. I feel a jacket being placed over me, peering out of my red hair I see Vincent kneeling beside me. He offers a hand, I take it letting him raise me off the ground.

"Thanks." I whisper. He nods his head, not saying anything. I turn to Fia, "It wouldn't work, I don't know what happened."

Savanna spoke before Fia could, "Your elements are fighting each other as if they were alive, prying for your attention. Once you control air the fire becomes loose, stronger and vise versa. There has to be a balance." I knew something was wrong I felt it before, the small war brewing inside me.

"This is new to us Lana but we will find a solution to this." She glances around. "Why is everyone hovering? Back to your teaches!" Everyone instantly moved away, Vincent stayed. “Take her home, Vincent.”

He didn't object only nodded his head. “Will I be able to return tomorrow Savanna.”

She seemed to hesitate before replying, as if she were being careful with her words. “Yes you will. The more training you receive, the more control you gain over your elements.”

“Thank you, goodbye sister.” As I followed Vincent to the other side of the clearing, I cast a spell on myself to enhance my hearing.

“We have to be careful with her, Alane.”

“I  know, when I felt the elements around her intensified I tried weaning her element to stop the flames from spreading but the fire wouldn't allow me to control it. As if I didn't have a power at all.”

“That is extremely dangerous, she cannot be controlled, if we cannot control her…Lana!”

I snapped out of the spell focusing back to the clearing. Vincent had stepped in front of me, walking backwards, waving his hands in my face.

"Sorry I wasn't paying attention."

"Yeah right. You were eavesdropping weren't you." His dark eyes capturing mine, challenging me to lie.

"I was.....why do you care." I countered.

"No reason, come on." He let it go so easily, why?

I followed him not wanting to stay anywhere near the rest of the circle. All anyone ever did lately was judge me and I just couldn't handle it anymore. I shivered from the slight breeze, Vincent's jacket was now back on the owner. I crossed my arms  covering as much of myself to block out the breeze. I didn't bring a sweater thinking I could just warm myself up with my new element.

As if a light bulb went off in my head, focused on my element, wanting it to spread through my body to warm me. To my utter surprise I felt myself warm up inside, smiling I used my air element to guide the breeze somewhere else.

I heard a omph then someone hit the floor. Oh no. I stop in the middle of the path to see Vincent laying on the ground. He's pissed as he grumbles lifting himself off the ground. He finds me easily a glare fixed just for me on his face.

"What the hell was that, Childs." Did he really have to call me by my last name.

"I don't know, did you trip on something."

He walked up to me, I took an involuntary step back, a storm was brewing in those black eyes. "Control your damn elements!"

His shirt was now damp from the moist ground, I reached up flicking a orange leaf off his chest. He caught my wrist in an iron grip, I looked up at him watching the storm dissipate. "I don't know how." I said after a while.

He continued to stare at me, his hand still gripping my wrist. "I can help you." I looked at him confused. He didn't seem like a helping person at all. "What?" He said examining my pusled expression.

"You just don't seem like the type to help, is all."

He let me go backing away angrily. "Fine then I won't help. Let's go."

He was quick to anger. "Vincent that's not what I meant. You just come off as someone who keeps to himself." I struggled with nature trying not trip on anything as I followed his hasty steps.

"Whatever." I sighed, he won't listen to me.

What I did next was against everything I believed in but he would listen to me. Calling on air I pushed a small wind to him making him catch his footing a little. I knew the fire element was unused so I added a small amount of heat with the breeze. He ignored my small attempts at getting his attention so I call on a little more it felt stable so I pushed it towards him. He had his legs swot up from under him knocking him on his butt. Oops I didn't want that much power behind it.

"I'm going to hurt you." As soon as his hand came up and I saw the small purplish black light I froze.

I was knocked back onto my butt, hitting the plush ground. "Ow!"

"Now you know how it feels." He grumbled.

I guess I deserve that one. Standing up I walk over to him. "I need your help, okay. I just wanted you to listen."

"I'll help you just don't do that again, Childs."

I rolled my eyes. "Did you really have to use my last name? There's nothing wrong with the name Lana, come on say it with me. L a n a."

He chuckled. "Whatever, Childs."

I groaned. Following him the rest of the way out of the thick forest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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-Ash
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