"I believe the stars align so souls can find one another. Whether they are meant to be souls in love or souls in life remains to be seen."
~Renee Ahdieh, Flame in the Mist

Caleb

I was working on the explosive arrows when I heard my brother shouting my name from outside my lab. "Caleb Queen! Where's my bow and arrow?!"

I cringed. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"My security cameras caught you in my flat! Give me back my bow!"

"Oh come on, I just need it to test one more explosive arrow. I'm trying to help you out here!"

"I'll test that arrow on you!"

"Hey, no need to get hostile. I'm coming. I'm coming." I opened the door. My brother stood there, red with anger. "Do you really need your bow right this second?"

"Yes. I have to train a newbie in a few minutes, and I need it. Now give me my bow." I sighed. Maybe I could convince Felicity to steal it back for me later. I grabbed my brother's bow off the table next to me and handed it to him.

"You weren't supposed to be back for another day," I remarked.

"Change of plans. Now don't touch my stuff again. I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, see you later." David jogged off. I went back into my lab only to have the door open again. This time it was Chad. Vivienne was with him.

"Hey, you two," I greeted. "What's up?"

"I have a small break and wanted to see your lab. This place is amazing! What is all this stuff?" Vivienne inquired.

"That's a DNA tester. This here is a microscope. Over here are chemicals used to make tranquilizers and other stuff. Over there is a medical bay. Sometimes the healers can't help someone, so it's up to me."

"When can a healer not heal someone?"

"That happens when the person is having problems because their power rather than the body is causing the problem."

"That makes sense, I guess. Listen, I have to go back because I only had a small break before it was time for lunch. I'll see you at dinner!" Vivienne started to leave then realized Chad wasn't following. "You coming?"

"No, I need to speak with Caleb. Dylan will lead you back." There was a flash of disappointment on her face, but she said nothing, only nodded. Once the lab door was shut, Chad said, "I needed a break."

"From her or from Dylan?"

"Dylan. She's fine. She's just always trying to get me to talk. I don't know why."

"Maybe she's interested in you."

My friend rolled his eyes. "What are you doing right now?"

"Studying Lilly's blood sample. I can't figure out her power."

"Still? Maybe she doesn't have powers."

"No, I'm sure she does. I just can't figure out which one it is. I mean I've heard of this happening before to the other scientists, it's just never happened to me."

"There's a first time for everything."

"I don't want there to be a first time for this sort of thing." I sighed in annoyance. "How'd the meeting with your brother go?"

At the mention of his brother, Chad turned even grimmer than usual. "He's fine. Looking forward to having parole."

Rage boiled in my veins. "Since when is he getting parole?!"

"Since he's been on good behavior."

"When does he get out?"

"They don't know yet, just that it'll be within the year."

"It's a mistake."

"It's not up to us. It's up to Esmeralda."

"She of all people would know better than to let him out. He's dangerous, Chad," I said.

"Well, that runs in the family," he retorted.

I glared at him. "You know what I mean. He's dangerous on a completely different level than you. You at least have morals. What are you going to do if and when he gets out?"

"I have to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid that could get him locked back up again."

"But why do you have to watch him? Why not a guard or something?"

"Because he's family, and any guard assigned to watch him would kill him because he'd get under their skin. He's good at that, with or without his power."

"Family doesn't do what he did to you. Your family is Dylan and me."

"He's family by blood. I can't ignore that."

"Yes, you can. You ignore a lot of things, so why not ignore this too?"

Chad's lips quirked upward. "I appreciate your concern. I should head back to see Dylan and Vivienne. I'll see you at dinner."

Chad left, and I went back to my work.

My head hurt from staring at the blood sample for so long. I didn't realize how long I'd been studying it out until I heard Iris say, "You're going to have a permanent ring around your eye if you stare through that microscope any longer."

I looked up. Iris leaned against a table, staring at me with her arms crossed.

"What?" I asked.

"I've been standing here for the past ten minutes without you so much saying a 'hi.' What's on your mind?"

"This blood sample. For the first time in my life, I can't figure out what the power is."

"Who's blood is it?"

"Scientist-patient privilege. I can't tell you."

"The only person whose power I don't know is Lilly's, so it has to be hers."

I sighed. "If, hypothetically, it was her, what would I tell her next time she comes in and asks me if I figured out her power yet?"

"You be honest and say you haven't figured it out yet, but you will because you've never encountered a blood sample you couldn't figure out, and you're not going to start now. Caleb, you're the smartest person I know. You'll work it out."

"Speaking of Lilly, where is she? She said she'd come back here after training," I said.

"She's taking a shower. Said she felt sweaty and gross. She'll be down soon."

"How'd she do?"

"She was pretty spot on not having endurance, although she did better than some new recruits. Strength wise, she was right again; her legs are a powerhouse but doesn't have a lot of strength in her arms—relatively strong abdominal muscles. With weapons training and hand-to-hand combat, she was a fast learner. Both came naturally to her. Pretty good at stealth training, and adapts to any climate well. The only problem she encountered with terrain training was heights. We'll need to break her of that fear."

"So she's... average? Above average? Below average?"

"Slightly above average in her skill level, but definitely above average in potential. With the right motivation, she could become a powerful soldier."

"What else did you learn about her?"

"Other than what was observable? Not much. Lilly asks more questions than she gives answers. She's certainly a curious person, but she doesn't trust much."

"I've noticed. I was wondering if her traits might help me determine her power but nothing so far. Her traits span over too many different ones."

"Which ones are you leaning towards?"

"I think she's going to wield an elemental power, maybe ice or fire."

"Very contradictory character traits."

"Yeah, I know."

"You think she's a Dual?"

"No. Besides, if she did show any sign of being a Dual, she'd be locked up. You know how people feel about Duals."

"Maybe she'd be one of the lucky ones."

"Do you know how rare that is?"

"Are you going to give me a number?"

"I could, but I won't."

"What are you not telling me?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Caleb, I've been friends with you since we were kids. I know when you're not telling me something."

"Okay fine. There's one other power she might have."

"What is it?"

"Umbrakinesis."

"Darkness? You think that little ray of sunshine can control the Darkness?"

I laughed. "Did you just call Lilly a ray of sunshine?"

"She was quite outgoing around me. Once she's comfortable around you, yes, she's a little ray of sunshine."

"Well then, that little ray of sunshine exhibits more than one characteristic of a person wielding Darkness."

"I'll keep an eye on her, but I don't think that's her power."

"We won't know until she actually gets her power. It's strange. Most people have exhibited at least some sign of their power within the first forty-eight hours of being here. So why hasn't she?"

"Maybe she doesn't believe she has a power."

"But I know she wants one."

"Believing and wanting are two different things. Lilly believes in people possessing powers, and while she may want to have a power, she may not believe she's actually capable of having one. Why are you so worried about this?"

"Because I know she's dying to know, and I want to help her. It's the least I can do after I helped kidnap her. Besides, she's fun to hang out with. I'll admit it's nice having someone interested in what I do. Most recruits hang out with Dylan because he can catch himself on fire instead of me because all I can do is... answer almost any and all questions about our powers."

"Caleb Queen, you are the smartest, brightest, sharpest guy I know. If I ever have a question or a problem, I come to you. So does Dylan, and even on occasion Chad, when he has a problem. So what you can't catch yourself on fire or make things levitate or control darkness? You know more about my powers and Chad's and Dylan's and pretty much everyone else's, maybe more than we do ourselves. I know you could get yourself out of any situation with a super-powered being because even strength must bow down to wisdom, and you, my friend, are one of the wisest people I know. Not to mention, in our friend group, you are the rock. We need our rock. Or else we'd all fall apart."

I smiled. "Thanks for the pep talk Iris. You should get going. Don't you have a meeting with your dad or something?"

"Oh, crap! I forgot! See? This is why we need you. I'll see you later!" Iris dashed out of the lab, leaving me smiling at the ego boost she'd given me.