The sun beamed down on her, ricocheting off of every surface and fanning out in dancing shards of light. "Do you know where we're going?" Shaylee half groaned half sighed, as Ryder led her into the lining of trees behind their houses. Ryder rolled his eyes, being a few long strides in front of her. "No. I don't know where we're going, I'm leading you into the woods to murder you."

"Wouldn't put it past you." She responded, as they entered the lush green woods.

Ryder huffed, "I don't know why I get stuck babysitting the Faeblood." He grumbles, stepping over a fallen branch.

The woods were coated in various shades of green, the landscape was painted with fallen debris, and little insects wandering about. The forest was filled mainly with big willow trees, the leaves coating the sky, making it hard to see anything above. With the leaves painting the woods in a blanket, making it hard to see anything more than three feet in front of her, Shaylee turned to Ryder for assistance.

"Ryder, it's dark."

Ryder rolled his eyes, "Yes. You're very observant."

Shaylee huffed, "Can't you conjure up some light? The willow's are making it hard for sunlight to peek through."

"You're too dependent on others." Ryder replied, ignoring her request. "You need to get better at that."

"At what?" Shaylee grumbled, slowly stepping over a fallen branch.

"Not relying on people."

But before Shaylee could retort, she squealed as she stumbled forward. Ryder caught her by the upper arm, and pulled her back up. "There's a slope there." Ryder stated, making Shaylee wiggled harshly from his grasp. "Thanks for the warning."

Ignoring her, Ryder puts his right hand in front of him, flicks his wrist in a circle motion and purple light forms in his palm. Her eyes filtered downwards, following the fluorescent purple light she saw a steep slope that bared ragged rocks and sloshy mud.

Ryder pushed the orb of light off his palm, making it bob in the air in front of him. He turned to her offering her his hand. "It's pretty steep," Ryder pauses, "And I'm not giving you a piggy-back ride." He adds quickly. With lots of hesitation, Shaylee took Ryder's hand tenderly. His hands were rough, from years of hard labour, but had a soft edge to them, possibly from applying hand cream. Ryder cupped her hand, and stepping out onto the slope, he gently led her down. There was a prominent shift in his mood, a shift that Shaylee found contrasting to his usual manner. He was gentler, more timid with her now, as he led her down the steep rocky slope. Ryder's grip on her hand tightened as they neared a bigger, more jagged rock. "Be careful. We don't want your Fae blood spilling." He lifted his hand, and tugged her slowly, gently around it.

"Why do you call me that?" Her eyes trained on the purple orb floating a foot or so in front of her.

Ryder hummed in response, as if needing more explanation. "Faeblood. Why do you call me that?"

Ryder pulled her down gently, making her almost trip. "Careful!" He hissed through his teeth, steadying her with his hand on her arm now. "Thanks." Shaylee breathed, watching as his hand slid back to hers again. After a moment's silence, they finally neared the end of the steep slope. Shaylee let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, Ryder was already off the slope and extended his hands out to her.

Shaylee extended her hand, thinking that he'd just take it and help navigate her down. However, he huffed, put his hands on her hips and lifted her high into the air. Shaylee let out a soft squeak, her hands gripping Ryder's shoulders tight, as he lifted her off the bottom of the slope and onto the ground beside him.

He set her down, and Shaylee with shaky legs nearly fell into him. "Come on." Ryder began to walk again, "We don't have all day." Shaylee rolled her eyes, and after composing herself she jogged up to him. "You didn't answer my question."

Ryder sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's better than halfie, isn't it Davey?"

To this she just hummed in response, "I guess so." Although that's not how she truly felt. She hated the new nickname more.

Around half an hour later, Ryder led the girl into a small oval shaped clearing. Standing in the clearing were the Shayne's, River brothers, Nessa, Felix, Ember, Ryan, Tom, and a rather large pack of boys that stood behind Ryan. "Took you long enough." Calador jokes, making Tom's head snap up from looking at the ground. Her principal cleared his throat, "Hello Shaylee." Shaylee gave Tom an awkward smile. "Alright." Vlarissa clapped her hands together, gazing around the group. "Shaylee, this is Ryan's pack." She gestures to the boys standing behind Ryan and Ember. "Boys this is Shaylee." Shaylee gave a small wave, to which most of them waved back shyly, making Ember, the only girl in the pack scoff.

"Tom." Vlarissa steps aside, and Tom steps forward hesitantly.

"Thanks Vlarissa, well-"

A flash of yellow and pink appears beside Vlarissa, making Shaylee jump at the suddenness. Stepping out of the light is the familiar blonde haired boy, and the brunette girl with long hair. However, Shaylee never got their names. "Sorry we're late Vlarissa." The boy apologised with a shy smile. Vlarissa gave him a soft smile, "It's alright, now Casey, Isabella please join us." Oh! They're Casey and Isabella, the two kids in Antonioette's 'coven' that she was trying to protect. To be fair, the pair only looked to be around fourteen, that is if their 'magic hasn't matured' yet.

Casey and Isabella stepped off to the side with sheepish smiles, and Tom cleared his throat loudly.

"Let's start." And as Tom said those words, a realisation crossed Shaylee's mind. The only reason that everyone else was here was to back Tom up. Just in case things went sour. So with that thought firmly in mind, Shaylee took her place opposite to Tom. Observing Tom closer she really took in the details of his features. He had a very skinny torso, but quite broad shoulders, he wore a button up, pale blue shirt which clung tightly to his skin. His shirt was tucked into a pair of brown pants that were slightly too short for him, as it exposed his pale ankles. "Okay." Tom wiggled his hands out in front of him, and cracked his fingers. He let out a shaky breath, and Shaylee just stood there awkwardly, very unsure of whether or not she should copy him. Tom cracked his neck, and let out a long breath. "Let's do this!"

Tom gave her a soft smile, "So first Shaylee, I want you to close your eyes and take a deep breath." She gazed around at the group unsure, Calador gave her an encouraging grin, "It's fine, we won't let Ryder murder you." Ryder shot him a glare, and Shaylee gulped. That was super comforting. Inhaling sharply, Shaylee let her eyes flutter close. Then she saw black, just plain, pitch black. "Take a few deep breaths." Tom advised, and she followed his advice instantly. "Remember to remain calm, and try to focus all your energy on your body." He paused, "Focus on the tingling sensation of your fingers. The way your legs feel supporting you."

Shaylee's fingers felt itchy, and her legs heavy, like she could just collapse then and there. Tom grinned satisfied, and turned to Calador.

"Alright, Calador you're up."

She could sense that Calador had taken a step forward, "Ok Shayz." Shaylee giggled at the nickname. "Because you're a halfie. Your powers work differently to purebloods." He explained, "Being a Quotidian, a human, is all you've ever known. So naturally your body, mind, just you in general is genetically hardwired to lean into your mundane human senses."

"There's always going to be one dominant side. For us," He says in reference to him and his brother, "We lean into our vampire side. Even though we aren't genetically vampires." Shaylee was surprised that he wasn't a 'halfie' by choice, so does that mean someone turned him?

"For you it'll be your Quotidian side. So we're trying to 'rewire' your brain, a tad. So we can explore your abilities." Calador pauses, and Shaylee can sense that their faces are only inches apart. "Fae's can have all kinds of abilities!" He's further from her now, "Some can mind read, manipulate emotions, teleport, some even have more than one ability."

"What do you think you have? What do you feel you have?"

At Calador's words, Shaylee took another sharp breath. The first thought that popped into her mind was; Telekinesis. The first time she had a meeting similar to this, she ended up making objects lift up and fly around the room. So that must be her ability.

"Telekinesis." Shaylee breathed.

"I don't think that's all." Came a soft, edged voice, one she's never heard before.

"What do you mean Nessa?" She heard Vlarissa ask.

Shaylee's eyes flickered open, and she saw the petite, black haired girl with her hands outstretched. "I feel a vibration, a hum." Nessa inhaled sharply, her eyes closing. "Yes. It's the same hum that runs through my body on a daily basis." She paused, "I can feel hers, it's itching to be released."

Redhaired Felix turned to her, "I feel it too." His voice sounded sharp. "It's lightning."

Everyone turned to them with furrowed brows, "Lightning? Can Fae's have lightning?" Isabella's sweet voice asks.

Nessa shrugs, "They can have a range of powers. They have the luck of the draw."

A lump formed in the back of Shaylee's throat, "Lightning are you sure?"

Felix gave her a pointed look, "We'd recognize that hum anywhere."

Shaylee gulped, she glanced between Tom and Calador. "Do either of you have any lightning experience?" They shook their heads, and Tom sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Nessa, Felix, looks like you're going to have to teach her how to harness her powers." Tom sighed again looking over at the pair, as the two Oni's trudged forward, Calador leaned into their ears.

"You two be gentle with her," He half hissed, "She's fragile." At this the pair snorted, and with sour expressions they made their way in front of Shaylee.

"Alright. Close your eyes." Nessa spoke getting straight to the point. Shaylee did as she said, afraid of being on the receiving end of her wrath. "Now, the colour of your light depends on your personality. Whether it's light or lightning, it still works the same." Shaylee nodded feebly, "I want you to visualise the scenery in front of you." It was hard, but after a minute or so, she could see the lush green lawn in front of her in her eyes, "I want you to feel it expand." Nessa continues, "Feel it radiating off of your finger tips, your body. Feel it pulsing from you, wanting to spring forward and at the tree behind us." A humming sensation tingled up her fingers, it was a new, warm feeling. Shaylee felt herself get immersed in the feeling. The warm, tingling feeling spread to the palm of her hands. She could feel a weight on her hands, but not a heavy weight, a sort of- knowing that something's there weight, but you can't physically touch it.

A small gasp erupted from the group, making Shaylee fling her eyes open. Forming at the tip of her fingers, were small sparks of blue light. It was her very own lightning, and it radiated from her. The blue lightning faded moments after it appeared, making Shaylee gasp with delight.

A grin formed across Shaylee's face, her eyes travelled to the group. "Did you guys see that!? It is lightning!"

The two Oni's smirked smugly, "Told you so."