“Here?” I ask.
He reaches for my wrist and tugs me down beside him; my heart skips a beat as he looks me in the eye before leaning in and whispering, “Yeah, it’s perfect, out of sight, but close enough. Can you cast a spell so no one can hear us?”
I nod, my cheeks heating a little at what that could insinuate, too. I whisper the spell, my attention fixed on my wrist, which he hasn’t let go of. Once it’s done, I sit down beside him.
“Face the open side,” he commands.
“Ok.” I turn, so my left knee is touching the wall and cross my legs. From where I’m sitting, I can see the corners of a few sparring mats spread several meters apart.
“Alright, let it all in, and try to find your calm space.” His voice is low as I take a deep breath, already feeling the emotions of all those out there.
I close my eyes, feeling the anger, frustration, and irritation of the students as they fight against one another. The surge of rage when they lose, the determination and desire to win no matter what. Feeling the hatred that anger builds towards their peers…
Minutes pass, and I focus on remaining in control, remaining in charge.
Destroy them all.
Only then will I find peace when all of them are silenced.
I frown as I try to calm my emotions that are already surging around me. I hate it. This is where-
“Relax,” Jayce murmurs, his voice bringing me back to reality, and I gasp, realising I had drifted into my own mind.
I take a deep, shaky breath, nodding when I feel him shift position so he’s sitting with his legs pressed gently against my ass as he scoots forward until he is sitting cross-legged right behind me.
“I am,” I say as I close my eyes again.
“Don’t fight it, welcome it. Picture somewhere you like going,a favourite spot maybe? Imagine you’re there.”
I frown as I try to think and picture something. The first thing that comes to mind is me in Jayce’s arms in the rain as he kisses me.
“Got it?” he asks, his breath caressing my cheek, making my stomach flutter despite the chaos hammering against me, wanting to be let in.
I nod. “Alright… now create something, a jar, a ball, something where this power will run into, but it’s not suppressed, it’s simply there. Ready for you to use.”
Where? There’s no place here. It’s just the two of us.
“Relax… take your time, focus on me,” he whispers, and I feel his hands settle on my waist as he gently strokes up and down my waist, teasing, soothing, and incredibly hot.
I would keep trying just to have his hands on me. When I think of him, the chaos is easier to block out… but he doesn’t want me to block it out.
The bucket! The bucket that was filled with balls! I try to imagine calling the chaotic storm to me, wanting it to settle in the bucket, no lid to suppress it, just there…
I see the shadowy shimmer as I guide it towards the bucket, but suddenly it pulls free, and I try to grasp onto it. Jayce vanishes, and I’m suddenly surrounded by a storm of power that is far bigger than me.
“Sienna, listen to me.” Jayce’s voice is stronger this time, and I blink, my eyes flying open, and I jump to my feet, feeling overwhelmed by the storm.
“I- I can’t,” I whisper, but he blocks my path and shakes his head.
“You can.” The confidence in his words is something I wish I had. “Focus on me…”
I frown, trying, but as the sparring matches continue to grow more competitive, emotions run high. It’s only two people fighting now, as everyone cheers them on. But their emotions are so intense that my head hurts, and my powers are becoming far too intense to cope with. I feel as if I’m teetering on the edge of a cliff, trying to keep my balance despite the battering wind that wants me to drown.
It’s overwhelming.
I shake my head, unable to do this. He takes my hands, rubbing his thumbs over my knuckles.
“Let’s try it together. Picture that place again, alright?”
