10. Violet

10

VIOLET

The training room is quiet save for the soft whisper of my breathing and the occasional rustle of Amara's long, old-world dress as she moves around me. I sit cross-legged in the centre of the room, my eyes closed, trying to focus on the energy within me.

"Concentrate, Violet," Amara's voice floats to me. "Feel the magick flowing through your body. Visualise it as a stream of light, starting from your core and spreading outwards."

I take a deep breath, attempting to do as she says. For a moment, I think I feel that faint warmth in my chest, but it slips away as quickly as it comes.

"I can't," I mutter, frustration seeping into my voice. "It's not working."

"Patience," Amara says calmly. "You've only just begun to tap into your Morgana heritage. It will take time and practice."

"But I did it no problem yesterday. "

"That was yesterday. Today is a new day."

I open my eyes, unable to keep the scowl off my face. "We don't have time for this. I need this to break the bond."

"You will. But rushing won't help. Magick requires focus and, control and, most of all practice. Now, let's try again."

Suppressing a sigh, I close my eyes again. I try to imagine the energy Amara described, picturing a golden light pulsing in my chest. Then, I feel a faint tingle in my fingertips.

"It's back," I say hesitantly.

"Good," Amara encourages. "Now, try to direct that energy. Focus on lifting the book in front of you."

I crack one eye open, seeing the heavy tome placed on the floor about a metre away. Closing my eyes again, I concentrate on the tingling sensation, willing it to extend towards the book.

Nothing happens.

I grit my teeth and push harder. The tingling intensifies, spreading up my arms, but the book remains stubbornly in place.

"It's not working," I growl, opening my eyes to glare at the offending object.

"You're trying too hard," Amara says. "Magick isn't about force. It's about harmony, about working with the energies around you, not against them."

"That doesn't make any sense," I snap, my patience wearing thin. "How am I supposed to work with something I can barely feel? "

Amara, to her credit, doesn't rise to my irritation. Instead, she kneels beside me, her voice gentle. "Close your eyes again. This time, don't try to push the energy. Let it flow naturally. Imagine it's a river, and you're simply guiding its course."

I take a deep breath, trying to let go of my frustration. I picture a golden river flowing through me, extending out towards the book. For a brief moment, I feel a connection—like an invisible thread linking me to the tome.

The book trembles slightly and then stops.

"But it barely moved," I say, opening my eyes. "How am I supposed to defend myself against Nathaniel if I can barely lift a book?" Not to mention these hunter fuckers.

"One step at a time," Amara reminds me. "You've only just begun to access your powers. With practice, you'll be able to do much more. Let's try something different. Elemental magick is often easier for beginners to grasp." She places a candle in front of me. "Fire is one of the primary elements. Many Morganas have a natural affinity for it. Try to light the candle with your mind."

"We did this yesterday—" I start, but she cuts me off.

"And now it is today."

I stare at the unlit wick with malice, trying to summon that inner warmth again. I picture a tiny flame, willing it into existence. Minutes pass, but the candle remains stubbornly unlit .

"This is useless," I mutter, tugging on my purple hair in frustration.

"You're still overthinking it," Amara says. "Fire is passion, energy. Don't try to force it. Feel it." I can hear the notes of annoyance in her tone now. I don't blame her. I'm furious with myself so how she is still so calm is beyond me.

Inhaling deeply, I close my eyes, thinking about the warmth of a flame. I remember sitting by the fireplace at home before everything went to crap, the comforting flicker of the living flame gas fire, which my mother loved and insisted on, even though my dad thought it was too fancy for our small house. The way the flames danced and swayed. A wave of homesickness washes over me, followed by a surge of anger at everything that's been taken from me.

Suddenly, I hear a whoosh. My eyes snap open to see the candle blazing—far more intensely than it should. The flame is nearly a foot high, its heat uncomfortably intense.

"Fucking hell!" I yelp, scrambling backwards, feeling the tips of my hair singe.

Amara waves her hand, and the flame instantly shrinks to a normal size. "Powerful but uncontrolled," she observes. "You tapped into your emotions that time. That can be a potent source of magick, but it's also dangerous if you can't keep it in check."

I stare at the now calmly burning candle. "Why can't I do this? "

"You did. Now, you need to learn to harness that power without losing control."

"Does fire hurt vampires?" I ask absently, staring at the burnt hair bunched up in my hand.

"Normal vampires, yes. You, not really."

"So it can't kill me?"

"Your own magick can never kill you."

"Why not?"

"The magick within you is a part of you, as intrinsic as your blood or bones. It's an extension of your life force. While it can certainly cause damage if misused, it can't extinguish your own essence."

I nod slowly, processing this information. "So I can't accidentally blow myself up or anything? That's good to know, I guess."

"No, you can't," Amara confirms with a small smile. "But you can definitely blow me up, so if we could have a bit more focus and a little less wallowing, that would be appreciated."

"Fuck. I'm sorry. I didn't think…" I chew my lip, feeling terrible.

She smiles. "Don't apologise, just do better. Power like yours requires respect and control."

I sigh, dropping my handful of hair so it swings loosely around me again. "Control. Right. That seems to be the theme of the day."

Amara's expression softens slightly. "I know it's frustrating, Violet. But you're making progress, even if it doesn't feel like it. Remember, you've only just begun to tap into these abilities. "

"I know," I mutter. "There's so much at stake. I feel like I'm running out of time to figure this all out."

"The more you push, the harder it will be. Magick responds to intention and emotion, yes, but also to patience and understanding. You need to work with it, not against it."

Closing my eyes, I focus intently on the candle's wick, willing it to ignite. A tiny spark flickers to life, then sputters out. I grit my teeth, trying again.

"Concentrate, Violet," Amara encourages. "Feel the heat, the energy."

"I can't do this with my eyes closed. I'm not good with visuals in my mind. I need to see it." I take a deep breath and glare at the wick. Suddenly, it bursts into life, a small, steady flame dancing on the candle.

"See!" I exclaim, pointing at it.

"Good," Amara nods. "Now, try to make it bigger."

I furrow my brow, imagining the flame growing. It flares up, nearly doubling in size, before shrinking back down.

"Careful," Amara warns. "Control is key."

I try again, this time attempting to grow the flame gradually. It works for a moment, but then my concentration slips. The flame shoots up abruptly, startling me.

"Grrrrr!"

Amara quickly waves her hand, reducing the flame to its original size. "You're getting there. Again."

Eventually, after what feels like hours, Amara finally calls for a break. I flop back to the floor, exhausted both physically and mentally .

"You're making good progress," Amara says, handing me a bottle of water.

I sit up and take it gratefully, gulping down the cool liquid. "It doesn't feel like it," I admit. "Everything's so unpredictable. One minute I can barely light a candle, the next I'm nearly setting the room on fire."

Amara sits beside me, her expression thoughtful. "That's not uncommon for new practitioners, especially those with strong innate powers. Your Morgana heritage, combined with your vampire nature, makes you uniquely powerful. But it also means you have more to learn in terms of control."

I nod, twirling the empty bottle in my hands, craving liquid of a different kind now. "I just wish I could do more. Levitating books and lighting candles isn't exactly going to help me."

"Perhaps not directly," Amara agrees. "But these exercises are building your connection to your magick, strengthening your control. That foundation is crucial for more advanced spells."

She stands, offering me a hand. "Come. Let's try something a bit more challenging before we finish for the day. You still have classes to attend."

Curious, despite my exhaustion, I allow her to pull me to my feet. Amara leads me to the centre of the room, then steps back.

"One of the most useful skills for a sorceress is the ability to create shields," she explains. "They can protect you from physical and magical attacks alike. I want you to try creating one now. "

I nod, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach. "Okay. How do I do that?"

"Imagine a bubble of energy surrounding you," Amara instructs. "Feel it forming, growing stronger with each breath."

Keeping my eyes open, I picture the shield she described. I try to summon that inner warmth again, imagining it expanding outward to form a protective barrier.

"Good," Amara says. "Now, hold that shield in place. I'm going to test it."

My gaze flies to hers. "Wait, what?"

Before I can protest further, Amara flicks her wrist. A small ball of light shoots from her fingertips towards me. I flinch instinctively when the light quivers violently but then dissipates harmlessly about a foot from my body.

"I did it?" I say, surprised.

Amara nods, looking pleased. "You did. Now, let's see how strong you can make it."

She sends another light ball, this one larger and faster. It breaks through my hastily reinforced shield, striking me in the shoulder. It doesn't hurt, but I feel a slight tingle where it hit.

"Again," Amara commands.

We repeat the exercise. Sometimes, I manage to block her attacks; other times, they break through. As we continue, I feel myself growing more attuned to the energy of the shield. It becomes easier to summon, to shape and strengthen .

Then, without warning, Amara sends three light balls at once, from different directions. I panic, my concentration faltering. The shield collapses completely, and all three hit me, leaving me flat on my back on the floor.

"A little warning next time?" I gasp.

"Your enemies won't give you a warning," Amara says, her voice stern. "Nor will they line up waiting for their turn to fight you. You need to be prepared for group attacks."

Frustration and anger bubble up inside me, but also a flicker of resignation. She's right.

"You've done well today, Violet," Amara says. "You've made more progress than I dared hope for in a single day."

I manage a tired smile. "Thanks. I still feel like I have so much to learn, though."

"You do," Amara agrees. "But you've taken the first steps. With continued practice, you'll be amazed at what you can achieve."

I nod, trying to summon that belief. It's fragile, but it's there—a small spark of hope in the darkness.