Element Restraint

Chapter 8: Erik

I slam into the wall with a loud thud. Needles of pain spread through my body when I hit the stone. I look at Malyk through strands of hair. He gives a small smile of accomplishment. He can not wait to brag to everyone that he was able to strike the prince in training today.

His smile melts off of his face when he sees me rise slowly. With a quick swipe of my hand, I pull him to his feet. Just before I can grab him with my hands, he disappears into a dark mist.

I flip around the room, watching the dark air begin to move around. Holding the palm of my hand up, I blow a gust of wind around, causing the dark cloud to scatter. Malyk begins to struggle to transform back as I blow the cloud around. When he finally transforms, his skin is palen.

I flip through the air pulling a knife to my hands. I land on him, placing the knife to his neck.

"Yield," I command him in a low voice. He lets out a grunt. I feel him trying to rip the air from my lungs. I am stronger than him with my abilities, and he knows it will never work.

I press the knife harder to his neck.

"Yield!" I say firmer to him.

"I yield." He croaks.

I remove the knife from his neck and rise off of him. Everyone begins to clap around us, but I pay them no attention.

"Thank you, your highness, for demonstrating that for us." The teacher says to us. I give a small nod to him and turn to the rest of the class.

The room is full of sons and daughters of the Air Realm's Grand Dukes, and Archdukes. Anyone that is so-called blessed with the ability of Air. A gift to become godlike.

I search the crowd for my younger brother, Imir. He sits in the very back leaning against the wall. He practically blends in with the shadows of the room with his dark black jumpsuit they make us all wear in the training room.

He gives me a hard stare. If he were not a Fireling I would think he could burn a hole in my head.

"Do you have any advice for the class before you must return to your duties, your highness?" The teacher asks me, snapping me back to reality. I tuck my hands behind myself and focus on the whole classroom.

"Never fight with emotion," I say loud enough for the whole class to hear. I call Malyk, who has sat back down, back into the ring.

"Strike me," I command him. He does not hesitate to hit me. When I quickly dodge, he goes for another punch to the stomach. I grab his wrist, angering him. He is embarrassed that he is losing.

I purposely move slowly when he goes to punch me, allowing him to strike me in the face. I begin to taste blood from my lip. Just as I suspected, Malyk slows upon his next strikes allowing me to slam his body to the ground.

"You see," I announce to the crowd leaving Malyk on the ground. "Malyk gets cocky and slows down, causing him to hesitate his strike."

I feel his anger move through the air. I whip around and send an air blast at Malyk as he attempts to charge me.

Everyone claps again at me. It felt good to strike Malyk for a reason. As he returns to the bleachers, I can tell he is angry. He crouches to the ground in the front row and whips the blood from his nose, never taking his eyes off me.

I can feel the hunger coming off him in the room. He wants my throne. He craves my throne and my power, but he can never have it.

~~~~

After I leave I go straight to my room. I just need to get some form of rest before tonight. The stupid party I am forced to go to is tonight. Oh, my stars! How I hate parties.