Twice Burned

Zoe

I heard the lock of the door as soon as Nathan and Quinn left the room, then footsteps away from the doorway, and that's when I made a run for it.

Getting up off the chair and sprinting over to the open balcony, I tried to remember how to open my wings on command. A few muscles controlled them, but many were for different directions rather than getting them out of their slots.

Finally, I got to the edge of the balcony and began to climb over the railing, ignoring my innocent childish fear of heights, when suddenly, I couldn't get up on the rail. I brought my foot up over the hand bar, but it was like I was kicking a wall. I couldn't move past the edge of the balcony no matter how hard I tried.

"NATHAN!" I screamed, looking back towards the room's door. He had charmed it so I couldn't leave, even if I tried running.

I looked up into the sky, and somehow got the wings on my back to unfold. When I took to the air, I started to climb up and up, but as soon as I could get over the invisible gate he had put, I hit something above me, the top of the concealed cage I was put in.

I groaned loudly and started to descend downwards, not very well either. When I got to the ground, I folded my wings up and went back inside and tried the doors, but as I had heard the click, it was locked.

I was trapped here.

I felt my breath quicken and I put my hands on top of my head. I didn't want to be here, I had to get out. 

Then I remembered the jewel on my forehead, containing Quinn's power. With a few huffs of air, I looked back to the doors and put my hands down from my head. Then, I gazed down at my palms, wondering if I could remember how to do this. Eight years ago, it would have been a simple spell, once I had gotten the hang of it, but now that I was 25, I didn't know if I could even remember how to get my eyes glowing again.

I had to try. I was desperate.

Bringing my hands up again, I pointed them towards the door and concentrated hard on the wood. I felt my eyes flicker, then spark, then start to glow as blue dust came from my fingertips. I smiled. I was doing it.

But the second the dust hit the door, I felt a massive force push me back a few feet and onto my spine. I almost hit my head on the ground again, but managed to graze away from it. My eyes dimmed and the dust seeped back into my hands.

Nathan had thought of everything.

I curled my body up onto the floor, holding my head like I was in an earthquake drill for my students. Only, the earthquake was inside my head. They didn't understand why I wanted to go home. They didn't understand what was going on.

I could still hear the screams from the dream I had that night echoing through my head. I could still see myself tied to the table, unable to move or use my temporary powers to free myself. My nightmares had seeped into my everyday life the moment I woke up that day in Quinn's bed once again. Nothing but pain and torture came for me here. 

I stayed there for many minutes before I finally heard the lock click and the door open, and I looked over to see Quinn walk in with a couple apples and a loaf of bread in her hands. I quickly sat up, hoping she didn't see me lying on the floor, helpless.

I stood up as soon as she looked at me and smoothed my silk pajama shirt out in front of me, watching her carefully as she put the food on the bed. I noticed the sheets still rumpled from waking up and our little brawl.

Quinn's actions were calm, but she looked anything but. I noticed some of her makeup running, like she had been crying, but I didn't care about her anymore.