Chapter 14 - Janella
“Okay, so the book says you should be able to pull the magic out to your fingertips,” Riley said, his nose in the book as he sat on the bench across from me.
I was stretching on the ground just in front of him.
He’d been joining me in training for a couple of weeks now.
Each time he sat on the bench and watched.
And each time, I felt nervous and unsure about whether he should be there.
I didn't know what he could even teach me, considering he wasn't a witch.
I chewed on my cheek. I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed spending time with him, but I felt maybe he could be spending his time better doing something else. “You know you don’t have to come every time I’m out here. I can do this alone.”
“I want to be helpful, and I want to be the first person to see your ability.”
He looked back at the book and flipped to the next page. “Do you know what your magic is going to be like? It says there are so many different abilities and strengths.”
“I don’t know. I won’t until I’ve been using it a little more.” I'd been trying, but I was still unable to pull it out.
I’d only managed to do small things so far. I could pull the magic to my fingertips, and I watched as little fireworks were forming around my fingers. I could feel the heat underneath, and it was hot. But I had only used it one time to knock him over.
Riley had been reading books and explaining anything he thought was interesting. I wasn’t sure who was digging deeper for information between us.
I pulled myself up and moved closer to him. “Okay, put the book aside. You said we were doing something different today.”
He shut the book and pulled himself up. “Alright, if you're all ready.”
“I'm ready. What are we working on today?”
“Today we are going to work on your stamina.”
I frowned. “I can’t even pull my magic out, and you want to work on my stamina?”
He nodded. “Not for your magic. Your stamina, your muscles, and your body. You need to have strength to use magic. I think part of the issue is you don't have much muscle to hold your magic.”
I sighed, knowing better than to question or argue with him. If I did, he would have some information from the books to back him up. “Okay, so what are we doing today?”
He smirked. “Well, I figure a run to start with and after that some sparing.”
My body froze. “You’re joking, right?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. Running will warm you up.”
I hated it. He took me for a mile run, where my legs felt like jelly when we got back. I sprawled myself on the grass when we arrived back and waved a hand. “I surrender. Let them lock me up. I can at least sleep the entire time and never feel like I'm dying internally.”
He snorted as he stood over me. “No. Now come on.”
I groaned. “My legs hurt. My feet ache.”
“You're just out of shape. Come on, up.”
“But I like this shape.”
He gave me his charming smile. “I do too.”
“Then why do we have to change my shape?”
“I’m changing your strength, Janella. It’s not like I’m telling you to put on a six-pack of abs. Now, quit whining and get up.” He held his hand out and helped pull me back up.
We were standing in the middle of the park closest to the city hall. It was the same park they used for training everyone, so it was equipped with padded mats and fake swords. There was a small shed where everything was stashed.
Riley had already pulled the training mat out. He stood by one corner, and I stood by the other. We’d been spared a couple of times already, all with me ending on my back. Riley wasn’t hard on me either. I was just that out of shape.
I had focused so much on work that I didn’t put working out on my list of things to do regularly, if at all. It showed. I was weak, and I was a little embarrassed with myself at times.
I threw a punch at Riley, but he blocked it. I pulled my knee up to drive into his stomach, which he pivoted. Everything I did, he had a way to get out of. We went in circles. I was trying to find some angle to pin him, and he was gliding out of everything with ease.
I was covered in sweat, and he was bouncing on his heels across from me. He waved his hands, not even breaking a sweat. “Whenever you're ready.”
I leaned over, grabbing onto my knees. “I’m ready for a break.
” I stepped off the mat and threw myself back onto the grass.
I panted for air. As much as I hated every second of this, I felt a little happy after every workout.
I knew I was never going to be doing things at his speed, but at least I felt like I was making improvements.
“You did well.” He moved closer, handing me a water bottle. “Getting better each day.”
“I hope you know, I’m plotting your death.”
He smirked. “What’s new?”
I couldn’t help but smile.
We went home to shower and then headed over to the infirmary.
The infirmary had two separate areas. The left side was open to the public.
A child coming in needing care, a mother who rolled her ankle.
The right side was for all the patients affected by the bonds.
They were careful who went in that direction.
We headed to the right and down the hallway. It was rather quiet today, which I welcomed. There were eight beds, and only three were in use. Cassie was standing near the medicine cabinet and smiled when she spotted us.
“Oh, morning. I didn’t know you two were coming in today.”
“I had a meeting that was canceled, and figured a trip was needed. It’s been a few days.”
“Well, since you're here, Riley, would you want to see if you can heal something for us?”
My eyebrows went up at her words. “Healing?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Healing is a pretty basic part of magic, but it does require a lot of concentration. We have someone who has a nasty gash.”
“I don't want to screw up.”
“They aren't awake. If you don't heal it, we can just stitch it up.” She hooked my arm, tugging me down the rows of beds until she stopped at the private room. She pulled me inside.
A man was lying on the bed unconscious. I could see a huge gash on her high thigh and marks all down her arms. My eyes widened at his state. Someone was stitching up his arms.
“What happened?”
“He was trying to calm someone and got hurt in the crossfire.”
She pulled me closer, and I took a seat in the chair. I swallowed, nervous as I looked at his wound. I shook my head and tried to focus.
Healing was simple. You just focused on mending the wound. Imagine the cells stitch together, the skin forming, and the muscles blending back into one.
I could feel my magic just underneath my skin, but it wouldn't come out. I pushed my magic further, trying to heal the wound. But nothing happened. The wound remained open, and I tried even harder. I felt dizzy as I pushed the magic forward, but nothing came.
“Janella?”
“Just give me a moment.” I snapped, trying to heal it. But the blood continued, and the wound stayed open.
I pulled my hands back and looked at Cassie. She quickly stepped in, starting to stitch the wound up. I took a step back and bit hard on my cheek.
“It's okay,” Cassie explained. “It takes time.”
I’d been practicing for weeks, and yet I couldn’t heal a simple wound. Healing was supposed to be easy, and I couldn't do it. It was frustrating how hard I’d been working, and I’d gotten nowhere.
Cassie gave me a soft smile, but I couldn’t return it. I felt like I was a waste of a person.
“You’re still learning,” she whispered as she started to wrap the wound.
I swallowed and nodded my head.
“I’ll go grab some supplies.” I pushed myself out of my chair and headed down the hallway. I pushed open the supply room and stepped inside. I took a couple of deep breaths, trying to remain calm.
I sniffled, and the door opened. I turned and found Riley standing there. His eyes widened, and he frowned as he searched my face. “Janella. What’s wrong? What are you doing in here?”
“I was just grabbing supplies.” I frantically turned, trying to look for something to grab, but I didn’t know what they needed.
“Why do you look like you're going to cry?”
I paused and tried to push the emotions down. I shouldn’t be the one falling apart when there were injured people out there. They deserved to be the ones crying, not me.
“I’m fine.”
He moved closer. “What’s wrong?”
I turned to him, rubbing my hands together nervously. “I can’t help. I’m trying to use my magic, and it’s doing nothing.”
“You’re still new to this.”
“Yes, that’s what everyone is telling me.” I shook my head. “I think I’m going to head home early.”
He frowned. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I just want to be left alone for a bit.” I pushed past him, not bothering to tell anyone where I was going. I slipped out the front door and out into the fresh air.
I headed down the sidewalk and started on my way home. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to go home either. I would be surrounded by books and notes about magic.
I turned and decided to just go for a walk around town. Maybe it would help clear my head.
I rubbed my hands on my arms as I waited for the light to turn green so I could cross the street. I was so focused on the light that I hadn’t noticed there were people behind me.
“Well, look at who it is.”
I looked over my shoulder, and my entire body stiffened up. I knew their face even though they had aged a little since I last saw them. Tyler, Lucas, and Dustin. Riley’s best friends in high school were the entourage to his bullying. Wherever he was, they were.
I swallowed, trying not to let any emotion form on my face.
“Haven’t seen you in Riverville in a while,” Dustin said, stepping in front of me. Tyler and Lucas were staying behind me, caging me in.
“I’ve been back for a couple of weeks.”
“I know. Married to Riley. Silly how that all turned out.”
I looked at the light, hoping it would turn green. Lord, was this light taking forever? I felt like it was taking longer than normal.
“Still as weak as ever. The shy gal never changes.”
I frowned now, unable to help myself. “I’m just trying to get home. Can you all just move?”
“Oh, maybe she’s a little feisty now.”
“How exactly did you bag Riley? The man has a type, and you weren’t it.”
“Maybe she’s a devious little thing. I bet she's a good lay.”
I tried to ignore them, keeping my eyes on the light. It turned green, and I took a step forward. Dustin pulled a hand out, stopping me, moving into my space. “We weren’t done talking.”
“We weren’t talking,” I said, looking at all three of them. “I have things to do.”
“Like Riley?”
“I’ll be she does him good.”
I felt rage building up in my gut. I swallowed, trying to push it back down. “Stop it.”
“Why, because it’s true?”
“How else would you bag him? Why else would he marry someone so beneath him?”
Dustin bent down, his face growing closer to mine. “I bet you give great head. That’s got to be what it is.”
I felt my hands shaking at my side. The anger is bubbling to the surface. “Move, Dustin.”
“Or what? What are you going to do, Janella? You are a weak little nobody. You haven’t changed at all.”
“I said move.” I pulled my hand up to push him, but suddenly the magic came shooting out of my hands, and I watched as Dustin went flying backward. He flew across the sidewalk, slamming into the light pole at the other end. I watched him slump to the ground unmoved, and my eyes widened in horror.
“What did you do!” Tyler yelled.
My hands were shaking for another reason now as I stared at Dustin on the ground, unmoved. I couldn’t believe what I saw, what I’d done.
What did I do? What did I do? What did I do!!
Oh my god! Was he alive!? Had I just killed him? I didn’t mean to do it. I just wanted him to move so I could cross the sidewalk. I just wanted to get away. I didn’t mean to hurt him. I didn’t even know that I could do that.
I shook my head, my eyes unable to move away from Dustin.
I was then shoved hard into the ground. I hardly had a moment to catch myself as Lucas started to yell at me. “What did you do! You murdered him! I’m going to tell everyone about what you just did. You need to be locked up!”
“No, it was an accident.” I tried to push myself up, but my entire body was shaking now. I couldn’t have actually hurt him. Dustin had to be okay. I’m sure injured, but he had to be okay.
I felt tears forming as I shook my head.
“You’re dangerous!”
I tried to shake the moment off. I couldn’t believe what I’d done. I felt the tears burning, and I needed something to center me.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I pulled my head up and found Riley standing behind me. His eyes were filled with rage, staring right at Tyler and Lucas. His hands were in tight fists as he glared at them.
“She attacked Dustin! She just threw him across the street!” Tyler yelled, pointing at Dustin. His voice is climbing higher. “She needs to be under arrest! Lock her up! He could be dead!”
A groaning filled the space, and my head snapped towards where Dustin lay. He was moving, and I felt relief hit me knowing he was alive.
Riley bent down, cupping my face. “Did they hurt you?”
I shook my head, trying to pull myself together.
“She attacked Dustin!” Lucas yelled. “Riley, she needs to be locked up.”
Riley helped me get up and dusted off my jacket. Then he turned his attention towards the guys. “What happened?”
“We told you! She attacked Dustin!”
“It was an accident. I swear.” I felt my voice shaking, hoping he believed me.