Ignite (Solar Academy Book 1)

by Raven Steele

  The spark grew bigger. By the way Linda screamed, it was burning her flesh. I only hoped she was distracted enough not to give my mother any more commands.

  A bright light flashed at my side, followed by an electric crack. For a moment, I thought Arrow had recovered and was tossing around lightning bolts again, but then I heard a man’s deep voice say, “Hudson!”

  Hudson cursed. That’s when I knew who it was.

  Stefan Cain. Hudson’s father.

  Hudson said to me, “Whatever happens, don’t stop.”

  In my peripheral vision, I could see the dark silhouette of a man storming towards us, but I didn’t dare look over for fear of breaking my hold on the necklace. I was using the last of my reserves. Only Hudson’s touch kept me from running empty altogether. I sensed he was the same.

  Only our sapphire flames kept my mother from burning us alive.

  Hudson’s father neared us. I expected to feel his hand on me, followed by him jerking me away from Hudson, but instead he shoved his hands towards my mother, adding his ice to the fray.

  For the first time, my mother stumbled.

  Linda’s screams grew louder and more piercing. My flames had grown several inches higher, and they burned the bottom of her face. I didn’t mean to do it, but I couldn’t control them so precisely on such a small surface.

  “Don’t stop,” Ireland shouted from Bonnie’s side. She held a rag to Bonnie’s bleeding head, even as blood ran down her own face.

  A pop sounded, and my flames died. Without them, I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. My hand slipped free from Hudson’s.

  I glanced up at Linda. She had fallen backwards unconscious, the necklace no longer around her throat. I didn’t even see the chain the athame had hung from. It was just gone.

  I whipped my head around. My mother had also fallen over. Hudson’s arms had dropped to his side, but his father continued to blast my mother with his ice.

  My heart raced, and I jumped to my feet. “Stop! You’re going to kill her.”

  “Good,” he growled, through perfectly white teeth. “It’s what I came to do.”

  Grant stood a few feet away, the corners of his mouth tilted upward. He must’ve teleported Hudson’s father here.

  I sprinted after him. “No!”

  “Stay back, girl!”

  But I wasn’t going to stop. Not after everything that had happened.

  Mr. Stenberg also hobbled over, favoring his right leg. “Please, listen to us, Stefan. We have new evidence.”

  “The judges have made their ruling.” Mr. Cain saw me coming and rotated his other hand towards me. Before he could blast me with ice, Hudson shot him first. A stream of ice straight to his chest. Mr. Cain’s eyes widened in surprise, and he fell over, clutching his heart.

  Hudson jogged up to me, breathing heavily.

  “Is he dying?” I gasped.

  “No. He’ll thaw out soon enough. You better get your mother out of here while you can.”

  I searched his eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”

  He touched my cheek tenderly, his mouth tight as if holding back a thousand words. “Just go.”

  I nodded and sprinted to my mother. Mr. Stenberg came with me. We both dropped to our knees at my mother’s body. Her eyes were open, blurry with tears as she stared into the dark sky.

  “Mom?”

  She blinked, releasing the hot tears. “Did I hurt anyone?”

  Mr. Stenberg leaned over to look at her. “Not anything that can’t be repaired with magic.”

  I wasn’t sure if he was lying or not, but I appreciated the answer.

  “I broke the necklace, mom,” I said. “Linda won’t be able to control you ever again.”

  She rolled her lips into her mouth and let out a shaky breath.

  I hooked my arm behind her back and helped her to sit up. “We need to go. Now. The Enforcers just showed up.”

  My mother stared at the destruction. A few teachers and several students lay on the ground, hurt and crying. Those who weren’t hurt helped the injured. From what I could tell, Mr. Stenberg was right. No one had died.

  “I did all this,” she whispered.

  “Linda did this,” Mr. Stenberg said firmly.

  She slowly looked up at him. “You’ve always been so kind to me when I didn’t deserve it.”

  “They used you,” he replied. “You’ve always deserved kindness.”

  “Come on, Mom! We’ll talk later.” I pulled her to her feet. Soot had stained her gown black and gray. Ash fell to her feet.

  I tried to pull her forward, but she jerked her hand away. “I can’t go.”

  “What? Why? You have to!”

  She shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry, sweetie. So, so sorry. I can’t go. I killed people, and I have to pay for those crimes. Our kind need to see justice prevail.”

  “But you were—”

  She silenced me with a finger to my mouth. “I was controlled, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t play a part. I should’ve walked away from Hawk long before he got his hooks into me. I guess I wanted to impress him, impress myself.”

  Her eyes wandered to Linda, who was being bound by two teachers with glowing rope. “And Linda, my best friend, was there to encourage me. I should’ve listened to you.” She turned to Mr. Stenberg. “You were my true friend.”

  “Please, Aurora,” he said to her. “Run. I can’t bear it knowing you’re in that awful place. Who knows what they will do to you.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t live with myself if I run. I have to turn myself in.”

  I stared at her in shock, old wounds on my heart shredding back open. My mother was going to walk away from me. Again.

  Chapter 33

  I threw my arms around her, surprisingly even myself. Angry hot tears rolled down my cheeks. “I won’t let you go.”

  She held me tightly, like she did when I was little, and stroked the back of my head. “Shhhh. It will be okay. Tell the Enforcers everything that happened.” She pushed me back gently and looked into my eyes. “It has to be this way.”

  “I don’t understand. I did all of this for you. I woke you up, I—”

  “And those were good things. You freed me and you exposed Linda. You probably don’t realize it, but you just saved a lot of lives. And who knows? Maybe I will be found innocent.”

  “How?” I asked exasperated.

  “There are still good people among our kind. Maybe they will see what was done to me and show mercy.”

  “We will find those good people,” Mr. Stenberg insisted. “I won’t rest until you are truly free.”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

  I closed my eyes, my heart breaking all over again. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

  My mother glanced behind me, at Hudson and his father. It looked like Mr. Cain was coming to.

  “We don’t have much time,” she said and gripped my hands. “Tell me about your life. Everything I’ve missed.”

  “In sixty seconds?” I laughed through several hitched breaths.

  “Do you have a boyfriend?” she asked.

  I laughed even harder at this. “Yeah. He just about killed his own father protecting me and you from him.”

  Her eyes lit up in understanding. “Oh! That is a bit complicated.”

  “Tell me about it. He’s also can absorb my powers, and I his.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Why are you frowning?”

  “Just be careful. It’s a lot of power shared between you, and it can turn deadly if either of you hunger for more.” She smoothed back my hair. “But I don’t think that will happen to you. I’m sure your father raised you well. How is he?”

  “Good. He’s sheriff now.” It felt so weird having a conversation with my mother right now. I could almost pretend there weren’t injured people being carted past us, or ghosts still floating through the air.

  “He was a good man. Tell him I’m sorry for hurting him.”
<
br />   Her eyes flickered worriedly to Hudson and his father again. “I need you to know that I love you. I’ve always loved you and always will. Stay true to yourself and don’t let anyone tell you you’re not good enough. All you need is your honor and your integrity. You are powerful enough all on your own.”

  “Mom, I don’t—”

  “Trust your instincts, and trust your heart.”

  “Aurora Favreau,” Mr. Cain’s voice boomed from behind us. “You are officially under the control of the ISA. Submit now, or we will take your life.”

  She inhaled a deep breath and smiled at me. “It’s time to do the right thing. I love you, Rose.”

  “No, Mom, please.” I tried to hold onto her, but she let my hand go. Mr. Stenberg rested his hands on my shoulders to keep me from going after her.

  Mr. Cain met her halfway and dangled iron handcuffs from his hand. “These will prevent you from using your ability.”

  “Are those really necessary?” Hudson said to him. “She’s going willingly.”

  “Of course they are, son. This woman is a murderer.”

  “It’s okay,” my mother said to Hudson. Mr. Cain secured her hands. She glanced back at me, then at Hudson. “Keep her safe.”

  He palmed his heart. “I swear it.”

  My chest tightened so hard I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t watch my mother being taken away from me again. My bottom lip trembled and tears, hot and angry, ran down my cheek.

  Bonnie laid a comforting hand on my arm. I hadn’t even seen her approach.

  Mr. Stenberg leaned forward and whispered, “I know people within the ISA. I’ll make sure she’s protected.”

  I nodded numbly. Every part of me felt so hollow and empty. I’d fooled myself into thinking I could have my mother back.

  Hudson followed my mother all the way to a van that had pulled up moments ago. He helped her into the backseat and glanced back at me with sad eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” he mouthed.

  I couldn’t respond. The pain in my heart had taken all the words. I wanted to collapse into bed and never wake up.

  Coach Tom and Ms. Adams, along with a few others, escorted Linda to the same van that held my mother. Ireland trailed behind, watching everything closely as if Linda might try to escape.

  Halfway there, Linda squirmed around and threw her head back our direction. She shouted, “You’re all going to pay for this!” She found me in the crowd. “Especially you. You don’t know what you’ve done. You’re—”

  Ireland punched her in the face. Linda’s head jerked, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. She slumped over unconscious, but the teachers held her upright and dragged her away.

  Ireland saluted me, but not even her humor could make me feel less empty. I collapsed to my knees, unable to stand any longer. I couldn’t even feel my fire anymore. It, too, had retreated somewhere deep within me to mourn.

  Mr. Stenberg knelt next to me. “Why don’t we get you inside?”

  “I just want to rest here for a little while.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. “I meant what I said earlier. I’ll protect her.” He straightened and to Bonnie said, “Will you stay with her? I should help the others.”

  “Of course.” She sat next to me but didn’t say a word, which I appreciated.

  While Linda was loaded into the van, my eyes roamed the school grounds. Most of the students had gone inside, including those who were injured, Arrow among them. Grant and Maisy talked to Jane, the school nurse, probably about Arrow.

  Hudson stood a few feet behind them while his father spoke to two other men who had arrived moments ago. Dressed the same as Mr. Cain in dark suits and black ties, they could only be more Enforcers. Each of them looked pleased at having finally captured an awake Aurora, though none of them had anything to do with it.

  Hudson glanced from them to me, seemingly torn between two worlds. One where his father existed to protect both humans and supernaturals from rogue, power-hungry supernaturals, and then my world, where it was only me and my friends. One path would likely lead to greatness, and the other could ruin his reputation for years.

  I looked away from him. I didn’t want to see which path he chose.

  Levi and a few other seniors remained outside to assist the teachers in cleaning up the damage and putting out fires. The SUV Linda had tossed at us was completely engulfed in flames, as well as several trees and bushes.

  After helping to secure Linda into the back of the van, Ireland jogged towards me and Bonnie. She collapsed onto the ground in front of us, arms splayed wide. “Anyone else feel like getting wasted for a week?”

  “We’re underage,” Bonnie said, her voice tired.

  Ireland groaned in Bonnie’s direction. “I’m too tired to give you the sarcastic beatdown you deserve for saying that.” She glanced at me. “You okay?”

  I didn’t know how to answer. There weren’t words to describe how I was feeling. Part of me was incredibly grateful for my friends who had fought by my side despite overwhelming odds. I never thought I’d have such love and support. But those good feelings were smothered by overwhelming grief at the loss of my mother again.

  Ireland rolled onto her stomach and propped her chin up on her hands, elbows bent. “I know the situation seems bleak, but your mom’s awake. And she’s innocent. Think about that. The whole world has known her as a murderous bitch—”

  “Ireland,” Bonnie scolded.

  “But now we know she was being controlled. So even though the ISA has your mother, they also have Linda. They’ll get the truth out of her and then your mother has to be exonerated. So don’t feel so down. We did a good thing tonight.”

  I shifted my gaze back to the van as it drove away, wishing I could see my mother’s face. They had Linda, which meant they’d uncover all of her secrets. And when they did, they’d have to let my mother go. Right?

  Hope sparked in my chest, reigniting my flames. They settled low in my stomach, a slow burn but one that gave me new resolve.

  A lone ghost floated past us, the only one left. A soldier missing an arm. He wandered back and forth, not looking at anything specific. He appeared lost. It reminded me of how I had felt when I’d first come to Solar Academy. I had no idea who I was or who I wanted to be. But then I’d made friends, good ones, met Hudson, and learned to control my power.

  “Heads up,” Ireland whispered to me and Bonnie.

  I looked up. Ms. Pearson approached us with the hardened face of a warrior. It didn’t surprise me.

  She stopped in front of us and stared down. “I hope you girls learned your lesson.”

  “And what lesson would that be?” Ireland asked.

  “To stay out of business that doesn’t involve you.”

  “I’m pretty sure my mother is my business,” I said. My voice sounded tired, even to my ears.

  “Not when she gave up all her rights when she murdered those people.”

  Bonnie bristled. “She’s innocent. You saw for yourself what Linda was doing to her, and all under your nose.”

  “All this has yet to be proven, but in the meantime, you kids stay out of it, or I’ll make sure the Enforcers take you to the ISA to join Aurora.”

  She moved to turn away but I had a question for her. “The letters you’re storing in the archive room. The ones from Hawk to Wolf. Why do you have them?”

  This grabbed Ireland’s attention, and she sat up.

  Ms. Pearson’s cold gaze returned to mine. “How do you know about those?”

  “Just answer the lady,” Ireland said.

  Ms. Pearson’s right eye twitched. I thought she wasn’t going to respond, but then she said, “Linda became too careless and self-assured. She didn’t think anyone was smart enough to figure out what she was doing.”

  “But you didn’t,” Ireland stated.

  “We knew she was still working with the Foundation, infecting others with her poisoned views and using the same name as her stepfather. We were just waiting for h
er to slip up.”

  “You mean wait for her to wake up my mother,” I clarified, then paused. “That’s what you’ve wanted all along, isn’t it? Why?”

  “That can’t be true,” Bonnie said.

  We waited for Ms. Pearson to confirm it but instead she said, “Remember that you had a choice, Rose. You didn’t have to wake up your mother. Whatever comes next, you are partly responsible.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I asked, my pulse gaining speed.

  “Ms. Pearson!” Coach Tom called from the front entrance of the school. He motioned her over with his hand. “Emergency meeting.”

  “One last question,” Ireland said before Ms. Pearson hurried off. “Who is Wolf?”

  “Excuse me?” Ms. Pearson asked, her hand tapping against her thigh anxiously.

  “The letters Linda wrote and signed as Hawk. They were addressed to someone named Wolf. Who is that?”

  She pursed her lips. “We think it’s a student, so keep your head down and ears open. Report anything you find to the ISA or you will be punished, do you understand?”

  She didn’t wait for us to agree before she returned to the school for whatever meeting Coach Tom had mentioned. I’m sure the teachers had a lot to discuss, first and foremost what to do with me and my friends.

  “Who do you think Wolf is?” Bonnie asked us.

  I shook my head. “It could be anyone. Who knows how many were secretly working with Linda.”

  Hudson broke away from his father and came over to us. My heart lurched at the sight of him. I didn’t want to lose him too, and feared what he might say to me.

  At his approach, Ireland pulled herself to her feet then helped up Bonnie. “Let’s give these two some privacy.”

  “Hey,” I said to them before they could leave. “Thank you so much for your help tonight and your friendship. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”

  Bonnie smiled and her eyes teared.

  Ireland blew a kiss at me. “Until the end!”

  Hudson sat down next to me. I didn’t feel his coldness like I usually did. His strength was probably as drained as mine was.

  When Ireland and Bonnie reached the front steps, he said, “I explained everything to my father and the other Enforcers. They promised they’d grant your mother a fair trial before sentencing her.”