Powers

People who have powers are few and far in between and each one of them carries a different gift. Some can control lightning, temperatures, air, earth, and so on. The list goes on and on but only a rare few can control more than one.

My brother can use two powers, air, and water. Me on the other hand... I nearly died when I was five and when I didn't, I came back different. I don't have a limit on what I can use but when my parents found out about it, they forbid me to ever use more than two powers.

And to be completely honest, I didn't. I never had a reason to and I didn't ever want to draw unwanted attention to our family but when put in this situation, I'm terrified! I don't really know how to control my powers! They come up when I'm scared or when I feel a need to protect myself!!

Only now that I'm in this situation, I have to hold them back no matter what! Even if I'm getting the shit beat out of me... I nervously lick my lips as I say "Can you just start out with giving me pointers? You know... I'll be honest. I've never really fought before and I don't even really like violence..."

Thane shakes his arms out and asks "Then why'd you sign up for this?" I feel like crying and screaming 'It wasn't meeeeeeh!!' but all I can do is bite my tongue. Thane nods and says "Don't worry, I won't kill you."

I bark out a sarcastic/nervous laugh as I mumble "Thanks..." Suddenly, he's before me and his fist is inches before my face! I quickly lean back and to the side, feeling the burn of his knuckles against the skin on my chin.

I stumble back and fall on my ass with a look of fear on my face. My eyes are the size of saucers as I reach up and feel the thin, bloody line left on the side of my chin. Thane turns to look at me and gives me an impressed look while saying "You've got good reflexes, good. Now, let's begin for real this time. I won't stop after I strike."

That wasn't real!? I was about to eat my own teeth!! I quickly scramble up to my feet and yell "I thought you said you wouldn't kill me!?" Thane walks back to his spot and turns around to face me as he says "I won't. They'll bring you to the infirmary and patch you back up."

I gape at him in disbelief but he remains unbothered as he says "My last roommate was three times your size and he was still killed. You need to work even harder if you plan to survive." This time he moves so fast, I don't even see him!

I'm hit from behind and I go flying face-first into the mat. I struggle to breathe as Thane says "Get up, little boy or you'll be smashed into pieces on the battlefield!" When I can finally get air back into my lungs, my eyes begin burning with anger.

He said he wasn't going to take it easy on me but here he is, pacing back and forth behind me as I struggle to catch my breath. An enemy won't wait... I grit my teeth and push myself up off the ground with my insides burning.

I roll my shoulders and cringe when something painful pops. I look up at Thane and say "You know what... you're right. I plan on surviving this so I can personally kill someone. If I die out there... I'll never be able to kill that idiot."

Thane looks mildly impressed and nods his head saying "Again!" I shake out my trembling hands and try to control my breathing. Thane has the gift of speed, I need to amp up mine! This time, I see him coming and when I see his foot headed straight for my head, I quickly duck and spin out of the way, surprising both of us.

Thane nods in approval and before I can blink, he's before me again, his fist is flying at my face again but this time it's much faster than the last time! I jerk back to get out of the way like last time but suddenly, my foot is frozen to the mat!

This time his fist hits my jaw as the ice breaks and I fall back. When I land on my ass, I see Thane's large military boot coming straight at me! Without thinking, I lift my hand and use air to create a barrier.

When his foot hits the barrier, he looks down at me in surprise before I spin around and take the foot still covered in ice and kick him in the side. He quickly lifts his arm and blocks the blow, ice shattering around us but before he can attack me again, I quickly roll away and get up.

Blood fills my mouth but I ignore it as I lock onto Thane. He's still holding back... I can feel it. Thane looks me over again before saying "A rare power holder... you may just survive if you stop holding back."

All those classes I took with my brother as a kid are nothing compared to this! This is bloody, violent, brutal, and even a little cruel. This is survival and I suddenly understand why Titus wants us to fight like this.

Fine, no more holding back. I will let my instincts take over and fight like I'm fighting to the death. I won't stop until it's done. As if noticing a difference in me, his stance suddenly changes as he says "That's more like it."