Elle’s POV:
The calmer I grew, the more agitated I could feel him become. But I was helpless, having no idea what to do, how to help—
That was when Scylla clambered from my shoulder to Colton’s and began to gently nudge his cheek with the top of her head, as if comforting him.
I swallowed, not knowing whether to pull away or hug the Prince back.
Andreas’s POV:
I stared at the pair, almost entranced by this new version of Prince Colton that had presented itself. After a moment, I took hold of Kayden’s wrist and began to tug him away. “Come, Let’s give them space.”
Colton’s POV:
My breathing became harsher, and at this point I didn’t know who was giving strength to whom. I could faintly feel someone, most likely Scylla, rub herself against my cheek, but nothing more than that.
Finally, I pulled myself back before I could lose myself, shaking my head to clear away the dizziness overtaking me. Key was suddenly by my side, supporting me.
“My bad,” I muttered, shaking my head again, though it did nothing but increase the feeling. “I just felt a little off.”
Kaden’s POV:
I let myself be dragged off my Andreas, still shocked by the new personality of the prince. Once we were alone, I released a breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
“Did that really happen?” I whispered. “Did Prince Colton just…?”
Elle’s POV:
He looked like he was going to pass out right there and then.
My mind skipping back to when I had been the one in his position, when I had collapsed in front of him, and I quickly placed my hands on his shoulders, forcing him to meet my eyes. I ignored how my limbs felt like jelly, how utterly weak I was at the moment, focusing all of my scattered attention on him.
“Colton?” I asked, worry seeping into my voice. “Here, come sit down—Are you okay?”
Did I hurt you?
Andreas’s POV:
I leaned back against the cool wall of the corridor, but jerked sharply away when I heard a sizzling sound and turned to see a black burn mark spreading across the wallpaper.
“I… Have no idea..” I answered quietly. “I didn’t know they were so close….”
Colton’s POV:
I squeezed my eyes shut again, but opened them when Elliot forced me to meet his eyes. I was unfocused, my vision blurry. But this wasn’t about me. This was about him. I couldn’t make this about me. I was the prince. I needed to stay strong. If I wasn’t, they’d deem me as unworthy.
“I’m fine,” I rasped out, furrowing my eyebrows. “Just a little exhausted. Don’t worry about me.”
Kaden’s POV:
I sighed softly.
“I didn’t know, either…” I murmured. “Elliot just has that kind of ability, I guess… to make people like him instantly. I guess not even the prince is immune to that.”
I took over, our roles in the situation now reversing.
“How long was it when you last slept?” I whispered, but suddenly shook my head. “Don’t answer that. Go lie down in your bed, I’ll veing you water.”
Before he could protest, I placed a hand in the centre of his chest. “Don’t argue. It’s the least I can do after…” I swallowed thickly. “Yeah.”
Andreas’s POV:
Copper perched on the top of my ear, curling his tail around its base.
“I’m worried about him….” I said, referring to Elliot.
Colton’s POV:
Key immediately rushed to my side, pulling me over him so he could carry me to the room. I didn’t even bother protesting. I didn’t have the strength to do so.
With my head now hammering wildly, Key laid me gently on the bed, curling around me, a wing on me to keep me warm.
Kaden’s POV:
“So am I…” I replied. “I feel like there’s a lot… he isn’t telling us, you know?”
I poured cool water into a glass, watching my hand quiver as I held it, my fingers tightening around the smooth surface until the knuckles whitened.
My head spun, still trying to wrap itself around the horrible tangle of events that had just taken place. I had powers—Almost like Siren Song. Powers that I couldn’t control. I had used them on two people I cared about in the span of twenty minutes. Colton’s stony personality had been stripped away, leaving him gentle, caring. And now, I was crouching my his bedside, holding out the glass for him to take.
[TIME SKIP] Colton’s POV:
“I think the first thing you should start trying to do is simple demands,” I started, folding my arms. “Tell me to crouch down. Imagine there’s a river inside of you, but it’s blocked by a dam. Slowly will the water to flow out of the dam. Be gentle and careful—don’t push too much otherwise you’ll crack your dam.”
It had been a few days since I displayed my weakness in front of Elliot and the other two. To my mortification, I slept for nearly two days. I guess I had it coming for barely getting any sleep for that entire week. Thankfully, I didn’t receive any negative remarks. Nobody noticed I was gone, which was good.
I was finally starting to train Elliot in controlling his powers, and I hoped it would turn out okay.
I nodded slowly, trying my best to commit his instructions to heart. Be gentle… don’t crack your dam…. Sighing, I took a small step back and closed my eyes, reaching for the power source I knew was lodged within me. But my fingers kept coming up empty, my words dying in my mouth before they had the chance to form a song.
This was the first calm conversation I’d had with Colton since… before the Oath, and it felt admittedly nice to be with him again. Especially now that I’d glimpsed the hidden side of him, I found myself comforted by his presence, his proximity.
After a few more failed tries, I let out a short, exasperated exhale, clenching my jaw.
Colton’s POV:
“Don’t get irritated,” I instructed. “Keep calm. It’ll come gradually. Don’t rush it, either. Take your time.”
I have to admit, caring about someone like this felt foreign to me. All I had was my family and Key, and then I met Elliot. I don’t know what was it about him that amused me, but whatever it was, it kept me around. I didn’t even know I had a gentle bone inside of me until I met him. This was one of the weaknesses I’d gotten rid of throughout my childhood. He managed to bring it back.
“Keep going.”
Colton no longer used the same hard, flat tone with me, unlike the way he’d spoken in our training sessions before the Oath. And I was touched, seeing that he appeared to care. But one thing continually twisted my gut with guilt and apprehension.
If I made it through my years at Rubinem, once I announced my identity…. would he forgive me?
Scylla disrupted my distracted thoughts by prodding my cheek, a silent reminder to stay on track. So, heaving another sigh, I tried again.
“Crouch down.” My would fell flat, despite the effort I was pouring into the small tast. I tried agon, and this time… something clicked.
”Crouch down.” The order was delivered weakly, its charm barely there—but I’d done it. Finally.
I felt something grip my body tightly, keeping me still so I wouldn’t move on my own free will. I let it control me. I didn’t try to fight against it. I felt my knees bend against my will until I was crouching on the floor, my mind being squeezed by an invisible force.
He did it. Even though it was weak, he did it.
A rush of triumph overtook me.
“Colton,” I breathed, breaking the spell, “I did it.” Strangely, I could feel my apple eyes glowing gold, dimming slowly as my song faded from the air.
Through a teacher and several trips to the school library, I’d found a record of one other like me. Of course, he had died hundreds of years ago, but I had a stack of his books in my room that I was planning to pour over. I’d skimmed the first chapter and found a name for my power—Windsinging.
I shook myself as I broke out of the spell, standing up and giving a nod of approval to Elliot.
“Good job,” I said, smiling softly. “I told you you could do it.”
I blinked in surprise, not quite used to his new, gentle manner. The praise filled me with warmth, and for some strange reason, it made my heart skip a beat.
“Thank you..” I said quietly. “I just have to practice, I guess.”
I nodded.
“Practice makes perfect,” I murmured. “There is something else I’m curious about. Has Scylla shown any abilities so far? I can tell she’s a cross between water and air. Has she used those elements yet?”
Scylla, who was curled around my left foot, lifted her head at the mention of her name. She’d grown quite a bit since being summoned, by now, she was roughly the size of the space between my wrist and my elbow.
“Yeah,” I answered, “Yesterday. All the water flew out of my glass and sort of coated her like a shell.”
I rested my chin on my finger, deep in thought.
“And what about you?” I inquired. “Have you been able to harness those abilities?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, dragging a hand through my hair. “I think? I’ve felt… strengthened, after showers or drinking water. Considerably so. And yesterday, I got excited about something, and my glass of water fell over. I ended up being splashed in the face.”
I nodded.
“Those won’t cause you any trouble,” I was, at this point, practically talking to myself. “Still, you’ll need to be able to control them. You and Scylla both. Whenever you can, especially when you shower, try to control the water. Do whatever you want with it, but practice it every day.”
A mischievous glint entered my eye as I took a slight risk and raised a hand to my forehead, giving a crisp salute. “Yes, sir,” I answered playfully, allowing my proper personality to shine through.
I raised an eyebrow before letting a chuckle escape my lips, shaking my head at his mischief.
“Idiot,” I muttered under my breath in amusement, but hardened my face, joining in. “For that comment, how about you run five miles in the memory of the good old days?”
I groaned theatrically, my shoulders relaxing the moment I partially took down my mask, the one settling Elliot’s actual personality over me like a cloak.
“Oh, come on, don’t ruin the moment,” I continued. “You laugh for like, the first time, and now you’re assigning me laps?”
I quirked an eyebrow.
“What laugh?” I inquired. “As I thought, you’re getting distracted and out of shape. You’d better move it, or I’ll add one more lap.”
“You chuckled, just a few seconds ago,” I pointed out. “For you, That’s sort of the equivalent of rolling on the floor, laughing while tears stream down your face.”
