Veleminis

Missing

Diana had not returned.

It had been days.

"Casper, please. I am worried, I still have the portal stone. We could go and check and then come straight back!" The pain was clear in my voice.

"Princess, it's not safe. You are being unreasonable. Everyone has put measures in place to keep you safe and this is how you repay them? Running straight into the danger they are shielding you from." For the past couple days, Casper had been reassuring me. Now he was getting edgy. His voice showed signs of agitation.

"I know! Okay, I know..." The frustration of the past days had built and built and was now at the tipping point. Anger and frustration had become fear and sadness.

"Look Tana, I know it's hard but you are no good to them dead. Despite how it seems, I do care for you and I can see you are hurting but for everyone in Veleminis is counting on their princess to live." For the first time, his words calmed me. He was kind and I took comfort in him.

Shocking us both I threw myself into his arms. Hugging him tightly. Casper was frozen for a second then calmed and put his arms around me. This time when the tears began to leak from my eyes, I let them. Casper squeezed me tighter and ran a hand up and down my back. He was surprisingly good at this when he wanted to be.

Okay, that's enough Tana. Now is the time to do something that will help your people too. I pushed myself away from Casper.

"Casper, what elements have you controlled? You are right, I can't jump back to Veleminis because that won't help anyone. I need to use the time I have here wisely. I need to learn to use my powers." As I stood now, I felt a regal air flowing from myself. I felt comfortable and in control.

"Fire and Air are my elements. Are you asking me to teach you?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I am asking. I need to use my time to make myself better for my people."

"You've changed Tana, even if the situation is horrible. You have risen to face the challenge and I don't think you would've before. I'd be very happy to help you but you have to promise to listen to me." He had changed too, he no longer seemed mischevious but serious and considerate. He showed diplomacy and tact.

"Of course. This is what I want to do. I will do whatever it takes."

"When did you want to start?"

"Now? I just finished my homework so I am free all weekend!"

"All these humans spend their Friday nights at parties and here we are. Practicing magic that they could never even comprehend." He had a smile on his face, I was seeing him in a new light. A light that made me think maybe Father wasn't so crazy for picking him.

"Speaking of parties, I got an invite to one tonight... Can we go?" We still had a couple hours before the party, which would be plenty of time to practice magic before we left.

"I don't really think that's the - " I cut him off.

"Please! Please! Please!"

"Tana, those parties can get dangerous."

"Please! Please! Please!"

"Fine. But if anything happens you come straight to me."

"YES! Thank you. Casper, I could kiss you right now!" I was so excited the suggestion just slipped from my lips.

"I wouldn't deny you that pleasure."

"What pleasure? I would never kiss you! My statement was theoretical and would never ever happen." I was now severely embarrassed.

"I don't think it would be so bad." He started stepping closer to me. For every step he took towards me, I took a step back until I hit the kitchen counter. He didn't stop until he was mere inches away for me. "Do you?"

"I... uh..." I couldn't get a word out. Heat flowed between where our bodies touched and I felt myself shiver in anticipation. His face getting closer and closer until it his lips just brushed mine.

"Ha! Got you." He suddenly pulled back, grinning at his victory. My face was flaming red I was sure.

"Haha" I gave a small laugh. "I am so getting you back for that!"

"I'd like to see you try."

"Look we really should be practising now anyway. We only have an hour and a half before the party and I need at least half an hour to get ready."

"You're just trying to divert the situation but okay, first I need you to grab a couple candles, the plant from the front area and a small glass of water." He shot out commands but I wasn't really in a position to argue so I headed to his wishes and retrieved all the items he asked for, putting them all on the kitchen table.

"So what now?"

"Now I have a drink." He picked up the glass of water I had just retrieved and drank it all in one big gulp.

"Why did you make me get you a water?" I was not okay for him to boss me around for his own amusement.

"Because now you are going to fill it up."

"I can't make water out of nothing."

"Look inside the cup. There is a droplet left. You need to focus on the droplet and let it expand in your mind and sure enough, it will fill the cup."

I did exactly as he said. Closing my eyes, I envisioned the droplet doubling, then tripling until the whole cup was full. When my eyes opened, however, there was no more water in the cup than there was before.

I closed my eyes again and repeated the process. Still, nothing happened.

"Casper, I can't do it!"

"Of course you can. You're used to manipulating water, just like your little waterworks show at school the other day. You know how to use the water that is already there. We are just expanding on your skills."

"But I don't understand how it works!" I was frustrated. I always was because no matter how much I excelled in my other lessons, I would always struggle with my magic. It didn't make sense to me that a part of me was still locked away because I didn't have the skill to access it yet.

"Keep practising. You can do it, Princess."

"But what if I can't? I have been trying to master my powers since I turned ten and yet I can only make myself cry. It's such a waste to have all these elements in my power since I can't use any of them."

"Tana. Stop degrading yourself. It won't make you any better so it is a waste of breath. You were given the gift of many elements because you are special and the powers that be know that too. It is no coincidence that you control so many, in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you could wield earth as well." He had a look of pure determination on his face, a look that said he would not back down from this fight. "How about you try again."

I closed my eyes once more and concentrated on the droplet. It was then that I felt tingles shoot all throughout my body spreading warmth and relaxation.

"You did it!"

I opened my eyes and sure enough, there was a cup full of water, or should I say filling with water. It continued slowly rising up the glass.

"Tana, that's enough now."

"How do I stop it?"

"Just picture the cup with still water."

I did as he said, and the water stopped.

"I did it! Casper! I really did it!"

"I know Princess, you did good."

"So now that we've done all the hard work... is it party time?"

"Yeh sure, go up and change and I'll meet you here in twenty-ish minutes?"

"Okay." My excitement had me bouncing off of the walls. I had finally controlled water better than I ever had before.

Maybe I was more cut out for my role as future queen than I had thought.