Winter blew hair out of her face, "Get on with it then." Darren sprinted towards her, his fist anticipating impact. Winter skillfully dodged the blow with ease. He attempted again, and again he missed. Darren's sadistic eyes danced with amusement, "You're quite the slippery little thing aren't you." When she didn't answer he signaled behind him, "Lucky for you I have the perfect way to deal with that." A boy with shoulder length straight black hair emerged from the group. His speckled green eyes settled on Winter's. She gulped. Winter recognized him as the powerful telekinetic she had observed during the mock war. "This is Cole. I requested his help in exchange for a favor." Darren's eyes were ravenous as he announced to the group, "And this is the girl with mood rings for eyes." Cole's eyes glinted with annoyance as Darren gestured to him. His gaze deepened and Winter suddenly found herself in the air. Her magic stirred inside of her. Winter felt as though a giant hand were squeezing her as Darren unlatched the whip from his belt. He cracked the whip across her chest more times than Winter could keep track of and she convulsed from the hot, white pain searing through her body. He smiled despicably as he said, "Your eyes are that fabulous brown again." Her magic roused, as it sensed the danger she was in. Darren lashed the whip again and it took everything for Winter not to cry out. The invisible hand tightened around her as she squirmed. At that, her magic began to churn underneath her skin. Darren went to hit her again, but before he could Cole raised her higher in the air. Darren glared at him, "What are you doing?" Winter's breath came fast and short. Her magic sensed her panic and in that moment a blinding white light erupted from within her. Winter fell to her knees as Cole's grip loosened. Suddenly, wind started tearing through the walls, the ground shook, and screams filled her ears. It took her a moment to realize that the screams were her own. Her attackers fled but the havoc ensued. Her magic screeched from inside of her. Like it had been waiting for a chance to get out, untamed. She didn't have the energy to contain it. She glanced at her bracelet. Her magic was slowly chipping away at it. She winced as it burned her wrist. Winter started limping towards the door at the end of the hall. She had to find Sam. When someone was around their soulmate, they were calmed, their magic soothed. The bond created a sense of security. A primal part of their being was consoled. It was because the bond allowed their emotions to be transferred. Which meant that Sam should be able to feel everything she felt and vice versa. Their connection would allow her to keep her magic in check.
As Winter inched closer to the door, Jax ran up to her through the disarray and screamed, "Winter what's going on?" He reached out to grab her hand and everything stopped. Her magic quieted inside of her. Winter stared into Jax's dark blue eyes unmoving. She looked at the laceration in the bracelet and felt the pull, finally understanding. Jax was her soulmate too.
Winter winced as Jax helped her up, "Who did this to you?" She just shook her head. "Here I'll take you to the infirmary." Winter placed her hand on his arm, "Just take me to the pool." He walked her through the halls and carefully set her down by the poolside. Winter fingered the ridge in her bracelet. She understood what they were used for now. The bracelets not only tampered with their magic but they also suppressed their memories and dulled the soulmate bond. That's why no matter how close she got to Jax or Sam before, she never felt the tug of their bond directly. That's also the reason that they didn't recognize her. Her magic destroyed part of the bracelet, which means it temporarily overpowered whatever spell was on it. She shut her eyes, it also meant Della would be looking for her. What still didn't make sense though was how her magic remained dormant without the bracelet while she was in the real world. Winter buried her face in her hands. "Winter what was that?" She breathed, relishing in the comfort she felt from being next to Jax. "I couldn't control my magic." Jax remained silent before asking, "Who hurt you?" Winter shrugged off his concern, "That's not important. What I wanted to talk to you about was." Jax interrupted her, "How could you say that? You have whip marks all over you." Winter bit the inside of her cheek, "I'm fine. See?" She showed him that the abrasions were already beginning to stitch themselves up. Winter looked at him, "Rather than that, I need you to tell me about Aliana." Jax seemed to turn to stone. He said in a dangerously low tone, "Where did you hear that name?" Winter twisted the ring on her finger, "Someone mentioned that was the name of Sam's soulmate." Jax's expression darkened at the mention of Sam, "She died a long time ago." "How long ago?" Winter pressed. He grumbled, "About ten years ago." Winter did the calculations in her head. The school opened when they were five, which was eleven years ago. If her death happened a year after the opening, what could've been the catalyst? Winter fixed the laces on her shoe, "How did it happen?" Jax looked pained as he recalled the memory, "It was the second mock war at Golden Academy High. Aliana, Lucas, Sam and I were on the same team. I was off grabbing flags. When I came back, I saw Sam driving a sword through Aliana. Her eyes became lifeless right in front of me. Healers at every corner and not one could save her." He spat, "He's a murderer. He killed her and then it was covered up. Just like that, no one remembers her." Winter furrowed her eyebrows. That couldn't have been possible. Sam would never hurt her. She remembered the words from her dream, "I will protect you."