Elvira's eyes snapped open, and she sat up in a rush, her heart still pounding from the strange rush of power that had overtaken her earlier. It had been more than she could comprehend. Five powers—*five*. She hadn't asked for this, and yet it was now a part of her, something she couldn't deny.
But as her gaze scanned the room, Elvira realized the tension in the air. Her stepmother, Helena, was standing by the window, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her posture rigid and cold as always. The silence was thick, pressing down on her.
"You called the council?" Elvira's voice was small but sharp. Her eyes widened in shock. "Why? I can control this! I don't need them here."
Helena's gaze didn't waver. "You almost killed us, Elvira." Her tone was cold and emotionless. "We've been through this. Do you really think we're going to let you hurt us just because you can't control your powers?"
Elvira's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't meant for it to happen. The surge of magic earlier had been like an uncontrollable wave, a force that had consumed her without warning. She hadn't even realized it could hurt anyone. But Helena was right—she had nearly hurt them.
Elvira stood up, her hands trembling slightly, but her face remained determined. "I can control it," she repeated. "I'm not a monster."
Marcus, her stepfather, stood in the doorway, his heavy footsteps echoing through the room. "Enough, Elvira," he said, his voice low and steady. "It's too dangerous. We don't have a choice anymore. You're going to *Mystic Crest Academy*."
At the mention of the academy, Elvira froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her chest tightened, and a sharp pang of dread lodged itself in her gut. She had heard the stories. She knew the rumors.
"I don't want to go there," Elvira said, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt a wave of panic rise in her chest. "Father, please! You know what they say about that school. Everyone who goes there…" She trailed off, unable to say the words aloud.
Helena's face twisted in a sneer. "What? That it's dangerous? That only the strongest survive?"
Elvira felt a cold shiver run through her, the weight of her stepmother's words settling heavily on her shoulders. She wanted to argue, to refuse, but deep down she knew they were right. Her powers were too dangerous to ignore.
"You'll leave tomorrow," Marcus continued, his voice firm. "Pack your things."
"No! You don't understand!" Elvira's voice broke, and for the first time, she let herself cry. "I don't belong there! I won't survive. I don't know what I'll become if I go!"
Her words hung in the air, heavy with fear and uncertainty. But it wasn't until she looked at her stepfather's face that she saw it. A flicker of something—*fear*. Fear that she had never seen from him before.
"Why are you afraid?" Elvira whispered, her voice quiet, but the question hung in the room, demanding an answer. "What aren't you telling me?"
Helena stepped forward, a cold smile on her lips. "It's not about what we want. It's about what *they* want. They've been watching you, Elvira. Watching your powers, waiting for you to make a move. And now, they're coming for you."
Elvira's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean, 'coming for me'?"
Elvira nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "It's not just that. They say… they say most of the students don't come back. And those who do—they're never the same. The power there is *too much* for anyone to handle. It's more than just magic. It's a death trap!"
Her stepfather's gaze darkened. "You'll be fine, Elvira. You don't have a choice in the matter."
"No, please!" Elvira's voice broke. "I can't go there. I'm not like them. I'm different! I'm not like anyone who's been there."
Marcus' expression softened just a fraction, but his words were unwavering. "You're going to *Mystic Crest*. It's the only place that can teach you to control your powers."
Elvira's heart sank. She wanted to scream, to run, to do anything but face the truth. She knew this was her only option. But that didn't mean she had to accept it.
"I've heard stories," Elvira whispered, her voice shaking. "People say that when you go there, it changes you. And not always for the better. Some people lose everything. Others… don't come back at all."
Helena's cold eyes pierced into hers. "Do you think I care about rumors? The truth is, you don't have a choice. You're dangerous, Elvira. And if you don't go, we will all be at risk."
Elvira felt a cold shiver run through her, the weight of her stepmother's words settling heavily on her shoulders. She wanted to argue, to refuse, but deep down she knew they were right. Her powers were too dangerous to ignore.
"You'll leave tomorrow," Marcus continued, his voice firm. "Pack your things."
"No! You don't understand!" Elvira's voice broke, and for the first time, she let herself cry. "I don't belong there! I won't survive. I don't know what I'll become if I go!"
Her words hung in the air, heavy with fear and uncertainty. But it wasn't until she looked at her stepfather's face that she saw it. A flicker of something—*fear*. Fear that she had never seen from him before.
"Why are you afraid?" Elvira whispered, her voice quiet, but the question hung in the room, demanding an answer. "What aren't you telling me?"
Helena stepped forward, a cold smile on her lips. "It's not about what we want. It's about what *they* want. They've been watching you, Elvira. Watching your powers, waiting for you to make a move. And now, they're coming for you."
Elvira's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean, 'coming for me'?"
Her stepfather turned away, his jaw tight. "Just know this—*Mystic Crest* is not just a school. It's a battleground. And some people… some people don't come out of it alive."
Elvira's world tilted. A battleground? What was her family not telling her? She looked at them, but no answers came. Only silence.
Suddenly, she heard a knock at the door. The sound was sharp and deliberate. Elvira's heart skipped a beat.
Was someone else coming for her?