Elemental by Kim Richardson Page A

placed the wooden bench twenty feet away from her. He stepped back, beyond the borders of the combat circle, and placed his hands on his hips.
    “Later.” Jenny and Peter broke away from Kara and walked towards a bench at the far end of the tent. Jenny let herself sit with a loud thump and kicked out her legs. Her purple combat boots glistened in the sun. She waved at Kara.
    Kara did as she was told.
    “So now what? Do I just stand here like this?” She let her hands fall at her sides. She felt like a total fool. It was bad enough to have Cassiel and the few members of the CDD watching her, but now a few GAs had stopped practicing and were watching, too.
    “Okay,” Cassiel folded his hands before him. “Let’s give this a try. I want you to focus, Kara. Try to remember how you conjured that power—and once you get it—try aiming it towards the bench. Go ahead, now. Try it.”
    Kara glanced at the wooden bench. She wondered how long she would have to practice. She considered her options. She would have to try, or at least pretend to try, even though she knew she couldn’t wield the elemental energy. After a long moment of staring at the bench, she lifted her arms and aimed her palms at the bench. She tried desperately to remember what triggered her power. Nothing happened. She felt so stupid and useless.
    “Kara. Clear your mind and focus on the elemental power you have within you—search for it inside. You can do this. You’ve done it before. Now, concentrate!”
    Kara closed her eyes and concentrated. She searched within for traces of the elemental power, but the massive flow of power she’d drawn on while battling the new breed seemed to have faded. She knew it was inside her somewhere, she sensed it. It was like a wild energy fueled by emotion—the wilder and more intense the emotion, the more likely that the elemental power would surface. Yet she couldn’t access it now.
    She tried to tap into those emotions.
    Where are you guys? She whispered inside her mind. I need you now. Don’t make me look like a fool. Come on! Help me! Kara’s body shook as she strained to access that small fragment of power she felt hidden inside her. She pushed with all her might. But nothing happened.
    Kara opened her eyes and relaxed her arms. “I told you I can’t do this!” She stared at her palms. “I can’t access it. It’s like I can’t control it. I can’t will it—”
    A sudden snort of laughter came from some of the guardians watching her. Al and Devon whispered to one another and laughed at Kara again. Anger flared inside her.
    Cassiel walked towards Kara. “You need to relax. Take your time. Stop worrying that you can’t do it, and try to focus on where it is. You can sense it, can’t you?”
    Kara began to regret this practice session. Al and Devon’s mocking only made it worst. She hated to be the center of attention. And with Cassiel pushing her, she just wanted to leave. But she knew she couldn’t—for her mother’s sake.
    She met Cassiel’s eyes and shrugged.
    “Sort of. I can feel a warm tickle inside, but I can’t reach it.”
    “Do you remember how you felt the first time it happened?” asked Cassiel. “Were you afraid—or angry? Can you try to tap into those emotions? I think it’ll help.”
    Kara stared at her hands. “Sure. I’ll try.”
    “Good. Let’s try this again.” Cassiel turned on his heel and walked back to the group.
    Kara rubbed her forehead and lifted her arms again. She closed her eyes and travelled back to her encounter with Asmodeus. She remembered the fear she had felt—and the anger. A warm sensation started to flow.
    Come on guys, don’t let me down, she whispered.
    The warmth increased and continued to spread. But as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared.
    Another chuckle reached her ears.
    Kara felt humiliated and deflated. How long would she have to stand here like an idiot with guardians laughing at her? She heard a loud snort—they wanted her to fail.