When I woke up, I was lying on my side on something cold and hard. My eyes flew open and in the darkness, I could see two shadowy figures standing nearby, talking in low voices. Two guys. What was going on?

The urge to get up and run was strong, but I forced myself to lie still until I could work out what the situation was. Who were they? How did I get here?

The memory of what had happened hit me full force. I couldn’t feel any pain, but felt kind of numb, and that scared me.

What had hit me? Was it magic like what I’d accidentally thrown at Tracy?

I wanted to try moving my arms and legs, but I didn’t want them to know I was awake.

“Check her.”

I closed my eyes as my heartbeat raced.

Footsteps approached and I tried to keep my breathing even, hoping they would think I was still unconscious.

“She’s still out cold.”

I was relieved that I’d fooled him, but this was so not good.

“Okay, do it.”

Ice flooded my veins. Do what?

I tried to pretend I was still out to it, but I also prepared myself to fight back if necessary.

I waited, but nothing happened. No one touched me.

Then the guy closest to me spoke. “They were right. She’s definitely powerful, but it’s not off-the-charts powerful.”

“They said most of her magic is still blocked. Are you sure you can’t dig deeper?”

“This is as good as it gets.”

A heavy sigh. “Okay. Maybe if we take some while she’s out. Maybe he can help us check it further.”

“Okay. You got the stone?”

“Yeah.”

What were they talking about? What were they going to take? My heartbeat sped up; I didn’t think it could beat any faster than it already was. What were they planning to do to me?

I felt something warm gently touch my forehead and my first instinct was to lash out, but I kept up the act. There was no way I could overpower them and escape.

My mind became fuzzy and I couldn’t think straight. The warmth spread all over and I was grateful to feel something besides the coldness of the ground. After a while, the warmth faded and a terrible cold seeped into me.

“What was she doing around the back of the hall anyway?”

“Who cares? It gave us the perfect opportunity.”

Their voices faded away, replaced by blackness and an even deeper cold.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Someone was shaking my shoulder.

“Maddie? Are you okay?” It sounded like Kellie, but I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t move. “Maddie?”

She called out to someone and several footsteps approached. If it wasn’t for hearing Kellie’s voice first, I would be panicking about who was rushing toward me.

There were people all talking at once.

“I can’t wake her up and she’s ice-cold.” Kellie told them.

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“I can help with the cold.” That sounded like Tracy.

What was going on? Where was I and why was I cold?

Someone’s hands were on my back and my shoulder and I realized I was lying on my side, but whatever I was lying on was hard and cold, which only added to my confusion.

Warmth radiated from those hands and I felt like I was thawing out from the inside.

People were talking above me, but I couldn’t concentrate on what they were saying.

I remembered why I was lying on my side on the ground and ice slid through my veins. What did they do to me?

In amongst the voices, I distinctly heard Kaydan say that my magic levels were dangerously low. I didn’t know what that meant in terms of how it would affect me or if I could die from it, but panic seized me just the same.

There was talk of healers and getting some reserves and getting me back to Waratah as I drifted in and out of consciousness.

My eyes popped open when I heard Jackson’s voice, asking me if I was okay. His face was lined with worry. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. Something was very wrong.

The others noticed that I was awake and tried to talk to me, but their voices faded away again.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

When I woke this time, I was lying in a warm, comfortable bed. All the things that had happened started whirling around in my head as I opened my eyes to find that I was in my room at Waratah House. Jackson was slumped in the chair in the corner, but straightened up once he noticed I was awake.

“Hey. How are you?”

I moved my arms and legs, testing to see how they felt. There was no more numbness or cold. “Um, I’m okay, I think. I feel kind of heavy…”

“Your magic levels were very low. I… We were so worried. Do you remember what happened?”

“Someone hit me with some kind of lightning bolt.”

“That sounds like a stunner spell.”

“Really? Is that what I did to Tracy?”

Panic sliced through me. Tracy had said that if she didn’t use a shield, I would have burned her. Was I burned?

“Similar, but your blast was uncontrolled. Just pure magic.”

I started to feel my arms and face to see if I was okay. “Did they burn me?”

“No. Don’t panic. It’s okay. Stunners don’t burn people. Just knock them out.”

There was something heavy in the middle of my chest. My hand landed on a smooth stone and when I lifted it up, I recognised the clear quartz.

“Tracy left that on you to give you some energy. It needs to be replenished slowly, or the results are not good.”

I didn’t know what he meant by that, but I would just take his word for it.

“Do you remember anything else?”

“Oh. Yeah. When I woke up, there were two guys there.” I told him what they said and did. “Then the next time I woke up, Kellie was there. And Kaydan. And… I can’t remember, but you were there too.”

“Yes. I found you. Everyone was worried when you weren’t on the last bus. Tracy was going to go look for you and Kellie and Kaydan wanted to help. She said no at first, but they pressured her into letting them come, saying that they could cover more territory that way.”

“Wow.”

I didn’t think they cared enough to be looking all around town for me.

“I found you, then started knocking things over and making noises to lead them to you. It worked quite well. But then they couldn’t wake you and Kaydan told us your magic levels were dangerously low. Lucky Tracy had some clear quartz with her. I think she always carries some. It helped to restore some of your magic till they could get you home.”

I felt overwhelmed. They had all worked to find me and help me. My eyes stung.

Before I could say anything more, Anna-Marie came in and smiled warmly when she saw that I was awake. “How are you feeling?”

“A lot better, thanks.” I sat up slowly and leaned against my headboard.

I had to go through everything again, while Jackson sat in the corner listening intently, like he was trying to get more information the second time around.

Before long, Kellie, Kaydan, and Tracy came in and I cringed at the thought that I’d have to relive it all again, but Anna-Marie took pity on me and explained it all. Then they all talked about what had happened, wondering who could have done this to me. I sat quietly, my mind racing. I was new to all of this, but they were throwing ideas around as to who would want to test my magic levels.

Kellie sat at the foot of my bed with her legs crossed. “What I don’t get is why they would say they’re going to take like a sample of your magic for testing, but then totally go overboard and take almost all of it.”

Tracy ran a hand through her hair. “It doesn’t make sense, unless they wanted to keep some for themselves.”

I turned to her. “What?”

“The magic gets stored in the crystal and they could use it to boost their own.”

The thought that someone took some of my magic to use for themselves just felt so wrong. I felt violated.

The room erupted into conversation again and I leaned my head against the wall. This was wearing me out.

The doorbell rang out its merry tune and everyone stopped talking.

Anna-Marie started for the door. “I’ll get it.”

We waited and listened to the sounds of her answering the door and the voice of a woman met my ears. I tensed as two sets of footsteps climbed the stairs and approached my door. I did not want to talk to Mum right now.

Anna-Marie stuck her head in the doorway. “Maddie? Nurse Holly is here to visit. Would you like to see her?”