The next morning Sasha corners me in the parking lot.

“I’m sorry about yesterday, I shouldn’t have gotten angry with you.” Sasha has never been the master of apologies, so this is actually quite impressive coming from her.

“It’s okay, I just wish I knew what it was all about.” I smile, trying to get her to drop the subject.

“Have you ever had a secret you couldn’t tell anyone?” Hmm, let me see if I can think of one…

“I haven’t told Hale you’re crushing on him, does that count?”

“Don’t make fun of me.” Okay, fine. But please change the subject.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. What is the matter?” I ask instead. She pulls me to the side and holds out her hand. A tiny ice crystal forms in the air just above her palm. It spins around slowly, and as it goes it twists and turns, and more ice grows out from the little crystal until there’s a beautiful rose floating in the palm of her hand. I was sure I knew every Langdale around these parts. What is going on? And how did she manage to keep this a secret from me? I know every detail of her first time, protests didn’t save me from that - and now this? If I wasn’t seeing this with my own eyes I would never believe it.

“How… How can you do that? How is that possible?” I mutter with my eyes glued to the ice rose in her palm.

“Something I was born with. I thought…” She hesitates. “I thought I saw you doing something too, you moved your hand in a weird way, and it felt like something grabbed me and held me in the air. Maybe I was just imagining things.”

“Adrenalin?” I suggest cautiously. She’s riled up and not thinking clearly, if there ever was or will be a time to tell her, this definitively isn’t it.

“Maybe,” she admits. “Or maybe it was just wishful thinking, you know, hoping that I wasn’t alone.” Yeah. Maybe.

“It’s pretty though. Did you just know how to do that, or did you practice for it?” It’s better to just get her to talk about herself.

“I’ve been doing that sort of thing since I was five, practice is just fun with something like this.”

“Know any others with… abilities?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“No. No one.”

“Sounds lonely.” At least I have the family - extended and all. ‘Not the right time,’ I remind myself quietly.

“You know what,” I say instead. “We’re going for a beer tonight. On me. I might not have… you know, any special skills, but I’m still your friend, and we’re going to have a good time. You can tell me all about it if you want to.”

“A beer sounds nice,” she agrees with the characteristic let’s-take-it-one-step-at-the-time smile I’ve gotten so used to over the years. She’s done a good job keeping it secret, especially with no family to help and teach her.

“Beer it is.” She closes her hand and the ice rose disappears. I’m actually impressed. She smiles at me. I put a hand on her shoulder and lead her to the building.

“Good thing the Mat hasn’t called for a meeting today, we might be late.”

“And three hours early at the same time. Hey, do you think you could help me with something?”

“What is it?”

“I tore my dress the other day.”

“Do I want to know how?”

“It got stuck, okay.”

“I’ll fix it for you. After the wedding though, and for a price.”

“What do you need?”

“Corset boning, the steel kind.”

“Bridezilla on the loose?”

“Nothing is good enough for that woman.”

“Brides are allowed leeway,” she points out.

“And you are allowed to take her side if you supply the ice sculpture.”

“I won’t say a peep,” she agrees. And in her defense, I don’t hear a peep from her. I hear a car horn shouting furiously at us to move and a high-pitched scream as Sasha sees the monster heading straight for us. My head swings around, and I see Dan looking terrified in the driver’s seat of the car charging at us. The difference between a slippery floor and a car coming at you is that only one of those occasions leaves you time to think even the slightest. I send Sasha flying to safety, pull Dan’s seat loose, rip off the car roof, send Dan upwards, grab hold of the front of the car and hold it still sending the rest of the car crashing into itself until it’s a pile of useless junk barely resembling a car. It’s no more than a few steps away, the heat brushing against my face as a breeze carries it my way. I could have used the breaks, how stupid am I? Too late now, everyone’s staring and not because they like my outfit. Apart from the crumpled metal settling, there is complete shocked silence. Then:

“What happened?” Dan asks in the calmest voice I have heard him use yet. He must be in shock. And then the rest of the scene dawns on me. Sasha is lying halfway under a faded red car because that seemed the safest place to put her. Dan is in his seat flying over the top of our heads. The parking lot is filled with people, and the windows of the office building are just as crowded. I can see the Mat at the top, looking down in wonder. I turn on my heels and run. Before I’ve taken three steps a tall guy in a black suit steps in front of me and grabs my arms.

“Not so fast little miss.” I have never seen him before in my life. “Are you Elisabeth ‘Lizzy’ Langdale?” I stare up at his dark eyes in wonder. How in the world does he know my name? “Never mind, I think we have enough here as it is. Good work agent.” I turn my head just enough to see Sasha nod in acceptance of his praise. “You’ll have to give your statement and report, I’ll expect it no later than by tomorrow evening.”

“Yes, sir.” She says and smiles.

“We’ll make sure the memories of the witnesses are altered,” he assures me.