Este

I could feel the flames licking my feet, the smoke choking me. My boots caught fire, and I ran. I didn't know which way to go. The path that had opened before me as I chased after Sarah closed behind me. The fire-spirits, just moments ago my friends, turned dark and angry, closing in for the kill. I pulled my shields tight and called for Sarah. "Help! Please, help me! I am so sorry, Sarah. I couldn't help it."

There was, of course, no answer. I had seen Lucas pulling her away. I was alone again. This time it had gone too far, and all was lost.

The whisper tapped gently at my shield. Your time isn't done, Este. You have much still to do. Trust in me, and I will get you out of there, but you need to open your shields to me and trust.

I knew that voice. It had trained me, taught me. That voice had given me the power to step out of Sarah's shadow, to find my own power. I cracked my shields open a fraction, and the oily, black control slid within—a dark, serpentine power. I could not resist. My throat was burning and my eyes were streaming from the smoke around me.

Do you trust me, Este? Do you really trust me? I will help you. I will make you strong, but you have to relinquish your control to me. You have to obey, Este. Do as I say, and I will protect you!

"Help me. Please, help me. I don't want to die. I will obey. Please, just get me out of here." I used my last gasp of oxygen to call out loud. I could no longer hold my shields. They came crashing down, and I could feel his power wrap around me—a protective, black cloak. The fire reared backwards in the face of such authority. It whispered along the edges as the air around me cleared. My boots still smoked, a melted ruin, my feet inside hot and sore. I bent down and ripped them off, hurling them into the fire. The ground beneath me was cool and soothing.

Come, little one. It is time to go. We will regroup. You were not strong enough, but next time will be different. Come. It is time to go.

I looked back towards where Lucas had taken Sarah, and I longed to follow. The fire immediately roared around me. Smoke rushed towards me. I knew I was helpless. I had chosen, and if I disobeyed, he would let me die, here and now.

I turned my back and followed the path opening before me. I could hear and feel the power of the Creators stilling the fire. Time was of the essence, and I needed to get clear. The basement was still clear of smoke and fire, and I hurried up the earthen tunnel, out beyond the walls of the school. A dark car waited, windows tinted. Inside, his shadow sat. Looking back one last time, I noticed that the smoke had diminished. I reached out for Sarah to check if she had made it out alive. His shields, however, held me locked in, his control over my power now indisputable.

"It is time to go, Este. She is safe. She made it out. It would have been better if you had destroyed her, but you are not ready yet. I thought you were, but we still have some work to do, don't we?" Uncle Larron's smile did not reach his eyes, and I knew that there would be consequences for today's failure.

"I am so sorry. There were too many of them. I could have persuaded her if she had been alone, but the school has given her friendships, a team, and a power base. She is now The One of their prophecy. We should have recruited her earlier. Now, I think it is too late."

I cringed at the anger that was roiling off him. I knew how he hated excuses, and I had just accused him of not acting soon enough. I would pay for this mistake.

"Este, Este, Este." His exasperated smile was worse than his anger. "You know I don't like it when you question me. Come. We have plans to make. It is time to return to Canlyn. Our time in Angel City is at an end for now. It would have been easier if you had succeeded immediately, but your weakness has also shown us their weaknesses. This was just the first part of the plan, to test their strength and will. And, of course, yours. Now that I know whose side you are on, we will proceed to stage two."

I smiled tremulously. I had averted his anger. Exhaustion filled every fibre of my being, and I felt myself drifting towards the blackness. I knew that I was safe now. He needed me still, and he would get me home to Canlyn and Dallamoor Estate.

Shutting my eyes, I heard his voice calling, but the dark call was stronger. I surrendered and floated free.

Este and Sarah

"Esteee ... Esteee ... Where are you, Este? Do you want to come and play at my house?" Sarah's voice echoed.

"Mum, it's Sarah. Can I go to her house to play? Please, Mum, can I go? Can I?" I knew Mum would say yes, but I had to make sure. Sarah was my best friend, and we were like sisters.

"Sure, but just until dinnertime. Remember your manners, young lady, and don't be late."

"Sarah, my mum says I can come over." I climbed up the ladder that stood over the fence between Sarah's garden and ours. Our dads had put it there when we first moved in next door to Sarah. Sarah's brother, Sam, and my brother, Justin, had climbed it before us, but now it was ours. It was much quicker than going out to the front gate and all the way around to the front of her house. Even our mums used it when they wanted to chat or needed to borrow an egg or a cup of sugar. I guess it was what made good neighbours, or at least that is what my dad always said. I pulled the leaves off the hibiscus bush that grew along the fence, wondering what was keeping Sarah.

Sarah danced across the lawn as I climbed down the ladder, her hair a bright sun around her face. I wanted Sarah's hair. It was fire and light, power and love. She hated it, hated her white skin and freckles. She wanted to be like me—all brown and ordinary. I turned brown just by stepping outside, but she always had to wear a hat and sun cream. I wanted to look like her. She was a fairy princess, and when we played together, it always felt like magic.

"What do you want to do today?" Sarah asked. "Do you want to play with the Barbies or dress-ups?"

"Can we play the Imagining game?" I asked, hoping she would say yes. When we played her imagining games, it was like real. We could become whatever we wanted, and we had so much fun. Some days, Sarah didn't want to play imagining games. She said she was too tired, and then we just played dolls or cooking with the Play-Doh. Today, I hoped she wasn't too tired.

"I guess so, but not for too long. My head is a bit sore today, and I am kind of tired, but I guess we can try for a little bit." Sarah smiled, and I grinned back at her. Today was going to be perfect.

"Where do you want to go, Este?" Sarah asked. She was always happy to let me choose, but it was her imagination we needed to get there.

"Let's go to the Land of Rainbows. I love it there. Everything has such pretty colours." As I spoke, Sarah began to describe the sky. She described the rainbows above our heads and started Creating our land with her words.

"Can you see the Rainbow Queen, Este? Can you see her? She is waiting for us to visit. But you need to change your dress first, Este. C'mon. Tell me what your dress looks like. You can do this. You know you just have to say the words out loud."

"Sarah, you know I can't use the words. I don't have them in my head. But here, I can draw it." I grabbed the sketchpad that I always had in my pocket,...