Jessica stirred from her cramped position on the sofa. An arm lay underneath her body at an awkward angle; causing a tingle to shoot through the limb due to the lack of circulation.

The living room was pitch black and not a sound could be heard, making the atmosphere within the room appear cold and creepy. She lifted herself up, earning her a couple of joint clicks in her back and a very dead arm that had taken on the properties of jelly. As her feet met the ground, she stumbled over her book that must have dropped off during her sleep; making her stub her foot on the nearby table leg. Cursing every god under the sun, she hissed at the pain, jumping on the spot.

Now, Jessica was a little rounder in places, her stomach curved slightly out and her thighs were thick as they slinked down her legs. Cheeks that sat high and round on her heart shaped face where the stubborn baby fat refused to leave with age.

However, she had never been heavy enough to shake the ground beneath her feet, not even while jumping up and down in pain. But, for a couple of seconds, the stone tower definitely did shake. And, for a couple of seconds, she felt a strange thrum of magic.

How odd she muttered and squinted into the darkness, trying to assess for any possible damage. Maybe it was earth wielders nearby, or a small earthquake she’s read about in her books. Jessica was aware of the curse that plagued the lands; maybe this earthquake were a symptom. She felt her way to a table with a small hand-held candle, lighting it with awkwardness as she struck the matches in the dark. Once lit, the small candle gave off a soft glow to light her way towards the kitchen to raid the cupboard.

But she didn’t get far enough to reach for her favorite cinnamon shortbread biscuits.

A sudden snap and crackle whipped through the air as she felt magic buzz all round her, dissipating above Jessicas' head and all around her like sands in an hour glass. The magic seemed to slowly slip from the air in to her skin, soaking itself until she felt the boil of power in her veins.

Jessica started to hyperventilate at the sudden rush of magic and emotions roaring through her. Every nerve, blood vessel and cell in her body felt electrified and about to burst at the same time. She was so shocked, partly because she had no idea what was happening to her.

But mostly because her head and gut seemed to sing, we are whole again. Her body seemed to accept this weird invading power that had suddenly sunk its way into her; and it felt so right.

Unfortunately, just because magic felt right, did not mean she can control it. The stone started to shake again, more violently this time as plates clattered and smashed onto the floor. Books falling from the shelves in the lounge. Water sloshed out of the basin with soaking utensils, splashing the stone floor. Well this is one mess I’m not going to enjoy cleaning. Though Jessica considered this in a lighthearted and sarcastic manner, she was pretty shaken up about this situation –pun intended.

Suddenly, it all came to a halt when Jessica heard the muttering of voices below.

The tower was still. Jessica was still. It seemed the intruders were also still, as they had stopped talking over the earthquake when it ended. All Jessica could hear was her hummingbird heart beat and the headache pounding at her temples. Quietly she bent to the ground and weighed several shards of triangular porcelain in her palm, before carefully pocketing the larger shards off the floor.

When she rose, she silently tip toed to the door that led to the spiral staircase. Luckily for her, the earthquake had appeared again, but the tremors were gentle. It just hid the sound of her movements as she slinked down two flights of stairs while she hunted for her intruders.

How on earth did they get through the barrier? Jessica wondered as she crept closer to the lower floors. She could her their low mutterings, the rustling and thumping of possessions as they sifted through her Aunts personal belongings in her private floors.

Jessica strained over the side of the rail and peered over, angling her head to catch them walking towards the ground floor. The larger of the two intruders had a white box tucked under his armpit.

Now you’re not an acorn, and I’m not using a slingshot. But don’t fail me now aim. Jessica pleaded to the gods as she slipped a shard of porcelain out of her pocket and angled it. Her headache was pulsing so viciously she felt like it was a steady drumming in her head and veins. She slowly breathed in between the pulses, clocking onto her target as she threw it at the larger intruder.

It felt like a life time passed by as the shard whistled through the air. Jessica decided in that moment she must be blessed by the gods, as she somehow hit her target. The longer point of the triangle had impaled itself into the larger one's shoulder through their dark clothing and the tang of blood wafted into the air.

She realised it was a man she hit, as his deep voice grunted and hissed in pain as he staggered back, clutching at his shoulder. The smaller, slenderer intruder rushed to his side to pull the shard out and pressed a piece of their ripped shirt to the wound. He barked something at the other one and they whipped their head around, to look right up at Jessica.

And that was where the gods left Jessicas’ side and all her luck ran out.

The smaller one’s hair levitated around their head, suddenly an invisible force whooshed past her to push at Jessicas' back. The invisible pressure swirling all around as she stumbled over the rail, letting her tumble towards the ground floor. The mysterious force whipped and lashed at her skin and clothes from beneath to soften her decent; until it disappeared and sharply dropped Jessica a few inches from the ground with a thump; at the feet of the intruders.