“Did you even cut it?” asked Astrid.

I nodded and pulled my hair forward.

“Hmm… whatever. Mayer is gone, so I’m not going to argue.” She dropped the box she was holding and picked up the tablet sitting on top. “I brought you more things to keep you busy.”

I sucked in my lips to keep from smiling.

“The general wants us to increase your training and do it without the seals.”

Nodding, I scratched at the black marks.

“We have to build a new holding chamber. The current one can’t hold you, so until we get that done, you’re to stay in your room and work on your temper. Got it?”

I stared at the wall. She was the main thing that provoked my temper.

“We’re also going to try some therapy.”

“Therapy? Why?” I muttered.

“We got a new manipulator. He specializes in white seals. The seals fade with time but work better on mental health. Something you need desperately.”

“Fuck you,” I shot back. “I don’t need it, so get out.”

Astrid arched a brow. “Do you want to spend the next couple of weeks in confinement? That’s still an option.”

A cement room where all I could do was watch shadows pass by under the door.

“No.” I shook my head.

“No, what?” She folded her arms and eyed me.

“No, ma’am. Can you leave now?”

“Little shit.” She muttered to herself. “Hellana is coming to treat your wounds. Try anything, and you’ll spend a year in confinement.”

“I’ve never hurt anyone,” I replied. “Not once. You know that.”

“Don’t start with her then.” She motioned to the tray by the door. “Eat everything on your plate. Understood? The maid has been telling me you’re not finishing your meal. If your body is weak, your power will compensate for it, and that’s when you get in trouble. Blow any shit up, and you know what will happen.”

I peered out the window. It was nice outside today.

“Eiko?”

“I’ll eat it,” I replied, not acknowledging her.

“I need to start sending Mayer fucking recordings of your attitude, then he’ll see why we haven’t made any progress.” She slammed the door.

The locks turned. It was so nice to be alone.

I went to the window and knelt, resting my chin on the edge. I pressed my hand to the glass. Twelves years, I hadn’t been outside in so long. The season was changing again. The birds were coming back. I wanted to break the glass so badly. The energy coursing through the walls in this room was minimal to the spells placed on the windows. The damn possessors ruined everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if every object in my room had some kind of spell embedded into it to spy on me by those bastards. They were the worst type of aster.

Possessing everyday objects to do their dirty work was creepy as hell. I overheard that the rare possessors were capable of doing it to people or animals. I wasn’t sure, though. I hadn’t met anyone that powerful. I didn’t want to. All the possessors I had met, I hadn’t liked.

On the other hand, shifters weren’t as bad. I met a couple as a child. One could turn into a couple of different animals. Another startled me when he transformed into a table and charged me. Asters as a whole were terrifying, including me — the destructive type. The only thing we were good at was blowing shit up, as Astrid constantly reminded me. I saw other destructives years ago, but Astrid forbade them from coming near me. She thought all the intense energy would make my temper worse or some bullshit like that.

I clenched my fist. My hatred for this place was far more complicated than watching a few low-level boys messing around and blowing up toys. A raindrop hit the glass. I sunk back onto my heels and sighed. It had been a good day, but the weather was constantly changing.

The locks turned before the door squeaked. I nearly fell over when I spotted Hellana. I clambered to my feet and pressed against the wall.

“Sorry.” She smiled. “I—I came at a bad time. Astrid stopped by and said you were bleeding again. I can’t take off the bands, but I can heal around them.”

I glanced at my arm. It looked alright. “I’m fine. You can go.”

“You’re bleeding, though.”

“It’s normal. You can go,” I repeated.

She took a deep breath. “Eiko, I’m a healer. I’ve been assigned to you. You are my patient, and fine isn’t good enough for me. So either you let me heal you, or I’ll tell Astrid to knock you out so I can. What is it going to be?”

I clenched my jaw, annoyed. “Do what you want?”

“Nope, that is not how it’s going to work. We are coming to an agreement right now. So, decide. Will you let me help you, or do I need someone to assist me every day?”

I shuffled to the bed and dropped onto the mattress. “Don’t tell Astrid.”

“That you’re cooperating?” She moved closer.

“That I yelled.” I wrung my hands together.

“You didn’t yell.”

“That counts as yelling to her,” I muttered.

Hellanna looked at me, confused. “She’s very strict with you. Almost to the point that it is hurting more than helping.”

I shrugged. “I don’t get a say.”

“I suppose not.” She set to work healing my reddened skin. “Why did they put more on you?” Additional bands had been added to my ankles.

“I burned the floor.”

“During your evaluation?”

I nodded.

“You are very powerful, Eiko. I can feel it, but I don’t sense any danger. Simply an energy that wants to come out.” She sat on the bed beside me and looked at my arms. “What do they respond to?”

“Extreme emotion.”

Her eyes shot open. “That could be anything?” she snapped. “Who made these? What kind of possessor would leave it so broad? Any extreme emotion,” she mocked, “A healer would waste all their energy with such a stupid approach. Does no one here know anything about focusing on specifics? Thinking things through. It's like me healing something that doesn't need it.” She rambled on about careless possessors who needed better training. “Idiots. I’m finding myself surrounded by more and more of them with every passing day. Barbaric, that’s what this is.” She turned to me and scanned my appearance. “Did you cut your hair?”

I bristled at the comment. “A little.”

“Wow.” She moved it off my shoulder and looked at my back. “How did you get it so straight? I cut my hair by myself once, and it was horrible. I cut it at a slant and had to chop off more than I wanted.

“I— I don’t—” I swallowed hard. It was time for her to leave.

“Your hair is stunning, by the way. I was going to tell you the other day, but I was so nervous. It suits your face.”

“Um….” I bit my lip as the bands tightened. “Can you go?”

“Oh.” She pulled away. “I’m sorry I’m overwhelming you. I can come on kind of strong sometimes. They told me they kept you locked in here. It’s exciting to talk to you and see that all the rumors are wrong.”

My chest felt tight. “You need to leave.”

“Sorry, sorry.” She held up her hands. Standing, she backed up toward the door. “I’ll come by tomorrow.” Hellana waved. “Astrid said to remind you to eat.” She motioned to the plate. “But… yeah. Bye.” She hurried out the door, and it clicked shut.

I fell onto the mattress and took deep breaths. What was Astrid thinking, letting a girl like that into my room? For someone so tiny, I didn’t think she could be so… overwhelming. I slowly lifted myself up and brushed my hair away from my eyes.

What did she mean by saying that it suited my face? I glanced at the door before slipping into the bathroom. I moved my hair forward and turned from side to side.

“Suited my face.” I lifted my chin. I had no idea what that meant. Gathering it, I pulled it all straight back and tried to imagine what it would look like short. I didn’t like it. Letting it drop, I ran my fingers through my hair. Maybe that was what she meant. Because I liked it long, it suited my face? I let out a huff. Girls were confusing—people in general were confusing, was more like it.

Returning to my room, I grabbed the tray and went to the corner to eat my dinner. It was cold, and there was a lot of mush. How did they expect me to want to eat this? It didn’t taste bad because it tasted like nothing. I grabbed the bread and fruit and placed the bowl of oatmeal to the side.

I settled into my bean bag chair and scanned the items Astrid had brought me to keep me entertained—nothing special by the looks of it.

I let out a sigh and bit into an apple. My arms hurt, as did my ankles and thighs. My body simply hurt, and I didn’t think Hellana would ever be able to fix it completely.