The breeze had more of a bite to it as it rustled through the leaves, creating a symphony of sound in the silent forest. A sheen of sweat clung to Julia, every muscle in her body strained like the string on a violin wound too tight, ready to snap at any moment. Her entire being focused on trying to harness the energy from the nature surrounding her and turn it into magic.

"Come on, Jules concentrate," Ren said, standing in front of Julia with a sour expression on his face. "You need to feel the flow of all the living things around you,"

Julia's eyes shot open, her hand balled into tight fists as she fought the urge to smack Ren upside the head and walk home in utter defeat. "How can you say that to me? That's all I've been doing for the past four hours." Then seeing that Ren didn't care and would not let her off the hook she sighed and grumbled, "Okay, Yoda, I get it. Jeez, you've been drilling this into my head for a month now. I'm trying damn it."

He arched an eyebrow at her; mock insult painted his face and softly punched her on the arm. "Cheeky. Firstly, I am not Yoda, a young Obi Wan Kenobi maybe and secondly you have to try harder. Julia, you're not taking this seriously."

She glared at Ren and pounded her fist on a thick redwood tree which splintered. "I am taking this seriously, Ren!"

She couldn't believe what a hard-ass he was being. It wasn't like she could help the fact she had a pathetic amount of magical power in her. If there was a way to somehow harness her powers and generate more of it through Zen-like focus, she would've already flipping done it weeks ago. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck in the woods yet again having to miss her favourite human TV shows. "Do you think I enjoy being the loser who can't use any of her powers? Or like the fact that I'll never be able to live up to my mother and the lineage of powerful witches I come from?"

Julia cursed and then walked off in utter defeat toward the small campfire and flopped down in front of it. She pulled her knees into her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them and stared into the fire. The flames were not only orange and yellow they were also blue and green; thanks to some faerie magic from Ren. It meant the fire wouldn't go out, and it emitted a constant temperature and brightness of light.

He sat next to Julia wrapping one of his long arms around her, pulling her into him. "I'm sorry, Jules. I know this isn't easy for you but you have to try. Just do it for me, please."

She sighed resting her head on his chest listening to the steady beat of his heart, an act she'd done time and again over the years. Whenever she's needed a shoulder to cry on or a chest to lean on Ren always provided it.

"That's the only reason I'm doing any of this. Don't think for one second that I'd put myself through this for anyone else. I know what everyone says about me behind my back, 'Oh poor Rosalie to have such a pathetic, powerless child.' Having to see their pity whenever they look at me, it makes me so damn furious. I want to go around punching holes into things. That's about all I'm good for." She had to put up with snide remarks her whole life and though she put up a good front it never got easier or hurt any less.

Ren rested his chin on her head and hugged her closer to him. "Julia, that isn't true," his words were soft and tender. "Trust me when I tell you that inside of you is a power that burns so bright it makes the sun pale in comparison. You just have to find it."

Julia squeezed him tighter. "Thanks, Ren. You know exactly what to say to make me feel better. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Lucky for you, you never have to." He kissed the top of her head and then stood up, stretched out his arm for her to take and lifted her up. Standing behind her he whispered in her ear, "Now, I want you to close your eyes." Ren placed his palm on the small of her back and the other on her stomach. "I want you to concentrate on this spot, block out everything else." He paused. "Really focus and when you feel the heat buildup, nod."

Julia shut the world around her out and focused all her energy into that spot. At first she felt nothing. Her body vibrated, she clenched her fists trying to conduct her magic to that one spot and still felt nothing. Frustrated and about to give up, she felt the tiniest twinge warmth, and smiled with joy. Spurred on she concentrated harder, the warmth slowly grew into a fire and she nodded.

"Good." Ren moved his hand up to her heart and placed the other in between her shoulder blades. "Now, I want you to feel the heat here. Try, thinking about it like the flame of a candle. When you first light the wick it burns small but then the flame grows."

Once again she concentrated and again, there was nothing; only a black oppressive void that felt like a wall blocking her from going any further. Her inner mind stared at the wall not knowing what to do; this was where she constantly stumbled. It had always been insurmountable. She didn't want to give up, but she had no idea how to climb over the wall. Julia took a deep breath and relaxed her mind and placed one hand on the wall ready to scale it. She dug her fingers in to get a handhold and found it was malleable.

Julia scrunched her forehand; the wall had always been solid and hard like iron. She slowly pushed her hand though it and felt the faintest tinge of heat. Julia raised her other hand and pushed it through. The heat intensified and with it came the twisted laughter of the screaming woman. Julia froze as it the laughter permeated her whole body. A voice rose in the back of her mind and urged her to push forward however, her subconscious kicked and screamed at her to back away and run.

Fear spread inside of Julia and she tried to wrench her hands free of the wall. But a something on the other side grabbed her hand and yanked her forward. Shocked Julia's eyes whipped opened. A silver mist filled the dark forest. It was as though the mist was alive. Julia squinted; she could just make out two ghostly figures of a young man and woman swirling around in the mist.

Julia watched as the girl ran looking over shoulder her soft giggles filling the air. The guy caught her in his arms, swinging the girl up in the air. The girl let out a joyous laugh and Julia could feel the love this girl had for the guy; how she would've given her own life to keep him safe. The mist began to thin and Julia held her breath eager to see the vision more clearly.

Ren shook Julia hard jolting her back to reality, blinking she looked around. "What on Earth is going on with you?" his voice was sharp. "This is the second time you've spaced out. Stop daydreaming and take this seriously, Jules."

Since their trip to Europe, Julia's dreams had become even more intense. It was bad enough she had them in the first place; she couldn't believe they were happening to her while she was awake now.

Angry and frustrated Julia shook out of Ren's grip. "That's exactly what I was doing!" A part of her felt like she would crack if the visions got any stronger. Yet something clawed at the back of her mind eager for the dreams to intensify and reveal their secrets. "I'm freaking tired of this so just leave me alone, damn it!"

He raised his hand out but stopped short of touching Julia. He sighed letting his hand drop, and she saw the sorrow in his eyes as Ren regarded her. After a moment he walked behind her, put his arms over hers and said, "Close your eyes."

Julia shook out of his arms still annoyed. "I said I'm done, Ren."

"Stop being so damn stubborn," he said more forcefully, putting his arms back on her shoulders, "and close your eyes!"

She agreed exhaling loudly. After a minute she felt something feather light and downy soft hit her face and the air filled with a deliciously sweet scent. Julia opened her eyes and saw rose petals falling from the sky. Delighted, she let out a laugh and stretched out her hands to touch them. The petals felt like rainbow coloured snow. The entire clearing had changed from dim to a soft brightness as the petals fell. Julia couldn't believe Ren had done this for her, it up lifted her whole spirit.

Ren smiled when he turned Julia to face him. "When you gain control over your powers, you too will be able to do this." He wrapped his arms around her waist and twirled her around. "There is greatness hidden inside of you," he leaned in and whispered. "Greatness most of us can only dream of, sweet Julia. You only have to reach out and grab it. Stop doubting and believe in yourself because that belief will be your greatest weapon."

In that moment, as the petals fell from the heavens and his words washed over her, a small part of her truly believed it. Julia reached up and brushed his hair to one side and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you."

The petals stopped falling and darkness once again blanketed the clearing. The only sound was the breeze rustling through the trees and the cracking fire. Ren waved his hand over the fire extinguishing the flames. Then he picked up their coats, handing Julia hers.

"Right!" he said as he put his jacket on. "This next lesson will be a valuable exercise in following your instincts."

Julia raised her eyebrows, "really and what would that be?" actually happy about more training.

He grinned wickedly. "You, my dear are going to find your way back home on your own."

Her heart and high spirits nosedived. All the confidence and self-assuredness vanished in a puff of smoke. Julia's sense of direction was diabolical. "Ren, that's a crappy joke even for you."

"Who said I was joking, Jules?" he chuckled, his voice soaked in mischief. "As it's Friday night; well technically Saturday morning, make sure you make it back by eight o'clock Monday morning so you don't miss school." Then he disappeared in a flash.

"Come back you dirty Tink!" When he didn't return Julia screamed at the top of her lungs and kicked the ground. "Once I get my hands on you Ren, you'll wish you'd never been born!"

She couldn't believe he would do this to her. Ren of all people knew how bad she was at getting lost. And after what happened in Paris she didn't think he trusted her enough to find her way out of a paper bag let alone find her way back home.

Julia had wandered around for what felt like days. The midmorning sun was shining brightly when she concluded that she was completely lost. Anger set in and started burning out of control.

"Damn you Ren," Julia shouted into the empty woods. Picturing his face she lashed out, kicking and hitting whatever she could, unearthing great mounds of dirt and shattering pieces of rock off huge boulders.

She continued to storm about like a bull in a china shop, the dense forest thinned out and only open space lay ahead. She spotted a smooth round rock in her path and her lips turned up as she imagined it was Ren head. Julia took a running kick determined to send the stone soaring into the trees. Her foot connected with the soil digging into it. Instead of hitting her target Julia's foot got caught on a huge root. The unyielding root jerked her body forward, and she ungracefully tumbled down a steep ravine.

Julia let out a shriek as her body somersaulted down the steep side of the gorge. She heard a loud rip as her clothes caught on the rocks. A loud crack echoed in her ears and everything started to play in slow motion as pain rippled through her like waves crashing into the beach. She landed at the bottom with a loud thud and her body instantly went limp like a rag doll.

Spots clouded Julia's vision, too weak to scream, she let out a whimper. Her head spun and nausea churned in her stomach. Her head flop back on the soil behind her and closed her eyes. Dark nothingness took hold, wrapping her in its sweet embrace.

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