The Shifters: Katrina
Part One - Ch.23: the Watery Beginning

Willa led the two of us back inside, through two large doors that led to what seemed to be a spare gym. Shae dropped her things by the wall, stretching out as the master water shifter began to pace in the center of the room. I followed Shae's lead, dropping my things on the ground and stretching.

"So how does this work?" I whispered to Shae, trying not to disturb the silence in the room too much.

"I will do my own warm up while Willa tries to awaken your element. If you get the hang of it you may be working with me for a while."

So I'm alone, I concluded, turning away from her. Willa seemed to be absorbed in her thoughts as Shae strolled to her own corner of the room, blue light appearing around her fingers. It took form of water that curled around her fingertips, Shae focusing on nothing in particular as the water danced around the air.

Willa turned to me, her eyes sparkling.

"Are you ready, Katrina?"

I shrugged. "As I'll ever be."

The master motioned for me to come forward, inviting me to stand in front of her in the center of the room. Shae's mesmerizing practice was far from my thoughts as the bands on my arms felt tight, my arms tingling as the master stared at me. Dizziness washed over me as water gathered in Willa's hands, glowing blue instead of clear. She exhaled slowly, the water leaving her hands to float in the air. With the slightest twitch of her lips, it began to take form of a flower, expanding and contracting behind her. I watched her fingers twirl, the water reacting the exact way she wanted it to. It gathered under her feet, turning to ice that allowed her to slide along the floor. My eyes widened as the master's eyes travelled around the room, one hand controlling the path of ice ahead of her while the other used the water to push her forward. She picked up speed, practically flying around the room.

Amazing, I thought, feeling my chest lighten up a bit. Relaxing instead of panicking about trying to do that myself. Willa gradually slid back down to where I was, the water disappearing apart from a small puddle in her hand.

"Have you ever felt your power, Katrina? Anything of it?"

I frowned, considering her question. There was the reoccurring pressure of something needing to escape my chest, and the cool blank feeling of whenever I got into a fight.

I shrugged. "Maybe. I wouldn't know."

Willa rolled her eyes, nodding to the water in her hands.

"Catch."

With that, the water flew at me, drenching the front of my shirt. I hadn't even lifted my hands before it hit me, the cold liquid giving me instant shivers.

"Hey--"

I was cut off as another burst of water hit me in the face, filling my open mouth. I hacked, nearly choking on it. Prepared to chew out the master, I turned to glare at her only to recieve another doucing.

This isn't fair, I growled, shivering. Pressure built up within me, a familiar wave of anger begging to he released.

Is this what she meant? I wondered, taking another dousing to the face. Water dripped down my chin, and I spotted Shae glanced over as Willa snickered. Her look of half pity, half amusement fueled my anger. The pressure built in my chest, begging to be used to rip Willa apart.

No, I reminded myself, I'm not here to hurt anyone.

The pressure slowly subsided. Since she wasn't getting enough of a reaction, Willa had begun tossing tiny ice pellets as well as her waves of water. My arms tingled, shivering as the water and ice combined to make my body temperature drop.

I can't attack, I thought, but if I want her to stop I have to find out how to stop the water myself. Like Shae and Cory. Block her from throwing it at me.

What is water? How do I control it?

Ignoring the cold onslaught of Willa's power, I focused on what Shae looked like when she controlled her water. Calm, collected, clever. They both looked focused and sure of themselves as they bent water to their will.

Calm. Focused. Absolutely sure that I can do this.

It unfolded like a scene in my mind. Imagining me, alone in a dark room, with water in my hands. Completely focused on lifting it into the air, having it bend to a single thought.

No. First I need it to appear, I realized, the image cracking until I called back my focus. It was hard as a sheet of ice slammed into me, knocking me backward and onto my butt. I groaned, slumping into the ground as pain radiated from my back.

Or do I?

If the idea is for me to take over control and stop her water, I'm thinking about this all wrong.

Gradually, a new scene unfolded in my brain. It was of the gym, but everything was a blur beside Willa, her attacks, and myself on the ground. All I had to do was focus, become clear headed, and find whatever shifter magic allowed me to use water. Then, all I needed to do was put up an invisible barrier that could prevent water was hitting me once again.

I exhaled, slowly so that I could gather my thoughts. Instead of feeling anger and the need to attack, I focused on trying to feel the blue glowing light of the gemstone. Recreate it in the palm of my hand, control is so that I wouldn't feel so cold.

Opening my eyes, I saw a blue glow building up on my palms. Growing steadily, power gathering along my fingertips. Another sheet of ice came my way and I felt myself flinch, picturing it slamming into me.

No, I decided, lifting my hands. I was back in the dark room, the blue glow in my hands attached to the water in solid form. Taking control. Focusing.

My eyes had fallen shut while imagining the scene, but I cracked them open as Willa gasped. A grin broke out on my face as I stared at the ice hanging midair, the glow on my hands remaining strong. My thoughts drifted outward, my control staying steady as I used most of my current brain power to shatter the sheet, driving it into the gym floor. Willa grinned, her own glow disappearing as the attacks stopped.

"That," she nodded, "was perfect."

Slowly but surely, I began to gather my own water, letting it pool in my palms. Shae had stopped practicing, instead joining the master, the two of them watching me play with the water in my hands.

Like a child, I began to grin.

I did it.

Two announcements from yours truly!

1. Cursed Blood, my other fiction book that I take (mostly) seriously, will be back when part one of Katrina ends. I already have all the chapters written and waiting to go up until the end of part one, so now I am focusing on getting part two of Cursed Blood ready to go :)

2. I recently (five seconds ago from the time I'm writing this) uploaded the first three chapters of a book called Bite Me, Jerk! It is a comedy/romance/crack book between a girl and her vampire boyfriend. It's not something I take seriously but more for fun, so if any of you would like to check that out, I would greatly appreciate it! P.S. there is cursing, so super young readers should stay away from that one :)

That is all for the moment, thank you all for reading and sticking with me <3

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