Holly—Night of the full moon
The full moon hangs high over the quiet desert clearing behind my house.
Its pale light spills across the sand like silver dust, illuminating the circle I carefully prepared on the ground. Four small stone bowls sit at equal points around the circle—each representing one of the elements.
Air.
Water.
Earth.
Fire.
Marissa and Jenn stand a few feet away watching me work in tense silence.
I move with focused precision, my dark hair tied loosely behind my shoulders. I removed my charm bracelets and rings I normally wear to mask my magic. Without them, the air around me hums faintly with power.
In the bowl to the north, a steady flame flickers, dancing higher whenever I pass near it. Clara.
To the east, a small glass vessel of water ripples, despite th
