Showdown of Powers

*Hezzlie*

I think I hear the sound of my alarm going off. The thought of opening my eyes to see sounds horrific, so I decide it must be something else. I’m all nice and cozy, snuggled up in this warm blanket, with a muscled arm around me. Why would anyone ever want to disturb that kind of slumber?

The beeping stops, and I let out a sigh. See? It was just a dream. Just part of a horrific nightmare that was meant to jar me awake long before I’m actually meant to get up.

“Hezzlie?”

That sounded like Rowan’s voice trying to wake me up, but I decide it’s probably just his dream voice luring me back into a deep slumber. I feel my eyelashes flutter, but I don’t open my eyes.

No, it’s definitely not time to get up.

“Hezzlie?” 

“No,” I manage, swatting my hand in the general direction of where I think Rowan might be, judging by where his arm is stationed around me. I connect with something that feels like a brick wall. My hand kinda hurts.

“Hezzlie?” Rowan says a little louder this time. “Quit hitting me and open your eyes. You’re going to be late.”

“I don’t want to,” I murmur, rolling away from him and pulling the blanket with me.

He grunts and pulls it back, flipping me over in the process. “If I had known how difficult it is to wake you up, maybe I would’ve asked the Goddess to reconsider.”

That has my eyes flying open. He’s laughing, and I know he’s joking, but I still narrow my eyes at him. 

“I’m just joking,” he assured me, and if he didn’t look so damn delicious with his muscled chest peeking out over the blankets, maybe I’d still be mad.

But I can’t be. “Why are you always waking me up so early?” I groan, my arms flopping down to my sides.

“It’s not my fault,” he says defensively. “You have to be outside to meet Veronica in less than twenty minutes. You should’ve gone to sleep earlier.”

Now, my eyes are wide open again as I study his face. “Is that really what you wish would’ve happened last night?”

“Absolutely not.” HIs grin is mischievous as thoughts of all the naughty things we did last night flood my mind. Why would I want to go out there and mess with Veronica when I can lay in here and let him fuck me senseless again?

I don’t.

“You have to go beat her in her feats of magic competition, or whatever the hell it is she thinks she’s doing. I already warned her last night that she’d better not hurt you or else she’ll be starting a war.” He’s not joking around now. I can see it in his eyes.

Reluctantly, I sit up and slide out of bed, headed for the bathroom. I don’t care that my entire naked body is on display for him. 

As I get ready to go meet Veronica outside, I know that Rowan is worried. He will probably end up going out there and watching, even though I’ve told him not to. I don’t want anyone there except for Veronica, James, and me. James is my “just in case” factor. I’m pretty sure my mother will insist on being there, too, even though she really shouldn’t be.

I hope she doesn’t try to defend me and end up getting hurt. I know James is a doctor as well as a healer, but I don’t know how his skills work on a witch as opposed to a human or a wolf shifter.

I’m dressed in jeans and a red sweater when I come back out. My hair is brushed and so are my teeth. I slathered on some deodorant. That’s about the best good ol’ Ronny’s going to get.

I shove my feet into a pair of tennis shoes and walk over to get my phone off the nightstand. Rowan is still sitting in bed, looking at me with a narrow gaze. 

“I’ll be fine,” I assure him, sliding my phone into my back pocket. “I’m not afraid of her.”

“You should be,” he counters. “Anyone else would be. She’s much older than you and has had a lot more practice with her magic.”

I shrug. “I think the moonstones are still coursing through my blood,” I admit. “I doubt she’s stronger than me with that kind of power inside of me.

Giving him a reassuring smile, I lean over and kiss him. “Try not to die,” he suggests.

“I’ll try not to.” It’s difficult to pull myself away from him, but I know I’m running out of time, and I don’t want to anger the witch. 

I wave goodbye and walk out into the hallway where I find James waiting for me near the stairs with his arms folded. He looks as impatient as I’ve ever seen him. “Sorry,” I mumble. “Why didn’t you come knock on the door to make sure I was awake?”

“I knew you were awake,” he replies. “Alpha Rowan let me know. You’re going to be late. In my experience, there’s no reason to piss off a witch.”

“Then why are you trying right now?” I flash him a sarcastic smile as we head down the stairs.

I arrive in the backyard just in time. I don’t need to look at my phone to check the time to know for sure. I can tell by Veronica’s expression. 

“Good morning,” I say, leaving James near the porch as I approach her. I’m glad to see my mother is not here. “How are you?”

“Hezzlie,” she begins. “We’re not here to exchange pleasantries. We have a duel to get to.”

“All right,” I say with a deep breath. “But the last time I hit someone with my powers, she almost died. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Veronica laughs. “I’m sure. Now, get your hands ready. I don’t want to hit you before you’re prepared.”

I raise my hands just to appease her. “I’m ready.”

Veronica lifts her hands, and that familiar light forms in her palms, I go ahead and spark my magic to life as well, The familiar life bathes my palms and then begins to radiate up off my open hands. 

I wait for her to make the first move, confident in my ability to counter whatever blast she sends my way. 

It doesn’t take long for me to find out.

Veronica pushes her powers in my direction, and I send mine back to counter hers. The two lights collide between us, but they don’t mix. It’s like they’ve hit resistance between one another and can’t go any further. 

We stay that way for several minutes before I realize she’s trying to push my powers back. She’s increased hers.

Well, I’m not about to let her do that, so I increase my power as well. Now, instead of her light getting closer to me, we even out again.

But even that doesn’t last. I’m not sure how long we’re supposed to stay like this, but I really want to go back to bed. 

So I increase the power even more so that now I’m encroaching on her space.

Veronica doesn’t like that. She makes an irritated noise as she increases her own power. It knocks mine backward slightly, but only for a moment before I’m pushing her light backward again. I see the frustration on her face through the haze of our beams of power, but I don’t let up. If anything, this shows me I’m winning, so I may as well get it over with. I dig deeper and conjure up more of my magic, sending it in her direction but being careful not to use every ounce I have in reserves.

At first, Veronica strains to try and counter me, but it doesn’t last. After a few moments, we both see my light edging hers out. I’m not sure how long we stay this way, locked in a battle, with me pushing her back further and further until it seems quite clear Veronica has nothing left to give.

She isn’t exactly calling it quits, though, and I’m not sure why. It seems ridiculous for her to continue to fight when I’m obviously winning. I don’t want to hurt her, and if her light gives out altogether, I might not have time to pull my powers back before they hit her.

“Veronica,” I call, “give up.”

“No!” Her voice is strained as she shouts back at me. “I can’t. There’s no way you can be this powerful. You’re just a baby!”

“I’ve got the moonstones powering me,” I remind her. “I’m not sure how or why, but it’s true.”

“No!” she shouts again, but this time, her voice isn't as strong. It’s clear she’s fading. “I can’t just give up.” I see her light beginning to flicker, the aura around her growing smaller by the second.

“Veronica, I can’t trust you enough to just pull back. For all I know, this is a trick, and as soon as I stop, you’ll blast me. So I’m not going to drop my hands until you tell me it’s over, that I’ve won.”

“I can’t do that,” she argues.

I hear my mother’s voice over by the house, but I don’t turn my head in her direction. “Veronica, please,” she says. “Hezzlie doesn’t want to hurt you. Remember what happened to Abby? Please, just admit that she’s stronger than you.”

“No one is stronger than me!” Veronica counters. “That’s why they sent me! I’m the most powerful witch in the world.”

“I’m not a witch!” I remind her. “I’m a hybrid. You can still be the most powerful witch.”

She seems to contemplate that for a moment or two, but then her head slumps slightly, and I think she might just fall asleep halfway through the fight.

“Fine!” she shouts. “You win, Hezzlie. Please, pull your power back before one of us gets hurt.”

It’s clear she’s the one of us that might happen to. I trust her enough to blast me once my guard is down. She has to know she’d never leave the mansion if she hurts me.

Once my powers have completely dissipated, I see Veronica sit down on the ground to catch her breath. It’s not a bad idea. I’m quite surprised I’m still standing. I suppose it’s the moonstones.

I turn toward the house to see we’ve drawn quite a crowd. Lots of familiar faces dot the crowd. I see Rowan and smile.

And then I hit the ground.