Chapter 12
Brittany sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of the compound's study, surrounded by the four witches; Freya, Vincent, Hope, and Davina. They were all hard at work, trying to teach her how to control the magic that still felt so foreign to her. It was a constant struggle, the words, the gestures, the concentration. Every spell felt like it had a life of its own, and Brittany couldn’t shake the feeling that she was always just a step behind her magic.
Freya, who had been the one guiding her most of the time, watched patiently as Brittany stumbled through yet another incantation. Her voice faltered halfway through, and the small flicker of light that had sparked from her fingers fizzled out. She sighed in frustration.
“I just… I don’t get it,” Brittany muttered, wiping her hands on her pants, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I keep messing it up.”
Davina, who had been quiet up until now, gave Brittany an understanding smile. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re learning. You don’t have to be perfect right away. The important thing is that you are learning.”
Brittany couldn’t help but chuckle weakly. “That’s what everyone keeps saying, but it doesn’t make it easier.”
Vincent stepped forward, his gaze steady. “It’s not about getting everything right immediately, Brittany. It’s about understanding the intent behind each spell. And right now, you’re relying a lot on instinct; your magic comes to life when you panic, when you’re in danger. But that’s not sustainable. We want to help you harness that power, so you can control it when you need it.”
Brittany frowned. “But every time I’ve used magic, it’s been because I was freaking out. That’s when it works. I don’t even know what I’m doing most of the time.”
Davina gave her a reassuring smile. “That’s actually a good thing. A lot of witches start out that way. It means you’re tapped into your power. But it also means we have to help you learn to direct that power consciously. If you don’t, it could backfire. We want to teach you to use that power when you’re calm and in control, not just in a panic.”
Hope, who had been watching Brittany’s frustrated attempts from the corner of the room, leaned forward. “You’re powerful, Brittany. I mean, really powerful. You were able to snap Marcel’s neck with a spell without even thinking about it. That’s insane.”
Brittany blinked, a little taken aback. “Wait, what? I didn’t snap his neck with a spell. I didn’t even know what I was doing.”
Freya nodded. “Exactly. That’s the thing. You didn’t know what you were doing, but your magic reacted. And it reacted strongly. It’s all about learning to control that fear. You’re not just reacting to danger now, you need to understand how your magic works, so you can use it when you’re not afraid.”
Brittany took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words sink in. She still wasn’t sure she was ready, but she trusted Freya and the others. She had to.
“I’ll keep trying,” she said, determination creeping into her voice.
“Good,” Freya said with a proud smile. “Now, let’s try again.”
As the training session continued, Brittany found herself growing more focused. She still struggled to remember the complex incantations, but with every attempt, she could feel herself getting just a little bit closer to controlling her magic.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the compound, Santana was deep in her own training with Kol and Marcel. The sparring sessions had become a regular part of her routine now, and each one pushed her to her limits. She was stronger than she had been when she first arrived in New Orleans, but she knew she had to be even stronger to survive.
Kol was relentless in his training, but there was a certain respect in his eyes for her. He saw something in Santana; a raw, untapped potential that he knew could be honed. Marcel, on the other hand, was more strategic, guiding her through every move with a calm focus that Santana appreciated.
“Your strength is impressive,” Kol remarked as Santana delivered a well-placed punch to his chest. “But you still lack control. You fight like someone who’s angry. That won’t get you far.”
Santana snorted, brushing the sweat from her forehead. “And how exactly do I control it, huh? You’re not exactly the calmest guy around.”
Kol smirked, his eyes flashing with amusement. “True, but I’ve learned how to use my anger. You need to do the same. Your emotions are powerful. You just need to channel them.”
Santana narrowed her eyes. “Channel my emotions? That sounds like some cheesy self-help crap.”
Marcel, standing off to the side, chuckled softly. “It’s not as easy as it sounds, but it works. Anger, fear, frustration, these are all things you can use to fuel your power. You’ve got to learn how to turn that energy into something productive.”
Santana took a step back, breathing heavily. “I get it. But you’re not always going to have a stake on you, are you?”
Kol raised an eyebrow. “That’s right. You’re not always going to have one handy in battle, especially when you’re outnumbered.”
He then waved his hand, and an illusion appeared in front of them, showing a group of vampires. As they watched, the illusion shifted to demonstrate different ways to kill vampires; decapitation, ripping out their hearts, and even burning them alive. The scene felt too real, too close to what they’d have to do in a real fight.
“Not everyone fights with a stake,” Kol explained. “Sometimes you’ll need to act fast, and using your strength and precision to decapitate or extract a vampire’s heart could be just as effective.”
Santana watched with a mixture of fascination and unease. “That’s… a lot. But I get it. You gotta do what you gotta do.”
Kol nodded, his expression turning serious. “Exactly. And the quicker you learn to trust your instincts, the quicker you’ll be ready when the time comes.”
Santana let out a deep breath, trying to process everything. This was more than just learning how to fight, it was about survival. About control. About taking back her life in a world that had changed so much.
As the training continued, she could feel herself growing stronger, more capable. She still had a long way to go, but she wasn’t backing down. Not anymore.
Meanwhile, back with Brittany, Freya, Davina, and Hope were still working on refining her magic. Though Brittany had made progress, there was still a lot she needed to learn. But with each passing day, she felt herself becoming more and more connected to her magic. She had to, there was no turning back now. The fight was coming, and she needed to be ready.
In this strange new world, where magic, vampires, and danger lurked at every corner, Brittany knew one thing for certain: she wasn’t going to let fear hold her back anymore. She was going to learn to control it, and when the time came, she would fight with everything she had.