“Sarrihe optistelos!” Mamu whispered to me and I squeezed my eyes shut. I heard the sounds of a ritual for summoning fire and smelled burning oak. I wrinkled my nose at the smell. I didn’t like fire, I couldn’t control it yet. Not even my parents could completely control their fire either. I shifted uneasily, wondering why someone would summon such a dangerous element in the middle of a sentencing.

I heard the prisoner being ordered to release his wings. I cracked open my eyes for a moment ‘cause I wanted to see them. They were the most beautiful wings I’d ever seen! A mix of black and emerald stemming majestically from his back so perfectly I was in awe. My breath escaped me and my eyes snapped shut again as I saw the faerie from before using his fire.

The screaming pierced my ears like knives. I clamped my hands over my ears and tried to block it out, but I still knew what was happening. My eyes were closed but I still saw the faerie kneeling down, screaming as his wings-those perfect wings-were burned.