Despite the presence of a powerful wizard in our hallway who was trying to kill us, I couldn’t help but watch my wife as she called the elements and let them flow through her. I loved to see the wind she generated whip her long curls around. I could only get a sense of the power that was beginning to course through her. It crackled against my skin and made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

A sharp zing of electricity flew from her fingertips and slammed into the intruder as he tried to retreat. The force of it sent him flying into the wall at the end of the hall, cracking the plaster. He let out a gasp and collapsed unconscious.

Charlotte slumped and I caught her before she could fall. The energy she expelled had weakened her. She looked at me, her large green eyes full of fear and worry. “CherryPop.” she whispered.

I laid her gently on the floor and hurried into my little girl’s room. There she was, tucked up around her favorite doll, asleep. Peaceful. I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.