Under Control: The Guardians of Ivalice, #2

By Laura Catherine

Nix, Grace and Phoebe are having problems with their new elemental powers. They keep losing control and sooner or later they are going to get caught or hurt someone.
   
When Nix gets grounded from preforming a gig, after having a fight with her boyfriend and accidentally starting a small fire, the girls come up with a plan to practice their powers and regain some control.
   
Kendra, on the other hand, is shutting everyone out. Despite Phoebe's best efforts to get through to her, Kendra wants nothing to do with magic or Ivalice, but she can't hide away forever because Morgan is desperate to find a way to Earth and take back the elements. As he gets closer to a solution Morgan's obsession grows and begins to come at a cost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Catherine
• Release date: Jun 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386411017

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

GRACE DIDN’T KNOW if she would survive this fight. She was still learning to use her new abilities and her opponent had been training for a few years.

It was completely unfair, but nevertheless, she took on a fighting stance.

Her opponent raised his fists and flicked his fingers her way, gesturing for her to make a move.

I won’t lose. I won’t lose.

The fight was over in a matter of seconds—Grace’s brown-belt opponent deflected her white-belt punch and swept her feet out from under her, so she landed on her back with a thud.

Your blocking technique is improving, Grace’s karate instructor said as he watched her sparring match from one side of the room.

Grace pushed herself up on her elbows. Not good enough.

You can’t expect to beat someone who’s had way more time training, her sparring partner, Jake, said. He offering her a hand up.

Grace took Jake’s hand eagerly. Though she didn’t like losing to anyone, she did like cute boys offering help.

Thank you, she said with a sweet smile.

Jake was at least three years older than Grace, and training to be an instructor at the karate academy under Master John’s tutelage. Jake was also toned in all the right places. Grace could feel the strength of his bicep as he lifted her. Sweat dripped from his curly hair down his chiselled face. Grace bet there was a six pack under his gi.

Jake smiled back at Grace. Keep practicing. If you really want to learn to defend yourself, then you will. Just give it time.

Master John stepped onto the blue padded floor, his arms tucked into his overly large sleeves; a black belt tied firmly around his waist. Sensei Jacob is correct. One does not become a master overnight. You will face many trials that will reveal truths about yourself.

Grace glanced at Jake, who gave her a knowing smirk.

She bowed her head. Yes, Master.

Grace bowed to Jake and took her spot next to the other students in her class. They knelt on the edge of the mats, watching each other practice the blocking technique Jake taught them that lesson.

Grace knew things took time, but she wasn’t sure how much time she had. Everything in her life had changed a week ago when she’d found herself in a cave with her three best friends, staring at glowing orbs of light that gave them each the ability to control an element.

The memory would forever be clear in her mind: the moment they returned to the cave for answers, only to find a giant bat creature unlike anything Grace had ever seen before. It had been terrifying, but also thrilling.

Grace and her friends had fought side by side against the creature, defeating it with their powers. And for a brief moment, Grace thought that everything would be okay.

But it wasn’t.

Even after the ghost of a queen from another world called Ivalice appeared before them and asked for their help, things hadn’t gone as Grace had planned.

She had been completely on board with the whole idea. She was ready and willing to figure out a way to Ivalice and save it from the evil Prince Morgan, but sadly, Grace’s friends weren’t so keen.

Phoebe wanted to do more research before acting. Nix, Grace’s best friend in the entire world, seemed more concerned with her own life than the fate of Ivalice. And Kendra had completely shut down, avoiding them all for the past week at school.

Grace was still determined, though. This was just another challenge to undertake, and she never backed down from a challenge. The first step was getting stronger. Grace knew once they found a way to Ivalice there would be fighting, and it wasn’t enough to rely on her power over the element Water, because even though she had been practicing, she had no idea what she was doing.

Karate, on the other hand, was something Grace did know. She’d watched her older brother, Josh, take karate lessons for years, and he often said it was a great way to defend yourself. Grace had been too busy for karate. She was already on the lacrosse team, soccer team, and surfed whenever she got the chance. Now she made time.

Grace?

Grace looked up and saw Jake standing above her, his brow slightly creased. Yes? she replied, putting on a sweet smile.

Class is over. Jake picked up a towel and dabbed the back of his slightly freckled neck.

Grace glanced from left to right. The other students were outside the dojo area, putting on their shoes and chatting.

Is something on your mind? Jake asked as Grace stood, her cheeks flushing.

She rubbed the back of her head. Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about the lesson. You know, visualising the blocking technique.

Grace swung her right arm out forcefully to demonstrate.

Jake smiled, his white teeth and dimples showing. I’m glad you’re taking this so seriously. Josh wasn’t sure you would.

Grace frowned. She hadn’t realised Josh and Jake were friends. That didn’t bode well for her flirting with Jake. He’d probably see her as a kid sister, but what annoyed Grace more was her brother’s lack of faith.

When I make my mind up about something, nothing can stop me from fulfilling it, she said, folding her arms over her chest.

Jake laughed, and Grace’s bravado faltered. You definitely sound like your brother.

That was not a comparison Grace was happy with. You never wanted a cute boy to think of you like your older brother.

See you next week? Jake said, throwing his towel in his gym bag and picking up his water bottle. Keep practicing and if you need some extra training…

Grace’s eyes lit up.

…ask Josh for some pointers.

She could feel the light disappearing from her eyes.

Grace made her way to the font of the dojo, untied the top of her gi and shoved it into her bag with her white belt. She kept the pants on and slipped into her runners.

Grace was the last student to leave the dojo. She couldn’t believe how poor she been at talking to Jake. It didn’t matter much. Grace really had her heart set on Aaron Winters from her year at school. He was the most popular guy in their level, and super kind to boot.

Grace shut the glass door to the dojo and stepped out onto the street. Verndale was a small town so all the main stores ran along one road. Cars lined the sidewalk with parents picking up their children from karate, and from the ballet school a little further down. The scent of spices from the Indian restaurant next door made Grace’s stomach rumble. She couldn’t wait to get home and have dinner.

Her house was only a few blocks south of the shopping strip. The giant mall complex was opposite the dojo. She longed to go shopping, but not while she was dressed in her karate outfit. It was good for fighting in but didn’t do much for her figure.

Well, look who it is, called a familiar voice that made Grace curse the heavens.

Grace didn’t dare glance back at Jasper Hale, the school bully, who was probably loitering in front of the mall with his friends, like he did most days. She didn’t like Jasper and the way he treated people, or the way he put others down to make himself look bigger.

Grace particularly didn’t like the way Jasper seemed to have made it his life’s mission to annoy her ever since she made fun of his giant ears on the school trip last week. She didn’t approve of making fun of people, but Jasper had been mean to Nix, and that was something Grace could never allow.

Hey West! Jasper called after her again and Grace heard his underlings giggling like a pack of hyenas.

Grace didn’t turn around. She wasn’t going to give Jasper the satisfaction of a reaction. It didn’t matter what he said. Grace focused on the road in front of her and strode forward toward home.

Aw, don’t want to chat today, West? Jasper called. Are you afraid?

I’m not afraid, she thought, I just don’t have time for attention-seeking losers.

Grace kept moving, her fists clenched at her sides. She spotted Jasper in her peripheral vision on the other side of the road, walking at the same pace, calling across to her.

What are you wearing, West? Going to be a kung fu expert? You do kinda look like a panda.

Good one, Jasper, Andre said, patting his leader on the back. Kung fu panda.

Jasper’s smile almost reached his overly large ears. He thrived off the attention of others. I didn’t realise you were trying to outmatch all the boys with your muscles. Are you bulking up to join the football team? You’ve got the arms for it.

Grace had never been ashamed of her love of sports. She knew her shoulders were broader than most girls’, because of her years of surfing and she was one of the shortest girls in class. However, none of this ever made her feel any less feminine than people like Kendra who did ballet and wore skirts and dresses all the time. Grace was her own kind of beautiful, but Jasper’s words still ate at her, filling her with unreasonable doubts.

Jasper slapped Carl across the chest and nodded in Grace’s direction. Oh, I get it now. This is your plan to get with Aaron Winters. Come on, West, just because Winters likes sports doesn’t mean you have to take his place on the team, just so he’ll notice you.

Grace had had enough and despite the voice in the back of her head that was screaming at her to ignore Jasper, she just couldn’t.

Grace whirled around, her heart racing. You know what, Jasper?

Jasper smirked and leaned casually against a fire hydrant. Please do tell, West. I’m all ears.

Grace resisted the urge to