Cara chuckled after hearing Ashton’s reason. “Silly.” She grabbed Ashton and embraced him tightly. “I’m sleepy. Please cuddle me to sleep.” She cheekily asked her husband.
Ashton smiled as he willingly obliged. “Anything for you, my love.”
***
“Okay, you guys. Here is a quick update. The ritual is complete but I need to observe my wand first for a few days.” The traitor called Thomas.
“What? Are you playing with me?” Thomas angrily answered the traitor. His answer startled Theo, who did not readily realize that his father was on the phone. Thomas instantly pointed out to his son that he was on the phone.
Theo nodded and moved closer to listen in to the conversation.
“Chill. It will take a few days before my wand goes back to normal. It’s absorbed so much power that it is a little brittle today.” The traitor explained her part.
“Hmm, are you sure about that, or are you just tricking me?” Thomas wanted more information from the caller.
“Well, the downside of this is actually…” She paused and cleared her throat. “The Sakalam right now is doing the same. She is absorbing everything and is getting stronger and more powerful by the minute. So yeah, you are in for a bigger battle ahead.” She admitted the consequences of waiting.
“You are not making any sense! If she is not in full strength right now, then now is the best time to ruin her.” Thomas wanted to sound like he was firm in his stand.
“Well, if you were not too slow it would have been clear by now! I told you already, my wand is brittle. If it breaks right now and you fail to finish her off, can you convince another witch to lend you a wand?” The traitor’s tone was strong, she was eager to slap Thomas for his idiocy.
“Okay, okay. Just call me again when your wand is ready to finish the job.” Thomas conceded and ended the call. He looked in Theo’s direction and they both took a deep sigh, knowing they were not yet to be confronted about how to handle the task of killing Cara.
 ***
Cara placed her phone back on her side table. She looked at Ashton and smiled. “Theo called and I think the plot to murder me has been postponed.” Cara explained to her husband, who was standing by the foot of the bed.
“Gosh, don’t say that, babe.” Ashton cringed at the thought. “What about that?” He asked for an explanation and sat beside Cara.
“Well, according to the traitor, I am not at one hundred percent yet and so are their wands. So it is a truce while we all recharge.” Cara sat up and stretched her arms like everything she just found out was nothing.
“I was trying to recharge you last night and you refused.” Ashton winked at Cara, and they both laughed. He reached for her hand and sincerely looked into her eyes. “Seriously, babe. How are you feeling?” He had not read these changes in the books, Cara’s hair color changed and she seemed a little more upbeat than usual. He can’t figure out if it will subside as she gets used to the changes or if it will be her new normal.
 “Hmm, fairly okay, I think. Well, aside from this eerie feeling of hmm…” Cara paused and pinched her chin as she squinted her eyes. “I can’t quite put it in words, my love, but I feel full… Hmm if that makes sense.” Cara said and shrugged her shoulders.
Ashton nodded. It does make sense, if what Theo said was true… I think your energy is just flowing through you right now, not yet fully absorbed.” Ashton answered Cara.
“Well, isn’t that ironic? I mean how can I feel full if I have not absorbed it yet?” Cara raised her eyebrows as Ashton’s statement raised her curiosity.
“My love, it is quite Ironic. You feel quite full because it is not absorbed yet and you don’t have full control of it. Once you have fully controlled your power, it becomes a part of you. Just like how you feel the need to recharge whenever you use it.” Ashton wondered if he made sense to Cara.
“Hmm, yes, just like when you exercise and use your energy, right?” Cara began to understand Ashton. “Yeah, I think I’m getting it.” She continued and then paused and her eyes glimmered before she spoke again. “Care to test my new abilities now?” She cheekily asked Ashton.
“Test? How?” Ashton’s curiosity peaked.
***
The two went to the maze. Cara easily convinced Ashton to try out her newly acquired powers. “What do you think I have gained?” Cara asked Ashton.
“Well, if you have acquired a little bit of the four elements, then you can probably do the things the four of them can do uniquely.” He took a wild guess.
Cara nodded and thought about Percy’s ability. “Percy is a fire element. I can light a fire already, so what can she do that I did not before?” She thought deeply for an answer.
Ashton took a deep sigh. “Should you call her?” He was adamant because of the recent scuffle between the two women.
Cara shook her head instantly as she felt awkward with even just the thought of talking to her right now. “Hmm, how about heat?” Ashton asked Cara. “I mean can you produce heat without actually having to light a fire?”
“Let’s try.” Cara was enthusiastic about trying it out. She lifted both her hands over her hands and took a deep breath, focusing on an empty area near them. A few seconds later, they both see a heat mirage.
“Oh, babe, I think you did it.” Ashton excitedly rushed towards the area Cara focused on. There were a few stones in there and he immediately picked them up and “Ooohhhf…” He dropped them and shook his hand in the air. “You definitely did it.” He chuckled as he confirmed it.
“How about water?” Cara excitedly asked as she wanted to try more. “I know I can manipulate water but I don’t know if there is anything we could relate to it.” Her enthusiasm dampened a little, thinking there was nothing else.
“Well, you can definitely control water, but can you create it like you do with fire?” Ashton was like a fountain squirting out fresh ideas for Cara.
Cara did the same thing, raised both her hands and focused on that empty area. A few seconds later, they both could hear the simmering of the rocks that were hot earlier. Water sprouts from the ground as it slowly makes paddles on the ground.
 “For the ground?” Cara asked Ashton. “Well, I can manipulate the ground. I’m not sure if there is anything else.” Cara clicked her tongue, feeling disappointed in herself.
Ashton looked up at the sky, trying to figure it out. “Well, it is not just the ground. It is the Earth, right?” He glanced in Cara’s direction.
She nodded even if she was not entirely sure. “Well, are trees and rocks included?”Cara suggested. She raised her hands again and thought of the luscious flora and, just like that, it bloomed right before their eyes.
Cara and Ashton locked eyes and chuckled at the quick turn of events. “For air, I have something in mind.” Cara said and held Ashton’s hand. Ashton was curious why she needed to grab him for this one. Cara grabbed Ashton tighter towards her body.
“Hold on tight babe.” Cara said as she took a deep breath. She bent her knees a little and lifted Ashton off the ground.
“Ohh.. are we levitating?” Ashton asked Cara as their feet inched away from the floor.
“No, babe, we are flying.” Cara smirked at her husband as they flew higher and faster.
Ashton grabbed onto Cara tighter. “I did not expect you would think of this, babe.” He said to Cara’s ears.
Cara looked at Ashton with a sneer. “This was not what I was talking about, babe.
“Huh? What is it then, love?” Ashton inquired.
“This.” Cara replied and claimed Ashton’s lips as they flew higher.