A Fractured Light (Beautiful Dark)

eyes. I could do this. Claire was fierce, but I had power. And I wasn’t just trying to beat her—or even Ellie’s time two spots after me. I had a purpose. The thought of finally controlling my powers sent a rush through me so heady that for a moment I saw stars.
    At the signal, we both pushed off. The wind wrapped itself around me, and soon I was flying down the mountain. I could feel every bump, every slight turn in the course. I was moving so fast that I saw nothing but whiteness. I felt nothing but joy.
    I crouched lower as I took a sharp bend, the wind smacking me hard in the face. I spat back at it—and then, as if by magic, it seemed to retreat. Not magic, I thought. I’m doing this. The clouds swooped in, surrounding me and then whipping away behind me—covering my trail. I could hear the swish of Claire’s skis, keeping pace, and I glanced back to see if she was okay.
    “Skye!” her voice rang out. “The weather changed! Can you see?”
    “I’m fine!” I called. “Are you?”
    “I think so!”
    I trained my eyes on the clouds and dispersed them, letting the feel of the ground beneath my skis guide me the rest of the way down the mountain. I wanted control, but I didn’t want to win by blocking her way. My goal was to beat her, fair and square.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Claire pull up alongside me. I crouched lower, leaning into the wind.
    Focus your energy.
    Find the switch.
    Flip it.
    I pulled ahead, pummeling toward the finish line.
    Everything was within my grasp. The power rushed through me, and I no longer felt like I was skiing down the mountain. I felt like I was a part of it. I pushed myself forward, slicing across the finish line and swishing to a hard stop. I stared back up at the mountain, breathing hard, alive. I knew that I was right—this was what I needed.
    Claire came tumbling over the finish line, screeching to a halt beside me.
    “Amazing time, Parker!” Coach called. “You beat your own record!” But I didn’t need him to tell me that. I already knew.
    Claire drew up beside me. “Whoa,” she said, pulling her goggles up. “That was crazy intense.”
    “I know.” I panted. “Good race. You were incredible.”
    “Not as incredible as you, Skye, jeez. You going out for captain next year?”
    “Yeah,” I said, pulling my own goggles up. “Yeah, I think I am.”
    “Me too.” She grinned. “Here’s to more races in our future.” She reached out to shake my hand but stopped cold. “Dude,” she said. “Those are some wild contacts.”
    Contacts? “Oh, um, yeah.” I pulled my goggles back down. “I’ll see you later,” I said abruptly, turning and racing for the equipment house. The sky was already fading into twilight and the first stars of evening were beginning to twinkle on. I locked myself in the bathroom, pulled up my goggles, and faced myself in the mirror, grabbing the sink with both hands.
    Claire was right. I’d never before seen my eyes burn a brighter silver than they were right then.

Chapter 15
    I tried to keep my adrenaline in check as I trooped back to the bus with the rest of the team. I was one of the last girls to get on, and as I walked down the aisle, I got the weird feeling that the others were watching me. Had I been that fast? That powerful? Ellie in particular eyed me as I passed her. I swung into an empty seat behind the one she shared with Maggie.
    “So you’re going out for captain,” Ellie said, leaning over the back of her seat. “You know I am, too.”
    “I know,” I said.
    She shook her head. “You think you can just waltz back in here after leaving the team like that?” She spat the words. “What makes you think we want you?”
    “I don’t care if you want me,” I said, my temper rising. “I want to be back.” I would have been lying if I’d said I’d never dreamed about being captain of the team my senior year. I looked her square in the eye. “And I want to be captain.” Ellie had been so smug all winter when she thought she’d snaked Asher away from me. It must have been just killing her to see us together.
    “You would,” she said. “It’s just so typical of you. You think everything you want should be yours. And you don’t care who you hurt in the process.” She smirked at Maggie. “Ian was right about you.”
    I felt my cheeks flush.
    “What?” I said, suddenly feeling sick.
    “When we hooked up last weekend, at Carmen Shane’s party.” She tossed her blond curls over her