A/N: Dear Reader, thank you so much for your interest in our story! I'm Emily and I'm co-writing this story with my friend, Caitlin: the chapters from Ari's perspective are written by me, and the chapters from Ivonne's perspective are written by Caitlin. Ari and Ivonne are our original creations who have been inspired by characters from Charmed and Frozen. Some characters from Charmed and Frozen will make appearances throughout the fic. The way this fantasy world works was also inspired by both Charmed and Frozen, though it is an AU with a lot of different rules. I really hope you enjoy this fun, magical love story that we've concocted! :)

Chapter 1:

I'm on Fire

(Ari)

As soon as I woke up, I could already feel the anxiety burning deep in my heart. I just lay there, paralyzed by painful white hot fear. I didn't think I could even get out of bed, but I had to.

Today was my first day of school at Monarch Academy. I had hoped to God this would never happen again—starting up at a new school with new people who wouldn't like me. Maybe I didn't want them to like me anyway. If they did like me, that would mean I would have to talk to them. Just thinking about talking to people set my nerves aflame. I closed my eyes again for a few minutes and took deep breaths to calm the fire within me. My brother, Emilio, wouldn't be happy if I made him late for the first day because I set something on fire again.

I had a "gift," as my mom would say. This supposed gift of mine was called pyrokinesis: I could set things on fire with my mind. The problem was that I couldn't control it, like at all. Emotion was the trigger, and I was a pretty emotional guy unfortunately. If I ever felt any sort of strong emotion, which was most of the time, I was at risk of burning the whole building down. Back when we lived in California, I started a forest fire once.

As soon as I felt the fire in my veins cooling a bit, I begrudgingly rose from my safe bed and shoved my glasses onto my face with a groan. I was so hot that a feverish sweat had broken out all over my body. I really needed an ice cold shower.

I grabbed my school uniform: a white, long-sleeved button down with black slacks, black dress shoes, and a red, black, and white plaid bow-tie. This school seemed to have some weird fascination with plaid. Mom had bought my uniform and hung it up on my bedroom door so I would see it. To be honest, I probably would've forgotten to wear it if she hadn't set it out for me. I never even thought about clothes. Random baggy sweaters and jeans were always good enough for me.

In the shower, I had to stand under the cold water for at least five minutes before my temperature cooled down to normal. Showers were probably my favorite part of the day. That was how pathetic my life had become. There had once been a time when my life had felt very full and I had looked forward to much more than showers.

Right at that moment, I could see her face so clearly before me that it was like she was in the shower with me. Dear God, did it hurt to think of her. I closed my eyes to make her go away, but it didn't work. Brielle was etched onto the insides of my eyelids. She lived in my heart and I would never be able to get her out.

She didn't break up with me, if that's what you're thinking. No, they took her away from me. She didn't want to leave, but she had to.

Brielle Chastain was my best friend, and I was in love with her. Although we had never officially become boyfriend and girlfriend, we basically were. During those final months with her, she had given me my first kiss. I had never thought a girl would want me, but she did. And she wasn't just any girl. Brielle was electric. She always glowed with this bright passion for life. Not a moment went by that this girl wasn't laughing or smiling. And her eyes were always alight with this beautiful alertness, as she was constantly absorbing her surroundings and enjoying every bit of the world. Watching her love life the way she did made me want to truly live.

But then everything went up in flames. One day, she was just gone. I had come to school to find an empty seat next to mine in homeroom. Shortly after arriving at school, we had an assembly for which the entire student body was required to attend. The principal told us that Brielle Chastain had committed a heinous crime against a teacher, Mr. Loomis, who was in the hospital for severe injuries. She had electrocuted him. Brielle was a changeling, like me. She had the gift of electrokinesis, and supposedly she had used that gift to hurt someone. The law enforcers had immediately arrested her upon being accused by Mr. Loomis. They took her away to a changeling prison camp, the location of which is unknown. No one even knows what they do to changelings at those camps, but we all can imagine some terrible possibilities. As soon as the principal finished telling us this shocking piece of news, everyone around me started whispering: "I always knew there was something wrong with her." "I bet she electrocuted him on purpose." "I wonder if they're torturing her wherever she is." I stood up to leave the room, my vision blurring with red spots. I was on fire with every emotion imaginable. Before I knew what was happening, I heard the screams.

I didn't hurt anyone, but I did set the stage curtains in the auditorium on fire. That's why we had to move away and that's why I had to enroll at this new school. My parents didn't want everyone to shun me at school and in society in general. It was not against the law to possess a magical gift, since it was impossible to control whether one received a gift, nor was it against the law to merely use one's gift so long as no people were harmed by that gift. But changelings were always made to feel like criminals whether they were or not. In schools all across America, changelings were prime bullying targets. Normal people thought we weren't human or something, and they either were afraid of us or felt superior to us or even hated us. I remember the way everyone stared at me that day, terror and disgust in all of their eyes. Mom immediately unenrolled my brother and me from the school because she knew our lives would become living hells if we stayed.

My life was a living hell anyway without Brielle. I couldn't stand not knowing what was happening to her right now. She could be hurting or even dead for all I knew.

I turned off the shower, groaning. I didn't want it to be over. I didn't want to go a school full of strangers. I didn't know how to make friends. The only reason why Brielle and I had become friends was because she came to me. No one would come to me at this school. I just knew these final two years of high school would be the loneliest of my life.

When I finally emerged from the shower, Emilio barged into the bathroom. I was naked, but I didn't really care.

"I need to shower too, slowpoke," he teased, flashing one his winning grins at me before whipping off his boxers and stepping into the tub. I wished I could smile like him. Everyone loved my brother from the moment he flashed his teeth at them.

After throwing on my clothes, I made my way down to breakfast. The smell of pancakes and eggs made my stomach churn. I was too nervous to eat, but I knew my mom would make me eat anyway. When I saw her in the kitchen, she smiled brightly at me.

"Buongiorno!" she cried a little too cheerfully for seven in the morning. My mom often tried to toss Italian into conversation because she didn't want Emilio and me to lose our heritage. We originally lived in Italy, but when I was four we moved to America. Laws against magical gifts were much stricter in Europe. Italian changelings were often executed if they were discovered, even if they didn't hurt anyone. My parents could see how unstable my brother and I were with our powers, and they knew Italy was not safe for us. America, though not perfect, was our best option.

"Are you excited for school?" Mom asked.

I just shrugged, unable to speak because my throat was closing with panic. Mom's eyes lit up with sympathy, and she rushed over to me to wrap me up in her arms.

"Oh, my beautiful Ari. What makes you so afraid? You are such a lovely boy, and you will make so many new friends!" She held me away from herself at arm's length and smiled reassuringly. "Now, let me help you with that bow tie."

I hadn't been able to tie it on my own and I had it hanging around my neck. But Mom knew what to do, as always.

She practically forced a pancake and some eggs down my throat, and they settled uncomfortably in my stomach. By the time I finished eating, Emilio came sliding down the banister along the stairs. My mom just laughed appreciatively instead of scolding him like a regular mom. He already had his bowtie on. Emilio always had himself together way better than I did.

"You look so handsome, amore mio," she crooned to him, leaving a kiss on his dimpled cheek. He really did look handsome, but what was new? Emilio was just a naturally good looking guy, and he still would have looked handsome if he were wearing a potato sack.

"Thanks, Mom," he said with another of his famous smiles. Then to me: "You ready for school, man? You look ready. You're gonna be a real knockout with the ladies at this school, I'm sure of it." He punched my shoulder playfully, and it kind of hurt. He was an absolute jock, and he had way more muscle mass than I could ever hope to have.

"Yeah, right," I grumbled, rolling my eyes. But I really did appreciate his attempt to make me feel more optimistic, even if it didn't work. I had no idea why any girls at school would notice me, nor did I want them to notice me. Brielle was the only girl for me.

Mom asked me if I wanted to drive to school, but I knew I would probably crash because I was just that nervous. I had gotten my driver's permit a few months ago, and I loved driving, but today I just couldn't handle it. Emilio, who already had his license, drove us instead.

The whole way to school, Mom and Emilio chattered on in their relaxed way and I didn't hear a word of it. I was too busy praying that I wouldn't set anything on fire today. My panic burned hotter as we approached the school. I wanted to ask my mom to turn up the air conditioning in the car, but I couldn't speak.

I wish you were here, Bri.

And then, I saw it. Monarch Academy loomed up before us, an impressive and terrifying fortress. Within those gray brick walls could only be bad things and bad people. I already hated it.

The rest of high school is going to suck, isn't it, Bri?