Ava closed her eyes and summoned her power, reaching down into the depths of herself. Silvery light bled from her skin, first in faint shimmers, then in a radiant glow that filled the room.
May would have been frightened if it had been anyone else. Oddly, she felt safe. Safe enough to bare her scars, safe enough to let another touch the ugliest parts of her. She watched, transfixed, her pulse quickening.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
Ava opened her glowing eyes, the silver light still clinging to her lashes. Her chest rose and fell heavily, and with a final push of power she channelled the shimmering energy into May. The air pulsed with warmth before slowly dimming, the light dispersing into invisible ripples. As the magic faded, the angry scars etched into May's skin began to soften, dissolve, and vanish.
