1 Prologue

Blood and Sweat!

That's what I smelled, mostly.

Blood everywhere around me and then the scent of mint filling my nostrils. I finally open my eyes afraid of what I might find. A narrow-faced man with worried eyes. A searchful look, the kind filled with pity. I attempted to scream but my throat was to dry from the lack of water.

"It's gonna be okay, honey!"

That's all I heard until two arms grabbed me from behind, pulling me away from the balck basement. My home for the past twelve years.

My home no longer.

I could tell they were taking me away. Probably police officers. I never wanted this to happen, honestly. I was content with the basement. It was my normal. I know that the men were gone. The ones with the crooked teeth and jagged smirks. I hoped it was painful. It had been about an hour since the officers broke in, but it had ended as fast as it had started. As we got outside I breathe in the fresh night air. The hands stopped pulling me. It was raining but I hadn't noticed over all the chaos.

"She's in shock," a ragged voice said.

"Of course shes in shock, shes been in there for how many years. They've made a mess of her. Good thing we got her. The parents appeared to be dead. Probably stabbed.

The body belonging to the first voice rubbed my shoulder and caused me to yell.

" Hey, hey! I didnt mean to scare you."

It had felt natural but still shocked me. All I could see were blurred figures, black moving shapes in the rain.

" You think shes an element"?

"Doesn't look like one", the other insisted.

" Check her neck", the first offered. I felt one of them move my hair to the side. I shivered, as he gazed my neck. My legs ached inside of me . I closed my eyes and wished to drift away

"Well if she is, shes one weak element", the second voice still seemed skeptical.

"It doesnt matter, we have to take her to the academy its protocol."

They took me into the car. It was just so surreal, I hadn't been in one on so many years. I can't remember the drive. If it was in a car or a truck or an ambulance. But I do remember First Voice telling me to be strong. That I was going somewhere safe. A place where young elementals could live freely and be successful. He said that I probably wasn't told about my element powers.

"Don't worry. You'll survive this."

Was he right?

Darkness overtook me, and I let the world slip away.