I ran. Faster than I had ever gone before. Faster than I thought my weak legs could take me. I ran fast, ignoring the bruises and cuts that had come to be permanent.
The stars shone clearly, sparkling against the endless blackness of the winter sky. White branches reached toward them like spindly fingers; a stark contrast. Black and white were elegant colors. Mixed with silver, they were magical. And here, in the depths of the woods, nature had fashioned them stunningly.
I was still running, sprinting, racing away from that wretched place. The origin of all my agony. I had watched him beat my mother, my brother, my sister. I had watched as they made their escape. I had known what was coming, when my sister left. She was the last one to go; they had all abandoned me. He had no one else to turn to. So he beat me.
Now it was my turn. By morning, he would realize my absence, but I’d be long gone. I laughed easily, loving the way it bounced off the shimmering trees, and breathed in the crisp, frosty air. It tasted like freedom.
I continued along the frozen path, desperately praying for some civilization. The trees rattled ominously above me, and the cold wind bit at my cheeks. I pressed the palms of my gloved hands against them. Damn this New England winter.
A light rose from the frozen tundra, so faint and hazy I thought at first I was hallucinating. Stumbled toward it, weak and frozen. My bruises and cuts ached more with every step, and I finally collapsed on the snow-covered steps of a building. I didn’t know what it was. I just pounded on the wooden doors as hard as my fists would allow without shattering like glass.
“Hello?” A small, dark haired woman stepped out glancing around before her eyes found me. I gasped, a painful exercise to my worn out, frostbitten body. Her eyes were striking and unusual. They were beautiful, but frightening. I had never seen silver eyes before, and they sparkled like gemstones.
“Could I come in?” I whispered, the words scraping against my throat.
“Shit. Jurek?” She called urgently over her shoulder, stooping down to help me up. “Jurek!”
“What’s wrong? Hang on, I’m coming.” He stopped short when he saw me, his eyes darting back and forth.
“Jurek?” There was a question in her eyes that I couldn’t see and wouldn’t understand. He answered aloud.
“No. Anya, it’s too dangerous.”
“Jurek please, I – I can sense it. She has a gift inside of her too precious to be wasted.” Apparently this changed things, because he paused.
“Anya, you have to be sure. What color?”
“Green...” She whispered, and I realized she was deep in concentration. Tiny lines appeared around her eyes. “I…I can’t make it out.” She breathed. “But it’s glowing, shimmering…Oh Jurek, it’s so strong! I could see it when I first laid eyes on her!”
“Fine. Bring her in.” My mind began reeling and everything was a blur as I tried weakly to escape Anya’s grasp. The man, Jurek, opened the door to a white room that reminded me vaugely of a hospital. Well damn, did I pick the wrong door to knock on.
With newly acquired adrenaline pumping through my veins, I heightened my struggles and very nearly broke free of her grasp. Years of abuse had placed me in this powerless situation countless times, and I could handle it. The man came to her aid, however, holding me down in the table and ignoring my protests. They probably made no sense, anyway, in the state I was in. Determination flared through me and I managed to free one hand. Another man had arrived and was trying to do something to me. I wasn’t about to find out what it was. With that one hand, I reached up and showed him the meanest right hook he’d ever experience.
He spat out a string of cusses, and his heavy footsteps leaving the room were quite audible. I didn’t know who he was, but if he was with these crazies, I really didn’t want to find out. Speaking of which, Mrs. Crazy herself laid a supposedly soothing hand on my cheek. The thing was…I actually relaxed a little bit. The tension in my muscles eased a little more and in a few moments, I couldn’t even remember what I had been so upset about.
“I told you this was a bad idea.” Jurek muttered, sliding something sharp along the top of my hand. Calm or not, that provoked one hell of a scream from me, which was quickly silenced by the black blanket of unconsciousness that quickly enveloped my senses.
***
I sprung forward, neatly dodging the attack my opponent had issued. Her body slammed backwards from the impact, and her insanely long black hair flew around her like a shadow. I was tense, bloodlust radiating from every pore in my being. My body was back into a ready position, set as if on springs that were coiled to release at any moment. The woman slumped in a heap against the stone sides of a corridor; my body was still tense, ready for the slightest movement…
If I was confused by that last scene, which I was, the next one was absolutely baffling. I stood just inches away from a man with the most beautiful golden eyes I had ever seen. His dark hair was messy, but it still looked incredibly sexy. I was somehow familiar with the face, though still completely awestruck by his presence. He chuckled, and I swore the sound would forever be engrained in my memory. It was smooth and warm, making my stomach twist with longing.
“Grace…” He murmured, catching my breath. I must have had some killer self-control, because waiting was not generally my specialty.
I didn’t have to wait long, apparently, because he closed the distance between us. It hadn’t been very much to begin with, but I pressed myself to him as if there were miles to go. Our lips moved hungrily, and my fingers twisted into his silky, soft hair…
***
I shot up from the bed, my foot catching the twisted up sheets as I did so. Arms shot out to catch me when I tumbled forward, and a voice I swear I’d heard before spoke with slight amusement.
“You’re clumsier than I expected.” My eyes flashed up to him, ready with a witty retort. All was lost when I found his flawless face.
The memory was still so clear, and I didn’t expect it to fade anytime soon. I would remember the eyes, the hair, the face…everything I was looking at right now. Holy shit. He was even hotter in person. I figured telling him that was not the best icebreaker.
“Who the hell are you?” Well, I guess that wasn’t the best icebreaker either, but considering the level of coherency I had right now, it would have to do. He chuckled, and the sound flared up new emotions inside of me. Jesus Christ, I needed to get a hold of myself.
“Charming. I’m Alik, your trainer. Also, I’m the one whose jaw you broke.”
Of course he was. My face flushed and I bit my lip. “Yeah, sorry about that.”
“It was really quite impressive. Probably the only hit you’ll get on me.” He smirked, and I rolled my eyes.
“Is she up?” The woman I recognized as Anya rushed excitedly into the room. “Oh wonderful! She’s certainly a gorgeous one, isn’t she Alik?” He made no reply, which hurt me a little. Still, that image kept popping into my head. Was it a mistake? Surely this glorious guy who was several years older than me must not be interested. Right?
“Darling, I need your hand.”
“Why?” I asked, skeptical. She laughed.
“I’m terribly sorry, where are my manners! You must be so confused.” That was most certainly true, and her silver eyes sparkled with new excitement. “You, my dear, have been Transformed.” I imagine my expression was as muddled as my thoughts, and she continued. “Transformed into a Protector, that is. We guard the human world from the threat of Takers. They are horrible, undead creatures that want nothing but human spirits.” She shivered just thinking of these “Takers”, and I interrupted.
“This all sounds a bit science fiction-y, don’t you think?”
She paused in hesitation before stepping toward me. “I suppose it would appear that way to you. Here.” She laid her hand on my cheek again, and I instantly felt sure of this whole situation
I blinked, curious. “How do you do…that? Whatever it is.”
“It’s my gift.” She beamed. “Everyone gets one. I can influence the moods of others. I’m also a Finder.” Another blank look from me told her she should elaborate. “I find those with potential to be Protectors, and then I find their gift.”
“That’s cool.” I turned to Alik. “What’s your gift, mister high-and-mighty?”
“I have unbelievable warrior skills.” He grinned, showing his perfect teeth and succeeding in making my stomach drop. I rolled my eyes at his cocky remark before Anya gave credit to his claim.
“Actually, his gift is very rare. It’s not often we get a pure warrior.”
“Well, do I get one?”
She laughed easily. “Of course you do. We just won’t know what that is until I find it. Which will be when you give me your hand.” I glanced down, realizing for the first time a beautiful swirled pattern that twisted from her wrist to the tips of her fingers. It was a light, shimmering purple. My eyes flickered to Alik’s, which was woven on his smooth skin with a golden shine that matched his eyes.
Eagerly, I placed my palm on top of Anya’s, and her gaze locked on it intently.
After a few seconds, an intricate pattern of swirls expanded gracefully over my skin. It tingled, and suddenly my body felt…more powerful. I heard Anya gasp.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Even Alik stared at it, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. I didn’t know much about this new race I was apparently part of, but I could guess what their astonishment was about.
My marking of sorts was made up of two colors, beautifully intertwining to create the green and gold design that was now a part of me. Theirs only had one color, which I assumed was the norm.
“Does…does she have two gifts?” Adrik popped the obvious question, his gorgeous eyes wide with bewilderment and something close to awe.
“Yes.” Anya breathed, looking into my eyes and gasping again. I would have to stop with these extraordinary exceptions, or she’d eventually run out of air.
“What…what are my gifts?” I asked hesitantly, trying to draw her attention away from my apparently strange eyes. Last I checked they were a simple blue, but clearly something had changed.
“A Predictor...” She took a breath. “and a Warrior.”
“Way to go, kid. You managed to acquire not one, but two of our kind’s most rare gifts.” His tone was light and joking, but I could tell he was still slightly amazed by the new developments. I, on the other hand, was still very lost.
“Excuse me, but would you mind explaining those?”
“Well, Warrior means you possess incredible fighting skills,”
“Oh thanks.” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “I’m not sure my tiny brain could have put that one together.”
“Anyway,” Anya continued, apparently ignoring my rude remark. “A Predictor means that you receive visions of what’s going to happen, usually in dreams.”
I started choking on air, and concerned looks passed over their faces.
“What? Are you okay?” Alik leaned a little closer, which didn’t help with the whole speech thing.
“Did you already have a vision?” Anya asked excitedly. I hesitated, wondering if it would be possible to leave out the one with Alik in it…that would be embarrassing to say the least. Finally I nodded.
“I had…one.” They both stared, eagerly awaiting what amazing vision I had experienced. Instantly I regretted telling them. “It’s not very exciting, you know, I just – it was just me fighting this girl in a hallway.”
“Grace, we must know every detail.” Her voice carried such urgency that one would think the fate of the world rested on this. I sighed.
“Okay, uh, she was about my height I guess, and she had really long black hair…and it was a stone hallway.”
“Anyone else there?”
“No, I don’t think so, it kind of cut short. But when I think I won, if that helps.”
“Wow.” Anya breathed. “I’m not sure what we can make of this right now, but I know it will be useful later!” She chirped happily. I thought maybe she was only saying that for my own self-esteem. “I’m going to tell the rest of them!”
“The rest of them?!” I shot a panicked look at Alik, and he laughed.
“Relax, it’s just the rest of our group. They’re…well I was going to say nice but I’m pretty sure you’ve already met the only ‘nice’ ones. The others aren’t mean…per say…”
“Great.” I muttered, sitting back against the pillows. My head was spinning a hundred miles an hour.
“Hey there.” I turned my gaze to the door, where a tall, slightly attractive man had just entered. He gave me a crooked smile.
“Um, hey?” I figured I should act friendly toward these people, you know, at least until I knew their special ‘gifts’. I would be the one to piss off some guy with a super deadly ability.
Alik scoffed. “So he gets a ‘hey’, and I get a ‘who the hell are you’ and a broken jaw. Thanks.”
I laughed, shrugging. “Well, you tried to pin me to a hospital bed. What did you expect?”
“Actually, I did pin you to a hospital bed.”
“Yeah, not without a broken jaw you didn’t.”
“I’m Maxim.” The tall man interrupted, which sort of pissed me off, considering I was having playful conversation with the hottest guy on earth. Nevertheless, I gave him my winning smile.
“I’m Grace, nice to meet you.”
“So I hear you’re a Predictor and a Warrior. Sweet.” He took a swig from a bottle of something.
“Maxim…” Alik shot him a warning glare. He shrugged.
“It’s water.”
“Somehow, I’m having trouble believing that one.”
“No offense, but seriously, that was idiotic. I can smell that stuff from a mile away.”
He chuckled. “Touché, you caught me.” He shoved it back into a bag and Alik shook his head, muttering something under his breath.
“So…” Maxim was interrupted by two more people who crossed the threshold bickering and didn’t stop until they saw me.
“So this is the freak.” The girl chuckled. “Huh. Nice.”
“Um, hey, I’m Grace.”
“Manya.” She spoke shortly, turning to the guy next to her. “God, Kliment, you’re so rude. Say hi to the girl!”
“Hi girl.” He smirked.
“I have a name, dipshit.” I rolled my eyes.
“Me-ow. Someone’s snippy today.”
“Oh god, okay, everyone stop harassing the new girl.” A man I recognized from when I first got here stepped in, and Kliment turned around, mocking my voice.
“She has a name, dipshit.” My face reddened and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Oh, I see. Is being annoying your special talent?”
“No.” He scoffed, throwing a ball of flames at Manya, who instantly smacked it with water. Yeah, of course I was arguing with the fire user.
“Settle down! God it’s like dealing with two year olds. You’ve all met her, now leave.”
“Fine by me.” Manya turned on her heels and stalked out of the room.
“See ya around, freaky.” Kliment laughed at his own joke and left. I was already planning which bones of his to break.
“Maxim, I know you would love to stay and hit on this poor girl but you’ll have plenty of time later.”
“Excuse me?” I stared at the man incredulously, and Maxim gave me a wink before slipping away.
“Hello, I’m Jurek. This must be very confusing for you.”
“That.” I breathed. “Would be the biggest understatement I’ve ever heard.”
“And that’s one of the biggest hyberbole’s.” Alik chimed in.
“Hey, you.” I nodded my head in his direction. “Shut up.”
“Anyway, are you feeling alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. When do I start training?” Alik laughed.
“Say what you will, this girl is a fighter.”
“Anytime you’d like.” Jurek answered gently. “Although I would recommend you wait until tomorrow.”
“Okay, thanks.” He nodded and left the room. As soon as he was out of earshot, I slid off the bed and onto my
feet, turning to Alik. “Where do we start?”
“Jurek just told you to wait until tomorrow.”
“No, Jurek recommended that I wait until tomorrow. There’s a difference.
“Well I am ordering you, as your trainer, to wait until tomorrow.”
“You know, I’ve never been very good at taking orders.” With that, I leapt off the bed and raced out into the
unknown.
