Elementals Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Olivia could hear the sound of beeping as she started to rouse from her sleep. Her mind was fuzzy as she tried to recall her last thoughts. It was hard, she felt like her mind was a vat of molasses and she was trying to walk through it. She somehow muddled through and opened her eyes. The whiteness of the room nearly blinded her as she tried to look around her. The sterile white walls and machines made her think that she might be in a hospital. Than she saw the camera's watching her, like silent sentries with the only sign of life was the blink of a small red light. Memory suddenly flooded her mind, sending the spike of panic down her spine. She made the movements to shoot out of what she was laying on, but came up short. Looking down at her wrists and her ankles she found thick leather straps secured to them. The best she could do was raise her head and chest part of the way to a sitting position. The sudden movement sent her mind reeling as she fell back.

What was wrong with her? She tried to think through the nauseating sensation. They had been on their mission to retrieve the family from their home. Instead of finding them hiding they had found them dead. Than they were attacked, it all seemed to be going well till...Damien. She suddenly remembered the sound of the gunshot that brought Damien to the ground. That b*****d shot him, she thought as she tried to hold on to that brief moment of clarity. He was dying in her arms, there was nothing she could do as he was slipping away too quickly. And than...than what? she tried to think harder but the fog she had felt before creeped into her mind again. She remembered feeling this way in the hospital after the car accident. This familiar haze that made it difficult to think and move. Drugs? She thought as she looked at the machine beside her bed. They beeped away at her and than she noticed the iv in her arm, steadily dripping something into her body. They had to be drugs, nothing else could explain why she couldn't think straight and her crippling weakness.

Searching around the room she looked for anything that could help her free herself from her bindings. The room was larger than she had thought it was at first, her vision was still a blurred but it was improving. There was a long row of locked cabinets on one side of the room with a counter and a sink. The smelled of strong soap and sanitizer hit her in the face, making the memories of the hospital all too familiar in her mind. On the other side was a long window with another room on the other side, an observation room she realized. Above her she could see operating lamps. This can't be good, she thought testing the strength of the leather straps. She tried to reach for her powers but she couldn't focus hard enough to reach them.

The door suddenly burst open, banging against the wall sending a shock wave of pain through her head. That had to be on purpose, she thought. To make sure the drugs were working on her, she reasoned. She had to bite down on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from yelling out in pain. She could taste the coppery blood in her mouth, the pain helped to refocus her. Like an anchor in a thunderstorm of nausea as her mind swirled and churned.

“Well sleeping beauty is finally awake,” the familiar voice was one that she would never forget. That smooth arrogant tone that set her teeth on edge. Making the effort to focus her eyes she glared at the man that had killed her aunt and shot Damien. He stood leaning against the door frame with that same smug smile on his face. Though she was glad that that smile was twisted by the scars on the side of his face. At least some of his inner madness showed on the outside. “Drop dead you homicidal freak,” she growled continuing to glare at him with all her hate for him.

His smile broadened, “now you shouldn't do that, you'll want to be nice to me. I am the one that determines how far the testings goes. We wouldn't want you to suffer needlessly,” he cooed as she strolled to her bedside. Taking up a strand of her hair in his fingers he twirled it as he gazed down at her with a smile that told her that he would get no end of pleasure from her pain.

“I'd rather have you put a bullet in my head than do anything you told me,” she spat. She saw the glint of rage in his eyes for only a second before his face returned to his normal smugness.

“Very well, than I will have no choice but to let these fine scientist conduct whatever test they would like on you. I warn you they are quite painful,” he said as he dropped the lock of hair that he had been playing with. The scars on his face only added to the menace in his smile, and as she glared up at him a group of men in lab coats joined them. Olivia looked around her as the men went about their business. Opening and arranging trays of instruments and liquids. The man bent down toward her as he whispered. “This is your last chance to cooperate with us and we can save you a lot of pain,” he said as Olivia saw the men holding trays of medical instruments. She clenched her jaw trying to think of a way out of the situation she was in. The drugs in her system slowed her thoughts, making her sense of panic grow as they prepared for some kind of procedure.

One of the men approached from the other side of her bed, “We are ready Mr. Holt.” Holt looked up at the man and nodded, than bent down so that his face was close to her face. Olivia tried to move away, but she could only manage a few inches in either direction. Holt chuckled as he watched her attempt to get away and failing. “You know I could be an ally to you, it's not to late to change your mind. I had made the same offer to Penny, but she refused. It's a shame she could have been quite the asset to our cause, with her help we could have made this so much easier for you. But alas she declined,” he whispered in her ear. The feeling of his breath on her made her want to lash out with her powers. The drugs in her system kept her from being able to use them even if she could touch them. But at the mention of her aunts name on Holt's lips made her rage build. This man that had put a bullet through Penny's head, and he dared to say her name in front of her. With her rage building she noticed something, her mind was starting to clear. She could feel her flames rolling inside her, building as her rage grew.

That's it, I could burn the drugs out of my system, I need to keep a hold on it though she thought. Make sure they don't notice what she had discovered. She made herself look dizzy and nauseated as she turned to look Holt right in the eyes. He must have been expecting that she would take his offer because he smiled at her as if he had triumphed over her. She leaned forward slightly, “I will see you burning in hell first,” she said. Shock crossed his face and than rage as he took the back of his hand and slapped her across the face. The taste of blood in her mouth only helped to fuel her rage as a kindling became a roaring flame inside her. She smiled inwardly, silently thanking him for the extra push as the remainder of the drugs burned away.

In her mind she let the flames travel inside her body to the crook of her arm. Increasing the heat gradually she melted the plastic tubing closed. Stopping any more of the drugs from entering her system, buying herself some time and keeping up the allusion that they were safe from her. She would show them just how unsafe they really were.

She was about to unleash her attack when she heard a female voice come from the direction of the door. “Now Klaus is that anyway to treat our guest?” they said, causing Olivia to pause what she was about to do. Olivia watched as movement in the room suddenly come to a stop. This can't be good, she thought as focused on the figure standing in the door way. There standing in the door frame was an elegant woman in a clean, well tailored black business suit. Her fiery red hair stood out against the dark fabric, and her cold hazel eyes stared down at Olivia with a look of smooth confidence. This woman was not unlike others she had met, demanding respect and seeking power to further her agenda. The difference was that she intimidated these men into submission with her presence, even Holt looked cowed in the company of this woman.

Olivia assessed this woman, trying to figure out what about her could make men like Holt feel fear. She was petite but shapely in her suit. Her red hair was neatly arranged in a long french braid. The end pulled over her shoulder, nearly touching her waist with it's tip. Her long manicured finger nails were painted in a brilliant red vanish, matching her lipstick. She was fair skinned which only made the red of her lips more prominent. Be was beautiful but her smile reminded her of something dangerous, like a vicious predator.

“Maeve, we were just about to start the procedure. I was just about to come and inform you,” Holt said. He was obviously uncomfortable and Olivia even thought she saw a touch of fear in his eyes. That's not good, she thought. If someone like Holt was afraid of something there had to be a reason for it. Maeve smiled broadly, showing off brilliant white teeth against blood red lips; but something about it made Olivia uncomfortable.

“That won't be necessary Klaus, since I am here lets get acquainted with our new guest. We wouldn't want to be rude, would we?” Maeve said as she sauntered into the room. Coming over to the operating table and standing over Olivia with an appraising look on her face. As if she was judging the purchase of a new car or a house, assessing her potential and her flaws. “My you are quite lovely my dear. I am also told that you are a very rare and exceptional girl, with a unique set of powers. You can apparently heal others on top of being a torch elemental. That's very impressive,” Maeve said as she stretched her hand out to Olivia's red cheek. Gently stroking it with the back of her fingers, Olivia jerked away as Maeve chuckled. She seemed to enjoy how uncomfortable she made people, especially Olivia.

“What is it exactly that you want from me?” Olivia growled. This woman gave her the feeling that what she wanted, Olivia was sure she didn't want to give. Maeve smiled again, the smile only furthered Olivia's convictions to do everything in her power to make sure that she didn't get it.

“My dear sweet Olivia, I want your powers and I am prepared to do anything to get them. You could be a good girl and let these fine men work on you. Or you can resist and they will still do what I want but the pain will me much, much greater. Your choice,” Maeve said almost cheerfully. Olivia was steadfast in her decision to get out of this place before they could lay their hands on her.

“You might want my powers but I am sure that your going to have to kill me before I give them to someone you,” Olivia retorted.

Maeve gave her another smile and strolled out of the room with Holt in tow. And before he left the room he glanced back at her with an odd expression on his face. It was almost like he seemed to pity her for a second, leaving her confused. She had seen his arrogance, his rage, even fear. But how could someone like him feel pity? Olivia didn't think that was even in his scope of emotions. She even thought that maybe she had imagined it, maybe the drugs weren’t' completely out of her system. She pushed the thought away as she focused on how to escape. Sneaking out would be impossible, she was far too weak and there were too many people in this room. She would have to use brute force and hope that she had enough energy to break out. She was unsure of what waited for her outside this place, we wasn't even sure exactly she was. It would have to be somewhat close to were they had taken her.

It was hard to judge how long she had been unconscious but they would have had to move her quickly to somewhere secure. So it limited how far they could travel with her without risking her waking up and causing trouble for them. There was a faint hope that she could make her way back to the manor, or at least to someplace she can hide till help arrived. If Damien was still alive or any of the others, she was sure they would be searching for her by now. She needed to get out of here before these people could get what they wanted from her. So that she could be in a better position to be rescued. If she stayed they would undoubtedly move her to another location farther away, making it harder for her friends to find her.

She looked inside herself to feel her energy level, she was weak from the drugs and whatever she did to heal Damien. I think I still have enough energy to fight my way through, she thought as the men in lab coats busied themselves with their preparations. She didn't know if Damien and the others would come for her or if they were even still alive. All she knew was that she needed to escape before they could exact whatever horrors they had planned for her. Closing her eyes to focus her mind she built up a ball of fire within herself, making it as large as she dared without the anyone noticing what she was doing. The ball of fire twisted and churned in the pit of her stomach as it grew. Just as she reached her limit she released it, sending a wave of intense flames in every direction. The screams of the men around her were deafening as the leather binding burned away. Finally freeing herself from the leather binding as they were consumed with the heat. She let the flames die as she rolled off the table and stumbled to her feet.

She felt unsteady as she ran to the exit and quickly threw open the door, the alarm sirens wailing all around her. Olivia was glad that she was still wearing her combat suit, it must have been made out of the same material as her training gear. The flames had barely touched it, only singing the edges of the fabric. Picking a direction randomly she started to run, her progress was slower than she would have liked though. She was still very weak and that burst she used to escape didn't help.

There was a cart that was left in the hall, she hoped that there would be water in it's contents. Or maybe something she could use to defend herself, she didn't want to use up her powers any more than she had to. Searching through it she didn't find water but she did find a container of pure alcohol. It wasn't what she hoped for but it was still useful. Continuing down the hall she suddenly head the sound of men shouting and the heavy stomping of booted feet. She rounded a corner just as men reached the other end of the hall. She could hear them going into the room she had just destroyed. Continuing down the hall she had turned into there were other rooms on either side of her. She glanced into them briefly as she passed, they all stood empty. Continuing to search for an exit she felt herself growing weaker with each passing step. Her harsh breathing started to burn her lungs as she struggled forward. Desperation started to seep in as she continued to search for a way out. Would she ever see her friends again? Would she ever get to see Damien? She thought about Damien, laying on the ground dying it red as his life was slipping away. Olivia was determined to see him again, no matter what it took. She had so much she had left to say and do. This desire drove her even when all her body wanted to do was lay down and rest.

She turned down another hallway and another after that, moving away from the sounds of soldiers behind her. Olivia's will was the only thing holding her upright as she turned down another hallway. This place is like a maze, she thought as she turned down yet another hallway. The sound of soldiers were growing closer as she pushed her body to it's limits. Than finally she came to the end of the hallway and looked to her right. Relief washed over her like a rush of water as she read the sign above the door. She could see trees and sunlight through the window built in the door.

Suddenly Olivia's fatigue hit her like a freight train and she nearly fell over. Barely able to catch herself as she leaned again the wall, her lungs burning and her legs shook. She had come so far, she had managed to stay ahead of the soldiers. She swore in anger at her body, she was so close to freedom and she feared that she wouldn't even make it to the door. I have to get out of here, she thought as she used the wall for support to move forward. The door was twenty feet away, she reached for the last bit of strength she had left and willed her legs to move faster. They felt like lead weights as she took every step, she was almost to the door. Reaching out her hand to touch the cool metal handle she was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders and jerked backwards. The pull was so powerful that she dropped the bottle of alcohol that she had managed to hold on to. Making it hit the ground and shatter as she was tossed in the other direction like a rag doll. Making her gasp in surprise as she flew through the air.

As Olivia hit the ground rolling as who ever grabbed her released her. She came to a stop as she hit the wall, cracking her head against it. Her head swam from the impact, almost making her lose consciousness. Pain shot through her side as she tried to rise to her knees.

“Well what do we have here,” Maeve said as she stood near the exit looking down on Olivia as she fought to catch her breath. “You know it's rude to leave without the permission of your owner. I really don't like my pets to wonder,” she growled as she walked over to were Olivia landed. She crouched down beside her, rage in her eyes as Olivia tried to rise to her hands and knees. Maeve laughed as she grabbed a hand full of Olivia's hair and yanking her upright. Olivia grunted in pain as her side screamed, seeming to please Maeve as she smiled with her perfect teeth and red lips. Olivia had had cracked ribs before, so she knew that they were not broken. Small blessings she thought, there was a chance that she could still get away if she could distract Maeve long enough to make her escape.

“I am no ones property,” Olivia retorted through gritted teeth.

“Oh I beg to differ my dear, I paid quite a lot of time and money to obtain you. The only way you get out of here is in a body bag,” Maeve said as she threw Olivia against the wall making it buckle and crack as her body made contact. Damn she's strong, Olivia thought as she rolled to her hands and knees. This woman isn't normal, she reasoned as she glared up at Maeve. She was far too strong physically to be just any regular human. That could only mean that she was an elemental herself or she has figured out how to obtain their powers. And if she had figured it out, than her plans for Olivia could only be to obtain her powers to add to her own. But she must need her alive, otherwise she would have killed her already and saved herself all the trouble. Olivia would be damned if she was going to let this monster get her hands on her powers.

“Your not going to kill me yet, you need me alive to get what you want. With me dead you will lose any chance of obtaining my powers,” Olivia explained as she wobbled to her feet.

“Well you are intelligent after all, yes I do need you alive. That doesn't mean that I need you healthy. Which means I can still hurt you all I want,” Maeve said with a twisted sense of joy.

Maeve walked to stand between Olivia and the exit door, that same twisted smile on her lips as she watched Olivia struggling to keep herself upright and concious. But Maeve was also standing over the puddle of alcohol and glass; Olivia saw her chance. Reaching towards the liquid at Maeve's feet she gathered as big of a flame as she could and threw it at the puddle. Lighting the fumes as it went up instantly, setting Maeve on fire as well as the space around her. Maeve screamed and jumped away from Olivia, trying desperately to extinguish the flames with her hands. Seizing the chance Olivia threw herself past Maeve towards the door, her vision was failing her though. She could barely hold her eyes open as she stumbled for the door. The hallway was well on it's way to being consumed in fire, smoke and heat on her back told her that the building may have been built like a hospital but it was far from being able to house a fire elemental. She was desperate to reach freedom as she didn't have enough energy to protect herself from the fire she had started.

She didn't know what she would do when she reached the outside. She barely had the strength to walk down this hall. She didn't know if she could make it anywhere to get help or find somewhere were she could hide from anyone looking for her. But that was better than staying her and have them experiment on her like some sort of lab animal till they got what they wanted. She reached for the door handle as she neared the door. Touching the cold metal handle she pushed it forward with the last of her strength to the open air. Breathing the fresh air of trees and damp earth as it washed over her like a wave.

Strength returned to her in a small amount, she couldn't explain how but she didn't stop to think about it. She ran into the woods as fast as her legs would carry her through the thick over growth. Not bothering to look back in case she saw someone following her. She fought to distance herself from the facility and get as far as she could. She would find someplace to hide and rest later. For now she had to gain as much ground as she could before night fell. She hoped that the fire would occupy the soldiers and keep them from going out and searching for her. At least long enough for her to get some distance from them. She tried to remember everything she could about surviving in the wilderness as she ran up an embankment. Giving her a clear line of sight, so no one could sneak up on her before she saw them first.

She silently thanked Penny for all her insistence that she learn everything she could to help her in any situation she could think of. Olivia understood now that in Penny's own way she was preparing Olivia for moments like these all these years. She wanted her to be able to protect herself against anything the Order could throw at her. Now they are on my turf, she thought as she crested a small hill looking out over an open field. Instead of running through it she took the long way around, she would have to avoid open spaces. Better to seek the cover of the trees and brush were she can conceal herself. No doubt they would think that she would run through such spaces and she could use that to her advantage. Only Maeve and Holt knew how clever she could be, their soldiers on the other hand would think she was an average teenager.

They wouldn't expect her to use her head and use every advantage she could find to fight back. She was the hunter in this place, not them. She stumbled through the underbrush as she ran, she was still weak. But not as weak as she was before, strength seemed to seep back into her with every step she took. She couldn't explain where it was coming from, none the less she used the new energy to push herself further as she skirted the clearing coming to the other side. She could see a large rock face in the distance and she could hear a large river in the distance ahead of her. She was reminded at how thirsty she was as she neared it.

She nearly ran into it as the trees thinned suddenly, it was nearly thirty feet wide and the water rushed by quickly. The current was too quick to cross by swimming through it but she could follow it down and find another way to cross. She kneeled down and used her hands to scoop up handfuls of the cold liquid. Drinking it greedily to quench her thirst, easing the burning in her throat. After a few handfuls she looked in both directions trying to figure out what direction she should take. They would expect her to follow the river down, if she wasn't being chased she probably choose that direction. But her goal was to evade capture, so the best course of action would be to take the other direction and find a crossing. Once across she could find shelter and looking amongst the plants she might even find ones that are edible. She hoped that she wouldn't be out here long enough to have to worry about hunting. But she was already formulating a plan for that, for now she lopped amongst the river rocks running against the current. The rocks and pebbles would help hide the direction she was traveling, making them only guess what direction she chose to go.

That would buy her more time to rest and regain her strength while they searched for her in the wrong direction. After traveling for nearly a mile up the river she found what she was looking for. A large tree that had fallen across the river, making a bridge to the other side. It was just wide enough to for her to traverse, anyone larger would have a difficult time of it. She waited quietly out of sight, making sure that no one was laying in wait for her. The sounds of the water and birds told her that she was the only disturbance in the area. That's a good sign, she thought as she jumped onto the log and slowly made her way across.

The swirling water beneath her made her feel a little dizzy as she spread her arms wide to balance herself. She didn't want to fall into that rushing water, she had some strength but it was not enough to use her powers should she fall in. Reaching the other side Olivia ran up the embankment and into the forest again. As she ran she listened closely to the sounds around her, making sure that there was no one following her. She could hear the birds still singing their songs and she spooked a number of deer and other small animals as she ran past them. That was a good sign, if there was more than just her out here they would be long gone or in hiding. She hoped that she could find someplace to hide out for the night, the sun was low on the horizon. There was maybe two or three hours of sunlight left.

She doubted that they would hunt her during the night, and even if they had the equipment to do so they would be looking for her in the other direction. Heat sensors might be a problem but she had been practicing with her ice powers to lower her body temperature. Even if they were to come this direction she would not be seen by them. Now to find some shelter for the night, she thought as she slowed. Taking in her surroundings more fully. She had come closer to the mountain range, she could possible find a cave for the night to rest. She examined the plants around her, most were ferns and moss. Up ahead she could see some large wild berry bushes, stepping closer to examine them she found that they were the edible kind. Their thorny branches snaked in every direction as it splayed itself between a cluster of trees.

She collected some of the berries and popped a couple in her mouth, they were a little bitter but they helped to quite her rumbling stomach. When was the last time I ate, she wondered as she collected more before moving on. It had to be at lunch the day before with Damien, the image of her face flashed through her mind. His long hair and his green eyes were as vivid in her memory as if she had just seen him an hour ago. Will I ever get to touch him again, she thought as she finished filling an empty pouch at her belt. She tried to put her doubts aside as she continued down the path, looking for a safe place to bed down for the night. The sun was setting as she searched, she had to stop a few times because she thought that she heard movement but it was only rabbits and other creatures scurrying away from her presence.

After she was sure that there was no one else around she continued as twilight fell around her. Further down she found a cave, it was made of a dark granite and was dark inside. She hesitated as she preceded inside it, she hoped that it wasn't a den for a bear or mountain lion. She didn't have the energy to fight off an animal bent on protecting their territory or making a meal of her. She listened as hard as she could as she stepped farther in. The cave didn't seem to be occupied by anything more than the occasional bug or two. It was deep and cool, it would be a good place to hide for the night. There were boulders inside that she could hide behind and even use to defend herself in the case that they did find her.

She settled down behind one of these boulders, the smooth earth beneath her was dusty but clean. It felt good to finally rest, the drugs they had pumped into her had long since burned away but she was weak with the exertion of her escape. She found her mind wondering back to the small burst of energy on her way up here. Where were they coming from, she wondered as she leaned back against the wall of the cave. Her elemental powers were ruled by her emotions, she drew strength from them. This new energy seemed to come from outside of her, like a cool breeze on a hot day. It washed over her in pulses of energy, how it worked she wasn't sure. She was glad that it did though, it couldn't have come to her at a more dire time. Without it she doubted that she could have made it this far.

She unhooked the pouch from her belt, popping more berries into her mouth as she thought about the events of her escape. She was barely holding on to consciousness till she blew through the open door and into the fresh air. Something about the way the bare earth felt under her feet, like she could feel it breathing. As if she could pull some of it's life into herself, mixing in with her elements and filling her with the strength to continue on and away from the facility. Could this be connected with her new power to heal, she wondered. Even now she could faintly sense the pulses all around her as she rested against the cave wall. She decided that she was far too tired to think about it anymore. Putting away the rest of the berries she laid her head back against the rock and closed her eyes. She would need to rise before the sun to continue her way through the woods. She needed to be careful not to be captured again, for that she needed to be as rested as she could be. Tomorrow was another day, she quickly fell asleep stoking the fire within herself to keep herself warm.

As she walked in her dreams she was surrounded by faceless people moving silently around her. She could see that they wore white robes like ones you would see in ancient Greek paintings. They seems oblivious to her presence as they moved about a great stone room. What is this place? She thought as she took in her surroundings. It seemed like a place lost to time, more like a memory than a dream. She could almost feel the solid stone floor beneath her feet. This is so weird, she thought as she turned in a circle to look around the room.

“Olivia Foster, you have finally come to us,” a male voice boomed. It was more than just a physical voice, it seemed to vibrate in her very bones. She spun trying to find the speaker, the room had come to a stop around her. The faceless people turning to stare at her, stiff as the status she had seen in books.

“You were expecting me?” Olivia asked, still trying to find the source of the voice. It seemed to be coming from no where and everywhere at the same time. It made her feel dizzy as it vibrated inside her.

“We have been waiting for you for a very long time, Olivia. Do not be afraid, we mean you no harm,” the voice said. Olivia stayed on edge regardless what they said, now aware that this was so much more than a dream. She was not sure if they could do her harm or if they were nothing but an imprint of a memory.

“What do you want with me?” she asked suspiciously.

“We have come to you to offer you guidance in your time of need,” the voice replied indifferently.

“What do you mean guidance, I don't understand,” she said confused. She thought that the images of the people cleared for a second. Showing her glimpse of their faces. Some where obviously women with neatly arranged hair in ancient hairstyles. Others were long haired men, some with full beards and others clean shaven. Their robes seemed to sway gently against their bodies even though they had not moved from their positions.

“You are the last in a long line of spectral elemental, you have a duty to fulfill for this world. The world is out of balance, and it is your duty to restore the balance. You have been given a great gift to help you,” The voice explained.

“What do you mean it's my duty? Why me?” she asked. The images of their faces flashed again staying longer.

“Because you were born for this duty. The humans have shifted the balance by taking the powers of the elementals. It is not their place in this world, they were not meant to have these powers. By taking them they have upset the balance, if left unchallenged they will bring about destruction upon the world. We cannot change anything, we are but a memory now. We watch over the world and those we have chosen to maintain the balance. Like many others before you, you have been chosen as the guardian of this world. Will you take up the responsibilities that come with your new powers?” the voice asked.

Olivia didn't answer, she was trying to process this all. It was almost too much to believe, how could she change all the thing that were wrong in this world. Where could she even begin to set things right. She looked down at her hands, thinking how can one girl with or without powers change anything.

“Do not doubt yourself, we have seen what you are capable of. And we have seen the goodness in your soul. It will take time for you to set things to right, but if you are willing we know that you will bring things back into balance. We will be here with you should you need our help,” they assured her.

She remembered the power she used to save Damien, if she could stop the order she could save others. Others like herself, they would not have to suffer as they watched their families ripped away from them by those that seeked to gain their powers for themselves. It would be a daunting task but could she really say no because she doubted herself. Could she stand to say no and than look the victims of the order in the face and know that she could have done more. No, she thought, she would do whatever it took to stop them from hurting anyone else. She hardened her resolve before looking up again at the figures around her. She found herself gasping as the blur faded away, showing her their faces as clearly as if they were here in the present.

A tall fair haired man stepped forward towards Olivia. His dark eyes looked upon her kindly, as if he knew what her answer would be. She looked around her at the others, they all nodded in approval and support as she studied them. She had the strange feeling that they were some how connected with her. She couldn't explain it but it was like they were apart of her, pieces of herself. She turned hesitantly back to the fair haired man in front of her. Meeting his eyes as she strengthened her resolve.

“Okay, where should I start?” she said squaring her shoulder.

The man smiled at her and nodded in approval, “First you need to get back to your friends safely. Trust you instincts, do not fear we are with you always. Now wake up, a battle is coming and you need to move,” he said as he gently lifted her hand in front of her. With his other hand he covered the soft skin at her wrist, bluish light spilled out from between his fingers. A tingling feeling spread across her arm, making her a little uneasy. What is he doing? She thought as he pulled his hand away. On her wrist was a bright blue tattoo, it was a circle with a tree. The trunk and the branches intertwined beautifully with clear and distinct lines. Around the outside of the circle were small symbols of the four elements.

Olivia was mesmerized by the tattoo on her wrist, there had been no pain. She thought there would be, but it felt warm and natural. As if it was always there, hidden beneath her skin. She looked up to the blond haired man again.

“What does this tattoo mean?” she asked in wonder.

“It is the ancient symbol of the spectral elementals, your birthright. It will bind us to you, making it possible for you to summon us should the need arise. We will lend you our power to restore the balance. With this symbol all will know that you are our chosen defender,” he replied indicating the tattoo on her wrist.

“The sun is about to rise, you must go now before they can find you. They are near, do not waste time. Your friends are also on their way, continue traveling south. Before the day is through your friends will find you,” he instructed. Placing the palm of his hand on her forehead she felt the herself slipping away from them. As if she were traveling through a tunnel of light, she felt as if she were floating down the current of a river.

A sudden jolt made Olivia sit upright, gasping for breath as she looked around her. She was in the cave again, it was still dark but on the horizon she could see the sky starting to lighten. Dawn was coming, it was time to move again. She thought that she had been dreaming till she noticed the blue lines on her wrist. Looking down at it she felt shocked. I guess it wasn't a dream, she thought as she rose to her feet. The tattoo on her wrist proved that as it stood boldly against the light skin.

“Run now,” she heard a voice inside her head whispered. Making her start, it was like someone was standing right beside her. Placing her hand on the stone beside her she felt vibrations. Hesitating as she sought to understand what she was feeling, they were almost like footsteps heading this direction. The voice in her mind whispered for her to escape again. This time she listened as she left the cave and took off, sprinting south through the forest again. As she distanced herself she could vaguely hear the crackle of radios and men talking. She silently thanked the voices for their help as she continued to run with renewed vigor. Desperately hoping that people in her dream were right and she would be reunited with her friends. That she would again see Damien.