The Elemental Project E-Book

Cassie Corbin

• Herausgeber: BQB Publishing
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

The Elemental Project is a modern young adult sci-fi inspired by alchemical history. The story follows Guardian Lucas Sawyer and four angelic elementals on their quest to create the philosopher’s stone.

Alchemy is not built on science or data, but rather secrets and deceit. The trick is to finding the truth when all you have ever been taught was a lie.

Guardian Lucas Sawyer had only one goal in mind: prove to his fellow Elondohnians that he’d make an excellent guardian chief like his father before him. His first task in doing so, is to protect the four angelic elementals and help them create the philosopher’s stone. He trained his entire life for this and was prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish this mission. He didn’t predict that he’d start falling for the earth elemental, Vita, or that doing so could be deadly. He’s confident that if he remains focused on his task, no harm can be done. But when a hidden prophecy is discovered with more than one shocking revelation, Lucas is forced to choose between loyalty and love. Would all those years of guardian training be enough to stop the prophecy from coming into fruition? If not, what were the consequences of his failure?

Leseprobe

The Elemental Project

© 2024 Cassie Corbin. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopying, or recording, except for the inclusion in a review, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Published in the United States by BQB Publishing

(an imprint of Boutique of Quality Books Publishing, Inc.)

www.bqbpublishing.com

979-8-88633-024-3 (p)

979-8-88633-025-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024933815

Book design by Robin Krauss, www.bookformatters.com

Cover design by Rebecca Lown, www.rebeccalowndesign.com

First editor: Andrea Vande Vorde

Second editor: Allison Itterly

To the cleverest and prettiest engineer that I know. Hey, NASA, if you’re hiring, I know a girl. Her name is Hailey.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 36

CHAPTER 37

CHAPTER 38

CHAPTER 39

CHAPTER 40

CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 42

CHAPTER 43

CHAPTER 44

CHAPTER 45

CHAPTER 46

CHAPTER 47

CHAPTER 48

CHAPTER 49

CHAPTER 50

CHAPTER 51

CHAPTER 52

CHAPTER 53

CHAPTER 54

CHAPTER 55

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Prologue

Mason pushed his legs faster than he ever had to, holding the small bundle close to his chest. His two fellow elementals, David and Robert, ran next to him, tucked low, using every amount of their training to their advantage. Their wives were waiting next to getaway cars outside the gates of the compound. The men only needed to reach them and they would be safe. It was a warm summer night without even moonlight to accompany the runaways. The air was thick and sticky with humidity. Thankfully, David had disabled most of the streetlamps earlier to provide some cover for their escape.

Mason’s daughter, Vita, was sleeping snugly in her blankets, just like Robert’s son and David’s daughter in their respective fathers’ arms. The sleeping serum the doctor had slipped them would only hold up for another few minutes. Mason prayed they would escape in time.

The threat of Tasers snapped behind them as they neared the back gate.

“Down!” he hissed, sliding on his knees behind the closest tree. David and Robert both tucked behind a tree as well. Mason’s brown eyes transformed to a brilliant emerald green while he mentally commanded the trees to surround them and grant them cover. The ground quivered as shrubbery grew from the earth. Rich green leaves intertwined like fingers, forming thick foliage to hide the men’s huddled frames.

Mason looked down at Vita with a heated desperation. I’m gonna get you out of here, angel. Daddy’s gonna take care of you.

“Don’t let them leave!” a familiar voice boomed out, followed by the rumbling of boots. Mason’s best friend was hunting him down, and the man was a hell of a fighter. If Chief Jack Sawyer caught the runaways, their likelihood of escape decreased significantly.

Mason held Vita’s little head closer, teeth gritting as he prepared himself for what would undoubtedly be the most important fight of his life.

I’m sorry, old friend, Mason thought. I won’t let you hurt my little girl.

Jack’s angular face slid into view, visible only through the tiny gaps between the shrub leaves. Sweat slid around his dark eyebrows and, though he was only in his twenties, the stress of his current hunt seemed to have aged him by ten years. The two friends locked eyes.

Jack and Mason used to tease each other about their differences—Mason’s expressive demeanor versus Jack’s stoicism. But tonight, Jack’s clenched jaw and creased eyebrows only revealed his heartbreak.

Vita released a soft gurgle before cuddling closer to Mason’s chest. Jack glanced down at the infant, then back up at his friend. Mason hoped he wouldn’t have to use his abilities against him, not on his oldest friend. He hadn’t told Jack—the newly appointed chief of guardians—that he was escaping because he knew his friend couldn’t allow it. Jack must have known the danger they were in if they stayed. He must have known their children’s generation wouldn’t be protected and cherished like theirs. Like the twenty-two generations before them. Their children had been born with targets on their backs. What else were they supposed to do?

Jack squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, they were filled with a pained acceptance. “Go. I’ll buy you some time.” Then he stood and yelled to his fellow guardians, “They’re not here! Check the west gate!”

Without a second glance, Jack whipped around and sprinted in the opposite direction of where the fathers were going. He’d not only just lied to the entire guardian force he was leading, but he’d just allowed Elondoh’s most sacred assets to escape. His life, and that of his wife and newborn son, would be at stake for it. And he’d done it anyway.

Thank you.

Mason nodded at David and Robert, then they continued their run to their rendezvous point. They ducked and wove around the underbrush in the woods that surrounded the compound, all while holding their babies with absolute care.

They’d made it. Robert’s wife, Tabitha, and Mason’s wife, June, were waiting by three cars, almost invisible down the off-beaten path where they’d chosen to hide. Tabitha paced and nervously wrung her hands. June, ever so defiant, had a baseball bat in her hands and stood tall, as if she could take down an entire guardian force on her own. It wasn’t until all three fathers had approached that June released a breath and dropped her bat.

“They’re here,” June said as she grabbed Vita from Mason’s arms.

“Oh, thank the angels!” Tabitha cried softly, taking baby Adrian from Robert’s hands.

David’s wife had left him this morning. She’d wanted nothing to do with the elementals or the danger that came with them. He seemed to be handling the breakup as well as he could, perhaps for his daughter’s sake. He fumbled with Anila’s car seat in the third escape car and muttered a curse under his breath.

“Oh, David, come with us!” Tabitha begged him, helping him with the seatbelt. “The outside world is so big. We’ll have to create entirely new lives while figuring out how to raise these kids. You shouldn’t have to go through all of this on your own. We can help each other.”

David shook his head. “Thanks, but . . . I can’t. It’s safer if we separate. I looked up the stats. There are thousands of single dads in the outside world, and they seem to be doing okay. I’ll figure it out. Besides . . .” He rested a hand on the car seat and looked at his little girl. They both shared platinum-blonde hair and those crystalline-blue eyes that Air elementals were known for. “I won’t be alone. I’ll have Annie, and she’ll have me.”

“Annie.” Mason repeated. Until now, Anila had gone by her full name. “It’s cute.”

Robert clapped David’s shoulder with that gentle nature he always carried. “You can do this, David.”

“The angels will guide you,” Tabitha said with a reassuring smile.

All the parents stood together and faced each other with the same mournful gaze. If their escape plan worked out, then this would be the last time they would ever see each other. Mason tried committing their features to his memory: the way Robert’s mossy-green eyes contrasted with his dark skin, how Tabitha always smiled with a softness like clouds, and David’s signature easy-going grin.

Tabitha wept silently while June firmly squeezed her hand and wore a thin frown as she bit back tears.

“Their lives will never be easy,” Robert pointed out, looking to the car seat where his son slept. “But at least they’ll be free. Three of the four baby elementals, that is. I wish Winifred had come with us. To get a fresh start with her son.”

David scoffed. “And leave precious Dr. Guyer? She’d never dream of such a thing. I feel bad for the kid. We tried taking him, but Winifred found us and set off the alarm. We had to leave him.”

“Winifred is no longer the girl we grew up with,” June said. “This place destroyed her, and it would have ruined our kids, too, if we had stayed. We did the right thing, even if it meant leaving her.”

Winifred Novak was the Fire elemental, and Mason had always viewed her as a sister. He knew her betrayal would sting for many years to come. Still, he wished he could help her and her son.

Mason looked into the grassy horizon where, some miles away, lay the secret region from which they’d just escaped. The place in which they had grown up.

Elondoh.

Now the entire community was going wild as they tried to find the runaway elementals and their ill-fated children.

“I’m not going to tell Annie about this place,” David said. “No need for her to know about the things they do here.”

“We won’t tell Adrian either,” Tabitha said. “But yes, I wish our children could grow up together. A part of me almost hopes they’ll meet again someday. Perhaps the angels will bring us back together.”

June laughed, but there were tears glimmering in her eyes. “And they’d all be the best of friends, right? Like we are.”

“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Robert said in a tight voice.

“Until then, good luck.” Mason nodded at them for the last time. “And goodbye.”

June started their drive under the cover of night toward the flashing city lights that waited ahead in the outside world. The promise of freedom and hope. Fresh rain slid down the windshield, washing away the threat of the condemned life they were all running from.

Mason tended to the waking baby in the back seat. Vita’s eyes glowed green when she woke up, fading to brown as she yawned and whimpered. It was astounding to think that one day she’d be able to do all the things that he could now. These little fingers that barely wrapped around his thumb would one day bend the hardest earth to her will. It was hard to imagine now when she was so fragile and innocent.

“You’re gonna live a good life, BellaVita,” Mason promised, preparing a bottle for her. “Mommy and Daddy are gonna make sure of it.”

Vita watched him with the most trusting eyes he’d ever seen, and he was reminded of one simple truth.

The guardians of Elondoh would stop at nothing to find them. They would scour the earth, use every dirty tactic imaginable, and spare no expense to find their elementals. But Mason would be ready for it. He would protect his daughter, be with her every single day, and teach her how to see the earth through the lens of a dreamer and not a weapon.

Mason smiled at his little girl, then at his wife. “Time for our new adventure.”

CHAPTER 1

Generation 23

GUARDIAN

BellaVita Eastwood was completely unaware that someone was watching her through the hacked security footage of her plant nursery. She waved goodbye to her last customer and hummed along to the radio while she drifted around the rows of ferns. She wore a green dress and white flowers were braided into her curly brown hair. Her deeply tanned skin and splattering of freckles revealed her love of the sun. As beautiful as she looked, her earth abilities made her lethal.

“Hello, Agatha. Oh, you don’t look too good. Here, let’s fix you up,” she said, a gentle hand cradling the bottom of a dying fern’s fragile leaves. Her elemental mark blemished the inside of her right wrist like a dark burn, no bigger than a dollar coin.

All four of the elementals had these marks since birth, and hers was the alchemical symbol for Earth: an inverted triangle with a horizontal line striking through the bottom tip. To anyone else, it looked like a unique birthmark. But Guardian Lucas Sawyer knew better. It was a mark from the angels.

She tilted her head, and her hickory-brown eyes started to glow into a brilliant emerald green.

Lucas sat in his car in the parking lot of the nursery, watching her on a tablet. He had studied her relentlessly, read everything about her and her abilities, but he’d never seen her in person. A shiver of anticipation crawled under his skin as he watched the plant bloom from a crumbling brown to a refreshed and vibrant green.

“There, bet that’s better, huh?” The girl smiled at the plant.

Incredible. He was frozen with reverence and ran through his mental inventory of her stats for the sixth time. BellaVita Eastwood, goes by Vita O’Connell. Age: Eighteen. Element: Earth. Elemental Number: Four.

Her angelic gifts made her dangerous. Her beauty could tempt even a blind man. Something that Lucas and the other guardians of Elondoh had trained to resist throughout his entire life.

His graduation from trainee to guardian was only a month ago. His first assignment was to find the lost Earth elemental and bring her back to Elondoh. This mission had been assigned to him by his father, Guardian Chief Sawyer. Being a chief’s son meant one thing: Lucas would one day take his father’s place as chief of guardians. The other guardians didn’t think Lucas was up to the task, so this was more than an ordinary assignment. This was his first step in proving himself to his community and his father.

He had to do this. His people and all of humanity, not to mention his own future, depended on his success.

He stepped out of his truck and slid on a ballcap. In order for this to work, he needed to look the part of a friendly gardener. The guardians had even given him dirty boots, worn jeans, and a muddy T-shirt to complete his facade. What he didn’t account for was how stifling the afternoon Georgia sun would feel compared to the air-conditioning in his car. Angels, how did anyone live in this heat?

He walked into the plant nursery and rang the bell at the counter.

“Hi, friend, welcome in!” Four’s singsong voice greeted from the doorway of the greenhouse. She spoke with a strong twangy accent. “I’m Vita. How can I help you?”

“I need help selecting a new addition to my garden. Do you have any blueberry bushes?” he asked, repeating the line he’d rehearsed.

“You came to the right place,” She said, motioning around her. She gave him a quick once-over and a smile that made his face flush. “Right this way.”

He followed her out to the greenhouse, wondering if she was sizing him up for an attack. She was surrounded by potential weapons with all these plants, and he was one guy with a tranquilizer in his pocket. But he had a plan, and that plan would work as long as he stayed focused. Her smile was admittedly distracting, but that was an effect of her abilities. He carefully pulled the needle out of his pocket, concealing it in his palm.

As Four walked, she talked to him as if they’d always been friends, making him more uncomfortable. He’d never been good at conversations with strangers, much less with women.

“You must be new around here,” she said. “Just moved in?”

“Yes.”

“Have you explored much of the area? I know it looks like a no-name town in the middle of nowhere, but she’s got a lot to offer.”

“I haven’t.”

“Well, the first place you should try is Lucy’s café just down the block, and be sure to get a helping of that berry cobbler. So good it’ll make you slap your momma.” Four flashed another smile, forcing him to hide the needle behind his back. “I could take you sometime if you’d like. I’m friends with the owner.”

Oh. Did she just ask a complete stranger on a date? Angels, these outside-world women really were bold. She was staring at him, and he had to say something.

“Sure.” He offered a smile that he hoped wasn’t too awkward.

“Cool.” She flicked some hair over her shoulder and turned her back to him again.

This was his chance. Ready the needle, knock her out, and bring her to the rendezvous point where a few other guardians would finish the escort. But as he flicked the cap off the needle, he hesitated. It felt dishonorable to do something like this to someone so kind. But he knew what she really was. She wasn’t the pretty and friendly face she put on. She was part of the most violent generation of her elemental line. If Lucas didn’t do this, humanity would suffer for it, and nobody would trust a chief who had the chance to capture an elemental but chose to let her go.

Just beneath his breath, he whispered, “I’m sorry about this.” Then he lunged forward and sunk the needle into her neck.

AIR

Annie Scott sprayed the finishing touches to her graffiti on the blades of the wind turbine before blowing out a powerful gust of wind to spin the blades faster. Her blue irises glowed white as she floated to the ground using her air abilities. The birthmark on her right wrist—a triangle with a line striking through the top—peeked out of her jacket sleeve as she gained her balance. Once both feet were planted on the ground, she slicked her fingers through her platinum hair and smiled proudly at her small act of rebellion.

Her dad was going to be so pissed when he found this. He was a wind turbine tech, and last night he’d given Annie the scolding of a lifetime when he found out she’d been partying underage again. She was eighteen, and a little fun wasn’t going to hurt her. He didn’t like that explanation and took away her car keys. He used the whole “My house, my rules” argument.

Naturally, as way of revenge, she decided to sneak out and spray-paint “Anarchy” all over the wind turbines he’d worked on.

Hell, it was better than the time when she’d spray-painted a rather unladylike image on one of them. At least now the faster speed of the turbines would produce more energy than it did before. So, in a way, this was humanitarian work.

You’re welcome, SoCal.

Annie proudly stuck her hands into the pockets of her jacket and marched out of the field. All she needed to do now was hop the fence and get home before her dad woke up and realized she had snuck out.

Again.

As Annie neared the ten-foot barbwire fence, she took a running start and kicked off the ground. Her eyes glowed white as her body lifted into the air, a smile spreading on her lips as she glided upward. There was something so deliciously freeing about coursing through the sky with nothing to hold her down.

But just as she was halfway up, a heavy chain whipped around her waist and yanked her down.

Cursing, Annie hit the grass back-first. She whipped around to see four men dressed in gray uniforms, one of them holding the chains that bound her. They didn’t look like the average security guys she snuck around, not with the weird insignia—a test tube between a pair of angel wings—on their shirts.

What the hell?

“Let me go!” she screamed, trying to wiggle out of the chains.

“We come in peace, Anila,” the guy holding the chain announced. “We’re from Elondoh. We’re here to help.”

“Screw you, you’ve got the wrong girl,” she hissed, squeezing her eyes shut. A gust of wind encircled her, then pushed out, releasing her from the chains and gusting the men away from her.

Just as she got to her feet and started running, a sharp sensation pierced her back and sent her to the ground. The fight was over before it even began.

WATER

Adrian Capers started the long walk off the practice football field, helmet in one hand and a sweaty jersey in the other. One of the volunteer girls, Jessie, held out a basket for the dirty jerseys so that it could be taken to the school dry cleaner. Everyone knew she needed the volunteer hours for her sorority, and all the other volunteer opportunities had been taken. Three of the newer players joked around with each other, absentmindedly tossing their jerseys at her feet instead of in the basket.

“Hey!” Adrian barked loudly enough to make the trio stop and look over their shoulders at him. “She’s not your maid. Pick it up and do it right.”

They rolled their eyes and muttered to each other but did as they were told. Even though he was only a freshman in college, he was a good enough player that his teammates listened to him.

Jessie offered Adrian a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

He shrugged, then dropped his jersey into the basket. “Thanks for taking these. You know, my girlfriend was just telling me a volunteer slot opened up at the library. You should check with her and get the hell out of here. I can ask her to drop in a good word for you, if you want.”

Jessie lit up, her face already red from the sun. “You’re an angel, Adrian. Thank you.”

He waved a friendly goodbye to her and continued his trek to the locker rooms. The walls of the hallway were decorated with sports banners and a tattered poster of this year’s game schedule. Hopefully enough time had passed so Adrian would have the showers to himself.

Rule number one for hiding the fact that you’re a freak is to not let anyone see you in water.

Unfortunately, football practice under the South Carolina sun meant he had to shower today. Thankfully, the showers were empty and quiet. Before he got into the stall, he took a few long, deep breaths and tried calming his anxiety. It’s just water, right?

He quickly lathered up, his mossy-green eyes glowing a brilliant aquatic blue as soon as he touched the hot water. Adrian tried, as he always did, to suppress his weird water abilities. Most of the time, it worked. But sometimes, when he was really exhausted from practice, it was harder. His mind just naturally started interacting with water, without Adrian giving it permission or thought. The water sputtered from the showerhead, threatening to blow.

“No, cut it out,” Adrian muttered angrily. The water burst out in a higher pressure, emitting a high-pitched whine as if arguing with him.

“Stop. Stop!” he shouted, turning off the faucet.

Sighing, he stepped out of the shower and dried off the remaining soap bubbles from his body.

Damn freak, he cursed at himself. His head throbbed like it always did after he tried to stop the water. He didn’t understand why he had to be this way. His dad had water abilities too, but rarely used them. He always told Adrian how important it was that nobody ever found out about their abilities. If only Adrian could make it go away. He hated this constant fight with water.

“Capers!” a booming voice barked through the locker room.

“Yes, Coach?” Adrian answered as he stepped into his jeans.

“Someone in a suit is here to talk to you. Said he’s from your dad’s work.”

There was only one reason the fire department would be here right now, but he hoped that wouldn’t be it. He quickly finished getting dressed, shoving on his shirt and shoes before picking up his bag and walking out to the coach’s office.

A man stood in a gray uniform with an insignia on his right breast pocket that Adrian didn’t recognize. He didn’t look like the usual firefighters his dad worked with. He couldn’t have been much older than Adrian, with brown skin and a tall, lean stature.

“Can I help you?” Adrian asked.

The man kept his hands clasped in front of him and didn’t bother with a smile. “Adrian, my name is Jason Boyd. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

That indifferent face says otherwise.

He had a weird accent, like a real proper guy. British, maybe?

“Is my dad okay?”

“Coach, could we have the office please?” Jason asked.

Coach glanced at Adrian, who nodded in approval.

“I’ll be right outside, son,” Coach said, closing the door behind him.

“Your father is fine,” Jason said. “I’m not here with the fire department. Our parents used to work together in Elondoh. Have you heard of us before?”

“No. Does he know you’re here?”

“He is being informed, but I’m here for you. I’m sure you’ve noticed some peculiar abilities about yourself. Things you can do that no one else can.” His eyes flicked down to Adrian’s weird birthmark on his right wrist—an inverted triangle, the same as his father’s.

“What makes you think that?” Adrian asked, subconsciously hiding his wrist.

“You see, in Elondoh, we specialize in helping people like you. We can teach you to control your abilities, use it for good, rather than needing to avoid showers.”

Oh, that definitely didn’t make Adrian feel any better about this. Most guys wanted to be like the superheroes in X-Men. Adrian wanted to be like Tom Brady, and as far as he knew, Tom Brady did not have weird water abilities.

“All right.” Adrian nodded. “You say my parents know you? Let me call them and ask.”

“Of course. Tell them my father said hello,” Jason said, his stiff tone betraying his friendly words.

Adrian pulled out his phone and turned away while he called his mother’s cell.

“Hey, honey,” his mom answered.

“Ma, there’s this guy here who said he—”

A sharp sensation pierced into his neck and cut him off. He dropped his phone. The world went sideways as he lost all feeling in his body and toppled to the floor. The last thing he saw was Jason, his face twisted with a cruel smile, as he put the phone to his ear.

“Hello, Tabitha. This is the son of Guardian Isaac Boyd. Dr. Guyer believes it’s time for a reunion. We’ll see you in Elondoh.”

CHAPTER 2

GUARDIAN

Two guardians sat in the front seats of the SUV, remaining quiet during the long drive. Occasionally, their eyes flicked to the rearview mirror to get a glimpse of the back seat, where Lucas sat next to the unconscious Four. She remained asleep while they drove through the mountains, well into the night. Whenever she did wake up, the silver impulse bracelet on her wrist would shock her if she tried to use her abilities. These bracelets were one of the guardians’ most effective tools, and Lucas was glad she was wearing one now because it meant she couldn’t hurt anyone.

Finally, they turned onto the long dirt road that led to Elondoh’s hidden community. The community itself was tucked away deep in a valley of mountains in Virginia. The road was impossible to spot if one didn’t know what to look for. That was one of the reasons why they’d been able to remain hidden from the outside world for centuries.

The car jostled on the bumpy road and caused Four to stir.

She groaned, her eyebrows creased as she blinked open heavy eyelids. At first it seemed like she didn’t know she was in a car, but then she blinked again and stared out the window with confusion. Lucas jolted when she suddenly straightened up and looked around, wide eyes landing on him.

He held up his hands in a placating gesture. “Please remain calm.”

She screamed, her eyes flickering from brown to green only to subject herself to a shock from the bracelet. Four grunted in pain and frantically tugged at the bracelet, but nothing was going to detach it except for a guardian’s key. The bracelet shocked her again as she continued to try.

“You’re hurting yourself,” Lucas said. “That bracelet will continue to shock you if you do not stop.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she scooted as far away from him as she could. “Who are you? What do you want from me?”

“My name is Lucas Sawyer. I’m a guardian. This will all be explained to you soon, but we need you to remain—what are you doing?”

Four pulled at the door handle and tried unlocking it, but the back doors only unlocked from the outside. When that didn’t work, she banged on the window with her fists. What was her plan? Jump out of a moving car in an unfamiliar territory?

“Get her under control, Sawyer,” one of the guardians up front grunted.

“You’re making this worse for yourself. Will you please just—” Lucas reached out to pull her back from the window, but she shoved him away.

“Don’t touch me! Let me out, I don’t have whatever you want.”

“We are trying to help you!” Lucas huffed. Yes, this was probably a bit much for her, but how many times did he have to ask her to calm down? He exhaled from his nose and tried again in a softer voice. “Nobody is going to hurt you.”

“You stabbed me with a needle and kidnapped me. How is that not hurting me?”

He winced. That was a fair point, but it was necessary to his mission. “As I said, you’ll get a full explanation soon. Look, we’re here. This is Elondoh, the hometown of your parents.”

The car finally approached the iron gates of Elondoh. Two guards stood at the front outposts, rifles in their hands. One of the guards approached as the driver rolled down the window and flashed a badge. The guard inspected it and peeked in to look at Four. She stuck her chin up and glared at him. He nodded at the driver and let the car go through.

The land itself was about the size of the small town where Four had grown up, with no more than a few hundred occupants. They drove past rows of structured white buildings fronted with gold lettering labeling the bank, tailor, school, and many other businesses that a regular town would have. The buildings lacked the frivolous decor that the outside world was so fond of. At this late hour, most businesses were closed, and everyone was home from work or school.

They drove past signs pointing to an orchard, where late-night workers carrying baskets of fruit stared in awe at the car. The community itself was so small that cars weren’t necessary except for their missions to the outside world. To see a car meant the guardians, Elondoh’s private military, had returned from a mission.

Another sign led to the small festival grounds and Elemental Avenue, the street of townhomes where the elementals were to live.

The car stopped in front of a building marked LAB: Laboratory for Alchemy and Biology. More guardians waited outside, escorting a blonde girl who thrashed about and cursed loudly enough to wake the community. That must have been Elemental Three, the Air elemental: Anila Holiday. She went by Annie Scott in the outside world. The guardians managed to drag her into the building before Lucas got out of the car and walked around to open the door for Four.

She glared at him and ignored his offered hand, pushing past him as she stepped out of the vehicle. Lucas and the other two guardians escorted her into the laboratory. Thankfully, she didn’t resist, but there was hesitance in her every step.

The lobby was similar to a hospital waiting room. Plain white walls, pristine tiled floors, and a small sitting area that led to a series of hallways. A receptionist at the front table watched the guardians enter with a pale expression of fright. Other guardians lining the walls stood tense, watching Four as she walked past them.

Lucas led her down the middle hall to the conference room, where the other two elementals waited. The conference room had glass walls so anyone could see inside.

Down the hall, someone watched them from a distance with glowing red irises. Two, the Fire elemental. He was the only elemental who had grown up here in Elondoh. Lucas had always found him unsettling. How did he manage to not show a single spark of passion in those dark eyes? Now they were glowing red, a stark contrast to his golden skin and black hair. He was probably reading the emotions of the other elementals.

Lucas scanned his badge and opened the door for Four, then walked in behind her and closed the door.

The other two elementals sat quietly at the table. Sitting tall and nervously picking at his sleeve was Elemental One—the water elemental. Adrian. Last name Jackson, undercover name Adrian Capers. He had an athletic build, dark skin, and mossy-green eyes. Apparently, he played a sport in the outside world and did quite well for himself there. Elondoh didn’t have games such as football, and the little that Lucas did know of it came only from studying Adrian’s file.

Four timidly walked up to them. Lucas took his post next to his fellow guardians and nodded at them, knowing they were just as nervous as he was. But he was their leader; he couldn’t look afraid.

Timothy Hogan, with dirty-blond hair and a round face, was in the same graduating class as Lucas and had been part of the extraction team that had picked up Three.

Next to Hogan was Guardian Jason Boyd, who was overseeing One. Boyd was tall and lean like a light post. He had dark hair and brown skin. He had graduated a year ago and mostly worked security at the front gates. This was his most important assignment so far, and he couldn’t be taking it more seriously. His father had worked closely with Dr. Guyer for many years, so this was Boyd’s opportunity to earn Guyer’s favor as well. Lucas was never fond of Boyd. He had a tendency for cruelty, but it didn’t matter. Future chiefs could work with anyone at any time so long as the mission was accomplished.

“Welcome to the party!” Three cheered sarcastically. “Let me guess, the invite wasn’t optional for you either?”

Four shook her head and held out her hand. “I’m Vita.”

“Adrian,” One responded, shaking her hand.

“Annie,” Three said.

“Do you know why we’re here?” One asked, He nervously glanced at the guardians before lowering his voice to the other two elementals. “Can either of you . . . do things?”

Three cocked a pierced eyebrow. “If by ‘things’ you mean make the air do what I want? Yeah.”

“Air?” One echoed. “My problem is water. I didn’t know there were other people like me.”

“I’m Earth,” Four said, looking around the room. “If there’s one for each element, we’re missing Fire.”

“That would be Two, the Fire elemental. You’ll meet him soon,” Lucas added from his post.

“She didn’t ask you, GI Joe,” Three snapped.

“Did he say ‘two,’ as in the number?” One asked quietly.

“I’m sure they number all their token freaks,” Three said, sneering at the guardians.

“What’s his actual name?” asked Four.

“Just Two,” Lucas answered.

She cocked an eyebrow at him. “You’re honestly telling me you people decided to number a person instead of giving him a name? Doesn’t that seem wrong to you?”

The door opened, interrupting the conversation, as two of the most influential people of Elondoh entered the room: Chief Jack Sawyer and Dr. Joseph Guyer, the head alchemist and leader of Elondoh.

CHAPTER 3

EARTH

The young guardians straightened to attention when the two other men walked in. The man wearing a uniform looked to be in his forties. He had a buzz cut of black hair and blue eyes that widened slightly when they landed on Vita, as if he were surprised to see her there. His name tag read Chief Sawyer.

The other man was older, hobbling on an elaborate wooden cane. His white doctor’s coat hung loosely, as if it had fit him once upon a time but was now too big. His wispy white hair was combed back and matched his thin white beard. Veins bulged from beneath his pale skin, and as frail as he looked, his blue eyes remained sharp. He nodded at everyone and sat at the head of the table, casting a quick glance at Lucas before focusing on Vita, Adrian, and Annie.

“You must have so many questions,” he said in a raspy version of the watered-down British accent everyone here had. “My name is Dr. Joseph Guyer. I am the head alchemist of Elondoh. I knew your parents, and believe it or not, I actually remember the days you were all born. It’s wonderful to see you all grown as you are.”

“Let’s just get to the point,” Annie said. “Why are we here? Who are you freaks? What do you want from us?”

Vita winced at how brash Annie was talking to an elder like that, but the same question was running through her own mind. But she kept her mouth shut. She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t interrupt. She listened and hated every word she was hearing.

Dr. Guyer smiled, making his appearance softer and almost welcoming. Like Santa Claus without the red suit. “You are what we call ‘elementals.’ You come from a long line of element-wielding beings who have been blessed with angelic blood. You’ll get a more in-depth explanation on that later. My community of alchemists has trained and studied your kind for centuries since your creation in the Elizabethan era. Our efforts are funded by the government. As a matter of fact, previous generations of elementals have served the United States government on many occasions. Your ancestors have stopped potential wars, curved dangerous weather patterns, even saved dying soldiers during battles. You’re all very special.”

The three elementals exchanged strange looks.

“What does that have to do with us?” Adrian asked. “I’m not trying to be a soldier or whatever.”

“Oh no, you children are in Generation 23, what we call the ‘Stone Generation,’ meaning, you will be the generation to create the philosopher’s stone.”

“Isn’t that the Harry Potter book?” Annie asked.

“The philosopher’s stone is a substance in alchemy that is said to grant immortality and immunity from all disease,” Dr. Guyer explained. “Our mission as a community is to create enough of the substance to be evenly distributed throughout the country to eliminate all diseases without granting immortality. This is the magnum opus of our work, and you’re all predicted to be the generation to create it.”

“Predicted by who?” Vita asked.

“Dr. John Dee. He was an alchemist and adviser for Queen Elizabeth I. He is known for his works in angel summoning, and he summoned the very angel that created you. He wrote predictions for each generation, and you’re the generation that will finally create the stone. It is a wonderful opportunity to save humanity!”

“And if we don’t agree to it?” Annie challenged.

“Well, you technically belong to Elondoh. According to the US government, you are our property. What we are doing is by direct order from the highest-ranking office. In other words, you have no choice. You may try to run, but you won’t get far. We’ll find you again, and we’ll find you as many times as we need to in order to create that stone,” Dr. Guyer said, his tone remaining nonchalant despite the threat he’d just made. “But please understand, we do not want to go through all that trouble. We will treat you well here. You will want for nothing, and when that stone is created, we will let you go.”

“Just like that?” Vita asked.

Dr. Guyer nodded. “As simple as that. We’ll provide whatever is needed, training included. So, either you delay the process and constantly live your life looking over your shoulder, or you agree to help humanity and live your life as you want to. Do we have a deal?”

“Not much of a choice,” Adrian muttered, glaring at the table. “I was in school on a football scholarship. They’ll revoke it if I stop showing up. I have a girlfriend back home, and friends.”

“We’ll smooth things over with your school. As for any former lovers, well . . . you won’t be able to speak to them for a long while. Perhaps as long as a year.”

“A year?” Adrian repeated, aghast. “No communication at all? That’s ridiculous.”

“We cannot risk you telling anyone about us. Hopefully you will create the stone quick enough to minimize damage to your relationships. The process will take as long as you allow it to. Your parents have been informed of your return to Elondoh and we’d like to have them back. We wouldn’t want them to lose their senses and run to any media about you.” He chuckled, like it was all a funny joke.

“For now, your guardians will take you to your new homes. I have prepared a file for each of you, detailing information about the elemental line you come from. Your parents needed to change their names and appearances in order to blend in with the outside world, so I imagine your knowledge of your heritage is quite skewed.”

Chief Sawyer stood and offered each of them a file with their names on it. “I’m Chief Jack Sawyer. I lead the guardian force of Elondoh and will oversee your security. My son, Guardian Lucas Sawyer, will lead your protection detail. Your guardians will escort you throughout your day and help you acclimate to Elondohnian culture. Whatever you need, they’ll retrieve it for you. Please be aware that you are being monitored, and breaking any Elondoh laws will result in punishment appropriate to that infraction. Guardian Sawyer, you may take them, and you may remove their bracelets for now. I am allowing this as a show of good faith that the elementals will not hurt anyone using their elements.”

“Yes, sir.” Lucas turned to the elementals and pulled out a key from one of his many pockets. “Let’s go, then.”

Every house on the community streets looked like the same cookie-cutter design, with the windows all in the same location, the grass perfectly kept, and not a single car in sight. The only difference was the colorful flags with animal designs flying over each front door.

The elementals had their own street, away from the rest of the neighborhood. Lucas had called it Elemental Avenue, as if the name added some grandiosity to it. It didn’t. There were only two buildings on the street, each made up of four townhomes. Lucas explained that the spare building was meant for when the elementals were old enough to start their own families and move out of their parents’ home. Lucas led Vita to the last townhome on the street and led her inside.

Vita scanned the room. It was minimalist. Everything was white, even the furniture. But there was a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. No TV or entertainment of any kind.

“Your room is this way, Four.” Lucas motioned up the stairs.

Vita stopped with a huff and glared at him. “My name is Vita. I’m a person, not a number.”

His eyebrows raised in surprise. Vita didn’t give him a chance to answer. She breezed past him and up the indicated steps.

The bedroom was bigger than the one she had at home, with large balcony doors. Beyond the balcony was a wonderful view of an orchard that stretched farther than Vita could see in the night.

The only color in her room was the green scrubs in the closet. Even the underwear and socks they’d given her were a basic white. Vita shivered and swallowed the reminder creeping down her spine that she was an “elemental” and not just Vita anymore.

Oh yeah, I should probably ask about the whole “angelic blood” thing too.

How was it possible that her parents had lied to her about her origins for her entire life? She’d never heard of Elondoh, or elementals, or anything like this. Her father had told her the two of them had received their gifts from the earth and that she could never tell anyone about it. When Vita had been small and her eyes began to glow in public, her mother diverted other people’s attention. Then she decided to steer Vita away from plants or animals altogether until she was old enough to control the impulse. When she was old enough, Vita was known to have a green thumb, but now she wore contacts to hide her glowing eyes. She knew she and her father were different, but she’d never dreamed they were . . . angelic.

“If you’re trying to plan an escape, it won’t work,” Lucas said, bringing her out of her thoughts. “This place is surrounded by cameras and guardians. You won’t make it far.”

“Yeah, your boss already said that.” Vita sighed, cracking open the balcony doors. She breathed in the sweet air from the apple trees and slowly exhaled. “He never explained the whole angelic thing though. Is this like a biblical thing?”

“No, we don’t necessarily believe in one God. We pray to many angels, but the main one is King Carmara. He’s the angel who created you with the help of Dr. John Dee. Your parents really never explained that?”

“Obviously not. We went to the same old Catholic church that everyone else in our town did. I’ve never heard of any of this.” She flipped through the file in her hand, staring at the photo of her father. He was missing his bearded smile in this picture. Her mother had blonde hair and green eyes in her picture, but Vita had always known her with brown hair and brown eyes. Vita apparently didn’t even know their real names. She always knew them as Mary and Jared O’Connell, but they were actually June and Mason Eastwood. She wished her dad were still alive so she could ask him about this, maybe get a little angry and demand answers.

A tree branch extended out toward Vita, and a leaf gently caressed her cheek and swiped away a tear that slipped out of her eyes.

“It has been years since another soul has called to us before,” the tree said in a wispy voice inside her mind. “You are Mason’s daughter, aren’t you? I remember you as a babe. Is Mason here?”

“No, I’m sorry. He died three years ago. I’m Vita.” She blinked away her tears and held back the rest. Her father had always said trees were the most innocent souls on the planet. They wanted for nothing and had no need for violence. Vita could trust the trees, and even though this entire situation was horrific, she felt a little relief at knowing there were still trees to protect her.

“Do not cry, dear Vita. Sorrows never do the soul any good. My name is Sera. My sisters and I will take care of you. Please accept this gift and know that you are not alone here.” The tree produced a beautiful, crisp apple and dropped it into her hands. “Welcome to Elondoh.”

“Thank you,” Vita mustered a smile for Sera as the branches drifted back to their original state. She turned and noticed Lucas had a hand on the bracelet on his belt, his jaw clenched tight. He seriously had the nerve to be afraid of her after what he did?

“I’m tired,” she said in a tight voice. “It’s been a long day.”

“Right. If you need anything, there’s a landline in the kitchen. It’s only wired for calls within Elondoh, and the lines are monitored, so I don’t recommend trying to call anyone from the outside world. It won’t work. My number is written in that folder if you need something.”

“A landline? That’s so old school.”

“We don’t allow ourselves to be distracted by unnecessary technology, so a landline is all you’ll have. Only those in leadership positions have cell phones. I’ll be back in the morning to collect you.”

Vita rolled her eyes and shrugged. “Fine, whatever.”

Lucas nodded once and turned on his heel to leave. She waited until she heard the front door close, then she slumped against the balcony railing and let herself cry. Today really had been too long of a day.