The Elementals; Truth and Lies

Chapter 1: Kimora

"Mmh." It's Friday morning, my alarm clock blares out its bored, almost condescending, rambling bellows. Ignorant to my annoyance, it is only silenced after I hit the snooze button. The sun is bringing its warm, golden, light in through the silk curtains that separate me from my balcony. My room is dove white with gold trimmings and furnishings. I should be happy because there is no school today. But I am going to be honest with you; I hate mornings.

I can hear the maid downstairs working away at my favourite breakfast feast to celebrate my birthday. The day I will 'hopefully' become an Elemental; another reason this isn't my favourite day, I might have to live with an animal for the rest of my life.

I grab my camera from my desk, I line up the shot for the perfect angle using the natural lighting to shine off my pale blonde locks. I hear a small whine as the camera memorises every detail then spits out my face. Another picture for the journal of my life. I take pictures all the time then put them in a journal and write what is happening or how I feel. At the end of each week, someone will come collect my journal to publish it in a magazine. Similar to how old people used to post on social media.

I would use the internet to spread my fame but nearly no one uses their phones, like ever, unless you want to take a picture or call somebody. People these days are super social, but it's for the best; nobody is mopey anymore.

Though despite the downfall of social media the pressure of embodying perfection has all but disappeared along with it. Mother is always insisting to me that I must look flawless all the time because we never know when I'm going to be asked to make an appearance or go to an interview. I've got a jam-packed day today since everyone wants to make a big deal out of me if I get a Powermal. I know it's an unpopular opinion but I dread the possibility that I could become an Elemental. I mean why are they so great? You get an animal, you always stink, and you become a freak of nature! What is so great about that?!

The maid starts running away from the kitchen to the servant's stairs; I can hear her making quite a ruckus tripping over everything no doubt. Another thing I will have to do; is clean up her mess before my Mother sees it and fires her. We have already fired five this month.

I sigh at this thought as I get up and move towards my walk-in wardrobe, a path that is so familiar to me now. What should I wear today? Do I go for 'dumb blond' or 'I'm a brooding teen'? At last, I settle on 'plain but stylish'. I look in the wardrobe's mirror; I have beige skinny leggings, my dove white blouse with a pair of heeled, brown, calf high, leather, boots.

I sail over to my vanity desk; I admire all of the colourful bottles of perfumes, skin care products, the many, many cases of powders and other make up items. All in their rightful place. I take a seat on the stool embroidered with all the names of my female relatives on Mother's side.

I smile as I glide my fingers over the embroidered words, remembering all the stories Mother told. Before your father left and Mother had to use you to pay the bills. I frown, I have always admired Mother for her courage, her wits that kept us off the streets. I have never thought so ill of her. I shake my head and turn back to my reflection. I guide my long, fair, hair into one long braid and stick a fake, white rose clip in the middle to finish my look.

I regard myself in the mirror taking in every detail, the whole outfit really seemed to bring out my brown eyes and my dusk skin. My make up attracts my gaze, white-beige lip gloss glitters on my lips with the morning sun, my bronze blush, my mascara, my dust-brown eyeshadow. A picture many boys would swoon over. Something tells me the girl who leaves this room will not be the same girl that woke up this morning.

I stand up and move towards my double doors to leave, as I reach for the doorknob something catches the corner of my eye. I look back, sitting on my bedside table is a small, red velvet, box. It would've been hidden from my view earlier as it's behind my alarm clock. Mother must have put it there last night.