Raging Storm

Chapter 1

Arleia POV

Life had always been lonely. My mom always told me it had to stay that way, but she never told me why. I wish she had. Maybe, then, I could've saved her. It was too late now. Now, she was gone. Now, I really was alone. I never realized how much I'd misused the word alone until I really was...alone. I never understood how bratty my complaining was. I'd had my mother. I didn't need friends or any other family, but I constantly complained to her about being alone. And now I was.
I couldn't stop reliving it. Couldn't stop hearing the sounds of her screaming or choking on her own blood. She was gone. Really really gone. Forever. I couldn't feel my body anymore. The only thing that really gave me any feeling was knowing that I'd also killed the motherfucker who'd taken her from me. It was an accident, and I didn't know how to feel about it, but I wanted to feel happy. But I felt nothing. I felt like I was in a twilight zone. Time passed, but I didn't notice it. People spoke to me and about me, but I didn't hear them. The temperature changed from day to night and back again, but I didn't feel it. I couldn't sleep because I'd dream about her or have nightmares about her. I just wanted to be wherever she was.
I heard voices again coming toward me, but I didn't care what they were saying. My mother was gone. Who the fuck cared about anything right now?
I heard someone say my name, forcefully. I didn't look at them. I just stared at my hands. The same hands that had killed my mothers murderer without touching him.
A paper was thrown into my lap and the only word my ears picked up was "mother".
I looked down at the paper, instantly recognizing my mothers handwriting.
"I..." I couldn't unfold the paper. I couldn't open it. I couldn't read it. I couldn't even touch it.
"Did you say something?" The person asked me, bending down to touch my shoulder lightly. "Arleia, hey, sweetie. That's a letter from your mom that was found in her pocket. I—"
"Kaden!" A woman gasped. "I'm sorry. He's...out of touch. It's a letter from your mother. It doesn't matter where it was found." She paused for a second, but I didn't look up at her. My eyes were glued to the paper in my lap. "But I think she wanted you to have it...to read it."
Think. I think. Speculation. Because that's all any of us could do when it came to my mother and her motives now because we couldn't ask her. We had to speculate and assume.
I continued to stare at the paper. I'm not sure how long I did, but it was long enough that when I looked up again, I was alone in the room.
Looking back down at the folded paper with my name scrawled across it, I brought my trembling hand to my mouth as the first wave of emotion hit me since everything happened.
I had to read it.
I fumbled with opening it for a second before I succeeded. And then the words poured from the page into my head in her voice as I read them.

Ara, if you're reading this, I haven't had the chance to tell you everything I've wanted to tell you for so long. If you're reading this, I'm either kidnapped or I'm dead. I'm so sorry, Sunshine. I wish I was there to explain this all to you. I know it's gonna be a lot to take in, but I know that Jason will be there to help you.
A lot is gonna change for you and it'll be quick. But I know how strong you are. I know how resilient you are. I've always loved and admired that about you. I didn't have that gift.
I also know that you love to get straight to the point. So I will.
You're an Elemental, Sunshine. You have powers you don't understand right now, but I need you to trust that I didn't tell you for a reason. A good one. I've wanted to and it hurt me so bad to keep this secret from you. And I can't tell you now. Not in a letter. It could be dangerous if someone else reads it. You might find out from Jason if he decides it's best for you to know, but you're going to be fine. I know you. I raised you. You're more than capable of handling these next steps without me. Trust yourself and believe in you like I do. Like we all do. I love you baby. I'm so sorry.

Mom

I couldn't do anything but finally cry. I was so confused and hurt and scared. I just wanted my mom. I didn't want to be an Elemental or anything without her. I didn't want things to change because it meant moving on. I couldn't do that to her.
"You can." My head snapped up as a voice came from above me. "You have to."
I looked back at the letter. I couldn't. I also, in fact, didn't have to.
"You do. People need you. This isn't just about you. It never has been." I looked at this man again, slowly. Was he— "reading your mind? Yes. I'm a telepath. Jason." He said by way of introduction.
Jason was tall from where I was sitting. He was tan and built well with vibrant green eyes like my mothers. I'd never seen him before, but he looked familiar.
"I'm your mothers older brother." That couldn't be right. She would've told me. "Like she told you that you're an Elemental?" He was right. "You're gonna find out that there's a lot she didn't tell you. But it was to protect you and everyone else." I didn't want to hear this. "We're getting set to leave, now. Your things are loaded in the car already." Leave? "The safest place for you right now is the Academy." I didn't want to leave! I wanted to stay here. I didn't know him. I wanted my mom.
I heard him sigh heavily and he exited the room.

The next few hours were a blur. I remember fighting someone as they tried to remove me from the floor of my mothers room. I remember being put into a car and the door closing. I remember trying to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. I remember being on a plane, but don't remember anything from the flight.
That was it. I didn't remember how I'd gotten here from the plane. The room around me was bare and empty, save for a bed against one wall and a closet that I realized had my clothes in it. I had no idea how they'd gotten there.
"Get settled in. Mahna will be up with bed sheets and a blanket in a few. There's soap and stuff in the bathroom already if you wanna shower and change." I knew his voice by now. Jason. I just wanted him to leave me alone. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts for a while. This was all too much. "Uh, dinner will be ready soon. I'll have it brought up to you, but we do need to talk."
I finally looked at him. I had nothing to talk about. There was nothing to say.
He cleared his throat, nervously. "Tomorrow, you'll be heading to the Academy. You'll be...staying there. It's really the safest place for you right now. They keep wards up and there's guardians everywhere." He paused. "I need you to blend in. There's things you don't know yet, but those things keep you in danger at all times. If the wrong people found out, you'd be hunted and killed. Like your mother."