Unbroken [Book One of the Reflection Series]

Prologue - It's Iza

Prologue
[30 Days Earlier]

The wind howled with a ferocious force, trees waving in the gale wildly, shaking the ground beneath them and causing birds to fly madly through the sky, desperately seeking for shelter. Hail rained down from the sky like tiny bullets from the clouds, pelting every surface with broken and sharp shards of ice. Ashlynn struggled on the sidewalk to keep her footing. Her destination was unclear in the blur of the rain. Droplets rested on her eyelashes and streamed down her face, blinding her vision.

No-one else wandered the streets of Deary Avenue. It seemed Ashlynn was the only one with the nerve to challenge the weather and shadows lurking about. However, her face was sore from the cold and both of her lips quivered. She was becoming tired and hoped to reach the house shortly.

The smell of incense was thick outside of the house, even in the storm. Ashlynn crinkled her nose as she peered into a frosty window. Dark red candles illuminated the room inside. Other then some of the beaded wall decorations on the floor and walls, Ashlynn couldn't really see anything of importance. She rapped on the door with her knuckles, cautious of anyone who may be watching her enter the house.

Seconds later a pale face peeked out through the window. Emerald eyes glittered through the shadowed glass. Ashlynn tried to smile, but couldn't summon the strength. She cocked her head to the right, silently requesting entry. The face disappeared and the door swung open, a gust of hot air escaping the room inside. Ashlynn glanced both left and right before stepping in, away from the howling blizzard.

A boy about twenty stood in the centre of the scented room, hands shoved deep inside his jean pockets with his eyebrows raised. The boy's ashen hair was combed across his face, covering one of his eyes almost completely. He wore a black tank top though it sported a few tattered holes. A tattoo of a feather adorned his left arm. A piercing through his lip sparkled in the candlelight.

"Why are you here?" The boy growled, his one visible eye narrowing slightly. Under his gaze Ashlynn gulped. Her blonde locks fell over her shoulders, the ends dripping slightly due to the rain. "I thought you were done with us. What more do you want?" He barked.

"Hear me out, please Eliza--" Ashlynn began, her voice shaking. Her hands shook also. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to gather breaths in the over-heated room. Her lips quivered as she spoke.

"I don't go by that anymore. It's Iza now." The boy interjected, his face still cold and fairly blank other then the green flames dancing in his eyes. "I don't want to hear you say that name again. It's not me anymore." He added, flicking his hair to the left with his long fingers.

"S-sorry." Ashlynn spluttered. "I need help. A vampire, there's one after me." Her words didn't seem believable and wouldn't of been if her cheeks weren't stained with fresh tears. Iza's lips faltered, almost as if he felt bad for the girl. He pushed the feeling of sympathy away as his legs carried him to the kitchen. "That's it? Nothing?" Ashlynn whispered, a hint of annoyance in her cracked voice.

"I can help you," Iza's voice carried back into the main room where Ashlynn still stood in front of the door. "But not for free. If I'm doing something for you, you must do something for me." His figure came back into Ashlynn's sight though he now held a freshly lit cigarette between two of his fingers. He brought it to his lips before speaking again. "The price will not be cheap."

Ashlynn contemplated her choices. "What are you asking for? Money, fame?" Iza laughed cockily. His eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Fame, money? Why would those things mean anything to me? Ashlynn Wintercross, I don't know what I want, but by you asking for help, you're binding your favour to me. Do you understand, know that whatever I decide I want, you must work your hardest to get it for me?" Iza questioned, flicking his hair to the left again.

"I don't have time for this, just please, help me." Ashlynn begged, folding her hands together, tears falling onto her shirt. Iza cringed. "I'll give you whatever you want, please, I don't want to die!" The girl was in a panic, her whole body trembled with fear and her strangled sobs were growing louder by the second.

Iza breathed out a puff of smoke, the cloud of grey spiralling into the air before evaporating completely. "Shut up, we'll both be dead if that vamp finds us. Listen, if you want my help I suggest the best thing you could do right now is stop crying for damn sake. This isn't a pity parade, you're getting what you want so be grateful." Iza's tone was harsh but nevertheless, Ashlynn took slow deep breaths and wiped her tears away with the end of her sleeve.

Ashlynn watched Iza with wide eyes as he approached her. He was taller then her and though he was quite skinny, his muscles and strength was evident. Ashlynn bit her lip as his orbs studied her tear-stricken face. The cigarette hung from his mouth, wafts of smoke curling out. So he could speak, Iza removed the cigarette from his lips.

"I will give you one chance. If you fuck it up, I will banish you. This means no double-crossing, betrayal, back-stabbing, cheating or lying. If you break one of these rules, I swear on your future grave I will know. Is that clear?" Iza spat. Ashlynn wondered where her old friend had went. The one that would play outside with her or the one that would take her to get ice-creams in winter. Was he still there under the hard shell?

"Yes." Ashlynn whimpered, taking a step back. Iza humphed before extinguishing the cigarette in a nearby ashtray and walking away from her, most likely to his bedroom. Before the door closed Ashlynn caught Iza's words. "You know where everything is. We'll talk about our plan later."

Ashlynn strode towards the couch, a plush red sofa with multiple beaded blankets thrown over. Two square orange pillows rested on either side. Satisfied yet exhausted, Ashlynn removed her shoes and lay down on the cushions. Her eyes watched the white ceiling until she fell into a deep slumber.

Hello! If you enjoyed the prologue for Unbroken, vote right now and put a smile on my face. Comment to keep the updates coming. Whose team are you on- Iza's or Ashlynn's? Any Iza fans out there?

Question of the day:
What's your favourite phrase or expression?

I love when people say 'I peppered him with questions' and stuff like that. The word 'peppered' is really cool. Tell me yours in the comments below!