To Love Is To Protect (Title undecided)

Chapter 1

The glass slipped involuntarily from my cold hand and clattered to the floor with a wicked bang, shattering into what looked like hundreds of pieces at my feet. I heedlessly bent to pick up the shards of glass, letting out a frustrated sigh as I did so. Well, at least it was empty I thought sarcastically to myself.

"Anna? Are you alright?" Liam asked me, striding confidently into the kitchen upon hearing all the noise.

"I'm fine, it just slipped from my hand is all" I told him, gently picking up the shards of glass, consciously making the effort not to let the razor-sharp edges touch my delicate skin.

Liam automatically knelt beside me to help.

"No- its ok" I waved him off, "I'll do it."

He sat back on his heels, knowing all too well not to interfere where sharp objects were involved. I didn't look up, but I could feel his blue eyes watching me.

"Are you guys ok?" my head suddenly snapped up to see Georgianna standing in the doorway, her dark eyes examining us intently.

"Yeah, all's good" Liam told his girlfriend. I turned back to the shattered glass while they engaged in conversation, no doubt about their unconditional love for each other. Please, the voice in my head said, Liam doesn't know how to love exclusively. I chuckled inwardly at that; you're not wrong I told myself.

Just then, a sharp stinging bought me out of my thoughts, I swore, looking down at the refined line trailing down the outside of my thumb just as the blood oozed from the newly-opened wound. Both Liam's and Georgianna's heads snapped towards me, Liam was automatically at my side. Within seconds, my best-friend was pulling me to my feet, holding a cold flannel against my injury.

"That's what happens when you don't let me help" he said, his voice dripped with that smart-ass attitude that he and I shared. I looked up at him, his pale eyes instantly locking with mine.

"Well," came Georgianna's' overly bubbly voice from her place by the door; "thanks for dinner, Anna, it was really sweet of you to invite us" her red lips curved into a smile.

"Thanks for coming" I responded, I looked behind her, down the hallway; "did Chris leave already?" Georgianna rolled her eyes, "of course he didn't, he is waiting for us to leave so he can have some alone time with you-he has a huge crush on you, you know"

"I don't think Anna is up to having any alone time right now" Liam cut her off, noticing the colour that had drained from my face. Georgianna shot her boyfriend a bewildered look.

Liam, sensing her confused eyes on him, added "she isn't very good with blood." He'd spoken in a polite, casual tone, however his overly-needy girlfriend seemed slightly irritated by this. Although this I sensed would probably be because he had failed to tear his eyes away from mine to look at her.

I attempted a smile at my best- friend, he returned it with a frown, his eyes boring into my face as he tried to read me. I allowed my gaze to wander around the room; we stood in the middle of the kitchen, the shiny marble floor still littered with broken glass. The usual immaculate sink and draining board was cluttered with dishes and various cups and glasses from tonight's dinner. I sighed to myself, wondering how on earth I was going to work up the energy and will power to finally clean them. I felt exhausted and wanted more than anything to crawl into my warm bed. We were silent for a few minutes, the sting in my hand began to subside and I felt a wave of relief rush over me. That was, until, Georgianna's impatient voice cut through the silence like a knife.

"Well...Anna's fine, can you take me home?" her question was directed at Liam, but he seemed too preoccupied in staring at my injured hand.

"Yeah, my keys are by the door, I'll be there in a minute" he answered her, still not looking at her. She didn't seem pleased with his response, because she hesitated in place for a few seconds, then looked to my hand, which was being held by Liam's as he applied pressure to the wound. Her eyes darkened.

"Well, make sure you sterilise your hands...germs!" Her nose wrinkled in disgust, before she turned on her heels and strutted down the hallway towards the front door; making sure her colicky heels made a racket as she did so. I rolled my eyes subconsciously.

"I get the feeling" I said blankly, "that she doesn't like me very much"

"It's not you" Liam reassured me, his eyes softening, "She doesn't like anyone. She thinks I have feelings for everyone I talk to" he cast his eyes down at his feet, but not before I saw the disgusted look on his face.

"You?" I questioned, "have feelings? Do you even know what they are? Because I've seen you go with that many girls-"

"Hey, don't hate" he interrupted, "I can't help that I'm so irresistible" he gave me a cocky smile. I rolled my eyes at him. Typical arrogant Liam.

"You'd better get going" I told him, pulling my injured hand away from his to remove the flannel.

Simultaneously, we sucked in a breath as we stared at my hand. The line blood had been oozing from just a few minutes ago was almost completely gone, replaced by a bright sapphire glow that coiled around my entire hand. My eyes widened as it slowly faded, leaving no marks or traces of blood whatsoever. It was as if the wound had never been there. I gave Liam a questioning look, but he looked just as confused as me, he reached out and traced his thumb gently over the line where the cut should have been.

"Well," I said finally "that was odd"

"I've never seen anything like that before" he pulled his hand back.

"I have" this time it was Chris, an old school friend whom I'd recently regained contact with when we miraculously bumped into each other in a coffee shop close by. Standing behind us, he held a cool expression on his face. He strolled casually into the room and took my hand in his to examine it. "It was blue, right?" I nodded slowly. "Blue represents water, water has healing powers"

"That's ridiculous" I snorted, "I didn't put any water on it"

"Power comes from within" came Liam's smooth voice.

"So you're saying I now have the power to control water?" I asked in disbelief.

"Well, can't we all control some sort of element?" Chris questioned, his eyes darting from me to Liam, who hadn't moved from his place beside me, his big frame towered over Chris, making him look like a toothpick in comparison. Liam wasn't much taller than Chris-three or four inches, but his broad shoulders and overall muscular build made him appear bigger.

"Yeah" Chris said, "mine's always been earth" I looked at him, remembering the few times I'd seen him call the power of earth to bring down trees to rescue cats, or dug flower beds with just a flick of the wrist. A simple thing that I also, had been able to do.

"Mine's space" Liam stated. I'd never seen Liam take control of the element, he didn't like to show me, but I had always known that he practiced, under the strict training of his aunty and mentor, Lydia. I wasn't even sure my foster- parents even knew things like this existed, I know I had never spoken to them about this unhuman-like gift of mine, nor had they ever seen it or shown any interest in training me as Liam's aunty had him.

"But mine's always been earth, like yours" I said to Chris, he looked at me and shrugged. "Now I guess you have two"

*Notice* This chapter has been adjusted and edited slightly since being originally published. Any  further suggestions are appreciated.