Deviant (Blendling Trilogy #1)

Prologue

1994
Bridgestone, Bone Island

Fire marshal Malcolm Meyers stood by his vehicle and observed the firefighters empty a burning building. He had seen a lot in his long life; wild fires, bonfires gone wrong, bush fires, arson. But the fire before him was a complete mystery. The fire was contained in the basement of the building and it wasn't spreading. It seemed the flames had a mind of their own.

Of course he was not about to point this out to the human firefighters, they were evacuating the building as they'd learnt in fire school. But he understood this fire. He understood that this was arson, but unlike other arson attacks, this fire was not caused by the usual means. He could see this was the work of an elemental. And this was what he found offensive.

As a fire elemental himself, no other elemental was supposed to enter his territory without permission. No fire elemental was supposed to enter a territory occupied by another. It meant certain death. The Supreme Council for the Blesseds saw to that, and their hunters saw to it that everyone followed the rules. But someone had broken the rules.

His musings were interrupted by sudden pandemonium. The humans who had gathered out of morbid curiosity were being pushed back by firefighters exiting the building. They were bringing out two casualties, one corpse burnt beyond recognition and the other a firefighter. Malcolm could tell he was suffering from smoke inhalation. The paramedics immediately took over, pulling them away.

That's when he felt it. While the paramedics fixed an oxygen tank on the downed fire fighter, he was forcefully drawn to the other victim. He could hear a pulse! Calling the attention of one of the paramedics, he ran towards the abandoned corpse. He could tell from afar the woman was dead but that didn't explain the heartbeat he could hear.

Malcolm had lived a long life. But never, in his one hundred and sixteen years posing as human, had he seen what he witnessed. The stomach of the corpse that seeemed to have burnt to ashes suddenly caved in and a wail was heard. The paramedic, crossed himself and they both watched, fascinated, as a baby struggled within the womb of the corpse!

***
Two weeks later

Charlotte Meyers held the little bundle of joy tighter against her chest as her husband, the fire marshal signed the adoption papers. She glanced at the sleeping child and thanked the powers that be for the opportunity to be a mother to such a precious child. People had started to call him Phoenix because like the myth, he rose out of the ashes of his mother's womb. Doctors still didn't understand it, a miracle they said. But Charlotte didn't care, Phoenix was her miracle.

Charlotte and Malcolm had been trying the better part of fifty years to have a child; of course no one knew that, after all she looked to be in her early forties. She was cursed by Malcolm's ex lover, a notorious witch, to be childless after he left her for Charlotte fifty two years ago. And although they had tried to break the curse, nothing had worked.

So when Malcolm had told her about the fire elemental that had been born, she persuaded him to adopt the child. Of course he was reluctant. The child was being held by the county police. He was the only link they had to the fire that destroyed the basement of a multi million dollar building. The owners of the building wanted the perpetrator behind bars and the only suspect to the crime, the baby's mother, was dead. No one knew who she was but evidence from the fire showed that she had been living in the basement for a while. Malcolm wouldn't share more about the case with her because he couldn't discuss an on-going investigation. But at her insistence he was able to pull some strings, and now Phoenix was hers.

Papers finally signed, they shook hands with the agents and exited the building. Malcolm smiled at his wife as they entered their car. He could taste her excitement in the air around her. He wished he was as excited as she was. The child was still of interest in the investigation and he knew that the child was in danger. But Char couldn't know that, it would break her heart.

As they rounded the corner to their house, they both froze. They felt the presence of Hermen, messengers of the Council for Blendeds. They also smelt the smoke and fire. Malcolm parked the car and stepped out. He was immediately surrounded by five Hermen.
"Greetings brother Malcolm" one of them said
"Lovely Charlotte I see you have your heart's wish" another said.
"What do you want" Malcolm asked. His heart was racing and he could feel his element reacting to his fear
"We bring news from the Council" a third said. Together the five chorused
"Malcolm Meyers of the Bone Island Clan. Your days in Bridgestone are come to an end and the Council relocates you. A devout you have been and you are rewarded. From the ashes of your home are details of new life. Once the dawn is come, you will take family along. Young Phoenix a human shall not raise. A new life in a new land you are given. Use it for the glory of all Blendeds"

After delivering the message, they disappeared. Charlotte was startled as Phoenix let out a cry. She was being relocated again. This was the second one in seven years. Cradling her baby, she watched her husband as he ran towards the house to retrieve their new life details. She could hear the sirens on the horizon. She could see neighbors frantically trying to rescue their valuables incase the fire spread. She knew the fire wouldn't spread because in her ninety years on earth, this was her tenth fire. The fire meant her time in a certain place was over. She could no longer stay there. It meant the Council had decided to relocate them so humans wouldn't notice they don't age. It also meant the Council had interfered with her life and she would have to die yet again to change her identity. Sometimes she wished she didn't have to say goodbye. But this time, she felt it was for the best.