Elemental princess

Chapter 1

I waited patiently for the junior school doors to open. I smoothed out my red and black tartan skirt. My blazer hugged my body as the sun peppered soft kisses on our bodies. Other people from my school stood waiting around for their brothers and sisters. I saw a few from my class. But.... I never hung out with them. I wasn't in their league. Arms went around me and I momentarily stumbled. I looked up partly annoyed but partly grateful I wasn't alone. Abigail Summers was my best friend and side kick in everything I did.
She had turquoise blue eyes that reminded me of the sea. She had hints of green in those eyes.
Her hair was a dark blonde with streaks of light blonde hair. Her skin light brown from being in the sun.
She was a bubbly and happy sort of girl. Shy sometimes. But when it comes to our friendship and family, she was a lion gone wild.
We grew up together in our small town. Our parents were best friends growing up. So we were extremely close. I do know that other people envy our easy fun relationship. We had never had a fight. Even if we did we made up in the next 5 minutes.
She was the only person I had ever been friends with... Well. Except for.... I shook my head willing myself to forget.
"Hey Abby!" I said hugging my best friend. She threw her soft arms around my slender body.
We broke apart and waited for my little sister. As if on cue a little black haired girl with bright excited eyes ran out towards me. She had a beaming smile on a her small petite face.
I opened my arms wide. She jumped into my warm embrace.
"Sky!" She squeaked. I spun her round. "Hey sweet-pea!" I kissed her cheek. She hugged Abby too. I watched her. She was so innocent. So young. So happy. Yet... She had a duty. A purpose.
I sighed sadly.
She grinned up at me unaware of my inner turmoil. I smiled back and we walked hand in hand.
Abby knew about me. About my family. About the world. I couldn't keep such a big secret away from her. It wouldn't be fair. When I first found out I was here on earth for a bigger and dangerous reason, I wanted to tell the whole wide world and curl into a ball to hide. But as I grew older, I realised I had to do what I was here for. I couldn't hide from it forever. It was my destiny as mum put it. And I couldn't hide from destiny.
"So what are you doing tonight?" Abby asked innocently. I smiled secretly.
"I don't know. I'll play with my dolls!" Emilia grinned. I exchanged a secret look with Abby.
It was Emilia's 7th birthday today. And we had prepared a surprise party. I stroked her hair lovingly. I would do anything for my baby sister.
"Is it alright if I came over?" Emilia nodded at Abby.
"That will be fun!"
We walked up my drive. Instead of letting her roam into the living room where my parents were decorating, I picked her up and took her upstairs. She giggled.
"What are we doing?" She asked. I put her down in her room.
"Well Cinderella. You are going for a tea party!" I said. Her eyes lit up. She clapped her hands.
I laughed as she jumped around the room. I dressed her into a beautiful pink dress with ruffles down the side. I braided her silky black hair and threaded small pink flowers into the loops.
I kept her busy for a while. I heard the doors opening and closing as guests and presents arrived.
Emilia too distracted by her appearance to care.
Abby walked in. She glanced at me.
"Sky! You need to change!" She practically pushed me out of the room and into mine. I smiled.
My room was like any ordinary teenage girls bedroom. Except it wasn't pink. My walls were a light blue. My bed was a big double bed with white covers on. I had a small plush sofa in the corner of my room, next to the window which over looked the woods. I had a desk with my makeup in one corner and my working desk in another. I wouldn't say I was spoilt. More like I was given free gifts without asking. I changed into a pure white dress. There was lace at the top and bottom. The dress was sleeveless and went up to my thighs. I touched up on a bit of lipgloss and mascara. I combed my jungle of hair until it seemed more tamed and presentable. I slipped into white ballet pumps. I gave one last look over in the mirror and reached for my phone.
I froze. I was still looking in my mirror. But I wasn't looking at me. I was looking at the figure behind me. I opened my mouth to scream. But it was as if my voice box has switched off. The hooded figure put a hand to his lips. He shut my door while I seemed stuck to the spot. He came up to me.
"Who are you?" I whispered in a shaky voice. He sighed.
"If I told you... You wouldn't believe me." He said sadly. His voice was almost musical. Like a chorus of instruments. It was lovely. But it also sounded familiar. I tried to move. I still couldn't. Anger flared in me. Who was this kid to be able to freeze me in my own room? I thought angrily. I let my power build up inside me. I closed my eyes and focused on the energy stopping me from moving. I pushed against it. The person staggered. I pushed with all my will and I heard him crumple to the ground. I opened my eyes taking in a deep breath. He stood up slowly, breathing hard.
"You've grown stronger." Was that a hint of amusement I detected? With my mind I created a sword of fire. It appeared in my hand. He held his hands in surrender. "Whoa whoa. Trust me on this Sky! Your in danger and I'm here to protect you!" He said. I stopped when he used my name. "Who are you? How do you know me?" I asked. He clenched his fists. He was about to respond when the door behind me opened by force. Mum walked in. She looked around.
"Are you ready?!" She asked out of breathe. I nodded with a smile, wondering why she wasn't saying anything about the person. She smiled and walked out.
"Listen here..." I trailed off. Nobody was behind me. I looked around in confusion. My curtains fluttered. I swear I closed my windows. I walked over to my window and stuck my head out the window. The wind blew my hair across my face. I looked around. Nobody was there. Well not in plain sight. The trees were silent and still. The birds singing. I swallowed and turned away from the window. I shut it and walked down to Emilia's room. She took my hand. We stood at the top of the stairs and walked down. I opened the living room door.
"Happy birthday Emilia!" Everyone shouted. She squealed and laughed. She hugged me tight and kissed my cheek. She ran off and greeted everyone else. I watched her with a big smile. Nothing will spoil my baby sisters day.

...

I watched her through the trees. She stared at her sister lovingly. Skylar looked different. On the outside she showed happiness, care and love. But on the inside? She was empty, scared and broken. I just wondered who else could see that.
She was never normally like this. She was happy. Carefree. Innocent. I haven't seen her in years. But she was still that same girl I knew all those years ago. Even if she doesn't remember me. I lifted my head and pointed my chin. She hugged other people her age. I felt a pang of jealousy. I should be in there. Hugging her. Hanging with her. Like we used to. I heard a snap. I turned and raised my hands. I pushed Sky out of my mind and got back to business. Nobody was going to touch my girl in anyway.

...

I laughed and stood with Abby and my mum.
"Emmy looks happy." Abby commented. I smiled as Emilia cut the cake with uncle Rob.
"She looks so happy." I whispered. Mum stroked my hair and planted a kiss on my cheek.
"You've grown so much Sky." She said caressing my cheek. I looked at her weirdly.
"Mum?"
"Just know that no matter what happens. I love you. We love you." She said wiping a tear. I reached for her. She shook her head.
"Your time has come Sky!" She suddenly shouted. She pulled Emmy to her chest. Emilia looked up at me with a smile. I looked at my family confused. They smiled at me. "Mum? Dad? What's going on?" I asked now scared. "We love you." Dad mouthed. Emmy wiggled her finger like she did in greeting. Arms were around me. I was pulled out of the house. The figure half carried half dragged me along the road. "Get off me creep! That's my home! Let me go!" I shouted at him. Suddenly there was a blast. We were thrown against the floor.
I lifted my head from the ground. My head swam. My body ached. I slowly sat up. I looked towards my home. My home. Home. It was on fire. Well. It wasn't even on fire. The remains of my house were on fire. I opened my mouth and screamed. I couldn't move. Could hardly breathe. Everything went in slow motion. My screaming. My crying. All sounds blurred together. I stopped hearing as I focused on my family. Mum. Dad. Abby. Emilia. My beloved baby sister. I wrapped my arms around my waist. I doubled over screaming. My chest ached. My heart was breaking into a million pieces.
"Skylar! Sky! Look at me please!" The voice said. I couldn't stop. Hands cradled my face. The figure.
"I'm sorry. It was essential to get you out of there... Oh gods. Sky I didn't know that was going to happen." He said. He held me. Even though I didn't know who he was, I leaned into his touch. I cried and screamed. He stroked my hair. Sirens sounded in the distance.
"Sky we have to go. Come on!" He said. When I didn't move he picked me up and sat me in a black car. He buckled me in and sat in the car himself. I couldn't bare to look at the remains of my house as we drove of to who knows where.
I thought back to my sister. The way she had smiled at me. The way she had looked at me sadly. The way she knew she was going to die. Then it hit me. Emmy didn't wiggle her finger in greeting. She wiggled it in goodbye.