Bound

Chapter 1

I looked in the mirror and was startled by the person staring back at me. I was used to seeing a scrawny, slightly crazy looking girl but today I couldn't. Instead I saw something that felt unnatural and plastic. I was uncomfortable in such an exposing dress, but dresses were custom. My mother had picked out a shiny, silver, strapless dress because she thought it emphasised my unnaturally bright, turquoise eyes. My sister, Emily, had helped me put it on and done my hair elaborately. It looked lovely though a few ringlets had escaped the clasp and hung loosely around my face. She had even tucked a silver rose that she had grown into my dark hair and it shone with an unearthly light. There was a knock as she came back into the room. She had changed into a lovely green evening dress. It was traditional in her element. She had also braided her hair.

"What do you think?" she said and spun around.

"I think it's beautiful, you look amazing in green,"

She laughed and shook her head.

"Your look much lovelier in silver, it brings out your eyes,"

"Ah, your so much like mum," I replied "it brings out your eyes, it really suits you, well, I think it's an ugly colour and it doesn't match my eyes at all."

At that moment mum called out to us.

"Girls, the carriage is here, come on."

"Coming," I shouted back slightly annoyed.

Emily gave me amused look and headed for the door. She knew about the rocky relationship between mother and I. I shot her back a glare and followed. We grabbed our winter coats and gloves from the old coat stand and headed outside towards the carriage. The cool night air greeted us and sent a shiver down my spine. I looked back at the house, it was small with only three bedrooms, a kitchen, a small bathroom and a living room with a fireplace. It was comfortable and affordable. I wonder how my little brother Sonny must be feeling alone with only Snickers for company. Snickers was a little brown tabby-cat we had rescued off the streets when he was just a kitten. Sonny had fallen in love with him and begged mum and dad desperately to let him keep him. They had obviously agreed however much they despised cats. Sonny wasn't allowed to come to the Binding ceremony, no one under fifteen could. I wished he could though, maybe he could calm down the pitter patter of my heart or stop my twitching. Sonny was the only one who understood me, even liked me now. Everyone else treated me like I was infected by some contagious disease, even Emily was different though she hardly had time for me anyway, with her new life keeping her busy. Sonny was all I had. I shivered again, and I knew it was going to be a cold night.

"Bria, come on." mum called, annoyed that I was holding everyone up.

"Sorry." I replied and hopped into the carriage.

It was traditional to ride in carriages, our ancestors done it so we had to as well. Of course, none of us actually owned a carriage. Carriages had went our of style in the early 20th century, so the Council provided them. Inside it was spacious, leaving plenty of room unoccupied. It had only one window, which was tinted and covered by a red curtain. I caught a glimpse of the snow falling softly outside as the carriage hit a bump. The light from the antique street lights made the snow look pale, almost sickly. I sat back against the seat, not joining in the conversation as it bored me, politics and stuff that didn't concern me The seats were made of red silk and were very comfortable. The Council seemed to have a liking for the colour red. Der, of course they do, a red rose is our symbol, it apparently bound us all together (like that was true). Luckily for us, the carriage still had the comforts of this century like a heater. I felt like Cinderella riding in her pumpkin carriage on the way to the ball, except for the fact that it wasn't a ball but a Binding ceremony and it would decide pretty much my entire future. I let my mind wander and think of what might happen within the next couple of hours. I couldn't help being excited. Today was the day I would discover which element I would belonged to. Would it be fire like my parents or earth like my sister? Nobody knew. Only the blood of the Head Councillor could determine that.