Argenian

Prologue

   Grace White was making herself dinner when she heard the loud wails of a child. At first, she thought it was a neighbor child throwing a tantrum, but it went on far much longer than any parent would allow. She turned off the stove and rushed to grab her bathrobe. Grace wandered around the house, looking for the source of the cries.

It wasn't coming from the living room, nor the backyard. She was about to give up when she opened the front door and spotted the child laying there. It was wrapped in a mangled white blanket and looked far too small and skinny. The child's skin was practically hanging off of its bones.

  "Oh, Darling," she whispered. Grace picked up the child and held it to her breast, gently bouncing it. She felt something cold through the blanket and held the baby away to examine it. A silver chain hung around its neck. She pulled the necklace out and immediately recognized the dark crow charm. 

"My Gods, I thought she was dead." Grace murmured. She placed the necklace back into the child's blanket and could barely contain her joy when she discovered a piece of paper tucked into the fabric.

She sat down, right there on the floor, and opened the letter.

My Dearest Grace, the letter began.

Until now, you probably thought I was dead. I am not. 

I only disappeared because I had no choice. Everyone I love would have died if I didn't.

I am a Pureblood, which is extremely dangerous. Just a few years before we were born a new Prime Minister was appointed. She was jealous of the power Purebloods have and wanted it for herself. Prime Minister Collins created a group of very skilled assassins to find and capture all Pures. They are called the Council of the Unseen.

When I turned sixteen and discovered that I was Pureblooded I flaunted my powers to the world. That was a mistake. Just a few days after my birthday the Council caught me. They broke into my home and held my family hostage. They told me that if I didn't come with them they would kill everyone I loved. 

I went with them.

Some days I feel like that was a mistake, but then I remember you and everyone else and stop regretting my decision.

The Council took me to a laboratory filled with other Purebloods. They stuck me in a cell and I stayed there for days. They did crazy experiments on me to try and replicate my Pureblooded genes. As I got older the experiments got crazier and they became harder to deal with. I grew close with some of the other Pures in the lab, eventually falling in love with one of them. The 'scientists' took advantage of that love and bred me. The child is a result of that.

I desperately wanted to get her out before they could experiment on her, but they took her right away. I never even got to give her a name. The 'scientists' only brought her to me when she wouldn't cooperate. 

It took me a year before I could finally get her out. I built a relationship with one of the lab assistants and she managed to get my baby out. I had her taken to you because I know you will keep her safe. I hope that one day I can escape as well and see you again.

All my love,

Olivia.

P.S. Whenever I got to see the child, I called her Evelyn. It's what she now responds to best.

Grace looked down at the sickly child in her arms, "I promise I'll keep you safe, Evelyn. I would never forgive myself if you were to get taken as well."

And so Grace made herself a promise; she would protect this child as long as she was alive, no matter how dangerous it got.