Heroes

Chapter 1

Elva was curious. As she peered down at the village from the safety and comforts of her tree, she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be one of them. The ladies wore fine dresses, silk skirts swishing over the ground as they sped to the next shop, coming out with bag after of bag of luxurious items. The men were adorned just as nicely in fancy suits bejeweled with diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. Young children skipped through the streets without a care in the world, dressed in nothing more than breeches, cotton shirts and a thick overcoat, their bare feet constant reminders of their age and unimportance.

Elva shook her head. She knew it was foolish to feel this way. Those people had no idea where they had come from or what they were missing, like Elva did. They didn't know what had really happened, or why they had lost their memories. But she couldn't help but wonder if ignorance was such a bad thing after all.

When the rains came, they would tell Elva of everything that happened in the world. It was part of her gift. When lightning struck the earth and thunder rolled over head, it told a story. A story of times long gone, where people thought for themselves and the government did what the people wanted, not the other way around. A time when women were more than just a pretty sight, and where children had a future. Now, there was none of that. And there never would be.

Elva glanced up at the sky. Nearly 3:00. Her parents would be home by 3:30 and they would kill her if they found out that she had been outside again. Taking once last glance at the village, Elva tightened the veil that covered her face and departed for the mansion.

Her hair streamed behind her like an inky black comet as she ran. Her feet slapped the ground monotonously, bringing her closer and closer to her prison. She hated being locked up. Unnoticed and unseen. Nobody except a few of the staff knew that The Lord and Lady of the house had twin daughters, let alone what they looked like. Everyone pitied them for being unable to have a child who could carry on the family name. Ha! Elva would say. No children? How about the two daughters you keep locked in your basement!

But deep down she knew that if anyone was to see her or her sister they would shriek and curse them. They would call them witches and Devil Spawn, all because of their gift.

Elva ran to the back of the castle and activated the secret door that led to the basement she called home. Unwrapping the veil, she revealed her cursed gift.

Elva had violet eyes.

☔️☔️☔️☔️

"Raven!" Elva shouted at her sister. "Turn down that music!" She was sitting on her bed trying to finish her homework.

The music grew louder in reply.

"Raven!" Elva threatened, "Don't make me come in there! Turn it DOWN!"

The music stopped and a tall, muscular girl opened the door of Elva's bedroom.

"Gosh, Elva. Can't a girl have a little fun?" She flipped her dark hair that was now streaked with red behind her as she glared at Elva.

"Did you dye your hair again?" Elva questioned. "You know how much Mother hates that. She'll restrict us even more!"

Raven rolled her eyes. "Relax, El. They never come down to visit us. And even if they do, what can they restrict us on? We're not allowed to do anything!"

"They can take away our books!"

Raven laughed. "So what? You're the only one who reads them anyway. And besides, I have an iPod." She jumped on Elva's bed, resting her combat boots right on her clean bedspread.

"Rave!" She shrieked. "Stop messing up my room. You have your own."

Raven sighed. "You always did like your stuff perfect, didn't you Princess? I'll go, but I get to play my music until Mom comes home."

Elva crossed her arms. "Fine."

Raven hopped off the bed. "Thanks. You're the best, sissy!" She pinched Elvas cheeks, then scurried back to her room to blare rock music once again.

"Rocker." Elva scorned as the fiendish music filled her ears. She glanced at a clock on the wall. 3:27. "Mother will be home any minute now!" Elva warned. The music continued for a few seconds, then shut off. "Finally," Elva muttered.

She picked up her books and carried them out of her room and down the hall to the Great Room. It was nothing compared to the real Great Room, but it was nice and left plenty of space for the sisters to run around and play. After placing her school books on a table in the center of the room, she swept over to the piano and began to practice.

Minor notes reverberated through the room as Elva began her performance. A collage of Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach flew from Elva's fingers as she mourned her captivity and loneliness. Music was a release for her, a way she could express herself. She closed her eyes and basked in the music, relishing every note. She didn't notice when her father entered the room and stood waiting.

Ending the song with an invigorating crescendo, Elva jumped as her father began to applaud.

"Well done, my dear." He said, a grin on his face. "That was quite the performance."

"Oh, um, thanks." Elva tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Dad."

He smiled. "Where's your sister, huh? I haven't talked to her in a while."

Elva bit her lip. This was not normal. Something must be terribly wrong for her father to talk to her like this. "She's in her room, I think."

He nodded. "Raven! Come here please."

Elva gasped as Raven emerged from her bedroom. She was wearing skintight leather clothes, combat boots and spiked gloves.

"Sup," she smirked from behind a pair of shades.

"Young lady this is... Quite unacceptable." He could barely speak. "I... I always thought you were better than this."

Raven's grin got even wider.

"Well," Elva interrupted. "I suppose you want to see our work? It's all here on the table." She fingered the skirt of her dress uneasily.

"Actually I came here to talk about some new events."

Elva raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"You see, your mother and I are too busy working to really take care of you. You've got on pretty well on your own, but I can see that you need-" he glanced at Raven "-a bit more assistance."

Raven's eyes narrowed.

"We have decided to send you off to a woman's finishing school."

"A finishing school?" Raven asked. "We can't go out in public."

"Well you see," their father continued. "This school is for special teens, like yourselves, so you won't be bothered and you'll be going under a different name so the public won't know you're our children either. It's a win-win!"

"I see." Raven said flatly. "You send us off for God only knows how long and you get to live carefree while we slave away at some finishing school. I see now. It all makes sense."

"Yes, it does." He maintained his smile. "Pack up your bags. You leave in the morning."

He turned, walked upstairs and left the two sisters staring at each other in the now very small room.