Fragile Strength

Chapter One

When Claire was twelve, she had a horrible nightmare. In it, a girl whom looked like herself except slightly older stood in a pitch dark, circular room.

Pride, sorrow, fear and strength emanated from her. The only light in the room seemed to come from her fair, glowing skin.

What stood before her was a monster. The worst kind because it didn't look it. It was a beautiful woman wielding a scythe of chess piece decor with an evil smirk stretched across her face and lighting her eyes with malice.

The woman plunged her fist into the girl's chest with lightening speed and ripped her heart from its resting chaimber. Silvery blood splattered to the floor as the light faded from the girl's eyes and she fell limply to the ground.

The woman laughed maniacally and proceeded to consume the girl's glowing heart.

The whole scene would have been wicked and gory except the glowing silver made it beautiful. A wicked lovely end to an innocent soul...

Claire Rasao knew it was not simply a dream. Not only because it occurred repeatedly for the past four years, but a feeling in the pit of her stomach told her.

However that was the only horror in her life. She had loving parents, a great friend and comfortable life.

"Claire?" She looked up from under her hoodie at Mrs. Helena. She always called on Claire when she was thinking.

"Yes?"

"The answer to the problem?"

"Three." Claire had only to glance at the equation and her quick mind solved it almost instantly.

"Very good Claire, now please remove your hood inside the school." Claire sighed and removed it. She didn't like taking her hood down. People stared. She was too good looking and slightly odd looking for that matter. Her hair was silver. Her mother claimed from a dye she accidentally used in Claire's hair as a baby.

After class Claire walked down the hall searching for Stephanie.

"Claire, wait up!" Eric, the school's hot commodity caught up with her and stopped her, smiling.

"What's up?" Claire smiled but honestly she had a bad feeling about the guy. She often found her instincts dead on.

"I'm having a party tonight, you should come." Claire fought to keep smiling and searched her brain for an excuse not to go.

"Claire you will never believe what I just heard!" Relief washed through her as Stephanie skidded to a stop next to her, bubbling with energy.

"Sorry, I promised to hang out with Stephanie tonight." Claire slung an arm around Stephanie's shoulder.

"Eric, what?" Stephanie looked at him as if she just noticed God standing in the middle of the hallway. She wiped the silliness from her face and replaced it with a calm, collected grin," Hi Eric."

"Why don't you both come then?"

"Sorry, but thanks for the offer." Claire took Stephanie by the arm and left down the hall before she could ruin her escape.

"You just said no to Eric Sortinge!" Stephanie gasped.

"So?"

"No one says no to him!" Stephanie shook her.

"Well he will need to add the word to his vocabulary. He creeps me out." Claire shrugged.

"Creeps. You. Out?!" Stephanie balked as they entered English 2.

When Claire returned home he was standing on her porch with a grin," Don't make me beg Claire... Pleeeeeeaseeee...."

"We will be there!" Stephanie pushed Claire into the door.

"H-"

"Great!" He kissed Claire's cheek and she grimaced as he ran to his car and left.

"The hell Steph??"

"It will be fun Claire! Live a little!"

Claire frowned and tried to push her feeling away. She had never been to a party... Maybe Steph was right...