• The clouds were dark and heavy that morning, he noticed, as he watched the sky from the arched window beside him. Though he could not feel the wind through the window panes, he could see the branches on the trees in the distance swaying slightly and the grass waving like a rippling green sea; the wind was steadily picking up.
    In a few hours the storm would hit.
    Syrus didn’t like the look of it; pretty sure it was going to be a big one. There was something stirring in the wind. An uneasy feeling shifted through him that he knew not the origin of, but worried about none the less. He sensed magick in the air. Tilting his head back, he switched his gaze to the darkening sky and guessed that in less then an hour the rain would begin.
    This was no ordinary storm.
    It would seem Medrick was up to his old tricks again, he mused to himself with a dark frown. He slowly released the breath from his lungs before turning his back on the scene outside the window. There was nothing he could do for the moment. He figured if it were Medrick behind this latest storm the world was lucky that the crazed mage was only a sorcerer and not an Elemental. He could dabble with nature but he could never turn her to his will. It was most likely why the storm was taking so long to reach its full strength. He allowed himself a small smile as he imagined how much that fact was pissing the other mage off at that very moment.
    Moving down the hall on silent feet he made a left turn and, after walking a little more, made a right. He opened one of the double doors beside him and stepped out onto the balcony/walkway. A genuine smile came to his face when he saw the head of long fire-red hair before him. His daughter’s waist length hair was swaying on the wind as she stood with her back to him at the balcony rail. Her head was bent so that her gaze was focused on the ground that was out of his range of vision.
    He had a feeling he knew what – or whom – she was watching.
    Quietly he moved to stand beside her, not wanting to disturb her, but curious to see what his apprentice was doing that was holding his daughter’s attention so well.
    Turning his gaze to the open garden below, his eyes widened slightly as a smile to match his daughter’s grew on his face. His apprentice was sitting in mid-air, legs folded beneath her like they would if she were kneeling on the ground. Her long black hair was dancing all around her as a strong current of wind swirled around her like a funnel. With her head tilted back, face towards the sky; he could easily see the child’s eyes were closed.
    It seemed his apprentice was practicing and though she was only eight years old it was obvious she was well on her way to being a very talented Elemental. Na’riel had only been with him for two years and only one of those years was she his apprentice, but watching her now he still had the same feeling he had when he’d first met her two years ago; she was destined to do great things.
    There was something special in Na’riel’s future, he knew. Syrus wasn’t sure exactly what, but he knew whatever it was it was meant for her alone. He also knew that the road to where she was going was paved with danger. There was something out there that wanted that child’s life; something dark, something deadly. And it was not going to stop until it had her, or worse.
    It worried him that he could not see the child’s future. He’d never had that problem before when looking into someone’s past or future, but for some reason when he tried to do so with Na’riel all he could do was feel. He could feel the golden glow that was tinged in blue that made her unique, that special light that shined from within her very soul. Syrus dared not even think of what the light meant for to do so would be a betrayal of the child he swore to protect with his life.
    He used his power to hide the knowledge within himself, blocking it from his own mind against any who dared to try and look for it there, but he did not forget for with that shine he could also sense and feel the dark, heavy shadow that hung around her, trying it’s hardest to block out the light she held. He could see nothing though. He knew not what it was or where its origin lay, but he felt the sinister intent coming from it and worried all the more because he could do nothing about it.
    He feared Na’riel would have to face this darkness alone.
    That was why Syrus was intent on training her to the best of his ability. He would make sure his apprentice was ready for whatever was coming. It was not easy to train her considering her powers were not magical, but natural. Na’riel’s power came from the Earth itself. Unlike magick it could not be created or taught; you either had it or you didn’t. Fortunately for Na’riel she had it in abundance.
    There were not many Elementals left in the world; only a large handful scattered across the planet. And in all of them it would be very difficult to find an Elemental with the ability to command more then one or two of the elements. Because of this, Elementals were highly coveted and sometimes mistreated. They were even raped in a sadistic effort to make more of them since only an Elemental could birth an Elemental. That’s not to say that every child that came from an Elemental would have the gift. It was actually very rare, which is why they were the smallest population in the world of magical beings. But the more elements an Elemental could control the more powerful they were and the more likely any children they had would also carry the gift.
    Na’riel could command all five.
    Which is why her mother had brought the girl to him; there was no one else qualified to teach her how to use her gifts.
    Not only could his apprentice control air, water, fire, and earth, but she had recently begun showing signs of being able to command metal, one of the arcane elements. The power was small and weak right now, but he imagined it would get stronger with time and practice just like the Elemental, herself, would. It was also very rare. So far he’d been able to keep the extent of her powers a secret from the public but Syrus knew it was only a matter of time before the information would become known. When that happened she would become the most sought after prize in all the land. The fact the child was showing the potential of becoming a great beauty in her later years only made matters worse. She was going to need a lot of protecting.
    Coming out of his thoughts, Syrus turned his gaze to his daughter as he noted the fact the winds had stopped and now the child seemed to be playing with the water in the large water fountain in the middle of the garden. He took in the strained yet thoughtful look on his daughter’s lovely face and frowned.
    “You seemed worried, my daughter. What troubles you?”
    The redhead closed her eyes momentarily as she released a little sigh. She gave her father a small shrug as she wondered how to answer him without worrying the old man further. She knew her father already had misgivings about his apprentice’s future and she did not want to add to that, but she could find no other way to state her thoughts.
    “Sophia?” he prompted when too many seconds passed without his daughter offering more of a response.
    Sighing in defeat she turned to look at her father, “I’m just a little worried, papa,” she began with a small shrug. “That child down there is very special, she has a heart of gold despite all the bad things that has happened to her. In only eight years of life she still holds so much happiness. It hurts my heart to know that her troubles are not over, that they have only just begun… that soon she’s going to be fighting for all of us, but for her very life as well.”
    His eyes widened slightly at her last words before a realization hit him; he’d nearly forgotten his daughter was a Seer. She could see things that even he couldn’t.
    “What have you seen?”
    “Not much really,” she shook her head, “much of it was very fuzzy and unclear. But there is something evil, something dangerous that wants that child. It doesn’t exactly know who she is, but it’s searching for her and it won’t stop until it gets what it wants from her.”
    “What does it want?”
    She gave him a sideways look then turned to look him directly in the eyes, eyes the same shade of blue as her own. “You know. Just as you know to speak of it would put her in danger. It watches and it hears. Your shields have blinded its vision – and possibly my own now that I think about it – but it will not stay blinded forever. She is not ready to face what waits for her yet.”
    “Will she ever be ready, I wonder,” he asked softly, his heart heavy with the thought. “Sometimes I wonder if Narella was right to bring her daughter to me. I am no Elemental.”
    “No, you are not an Elemental, papa,” agreed Sophia as she turned her gaze back to the child below. “But you are the strongest mage alive. You know things that no one else does. She could have no better teacher. Narella, wherever she is, knew that; which is why she brought her daughter to you.”
    Sophia smiled as Na’riel made the water dance. “Remember what she is; she is an Elemental. The power comes natural to her, like breathing. You do not need to teach her to use her power, just how to control them. The rest will come naturally.”
    “I do not wish her to fight this darkness alone, daughter. But I fear she will have no choice.” He turned his vision to the child then. “I do not know though. I cannot see. Her future is blocked to me.”
    “Not blocked, but uncertain. Your powers are so strong that you only see what will happen, what is certain, not the possible. Her future is foggy even for me, but she will not be alone. There are others meant to walk this path with her and,” she turned and gave her father a dazzling smile, “she has us.”
    “She also has her mother.”
    “Yes,” she nodded in agreement, “I know not where Narella is, but I feel she is also behind what is protecting that child, not just your shield, though it too is a great help. It’s a shame that it is also possibly what blocks our visions as well, but everything has its consequences. We may not be able to see, but at least neither does our enemies. Thank the Father for that.”
    “And the others, who are they?”
    “A human, a half-fairy, and an elf shall be with her. They each will have their own stake in this fight, but they will all have one common goal for fighting; her. She will find them in time, or they her, and they will not let her face what is coming alone.”
    “An elf, you say,” he repeated in thought, not really requiring an answer. “I wonder…”
    Syrus knew that Na’riel’s father must be an elf since it was very obvious from the slight point at the top of the child’s ears that she was half elf and knew her mother was as human as he was.
    Narella was his niece, the only daughter his brother Zed had before he died, and since he had also known her mother he was very sure that Na’riel had to get her elfin blood from her father, whoever he was. Narella had not bothered to tell him and he did not search her life or mind for the answer, respecting her decision to keep it private. Now he wondered though…. Could the elf that was meant to help Na’riel be the girl’s father? And if so, how would she take the news? She had yet to even ask him about her father, but he knew it was only a matter of time and it saddened him that he would have no answers to give when that time came.
    “Excuse me, papa,” said Sophia suddenly as she bent down, bringing her father out of his thoughts, “but it is time for me to give Na’riel one of those friends that I spoke of.”
    He watched as she stood back up with something dark and furry nestled in her arms. His eyes widened and then he smiled when two emerald orbs focused on him. The dark and furry object was a baby panther, he realized. He knew his daughter’s two cats had had children a few months ago and he figured the baby in her arms was one of them. They must finally be weaned from their mother if his daughter had decided to give one of the five offspring to his apprentice.
    “You are going to give her one of your babies?” he asked in surprise. It was no secret that his daughter cared a great deal for her animals and she did not lend them out, much less give them away, without a very good reason. He blinked twice when she nodded her head in confirmation. “Ah. Well, how do Knight and Téa feel about this?”
    “It was actually them who suggested the ideal. They really like Na’riel and care a great deal for her; they want to protect her.” She rubbed her fingers gently over the soft, sleek fur in her arms and smiled. “They think this little guy will do that. Titan is special just like Na’riel. I am just not sure exactly how he is special. He hasn’t shown me yet.”
    “Titan, meet father,” she said to the baby panther. “Father, meet Titan.”
    Syrus smiled as he held his hand out for the panther to sniff him and waited for the lick of acceptance before moving to pet the cat’s head. He marveled at how soft the sleek fur beneath his fingers was. Like satin, he thought with a smile. “Hello Titan.”
    “Hello.”
    Syrus nearly jumped when he heard the soft voice in his head. His hand stilled as he focused his eyes on the pair of emeralds looking back at him. He blinked. He would swear the cat was grinning at him.
    He looked up at his daughter then. “Did he just…”
    ”I told you he was special, papa,” she smiled. It still amazed her whenever she saw that look of shock on her father’s face. It was a very rare sight. Her father was so old (even she was unsure just how old the mage was), had seen so much in his lifetime - add to that his ability to see the future - made it very difficult, if not almost impossible, to surprise the old man. She liked that her father still found joy in life and allowed it to surprise him sometimes. She feared the day that stopped, for when it came she was sure the day her father decided he had enough of life would not be far from it. And she really did not want to imagine a world without her father in it.
    Syrus gave a little chuckle as he removed his hand from the cat’s head. “Well done Titan. I must say, not much surprises me these days, but that did. Not many animals are strong enough to communicate with me that way, even your parents aren’t.”
    Syrus eyes widened once again at the name the cat called him. He hadn’t been called that in many years. Not since he’d been called… He grinned at the thought, his blue eyes twinkling as he looked up at his daughter. “I like him.”
    Sophia tilted her head in thought, not being able to hear what Titan had said to her father since the cat had not been talking directly to her. “I figured you might. Let’s hope Na’riel does.”
    “She will,” he nodded. He did not need a vision to tell him that. Being a child of Nature talking to anything living had never been a problem for the young girl.
    “That’s good. Excuse us,” she said once more.
    “Okay. I must go too. There is something I must research,” he looked back at the cat in her arms them. “See you later Titan. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
    “Goodbye, sorcerer,” responded Titan. “Nice to finally meet you, too. I will see you later.”
    “I have no doubt of that,” he smiled at the animal. “Tell Na’riel I will see her after lunch for me please.”
    “I will tell her.”
    “Thank you.” He bowed to them both before turning and entering his house. He laughed softly to himself as he imagined Titan was going to be interesting addition to their household.
    Sophia watched her father leave then turned to make her way down the stone steps to the garden where the young girl was. Softly she called out to the younger girl when she was close enough for the girl to hear her but not be startled by her sudden appearance.
    Hearing her name called, Na’riel slowly brought the water to a stop and let it fall back into the fountain before turning to the older woman. She smiled at the redhead as she came nearer.
    “Hi Sophia!” she greeted her then her eyes widened when she noticed the animal in the woman’s arms. “Oh! Hello!”
    Sophia grinned at the girl’s wide eyed grin. “This is Titan, Na’riel. I thought you would like to meet him.”
    “Ooh…” she looked up at her but immediately returned her attention to the cat. He was very beautiful, she thought as she stared at the midnight fur, but it was his eyes that she liked the best. They were a deep green and sparkled like jewels. Beautiful.
    “Hello, Titan,” she greeted the cat again.
    “Hello.”
    “Wow, he spoke to me! None of the other animals, but Knight and Téa would speak to me before.”
    “I guess he likes you!” laughed Sophia in response. “Would you like to hold him?”
    “Oh, can I really?” she asked in slight awe.
    Sophia could see the mixture of fear and anticipation in the young girl’s eyes and smiled to herself. Na’riel was already worried about hurting Titan and she had only just met him. She was even surer now that she was making the right choice.
    “I do not see why not,” she smiled. “Here, fold your arms in front of you like mine,” she instructed then waited for the girl to comply. “Good. Now I am going to place him in your arms” she talked quietly so as not to startle Titan as she gently transferred him to the other girl’s arms. “Do not panic; relax. He will not hurt you. Remember he is just a baby.”
    “There,” she sighed happily when she finished placing the cat in her folded arms. “That was not so bad, right? How does he feel?”
    “Soft,” she breathed in answer, her eyes still focused on the animal, “like silk.” Na’riel marveled at the animal as she watched him shift in her arms to find a more comfortable position. “He’s so warm…” Suddenly she released a surprised giggle then lifted her gazed to the other girl.
    “He just purred and I felt it shake through me!” she exclaimed.
    Sophia smiled at the happy sparkle in the girl’s light green eyes. She could never get over the pretty shade of green of Na’riel’s eyes. It was like the color of the peridot jewel; a pale green with a beautiful inner shine. She’d never seen such a color in a person’s eyes before and with the girl’s tan skin tone and long dark tresses, it was obvious the girl was going to be a great beauty one day. ‘Just like her mother….’
    “I want you to promise me you will take very good care of him Na’riel. You do that and I promise you, you will never want for a better or more loyal friend.”
    “Of course, I will Sophia, but… what?” she asked in confusion. Why would Sophia want her to watch the cat? Was there something wrong with Knight and Téa? She opened her mouth to ask the question just as Sophia began to speak again.
    “He is yours now. I want you to have him… think of him as your own familiar like Knight and Téa are to me. He will go wherever you go and when he gets older he will protect you with everything he has as you will do the same for him. He is a very special panther, Na’riel. I have yet to learn the extent of his abilities, but I believe he will show them in time.”
    Na’riel just stared at the other woman in disbelief. She hadn’t heard anything after ‘he is yours...’ Slowly her eyes blinked as the cat’s purring broke her out of the little trance she’d fallen into. “He’s mine?” she asked, worried she might have heard wrong.
    “Yes,” smiled Sophia, “he is yours. Will you take good care of him? He is very special.”
    “Oh, yes!” exclaimed Na’riel as she giggled and hugged the cat closer. “I will take the best care of him! I’ve always wanted one of my own ever since I met Knight and Téa…”
    She trailed off as she turned her vision back to the cat to find him looking up at her with a curious look in his eyes. “We’re going to be best friends, you and I,” she whispered to him.
    “I know.”