Different (Tainted Elements Book 1) Read online

  “My father’s element? But he doesn’t have an element,” I gaped at her. “Oh. You mean I inherited the element he would have had if he didn’t have the disease?” My brain was unusually slow today, but hey, it wasn’t every day that I discovered I was some sort of a weird elemental.

  “I believe that’s exactly what happened, even though I’m not sure how.” My mom tilted her head. “I don’t understand. We need to run some tests. You could be developing the disease along with the element.”

  “Well, I don’t understand it either. All I know is that I have two elements when I should have only one.” My fingers were slightly trembling. Having two elements sounded like a lot of fun, but what if there were other consequences, like magic disease? What if I’d soon start craving other people’s elements? I took a deep breath. If my father could do it, then I could do it too. Except he’d spent half of his life in laboratories doing God knew what to get in control of himself.

  “I’m going to make some calls.” My mom jumped to her feet, her face pallid, her eyes distant. “You stay here and...”

  “Try not to burn the house to the ground?” I offered her a shy smile.

  “Yeah.” She blinked and crossed the room in quick strides. I watched her close the door. Did she really think I could burn the house down or hadn’t she even heard me? I pulled my feet up on the bed and rocked back and forth, trying hard not to breathe too much. I was clueless about using fire. Any fast or unexpected movements could make me lose control. Hopefully, I wasn’t turning into a dragon.

  How did people lose control of something they couldn’t even feel, anyway? I couldn’t tell I had fire in me. At least not yet. My air was a tingly presence deep inside of my being and I could picture myself reaching for it, but I couldn’t feel fire, which obviously didn’t mean I didn’t have it.

  The black spot on the wall across the room taunted me, reminding me of a smiley face that someone had twisted into a fanged creature. What was happening to me? Was this a sign I could be turning into a monster? I forced myself to look away from the wall and chose not to believe in monsters.

  Chapter 3

  I woke up with the biggest headache I’d ever had. Dragging my hand across my forehead, I thought I’d burn myself because my skin was scorching. I was developing a strong dislike for my new element, and I had a feeling it didn’t like me either. The room spun around me as I pulled myself to my feet. My thin, light blue cotton T-shirt felt like an armory that weighed a ton. Sweat trickled down my back as I made my way to the door.

  I could hear my mom’s voice loud and clear from the downstairs.

  “I think you should tell her,” my dad sounded tired. I padded closer to the stairway, my feet quiet on the plush black carpet.

  “Ryan, I can’t,” my mom said. “Things might be different now and no one will do experiments against anyone’s will in the lab, but I don’t want my daughter there.”

  “Whatever you did with her genes must have somehow produced a faulty gene, but don’t blame yourself,” he said. “Only one tiny gene is enough to trigger the disease.”

  “Yeah, but magic disease carriers lose their elements. They don’t gain new ones,” she hissed, probably trying to keep her voice down so I wouldn’t hear her. I wasn’t wearing an element-blocking bracelet, so my father must have noticed I’d moved from my room. He could always feel my unprotected element and track me down, just like any other carrier.

  “Paula, please,” he sighed. “You of all people know that everyone is born with an element even when it doesn’t show. The disease comes later. This thing with Moira could be temporary.”

  “Yeah, which means she could be a carrier and have the disease!” my mom yelled. “If I hadn’t...”

  “Mom, it’s okay.” I stepped forward so they could see me. Their heads whipped in my direction. My mother quickly brushed a tear off her cheek and tried to smile at me. My father’s eyes were wide, his jaw slack.

  “Moira, we didn’t hear you coming,” he said as I descended the stairs.

  “I appreciate you trying to make this normal for me, but I know you can sense me.” Unless he was so distracted he’d forgotten all about my element.

  “No, Moira, I can’t...” He rushed toward me, pulling me into his arms. “I can’t feel you at all. Are you sure you’re not wearing any element-blocking jewelry?”

  “Yeah, I...” Honestly, I wasn’t sure. My head was fuzzy and I couldn’t remember if I’d taken any jewelry before falling asleep. If I had it on me, that would explain why I felt so hot. Stepping back, I let him place his hand on my cheek.

  “You’re burning up,” he said, his blue eyes filling with worry. “Are you alright?”

  “More or less.” I patted my pockets, but I couldn’t find any jewelry. “Mom, Dad, could you step away from me?”

  “Why?” My mom sucked in a quick breath.

  “I want to try to use my element and I don’t want to end up hurting you.”

  “Oh.” My dad backed off, his eyes never leaving mine. “It’s going to be okay, honey. Just stay calm.”

  I nodded, concentrating on my air. Closing my eyes, I pictured an invisible hand reaching for my element, wrapping its fingers around it. My mom had told me she always pictured a crystal ball when she used her element, but my air could never be contained in one particular shape. I swallowed hard, refusing to think I could lose the ability to feel and use my element. If I could use my element, then nothing was blocking it.

  A strong breeze ruffled my hair as I unleashed my element. It whipped around me, cooling my face. The tension seeped out of my shoulders and I felt as light as a feather. The reality slammed back into me like a bricked wall as soon as I pulled my element back inside of me. I cracked one eye open. “Is everyone alive?”

  “Everything’s fine.” My mom closed the distance between us and pulled me into her arms, squeezing so tight that I thought I’d need to use my air again just so I could breathe. A moment later, she pulled back, her eyes swirling with wariness. “Can you feel my element or any other element nearby? I’ve taken off my bracelet.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t even know what someone’s element is supposed to feel like.” I doubted I could feel it like my own. My father had tried to explain it to me once, but I believed feeling other people’s elements was just one of those things that could only be experienced and not simply imagined.

  “You’ll know it if it happens,” my dad said. If. Not when. Maybe there was still hope that what I had wasn’t magic disease.

  “The symptoms don’t have to show all at once, especially in your case,” my mom said.

  “So you think I have magic disease?” Just the thought of it cut me like a knife. I’d considered the possibility before, but now the threat was real. I searched my parents’ faces, willing them to tell me I was wrong.

  “We don’t know.” My dad’s blue eyes met mine. “But yes. It’s very likely you’re developing the disease and that the symptoms are a bit different because of the genetic manipulation.”

  I turned around, my throat constricting, my heartbeat ringing in my ears. “But if this is just a step toward the disease and I lose my element... What if I won’t be able to control myself? What if I...”

  “No, honey...” My mom’s voice cracked. “It will be fine. I promise. We’ll deal with this.” She wrapped her arms around me and I leaned into her touch.

  “I know,” I whispered, and for the first time in my life, I prayed to the long forgotten God of Magic to help me. If I really had the disease, then I hoped I would at least be an element preserver and keep my element since that would make it easier for me to control myself. The last thing I wanted was to hurt my family and friends.

  My mom pressed her lips against my hair. “We should take you somewhere safe until we know for sure what’s going on with you.”

  “Safe?” I pulled myself out of her embrace and faced her. “Like where? The lab where you work?”

  “No. Nothing like that,” s
he sniffled. “I think it’s time for us to go on a vacation.”

  “A vacation?” My eyes widened. “But I still have one exam...”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. You can do it in the fall.” Her lips spread into a smile. “What do you say?”

  I nodded, swallowing past the lump in my throat. If I had the disease, there was no way of telling if I’d be going back to university. “So where are we going?”

  “To an island,” she said, her eyes glinting with strange excitement. “Someone’s been dying to meet you.”

  Chapter 4

  “Did you say goodbye to your friends?” My dad strolled over to me and leaned on the rail, the wind ruffling his blond hair.

  “No. I couldn’t do it.” My eyes prickled with tears, so I focused on the vast sea and the barely visible contours of the city that we were leaving behind. In less than an hour, the ferry would take us to Roivenna, an island where magic disease carriers could live in peace without fearing they’d accidentally kill someone. “I couldn’t tell them that they might not see me again.”

  “Honey...” His eyes filled with concern as he placed his hand on my shoulder. “This is not the end of the world. You’ll see them again and you’ll go back to university. I promise.”

  “So who are these mysterious people Mom insists can help me?” My mom had a lot of friends, both scientists and carriers, so I couldn’t understand why she was dragging me all the way to some island instead of taking me to a lab. It wasn’t like they’d do anything to me she didn’t want them to.

  “Old friends.” A small smile spread his lips. “They’re both element preservers.”

  “Element preservers?” I arched an eyebrow at him. “But if they’re element preservers and can keep an element despite the disease, shouldn’t they be better at controlling themselves? I thought the island is only for those who are a danger to elementals.” And if they were out of control, how could they possibly help me? It didn’t make sense.

  “One of them lost her elements and she couldn’t control herself. Her own element came back later, but she’s safer on the island.”

  “I didn’t know that was possible,” I frowned. “How did she even lose her elements?” It took a whole lot of effort to drain elements so badly that they became unusable or disappeared completely.

  “She drained herself during one of the fights with the government. That was back at the time when the government tried to exterminate magic disease carriers and those with weak elements.” A shadow flashed through my father’s eyes and he licked his lips. “You have to remember one thing, though. We’re going to Roivenna to have fun and get away from the city. For all we know, this thing with your extra element is only temporary and you’ll get in control soon.”

  I doubted a simple vacation would fix whatever was wrong with me, but I wasn’t an expert. “Yeah, that would be awesome. I’d hate to burn down our hosts’ house.” I glanced at the silver bracelet on my wrist, glad that my second element, or whatever it was, didn’t try to push its way out of my body again. Elementals without protection weren’t allowed on the ferry and on the island, and if someone took off the element-blocking jewelry, they’d face a life in prison, provided they survived long enough to be arrested. Carries who couldn’t control themselves were pretty good at tracking down and killing unprotected elementals.

  “Hey, you won’t hurt anyone.” My dad’s determined eyes met mine. “But don’t take off the bracelet in public and don’t mention anything about your new element. Got it?”

  “Okay,” I drawled. “I don’t know why you’re telling me this now. I could have told my friends everything already. Unless you think a carrier could overhear me and try to get both of my elements.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t tell them. But yeah, it’s better if you don’t mention anything around the others. You don’t know who might be listening.”

  “Umm, right.” I definitely didn’t want to get killed because I was talking too much. “What about Mom’s friends? Can we trust them?”

  He nodded. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’m sure no one will try to hurt you, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

  “Why can’t I just take off my bracelet and pretend I’m a carrier? You can no longer feel my element, so I bet other carriers won’t be able to sense me either.” I bit the inside of my cheek. Technically, I might not have to pretend that I was a carrier. Maybe I actually was one. Damn. It would take me some time to get used to that idea.

  “Keep the bracelet. We don’t know if you really have the disease. What if whatever you have passes and you end up a target for thousands of carriers?” He gave me a pointed look.

  “Right.” I looked at my feet, tapping the floor with my black sneaker.

  “I’ll go see if your mother needs help.” My dad flashed me a smile. I watched him as he strode to the other end of the ferry, wondering if my mom was still going through a bunch of papers that were supposed to give her the answer to what was wrong with me. A shadow at the edge of my vision caught my attention and I turned toward it.

  For a second, I thought something shimmered in the air, but I couldn’t see anything. Taking a deep breath, I sat on the floor and tucked my legs underneath me. Roivenna was a beautiful island with dozens of long sandy beaches and breathtaking cliffs. Maybe I’d enjoy my stay there.

  “I can’t believe you’re here! It’s been so long.” A dark-haired woman with vivid brown eyes pulled my mom into a tight hug.

  “Too long,” my mom said through tears. My dad extended his hand to a man who had short black hair and light blue or gray eyes.

  “Ryan,” the man said to my dad. “Nice to see you again.”

  My mom pulled back and glanced at me. “Moira, come here. I want you to meet one of my very dear friends, Ria.”

  “Hi, Moira. Nice to finally meet you.” Ria stepped forward and put her arms around me. “Welcome to Roivenna.”

  “Thanks. Nice to meet you too.” I awkwardly hugged her back.

  “This is Adrian,” my mom said, and the black-haired man waved at me, flashing me a wide grin. I gave him a brief nod.

  “The house looks... different,” my mom said, her face radiant. I raised my eyes to look at the house that was half-hidden in the pine trees. Calling it a house was an understatement since it was big enough to look like a small apartment building. Were Adrian and Ria the only ones living in this mansion? I couldn’t imagine why they needed so much space.

  “Yeah, we renovated it recently. Painted the façade blue and changed the windows,” Ria said, intertwining her fingers with Adrian’s.

  “Looks like one of those modern homes from magazines. Are you sure you live there?” my dad chuckled. “Or is the whole thing just a prop and the real house is hiding beneath it?”

  “All real,” Adrian laughed.

  “I’m not jealous. Not at all.” My dad shrugged, his blue eyes glowing with unidentifiable emotion. “Unless that car from the photo you sent me is real too. Then I’ll be very jealous.”

  Adrian shot him a teasing look. “What do you think?”

  My dad gaped at him. “No!”

  “Oh, yes.” Adrian looked smug. “Let me show you.”

  “Lead the way!” My father clapped his hands together and followed Adrian across the grass that led to a separate block of the house.

  “Adrian! Can you guys not stomp all over the grass?” Ria put her hand on her hip, an annoyed expression on her face. Adrian turned around long enough to blow her a kiss and grin at her. She rolled her eyes at him.

  “Let the boys play with their toys,” my mom said, looking at Ria. “We have a lot to talk about anyway.”

  “Yeah. I still can’t believe you’re here.” Ria’s dark brown eyes softened and the corners of her lips quirked up. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

  As my mom and Ria started to climb the stairs that led to the house, I stopped to look at the pine trees on my left. I could swear something shimmered between the branches, simil
ar to what I’d seen on the ferry. Squinting my eyes, I tried to find the source of the shimmering.

  “Moira!”

  I looked in the direction of the house and saw my mom waving at me from the doorstep. “Coming!” I yelled, glancing once again at the trees. A dark figure peeked from behind one of the trees and I yelped. He tilted his head and moved back behind the thick trunk.

  “Moira! What’s wrong?” my mom yelled.

  “Someone is here!” I said, rooted to the spot, trying to see the mysterious man again. Why would anyone hide in the trees?

  “Go inside! Now!” Ria opened the door wide and ran toward me. My mom stayed at the door with no intention of moving, a perplexed look on her face.

  “Someone is hiding behind that tree.” I pointed my finger at it.

  “No one is supposed to be here. This is a private property.” Ria went down on one knee, rolling up her pant leg and revealing a gun. “You should go inside with your mom.”

  “Whoa.” I stepped back, eyeing the gun. My mom might trust this woman, but who the hell draws out a gun just because a person might be hiding in the trees? Obviously someone who led a dangerous life. “Are you sure it’s not one of your friends? A neighbor?” What I’d seen might be nothing. I didn’t want Ria to accidentally shoot someone because of me.

  “Please go inside.” Ria went closer to the trees, her gun trained in front of her. A branch snapped somewhere and she charged forward, weaving through the trees. My pulse sped up, but I refused to move. I could see Ria from where I stood and I had a chance to warn her if someone tried to sneak up on her.

  Something brushed against my cheek, raising goose bumps all over my body. The air in front of me seemed to shift, which didn’t make sense whatsoever. But it was as if I were watching the world through a slightly concave glass.

  “Moira,” a thin voice whispered into my ear, making me jump. I looked around, wide-eyed, but didn’t see anyone except for my mom, who was coming toward me, her face serious.

  “It’s safe!” Ria yelled as she approached us, lowering the gun. “Whoever it was, he must have gotten away.”