The ride back with Vincent wasn't so bad. He was actually a descend person once you got through kicking his ass, I guess we are friends now.

"So are we friends."

He looks over at me, a bemused expression on his face. "I don't really like labels."

"Well if we are I was thinking you could help me practice every week...or however I don't really care." I sounded like an idiot.

"Every week is fine, friend." He chuckled making fun.

I punched him lightly on the arm. "Hey! Don't laugh you jerk." Okay so I didn't know how to do the whole friend thing. Remember I didn't grow up with friends, the one I had considered to be my friend was Lucifer. And he didn't talk, cuz he was a cat and cats can't talk.

"So why do you live so far out of town. I would think you would stay close to the circle."

I stayed silent for a few seconds not sure how to answer him. He didn't know about me and my family. He didn't know I was considered the freak of Fairhope. My gosh they were just questions why couldn't I answer them. "Well my mom likes her privacy and she likes things quiet around her. So she opted out of town to live out here, it's secluded and has all the privacy she needs." The land we owned was massive, so she grew her own herbs, vegetables, and some fruits. She had the golden thumb for gardening.

"Quiet sounds nice, I've never been around something like this in awhile. You guys are lucky." Yeah not so much.

"Yeah I guess." I muttered, looking out the window washing as trees and the long thick grass pass us by.

"You're not happy out here." He guessed my attitude quickly.

"It's not that...it's just...nothing." How could tell someone like him I was an outcast, the loser of the town. The one everyone laughed at because she and her family were a little different. Because when she was little her dad tried to....

I felt a hand squeeze mine gently, encouragingly, taking me from my thoughts. His large hand was covering mine as I looked over at him. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me."

"Thanks. So how come you live with Sister Savanna?" I asked ,trying to change the subject.

He laughed half heartedly. "Pass."

"What?"

"Pass. Whenever the other one doesn't want to be asked a question we say pass. It's easier that way."

I nodded my head. "Fine. Why do you think you got the element spirit?"

He thought it over before answering, I don't know if he knew he was doing it but he was tracing small circles on my hand. I didn't say anything about it because it was somewhat soothing to the both of us.

"Being a male witch was a surprise in a whole. When I turned thirteen no one thought anything of me but one day I was messing with my moms spellbook. I didn't know what I was doing at the time so when I read a spell about making it winter. I didn't expect the house to start snowing. My mother freaked and took me straight to The Sister's they said I was a warlock. My mother's wish came true of having a child with the gift. As for the spirit element I don't really know I was never fascinating with death when I was younger or the afterlife." I knew he was lying at least about the last part. When I was younger I cast a spell on me to show the truth of others. And now I know when people are lying and he was but I didn't call him on it. I wouldn't ask him about it yet.

"And you, why do you think you have two and a fire element it's one of the strongest next to spirit."

I didn't know at all. I was always sure I was going to get air like my mother or earth because I lived on the land most my life. Fire meant strength, I was far from someone who's strong willed.

"I don't know."

"So pass."

I laughed. "Yeah pass."

Our whole conversation was like that either you answered it or you passed. There was a lot of passing going on in this car neither one of us was comfortable talking about our childhood or our parents. When we finally arrived it was one o'clock in the afternoon my whole morning was gone because of my incident and now with Vincent. He didn't turn out like the guy I met at the time of the initiation. I honestly don't understand the change of heart. Still he was gorgeous and all that but he now considered me a friend. I hope it stayed that way.

When we finally arrived I asked him to come in and enjoy the silence around him. It was lunch time so my mom would be making something she picked out of her fall garden.

"Are you sure? I don't want to be a bother."

"No really come on."  I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door, he had let go of my hand sometime during the ride home. My hand had lingering tingles on it still.

Walking up the graveled drive I came to our side door. The whole house was made up of wood, the outside was built to look like a log cabin but the inside was beautifully decorated by my mother. Opening the door I called for my mom, when I heard nothing I urged Vincent to follow me. Looking at him glance around my house in awe was hilarious. He seemed so out of place in his leather jacket with a black shirt and jeans.

I found my mom in the backyard, she was carrying a basket of squash and her different assorted pumpkins. She should of been earth, she was made from dirt and mud I just know it. "Hey mom!" I called to her.

She stood searching for me. "Lana hey baby how did practice go with Fia."

"Just wonderful." I said sarcastically.

She hasn't seen Vincent yet so when she walks up and let's out a squelch I freak out too spinning around wildly. "What! It's just Vincent mom."

"Sorry Vincent I didn't recognize you right away." She giggled to herself.

"It's alright Ms. Childs."

"So how about some lunch," She walks back into the house, her floating basket following behind her. "I was thinking pie!"

We follow her inside the house, me embarrassed as ever at my mother and Vincent with a stupid grin on his face. "Your mom's amazing, don't freak out." He whispered in my ear. I wanted to shiver at his hot breath in my ear but held it in.

How he knew what I was feeling was weird but I felt myself feel better towards the situation. "Thank you."

"So pumpkin pie sound good." She poked her head around the corner.

"With vanilla ice cream." I pointed at her.

"You read my mind." She whisked back into the kitchen whipping up her pie. I shook my head she was unbelievable. "Come on, we can sit in the dining room."

He followed close beside me, glancing down at me every once in awhile. Taking a seat first, I chose the one facing the kitchen so I could easily see my mom. Vincent chose the one right next to me his leg brushing mine underneath the table.

My mother began talking, I thanked her silently dragging our attention to her instead of our legs brushing together. "Are you staying permanently in this town, Vincent."

He was shrugging off his jacket when he spoke. "Yeah I was thinking about it, I like the people here."

Stupid me, I peered up at him, he was looking down at me. Averting my gaze back to my mother I watched as she cut into a pumpkin. "That's sounds fantastic. You can come over whenever you want, you are always welcome."

"Thank you, Ms. Childs."

She whirls around pointing a knife at him. "Vincent that's what they call my grandmother please it's Caroline."

He raises his hands in mock surrender."Sorry, Caroline."

"How was training, Lana." She didn't stop did she.

"Not so great." I muttered. Playing with my nails, I needed to seriously repaint them.

"Why not?" She had stopped and was leaning against the counter, arms folded, knife gone thank the goddess.

"I couldn't control them, Savanna said that my elements are fighting for my attention when one isn't being used the other one gets stronger and vise versa." I didn't want to look at her, I was ashamed that I couldn't control my elements.

"But she's going to try and I'll help her." Vincent encouraged.

"That's great. Lana be nice to him he's the only friend you've had in awhile."

I banged my head on the table, at least twice before a chuckling Vincent stopped me. She just had too. "Thanks for that."

"For what, babe." She was so clueless when she did things like that.

I push the chair back, standing. "I'm going in the living room." I turned to Vincent. "Stay in here with her if you want."

Walking into the living room I hear her speak softly, "What did I do?" Then Vincent. "Nothing, I'm gonna go with her."

Turning on the television I flicked through the channels ignoring Vincent as he entered. I stopped when I saw the headline serial killer. Raising the volume I listened to the newscast woman.

"Another tragic death has occurred today outside of a small town in Alabama. Police say it is unrelated to the deaths in Georgia and Florida. Our reporter says otherwise to you Paul."

"Lana what are you wat-" I shush him not wanting to miss anything.

"Thank you Janice. I am here today reporting live the tragic death of a young woman. A local hiker found the woman bound to a tree when he discovered her she was already dead when he called the police. The same repeated symbols were painting on to the woman's body. Police say it is unrelated to the previous deaths and call it copy cat murders. The family of the young woman speak a different story."

A woman in tears appears on screen. "My poor baby was murdered by a psychopath killer. Justice must be served for my baby's death. To say she was not part of a serial killer's rampage is not justified at all. My baby deserves better than this she deserves bet........."

She is pulled away from the camera by an elderly man and the reporter comes back on.

"It's a sad and tragic time here in Alabama and we give our dear condolences to the families of this wrongful doing. Back to you Janice."

"Thank you Paul. Yes it is very tragic indeed. Further updates on the story will continue after these few breaks."

"Damn police are full of shit. Who is on this case anyway, how could they not be related was he deaf, dumb, and blind or what."

"Lana, how long have you been studying up on these cases." Vincent asks me.

I had honestly forgot he was here. "Sorry I had a moment right there didn't I. Well just two days but it's really interesting and the symbols I feel like I've seen them somewhere and I can't place them."

"What symbols are you talking about, the ones on the woman's body?"

"Yeah, they were so detailed and unlike anything I've ever seen. I tried searching for them on the internet but came up with nothing."

"Did you try asking the book keeper?"

Why didn't I think of that, I only wanted to see him about my elements but he could know something about these symbols too. "I was actually planning on seeing him soon anyway it would be a great time to a

show him."

"What was your intentions of seeing in the first place?" He seemed curious enough, his eyebrows were knitted together, hands together in front of him, leaning forward towards me as if I was being interrogated.

"Oh no reason, Lucifer my cat has this weird symbol on his forehead, I wanted to place it somewhere." I lied easily. I don't know why he made me lie as if for a second I couldn't trust him.

He sat back, believing my ridiculous story. "Cool. Can I go with you when you see him?" Or maybe he didn't believe me, damn.

"Sure , why not?" I smiled encouragingly. If I didn't let him go, he would really think something was up.

"How about tomorrow after training I can drive you?" I would have to be alone with him again.

I nodded my head, humming my answer. For some reason in the pit of my stomach I was getting this feeling of not to trust Vincent. The whole car ride here I had no problem with him and now it's like a red flag is being waved over him, saying don't go. I need to know why.

"Pie is almost done!" My mom screams from the kitchen.

"Good, I'm starving."

"Yeah, me too." He was staring at me, an expression I couldn't place.

Standing abruptly I walked into the kitchen, getting out small plates and forks. I was trying to reach a container for the leftover pie when an arm reached from behind me retrieving it for me. I knew who it was his chest was pressed to my back his lips to my ear.

"I've got it."

I wanted to turn my head to his voice to feel his mouth at my skin. But the flashes came, red hot flashes across my vision. I pushed him away from me, crying out in pain. I couldn't see as they blinded me, I knew I fell when my hands touched the wooden floor, no one helped me up as I screamed on the floor in pain. It was if my skin was burning from the inside out, slowly spreading throughout my body with no mercy.

My head smacked onto the ground my limbs not wanting to support me.

"LANA!" I don't dare answer the voice afraid of what screams will come out next. I know I'm crying but what amazes me is the sizzling I hear as they escape my eyes and move down, as if they were burning away.

"Don't touch her, she'll hurt you." Vincent, I would never hurt my mother you asshole.

"She's on fire. Why is she like this, oh my baby."

On fire that's why everything hurt, was my element turning against me. I let out another blood curdling scream as pain racked my body.

Then the darkness came.

She came.

"Leave all of you!”

"Who are you?"

She doesn't answer him, she only doesn't answer him, she only let's me go.

To sleep.

The memories remaining.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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-Ash
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