"Hey, how did you do that earlier today?" Asks Mika as the stars slowly bloom in the black soil of the night.

      I sigh, and I shrug. Other than that, I say and do nothing.

      "Katy, lass, I know you don't want to, but you ought to talk at some point. Otherwise, and I hate to say this, you're a lost cause and we may be forced to leave or return you. And knowing Tristus, he might very well kill you." He states sadly.

      I try not to smile. Kill me? How could he kill me if I'm already dead? Unable to contain the giddy feeling inside me, I laugh devilishly.

      Confused, Mika asks, "Why are you laughing?"

      Catching myself, I say, "Why not?" Draining my bowl of stew, I walk over to my makeshift cot.

***

      "Mika, just give it up. If she doesn't want to talk, then she doesn't have to. Although I will admit, her mysterious air is... intriguing." I wake up in the middle of the night to hear Tristus speaking.

      "What, finally experiencing some emotions?" Jokes Mika. Although I can't actually see them, I imagine Tristus glaring at him.

      "Shh. She's probably awake, thanks to you, brother. You and your raucous voice."

      "Hey! At least I'm not all Sir Darkness, blessed by the elves to be a double elemental," Retorts Mika. I stifle a gasp.

      "Shh!!!" Tristus scolds. "No one's supposed to know that!!!!"

      "What? Don't want some random girl who probably doesn't even know what an elemental is to know you can control both shadows and water?"

      "Mika! Keep your mouth shut!!!" Tristus shouts.

      "At your command, O blessed elf-man." Mika teases. Tristus growls.

      Filled with wonder and ponderment, I drift back into my waking dreams that embrace me every night.

      A nightmare grips my mind and I try to wake but cannot.

      Fire flies from my fists as if it has a mind of its own. Mothers and their children scream and scramble to get away. The village's bravest men try to fight me off but to no avail.

      "Why are you doing this, Kataigida?! I am sure that whoever your parents are would disapprove." A man shouts at me, hoping to dispel my fiery rage.

     "Parents? I have not any parents to tell me what shall be right and what shall be wrong. Perhaps that is my undoing, O innocent villager." I retort cooly, releasing a new jet of flame.

    "Please, Katy, stop!!!" Cries a familiar voice. I turn to see a pleading look within Mika's eyes.

    "Why should I? How could the world not deserve what I have become?!" I ask desperately, hoping in my heart that whatever his arguments may be that they may persuade me to stop this treachery.

    "I have but one argument, Kataigida Vrochisdaughter." Says another voice. I turn to see Tristus' bright eyes gleaming cleverly.

    "And what be that, Tristus?" I ask in desperation.

    "That although I can plainly see that you enjoy this in some cruel way, deep down in the darkest recesses of your soul you understand that you are doing your entire family a great dishonor. Could you stop for whatever's left of your family?" He pleads, hitting me in the pit of my conscious.

    "Your logic has not wronged you Tristus, but-"

      "Kataigida, wake up!" Tristus shouts, shaking my shoulders vehemently. I gasp as I plunge back into reality and look into Tristus' concerned eyes.

      I look around and find us surrounded by a ring of fire. Wait... No.

      "Katy, you're... You're an elemental!" Exclaims Mika in awe.

      With a graceful flick of his wrist, Tristus guides water over to the ring of fire, about to put it out. I hold up my hand on impulse and the water stops in midair. Mika's eyes widen. Tristus provides me with a questioning look.

      "Let the fire be. I must be surrounded by who I am." I explain. Ignoring my command, Tristus extinguishes the fire.

      "You are more than fire, Kataigida. At least, you could be.... Look at me, Kataigida." I look into Tristus' eyes warily. "Do not think of anything but what you want to be; not what you are or once were."

      "But what if I want to be fire?"

      "Then you shall burn, Kataigida." Tristus says plainly.

      I eye my palm and conjure a small fire in the center. I curl my hand into a fist and extinguish the small light. "I shall not burn," I say more to myself than to Tristus.

     "Now that we know your full extent of power, I must train you until we reach someone of greater knowledge. Do you agree to accept me as your teacher, Kataigida Vrochisdaughter?" Tristus asks regally.

      "Ajhe, Tristus." Yes, Tristus. I dip my head slightly. Tristus dips his head in return.

      "Fai, Kataigida. We will discuss this in the morn. For now, rest, for we have a long day ahead of us."

     I awake amidst the darkest hours of dawn; even the birds are silent. The crackling of leaves down by the stream startle me fully awake. Glancing around, I see that the place which Tristus had lain was empty, leaving a thin imprint of his body in the soil. "Tristus?" I call, nearing the stream on cautious feet. My ears tingle as I sense a cold presence behind me. Slowly turning around, goosebumps coat my skin.

       About to call out, I realize no one will hear me and clamp down mine own jaw. A cold, cruel laugh resounds through the forest as black surrounds the edges of my vision and my lids grow heavy. "Please, no," I murmur just as I drift away.