EarthBorn (The Elemental Born Book 1)

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Published by E.M. Reders

Copyright©2016 by E.M Reders

This is a work of fiction

All characters appearing in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

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The Elementals Born

~

EarthBorn

By E.M Reders

Chapter One

~

Kaia

“Kaia, get your ass out of bed this instant,” my mother shouted, her voice echoing through the house from the kitchen. I didn’t want to get up. I wanted to stay in this bed for the rest of my short life, hidden away from the world, from all the danger that lurked out there. But that wasn’t going to happen, not when I knew she would be up here in a matter of minutes to drag me out if I didn’t make an appearance soon. “Now!”

God! Couldn’t she just let me wallow in my own self-pity for one more minute? Didn’t I deserve at least that? It wasn’t as if my life was easy.

I was an Elemental, one of four very powerful witches that had the very rare ability to control one of the four elements. I’m Earth. I had powers that you would normally associate someone like me to have. Gifts over the trees, plants, flowers and so on, but there was more. I also had the power to control the actual earth itself. Create earthquakes, volcanoes, and many more cool things.

Well, at least, that’s what I’d been told I would be able to do when I gained my full powers… which will never happen.
No witch is truly granted their full powers until they find their soulmate, their protector. On a witch’s twenty-fifth birthday they are allowed to cast a spell to find their soulmate. Well, tomorrow was my birthday, but I wasn’t turning twenty-five, I was turning twenty-one.

No Elemental had lived to reach the age of twenty-five since the original four were killed by the demon Abaddon. Since that day he has hunted us to stop a prophecy said to foretell his death from being fulfilled. Because of that, the Crones, the current leaders of our race, had decided that each Elemental would perform the ritual early. They hoped that this way we could find and bond with our soulmates, protectors, before the demon came for us.

Well, that was all great for them, but I didn’t want to spend what was left of my life tied to a man. The worst thing was all the local supernatural groups were going to be there, hoping that one of them would be chosen.  And if rumours were true, even some of the Gentry were coming to our dimension for the ritual. Because of my supposed future powers, everyone seemed to be invited.

The local wolf pack was coming too, unfortunately. I was sure all the other packs were willingly travelling all the miles to get there, but I was in no doubt that the elders of the local pack would have to practically drag their mangy, young mutts to the ritual. I had gone to school with most of them until I was sent away to learn my craft with one of the old Crones, Grace, and home-schooled for the last few years of my education. They all hated me and I wasn’t too fond of them… well, most of them, anyway.

To be honest, the younger generation of the pack and my coven had never really gotten along. I still couldn’t believe that they were actually coming. It wouldn’t be one of them that were picked; there was no way in hell that one of them would be my perfect partner, the one to make me stronger.

No fucking way!

There were two things I was dreading about the ritual. The first was actually casting the spell. A shiver ran through me every time I thought about it. You see, the thing about a spell of that power, and most spells of that nature come to think of it, was that it had to be performed naked. How embarrassing. Believe me, I'm not ashamed of my body, but having to stand there in front of all those people, people I knew, naked! Well, it terrified me.

I was hoping that I might be able to talk the coven into letting me wear a robe of some sort. I mean, this was usually performed at a much older age, by what my mother would call more mature, experienced witches. I mean, come on, I was still a virgin for crying out loud. I didn’t want everyone seeing what I had never even shared with another before.

The other thing I was dreading was that a certain wolf from my past would more than likely be there. I just hoped that in the years since I had left, he had found his truemate and not have to come.

Dragging myself out of bed, my clothes all wrinkled from the night before, I headed downstairs to face the troll that I called my mother.

I know you are probably wondering why I was wearing yesterday’s clothes to bed? Well, it’s a simple case of too much fun with the girls celebrating my birthday, and a very large bottle of Sambuca.

“I’m up, happy now?” I moaned, stumbling into the kitchen and collapsing into the nearest chair. My mother was stood in her usual spot by the sink, staring out the window. At what I had no idea, but there must be something out there that she liked to look at, as she always seemed to be glaring at something.

We looked so similar that it was plainly obvious that we were mother and daughter, from the back at least. Same slim figure with small curves. Same shoulder length auburn hair. Same face – minus the wrinkles in my case. But it was at the eyes where the similarities ended.

While my mother had stormy grey eyes, mine were green. But not your normal green. Oh no, heaven forbid that my eyes be normal, so I could pass by as a normal person. No, the only way I could describe my eyes would be to call them a dark leafy green. For years, I had hidden them behind sunglasses, or in later years, coloured contacts. When I had gone to train with Grace, she had put up with it for the first year before she demanded I stop hiding them and accept that they were a part of me.   

“Happy that my only daughter was so drunk last night that she couldn’t grasp the door handle, never mind place the key in the lock. What would have happened if you were attacked? You were in no state to protect yourself! You made yourself vulnerable! Again! You girls really have no idea what is out there in the dark.”

“Are you kidding me?” I snapped, wincing at the volume of my shout. Quietening it down a little, I continued, but the venom in my voice stayed. “Mum, I have spent the last five years studying nothing but the paranormal world. What’s out there. How to fight them. There is not one thing I do not know about in this world, or any other for that matter. Tomorrow is my birthday, more than likely the very last one I will have. So I'm sorry that I upset you by deciding for one night to forget the terrible fate that is looming over my head and has been my whole life, and live for once.”

This was an argument we had had many times over the years since I had realised what my powers meant and that my life would be cut short in not so many years.

“The ritual will change that. Your protector will be able to save you from danger.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Mother. I on the other hand, will continue as if the rules have not changed and live every second I have left as I want to. Happy,”
(if that was at all possible),
“and having fun with my friends.” 

Grabbing a cereal bar out of the cupboard, I fled, putting an end to the argument, but knowing that it was only a matter of time until it started up again.

Grabbing my phone,I called Dyanna, my best friend
.
Dyanna was Grace’s great, great, great, great granddaughter. Before I had left for my training, I had been on a one-way path to destruction. Dyanna had really helped put me back on the straight and narrow. Believe me, we were no saints and still got into plenty of trouble, but I was in a much better place now than I had been back then.

Dyanna had been in an even worst state than me the night before, so there was a chance that she wouldn’t even be up yet. But I needed to get out of this house before things took a turn for the worst with my mother. It took a few tries but eventually she picked up the phone. “What?” she croaked.

“Shit, you sound ruff as fuck.”

“Of course I do. I drank a full bottle of Sambuca almost by myself while you lightweights got pissed on just a few mangy shots.”

“So not true and you know it. I had almost the same amount as you.”

“Keep telling yourself that. Anyways what do you want? I was having the best dream and you interrupted it.”

“Really? What was it about?”

“Wolves. Hot, sexy as fuck wolves.”

“Wolves are not sexy. They’re flea-bitten mutts.”

“Well, the ones in my head aren’t. Anyway, what’s up?”

Sighing, I explained. “I need to get out of here for a while. Any chance I can come crash at yours tonight before the ritual tomorrow?”

“Of course. I think Grace was expecting you, anyway. She started cleaning out your old bedroom last night and hasn’t stopped organising it since.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me, she knows everything.”

“Tell me about it. When I stumbled in this morning, she was stood waiting on the other side of the door, mop and bucket in hand.”

“A mop and bucket?”

“Yeah. The moment I made it through the door, I puked up all over the floor. She made me clean up the whole lot and finish my daily chores before she would allow me to head up to bed. She’s so cruel.” 

We finished up our phone call and I quickly packed a bag for the night, remembering to pack my small bag of potions that I carried everywhere in case of emergencies, before heading back downstairs to tell my mother that I was staying with Grace for the night. Unsurprisingly she had no problems with me staying with Grace. I did tell a little white lie though and tell her that I was staying there so we could go over the ritual again. That was something we really should have gone over before now, but I had been putting it off, not wanting to talk about something I really didn’t want to do. And it was something we would be doing… but not the only thing.

Slinging my stuff into the back of my car, I set off on the two hour journey to Grace’s cottage. My friends could just use magic to get there, but I couldn’t. I had to be careful about everything I did with magic, in case the demon was searching for me. Sometimes it really sucked to be the powerful one.

Chapter Two

~

Ethan

I’d known she wouldn't take it well. The news that all unmated males of age were required to be present at some damn Wiccan ritual hadn't exactly gone down well with me either. But the Alpha had decreed it, and I was unable to go against his orders. And even if I could deny him, it was a little more complicated for me as our pack Alpha also happened to be my father.

As soon as he had called a pack meeting and informed us, I’d known Chelsea was going to freak out on me the moment she got me alone. For that exact reason, I had been avoiding her, trying my best not to be caught alone, but in the end, she’d managed to corner me. I knew I should have waited until everyone was at breakfast before I left my room. Didn't think anyone would be up this early after last night's full moon hunt.

"Why do you need to be there?” Chelsea snapped, stomping her feet like a child. “I mean, yes, technically you’re not mated, but we’ve been together for two years. Two years! And it's as if that means nothing!"

That's because it did mean nothing. We had been fooling around for years but had never made it official, or been exclusive. She wasn't my truemate. I knew it. She knew it. Though to be honest, I think she thought that if she acted like it, wished for it hard and long enough, it would somehow come true. Well, sorry, but that wasn't going to happen.

"I'm still classed as an unmated male, so I have to be there.” Opening her mouth to continue her rant, I cut her off. “Hey, I don't really want to go. I couldn't give a damn about those witches, but the Alpha says I have to be there. You know I can't disobey his orders."

"But maybe if you spoke to him, informed him that we intended to mate, then..."

"Wow, hold on there. We have never once spoken of mating. And you know full well that that is never going to happen. I'm the future Alpha of this pack, and any mate I take would have to be an Alpha too. There is also the fact that I will mate with no one but my truemate, and we both know you are neither of the two."

Her eyes flashed with anger, her wolf coming to the surface before she got it back under control and schooled her features. "Then what's the point in you going to this ritual? No witch is ever going to be powerful enough to be Alpha female. "

"Because I have been ordered to, that's why. Now, I'm sorry, but I have to go. My father has asked me to select a gift for the witch, if in fact I am selected to be her protector. All the males are doing so," I added quickly before she could comment further.

Leaving her stood there, I continued on my way to the vault to find a gift, though I hadn’t the slightest idea what I would find down there.

~

It had been years since I’d been down here. The pack vault was located on the lowest floor of the grand 15
th
-century manor we called our home, three floors below ground level. It was more a vast maze of rooms and alcoves filled with different treasures and documents from the past than an actual vault, but it served its purpose. Everything the pack owned, but no longer had an active use for, was stored down here.

Pushing through the large, heavy, double doors into the vault, I was instantly hit by the strong smell of dust and mould. Isaac, the pack historian, was supposed to keep the place clean and organised, but obviously didn't.

Where was that old bastard anyway? He should be down here. 

Walking through room after room, I passed numerous objects that could have easily passed for a gift, but none of them really stood out, caught my eye. Turning left, I entered a small room filled with tables, each one covered with jewellery of different types. Tiaras, rings, brackets, necklaces and many more. I began scanning the contents of each table, picking up an item every now and again before discarding it.

Why was I being so picky? It’s not as I really cared about the gift. No witch would be my truemate. What did I care about which gift I chose? It was never going to be given to this bitch at the ritual, anyway.

Picking up yet another diamond bracelet, I contemplated just selecting that and giving up on my search. "You don't want that horrid thing, it's ugly." My head snapped in the direction of Isaac’s elderly voice as he entered the room.

Isaac was one of those people you could tell was a wolf just by looking at him. His hair was white, always a shocking mess upon his head. His fur sprouted from his face like whiskers, as if he couldn't quite keep the beast in check. From far away it looked like a beard, but if you got a closer look you could clearly see that his greying stubble was, in fact, the soft fur of his wolf. "You don't want to give that to your truemate. She needs something special, something unique."

"My truemate isn't going to be some damn witch," I informed him, his brow rising at my words.

"Oh really. Well, we'll just see about that now, won't we?" A strange smile spread upon his face as he turned to leave. "Try the table in the back left corner. Something there might catch your eye."

That guy is so weird.

Moving over to the table he had suggested, though I have no idea why, I looked over its contents. It was full of gold jewellery, gems of all colours shined and sparkled in the little light there was in the room. At first nothing seemed to pop out at me, it all just looked like junk. But what did that matter? It wasn’t like this witch was actually going to get this gift. She wasn’t going to be my mate. In the centre of the table was a gold cuff with small rubies and diamonds embedded in it. That seemed as good as any. Picking it up, my eyes widened as the beautiful gem beneath it was revealed. It was the most amazing colour of green I had ever seen in my life. It reminded me of the leaf of a rose. So dark, but when the sun shone through it in just the right way, it was breathtaking.

Kind of like Kaia’s eyes.

Wow! Where the hell had that thought come from?

Kaia was a member of the local Coven. Once, a very long time ago, I had even considered her a friend. Until she came more into her powers and completely changed, that is. She went from being sweet, kind and loving, to being vindictive, mean and just plain nasty. Basically the complete opposite to what she had been. 

Instantly I put the cuff down and gently picked up the green gem. It was a necklace. As I lifted up the gem, it was followed by a delicate gold chain. It was so fine I was surprised that such a small, thin chain could hold a gem of that size without snapping. And what was it? An emerald? I would have to ask Isaac more about it, if I could find him in this maze.

The loud bang of the main doors to the vault slamming against the walls as someone entered snapped me out of my wandering. Quickly placing the necklace in my pocket, I headed back through the rooms towards the mumbling of voices growing ever louder. I knew who the voices belonged to; even without my heightened hearing, I would have recognised the mumblings of my best friends, Freddie and Zak.   

"Yo, dude, what you doing down here?"

"Just been picking out my stupid gift,” I informed them. “Take it you guys are here to do the same."

"Yeah, Alpha sent us down here to pick one before class."

Freddie and Zak had never been very good at school, but through some miracle had made it into college, for a while. Not that they weren’t smart or anything, they just had a bit of a problem turning up, and because of that, they’d flunked out after only a few months. Now they were home schooled. Well, kind of. My father would assign them a different tutor every month to teach them some kind of skill in a hope that they would be good at something and he would find a use for them.

"So what's on the schedule this month?"

"Roofing," Zak informed me, glaring at Frankie.

"Those guys are really going to let you loose up on the roof?"

A few weeks ago, Frankie had sneaked up on the roof with one of the local girls that frequently hung around us hoping to get in bed with a big bad wolf, and, god knows how, ended up butt naked hanging from the ledge, sending a load of broken tiles falling to the floor. So technically, he was the reason the roof needed repairing in the first place.

"What can I say, guess it's my experience with the place," he smirked. "Anyway, what did you pick? Anything good?"

"Nothing. I'll just grab something later to keep the old man quiet," I lied, my hand moving protectively to my pocket. I don't know why, but I really didn't want to show anyone what I had picked.

Would they recognise the colour as being the same as Kaia's eyes? No one had ever suspected my feelings for Kaia. She was a year younger than me and it wasn’t as if we were ever seen together or ran on the same circles, but before she changed we use to talk a lot.

Being future Alpha, even from a young age, a lot of things were expected of me. Sometimes it got too much and I needed to get away. I would walk through the woods behind the packhouse and sneak up to the caves hidden out there. Not many people knew about them, or at least, I had thought they hadn't. One night when I was twelve, I turned up to find a girl with auburn hair sat crying at the back of one of the caves.

"You okay?" I had asked as I walked to the back of the cave where she was sat huddled on a rock.

"I’m lost," she sniffed.

"Easily done if you don't know the woods. I can help you find your way home, if you want?"

"Really?" she’d asked brightly, turning to look at me for the first time.

I remember the shock that had run through me upon seeing her eyes for the first time that day, and a few other times she taken me by surprise in the months after. I had never seen eyes so green – so beautiful – before in my life.

I had taken her back through the woods towards her coven’s land, leaving her at the edge of the trees when she could see her home. After that, she turned up at the caves often. We talked more and more and slowly became good friends. I cared for her, and it wasn’t just me, my wolf did too.

We didn't talk at school, we couldn't. I was a year older than her and couldn't be seen hanging with her, especially as she was a witch. Relations between my pack and the coven had been strained for generations, though god knows why. It wasn't as bad as it used to be, but it was still no way near to accepting me and Kaia being friends. Some of the girls in the pack teased her rotten and it took all of my control not to kill them for it. She understood that I had to keep my distance... or, at least, I’d thought she had.

Just after her thirteenth birthday, everything changed. She didn’t come to the caves anymore, stopped talking to me altogether, never giving me a reason as to why. She began getting into trouble at school, at home. The only thing positive that came out of the change was that she finally began standing up for herself with the pack, though she did tend to take things a little too far. Some of the tricks she pulled were just mean.

In the end, her behaviour got so bad that it wasn’t just me and the pack that disliked her, avoided her. So did the coven. In a matter of weeks, she seemed to lose all her friends. She became a loner, separated from everyone else. Then just after she turned fourteen, she up and left. I never knew why, but I will always remember the last thing she said to me. I had gone to the caves, not expecting her to be there. She hadn't in months. But when I arrived, there she was, glaring at a rock on the stone floor of the cave as if it had done something to offend her.

"Stupid fucking rock," she’d yelled, kicking it across the floor.

"What did it ever do to you?" I’d said, moving from the entrance towards her. At my words, her back had gone rigid and the stench of her anger had hit my nose.

Turning round, she’d moved her glare to me. "What do you want?" she’d snapped.

"Just coming out here to get a little peace and quiet. What are you doing here?"

She had opened her mouth to speak before snapping it shut. It was as if she wanted to say something but had decided against it. Moments later she’d gone on the offensive. "None of your business," she said, storming towards the entrance and barging past me.

As she’d stepped out into the light, she’d turned, her hair glowing in the evening sun, her eyes swirling a much darker green than I had ever seen before.  Looking me in the eyes for the first time in months, she’d spoken sadly, tears in her eyes. "Stay away from me, Ethan."

And I had. Not that it had exactly been hard with her moving away the very next day. And after the first year, I’d slowly started to think about her less and less. Now here I was, with her once again taking over my every thought.

God, I needed help
.

Or a distraction? I thought. Maybe heading up to Chelsea’s room and reassuring her that I wasn’t going anywhere would help me clear my head.

"Well, I'll see you guys later. Try not to damage the roof any more than you have already," I added, leaving my friends to search the mass of rooms for their gifts. 

I needed to get my head back in order before the ritual. Kaia was still part of the coven but she wouldn't be there tonight, thankfully. The only witches that would be present were the Crone and the bitch that had come off age. I still had no clue why my boys and I were being made to go. Usually, it was the older males of the pack, the ones around the same age as the witch. But never mind, I had been ordered to go and go I would.