¤Sang¤

Galena, IL- 1923

"You freak! I want you out of this house! You're nothing but a little whore just like your mother! I won't have you corrupting my child with your wicked ways! Get out!"

These are the last words I hear as my step mother throws me out of our house in Illinois by my hair in the middle of the night. My skin glowing an iridescent turquoise as tears stream down my face.

It's 12:02am on the night of my 18th birthday, and I have no idea what's happening to me.

What am I going to do?

Emotionally overwhelmed, I go to the only place that has ever brought me solace, the woods behind my house. Or, old house, I should say. A couple hours, and a few hundred yards into the woods later, I'm sitting in one of the tallest trees, crying my eyes out, when I hear a voice call out to me.

"Little bird? Won't you come down?"

Looking down from my perch, I see a man, maybe a little older than me, standing by my tree with glowing yellow eyes.

"Wh-wh-who a-are you?" I stutter through my sobs.

"I'm someone who can help you little one. Please come down, we wolves aren't very fond of high places."

"W-w-wolves?"

"Yes child. And if you let me, I can help you."

"How? Do you know what I am?"

"Yes, Sang, I do. You, my dear girl, are very special, and very rare."

"What am I?"

"You're fae, my child. One of the last of your kind."

¤Owen¤

Mount Pleasant, SC-2004

"You will go home, go to sleep, and you will remember nothing of this encounter."

"I will remember nothing of this encounter," he repeats.

"Good, now, off you go."

I'm dusting off my hands, and watching my latest snack walk back down the alley of one of the poorer neighborhoods in Mount Pleasant that I frequent for my meals, when I see two men start to enter when my meal leaves. The closer they came, the more I could detect the distinct scent of wolf. My fangs lower in defense as I crouch slightly, readying myself for an attack.

"Mr. Owen Blackbourne?" The man on the left says, the wolf.

From his companion's lack of a distinct scent, I'm going to go out on a limb and say we're of the same kind.

They step into the light of the lamppost, illuminating their features. The wolf is an older man with greying hair and a rather calm face. His companion seems to be around my age, but with our...abilities, that could just be an illusion. He has sandy blonde hair that's full of bouncy curls, bright green eyes, and a pleasant smile on his face.

"I thought you'd be more open to my proposition if I had someone of your kind with me," the wolf continues.

"Who are you?" I ask, my eyes narrowing slightly.

"My name is Dr. Phillip Roberts, and this is my colleague Dr. Sean Green.

"Why are you here?"

"We're here to offer you our assistance. A place where you can blend more easily."

"I don't need your assistance," I say with a sneer, raising from my defensive position.

"Oh, it would appear that you do," Sean speaks up for the first time. His voice as bouncy as his hair. "The police have been getting quite the number of calls lately. People experiencing blackouts after coming around this area. It's only a matter of time before they stumble upon you."

"My methods are fine," I respond. "They won't find me."

"They are ok, for a newborn," Sean smirks. "Come with us and they can be better. We can show you a world that you've never thought possible."

"Really?" I ask skeptically. "And what is this fabulous world you speak of?"

"The Academy."

¤Victor¤

Charleston, SC-2008

"Hey, Kota? Man, do you really need to do these shows every week?" I ask Kota as I help him set up in the Sci-Fi section of Barnes and Nobles.

"Come on, Victor," he says to me. "You know you love seeing their reactions."

Kota likes to do these little magic shows for his nerdy friends like he's David Blaine or something. Personally, I think it's a gross misuse of his powers, but he did help me out with my parents last year when they refused to tell me what was going on with me. My mom claiming that she had no knowledge of witches and warlocks, when Kota's mom explained to me that our powers are mainly maternal. She looked me right in the eyes and lied to my face.

I've been staying at an apartment in Summerville with Kota ever since. I only come to these shows and help him out because he's my best friend and I don't want him getting into any trouble.

Once the show starts, he does a few tricks. Cards, low level levitation, mind reading made to look like he's just picking up body cues. Nothing too heavy. Once it's over and we're packing up, a couple familiar faces come through the crowd.

"Dr. Roberts, Erica. What are you guys doing here?"

"Hey, mom," Kota says as he goes to hug his mother. "What's going on?"

"Dakota, we need to talk," she tells him, frowning slightly.

"Uh oh, you only call him Dakota when it's serious. Is everything alright?" I ask her.

"Everything's fine, Victor. But you're right, this is serious," she tells me. "You two are being recruited."

"For what?" Kota asks her.

"A specialized sector in the Academy," Dr. Roberts answers. "We're calling it, Academy Underground."

¤Gabriel¤

Cooperstown, NY-2009

"Lucian Jacob Taylor! Stop playing around in the fucking fountain!" I call out to my best friend. "We'll get taken in if you keep this shit up! I'm too handsome for fucking jail, Luke! I refuse to be someone's bitch!"

"Gabe relax," he chuckles. "We're not going to get caught."

"Yeah, that's what you said last time," I grumble.

I love my best friend and all, but his affinity for fucking water tends to get in the way. Why couldn't his affinity be for the earth? Like me! Put me in the middle of the fucking woods and I'm at peace; although, grass stains are a pain in the ass to get out of my clothes. But Luke? He's just gotta be near the fucking water. Doesn't help that his uncle has him living in the middle of the fucking woods while they're fixing up that damn house. He's not near any water source out there, so whenever he comes to town to see me he ends up in a fucking fountain. Or a lake. Or some rando's pool. It's insane!

Fucking water nymphs. I just had to be best friends with a water nymph.

Luke's mom was a water nymph, or at least that's what Uncle told us. She had to be a water nymph since our powers are mainly maternal. Luke's mom died in childbirth, or at least that's what his dad told Uncle when he dropped Luke off as a baby. Uncle's a wood nymph like me, was able to walk us through the process. He wasn't even sure if Luke would manifest any powers since they don't show until you've reached adulthood. We didn't know anything until our eighteenth birthday, then BAM! Congratulations, you're no longer human. Not that you were ever really human to begin with. What a fucking joke.

I didn't know what the hell was happening to me. Uncle had to explain it all. All my biological family members are dead. First my bastard drunk of a father gets into a car crash, killing my mom and my little brother. Then a few years later, the guy still didn't learn not to get behind the wheel while drunk and wrapped his car around a lamp post, leaving me with his coo coo for coco puffs wife. Pam's not so bad, but she has shit taste in men and booze. At least she's not stupid enough to get behind the wheel during one of her benders.

I moved out here with Luke and Uncle after the "transformation" happened. Pam was ok with it. Said I'd be in good hands.

Now I get to deal with Luke being all hippy with water fountains. After we got here, I told Uncle that he didn't have to have me under his roof too. I got a nice loft space in town where I have free reign to do whatever the fuck I want. Being able to pay my own bills with my consultant job isn't too bad either.

Yeah, we're doing ok out here. Well, except for when Luke goes and does stupid shit like this.

"Luke!" I call him again. "Get out of the fucking fountain!"

"You should listen to your friend, son."

I glance to the left and see Uncle standing with a guy around his age, except with less grey, and more hair on his head.

"Get out of that fountain, boy, before you catch something!" Uncle shouts at Luke.

Oh sure, now he listens.

I roll my eyes at my best friend and hand him the towel I always carry with me for times like this.

"What's up, Uncle? Who's this?" Luke asks as we all gather around a few feet from the fountain.

"This is an old friend of mine, Doctor Phil Roberts. He'd like to talk to you boys about something."

"Oh yeah?" I ask. "What's that?"

"How would you boys like to do some good in the world?" Dr. Roberts asks us.

Luke and I share a look before looking back to the adults in front of us.

"We're listening."

¤North¤

Sanatori, Greece-2010

(All spoken in Greek)

"All I'm saying brother, is that you should talk to him," Si tells me for the fifth time in as many days. "He's your brother, and he wants to know you."

"You're my brother," I tell him. "Not some American I've never even heard of before last year. Just because he's my father's biological son, doesn't mean we're family."

I pick up the drink in front of me, and take a long chug.

Si decided I needed a guy's night out after my so called brother's latest attempt to get me to the states. I don't even know the guy. All I know is his name and what he looks like from the picture he sent me with his first letter.

He says his name is Lucian, although he prefers to go by Luke. His brown eyes are bright and happy in the picture he sent, matching the blonde hair and goofy grin perfectly. His eyes match my shit dad's perfectly. The only thing I got from the bastard was my scowly disposition. Everything else I got from my mom, and maybe my bio dad. I wouldn't know. John Taylor is the only father I've ever known, or knew.

Luke's first letter explained how John had returned to the states a year ago on his deathbed. In a last-minute dying confession, John told Luke about me, and where he could probably find me. That surprised me since I hadn't seen or heard from him since my 18th birthday a little over 3 years ago.

Part of my curse I guess.

Anyway, John told Luke how he married my mom while she was pregnant with me, and how she died a few years later. I always thought John stayed with me out of obligation for his late wife. He wasn't exactly father of the year, but I guess he raised me the best he could.

We moved to Greece when I was 10 and I've been here ever since. I met Silas shortly after the move and we've been best friends ever since. It got a little rough around his 18th birthday, but when I went through the same change on mine, we swore there'd be no more secrets between us.

That was also the day John popped back up and decided to share with me something my mom told him on her deathbed. Seems they were a lot alike that way. Making confessions while you're dying and leaving those still living to pick up the pieces.

I'm picking my cup up for another drink, when I'm shoved from behind, causing my beer to spill all over me. I slam my mug down on the bar and clench my fists as I feel the telltale sign of my eyes changing color.

Silas drops some money on the bar before grabbing my arm and dragging me off the stool and out of the bar, completely ignoring the scrawny guy who bumped into me who's apologizing profusely. We don't stop until he gets me inside of a dark alley where a growl rips through me.

I've never been as in control of my beast as Silas is. I don't have that much self-control.

"Try to calm down brother," Silas says to me. "Remember, deep breaths."

"Argg!" Another growl rips its way out.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance," a new voice says.

His accent needs work. Even though his Greek is flawless, I can easily tell he's American.

I snarl while turning my head towards the mouth of the alley. With my enhanced vision, I can clearly see two men standing there. One looks to be around mine and Silas's age, although I've learned that looks can be deceiving. The other is an older man with greying hair and mischievous eyes. As I take a deep breath, I determine that both are like us. Wolves.

"Nathan was a lot like you when I found him," The older man continues, gesturing to the younger man beside him. "Tell me, do you still feel the pull to change on a full moon?"

"No!" I growl out.

"Ah, good. Then you've been at this for a while. Must be your temper then. I see your friend is still perfectly in control. Is he older than you?"

"Only a few months," Silas answers, while I can only growl.

"Do as he says. Deep breaths should help."

A low growl escapes me as I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. Within minutes I feel as if I'm in control again. I push off the wall I'd been leaning on and open my eyes.

"Who are you?" I ask gruffly.

"Just a friend," the man responds. "We're here to help. How would you like to be one with your wolf? Working together instead of trying to overpower each other? I can help you. If you'll allow it."

I look towards Silas to see if he's buying what this guy is selling. He seems open to it.

We give each other a minuscule nod before looking back to the duo as I say, "Start talking."