I arrive at the shopping center drenched in sweat. This information better be worth the trip across the city.

Her questions start as soon as I arrive. She must be just as hot as I am.

"Do you believe in magic?" she asks, and I laugh.

Next I hear something that sounds like a chant, and some objects from inside the car start floating.  They come out of the car and fall to the ground.

I look from the car to the objects to Estel and back again. When I don't answer immediately, she starts chanting again. As she continues to chant, the bag on my shoulder comes flying off. I stare at my bag lying on the ground. Maybe I shouldn't doubt her claim about magic.

"Are you convinced?"

"I guess." I shrug, but maybe more out of habit than not believing her. Who wouldn't believe in things magical when they've seen what Estel just did?

"Your biological father was something we call a Protector."

Interrupting immediately, I ask, "Who's 'we'?"

She begins to tell me about a hidden island in the Atlantic Ocean created a little over 100 years ago.

"Okay, so my biological father was a witch?"

"Yes, he was a Spellcaster. His great-grandfather helped settle the island when it was created."

Nodding at her, she continues. "Your biological mother was something called an Elementalist. Her specialty was manipulating the earth element. She had two brothers, who were also Elementalists. Actually the Westlin family has a long history on Everling and most are Elementalists."

"So if my parents were these magical people, how come I'm not magical?"

"The short version is that before you were brought to the US, the Elders blocked your memories and your ability to use powers."

"Why would they do that?"

"Well, the magic is obvious, but you were four when your parents died, and you had potential for remembering them and remembering Everling. We couldn't risk bringing you here with memories of a hidden island. And before you ask, you were hidden because the rebellion wanted to kill all Protectors and their children. They succeeded in killing all the Protectors, sadly, but we hid the children until the rebellion could be pushed back and things settled."

"So, I'm not the only one?"

"No, there are four more in the States. Two of which are your cousins. And no it was too risky to have you adopted together. A girl, who just turned nineteen and a boy, who is nineteen."

"Can ya read minds?" I question.

She just laughs and shakes her head.

"I have something to show you before you make the decision on whether to be a Protector. You will have to train, and the Protectors job is to protect this special object. If you take the job, you will likely have to face the new rebellion that's formed to try and gain possession of the object. If you choose not to take the offer, your memories of magic and about the islands will be erased, but the items I am getting ready to hand you are yours to keep regardless."

She goes to the back of the car, and I narrow my eyes and pull my lips together.

"You can stand back, if you want."

Standing back, the lady opens the trunk of the car. Inside is an old wooden chest, and when she opens it, she reaches inside and pulls out three envelopes and two necklaces.

"These are for you to read later while you are making your decision. This necklace here belonged to your father and the other belonged to your mother. These are either a talisman or an amulet. Each powered by magic to do numerous things, that will only be explained in detail if you take the offer."

She hands me a necklace having a pendant with a tree inside a circle. The other necklace has some sort of strange upside down triangle symbol.

She sees my puzzled look and goes into a short explanation.

"The necklace with the tree was your father's talisman - it is what is referred to as the Celtic Tree of Life. There are numerous interpretations of what it represents, but one is it represents nature's forces combined to create balance and harmony. The other is the elemental symbol for earth, since your mother was an Earth Elementalist, it is what she chose."

She also reaches in and briefly shows me a dagger. She tells me it belonged to my mother, but I won't get further information unless I accept the job offer. 

I opt to let her keep the necklaces for now, and when she returns them to the chest, she closes the lid and the trunk. She tells me I have a few days to consider the offer, and she tells me where I can find her.

Walking back across town, sweat continues to drip even after the sun has set.  As I get closer to the warehouse, cop cars are surrounding a little park near it, and a crowd has formed. I try to sneak in and around the crush of people. Bystanders can be heard muttering things like: "What happened?", "Who is that?", and "Were they robbed?".

Questions come from all directions and hang in the dense, dark air surrounding the area that's been taped off.

People start getting impatient for answers and push into the crime area.

A middle-aged man who's dragging his hand through his hair turns and sees the crowd. He marches over, adjusting his tie.

"People, please. Step back and let them do their work," he urges.

A familiar voice raises above the crowd. "Who are you? A reporter?"

The man sneers at the familiar blond-haired guy I've known for over a year.

"No. I'm Detective Jones. I will be doing the investigation that I hope won't be impeded by people trampling on my crime scene." He finishes with a sheen of sweat on his brow.

And Boyd still doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut. "Why do you care? She's just an Outcast like the rest of us."

The detective takes a deep breath, and it seems like forever before he lets it out. His jaw clenches before he replies, "It doesn't matter to me where she lived; she was still a human being."

Ah, so it's a girl.

Boyd stands there frozen staring the detective down.

"Scram!" Detective Jones shouts before he walks off mumbling about annoying kids.

Once the detective walks way, I walk over to Boyd.

"What happen', Boyd?"

"Beats me." Boyd shrugs. "But we've learned that it was one of us and a female."

I survey the area again before rubbing my forehead and look back up at him. "Who's missin' from the group?"

"The only one's I haven't seen tonight are you and Mary."

"Isn't Mary the sixteen-year-old who ran away from an abusive brother and a mom who did nothin' 'bout it?"

"Yep, that would be Mary. A shame, too—she was such a talented artist," he says.

Turning to walk away, Boyd grabs my hand pulling me back around. "Look Mick. I'm ..."

"Save it, Boyd. It's all in the past and like ya said, it's all 'bout takin' care of our basic needs. My basic need now is for safe shelter and consistent food. I've found such a place, so I'm leavin' tonight."

Boyd looks away. "But you can't ... "

"I can't what? Can't leave the streets behind or ya behind? Because if it is the second option, honey, I've already done that," I say and walk away to get my hidden stash.

Now, I really have reasons to leave: death and seeing Boyd every day.

Hell, I don't have anything left in Texas for me - what do I have to lose by trying out this new life?

As early as I think would be acceptable, I walk to the lady's hotel room and knock. She opens the door with a wide smile on her face and welcomes me in. Once I get in, she offers me a drink, and we discuss my decision.

"So, what do you think?" she asks.

"I don't have much to lose." Except my life.

"I'm making no promises, but I believe you won't regret going. If you decide not to continue training, the Elders can block your memories and your powers. Someone can set you up with a new life here in the States. You will, at least, have the chance to meet your cousins, if they also decide to train."

"And that's all?"

Her eyebrows furrow. "Is that all you have?" she asks, pointing at my backpack.

"Yep. Easy to tote. Easy to keep with me, so hard to steal."

There's a twinkle in her brown eyes. "We're going shopping!" she shouts. Someone's excited. "We will be traveling for two days and will be training for about a month. There will be little time to go shop for essentials.

"If you say so."

We go to numerous stores, and the woman goes crazy buying me stuff. A new suitcase, a small camera, any jeans, shorts, shirts, shoes, and things like that I want. All of the necessary health and beauty products I will need, from shampoo to deodorant to the little bit of makeup I will wear. You'd think she doesn't get to shop much.

We're at our fifth store before she tries to engage in meaningful conversation.

"Why did you decide to live on the streets?" she asks.

How do I answer to get rid of her curiosity without giving too much information?

"My foster homes weren't nice. Too many things happened. Too much time having to take care of myself anyway. I figured I could take care of myself on the streets and avoid harassment."

"Harassment?"

Darn. I used the wrong word. How to answer?

"Ya know the typical things like nosy kids and groups who don't particularly like ya. They don't make life any easier."

She looks at me like she knows I have a secret but won't push the topic.

We move around the store until we make it to the jewelry section.

She stops in front of some cute bracelets. We explore the selection - making serious and funny comments about different ones. She settles on a cute little bracelet set where one bracelet had the Tree of Life symbol, one had the word 'Believe' and one had the infinity symbol along with some other colored bracelets to complete the set. She hands me the box after she purchases it.

"What's this?" I ask.

"Something to remember our shopping trip by and a token of a future friendship, if you'll allow me to get that close to you."

I'm speechless. It is a sweet gesture that makes my day, someone hasn't been this nice to me in a long time.

We head to get my hair cut before we return to the hotel with Chinese takeout.

"What's your favorite color?" she asks after swallowing a bite of her egg roll.

"Red and black. I'm not really a fan of pink and orange, but most other colors are fine. How about you?"

"Probably green. Brown comes in second."

"Brown?" I question before stealing some of her General Tso's chicken.

"Hey!" She says, and I smile at her. She rolls her eyes before she answers. "It's this practical and soothing color." A blush colors her cheeks.

I grin, "What aren't you telling me?"

"Well, it's the color of my Arnau's eyes. This rich, warm honey brown color. Eyes that are sad when I am, but brighten a little to try and cheer me up in some way. Eyes I feel I've spent a lifetime looking into and could spend eternity look into."

When she's finished there's a look of complete love on her face. A look I saw so many times between my parents. My adoptive parents, I remind myself. I suck in trying to hold back the tears and my emotions.

Estel pats my hand. "Are you okay?"

"Sure." I shrug. "Why wouldn't I be? Now, where were we?" I ask, effectively changing the topic.

We eat and continue getting to know each other. When we eat the last bite, and I am completely full, she says we would leave in the morning. She tells me to take a hot shower or bath and have a good night's rest before the two day journey.

I certainly don't want to wake up this morning from the comfortable bed I am sleeping in, but we need to get on the road. Two eight hour days of traveling by car with one overnight stay is gonna get to both of us. I wish I knew how to drive properly so I could help her. I pack my bag the night before, so I just change, brush my hair and follow Estel down to the car.

Once the car is packed, we stop to get something to eat, and head east out of town. We pass familiar buildings and sights. Will I ever step foot in this town again? Do I want to? If everyone is as nice and understanding as Estel, I don't think I'll mind this journey at all.

Estel drives to I20-E, and the interstate signs never change. That is probably the direction we are heading for the next two days. When I wake up from a nap, I ask if we are still headed east. She says we are going to a cabin in the forest of western North Carolina, and that is all I need to know. The scenery continues to change - from dry earth and vegetation to scenes of forest and farmland.

We stop for the night at some motel. Only one more day of traveling, and I'll have to adjust to new people and new surroundings.  That might be the toughest challenge.