PROLOGUE

Thirty years ago a falling star Orionid hit the mountainous region of great Himalayas. It was a catastrophe. The resulted landslide caused thousands of casualties but there was something more destructive. The shooting star gave off a purple glow and illuminated dust particles which were inhaled by the survivors. But the intensity of it was so much that the people turned into monsters. They lost their humanity and sanity. These creatures are called Dorion. To protect the rest of the world from them the United Nation Security Council built a metallic wall which separated them from the outside world.

Nevertheless there were some people who did not become dorions when they inhaled the particles instead developed super natural powers. However they too were to become the target of death.

“How many times do I have to tell you Lisana not to come in front of the guests,” said a broad shouldered man with a dark mustache. “What you posses makes you not normal. Do you understand? Now go inside your room!”

The little girl was only five and obediently nodded and went to her room. She closed the door behind her and jumped on the bed and stared at the wooden floor until tears came running down her chubby cheeks. Just then there was a knock at the door. Lisana took a tissue and wiped her cheeks and nose and opened the door.

It was a boy just a year older than her with fair blond hair and deep green eyes.

“Did your father scold you again?” Were the boy’s words.

Lisana gave a sad smile and replied,” Yes he did. No matter what I do he is just never happy with me.”

Austyn put his small hand on her shoulder and consoled Lisana saying,” You are not the only one who has powers. We both are in this together.”

He patted on her shoulder,” Lisana you know that the State Council is against ability wielders like us because they think that we are a threat to world peace.”

Lisana exhaled and asked him,” What if they find us and try to kill us?”

The green of Austyn’s eyes darkened at the question and consoled her little friend and

said\,” I will be there with you Lisana. Together we will ____”

But his words were cut off by a loud thud. Lisana gave a low shriek and Austyn turned towards the door in confusion. A second sound followed but with a familiar shouting. It was Austyn’s father. Both the children climbed downstairs where everyone were sitting but to their surprise the room was flooded with armed men and an aged man who was half covered by a thick and rough skin of brown colour. One eye turned purple.

The man was in pain and held his hand out in difficulty and pleaded,” Austyn…I…”

The armed men formed a circle around him.” Stay away from him!” yelled one of them.

He waved his hand to beware Lisana and Austyn.

Austyn broke through the circle to be with his father and shouted,” Dad!”

Austyn’s father was transforming more as the brown scaly skin started to cover his shoulders and his voice was louder than before. Lisana screamed in horror but her mother came just in time and held her in her arms.

One of the men shouted at Austyn,” He is not your father anymore. He is gonna turn into Dorion at any moment

now!” The man held Austyn’s arm,” Come quick otherwise we will open our weapons to fire.”

But the poor boy was helpless. How could he leave his father when he needed him the most? Austyn put his arms around the fading consciousness of his father and hugged him tight to tell the people around him that he was not going to leave.

The armed man warned Austyn,” Very well then. You leave us with no choice. Open up the fire men!” He moved his finger in circular motion to tell everyone to take their position.

Lisana started crying and struggled to run but her mother’s grip on her was tight. Her mother ran out of the place as fast as she could to save her daughter.

Lisana held out her hand to stop and cried,” Please stop mom! He needs us.”

Her mother placed her hand on her head to duck her face and with a sad and trembling voice said,” I’m sorry but I have to take you somewhere safe first…”

Lisana knowing that they can’t help him just put her heart and soul in shouting out his name one last time,” Austyn!!”

Her voice might have not reached him for the noise of shooting bullets was far more louder and within moments a huge red fire arose cracking the wooden roof and its black smoke engulfed everything in it.

UNKNOWN SENDER

It was a cold and breezy morning of the month of January in the year of 2018. A decade had passed since the incident of Austyn’s father transformation into a dorion. But the scar on Lisana’s heart was deep, as her father had left on the night of that event without a word and her mother had to start from scrap to buy a small apartment in the busy city of London.

Lisana was in the kitchen cooking vegetable soup for her mother. In the past few years when they had lost everything her mother that is Mrs. Straus opened a little restaurant. Her food was so delicious that her cooking expertise became famous. But that came with a price. Mrs. Straus became so dedicated to her work that she forgot about her health which started getting worse each year. So Lisana took her place so that her mother could have a break from all the work.

From the room a sick voice called Lisana,” Lisa my dear what is taking you so long?”

Lisana always felt this warm feeling when her mother called her Lisa. She set the bowl full of soup on the tray and replied,” I am coming mom. Just a moment.”

She entered the room and set the tray on the side table and straightened up. The room was warm but cold seemed to penetrate from somewhere. Lisana then noticed that the curtains were not drawn.

She put her hands on her slim waist and sighed,” O mom! Do not pull the curtains open or you know you will catch a cold.”

Mrs. Straus gave a short giggle and blowed on the spoonful of soup and tasted. She remarked,” It’s good but not perfect. Salt you added is less.”

Lisana threw her hands up and complained,” No matter how hard I try I will not be able to master your level of cooking.”

Mrs. Straus smiled and said,” Come sit here.” Indicating the side of bed. “What would you like to have on your sixteenth birthday?’’

Lisana sat on the floor beside the bed and held her mother’s delicate hands. They were fragile and gray veins under the skin made a net. Her dark brown eyes searched her mother’s face.

She kissed the top of her hands,” Anything you like to give me.”

Mrs. Straus raised her eyebrows and suggested,” Perhaps a book then?”

Lisana had this weakness for books for according to her only books made her feel better and at comfort and talked about the amazing things in the world she might never see but would be able to feel from the characters.

She lowered her gaze and her long eyelashes veiled her eyes and said,” This year what I want for my birthday is for you to get healthy and better.” Lisana looked at her mother and continued,” Mom I want you to be back on your feet and order me around in the kitchen and help me with the customers.”

Mrs. Straus returned the spoon to the bowl she meant to drink and narrowed her eyes and said\,” Lisa you are not a child anymore. You are well aware of the fact I might not live long so you need to get strong to face the world.” She then gave a weak smile and looked at her daughter who had now turned into a beautiful young teenager and placed her cold hand under her chin to lift up her face and warned\,” You must never reveal your identity under any circumstance or____”

Her words remained unspoken because of the bell that rang downstairs. Lisana did not want to leave her mother but then she instructed by pointing her hand to go down in the restaurant. Lisana nodded and quickly got up and wore her apron. She tied her long dark hair in a loose bun and bolted downstairs to greet the customers. Downstairs the heaters were turned on so it made a cozy environment and there was a young couple waiting. The man was dressed in a long gray overcoat and the lady beside him wore her blonde hair in loose curls that cascaded on her

shoulders.

“Good Morning!” said Lisana slightly bowing her head.

The lady said,” We would like to order two cappuccinos with vegetable omelet served with toasts. But pack them for it would be a take away.”

“Of course ma’am.”

Keeping in mind all the techniques that her mother had told she evenly cut the carrots, capsicum, green chilies and onions then mixed in with the egg and fried in the oil. A tea spoonful of salt, turmeric and red powdered chilly. The aroma lifted spread through the room and the hot cappuccino was also ready so she packed up the breakfast and handed over to the customers.

As the customers left Lisana spoke aloud in delight and raised her hand up carrying the money,” Yes! 250 dollars at the start of the day. Not bad.”

She was putting the money in the cashier when a shadow passed and slipped a letter under the glass door. It was strange to receive a letter especially when people had phones and electronic messages to talk. At first Lisana thought it might be a letter from the boy who had been asking her out. Obviously she rejected but then again people did admire her beauty and her sweet nature which somehow attracted them to her. She walked to the door and picked up the letter. It was not from that boy and its content was a threat.

To Miss Lisana Straus,

It is a matter of urgency which is important to come under your notice. We are well aware of the fact that you are an Ability Wielder and the kind of ability you possess is ice. However we are not the only ones who know about this. Its better you understand the danger to your life and your old mother. Wait by the St Paul’s Cathedral at six in the evening, we will pick you from there.

BLAZING  LIGHT

Thoughts of threats and worse possibilities filled her mind after reading the letter. Although the temperature was normal inside but still she felt hot so went outside to have some fresh air. Lisana was wearing a white plain shirt and black pants and as she stepped out the cold wind cut through her clothes and made her shiver. She leaned against the wall and curled a lock of her hair at the back of her ear.

Should I tell about this to mom? But she is already too ill and I don’t want to give her anymore headaches and I also cannot leave her and go to meet someone I do not know and who knows what kind of people awaited for me there It’s better I pretend nothing happened.

After the calamity that took place years ago, people suffer until now. No one is worth trusting, for you never know who is the real enemy behind the friendly mask. The ones who are now declared as inferiors in the society are the wielders, the root cause for the spread of the Dorion Disease. The governments against them and so are the rest of mundane. So the best way of survival is camouflage. Pretend being physically and mentally in good state. But the hatred against the wielders has turned the people into monsters. Recently they are openly killing any wielder they catch sight of or beat them up in crowd and humiliate them as if they are street dogs or much worse. Even if any wielder wanted to help the one being beaten, they dropped the idea for they were too afraid to bring danger to themselves and blow their identity. For wielders these people are no different than dorions. Even though they have different appearances, dorions and the mundane likely have the same black heart. Because of this increasing torture Mrs. Straus had to drop Lisana out of high school two months ago. She could not study further but the situation did not become a hurdle. She started reading the course books and taught herself.

After a quick talk with her mind she sighed and went inside.

Time passed by and customers came and went. Lisana was tired by taking orders, cooking, washing the dishes and collecting the money. Too many chores but a single person to carry them all out. She had suggest Mrs.Straus to hire someone but it was better that they do not as they could not trust anyone who may try to expose Lisana’s secret. As a result she had no friends apart from her mother and books but seemed to easily converse with the customers and girls of the same age as her.

The restaurant was now empty and she looked at the clock. It was 9:45pm which meant the close of the restaurant. Lisana placed the table cloth on the shelf and was walking towards the door to lock it when three men came in. All of them wore black long coats and there collars stood up and big hats slanting downwards covered their faces. For some reason Lisana felt the urge to call the police but hesitated to do so.

She slowly  took a step back and calmly said,” I am very sorry sir but we do not serve after the restaurant is closed.” Lisana swallowed and prayed for them to leave.

But the man in the middle spoke in a heavy voice,” O you do not need to serve us. You have to serve the State Council.” He hissed from between his teeth,” Come with us like an obedient girl”.

Lisana’s heart skipped a beat and thoughts poured into her mind about the letter and her mistake for not going. But either way this was not the way to threaten someone to come with them. The men were coming forward and moving towards her until her back touched the shelf.

The men had surrounded her leaving no space to escape. Just then all the lights were turned off and it was all dark but the scarce moonlight helped to see.

In the middle of this Mrs. Straus called out,” Lisana what happened to all the lights? It’s all dark up here!”

The man who spoke earlier grinned and took out a dagger whose metal shone in the moonlight and said,” Looks like we have another guest.” He pointed to his partner,” Go upstairs and finish her off.”

Lisana could not help it and screamed,” No! Mom run!”

The man was already making his way up but the next moment was quick and blur as one of their own stopped the running man and punched him at his stomach and he fell down unconscious. The other person beside Lisana looked in horror and surprise and readied his dagger for the fight.

The man straightened up and threw his hat off; he was a young boy with a beautiful face cut and jaw lines. He unsheathed his sword which gave of electric sparks. The white blue sparks ran up and down the sword.

The boy sniggered and said in a demanding voice,” When the lady says no its better you stop or else.”

The man laughed as if he believed that the young boy in front of him was no match for his competence; raised his eyebrows and spoke in bitter words,” Or else? You might have taken down one of my men that does not make you strong.”

The boy swung his sword in a quick circle and grabbed its hilt pointing it to the man and chuckled,” Well I do praise myself sometimes but a compliment coming from an enemy is rare.” He then moved his gaze to Lisana who stood frozen and mouth half opened. “You need to stay at a safe place for now.”

Lisana gave out a breath realizing that she had been holding for quite some time and quickly hid under the table.

When she was hidden the boy locked his eyes at the enemy and with no fear in his voice he calmly said,” Now then.” He moved fast with his sword lightening up and sparks bigger than before towards the man and shouted,” Let’s end this!”

Lisana was amazed when the attack was stopped by the man with his dagger. Both of them were putting their force into their weapons. Then after few seconds of struggle they quickly separated and jumped backwards. But the man was slow for the boy had already prepared his next move and attacked; his sword blazing with electric current and the power it emitted was huge that the lights of the restaurant started to blink and hit at the enemy’s chest. The man flew back and got hit by the wall.

It was over. The man was dead as his shirt was torn apart and blood came running from the deep wound in his chest. Lisana got scared as she did not want to end up like this and stood up to run but the boy caught her by the wrist. She stopped and turned her panic stricken face to see him. The light returned because of him and she saw the deep blue of his eyes and blackest hair she had ever seen.

Lisana jerked her hand but his grip was strong and shouted at him,” Let go of me!”

The boy tried to explain but his voice was overtaken by a woman’s shriek. Both of them looked at the stairs. He let go off her and Lisana bolted upstairs but stood frozen midway on the lobby.

 Her eyes saw her mother crouched on the floor, her night gown turned scarlet from the abdomen. Then her gaze met with a man holding a dagger and scornfully looking at her. Blood dripped from its tip.

 The boy hurried up behind her and also stopped for a few seconds and spoke,” He must have gotten up when I was engaged in fighting with their leader. He availed the opportunity when none of us were paying attention to him.”

Lisana was breathing fast and tears were stinging at the back of her eyes but her silent mourning was interrupted by voices of footsteps in the restaurant.

The boy hissed,” Reinforcements. Darn it!”

Suddenly the murderer of Mrs. Straus threw a gas bomb at them but the rage and emotions of Lisana were more powerful than it. Without moving she froze the whole room. The wooden floor gave up and started to break and the man fell as the floor broke under his feet. The ice covered the whole area but the little gas particles she inhaled made her dizzy and stumbled but was caught in the arms of the boy. He took her in his arms and broke through the glass window.

Lisana was fainting and the last thing she could see was him holding her and running from that place and heard him saying,” You were strong back there.”

 His lips curled at the edges into a smile and then she was consumed by the darkness.